Last chapter! We made it!

Chapter Seventeen: Sing for Me, Nightingale

If y'all haven't figured it out yet: Evander/Xian is the raven, Gölge is the songbird, Varinia is the sparrow, Gabrielle is the magpie, and lastly, Xena is our nightingale.

There, Gabrielle stood, blood trickling down her arm, gaping at her opponent. The beat of her heart rang in her ears, clouding her thoughts and vision. She was so unfocused, so out of her element.

This woman was definitely not Eylül Bastillia. This woman was Xena. The little comment about her scar gave it away. She was lured here to die, lured here to fight to the death. She had Xena right in front of her. Gabrielle's stomach churned, and her grip tightened around the fencing sword as she gaped at the black mask staring right back at her.

I can't see you, but I know it's you.

Xena paced back and forth, tapping the edge of her sword on her thigh impatiently. She stared at the look of horror plastered on Gabrielle's face. That genuine fear was so painfully evident in those jade eyes. She almost didn't want to keep attacking, but she needed to. She wanted to.

Stopping in the center of the atrium, she thrust her sword forward, which Gabrielle then blocked the blow. She was holding back on purpose. She could've driven her blade directly into Gabrielle several times already, but she didn't. Xena was surprised at the lack of self-awareness Gabrielle harnessed.

Irresponsible.

Xena grabbed Gabrielle's arm, pulling her forward, and threw Gabrielle onto the floor.

Careless.

As Gabrielle lay on her back, she groaned at the pain coursing through her body. She looked up to see her masked opponent, sword in hand, ready to plunge the weapon into her chest cavity. She rolled out of the way before Xena rammed the blade into the stone ground.

Thoughtless.

Xena smiled beneath the mask, backtracking to her designated spot. She stood in a stance that was to be seen as offensive. Gabrielle wasn't even trying. It's almost like she wants to die. She wants to get this over with. Have you given up already, Gabrielle? Is this how you want to be remembered?

Is this how you want people to find you? Your carcass on the ground, mangled with bruises, gashes, and broken limbs?

Something sparked inside Xena. She studied Gabrielle from afar, all the way from Edirne. She studied Gabrielle on the coastal beach in Rome. She saw two different Gabrielles. What kind of person are you, Gabrielle? You hide who you truly are. You are mercenary by night, artist by day. But who are you really?

You're just confused, Gabrielle. You don't know how to fight me. You thought you killed me, and you were happy to be rid of me or were you? You were caught in the middle of the storm just like Xian was –just like Varinia. You're all part of the same puzzle and you –Gabrielle –are the missing piece.

I was just as blind as you. I couldn't see beyond the serenity of your eyes, the talkative mouth of yours, the light that illuminates around you when I'm with you. A simple girl from Potidaea, a killer in Rome, and now, you're a prisoner in Edirne.

There were plenty of chances for you to run, but I doubt you'd get very far. There must be some sense of courage deep inside you, Gabrielle. You're willing to have your flesh slashed and your dignity stripped from you.

Yet, there is just one little problem. You still don't know who I am, because I am hiding from you as we play this little dance around each other. I've been in front of you this entire time, and what will you do when I finally reveal myself? Will you run?

Xena stalked forward, twirling the sword, lowering her stance. She attempted to grab Gabrielle by the arm and was pleasantly surprised when Gabrielle jabbed her in the elbow.

Excellent, Gabrielle. Just a little more force and you could've broken my arm. Defend yourself. Show me that you want to live. You're fighting on the defense, yet when you murder someone, you go for the kill.

I saw you. I saw the way you slit Gölge's throat. There was no hesitation, yet you hesitate to swing the blade towards me. Are you afraid that you will miss?

Spineless.

Gabrielle narrowed her eyes, staring at the faceless opponent. She felt her head rattle from each blow that she took. There was no possible way that she could kill Xena. She realized that now. This was now a game of survival, and she didn't like the way it was going so far. She was forced to defend herself in a way she didn't think was possible.

Xena, you are intelligent, but you are also a gifted swordswoman. Gabrielle came so far from her home only to be met with another one of Xena's many masks. She couldn't leave now, and she didn't plan to. She wanted answers.

"You sent me that letter."

Xena inclined her head, waving the sword around leisurely.

"Why go through all the trouble? Surely, you've had multiple assassination attempts throughout your life?" Gabrielle said with a sneer. "You're obviously a very wanted woman."

And there it is. There is that witty mouth of yours that has come out to play. Where were you earlier? Is this another face of yours, Gabrielle? Or are you showing me the person you want me to see?

"What makes me so special?"

Xena hesitated for a moment at the question. She felt the blood pumping through her veins as she glared at Gabrielle. For a brief second, she forgot that her face was concealed. If Gabrielle could see the dumbfounded expression on her face, it would haunt her forever.

You think you can talk your way out of this, but you can't. Yet, you are clever, Gabrielle. You've caught on to my little game. You know that I won't kill you right away because you know for a fact that you could've been dead five times already.

Lost in her own web of thoughts, Xena was ultimately distracted and thus was attacked by Gabrielle's blade. Blood was drawn on her end. Slowly, she peered down at the gash on her left arm.

You know that I am unfocused by you, Gabrielle, and now you've used it against me.

Reacting quickly, Xena lunged forward, and holding her blade away from Gabrielle's face, she rammed both of them into one of the stone columns. She pinned Gabrielle's shoulders to the stone, inching closer and closer to her face.

Breathing heavily, hot breath escaped the linen mask she wore. In a split second, her eyes flashed a narrow glint. There wasn't fear in Gabrielle's eyes anymore, but anger instead. Xena could say, she was almost impressed at the sudden willpower emerging from her blonde artist.

The blood streaming down her arm was an irritating reminder to keep her mind focused. Xena took a step closer, dissolving the space between them. She glided her fingers along Gabrielle's neck, tracing her nails on the scar that Gölge gifted her.

Her skin was so supple, youthful, and nearly perfect except for that small scar.

"I wore red just for you," she whispered.

She heard Gabrielle's breathing accelerate as she tightened her grip.

"You said I would look nice in this color, don't you remember?"

Her breath hitched. Gabrielle felt her stomach knotting. She couldn't move, paralyzed from the neck down. Her fingers gripped around the sword until her knuckles paled. Slowly, her eyes followed her masked opponent drift further away.

Xena pulled the mask over her head, and her hair tumbled down her back. Gabrielle swallowed the large swell in her throat.

"Did I not tell you that we would see each other in the near future?" she said, grinning slyly.

Gabrielle's lips parted, choking on inhaled breaths.

She lifted the blade, turning it from side to side, and pressed the dull edge against Gabrielle's cheek.

"I told you I am good at finding people."

This couldn't be real, Gabrielle kept telling herself. She was staring at the woman she came to know somewhat well enough in Rome. Xena was right in front of her this entire time. How could she be so blind? Had Xena known this whole time? Or was she just as blind?

"You were so curious about my name," she snorted, "well, I don't think I need to introduce myself."

"Xena…" her name slipped off Gabrielle's tongue with ease.

She brushed her thumb along the blonde's lip, examining the petrified look in the green pools. She retracted the blade from Gabrielle's cheek and pulled back a few blonde strands. She cupped Gabrielle's face, and the smile dissolved into a frown.

She headbutted Gabrielle's forehead and stood back, watching her body fall limp and collapse onto the floor. Xena raised an eyebrow, lifted her arm, examining the gash, and tossed the sword aside.

Gabrielle woke to a throbbing headache. She lifted her head, squinting from the bright sunlight shining in her face. A dark figure blocked the sun, and she blinked, allowing her vision to return to its clarity. She gaped at Xena's towering presence in front of her.

She tried to move and then realized she was strapped to a chair. Her ankles bound by metal chains as were her wrists. Another chain was strapped across her chest as well. She wriggled in the confined chair, tirelessly.

Panting, she gazed into Xena's blue eyes. So many conflicting feelings were scattered in her mind. She had known this woman to be someone else, and now that the woman was actually Xena, she wasn't sure how to feel.

She was being hunted by this woman this entire time without knowing it. She expressed her fears of being watched by Xena to…Xena –the real Xena. She told Xena how she felt about being attacked, but who she now knew was the stand-in for Xena. She told her so many things about her life. But none of that mattered anymore because she was going to die.

Gabrielle brought her eyebrows together, heaving from her effortlessly trying to work her way through the unbreakable chains.

"You're going through an awful lot of trouble to kill me."

Xena frowned and said, "you love to make assumptions about me."

"Isn't that what you're going to do? Otherwise, why keep me here, chained? Is this how you killed Evander?"

Xena's face softened at the mention of her son. And now, there was another piece added to the puzzle. She had her suspicions that her son and Gabrielle were linked in some way. She wished that weren't the case, but Gabrielle spoke plainly, revealing everything. This also meant that Varinia knew Gabrielle. The triad operated individually, yet all collaborated in some small way.

She had to make a choice: tell Gabrielle everything, or keep everything locked away inside her like she had been doing for so many years.

"I didn't kill him," she spoke calmly.

"So, it was you who kidnapped him," Gabrielle scoffed. "And you…Varinia…you obviously killed her too!"

"I did not kill them!" Xena screeched, startling Gabrielle.

She had to remind herself to keep her emotions in check. She was already failing.

Xena grabbed a chair and took a seat opposite of Gabrielle. She slouched down, spreading her legs apart, smiling softly. Gabrielle kept her gaze ahead, directly glaring into the piercing eyes a few feet from her. Xena tilted her head from side to side, tapping her fingers on her knee.

"It's fascinating."

Gabrielle huffed, "what?"

"Your change of attitude," she quirked her mouth upward, "you confided in me that you enjoyed being around me back in Rome. You even expressed such sorrow when I told you I was leaving. And now…"

Gabrielle tapered her eyes.

"You can't stand to look at me. Its as if I disgust you."

"What sort of reaction were you hoping for? You lied to me!"

"I never lied." Xena, insulted by the accusation, leaned forward, pressing her elbows on her knees. "Everything I told you was the truth, Gabrielle."

Gabrielle was thankful to be alive, but she didn't know how long that was going to last. She felt confused, hurt, and betrayed. She felt hurt the most, but she then realized that maybe, possibly, Xena might've felt the same as she did. Although, her view of Xena was stunted right now. This wasn't the 'Xena' she knew back in Rome. The Xena in Rome was a mysterious killer, and here, she was making light conversation with her hostage.

She watched as Xena reached behind her and pull out a weapon. She relaxed when she saw it was her knife from her art supply bag. Xena held the blade up, waving it back and forth.

"Look familiar?"

Gabrielle's jaw clenched.

"You killed my apprentice with that blade. I watched you do it." She threw the knife, and it landed in between Gabrielle's boots. "I was the one who chased you. I was the one who shot at you. I was the one who gave you that scar. But…"

She let a smile slip and added, "I was also the one who cleaned, not one, but two wounds. I was the one who worried about your safety."

Gabrielle didn't know if this was just another game, so she kept her guard up. But, everything that Xena said was true. Analyzing the tone of her voice, Gabrielle could tell that Xena was just as oblivious as she was. They were hunting each other, running circles around one another. Gabrielle assumed that her position must've been compromised when Xena saw the bicep wound. Xena pieced the puzzle together first. Of course, she did. She's Xena.

"Now that you know my name, you've developed this hatred for me," said Xena.

Gabrielle's gaze drifted to the floor. "That isn't true."

"Isn't it? You've been taught to hate me, Gabrielle. You've been trained to hate me –trained to kill me. How does it feel to have me sitting in front of you, alive and well?" she smiled.

Gabrielle bit her inner cheek. She didn't know whether to be upset at herself for getting into this mess or that Xena was actually making sense.

"There was one thing I did lie about."

Gabrielle lifted her head.

"You mentioned that Emperor Tiberius raided your home and separated you from your family," she said, her heart palpitating rapidly. "He raided my home too. And he took…someone special away from me." She nervously tapped her fingertips together.

Studying the blonde, she knew that empathy was something that couldn't ever leave Gabrielle's genetic makeup. That was definitely not a skill that a mercenary could hold. You are a horrible mercenary, Gabrielle, she thought.

"That someone was my son. I never saw him again."

Gabrielle felt a twinge in her chest.

"I'm sorry," she muttered.

"I guess that is one of the things we have in common."

At that, the blonde narrowed her eyes. "We don't have anything in common."

"Except killing people," Xena stated flatly. "That's no way to live your life. You can't go around killing people in cold blood for the rest of your life."

"That's what you do."

"No!" Xena barked, lunging forward. She pressed her palms on the arms of the chair and spat, "I don't murder people for payment. Let's get that straight."

"Yet…" she licked her parched lips, "yet, you have me chained to a chair."

Xena smirked, inching closer to the artist's face. "What makes you think I'm going to kill you? Oh, that's right, you assumed I would."

This woman stood before her –a woman of many faces –and she still couldn't figure her out. If she wasn't going to kill me, then what is she going to do? Is she going to set me free?

Gabrielle didn't know if she could trust anything that came out of Xena's mouth now. Evander and Varinia have been said to be alive, but she didn't know if that was true. Xena could be lying, but why would she lie about that? Better yet, why would she reveal that she kept them alive? So, then, they must be alive, right?

"I'm going to offer you a deal, Gabrielle."

"W-what do you want?"

Xena yanked the dagger out from the floor and held it in one hand. She pulled out a key from her pocket, which was essentially the key to freedom from bondage. Gabrielle frowned, gawking at the two items which Xena had.

"I'm going to give you a choice," she half-smiled. "You can go back to serving Nero," she waved the dagger. "Or you can have your freedom and stay with me," she presented the key. "Choose."

Gabrielle's eyes darted back and forth between the items. If she chose incorrectly, according to Xena's mind, she could be killed anyway. She wasn't sure if either choice was for the better. It was like flipping a coin.

"Why would you want me to stay with you? Why me?"

"I want you to be free."

Gabrielle gnawed on her lip, swallowing the lump in her throat. Of course, she was more inclined to choose to be free, but would she truly be free? She would be in Xena's custody. Was that freedom? It was better than being dead. It was better than serving Nero and Sabina. But would she be assigned to new tasks? Would she work for Xena?

She didn't want to make a hasty decision, but either way, she needed to choose.

Xena took a step forward, gazing down at the blonde artist. Gabrielle opened her mouth, feigning words. Xena's eyes widened, gripping the dagger tightly while clenching the key in her palm until her nails dug into her skin. Patience was not one of her best skills she obtained over the years.

"I…"

With another step forward, Xena took a sharp inhale, dropping the dagger and key on the floor. Gabrielle's cheeks paled, staring at the arrow plunged through Xena's breast. She whipped her head around the atrium, looking to see where the arrow came from.

"Xena!" she yelled, wiggling in the chair. "Give me the key!" she begged. "I'll stay here! I choose to stay here!"

With a subtle smile, not even trying to hide her fervor, Xena dropped the key into Gabrielle's lap. She broke the arrow shaft, wincing. As she tried to pull the arrow through her chest, she felt another arrow drive into her thigh.

She dropped to the floor, biting her lower lip, groaning lowly.

Gabrielle frantically tried to unlock the chains on her wrists, staring at Xena in agonizing pain on the floor. Panting, she freed one wrist and began working her way to the other wrist, then her chest, and finally her ankles.

Dropping to her knees, she inspected the wounds, crinkling her eyebrows.

"You should leave, Gabrielle. I have men outside. They will take you somewhere safe," she said in between labored breaths, sweat dripping down her forehead.

"I'm not leaving you here alone."