A/N
Sorry for the delay!
I've got the next one written but it just needs fine-tuning/tweaking but it should be with you shortly!
Thank you for the continued support, you have no idea how much it means to me.
Enjoy x
Xena stumbled as she made her way through the burning temple, her eyes watering from the smoke, "GABRIELLE?" she cried, unable to see her best friend. She could only hear the crackling of flames in response, it was like Dahak was mocking her. She made her way towards the middle of the temple, trying to avoid the fire as best as she could but it licked at her skin hungrily and she knew that she was going to have a few burns to show for it.
"GABRIELLE?" she desperately called, the thick black smoke still hiding her best friend from her. Heart thumping wildly she stopped and took a few moment to listen, to see if she could hear anything other than the fire. She held her breath, concentrating hard when she finally heard a small sniffle. Turning towards the sound excitedly she ran forward; managing to dodge a falling beam and reaching the source of the sniffle.
Xena was horrified when she realised who it was, "Lila?" she choked out hoarsely. She couldn't believe that she had forgotten Gabrielle's sister, that everyone had forgotten about her.
Lila looked up with a tear-streaked face at the sound of her name, she was sat on the ground, clutching an ankle that was bent at an odd angle. "Xena!" she cried, her face one of abject terror.
Xena bent quickly and scooped the woman up into her arms easily, glad that she was slight. The smoke had gotten thicker since Xena had entered the temple and she now couldn't see the way out, she turned her head in every direction, desperate for a clue as to where she was.
"Is gabby out?" Lila asked, shouting so she could be heard over the flames.
Xena shook her head quickly, "I need to get you out of here and then I will get her too."
"Leave me, save her!" Lila shot back quickly, struggling to be let free.
Xena shook her head again and tightened her hold. The temple was trembling violently, weapons falling from the wall as the building started to cave in. Deciding that there was no time for two trips, she stumbled towards what she hoped was the centre of the temple again, squinting through the smoke. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw a flash of gold, "GABRIELLE?"
She picked up her pace, skirting around the flames and jumping over holes that were appearing in the floor, the marble slabs cracking as the temple shook. Directly ahead of them Xena could make out her best friend, she was trapped within a circle of flames, kneeling with her head bowed as an enormous creature bore down upon her.
Lila gasped in horror, "What is she doing?"
Xena didn't answer, she could see exactly what Gabrielle was doing, she was giving up. "Close your eyes and hold your breath," Xena said determinedly, making sure she had a firm grip before running towards the flame. She closed her eyes at the last second and jumped through it, surprised when it didn't burn, and landed with a jarring thud on the other side but managing to keep hold of Lila.
Xena's eyes snapped open and took in the scene before her. Within the circle of flame there was no smoke and the roar of the fire gentled to a pleasant crackling, if it hadn't been for the giant monster Xena would have called it an oasis of calm. She quickly deposited Lila and on the ground and ran towards the beast.
It was at least twice the size of a normal man, with grey scaly skin, arms that ended in three sharp claws and a large horned head with razor sharp teeth. Xena recognised it at once as the true form of Dahak, Hercules having described him to her. Xena threw herself at him just as he raised his arm to strike Gabrielle down, causing him stumble back in surprise, screaming in fury. She landed lightly on her feet and somersaulted back to Gabrielle, cursing her lack of weapons.
"Gabrielle?" she called, trying to get her best friends attention
Gabrielle's head snapped up, her eyes widening in horror when she saw Xena, "GET OUT OF HERE!" she screeched, still not getting up from her kneeling position.
Dahak had now turned his attention to Xena and struck out at her, unable to block the blow he hit her square in the chest and sent her flying. Xena gasped as she hit the ground with a heavy thud, she clutched at her chest, relieved when she finally managed to drag in a breath. Her head was spinning and there was a ringing in her ears as she struggled to stand up.
Dahak lumbered towards her and she felt a smile tug at her mouth when she realised that in the real world he was slow, when Hercules and Iolaus had exorcised him he had been as fast as lightning.
"GABRIELLE!" she shouted as he took another swing at her, one that she managed to dodge. Her best friend hadn't moved from her position, she was still kneeling on the ground rocking backwards and forwards with her hand over her ears. "It wasn't you!" Xena called, dodging another blow from Dahak. He roared in anger, fully focused on Xena who kept managing to evade him. "All those people you hurt, it was Dahak, you need to help me Gabrielle, I can't do it without you!"
Gabrielle didn't move, she didn't even look up at Xena's voice. Xena ducked out of the way of another swing from Dahak and managed to counter him with a punch to the chest, he didn't even seem to notice the blow and backhanded her sending her tumbling to the ground once more, "Gabrielle...please..."
She got back up on her feet unsteadily, backing away from Dahak as she went, without weapons she had no hope of winning this fight. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Lila wrap an arm around Gabrielle, whispering in her ear, after having dragged herself across the floor. The lack of attention cost her, Dahak jabbed his claw at her, spearing her through her left shoulder. She cried out in pain as he raised her up above his head and flung her away from him, sending her plummeting to the ground like a rag doll. She landed on her back and clutched onto her shoulder, gasping in pain from both the puncture wound and the damage caused by the Minotaur in the maze. Her vision started to black out and she struggled to stay conscious, shaking her head she tried to clear the fog that was threatening to take over. Dahak loomed above her, raising his arm for the killing blow, "G...Gabrielle..." she gasped.
