Disclaimers: See Chapter 1
Additional Note (Please Read): This tale is tied in with, The Conqueror & Ri: A Twist of Destiny. If you haven't read both story's chapters preceding this one, you should do so now. To my readers that tune in faithfully, thanks so much. Happy holidays! :-)
Xena & Gabrielle,
A Turn of Fate,
By, Ahkiken
Chapter 20: Gabrielle's Faith
Finishing occupying her time with brushing down Argo II, Xena left the stables in a lackluster mood than when she'd first entered. Gabrielle's scrolls were gone and the blue-eyed woman deeply wanted to read her words like she had done yesterday. Xena discovered renewed meaning behind the Amazon's devotion for her, which only caused the tall warrior to fall even more in love with the bard. Wishing she hadn't departed the stall after reading into the later evening last night, Xena ascended the ladder heading towards her cabin to sulk.
Next, she saw Kenji traversing the second tier stairway with a basin of water in his hands.
"Hello, Kenji."
The bald monk returned the greeting. "Hello, Xena Sama. How did the pairings go today?"
"Very well actually. Why are you delivering fresh water this late in the day?" Xena asked.
"I didn't get a chance to exchange Gabrielle San's. She's not happy and I fear it's because of me." Kenji responded.
"Why, what did you do?"
"I made a callous remark when I gave Gabrielle San the chakram you bestowed upon her."
"Gabrielle is a forgiving spirit, she'll forgive you." Xena dismissed it, fearing her soul mate would never pardon her. "Thanks for bringing the chakram to her and thank you for the tub that was awaiting me once I ended my drills."
"You're welcome, Xena Sama." Kenji said. "I'll relay your progress with the Samurai to the Shogun."
"That would be great. He wasn't on the deck with me this morning. Neither was the other elites." Xena replied.
"They were in an emergency meeting earlier."
"Concerning what?" Xena inquired.
"Japa." the monk began to walk away. "The Shogun will share intel soon."
Xena watched Kenji continue up the stairs to the next tier, ruminating. 'I want to know now.'
{X&G}
"Zicalus and Moku are addressing the Samurai that was in Xena's session. Every Samurai aboard will have knowledge of our plight." Koska stated.
"Good." Harukata affirmed. "Let's pray to the sun Kami we get to Higuchi in time."
"Shogun, if I may?"
"You still disagree with going to Higuchi, instead of Shinto." Harukata surmised.
"I do. We all know with a certainty this ship won't make it to prevent Morimoto and his men's demise. Shinto is where we should travel to. It will be Yodoshi's next destination. The Daimyo would understand and accept this decision." Koska explained.
The Shogun gazed at his third-in-command. "The mission to arrive at Higuchi stands, Koska."
"It will fall!" He slammed his fist on the table. "Morimoto, along with his contingent of Samurai will, too!"
"The Daimyo knows what he is to do. He'll defend Higuchi and its temple till our arrival, or his honorable end. That's all we can expect from him and that is all the expectation we can place upon ourselves. If Yodoshi destroys the entire town village and seeks to do the same to Shinto, twenty thousand Samurai will protect it with their lives as well." Harukata refuted.
"Why are we spreading our clan so thin, Shogun? We've tried to protect all the temples and are failing. We should focus on protecting the Shin-den temple in Shinto; our home."
"And what of Korei-den?"
Koska folded his arms. "Let its destruction happen like the Kashiko-dokoro temple in Kyushu."
"I'm not going to allow that." The Shogun rebuffed. "The three temples are essential to Amaterasu. The remaining two must be preserved."
"If they are so damn important, why aren't the other Samurai clans doing anything to-"
Koska's rebuttal was ceased by a knock on the conference cabin's door.
"Who is it?" Harukata questioned.
"Xena." The muffled vocal asserted.
"We will finish this discussion later, Koska." He whispered. "Open the door for Xena and take your leave."
Koska's features were displeased, yet he bowed and complied to his leader's orders. Opening the door, Xena stepped through the entryway as the yellow kimono wearing Samurai strolled out.
"Xena, you look like a lovely Japian woman in that kimono." Harukata complimented. "Are you here to give me an update on the first squad?"
"Thank you, and yes." She took a seat close to the Shogun. "I couldn't pair all of them today, because of Neji's ejection. I did commence half of them and have fifty in my special class, along with fifty out of my training altogether. However, the warriors that lost are exceptional fighters."
"That's awesome news. They will be needed." Harukata declared.
"Kenji told me that you and your elites were in a meeting dealing with an emergency. What is happening in Japa?" Xena asked.
"The time we once thought we had to reach Higuchi is lost."
"Yodoshi has begun his assault on Higuchi." Xena deduced.
Harukata gave a nod. "The Daimyo is engaging the daemon and his forces now. We were deciding on whether to abandon Higuchi and go to Shinto, or keep on course."
"What is y'all decision?"
"We continue onwards to Higuchi. When we get there, there's no telling what awaits us." The Shogun commented.
"Everyone knows?" Xena inquired.
"All the Samurai by now. Kenji and Gabrielle San probably doesn't, though."
"How is Gabrielle?" Xena was curious.
"She isn't doing so well." He evinced truthfully. "Gabrielle San is destroying herself over you."
Xena's heart burst with sadness. "What's wrong with her? Is she alright? Is she eating?"
"On the outside, she appears perfect, but inside she's a mess. Gabrielle San's cogitation is constantly at work to cast you out of her mind. I see her struggle every time we train."
Xena became puzzled. "Train?"
"Gabrielle San has learned all about the Bushido code and our way of life. She even chose to live in Shinto once this is over. Your friend is now a Samurai." Harukata confirmed.
Xena arose from the chair in rage. "What the fuck, Harukata! I didn't give you permission to teach Gabrielle any of that shit, nor would I ever!"
The Shogun was taken aback. "You can't control her and the choices she make, so stop trying to. It was your choice to keep her in the dark and I went along with the deception. You haven't seen each other in more than half of this month. Gabrielle San was hurting after you'd said whatever it was inside the cabin y'all use to share. I tried to help get her cognition off of you, and it worked for a while, but you have to disclose the truth. No more lies, Xena. Gabrielle San deserves nothing less than honesty."
Xena calmed her frustration. "I have been respectful of you during my overall stay aboard this vessel. The only thing I request is that you don't interfere with the plan I have set forth. Gabrielle can never learn of my fate. She can't ever know."
"Gabrielle San loves you, Xena. More than a companion would a friend." The Shogun revealed. "Whatever you lied about, anent to you and Akemi, must be corrected. She is in pain and at war within herself for you."
'Gabrielle's faith in me hasn't stopped.' Xena wasn't baffled.
After reading the bard's scrolls, it sealed an understanding of Gabrielle's love and admiration for Xena to a higher extent.
"Were you both lovers, Xena?"
The Warrior Princess ignored him. "Gabrielle can not find out I'm to die in Japa, Harukata."
"Were y'all lovers?" He repeated.
"We were to be bonded!" Xena shouted, staring daggers into the old Shogun. "Before you sent Kenji, along with your elites to seek us out, Gabrielle and I were going to Scione to make travelling arrangements for Egypt. We would have been married there."
Harukata's wonderment of the two women was put to rest. "I'm deeply sorry for ruining your betrothal."
"You should say that to Gabrielle." Xena shot back. "If I warned her about my impending death, she would had successively talked me out of it, or commit herself to die with me in Japa. I won't let that happen."
"Gabrielle San is full of devoted loyalty, Xena. It seems, so are you. Do you love her enough to trust my new Samurai with the truth?"
Xena shook off the agitation at Harukata announcing her ex-lover as his. "She's my soul mate. My friend. And yes, I trust Gabrielle, but not her reaction to the fact I am to die. She'll lose it... Gabrielle will lose it."
The Warrior Princess sat down in the chair again and Harukata grasped her hand. Xena consciously tried to withdraw from him, but the Shogun kept a firm grip. Sapphire orbs connected with old dark ones.
"Y'all are in love, Xena. Gabrielle San will follow your lead and will listen if you choose to communicate with her. That's the biggest problem between both of you; the failure to converse openly and honestly with each other. She misses you a lot, and you do also. Speak to her when the opportunity arise. You owe her that much. Wouldn't you rather spend the last of your days in Gabrielle San's loving embrace than alone?"
'Gabrielle hates me now. I made her find me repulsive. What hope is there to fix this, other than divulging the truth?' Every negative emotion collided inside Xena's soul for hurting her ex-fiancée. 'What have I done to my love? I just want to shield her!'
"Will you tell Gabrielle San?" The Shogun asked.
"No." She answered, withdrawing her hand.
"No, Xena?" Harukata spoke. "You won't go to her?"
Xena stood once more, getting ready to leave Harukata's cabin without replying.
"Xena... You are making a mistake."
She turned to face the Shogun, showing that her resolve wouldn't falter on the matter. "Keep your sworn oath to me. If you do not, I'll become the scourge of the entirety of your crew by killing everyone I can."
Harukata was disheartened by the threat and focused on altering the topic. "Will someone replace Neji on the first squad?"
"Tanya will. She's the Grecian woman Kenji scooped up." Xena informed, walking out of the room.
{X&G}
Gabrielle remained in a crossed-legged posture in orison to Eli when many Samurai entered the armory. The clamorous entry interrupted the Amazon's prayer. She observed the warriors and recognized their somber expressions.
'What's wrong with them?' Gabrielle ruminated.
Deciding to continue praying, she closed her eyes. 'Eli, I don't know what to do. I'm trying so hard not to be mad and filled with anger, but everything that has happened since finding out about Akemi, including her father, Yodoshi has changed my life. It has changed Xena as well.'
Next, Gabrielle noticed the eerie silence the room instantly became. Again she opened her orbs and saw all the other men in the armory were frozen. Startled and confused, the cropped blonde rose to her feet, pondering why the Samurai wasn't making any movements.
"What the-"
"Don't be alarmed, Gabrielle." a familiar voice from long ago was heard behind her.
Gabrielle's heart sped up. She wasn't expecting a divine visit, nor anything at all really. Turning around, she gazed at her old mentor. The man who had saved her soul from the demon, Tataka in India when they first met. The messenger whom received heaven's grace to bring her and Xena back to life. The martyr who showed firsthand that courage, dealing with seeds of faith, can be faced with opposition, sacrifice, and even death in one stroke.
"Eli!" Gabrielle smiled ear-to-ear.
He still looked the same as the day of his martyrdom by Ares with the exception of a holy glow that encircled him. Gabrielle hastily moved forward, giving him a heartfelt hug that was also reciprocated, causing her to cry.
"The way of friendship can be difficult too, Gabrielle." Eli said, holding the sobbing woman. "Your hair has gotten longer."
"I don't know what... I'm going crazy... I can't..." She babbled.
"I know how you feel about my death and how it affected you, but all is as it should be." Eli extracted himself from their embrace. "I haven't much time, Gabrielle. I am aware of the events that plague you, Xena, and Japa, but there's more at stake than you realize."
"Xena is to die." The petite Samurai wiped her face dry. "She lied to me and hid the true reason we're going to Japa."
"She didn't, Gabrielle. The destruction of Yodoshi is her main goal. Xena's motive were not altogether selfish. She wanted to protect you."
"Not selfish? Xena doesn't trust me. I don't want to hate her, but she makes it easy to do just that. I would give her everything. All of me!" Gabrielle confessed.
"The absolution of Xena's guilt is important to not only her, but others as well. The forty thousand souls she unintentionally murdered has to be freed from Yodoshi." Eli stated.
"What?" Gabrielle was perplexed.
"The fire she started that consumed Higuchi, took forty thousand innocent lives. They are stuck in limbo, inside Yodoshi, the daemon who's destroying the temples of Japa while consuming numerous other spirits too." Eli avowed.
Gabrielle took a step back. "So, Xena has to die?"
Eli nodded. "Blood has to be paid with blood. Xena must redeem all the souls Yodoshi has trapped and find redemption in doing so for herself."
"Your words aren't helping me, Eli." Gabrielle declared, her head downcast. "I needed your aid to relieve my tension, not exacerbate it."
Eli tilted her chin up. "Gabrielle, there's a dark presence that is altering destiny. You are in danger."
"From what?"
"The ring Xena gave you." Eli responded. "The jade gem on it is really a shard from a stone that can create a rift in time and space."
"No riddles, Eli. What kind of stone?"
Eli's composure never wavered. "The Omphalos stone is a counterpart to the Kronos stone. Its effects can at worse drain your life force, or cause you to be teleported to your double's world."
Memories of a black and silver-haired Xena returned to Gabrielle. She remembered the elder beauty and Glaphyra with troops, fighting a legion of Romans. It concluded once Brutus and another short brown-haired man watched helplessly as Xena plunged her lion hilt blade into a dying Roman on the ground.
"It wasn't a dream." Gabrielle muttered.
"A dream?" Eli queried.
"I had a vision about a different Xena. She was older and sailed on a vessel with an army of soldiers, before docking at a port to fight Romans." Gabrielle expressed.
"That's the other world, Gabrielle." Eli averred. "The stone has allowed you to see it."
"I'm removing it." The bard pulled on the silver band, but it wouldn't loosen off her index finger. "It's stuck."
"Whoever is controlling its power has sealed it onto you. It can't be removed without their will."
"Whose will?" Gabrielle asked.
"I don't have an idea. However, it is a goddess." Eli answered.
"A Greek goddess?"
"Maybe, I'm not sure. The Omphalos stone is a relic of the Olympians, though." He replied. "The deity that is drawing energy from the destroyed Kashiko-dokoro temple is trying to either bypass the Twilight, or become the only one of their pantheon to remain."
"The Twilight? I thought that had passed already. Eli, I don't understand any of this."
"Do you feel faint at times?" Eli questioned.
Gabrielle shook her head. "No."
"Listen, Gabrielle." Eli became stern. "The fact you are able to tap into the powers of the stone and haven't felt fatigued, means you may wound up in your twin's world."
"My twin?" Gabrielle was growing wary. "What other world? Eli, what are you talking-"
"Listen." He interrupted. "You might teleport to this world you had a vision of. Just like you seen the older version of Xena, you'll have a double that has your appearance also. You must not reveal who you truly are there."
"If me and another Gabrielle is in this world together, how do I keep who I am hidden?"
"The Gabrielle of that world has a shard on her as well. That's how the Omphalos is working. The two shards are trying to reconnect. It could drain your life's energy and hers, before reuniting, or exchange the places of both people who is wearing it. The goddess who did this, knows that. I believe she's planning on the latter of the wearer switching places."
"This is ridiculous. I haven't the faintest clue what you are going on about, Eli. How are you certain of this?"
"I've been keeping an eye on all the godly artifacts on earth." Eli confided. "Some months ago, the Omphalos stone disappeared from Tartarus, then Yodoshi began his rampage in Japa, which was prophesied to happen, but something has changed. The daemon is now seeking to destroy the temples of the Tri Sanctuaries in aims of depleting Amaterasu's power. The sun goddess' powers are being transferred to the one who is controlling the Omphalos stone through its shards."
"I can't go to this other world. Not now." Gabrielle complained. "Not with what is going on with Japa and Xena."
"I have taken a huge risk coming here against our God's command not to interfere, but you aren't destined to die now, Gabrielle. I fear that will happen if you don't heed my warning. Keep your identity in your twin's world a secret. Learn as much about her without bringing attention to whom you truly are. You and Xena have done acts like this before, no? Pretending to be others in order to accomplish a mission? Well, you'll have to do it there." Eli elucidated. "Okay?"
Gabrielle was irritated, pulling on the silver band again. "Get this ring off me."
"I can't, Gabrielle." Eli said sullenly, grasping her hands gently. "Will you do as I say?"
"Yes!" The Amazon yelled. "Will you at least find out who is doing this and stop them, to end all of this?"
"Yes."
"Will you save Xena if I'm gone?" She inquired.
"Gabrielle, that is beyond my control, but I'll see what I can do." Eli replied. "We're short on time. I have a gift for you. Allow me to introduce the Muses."
Eli waved his hand, making the Samurai's aqua orbs widen in amazement once the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne appeared inside the armory. Gabrielle glanced over at Eli for a split second, not fully understanding what was taking place. The Muses belonged to the Olympian pantheon, why were they with the man whose name was the personification of a belief that continues to denounce all religions?
"What is this?" Gabrielle viewed the new arrivals.
Eli gave no reply and backed several steps away.
"We requested to come here because out of every bard, playwright, poet, and astrologer, you, Gabrielle was unanimously chosen to be blessed with our essence." they all announced in unison.
Gabrielle looked again at Eli. "Is this your idea? I mean of all the gifted people on earth, they decided to settle for me? Even I feel Sappho is the best and I haven't written anything in months."
Eli kept quiet, letting the Muses take up the conversation. "That's fine if you cherish her talents over yours. Nonetheless, we do not and this is our decision, no one else's. If it will put you mind at ease, Sappho has already been named the Tenth Muse by her adoring fans."
Gabrielle released a mirthless laugh. "I can never comprehend the Fates. With everything that's happened, this is incredible. Wait till Xena hear about this."
A sad smile crossed her features. 'If we were still talking.'
"This has nothing to do with the Fates either. You destroyed them." the nine sisters exposed.
"I did what? How?" Gabrielle gasped from the realization. "The loom..."
The world Caesar somehow created from gaining control of the Fate's loom, shifted reality upside down. Xena was no longer the penitent hero, but Caesar's wife, making her Empress of Rome while Julius Caesar became its Emperor, the position he had strived for before his assassination by the hands of the Senate, including his closest friend, Brutus. Gabrielle was a famous playwright, but coming to Rome had disastrous repercussions. Even though they had no recognition of each other, the playwright and the Empress fell in love at first sight, compelling Caesar to get rid of the irritating blonde.
Adding Alti into the mix and that's when fates collide, resulting in Xena being crucified for the third time. Julius Caesar's murder for the second time. Alti's death for the umpteenth time and a lonely Gabrielle, whom destroyed the entire world by setting the corrupted loom aflame.
"I didn't know I killed the Fates." Gabrielle asserted. "I only wanted to save Xena and return the world back to normal."
"We know." the Muses agreed. "We will miss them, but they made their choice like so many of our kind."
Gabrielle's curiosity formed from their statement as the nine goddesses began converging on her. On instinct, the bard became defensive, but dropped the stance when she felt no threat from them.
The daughters of the deceased king of the Greek gods and the Titan goddess of memory placed their hands on Gabrielle, saying in sync. "Calliope, the first muse of epic poetry. Clio, the second muse of history. Erato, the third muse of Lyric. Euterpe, the fourth muse of song. Melpomene, the fifth muse of tragedy. Polyhymnia, the sixth muse of hymns. Terpsichore, the seventh muse of dance. Thalia, the eighth muse of comedy. Urania, the ninth muse of astronomy. We all bless you with this gift of protection."
The nine Muses burst into multiple tones of colorful sparkles and enveloped Gabrielle. A moment later they were gone.
Eli's footfalls was heard as he made his way to the confounded Amazon. "They offered to defend your blind side from any type of danger."
Gabrielle gathered her wits. "Are they dead, similar to the Fates and most of the Greek deities?"
"The Twilight is still running its course." The answer was vague.
"And humans are still pawns of gods' games." Gabrielle pronounced, exasperated.
"We all have our roles, no matter how good, or bad." Eli hugged her, speaking in a serious tone. "Don't give in to hate and jealousy. Xena loves you dearly, more than any other person, or thing. When you choose to forgive her, tell the Warrior Princess she must set right what has been torn asunder. Be safe Gabrielle, and don't forget what I'd said."
After that phrase, Eli vanished and the warriors in the armory moved around once more. Gabrielle pondered on the visitation of her old mentor and the nine goddesses that bestowed some form of aegis on her. It was too much to take in.
'The Twilight, another world, Omphalos stone?' she glimpsed her bonding ring and something else clicked in Gabrielle's brain, coaxing her dismay. "Xena's ring!"
The young blonde grabbed her weapons and the saddle bag that held her scrolls. Next, Gabrielle quickly exit the armory, ignoring the greetings from most of the Samurai and ran to her cabin. Once she arrived in her room, the Amazon saw the basin of water that held Xena's ring was replaced with a new one.
Gabrielle dropped her items and slowly trekked to the table, berating herself for leaving the ring in the old empty bowl. Covering her face, she halted the tears that threaten to fall. When she recovered, greenish blue irises caught the gleam of the golden circlet beside the basin, causing her to swell with happiness at the sight. Picking up the gold ring, Gabrielle laid on the cot as a teardrop from relief streamed free.
While holding the band close to her heavy heart, unbeknownst to Gabrielle, a design of protection was forming on the blessed bard's upper, middle, and lower back.
To Be Continued...