***Disclaimer*** See Chapter One :-)
A/N: Okay I'll admit it, I had writers block! I wrote this three times, hopefully this time I got it right. Happy reading :-)
It was a cool night, yet refreshing after the heat of the day had taken its toll on the three women. They were still exhausted after reaching land from the lack of sleep they had on the boat. However, they pushed forward and began their journey towards the mountain that loomed in front of them. The dreaded mountain that tomorrow they would need to scale, the mountain that Gabrielle feared.
Rest was not an option, they would have loved a few days to relax and recharge, but that was not to be. Not until they located the scrolls and ancient bones and set in place their trap for Savis.
Xena estimated that they could possibly be two days ahead of her, hoping that Savis, just like herself, had no clue as to where the items lay hidden. All she knew was that they should be found in a cave, so the best location she thought of was the mountain they saw when they landed. Gabrielle agreed, she had a strange feeling, a sense that for some reason she couldn't explain but she knew deep down there was something there, something that needed to be found.
So for the moment until the break of dawn, the ladies all slept, resting their weary bodies and enjoying the dreams they found themselves in. That was until an unexpected visitor dropped in.
"Xena" the voice was but a mere whisper.
No answer
"Xeeeenaaaa" this time said a little louder with a tune attached to the name.
Still no response
"Xena! Wake up!" the voice bellowed out, finally gaining her attention.
"What in Hades!" she grunted half asleep, trying her hardest to sit up. She was pinned down by a small young blonde that was fast asleep on top of her, nestled securely between her warm ample breasts. Without thinking, Xena's hands swiftly wrapped around the small muscular body and tossed her wife aside with no effort at all. Gabrielle's eye's fluttered open just in time to see the ground approaching. With a small squeal she hit the cold hard earth and the momentum rolled her onto her back.
Xena quickly sat bolt upright and grabbed for her sword just as Gabrielle reached for her sais.
Gabrielle was first on her feet, her body pumping with adrenalin as Xena continued to kick at her bedroll trying to toss the thing off. The more she kicked the more tangled she became, so she steadied herself and took a deep breath. Within seconds she was free from the tangled bundle of furs, managing to get out from under just as she noticed her wife who was standing there now relaxed and sniggering.
"Gabrielle" her voice was a low long rumble.
"You have to admit Xe, you are funny when you first wake up." Gabrielle replied with a smirk on her lips. "However next time you're about to toss me, think first...a bit of warning would have been nice."
"mmmm, sorry love."
Their attention turned towards their visitor who stood in front of them beaming from ear to ear, bursting with enthusiasm, secretly hoping that she would be forgiven for what she had done.
"Hey there chickies, glad you're both awake. I have the bones you requested and a little gift for Gabs." The goddess couldn't talk fast enough, she knew she was about to be yelled at and hoped that the mention of bones would make the warrior's temper less eruptive when she discovered what she was hiding.
Xena gathered herself, shaking her head a little before finally crawling out of the furs. She adjusted her eyes in the dim light, as the nearby fire they had built, was now nothing but glowing ashes.
It was so dark that all that could be seen, was Aphrodite in her pink pajamas standing there cuddling a pink pillow. However there was movement behind the Goddess of Love, but neither warrior could work out what it was.
"Now before you say anything and blow ya stack Xena, I couldn't stop them." She said sternly, pointing a finger at Xena.
Sheepishly two women stepped out from behind Dite.
"Lila!"
"Varia?"
"What in Tartarus?" Xena's eye's nearly popped out of her skull as she took in the sight before her.
"Okay guy's gotta go, I can hear Ares calling me" The flash was bright and blinded the whole five women leaving them cursing the goddesses name for a few minutes.
"Xena!"
The warrior spun around and found herself facing Ares. Slapping her forehead she groaned "What in Tartarus is going on here?"
Savis had woken from a deep sleep and rolled over taking Sarah into her arms. Her once be lover was bound and gagged and stiffened when she felt arms wrap forcefully around her middle. Savis sat up feeling refreshed but surprised once she laid eyes on her girlfriend.
"Sarah! Darling did we play some games last night?" she started to giggle, as she picked at the knot on the ropes that bound poor Sarah's wrists together. "Honestly, we do get carried away some nights don't we." Her eye's sparkled with mischief, and amusement as the ropes were untied freeing her captives hands.
Very slowly as Sarah watched her lunatic captor, not knowing what could possibly happen next, she gingerly moved her hands to remove the gag from her swollen lips. It had only been a few hours since she endured the viscous assault and obviously the way Savis was acting, she had no recollection at all of the event.
"Come darling let's bathe, then go up on deck, we must surely be close to land."
Close to land…the thought ran through Sarah's mind. Mmmmm the closer the better. She clenched her fist and try to flex her muscles, stretching her body then groaned. Bruising was starting to show and the blood that covered her body was dry. Glancing down at herself she cursed once more.
Stupid, stupid, stupid! Why did I enrage her, how am I going to escape. My body, it's not ready to swim…if I could just get close to land, I would have had a chance…not now, no way, I'm too damaged to swim.
Savis started to prepare the bath when a shout from above was heard.
"Land Ho!"
"Land!" she clapped her hands together with joy. "No time for bathing, get dressed and join me upstairs." With that said, Savis ran from the cabin grabbing her clothes and dressing as she fled.
That left Sarah alone with her thoughts. She raised her arms over her shoulders and again began to stretch.
Maybe I could swim…slip overboard when they anchor, get a head start. Will they anchor? Surely they must. But will they? Maybe there is a wharf or outcrop of rocks. Ooooh Hades! What to do?
Okay calm down, I really have no choice, I have to do this.
So can I, or can't I? Will I make it to shore? Only one way to find out.
Lila and Varia started to speak just as Ares opened his mouth as well.
"Enough! By the Gods, one at a time." Xena said losing her patience.
"Is anyone hungry?" Tika chimed in as she poked at the warm ashes. "No? We-well ho-how about I get some water and we can all have a nice cup of tea." She smiled shyly standing up knowing now was the time to get out of there. Xena's eyes were murderous and her body language said it all. The warrior was about to blow.
Gabrielle placed her sais back where they belonged as she walked over to her seething wife and proceeded to rub her tense back. "Easy there girl, a cup of tea sounds great." She continued to tend to Xena's back till she could feel the warriors body relax.
"Okay then" Gabrielle said looking at the three standing in front of her wife, her own temper now starting to build.
"Tell me dear sister, what brings you here when I told you to stay with the Amazons?"
"Gab ummm Gabrielle, I had too, I..."
Gabrielle ignored her sister and turned her attention towards Varia raising an eyebrow. "Well?"
"Well what Gabs?"
"Well you are the Queen of the Amazons! Is it too much for you to do as I asked and look after one defenseless old lady?"
"Hey! Easy on the old!" Lila pouted.
"Oh Lila, if I were you I wouldn't speak." Gabrielle's voice dropped to a whisper as she tried to control her temper.
Both women looked down at the ground, unable to keep eye contact with the angry young bard. Xena could see that they felt guilty, but she also knew that had it been Eve, she would have done exactly the same thing.
It was Xena's turn to start rubbing Gabrielle's back. "Okay ladies you're here now, so be it." She turned to Ares who was pacing. "Ares, what's your story, what brings you back seeing I asked you to spend time with Eve?"
He smiled, throwing his hands in the air. "We have a problem my dear Xena. Your little girl can't fight."
Xena smiled "Well Ares you idiot, that's why I sent you. Don't tell me one woman's too much for you to handle? You're the God of War, that's what you do, remember? You bring the fight out in people, bring out their dark side."
Ares's smiled back and poked the warrior in the chest. "I know Xena, but tell me…what happens if that soul has been cleansed twice? Hmmm there is no way Eve can resurrect her dark side Xena, because there is no dark side left."
The smirk on her face slowly faded. "Wh-what did you say?" as she took a few steps backwards, her face slack and ashen. Gabrielle, noticing the distress in her wife's body language quickly, but gently pushed her aside. "Ares are you saying because Calisto and Eve were both cleansed, there is no way to have her fight."
"Ahhhh finally someone gets it! I've been trying to have her fight with me for hours and next thing she turns around and tells me she can't because of Michael's dam cleansing!"
Everyone was silent as Ares's words sunk in. Xena took a seat on a nearby log and stared at the fire that Tika was building.
"There must be some way Ares? There has to be a way that can ignite her fighting skills." Gabrielle said almost pleading for an answer.
"Yeah, well if you find a way let me know. I've tried everything." The god of war was frustrated, his ego also taking a hit knowing he had failed in his task.
"Not everything." Her voice was timid as she stoked the fire. Everybody turned and stared at Tika just as a pink flash was seen and the Goddess of Love reappeared.
"Tika? What do you mean" the bard spoke gently hoping the information would flow more freely.
"Well, think about it. Eve has been cleansed. She just needs to be uncleansed."
It took a few seconds for Tika's words to sink in. Both Xena and Gabrielle looked at one another, knowing full well what Tika was getting at. Their eyes were locked onto each other, neither one of them having to say a word. The silent communication was all that was needed, both knowing what Tika had said was true...both knowing the solution and both not willing to let it happen.
Tika could see the look on both their faces, mistaking it for confusion instead of pain. So she interrupted the special bond they were sharing and started to explain herself.
"Remember Gabrielle, a few moons ago, you told me about some of your adventures, especially the time when the Romans ummm, well you died and you went to ..."
"No, no, no, don't even suggest it and don't even think it! There is no way I'm sending Eve to Tartarus!" Xena snapped drowning out the rest of Tika's sentence. She faced everybody and saw blank expressions on all of them. Her body began to tremble as images of the past came flooding back. Within moments she felt her wife's arm wrap around her waist giving her a gentle squeeze.
Xena glanced down at Gabrielle and once again without a word spoken, revealed in the warmth and support her partner was giving her. A small nod from Xena and a twinkle in Gabrielle's eye spoke louder than any words uttered. Xena settled herself, taking a deep breath and gathered her thoughts before continuing, she desperately wanted them to understand what she was saying.
"Okay, Gabrielle and I understand what Tika is saying, plus Michael would know too, ahhh that's if he's listening right now."
"He is Xena, he's not leaving the reflective pool till he knows the full plan." Dite confirmed.
"Okay, well basically, I'll give you the short version, because really we don't have time for this." Xena said with a little venom in her tone. Once again Gabrielle was by her side, placing her hand on her back this time to soothe her wife's temper that she could sense was bubbling to the surface.
"After Gabrielle and I were crucified, both our souls spent time in Hell. To escape, we were lucky, we got to Gabrielle just in time after she ate the fruit, but for me...I traded places with Calisto, which caused her first cleansing. I stayed in Hell, planning on defeating Michael so those souls that were also doomed would be released. Anyway, to make a long story short, Eli and the powers to be, gave Gabrielle and myself life again." Xena sighed "Gods I hate remembering what we went through, what happened, how I caused our death, how..."
"Xena, stop it!" Gabrielle spun her around and gazed into hurtful eyes. "Stop blaming yourself, what happened, happened. It was seen in a vision, so there was nothing we could do to prevent it." The warrior cupped her wife's cheek giving her a gentle kiss on the lips. "Thanks Gabrielle."
"Xena, what has this got to do with Eve? I don't get it." Varia spoke her mind and the others agreed, all of them still confused as to what Xena was getting at.
The only one that was silent was Ares, leaning against a tree, his mind taking it all in while thinking.
Gabrielle took over. "Eve can't fight because she has been cleansed twice. Once as Calisto, just as you heard when Xena swapped places and the other time was as Eve, when she was cleansed in the waters on the beach. Two cleansings is what's making it twice as difficult to have her fight."
She sighed and before she could stop herself she spoke her mind. "Eve needs more than Ares dark side, she needs to consume the fruit from Hell!"
"Gabrielle!" Xena couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Xena, honey just listen." Gabrielle knowing she had hurt her wife, but also knew it had to be said. "Someone once said, if it's not broken, don't fix it. Well in this instance Xena, it's not broken, however we have to break it, to fix it."
Xena was in shock as she listened to her wife. "I can't believe I'm hearing this Gabrielle, you know what will happen sweetheart! It's what Lucifer wants. He will have her and once that happens there is no getting her back."
Ares pushed himself off the tree he was leaning on and walked towards her. His facial expression was stern, his eyes very focused on the woman he found to be his favorite.
"Tell me Xena, what would you do, if I told you that the Gin, plus every demon and all those souls that were in Hell would remain there, never able to escape?"
Xena looked from Gabrielle to Ares then back again at her wife. She raised her eyebrow in question, wondering if Gabrielle knew anything about what Ares was talking about. The shake off her head and the shrug of her shoulders was all that Xena required. Nope, just as she suspected, her wife knew nothing of what was going on either, both however were about to find out.
"Alright, I'm listening." Xena said crossing her arms, intrigued with what the God of War may say.
"Lucifer has a deal with Najara, correct?"
"That's right" the warrior said slowly, unsure where this was leading to.
Ares continued "The deal is that he will release the Gin plus all the others, if Najara sends him Eve."
"What would happen if you sent him Eve?"