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Weighing of the Heart

Chapter 4

By Jinxie

All air escaped her lungs as she uttered, "Xena." Thoth had enough respect to disappear for a moment until he was called back. He wanted them to have this moment alone.

The dark haired warrior smiled at the sight of Gabrielle. "You're beautiful when you're angry." She stepped towards Gabrielle and opened her arms, hoping against hope that the bard would fall into them.

Gabrielle didn't hesitate as she dropped her weapons and lunged into waiting arms. Her strong body wrapped itself around the warrior, legs and all, as Xena held her off the ground. Her nose found it's way to Xena's neck; the smell of her partner was just as she had remembered, and it was intoxicating. She leaned back just enough to look deeply into Xena's eyes, which were alight with excitement and love. "I've missed you."

Xena's eyes welled up with tears as emotion took over her thoughts, "I missed you too, Gabrielle." She captured the blonde's lips in a gentle kiss as the bard's hands moved to her cheeks.

After several moments of silence, hugging, and kissing, Xena sat them both on the bed. She did not let go of Gabrielle once during the whole reunion. "Did you really think you could kill Thoth?" She chuckled when Gabrielle's face turned red.

"I don't know. I was just so angry for what he did." Gabrielle looked over at her sais, which were on the ground where she had dropped them. "I shouldn't have trusted him Xena."

The warrior was a little confused because, so far, the god had kept his promise to her. He said she would see Gabrielle again, and now she had. "Tell me what's going on, love."

The blonde sat on her lap for an hour recounting the whole scenario to Xena. She knew that her partner would see her folly and would probably be upset with her for being so easily duped. It bewildered her when Xena was not upset, but rather happy for what had taken place.

"Anything, oblivion or restlessness, would be better than where I was. At least now I have a chance. The place that I was in, Yomi, was horrific. I wasn't even given a chance to go anywhere but there, Gabrielle. I was left to rot away with maggots eating at my flesh."

The bard cringed at the description and image it created in her head. A realization hit her, "Wait a minute. If you are here, are you alive? Do you even need to go through all the judgment in the underworld?"

The warrior's smiled faded at the thought, "Yes I still have to go through it. I'm not really alive. Thoth told me I would only have my body for a little while so that we could see each other."

At the mention of his name, the god determined it was time to show himself again. "Sorry to interrupt, but there is much to be done. I know you feel anger towards me, little bard, but fear not. I have not led you astray."

"Then how do you explain to me the confessions Xena has to give? How is she supposed to receive mercy from Osiris when she has committed all of those acts?" Her anger began to build again, but this time she had the soothing touch of Xena to calm her.

Thoth noted the effect that Xena had on her and it made him smile inside. "Gabrielle, I know the good that Xena has done. I will bargain on her behalf. You must understand, as I said before, I cannot promise she will pass the tests. I will give her every opportunity, though." He stepped closer and motioned for Xena to stand up next to him.

Xena knew it was time for her to go. She turned back to Gabrielle, who also stood up and approached Xena. The warrior reached out and caressed the bard's face with her hand. "I love you. Get that feather back so that I have a chance. Ok?" She leaned forward as Gabrielle nodded and let out a sob. She kissed the blonde's forehead then her lips.

Gabrielle held the kiss as long as she could, but when they finally broke apart, Xena was gone.

xxxx

The Duat was an interesting place. It was completely different than anywhere Xena had been before. Hades and Hell were ruthless compared to this. As far as her eyes could see, it looked remarkably like earth. She saw an abundance of rivers and tributaries, islands, and lakes.

"Beautiful for an underworld, is it not?" Thoth stepped next to her looking over the place he had created. He breathed deeply of the air, which was very normal and fresh.

Xena eyed him strangely then continued to look around them. "What exactly must I do?"

"Normally, an Egyptian would have to find their way to the Hall of Ma'at, where Osiris and Anubis await with the scales. On the way through Duat, you would encounter different gates that you have to pass through using various spells. However, since you are not Egyptian, you would have no knowledge of these things. Therefore, I am going to change the rules for you a bit." He put out his hand and produced an exact replica of her sword and chakrum. He handed it to her, hoping she would not hesitate to take them.

She was in a bit of shock, but very happy to see her prized weapons. The moment she touched them, she was clad in armor from head to toe. A half mask made from gold covered her head and part of her face down to just below her nose. It had a spike running from forehead to the back of her head. Her leathers were black, covered in three sections of gold plate across her breasts, midsection, and lower abdomen. Leather strips, with more gold décor, fell from the plates on her stomach, down to mid thigh like a skirt. She wore a black cape with similar designs in black embroidery. Her boots were almost knee high, straps crisscrossed in the front of her shin, with a thick piece of leather above her calf to hold them up. Lastly, she wore gloves with wrist gauntlets made of the same gold design that held them on tight. Black leather came down around her thumb and covered most of her hand. Her fingers, however, were bare. It was the exact armor she wore against Caligula.

She looked at the god and smiled, it had been one of her favorite costumes. If she remembered right, Gabrielle really liked it too. Thoth nodded at her, content that she liked her new outfit. "What are the rules?"

Thoth laughed at her eagerness then proceeded to describe what would happen. "First, you must find your way through Duat, just like everyone else. However, when you come to each gate, you will not be able to pass with just a word or spell. You will have to fight your way through by either slaying what stands in your way, or by some other means. After that, and once you find the Hall of Ma'at, Anubis will greet you and lead you to Osiris."

Xena nodded her head and then decided she better find out everything that would happen. "What then? Tell me everything you can."

"Anubis will weigh your heart against the Feather, if Gabrielle has returned it. If it is heavier than the feather, then Ammit will devour your soul. If it weighs the same or is lighter than the feather, then you will be given a choice." He ran his hand through his dark hair and sighed. "I'm changing a lot of rules for you, Xena."

"Why? What are you changing?" Now she was concerned. Gabrielle might have been right. He must have something up his sleeve. Otherwise why would he be willing to change things for me?

"There are many reasons, but the most being that I need your help. I will not force you to do anything, but if you agree to it then I expect you to keep your word. If you are judged righteous, then I will give you three choices: Oblivion, Field of Reeds, or life on earth with your soul mate. The last one is where I have a deal for you."

She looked at him suspiciously, narrowing her eyes, "Go on."

"Since your death, the world, particularly Egypt, is in a state of chaos. Evil is outweighing good, which cannot happen under my watch. I must keep it balanced. If you decide on the third option, I will grant it, but only if you agree to stay in Egypt and fight to restore the peace."

"If I'm so important to the world, then why even give me a choice? Why not just zap me back to life and get me fighting again?" Her question held an edge of irritation to it.

"I'm not like the Olympians, Xena. I won't force you to do anything without offering choices. I'm not going to lie to you, though. The world will be ok without you. Gabrielle will be fine without you. I think you got the raw end of a deal and I'm giving you this chance to live life with your soul mate AND to help the world that is in need."

Gabrielle will be fine without me? Do I really believe that? "Did you tell Gabrielle about these options?" When the god shook his head no, she continued, "You mentioned that my death and existence in Yomi were deemed unrighteous. Who deemed it so?"

"All the gods. You were not meant to die, Xena. It was not in the loom of the Fates, in fact, your threads were to lead you here. Because of your supreme selflessness, you put yourself in harms way and tried to save souls that were not truly in need of saving. You were tricked."

Her eyebrows rose up under her bangs, "Tricked?" It was unimaginable to her that Akemi may have tricked her about something so serious, though at the same time the young girl had tricked her once before.

"It was not really Akemi that you met with, Xena. I am not sure all the details, but I do know that it was all wrong. Now you have a chance to be judged correctly and to possibly return to life with the woman you love." He turned and looked her in the eye, "Are you ready for your journey?"

"I'm ready." She sheathed her sword and hooked her Chakrum on her hip. She intertwined her fingers, popped her knuckles and cocked her head to the side to pop her neck. "See you on the other side."

Please review! Give me some feedback here… is this a good way to continue the series? A good Season 7?