To Find the Light

by Debir

Picking up where Enter the Dark ended, Xena and Gabrielle search for Deerdra who is doing some searching of her own. Their respected journeys will impact their lives forever.

5. Chapter 5

"To Find the Light"

by

Debir

Chapter Five: "Discovery"

A week after Deerdra's duel with Death, Gabrielle and Xena arrive at the long abandoned village.

Gabrielle is stunned, "I don't understand. Where are all of the people?" She turns to Xena, "This used to be a busy little village, honest."

"I know. I remember seeing it when I was with Akimi. Something or someone made them leave in a hurry." Xena frowns at the someone thought. "Let's take a better look."

They dismount and lead their horse through the empty streets of the village. As they come upon the village square, Gabrielle notices something peculiar.

She stops dead in her tracks, thoughts of Dahak run through her head, "Xena, why are there two black poles lying in the middle of the street?"

Xena thinks of him as well, "I don't know. Could have been some sort of 'we're leaving' ceremony. But just in case, keep your guard up."

They resume at a turtle's pace. As they get closer, they see that the poles have been burned and that there are two blackened spots where the poles would have been standing.

Gabrielle's heart sinks, "Please tell me this isn't what I think it is."

Xena's chest tightens. She knows exactly what it means and what it's going to do to Gabrielle. "I'm afraid it is. These poles were used to burn someone at the stake. Two some ones, actually."

Gabrielle's sunken heart breaks, "By the Gods, no!"

Xena tries to be the voice of reason, "Stay calm. Are you sure Deerdra would have come back here?"

Gabrielle still feels panicked, "I'm sure. Margret was all about potions and magics...Oh, no! Margret!"

Gabrielle hops on her mount and zips off toward Margret's house. Xena is right behind her. They arrive at what's left of the old place and Gabrielle's heart not only sinks, it hits the ground. "By the Gods. Why would they do such a thing? Margret was harmless. A little creepy, maybe, but harmless." She turns to Xena, "Without her, you wouldn't even be here."

Xena puts her hand on Gabrielle's shoulder, "I don't know why, Gabrielle. Some people lash out when they're confronted by something they don't understand. And when there's a group of them, well, tragic things like this happen."

Gabrielle's eyes well with tears, "I'm so sorry Margret-and Deerdra."

Xena gives Gabrielle a long, comforting hug. She notices the path that leads away from the house, "Where does that trail lead?"

Gabrielle sniffles, "What trail?"

Xena points to the area behind her, "That one. Come on."

The scenery on the way to the overlook does little to lift Gabrielle's spirits...that is until they actually arrive at the overlook. The sun's rays have the colors on full display. The salmon pink rock faces peek out from a sea of green pine, yellow oak, and silvery aspen. A light mist hovers, yet does not dull the brilliance of the color palette.

Gabrielle gasps, "It's breathtaking!"

Xena walks over beside her, "It sure is."

Gabrielle glances away long enough to look up to Xena, "Do you think Deerdra got to see this?"

Xena puts her arm around Gabrielle's shoulder, "Something this beautiful? Margret would have made sure she did."

Gabrielle leans into Xena, her voice quivering above a whisper, "Yeah, she would have."

They stand pressed close the warm side hug until something glinting in the sunlight catches Xena's attention. She squints in its direction and spots the ink well, "Gabrielle, look." She kneels beside the rock and holds up the ink well, pointing out the symbols to Gabrielle, "See, she was here. And she wanted to make certain you knew it."

Gabrielle can't believe her eyes, "My ink! And our symbol from Meg's tavern! She was here!" She slowly, gently runs a finger over the lines tracing the brush strokes. She whispers, "Deerdra," then kisses her fingers and touches them to the stone. "I wonder if she did this before or after-" Her voice trails off and she aches all over again thinking what new Hell Deerdra went through. "I'm so sorry."

Xena's not about to let Gabrielle beat herself up over whatever happened at the village, "You are not Deerdra's keeper. She didn't have to leave you and come here."

"I know, but-"

Xena takes her by the shoulders and looks her right in the eyes, "No, no buts. You are not responsible for the choices Deerdra makes. And it was just that. Her choice."

Gabrielle's eyes puddle up, "I'm just so worried about her. She's been through so much and for such a long time. I don't know how much more she can take before..."

Xena pulls her into an embrace, "Shh, she'll be fine. She may get dinged up a bit, but she won't break." She sounds convincing enough, although the thought of Deerdra cracking from all of the stress has crossed her mind.

Just about the time Xena relaxes and feels herself melt into Gabrielle's arms, Gabrielle backs away. She's not back yet. The realization stings Xena.

"I only wish that I knew-" Gabrielle lights up, "Michael!"

Xena grabs her chakram and spins around, "Where?"

Gabrielle chuckles, "No silly. He's not here, but he can tell us where Deerdra has gone."

Xena stands down, "Ha. Only if he feels like it."

Gabrielle shares Xena's distrust of him. But this is different, "Why wouldn't he? It's in his best interest if Deerdra's in a good place mentally."

Xena has to agree on that one point, "True. Can't have his pet project go nutso with that sword he gave her. I do think he has his own personal agenda when it comes to Deerdra-and us."

"As usual Xena, you are wrong."

The male voice startles the two women. They whirl around-Xena has her chakram in hand-and there he is in all of his Archangel glory. His blue wings spread wide holding him in place as he hovers above the sparkling valley. A heavenly scene if it weren't for his scowl and tightly crossed arms, "My motives are pure and honest."

Xena's scowl matches his own, "Save that pious stuff for someone else, Michael. Are you going to help us or not?"

The warrior and Archangel have a brief stare-down before Gabrielle steps interrupts. She pulls down on Xena's shoulder then whispers, "Xena, back off. He won't help us if you threaten him." She steps in front of Xena, "Michael, please. I need to find her."

Michael reluctantly looks away from Xena and to the bard, "So you can convince her to take you along on her journey, I suppose. That would not be wise and could put your life in jeopardy."

"She shouldn't be alone. Not now. Not after..." Gabrielle blocks out the image of the double stake burning, "Not after what happened in the village. I - I love her, Michael." She stutters not wanting to hurt Xena, but has to be honest with how she feels at this moment.

"Ah, love. The most powerful motivator of all time. It makes men strong-and foolish." Michael sighs, resigned to the fact that one way or the other, Gabrielle will find Deerdra. "You have missed her by a few days, but she could not have gotten far. Her mount is big and slow."

"Which way?" Xena's tone is anything but happy.

Michael points to an area behind the women, "To the right, down the road that leads away from Margret's village. And before you ask, Deerdra will tell you about the travesty that took place there."

Gabrielle smiles, "Thank you, Michael."

Xena does not, "Yeah, thanks." She just cannot bring herself to trust him.

Michael nods a goodbye to Gabrielle and ignores Xena. The idea he had earlier must now be put into motion. With a bright flash, he's gone.

His exit doesn't impress Xena, "Pretty flashy for an angel."

"Let it go, Xena."

They get their horses and quick trot off in the direction Michael pointed. The trot not only helps them make up time, it also precludes any discussion about what was said back at the overlook.

In no time they come across a farmhouse set off a way from the road. A slightly older man is clearing his field of tree stumps- with the assistance of a rather large jet black horse.

Gabrielle sees it and comes to a full stop, "That has got to be the biggest horse I have ever seen."

"Yep. Big and slow."

Gabrielle twirls around in her saddle, "You don't think...? But I don't speak the language ask him."

Margret's spirit has been watching them since they left her house. She knows how to remedy the problem. With a wave of her hands, a fine mist begins to fall, wetting Xena and Gabrielle- and only Xena and Gabrielle.

Xena notices the oddity and makes a guess, "Try asking him now."

"Excuse me, sir? May we talk to you for a moment?" Gabrielle doesn't think she sounds any different.

The man looks up and smiles, "Sure thing, miss! I could use a break!" He unhitches the horse and walks over to Xena and Gabrielle, "Good afternoon. I'm Robert." He wipes off his hand and offers it to Xena.

Xena shakes his hand then proceeds with the introductions, "Afternoon. I'm Xena and this is Gabrielle. That's some horse you have there."

Robert dabs the sweat on his brow, "Don't I know it. He's a god-send."

Watching him talk,Gabrielle realizes his lips aren't matching the words she's hearing. She continues on with the line of questioning, "Where did you find such an unusually large animal?"

"Ah, he found me. A young woman came by looking for a trade. I gave her my best horse and in return I got him." He winks, "And if you ask me, I got the better end of the deal. Why he can do the work of-"

Gabrielle cuts him off, "This woman, did she carry a sword across her back? One with a fancy golden hilt?"

"As a matter of fact, she did. Is she a friend of yours?"

Gabrielle refrains from jumping up and down, "She's a very good friend. A friend we really like to find."

"Well, that shouldn't be too hard. She met up with a tall fella and the two took off for the village a few days ago." Robert rubs his chin, "You know, she got real exited when I mentioned all of the strange goings on in the village."

Gabrielle glances at Xena, "Strange in what way?"

"People disappearing and gods-awful sounds coming from a cave." Robert chuckles, "After I told them, they them practically flew down this road."

Xena wonders, "This tall man she was with, was he a big guy with short black hair and a beard?"

"He was big all right, but his hair was a golden yellow. Long and wavy. Kind of reminded me of a lion. Of course, that my have been more from the scars across his cheek than his hair."

Xena's relieved- and disappointed, "Thanks. Let's go, Gabrielle."

Out of earshot, Gabrielle does some wondering of her own, "What do you suppose was in that mist that let us understand Robert?"

"I don't know. Magics maybe from that woman or her friends."

"You think spirits can still do spells? From the beyond?"

"There are a lot of things we don't know- about the spirit world and whatever lays beyond."

Gabrielle looks at Xena with mischief in her eyes, "Yeah, like who was this dark-haired man you though was with Deerdra?" She knows darn good and well she was talking about Ares.

Xena ignores the question, "Didn't Deerdra mention someone named Leonius?"

Gabrielle didn't think Xena wanted to talk about Ares, "Yeah. He was in Livia's army. Oh, I get it. Leonius/ lion. Do you think it was him?"

"There's only one way to find out." Xena grins and spurs Argo into a full gallop.

"You can't run from your infatuation, Xena." Gabrielle doesn't say it out loud. Instead she spurs her horse on and thinks of Deerdra hoping they find her alive and well and fighting.

Late in the afternoon, they arrive at the village and like all good villages, it has a tavern. They enter the Pig -n- Poke, hungry for food and information. The place isn't too busy. Three farmers, a couple of rough looking men, and one man sitting by himself at the back of the tavern that piques Gabrielle's interest.

"Xena, look. That man over there by himself. What do you think?"

Xena doesn't miss a beat, "You could do worse."

Gabrielle gives her a nudge, "Be serious."

"Okay. Long golden wavy hair. Looks lionish to me. Can't tell from here if he has a scar."

Gabrielle takes the lead as they walk over to him. "Excuse me. Are you Leonius?"

The man doesn't look up from his pint and his tone is gruff, "Who wants to know?"

"I'm Gabrielle and this is-"

He pops his head up, "Deerdra's Gabrielle?" and there's the scar across his cheek along with several new wounds.

Gabrielle's mood brightens, "Yes! Is she here?"

Leonius unfolds his six foot frame from the chair then glances around, "Let's take this conversation elsewhere."

He leads them out the back door and away from prying ears.

Xena's getting a bad feeling, "Okay, we're alone. What's going on?"

Leonius looks around making sure no one is around, "The answer is why we're outside-and where we'll find Deerdra, I hope."

Now Gabrielle getting a bad feeling, "So there is a demon here."

"There's on heck of a demon here."

Xena points to his messed up face, "Did it do that to you?"

He frowns, "Its harpies did this to me. Damn bat like things nearly ripped me to shreds."

Gabrielle's curious as to why he's here and not fighting alongside Deerdra, "So, you're here and not there with Deerdra because she sent you away to protect you?"

"Deerdra sent me away so I could take you two back to the cave with me."

Gabrielle is surprised, "She wants us to help her? I would have thought she'd try and steer us away."

"She figured you'd try and find her and once you got wind of there being a demon here, well, she knew you be even more determined so I might as well go ahead and take you to her." He grins, "She put on a good show pretending not to want you here, but between you and me, she's hoping you'd come."

Xena steers the conversation away from the relationship stuff and to more important things, like the demon they are about to meet, "I'd like to know more about what we're getting into."

"Of course," Leonius answers. "I'll explain as we walk."

The trio head down a freshly minted path leading into the trees.

Leonius continues: " Deerdra lit up after hearing that farmer's story, determined to find out what was going on. We persuaded a local to take us to the cave where all of the strange noises were coming from."

Gabrielle shudders, "Why do demons have to live in caves?"

"You'd prefer they live next door?" Xena smirks.

Leonius ignores their banter and finishes his story: "Anyway, as soon as we entered the cave, a voice coming from seemingly everywhere calls to Deerdra telling her to follow his light. As he said that, torches lit one by one down the tunnel across from us. Deerdra drew her sword and told me to go back to the tavern and wait for you two."

They pause at the cave's entrance.

Xena point to the wounds on his face, "You didn't get those in a bar fight. What happened?"

Leonius grits his teeth, "The second Deerdra disappeared into the tunnel, these huge bat-like things attacked. I tell you, those things had to be a good four feet across with talons made of steel. They nearly ripped me to shreds before I had a chance to turn around and run out of there." He shakes his head, "That was three days ago. I haven't heard from her since."

Gabrielle can't believe her ears, "And you didn't go back for her? What kind of man are you?"

Leonius doesn't like what she's implying, but he tries not to take it personally. She's upset and obviously hasn't experienced Deerdra's wrath, "The kind that doesn't defy an order. You wouldn't question me if you've ever seen her angry."

Xena calms everyone down, "Well we're here now, that's all that matters. Lead the way."

They grab torches and enter, Leonius followed by Gabrielle with Xena taking up the rear. Everyone's muscles are tensed and ready. They approach what at first glance looks like a lake that separates our intrepid warriors and the still lit tunnel. Leonius doesn't wade across right away. Instead, he stands close to the edge looking for something.

Gabrielle is anxious to find Deerdra. Her impatience with Leonius teems over, "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"

She tries to push her way past Leonius, but fortunately for her, he grabs her arm, stopping her cold, "Hold on, hot stuff. That's not water."

He picks up a stone then drops it over the edge and then...nothing. No splash, no clink, nothing. "I have no idea how far down it goes or if it even has a bottom for that matter."

Xena pulls Gabrielle back to her side, "You could have warned us."

He keeps his head bowed, scanning the inky void , "You seemed to be in a hurry so I gave you the condensed version."

Gabrielle's beginning to mistrust this golden haired stranger. She mumbles to Xena, "What else hasn't he told us?"

Xena squeezes Gabrielle's shoulder to let her know that she feels the same. She doesn't let on, though. She asks, "How do we get across then?"

He continues scanning, using his torch to light the rim, "Deerdra found a path make up of rock spires. It should be over-here!" A row of smooth topped, evenly spaced spires appear under the torches glow. "I don't know how sturdy they are so I'll go across first."

To everyone's surprise, the submerged spires don't wiggle or sift under their weight. As soon as the last warrior's boot touches cave dirt-Xena's boot to be exact. She's acting as the caboose for this human train-the torches lining the tunnel burst to life.

Xena scowls, "Someone is expecting us."

Weapons are drawn and muscles are tight as they enter the flickering tube not knowing if Deerdra is still alive, but fully aware that they are walking into a trap.

*CONTINUED*