Chapter 3: The Middle
**references the episodes 'The God You know* and the Norse Trilogy
**Valkyries decide who will die in battle and bring their chosen to Valhalla to train for Ragnarok- a future battle
"Stand Warrior! I am Sudo, one of the guardians of limbo." The being yelled. She found herself on her knees prostrate before him, not knowing how she got there, or where she had been.
"What do you want from me?" Xena snarled. The dragon man lifted her up by her chin, seamlessly. "You are an ungrateful wretch." he hissed through his large teeth and snout.
"What do I have to be grateful for!" She yelled in response.
The dragon man snarled at her, "I should have half a mind to deny Odin's request."
Xena faltered at the name, "Odin?"
"The viking god. You've been sitting here in our limbo because you do not belong here and you do not let go of your past. However, Odin requests ownership of your soul. I for one do not care less what happens to you, but you have worn out your welcome in my domain. He has offered to take custody of you. When word spread that you were here, many laid claim to your soul. Frankly, I gave you to the highest bidder." Sudo grumbled.
Her mind raced at the implications of the name the creature spoke. Searching the recesses of her mind, it followed pathways until it finally narrowed. Why would Odin take an interest in me? Did he finally want vengeance for all that she had caused? Did he want to thank her for getting Grinhilda back and not using his own apples to kill him?
"I will release you at sunup, you will begin your service at the viking god's keep." Sudo answered.
"Will I still be able to view my friend's life?" Xena questioned, fearful that her ability to see into Gabrielle's life would be lost.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Sudo hissed as he pointed her toward a portal. "When you see the sunrise, walk through that portal, Odin has arranged for your transportation." He turned and walked in the opposite direction Xena was facing, until his image disappeared into mist.
She debated in her mind if she should walk into that portal. What did Odin have planned for her? Wondering if it would be worth losing her connection to her soul mate. She decided to take a chance. She may not be able to see Gabrielle anymore, but maybe she would be able to continue into her future life and see her again. When the sunlight glistened and hurt her eyes, she took tentative steps toward the portal. Taking a deep breath, she jumped through the portal. Walking through it was like walking through a curtain of water, heavy and pulsing, but without the wetness and cold. Materializing, she found herself in Odin's palace. She guessed she was still in spiritual or soul form because there was nothing solid about herself. The Norse god looked pleased. A self righteous sneer adorned his face.
"Xena, good to see you." he stated, as he rose from his throne. A sense of dread curtained the raven haired warrior's emotions. "I've got plans for you." Odin said aloud as he chuckled dryly.
Gabrielle walked quickly toward the silhouette. One thing she had learned from her life was to not waste time. She broke off into a stealthy run, not caring whether she lost her prey that was currently bound and gagged on her camel. She approached the woman. The woman perhaps heard her footsteps, because she turned her head in the direction that the blond was arriving and graced her with a blinding smile. On sight of the woman's face, Gabriele dropped to her knees in silence. Her bottom jaw drew slack, and she exhaled, staring up at the woman. The woman looked exactly like Xena. "Gabrielle, it's me." the silhouette announced. Gabrielle's eyes rolled back into her head and she fainted.
"What are your plans. Do you want me to clean Valhalla's halls? Escort hero's? How can I possibly serve you in this form?" Xena remarked unimpressed.
"How about serving as my entertainment." Odin smiled.
"Never again Odin. Besides you know I'd never cheat on Gabrielle." Xena responded morosely.
Odin laughed, amused at the wise ass remark. "What I had in mind is much more enjoyable." Odin replied. Xena gave him a dirty look for the insult. Odin walked toward a pedestal. Atop the pedestal, a plume of glittery gold hovered about it. In the middle of the plume, a clear picture materialized. He was watching Gabrielle.
"What do you think you are doing?" Xena screamed angrily.
"What does it look like I'm doing, I'm observing a promising new Valkyrie. Look at her Xena, she's perfect. She is skilled, honorable, and she knows just exactly what makes a hero. It doesn't hurt that many a tough guy has fallen for her- or tough gal for that matter." Odin explained.
"She wouldn't want that responsibility, deciding who dies- I wouldn't want that for her." the raven haired warrior replied tersely.
"Well Xena, you lost your authority over her when you left her behind." Odin smiled. He was enjoying this way too much.
Xena thought for a moment, in realization she lifted her head. "She'd never join without my suggestion. That's why I'm here." Xena snarled at Odin.
"Finally Xena, you put the puzzle pieces together. You have gotten a bit rusty. Sitting in limbo doing nothing for too long? Come on, you know Ragnarok is just around the corner, I need all the help I can get." Odin eased.
"Why don't you just let me do it?" the tall woman queried.
"Fool me once. Shame on you. Fool me twice." Odin responded, waggling his finger at the woman disapprovingly.
"I'm a changed woman. Err.. soul." Xena responded stoically.
"How do I know you won't just decide to 'change' again. Gabrielle is a sure bet. Look at her, she lost her soul mate. If anything would have turned her evil and ruthless, that would have been it. Yet she chooses honor." Odin gushed.
In her peripheral vision, Xena caught view of an unusual and disconcerting image.
"What in Tartarus!" Xena exclaimed.
Odin turned to look at what had caught the warrior's attention. Xena stared with a focus so strong that the image could have burned into her retinas. In the golden plume was a similar scene out of Xena's memory. Well not really, because in the scene of two women in an embrace, Gabrielle was the present Gabrielle. Light lines adorned the outer area of the blond's eyes. Her mouth was slightly littered with wrinkles of a frown. No doubt she had spent her time frowning with the sadness of her loss. Her body was sinuous and had long lost the extra plump of her youth. She was beautiful. Five years had worn weary on her soul, but her beauty remained.
Rushing up to Odin, hoping to lift him by his neck and crush his windpipe, she was disappointed by the lack of solidity. She closed her mouth in angry pout.
"Who is that woman and why does she look like me. And why is Gabrielle embracing her!" the angry woman demanded information. It was an unusual situation to be in, looking at herself-or what looked like her, through godly surveillance; wanting badly to murder herself.
"Now, now, Xena, calm down, she is your proxy. After all, there are souls deserving of rewards you know. Not all have die to redeem themselves." Odin responded. Xena flinched. Although Odin was enjoying Xena's discomfort to say the very least, he wasn't evil.
"That's Brunhilda in that body. Her sacrifice for Gabrielle saved me from making a big mistake. I've rewarded her with an opportunity to experience love." He smiled in remembrance of the times he had been in love.
"And me? I have to stand by and watch this? This farce? Gabrielle will know it's not me." Xena stated.
"Eventually, yes." Odin responded as he turned and walked back to his throne.
Following him to his throne, she questioned him. "What do you want me to do, feed lines to Brunhilda to take my place and convince Gabrielle to join your bidding?" Xena asked.
"For now." Odin responded.
"And if I don't agree?" the tall woman asked.
"Brunhilda will be on her own, and we'll go on without you." Odin answered matter of factly, already planning other options.
"Xena, you have a chance here, to make Gabrielle's last year of life happy." Odin added, unaware of the shock that would fill the warrior.
"What are you talking about?" Xena queried brusquely.
"My raven seer has shown me her death. A night mission in Alexandria, a double cross from a double agent." the Norse god explained.
"Wouldn't it be better for her to be a Valkyrie than to die a painful death?" Odin asked with a raised brow.
"Think on it Xena, you'd be able to see her if she was a valkyrie, and she wouldn't die a painful death. If Gabrielle decides to work for me, I'll place your soul into the body I created. If she doesn't join, at least you had a little more time with her. I'll give you until sunrise." Odin offered.
"And what of Brunhilda? You are just going to let her experience love and lose it?" she asked.
"Brunhilda will return to Valhalla. She understood the terms. She was happy just to experience love from Gabrielle for however long. In fact she said you both being reunited would make her happy." Odin chuckled.
Xena's jealous streak spiked in her. It filled her blood with acid, and her heart soured, and it showed on her face.
"I'll think on it." Xena answered through gritted teeth. She had a chance to return and prevent Gabrielle's painful death, but was the return worth Gabrielle's responsibilities as a Valkyrie.
To be continued in Chapter 4
**Author's note: This story is going in a different direction than I intended when I first started it, hope it isn't too horrible. I'm sure it has plot holes a plenty. Thanks for reading.**