(A/N: Hey everyone! Thank you for those who are still reading and/or reviewing! Here's the next installment! I'm sorry it is short by comparison…Please review! ~EBFR~)

Chapter #5 – Discoveries

Trees –

Gabrielle attempted to dry her eyes, as the tears poured down her face. She willed herself to quell her sobs and the bile that churned in her stomach, much like Poseidon's rough oceans.

Her mind was racing; trying to figure out more than she wanted to. How did Dahak get here? How did Hercules and Iolaus get involved? Where was Hope? What was she going to do next? How to tell Hercules what he needed and deserved to know?

Whatever little she had eaten didn't stay in her stomach long.

By the Temple –

Morrigan realized that she and Nebula would make up the day and a half travel (and to catch up with Gabrielle) by having Morrigan tap into her Druid powers. Something happened within Erie after Dahak destroyed the rest of the Druids – her powers had yet to work there, or in nearby areas (like Britannia). Being the sole Druid left, she still had her speed. Once the two women were beyond Sumeria's boarders (where her speed also did not work), Morrigan and Nebula arrived in Greece in the afternoon.

They came upon a clearing; the temple within view, to find Hercules staring out in deep contemplation.

"Hercules! Are you alright?" Morrigan asks.

"Yes, though we may have a new ally on our hands…or a new enemy." He sighs. "I'm not quite sure yet."

"There's information we have for you. It's about Dahak, right Morrigan?" Nebula says.

Norway –

After a long day of travel without Eli, and what's to become an even longer night, Xena thought she saw something in the distance under blanketed snow. Cautiously walking toward the object, she saw the unmistakable color of blood. Getting even closer, she realized it was human.

Now at a run, she rushed over and turned the figure over; Xena gasped in shock.

"Eli! Eli, what happened? Who did this?" Xena asked as she desperately started to put pressure on the wounds.

She was briefly grateful for the snow and cold as she knew it would slow his blood flow down. Unfortunately, she saw that his body was still very warm, and that he was stabbed around major arteries. The 'good' news in all of this was only some arteries were nicked…

Xena used some pressure points to attempt to dull the pain. She realized there was nothing she could really do for the bleeding; there was just too many major arties nicked, and she didn't have enough hands or supplies…

He would bleed out, but it would be slow and (now hopefully less) painful.

Eli smiled weakly at Xena.

"We have to get you better Eli, we have to find Gabrielle." Xena wanted to panic, but knew she couldn't right now. This would break Gabrielle's heart; this will break her heart…

"Tell Gabrielle…Tell her…" Eli coughed, blood coming up.

"Tell her what Eli? No, I'm not telling her anything, you're going to be able to tell her whatever you have to…"

"Please, Xena" His breaths were becoming more shallow.

Xena closed her eyes, realizing she was too late. There was nothing she could do. And she loathed that fact.

"Okay. I'll do it. Tell Gabrielle what?" Xnea asked, as she took Eli's increasingly cold hand in her own.

"That I forgive her."

"Forgive her? You saw her? Eli, where is she? Forgive her for what?"

Eli smiled, as his last breath escaped him looking peacefully into Xena's eyes.

Xena reached over with her other hand and closed Eli's eyes…

She squeezed his hand tightly, and began to cry.

(A/N: Please review! ~EBFR~)