Chapter 2: Bargaining For A Soul

Deep in the in recesses of Hades domain, Ares shimmered into existence. Hades, who was sitting at his throne surveying the new batch of deaths he had received in the last hour, lifted his head and peered at Ares.

"What is it this time nephew?" Hades questioned. Cerberus snarled at Ares. Hades knew whenever his nephew visited, he always wanted something.

"Well I've got a deal for you." Ares began. "I know how its been a bit busy the last few months with the civil fighting I've inspired in Corinth." Ares paused in pride of his accomplishment.

"Get to the point Ares." Hades snapped.

"Well I want you to hold a soul for me," Ares smiled at his great idea. "Every day that you hold the soul, I will inspire peace, and all the fruity stuff so you can take a mini vacation." Ares finished. Hades was quite annoyed with the queue he had in the Underworld as of late and had been wanting to tour the Elysian fields, but it was put on hold because of the numerous deaths.

"Sure, why not." Hades answered.

"So which soul do you want me to hold?" Hades queried.

"That annoying blond friend of Xena's, she's not quite dead, but I had Strife and Discord make sure she's teetering the line between life and death. I want you to keep her from waking up until I can get what I want from Xena." Ares answered.

"Nephew, your obsession with that mortal will come back to bite you in the..." Hades started but was interrupted.

"Yeah, yeah," Ares interrupted and quickly shimmered out of the underworld.

"Xena, are you okay?" Iolaus asked. Xena's eyes were tearing up in half anger and half sadness. She steeled herself.

"I'm okay Iolaus, it's Gabrielle, she's alive, but she's hurt. They knocked her off her horse with fireballs. Strife and Discord went for her because I had Eve. I should have kept Gabrielle closer." she informed in regret and disbelief while inspecting Gabrielle's injuries.

"She hit her head on the way down and she's unconscious." she added in concern.

"These type of injuries are hard to predict." she spit out in frustration. "The best I can do is care for the burns, but we need to get her someplace safe" Xena added. Iolaus agreed. Hercules rushed to the three after Ares disappeared and was taking in the sight before him.

Disgusted by the actions of his kin, Hercules mumbled "Damn them." under his breath.

"We have to get her some place safe to care for her." Iolaus informed his friend.

"I don't know what brought you our way but I'm thankful." Xena whispered.

"Well, we were in the area for a festival and we saw the both of you a few leagues away and noticed you were heading towards hind territory. We had to make sure it wasn't someone trying to hunt the hind." Hercules answered. Hercules noticed something wriggling in the pack that was set on Xena's back. Hercules' eyes grew large in surprise and wonder. He then nudged Iolaus, who was still staring at Gabrielle, and directed his attention with the point of his finger.

"Xena is that a baby?" Iolaus questioned, and felt dumb at the badly worded question.

"He means, is it yours or Gabrielle's?" Hercules finished for him.

"Yah, what he said." Iolaus chimed.

Xena adjusted her pack and pulled Eve out to introduce her to the duo. "Hercules, Iolaus, this is Eve, my daughter" she introduced. Hercules was the first to reach out.

"She is beautiful! May I hold her?" Hercules asked.

"Sure," Xena answered while handing him the precious bundle. "We'll have to save all the other questions for later when we know Gabrielle is safe." Xena informed. Xena set about quickly to making a litter out of some strong branches and a couple of her old shifts. She folded the shifts to make it thicker, and threaded the branches through the armholes and the bottom end of the shift. She then made adjustments to make sure it was sturdy enough to hold Gabrielle's weight.

"This should do," she added. "I think I saw a temple on the way here that belonged to Aphrodite, we can bring Gabrielle there, Aphrodite is a good friend of Gabrielle's and I'm sure she'll help keep her safe." she announced. She lifted Gabrielle onto the litter, kissed her on the top of her head and began to affix the litter to Gabrielle's horse.

"I'm so sorry I didn't keep you safe, you will be okay" she whispered to Gabrielle with an inward hope that what she said would be true.

To be continued in Chapter 3