Gabrielle was frozen looking at the sword descending. Her thoughts were filled with the regrets she never held her child and hadn't reconciled with Xena before she died. But the sword didn't pierce her soft flesh. Instead Derinoe's face was twisted in a grimace of pain and surprise. The former Amazon fell forward and Gabrielle scrambled away from the falling woman's dead body. Gabrielle looked at her, and saw embedded in her back was the chakram. She immediately looked across and saw Xena running towards her.
Xena reached Gabrielle before she could get up. Xena pulled her up and straight into her arms.
"I love you. I'm so sorry," whispered Xena.
"Me too." Replied Gabrielle.
They broke apart. "I don't suppose you'd go to Piri's? "
"No," said Gabrielle. She was the queen of the amazons and she would lead them.
"Right then," said Xena and entered the fray. If the bard insisted in joining in, she would ensure this fight was finished as quickly as possible. There would be no prisoners, Xena decided, as after three parries with her sword she ran through a rogue Amazon. She pulled her sword out. These women would kill their former sisters and trust a bitch like Alti. They got what they deserved. She moved to where Gabrielle and Aella were fighting Marpe. Aella had slashed the renegade but she was still fighting.
"Surrender," said Gabrielle exasperated. "You are losing. Alti won't help you."
"I'd rather die," said Marpe, and lunged at Gabrielle with her sword. Gabrielle got her staff in time to parry it, and pushed Marpe back. She took a run at Gabrielle, but Aella stepped in front with an out stretched sword and Marpe sunk to her knees, dead before she hit the ground.
Xena parried with her sword, and her opponent aimed a wild kick at her leg. Xena stepped back ensuring her opponent was slightly off balance, and before she could right herself, Xena had reached down to her calf and thrown a dagger into the traitor Amazon's throat. She fell to her knees, ineffectively grabbing at the dagger, as blood poured out of the wound. Xena looked at her dispassionately and thrust her sword in the woman's stomach.
"Go to Piri," said Xena, exasperatedly. She could see the bard was becoming clumsy as she was tiring. She also knew that Gabrielle was a prime target for the traitors.
"No," whispered Gabrielle. "Follow me."
Aella and Xena exchanged a frustrated look and covered Gabrielle as she made her way across the village centre. The fighting was thinning out. The tribe was obviously winning. Gabrielle stopped near a fight. "AIDA" she shouted. "Surrender. You've lost most of your army. It's hopeless."
The red haired Amazon spun and looked at Gabrielle blankly. She looked around at the fighting and realised that the situation was indeed desperate. She nodded.
"AMAZONS SURRENDER." she screamed and threw down her sword.
There was a brief lull. "STOP FIGHTING!" shouted Gabrielle, and the traitors threw down their weapons.
Gabrielle breathed a sigh of relief and leant against Xena who wrapped her arms around her in support.
"Amazons, gather the weapons of these women," said Ephiny who had made her way next to Gabrielle. "Take the wounded to Piri and our enemies-"she looked bitterly at Aida, "to the jails."
There was flurry of activity as women were either led or helped away by stern looking amazons.
Xena started to walk towards their hut pushing a reluctant Gabrielle. "Xena, I have to-"
"No you don't. Ephiny can deal with it for a few minutes. You can just sit down and have a rest." The fight went out of the bard and she allowed herself to be frog marched to their hut. As soon as they were inside and the door closed, Xena enveloped her in a huge hug.
"I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have left you. When I realised what a fool I'd been I headed back."
"Xena it was my fault. I should have told you. It was your right, I just didn't know how. I came close so many times." Gabrielle buried her head on the warrior's broad shoulder.
"SSShhh, lets not worry about that now," said Xena gently. "The main thing is that you are safe." She shut her eyes and remembered how close Derinoe came to killing the bard.
"We're safe," mumbled Gabrielle. Xena broke away from their embrace and led Gabrielle to the bed.
"Xena, I need to go and see Ephiny. And Piri needs some help."
"I know. In a moment. Have a drink first at least." Xena went over to the shelves and prepared Gabrielle a drink. She brought it to the bard and sat on the edge of the bed. Gabrielle gulped the drink down quickly, and within moments was finding her eye lids becoming very heavy. Xena eased her into a lying position and covered her up. "Sleep well," said Xena and kissed her forehead and left the hut.
Gabrielle opened her eyes slowly. The light was streaming into the hut. She felt her hand being squeezed and turned to look at Xena sitting on the side of the bed.
"Hey," the warrior said and bent low and placed a gentle kiss on the bard's lips.
"You spiked my drink," said Gabrielle. She pushed herself up the bed. "Xena, I should have been there, to help Ephiny and Piri, and the funerals-"
"Gabrielle, everything is taken care of. You've only been asleep for a few hours. And you needed it. I helped Piri; her and Clonie have everything under control. So has Ephiny. There is a council meeting tomorrow. And as for the funerals, they'll be later tonight."
"How many?" whispered Gabrielle?
Xena squeezed her hand gently again. "Five. Kelsa, Pisto, Sycleia, Clete and Hipp." Xena reeled off the names before Gabrielle could ask. The bard looked down and blinked away the tears.
"And there were thirteen from the other side. Piri doesn't think Doris will make it either."
"What a waste." Gabrielle's voice broke.
Xena let go of Gabrielle's hand and wrapped her arms around her and pulled her closer. They remained like that for several moments. Xena pulled away first and framed Gabrielle's face with her hands. "I'm just relieved you are safe, Bri," said Xena gently. "If anything had happened to you, I couldn't have gone on. Especially at how we left it."
"Xena I'm sorry. I should have told you. I couldn't find the right time, once Alti arrived." Gabrielle stopped and looked stricken. "Alti? Do we know where she is?"
Xena shook her head. "No. She obviously engineered it. Epinon and Aella are questioning the Northern Amazons as well as Teles and co. Alti's probably disappeared back into a hole, ready for her next scheme." Xena got up and waited for Gabrielle to get out of bed. They walked to the table which had bread, cheese, meat and plates laid out on it. Gabrielle looked suspiciously at the jug of apple juice.
Xena gave her a lopsided smile and poured two cups of juice and drank one. They both sat down and started to eat.
"I'm sorry too. I should never have reacted like that. Xena looked away. "It wasn't you I was mad at. It was me and my family."
Gabrielle snorted. "Why you? It's not your fault, you have god's blood? You can't choose your own parents." She looked down briefly at her bump, a glance that Xena missed.
"What if I'm Ares' child? I find his call so hard to resist at times," Xena said in an anguished tone. "How can you love a child of Ares?" She sobbed.
Gabrielle got off her chair and slowly knelt down in front of Xena. "Oh Xena. I love you. No matter what your heritage is. You're still the same person, I fell in love with."
Gabrielle rubbed Xena's legs. "Whatever your birthright, it doesn't matter. And if you are Ares daughter, the fact you can resist his call, shows me how strong and determined you are."
Xena wiped her streaming eyes and gave a weak smile. "I shouldn't have taken it out on you. I was angry, frightened." The last word was whispered so low that Gabrielle barely heard it.
Gabrielle laid her hands on Xena's arms. "It's in the past, now. Let's put it behind us." Xena opened her mouth to speak. "I meant the argument. We both have regrets, we both feel at fault. But we can find out about your heritage. Maybe Hercules could find out something, or your Mother or Aphr-"
"At present I don't care. I just want to spend some time with you." Xena lowered her head and they kissed passionately. When they broke away they rested their foreheads together.
"We'd better go. I want to see Piri and the wounded, and Ephiny. Xena-"Gabrielle smiled, "I think I may need some help up."
Xena smiled indulgently and cupped Gabrielle's face with her hand.
Xena pulled her up, and Gabrielle lost her smile. "So many deaths, needless deaths."
"But the Amazon nation is secure Gabrielle. They fought for you. Don't forget that."
"I know. I know."
The smoke trailed high in the star lit sky. There was a respectful silence as the archers lit each pyre. The five dead from the village were each afforded a separate pyre but the fourteen rogue amazons, Doris had indeed died, were not allowed that privilege. They were cremated in three large pyres. Despite Ephiny and Epinon's protestations Gabrielle had allowed their adversaries to be cremated on Amazon land. The regent had argued they hadn't deserved that honour.
Xena started to sing the traditional Amazon mourning song, accompanied by Ephiny. Gabrielle watched with tears running down her face. How many funerals had she been to? How many deaths had she witnessed? Xena was right the Amazon nation was secure but at a high cost.
As Xena and Ephiny finished their haunting melody the crowd broke away quietly.
Gabrielle watched with interest as Epinon and Solari walked back, arm in arm, to their hut.
Ephiny turned to Gabrielle and Xena. "There's nothing more to do now. Go to bed."
"What are you doing, Eph?" Asked Gabrielle.
"Going to bed! Piri has everything under control; you saw that. The prisoners are secure. The council meeting is scheduled for early tomorrow morning. There is really nothing more to be done."
"I don't feel I've contributed," said Gabrielle.
"Gabrielle!" said Xena surprised.
Ephiny snorted. "You stood up to them. You fought against them, even with junior in tow." Ephiny pointed at Gabrielle's bump. "You've contributed enough, my Queen."
"Don't be so formal," said Gabrielle and gave Ephiny a smile.
"Go to bed. And Gab, did you really say Derinoe was as stupid as she looked?"
Gabrielle smirked and nodded.
Ephiny shook her right hand three times. "Evil! I wish I'd seen that! See you in the morning."
"Good night Eph," said Xena and Gabrielle in unison.
Xena took Gabrielle's hand and dragged her back to their hut.
"Why Xena what do you have in mind?" asked Gabrielle and suggestively raised an eyebrow.
"This," said Xena and opened the door. In the middle of the hut was a steaming tub filled with bubbles. "This should ease your aches."
Gabrielle smiled, kissed Xena quickly on the lips and started to take her clothes off. Xena frowned when she saw the bruises on Gabrielle but said nothing as Gabrielle gingerly stepped in the bath. Within moments she had her eyes closed.
She opened them when she felt Xena get into the tub. Gabrielle moved so she was sitting across Xena's lap. Xena wrapped her arms around her. She gently stroked Gabrielle's bump.
"He or she's kicking," said the warrior lazily.
"Must like the water," murmured Gabrielle. "Thanks for this."
"My pleasure. It won't be easy the next few days. You know what you have to do?"
"Yes," said Gabrielle. "Uphold Amazon law."
"And that means executions. " Gabrielle opened her eyes and turned to look at Xena. "I know you don't want to."
"But I must," said Gabrielle, sighing. "That's my duty." There was a pause. "Hold me," said Gabrielle and started to sob.
Xena wrapped her arms around her even tighter and not saying a word, allowed the Queen of the Amazons to cry.