Hey all...man, what a couple of weeks. My new job is VERY demanding, and today has been my first day off in a while. So I thought I'd put together another chapter and get it posted. Hopefully the next will not be as long forthcoming. I thank you all again for your continued support, and advise you to keep reading because things are gonna get real interesting from this point forward. Just a sidebar note...the invocation that Gabrielle intones in this chapter, is a word for word translation of the actual prayer the ancient Egyptians used. I did a LOT of research for this chapter, and it is as accurate as layman studies could make it. I hope you enjoy. spirit
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Gabrielle returned to her room and sat on the edge of the bed clutching the shadow box. Xena tried several times to get her to speak, but the bards nerves had finally reached their tension limit and she couldn't seem to form a coherent thought. Much less put one into words. A rising fear manifest itself in shaking hands and tears that trembled on her fluttering lashes. She would go before Anubis today, and she was terrified that she would fail, just like she had with the thieves. That no matter how eloquent or persuasive she might be, Xena would not be allowed to return to her. If that should happen, both their lives would be over, because Gabrielle knew she could no longer endure without the love she had found with the warrior. She was afraid to die, but she was even more afraid of living without that love.
Her mind raced as fast as her pulse, choosing and as quickly discarding a thought. Her ears were ringing with the pounding of her heart, her breath shallow and labored. She felt sick and dizzy and her chest was tight with dread.
It was all on her, and she knew she didn't have the wit to pull it off. Xena had put her faith in the bard, and Gabrielle was going to let her down. She flopped back on the bed, shadowbox hugged tight to her chest and tried to ride out the wave of trepidation that threatened to overwhelm her. Xena continued to utter soothing, nonsensical words, trying hard to reach through her frightened partners' panic. It took several minutes, but finally the bards breathing resumed some semblance of normalcy and she blinked rapidly, desperately struggling to regain her composure. Despite her insecurities, she was balanced on the precipice now, with no avenue of retreat. There was only forward as a direction, and there was no recourse. She had to try, there was no choice.
She drew a ragged breath and expelled it with a sigh, then sat up and moved to the cabinet. She removed all of her possessions and placed them in her pack setting it on one of the chairs silently. Then gathered her weapons and stacked them neatly. Without a word, she resignedly got dressed in her sturdiest clothing, and affixed the light armor she had taken to wearing in the last few years on the road. She took a last look at her room, then shouldering her burdens, left to meet Herodotus.
As she made her way down the hall Xena said, " it's going to be alright Gabrielle…no matter what happens now, you've done your best and I'm proud of you."
The bard gave an annoyed shake of her head and replied quietly," Save it for after Xena…it's too late for pep talks. Let's just get this over with."
" Alright," the warrior replied sadly. She knew that the episode with the thieves had shaken her lover badly, and nothing she said would restore her confidence at this point. She could only hope that the coming journey would show the bard that she could still make a difference in what was to come in the following candle marks. So she held her comments and simply offered her silent support.
Herodotus was waiting in the common room. He had heard on the street about the thieves and Horus' intervention, and he could see from the stormy look in the bards' pretty green eyes, that she was in no mood for idle banter. Instead he took her elbow silently, and led her out into the street and their appointment with the priest of Anubis. They walked for a time without speaking, until the strained silence caused him to shoot her a look from the corner of his eye. He cleared his throat pointedly, and she turned an apologetic gaze on him. She shrugged marginally, and gave him a wan smile, " I guess you heard about what happened this morning?" she asked resignedly.
He nodded, then returned her smile with a brighter one, " I did," he replied, then chuckled softly, " It has been many years since Horus has made such an appearance to mortals. I believe your early morning adventure will be the subject of much conversation for some time to come."
Gabrielle glanced around then, noting the speculative glances that fell upon her and then skittered nervously away as she walked beside the historian. She gave a grimace, " Too bad his intercession was required…I should have been prepared, more vigilant…" she sighed, feeling overwhelmed and depressed, " I got complacent."
Herodotus shook his head, " Somehow I doubt, with your history, complacence is a fault you suffer from. I think it far more likely that you simply trusted the gods' assurance that you would not be troubled further." he smiled warmly at her, " I believe that you tend to extend the benefit of the doubt more often than the average person, and frankly, if that is a failing, the rest of the human race would do well to emulate it. Personally, I am in awe of you Gabrielle. For one that has endured such intense hardship as you have, to retain your open and trusting spirit, is…well…humbling." He colored and glanced down shyly when she smiled in thanks for his kindness.
Though she was somewhat jealous of the young mans open attraction for her soul mate, Xena could not help but feel grateful for his words, which seemed to pull the bard forcibly from her morose introspection. They were in fact an echo of the warriors own feelings about the bard. It was perhaps the thing Xena loved most about her, her enduring faith in the inherent goodness of others. A faith so strong and pervasive that it tended to make those who were its recipients, desire to live up to it. So even while she wanted to throttle him for making time with her beloved, she gave silent thanks for his ability to voice the sentiments she rarely had the ability to articulate.
" What he said," she grumbled, and was rewarded with a soft laugh from the bard.
Herodotus glanced over at her questioningly, and the bard smiled and shrugged, " Xena was just agreeing with you. Thanks."
" You're welcome,' he replied genuinely, " Though it's only the truth as I see it. Oh…' he paused, then continued abruptly, " I wanted to tell you something about your journey today. I explained about the creatures you will encounter?" She nodded and he continued, " What I didn't mention is that some of them do not require physical force to best….some of them will likely play word games, or ask riddles that you must solve before you can proceed. So you see, your special talents may be more useful than you might think. Not that I don't believe you more than capable as a warrior," he assured her quickly, glancing appreciatively at her compact and muscular frame, " But your quick wit may be of more advantage than your prowess with weapons."
Gabrielle grinned then, suddenly feeling a little more sure of her role in the coming candle marks, but she replied generously, " Believe me Herodotus, Xena is by no means dim. She has a very sharp mind, and is incredibly clever," she held up a hand to forestall his apology, " But I thank you for your belief in my mental acumen."
Herodotus smiled and came to a halt in the street, when Gabrielle arched an eyebrow questioningly, he jerked his head towards the building they stood in front of, " We're here," he said simply.
Gabrielle turned slowly and regarded the imposing structure, her mouth suddenly dry and her heart thundering in her chest. She gave herself a mental shake, and shrugged her shoulders to seat her pack more securely. Moistening her lips with the tip of her tongue, she nodded and cleared her throat, " Well then…let's do this," she stated resolutely, and followed the historian as he led the way into the cool, echoing interior.
They were met by four silent acolytes who ushered them deeper into the temple, and into the presence of a tall spare framed man in white linen robes. He inclined his head to Herodotus and then turned expectantly to the bard. " You are Gabrielle?" he asked softly, his voice deep and sonorous and his manner respectful.
" I am," she replied.
He nodded, already certain of her answer, " Then let me explain what you can expect," he motioned her towards a low couch set between four stone pillars. " I assume you have the necessary items? Your offerings, the shadowbox, your friends ashes, etcetera?"
She nodded, not trusting her voice. He smiled at her kindly, pointing at a raised platform next to the couch, " We will place your offerings there, and you will recite the invocation to Anubis…do you know it?"
Gabrielle smiled, " yes, I memorized it last night."
He returned her smile, " Very good. Once you have invoked the Lord Anubis, I will be given a sign as to whether or not your offering pleases him. If it does, I will then give you a drink that will slow your mortal body functions and expand your consciousness. I will then recite the incantation that my lord Thoth has supplied to allow you enter the underworld with your friend. Be aware that while you will have no corporeal body, your essence will still be subject to the laws of the underworld. By that I mean, should you or your friend fail in your task, or be injured or killed by one of the guardians, your physical body here, will also succumb. Do you understand?"
The bard swallowed hard, but nodded her acceptance.
" Do you wish to proceed?" he asked.
" I do," she replied resolutely.
" Very well then. May I see your offerings please?"
The bard stepped over to the couch and set down her pack, removing the items she had brought as sacrifice to Anubis. He gave her an approving nod as she handed them over. He also noticed the "Book of Two Ways" the "Book of the Dead" and the scroll of Absolution that Herodotus had given her. He laid the offerings on the altar and then reverently picked up the two books. " The Book of Two Ways" " he began, hefting the volume, " Outlines the two possible paths through the underworld. One by land, one by water. Both end in the same destination, both offer the same challenges. If I may offer counsel on this matter?" he paused until she responded with a brisk nod, " I would suggest the land route. Though it is equally as arduous as the other, your Goddess Aphrodite informs me that you get ill on the water?"
Xena chuckled, and Gabrielle nodded ruefully. He smiled and continued, " Then land it is." He then lifted the "Book Of The Dead", " While this tome is speculative, since there is no actual map or instructions for navigating the underworld, it may be useful none the less, and I would advise that you consult it from time to time. Now…" he handed the books back to her and she stowed them in her pack, " I would have you recite the invocation to Anubis, and we shall see if we are allowed to proceed."
Gabrielle composed herself, then turned towards the altar, kneeled in supplication and began speaking, "
Anubis, he who is in front of his divine booth, he who is on his mountain. I give invocation offerings of bread, beer, birds, alabaster, clothing, and every good and pure thing upon which a god lives. Every good and pure thing that the sky gives, the earth creates, the inundation brings, on which the god lives .For the ka of the revered Senwosret, True of Voice."
She spoke clearly and precisely, her voice strong and ringing in the silence of the temple. When she finished she sat back on her heels and glanced at the priest who nodded absently in approval. He leant forward from his position next to her, and lit a stick of incense watching the curl of smoke as it drifted above them. The smoke created a cloud over the altar, and then formed into the vague shape of a bird in flight. The priest nodded in acceptance and turned to the bard with a tight smile. "The Lord Anubis is pleased and accepts your offering, we may proceed."
Gabrielle exhaled the breath she had been holding, hearing a matching sigh from the warrior. " What happens now?" she asked.
" Now," the priest replied, " I shall have you recline on the couch while I mix the herbs that will allow you to descend into the underworld. Hold closely anything you wish to take with you on your journey. Any item you hold, or that is on your person, will go with you. You will not require food or drink, and you will not feel the need for sleep while you travel the underworld. But I urge caution, do not become complacent. The trials you will face will be very difficult, and could end in your death if you let your guard down for even a moment. Are you still determined?"
" Yes," the bard replied, her voice strong and sure.
" Then let us begin," he replied, gesturing towards the couch, where the bard reclined and gathered her possessions and weapons to her. She beckoned to Herodotus who had been standing silently in the shadows while Gabrielle had gone through the ritual. He moved towards her apprehensively, aware of what she was about to ask as she pulled a dagger from the sheath at her waist and held it out to him with a question in her eyes. He gazed at it, and then back at her determined face, and sighed. " I think I'm going to need my sai," she gave him a tremulous smile, " But this will do if there is a need." Her eyes begged him, and against his better judgment and previous resolve, he reached out a shaking hand and took the dagger from her. " Thank you," she said simply, tears welling in her beautiful green eyes, " Thank you for understanding."
He dropped his gaze painfully, but gave her a short nod in acquiescence, then stepped away to wait.
The priest approached carrying a chalice containing a murky green liquid, he handed it to her and said, " Drink this down all at one time. It is bitter and does not taste pleasant, but it will allow you to attain a trance like state." As the bard lifted the cup to her lips, the priest spoke aloud to the room, " Warrior, though you have no body, I would have you, in your mind, reach out and put your hands on your friend so that you may be carried together into the underworld. See yourself holding on to her, and it shall be."
Gabrielle finished the brew with a grimace, handed back the cup and laid back on the couch. The priest set the chalice aside and said, " Begin to count in your mind….by the time you reach a score, you shall be on your way."
Feeling queasy and light headed, she nodded and began counting. Before she reached ten she could feel a…detachment, a pervasive lethargy that eased her eyelids down over orbs that suddenly could not focus. Before she lost consciousness she heard Herodotus say, " Good fortune Gabrielle…gods willing I will not need to keep my promise…."
And then all went dark.