Xena felt the world slow down around her as she watched the chakram whiz towards Eve. When it was only a foot away from hitting its mark, Eve very calmy took a step back and braced herself. Reaching out she plucked the chakram from the air and swung her arm around in a large circle so its momentum didn't shatter her arm.
The silence that followed was unlike anything Xena had experienced before, it was like every creature in the world had stopped to watch what was happening in the clearing. Xena stared at Eve in disbelief, even she forgot about Livia sometimes. Eventually Xenas' shock gave way to relief and she rushed to her daughter and pulled her into a fierce hug. "I'm sorry, I couldn't get there in time," she whispered.
Pulling back Eve grimaced, "I shouldn't have saved myself, but you wouldn't be able to save her if she killed me."
"This is all very touching," a cool voice said from behind them, "but could we hurry this up? I've got lots of things to do after I've killed you."
Xena smiled at her daughter and took her chakram from Eves' unresisting hand, slotting it back into place. Its familiar weight was oddly comforting. Swinging round she faced Gabrielle whose face was set into its usual sneer, any shock she had felt was hidden away. "You're very lucky that Eve managed to stop that chakram. If it had killed her I don't know what I would have done."
Gabrielles smile turned mocking but her eyes burned with curiosity. "No one has ever stopped my chakram before. How did she do it? Did you train her? I always thought the messenger was a weak little thing."
Xena ignored the question and grinned up at the conqueror. Gabrielles' face tightened in response, she had always had a thirst for knowledge and this new Gabrielle was no different. "So how did you find Eves' hideout?"
Gabrielle bared her teeth in something that vaguely resembled a smile. "My scouting party of course. When I realised you were back I guessed that you would have chosen somewhere near your old home to hide her. My God told me where that was and luckily it was only a days ride from my camp. I sent a few scouts out in different directions just in case and headed towards Amphipolis anyway. When you beat my men to a pulp in town I knew I had guessed right and sent my men in search of any place she could hide. And here we are! I'm surprised it took you so long to get here actually, I assumed you would head back here straight away, especially after running into my men."
Xena cursed herself. How could she have let herself get so distracted in Amphipolis? Maybe 5 years in heaven had made her rusty after all.
Xena heard a snap of twigs from her left and couldn't help her eyes flicking to where Phelix and just emerged, creeping into the clearing. Gabrielle saw her glance and followed it. Her momentary distraction was all that Xena needed. She threw her newly reclaimed chakram and it split in two, making its way down both lines of men on either side of Gabrielle and slicing their swords in half. The chakram whistled its way back towards Xena after every mans sword had been broken. The two halves met in the middle, rejoining before Xena tore it from the air.
The men stepped back in shock and confusion. No one had ever used the chakram in front of them apart from their conqueror. Gabrielle let out an angry roar and flipped off her horse so that she was in front of Xena and drew her sword. Xena grinned triumphantly and whistled. Argo barreled her way through Gabrielles' disoriented ranks and cantered towards Xena. "Eve, get on Argo and GO!" Xena cried as she drew her own sword.
Eve jumped into Argos saddle and galloped through the hole in the mens newly reformed wall that Phelix had just created. Letting out a laugh of relief Xena met Gabrielles angry swing of her sword with her own, the sound of clashing metal filling the clearing.
"After her! Get the messenger!" Gabrielle roared, lunging for Xena again and narrowly missing her arm.
"Your men will never catch her on foot." Xena taunted. Gabrielle let out an angry screech, her eyes spitting fire as she parried Xenas sword away and landed a punch on her face.
Xena staggered backwards, surprised by the stars swimming in her vision. Gabrielle pressed her advantage, ferociously swinging her sword and landing kicks and punches on Xena.
Xena couldn't force herself onto the offensive. She still expected Gabrielle to come back to her senses and couldn't face hurting her. She was impressed with Gabrielles improvement over the past 5 years. She was quick as lightning and kept getting past Xenas defenses. Gabrielle landed a punch to Xenas stomach, brutal enough to cause her to stumble backwards. Gabrielle laughed as she swept her opponents legs out from under her, causing Xena to land with a thump on her back. Winded, Xena didn't get a chance to draw breath before Gabrielle was on her, dagger raised above her head, ready to land a killing blow. "I'll send the messenger your love," she whispered, plunging the dagger towards Xenas heart.
Xena raised an arm to stop the blow, only for it to be slapped away. She couldn't believe she had failed. She couldn't see any of her soulmate in Gabrielles face.
Suddenly there was no Gabrielle above her, no dagger making its way towards her heart. There was only the open sky above her. Thinking she was dead again Xena cursed her weakness, she hadn't saved Gabrielle or protected Eve. Her love for Gabrielle had made her weak.
"XENA!" a voice shouted near her.
Confused she turned to the voice, Phelix was running towards Gabrielles horse, blood dripping from a wound in his arm. In a moment Xena realised what had happened, and jumped up sprinting after Phelix. He had tackled Gabrielle off her and gotten himself cut in the process.
Phelix had already mounted the horse when Xena reached it and in an echo of their past threw out his arm to her. She gripped it and swung up onto the horse behing him. "That's twice I've saved you now," he grinned back at her while urging the horse into a gallop.
Incredulous Xena could say nothing. She could only shudder when she heard Gabrielle scream in a voice full of hate.
"What did she say?" Phelix asked grimly.
Xena shuddered again as she repeated Garbrielle's words, "I will kill you all."