Xena watched from her perch by the slab which had the map with the layout of the land around her, as Alexandra made his way out of her tent. They had spent the last two candle marks going over, in full detail on how she wanted her plan to be executed. In truth it was more complex than she initially realized. It had so many unforeseen variables to put into account, Where the Amazons would make their stand, how much oil did her army have for use, even the weather was important for her plan to go off without a hitch.

She didn't spend the last two years of her life building a fierce and formidable army to have her Desires to be shattered by the uncertainty of the whole situation. That was not good enough.

Xena wrapped her fingers around a silver chalice that lay half full with zesty wine that she stole from the king of Corinth's palace a few days ago. The warrior felt her frustration begin to rise. For two long summers she had wanted nothing more than to rid this world of the Amazon. The recruiting, the training, the useless battles to build up her men, all to lead up to the moment to finally fulfill justice in the name of Gabrielle. Now the time has come and all Xena was left with are conflicting thoughts on the days that are surely to come.

She felt tired bored even, for the amount of men and effort the warrior princess had put out for this Gods be damned war, The Amazons were not worth even half of that. Xena knew she could single handedly defeat these women even if they all came at her all at once. But she didn't just want them to be defeated; no she wanted them to suffer like she had those unforgettable years. They were going to be her personal sheep to her slaughter.

Xena took in a much needed deep breath to ease her troubled mind. There was only one thing, one person preventing her to be satisfied with what will be fated to happen in the upcoming days, Gabrielle. The bard's soft and once reassuring voice pledged her mind. She thought it would only be a onetime thing at the gates of Corinth, yet here she was haunted by her best friend's words.

"No, look, you promise me, if something happens to me, you will not become a monster. There's only one way to end this cycle of hatred, and it's through love and forgiveness."Gabrielle's voice came creeping back in the tender fabric of what was the warrior princess' mind.

Xena shook her head, "no you were wrong. What they did was not for the greater good. What I plan to do is. Can't you see that?"

"No. No, you promise me."

"I did promise you I wouldn't become a monster and I am not one. Not when compared to those Amazons. They will be the victim of their own actions. My promise is kept."

"You are wrong Xena, hope is the victim here."

With a swift motion the warrior princess threw her chalice of wine across her quarters. Having the silver object slam into one of the support beams that was helping hold up one section of the tent. The red liquid sprayed in every direction before landing on the ground below.

"Hope is an illusion given to us by the gods who seek to shatter us by it!" Xena did not care how harsh or how loud her voice was. In her heart she believed her words to be true. To hope for anything was foolish and a weak trait. In truth she once believed in hope, but that came to an end the moment Gabrielle's beautiful heart ceased to beat. Hope was truly lost and all that was left was fear and hatred. Xena felt alone trapped in her own pain. Pain that no man, or god will ever see again.

"You're not alone"

"I have been alone since the day you left me," Xena uttered with a broken voice. She felt it; she was losing control of her own mind. She let out an almost hysterical laugh.


Lila came out from the her side compartment of the tent. She was worried when she heard the warrior's raised voice. When she looked up at the princess she was relieved to see that no harm has come to Xena.

The tall woman was standing there staring at the opposite end of the tent. Little beads of sweat ran down the warrior's face. Her eyes or what Lila could see from her side position, Xena eyes appeared to be clouded and empty and that worried her. She had followed Xena for two reasons, find out how her sister died and help the warrior princess in any way possible.

Lila was not the ditz that everyone in Potidaea thought her to be. She could see that Xena and Gabrielle were close. Closer than friends she would guess. Which meant that the warrior's pain was equal to her own if not more? "What's so funny?" Lila asked in a gentle tone.

Xena slowly turned her head to face the young woman. She was surprised that Lila came up on her without her even noticing. 'Then again,' Xena thought. 'I am crazy.'

The taller woman turned fully in the smaller one's direction. "Life is a funny thing," Xena said without emotion.

Lila took a step closer to the crazed looking woman. This side of the warrior princess was scaring her. When she normal saw Xena, she was always so calm and had a level head. But now she appeared to have lost all senses. "Xena are you alright?"

"Fine," the warrior answered nonchalantly.

"No, I can tell when something is bothering you. You know talking about it might help." Lila won't just take a simple lie as the raven haired warrior's answer. Two years was long enough to pick up a few things about Xena, like her one word replies they always meant something more.

Xena rolled her eyes and turned her back to the woman. Lila was stubborn like someone else she knew from her family. "Lila aren't you supposed to be taking care of the child?"

"I just put him to bed, now don't change the subject. Talk to me." Lila took a step closer to her friend. Yes friend was the right word. She truly cared for this woman and could now see why Gabrielle left her family to be with Xena.

The warrior turned back to face the younger woman. In this moment Lila looked just like Gabrielle, pleading her to share her feelings, or lack of. This woman had changed so much since she got her in Potidaea. In truth she was no Gabrielle but she had that same essence about her. Xena will never forget how this woman came into her life and saved her from herself.


Xena rode hard away from her small band of men. A moon has passed since her whipping by the Amazon and her still fresh wounds could show for it. She could see her destination on the horizon, Potidaea. This was the right thing to do. Gabrielle deserved more but this was the least Xena could do. It won't be easy, Gabrielle's father already hated her and this would make it much worse.

How far was Xena willing to go? The truth was that she killed their daughter, her reason for living. Or the half-truth, that Gabrielle died by the hands of a Psychopath and she couldn't do anything to stop it. She will come up with an answer when the time comes.

Xena kicked her horse harder only to have it keep the same pace. This dark mare was no Argo for sure. What she wouldn't give to have her back.

X

Lila carried a bucket full of water back from the well. Why did she promise Gabrielle that she would help mother with this was beyond her. It was always so heavy and it hurt her arms to carry it. She placed the bucket down on the ground and proceeded to wipe the sweat off her brow.

This god's forsaken heat would be the death of her and she knew it. She brushed off some of the dirt that matted her clothing and peered around. She could see the town still going about its usual business. Merchants selling their wares to the citizens, a puppet show showing the story of Achilles. Lila liked how nothing ever changed in this town. It was perfect everyone knew each other and nothing rarely ever happened here. Well except Draco and his slavers, luckily Xena was here to stop them.

Lila took in a breath and leaned over to pick up the bucket once more. Better hurry or father would grow inpatient. As she was making her bay back to her family's farm house she saw a tall dark cloaked rider halt at her home.

The rider dismounted from their mare and made their way to the down of the farm house. Who was this person, Lila thought. She eyed this person for a long moment. The rider had a cloak on hiding their identity from this woman well. But the way they stood seemed very familiar, tall and proud. Then it all hit her at once like a gust of wind, when the rider removed their hood having long dark raven hair flow over their shoulders. "Xena?" Lila gasped, dropping the water bucket in the ground. Having its liquid contents spill over the soil below. Her heart began to quicken when she realized that Gabrielle was not with the Warrior princess. All at once she broke off to a run when she saw the woman enter her house. Small amounts of fear invaded her every step. "Gods please no."

X

Hecuba answered the loud knocking at her door. 'Who in Tartarus?' She thought to herself. She reached for the handle and pulled the small wooden door open. Slight anger filled her voice as she spoke, "this better be important, you almost broke down my door." All the anger left her when she saw it was the Warrior Princess standing on her porch. "Oh Xena please forgive me I thought you were someone else," she said with an apologetic smile.

Xena didn't reply she just removed her hood and stood there. Hecuba nearly fell back at the sight of the warrior princess. She looked awful and that gash on the left side of her face didn't help much either. It took a moment for the woman to recompose herself. When she did she peered around the warrior princess. "Where's Gabrielle?" Fear could be heard in her small voice.

Xena knew this was going to happen and yet she still wasn't well prepared for it. "May I come in?" She asked in a hushed almost chilling tone.

All Hecuba could do was nod and step aside while the tall raven haired woman entered her house. There was a short moment where neither said a word. None would come to their minds. This only made the elder woman's fear worse.

Breaking the uncomfortable silence her husband came in the small living area. "Hecuba have you seen my hammer?" He paused in his place when he saw why his wife hadn't answered the first time he asked that question. He eyed the warrior princess in disgusted, he won't lie she looked like Tartarus but he knew she deserved nothing less. "What is she doing here?" Herodotus pointed at Xena, while looking at his fearful wife. "Where is Gabrielle? Where is my daughter?" The older man asked more towards Xena then to his wife.

The warrior took in a breath before speaking, "she dead." She knew her words were harsh but they were straight to the point. She didn't want to stay here much longer it just hurt her too much.

"Gods no," Hecuba spoke with broken sobs as she collapsed in her husband's arms.

Herodotus held his crying wife and attempted to calm her sobs down without much luck. Anger began to burn in his very being. "This is your fault if you didn't come along and take her from use then she would still be alive and well with her family."

Xena lowered her head slightly. His word spoke nothing but truth. If she didn't let Gabrielle come along with her than she would still be alive. "You will find no arguments here."

Herodotus set his wife off to the side and walked up in front of the taller warrior woman. With a swift a motion he open handedly struck Xena on the left side of her face. Causing three of her stitchings to come loose. Blood began to flow out of her once healing wound. The strike caused her face to move to the side. Xena showed no emotion, or reaction to the hit. "You murderous whore! You turned my loving daughter into harlet just like yourself!" He yelled in her face, not caring how harsh his words were.

Xena whipped her head around in anger. As fast as the strike had been earlier, she grasped the man's neck in a strong tight grip. Fury burned inside the warrior and what she wouldn't give to rip his throat from his body. "Gabrielle was not a harlet," venom leaked in every word. She watched as Herodotus began to struggle in her iron grip. Xena put more pressure on his neck. He tried desperately for air only to be blocked by the tightening of her grasp. Xena leaned forward so their eyes were mere inches apart. She could see the fear of death in his eyes and she loved it. She spoke so calmly it could chill the bone, "she was light itself and you will do well to not insult her memory again."

With that she threw Herodotus to the floor in front of his wife. He landed with a hard thud on his side. He desperately took air into his lungs fearing he didn't have enough.

Xena turned form the couple making her way to the door. She reached for the handle, before pulling it open she took in a much needed breath. "Gabrielle was loved and will always be." She pulled the door open, "I'm sorry for your loss." With that she left the broken couple crying on the floor of their ran down house.

X

Lila watched from the window of the house. Tears freely ran down her face. Gabrielle, her sister was dead... And her father had said such hurtful things about her. That wasn't like him. But what shocked almost as much as Gabrielle's death was Xena's reaction to the unnecessary hit her father had given the warrior princess. She didn't make a move to defend herself or even react to it at all, Xena just let it happen. It was only when her Lila's father said those things about Gabrielle when Xena lost it.

Lila pushed herself away from the window and made her way to the front of the farm house. That's when she saw Xena mounting her chocolate colored mare. "Xena," the young woman gasped as she ran to the tall warrior.

Xena turned her head to see Lila come running towards her. Even from this distance she could see the tears that ran down the young woman's face and the redness of her green eyes. Xena sighed Lila was a sweet Naïve young woman and she so wished that she wouldn't have to see her this day. Lila came up beside the mare and the warrior. The pain in her eyes was evident. She had heard the conversation inside. Xena let's Lila catch her breath for a moment. Running while crying always made it hard to breathe.

After a while Lila finally regained her breath and composer. "Where are you going?"

"Away," was all Xena wanted to answer the truth was far worse.

Lila looked up pleadingly at the warrior, "let me come with you."

"No."

"Please take me with you. You can't leave me here in Potidaea. I want to go with you." Lila said with more tear running down her face.

Xena heart felt like it was going to explode. Lila almost said the exact same thing her sister had three years ago. How she missed her little bard so much and Lila reminded her of Gabrielle. Yet she could never be Gabrielle no matter how hard she tried. Xena sighed, this was a bad idea, and she reached down for Lila's arm pulling her up on back of the horse. She will regret this and she knew it. It's only a matter of time.


"Xena are you alright?" Lila asked as she eyed the warrior princess in front of her. She could see tears begin to form in Xena light crystal blue eyes.

Xena was pulled from her past memories. She shook her head as a tear left her eye. "Yeah I'm fine just thinking about Gabrielle."

Lila smiled and lifted her hand to the warrior's cheek. Wiping away the lone tear with her thumb, "I miss her too."


*** Hope in this Chapter is not Referring to Gbarielle's child. it was a perfect line to use for other means.***