13
Yulla had woken early and gone to collect wood for the fire and any other food she could find, she knew there wouldn't be much it was the wrong time of year, too late tor berries and nuts but there were a few tubers and mushrooms she could dig up and their stores were running low so anything would do to fill their bellies. She couldn't hunt but there were other things in the wild wood and she knew what to look for and for a while she hummed gently an old tune as she carefully looked around. She felt happy, nobody yelling orders or threatening to hurt her and these people she had found herself with were a really nice bunch, even the warrior woman who had scared her at first. She had seen Xena once some years before when she had been Ares favoured warlord and she hadn't bothered over his slaves then. Oh what a change there was now in the woman warrior and she had overheard Ares groaning on to one of his men about how Xena had become a thorn in his side since she had met Gabrielle. It was love, she could see it plain as day that Gabrielle was in love with Xena and she could see Xena was undoubtedly in love with her. Ares couldn't and would never understand the hold Gabrielle had over Xena, she had seen it though from the moment when Xena had rescued them. Yulla had also noticed there was some friction between the two women. She didn't know what it was a minor tiff between lovers she assumed but she could tell there was a problem. She breathed in the early morning air and sighed contentedly, she hadn't felt this good in years, so good she was singing in her heart with happiness and then she turned back to look at the camp and then her blood froze. HE was there, the master and he was standing over the mounds that were the sleeping forms of Xena and Gabrielle and she froze with sudden fear. All the good feelings she had vanished and she didn't know whether to yell a warning to the women or just hide.
In the end she did both and as she gave a warning yell she then ducked behind a big bush and watched as Ares turned to look where the voice had come from. When he turned back Xena was standing and her sword tip was at his throat and Ares put both hands up in surender. " I've had enough of this. What in Hades do you want Ares?" Xena growled." Hey steady on I've just come for my property." The god said backing up and he tossed the old helm at Joxer and bent to snatch back the shiny helm from him. Xena rapped the sword over his knuckles and he dropped it. " That stays and so as does the rest, they don't belong to you." Suddenly livid Ares shouted back. " That is not a commander, he's not an honoured warrior and therefore not entitled. " Pointing at Joxer's bandaged head he grabbed at the helm Joxer held to his chest as he watched the jousting match going on over him." Tough. He faced the drakon and that's brave enough to me. I say he earned it." Xena said." You trash my temple, you kill two of my best men, helped a slave to escape." he looked at Gabriellle but chose not to mention her." And you expect me to let him have that for running around in your clothes." " He deserves to have it I say, anyway you can't make me believe you came just for a suit of armour and an old slave woman." and she tossed the old helm back at him." Xena." Ares growled in warning and Xena stared back faceing his scowl." Take it as payback for what you did, it's over Ares." She picked up Zeus' scroll and opened it in front of him. Ares looked over the scroll and sniffed." Means nothing." Then he threw in the next bit." What do you think Zeus'll do when he finds out Thyrus is dead? " he said watching for her reaction. Xena gave a disintrested shrug." Maybe it ate something that didn't agree with it." she said and Ares stared at her not sure of her meaning and then he looked around the camp." Where's the other guy ?" Nobody answered Ares and he stepped back and waved a finger at her. " Just remember, this is never over between us Xena you should know that by now." Then he flashed out.
Xena sighed and sat down again and ran a hand through her hair." Ok it's safe Yulla, you can come out now." she called out and looked across at Joxer still hugging the shiny helm. " You called me brave, did you mean that did you really? I can keep this ? " He said pressing the high grade helm closer to his chest protectivly. No she wouldn't forget the memory of him dressed as her and she said. " Yes Joxer your really brave. Was that you who called? thanks for the warning. " she looked at Yulla who was walking back." He wont be coming back, your free now." she saw the old woman's face brake into a grin as she realised what Xena had just said." I'm free?" she looked at their faces in disbelief and Xena nodded. Gabrielle came and sat down on her bed again, woken violently she had watched the altercation between the god and warrior only partialy understanding the row because they were not full face to her." Xena we need to talk about this." She started then Xena shook her head." We don't have time, I think we have to go, now." Xena said then she led them to the edge of the plateau and pointed down across the lower levels." I have to go find Argo so I want you all to meet me down there." she indicated to an area that had trees way below them. The northeast of the mountain chain was very different from the southwestern ridges it's gentler slopes were covered in the tangled web of spiney thorn brush growing very near to the top and the lowest slopes had short grasses to the tree line going down to the valley bottom.
" I want to come with you." Gabrielle said as Xena went back to the bedding and readied for the journey and she could see at once she meant to go alone. It had to be important or Xena wouldn't be leaveing in such a hurry and she could hardly argue with her as she tried to read her lips and barely understood as she said." No stay with them." and as Xena rushed off Gabrielle busied herself helping Joxer and Yulla break up the camp and then as they began to leave she turned to Thyrus' cave and whispered a private goodby to Lycus. She still had mixed feelings about him but she wished him peace anyway and then she shouldered her bag and dug her staff into the ground and left the plateau after the others. As they went down they came to the brush and soon realised it was much thicker than they had thorght it was. The thorns were much longer and sharper and Joxer had to cut a path for them with his sword or they would be cut to ribbons." Tell me Yulla what actually happened back there and where has Xena gone?" Gabrielle asked. Yulla looked surprised." I don't know I was too far away to hear but you were right there." Gabrielle sighed." I was there but I couldn't hear it. I've been deaf since the cave." she sighed again." Oh my dear girl sorry I didn't know. Joxer do you know what they were talking about ?" Yulla said and Joxer laughed." They were jus yelling 'bout me." and Yulla said it again slower so that Gabrielle understood but that gave her no help as to why Xena had left them. What was Xena doing?
Xena ran along the top of the runnels jumping and somasaulting over the gaps heading back to where she had left Argo in a shaded area hidden from Thyrus. Every so often she stopped and gave a loud whistle and waited for a response but got none. Damn horse must have wandered looking for forage or water she thorght. She ran on and an hour of that later she whistled again and thorght she heard a faint neigh from somewhere below. Gradually she located where Argo was and rightly Argo was in a different place from where Xena thorght she had put her. Then she had to work out not only how she would get there herself but the route she had take for Argo to get out to the last ridge before they got over the top. Standing at the top of the flood canals gave her a clear view and as she didn't have to hide from a drakon she could stand as long as she wanted and survey the land easily. A while later Xena had got it and slowly slid down the deep side of the canal and she came down in a cloud of dust and loose stones. With the map in her head she followed the route at a fast run and was soon at the spot where the horse was. Argo had found a good place shaded by a overhanging rock and a small patch of grass to crop and she was delighted to see her and the long tonge lipped at her hand in greeting as Xena stroked her." Yeah I missed you too. Now lets get you out of here."
Omygods he's in love with her too Yulla thorght as Joxer resumed cutting. He kept looking back at the girl and she could see he was concerned about her. They worked hard cutting through the bushes takeing turns when one got tired It was hard repeditive work hacking away at the tangle of branches Joxer was covered int sweat and Gabrielle had to change hands frequently to ease the acheing she felt and they were both covered in scratches on their arms and thighs. They went on like that for some time only stopping for a long break at midday and then they resumed, it just didn't seem they were getting any closer in the oppressive heat.
Xena found the right channel and reached Argo standing in a shaded spot and she tried to lead the horse to the lower end of the ridge but Argo stubbornly wouldn't go. She could smell the scent of the drakon and Xena couldn't prove it wasn't a threat to her anymore. The smell of it was enough and the highly strung animal wouldn't budge she was so nervous. Getting a ton of herd animal with a nateral fear of predators to move took all of Xena's patience as she kept her voice to coax Argo with tickles and soft words as she led her out toward the edge of the mountain and she gradually got her to the rock ledge. Xena looked down and swore with annoyance. There was a huge swathe of thorn brush and no visible pathway through it. There was no doubt about it she would have to find a way round.
Yulla had been lost in thorght and then Joxer gave a shout of triumph and the woman looked up and saw the thorn bushes begining to thin out before them. They had broken through. It had taken a long time and they were all utterly exhausted. Much easier now but very tired and they slowed their pace for Yulla who was suffering from the heat. The years of slavery poor food and the exertions of the last few days plus her age were taking their toll on the old woman and she had to make stops every few yards to get her breath back and when they finally reached the tree line they halted totally exhausted and they flopped on the ground. A little while later as Yulla rested Gabrielle went to forage for wood and Joxer went to hunt and later they returned, Gabrielle with her arms full and Joxer empty handed and drained of energy. Hungry and exhausted they sat watching the sun dissapear behind the mountain turning everything to cold shadows though the day wasn't yet old they were shivering and they had to wrap themselves in their bedding to warm while Yulla set the fire.
A sound of a horse roused them and Gabrielle reacted to the other's response and readied her staff against a possible attack then Xena rode in and dropped a dead goat at their feet. She slid down as the two women immediately started to prepare the animal." We've been here ages." Joxer whined looking at Xena's dishevelled state." Had to take a longer detour. Luckily I came across this on the way back and it sort of fell into my arms." She said indecateing the goat and grabbed a water skin and took a long swig from it." theres a stream back there, go fill these." she said tossing Joxer the emptied skin and pointed to the other water bags. Joxer stared at her at being ordered he picked up the skins and stomped off muttering unhappily. Gabrielle had sat down and busily concentrated on the meat preporation she didn't look up to see what happened and Yulla saw a look of consternation on Xena's face before she picked up Argo's brush and marched to the horse to unsaddle her and then she began to groom her vigorously. Yulla stopped what she was doing and decided it was time she acted, and she hobbled over to the dark haired woman. " Warrior may I speak with you?" Xena continued brushing." Sure but don't mind if I don't stop. The last time I left her for too long it took ages for her to trust me again." " So what about your other friend, Gabrielle." " What!" Xena stopped and turned a cold stare on the woman and Yulla froze. She had thorght out what to say but then she suddenly lost it all as she saw Xena's face." Well?" Xena demanded and Yulla pressed on." Gabrielle, surely you've noticed something odd about her?" " She's a bit upset, nothing odd about that." Xena said tightly she had felt the tension in the girl and didn't know why or it's reason and just assumed it was tiredness." She's gone deaf or havn't you has to read your lips to know what your saying." Xena suddenly felt a chill at her heart." Your saying she still can't hear? she complained of ringing in her ears, I thorght it would wear off." The old woman shook her head and Xena suddenly felt very guilty that she hadn't realised it was a bigger problem than she thorght. She had been been worrying over Argo when she ought to have been looking after Gabrielle and she groaned." I might be able to help her with that. Let me look around I might find something for her." Yulla said turning to go and then she turned back." There's another thing. Look whatever it is that's between you two for goodness sake talk it out with her because it's tearing you two up." Then she hobbled back to the fire.
She was right Xena thorght, they had been at odds for some time and hadn't talked about it. She wasn't a wordsmith and unlike Gabrielle and she wasn't always able to express her feelings, she'd done too well in suppressing them over the years. Too many things had happened to Gabrielle recently she had been under constant attack and pressure and she had been left to deal with things as best she could with little or no help from her. Maybe she was just burned out with it all and needed the rest. Maybe it was more than that Xena thorght and she finished brushing Argo and then walked back to the fire. Squatting down beside the bard cutting up the goat flesh Xena could feel the tension Gabrielle was in. " Gabrielle we have to talk. Yulla can do that." Xena said slowly grabbing her hands and forceing her to look at her." Now you want to talk to me? Great, I can't hear a thing and you want to talk." Gabrielle said pithilly and Xena saw her green eyes sparking with repressed anger.
Xena nodded slowly and grabbed the scroll and pen. You talk I listen then she added Yulla might have a cure and she gave her the scroll. This was going to be slow Xena thorght tiredly and Gabrielle's face darkened." You used me with Lycus. You pushed me at him after you accused me of...because of that I ended up in that cave, you put me in danger you put me at risk." Gabrielle said and Xena winced." I am sorry." Xena spoke slowly and then wrote it to make sure she fully understood. This was going to be painfully slow she thorght but she had to be patient. " Look Xena I love you, but you have made it quite plain you don't care about me and only thorght of Argo's welfare." Gabrielle's eyes began to fill with tears. " I havn't treated you very well have I." Xena addmitted but Gabrielle pointed a finger at her. " No, and that's the second time I've had to say that since this began." Gabrielle said angrily and Xena blinked it was true she had done it again. Since all this began she had taken the girl for granted and the scroll began to fill up as she wrote.
I shouldn't have left you to Lycus when you were under the spell, I DO love you and I know I don't always show it as I should and I'm sorry I treated you so badly. I'm sorry too that I didn't stay and take care of you but I needed to get us all off the mountain quickly. She handed her the scroll and held on to her. What was the use of words when they looked so dry when written Xena thorght and she suddenly bent close and passionately kissed her forgetting they were not alone and that Yulla was nearby." I LOVE YOU. Come with me." Xena mouthed." Come with you?" Gabrielle stared getting Xena's intention and the obvious inuendo. and she pushed into Gabrielle's back drawing her closer." Yes come with me." Xena mouthed. It was the nearest thing to a plea she had and she hoped Gabrielle would get it and understand her. What was the use of words Xena thorght, Gabrielle couldn't hear her and this was the best way she knew to get her message across. Gabrielle felt her hot breath on her face as Xena kissed her again, this time a softer kiss full of tenderness and love as their lips met and Gabrielle felt herself tasteing the sweetness and began to melt. No the voice suddenly said in her head and Gabrielle pulled away suddenly." Oh no you don't, you think you can have me and everything will be alright well not this time Warrior Princess." then she got up and marched off into the forest.
Xena sat for a moment and didn't know what she should do at first. Just when she thorght she had gotten through Gabrielle had walked away from her and she looked at the old woman stunned. Yulla turned the meat over and watched it sizzle." Well what are you waiting for go after her. The food will wait." she said and hummed to herself. They needed to be alone to sort this out and she smiled as she watched Xena run off after the girl. Joxer returned and flopped down beside the old woman with the water skins." Where have they going? " he growled looking completely exhausted." Don't ask Joxer." Yulla said.
Gabrielle walked fast her head was buzzing again with words of recrimination running unpleasantly through her mind. The fear she had been trying to control over the question of her deafness was near to breaking her and Xena's questionable behaviour at the heart of it had just made her emotional state spill over and she was very close to tears. She stopped leant against a tree and closed her eyes and tried to get her scrambled thorghts into some sort of order. Reminding her of Lycus had brought it to the fore and in Xena's arms she had remembered the moment in his and ready to give in to her desires.
A second's thorght had stopped her from giving herself to Lycus because she had wanted to remain faithful to Xena even after Xena had been unfaithful herself. Had she done IT, they might not have gone to the cave. Lycus might still be alive and she wouldn't have been made deaf by that beast, but she would have become the whore Xena had accused her of being just a few days before. That's all maybe said the voice in her head it didn't happen. Stop thinking of what might have been. She opened her eyes again and Gabrielle saw a tall dark figure standing no more than ten paces from her.