THE PASSING OF LIGHT AND SHADOWS.
Xena opened her eyes slightly, all she could see was red swirling light she lowered her gaze slowly. Her feet weren't even touching the floor her body was wrapped in the red light steams which were holding her up. She tried to move only to feel her body scream in pain with the effort it took. She eased her head up slowly watching as her sword and Chakram came in view.
They were high above her and far from her reach, she could feel the blood rushing to her ears which made her feel nauseas and dizzy. She lowered her head again watching as streams of white light suddenly broke through in to the red mass. They came straight towards her the first re wrapping its self on her wrist.
The others three moved the first moving to her face where it started to move in a slow caress. One of the others hooked itself in side the red mass as the last one moved towards her chest it came down slowly touched her upper breast plate for a tentative moment. She found the breath coming out sharply as it suddenly went in side her body.
She grunted aloud the feeling wasn't pain far from it, it was soothing warm it took away the pain in her body along with the dizzy feeling. She could feel her body relaxing again. She raised one hand looking at the white stream which was coming out of her chest she eased her fingers up slowly and gently taking hold of it.
The rush of emotion she felt suddenly shocked her, mostly because it didn't feel like her own. She breathed in deeply as she began to hear another heart beat drumming in her ear which wasn't her own. She closed her eyes slightly it was Gabrielle's. She found herself relaxing even more she didn't care how Gabrielle was managing to do this all she knew was that it was nice.
She closed her eyes keeping her grip tight on the white light trying to focus her thoughts. It was an odd sensation, made even stranger by the images that started to appear in her mind. She could see her lover floating in white light in much the same way she was her staff floating above her. She could even see the red streams as they broke through the white mass.
She breathed in sharply watching them do much the same thing the white streams had to her, as the red stream went in side the younger woman's chest her green eyes snapped open and her breathing became heavier. Just for a spilt second a cold evil little grin formed on her lips, it was an imitation emotion but she knew all to well that it was her own.
Her lovers hand grabbed the red stream but made no attempt to pull it free, instead she just lay back her breathing slowly calming. She didn't even seem to notice that her body had started changing. Along with fact that her clothes which were slowly being pulled off by streams of white light the large werewolf body remained unmoving.
The light streams slowly re appeared all carrying pieces of gleaming silver and blue werewolf armour which instantly absorbed her human clothing. They then slowly locked them in to place all over her body. The huge helmet with its huge metal antlers stood out the most as it clamped in to place over her blonde furry head.
Everything seemed calm for a moment which didn't last as the armour suddenly burst in light, it began to reshape while other parts disappeared completely. The knee guards turned to a silver liquid moving lower wrapping themselves around her feet turning in to leather wraps. The dark green skirt with its fire designs was replaced with her lovers brown skirt and Amazon belt, both where identical to her human clothes.
The silver full chest armours colours turned to dark and light green mixed with gleaming silver. The fire patterns slowly changed to that of Amazon woodland. It also raised up only cover half of her furry body and not her stomach. Leather wrist guards appeared on her arm matching the same brown leather as the foot wraps.
She breathed in sharply watching as the helmet turned to silver liquid it began to move disappearing under her fur and inside her body. The next moments made her breath in sharply as from behind her lovers long ears long deer antlers began to grow, slowly at first and then with incredible speed. Their velvet ripping away to reveal real antlers in the place of steel ones.
She could feel her lovers breathing start to become more rapid her heart beat wouldn't stop pounding. She grabbed the light stream tighter trying to keep the contact. She opened her eyes watching as the images faded but the feeling of Gabrielle's heart beat didn't stop. Her gaze slowly lowered as she caught sight of red streams coming towards her each carrying black armoured objects.
She wanted to struggle as her armour was pulled free from her body but couldn't she felt her heart hit her stomach as the ugly black and silver Roman gladiator armour with its high horned helmet and ugly spiked shoulder guards started to consume all her armour. The grey ripped skirt and high boots moved towards her she winced as they where forced on to body.
The feeling was awful it made her want to throw up it was like being near Ares only more intense and intoxicating but at the same time disgusting. The rest of the black armour was put on to her body and the horned helmet put on her head. The thick black belt with its steel buckle was last to go in to place, she found herself cringing.
All at once the whole armour turned in to black liquid reforming all over her body. The helmet disappearing as it ran down her back like blood forming in to something else. The whole armour slowly reformed the shoulder guards turning in to long almost wing like features with the same bronze patterns as her original armour. A long red cape appeared held together by a thick bronze chain.
The leather bodice reappeared along with the bronze breast plate and wrist guards and arms guards which all looked the same as her original armour. Her boots reappeared looking no different. She recognized the shoulder guards and the red cape and bronze holding chain instantly. Both were from her brutal and former warlord life.
She'd never wanted to see ether of them again, the last pieces of that old armour she'd gotten rid of not long after meeting Gabrielle. Now here she was once more in them, it was a vile feeling. She watched as her original shoulder clamps appeared locking in to her breast plate. She found herself breathing sharply and painfully.
She gritted her teeth in anger trying to ignore the rush of blood that was going to her head which caused her to miss the flash of red light all over her body as the armour finished reforming. She wanted to be sick again. She felt the red hot anger surging through her body causing her struggle with all her might. She wanted to get out of this!
She could feel Gabrielle starting to do same as her heartbeat started to beat even faster. The next moment caught her by surprise as everything around her burst in to red and white light causing her cover her eyes with her free hand. She didn't get a chance to think as the red light disappeared in an instant and her body hit the ground side first.
She groaned hearing the slamming sound off another body hitting the ground next to her. She blinked watching as the room came slowly back in to focus the ring around the circle which she been dragged in to, was slowly coming to a stop and the light in the star constellations was slowly fading away. She turned over feeling the ache in her muscles.
She heard the clatter of weapons dropping close by the most prominent being the rattling of the Chakram as it hit the ground coming to a stop. She turned catching sight of blonde fur and large antlers. Her lovers was lying opposite her large furry body lying flat on the floor, she sat up slowly staring at the antlers which if anything were impressive.
She eased out her hand putting it on her lovers arm, she moved her other hand gently to the long wolf like face which was completely still. All the clothes she'd seen in her mind were on Gabrielle's body. She looked down at her own armour for a moment seeing the ugly shoulder guards she turned back ignoring them as she shook the furry arm again. "Gabrielle."
She looked down getting no response she breathed in moving herself closer to the furry head. She eased her hand out shaking her lover's armoured shoulder slightly. "Gabrielle." She pulled back hearing a painful groaning. Gabrielle slowly opened both eyes she blinked watching as everything came back in to focus. "Ouch."
Xena breathed sharply she could hear her lovers human voice perfectly. She watched as her Gabrielle slowly dragged herself in to a sitting position her clawed hand going up to her face. "Where does it hurt?" Gabrielle breathed in deeply. "It's my head…I feel like a Centaur's kicked it." She looked down eyeing her armoured chest before groaning again. "Oh no"
Xena raised an eyebrow. "You know your armour isn't the part that should put you off, it's the antlers." Gabrielle turned sharply. "Antlers?" Xena eased up her hand she shook her head trying to clear the slight daze. "Put your hand up behind one of your ears." Gabrielle looked at her for a moment then slowly eased her hand up slowly feeling the bone she followed it up feeling the rest.
She pulled away sharply. "Wonderful, just wonderful I'm a stag." Xena found herself smiling. "A very beautiful blonde stag." Gabrielle turned to look at her. "Thank you." She breathed in looking over the warrior armours dark armour. "Iseron didn't change much on you." Xena eyed the armour. "I don't like the changes personally."
Gabrielle moved closer she eased up a clawed hand putting it on her lover's leather bodice. "I've never seen the shoulder guard armour before or the cape." Xena sneered slightly. "I had them something similar to them before I met you." Gabrielle looked up slightly. "I understand." Xena shook her head. "I can't say I'm that happy to see them again."
She paused looking at their scattered weapons. "Where is the double horn that the original Horn Hind used?" Gabrielle ignored the shocked expressions of Thaddeus and Iris as she breathed in deeply. "I have no idea…I thought it was part of the armour, in my vision that was how I saw it." Xena turned to meet her gaze. "May be you don't need it."
"Oh but she does."
Xena narrowed her gaze watching as Athena appeared behind her in a flash of gold. The red haired goddess slowly grinned enjoying the sound of her own words. Gabrielle turned watching as the others outside the circle stepped back, three of them kneeled only leaving Calicos standing who just sneered at her.
Athena smiled slowly easing up the two sectioned horn. "I keep this for all the werewolf's who wear Horn Hind." She turned sneering in Xena's direction she narrowed her gaze watching as the dark haired woman got to her feet. "I should've known! Trust my stupid brother to stick Iseron in the same room as Horn hind so you'd find it."
She raised a hand slowly. "Not that this changes anything you still loose Xena!" Gabrielle slowly eased herself on to her hind legs eyeing the goddess who turned giving her a wide smile. "Now I believe I should give you the great horn that I made especially for this armour." She walked closer not noticing the scowl as it began to form on Gabrielle's face. "The mighty Horn Hind is nothing with out the great horn."
Gabrielle growled aloud watching as the goddess slowly rose the horn towards her face. "I don't want it." Athena stopped in mid motion she slowly met Gabrielle's gaze. "Every Horn Hind must take my gift, you serve me now." Gabrielle felt her teeth grind together. "I only serve you if I take that horn from your hand."
She pulled her ears back slightly. "I'm not going to take it and I'm not going to serve you ether." Athena stood still for a moment she felt her hand form a fist. "I made you Horn hind! Your purpose is to serve me." Gabrielle slowly took a step forward. "You made me a pawn in your game! You're the reason I got turned in the first place, you set me up."
She raised a clawed hand. "I don't like having fur and having a tail in fact I hate being this way." She eased up her clawed finger. "I don't even worship you. I've only ever worshiped Artemis and as you probably already know Aphrodite is my friend." She sneered at the goddess who was showing slight surprise.
Athena snarled aloud. "You will serve me mortal! Or by Zeus I will end your life right here right now!" Gabrielle laughed slightly she slowly eased out her hands taking a step closer to Athena. "Then kill me! Take your best shot! Because I'd rather die than do your bidding!" Xena stared at her lover at this moment there wasn't any fear at all in Gabrielle's eyes. If she was afraid it couldn't be seen on the surface in any shape or form.
She turned picking up both her sword and Chakram off the floor as she moved closer. She watching as the Athena snarled aloud the goddess raised her hand a white fireball started to form in it she eased the Chakram up readying it. Gabrielle slowly smiled showing off all her razor sharp teeth. "Problem is if you kill me you'll have Lycaon knocking on the door of Olympus and I don't think you want that."
Athena pulled up her hand higher only to feel a sharp pain as an arrow slammed itself in to her leg. She grunted feeling the large fire ball in her hand disappear in an instant. Her gaze lowered to the long white arrow which was sticking out of her upper knee. She leaned down yanking it free, watching as her flesh instantly healed. "Artemis!"
She turned watching as green flames announced her half sisters arrival. The long warm red coloured hair and the golden head piece with its weaving back caught her eye first. The bronze skinned woman was wearing a cream coloured material bodice which had a thick golden scaled belt. Her hands had white gloves on them and her knee high cream coloured skirt hung down.
Her white sandals tapped the floor as she moved forward an arrow holder was attached to her back with a gold strap. Her turquoise eyes wandered as she walked forward taking the arrow from her sister's hand. She smiled a little looking at her arrow. Athena sneered eyeing her. "What are you doing here?" Artemis's smile widened. "My dear sister I do believe you're forgetting the rules."
Athena raised her eyebrow ignoring Gabrielle's shocked expression. "Rules? What are you talking about?" Artemis turned the arrow between her fingers. "Athena for being the wisest of us all you really aren't the quickest." She pointed to Gabrielle. "You know that you're not allowed to take another god's chosen mortal."
She flicked the arrow between her fingers. "Aphrodite was kind enough to inform me of your plan the one you made behind my back. It angers me that you picked Gabrielle since there were five other mortals who would've worked just as well." She folded her arms. "Then you tried and use her to your own ends when you know perfectly well that she's one of my Amazon Queens."
She looked at Xena who was listening closely. "I'm sorry also that you were dragged in to this game Xena, if I had known about this I would've innerved much sooner." Xena eyed her for a moment before shaking her head. "I don't mind it's been a very eye opening experience so far." She twirled the Chakram sneering at Athena. "And it just keeps getting better by the second."
Athena turned eyeing her sister. "Gabrielle's wearing the Horn hind armour! That makes her my servant." Artemis shook her head. "She refuses to serve you and I don't blame her. She knows that you'd never give her back her humanity even if she does kill Lycaon." Artemis shook her head walking closer to Gabrielle. "Tell me Gabrielle do you wish to serve Athena?"
Gabrielle eyed the goddess. "No." Artemis eased the arrow back in to its holder. "Would you be willing to serve me?" Gabrielle breathed in slightly. "I already serve you." Artemis left her smiles widen. "That's what I thought you'd say." She turned back to Athena her sister who looked like she was about to explode. "She won't serve you so you have no servant claim."
She adjusted a long cream gloved hand. "Not that you had any claim in the first place." She turned back. "Since you and Ares both refer to your special mortals as play things I'd just like to clarify that Gabrielle is my play thing, not yours. So go and find another play thing next time and keep your hands well away from mine."
Athena snarled aloud. "Zeus will here about this!" Artemis looked at her for a moment. "Zeus already knows about this, I had a talk with him before I came down here, he was very forthcoming." She shook her head. "He is also very angry with you right now and he thinks that you might have made the riddle in Lycaon's keep very easy because you wanted Gabrielle to work it out."
She raised her hand slightly. "Because with Lycaon free it meant that you could once more make another Horn Hind warrior, who you could force to do your bidding and who might succeed in killing Lycaon this time around." Athena pulled back sharply. "That's preposterous!" Artemis raised an eyebrow. "Is it? It was much too simple a riddle even Discord found it very easy to work out."
Athena glared at her coldly. "I didn't write it, Strife wrote it." Artemis rolled her eyes. "That explains why it was so bad but even if that is true Strife is dead and keeping Lycaon locked away was your job." She breathed in deeply. "Truth is you're in as much trouble as Ares is right now, so I think you'd do better go face the music back on Olympus."
Athena slowly eased up the horn. "You've forgotten something very important Artemis." Artemis slowly folded her arms. "What would that be?" Athena sneered at Gabrielle. "Your overgrown lap dog can't control that armour it'll consume her." She waved the two sectioned horn. "I gave the last Horn Hind this horn so he could control it and stop that happening."
Artemis raised an eyebrow. "You promised that noble werewolf gold and riches if he took that horn and served you. When it was all done you gave him nothing instead he was forced to live out his life forever bound to the Horn Hind armour until his true successor came." She raised her hand. "He's still alive now and desperately trying to make it here so he can touch his successor's armour."
She shook her head. "Only when he does so can he finally die." She turned eyeing Athena. "Believe me if you don't end his life as you promised I will, it's cruel to keep mortals from their deaths." Xena laughed aloud causing them both to look at her. "This is just rich." Athena growled aloud eyeing her. "I can't wait for Iseron to start working on you."
She grinned evilly. "Iseron tends to work much faster than Horn Hind it'll consume every part of you." Artemis smirked slightly. "We'll see sister I have a firm belief that Xena won't fall in to darkness the way you want her to." She put a hand on her chin. "I don't think Gabrielle will fall ether." Athena turned sharply. "When all this is over and done we'll see who's right."
Artemis watched as her sister disappeared in a blast of gold fire. She turned slowly to Xena and Gabrielle. "She's wrong of cause." Gabrielle breathed in deeply. "Perhaps." Artemis took a step closer. "You know what has to be done Gabrielle, Lycaon must not live. Sadly I have nothing of value to offer you to do this deed."
Gabrielle took a step forward. "Actuality you do have something of value." Artemis looked up sharply. "Name it?" Gabrielle found her smile widening. "I want Ares out of mine and Xena's life forever." Artemis looked up sharply watching as the dark haired warrior came closer her face showing slight surprise. "That can be arranged, he's not on Zeus's good side, right now."
She clicked her finger. "I don't think I can get Zeus to do forever but maybe a whole season or more." Gabrielle looked up slightly. "That works for me, after my self and Xena have gotten rid of Lycaon then you can set this deal in to motion." Artemis raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't you want it to start before? I mean he can still come in to your life."
Gabrielle felt her smile turn to a sneer. "Believe me I want him to come, I want to see the look on his face when realizes that he's lost." Artemis nodded slightly. "I understand, well safe to say he's had this one coming for a while." She turned slightly. "I'll go and arrange that for you now." She turned grinning. "I'm sure we'll be seeing another again soon."
Xena watched the goddess disappear in a green flash she sheathed her sword and put her Chakram back in place. She turned slowly meeting Gabrielle's gaze. "Very impressive." Gabrielle eased out her clawed hand running it through her lover's dark hair. "Well I learn from the best." Xena eased up her hand taking hold of one of Gabrielle's. "I want to get out of this room it's making me sweat."
She turned catching sight of the four stunned individuals behind them. Gabrielle turned slightly watching as Thaddeus came forward, he quickly lowered his gaze bowing slightly. "What are your orders great Horn Hind?" Gabrielle breathed in eyeing him. "Please don't bow to me." She watched as he stood up slowly. "Yes great Horn Hind."
8
Jiang turned narrowing his gaze as the last section of the bridge was moved in to place. Ropes were flung across it was then tied of by the werewolf's sitting on the section. Iona moved forward shoving past him. "Move faster! The sun is going to rise soon and I want this ready before your all human!" She folded her arms watching as Jiang eased out his thin sword.
Its purple woven patterned hilt had a green jade dragon, whose teeth bearded down on the upper blade two blue tassels huge down from the lower hilt. The blade had no curves and went up like a broad sword, but it wasn't stiff it flexed. She watched as he spun it between his fingers. "You Chinese fools make such weak blades."
Jiang turned sharply he watched as the Roman gladiator sword rose only to be knocked to one side by his thrust. The weapon flexed gently as it came to rest her throat. "The arrogant one will lose the battle for sure." Iona pulled back snarling. "Screw your Chinese proverbs." Jiang pulled his weapon away smiling slightly.
He eased the sword back in to it's highly decorate scabbard. "I though you of all people could appreciate my weapon, you were a Gladiator after all." Iona looked down slightly. "I didn't have decorative weapons, mostly the same old nets and spears as well as Rooms full of drinking men. Every day the same sweat and blood, you loose track after a while."
Jiang raised an eyebrow. "You were bred to kill weren't you?" Iona looked at her sword. "Yes that's what private Gladiators do! I was a slave to a rich man I had to fight and kill everyday to please him and if I displeased him I didn't get fed." Jiang breathed in deeply. "Have you ever thought that nothing really changed for you?"
Iona turned sharply. "It has I'm free!" Jiang narrowed his gaze. "Yes you are but you still kill and you still serve a powerful figure." He leaned closer. "This tells me that you need that to feel whole, because it's all you have ever known." He folded his arms. "So you have to ask your self, even though you wear no slave collar, you're still a slave to your ways."
Iona looked up slightly. "You're wrong!" Jiang eased his sword free again eyeing the blade. "Perhaps..." He flicked the blade again. "I just think you should look at your life just in case your death comes before your time." Iona raised an eyebrow. "My death won't come before my time." Jiang watched as the final ropes and nails were hammered down on the bridge. "It might if Gabrielle survived the fall."
He turned the blade slightly. "I think if she did she'll kill you this time, she let you live because of her deep sense of honour…but you might have stretched her to her limits." Iona laughed aloud eyeing him. "Gabrielle is weak! She had no stomach for killing ether. She's also dead I don't fear a dead woman." Jiang turned slightly. "I've waited all my life to finally meet Xena in battle, because I was too arrogant the first time around."
He smiled. "I didn't even turn up on the battle field because I believed my army would destroy hers out right. Now I might finally get my chance to fight the woman who destroyed my entire army." He slowly met Iona's gaze. "Xena is still strong even though she's not a warlord, the person who pushes that strength and makes her fight so hard is Gabrielle."
He shook his head. "If a person like that could bring up such strength from the Warrior Princess then they must have a strength all there own." Iona rolled her eyes. "That's pathetic talk Jiang even for you…" Jiang smirked slightly. "I pity you Iona you don't understand and I doubt you ever will which is even more is depressing."
He walked forward slowly. "She even defeated in you in battle and you don't see the joy of finally having an opponent worthy of your skill." He shrugged slightly. "I hope for your sake that your right and she didn't survive the fall because you'll only truly fathom my words at the end when she finally ends your life."
End Of Part 36
By Silvermoonlight.