Chapter 10

"What the Hades!" Aphrodite could not contain herself. She was in shock at just having watched the two mortals she actually loved just vanish in flames. "All this effort and work just so the three of them could go out in a blaze of glory! I am so outta here." Before she could snap her fingers, to her right Ephiny finally appeared to her. "Oh so you're the amazon I take it."

Ephiny simply nodded. She was completely and utterly at a loss for words, not that Amazons were known for their speech making. Gabrielle had been the first really peaceful and talkative amazon leader that they had ever had. Though she was not there, she had heard how Gabrielle had tried to defend Eve, getting the tar beaten out of her. Was it really worth it my friend? First to get beaten badly and now to just let yourself go up in flames. Finally she found her voice. "Ephiny."

Aphrodite only half nodded at her. "I don't know bout you but I'm wondering two fold here." The Goddess had her arms crossed her chest in that familiar pouting stance of hers. "What were either of us doing here if they were just going to let themselves burn to death and what are we supposed to do now? I mean I am a Goddess so I can just pop back to Greece and continue getting worshiped. I guess you can go back to whatever afterlife you were leading."

The amazon shrugged, still not really comprehending anything. I thought I had been sent here to help either Xena fight or protect Gabrielle. In the end all I did was stand there and watch as the allowed themselves to be… A little twinkle came to her eye. Those little devils. I bet this is all part of their plans still. The twinkle faded a bit. I hope. "Perhaps it's still part of their plan."

The Goddess sighed heavily. "As much as I love those two mortals they can be the most annoying ones. They were always messing up my plans. And Gabrielle had me 'fix' one of my little spells by having Joxer nearly destroy my temple." She actually smiled a bit at the memory. "It's just so hard to keep up with everything they are going through or trying to do."

"You have no idea." Ephiny remembered a few times as well. The last one was the hardest when her son was in danger. Thought that your personal past was going to get you into trouble on that one. I should have known better, Xena. You've always been able to overcome your past, at least with Gabrielle's help. Hopefully this will be no different.

Aphrodite was a bit upset now. "Well I go back to my question. What do we do now?" She looked around the unfamiliar trees and just shuddered to herself. "I really, really miss Greece. This place may be ok for some but it sure ain't home." She sighed heavily. "It's not like I have a lot to do. Guess it wouldn't hurt to stick around in case they need me." She eyed the Amazon. "Could have worse company I guess."

Ephiny smiled at the thought. "I guess I could to." The two strong women eyed each other for a moment before both found a big rock to sit on. There was only silence between them. This is going to be a long wait. I just hope that you two are actually going to be able to rid the world of Eve. Or at the very least bring her some peace. Peace. That would be nice. Strange thing for an Amazon….

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The flames went on for what seemed like forever. But they were not felt by any of the three women huddled so tightly together. A pale blue light had engulfed them the second that the flames had begun. It was coming from the dragon tattoo that was now a part of the bard. It was protecting them all from the harm, but it was having an effect on the bard as well. It was making her feel weaker by the second. "Hold on, Gabrielle." Xena's strong voice and her reassuring squeeze made it through. "This shouldn't last much longer."

Luckily for the bard, her lover was right. Just another three or four seconds and the flames finally died down. "Now if only they don't come back." Gabrielle collapsed to the ground with her head leaning on Xena's back. Her green eyes kept her gaze on her daughter as she was not sure what exactly was going to happen. We have a plan but there's always something unpredictable that happens. Wait that's usually me getting into trouble in some way. The bard chuckled softly at the thought.

Xena actually chuckled a little too as she somehow had either heard or felt what the bard had said. Damn this connection we have is getting stronger every day. Guess she was right when she said that death would not keep us apart ever. The warrior princess kept one hand firmly on Gabrielle to make sure she was all right and another on her daughter. Eve was passed out from the strain. "Guess we wait. Might as well make us a little more comfortable."

The warrior princess reluctantly let go of Gabrielle, gently laying her head on the ground. The ground to where? I don't even know where we are. She found some willow branches and made a giant makeshift bed. Not knowing where they were or what to expect, she made a small fire. She quickly put Eve in front of her and once again had her bard's head in her lap. She began to absently play with the blonde's hair. It felt so good after not being able to touch her for so long.

"Xena?" Gabrielle was weak but slowly regaining her strength. "Do you think that she will ever be able to change back? She is her mother's daughter after all." There was just something that flew between the two women. Neither really had to use words. All they had to do was be near one another and they just knew.

The dark haired woman smiled sadly at the thought. "That's part of the problem as you well know." She closed her eyes and some not so pleasant memories washed over her. "Even after you came into my life, I did things that I now regret. You know that better than anyone. You know me better than anyone." There was this tingling sensation at those words where their skin touched one another. "It's a fine line that I walk every day. I have you to keep me from crossing it. Who has she had? As she said, I wasn't there for her entire life."

Gabrielle shot up at this last statement, regretting it only a little as she only got mildly dizzy. To look up into those blue eyes made it worth it. "That's not fair of either her to say or for you to take the blame for." She reached her free hand and stroked Xena on the cheek which the warrior princess gladly nuzzled into. "Yes you have done some unspeakable things. Yes you were not there for our daughter. But neither was I. It's not our fault that Ares put us in that damned cave. It's not our fault that word did not reach us when she wanted to go on to Japan. I know you would have stopped her. You would have moved Mount Olympus to protect our daughter."

Though tears were not her normal, one solitary tear rolled down Xena's cheek and onto the bard's hand that kept constant touch. "I guess I'm not one for putting the blame on someone else. After all I was the one that took on the blood lust after having put up defenses for my home village. I'm the one that along the way met people that could and should have changed me. Even my own son could not change who I was or what I did. It wasn't until…"

The bard now shed a tear or two. "Oh my sweet warrior princess…" She smiled lovingly at her soulmate. "Even after all these years of traveling together you still don't give yourself enough credit for what you've done." She slowly moved her hand down to Xena's chest. "Your heart was always the one thing that set you apart from other warlords. Even when you were out to conquer the world it was the fire in your heart that made you so strong."

"Did it?" Xena blinked at the thought. "I just thought it's because I was one scary bitch." They both laughed as the warrior princess was trying to let the mood lighten a bit. Besides they still had to keep themselves focused for when Eve woke up. "I know a couple of my men that would say the exact same thing I said."

"They never knew you." Gabrielle, finally becoming tired once again, laid her head back in Xena's welcoming lap. "Not like I know you. Not like I wish Eve could ever have gotten to know you." She sniffed a little as the tears slowly faded away. Just touching the warrior princess was building her energy back up. It was like her soulmate could simply charge her just by contact. "Perhaps it isn't too late for her to get to know the real you."

"There's one thing that I've learned from our time together my sweet…" Xena lingered over the word for a moment liking the taste on her tongue. "Anything is possible. There were so many scrapes I was not sure we'd be able to get out of. And there were people I simply thought were beyond changing and yet somehow we always managed to make it right." Her throat tightened as she added, "Well almost always." Me being half alive and half dead that is not right. But we will make it right in the end.

The bard knew in an instant what Xena was referring to. Yes we will make it right. I want to say 'die trying' but that would just bring us back to where we are now. You almost back to me. Me alive but not wanting to be if it means not having this. Just being able to touch you, smell and taste you. I won't exist if I can't be right next to you whether that is alive or dead. "We always win in the end. It might take us a couple tries but we'll get it right." She felt as strong and sure of those words as of any she had ever spoken.

They sat there just being with another for the longest time. Every once in a while there was a murmur or slight movement by Eve, but apparently the younger woman had used every ounce of energy that she had to try and destroy her parents. Though both were overly weary not knowing what was happening in the mind of the woman that they were trying to turn back to good. So they just held on to one another and waited.

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As soon as the flames had started, Eve had felt this ever cooling presence. When she opened her eyes, she saw something coming out the damned bard. Though she was trying to use all her power and concentration to finally take out her mother, she could not help but wonder what power it was that Gabrielle was blessed with.

I've never seen anything like that. There was so much I saw while I was in Rome, Greece and in China that no one would believe. And yet this is making me wonder how exactly she is able to do this. Frightening but in a good way. Perhaps it's because she is a goody two shoes. Perhaps it's because she learned something from her mother. Perhaps…

Her mind was struggling with her body. Alti had taught her a lot of thing,s but it seemed she had so much yet to learn. But I'll never get to learn it. Not from Alti because I destroyed her. And not from my mother or that bitch of hers. I'm dead after all. There is no tomorrow for me. When all this is said and done, I'll be in hell for having turned my back on Eli and the one true God. I let violence take over me once again. Why did I do that?

"Because all of God's creatures have free will. And all of God's creatures have their limits." The voice was unfamiliar to the young woman. And yet it sounded like she'd heard it a million times. To say that Eve was confused was not saying it as strongly as she felt. "You felt abandoned but you never were. Not by your mothers and not by Him."

Eve slowly opened her one good eye and looked at a glowing figure standing before her. She could have sworn she knew him and yet again it was as if they were complete strangers. Her voice was weak as she managed to speak at all. "I know you." She swallowed hard as her mouth was as dry as the desert and her mind was not fully functioning. "But I don't know from where."

Eli smiled down at the broken woman. "You never met me, but I knew your parents. In fact Gabrielle for a time tried to walk the path that I did. But it was not for her." His smile was bright and it gave her some much needed strength. "You lost yourself while you were trying to spread my word. For that I am grateful, Eve."

A bit of realization managed to come the young woman's mind. "Eli!" She could not believe that she was in the presence of the one that had given her purpose after realizing the path that she had been on was not the one she should have been on. "I can't believe you've come to me. Now." Her eye was questioning. "I called for you and called for you while they were torturing me. I wanted either you or for her to find me. But no one came. He left me."

The holy man kneeled down and put a hand on a very scarred cheek. "Now that's where you are wrong my friend. He never left you. He was there with you trying to comfort you and take the pain away from you. He has no influence over the people that live on this island. Perhaps one day he will but not now. He cradled you in his arms and was angered and saddened when you decided to end your life instead of putting your belief in Him."

Eve thought back to that time. It was something she had only done enough to remember the pain and the feeling of abandonment. But as she concentrated, she knew that Eli had been right. While at the time all she could remember was the horribleness of it, all she now remembered was that there was something trying to keep her from harm.

"It wasn't only Him though." Eve turned to look at the glowing man. "Your mother has a greater awareness than any other human being to ever grace this earth. It's not used just for combat, although that has kept her alive longer than most warlords. No she also uses it for the people she loves. While you were in such pain, she was heartbroken but could not explain why. It had distracted on a few of her battles. But Gabrielle managed to get her focused once again. And don't blame her. The bard didn't have that awareness that your mother has. But she's beginning to. And if she'd known at the time she would have moved heaven and earth to save you from whatever you were going through."

The young woman closed her eye once again. His words sounded true but were they really. I never felt that anything I said got through to you, mother. Maybe I was wrong all this time. Maybe it was one of those things that had to happen in this world. If I had not died the way that I had, I never would have come back seeking revenge. You would not be able to truly be alive again. There are many in this world that can spread the word of Eli. There is only one warrior princess. Perhaps the world is not done with her or the battling bard.

Eve opened her good eye once again and looked into the loving and understanding eyes of Eli. "I know I'm special. It was just not meant for me to be on this earth only a short time." She smiled sadly as she continued. "My biggest regret is that I will never be able to get to know either of my parents. I know that one day, when the world is through with them both, that we will get to do that I hope in heaven. Though I spread his word and changed my ways, I still did a lot of evil in my time. So did she…"

Eli held up a hand. "You must learn to forgive yourself. Your mother has the same problem. Neither of you realizes that the ones that have a darkness about them and manage to turn to the light are the ones that are most welcomed into heaven. As for Gabrielle, she does have a little darkness in her but it was always the light that shined the most. She too will be welcomed into heaven where she and her soulmate can live out the rest of eternity together. As it should have been and as it always will be."

"I like the sounds of that." Eve smiled and found that all the anger, all the pain, all the hate were slowly washing away. Slowly her mind was coming to terms with everything that had happened in her life from the horrible to the amazing. The one thing that she kept her mind and her heart focused on now was the love that she felt. Yes there was love emanating from the figure standing before her; there was also love as two women she knew were holding her and just loving her. It felt…amazing.