Chapter 8
Joxer had once heard it said that dreams are the gateway to
the dead. The thought had suddenly occurred to him, and with
it a mad, passionate plan had formed.
Joxer had long since given up on trying to communicate via
the pool due to Ollie's pronouncement. But he thought that
maybe Ollie just hadn't tried the right way.
The pool had 'summoned' Joxer, letting him know that there
was an image waiting for him. And so he went.
It was Gabrielle of course, and she was having those dreams
again. Dreams tainted with the smell of blood and the taste
of death. Whimpering, Gabrielle would thrash about, seeking
to run, hide, get away from the vicious images that assailed
her. But there was no hiding from them, for they would not
be denied.
And this angered Joxer, to see his beloved tormented so made
him wrathful beyond measure. If only he could help her. Be
her knight in shining armor and rescue her from the demons
that assaulted her. For perhaps the hundredth time, he
impotently pounded his fist into his hand.
And it was at that precise moment that Joxer remembered the
old adage. And he also realized that he knew it to be true
enough, for Xena had experienced it herself with Callisto.
'Dreams are the gateway to the dead.' It may be a mad scheme,
but Joxer was willing to try absolutely anything. And with
his mind made up, he did close his eyes and bring to bear
everything that he was. He focused all of his being, every
atom of his existence, upon the scene in front of him.
And slowly, like paint sliding down a wall, he did
materialize into a whirlwind of grief, rage, and guilt. The
force was staggering, and nearly broke the connection. But
then he glimpsed her, huddled like a child, her arms covering
her head, her body shuddering with fear, whimpering in pain.
And at that moment, no force on earth would stop him. The
link solidified, and there, in the midst of Gabrielle's own
private hell, stood her savior. Resplendent in a blinding
light, he did issue forth and smite at the overwhelming
despair about him. And a deafening anguished wail went up. Whether from the thwarted force of darkness or herself, Gabrielle did not know. Nor did she care. All that mattered to her, all that mattered period, was that Joxer was here. And somehow, instinctively, she knew that everything would be all right. For he would protect her. As he always had.
And so Joxer entered into Gabrielle's dreams. And so it was
night after night he would spend with her. Their happiness
only spoiled by the coming of morning, when the bonds of
sleep were broken and wakefulness intruded itself once more. When they were forced apart and Gabrielle would utter a despairing, mournful wail as they both went back to their respective planes of existence.
Both tried to hide their actions from their companions.
Joxer out of guilt for egging on Gabrielle's feelings for
him, though they could never really be together. And
Gabrielle because she was sure that Xena would think her
crazy. But perhaps more disturbing, she thought, was the
fact that she wanted to be so. For if this was madness, she
had no use for reality.
And as sometimes happens to one who is unbalanced by pain,
an unhealthy plan formed in Gabrielle's mind. For if she
could only be with Joxer in her dreams, she would seek to
live in an 'eternal dream'. With this insane thought, she
started down a dark path that would bring much sorrow all
around before its end would be reached.
Joxer had once heard it said that dreams are the gateway to
the dead. The thought had suddenly occurred to him, and with
it a mad, passionate plan had formed.
Joxer had long since given up on trying to communicate via
the pool due to Ollie's pronouncement. But he thought that
maybe Ollie just hadn't tried the right way.
The pool had 'summoned' Joxer, letting him know that there
was an image waiting for him. And so he went.
It was Gabrielle of course, and she was having those dreams
again. Dreams tainted with the smell of blood and the taste
of death. Whimpering, Gabrielle would thrash about, seeking
to run, hide, get away from the vicious images that assailed
her. But there was no hiding from them, for they would not
be denied.
And this angered Joxer, to see his beloved tormented so made
him wrathful beyond measure. If only he could help her. Be
her knight in shining armor and rescue her from the demons
that assaulted her. For perhaps the hundredth time, he
impotently pounded his fist into his hand.
And it was at that precise moment that Joxer remembered the
old adage. And he also realized that he knew it to be true
enough, for Xena had experienced it herself with Callisto.
'Dreams are the gateway to the dead.' It may be a mad scheme,
but Joxer was willing to try absolutely anything. And with
his mind made up, he did close his eyes and bring to bear
everything that he was. He focused all of his being, every
atom of his existence, upon the scene in front of him.
And slowly, like paint sliding down a wall, he did
materialize into a whirlwind of grief, rage, and guilt. The
force was staggering, and nearly broke the connection. But
then he glimpsed her, huddled like a child, her arms covering
her head, her body shuddering with fear, whimpering in pain.
And at that moment, no force on earth would stop him. The
link solidified, and there, in the midst of Gabrielle's own
private hell, stood her savior. Resplendent in a blinding
light, he did issue forth and smite at the overwhelming
despair about him. And a deafening anguished wail went up. Whether from the thwarted force of darkness or herself, Gabrielle did not know. Nor did she care. All that mattered to her, all that mattered period, was that Joxer was here. And somehow, instinctively, she knew that everything would be all right. For he would protect her. As he always had.
And so Joxer entered into Gabrielle's dreams. And so it was
night after night he would spend with her. Their happiness
only spoiled by the coming of morning, when the bonds of
sleep were broken and wakefulness intruded itself once more. When they were forced apart and Gabrielle would utter a despairing, mournful wail as they both went back to their respective planes of existence.
Both tried to hide their actions from their companions.
Joxer out of guilt for egging on Gabrielle's feelings for
him, though they could never really be together. And
Gabrielle because she was sure that Xena would think her
crazy. But perhaps more disturbing, she thought, was the
fact that she wanted to be so. For if this was madness, she
had no use for reality.
And as sometimes happens to one who is unbalanced by pain,
an unhealthy plan formed in Gabrielle's mind. For if she
could only be with Joxer in her dreams, she would seek to
live in an 'eternal dream'. With this insane thought, she
started down a dark path that would bring much sorrow all
around before its end would be reached.