Disclaimer: Any characters within that have been mentioned on the show Xena: Warrior Princess do not belong to me, but to RenPics/Universal, etc. No copyright infringment is in any way intended.
Spoilers: None for any episode I can think of... a reference or two, here and there, but nothing major. This story takes place during Season 5, except Xena is not pregnant.
Subtext/Sex: None, but please don't let that keep you from enjoying it anyway. :)
A Beast at Heart
by Xedra
At the foot of Mount Crassus, Xena and Gabrielle shivered in the freezing weather. Snow fell heavily around them, sinking them up to their knees with every step. Huddled tightly in thick furred coats, they made their way slowly toward a half-hidden cave.
Once inside, Gabrielle thought it would be warmer. The cave did offer shelter from the sharp winds, but not much more. Shivering fiercely, she dug into her pack for some firewood she'd collected earlier.
"Xena, please tell me you remembered the flint rocks?" She crouched down and roughly dug a dip into the ground, the earth was so hard and frozen. Xena was too cold to reply, she just dropped the flint to the ground. Gabrielle quickly stacked the wood into the makeshift pit and began striking the flint, missing a few times from shivering so violently. "C'mon!" she spat.
Xena sat in front of the pit, eagerly awaiting the fire to start. After more than a few minutes, she couldn't wait any longer and snatched the flint away.
"Hey!" Gabrielle snapped. What, didn't Xena think she could light a fire? She glowered at Xena, but was too cold to really argue or take the flint back.
"No offense, Gabrielle..." with one strike, a small glowing spark landed right on the wood, "but I don't have all day." Xena raised an eyebrow in apology and blew gently into the fire until it glowed a bright red. Gabrielle leaned forward and helped, blowing again.
"Gabrielle, remind me to buy you some breath herbs when we get back," Xena gave her a wicked grin, hoping some humor would take her mind off the cold.
"Very funny! What I wouldn't give for a Hydra's firebreath right now." She gave one last soft blow and a small flame popped to life. Adding small bits of tinder, they huddled close as the flame grew, holding their hands up to it. They sat in silence, enjoying the heat as it spread slowly through their frozen bones. The quiet crackling of the wood never sounded so comforting.
"Xena, do we have to go to the top of Mount Crassus? Are you sure there's no other way?"
Xena rubbed her hands together, finally getting some feeling back into them. "I'm sure. All I know is that we have to meet Volicis. He didn't say anything more."
"Volicis?" Gabrielle frowned. Xena hadn't mentioned him before.
"In my past, when I followed my dark path, I encountered Volicis and his army," Xena looked down at the ground, as if ashamed. "And my army...they..." she couldn't continue, it was so hard reliving in her mind what had happened so long ago. Gabrielle scooted closer to her and leaned against her. She reached out and rested her hand on Xena's arm. "Are you all right?"
Xena looked over at her. So many times Gabrielle was there for her, who knows what path she would be on right now if not for her?
"My army...and I...destroyed everything. The men, the horses, even the messenger pigeons. Only a few soldiers managed to get away, including Volicis." Xena paused again.
"Xena, you were in battle, that's what happens. Everyone had to be prepared for that."
"But during the fighting, Volicis slew my horse from under me. I felt such a surge of rage that I vowed revenge. I gave an order to... to kill his family. His wife and children. His mother." Xena thought she would feel better to let it out, but it only felt worse.
Gabrielle didn't know what to say. She knew Xena had done terrible things during her dark past, even worse than this. The memory was obviously very painful for her to bring up. What could she say to her, how could she help her find peace over something that happened so long ago?
Xena looked up at Gabrielle, "He's asked to see me. I don't know why or what for, but I have to meet him. You can head back if you like, this is my-"
"Our problem. We do this together." Gabrielle gave her friend's arm a gentle squeeze. It made Xena smile. She wanted to tell her friend how much she meant to her, how much she had changed because of her, but looking into Gabrielle's eyes, she could see that she already knew. Xena and Gabrielle were both quite warm now, but little did they realize it wasn't from the fire, but from each other.
The winds had finally died down outside and they were getting hungry.
"See what you can dig out to eat, huh?" Xena nodded toward the saddlebags.
Gabrielle groaned at the thought of leaving the toasty fire, but her growling stomach made her move. Once out of the reach of the fire's warmth, the cold pierced her skin like needles. She was unable to move for a moment, then forced herself to pick up the food pack and bring it back to the fire. Dropping it, she huddled close to Xena again, trying to drive away the chill. After a few minutes she was warm enough to sit back and begin looking through the pack. She handed a small, deep pot out to Xena. "I'll need you to go out and gather some snow. We'll need water for soup."
Xena looked at the pot, then at the snow outside, then back at Gabrielle. "You're kidding, right? I just got warm!"
Gabrielle shrugged, "You'll be a lot warmer with some food in you, but I need water first." She wiggled the pot at her. Xena raised an eyebrow at her. Gabrielle raised her own right back. Xena sighed, but took the pot and headed slowly toward the entrance.
Gabrielle bit back a laugh and searched through the pack again. A couple potatoes, a small carrot, a few wild onions they'd found yesterday, a handful of dried meat, and some lettuce leaves left over from yesterday's lunch lay at the bottom of the pack. Not much, but if she added some herbs and spices it might be edible. As long as it was hot, she didn't care what it tasted like. As she prepared the vegetables, she wondered what was keeping Xena. All she had to do was scoop up some snow.
When five more minutes passed and she still hadn't returned, Gabrielle began to worry. She got up and went quickly to the entrance. Shivering again in the cold, she looked outside and started to call out for Xena when her foot nudged something on the ground.
Looking down, she spotted a scroll. She quickly looked around, seeing nothing. She scanned the ground for footprints, but saw only flat, white snow. Kneeling down, she picked up the scroll and went back to the fire to read it. The scroll was wet only along the edges, it hadn't been on the ground very long. She slowly unrolled it, afraid of what it would say. She mumbled the words aloud as she read the scrawled words: I have your friend Xena. Her fate is sealed. My war is with her, leave now while you still can.
Those few words frightened Gabrielle. How were they able to capture Xena? What would they do to her? What have they already done? Realizing she was wasting time sitting there wondering, she doused the fire, grabbed Xena's weapons and ran out of the cave.
*****
Xena, fully conscious and aware, was being dragged to Volicis's castle high up the mountain in an iron cage. When she'd gone out to get the snow for Gabrielle, she noticed footprints other than theirs. She followed them, unaware of the trap that lay hidden beneath the snow until she was right above it. Only a startled gasp escaped her when she fell into the cage at the bottom of the pit. Six soldiers immediately surrounded the top of the hole, deadly crossbows aimed directly at her. Before she could make a move, one soldier shook his head and smiled, informing her that if she came quietly, her little friend in the cave would be left alive. Any problems from her and the other six men in their group waiting near the cave would fire the crossbows they had aimed at the girl.
Glaring at each of them, Xena assented with a single nod. She had no other choice at the moment and she didn't want Gabrielle to get hurt. Now a dozen soldiers on horseback were tromping through the snow in front of her. The back edge of her cage dragged on the ground, conveniently covering their tracks. Xena had already checked the cage for any weaknesses but found it secure and tight. All she could do was wait and enjoy the ride.
"Say, you treat all tourists this way?" Xena raised an eyebrow when no one responded. She knew Volicis had a strong army in the past, and apparently he stayed true to form.
*****
Gabrielle felt frozen solid as she continued trudging up the mountain, the wind was getting unbearable. The thick coat she wore didn't do much good, especially for her legs, which were deep in the snow. She searched everywhere for tracks, but saw nothing. "Please let this be the right way," she muttered, shivering badly. Looking up, the mountain seemed endless. She touched her cheeks and felt nothing, her face already numb from the biting cold. Gritting her teeth, she pulled the edges of her coat even tighter around herself and continued on.
*****
The speed of the horses brought them quickly to the castle. As the gates creaked open Xena saw over a hundred soldiers in training. Her attention shifted as two soldiers unlatched her cage and began dragging it toward a large pit. Without warning they kicked it in. The cage descended fast, hitting the side walls and spinning through the air. It seemed to fall forever and Xena slammed around inside, wrapping her arms around her head and neck to protect them. Dizzy, she reached out one hand to try and grab a bar to steady herself. The cage smashed hard on the rock floor, springing open. Xena lay under the heavy iron trying to raise herself up, but she was only able to roll out from under the edge. The world around her was a blur of colors, then finally all was black.
*****
Gabrielle could barely move anymore, her legs felt like frozen sticks. Hours had passed since she'd left the cave and she wasn't sure if she could make it. She'd fallen many times, not being able to see what was underneath her. She felt like turning back, getting help and a horse, but she'd come too far now. Her coat was soaked with snow, making her colder, if that was possible. Her gaze remained on the snow in front of her, not wanting to look up, afraid she'd only see a never-ending white road of snow. Chancing a quick glance, she could see the top of a broken castle turret. She felt a surge of hope and moved her numb legs as fast as she could.
*****
Xena was only out for a few minutes and when she woke she was greeted by a filthy rat scrambling across her stomach. She quickly batted it with her hand and crawled to her knees. A sharp pain shot through her left leg, and she fell back down. Checking out her leg, she noticed it was oddly bent at the knee. Touching it gingerly with her fingers she realized it was dislocated. She turned her leg, made a fist with her right hand and slammed it quickly down on her kneecap.
"Aaahggg!" she moaned as it snapped back into place, sparks of pain dancing inside her knee. A warmth spread across her forehead. Feeling it, she realized she had a large bleeding bump. The rest of her hadn't fared much better. There were bruises and cuts all along her legs and arms. Getting slowly to her feet, she ignored the pain and looked around her. The shattered remains of least a dozen cages lay scattered about. Bones and other human remains were littered about as well, as if torn apart.
"At least I'm not alone," she muttered, bending her knee and rubbing the ache away.
"Quite right, you're not alone!"
She knew that voice. Looking up, she recognized Volicis along with a large number of his soldiers peering down at her. One of them spat down at her, the spittle landing at her feet. Raising an eyebrow and setting her mouth in a grim line, she glared up at them. "Is this your idea of a peep show?" she yelled. Her fingers itched to hold her chakram...and throw it.
"I see you haven't lost your sense of humor. I like that!" Volicis laughed, showing not an ounce of fear. "Guards! Open the gate!"
Xena spun around at the low grinding noise behind her. A large door, its surface made to resemble stone, lifted away from the ground and slid up into the rock above it. A dangerous grunting noise, definitely not human, came from within.
"I want you to meet my beloved pet, Xena. You'll have to forgive him, he's a bit hungry!" His laughter was echoed by the rest of the group.
Xena's eyes opened wide when she saw his "pet" was a giant boar with long, sharp tusks and beady black eyes. Its skin was dark red and covered with bristly hairs. A shock of it ran down from between its ears, along its spine, to the tip of its tail. It pawed the ground angrily, its sides heaving as it grunted, waiting for his master's signal to attack. The stone door slowly lowered down. The boar snorted loudly and puffs of steam rose into the air. The smell of decaying flesh laying about made it all the more eager to charge. The stone door slid down behind it and shut with a resounding thud.
"Like him?" Volicis laughed from above. "Raised him myself. Had to replace the pet you took from me, you know." He frowned a bit at that, but quickly covered it with a smile. "One word from me and he'll tear you to pieces, Xena. And I'm going to enjoy watching it."
"You got a problem with me, Volicis? Why don't you deal with me yourself, instead of this overgrown pig!" Xena yelled.
Volicis's eyes narrowed, his face reddened with anger, "You don't deserve that kind of courtesy, Xena!" He spit out her name like a curse. "Not after you..."
He couldn't do it. He couldn't bring himself to repeat what she'd done to his family. He didn't even want to think of it. He'd thought of it too often, for too many years, dreamed about it at night, the horrors they must have faced at the hands of her and her army. His wife, his son and tiny daughter, even his elderly mother! But now he'd avenge them. He had their murderer in his hands, her life at his feet. And he'd crush it. He'd crush her just as she'd crushed them. Gritting his teeth, he took a deep breath.
"ATTACK!"
Instantly, the boar charged at her. The laughter above was drowned out by its hooves smashing the ground. She whirled around and ran for the stone door.
"Sorry Xena, but not even Hercules could lift that door!" Volicis watched her run and smiled, loving every moment. Finally he would have his revenge. Finally he would have peace.
Xena ran as fast as she could, the wind whistling past her ears, the heavy rumble of the boar getting closer. She ignored Volicis's words, since she didn't plan on opening the door at all. She wanted to use it. The boar snapped behind her, missing her foot by inches.
"Sheeeeeyyyaaaaa!!" She screamed, lunging forward as high as she could. She stretched up and grabbed a small outcropping of rock just above the door. The boar, running full speed, had no time to stop and rammed heavily into the rock. Xena's fingers burned from gripping the protruding stone and soon slipped. She fell on top of the animal and quickly rolled off, ready for another attack, but it lay motionless. Blood seeped from its crushed forehead.
"NOOOO!" Volicis's shout echoed all around her. "Guards! Kill her! Kill her NOW!"
The rock door creaked open again, and Xena looked quickly around for anything to use as a weapon. Eyeing the pile of human remains, she dug around, hoping to find something before the guards came through.
*****
Gabrielle was numb, but had finally arrived at the castle. There were at least ten guards at the front gate. She sighed and squinted her eyes to look at the castle more closely. She had to find a way around. Walking along the perimeter wall, she twitched each time her body brushed up against the cold stone. All the windows were incredibly high up, so she continued toward the rear gate. Peeking around the corner, her heart sank as she saw another ten guards.
"Great," she muttered and reached down for her sais. She knew she could take out three or four guards, but all of them? There was no way, not with a half-frozen body. She looked way up. There was one window roughly fifty feet above her. She stared down at her sais and knew there was only one way she was getting inside. Tucking Xena's sword and chakram together between the straps on her back, she grasped the sais by the handles.
"Here goes nothing." She went up to the wall and stabbed her sais into the cracks between the rocks. Slowly she lifted herself, testing her weight, making sure the sai would hold. They seemed stable enough, so she searched for the next crack. Wiggling out her left sai, she took another stab into the rock.
Looking up at the window again, she sighed. Only 49 more feet to go.
Spoilers: None for any episode I can think of... a reference or two, here and there, but nothing major. This story takes place during Season 5, except Xena is not pregnant.
Subtext/Sex: None, but please don't let that keep you from enjoying it anyway. :)
A Beast at Heart
by Xedra
At the foot of Mount Crassus, Xena and Gabrielle shivered in the freezing weather. Snow fell heavily around them, sinking them up to their knees with every step. Huddled tightly in thick furred coats, they made their way slowly toward a half-hidden cave.
Once inside, Gabrielle thought it would be warmer. The cave did offer shelter from the sharp winds, but not much more. Shivering fiercely, she dug into her pack for some firewood she'd collected earlier.
"Xena, please tell me you remembered the flint rocks?" She crouched down and roughly dug a dip into the ground, the earth was so hard and frozen. Xena was too cold to reply, she just dropped the flint to the ground. Gabrielle quickly stacked the wood into the makeshift pit and began striking the flint, missing a few times from shivering so violently. "C'mon!" she spat.
Xena sat in front of the pit, eagerly awaiting the fire to start. After more than a few minutes, she couldn't wait any longer and snatched the flint away.
"Hey!" Gabrielle snapped. What, didn't Xena think she could light a fire? She glowered at Xena, but was too cold to really argue or take the flint back.
"No offense, Gabrielle..." with one strike, a small glowing spark landed right on the wood, "but I don't have all day." Xena raised an eyebrow in apology and blew gently into the fire until it glowed a bright red. Gabrielle leaned forward and helped, blowing again.
"Gabrielle, remind me to buy you some breath herbs when we get back," Xena gave her a wicked grin, hoping some humor would take her mind off the cold.
"Very funny! What I wouldn't give for a Hydra's firebreath right now." She gave one last soft blow and a small flame popped to life. Adding small bits of tinder, they huddled close as the flame grew, holding their hands up to it. They sat in silence, enjoying the heat as it spread slowly through their frozen bones. The quiet crackling of the wood never sounded so comforting.
"Xena, do we have to go to the top of Mount Crassus? Are you sure there's no other way?"
Xena rubbed her hands together, finally getting some feeling back into them. "I'm sure. All I know is that we have to meet Volicis. He didn't say anything more."
"Volicis?" Gabrielle frowned. Xena hadn't mentioned him before.
"In my past, when I followed my dark path, I encountered Volicis and his army," Xena looked down at the ground, as if ashamed. "And my army...they..." she couldn't continue, it was so hard reliving in her mind what had happened so long ago. Gabrielle scooted closer to her and leaned against her. She reached out and rested her hand on Xena's arm. "Are you all right?"
Xena looked over at her. So many times Gabrielle was there for her, who knows what path she would be on right now if not for her?
"My army...and I...destroyed everything. The men, the horses, even the messenger pigeons. Only a few soldiers managed to get away, including Volicis." Xena paused again.
"Xena, you were in battle, that's what happens. Everyone had to be prepared for that."
"But during the fighting, Volicis slew my horse from under me. I felt such a surge of rage that I vowed revenge. I gave an order to... to kill his family. His wife and children. His mother." Xena thought she would feel better to let it out, but it only felt worse.
Gabrielle didn't know what to say. She knew Xena had done terrible things during her dark past, even worse than this. The memory was obviously very painful for her to bring up. What could she say to her, how could she help her find peace over something that happened so long ago?
Xena looked up at Gabrielle, "He's asked to see me. I don't know why or what for, but I have to meet him. You can head back if you like, this is my-"
"Our problem. We do this together." Gabrielle gave her friend's arm a gentle squeeze. It made Xena smile. She wanted to tell her friend how much she meant to her, how much she had changed because of her, but looking into Gabrielle's eyes, she could see that she already knew. Xena and Gabrielle were both quite warm now, but little did they realize it wasn't from the fire, but from each other.
The winds had finally died down outside and they were getting hungry.
"See what you can dig out to eat, huh?" Xena nodded toward the saddlebags.
Gabrielle groaned at the thought of leaving the toasty fire, but her growling stomach made her move. Once out of the reach of the fire's warmth, the cold pierced her skin like needles. She was unable to move for a moment, then forced herself to pick up the food pack and bring it back to the fire. Dropping it, she huddled close to Xena again, trying to drive away the chill. After a few minutes she was warm enough to sit back and begin looking through the pack. She handed a small, deep pot out to Xena. "I'll need you to go out and gather some snow. We'll need water for soup."
Xena looked at the pot, then at the snow outside, then back at Gabrielle. "You're kidding, right? I just got warm!"
Gabrielle shrugged, "You'll be a lot warmer with some food in you, but I need water first." She wiggled the pot at her. Xena raised an eyebrow at her. Gabrielle raised her own right back. Xena sighed, but took the pot and headed slowly toward the entrance.
Gabrielle bit back a laugh and searched through the pack again. A couple potatoes, a small carrot, a few wild onions they'd found yesterday, a handful of dried meat, and some lettuce leaves left over from yesterday's lunch lay at the bottom of the pack. Not much, but if she added some herbs and spices it might be edible. As long as it was hot, she didn't care what it tasted like. As she prepared the vegetables, she wondered what was keeping Xena. All she had to do was scoop up some snow.
When five more minutes passed and she still hadn't returned, Gabrielle began to worry. She got up and went quickly to the entrance. Shivering again in the cold, she looked outside and started to call out for Xena when her foot nudged something on the ground.
Looking down, she spotted a scroll. She quickly looked around, seeing nothing. She scanned the ground for footprints, but saw only flat, white snow. Kneeling down, she picked up the scroll and went back to the fire to read it. The scroll was wet only along the edges, it hadn't been on the ground very long. She slowly unrolled it, afraid of what it would say. She mumbled the words aloud as she read the scrawled words: I have your friend Xena. Her fate is sealed. My war is with her, leave now while you still can.
Those few words frightened Gabrielle. How were they able to capture Xena? What would they do to her? What have they already done? Realizing she was wasting time sitting there wondering, she doused the fire, grabbed Xena's weapons and ran out of the cave.
*****
Xena, fully conscious and aware, was being dragged to Volicis's castle high up the mountain in an iron cage. When she'd gone out to get the snow for Gabrielle, she noticed footprints other than theirs. She followed them, unaware of the trap that lay hidden beneath the snow until she was right above it. Only a startled gasp escaped her when she fell into the cage at the bottom of the pit. Six soldiers immediately surrounded the top of the hole, deadly crossbows aimed directly at her. Before she could make a move, one soldier shook his head and smiled, informing her that if she came quietly, her little friend in the cave would be left alive. Any problems from her and the other six men in their group waiting near the cave would fire the crossbows they had aimed at the girl.
Glaring at each of them, Xena assented with a single nod. She had no other choice at the moment and she didn't want Gabrielle to get hurt. Now a dozen soldiers on horseback were tromping through the snow in front of her. The back edge of her cage dragged on the ground, conveniently covering their tracks. Xena had already checked the cage for any weaknesses but found it secure and tight. All she could do was wait and enjoy the ride.
"Say, you treat all tourists this way?" Xena raised an eyebrow when no one responded. She knew Volicis had a strong army in the past, and apparently he stayed true to form.
*****
Gabrielle felt frozen solid as she continued trudging up the mountain, the wind was getting unbearable. The thick coat she wore didn't do much good, especially for her legs, which were deep in the snow. She searched everywhere for tracks, but saw nothing. "Please let this be the right way," she muttered, shivering badly. Looking up, the mountain seemed endless. She touched her cheeks and felt nothing, her face already numb from the biting cold. Gritting her teeth, she pulled the edges of her coat even tighter around herself and continued on.
*****
The speed of the horses brought them quickly to the castle. As the gates creaked open Xena saw over a hundred soldiers in training. Her attention shifted as two soldiers unlatched her cage and began dragging it toward a large pit. Without warning they kicked it in. The cage descended fast, hitting the side walls and spinning through the air. It seemed to fall forever and Xena slammed around inside, wrapping her arms around her head and neck to protect them. Dizzy, she reached out one hand to try and grab a bar to steady herself. The cage smashed hard on the rock floor, springing open. Xena lay under the heavy iron trying to raise herself up, but she was only able to roll out from under the edge. The world around her was a blur of colors, then finally all was black.
*****
Gabrielle could barely move anymore, her legs felt like frozen sticks. Hours had passed since she'd left the cave and she wasn't sure if she could make it. She'd fallen many times, not being able to see what was underneath her. She felt like turning back, getting help and a horse, but she'd come too far now. Her coat was soaked with snow, making her colder, if that was possible. Her gaze remained on the snow in front of her, not wanting to look up, afraid she'd only see a never-ending white road of snow. Chancing a quick glance, she could see the top of a broken castle turret. She felt a surge of hope and moved her numb legs as fast as she could.
*****
Xena was only out for a few minutes and when she woke she was greeted by a filthy rat scrambling across her stomach. She quickly batted it with her hand and crawled to her knees. A sharp pain shot through her left leg, and she fell back down. Checking out her leg, she noticed it was oddly bent at the knee. Touching it gingerly with her fingers she realized it was dislocated. She turned her leg, made a fist with her right hand and slammed it quickly down on her kneecap.
"Aaahggg!" she moaned as it snapped back into place, sparks of pain dancing inside her knee. A warmth spread across her forehead. Feeling it, she realized she had a large bleeding bump. The rest of her hadn't fared much better. There were bruises and cuts all along her legs and arms. Getting slowly to her feet, she ignored the pain and looked around her. The shattered remains of least a dozen cages lay scattered about. Bones and other human remains were littered about as well, as if torn apart.
"At least I'm not alone," she muttered, bending her knee and rubbing the ache away.
"Quite right, you're not alone!"
She knew that voice. Looking up, she recognized Volicis along with a large number of his soldiers peering down at her. One of them spat down at her, the spittle landing at her feet. Raising an eyebrow and setting her mouth in a grim line, she glared up at them. "Is this your idea of a peep show?" she yelled. Her fingers itched to hold her chakram...and throw it.
"I see you haven't lost your sense of humor. I like that!" Volicis laughed, showing not an ounce of fear. "Guards! Open the gate!"
Xena spun around at the low grinding noise behind her. A large door, its surface made to resemble stone, lifted away from the ground and slid up into the rock above it. A dangerous grunting noise, definitely not human, came from within.
"I want you to meet my beloved pet, Xena. You'll have to forgive him, he's a bit hungry!" His laughter was echoed by the rest of the group.
Xena's eyes opened wide when she saw his "pet" was a giant boar with long, sharp tusks and beady black eyes. Its skin was dark red and covered with bristly hairs. A shock of it ran down from between its ears, along its spine, to the tip of its tail. It pawed the ground angrily, its sides heaving as it grunted, waiting for his master's signal to attack. The stone door slowly lowered down. The boar snorted loudly and puffs of steam rose into the air. The smell of decaying flesh laying about made it all the more eager to charge. The stone door slid down behind it and shut with a resounding thud.
"Like him?" Volicis laughed from above. "Raised him myself. Had to replace the pet you took from me, you know." He frowned a bit at that, but quickly covered it with a smile. "One word from me and he'll tear you to pieces, Xena. And I'm going to enjoy watching it."
"You got a problem with me, Volicis? Why don't you deal with me yourself, instead of this overgrown pig!" Xena yelled.
Volicis's eyes narrowed, his face reddened with anger, "You don't deserve that kind of courtesy, Xena!" He spit out her name like a curse. "Not after you..."
He couldn't do it. He couldn't bring himself to repeat what she'd done to his family. He didn't even want to think of it. He'd thought of it too often, for too many years, dreamed about it at night, the horrors they must have faced at the hands of her and her army. His wife, his son and tiny daughter, even his elderly mother! But now he'd avenge them. He had their murderer in his hands, her life at his feet. And he'd crush it. He'd crush her just as she'd crushed them. Gritting his teeth, he took a deep breath.
"ATTACK!"
Instantly, the boar charged at her. The laughter above was drowned out by its hooves smashing the ground. She whirled around and ran for the stone door.
"Sorry Xena, but not even Hercules could lift that door!" Volicis watched her run and smiled, loving every moment. Finally he would have his revenge. Finally he would have peace.
Xena ran as fast as she could, the wind whistling past her ears, the heavy rumble of the boar getting closer. She ignored Volicis's words, since she didn't plan on opening the door at all. She wanted to use it. The boar snapped behind her, missing her foot by inches.
"Sheeeeeyyyaaaaa!!" She screamed, lunging forward as high as she could. She stretched up and grabbed a small outcropping of rock just above the door. The boar, running full speed, had no time to stop and rammed heavily into the rock. Xena's fingers burned from gripping the protruding stone and soon slipped. She fell on top of the animal and quickly rolled off, ready for another attack, but it lay motionless. Blood seeped from its crushed forehead.
"NOOOO!" Volicis's shout echoed all around her. "Guards! Kill her! Kill her NOW!"
The rock door creaked open again, and Xena looked quickly around for anything to use as a weapon. Eyeing the pile of human remains, she dug around, hoping to find something before the guards came through.
*****
Gabrielle was numb, but had finally arrived at the castle. There were at least ten guards at the front gate. She sighed and squinted her eyes to look at the castle more closely. She had to find a way around. Walking along the perimeter wall, she twitched each time her body brushed up against the cold stone. All the windows were incredibly high up, so she continued toward the rear gate. Peeking around the corner, her heart sank as she saw another ten guards.
"Great," she muttered and reached down for her sais. She knew she could take out three or four guards, but all of them? There was no way, not with a half-frozen body. She looked way up. There was one window roughly fifty feet above her. She stared down at her sais and knew there was only one way she was getting inside. Tucking Xena's sword and chakram together between the straps on her back, she grasped the sais by the handles.
"Here goes nothing." She went up to the wall and stabbed her sais into the cracks between the rocks. Slowly she lifted herself, testing her weight, making sure the sai would hold. They seemed stable enough, so she searched for the next crack. Wiggling out her left sai, she took another stab into the rock.
Looking up at the window again, she sighed. Only 49 more feet to go.
