Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter four of "Running Around." The group will be assisting in aiding the wounded on both sides of the war very soon. I am looking forward to doing that. Stay tuned for chapter five.
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Chapter 4: Unexpected Reunion
A red deer walked through a slightly denser part of the forest around fifteen minutes later. It stopped at a bush and grabbed a mouthful of leaves. It proceeded to chew. A distant explosion sounded, but it didn't move one bit. It swallowed them with a soft gulp. It got another mouthful of leaves. It chewed them quickly before swallowing.
Whinnying caught the deer's attention. It looked ahead and bleated softly as Xena, Gabrielle, Eric, Snow White, and William passed while pulling Argo, Amber, Kiki, Lina, and Moses along. Solan was still walking alongside his mother. It turned back to the bush and proceeded to nibble on a leaf. He looked around, cringing at distant explosions sounding.
"This forest feels like it goes on forever," Solan said annoyingly.
"We will reach the end soon, Solan. I can feel it," Xena responded in a gentle voice.
"Your feelings are almost always right, Mom," Solan whispered in much hopefulness.
"It is funny I never got a bad feeling about Ravenna when she married my father. It was as if she had cast a spell on the whole court without anyone knowing. It was only after I found him dead that I realized her monstrous nature," Snow White explained sadly.
"I have no doubt you were scared when Finn grabbed you to keep you from escaping with my father and me," William commented.
"I had no idea what she was going to do with me at first," Snow White admitted and swallowed hard. "She decided to keep me alive because she thought royal blood could be of use to her. I didn't know what she meant until Finn revealed she wanted my heart. Then I realized she meant to kill me."
"You were smart to arm yourself with a nail, though you had not had any education beyond eight years old," Gabrielle complimented.
"Some magpies actually showed me the nail near the window of my cell. I grabbed it and hid it before Finn came in," Snow White commented.
"But you still gave him a horrible scratch across his face," Eric said with a smirk. "You fled your cell and slipped through the sewer system to the ocean. Then you used a white horse the magpies guided you to in order to flee into the Dark Forest."
"I realized the magpies were possessed by fairies when we entered the Sanctuary with the dwarves," Snow White said, glancing at him.
"It was there that I realized Muir was right. I had eyes, but I did not see," Eric added. "I did come to see afterward."
Snow White was about to say something when a groan came out of nowhere. Everyone came to a stop. The horses whinnied uncertainly. They bobbed their heads three times before digging their hooves through the soil twice. They adjusted the metal bits in their mouths.
"What was that?" Gabrielle asked as she looked around.
"I have no idea," William admitted with a fearful gulp.
Xena snorted while holding up her hand. "Stay close, everyone. Do not make any sudden moves."
Xena clicked her tongue while pulling on Argo's reins. Her horse began walking slowly, as did she. Gabrielle, Eric, Snow White, and William followed her with Amber, Kiki, Lina, and Moses. Solan did the same. Xena came to a group of bushes under two trees. She went around the second tree at a slow pace. The others came up behind her. They rounded the second tree in which they found a twenty-four-year-old man, who was sitting on the ground. They came to a stop.
The man groaned as he grabbed his right leg, which was wrapped in a bandage stained with blood. He was slightly taller than Xena was. His skin was somewhat tanned. His black hair was short and curly. He wore a brown headband across his forehead. His eyes were light brown and contained freckles. The backs of his hands had scars going across them. A backpack and waterskin were lying next to him. Snow White emitted a sharp exhale.
"It's an injured man!" Snow White blurted out.
"Is he from Passili or Kiforth?" Solan wondered.
Xena shook her head. "It doesn't matter. He needs help."
Gabrielle suppressed a yawn. "Let me assist you, Xena."
Xena and Gabrielle let go of their horses' reins. The bard reached into the saddlebag and pulled out bandages and a vial of poison. They went to the man's side. They got on their knees next to him. The warrior princess examined the bandage.
"This bandage is at least a day old," Xena whispered.
"It appears he was stabbed," Gabrielle suggested.
"I was," the man admitted and emitted a painful gasp. "It is not the most pleasant feeling in the world."
"I know the feeling," Xena responded and cleared her throat. "I am going to put a new bandage on for you."
"Okay," the man said with a nod.
Xena unwrapped the bandage and laid it aside. She took the vial from Gabrielle and dapped the poison on the wound. The man winced painfully, but he relaxed once the pain was gone. She gave it three more dabs, getting painful winces from him each time. She gave the vial back to Gabrielle, who handed her the bandage. She proceeded to wrap his leg.
"Thank you for treating my leg. What is your name?" the man asked, glancing at Xena.
"You're welcome. I'm Xena. This is Gabrielle, Solan, Eric, Snow White, and William," Xena introduced while motioning toward her friends and son with her head.
"The legendary warrior princess, her battling bard sidekick, and feisty son," the man whispered with a chuckle. "I never thought I would cross paths with you or the trio from Tabor. I grew up hearing stories about all of you."
"Haven't many people?" Snow White whispered.
"What are all of you doing in a warzone, especially you, Xena?" the man wondered, glancing at the warrior princess's baby bump. "This is not exactly the place for a pregnant woman like you to be. The same goes for Solan and Snow White."
"I know, but Solan, Gabrielle, and I were on our way to Mela when we ran into these citizens of Tabor. Our parties were taking shortcuts to get there," Xena explained. She finished wrapping his leg and tied the bandage in a knot. "What is your name?"
"My name is Belach," the man answered honestly.
Xena gasped in much shock, as did her friends and son. They opened and closed their mouths, but they could not get any words to form. Belach inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly.
"I know it sounds crazy, Xena, but it is me. I am the boy you befriended when you joined my father's army," Belach said truthfully.
"Belach, I can't believe you are alive!" Xena responded and choked back a sob. "Your father and I searched for you after those bandits killed your mother and sold you into slavery, but we never found you."
Belach ran his tongue all over the inside of his mouth. "It was not easy being a slave, Xena. I had multiple masters over the course of nine years. Some were kind, but others were cruel and would whip me over the slightest misstep. When I was sixteen, I escaped from my final master. He was a rich landowner who lived in Athens. He was as mean as a poisonous snake. I heard about your evil exploits, your son's birth, Ravenna's evil rule, Snow White's retaking her kingdom, and your good exploits."
"Since Borias was my father, that makes you my brother!" Solan said in amazement. He went to the young man's side and squatted next to him. "I never thought I would meet you! Mom told me all about you."
"Strange things happen every day, Solan," Belach admitted, looking at him. He held out his hand. "I am glad to finally meet you."
Solan took his brother's hand and shook it. "I'm glad to finally meet you too."
Xena smiled as Belach and Solan let go of each other. She stopped smiling and became serious. She rubbed her nose before biting her lip. Belach glanced at her, his breathing slow and steady.
"What happened after you escaped from slavery?" Xena asked.
"I made my way to a village called Milith. A retried war veteran named Felix took me in. I explained what happened. He told me he would protect me if someone came looking for me. Over the next six months, I learned to fight with a sword. I already knew how to live off the land as I learned from my kind masters. I wanted to find you, Xena, so I could show you I was alive and well. I wanted to help you turn from your dark path," Belach explained.
"I appreciate you wanted to do that," Xena commented gratefully and pushed his hair out of his face. "Solan and Gabrielle have helped me stay on the path of good."
"I spent my days travelling. I kept hoping I would reunite with you, but you were always one step ahead," Belach said, giving a shrug.
"What brings you to this warzone, Belach?" Eric wondered.
"I was travelling to a town called Nenana," Belach said. "I was told this was the shortest route to get there. I tried to find a safe way around the battle, but a group of Kiforth soldiers attacked me. I fought them off, but their leader stabbed me in the leg. I ran away from them as fast as I could. I hid in these bushes and bandaged my wound. I was lucky to have food and water with me. However, I would have run out eventually. I would have had to venture out to find help."
"Well, you are safe now," Gabrielle whispered, her voice showing relief.
"What we are going to do is get you to a place where you can rest. So, let's get you on Argo," Xena said.
"You are willing to give up your horse for me?" Belach asked in surprise.
"Yes," Xena admitted with a smile. "Besides, I have not been riding since I learned I was pregnant. It is too dangerous for me to do so."
"Thank you," Belach said and sniffled. "Thank you so much."
Xena stood up carefully and stepped aside, allowing Gabrielle to come closer to Belach. Gabrielle took his left arm and placed it around her neck. She slipped hers around his waist. She helped him up slowly. He lifted his injured leg off the ground as she guided him over to Argo. She assisted in getting him on her. Solan grabbed his brother's backpack and waterskin, as did Xena with the medical supplies.
Xena took the supplies to Amber's saddlebag and slipped them inside. She closed it with a soft sigh. She went to Argo to get her reins. Gabrielle did the same with her horse. Xena clicked her tongue twice and began walking as she pulled Argo behind her. The others followed suit with their horses. Argo, Amber, Kiki, Lina, and Moses swiveled their ears. Solan walked alongside Argo.