Xena and Gabrielle made their way down from high hill top that Mein Tien's palace had been built on. Xena's stomach was churning. They had to leave fast. She had told her first ever lie to Gabrielle and it disgusted her. If Gabrielle ever found out that she had killed Mein Tien she would never forgive her. Once they were a good way down the road Gabrielle stopped, pulling Xena into the trees.
"We should keep moving Gabrielle. I don't want to take the chance of him coming after us." She had to bite her lip. Another lie. Xena took a deep breath and put on the impassive face that she had worn so well for so long.
"I know but this is where I hid all of my things." Gabrielle made her way to an old tree with giant raised roots. She brushed off some leaves and there was her pack. Glancing around quickly she pulled out her shirt and skirt and began to change. Within a moment she was back in her old travelling gear. She gave a slight twirl.
"Well what'd you think?"
Xena forced a smile. "That you looked better between outfits."
Gabrielle's eyes sparkled mischievously and she started playing with the straps that held her shirt in place.
"Well Xena, if you're in no hurry..." She trailed off as she reached Xena grabbing her by the waist. Her head tilted up searching for Xena's lips. Xena gave her a quick kiss and then pulled back.
"Tonight Gabrielle. I want to put as much distance between this place and us as possible. Besides I'd like my old clothes back too." Gabrielle stepped back and searched Xena's eyes. She looked a little hurt to be brushed off but what Xena said made perfect sense.
"Ok, tonight. But you better be ready." Xena smiled again.
"I'm always ready for anything Gabrielle."
With that they set off north through the woods. Xena had left all of her supplies north of the Great Wall. Luckily it was close by. Her thoughts though were mostly on the book of Lao Ma. It weighed heavy in her hands, much heavier than a book of its size should. She knew it was her guilt. She had killed Lao Ma's son. The woman who had given her everything, who had believed in her when no one else had. If it hadn't been for Lao Ma she doubted she could love Gabrielle now.
"Gabrielle we're going to make a little detour. It's only about two candlemarks off our way."
Gabrielle managed to mutter ok. The terrain was rough here. Large rocks, fallen trees, giant ancient knurled roots and it was all uphill. Xena needed a safe place to leave the book of Lao Ma's wisdom. She knew of a nearby monastery where it should be safe from any who would use the wisdom for evil. They made slow going and a soft rain began to fall. By the time they reached the monastery it had grown dark and very cold.
The giant doors finally stood before them and the two stood there trying to catch their breaths. Lightning flashed in the distance. Xena saw Gabrielle's eyes go wide and she took a step closer to the doors. Xena laid her hand on Gabrielle's shoulder and felt her relax under her hand. She still put all of her trust in the warrior princess. Xena swallowed slightly. She didn't deserve that anymore. Xena reached out and knocked on the door. It opened almost instantly. The man behind in peered out at them in the rain then stepped aside to gesture them in. Xena bowed deeply and Gabrielle followed her example and then they made their way inside.
"Welcome to our monastery. You are welcome to any hospitality we have to offer."
"I've come to ask a boon of whoever is in charge here." Xena kept her head slightly bowed.
"That is me. Come, we can speak in private. Brother." Another monk appeared from nowhere. "Brother, please escort this young women to the table and give her something warm to eat and drink. We will join you shortly." The man gestured for Gabrielle to follow him. She looked back over at Xena who smiled reassuringly and nodded her head for Gabrielle to go. Still looking apprehensive Gabrielle left the room. The other monk gestured for Xena to follow him through a door on the opposite wall.
The room was filled with scrolls and books. Looking over them she saw the covers bore letters from all different areas across the known world. She saw the monk kneeling by a low table and joined him on the other side.
"What is it that you would like to discuss?"
"Do you remember the great Lao Ma and the wisdom with which she ruled?"
"Yes. All of us here study the teachings of Lao Ma. Her Way is the Way we wish to follow. We live lives according to her example."
Feeling reassured she pulled the book from beneath the sack that she was wearing. "This book is full of the writings of Lao Ma. She compiled all of her wisdom to be saved through the ages. My life is dangerous and I cannot protect this book as well as I should. I would like to leave it in your care so that her knowledge can be preserved for future generations."
She slid the book across the table. The monk ran his finger over it. "You have given us a great gift. You are always welcome here."
"Thank you but we should head out; we have a long journey ahead of us."
"At least stay with us through the night. The rain will last till morning and we have warm food and a dry place to sleep. It is not luxurious but you're welcome to anything that we have."
"Thank you." Xena bowed her head again and the monk did the same.
"Come, I'll bring you to dinner with your friend."
Xena followed him into the dining room. Gabrielle was sitting cross legged by the table sipping on a steaming cup. A steaming bowl sat untouched in front of her. She stalked up behind her and put her mouth right next to Gabrielle's ear.
"It's better warm you know."
Gabrielle jumped and Xena chuckled a little sitting down next to her. She pulled a bowl from the middle of a table and another cup of what she could now smell was mint tea.
"You don't need to be jumpy. This is a safe place with good people."
"Where did you go?" Gabrielle laid a hand on her knee and her head on Xena's shoulder. Xena could feel the exhaustion seeping through her bard.
"I'm leaving the book here. It wouldn't be safe with us. Half the time we travel without our gear and anything could have happened to it. Here it will be cared for by people who live by the same values."
"It was a good idea Xena." She sighed and sat back up. "So when are we leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning. We need something warm in our stomachs and a good night's sleep. It's too dark too. We try to make it down this hill in this kind of weather we're asking for something broken." Gabrielle nodded, her eyes dropping. "Eat though. It's good I promise."
Gabrielle slowly lifted her spoon to her mouth. Her eyes jumped open. "You're right. It is good." Xena nudged her with her shoulder and dug in herself. When they finished the silent brother appeared again and led them to a small room with two mats with a blanket folded at the top of each one. They looked at one another and both settled on to the same mat and were asleep within minutes.
It was nearly a month later when Xena pulled up the horse she had bought from the monks. Gabrielle held her tightly from behind. Before them was the narrow strip of water between Europe and Asia. Thrace was so close she could smell it. Her old stomping grounds where she had spent most of her life.
"Are we home Xena?"
"Just a ferry ride away."
"Thank the gods. I should write and ode the Hermes to praise him for delivering us safely home."
"That wasn't Hermes, it was us and this good old boy here." She patted the horse's neck and then threw her legs over and slipped from the saddle. She reached up and grabbed Gabrielle by the waist pulling her down and setting her gently on her feet. "We should let him go. Hopefully he'll find his way back to the good brothers."
Gabrielle helped unload all their supplies and Xena turned the horse around and gave him a light smack to send him on his way. They divided up the supplies and made their way to the ferry crossing. Almost as soon as their feet stepped off the boat Xena could sense something was wrong.
"Come on Gabrielle, hurry." She started sprinting. She could hear the sounds of horses and metal clashing against metal. The smell of smoke started faint but grew heavier as she got closer to the town just on the other side of the hill. She could now hear the wails and sobbing. At the crest of the hill she paused to look down and figure out a plan of attack but there was no need. The village had obviously been attacked, very recently but the raiders were gone. Xena must have just missed them.
She ran down the hill into the village and looked around for injured people. She started barking orders and everyone jumped to obey. Thankfully she still had that air of authority over her. Gabrielle caught up and Xena yelled for her to find a hut they could treat the wounded while meanwhile she jumped into the fire brigade to put out a nearby barn.
After a few hours everything was under control. The fires were out and Xena and Gabrielle had treated all of the wounded that could be saved. Gabrielle was washing her hand in a basin when a group of the villagers approached still holding their weapon. Xena stood up from setting a broken leg and took a step back.
"We just wanted to thank you. Melkor took us completely by surprise. His men hit so fast and were gone before we had a chance to form up. He barely even looted it seemed like he just wanted to slaughter."
"Do you have a horse you can sell us?" Xena was seriously regretting letting the gelding go. "I'll catch up to him and make sure he doesn't do this to anyone else."
"Are you kidding! For what you've done for us you can have the horse." Xena nodded gratefully and jumped up onto the stallion that the villagers had brought up. She jumped up only pausing to pull Gabrielle behind her before taking off.
"Those bastards have half a day's lead on us."
"We'll get them Xena, we always do. Besides you did more good saving those people in the healing hut than going after them right away. Those villagers still have each other and their home because of you."
"Yea and some other village might not be so lucky as long as this Melkor is out there."
"Are you saying you should have left them to die?" Gabrielle sounded horrified.
"No. I'm just mad we didn't get there in time to stop them before they attacked those people."
"I need to travel faster. Then next good size town with its own militia I'm going to drive you off and try to catch up to them." She paused pulling up the horse.
"What is it."
"Shush Gabrielle." Xena's ears straining trying to hear the soft sound again. With a smirk she pulled her whip from the saddle and shot out into the branches over their head and pulled someone out of the tree. He fell in a heap on the ground before Xena. She jumped off the horse and quickly put the pinch in the man.
"Who's man are you?"
He struggled for a moment trying to pull his armour from his neck attempting to clear his airway.
"In case you haven't figured it out I've cut off the flow of blood to your brain. Thirty seconds and you'll be dead so talk."
"I rode with Melkor. He told me to cover our escape."
Xena released the pinch but before the man could come to his senses she tied his hand behind his back.
"Well you're not doing a very good job are you? Now which way did Melkor go?"
"If I tell you he'll kill me."
"What makes you think I won't?"
"I'm defenceless. I've heard you turned over a new leaf. Fighting for good and justice. You wouldn't kill a man in cold blood."
Xena growled. "I may not kill you but that doesn't mean I'll be nice. Gabrielle, down the road about a league is a good size town. Go wait for me at the inn. I'm going to take this man to jail and we'll work on getting him to talk."
"You think jail is going to do anything?"
Xena walked up to the horse and motioned for Gabrielle to lean down. "If it's the same Melkor that I think it is, his army laid waste to another warlord Lidmuth's army. The remains of which are locked up at the jail just down the road. The threat of sharing a cell with those monsters will have him quaking."
Gabrielle nodded. "I'll see you in the next town." She glanced over at the raider trying to untie the knots behind his back. Satisfied he wasn't looking she gave Xena a quick kiss and kicked the horse in the direction of town.
Xena watched her go a bit and then turned back around. "Alright you bastard. Time to send you where you belong." She kicked him on the ass and they started off.