ETERNAL WAVES SHIFTING IN THE CANDLE LIGHT

It's so quite there's not a sound just a warm silence which is all encompassing and all around me like a blanket. Wait I'm dreaming I shouldn't be dreaming oh gods what's wrong with me? I came back to my room and I was reading androphonomania massacre scrolls again the ones about the children Gabrielle saved but I fell asleep. Xena eased out her hand watching as the darkness around her slowly faded away as the royal gardens appeared. She was standing at the far end of the gardens in her full armour, she looked up seeing that the sun above her was lighting up everything around her, she could see birds flying around her as well as hear them singing enjoying the morning light. There was a warm breeze moving through the trees she closed her eyes enjoying the sensation, it was like a beautiful summer day. On days like these she loved to be out in the gardens. She stood still enjoying the whole sensation this was such a nice dream it wasn't often that her dreams were this vivid and she really wanted to savour every moment of it.

"You know you shouldn't be so hard on her."

Xena turned sharply watching as a tall man with bronze skin came in to view he was about her height with dark black hair and beard he had light blue eyes which were a very similar colour to her own. He was dressed in bronze armour which had shifting plates and under the plating was a thick white shirt. He wore dark brown trousers and knee high black boots she could see a sword strapped to his thick black belt. He was leaning against the apple tree opposite in his hand was an apple which he was tossing and catching. She stepped closer to him eyeing his other hand there were two rings on it, one of which she didn't recognise but the other she did, she'd never forget it for as long as she lived. She felt the shock hit home as she looked up meeting his calm gaze. "Are you Damokles?" The man's smile turned a wide grin as he spoke in a gentle voice. "Yes I am." He took a bite out of his apple enjoying the flavour as he turned to her. "I was going to introduce myself but you recognise me."

Xena breathed in stepping closer to him feeling slightly unsure of herself this was Gabrielle's forma lover a man she'd cared about and still loved even though he had been taken away from her. "Yes I recognise you Gabrielle described you so well when she talks about you." She took in a deep breath. "I also recognised your bronze ring." Damokles eyed the ring for a long moment. "I know it mattered a lot to Gabrielle she kept it for many years even after I had died." Xena felt herself tense. "Are you a ghost?" Damokles looked up slightly. "Yes I am, did you know that dreams are the fine line between the world of the living and the underworld but only those who have been granted eternity in the Elysian Fields can say hello to people from time to time." Xena felt her eyes dart in confusion. "Why did you want to say hello to me?" Damokles moved away from the tree raising his hand. "I wanted to meet you, I hear Gabrielle's thoughts you know and you're never far from them I wanted to meet the person who has made her happy, it's been such a long time since she's been happy."

Xena swallowed she now felt completely out of her depth. "I'm not trying to take her away from you or cause her any harm. I love her I just want her to be happy." Damokles shook his head. "You misunderstand my intentions I'm not here to say she's mine or force you away from her, I want what's best for her I want her to be happy and live her life and be with someone who loves her the way I do." He moved his hand up putting it on her shoulder. "You've been so good to her, I was cursed to watch you from that mounted body before I was freed from it and in the beginning I saw what you did to her and how you treated her and I was so angry with you." Xena lowered her gaze feeling the guilt hit home. "I'm so sorry I was foolish and I hate myself for what I did to her and I'll do everything in my power to right that wrong even if it takes me the rest of my life."

Damokles shook his head. "You made a mistake I understand everyone does it but what's means a lot to me is that you turned it all around and you did what was right for her, you became the one friend she truly needed and you gave her everything she ever wanted and you listened to her and you've been there when she needed to talk, Adrienne never gave her that kind of love." Xena felt a cold sneer form. "I hate Adrienne the thought that she ever treated Gabrielle like she was a sexual object disgusts me." Damokles breathed in trying to stay in control of his anger. "The feeling is mutual I only wish Gabrielle had ended her life but I feel that the gods kept her alive for a reason which has yet to be revealed to ether of us." He gently squeezed her shoulder. "What matters though is that she now has you and you make her happy and I couldn't be more grateful for that."

Xena slowly met his gaze. "You're every bit the thoughtful and kind man she talked about." Damokles smiled patting her chest plate just bellow the waist. "She's always been so kind to those she loves." He looked up slightly. "You two had an argument recently though didn't you?" Xena felt her body tense as she looked at the floor. "Yes we did, it wasn't her fault I'm to blame I misjudged her even when she was telling the truth." Damokles felt his smile fade. "Let me tell you something about Gabrielle, she never lies she spoke more truth than anyone I ever knew. That's was why she became my second in command because I could trust her above all others and I could depend on her when it really mattered. It's true she doesn't always say what she feels and sometimes she has problems expressing her emotions, she also can't control her rage at times but underneath it all she's a good person who believes so strongly in being honourable and noble."

He shook his head sadly. "She may keep things from you but she keeps them back out of fear because she's afraid to feel and afraid to love. It pains me that Adrienne twisted her in a shadow of her forma self who became so bitter and unhappy and wanted nothing more than to die. The truth is she needs you right now more than anyone you bring out the best in her." He took in a painfully breath. "I am going to tell you something now which I didn't tell her when I visited her in her dreams a long time ago, I know who killed me, I saw his face his name was Bastiaan." Xena felt her eyes dart. "Why didn't you tell her this?" Damokles shook his head sadly. "Because I know that if she knows the truth she'll spend every second of every day, hunting this man down so she can have her revenge. I don't want her to waste her life away by doing that I want her to be happy and live her life."

He paused feeling his smile fade. "I want to ask something off you, I know a time will come when she will get hold of that bastard but I want you to promise me that you'll make sure that he dies but not by her hand." Xena felt her eyes dart. "Why are you asking this of me? I know it's not just about the blood on her hands." Damokles slowly met her gaze. "Our son should always see the good side of his mother." Xena nodded seeing the concern in his eyes. "I will for fill your wish, I will kill Bastiaan myself if I have to." Damokles breathed in deeply. "Thank you I know it's a lot to ask of you but it means a lot to me." Xena lowered her head sadly. "I'm sorry for your son he was to young to be taken away like that but it must be nice that you are with him in the Elysian Fields." Damokles raised his hand. "This is the other thing you need to know, our son is not dead he is alive and well."

He watched as the shock spread across her face. "Gabrielle has not told you this because she's protecting him, she gave him to Iris after his birth because he was born human, she wanted him to have a normal life and she wanted him to be safe. If the Imperial Council knew about him, they would find him and kill him or use him against her. I have watched him grow up and he is happy but he belongs with Gabrielle, this is one of the reasons I came to you tonight because you mean so much to her and I know you can persuade her to go and get him back or even bring him back to her regardless." Xena felt her eyes dart as what he'd said slowly sunk in. "Her son…is alive." It was more of a statement that a question she slowly met the tall mans gaze. "How old is now?" Damokles felt a warm smile form. "He's five and takes after his mother he has her eyes but he has my hair colour and skin colour." He paused raising his eyebrow. "He could in fact pass for your son, since we aren't so different in appearance."

He put his hands behind his back as he stepped back not saying anymore as he could see in her eyes that she was thinking through what he had said which had a double meaning. Xena looked up sharply. "There's something I don't understand." Damokles turned to meet her gaze. "What's that?" Xena breathed in deeply trying to word her next sentence carefully. "Why help me this way, I mean aren't you jealous of me?" Damokles turned to face her. "Are you jealous of me?" Xena shook her head. "No I'm not jealous of you and it's not because your dead it's because I respect that Gabrielle loved you. My husband was a tyrant but I won't lie that I still miss him and still love him in some strange way." Damokles eased up his hand stroking his beard. "I'm not jealous of you, I had my time with Gabrielle and she made me very happy but I don't want her to spend the rest of her life miserable, I want her be happy and if being happy means she finds someone new to love then so be it."

He looked at the bronze ring on his finger. "I'll do everything in my power to ensure her happiness that is why I'm helping you." Xena shook her head sadly. "It's sad that you're no longer alive, I think in another life maybe you and I would have been good friends." Damokles laughed slightly. "Perhaps maybe I wouldn't be a werewolf and would have become a member of the Illyrian royal council had my parents not died, maybe I would have even gone on to marry to Queen Sophia but who knows what destiny has in store for all." Xena breathed in deeply. "Does she love me?" Damokles put a hand on her shoulder again. "I think you already know the answer that." Xena lowered her gaze trying to ignore the pain in heart as she spoke. "I just wish she'd say it." Damokles kept hold of her shoulder. "Don't worry she will, which is all the more reason for you to wake up now." Xena turned sharply. "No I don't want to wake up now, not when I have just met you."

Damokles wrapped his arms around her giving her a warm hug ignoring her surprise. "Stubborn woman I can see why she likes you but you have to wake up now, I can't tell you why only that it's very important, after all you weren't meant to fall asleep were you?" Xena breathed in painfully as his arms tightened around her. "Thank you for visiting me, it's nice to finally meet you." She watched as the world around her suddenly blasted in to blinding white light. Damokles watched as the blinding white light started to designate the world around them. "Same here, take good care of her." Xena felt her eyes snap open as jolted awake in a painful motion, she blinked as the white light cleared from her eyes. She looked around her, her bedroom was in complete darkness and she could see the moon in the sky high above. She eased up her hand eyeing the scrolls on the desk as she stood up from her chair, she could remember the whole dream with crystal clarity. She shook her head she had never in her life been visited by a ghost and now that she had she felt slightly out of her depth.

She eyed the scrolls she could remember now what she'd been meaning to do and that was to apologise to Gabrielle and set everything right. That was what she'd come in the room to do but the wine she'd drunken earlier had caught up with her and she dozed off in her chair. She stood up ignoring the dull pain in her back as she walked up to the central door knocking gently. "Gabrielle." She paused hearing no answer she knocked again only harder. "Gabrielle look I just want to talk to you, can we please talk?" She took hold of handle she had to talk to her and she didn't care if she got an angry response for opening the door. She pushed the central door open walking inside only to be greeted by an empty room there wasn't even a candle lit. She walked in side even in the darkness she could see that the bed was empty and the younger woman's pet was fast asleep on one of the posts. She stepped forward looking around her as she spoke. "Gabrielle?" She turned eyeing the bathing area which was empty before stepping out and opening the workshop door very slowly seeing that it was also empty.

She felt her body tense something was really wrong she could feel it in the pit of her stomach Gabrielle always left a candle burning and she was normally sleeping now, yet she was no where in sight. She stepped back in to the other woman's bedroom catching sight of the package on the table she picked up instantly picking up the smell off opium. She put it down realizing the package had been brought out but clearly had not been opened somewhere down the line Gabrielle had made a choice not to use it. The coltsfoot which was normally on her desk was missing though she felt her gaze drift as it realized that there were other things missing. She felt her heart start to suddenly beat faster oh gods something was very wrong here she could feel it. She found herself bolting in to a run she had to be in the gardens she was sure of it! She wouldn't leave, would she? No she'd never left the palace even though she knew she could. She liked it here she'd always said this was her home no this wasn't her home it was their home, they both belonged here together. She couldn't stand the thought of her leaving the palace the thought of that was like someone tearing out her still beating heart.

She turned opening both doors looking around the empty corridor she was out the gardens she had to be out there, she was always there. She looked up catching sight of Iona as she turned the corridor opposite. She didn't think as she grabbed her by her shoulder only to feel a cold point as it pressed against her waist as the other woman turned around in a lighting fast motion. She watched as Iona blinked in surprise as she met her gaze. Iona swallowed pulling her dagger away from the taller woman's waist feeling her eyes dart. "I'm so sorry Empress…I wasn't trying to attack you…its force of habit." Xena shook her head raising her hand. "Its fine, don't concern yourself Iona I'd do the same thing if someone grabbed my shoulder in the darkness at this hour." Iona looked up seeing a look in the Empress's eyes which she'd never seen before, it was panic. "Is everything all right Empress?" Xena felt her eyes dart. "Have you seen Gabrielle?" Iona shook her head. "No Empress." She paused feeling uncertain as she spoke her next words. "Did something happen between you two?"

Xena took in a painful breath letting go of her shoulder. "We had an argument and I said some things I shouldn't have and I've just searched her room and she's not there." She stepped back. "Now I need to find her." Iona put her dagger back in to her belt. "Would you like my help Empress? I can get my men to cover the royal gardens and the palace very quickly." Xena turned to her. "Yes I would like that and if any of them find her have them to tell me right away where she is I want to be the first to speak to her." Iona nodded as she walked away from the taller woman. "I will get on it right away Empress." Xena stepped closer to her realizing that she didn't give this woman nearly enough credit at times despite that she was always there for her. It was also clear to her that this woman had come on in leaps and bounds in these past few months and she wasn't the same person she had been. "Thank you Iona." She looked up slightly. "I know that I don't give you enough credit at times and I should, as I consider you one of the most important people in my palace and if you weren't here to help my life would be so much harder."

Iona stopped in mid motion the Empress was giving her a compliment she never ever gave her compliments. Oh she'd said thank you from time to time but never anything like this. Xena breathed in deeply watching as the surprise spread across Iona's face. "I know the jobs I sometime ask of you are not pleasant. I know that there are times when you must think that I just see you as my bloody right hand but believe me I see you as much more than that. Your someone I can depend on and in all the years I've known you, I've never been worried or concerned about your loyalty and looking back at the event with the royals it has become very clear to me that I haven't been giving you the same kind of treatment as I give to Demetrius and in future I intend to change that, as you should both be equal in my eyes as I consider you both my friends." Iona breathed in trying to control the emotions in side she felt so out of her depth and she didn't know what to do or say. She had never expected the Empress to say this. She looked up recomposing herself as her grandfathers words came back to her. "When those of high standing see your great honour then you should give a piece of that honour to them to show your compassion and loyalty."

She leaned down easing a long aged double edged dagger free from her boot she carefully placed it her hands then eased it out towards the Empress lowering her head respectfully. "Thank you Empress, if it pleases you then please take this dagger in my hands, it's not much but it matters to me. It was the first weapon I ever brought I know its old and its points no longer sharp but it's a piece of my honour and I give it to you with my highest regards and hope that I will never disappoint you again." Xena gently took the dagger from her hand she knew just what this meant. Warriors like Iona did not bow like Demetrius instead when they felt they had gained honour they gave up an important possession to the person who had honoured them. She eyed the dagger she knew now that as long as Iona was here she would always be loyal, her giving up this item meant total loyalty until her dying day. She looked up watching as Iona stood up fully. "It's an honour to receive this from you." Iona nodded. "Thank you." She turned away fully recomposing herself as she felt a smile form. "I'll go to the barracks and have my men find Gabrielle."

8

Demetrius walked up the corridor it was late and he wanted to go to bed, he was starting to feel tired. It felt like it had been a long day Ladon and Milo had now been shown to their new rooms on the lower level of the palace. Every warrior here was very privileged as they were given rooms just like the servants. The training barracks had rooms but they were temporary rooms for warriors who just needed to sleep of night duty. Though Iona and her unit did spend time there playing cards, gambling and drinking but then they weren't the royal palace guard. They could come and go as they pleased unlike the royal guard who had a very strict rotation which was never broken. He breathed in deeply he'd just had a very long talk with Chara about the androphonomania massacre as what had gone on the throne room hadn't made complete sense to him but once he had the rest of the story, it had all become clear. Just like Chara he could see that Gabrielle had been put in a very difficult position and had been forced by the Imperial Council to do a horrific thing but even then she'd disobeyed them and had gone out of her way to save as many children as she could in those villages.

It was very clear to him why this hadn't been told to the rest of the palace it was a very delicate situation and it was clear that very few people knew about it and the Empress wanted to keep it that way for now. No doubt bringing in Ladon was clearly part of a much bigger plan as she intended to put the full blame on the Imperial Councils shoulders and show that Gabrielle had been defying their orders. He was in essence the proof and on top of this Chara had told him that there were quite a few other scrolls from other children who had been saved during the massacre. He had no intention of judging Gabrielle's actions he had heard many sad stories in taverns from warriors in others lands who had been forced by their leaders to do terrible things that had given them nightmares but what choice did they have? To betray and order meant death yourself. Maybe that was one of the reasons that he had wanted to join the Empress's army because her moral standards and honour codes were much higher than any he'd ever come across.

There were very strict army codes pillaging was forbidden and you'd be flogged if caught doing it, rape was forbidden and if you were caught doing it to ether gender you'd be hung just like a common criminal. You weren't allowed to steal ether if you did you'd end up being thrown in a cell for a week. The army's duty was to honour and protect and unlike Rome profit wasn't made through stealing from others. That was where diplomacy came in and trade this was what kept this Empire running and at peace. There hadn't been a war here in over seven years and the last war had been the Spartan uprising, which had lasted a year and a half. He wouldn't say the Greek Empire was perfect though the Empire still had problems with illegal slave traders as well as issues with common warlords from time to time who tried to force there foot in but they were never lasted long. The more difficult issue was with the Northern Alliance and the Warrior Kings army as well as two other tyrant warlords, they were on going problems along with Gabrielle's people but he felt soon the issue with werewolves would be resolved given more time.

Despite these issues he'd rather be in this land than any other, people didn't starve here and though there were diplomacy problems they could be handled. He put his hand on his head as he snapped out of his thoughts realizing that he'd left his horse hair helmet in Chara's study, he shook his head he could get it back tomorrow it wasn't as if he wore it that much anyway. He only wore it when guest were called to the palace but the Empress never looked up on him badly if he didn't wear it. He turned another corridor watching as one of Iona's men ran past him clearly in a hurry the man stopped nodded at him respectfully before running down the other corridor. He rolled his eyes clearly the Empress had sent Iona's men to do something as when they ran around like this it meant that they were going somewhere important. He turned another corridor only to stop on the spot as he caught sight of Thaleia sitting on the floor next to the huge curtains near the huge study where the Empress had her meetings. He knew that the other servants weren't allowed up here but because of her level as Gabrielle's personal maid she could come and go as she pleased.

He stepped closer realizing that she'd been crying he could see it in her eyes which were red, she also looked very tired. He moved towards her watching as she looked up a sad smile forming on her face. "Hey." Thaleia slowly met his concerned gaze. "Hi." Demetrius slowly sat down next to her. "What are you doing here I thought you'd be asleep?" Thaleia shook her head sadly. "I can't sleep I've tried but I can't I had an argument with Gabrielle this morning and she threw me out of her room." Demetrius gently put a hand on her knee. "Is that what you're sad about the argument?" Thaleia breathed in sharply. "No not really its just that she can be such an ass when she wants to be, I mean I'm her personal maid and I enjoy the job but she's never been this rude to me, she treated me like a servant, I'm not some throw away servant, I'm her friend." Demetrius breathed in deeply he knew just what she was talking about, he was used to getting the brunt of the Empress's bad moods from time to time. "You know I doubt she meant it, trust me those in power have to deal with a lot of stress and sometimes they just have to vent it, it's not personal."

Thaleia tensed painfully. "No this was personal, she told me about something she did and it was a terrible thing and even though I don't know her, I know that, that this terrible thing wasn't all her fault. It had to be the Imperial Councils doings but because she's a stubborn jackass she doesn't see it that way." Demetrius put his head against the wall. "Oh gods please tell me this is not about the androphonomania massacre?" Thaleia sat up sharply. "Yes it is, how in Tartarus did you know about this? She only told me about this morning and I didn't tell anyone it's my duty not to I couldn't even go to my mother about it." Demetrius put a hand on his face. "I know about it through Chara the Empress asked for scrolls on it this morning. Before we locked Kalika up she hid one of the scrolls holders regarding it, which hid the fact that Gabrielle was disobeying the Imperial Council and trying to save the children in those villages. Long story short I know all about it I also know that the Empress and Gabrielle had a very heated argument this morning and this was because the Empress didn't have all the facts because these scrolls on the saved children were missing." He groaned. "You shouldn't dwell on this, they'll sort it out they love each other."

Thaleia shook her head. "Oh so you don't know that the Empress kissed Gabrielle this morning but she stopped her and told her about the androphonomania massacre?" Demetrius turned sharply. "No I didn't know about that part but it explains why this whole issue is now in such a mess." Thaleia shook her head. "You know Gabrielle even believed that once she told me this I wouldn't be her friend anymore, that's another thing that angers me. I would always stand by her no matter what she's like the sister I never had, I consider to be my family. Even worse she believed that the Empress would get rid off her as well." Demetrius laughed as he put an arm around her shoulder pulling her close. "Like that would ever happen. That's like the sun trying to stop the moon rising, it just wouldn't happen the Empress loves her far too deeply." Thaleia nodded. "You got that right." Demetrius felt his grip around her shoulder tighten. "Look I wouldn't worry too much just let them sleep on it and come back tomorrow I'm sure Gabrielle will be in a better mood and you can both talk it through."

He was about to say more only to stop as Iona turned the corridor she looked up catching her breath as she walked towards them. He eyed her. "I don't mean to be rude Iona but I don't want to play cards with you tonight I'm tired and my shifts over." Iona stood up fully. "This is not about cards the Empress wants to see you and Thaleia right now." Demetrius put a hand on his face, gods this just wasn't happening was it? He wanted to sleep. He looked up as Thaleia stood up the confusion in her eyes he slowly got to his feet putting his arm back around her shoulder. "You can't be serious?" Iona breathed in sharply. "I am very serious." Demetrius raised his hand. "Wait there's something wrong I can see in your eyes, tell me what it is?" Iona nervously put a hand on her swords hilt. "Gabrielle is missing I have just had my men search the royal gardens and the palace from top to bottom. They have checked every room, every corner, your men and women have also been searching but they have not found her ether."

Demetrius felt the shock hit home. "She's missing but she never leaves the palace." Iona felt the frustration hit home as she spoke. "Yes I know that, the Empress also knows that and she's not taking it well." She shook her head. "Please I need your help, you know how to deal with her when she's like this…I don't and it's getting difficult." She stepped back. "She asked for you both and I'm here to get you, so please come with me now as fast as you can." Demetrius nodded. "I'll come with you." Thaleia walked with him keeping a hand on his arm. "Why does the Empress want me, I don't understand?" Iona turned slowly to her. "Because you're her friend you might know the other places that she'd go in the palace which we may have over looked." Thaleia blinked before speaking again in an uncertain tone. "Did the Empress tell Gabrielle to leave?" Iona eyed her for a long moment as they walked up the long corridor. "Not that I'm aware of and I highly doubt she would ever do that, she likes her far too much. Frankly I'd rather she get her back right now because I don't know if I can stand seeing her this way much longer." Demetrius eyed her. "It's that bad?" Iona nodded. "Yes it's that bad."

End of part 79

Silvermoonlight

This chapter is going up early as I'm away next week enjoy :D