Disclaimer & Notices: See the prologue.
AN: I apologize for a long wait on an update. I've been distracted by another fanfiction, as some may notice. I also don't believe I replied to any of the last reviews. Hopefully I'll do a better job on all accounts. This chapter is a little shorter than I like, but I'm glad to have the story rolling again since it's been almost two months. The next chapter will definitely be a face off and also quite the trial for both Gabrielle and Aphrodite. I hope y'all enjoy the update!
Series: One Shot
My Immortal Love
by Red Hope
Chapter 8
Smoke continued rising from the charred ground and reached towards the heavens. The sun had set moments ago, and its last light bled across the sky. One bright star already guided the dead Amazon's spirit to the afterlife. All that was left at the pyre were ashes and one onlooker. Everybody had left one by one until only the Amazon Princess's consort was left beside the pyre.
Gabrielle smelled of fire and death, of battle and victory. Yesterday the Amazons had defeated the Destroyer of Nations, but the price was heavy. Many Amazons had fallen, including the Amazon Princess. Still caked in dirt and blood, Gabrielle remained awake through the night and beside her consort's body in the Passing hut. Throughout the night, she spoke to Terreis and made a promise of vengeance. Terreis never replied to her, never touched her, or eased her rage. Gabrielle was only one again.
As the ambers started cooling, Gabrielle approached the former funeral pyre. In her right hand, she carried a clay jar. She took off the lid and knelt beside the darkened earth. She carefully scooped ashes into the jar until it was full. She replaced the lid then noticed a familiar item hidden in the gray ashes. Gabrielle reached until her fingers wrapped around a piece of jewelry.
In her hand, Terreis's matching marriage bracelet was blackened by the funeral pyre. It was still warm as if Terreis had been wearing it moments ago. Gabrielle ran her thumb over part of it, and the soot came off to reveal the shiny metal still under it.
Gabrielle gritted her teeth and clenched the marriage bracelet that mirrored her own. She gave a low growl that hardly eased her pain and rage. She stood up with the jar in her left hand and the bracelet in her right. Gabrielle was breathing heavy and took a few steps backwards, her eyes locked on the burned earth where her consort had been sent to the afterlife through fire.
Her next step brought her against a taller frame then two strong hands clasped Gabrielle's tense shoulders. Gabrielle's eyes fluttered shut, and she grounded her teeth harder. "Did you know?"
Aphrodite tightened her grip on the angry mortal's taut shoulders. She trembled from the fury that flooded off every piece of Gabrielle and washed over the goddess.
"Did you know this would happen?" Gabrielle demanded harder.
Aphrodite took a steady breath then stepped around the Amazon. Her tall frame cut off Gabrielle's view of the funeral pyre. "I had no idea, Gabrielle." She swallowed hard when icy green eyes locked on her. Aphrodite suddenly felt as if she were the mortal under Gabrielle's cold gaze.
Yesterday from the hill, Aphrodite had watched the intense battle between the Amazons and the Destroyer of Nations. All her attention was centered on Gabrielle during the battle. She breathed a sigh of relief each time Gabrielle dodged a blade, kicked an enemy away, or killed an opponent. But when Terreis was killed by the warlord, Aphrodite trembled in fear and worry. She achingly watched Gabrielle huddled over Terreis's dead body, pleading with the Fates. Once Gabrielle let go of Terreis, Aphrodite felt her connection instantly severed with Gabrielle. In a heartbeat, Gabrielle's wrath for Xena fractured what was special between a god and a mortal, only between a god and her chosen. And Aphrodite was powerless to control any of it.
Now as she stood before Gabrielle, she was still helpless and could only wonder what would happen to her favorite mortal. Aphrodite had fought so hard for a better future for Gabrielle, and it was killed in a heartbeat by one woman's blade. Her powers as the Goddess of Love broke under her mortal's hatred and rage. She feared that despite her attempts for a better life, she could never truly give it to Gabrielle.
After a hard, cold stare, Gabrielle stepped around the goddess. She believed Aphrodite's words, but yet she still felt betrayed by the goddess, somehow. Perhaps she expected too much from a god that favored her. She had grown too accustom of Aphrodite protecting and sparing her from the real hardships of life. After all, Gabrielle had accepted her cast as an Amazon and nobody made her. An Amazon life was always riddled with war, death, and blood.
Aphrodite turned on her sandals' heals. She was startled by the mortal's sudden departure. "Gabs?" she called. "Gabrielle?" she attempted more seriously.
However, Gabrielle ignored the goddess's plea. She continued towards the village, her hands full with the last of Terreis's body. She vanished through the open gates and went directly to her hut. Gabrielle half expected Aphrodite to be in the hut, waiting for her. It was empty of human life, but it was full of stories from her days with Terreis. It was the first time she had stepped foot into the hut since the battle.
Gabrielle went to the nightstand on her side of the bed. She placed the urn there then gently positioned the marriage bracelet on top of it. Her eyes wandered through the hut, and Gabrielle started panicking. She breathed harder and sweat beaded along her brow even though it was a cool day.
"I cannot do this," Gabrielle muttered. She shook her head and went to the empty rucksack that hung from one of the pegs along the wall. She pulled it off, opened the worn flap, and started filling it with certain items, the most important being a pouch of coins. She tossed a small, sealed jar in the pack then closed up the flap.
Gabrielle hurried to the door, but she halted abruptly beside the peg board. She raised her hand and fingered the soft fletching of several arrows. Beside the filled quiver was a worn bow that had been Terreis's very first. Gabrielle clenched her jaw then sharply grabbed the quiver and arrow. She then hurried to Terreis's trunk, which was ornate with horse carvings. It was one of Gabrielle's favorite pieces. But, she disregarded that part and instead lifted the lid. She rummaged through Terreis's belongings until she found it.
In her hand, Gabrielle held a clay vile that had a cork in the top. She wiggled it off with her thumb then brought it to her nose. She recognized the smell, and she was pleased. Gabrielle pushed down on the cork until it was tight again. She slipped it into the rucksack as she made her way to the door.
Outside, it was dark already and Amazons quietly moved about the village. Many were headed to the food hut for dinner, but Gabrielle went to the stables. She ducked into the torchlit building and went to her horse's stall.
Skylla whined and still warmly greeted her friend even if she was exhausted from the long journey.
Gabrielle rushed to tack her mare. She was cold with the horse and fell into the tack routine.
Skylla whined again, but in worry. She had last seen Gabrielle during the battle. She easily sensed something very wrong with the human.
"Come on, girl." Gabrielle guided her horse out of the stall. They left the stables and went to the gates. Many passing Amazons gave her a long stare, but nobody questioned her until she made it to the gate.
"Ilarchès, where do you plan to travel?" the guard inquired. She tensed when cold eyes locked on her.
"I plan to make camp outside of the village," Gabrielle explained. "I will return at first light." She gently tugged on Skylla's reins.
"With your horse?" the Amazon challenged. She regretted it because the ilarchès turned on her.
"With my horse," Gabrielle hotly stated. "Is that a problem?" She dared the Amazon to defy her further. Gabrielle held more rank.
"No," the guard weakly replied. "Please be safe." She took in Gabrielle's dirty features and bloody armor. It was obvious the ilarchès had yet to attend to herself and still may not.
Gabrielle turned and continued across the landscape. Once a little further, she mounted Skylla and continued at a walk. She hardly wanted to push Skylla after so many long days of previous travel.
Skylla climbed the hill and followed the ridge towards the east. She had slept many candlemarks after her return to the stable yesterday evening. Skylla was still worn, but she pressed forward for Gabrielle's sake.
Gabrielle focused on the ride east, away from the village. Her mind continued turning over the battle between the Amazons and the warlord. If Gabrielle had been there sooner, she could have protected Terreis. She had yet to stop thinking about her mistakes yesterday. She forced herself to think about what she could do now.
The battle had ended yesterday afternoon, a candlemark before sunset. The warlord's army retreated east and probably would have only traveled for that last stretch of daylight. Gabrielle had heard a broken report to the queen when the queen briefly joined her in the Passing hut. Apparently the Amazon scouts located the warlord's army that made camp by a large lake only a half a day's ride to Leta. Gabrielle suspected the warlord planned to lick her wounds in Leta before carrying out her next plan. She would find the right opportunity to visit with Xena.
Gabrielle rode for a solid candlemark and went past the Amazons' territory. She had knowledge about the patrol's timing, and she easily slipped out of Amazon lands undetected by anybody. She wished to break for camp, but she was near the woods that could provide her with cover. She pushed Skylla for another half of a candlemark. She eventually found a quiet glade beside a creek. Gabrielle built a quick camp because she planned to leave at first light.
Skylla was freed from her tack and ate grass within the glade or forged water from the creek. She rarely strayed from Gabrielle.
Beside a campfire, Gabrielle stared into the flames and remembered Terreis's funeral. Melosa had been at her side as they watched Terreis's wrapped body be lifted onto the top of the pyre. Melosa held a torch and spoke the Amazon's Last Prayer and wished Terreis a safe journey to the Amazon afterlife. She should have placed the flame to the pyre, but she instead turned to Gabrielle and held out the torch.
Gabrielle accepted the honor from the queen. She whispered her last words of love to Terreis before she put the torch's flame into the kindle. Step by step, Gabrielle went around the funeral pyre and lit it from all four sides. She returned to Melosa's side and watched Terreis's body be committed to the flames. Gabrielle had no tears, all of them left in the Passing hut when it was only her and Terreis. She refused to cry before the other Amazons and the queen.
Gradually the funeral pyre faded into the campfire before Gabrielle. She was alone, besides Skylla. She refocused on her plans to avenge Terreis. It was all that mattered to Gabrielle. At such thoughts, she pulled a sharpening stone from the rucksack and unsheathed her xiphos from her back. She started sharpening the blade that had killed many hoplites yesterday.
Time passed unknown to Gabrielle as she methodically worked on her xiphos. She later retrieved her kopis from the sheath where it was strapped on the side of the saddlebags. She wanted to make sure her blades were ready for battle again. Last was her dagger, a twin to the one that had been sticking out of Xena's back. Gabrielle prayed this dagger met the warlord's heart. Her sharpening haze was only broken when she sensed a familiar presence in the glade.
"Leave me," Gabrielle coldly ordered. She eyed the goddess off to her right.
Aphrodite ignored the command. She was a god and was extremely worried about her chosen. "This is suicide, Gabs." She started over to the seated mortal.
Gabrielle stayed silent and narrowed her eyes at the approaching goddess.
Aphrodite knelt down in front of the Amazon. "Please do not do this."
Gabrielle's jaw tightened before she hotly whispered, "I said leave me."
Aphrodite felt as if she was stripped down to a mortal, again powerless. She studied the blood and dirt leftover from the battle still on Gabrielle's face and matted in her hair. Even the bronze armor reflected streaks of dried blood. Aphrodite's stomach knotted harder at the savage-like appearance Gabrielle gave off.
"Terreis would not want this," Aphrodite argued. She wanted to add that it was against her wishes too, but she held her tongue.
"Terreis isn't here," Gabrielle stated, bitterly. "And it's what I want," she snapped.
"You could be killed," Aphrodite pleaded. Her eyes were wide with fear.
Gabrielle sheathed the dagger at her back. "Maybe." She clenched the sharpening stone in her right hand. "If so, I will see Terreis soon."
Aphrodite closed her eyes and wished she could control Gabrielle. She wanted to lock the mortal away until she came to her senses. Or cast a spell that put Gabrielle to sleep until the fury was gone. Yet, Aphrodite knew nothing she could do would truly take away Gabrielle's pain. If she were Hades, she would consider bringing Terreis back for Gabrielle. However, she was just the Goddess of Love.
"Somebody must kill her before she destroys anymore lives," Gabrielle whispered. She found blue eyes on her again.
"Please," Aphrodite desperately whispered. "Please stay away from her, Gabrielle." She placed her hand on the Amazon's knee. "Please," she begged one last time.
Gabrielle turned her features away. Her right bicep grew as she tightened her grip on the sharpening stone. "Blood will have blood."
Aphrodite bowed her head after the Amazon's old traditions surfaced in Gabrielle. She had often heard Artemis say such words, and it echoed among her Amazons. There was nothing Aphrodite could do to change Gabrielle's mind. She wanted to protect Gabrielle during the battle. Now she wished to control Gabrielle. However, a god was forbidden to intervene by Zeus's decree. At times, Aphrodite could supply help, but to force anything upon a chosen was treacherous.
After resigning herself, the goddess stood up and crossed the glade towards the creek. She felt Gabrielle's eyes follow her. She knelt beside the creek and dipped her right hand into the water. Instantly a bowl formed in her hand, and she lifted it from the cool waters. Aphrodite returned to the Amazon and knelt down in the same spot.
"At least let me clean you," Aphrodite murmured. She reached into the bowl, and she pulled out a wet cloth that had materialized in the water. She lifted the wet cloth and waited for permission, which still had not come to her.
Gabrielle swallowed hard then gave a low nod. She closed her eyes after the cool, damp cloth started on her forehead. After a bit, she found herself leaning into the tender administrations from her friend.
Each time Aphrodite dipped the cloth into the bowl, the blood and grime seeped off then vanished in the water. She lifted the clean cloth and continued wiping the battle away from Gabrielle's face. She slowly made her way down to Gabrielle's neck.
Gabrielle released a low sigh and kept her eyes closed as the cool cloth took off the blood from her throat. Aphrodite eventually stood and went behind her. Gabrielle dropped her head forward when the cloth went over the back of her neck. She could hardly stop her low moan.
Aphrodite swallowed hard but continued wiping off the blood from any exposed skin around the armor. She then attempted cleaning some of the blood in the Amazon's blond strands. She come in front of Gabrielle again, knelt once more, and set the bowl down. She dipped the cloth in the still clear water then started wiping Gabrielle's exposed arms. She was saddened by the silver arm bracelet above Gabrielle's bicep. She knew Terreis had gifted it to Gabrielle.
Gabrielle was still bent forward, elbows on her knees. She held out her arms and finally opened her eyes. She noticed the goddess's intrigued interests in her arms.
Over the anni, Aphrodite had watched her chosen grow from a girl to a warrior. As she wiped the remnants of battle away, she exposed the toned muscles under Gabrielle's skin. It was the first time Aphrodite allowed herself to pay attention to such detail. Many times in the past, Aphrodite had watched Gabrielle wrestle other Amazons for training and losing at first then later winning every time. Nobody could best Gabrielle in wrestling, and Aphrodite now saw why it was so.
Gabrielle fisted her right hand after Aphrodite cleaned her palm. She was well aware of the tension between her and the goddess.
Aphrodite cleared her throat and whispered, "Let me take off your armor." She placed the cloth into the bowl and first removed the bronze greaves. Next she unhooked the leather straps that held Gabrielle's breastplate together. Aphrodite carefully pulled it away from Gabrielle and set it beside the greaves, near the swords. She turned back to Gabrielle with the wet cloth in hand.
Where the armor had been, blood had trailed past and left red lines over sweaty skin. Gabrielle's red leathers were just as dark as the dried blood.
Aphrodite bit her bottom lip after she saw a small wound at Gabrielle's waist, just below where the armor would stop. She suspected it hurt a lot less than the blade cuts to Gabrielle's arms. She had cleaned those cuts as best as possible, in hopes they would not get infected later. However, it could already be too late. Aphrodite knew her friend could give a damn about infection and would put up with a fever. She was grateful Gabrielle had allowed her to clean her because she prayed the enchanted water in her bowl would sterilize the wounds.
Aphrodite continued her administrations but now with Gabrielle's legs. Similar to earlier, she awed at Gabrielle's developed muscles in her calves and thighs. Whatever was left of a village girl was long gone. Aphrodite dipped the cloth into the clean water and asked, "Can you straighten up?"
Gabrielle silently responded by doing so. She lowered her hands to the stone under her and gripped the corners. She curiously watched the hesitant goddess.
Aphrodite bit the inside of her mouth as she steeled her emotions. She started at what she thought was the hardest spot, along Gabrielle's chest. She rid of the blood and sweat then cleaned the cloth in the enchanted water. However, Aphrodite found it far more difficult to deal with Gabrielle's stomach. Even with the cloth between her hand and Gabrielle's skin, Aphrodite felt every defined muscle in her hand. Her eyes were fixated on the muscles' curves that shined under the firelight as the cloth moved off each one. Aphrodite realized she was breathing harder than necessary. She also sensed Gabrielle dark eyes on her. She quickly broke the moment by standing up.
Gabrielle turned her head sidelong as the goddess went behind her again.
Aphrodite brought the wet cloth across Gabrielle's shoulders. She pushed forward in silent order.
Gabrielle leaned forward, her arms across her knees. She dropped her head down and waited for Aphrodite to be done.
The goddess had control of herself again and focused on cleaning the last bit of blood off the Amazon's body. She knelt and took away the sweat from Gabrielle's lower back. Similar to the front of Gabrielle's body, she was able to see the tone and definition in Gabrielle's body. It amazed her how much Gabrielle's body had changed.
Just like her body, Gabrielle's mind had also been trained into a warrior. Once Gabrielle had been a chatty girl was now replaced by a quiet warrior that only spoke pointedly.
Aphrodite dropped the cloth into the bowl and stood up. "All done," she stated. She wanted to clean the armor, but she doubted Gabrielle would take kindly to water on her armor, enchanted or not.
"Thank you," Gabrielle offered. She indeed felt a sliver of humanity under her skin again. She stood up after she picked up her sheathed weapons in her right hand. "But you should go," she said it more gently than earlier.
Aphrodite lowered her hand that held the bowl. It started to fall then vanished into thin air. Once upon a time, her friend would rather have company than be alone. However, Gabrielle wanted to heal by herself. Aphrodite had to honor the request so she gave a low nod. She studied the hard eyes in front of her.
"Think about what I said," Aphrodite attempted again, "Think about what Terreis would want." She wanted to pass a kiss onto Gabrielle's cheek, but she relented and instead faded away like the bowl had done earlier. "And what I would want," her voice whispered.
Gabrielle walked through the space that Aphrodite had occupied a heartbeat ago. She went to the saddlebags and put the sharpening stone away. She grabbed bread that had been in her pack since Potidaea. Her mother had made it, and she should have refused it because it was against her diet. However, she needed something quick and heavy to settle her stomach for the night.
The nut bread was sweet and took Gabrielle back to her parents' home. She remembered sneaking pieces to her bedroom with Lila. It was her favorite bread, and her mother knew it. Gabrielle found it difficult to eat because she had planned to share it with Terreis when they returned home to their hut. Now she ate it alone, and it almost left a sour taste in her mouth. She folded up the other half and tucked it away in her saddlebag again.
The night wore on but Gabrielle never slept because her mind refused any peace. She left the furs tied to the saddlebags, not even making a slight attempt. At first light, she stirred Skylla and tacked the horse. She went to the creek and quickly washed her face and hair. The last of the blood was gone from her hair. Finally she wiped down her armor with an oiled rag before she put it on again. She looked renewed on the outside, but she was so very broken.
Skylla stomped her right hoof when Gabrielle came to her. She huffed after the Amazon was in the saddle. At the signal, she turned and started through the woods.
Gabrielle traveled at a slow pace through the woods until she came to the road that ran east and west. She knew it would take her directly to Leta from here. She would pick up the warlord's trail soon.
About three candlemarks east of Leta, Gabrielle indeed found where the warlord's broken army came from the lands slightly north and then returned to the main road. Gabrielle studied the war wagon's ruts made in the still soft ground from the earlier rains. She pulled on her armor for a beat then tapped on Skylla's sides. She went after the slow moving army.
The ride to Leta went quickly, but Gabrielle stayed away from the town's entrance. She instead took refuge on a hilltop after she left Skylla hitched to a tree branch in hiding. Gabrielle had climbed the hill then laid on her belly at the top. She grunted from her armor's slight pressure against her chest, but she focused on the village nestled below her.
Leta was busy with activity because the warlord had returned with her army. Outside of the village, the army had made camp and several fires were spread out over the landscape. One farmer was probably quite annoyed that his field was decimated by the warlord's army. However, little could be done about it since the village swore allegiance to the Destroyer of Nations.
The army's camp had several tents but only one was slightly larger than the rest. It was centrally located in the camp and also guarded by two hoplites. All around the camp hoplites moved around and reorganized themselves after a loss. Healers were busy dealing with the ailing hoplites.
From Gabrielle's observations, it was obvious that reaching Xena was too difficult at the moment. She needed to wait until later. She would follow the army until the right opportunity came to her. Gabrielle returned to Skylla and took the horse's reins. She needed to locate a safe spot so that Xena's scouts missed her.
Once hidden in a cave with Skylla, Gabrielle went on a hunt using Terreis's bow. She caught two rabbits and returned to the cave. She cooked them with spices and ate every morsel. She needed her strength for when she faced the warlord. She had made a promise to take down the warlord.
Yet, Gabrielle's hands trembled from pure exhaustion. She refused to the sleep though. She wished to keep the nightmares away for as long as possible. Gabrielle forced herself to stay awake. She used her journal to keep herself occupied. She sketched a drawing of the battle, from how it appeared overhead during the heat of it.
Gabrielle shifted against her hard spot on the cave's wall. She lowered the journal and quill to the side. Her head rested against the cave's wall.
Aphrodite formed from the darkness at the cave's mouth. She left herself unseen by mortal eye, including Gabrielle's own. She studied the Amazon propped against the cave's wall. She had wanted to check on her friend, who was lost to her now due to Terreis's death. Aphrodite approached the Amazon and knelt down beside her.
Gabrielle lifted her head off the wall and opened her eyes. She needed to get up and rekindle the fire. As she moved her hands, she noticed they were shaking again so she fisted them hard. Her veins protruded further against her muscles and skin. But, the shakes continued despite her wishes.
Aphrodite followed Gabrielle's downward gaze and sadly watched the trembles. She sighed heavily and lifted her eyes. She studied the dark circles around Gabrielle's own eyes. Aphrodite hoarsely whispered, "Gabs." She had to make her friend sleep, especially if Gabrielle were to face Xena in the coming days.
Aphrodite lifted her hands and placed them against Gabrielle's cheeks. She shut her eyes and concentrated on her friend.
Gabrielle released a sigh at the warmth across her face. She felt flushed, but it was comforting too. It reminded her of one person, and she hoarsely whispered, "Dity." She could hardly control her heavy eyelids. Her grip on reality slipped, and she went to sleep in moments. Her body slumped against the cavern wall.
Aphrodite raised her head. She had a worried look after she had heard Gabrielle call for her. "I'm here, sweet pea." She still held Gabrielle's cheeks. "Always." She silently promised Gabrielle she would be safe, in her dreamscape and in the living world. Aphrodite rose up and crossed to the cave's mouth. Similar to earlier, she faded away into the darkness, but she waved her hand in the air. The cave behind her suddenly vanished from any humans' eye so that Gabrielle would be safe. Aphrodite prayed the sleep was enough for her chosen. Tonight's rest was Gabrielle last moment of peace before she avenged her consort. She would have Xena's life for Terreis's death.
As Artemis taught her Amazons, blood would have blood.
To be continued.
