A week later and things were looking good for Gabrielle. The bard was now stronger than she had ever been before. Her body was like it had been only four months ago. Her mind was now sharp and focused as well. It truly felt like she was her old self. There was one major thing that was missing and would keep her from being whole until it returned. The petite blond smiled at the thought now certain that was going to happen and within the week.
It was not anything she had been told. In fact, Aphrodite had been conspicuously absent for the last week. Eve had been by her side almost the entire time, though she knew some of her followers were battling against this unknown master. It was something that Gabrielle had not forgotten about but with all her emotional and physical upheavals she had put it to the deepest recesses of her mind. So why was she feeling like things would turn out the way she wanted and so soon?
The Battling Bard from Potadeia was sitting at her desk, a blank parchment in front of her. Once again she closed her eyes and just let whatever was in her mind fill the emptiness that was before her. It warmed her heart to think about it in this way. Her heart was almost as whole as her body was and it felt good just to let it, along with her mind, drift and wander. A smile was both on her face and in her heart. It was almost, almost like…
Gabrielle opened her eyes to look at what her unconscious mind had written or drawn. She had been doing this for the past week and it varied on what the results were. Her green eyes blinked a couple of times when she realized what it was that she had drawn. It was a slightly older version of herself and of Xena. They were sitting around a campfire, Argo off in the distance. It was almost the exact scene that unfolded every night as they traveled around the known world.
But there was one very significant difference that the bard never would have thought possible. They had, she thought, only one chance at that happening. It had happened when things had come full circle with Callisto. That was in the past. This was the present. How, with most of the Gods gone, could something like that happen? Now she was wondering if what she had drawn was something that was going to happen or if it was simply something that she had unknowingly dreamed about.
At that moment there was a knock on the door. Instead of putting the drawing away, Gabrielle leaned back in the chair she was sitting in trying to decide the exact origins of the image before her. "Come in." She had known from the soft knock that it was her daughter. In a way she was welcoming the slightly younger woman's presence now. As much of a warrior as Eve was, she also had this enlightenment about her. The bard wasn't sure if that was because of her origins or because she was Eli's messenger.
Green eyes looked up at a tray containing a steaming bowl of something along with bread, cheese and apple slices as it was sat down in the small space left on the desk. Those same once haunted eyes looked up to see the blue ones that, instead of haunting, her were a happy reminder of the woman that she loved more than anything that ever existed or would exist. The realization of just how far she had come in such a short time hit her once again.
The blue eyes were looking at the picture that was before the bard. A hand absently was on the shoulder of the petite blond. Once again there was no flinching and it was a testament to just how far that Gabrielle had come in just a little over a month's time. Before it would have been her instinct to shrug the contact off but something had changed inside of the bard. Getting to spend even just one night wrapped up in her soulmate's arms was what was good for the soul.
"Is that…?" Eve looked up into green eyes that had a tad bit of mischievousness in them. Instead of answering, Gabrielle reached over and took a couple slices of bread and some cheese and made a sandwich. Contentedly she took a bite truly enjoying the simple flavors of the tastes of home. While it would be easier to eat the local cuisine, most of the people that were here following the messenger preferred these kinds of meals. "Did you draw this?"
Gabrielle nodded. She glanced at the wall that was behind her bed. It was now covered with pictures that she had drawn. The first one of Xena was of course still in its honored position of being right next to her head as she slept. There were drawings of the couple together throughout their travels, not just as they would appear now. One of the bard's favorites was one that had Eve as a little girl and all three of them snuggled around a campfire. In fact, it looked a lot like the one that she had most recently drawn.
Eve made her way to where the extra chair was and took a hold of it to pull it over so that she could sit next to her mom. "Have you…" It was difficult sometimes for the slightly younger woman to ask questions of the woman. It was not because Gabrielle would ever hold anything against her. To the messenger sometimes the questions could feel invasive and the last thing she wanted to do was to intrude in any way on her mom. "I don't remember you drawing before."
The bard reached over and took the steaming bowl of some kind of stew. It smelled wonderful. In fact, it reminded her of something that she used to make for Xena. After a bite she knew for a fact that it was her recipe. Only a couple of times had she made it for her daughter and was touched that she had remembered how to make it. "I always have had images going through my head. It used to be easier to describe them in words. But lately…"
The petite blond trailed off. It was hard to explain. At one time she would draw little images on the edges of her stories. But they had never turned out that well. They were better than stick figures but they were not the quality of an artist so she had given up on that part of herself and instead concentrated on what seemed to come naturally to her. And the best part was how Xena even appreciated her stories though at first she claimed to be annoyed by them.
The messenger put a hand on her mom's arm garnering her full attention. The blue eyes sparkled at the woman that she knew had given her life as much as her mother had. She had definitely done everything in her power to protect her. If only the Gods, especially Ares, had just left them alone, there never would have been the 'bitch of Rome'. But then things seemed to work out the way that they were supposed. It was something that Eve had learned a long time ago.
The dark haired woman squeezed her mom's arm with a great deal of affection. The loss of her mother had been difficult for her. More difficult than she could have ever dreamed of after having been denied something for so long it seemed natural not to have it affect her so. And yet, there had been a loss that words could not begin to express. Seeing her mom like this she realized she too was having trouble expressing herself. "When was the last time you had attempted to draw?"
Gabrielle took another bite of her stew that was almost gone already. In fact, she picked up the last remaining piece of bread and soaked up the rest of the juices savoring the flavor. It felt good to actually taste her food and actually enjoy the sensation of a full stomach. After swallowing and taking a swallow of water she turned toward her daughter. "It seemed like I never even had much time to write or draw after we found out your mother was pregnant with you. We were always on the move but after the Gods found out about the Twilight…"
The blue eyed woman squeezed her arm gently. She understood completely. Well maybe not completely but she could understand how it would feel to have to be constantly on guard over your child. That was something that had eluded the young woman and she had not given up hope on one day having a child. But for now she was content in continuing the message of Eli. "You were too busy protecting me. And even after you found me again, your lives were never at a standstill. Yet you kept up your writing."
The bard nodded. That was something that she had vowed to herself that she would never give up especially when she found herself drifting more toward the ways of a warrior than the way of peace. Being a bard kept her grounded in her roots. It was the one thing in the beginning of her travels with Xena that had seemed to make her useful besides of course that she was a far better cook than her traveling companion. Even if the writing only consisted of a poem here and there, it was still enough to keep the words flowing in her mind.
"Writing in some ways is like breathing to me." Gabrielle put her free hand upon her daughter's and gave it a squeeze. "I could always put into words how I was feeling. Before I was ever able to express just how much I love your mother, I wrote poems about her. I kept them hidden terrified that she would find them. Terrified that she wouldn't find them." They both chuckled softly at that. "Since being here in Egypt, I haven't written much I know. But the words are still here." She pointed first to her head and to her heart. "When I closed that part of myself off it was like I was suffocating which is how I feel since your mother is not here with me."
Eve blinked several times. Her mom really had a way with words and always had. It was amazing that this part of her had somehow also become ingrained in the messenger. When she spoke, it was from her heart. But it was also as if images formed in her head that she just had to express. While not a bard in the sense that she wrote her words down, she was still a bard as she was a storyteller just as much as Gabrielle was. "You definitely haven't lost your way with words."
Gabrielle shrugged. The bard had never been one to take compliments very well. Even if it was Xena that was the one that was giving her the compliments, she had trouble accepting them. And she knew when they came from her Warrior Princess that they were truer beyond words. The leather clad woman only spoke the truth to her bard. "No, I haven't lost the words or how to express them. It was something I regrettably blocked because of the deep emotional pain. As for the drawings, I just hadn't taken the time to try."
"Until now…" Gabrielle absently nodded at her daughter in answer. Her mind was suddenly with her Warrior Princess. Eve however was fully invested in looking at the very descriptive portrait that was sitting on the desk in front of her mother. A tinge of jealousy ran through her entire body at the thought of what it represented. It was silly because it was just something from the imagination of the bard. However there was a part of the messenger that wondered if her mom hadn't a hint of oracle in her.
After all it was the messenger that had been able to sense the things that happened in Amphipolis even before anyone else could. It was her that was able to see things that others seemed to miss. Not only was she a messenger, she was in a sort of a way an oracle. And that was a humbling thing to be. But never had there been an indication of that, had there? Eve was mulling over the stories that she had heard and one stuck out in her mind but she could not be sure as it was not one that her mom liked to relate. "Mom?" She waited until the bard was looking at her. "Have you ever had a vision before?"
Gabrielle stiffened just a little at the question wondering what it was that her daughter was attempting to prove. By no means was the petite blond anything other than a bard, a warrior and a lover. She had a story in her heart, a taste for the greater good and a taste for a certain Warrior Princess. But there had been one time that she had a vision and had warned Xena about it. But that was a long time ago and had not had one since then.
"I don't think I ever told you this story…" Gabrielle trailed off trying to get her thoughts in order. It had been a long time since she had actually related a story. It had been even longer since it was one that was as personal as this one. While they had been grave danger many times, this was the one time that the bard had thought she was going to die. And Xena had been feeling so guilty that it was the most powerful time in their lives. Even more powerful than when they put aside their differences through singing and learned to love again.
"We came across a soldier that I thought was a Spartan." Gabrielle smiled at the thought of how instantly Xena had known that he was not a warrior, at least not fighting for who he said he was. "Of course your mother knew right away that he was not one. She figured he was a Persian, one of the elite armies in the known world. They were invading Greece and that left it to us to warn Athens and as many villages in between."
Gabrielle got this far away look on her face. "I of course did my usual. I had sprained my ankle attempting to be like your mother. In the end I took an arrow, one that had poison upon it." Eve got a thoughtful but not fearful expression on her face. "We made it to the next village in hopes that they would have the cure. By the time we got there, the village was abandoned and all the medicine was gone. We had a choice. We stay and fight and keep them from attacking anyone else or go on to the next village to save me from the poison."
Eve had a huge smile upon her face. "I don't even have to wait for you to tell me how mother felt about that." The bard laughed softly. "I know how I would have reacted." The messenger shrugged. "I was wondering where that small scar came from. Its just above your new arrow wound." Gabrielle looked at the still angry looking red mark on her shoulder. "I bet it took a lot to convince Mother not to keep looking for the cure. I bet she wanted to forget about the greater good."
A sigh escaped the petite blond, the conversation of such a long time ago running through her mind. It had not been easy to convince Xena to stay. It had been even harder for her to be convinced that Gabrielle had accepted death. It was part of the life that they led. And it wasn't long after that, that the bard sacrificed herself for Xena. And then they were both on the cross. And then Japa… "Too much death." The words were but a whisper from the suddenly very sad woman.
Eve could not help herself. She slowly stood and knelt before her mother. Gabrielle was the one that pulled the slightly younger woman into a hug. It felt wonderful just to hold her daughter. This was the one thing that she truly had left of Xena at the moment and the bard was now kicking herself for ever attempting to push her away. The petite blond pulled back and wiped her eyes carefully. "Anyways, we were trapped in this barn. Your mother prepared a bunch of traps hiding me out in the hayloft. The night before the attack I had a dream that Xena was killed. I warned her."
The bard took several breaths and swallowed before she continued. "Then it was happening for real. There was the man standing there. For a split second I truly thought that your mother was going to be killed. But in true Xena style she fought an entire army and she defeated them all." A smug smile was now on the petite blond's face. "As they were running for the hills, their tails between their legs, your mother shouted to them that there were thousands like her. We all know that there is only one Xena."
The messenger took her mom's hand in her own. She waited until the emerald eyes were looking into her sapphire eyes. "I admit that in some ways mother is one of a kind. But she has taught you so much that I truly think that she lives on. And before you say it, I know I'm a part of her so yes a part of her lives on for that reason too." Eve indicated the drawing once again. "Mom, I think you do have visions when you truly need them. I think you and Mother have something to aim for other than simply reuniting."
Green eyes blinked several times then turned to look at the drawing. She never heard the footsteps or the door as it opened and closed. All she could see was the purplish-blue lines upon the parchment, lines that somehow formed the image of the perfect family. Seated around the campfire with Argo in the distance were Xena, Gabrielle and a little boy. Carefully the bard reached out and traced the lines on the parchment. "Xena, I think we are both fighting for more than we thought we were. Be safe, my love!"
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Xena felt alive! She had never felt more alive. The last time that she had felt this good was the first time that she had come back from the dead. The first time when it had taken a lot of help from Autolycus and the faith of a certain little bard. Of course she had felt tired the first few hours after being resurrected but then everything had tasted better. Everything had smelled better. The love that she had felt for the Amazon queen had never been more intense.
The warrior princess let out her battle cry just wanting to shout it from the hills that she was alive once again. Of course she was feeling a bit confused as well. She was certain that the Goddess of Love had said that there was still one more test that she would have to face before she was alive. And part of her figured that something was not as it seemed. But for now she was going to take advantage of how she was feeling and track down the long lost soulmate of hers.
The raven haired woman whistled experimentally. When Argo II came out of the woods, she knew that something wasn't right. Not because the horse would not respond to her commands just as well as her mother but because she knew that the mare would be with her other mommy in Egypt and she was far from the foreign land. In fact she knew that she was just on the outside of Potadeia not too far from where she had first saw Gabrielle.
The powers that had brought her back could have also given her the horse but something was telling her that this was not real. Not sure exactly why, but something just wasn't feeling right. Still she felt too good at the moment to dwell on the why she was here and would rather concentrate on where Gabrielle was. Then there would be the question of how to get to her for there was nothing in the known world that would ever stand between her and the bard. No one.
Xena smiled as she got herself situated on the saddle. The warrior smiled for several different reasons. One was because of the fact that Ares better watch his Godly butt if he knew what was good for him. The only thing keeping her from kicking his butt all over the place was the fact that he had once sacrificed his Godhood for both her soulmate and their daughter. Had he not done that, he would be in deep trouble as she kept remembering all the pain he had put her through over the years.
The feelings she had in the saddle made her think about things. The first time that she had reached down and Gabrielle had ridden behind her. Even then, she could feel the strong physical attraction to the young woman. That attraction was soon to be dwarfed by just how much her emotions had grown for the woman not that it wasn't love at first sight. But it was almost like there had been a spark ignited with that first look and the flame grew over time until she could no longer stand to be without the bard otherwise it would consume her. Gabrielle was the spark that ignited her very soul and without her it was just so very dark.
The smooth gait of Argo beneath her almost made things feel like they had never changed. That she had never been stupid enough to stop Gabrielle from placing her ashes into the mystical water. It felt like she was just a little ways from either a place they had camped for the night or was checking out the surrounding area of a village that they were staying in. It was suddenly difficult as it felt like her bard was waiting somewhere near for her.
That was when the warrior heard the noises. It was a familiar noise of a battle and without even thinking about it, she was off like a shot. Argo seemed to like the full out run that her master was wanting. They had always had a very good relationship, almost as good as the mare's mother and the warrior. Both rider and horse were a touch wild and it made for a good partnership. It was something that the mare's mother had passed down to her as much as this wildness had been passed down to Xena.
But by whom? That was always the question that many asked. While her parentage was supposedly set as her father that had run off, there was a small few that believed that Xena's true father was Ares. To the Warrior Princess it wasn't a factor of who her father truly was. If people had really gotten to know her mother they would know where she had gotten that streak from. It was just that the woman had learned to temper it so much better than her daughter.
Xena could see the smoke billowing and knew in an instant that there was a village under siege. She cursed softly to herself as she pulled up Argo. The horse was breathing heavily and it was clear that she needed a rest. It gave the Warrior Princess a moment to think what she was going to do. It used to be a no brainer that she would run head first into a battle. But now there was something out there that she needed more than the bloodlust that was her reward for fighting.
The only reason that she was to proceed on to the fight was if there was a chance that Gabrielle was there. But what if she wasn't and she got sucked into the battle? Xena thought about that and decided that she would have to do one of her stealthier moves for if her bard was not there she would move on. While not helping defenseless people went against what she and her soulmate had been fighting for for so long this time it was different.
Xena got as close as she dared without anyone getting even a hint that she was around. She let Argo go with the knowledge that of course the mare would be at her beckon call. The warrior climbed the first tree that she came to and listened. The sounds of battle were around her but it was not a full out battle. It was either like the fighting was just beginning or just ending. As she scanned the field around her, there were no signs of wounded so it meant the battle was just beginning.
Easily the tall warrior made her way from branch to branch until she was over the army encampment. She could hear commands and knew that they were a group of three warlords commanding the army. Her blue eyes scanned the tents and the soldiers. There were no distinguishing signs. Xena decided that she had found out all the information that she could find here and carefully moved away from the camp and made her way to the village.
There were already some injured thanks to the fires that the soldiers had set. There were many people scattered around but few looked like they could handle a sword. Part of her truly wanted to stay and help but once again she vowed that if Gabrielle was not here, she was going to move on and keep searching. There was talk of a stranger with blond hair and Xena made her way to where it seemed the person was. It was a man and not a woman. Her heart sunk just a little as she realized that part of her had wanted her soulmate to be there so that they could fight side by side once again and yet would not want to risk either of their lives.
Once again the warrior made her way out of the village, having scoured most of the huts and listening to the harried conversations. She was convinced that Gabrielle was nowhere around. Besides, in her heart she felt that she would be able to sense her soulmate as much as she would see her. So it was with a somewhat heavy heart that Xena whistled for Argo. It was not long before the warrior was off in a direction that she had no idea why she was going that way.
The warrior felt as if she had been riding all day. The sun was just starting to meet the horizon. As much as she wanted to continue to search for her soulmate, she knew that she would have to camp soon. After all, she would do Gabrielle no good if she allowed herself to become rundown if she were to forget to eat and didn't take the time to rest. A scream caught her ears and once again she had Argo at a full out run.
The dimness of light was affecting even the better than average eyesight of the Warrior Princess causing her slight difficulty making out more than just outlines. Once again Xena was pulling up Argo and making her way into the bushes so that she could try and see what was going on without being noticed. What the raven haired woman saw just about made her lose the vow to not interfere until she knew her soulmate was near. There were approximately thirty women in cages. Some of them appeared to be wearing Amazon leathers. Some seemed to be wearing just simple village garb.
Xena scanned the women wondering if she should be hoping to see Gabrielle or not. If she was there, it would probably be fairly easy to free all of the women. That was before she realized that there were at least fifty men there. These were no ordinary men. These were the kind of men that were ruthless slave traders. Carefully she listened and heard a familiar voice. It was not the voice of her soulmate but the voice of her soulmate's sister.
The Warrior Princess sighed heavily as she made her way as close as she dared with that many men around and not be seen. There were also many traps that she could see easily from her vantage point. Once again she was cursing the fact that she could most likely so easily save all of these women including Lila. A part of her heart actually broke as she made her decision. Once again, no bard then there would be no rescue. The only thing that mattered was finding her Gabrielle.
It was another hour later and Xena found herself camping alone. Lying on a bedroll that she had no idea how she had gotten, she glanced up at the stars. It was one of those clear nights but it was still warm and the fire was more for cooking than anything else. The clarity of the twinkling lights up above made her think of the same sparkling that she could see in the green eyes of the woman that she loved. The 'what do you see' game ran through her mind. It was a favorite pastime of her and her soulmate.
Suddenly her world was turned upside down almost literally. Standing before her in the broad daylight were four familiar figures. Xena was quick to stand and to draw her sword and have her hand on her chakrum. Of course seeing who they were she quickly put her weapon away and her hands by her side. She knew that if they wanted to do her harm, anyone of them could use their Godly powers and she would be defenseless. Her blue eyes scanned each one trying to see if she could read their faces. There was nothing.
Aphrodite was the first to step forward. She came within the warrior's personal space so that she could whisper. "What do you think you are doing?" Xena raised an eyebrow looking at the Goddess as if she had gone insane. "You had two groups of people that were in trouble." Though there was not a whole lot of room between the two, the pink clad God took another step forward. "Lila was in that last group or didn't you realize that?"
Xena crossed her arms over her armored covered chest. She glanced over at Ares who was trying not to look at her. The Egyptian Goddesses however were staring at her so intently she thought that they were going to bore holes through her. Even after fighting the Gods during The Twilight, it was a little unsettling. The warrior princess forced her attention back to Aphrodite. "I knew she was there. And don't think I don't feel horrible for leaving her and the rest of the women at the mercy of those men. But…"
Now it was time for Aphrodite to put her arms across her chest. Though she at times acted very silly, superficial and her little schemes usually back fired on her, Xena knew that she was actually quite intelligent and powerful and a friend to her bard. She was even more powerful than Ares anymore as it seemed that fighting was not as rampant as it used to be but love always seemed to be. "But what, Warrior Babe?" A small foot was tapping along with the arms crossed. If she was not half naked and dressed in pink lace she might just be a little intimidating. "Since when have you not fought for the greater good?"
Now Xena growled low in her throat. This was how the whole thing had started as far as she was concerned. The greater good had been what she thought she was doing all those months ago when she made sure that Gabrielle didn't put her ashes in the mystical water. During the time of her redemption, that was all she was thinking about. There were only a couple of times that she pushed the greater good aside to be selfish or at least some would say she was.
But what had the greater good gotten her? A place in the Elysian Fields without her soulmate along with her soulmate so hurt that she had been killing herself slowly. The greater good still was important. The warrior would be the last one to argue against it. But in the time that she had known Gabrielle there were times when the greater good just took too much to enforce. "To answer your question, since the greater good took me away from my soulmate." Not being able to take it anymore, she began to glare at the two Egyptian Goddesses. "You have a problem with that?"