Author's Notes: You make a valid point Agent-G; considering that this story is following events depicted in season two of Xena: Warrior Princess hoever I don't think I have to worry about anything... As I've said before; my character has become the Point of View character for certain episodes, including those involving the first time Xena actually died and came back, as well as the whole situation involving Velasca and Callisto. Of course I am takinga few minute liberties and incorporating my character with what I hope to be quiet tact.
Thus we come to the part where I mention that all of the usual disclaimer's apply; I'm in this for fun, not profit and the usual jargon about begging my readers for reviews, if you actually exist. And then we move on with the story; and quite the tender moment between our intrepid Omniversal traveler and a certain Rapturous Bard who shall remain nameless.
"Xena's dead." Gabrielle informed her tone of voice filled with such a deep grief; I didn't… Couldn't know what to say, so I just stood there dumbly glancing between her and the older man. "Oh Gods why!" She wailed pulling me into a tight, awkward embrace; I still couldn't express myself properly my brain refused to work.
"I have to take her to Amphipolis; I promised her." She sobbed into my shoulder; I nodded dumbly at her words, she glared accusingly up at me. "Say something." She demanded; my eyes darted around the room we were in.
"I can't… I don't… I'm sorry." I returned turning my head to the side still trying to grasp what was happening here.
"Oh no… I'm sorry; I forgot you haven't known her long." She returned; seemingly realizing her mistake and our close proximity to one another, she pulled away and I sighed.
"I'll stick with you; I know how much… Well I just know." I stated sympathetically; she smiled gratefully and turned back to Xena's body, she looked around the room before her eyes fell upon the healer.
"Is there anything we can use to bring her body back down in?" She asked; he nodded and moved over to the far corner of the room where an ornately carved, jewel encrusted wooden casket rested.
"You may use this." He stated; Gabrielle thanked him and I moved alongside her to give her a hand in gently moving Xena's body.
A few days later I sat wearily on the ground; Gabrielle kept watch over Xena constantly afraid someone might defile her, I sighed her exhaustion would do us no good. Coming over beside her I slid down next to her and the casket; it felt strange being so close to the dead, something seemed to be preventing her from decaying at least and she wasn't too pale, as if she only slept.
"Come on you need your rest tonight; I'll sit watch tonight." I insisted closing the casket back up.
"No I can't." She rasped; I shook my head at her stubborn nature.
"Yes you can." I countered. "Do you think she would want you to kill yourself like this?" I demanded; she sighed extremely tired her body slumping in rueful acceptance of my words.
"You better take good care of her." She warned; I smiled and looked between her and the casket.
"You can count on me." I returned; she nodded in acceptance and moved off to her sleeping roll, I sighed and settled back next to the litter. "Man I know I'm just a newbie 'round these parts, but I can see how devastated she is without you; you shouldn't have died." I stated with another sigh; then I settled my sword across my lap and waited for the sun to rise.
Gabrielle slept; I sat awake, sure my being tired wouldn't have been any better, but I'd been doing all the sleeping. I tried to ignore the sounds of nature, but it wasn't easy; especially when the crickets sounded like an army. Suddenly an inhuman cry startled me and Gabrielle sat up looking all around; I sighed, this was going to be a long night.
"Alumni… I was wondering…" Gabrielle trailed off looking uncertain; I had a fairly good idea what she was trying to ask, though I felt conscientious about it I shot her a sympathetic smile.
"Come on, I can watch over both of you." I returned with a slight though carefully guarded sigh; Gabrielle moved over to me, I scooted over slightly and she curled up beside me resting her head in my lap somewhat awkwardly at first.
I sat awkwardly like that for some time; I didn't know what else to do, watch detail could get very boring. Finally I managed to figure out what to do with my arms; the left rested gently near her head on a free space, the right I draped carefully over the broken woman's shoulders. My fingers began lightly caressing her hair of their own accord; my eyes felt strangely heavy, but I told her I'd take watch.
Long did I manage to sit up as I was; little knowing that this simple duty was being observed by three others, at last however I lost the battle and slumped into a tired sleep. In a flash Ares appeared; he strode carefully to the duo and knelt beside Xena's body, he showed no outward sign of emotion, but his eyes betrayed the strange pain he felt at her loss.
"Those two make such a cute couple." A voice interrupted; Ares glanced up to see his sister Aphrodite standing nearby.
"What are you doing here?" He wondered curiously.
"I felt her grief from clear across Olympus; I thought I'd come see her, try to cheer her up… But I can see she doesn't need me." Aphrodite replied with a mischievous little smile; suddenly Athena appeared, she strode purposefully towards the mortals and examined them with a practiced eye.
"Nothing… I thought." She muttered before turning back to leave; Ares held up a hand.
"What is it?" He demanded; Aphrodite did her best impression of listening without appearing to, even as she regarded the mortal who many on Olympus knew as being Xena's conscience. For some reason she was feeling a bond with the young blond; ever since the incident with Perdicus she'd been looking in on this woman, trying to find a way to help her.
"Xena's soul isn't in Elysian Fields; it's not even in Tartarus, Hades is understandably concerned and I thought…" She trailed off leaving her speculations unsaid; Ares frowned and rose, he placed a hand on the hilt of his sword before turning to Aphrodite.
"Make sure nothing disturbs their rest dear sister; I have things to see to." He requested as politely as Ares ever got.
"Why brother I didn't know you cared." She teased; Ares curled his lip and vanished, Athena took one last look before leaving as well. "Looks like I'm the one on watch duty tonight kiddoes." She remarked lightly before taking a seat from across the duo; Alumni seemed to stir slightly his sword arm almost rising of its own volition before he settled back into peaceful sleep.
Gabrielle awoke with a start; Alumni still had his hand upon her in a neutral position, she actually liked that sensation and smiled. Suddenly she realized he was asleep; she sat up quickly and rapped the back of his head.
"Ouch… Hey!" He exclaimed angrily before realizing what he'd done. "Er… Sorry; I'm still not used to watch." He apologized rubbing the back of his head.
"You're just lucky nothing happened." Gabrielle shot back as she began packing things away. "Come on we've got a long ways to go." She reminded; Alumni sighed and began to pack his own belongings away.
Later that day as we traveled along a group of mercenaries showed up; Gabrielle began to fight the group after a brief conversation, the battle was fierce. I really didn't want to get involved, but they made me; Gabrielle seemed determined to protect her friend and I wouldn't let anybody get a cheap shot in. I knocked a sword out of one creeps hand and cut a gash across the face of a second cutting out his eye; then the group began to run away.
"You just made an enemy." The leader growled; I smirked as I saw a head pop up from behind him.
"So have you." Iolaus quipped; the leader spun around with Iolaus following so he was still behind him. "No, no; over here." He mocked the brute; he lashed out with a punch, kick and then another punch, the creep ran off.
"Iolaus." Gabrielle whispered before hugging him; he looked confusedly towards me then back to her.
"What's wrong?" He asked. "Where's Xena?" Gabrielle turned to the casket we'd borrowed; Argo hadn't even budged during the attack, and Widowmaker had even tried to help when one of the goons got to close. Iolaus' eyes widened in obvious shock and I took the opportunity to re-sheath my sword; Gabrielle began to explain, I didn't want to intrude in this moment.
"I can't believe it." Iolaus remarked after Gabrielle was finished.
"She's gone." Gabrielle clearly stated; I tuned them out, something felt strangely out of place again and again I couldn't place the reason for my feelings. Iolaus left after a somewhat tender moment; or so I thought, and we resumed our journey.
"Something doesn't feel right." I muttered only a short time later and much further along the path; Gabrielle halted Argo and glanced around sensing it as well.
"Show yourself." She ordered a hint of anger in her tone; suddenly numerous Amazons leapt from the trees, Gabrielle clasped both hands above her head, while I did my best to remain unobserved. They performed some kind of ritual with their swords; and then one of the closest slid her mask up revealing a remarkably attractive face, with blond hair.
"Ephiny." Gabrielle greeted as the two of them hugged.
"We're so sorry." The Amazon whispered; the one who appeared to lead slid her mask up in turn, I did not like the hardness of her eyes. "The entire Amazon nation is in mourning." Ephiny continued.
"As it should be." The other woman spoke approaching. "Xena was a true Amazon even though she denied it… We'd like you to bring the body back to the village; where we can honor it with an Amazon funeral fire." She requested in a tone that struck me as more of giving an order then making a request.
"A funeral fire." Gabrielle repeated incredulously. "No; I have to take Xena's body back to Amphipolis where she can be buried with her brother." She explained turning her gaze from the unknown back to Ephiny. "Where's Queen Melosa; I'd like to talk with her?" She wondered; Ephiny looked highly taken aback, as if she thought Gabrielle should know something.
"Melosa is dead." She informed; now it was Gabrielle's turn to be shocked.
"How?" She asked. "Who's the queen?" She added.
"I am." The unknown woman revealed. "For the time being." She added eyeing Gabrielle with something I couldn't pinpoint.
"Velasca issued a challenge to Melosa." Ephiny informed sounding bitter. "And killed her in combat." She added.
"Fair combat." Velasca reminded. "You keep omitting that word Ephiny; the tribunal ruled it a fair combat." Her tone of voice really got under my skin; especially where the scar from the griffin's claw had struck, everything about her caused warning alarms to go off in my head.
"Yes they did; fair combat." Ephiny agreed in almost a smug sounding tone. "But it doesn't really matter; now that the Amazon Princess has returned." She added glancing to Gabrielle with joy seemingly flashing through her eyes.
"That's true; and by Amazon rights the mask of queen hood is of course yours." Velasca stated seemingly almost reluctant; at least to my ears, I couldn't see Gabrielle's face anymore because my gaze was locked on this dangerous woman. But I could bet Gabrielle had noticed her slight tone as well; and didn't like it or its implications any more then I did.
"Wait a minute; I… I need time to think about this." She said in a hesitant tone.
"Come with us Gabrielle." Ephiny insisted. "You can decide what to do later, but now come and stay with me." She requested; they seemed to share a brief moment, which I caught out of the corner of my eye. Velasca silently fumed; though of course since only I was still looking at her, I was the only one to catch the subtle expression.
"I hope that invitation includes me." I spoke up deciding to get involved now of all times; the Amazons all eyed me warily, a few even with contempt.
"Impossible." Velasca countered. "The Law is quite clear."
"But…" I tried to protest; swords were slowly begun to point towards me, Gabrielle placed herself between me and the others.
"He's with me; end of discussion." She stated firmly and almost regally; I smiled at that, but quickly sobered at the expressions of the Amazons all around. Startling them I bowed deeply and respectfully; something inside telling me this was what I should do to gain trust, then I adopted a solemn expression.
"You have my word of honor; that on my life I swear not to attempt any… Funny business." I vowed. "Though I have only known Xena for a brief period of time; trust me when I say, that I would rather face Ares himself then anger the Amazon nation with any… Manly urges." I added with a small smile; then I frowned as I clutched at my head, that memory trying to surface once again. "And yet…"
"Alumni are you ok?" Gabrielle asked approaching me out of concern.
"Yes; it's just… I felt a strong sensation briefly; as if all of this, Xena's death, it's not right." I muttered turning around and grasping Widow's reins.
"I know how you feel." She said as the rest began to move and Ephiny took the lead; I shook my head with another frown.
"No… I don't think that you do." I muttered too low for anyone to actually hear; and then I gently led my charge along after Argo.
To Be Continued; It's going to be one fun filled chapter, as Alumni encounters an Amazon village, crosses paths with a certain rogue king of thieves and winds up stumbling upon a secret that will forever change his destiny... Can we say; Ambrosia?