The whole world was still spinning around me- along with those few fortunate neurons that had miraculously managed to survive Ares' barbaric means of transportation, and that were in their turn aimlessly revolving around my squashed brain- a full minute after the roaring vortex dropped me to the ground like a flat pumpkin pie.
Due to the startlingly rough encounter with the perfectly polished surface of the temple floor, I could still see bright white circles -of various sizes- flashing in front of my eyes as I blinked, floating like clouds, bending and twisting, turning into squares and diamonds….all that, despite having intensely rubbed my eyes a couple of times- and yes, it took my hand awhile to find my face, of course, but eventually, I reached my goal.
With the gestures of a hopeless, unrecoverable alcoholic, I struggled to unglue myself from the marble tiles, but my aching, bruised body obstinately refused to obey my silent command with the desired promptitude. When I finally did make it, I had to rub my eyes again and shake my head in disbelief as my shocked gaze finally managed to focus on something- and yes, that something happened to be the War God- the same rude bastard that had insulted me all morning long, for no reason at all except getting on my nerves.
Believe it or not, but, as if in slow motion, I could see his perfectly shaped, muscular arms closing around Xena, sure and strong, and, cradling her against his chest with so much infinite care as if she had been made out of spun glass- definitely as if she had been his most prized possession- he carried her towards the bed…. Totally ridiculous I know, for that would actually imply that Ares might have somehow developed something vaguely resembling to feelings overnight- no matter how primitive…- which he obviously hasn't….
Hardly had I got my mind to accept the fact that the theatrically unfolding scene was indeed real- but don't really take my word on this dear Papyrus, cause I don't know if it was because of that disturbing, constant buzzing in my ears – triggered by the growing nausea that had suddenly taken over me- or Fates know what other peculiar reason, but I could swear I heard him murmuring a worried "Just a few more steps, Love….hang on, we're almost there." as they headed for the bed.….I must have started hearing things, though…Bards are known to have very rich imagination…
With unsure, clumsy steps, I followed right behind them, desperately looking for support. The first marble column that got into my way a moment later and the surprisingly solid wooden bedpost- and thank all merciful Gods that it was solid indeed, cause I literally had to hold on to it for dear life in a last effort to crawl till the edge of the soft, fluffy mattress- proved to have a crucial importance in my adventurous quest to the other side of the room. …I felt as if a war wagon had run over me, and no, I'm definitely not overreacting….If that accursed piece of furniture had been just one step away I wouldn't have made it on it- not in a conscious state anyway.
Neither Xena nor Ares seemed to worry about me in the meantime though, my wounded friend being probably too much in pain to even think straight, as for the jerk, he was visibly too preoccupied with making her feel as comfortable as possible.
"Right….don't mind me…It's not like I've just broken every bone in my body or something…." I sarcastically commented, vainly trying to get some attention- to no avail of course. The only thing I unexpectedly managed to achieve was in fact to take a good look inside my soul….I didn't really like what I saw….I was pathetic….
" But no need to worry…I'll live…." I felt the need to add while dramatically waving my hand as if someone was actually listening to me…
" Are you comfortable?" the War God's smooth voice pulled me out of my discontent for a moment, just to throw me in an ever deeper abyss when I realized that he wasn't talking to me…..
"Yes, thank you…"
"You're frowning…Is it that bad ?" I heard him say, bits of conversation reaching my ears while my still hazy gaze began scrutinizing the room. Where were the skeletons, the blood on the walls? Where were the swords, the heads decorating the entrance doors? The War God's temples were supposed to be terrifying! Legends were told about them by the accursed souls that have had the misfortune to get past the altar room and soldiers could swear that constant wailing and heartbreaking cries could be heard at nighttime from his gloomy sanctuaries…
Taking a look around though, this room appeared to have nothing in common with the tenebrous descriptions I have heard over the years, on the contrary…It looked surprisingly elegant and….almost cozy….
" Stop worrying, Ares. I'll be fine.."
" Which means that right now you're anything but. " he implied, the confidence reverberating from his words making me suddenly focus my attention on their almost whispered dialogue.
" I guess the antidote has started to work…. My arm is burning. And I can hardly feel my shoulder. "
"Antidote?! Did you say antidote?!" I suddenly exclaimed, my terrible headache dissipating in less than a split second, paying little, close to no attention to Ares' suddenly petrified visage.
My friend looked at me with restless eyes but answered in her usual unaffected voice, obviously not wanting me to panic.
"The arrow was poisoned. It's not a big deal…" she immediately replied, but I could clearly see how her body stiffened at the lie.
" Not a big deal?! You could have died, Xena! Had that arrow hit just an inch lower…" I started, my voice breaking before I could finish the line…The though alone was unbearable.
"But it didn't…" she mildly contradicted, offering me a warm, comforting smile to sweeten the situation.
"Not today. " Ares mumbled through clenched teeth, his gaze- almost furious, I think- sharpening at the sound of his own conclusion. What was he even furious about?!
" Please don't…Not now….just save it for later…." she murmured, closing her eyes for a moment, and once again I thought that my hearing had been playing tricks one me…I definitely must have misinterpreted this one…
" Who attacked you?" I anxiously asked, not wanting to miss my chance. This was the first moment today when I was actually receiving some actual information about what had happened.
"Ares says they were Assyrian mercenaries…." she unhurriedly explained.
"Sent to kill you?! But why? Who would have ordered you killed?!" I fired away, frowning at the perspective. Someone had tried to kill her while I was peacefully dreaming about the flowery fields of Potidaea…..I'm still ashamed to admit it….I suck as a warrior….
" You've got to take me with you. Teach me everything you know. You can't leave me here in Poteidaia. I want to go with you!. I've studied the stars, spoken with philosophers. I have the gift of prophecy. They can be very valuable to you. Take me with you. I want so much to be like you." my own words echoed painfully inside my head- still do by the way…Thinking about it now, I can't help laughing at my own naivety….How could I ever be able to do anything right if I keep snoring like a hibernating bear while there's a full scale war going on just a few yards away from me?!
"Gabrielle?"
"Yeah…." I automatically answered, a bit startled by the light touch on my shoulder.
"Are you ok?!"
" You almost died….And I didn't do anything to help you…." I broke out, heavy regret in my voice.
" Relax….I'm sure you'll get your fair chance to kill her sooner or later…." Ares once again intervened, and by the nine muses, I wanted so much to strangle him that I could barely control myself .
"You're shivering…" he then added- in that awkwardly tender voice- pulling the blanket over Xena, his steady eyes trapping hers for what seemed to last forever and a day.
" ….It's strange….My arm and chest are burning, but I'm freezing…" she answered, and looking at her , I just couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing something….The way their gazes connected…the way in which they talked to each other, as if they had done this hundreds of times before….
"It's because of the blood loss. " he casually rationalized, leaning in and touching her forehead with the back of his hand, just like a concerned father would to for his sick child, checking her temperature, his index briefly tracing her eyebrow as he pulled away….She didn't even flinch at his touch, not once- and if there's one thing I know about Xena, is that she doesn't like to be touched….
I couldn't help staring like a blind bat at the scene. Why was he suddenly acting all interested in her welfare?! Just because he owed her a favor didn't mean that he also had to pretend that he cared….
" No sign of infection so far…."
"It's still to early to tell.." she grimly retorted, taking in a deep breath.
" Xena….I wish there were something I could do…" I finally spoke, trying hard not to burst into tears.
Once again, Ares couldn't keep his acid comments to himself. To all appearances he was doing everything in his powers to piss me off.
"You could try and speed up the effect of the antidote!"
"I wasn't talking to you!" I bit, angrily wiping away a tear that was rolling down my cheek.
" You're here, Gabrielle….That's all I need." Xena kindly replied, shaking my inner world so much that a raging river of salty tears began washing my face the very following second. I felt so…useless…..
"Oh Xena! I'm so scared! I almost lost you today….And that antidote….what if it doesn't work?!"
" Oh great! That's just great! Mourning her in advance would certainly solve everything! ….I mean… the power of tears has always been…magical! It will work wonders on her, I'm sure…"he mocked with a half laugh.
" Do you always have to act like a moron?"
" Yep…"
"Well, let me just tell ya' that courtesy hasn't killed anyone so far!...and neither has change! Maybe you should give it a try one of these days!"
" Why would I make the effort, again?"
"Because that's what normal people do!"
" Thank the Fates I don't fit into the category then!"
" Cut it out you two!" Xena finally sighed, probably too exhausted to stand our endless bickering "Ares…..! " she scolded in a harsh, motherly tone.
"Ok, ok! " he apologetically retorted, casting me a whatever type of glare. I couldn't help smiling widely at Xena for having stood up for me.
"Hey! Don't feel too happy about it. She's a bit delirious from the poison. But with the antidote and all, she'll come around soon."
I parted my lips to say something but there was no point in doing it….He was just too stupid to even fight back. I wisely decided to drop it.
" I'm thirsty…" I suddenly heard my friend murmur. Her lips were indeed dried and frighteningly bluish.
"Do you want me to bring you some water?"
" Could you?"
"Sure! Whatever I can do to help! Is there a fountain nearby?... Or a spring?"
" ...Just walk down the corridor and take the first left…. You'll get to a large, cobbled yard. There's a beautifully carved granite fountain right in the center…You can't miss it…"
" Scream if you fall in it….I'll save you…eventually" Ares yelled behind me, but I sailed out without a word, limiting my reaction to a nasty glare thrown over my shoulder. I was done giving him the satisfaction of another victory…
Boiling with frustration, I let out a heavy sigh as Xena's somewhat amused smile invaded my troubled mind. Did she really find his childish behavior funny?
Nonetheless, as I followed the corridor, a considerably more intriguing question started bugging my highly alert brain . … How did she know where the fountain was? Had she been there before?! ….
I slowly shook my head and my eyes narrowed a bit while filtering some ideas….
"Her tonality was so strange….so…" I heard myself voicing out….It was a good thing that there was no one else around to hear me …".She was just so…. familiarized with the place, as if…." I kept mumbling to myself while forcing my brain to make the right connections…And then it hit me….
"…As if she had lived here…."
