Chapter 9
Cold rain fell in heavy, blinding torrents, causing small rivets of water to stream down Argo's forelock into her eyes. She shook her head violently trying to clear it away. Slowly the mare walked along the muddy hillcrest, cautiously testing each step. Twice she had slipped nearly sending her and the Talkative One tumbling down the hillside. After two days of hard riding the horse's muscles ached and the cold rain was doing little to ease her discomfort.
When they arrived at the village the night before, she thought the Talkative One would feed and water her. Maybe even give her a nice rubdown, like Mistress would do after a hard trip. Oh how she missed Mistress's gentle touch and smoothing voice. Instead of resting the Talkative One pushed her on. It was well after dark when they arrived at the cave. As the Talkative One lead her into the cave, she caught a faint scent. It was Mistress she had been there recently. Shortly before dawn it began to drizzle. By the time the Talkative One brushed, feed and saddled her it was pouring rain.
Having found no sign of Xena in the cave, Gabrielle decided to search the surrounding countryside. Septimus caught up with her several hours after dawn. Offering to add in her search. Searching the hilly terrain was a slow process. The driving rain having long since washed away any tracks and now limited even a visible search. As midday approached they seemed no closer to finding the missing Warrior.
Gabrielle pulled Argo to a stop as they topped a small hill. Straining to see the terrain ahead, she paid little heed as Septimus moved his mount next to her. "Gabrielle?"
"Hum." she replied scanning the area.
"Maybe we should head back to the cave." Quickly he added. "At least, until the rain eases up."
"No."
Uselessly wiping at the water running down his face, Septimus sighed trying to decide how to tell the bard what he was really thinking. Taking a deep breath he blurted it out. "Gabrielle, it's been nearly three days. No one could...she's dead. Gabrielle, you've got to accept that."
Giving no indentation she heard him, the bard motioned toward another set of hills. "Let's make a circle through there."
As she started to move away he firmly grabbed a slender arm, forcing her to look at him. "How long do you intend to keep on searching?"
"Till I find her." answered the bard quietly.
Shaking his head in disbelief. "You can't possibly believe you'll find her alive. Why are you doing this?"
"Because I have a promise to keep." she answered calmly.
Feeling uncomfortable under the bard's unyielding stare, he released her. Without another word Gabrielle started up the next hill, reluctantly Septimus followed.
+
Rain soaked the wounded warrior as she hung limply. Water ran down her face and hair, entering her nose and mouth. 'Great.' she thought. 'Days without water and now I'm going to drown.' Had she the strength she would have laughed. Slowly she raised her head to look at the limp form hanging less than ten feet away. Caecilius was dead there was no doubt about that, he had slipped away during the night. Welcoming Celestas gentle touch.
Caecilius's death ignited a storm of emotions inside the large woman. In the end, anger was the prevailing one. First there was anger at Zared for starting this whole mess. Then anger at herself for allowing the cult leader to capture her, anger at Caecilius for not having the strength to hold on. At one point there was even anger at Celestas for denying her relief from her suffering. Just when she was certain the rage would consume her an image flashed in her mind's eye. It was Gabrielle on a narrow path, playing her flute while dancing with a carefree innocents. Xena smiled, allowing herself to follow the memory enjoying the relief it offered. The bard had played all morning, much to Argo's dismay. Eventually even drawing the warrior into her lighthearted mood, only to have it broken by a bunch of lowlifes looking for easy money. Once more an enjoyable moment was shattered by violence. It seemed no matter how hard Xena tried she could not protect her friend from the cold and sometimes cruel lessons life insisted on forcing on her. She often wondered how the bard managed to stay so innocent with all she had witnessed and experienced. Sighing heavily, she thought. 'What hard lesson is life teaching you now, my friend?'
'You still believe she will come don't you?' asked the Voice. Into the second day of her confinement to the posts the Voice began its assault. Starting quietly at first, snapping at her then slinking back to the dark recesses of her mind. Trying to pull the warrior's confidence back into the darkness with it. Xena knew her enemy well theirs was a long running battle. Often when the warrior found herself faltering, despair would step in attempting to take control. Many times she found herself under its attack, before driving it back to the darkness where it lurked waiting for another opportunity. This time had been no different. Using its favorite weapons fear and anger it launched its assault. Each passing hour gave it strength and courage, now it made no attempt to hide itself, boldly challenging the warrior to defy it. 'You are a sentimental fool, Xena. Believing that weak little girl has the strength to rescue you.'
Xena scoffed at the Voice. 'She's done it before.'
'Always with your help.' smirked the Voice.
'That's not true.' replied the warrior. 'She just needs a little more time.'
The Voice laughed mockingly. 'You don't have anymore time.' In a taunting tone the Voice continued. 'Why can't you just admit she's not coming?' '
No.' Xena snarled. 'I won't give up on her.'
'She's dead, Xena.'
'Go away!' Commanded the warrior.
'Oh no, you're not getting rid of me that easily.' Replied the Voice. 'I'm not leaving till you admit I've won.'
'NEVER!' Silently screamed the warrior. 'I won't give up on her and I won't give into you. Ever!' Throwing back her head, she bellowed. "G A B R I E L L E!!! Slowly lowering her head. "Where...are...you?"
Cold rain fell in heavy, blinding torrents, causing small rivets of water to stream down Argo's forelock into her eyes. She shook her head violently trying to clear it away. Slowly the mare walked along the muddy hillcrest, cautiously testing each step. Twice she had slipped nearly sending her and the Talkative One tumbling down the hillside. After two days of hard riding the horse's muscles ached and the cold rain was doing little to ease her discomfort.
When they arrived at the village the night before, she thought the Talkative One would feed and water her. Maybe even give her a nice rubdown, like Mistress would do after a hard trip. Oh how she missed Mistress's gentle touch and smoothing voice. Instead of resting the Talkative One pushed her on. It was well after dark when they arrived at the cave. As the Talkative One lead her into the cave, she caught a faint scent. It was Mistress she had been there recently. Shortly before dawn it began to drizzle. By the time the Talkative One brushed, feed and saddled her it was pouring rain.
Having found no sign of Xena in the cave, Gabrielle decided to search the surrounding countryside. Septimus caught up with her several hours after dawn. Offering to add in her search. Searching the hilly terrain was a slow process. The driving rain having long since washed away any tracks and now limited even a visible search. As midday approached they seemed no closer to finding the missing Warrior.
Gabrielle pulled Argo to a stop as they topped a small hill. Straining to see the terrain ahead, she paid little heed as Septimus moved his mount next to her. "Gabrielle?"
"Hum." she replied scanning the area.
"Maybe we should head back to the cave." Quickly he added. "At least, until the rain eases up."
"No."
Uselessly wiping at the water running down his face, Septimus sighed trying to decide how to tell the bard what he was really thinking. Taking a deep breath he blurted it out. "Gabrielle, it's been nearly three days. No one could...she's dead. Gabrielle, you've got to accept that."
Giving no indentation she heard him, the bard motioned toward another set of hills. "Let's make a circle through there."
As she started to move away he firmly grabbed a slender arm, forcing her to look at him. "How long do you intend to keep on searching?"
"Till I find her." answered the bard quietly.
Shaking his head in disbelief. "You can't possibly believe you'll find her alive. Why are you doing this?"
"Because I have a promise to keep." she answered calmly.
Feeling uncomfortable under the bard's unyielding stare, he released her. Without another word Gabrielle started up the next hill, reluctantly Septimus followed.
+
Rain soaked the wounded warrior as she hung limply. Water ran down her face and hair, entering her nose and mouth. 'Great.' she thought. 'Days without water and now I'm going to drown.' Had she the strength she would have laughed. Slowly she raised her head to look at the limp form hanging less than ten feet away. Caecilius was dead there was no doubt about that, he had slipped away during the night. Welcoming Celestas gentle touch.
Caecilius's death ignited a storm of emotions inside the large woman. In the end, anger was the prevailing one. First there was anger at Zared for starting this whole mess. Then anger at herself for allowing the cult leader to capture her, anger at Caecilius for not having the strength to hold on. At one point there was even anger at Celestas for denying her relief from her suffering. Just when she was certain the rage would consume her an image flashed in her mind's eye. It was Gabrielle on a narrow path, playing her flute while dancing with a carefree innocents. Xena smiled, allowing herself to follow the memory enjoying the relief it offered. The bard had played all morning, much to Argo's dismay. Eventually even drawing the warrior into her lighthearted mood, only to have it broken by a bunch of lowlifes looking for easy money. Once more an enjoyable moment was shattered by violence. It seemed no matter how hard Xena tried she could not protect her friend from the cold and sometimes cruel lessons life insisted on forcing on her. She often wondered how the bard managed to stay so innocent with all she had witnessed and experienced. Sighing heavily, she thought. 'What hard lesson is life teaching you now, my friend?'
'You still believe she will come don't you?' asked the Voice. Into the second day of her confinement to the posts the Voice began its assault. Starting quietly at first, snapping at her then slinking back to the dark recesses of her mind. Trying to pull the warrior's confidence back into the darkness with it. Xena knew her enemy well theirs was a long running battle. Often when the warrior found herself faltering, despair would step in attempting to take control. Many times she found herself under its attack, before driving it back to the darkness where it lurked waiting for another opportunity. This time had been no different. Using its favorite weapons fear and anger it launched its assault. Each passing hour gave it strength and courage, now it made no attempt to hide itself, boldly challenging the warrior to defy it. 'You are a sentimental fool, Xena. Believing that weak little girl has the strength to rescue you.'
Xena scoffed at the Voice. 'She's done it before.'
'Always with your help.' smirked the Voice.
'That's not true.' replied the warrior. 'She just needs a little more time.'
The Voice laughed mockingly. 'You don't have anymore time.' In a taunting tone the Voice continued. 'Why can't you just admit she's not coming?' '
No.' Xena snarled. 'I won't give up on her.'
'She's dead, Xena.'
'Go away!' Commanded the warrior.
'Oh no, you're not getting rid of me that easily.' Replied the Voice. 'I'm not leaving till you admit I've won.'
'NEVER!' Silently screamed the warrior. 'I won't give up on her and I won't give into you. Ever!' Throwing back her head, she bellowed. "G A B R I E L L E!!! Slowly lowering her head. "Where...are...you?"
