Chapter 8
Birds lively songs fill the air with notes as sweet as the scents from the freshly blooming daisies. Slowly I become aware of the rich, green grass beneath me. Rising to my elbows I study the meadow, it's beautiful but I've never been here before. How did I get here, the last thing I remember is being in the Amazon village, watching Xena fight for her life in that cursit Circle. Then Noleta attacked me and...quickly I reach for the wound on my chest. It's gone, how can that be? Jumping to my feet I check for other wounds, there are none. That's impossible wounds don't just disappear, unless...unless I'm dead. Swallowing hard I eye the meadow once more. Could this be the Elysian Fields?
Across the meadow movement catches my eye. My heart skips a beat as I recognize the young woman making her way through the knee deep grass. Silently I watch her, frightened the slightest sound might make her disappear. I can't help smiling as the petite blond playfully chases a butterfly through the flowers. Enjoying the moment her carefree laughter drifts across the meadow, even the birds can't make a sound that sweet. Caught up in the joy of the moment I laugh aloud. Startled by the sound emerald green eyes turn to met mine, and she smiles. It's the most beautiful sight I've ever seen. She moves toward me. Smiling back I reach to take the hand she offers. As our hands touch my fingers pass through her's. "Gabrielle?" I whisper as the smiling image begins to fade. "Don't go." lunging forward I grasp only air where the apparition had been only moments before.
With her gone the meadow begins to dissolve as well. Once more darkness claims me. This isn't the Elyasian Fields it's Taruarus. I scream in rage but the darkness swallows the sound. Just when I'm certain madness will take me, a glimmer of light slips through. Somehow I know if I can reach the light I'll wake up from this nightmare. This is just a bad dream. All I have to do is reach the light and things will be right again. Gabby will be waiting for me there and we can laugh about this foolishness. Slowly opening one eye the light blinds me. With some effort I force open both eyes. My heart sinks as I realize the light is evening sunlight, passing through the windows of the hut Ephiny arranged for me. It was all a dream. 'When will this nightmare end?' I wonder as tears slip down my cheeks. Angrily I wipe them away. Trying to raise to my elbows a sharp pain steals my breath away.
Groaning I run a hand over the bandage covering my chest. "Guess this means I'm not dead."
"Not yet." answers a voice from the corner.
Startled I turn to find Xena sitting in a chair near the bed. Bruises mark her face and a bandage covers her left shoulder. Yet, she seems alert and ready. I notice with some relief she is wearing her armor and weapons.
"Xena, how...what...are you alright?"
"I'll live." she shrugs. "How do you feel?"
"My chest is sore." rubbing a hand over the bandage. "But the burning is gone."
"You were lucky." she says calmly, rising from the chair
As she starts across the room I notice another bandage tightly wrapped around her thigh. My heart aches as I watch her limp toward a nearby table. How many more times are the Gods going to punish her for her past?
"Your armor deflected the spear enough so it sliced across your ribs instead of penetrating." Lifting my breastplate from the table she shakes her head in disbelief. "Who would have thought this stuff would actually work." I hear her mumble. Retrieving my armor, shirt and sword she returns to sit on the bed. "Sit up." she orders.
With her help and some effort I manage to rise. She helps me slip on the shirt, it has been washed and there is a patch over the hole caused by the spear. As Xena helps me strap on the armor I have to ask the question.
"What did Noleta say to you before you stabbed her?" From the set of her jaw I don't expect an answer.
"She said she was sorry Gabrielle was dead. That she had wanted the privilege of killing her."
"Oh." I can think of nothing else to say. So I decide to change the subject. "What's the rush?"
"It's almost time." she answers
"Time for what?"
"Time to say goodbye."
My mouth suddenly feels dry. It's finally happened she going to send me away.
Standing she offers me a hand. "Come on, the others are waiting."
Uncertain of what's happening I accept the hand and allow myself to be pulled off the bed.
Birds lively songs fill the air with notes as sweet as the scents from the freshly blooming daisies. Slowly I become aware of the rich, green grass beneath me. Rising to my elbows I study the meadow, it's beautiful but I've never been here before. How did I get here, the last thing I remember is being in the Amazon village, watching Xena fight for her life in that cursit Circle. Then Noleta attacked me and...quickly I reach for the wound on my chest. It's gone, how can that be? Jumping to my feet I check for other wounds, there are none. That's impossible wounds don't just disappear, unless...unless I'm dead. Swallowing hard I eye the meadow once more. Could this be the Elysian Fields?
Across the meadow movement catches my eye. My heart skips a beat as I recognize the young woman making her way through the knee deep grass. Silently I watch her, frightened the slightest sound might make her disappear. I can't help smiling as the petite blond playfully chases a butterfly through the flowers. Enjoying the moment her carefree laughter drifts across the meadow, even the birds can't make a sound that sweet. Caught up in the joy of the moment I laugh aloud. Startled by the sound emerald green eyes turn to met mine, and she smiles. It's the most beautiful sight I've ever seen. She moves toward me. Smiling back I reach to take the hand she offers. As our hands touch my fingers pass through her's. "Gabrielle?" I whisper as the smiling image begins to fade. "Don't go." lunging forward I grasp only air where the apparition had been only moments before.
With her gone the meadow begins to dissolve as well. Once more darkness claims me. This isn't the Elyasian Fields it's Taruarus. I scream in rage but the darkness swallows the sound. Just when I'm certain madness will take me, a glimmer of light slips through. Somehow I know if I can reach the light I'll wake up from this nightmare. This is just a bad dream. All I have to do is reach the light and things will be right again. Gabby will be waiting for me there and we can laugh about this foolishness. Slowly opening one eye the light blinds me. With some effort I force open both eyes. My heart sinks as I realize the light is evening sunlight, passing through the windows of the hut Ephiny arranged for me. It was all a dream. 'When will this nightmare end?' I wonder as tears slip down my cheeks. Angrily I wipe them away. Trying to raise to my elbows a sharp pain steals my breath away.
Groaning I run a hand over the bandage covering my chest. "Guess this means I'm not dead."
"Not yet." answers a voice from the corner.
Startled I turn to find Xena sitting in a chair near the bed. Bruises mark her face and a bandage covers her left shoulder. Yet, she seems alert and ready. I notice with some relief she is wearing her armor and weapons.
"Xena, how...what...are you alright?"
"I'll live." she shrugs. "How do you feel?"
"My chest is sore." rubbing a hand over the bandage. "But the burning is gone."
"You were lucky." she says calmly, rising from the chair
As she starts across the room I notice another bandage tightly wrapped around her thigh. My heart aches as I watch her limp toward a nearby table. How many more times are the Gods going to punish her for her past?
"Your armor deflected the spear enough so it sliced across your ribs instead of penetrating." Lifting my breastplate from the table she shakes her head in disbelief. "Who would have thought this stuff would actually work." I hear her mumble. Retrieving my armor, shirt and sword she returns to sit on the bed. "Sit up." she orders.
With her help and some effort I manage to rise. She helps me slip on the shirt, it has been washed and there is a patch over the hole caused by the spear. As Xena helps me strap on the armor I have to ask the question.
"What did Noleta say to you before you stabbed her?" From the set of her jaw I don't expect an answer.
"She said she was sorry Gabrielle was dead. That she had wanted the privilege of killing her."
"Oh." I can think of nothing else to say. So I decide to change the subject. "What's the rush?"
"It's almost time." she answers
"Time for what?"
"Time to say goodbye."
My mouth suddenly feels dry. It's finally happened she going to send me away.
Standing she offers me a hand. "Come on, the others are waiting."
Uncertain of what's happening I accept the hand and allow myself to be pulled off the bed.