These Pieces 6

I find myself very near the Roman encampment; I can smell the smoke of their fires drifting in the air.

'You know you shouldn't do this.' Ares. He's been gone quite a while.

'I thought this was your thing.'

'War yes, dying for nothing….' He appears beside me, a look of concern on his face. 'Raise an army, fight him and win. This won't accomplish anything.'

'Huh, and why do you care?'

'Because I love you.' He grabs my arms, looking into my eyes with such intensity.

'You just want me to come back and fight for you.'

'Well duh.' He smirks at me as I break free from his grasp. 'I'm warning you Xena, don't do this.'

'And what will you do, kill me?' Shrugging him off I turn away.

'Have it your way.' With a snap of his fingers, Ares is gone once again, leaving behind a stench. Ares just can't seem to keep his hands out of my life and it's really getting on my nerves.

I wait for nightfall and the changing of the guards before creeping into the Roman camp. It's too easy for me to sneak within the shadows. I slip into the back of his tent, a dagger gripped tightly in my fist. Caesar stands with his back to me, leaning forward against a table as he studies maps. I remain crouched down; there's something wrong with this.

'Xena, Xena, Xena.' His head shakes at me condescendingly as he turns. 'I thought you were better than this.' He looks down at me with a smirk. 'You are so easy to break these days. You aren't the same fierce opponent I used to know and love.'

Roman guards pour in from the front of the tent, surrounding me with their spears pointed at my head. The muscles in my body coil, ready for me to spring. If I'm going to die, I'm taking everyone with me.

'Uh uh uh.' He shakes his finger at me, then gestures to someone behind him. Two guards come in, dragging Gabrielle between them. She's bruised and bloodied. Why didn't she listen?!

'You never loved me Caesar.' I spit up at him, hitting him in the eye. He reaches up, wiping away the spittle in disgust.

'Maybe not, but you never used to have a weakness like this.' He grabs Gabrielle by the back of her head, yanking it hard backward. A small groan escapes her bloodied lips, though she's barely conscious. 'Someone delivered this little gift to me this morning.'

A part of me feels like I'm sleepwalking through a nightmare I can't wake up from. But then again I don't really want to wake up, not anymore. His men roughly tie my wrists and ankles with rope. I consider fighting, but now is not the time; I'll only get Gabrielle killed.

'I may not be the one to kill you, but you will die.' I growl at him, fighting against the thick ropes that restrain me.

'Tisk tisk.' He crouches down in front of me, but careful to stay a safe distance from me. His head cocks to one side as he gives me a look of mock concern. 'You are the only one who will be dying.' He turns his head, looking back at Gabrielle. 'I'd keep your little girlfriend but I'm sure you've spoiled her.' He looks back at me, a smile spreading quickly across his face. 'I'll be kind enough to let you die together.' He stands, jerking his head at the General that stands next to him.

I'm yanked across the earth, my vision momentarily obscured by the legs and weapons of Roman soldiers. I finally manage to see Gabrielle again; her limp body is being dragged just as roughly as mine. They throw us in a small tent surrounded heavily by guards. It takes me seconds to inch my way over to Gabrielle's unconscious form. They've only tied her wrist, not seeing much of a threat in her.

'Gabrielle?' I wanna scream, but I manage to keep my voice just above a whisper. I sit up against the center pole of the tent, pulling Gabrielle onto my lap. All of the blood that stains her seems to be dried; I can't even imagine what happened to her but I know Ares did this.

'Xena.' Her voice comes out as a croak.

'Shhhhhh.' The rage in me dies suddenly, I only feel grief, sorrow, and most of all guilt. All of my actions over the years have brought us to this moment.

'I'm sorry.' She croaks again. What can she possibly be sorry for?

'I'm the one who's sorry.' Tears begin to fall from my eyes as I kiss her forehead.

'No it's my fault….it's all my fault.'

'Gabrielle… I love you more than anything on earth. I've always known that but I've always been too stubborn to accept it.' I sweep her bangs behind her ears as I let my tears and feelings flow freely for once. 'I'm sorry I blamed you for his death.' We can't die, not like this.

'I can take you away from this.' Ares appears, crouched in front of us.

'You're willing to save Gabrielle?'

'I don't want to, but I will. You just have to say the word.' He gives me that smile that tells me there's a huge catch.

'And what word is that?' I try to wipe my tears that have fallen onto her face, smearing blood across her skin.

'That you'll be mine.' He narrows his eyes at me.

'I hope for your sake that I die.' The threat is simple, and it answers his question. Ares stands, looking at me in disgust.

'I'll never know what you see in her.' Once again he's gone and we are left to our fate. I hold her as closely to me as I can manage, watching as she drifts in and out of consciousness. Where is my rage now? Where is the lust to kill everything in my path; the self-righteous indignation?

The night passes in silence, but with the rising of the sun comes the sound of hammer against wood. The Romans are preparing our crosses. This is not how I imagined my last moments with Gabrielle to be. She's not supposed to die; she's not supposed to be paying for my sins.

Holding her close, all I can do is whisper in her ear. My heart and my soul belong to this smaller woman, I only wish I held her heart as delicately as she has held mine.

The End

TBC