Chapter 8

The gorgons shackled Gabrielle and Argo to the walls inside their cave. Their legs dangled like prey and their arms were stretched along the wall. They looked like prey waiting to be devoured. Gabrielle kicked her legs, attempting to free herself, although she found that too difficult since she was blindfolded.

Argo heaved deeply as adrenaline pumped throughout her body. She kept hearing the bard next to her huffing, puffing and grunting. The shackles jingled as Gabrielle kept squirming.

One of the gorgon sisters poked the squirming blonde with a large stick and Gabrielle yelped loudly. She twisted her body in several directions as she kept being poked. This was all a game to them. She yelped again and then swung her leg upward and whacked the gorgon in the jaw. At least she thought it was the jaw.

Stheno snarled. She slithered up to the small blonde bard and stuck her tongue out and surveyed the entirety of Gabrielle's face.

Gabrielle gagged and curled her lips, refusing to open her mouth. The stench alone was enough to keep her mouth closed. The wet serpent tongue on her skin made her feel like she was lower than low at the moment.

"It's been awhile since we've had mortals in our lair," Stheno hissed.

Euryale snickered in the background. "Especially ones with such golden hair."

"That of a mare."

Gabrielle's lip quivered. "You can't keep us in here!"

Stheno grabbed the bard's face with her golden claw-like hands and pinched her cheeks together. Gabrielle inhaled sharply and leaned her head against the stone wall, desperately trying to get away from the gorgon.

"Who are you to tell us what to do? You don't belong here. It is but your own doing that you ended up in our sister's lair, mortal!" she spat.

She backed away and Gabrielle exhaled deeply after holding her breath for quite some time.

Argo turned with her blindfolded eyes and frowned sadly. "Gabrielle, there's something I should tell you. I know we probably aren't going to get out of here alive. This is my fault."

"Got that right," the bard muttered.

"It's your fault too!" she spat. "But anyway that's not what I wanted to say." She paused. "My name isn't Ambrosia and I'm not who you think I am."

Gabrielle scrunched her nose up and whipped her head to the left and narrowed her eyebrows.

"I always knew there was something up with you! You're definitely a spy. Maybe this was your idea to get us trapped down here all along!"

"Gabrielle!" the tall yelled. "I…I…my name is Argo."

The bard burst into a fit of laughter.

"Yeah, right. If your name is Argo then my name is Cleopatra."

"I'm serious! I don't know what happened and I don't know how to explain it but…I'm Argo –Xena's horse…Argo. That Argo," she admitted quietly.

Gabrielle's jaw dropped and she recollected all of the strange things Argo talked about during their time spent together. It made sense now but somehow it didn't. The things she said were only things that someone in Xena's personal life would know. And that bit of teasing Gabrielle received was all too familiar except now there was a face to it.

Of course, that was it, but how?

"You…you're Argo?" she asked in disbelief.

"I know you don't believe me, Gabrielle and that's okay but I just wanted to let you know. I think Ares knows who I really am. I should've said something earlier but I wanted to spend time with Xena and you too, of course."

The bard arched an eyebrow. "Always an afterthought I guess."

Argo chuckled. "Don't get me wrong, I like you Gabby, but I've been with Xena longer. She's my best friend! Like I told you, she's important to me. I never lied about that."

"Wow," Gabrielle scoffed. "I was jealous of a horse," she whispered.

"You were jealous of me?" Argo beamed with glee and grinned from ear to ear.

"No…"

"Ah come on Gabby! You can say it. You're jealous of me! You've always been jealous of me and I knew that from beginning. Remember that time I pushed you in the mud?"

Gabrielle gasped. "That was you?! I thought I tripped over my staff!"

"No, that was definitely me. But I still like you, Gabby. You're important to Xena so you're important to me too."

Gabrielle sighed and wiggled her arms which were now starting to become numb from being hung up for so long.

"Well, thanks I guess. How did this happen? This is all Circe's fault."

Stheno slithered up to the talkative blondes and poked them in their midsections.

"Stop chattering!"

Ares tracked his son throughout the village, disguised under the mortal eye. He walked through people like a mere ghost and Damian was oblivious. He didn't know if he was disgusted that Circe was making their son do all her work for her or that the boy actually enjoyed doing it.

Damian stopped by a flowerbed near a shop and picked a few petals off the stems. Ares approached him from behind and grabbed him by the shoulder and forced him behind a nearby shack. The prince of war started to squeal and Ares wrapped a hand around his mouth.

"Do. Not. Scream," he whispered. "Nobody can see me anyway."

The boy looked up at his father and clutched the petals in his palm.

"Your mother told you to gather supplies for the gorgon, is that right?"

Damian nodded his head.

"You know what's going to happen to your mother, don't you?" Ares said seriously and the boy's eyes widen in fear. "She's going back to Tartarus where she belongs. You and I both know that she isn't allowed in the mortal realm, Damian."

The prince slapped his father's hand away and wiped his mouth. "My mother will stay here! Once she has her scepter back not even you can stop her!"

The war god grinned and shoved the boy against the shack and firmly gripped his shoulders. Damian gasped and dropped the flower petals on the ground. He stared into the god's dark eyes and breathed heavily.

"How 'bout you and I make a deal together? You don't really want to stay in Hades' underworld do you?" he coaxed his mouthy son. "He doesn't let you see your mother and after he finds out about this, he definitely won't allow you to see her!"

He added, "Help your mother get her scepter and instead of staying in the underworld, you can come live with me. You'll have access to Olympus and the mortal world. How does that sound?"

"But…will I get to see my mother?" the prince asked in a sad voice.

Ares' eyes darkened and his lip quivered. "With my permission, Damian. You know it's the right thing to do…" he whispered. "Your choice, kid." He gently slapped his son's arm and stood up. "Make sure you make the right choice."

Circe paced inside of her cave while Medusa kept watching her walk from one end of the cave to the other. She rolled her eyes and let out a loaded sigh, grabbing the witch's attention.

"I'm looking forward to spending another five hundred years with you in Tartarus," the gorgon teased.

"I am not going back there."

"Let's face it, Circe. You're going back to Tartarus. There is no way that the Olympians are going to allow you to stay here! You've tried this before and it didn't work."

Circe huffed and crossed her arms. Leaning against the cave's wall she sneered at the gorgon. "It worked for a little while," she whined. "Where is that child? He is taking too long!"

"No patience."

Athena appeared in the cave and the witch scattered and hid behind a cage with a lion locked inside. The war goddess grimaced and shot a glare towards the humanistic gorgon before her and then pointed her sword at the cowering sorceress.

"Circe! Stop hiding like the coward that you are!"

Medusa scoffed. "What did I tell you, witch? The Olympians are already coming for you."

"Shut up, Medusa. You don't belong here either and you will be spent back to Tartarus indefinitely," the goddess snapped. "Circe, turn my warriors back!"

She scanned the entirety of the cave and raised an eyebrow.

"And all of these mortals –turn them back too! I don't know what Ares sees in you. You can't possibly have any value to him except you are immortal but you could always spend the rest of your immortality in pieces."

She marched over to the lion cage and Circe squealed then ran to hide behind the gorgon.

"Wait, wait!" Circe pleaded. "I –I am waiting on Damian to return with some supplies. I need a new scepter and then I will turn your warriors back. I promise."

"I don't believe you, witch. You play a dangerous game toying with my warriors. My brother told me not to kill you but I didn't promise that I wouldn't."

Ares walked into the cave with Damian by his side. He saw his sister inducing fear into Circe, although not much fear emit from the gorgon. He marched over and stood in between his infuriated sister and Circe.

"Athena, what do you think you're doing? I told you not to come near her!"

"Stop protecting her, brother. She's caused enough damage."

He groaned. "We still need her to reverse the spell. After she does that then I don't care what you do with her." he smiled and Circe's jaw dropped in shock.

He retreated towards the exit and peered down at Damian.

"Where are you going now?" Athena shouted.

"I have to pay a visit to Hades. You can watch her for me. Make sure everything goes according to plan."

Sweat dripped down Argo's forehead and she sniffed the air within the damp cave. She heard Gabrielle doing the same and exhaling rapidly several times. She twisted her sore wrists in the shackles and rolled her dangling ankles.

"Is it just me or is it hot in here?"

Gabrielle nodded. "It's not just you."

Stheno slithered over and yanked the blindfold off the short blonde's head. Gabrielle kept her eyes shut tightly.

"Keep your eyes closed!"

Argo frowned. "What?"

"Do as I say!"

"Well okay but –"

Her blindfold was ripped off as well and she gasped but kept her eyes sealed shut. The gorgon cackled and grazed Argo's soft cheek with her bronzed talon fingernails. "Such smart mortals you both are. You know the tales of the gorgon stare."

Argo panicked. "Gabby, what if they're going to cook us and eat us?"

"Don't be ridiculous. And stop calling me Gabby! That's not my name!"

"Aweh come on. I thought we were friends? You'll always be my Gabby."

The bard groaned.

Stheno pinched Argo's arm and she yelped. "You two talk too much. Euryale, hand me the poker."

"As you wish, sister."

"Poker?" Gabrielle uttered.

The gorgon was handed the hot iron poker that had been sitting in a pile of hot coals. She made her way over and held the poker very close to the bard's leg. Gabrielle bit her tongue and tried to slide against the wall to avoid the poker. She could feel the heat not far from her flesh.

"I told you they were going to cook us!" Argo shouted. "I don't want to die!"

"Gorgons!" Hades roared. He stood in the entrance of the gorgon lair with Ares beside him. The two gods stared at the mortal women chained to the wall.

The sisters hissed and slithered behind a wall to hide from the underworld deity. Hades shook his head, obviously annoyed with the two gorgons. He had enormous problems with the three serpent sisters and they caused him grief constantly in Tartarus.

"Your sister left the underworld without my permission with the help of Circe. Instead of telling me, you decide to torture mortals for your own fun?" he said. "Stop hiding from me!"

Stheno came out from behind the wall and tapped her talon fingers against her arm. "Hades…" she hissed, "so good of you to stop by. We weren't going to kill the mortals of course."

Eurayle hid behind her sister and grinned at the war god. "Ares, what a pleasure to see you in our neck of the underworld."

Gabrielle's lip curled. "Ares!"

He snickered. "Keep your skirt on, Gabrielle. I'm here to help you."

Ares walked over and laughed at the bard dangling from the shackles and he turned to Argo who had a huge frown on her face. He snapped his fingers and the two fell to the floor, released from their shackled chains on the walls.

Hades approached the nervous gorgons and he jabbed his scepter at them. They cowered in fear and he ushered them out of the lair. The sisters backed away slowly while hissing at him.

"To the River Styx you go, gorgons. I don't have more time to waste on you two. I have Circe and Medusa to deal with later. Go!" he shouted.

Gabrielle finally opened her eyes. On all fours, she lifted her head up at the war god who had a smug smile on his face. She stood up and brushed her skirt and fixed her bodice.

"Ares. What are you doing here? Where is Xena? Did you do anything to her?"

"Relax," he hushed her. "I don't even get a thank you? I came to Tartarus just to save you and…Xena's horse," he snorted.

Argo stood up clumsily and folded her arms, turning her cheek from him.

"You don't just save people, Ares." The bard poked his chest. "You want something."

He leaned down and met her furious green eyes. "Let's just say you owe me. You have a life debt with me. When you need help, I'll be there. I'm always here after all."

"As if I'd ask for your help."

"Oh you will, you will."

Medusa sat on the ground in the cave and mixed all of the ingredients together with a mortar and pestle. Athena stood off to the side and cautiously watched the gorgon. She was disgusted by the satisfactory look on Circe's face.

"How much longer?" the goddess inquired.

"Not much longer…" Medusa said. "I could work better if I didn't have someone standing over me."

"Just finish whatever it is you're doing, gorgon. Your time spent here is coming to a close."

Moments later the gorgon poured the mixture onto the ground and began molding the clay with her hands. Circe clamped her hands together and eagerly watched Medusa form a long clay scepter on the floor. Once finished, Circe pushed the gorgon out of the way and dropped to her knees.

She held her hands over the clay scepter and closed her eyes. She recited a few words under her breath and a bright light illuminated the entire cave. Damian shielded his eyes and peeked through his fingers and saw the two mortal women he left behind in Tartarus entering the cave with his father.

He stood up and Ares glared in his direction. He backed away and circled around his mother and ran towards the war god.

Argo frowned at the boy. "You! You're the little worm who left us!"

She began to charge at him and Gabrielle wrapped her arms around Argo's waist. Damian hid behind Ares fearfully.

The incantation was complete and Circe held her new scepter in her hands. She stood up and her smile faded at the sight of Ares. She immediately saw her son standing beside him. She tried to approach them until Athena rammed her against the wall and held a sword to her throat.

"Reverse the spell now, witch."

"And if I don't?" the sorceress teased playfully.

"I'll slice you into several pieces!" Athena growled.

"Fine, fine!" Circe relented. "Well, let go of me!"

The goddess stepped back but kept her sword close just in case. Circe waved her hand over her head and whispered beneath her breath. Argo held her breath and put her hands over her eyes. Gabrielle looked up at her with a gaped mouth.

After the reversal spell was spoken allegedly, Argo lowered her hands from her eyes and then looked down at her human body. She smiled softly and turned to Gabrielle who didn't look so happy. Her cheeks flushed and she frowned at the witch.

Ares stared at all the animals in the cages and a very human Argo beside him. "Circe, what is going on? Why isn't everyone back to normal?"

She shrugged a shoulder. "Reversing a spell takes time. It is much easier to cast a spell than to reverse it."

"This better not be one of your tricks."

"Ares, you don't believe me? I'm shocked," she said flatly. Her arm was grabbed by the goddess and she gasped. "Unhand me!"

Athena growled, "Will my warriors turn back to normal? If they won't I will come to Tartarus myself and –"

"Slice me into little pieces. Yes I got it already," she sighed. "Every spell is different. One must have patience, Athena."

Damian eyed his mother and clung to his father's leg from behind. Circe grinned and extended her hand and he took a step backward.

"Damian? What's wrong? Aren't you coming with me?"

Athena yanked the witch's arm and pulled her along out of the cave gradually.

"Damian!" she yelled and yelled again several times until her voice vanished when she left with Athena.

Ares grinned. "Wise choice, Damian."

That evening Gabrielle and Argo found Xena and Joxer waiting by the river. They made a small campfire together and Argo had just come back from collecting lumber for the fire. She carried the tree branches and set them down beside the fire.

Gabrielle kept staring at the fire and didn't even notice Argo speaking to her. Lifting her head she smiled briefly and the tall blonde took a seat beside her. Argo crossed her legs and looked to her right at Xena sleeping on the ground curled in a ball with her nose tucked into her tail.

"I've always liked camping," said Argo, trying to break the tension. "I enjoy sitting by the fire with you and Xena."

The bard broke a piece of the thin tree branch and tossed it into the fire.

"What…what do you think Ares meant by you owing him? He is full of threats. You shouldn't trust him, Gabby."

She grumbled. "My name is….forget it."

Argo smiled and nudged the bard's arm. "I'm not so bad to be around! Are you still jealous of me? We can share Xena."

"I am not jealous of you."

"That's not what you said in Tartarus."

"I'm not jealous."

"You said you were."

"Okay!" Gabrielle shouted. "I was jealous of you," she finally admits aloud. "I just didn't like how close you were with Xena. You were a stranger –I mean I thought you were. It's not like Xena wasn't responsive towards you. I got into a fight with her because of you," she quickly reminded.

Argo blushed and awkwardly shifted on the grass. She exhaled and rested her elbows on her knees, gazing at the fire.

"I'm sorry," she muttered. "Hey since we're here I'd like to apologize for all the things I've done to you over the last couple of years!"

Gabrielle paused. "Oh, you don't have to –"

"I'm sorry for pushing you in the mud, but it was funny you must admit. Also I'm sorry for throwing you off my saddle that one time. Oh and that time I spat water in your face. And –"

"Please!" she spat hoarsely. "No more. I forgive you okay? I forgive you."

Argo beamed. "Thanks Gabb…" she started to say and saw the frown forming on the bard's face. "Gabrielle," she corrected. "I promise I won't tease you anymore or play any tricks on you."

Gabrielle smirked and waved a stick in her hand. "I don't know if I should believe you."

"I promise!"

The two shook hands and then sat in silence for awhile.

Argo leaned over and Gabrielle looked at her from the corner of her eye. "Do you really believe things will go back to normal? Did Circe really reverse the spell?"

"I don't know. We'll just have to wait and see."

The lanky blonde sighed. "I'm going to miss being a human," she mused. "I like talking to people. Everyone can finally understand me!"

Gabrielle nods. "Xena understands you and you've never spoken a word to her."

Argo lay down on the grass and gazed up at the starry sky. "You're right. She does understand me and hopefully you understand me better now too."

"Gabrielle?"

"Yes?"

"Can I still call you Gabby?"

The bard laughed lightly and took a long pause.

"No."