Xena managed to doze as she sat by Gabrielle. When she awoke she was gratified to see that the bard had not deteriorated any further. She offered to assist Piri with changing Gabrielle's dressings and finally saw the wounds. As she gazed down at the small stomach wound, Xena's jaw tightened as did her resolve to find Lyceus and Teles-the woman responsible for this. She tried to push back her anger before it overtook her and turned to blood lust.
"The Queen has remarkable strength," said Piri, as she cleaned the wound.
This brought Xena from her musings and she looked at the healer.
"As do you, Xena. If that was Joxer lying there, I would not be so composed."
"It's hard, believe me," said Xena. "I think about what she's going through and I want to destroy Teles."
Piri looked at Xena and whispered severely, "Do it. For me."
Xena's eyes widened in shock and she stared at the healer mouth ajar. "Gabrielle, you and Lyceus are my family. I love you all. And if you do kill Teles I don't want you to drown in the guilt. Do it for me."
They locked eyes and Xena could see the passion in the healer's. She nodded and watched Piri efficiently finish cleaning and bandaging Gabrielle.
"No sign of infection…yet," said Piri. Xena nodded dumbly. The healer put her hand on Xena's arm. "She's doing well, better than I thought. Enjoy your time with her."
"Piri," Xena called the healer as she turned to go. "Should I stay with her?" Xena sunk to the bed and looked away from the healer's gaze. She was still in turmoil about leaving Gabrielle and seeing the bard lying there so ill made her reconsider.
"Oh Xena," said Piri with heartfelt emotion. "It is a terrible choice you have to make. Only you know which the right one for you is."
Xena opened her mouth to speak but Piri smiled and shushed her. "Go get your son Xena. Bring him back so you can be a family."
Xena nodded. "Thank you." Piri turned to go and Xena spoke to the healer's back. "Please let someone be with her all the time, just in case." The healer didn't turn around but stopped and after a moment nodded and carried on walking.
Xena concentrated on Gabrielle and leant over and kissed her forehead. She knew the funerals would be shortly and then she was going to spend the rest of the time with Gabrielle. There was so much to say, but so little time and she didn't have the words like the bard. So she lay next to the bard and sung to her softly.
"We knew this might happen," said Iolaus bitterly.
"I know," said Solari. "I just hoped-actually I am surprised that it has taken them this long."
"Damn," said Iolaus as he dismounted and looked at the two trails. "Similar numbers, we can't tell at all Solari. Where is he?" Iolaus looked into the distance as if he willed Lyceus' location to be revealed.
Solari also dismounted and looked around. She followed one trail for a few yards and then turned around and followed the other for several paces. She stared at the ground and then excitedly raised her eyes upwards.
"Iolaus," she said breathlessly. "Iolaus, do you see that owl there?"
Iolaus looked upwards. "Yes, I do, but-"he stopped and looked at the excited look on Solari's face. "You can see it too?" he said in shock.
"Yes!" said Solari excitedly. "The owl, the trees, the sky! I can see it all!"
Iolaus gave her a massive hug. "But how, why?"
"I don't know," said Solari, slightly bewildered. "But things have been getting slightly clearer since we left. I don't-"She looked at the owl again who was sitting watching them. "Maybe it was because I finally accepted it, or the shock of the attack caused it to revert back. Or maybe it's the Gods," and at this she looked up at the owl.
Iolaus frowned and looked at the owl too. "I swear that owl has been following us."
"Me too," said Solari with a smile. "Shall we go this path then?"
Iolaus stared at the owl for a long moment and then turned to look at Solari. "I hope we are right about this."
"Me too Io, but we have nothing else to go on."
Solari laid the trail markers as Iolaus rummaged in his pack for food. He glanced at the owl that hadn't moved. "Please be right," he whispered, "for Lyceus' sake."
Xena felt Epinon's hand on her shoulder and the weapon's master whispered "it's time." When she opened her eyes and straightened up, she realised she was alone with Gabrielle-Epinon had obviously moved away discreetly to give her time to say farewell.
Xena shivered. Was this farewell for good? She stood and was overcome by the Déjà vu of Alti's vision. Gabrielle lying pale and desperately ill and her crying. She smoothed the pale hair away from her brow and traced her finger around the bard's face.
What am I doing? She thought. This wasn't how I want to remember her. She shut her eyes and thought of Gabrielle in happier in times and smiled, but knew she would have open them in a moment and face the reality.
She did and took a deep breath in. It was time to go; she had to say her goodbyes. The words stuck in her throat for a moment but then she found her voice.
"Bri, Bri, I need you to fight your way back. Please, my love. I will do everything I can to bring our precious Lyceus home to us. I will not rest until he is safe. But you have to fight my darling."
She paused. Oh Gods this part was harder, should she say it? Was it giving up? "Gabrielle, if it is too much for you, don't worry about going to the Fields. I once said I would follow you, but now I know my place is raising our boy. And I will, I'll raise him into a man you'd be proud of, so don't worry."
By now the tears were streaming from her face. She wiped them away as best she could and bent down over Gabrielle and kissed her gently on both cheeks. "I can't begin to tell you what you mean to me, and what you have brought to my life. Thank you, my love." She paused for a moment and in a soft voice said, "I love you, Gabrielle, fight for me, fight for us."
She finally straightened up and turned and without a glance back strode from the hut. Her heart was beating widely and she knew her face was tear stained so she ran to their hut. She passed a commotion in the centre of the village, as Epinon stormed away from a large group of people, and Xena wondered if the weapons master was struggling to encourage people to on this potentially long mission.
In her hut she rinsed her face and dried it with a towel. She then started to buckle her armour on. Gradually her thoughts turned from the bard lying in her bed to the mission. Next she selected her weapons, ensuring that she had more knives than usual hidden away. And lastly she found a saddle bag and threw some rations in it and went to the cot. She picked up Blankie and folded it and put it in her bag and then she took Hoss from where she had left him on the table and placed him carefully in the bag. She was set. She looked around the hut; without Gabrielle and Lyceus it seemed so sterile. Xena picked up her bag with a new determination and left the hut to find Epinon.
The weapons master was sitting on the side of the dais staring at a scroll. She looked up as Xena approached her and smiled weakly.
"Epinon?" said Xena slightly concerned.
"Oh hi Xena," said Epinon. She slumped further and said quietly, "it's a mess."
Xena swallowed. "How many do we have? Aella estimated they had fifty or so, so I think we could get by with half of that."
Epinon snorted and turned to look at Xena very slowly. Xena stared back at her unable to read her friend's expression.
"Xena, everyone wants to come. And I mean everyone. So far the only people who have offered to stay are Piri and Aella. And it wasn't Aella's choice. Ephiny threatened me with several extremely painful tortures if she came." Epinon smiled at the warrior princess' bewilderment. "The biggest problem is cutting the numbers down."
Xena gave a chuckle and sat next to Epinon and looked at the scroll.
"Pony, so far you have me, Hercules and you."
Epinon shrugged. "Help."
Xena rolled her eyes, and took the scroll and started to write names on.
"Xena, this must make you-"
"It does," cut off Xena. "Proud, pleased, grateful; I can't find enough words." They shared a look and then went back to studying the scroll.
"Eph wants to go, so does Joxer." Xena raised her eyebrow. "He says Piri and Clonie can cope with the injured here and he might be needed. And Eph wants to get her Godson back. She says that Aella and Piri can run the place."
"Fair enough," said Xena. "What about Dax and Stanilaus, do they want to come?"
"Everyone does," said Epinon slightly exasperated.
"Ok," said Xena and wrote down several more names and then passed the list to Epinon. She looked it over and wrote several more, and within minutes they had a group of forty whom they hoped would reclaim Lyceus.
Xena left Epinon to break the news to those that were coming; and those who were left behind. She strode to the stables and walked to Argo's stall. The palomino pricked up her ears when she saw her mistress and neighed happily as Xena placed her saddle on her back. "Argo," said Xena and laid her face in the mare's mane breathing in her scent. "Carry me to him, ok?"
She pulled back and saw the horse was standing proud and ready. Xena smiled and led Argo from the stall. She looked in the neighbouring stall at Gabrielle's horse and was shocked by what she saw. The horse was standing still, vacantly staring at the door-her hay and water untouched.
"Lucinda," Xena called. The stable mistress was by Xena's side in an instant, her long legs making up the ground quickly.
"What's wrong with Tympani?" asked Xena concerned. She had a thorny relationship with the mare that mirrored Gabrielle's early relationship with Argo. She knew that Tympani tolerated her for Gabrielle's sake alone.
"She's been like that since yesterday, apparently" said Lucinda, tiredly. "We've tried everything." Lucinda gazed at the horse. "I think she is pining for the Queen."
Xena looked at the stable mistress and sighed. "She's not the only one," she said quietly and opened the stable door. Tympani glanced at her with disinterested eyes and then turned her head away.
"Tympani," said Xena. "She's been injured. And Lyceus has gone." The horse turned to look at her. "You understand don't you?" Tympani neighed once. Lucinda's mouth opened in amazement.
"I'm off to find Lyceus," began Xena and at once the horse moved forward wanting to leave her stable. Xena looked at Lucinda who was still mouth ajar in amazement.
"Tymp," she said knowing that was what Gabrielle called her sometimes. "Stay with Gabrielle ok? I'll take you there."
The horse stamped her hoof down and then Argo neighed to which Tympani responded with a snort. Then there was silence.
"I…Think…I have seen…everything," spluttered Lucinda.
"This is nothing," said Xena with a groan, and led Tympani out of the stable. Lucinda brought a bucket of water and they led her to the healer's hut. Xena poked her head through several windows before pulling the horse over to one of them. "Go on," she said and the horse stuck her head through the window knocking the curtains flying and to Lucinda and Xena's amusement they heard a yell, a few curses and then a loud shout of "LUCINDA!"
At this Xena patted the now concerned stable mistress on the back, who was terrified of having to explain to an irate healer what she had done, and walked towards Argo. She gathered up the reins and walked towards where the group was gathered. She nodded to Epinon, and she along with Tyldus and Ephiny led the group out of the village.