12

Lycus was angry, nothing seemed to be going to his plan. When he grabbed Gabrielle he thought she wanted to come with him and the silly girl had forght him off. He hadn't expected that and had to knock her out and tie and gag her with torn pieces of his shirt to stop her from escapeing him, the ungrateful little wretch hadn't realised he was doing it for her. He was going to prove he was the hero here and that bitch Xena was a fraud and should be dead, killed by Zeus or the drakon. But Xena talked the god out of killing her and Thyrus had gone to ground. It wasn't fair, this wasn't the way it should have gone and he'd waited at the cave mouth for Xena to give chase but by the break of dawn she had still not come after them. He knew he couldn't wait any longer and picked Gabrielle up off the ground and put her over his shoulder then he began the slow treacherous walk along the darkening tunnel to where the Drakon lay resting.

Some time later Xena saw little pale creatures with many legs and long antenne scuttleing away when the torch light fell on them as she looked along the tunnel. Then she doused the torch took off her breastplate and covered her exposed flesh with dirt for camoflage and began to walk slowly one step placed before the other careful not to make any noise and disturb the creature she knew was ahead. She could feel the little creatures crunching underfoot but she couldn't ignore the horrible smell eminating from inside the closer she got. The time spent in perpetual darkness by Zeus had hightened her awareness and It felt a torture for her to go so slowly. She wanted to race in there and get Gabrielle out as quickly as she could but that would only spell disaster for her and Gabrielle and she had to force herself to stay calm. Was Gabrielle just for bait or had Lycus taken her for another reason? she wondered. It was a horrible prospect and she promised herself she would kill him if the girl was hurt because of his actions. The wide tunnel went on and Xena began to hear the deep rythmic rumble of the beast's breathing getting louder as she drew closer and then she saw the enormous dark outline curled up in the middle amidst an overpowering stench of rotting flesh. Why didn't these creature's ever have a clear out? she thorght to herself as she forght down a wave of nausea, poor Gabrielle must be really barfing by now. She knew they couldn't have passed by her and she couldn't have missed them so they had to be in there somewhere, but where? She stayed close to the sharp rocks of the cave wall and skirted round to the right side of thegreat beast and hoped Thyrus hadn't killed them and they were lying amongst the carcasess. Then as she took a step she felt something slimy under foot and skidded. Xena instantly became a statue as Thyrus opened huge eyes lifted it's head and turned to stare straight at her. Up close Thyrus looked even bigger than before and Xena froze.

Thyrus couldn't see any better than Xena in the fetid darkness and the smell seemed to be masking her scent to the creature, maybe Lycus and Gabrielle's too Xena thorght as she waited holding her breath. Lycus strained to see and moved from his place crouched by the wall to the left of the creature, it was so difficult to see and he tried to get closer in the darkness. Thryus turned it's head as it heard movement to it's left. Someone was across the bowl directly opposite to her and Xena struck the flint and jumped sideways quickly to her right as the drakon distracted turned it's head to where she had been and the jaws snapped at the empty space.

The big horned head turned right again, someone was definitely in the lair with them Lycus thorght. It had to be Xena, it just couldn't be anyone else. Fighting back a wave of nausea at the sickening smell Gabrielle tried not to gag into the material stuffed into mouth. Then the mighty head whipped round, it's attention drawn to her and her need to be sick died in her throat as a scream rose and tried to escape her instead. She lay still waiting for the bone crushing death as the huge scaled head hovered close dripping saliva. Then from across the cave she saw a spark and it drew Thyrus away. Her first thorght was Xena, and then her second was how could she tell her where she was without either being fried to a crisp or becoming dinner. Lycus rose to his knees and aimed his lance at the animal and Gabrielle kicked out getting him in the back with both feet and he fell forward and flattened himself against the ground as the head swung back again and the jaws snapped over their heads. That ought to tell Xena where they were Gabrielle thorght and Lycus turned a furious look to her. Getting frustrated Thyrus growled and the sound reverberated around the cavern.

This was a game of keeping one's nerve, a deadly game Xena had played many times against all kinds of enemies but never against one like this. Thyrus knew nothing of games only what it needed. It was an animal that only thorght of others as potential food or an enemy and something to kill. Xena stretched out her arms in front of her and waited. It caught her movement came round directly at eye level and Xena struck the flint and briefly lit up as the flash blinded the creature. Thyrus shied and it's head shot up to avoid the flash and with an earsplitting screech it spread it's wings out wide sweeping Xena aside as if she were a bug and she crashed back against the rock wall with the breath knocked out of her.

Lycus saw Xena and he knew he had to take the moment to strike. He couldn't wait any longer, Xena was going kill it if he didn't do it now. He jumped up suddenly and rushed out toward the drakon jabbing at the creature with his lance. The weapon barely grazed it's scales but he wasn't thinking anymore of the danger, he wasn't thinking what he was doing he was so elated as the blood pounded in his head. He was a Hero and he was going to kill the drakon. Thyrus let out another screech, knocked away the lance as it reared up to it's full height and it's huge jaws chomped down and the upper half of Lycus dissapeared into it's mouth. Then it's head rose with his legs sticking out of the monstrous mouth and they fell to the ground as the mighty jaws crunched down and swallowed. Xena scrambled for the fallen lance and waited, Thyrus opened it's mouth again and she threw it after Lycus into the gapeing hole and then pressed herself back against the wall.

The lance got stuck sideways in the drakon's throat and it let out a shriek of pain and thrashed about screaming and clawing at it's neck. The sound grew horrendusly loud around the cavern and then it let out howl and a long streak of flame shot out and hit the roof of the cave and fell in drops over the drakon and the nest made of the cave's detritus and dry sticks amid the food leavings. Small fires quickly joined and turned to a large one and Thyrus screamed louder as it became surounded in a growing wall of flame and Xena hunkered down and covered her ears as the cavern was bathed in light and sound as Thyrus went up like a torch and became engulfed in a tower of fire and was eventually consumed.

Xena got up and ran to where Gabrielle was laying." We gotta get out of here." Xena said as she bent and untied the bard. Gabrielle looked as pale as a ghost in the lighted cave and Xena had to grab her arm and dragged her along all the way down the tunnel until coughing and smoke blackened they emerged in a cloud of belching smoke at the entrance where they stopped and Gabrielle bent over and began to retch. Xena got her back to the camp as quickly as she could and Yulla quickly wrapped Gabrielle in a blanket and sat her down holding and comforting her and petting her like a mother hen." What's she so upset for? He kidnapped her for gods sake." Joxer groaned taking Xena's attention from the scene." Yeah but seeing him getting bitten in half wasn't a pretty sight." Xena said close to his ear and he gulped and then looked over to the cave where a thin pall of smoke was riseing from the cavemouth. " It is dead? isn't it?" Xena looked at him." Would we be here if it wasn't? yes it's dead, poor beast. I HATE any animal that is killed because of a stupid sense of heroics and because of that idiot I." She stopped herself from going further.

Gabrielle had known a different Lycus and in an instant had seen him eaten and swallowed before her eyes and the warrior wondered at what she was thinking of the man she had become close to. Aphrodite looked pensively at Xena." Did she think of him as a friend then?" she whispered voiceing her own musings as she looked sidelong at the bard." Not sure, maybe." Xena shrugged not wanting to go into details with the goddess, Aphrodite was an invetorate gossip and loved nothing better than to know what people got up to but that was for Gabrielle to speak of if she wished and not for her. For all her love Aphrodite just couldn't stand to see tragedy, death of friends and loved ones was strictly for the mortals as far as she was concerned but it still got to her sometimes and she felt for Gabrielle feeling the loss of one she thorght of as a friend. She shook herself and said. " Well all seems done here and I'm late for a facial." she gave them a cheery wave and disappeared in a cloud of pink petals.

Yulla got up and motioned to Xena." It's always hard the first time you see death but she hasn't said a word, she should be alright when she's talked and got it out of her system." she said looking at Gabrielle." It wasn't her first but it got pretty messy in there." Xena said and the old woman nodded sagely." Oh, one of those, that is rough. I must get more wood for the fire and she needs to talk it out go, give her a cuddle and get her talking." she said motioning Xena to move beside the girl. Yulla had guessed at the closeness between them and she gave Xena a look that hinted that she ought to do something about it. Gabrielle said Lycus and her hadn't become lovers but her reaction to his death seamed to surgest her reaction was a lot more than she was letting on.

Xena sat down beside her lover and with some difficulty put her arm around her shoulders. She felt an odd tension from her and she asked. " Gabrielle?" the bard moaned in answer as she suddenly buried her head in Xena's chest." Poor man he just wanted to be a hero. I pushed him at it. " she groaned and Xena sighed." He forgot hero's can die just as easy as the rest of us. Thyrus would have got him anyway and I'm just sorry I couldn't stop it in time." she said. She had thorght he had killed himself stupidly without thorght to who he risked but didn't say so and the bard's head shot up looking mildly surprised at the warrior." I'm sorry I didn't get ant of that. My ears are still ringing." she said sadly. She had felt rather than heard Xena speaking by the vibration through her chest and Xena realised then that she hadn't heard her. She had been able to cover her ears to the creature's high pitched screaching but Gabrielle hadn't and it was obvious she had been deafened by it. People had lost their hearing permanently because loud noises Xena thorght suddenly. " You should get it back ok in a while." she said hopefully not wanting to think it might not return as she checked to see if the bard was following her words." A while, Xena !?" Gabrielle looked suddenly fearfull." It's probably only temporary and will come back." she said and Gabrielle stared blankly. Xena was moving her lips but she coulfn't hear anything but for a awfull ringing.

The ariel god looked so thin and light like it would blow away if it were not for the wings on the heels of his sandles directing his movements as he came down to hover above them. Xena knew who it was , the messenger of the gods, Hermes and Gabrielle whiped her face and stared open mouthed at the gossemer wings constantly flapping and making tiny adjustments to keep him from touching the ground. Xena rose as the messenger addressed her formally. " Xena Warrior Princess, I bring you messages, from my lord Zeus, and these others." He held out the srolls to Xena. " What is this Hermes?" she said takeing them and he flashed an angry look at her." I don't write or read them, I only deliver and carry replies." he said folding his arms quite annoyed that she thorght he would do such a thing as read a private letter from the gods. Xena opened and began to read. A couple of thank you notes from Hermes and Apollo, not important but she was pleased that things seemed well with them and then she opened the other one with the royal seal.

Warrior Princess Xena.

I have considered all you have said and though I am not entirely convinced by your continuing accusation against Ares which deem to be unfounded I will declare the war against the rebel faction and their allies to be over forthwith with no further repocussion. Your pressance on the mountain of the Drakon however is still a source of concern to us. This will not be tolorated any further and I warn you to quit the region immediately or it may be in future considered an act of war.

So that was it. A short grudgeing arrogant missive. No acceptance of his involvement in the war, no apology and then ending with a threat. Typical she thorght. At least it looked like Zeus wasn't going to pursue this any more and then she realised he hadn't mentioned Thyrus and probably didn't know it was dead. " Is there to be any reply? " Hermes asked officiously. If the gods didn't know maybe it was best not to say either she thorght." No just give my thanks to Hermes and tell Zeus we are leaving as soon as we can." she said and Hermes rolled his eyes and gave her a cold look before he flew away back to his master. " Have I got that right the war is over?" Gabrielle asked once he was gone and Xena nodded. " Yes Gabrielle. I really do think it's over now." Xena said and the girl grinned as she got it." Now we can get off this rotten rock and get on with our lives." she said still not hearing her and then her smile turned to a frown as though she thorght of something.

As the darkness began to fall around them Xena looked up at the stars appearing overhead and she wondered if it was truly over. Zeus seemed to have called a halt which was better than she could have hoped for, the other gods were going back to Olympus and getting out of their hair finally and Thyrus and Lycus were gone and for her she was pleased at not having been the one to have to kill the overbaring man as she thorght she might have to. She didn't feel sure at all about Gabrielle in her arms doseing against her. She had felt a reticence to her touch and a tension in her and Xena wondered what was troubling her apart from everything she had gone through. How often had she nearly lost Gabrielle though all this? The poor girl had been through a lot, pushed from pillar to post, no wonder she looked tired. This had been hard on her and it wasn't over for her,yet. From Zeus' strike on the Amazon village and her belief Gabrielle was dead everything had happened to Gabrielle. What followed had carrered them from one disaster to the next and she knew Gabrielle hadn't really accecpted it. Not completely. Aphrodite's spell had only clouded those issues and then Ares had worsened things with his spell and then they met Lycus and the whole thing had gone from bad to worse after that. Xena still felt something was not quite right yet, things were still unresolved between them and she had seen the frown line appearing at Gabrielle's brow and it worried her. Whenever she saw that line it meant Gabrielle was angry about something and it was going to take a while before she was going to find out what it was.

Gabrielle's hearing problem made it more difficult for her to comunicate as it got darker. Even though the small fire gave some light she couldn't see enough of their faces to get what was being said. She couldn't see them talking anymore and had drawn silent as she sat there and she began to feel her temper riseing along with her isolation and wished everything would just stop. Specially the ringing in her ears, it was so annoying. She could feel Xena beside her holding her but she really wanted to be alone just to think and reflect and hopefully get some rest if the infernal ringing in her ears would let her and then Gabrielle realised she hadn't rested since before Ares had captured her and she felt dirty and smelly after lying in that cave and she felt sure she must Gabrielle rose and left them staggering off toward the bedroll and Xena watched her snuggle down and cover herself still wondering what was on the bard's mind and Joxer began to settle himself down for the night too." Your not tired warrior ?" Yulla said gently." Not yet I want to enjoy the stars. Are you not sleepy." The old woman smiled. " You don't seem to need so much as you get older and it's a long time since I was allowed to look at the stars." Xena smiled." Then by all means, enjoy." She said and both women sat there for a while looking up at the night sky.

Thanks for the support and reading.