Disclaimer & Notices: See the prologue.

AN: So another update! This was a great chapter to write... Gabrielle on a serious revenge mission. I'm glad readers are still following the story. I appreciate the awesome support! There's still a lot to write for this one. Please enjoy the update!

Anonymous Reviews

Nancy G: I definitely feel for Aphrodite too. She's done so much to help Gabrielle and then this happens. It's heart wrenching for both of them. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Nancy. I'm also glad you're sticking through the story. ;) Thank you for the feedback!

Guest (from Jun 19): Nice! It's awesome to hear you're liking the pairing. It's starting to build another step between them again. There's going to be some interesting things to come out in a later chapter. But, I do feel for both Gabs and Aphrodite about this whole thing. Should be interesting to see how it plays out! Thank you for the review! :)

masyl: I agree it is both sad and also true. Hopefully Gabs makes it through everything. Thank you for the review. I'll do my best to keep up with the story.

Series: One Shot

My Immortal Love

by Red Hope

Chapter 9

Gabrielle jerked awake and sat up quickly. She groaned from the stiffness in her muscles after a night against the cave wall. She blinked away the weariness then looked towards the cave's mouth.

It was daylight, about a candlemark after sunrise. The morning birds were done their song. Skylla whined in greeting to her friend.

Gabrielle rubbed the back of her neck and replied, "Mornin', Skylla." She was annoyed she had slept through the night, but she felt better too. She had slept so hard that she had no dreams or nightmares. Gabrielle picked up her journal, quill, and sheathed xiphos. She began organizing her things.

After a quick breakfast, Gabrielle tacked her horse and hooked the xiphos to her side. She guided Skylla out of the cave. As she passed the mouth, her departure triggered the end of Aphrodite's cloaking spell. The cave reformed to all mortals' eyes, unbeknownst to Gabrielle.

With Skylla at her side, the Amazon trekked back to Leta. Again Skylla was hitched to the same tree, and Gabrielle climbed the hill again. Similar to yesterday, she went on her belly and crawled to the peak of the hill. She slotted her eyes from all the commotion from the warlord's army. She concluded the army was mobilizing, but the concern was the army's destination. Gabrielle doubted it was back to the Amazons because the army was still weak. She planned to follow them and make her move at the right time. Her patience would pay off.

At nearly sun high, the army marched out of Leta and onto the main road, headed east. At the head of the army, Xena led her hoplites. She had plans to rebuild her army and would keep her promise to Queen Melosa for another battle. A small unit of a hundred and fifty hoplites to the east offered reinforcements, but Xena needed more warriors, weapons, and supplies. Such things also required coin, which had been depleted recently. There was much to be done before Xena could face the Amazons again.

Gabrielle watched from her hidden spot in the trees as the warlord's army passed before her. She estimated the army was down to a hundred and sixty hoplites and a hundred peltasts. She smirked at her nation's skill and strength against the warlord. Once the army was gone, Gabrielle climbed down from the tree and went to Skylla.

Gabrielle opened the saddlebags and pulled out her duster, which she set on the ground. She then removed her armor and tied it together. She picked up the duster and shrugged it on but left it open, for now. Next she reorganized the items in her saddlebags and rucksack until she had the essentials items in the rucksack. Last, she grabbed rope and lashed her armor, bow, and quiver all together.

Skylla twisted her head around when her human friend climbed into the tree. She curiously watched Gabrielle lifted the armor and bow up into the tree.

Gabrielle hastily tied off the armor and weapon in the tree, hidden from sight. She returned to the ground, hefted the rucksack over her shoulder, and took Skylla's reins. She headed for the village. Before she forgot, she buttoned up her duster and hid her well tone body from prying eyes. Gabrielle wanted to leave no impression upon the villagers of Leta, who followed the warlord.

Once in the busy village, Gabrielle located a stable and spoke to the owner. She worked out a deal with him so that he cared for Skylla and also took care of her few belongings in the saddlebags. Gabrielle took her horse into a stall and spent a few moments with her horse. She promised Skylla she would be back soon. On her way out, she paid the stable owner well and said she would be back within a fortnight, perhaps sooner. The stable owner asked nothing and accepted the three silver coins. He was promised two more once Gabrielle came back for Skylla.

At the agora, Gabrielle purchased a few items for her next meals, but she planned to mostly hunt. Hastily she left the town and returned to her armor and weapon. She retrieved the items and put on her armor again.

On the road, Gabrielle easily followed the army's trail. She worked out various scenarios on how she would get close to Xena. When she had the chance to isolate the warlord then she would strike. Gabrielle had the strength and skill to challenge Xena, but she was outnumbered if she had to face multiple hoplites.

The journey east continued for a day and half until the army went north on a less traveled road. Shortly a smaller unit rejoined the army and doubled the weakened army's size. Gabrielle had frowned in annoyance and considered what the warlord may do now. At dawn, she was amazed that the army continued north.

Just a candlemark march from a large village, the army made camp and prepared for a day of blood tomorrow. Gabrielle hid among the trees, well taught by her people. Several times she listened and saw hoplites patrol past or near her. She kept alert but never engaged them. Instead, she learned bits and pieces about the attack for tomorrow, at first light.

For awhile, Gabrielle weighed whether or not to alert the village. However, she doubted it would be even enough time for the militia to rally. It was a hopeless cause, or so she believed in her head. Some part of Gabrielle wished for the attack to take place so that she had a chance to corner Xena. She could almost taste the warlord's blood in her mouth. She pictured how tomorrow would play out and looked forward to it. She would avenge Terreis's murder or die trying to honor Terreis.

Two candlemarks before dawn, Gabrielle noticed the army's patrol had ended its routine checks. She knew it meant the army was mobilizing for war. She climbed down from the tree and neatly landed on her boots. She swung off her rucksack, squatted down, and opened the flap.

Similar to the army, Gabrielle prepared for battle. She first retrieved the clay vile, popped off the cork, and put a drop of the amber liquid onto her fingertip. She carefully tasted it for its potency. It was perfect so she spit it out from her mouth. She retrieved her dagger from behind her back and then carefully allowed the thick amber liquid to coat the blade. Satisfied, she slid it back into the horizontal sheath attached just under her armor.

Next, Gabrielle unhooked her xiphos from her back and placed it on the ground beside her. She rummaged through the rucksack again. This time she pulled out the small clay jar and pulled the top off it. Inside of it was a thick white paste that had been used in the past. It was Terreis's war paint that she had earned after training, similar to her bow that Gabrielle had brought with her.

Gabrielle set the jar of war paint on the ground in front of her. She pulled her xiphos free from the sheath and stared coldly at the war paint. She pictured Terreis and felt her consort's touches ghost across her skin. She went cold when she remembered Terreis's last moments.

"I will avenge you, Terreis. I will have her life for yours." Gabrielle tightened her grip on the xiphos and brought the blade to her left hand. She opened her palm and pressed the blade into the center. "Blood will have blood." She gritted her teeth at how good the blade felt cutting open her skin. She lowered the xiphos and fisted her left hand as the blood rushed from the wound.

Gabrielle turned her fist upward and allowed the blood to drip into the war paint. Once she had deposited enough blood into the war paint, she yanked a cloth from out of the rucksack. She tightly tied her hand to cut off the blood flow. She picked up the jar of war paint and used her two fingers to mix the blood with the white paint. In moments, she had red war paint, which she coated over her fingers.

With precision, she dragged her three fingers from her right temple, past the corner of her eye, down her cheek, and stopped part of the way down her neck. She recoated her fingers, closed her eyes, and applied more war paint horizontally from her left temple, over her eyelids, the bridge of her nose, and to her right temple. A few times she had to recoat her fingers to fully create the band across her eyes, nose, and temple.

Gabrielle opened her eyes and breathed in deeply, a sense of great strength filled her. She hastily closed the war paint and returned it to the rucksack. She had a little bit of time so she built a tiny fire. As it grew, she took a moment to hide her rucksack in the tree for later. By the time she was on the ground again, the small fire was strong enough so Gabrielle put the xiphos tip into the flames. As she waited for it to heat up, she untied her left hand and studied the open wound.

Gabrielle pulled the xiphos out of the fire and lifted the bright orange tip. Without a second thought, she sharply gripped the flat of the hot blade with her left hand. She seared her wound shut and only hissed from the pain. She jerked her hand away and clenched her jaw against the momentary pain. Soon it would hardly be noticeable once she was focused on her pending kill.

Quickly, the Amazon sheathed her xiphos and hooked the weapon to her left side. Next, she picked up the bow and quiver, which she strung over her back. After the stomped out the fire, she hurried towards the mobilized army.

The warlord's army had broken camp and split in half with the peltast flanking each side of the hoplite units. Xena headed one unit towards the village's gates while the other went around the village. Her arrival stirred a horn signal.

Gabrielle had entered a field, which had cattle. She went directly to an old yet large olive tree. She quickly climbed into it and found a perfect spot higher up. She had a great view of the army besieging the sealed gates.

A commotion from the north sounded, and Gabrielle was unsure until she realized there was another gate on the north side of the village. It had been open long enough for the village's militia to exit. Gabrielle curiously watched the militia collide with Xena's unit, in hopes to surprise them. However, their attempt was bested by Xena's second unit coming from the east. The militia was shortly crushed, and dying screams faded off one by one.

The warlord's army continued its siege on the weakened wood gate. After several more booms, the wood gate collapsed in a loud explosion. Cheers from the warlord's army thundered around the walls. Like a flood, Xena's army filled the village.

Gabrielle darkly smiled and hastily climbed out of the tree. She adjusted the bow then took off at a sprint for the village. She snuck into the village and was absorbed by the chaos. In a fluent motion, she unsheathed her sword and started winding through the streets. Several times, she went under a blade swing and sliced a hoplite in her way. Her blood pulsed with need, and she ignored all the villagers' cries for help.

With slight frustration, Gabrielle decided she needed an advantage point. She climbed onto a house's thatched roof. She jumped onto the next building, which was stone. It was also taller, and she took in more of the city than she did on the street. Distantly, she heard a very distinct war cry. Gabrielle zeroed on the location and started in that direction.

Xena, the Destroyer of Nations, slashed another militia in half. She took a deep breath and scanned her immediate surroundings. She landed her dark features on one familiar hoplite. "Bring her here."

"Yes, my liege." The hoplite wiped his blade clean on a dead peasant's shirt. "Will she be at the gates?"

Xena nodded. "Go." She watched him depart before she gazed upon the stone steps up to the temple. She knew there would be wealth hidden the temple. One by one, she climbed the steps to the sealed doors.

After another war cry, the warlord slammed her boot hard against the sealed wood door. She was hardly surprised that it was bolted on the other side. Again and again, Xena kicked it until the latch was torn from its bolts in the wood. She shoved open the doors and entered the quiet temple.

From a deep inhale, she could already tell it was a temple to Aphrodite. Nothing smelled more fragrant than the Goddess of Love's temple. Xena darkly smiled because Aphrodite's temples were one of the wealthiest, behind Zeus's temples. Too many villagers were idiots and believed in the goddess's trivial powers.

Outside of the temple, Gabrielle launched off a building's wood roof. She had already counted three hoplites between her and the temple. She sheathed her sword and freed her bow. In quick succession, she fired arrows into each hoplite's neck. Gabrielle swung the bow across her back and strolled past the dying hoplites then climbed the temple's steps.

Aphrodite's temple was usually a welcoming place, but Gabrielle was after blood. She silently apologized to Aphrodite if she spilled Xena's blood here. As she walked past the columns at the vestibule, she heard Xena's yells.

"I will bring this door down!" A boom echoed through the temple. "Your goddess could not save you from my hands!"

Gabrielle slotted her eyes and entered the sanctuary at a sprint. All around her, she was greeted by statues and icons of the Goddess of Love. But she was hardly here for worship, and she passed through the sanctuary into the flanks of columns that went around the temple. She ran harder as the booms grew even louder. She was very close.

Another sequence of booms resounded when stone collided with metal. Gabrielle drew her xiphos as she came to the corner of the adyton. It was the room where the priestesses would store the most precious artifacts and themselves to guard it, in vain. They would give their lives to protect their goddess's offerings. It would cost them their lives at the tip of the warlord's sword.

Xena continued ramming the locked door with the statue of Aphrodite. The statue's head had created a round dent into the bronze door. Chips of marble had fallen to the floor. She drew back and prepared for another surge. She drove forward hard and fast.

The bronze door gave way this time and flung open, slightly twisted from the destruction. Xena was relieved and dropped the statue. She smirked at the priestesses' gasps, and she started for them. She swiftly extracted the sword from her sheath. She counted four priestesses and one of them had to be the head priestess.

Xena stalked forward, blade at the ready. She smiled wolfishly at the scared women. "I will not kill you, but you will wish I had once my…" She caught the right priestess's attention flicker past her. Xena gave a low yell and spun around with her blade up in time. She had stopped a xiphos from slicing her. She stared wide eye at the shorter woman before her.

Gabrielle held the xiphos with both hands. Her wild green eyes were locked with Xena's own.

The warlord inhaled deeply, and it caused her nose to flare wide with outrage. "You," she whispered. She still had the Amazon's dagger in her boot from the battle. She was impressed that the Amazon had tracked her down, on an obvious hunt for revenge. "How was the funeral?"

Gabrielle yelled and kicked at the warlord's exposed stomach. She watched the warlord collide with a column. She started for Xena with dark intent. There was murder in her eyes.

Xena was briefly stunned, but she pushed through it and straightened up. She spun the sword once then waited for her enemy. She saw the first attack and tilted to the right, the blade narrowly missing her face. She gave a cry and attacked the Amazon.

Gabrielle parried the swipe and then the thrust. She matched Xena's blows with ease. She was nicked once on her forearm, but she hardly noticed it.

Xena was impressed by the Amazon's skill and drive to win. She understood how rage could provide its own focus and strength.

The priestesses remained in front of the offerings while the two warriors battled each other. The high priestess finally snapped out of it and ordered her three priestesses to go. They refused her at first until she made them go. She then looked back at the two warriors and a hard smack made her cringe.

Gabrielle had taken a blow to the side of her head. Briefly her vision went fuzzy, but she was able to back away from another kick. She ignored the throb in her head and adrenaline kept her pace fast. She went under Xena's next swipe, popped up, and grappled Xena's arm. With skill, she spun Xena around and slammed her into a column.

The warlord groaned and dropped her sword after all the impact went into her back, transferred from her bronze cuirass. She gasped for air but the Amazon already grabbed her by the breast plate. For a brief heartbeat, she was airborne until she was slammed onto the marble floor.

Gabrielle raised her sword and brought it down. She missed though because Xena recovered fast enough.

The warlord had rolled away, popped onto one knee and foot and then kicked out Gabrielle's sword from her hand.

Gabrielle growled and lunged for the warlord. She was hardly deterred by the fact she lost her sword.

Xena gave a low cry until she and the Amazon collided into another column. She matched Gabrielle's strength and rolled them so that Gabrielle was pinned against it. She towered over the Amazon and forced her downward.

Gabrielle gritted her teeth and peered up into cold blue eyes. Her eyes were as dark as her red war paint. Her muscles coiled tighter in her legs and arms as she pushed back against the warlord. She curled her fingers around the edges of the warlord's armor and had a better grip. Gabrielle gave a yell as she pushed up and forward.

Xena was losing the display of strength to the Amazon. She struggled as her boots slid against the marble. Chaos broke lose as her cry and the Amazon's own mixed in the air. Xena lost control, and they went to the floor together. She ended up on her back with the small yet bulky Amazon over her chest.

Gabrielle instantly had her hands around Xena's neck. She tightened her grip around Xena's throat.

Xena grappled again with the Amazon's arms, but the sweat between them made it even harder to get a strong grip. She gasped for air but black spots started forming in front of her vision.

Gabrielle barred her teeth and enjoyed every heartbeat of the warlord's death. She savored how she slowly strangled the life from the dark warlord. But, it was not enough so she reached behind with her left hand.

Xena's weakened state was nothing compared to the well trained Amazon over her. Her nails continued clawing into Gabrielle's right arm, but it was hopeless. Her eyes widen when a dagger came at her throat.

Gabrielle seethed with rage, and she bent forward. She pushed the dagger's poisoned tip against the warlord's throat. She brought her lips close to Xena's ear and hauntingly whispered, "Your blood will repay my consort's death." She shut her eyes when one of Xena's hands pressed into her face, but she held all the power. Gabrielle soaked in the warlord's fear for death and loss of greatness. She tightened her hand around the warlord's throat after Xena's nails dug into her cheek. Her war paint smeared over her face and Xena's palm.

The high priestess had remained in the adyton and was frozen by what she saw before her. She pushed off her table and demanded, "Blood cannot be spilled in the temple of Aphrodite!" She only made it a few steps before a new arrival entered the adyton. She trembled from the darkness that radiated off the new comer.

Gabrielle finally decided to complete her promise to Terreis. She breathed out, "Blood will have blood." She applied more pressure to the dagger, and its edge prepared to slice through the skin of Terreis's killer until long fingers tangled and jerked in Gabrielle's hair.

Gabrielle barely had a chance to lift her eyes before excoriating pain erupted through her entire body. Crazed images from war and battle flashed through her mind. Screams exploded from her lips, and she blacked out when it was too much. She fell off the still breathing warlord and went limp.

Gabrielle had failed Terreis.

Her failure terrorized her even in her unconscious state. Terreis berated her for not completing the kill in time and bringing her blood justice. Gabrielle roared with fury and sharply woke up from water hitting her entire body. Her dreamscape's yell exploded from her lips and thundered between the temple's columns. She was seated against a column and quickly realized her wrists and ankles were bound by rope.

A hoplite stepped aside after he lowered the bucket in his hand. He peered over at his leader. He was flanked by six other hoplites, whom were covered in various blood and dirt from battle.

Once he stepped aside, Gabrielle had a view of the warlord that towered before her.

Xena had her left hand resting on her sword's hilt. She slotted her eyes at the awakened Amazon at her feet. "Welcome back."

Gabrielle slotted her eyes at the warlord.

"You travelled a distance to find me." Xena took a step closer and knelt down until she was level with the Amazon. "What is your name, Amazon?"

Gabrielle grounded her teeth and remained silent. But, she noticed the markings across Xena's neck from the earlier chokehold. She could barely hide her pleased smirk.

Xena matched the Amazon with her own glower. She reached for the dagger that had been at her throat a candlemark ago. "You came well prepared." Off to her right, were the Amazon's weapons piled together. Xena held up the dagger to her nose and smelled the poison. She brought the dagger forward, pointed at the Amazon. "I am not done with your people." She tapped the tip against the Amazon's bronze chest. "And I think you will be of use in the next battle."

Gabrielle lifted her chin and remained silent.

Xena leaned in closer and tilted her head. "I know the woman I killed was your consort." She pointed the dagger tip at the marriage bracelet on the Amazon's right wrist. "I remember Princess Terreis at the peace talks. It was a shame you weren't there with her. We could have met under better circumstances." She tapped the tip against the bracelet. "She wore the same bracelet." Xena studied it for a beat before she met the Amazon's dark eyes. "Princess Terreis was sweet… and naive."

Gabrielle started breathing hard, but she otherwise kept calm. She refused to be baited by the warlord.

Xena licked her lips and read the ire in the Amazon's eyes. She was getting under the Amazon's skin, even deeper. "You know what else I know?" Xena tapped the bracelet a second time. "After I put my blade through your consort's stomach, I immediately gave you her caste as princess." She smiled, darkly. "I know you will be of use in the next battle, princess."

Gabrielle was seething at the fact the warlord knew about her people's culture and traditions. She was now a bargaining chip for the warlord. She started moving forward, after the warlord. But the hoplites grabbed her by her arms, and she was held in place. She was still weak from whatever had hit her in the adyton.

Xena chuckled and held up the poisoned dagger. "Let's hope I do not knick you by accident." She stretched her arm out and brought the dagger to the Amazon's side. "Hold still now." With fast movements, she sliced through the leather straps that held the two-piece cuirass together. She almost grazed the Amazon's skin with the poisoned dagger.

"Remove her armor," Xena ordered. She stood up and stepped back as the hoplites forcefully removed the bronze cuirass and greaves. As she watched the armor be pulled away, she received an eyeful from the Amazon's impressively honed, muscular body. The partial hidden tattoo was now fully exposed, and Xena secretly admired the wispy horse tattoo. Xena now understood why she had been outmatched in strength.

"Bring the healer to sedate her," Xena further commanded. She sheathed the poisoned dagger. "Then shackle her arms and legs." She took more steps away, headed in the direction of the adyton. "She will break free of those ropes." Her heavy footfall echoed through the temple.

Xena returned to the adyton, which was busy with hoplites gathering the valuable offerings. They would need them to recoup their supplies and obtain new weapons. Xena spoke to a few hoplites but made her way over to the knelt figure at the side of the altar table. She squatted down and laced her fingers together.

"These priestesses of Aphrodite are always weak."

Xena studied the dead high priestess collapsed in front of her. She peered up into dark eyes and replied, "But much stronger than the peasants of the village."

"Hardly," the woman huskily argued.

Xena toothily smiled. "Alti, you have yet to go to Athena's temple on the other side of town."

Alti stood up and so did the warlord. "I will." She stared down at the dead priestess, whose soul now resided in Alti. "Is she awake?"

Xena knew who Alti meant, and she replied, "The little Amazon Princess is awake."

Alti chuckled and argued, "She was hardly little when she nearly strangled the life out of you." She reached up and touched the dark marks on Xena's throat. "She seemed to have acted alone."

Xena brushed Alti's hand away. "Yes." She moved away from Alti.

"I will interrogate her," Alti stated. She followed Xena through the adyton. Her sandals softly hit against the marble floor. Her dark chiton was long and only had one shoulder piece, her other exposed to inquiring eyes. She wore a gold girdle across her waist.

"I want to keep her alive." Xena slotted her eyes in warning to the shaman. "Your methods, if fought against, can kill the prisoner." She folded her arms. "And she will fight you."

Alti gave a low hum. "Very well," she agreed. She continued out of the adyton. "Tell me when you tire of her silence." She started out of the temple from the backside. She had a date with Athena's priestesses.

The warlord turned her head sidelong and ordered the hoplites to hurry up. She wanted to march further north and make camp before sunset. Today had been successful and gave them plenty of supplies. The unexpected bonus was the Amazon Nation's new princess as a prisoner. Xena left the adyton and heard the angry yell. She rounded the adyton and curiously watched the scene unfold before her.

The Amazon had spit out the laced water that the healer gave her. She was still bound with ropes but was on her feet and leaned heavily against a column.

An angry hoplite moved swiftly and delivered a blow to the Amazon's stomach. He grunted at the hard impact against her solid stomach.

Gabrielle flinched from the blow, but she mostly remained upright. She growled at the hoplite that had struck her. She dared him to do it again, and he did punch her. Another hoplite then grabbed her by the jaw and forced her mouth open. The water was poured into her mouth and rushed down her throat. She tasted the drug's potent flavor, but she had no control.

Xena remained in the distance and watched the battle of wills. She admired the Amazon's great strength, even warring with the water's drug. She tilted her head as the Amazon started to fall to her knees, succumbing to the drug. The Amazon finally collapsed to her side and softly moaned, her eyes glossy.

A hoplite with the shackles moved forward and started replacing the ropes with the chain. He and another hoplite had to lift the Amazon together. They found it a slight struggle to support her weight. Even if she was small, she was made up of a lot of mass. They dragged her out of the temple.

Gabrielle's head rolled from side to side. She struggled against the drug in her system, but she had no control. She was dragged out of the temple, down the steps, and her boots created trails through the dirt on the streets. Her mind grew fuzzier because the drug set in deeper. For a moment, she became weightless then her body harshly slammed into wood. She smelled straw around her, and she lifted her head.

Four hoplites mounted into the wagon and sat on the benches on either side of the wagon. One hoplite noticed the Amazon's attempt to get up. He grunted then bent over to his left. He brought his fist against her head.

Gabrielle slumped against the straw after the blow. She was still conscious and moved yet again until a second blow put her under. When she came out of her nightmare, she first noticed the low sunlight and straw still surrounded her. Gabrielle realized somebody knelt beside her was what woke her. A strong hand sharply latched onto her jaw and again water was forced into her mouth. She had no strength to stop it, and she was even thirsty despite the water was laced with a sedative. Gabrielle fell back into the straw. Her green eyes rolled many times.

"Gabrielle," a worried voice called.

Gabrielle blinked a few times then twisted her head around, a confused look on her face. She expected a seated hoplite to be above her, but she instead found her consort's concerned features. "Terreis?" she murmured.

Terreis was bent forward with her elbows on her knees. She had her full attention on Gabrielle. "I never thought you were this foolish."

Gabrielle frowned and argued, "She took you from me."

Terreis narrowed her eyes. "You took me from yourself."

Gabrielle was breathing heavy, and her heart raced. "You are all that I had."

"And the rest of the nation?" Terreis countered. "Do they mean nothing to you?" She was clearly upset. "You abandoned them to seek revenge." She shook her head. "You dishonor my memory and our people."

"Terreis…" Gabrielle struggled to move her hands, but they were far too heavy.

"I could have chosen any to be my consort," Terreis reminded. "But I chose you because you are different." She straightened up and sadly whispered, "Have I chosen wrong?"

Gabrielle dropped her head back and shut her eyes. She fought against her emotions that Terreis stirred in her chest. She hurt more than her body. Even with Terreis here, she felt alone and broken. She clenched her hands, but a gentle touch on her leg made her lifted her head again.

"I am always with you."

Gabrielle blinked several times, and she barely made out Terreis's outline. Finally the fog cleared from her mind, and she stared back at Aphrodite.

"Always, sweet pea," Aphrodite swore. She was knelt beside the Amazon in the straw.

"Aphrodite?" Gabrielle whispered in awe.

"Sit up, Gabs." The goddess helped her friend lean against the back of the wagon. She swayed with the wagon's motions.

Gabrielle was completely cleared headed now as if the drug was gone. She noticed the four hoplites had vanished, and it was just them.

"The first chance you have to escape," Aphrodite explained, "You must take it."

Gabrielle looked down at the manacles around her wrists. She peered up at the goddess.

Aphrodite gripped the Amazon's biceps. "I fear for you," she softly admitted. Her voice trembled, but she continued telling Gabrielle what she knew. "She is Ares's chosen. She travels with a shaman that can harm you far greater than anything on this Earth."

Gabrielle licked her cracked lips and weakly asked, "A shaman?"

"One who takes somebody's soul and harnesses it for power." Aphrodite had never shown fear until today. "I cannot lose you," she pleaded. She understood the depth of danger Gabrielle faced with a shaman so eager to steal her chosen's soul.

Gabrielle swallowed hard against the dread she felt from the goddess. "Aphrodite-"

"Promise me," Aphrodite demanded. Her hold tightened on the Amazon's biceps. "Promise me you will escape."

Gabrielle flinched from the grip against her arms. She finally nodded and roughly promised, "I swear it."

Aphrodite was hardly relieved because she was unsure how Gabrielle could escape, but it was important Gabrielle would do so. She freed one hand and pressed it against Gabrielle's cheek. Through the smeared war paint, Aphrodite still saw the girl she had first met in Potidaea. She bit her lip then whispered, "I will not stop you from what you seek, but I will catch you every time you fall from the tree."

Gabrielle gave a low laugh at a moment when she was at her ugliest, again. She closed her eyes when the goddess's thumb brushed against her lips.

Aphrodite sadly smiled because she felt her broken connection with her chosen start to rebuild itself. "I will be here," she promised, again.

Gabrielle's entire body became heavy once more. Her head rolled, like her eyes, and the drug seeped through her veins.

Aphrodite faded away and reformed in a dark temple on Mount Olympus. A chill settled over her shoulders, but she started towards the black throne at the top of stairs. She stood out against the décor of blades, skulls, and furs. She narrowed her eyes when a tall, dark hoplite materialized in the black throne.

The hoplite shined in his bronze armor, and he gripped a dory in his right hand. With his freehand, he reached for the helmet that had a large red horsehair plume. He pulled it off and set it in his lap. His dark, curly hair framed his handsome features.

"Sister," the God of War greeted. "What do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

"Cut the Centaur shit, Ares." Aphrodite stood in front of the God of War. She folded her arms across her chest. "Your chosen has taken mine."

Ares shrugged and grinned. "That is your mortal's choosing." He flexed his grip on the bronze dory. "Xena is only doing what is best for her ascension to power."

Aphrodite's blue eyes brightened, and she challenged, "How wise do you think it is for her to hold a chosen of mine, marked by Artemis, and now a princess to the Amazons?"

Ares seriously considered the question, and he shifted in his throne. He then smiled and chuckled after he realized Aphrodite's real fears. "The shaman… it's the shaman." He shook his head and stood up.

Aphrodite clenched her fists at her side.

Ares descended the throne and approached his sister. "I see now." He tucked the helmet under his left arm. "Shamans are like a black hole to our chosen." He dragged his teeth over his bottom lip then smiled, evilly at his sister. He leaned in closer and whispered, "A little scared are we, hmmm?"

Aphrodite reached up and pushed her brother's face away from her own. She ignored his last remarked and turned away.

"Perhaps I can help," Ares offered. He noticed the stiffness in his sister's shoulders. "My chosen has always had a soft spot for yours… even now." He started for the goddess. "She protects her from the shaman."

Aphrodite faced her brother and reminded, "A shaman answers to none, including your chosen." She shook her head. "You're totally idiotic if you think you or your chosen can control that shaman."

Ares tapped his spear's end against the stone floor. "I like to think of it as more of a… symbiotic relationship." He had a wide grin.

"You are totally idiotic," Aphrodite concluded. She turned on him again and continued towards the front door that would lead her out to Mount Olympus.

"Was that a yes or no?" Ares checked. He leaned against the dory and was rather smug.

Aphrodite took a few more steps as she considered taking her brother's help. She had taken Artemis's help years ago when it came to Gabrielle. She was still paying that debt, but it was a mutual debt. In this case, Ares held all the cards, and it would be a heavy price. She paused and half turned towards the God of War.

Ares straightened up and was still smug. His smile grew when bright blue eyes locked on him.

"No," Aphrodite finally answered.

Ares face dropped, and he slotted his eyes. He thought for once he had the upper hand. "Fine." He held out his helmet in his left hand. "Your chosen's obliteration."

Aphrodite ignored him and continued out of the temple.

"And the end of your influence in the mortal world," Ares yelled.

Aphrodite's eyes fluttered at the cold, possible truth. She inhaled deeply and made herself leave the temple.

Ares frowned when his sister vanished through the sealed doors. "And I'm the idiot?" He huffed then put on his helmet. He disappeared and went to the mortal world.

Aphrodite crossed the beautiful landscape that was Mount Olympus. She was surrounded by nature's grand trees and flowers. Normally she would enjoy the sweet smells, but her mind was on the mortals, her mortal. She entered the Ge room where the floor was filled with the stars and the Earth rested on Atlas's shoulders. Aphrodite stared at the turning orb in the center of the room.

"She is in great danger," Artemis softly spoke.

Aphrodite looked from the orb to the Goddess of Hunt, who was seated on one of the many sills between the columns of the round room.

"And so are you," Artemis added. She was clearly bothered by the situation. "But you are hardly concerned about yourself," she realized aloud. She pushed off the sill and went to the Goddess of Love.

"I will lose her, Art… forever." Aphrodite stared hard at the other goddess. "Once the shaman takes her soul…"

Artemis touched the goddess's arm. "I know." She was sympathetic to Aphrodite. There were many chosens in the mortal world, but Aphrodite's favor over Gabrielle was the most legendary on Mount Olympus. Artemis speculated that it had to do with Aphrodite's own realm of love. She seriously considered Gabrielle's fate. Like Aphrodite, she knew it was only a matter of time before the shaman went after Gabrielle, whose soul was a powerful fuel to a shaman.

"Dite," Artemis carefully offered, "We have our laws… but a shaman plays their own game." She found worried blue eyes set on her. "Not ours," she softly offered. "So what are our laws really worth then?"

Aphrodite cut her eyes back to the blue orb. Her keen eyes centered on her drugged mortal, who was being dragged out of the wagon just before sunset. She felt Gabrielle's deep pain, and she closed her eyes. Aphrodite clenched her hands against the internal war in her head and heart. From Mount Olympus, she could watch the last of Gabrielle's future unfold and then unravel. Aphrodite could feel the end at her fingertips. It was cold and crept closer to her heart then would freeze her in time. By Zeus's decree, she could only watch it happen to her chosen.

To be continued.