Chapter 6

"No Forgiveness This Time"

Xena stood just outside of the Amazon camp; she had to talk to Gabrielle. There was an easy way in, however she expected getting out would be more difficult. She slowly advanced into the fire lit camp. Quietly and quickly making her way to the queen's hut. She snuck in unnoticed by everyone. She watched Gabrielle for a few moments, Gabrielle stood in front of a long wooden table with many weapons and platters of food upon it. Hope entered from the door on the side. Xena narrowed her eyes at Hope.

"Mother, our plan is working perfectly. It's a comfort to have you on my side." Hope said, coming to stand next to Gabrielle. The hut was rather large; many candles had been lit in various spots of the hut. The hut smelled of fresh flowers. A large bed lay in the middle of the hut, which was adorned with blood red velvet pillows. A large quilt was spread on the bed, which were handmade depicting different battles in the Amazon's history.

Gabrielle turned to Hope with a small smile. "I won't let anyone harm you Hope, you're my daughter and I love you." Gabrielle said, running the back of her right hand over Hope's cheek. Hope smiled and closed her eyes. "Why don't you go and get some rest, we don't know when Xena will be returning." Gabrielle said, dropping her arm to her side.

"Yes mother." Hope smiled, turning around and exiting through the door she entered.

Gabrielle stood there for a few moments, looking around her hut. She turned back to the table, placing her now fisted hands on the table in front of her. "Why have I defied Xena, betrayed our friendship?" Gabrielle asked herself.

"Maybe because your stupid." She heard a voice say.

Gabrielle quickly turned around, her eyes wide. "Yes maybe I am. I betrayed the one thing that I have known." Gabrielle sighed, closing and opening her eyes again.

"Gabrielle, how could you betray me?" Xena asked, walking out from her hiding place.

Gabrielle jumped slightly. "Xena?"

"Answer my question." Xena said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I don't know, I was protecting my child. I know you can understand that."

"Your child is evil, she needs to die. Why haven't you figured that out after all of these years?" Xena asked.

"She came from my body, she is my child Xena." Gabrielle said, barely in a whisper. "I'm sorry I betrayed you. Betrayed our friendship. Can't you forgive me?"

"No. I will never forgive you. After everything we've been through how could you betray me? My trust? My love?" Xena asked, showing no emotion on her face as she stared at Gabrielle.

"How many times do I have to tell you, I was only doing what is best for my daughter!" Gabrielle shouted.

"Oh yea forgot about that." Xena said with a small smirk. "But yet, you tried to kill my daughter. You're also planning to kill me. You'll be saddened to know Eve is still alive. Thanks to someone who obviously loves me more than you do."

"What? How? I mean, that's great, I never wanted her to die I never even wanted her to get hurt." Gabrielle said nervously.

"Well see, while we are alive and breathing.. Your dead!" Xena yelled, unsheathing her sword from its scabbard.

"Xena, you don't have to kill me. I know you don't have it in you." Gabrielle said, becoming more nervous as she watched Xena's crystal blue eyes shine in the torchlight. Her hands came up in front of her. "What's happened to you? What has he done to you?"

"Who?" Xena asked

"Ares." Gabrielle growled.

"Oh him, he's done nothing but show me the way. Show me that he loves me. Which is more than I can say for you." Xena smirked; she knew it hurt Gabrielle to hear that. She saw the sadness in her eyes.

"Xena I'm so sorry, I never meant for any of this to happen. Why can't we forget it and move on?" Gabrielle asked, chocking on her words. Gabrielle advanced closer to Xena, running the back of her white right hand over Xena's cheek. Xena quickly pulled her head away; Gabrielle dropped her arm to her side. " I don't want to lose you, Xena."

"You've already lost me. This is the last time you will betray me, you bitch." Xena said, lifting her sword from side. The flames of the various torches flickered off of the clean, sharp blade.

"Guards!!" Gabrielle screamed. Before Xena could move seven or eight guards came running into the hut.
"Oh, have to call in your friends I see. You can never defeat me and you know it." Xena said with a small grin. "Until we meet again!" Xena said, returning her sword to its sheath that was on her back. She quickly hit the two advancing amazons square in the jaw. She smirked at Gabrielle, the fire showing in her eyes. Xena ran out of the hut toward the woods.

"GET HER!" Xena heard Gabrielle yell from the hut. "Bring her back alive!"

The amazons quickly did Gabrielle's biding. Following Xena into the dark desolate woods. Xena jumped, grabbing a tree branch she pulled herself up onto it. Waiting only seconds before three amazons came running. She held onto the branch, swinging down, kicking them to the ground. Xena landed on her feet while the amazons came to stand. She gave an evil grin as she pulled out her sword. The amazons pulled their swords as well. She heard the Amazon's call of many more amazons coming to try and get her. She gave a mischievous grin and took off into the woods. Losing the many amazons as the stopped to check on their fallen companions.

Gabrielle's Hut

Gabrielle stood in her hut, thinking about her encounter with Xena. Their friendship was over, that was an unbearable fact. Gabrielle never meant to hurt Xena. But, sometimes you have to do anything to save a loved one. Even if your child is the daughter of a demon, your child is still your daughter. That was the cold truth.

"ARES!" Gabrielle growled through gritted teeth.

Ares appeared in shimmering blue light, his hand resting casually upon the hilt of his large sword.

"You growled?" Ares asked with a small smirk.

"What have you done to Xena?" Gabrielle yelled.

"I have done nothing." Ares said, mustering a pure mock of shock that ran across his face. "You did it, you caused her to find the fire that burns inside her. I can't say I am depressed over that matter."

"We have to get her back to the way she was." Gabrielle muttered.

"Why would we want to do that? She plans on killing you, I'm sure you've noticed." Ares said with a small smirk running over his face.

Gabrielle shook her head, her short blonde hair barely moving. "Ares I know we don't get along, in fact you hate me. But, we have to put that aside. If Xena turns back to her evil side, She'll kill everyone."

"And who's to blame for that?" Ares asked. "This is your own mess, you find a way to deal with it on your own." Ares disappeared in a flash of blue light, leaving Gabrielle alone once again in her hut. Gabrielle sighed and rolled her eyes. She should have known turning to Ares for help would turn into a dead end.