Yay, the Cannibal Episode is OVER!

(Sorry, but I really hate that episode. Grosses me out)

Post-Episode 118

By Jinxie

Disclaimer: See the main story disclaimer, it applies

Content Warning: See the main story warning, it applies

Goal: See the main story goal, it applies

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End of Episode 118 (S6, E6):

Virgil is preparing the horses for their departure as Rubio is stuffing his face with fruit. Xena is sitting on a log, examining her sword. Gabrielle approaches and sits next to her. "This sword's looking a little worse for wear." Gabrielle smiled slightly. Xena continued, "How you feeling?"

"I feel better." The bard replied with a tightly drawn mouth.

"I mean upstairs."

"Xena, I did what I had to do. I will learn to live with my mistakes- no matter how terrible they may be- but that's the way."

"What way?" Rubio asks with is mouth full of food.

Xena looks at him strangely, "Who are you, anyway?"

"I- am Rubio- but you may call me- "

Virgil interrupted, "We know."

"- Rubio." The man finished his sentence.

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"Hey Virgil, you ready to go?" Xena asked, trying to ignore the weird Rubio guy that is in their presence. She looked over at Gabrielle and smiled.

"Yeah, I'm ready. Come on, Gabrielle. You are riding."

"What? Why, I'm fine." She stood up and fought the reflex to wince. Her side was still in pain from the knife wound and the various bites on her body ached.

"Cause the boss says." He looked at Xena, then back at the smaller woman. "Hurry up, lets get out of this forest. It gives me the creeps."

Gabrielle stood up and walked over towards Virgil. She leaned in and whispered, "If you think I'm riding, you've got another thing comin. I'm walking." She continued on past him, towards the path they had found.

Xena strode towards the horse and her friend Virgil. "Let Rubio ride. She'll give in soon." She patted him on the back and ran to catch up with her lover.

"Forget it Xena, you aren't getting me up on that horse right now." She kept walking, putting all efforts into appearing fine.

Xena put her hands up in surrender, "I know. I'm not making you get on." She put her arm around the bard's shoulders and walked next to her at an even pace. "I know you said you are fine, you know…" She motioned with her eyes to the bard's head, "up there. But I want you to know you can talk to me."

"I know. I just don't need to talk about it. I really am ok." She smiled and wrapped her arm around Xena's waist.

They walked in silence for a bit, Virgil and their chatty new friend were a ways behind them. Xena couldn't hold it in any longer, "Well I'm not." The blond looked at her funny, not quite sure what she was talking about. "Ok I mean. About what happened."

"Are you talking about the cannibals? At least you weren't battered and put on a spit." She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the image. Xena released her hold on her and stopped walking. Gabrielle turned and looked at her with concern, "Xena?"

"I almost lost you." Xena couldn't help the emotion in her voice and the tears that began to leak from her eyes. The horse was quickly approaching, so she wiped her tears away. Virgil pulled the horse to a stop and looked at the two women.

"Virgil, can you give us a minute? Go ahead without us, we'll catch up." Gabrielle asked. As soon as he was a distance away, she pulled Xena into a hug. "It's ok, Xena. I'm still here. I'm fine."

Xena let out a sob, completely out of her normal stoic character. "I don't know what I would do if you died! I can't imagine living without you, Gabrielle. When you told me your last request, I thought I was going to lose it."

Gabrielle took Xena's face in between her hands and wiped the tears with her thumbs. "Shh..Shh.. It's ok. I'm here. You saved me. You don't have to live without me." The bard proceeded to kiss ever inch of Xena's face, gently and with a comforting purpose.

"When you were in your fever, you thought I was hope. You were trying to hide Hope from me. I am so sorry that I ever made you do such a thing to your daughter." She hung her head in shame then kneeled to the ground, hands holding Gabrielle's, and begged for forgiveness. "Please forgive me. I can't stand what I did to you. I regret everything I've ever done to hurt you."

Gabrielle fell to her knees in front of Xena, "I have already forgiven you for that, you know that. Don't keep living with the past on your shoulders, Xena. You have to let go of it. Just like I have to let go of what I've done." She lifted Xena's face by her chin, "You and me, we are going to be ok. We are alive, we are somewhat healthy, and we have each other. That is all that we can ask for."

"Can't I ask for a life free from pain and hurt? Don't we deserve to live in peace? Just me and you, huh?" She pulled Gabrielle into a strong hug, clinging tightly. "I just want peace."

The bard ran her hands through Xena's hair as she held her close. "Someday we will have peace, love. I know we will. We can retire and grow old together. Just like you said back in the cave." She stood up and pulled Xena with her. "Come on, Virgil is probably wondering what's taking us so long."

Xena chuckled as she wiped her tears one last time, "He probably thinks we stopped for a little sexy time."

Gabrielle slapped Xena on the arm, then held out her hand. Xena took it and they walked hand in hand towards the end of the cannibal forest.

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That night, Xena could not sleep. All she could think about was Gabrielle dying. Images of Gabrielle on the spit kept plaguing her vision. She fell asleep once, briefly and had a terrible dream. She was on Mount Olympus and the gods were having a feast. The centerpiece was Gabrielle, with an apple in her mouth. Aphrodite was in the corner scowling at the gods as they laughed and made toasts to their feast. Ares stood up from his seat and took out his sword. Just as it was about to touch Gabrielle's skin to carve slices, Xena woke up.

Her skin was covered in moisture; sweat. Not only was she angry, but was also sickened at the thought of anyone eating a human being. She leaned over to the ground and dry heaved. Nothing came up. She sat back up and looked over at Gabrielle who was sleeping quietly. She leaned over the bard and stroked her cheek gently, needing to touch her. I'm so glad I killed those bastards. You are my everything.

She stood up and stoked the fire, knowing that she would not be able to sleep. Instead of attempting slumber, she sat next to Gabrielle and sharpened her sword. After messing with it for too long, she picked up Gabrielle's sais and sharpened them. Next she did Virgil's sword. I hate it when I can't sleep. The thoughts that plague me are unbearable. Especially now. Why did this hit me so hard? I always save her, I should know that by now. For some reason, though, I didn't think I'd be able to this time. I knew I most likely could get her from the men; it was in the cave that scared me most.

"Xena?" the voice of her love whispered as a hand reached out to find her.

"I'm here." She said as she set down what she was doing and laid down besides Gabrielle. She snuggled under the covers and pulled Gabrielle into her arms.

"What were you doing?" the bard buried her warm face into Xena's neck, which was cold from the night air. She gently pressed her lips against the warrior's cold skin.

"I couldn't sleep. Bad dreams. It's ok though, just go back to sleep."

"Will you hold me all night, please?"

"Of course. I love you, sweetheart."

Before Gabrielle could respond, she had fallen back asleep. Xena pushed away all bad thoughts, for now. She wanted to reveal in the closeness and love in her arms.

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Beginning of Episode 119:

Flashback: Xena is in the Norse lands, dressed as a Valkyrie. She is forging a ring of gold. She fights a beast and locks it away in a mine.

[35 Years Later]

Xena and Gabrielle are eating at a restaurant. Xena is staring at Gabrielle and her food. The bard finally asks, "What?"

Xena points to the food, "Ya gonna finish that?"

The blond smiles, "All of it."

A man in armor walks into the bar and stares at Xena. The warrior doesn't see him yet and she continues her discussion with Gabrielle. "I thought the portions here were kind of small."

"You're not getting mine."

"Come on, Gabrielle. You're playing with your food." She leaned over to look at the bard's plate.

"No, I'm relishing it." She responds in a dignified manner.

Xena feels someone looking at her from behind so she looks over her shoulder. She spots the man in armor. "You got a problem? I don't appreciate people staring at me while I'm eating."

The man, Beowolf, walks over. "Are you Xena?"

"Yeah, who wants to know?" She continues to eat her food, her back turned to him.

"My name is Beowulf."

"You got business with me, Beowulf?" He throws a lock on the table. Xena looks at it and her eyes grow big. She stands up as she says, "I gotta talk to this man, Gabrielle." She walks away, leaving Gabrielle to stare at the lock, wondering what it means.