Disclaimers

Violence: Of course there is violence in this, its Xena Warrior Princess.

Copyright: Xena, Gabrielle, Melinda Pappas, Janice Covington, Argo, Velasca, and the Amazons all are owned by Universal/MCA and Renaissance Pictures.

Subtext: There is love between two women which if offends you, then don’t read this story.

 

Feedback: redhope@redhope.net

Webpage: http://www.redhope.net

 

Started: November 11, 2000 Saturday

Ended: January 8, 2004 Thursday

 

Series 1: The Binding of the Soulmates of Time           Series Number: 10              Story Number:

 

 

The Darkness: Protection

by Red Hope

 

Section 7

Part 16

“Let’s break,” ordered Amarice. She pulled her horse to a slow walk as she waited for the others to join her.

Teresa sighed in relief as she came up along side the Princess. “I never thought you’d stop,” she breathed and wiped a few snowflakes from her face.

The Princess faintly grinned yet it quickly fell. “We have to find them.”

“Well let’s not kill ourselves in the process,” protested Talon.

Amarice quickly turned her head to Talon. “I do not care what it takes to find them, Talon.” She narrowed her eyes some and quietly added, “You better not either.” She then suddenly spurred her mare into a gallop again.

“Great… now we gotta ride some more.” Teresa sighed and urged her horse back into a gallop.

“Nice one, Talon,” muttered Virginia. She shook her head and followed the group.

Talon sat there a little shocked but after a deep sigh, she spurred her mare into a gallop again.

The group galloped for another quarter of a candlemark until Amarice started to slow down but not stop. She was searching for something and nobody was sure what.

“Over there.” Amarice pointed to a dark mouth of a cave.

“Oh thank Artemis,” whispered Teresa. “Dry ground.”

“Come on.” The Princess directed her Amazons to the cave then stopped her horse. She dismounted, as did her Amazons. “Teresa, can you round up the wood?”

“Yeah sure,” replied Teresa. She was busy getting her tack off the horse.

“Virginia, take care of dinner?”

“Sure.” Virginia smiled and said, “I can make a mean stew.”

Amarice smiled over at the young Amazon. “Good to hear.” She then turned her head back to her horse while she unbuckled her saddlebags. “Talon, you and I are going to do some scouting.”

Talon opened her mouth but she didn’t say anything when amber eyes lifted to her. She simply nodded instead and dropped her gaze.

Within a quarter of a candlemark, the cave was settled in and Teresa would soon return with firewood. Virginia, however, was preparing to make a thick stew.

Amarice and Talon were bundling up tightly and checking their swords to make sure they didn’t stick from the frost. After they were ready, they treaded out of the cave and into the ankle deep snow.

“We’ll be back,” called Amarice.

“Be careful,” hollered Virginia.

“Stay close,” ordered the Princess to the older Amazon.

Talon sighed and shifted closer to her friend. “Where are we going?”

“I just want to look around.” Amarice eyes were darting around the white forest. “There’s has to be some kind of road or trail… something going to the compound. And if there is then the snow will be disturbed.” She then suddenly stopped and dropped her head back to the trees above. “You take the ground, I’ll take the trees.”

“Amarice that could be dan-”

“I’ll be fine,” cut off the Princess. She strolled over to a tree trunk, bent her knees then leaped.

Talon braced herself incase the younger woman slipped but she didn’t and she sighed in relief. She saw Amarice was already quickly moving through the trees. After shaking her head, she started into a jog to keep up with her. As her eyes quickly scanned about the forest, something dark caught her eyes. “Amarice,” she called.

“I see it.” Amarice turned and headed for the direction where she saw all the snow kicked up.

Talon’s jog turned into a run as she approached the area. As she got closer, she realized the dark patches were the ground where the snow had been uncovered. “I think we found it.” Suddenly she heard something land on the ground beside her. She looked at Amarice beside her.

“I think so too.” Amarice’s lips started to crease into a grin. “Let’s check it out.” She and Talon slowly approached the muddled up snow. It was clear that wagons had gone through this area along with a few horses.

Amarice stepped into an open part of the snow where the wagon wheels would have travelled. She bent down on her knees and studied the type of ground underneath. “It’s not a typical road.”

“That means it’s not travelled much and doesn’t go to a town.”

“Mmmm,” agreed the younger Amazon. She stood back up. “Let’s follow this.”

“Looks like they were going that way.” Talon pointed to the east. “You can see the snow has been thrown that way.”

The Princess reached up and pulled her hood back. “Come on.” She suddenly took off at a run down the exposed ground.

Talon followed behind but kept a certain distance to have a better view of the area. As they travelled ahead, she noted that a large grey mass ahead was starting to develop. She then tilted her head some when she heard something. She refocused her eyes ahead and her expression went into fear. Suddenly she sprinted even faster, grabbed Amarice and pulled her off the road.

The Princess quickly understood why and both of them leaped up into the trees. Amarice pulled her white hood back over her head to hide herself better in the white forest.

Talon was on the other side of the tree, bent down, and carefully watching three horsemen galloping.

The three horsemen continued to spur their horses harder into a gallop. They went flying underneath the tree that the Amazons were perched.

Amarice turned her head to the right and carefully watched them until they were gone in the distance. “That was close,” she breathed.

“Tell me about it.”

Amarice looked around the trunk and said, “Let’s get back to camp.” Her eyes flickered to the stone compound far ahead in the distance. “We found them.”

Talon looked at the compound and her thoughts went out to Xena and Gabrielle. From the corner of her eye, she saw Amarice land back on the ground. She jumped down as well and followed her friend back to camp.

 

Part 17

Gabrielle lay on her back, her eyes closed but her breathing very slow. She started to feel consciousness come to her and she urged her eyes to open. When her eyes opened and finally focused, she realized she was staring up at the cracked white ceiling overhead.

The warrior-bard groaned and rolled onto her stomach. Her body screamed in protest with sharp shots of pain but she ignored it. Carefully, she pulled her legs up under her then was able to force her upper body to lift her up. Gabrielle now had a clear view of the small barred window in the dungeon room. She realized now it was just after dawn. She knew she must have gone unconscious last night after Kyle had finished beating her. It was three candlemarks of pure beating from that mad woman and after Kyle left, Gabrielle had fallen onto her back and her eyes had rolled up; her body had shut down.

Gabrielle slightly adjusted her arms, which were still shackled behind her back. She felt and heard her right shoulder pop back into place and she winced in pain. She couldn’t image how her partner was doing. She thought in the middle of the night she had heard Xena’s screaming but she wasn’t sure.

Gabrielle let out a heavy sigh as she stared out of the barred window so far away. She wasn’t sure what to do and she had no plans. She could only hope Xena had some better thoughts and not feeling as hopeless as Gabrielle.

Suddenly her racing thoughts were cut off by the sound of a key opening the locked door. The small warrior couldn’t see who it was since her back was to the door. The person came in and walked to the front of the tense Amazon Queen.

“How is your morning?” inquired Renotta. She gazed down at Gabrielle and took note of her appearance. She couldn’t even count the number of bruises covering Gabrielle. And when she first came in, she’d counted at least a half of dozen whip marks on Gabrielle’s back. Then Gabrielle’s body was splotched with dried blood from either wounds or blood that had been oozing out earlier.

“Pleasant,” roughly replied Gabrielle. “Yours?”

“Lovely,” replied the emotionless woman. She turned away and walked over to the pegboard of torture weapons. “I believe your… partner suffered more than you,” she casually commented. Renotta turned around and stared at the younger woman. “I’m sure her screams brought you good dreams.”

Gabrielle didn’t reply but glared at the ex-Amazon. “What do you want with us?”

Renotta grinned and slowly approached her former Queen. “It's rather simple.” She tilted her head to one side and grinned. “Your own sacrifice will destroy your Nation.”

“You think my death will stop my Amazons?” hotly growled the Queen. “I don’t think so.”

“Oh we both know that’ll only be putting fuel in the fire.” Renotta puckered her lips some and strolled to the other side of the dungeon room. She turned around then finally said, “We plan to sell Xena.” She faintly grinned. “To the highest bidder that wants her… there are plenty of people that would love to have her head.”

Queen Gabrielle felt her heart drop but she never reflected it on her face. “What about me?”

“You are our shield from your Amazons.” Renotta slightly grinned. “They will not attack knowing you’re alive, we have you, and we will kill you if they interfere.” A deep laugh shook her body and she quietly added, “They cannot lose their chosen.”

“Then what?” urged the warrior-bard. “What’s the point of all of this? Of this hackneyed army?”

Renotta lifted an eyebrow some but slowly a grin destroyed her annoyed look. “Kyle and I are sick… disgusted with you and your Nation. We plan to wipe every last Amazon off this known-world. After that….” She shrugged and slowly approached the small woman. “We build our own female tribe of warriors… real warriors.”

Gabrielle felt her hatred for this woman growing with each word she spoke. She could not understand such betrayal and she could only hope she never would understand it. Yet at the same time, as she studied the woman she knew she might be able to still pull Renotta apart into pieces. “And who do you plan to follow? Ares?” she taunted.

Renotta laughed and shook her head; she was completely amused. “That would not be very… woman like.” Her grin broadened as she tilted her head. “Perhaps you remember the goddess… Velasca.”

The warrior-bard tried not to flinch or show any indication of surprise. “How couldn’t I?”

“Oh that’s right,” taunted Renotta, “you would recall her.” She nodded a few times; a smug look on her face. “She was the one to burn your village… killed your family.” She now started to walk around Gabrielle.

The Amazon Queen turned her head to the right, her eyes following the ex-Amazon. “You’re insane if you think freeing Velasca is the answer.” Her eyes narrowed and she quietly added, “She’s only immortal now.”

“Yes, I’ve heard how Artemis took her godhood.” Renotta continued to circle the smaller woman. “However if a god can take it away they can give it back.”

Gabrielle darkly laughed. “You expect Artemis to return her godhood?”

Renotta suddenly stopped in front of the warrior-bard. “Oh no… I expect Ares to do it. I think he might be quite interested in a deal.”

“And what could you have that he would want?”

A huge grin pulled at Renotta’s lips. “His chosen.” She noted how Gabrielle’s eyes darkened.

“But how can you sell her and give her to Ares?”

Renotta shrugged and walked around the Queen. She headed for the door and called, “Everybody, even the gods, will be bidding for your soulmate.”

Gabrielle heard the heavy door open and close behind her. She suddenly let out a deep breath and one she hadn’t known she’d been holding. Suddenly her mind started to race with thoughts and ideas. She tried to process what was happening and could happen to her and Xena. She had to think of something to stop these two insane women from caring out their plans. Not only did the fate of her Amazons rest in her hands but the fate of hundreds of innocent lives. These two women were incredibly dangerous but their plans to free Velasca was beyond terrifying.

Deep inside, Gabrielle felt as if she’d come to realize that fighting for the Greater Good this time could mean a heavy price. With a shake of her head, she bit her lip and tried to remain in control of her emotions. She had to keep her mind focused with the problems at hand and ways to solve them. And only if she could talk to Xena then she could organize her thoughts better.

Yet as Gabrielle remained on her knees, beaten and battered then chained, she could only feel a sense of hopelessness. Here she rested on her knees with no power or control over the situation. She knew so many people depended on her and it seemed as if there was little she could do to prevent it.

As doubtful and frustrating thoughts crossed her mind, she began to heavily breathe. Gabrielle gradually hung her head down and her eyes slipped shut. Her chest tightened and her hands fisted up behind her. Suddenly all her emotions and thoughts spawned her anger and something very dark inside of her erupted.

 

Part 18

Teresa pushed the wood around in the fire. She sighed and leaned back against the cool cavern wall. She’d been in here for the past three candlemarks, alone. She glanced over to her right, out of the cavern where the land was thickly coated in white snow.

She now realized it’d been about five candlemarks since Virginia had left at first light. Amarice had sent Virginia back to the village to retrieve Ephiny and rest of the Nation then lead them here. Not long after Virginia’s departure, Amarice and Talon left to do some recognizance work on the compound. They’d been gone for over two candlemarks so that just left Teresa here alone.

With a grunt, Teresa continued to sharpen her Amazon sword. She knew a battle would be coming soon and she didn’t plan to have a dull blade to protect her. As she sat there sharpening her blade, she wondered how the Princess and Talon were making out with the recognizance mission. She’d seen Amarice stuffing away a quill and a few scrolls, which she figured were for mapping the area out. She knew once Ephiny arrived, the plans to attack the compound would unfold and undoubtedly they would attack with fury.

The Amazon could never think in all of the history of the Nation of any queen being kidnapped. Yet as she considered it more, there was never a queen quite like Gabrielle. That made a faint grin tug at Teresa’s lips because she was one of many that saw the Queen as some mortal goddess. She figured that was why so many Amazons would risk their lives and soul for this one Queen and her ideals. She wasn’t sure if she’d been thoroughly brainwashed or just believing in something that needed to be believed in for the good of the Nation.

Teresa though figured if it was brainwashing, Gabrielle had done a damn good job. Not only had she managed to brainwash a Nation of over a thousand stubborn women but also the Warrior Princess. Teresa quietly laughed at the idea and she shook her head as she drew her whetstone down the blade. No, Gabrielle hadn’t brainwashed one single person but had reached each individual Amazon’s heart and made them open their eyes to the future. Gabrielle had brought hope back to the Nation and it was set her out of the rest of the queens or any queen.

The third in command stopped sharpening her sword when she heard the birds outside go quiet. Quietly, Teresa set her whetstone aside and gradually stood up, her sword at her side. Teresa went to the entrance of the cave and peered out. She knew it would only take a second to see any disturbance of enemies since the snow made such a bright white backdrop.

Teresa scanned to the south and suddenly a smile formed on her face. “Thank Artemis.” She sheathed her sword and walked into the cavern. Hurriedly, she swung her white cloak on then rushed out to greet her Regent.

Ephiny rode on horseback at a full gallop. Five other horses flanked her and on those horses were Eponin, Virginia, Masika, queen Caitriona , and queen Mairead.

Teresa was taken aback by the fact queen Mairead was riding with Ephiny but she wouldn’t question it either. Instead, she sheathed her sword and approached the group with a smile. “Regent,” she called.

Ephiny warmly smiled then came to a stop in font of Teresa. “How are things, Teresa?”

“Quiet,” replied the third in command. She watched as the Regent dismounted along with the other women following suit. “Amarice and Talon are not here.” She paused and saw the questioning look on Ephiny’s face. “She and Talon are doing recognizance on the compound.”

“Good.” Ephiny pulled her hood back and took her mare’s reins.

“Where is the rest?” inquired the third in command.

“They’re about half a candlemark behind,” replied the weapons master.

The third in command tilted her head to the side. “How many Amazons?”

“Eight hundred,” reported queen Mairead.

Teresa had a smug look. “I’m sure that’ll be sufficient.”

“Let’s hope,” agreed the Regent. “I’m going to need you, Solari, and Eponin to get the Amazons settled down.” She gave a quick look at her weapons master then back to Teresa. “I want to get this area cleared of snow so we can make camp.”

“I’m sure it won’t take too long with all the Amazons,” commented the third in command.

“I would think not,” agreed the Regent. She walked passed the third in command to take her horse to Teresa’s horse. “I made sure to bring a wagon load of shovels just for this.”

Teresa laughed despite herself. “Good idea.”

Ephiny flashed a grin and started to untack her horse. She was grateful to have her feet on brown and green ground instead of snow since Teresa and the others must have shovelled the snow out of the way earlier for the horses. Soon the others were joining beside her to get their horses settled down.

“I think I’ll go assist Solari with the army.”

“That would be great,” agreed the Regent. “They should be along soon.”

“Did any queen stay back in the village?”

“We left queen Gloria there,” commented queen Caitriona.

Teresa faintly nodded then took a step back. “I’m going to help Solari.”

“Thanks, TC,” called the Regent. She watched the third in command leave then she returned to untacking her horse. It wasn't long before the Amazon Army had arrived in the surrounding area. Immediately Teresa and Solari ordered the Amazons to begin shovelling to clear out the area. They knew they needed to clear out the snow before the sunset and everything froze over in the icy night.

Ephiny had taken up residence in the cave after deciding there was plenty of room. She figured she could squeeze in all of the Royal Line along with the queens. After she'd dropped her stuff off in one spot in the back of the cave, she came out to see two Amazons at a full gallop towards the camp. "Amarice," she whispered and a smile pulled at her lips. She buttoned up her cloak and stepped out of the cave, headed for the Princess.

Amarice slowed her horse down and to her right Talon appeared at her side.

"Looks like they made it," commented the older Amazon.

The Princess briskly nodded her head. "There's Ephiny… I'm sure she'll be dying to know what we found."

Talon suddenly grinned. "I think she'll be happy."

"Me too," agreed the smirking Princess. She pulled on her horse's reins and went into a walk.

"Amarice," called the Regent. She shifted through several snow shovelling Amazons and met up with Amarice and Talon on the edge of the camp. "How went the recon?"

"Excellent," reported the Princess. "I don't think it'll be too bad." She halted her mare and dismounted with ease.

Talon did the same and she flanked Amarice's right side. The group made a beeline to the left of the cave where all the horses were being slowly temporarily fenced in for now.

Ephiny stepped ahead and opened the small gate to let Talon and Amarice in first. "Did you map the compound?"

"Yes we did," answered Talon. She was slowly untacking her horse.

"Talon did most of the mapping," admitted Amarice. "I did a guestimation on the forces."

Ephiny stood aside and watched her Amazons; her arms folded over her chest. "How many?"

Amarice hefted her saddle off while replying to the question. "I'd say around two hundred… give or take twenty."

"All foot?"

"Yes," answered Amarice. "However there is one weapon we might want to worry about."

Ephiny furrowed her eyebrows.

The Princess untacked the bridle and crown piece. She turned around while wrapping them up. "They have a catapult."

"Oh centaur shit," seethed Ephiny. "Just one though?"

"It looks like it," confirmed Amarice. She placed her tack on top of her saddle and carried it off to the side of the fence line. When she came back over, she added, "And there's something funny about those soldiers."

Ephiny tilted her head to the side in question.

Amarice sighed and looked at Talon. "Tell her what you thought."

Talon instantly saw sharp amber eyes flicker to her. She took a deep breath and explained her idea. "If I'm right, I think they're Persian soldiers."

"What?" bellowed Ephiny, her arms falling from her chest.

Amarice cringed and noted that several Amazons near by had stopped carrying out their duties.

The Regent noticed it too and she motioned for Amarice and Talon to follow her. "Come on."

Talon flashed a worry look to Amarice.

The Princess just shook her head and followed Ephiny to the cave.

When they made it into the cave, Ephiny pulled them further away from the mouth then started to pace some.

"Why Persian?" insisted Ephiny. She stopped and eyed Talon with a serious almost deathly look.

Talon sighed and shifted a little uncomfortable from one foot to the other. "They have those distinctive clothes… large oval standing shields, spears and the dull yellow chest padding." She paused then added, "Their helmets are those tall pointed ones."

Ephiny sighed and started to rub her forehead and walked away. Her mind was reeling at the new information. She could only imagine where these Persian soldiers came from and how Renotta and Kyle managed to get them. She turned around and saw Solari just coming into the cave.

Solari was depositing her stuff by Ephiny's when she'd caught the distraught and upset look on her lover's face. "What's going on?" She approached the group.

"Go ahead," ordered Ephiny to Talon.

Talon gave out a heavy sigh and looked at the second in command. "Renotta and Kyle have what I think are Persian soldiers."

"What?" Solari stared at Talon in disbelief and hoped it was just a joke. She soon realized that Talon wasn't and she shook her head. "Persian?"

"Yes," urged Talon.

Amarice quickly cut into the conversation. "They have the weaponry and clothing of Persian."

Ephiny shook her head. "How could they have gotten Persian soldiers? It's impossible."

"Maybe they struck a deal with Persia," suggested Talon.

Amarice furrowed her eyebrows as something occurred to her, her head dropped forward.

"How big is the army?" inquired Solari.

"Not too bad… around two hundred."

Solari nodded at Talon's answer. "Anything else formative?"

"Catapult," added Talon.

The second in command shook her head. "Cute… real cute." She glanced over at Ephiny, who had been listening.

"Eph?" Amarice lifted her head and looked at the Regent. "Didn't Xena get into a fight with the Persians awhile back?"

Both Solari and Ephiny thought about it then they looked at each other in fear.

"Oh gods," whispered Ephiny. "They can't be…."

Solari closed her eyes and walked off for a moment, a surge of frustration charging her.

"Amarice," hastily started Ephiny, "was there anything on their shields, anything at all?"

"There was an image of an animal," replied the Princess.

Solari spun around and approached the Princess. "What animal?" she hotly asked.

"I don't…" Amarice looked at Talon for help.

"I think it was a bull," whispered Talon, her expression constructed in confusion.

"Are you sure?" Ephiny looked between both Amazons.

Amarice slowly nodded. "It was a bull."

"Oh sweet Artemis," moaned Solari. "It can't be them." She looked at Ephiny in fear.

"Go get Masika, Solari," ordered Ephiny.

The second in command turned around and raced out of the cave in search of Masika.

"What's wrong?" hastily asked Talon. "What's the bull have to do with anything?"

"You know how Ares's symbol is either the dog or vulture?"

Both Amarice and Talon nodded at Ephiny's question.

"Well in Persia their god of war's symbol is the bull."

"So these soldiers believe in their god of war?" questioned the Princess. "How is that a big deal?"

Ephiny shook her head. "They just don't believe in the god of war, they are followers… blessed or cursed by him." She shifted her attention to Solari returning with Masika at her side.

"What is wrong, Regent?" urged the worried council member.

"Masika, what do you know about the Persian god of war?"

Masika suddenly became more worried but she replied, "Dev is the god of war… a demon and very ruthless. He'd make Ares's warfare look like child's play." She saw the pale look on Ephiny's face. "Why?"

Amarice swallowed and looked at the elder Amazon. "Renotta and Kyle have Persian soldiers." She paused. "They have bulls on their shields and chests."

"Bulls?" Masika's eyes suddenly widened. "Oh Artemis… that is not the god of war."

"Who is it?" urged Ephiny.

Masika turned her head to Ephiny. "The god of madness… Aesma Daeva." She closed her eyes and felt her heart drop. "He thrives on absolute madness, anger, hatred, lust and…." Her dark eyes gradually opened. "And revenge."

"They must be after Xena," hastily concluded Amarice. "I remember Xena and Gabrielle once talking about how Xena destroyed a small Persian Army." She shook her head. "I didn't believe it at first but… Xena is capable of something like that."

"She did," confirmed Ephiny. "I remember it now. Gabrielle had sprained her ankle, ended up getting shot by a poisoned arrow so Xena had to fight them alone."

"How many did she kill?" quietly asked Solari.

"At least a hundred," answered the Regent.

Masika was shaking her head. "They must be seeking revenge on Xena."

"But why involve us?" countered Talon. "Why take the Queen?"

"Maybe Renotta promised Xena's head to them in return for their help," explained Ephiny.

"That and Aesma might want Xena's soul." Masika had her lips pressed together hard and was thinking. "If I recall right, Aesma and Asto Vidatu would chase souls of the deceased trying to capture them… especially the souls headed to heaven."

"Heaven?" asked the confused Princess.

Masika looked at Amarice. "Heaven is our Elysian Fields." She looked back to the entire group. "If Aesma and Asto get these souls… they just gain more power in the mortal world. The more innocent or more taint the soul, the more power."

"And I think its safe to say Gabrielle and Xena are the extremes of good and evil."

"They are," agreed Masika. "On one hand, Xena has brought bloodshed to the world in half her life… the ultimate evil. Yet now she fights for the greater good." She sighed and then added, "Gabrielle was always innocent until she first killed and its only progressed."

Ephiny had been listening and considered Masika's analysing of Xena and Gabrielle. She looked up from her ground and her eyes locked on Masika. "Aesma and Asto… do you think they're setting this up? This is just some small tactic in the grand scheme of things."

"For what?" asked the confused elder.

"Gabrielle is feeding off of the darkness and more precisely Xena's. What if this is a setup to destroy the last of Gabrielle's innocence." Ephiny felt her throat tighten and her body went cold. "To make Gabrielle evil."

"If its true," whispered Masika, "then we've already lost our Queen."

 

Part 20

All of the queens nodded their heads.

"I think that's the best idea," agreed Mairead, her eyes floated back down to the drawn map in the middle of the table.

"What about the catapult? We still haven't touched that problem," spoke queen Nyx.

"Nyx is right, "agreed queen Laetus. "We need to figure out how to stop that catapult."

Ephiny had her arms folded and her mind was running through ideas.

"How many archers are there?" spoke up queen Eilee.

Ephiny glanced over at the weapons master.

Eponin formed her shoulders and reported, "Two hundred and fifty."

"What of calvary?"

Eponin looked at Queen Liz and replied, "Two hundred." She then focused her attention on all ten queens, Ephiny, Masika, and the Princess. "The other three hundred and fifty are warriors."

"Thank you," replied the Regent. Her eyes lowered to the map and she mainly staring at the 'C' that marked the catapult in the compound.

"What about using the archers?" inquired Princess.

"How?" Queen Parvulus looked at the Princess in question. "To stop the catapult?"

"Well… in part, yes," agreed Amarice. She bent forward and pointed at the left wall of the compound. "There's a wide ledge here… maybe we can use that."

"What you thinking, Amarice?" asked the Regent.

The Princess let out a heavy sigh as her creative mind toyed with ideas. "Do we have any bottles or jars with lids?"

"Firebombs?" asked the weapons master, a grin on her face.

Amarice grinned back. "That's what I'm thinking." She shrugged and glanced at the catapult marking then looked back up. "I mean… it’s a wood catapult, we can easily burn it."

"We are going to need to destroy it before attacking," agreed queen Mairead.

"Too many will get killed by it." Queen Caitriona was shaking her head. "But getting on that ledge would be risky… its close range."

"So we do spotters," countered the Princess. "We select around twenty-five firebomb throwers, twenty-five archers, and twenty-five warriors… they back each other up."

"They just might make it." Ephiny's head was bobbing up and down.

"Do we have climbing ropes?" interjected queen Zahra.

Again everybody's head turned to the weapons master.

Eponin slightly grinned and replied, "We have ropes and we have the bottles." She tilted her head some. "But we'll have to sacrifice our wine for a flammable substance."

"That's fine," assured Ephiny. "The next problem will be the gates."

"How thick were the gates?" Queen Lisa had her eyes locked on the Princess.

Amarice closed her eyes and tried to recall in her head what they looked like. "They were thick, a little old… a bit cracked and they were… swinging gates." Her eyes opened again.

"Use a battering ram."

Everybody's head turned to Masika, all a bit shocked.

Eponin was chuckling at the response Masika got so she decided to draw their attention off the elder. "I have some axes, we can chop a tree down and get one built."

"How about ladders?" Queen Lisa skimmed her index finger around the walls. "We can dropped them against the wall, get up there, and take care of any archers on the wall while we ram the gates."

"Good idea," agreed the Regent.

"When should we attack?" questioned queen Caitriona.

"At night," first offered queen Mairead.

Ephiny was considering the idea. "Maybe at dawn." She looked at Mairead. "I don't want our Amazons in there at night. It's too risky to make mistakes."

"What about sending the catapult team in before day break," offered Amarice. "They can take the catapult out first, then signalled it's done then we can attack."

"Amarice is right." Eponin folded her arms over her chest. "If we let the catapult team go in first and take out the catapult before Apollo makes his journey, we'll have an advantage."

"Well…." Ephiny turned her head to Amarice. "Since you're so inclined on this catapult tactic, you get to lead the team."

Amarice suddenly brightened up, all her teeth showing. "I'd love to."

The Regent just chuckled and looked back at the rest of the queens. "We're going to need to break the Amazons down into waves, figure out positioning, traps… stuff like that." She looked over at Eponin. "Why don't you and Amarice go ahead and take care of the catapult team. Recommend who you think should go." She grasped the edge of the table. "Then get organized on this battering ram, the firebombs, and ladders."

"Of course, Ephiny." Eponin signalled for Amarice to follow her. "Anything else?"

"No, that's all. I'll call for you if something comes up."

"Alright." Eponin started out of the cave with the Princess behind her.

"Oh, Eponin?" echoed the Regent's voice.

Eponin did a few back steps and partially turned around. "Regent?"

"Ask Solari to get in here when she has a chance."

"Alright," called the weapons master. She turned and hurried out of the cave.

Amarice waited at the mouth and when Eponin joined her, she gave a faint smile.

"You think you're ready for this?" quietly asked the weapons master.

The Princess glanced over and saw concern on Eponin's face. "Yeah, I can handle it."

"Reece, you're going to be right on the front." Eponin had a sceptic look. "You're going to be very vulnerable."

Amarice let out a heavy sigh and she whispered, "Its not me I'm worried about." She bit the inside of her mouth. "I'm worried about my sister."

"Rodhiya?" Eponin shook her head in confusion. "Why? She can handle herself."

"I know but she's my sister." Amarice crossed her arms over her chest. She gazed at the setting sun. "No matter how good she is, she can still get hurt."

"So can you," reminded the weapons master. She heard Amarice grumble but both of them knew it was true. Eponin remained silent as they entered into the gigantic camp that was now cleared of snow.

"Its great to see the ground," commented Amarice.

Eponin chuckled. "It is," she agreed. "Come on, let's find Solari then figure out your team."

For the next two candlemarks, Eponin and Amarice formed the catapult strike team. Eponin made sure to pick out a mix of excellent to good warriors and archers. After the team of seventy-five Amazons were selected, Amarice and Eponin briefed them to their mission. Each Amazon accepted the mission with full loyalty to carry it out. Eponin then directed the team to they area where the supplies wagons were stationed. There they found two wagons that were loaded with various things but what they were interested in were the bottles.

Amarice and her team removed the bottles, gathered as many wine skins as they could, flint stones, and rags. They then set the supplies aside to work on the following morning. Eponin then informed Amarice she should stay with her team tonight and work with them on some attack plans. The Princess had agreed and thanked Eponin for her help.

Eponin went to the cave and entered it where Ephiny was finishing up with the queens. Eponin waited until the meeting broke and all the queens filtered out. She approached Solari and the Regent. "How'd it go?"

"Good," replied Ephiny. "We're breaking up the forces into three groups." She motioned for Eponin to come closer to the table. "We're going to have the ground forces, calvary forces, and trees forces. The ground forces are broken into three waves, three waves of tree, and two waves of calvary."

"Each ground and tree force is assigned a queen or two," added Solari.

Eponin did the mental calculations. "That's leaves one queen though?"

Ephiny nodded her head. "That would be queen Zahra. She's incharge of traps… making them and using them."

"Okay." Eponin lowered her eyes to the map where she saw fresh writing on the map. "What are the waves?"

"The first wave, which is here." Ephiny pointed to the line of trees just ahead of the compound. "Will be run by Aureus and Laetus." Her finger thin slid back to the east where it rested on another note. "This is the second wave with Mairead and Caitriona." Her head lifted, her eyes locking with Eponin. "Mairead is going to be in charge of the battering ram team. You need to work with her."

"Alright," agreed the weapons master.

"The third wave is Parvulus and Eilee… they work well together." Ephiny tilted her head as she folded her arms. "The archers will be in the trees for the most part, picking off what they can. They'll be in three waves and moving with each wave of ground Amazons. Nyx, Lisa, and Liz each running a wave."

"And the calvary?" inquired the weapons master.

Ephiny quickly pointed at the north and south side of the compound. "They will be in these locations. I will be in command of one then you and Solari in command of the other."

"One question," started Eponin, "Why doesn't the first wave of ground forces not have the batting ram? We'll need to get in there."

Solari looked up from the map. "Our guess is once the catapult strike team takes out the catapult and Amarice retreats, they'll send out a force."

Eponin nodded her head. "That makes sense."

"Is there anything else you can think of, Ep that we haven't covered?"

The weapons master was shaking her head at Ephiny's question. She then peered up and said, "I'm concerned about Amarice though."

"Why?" Ephiny shifted her weight onto her right foot.

Eponin eased out a sigh. "I just don't think she's going to watch her back. She's still a bit young, Eph."

"I know," whispered the Regent. She chewed on the inside of her lip as she considered her options.

"What about Talon?" Solari glanced between the two women. "We can send her as Amarice's body guard."

"That's a thought."

Eponin nodded her head in agreement. "We should do that."

"Talk to her about it, Ep." Ephiny reached forward and pulled the map off the table. "Talon will watch her."

"I will," promised the weapons master.

Ephiny was rolling up the map but her attention went to her second in command. "We're going to need some runners."

"Leon and Aster?"

Ephiny nodded at Solari's suggestion. "We need a third… maybe a forth too."

"Virginia," added Eponin.

"Janelle and Karena," popped in Solari. "Those two are still too weak to be fighting.

"Good idea." Ephiny then furrowed her eyebrows and looked at Solari. "Why the Hades didn't those two stay back in the village?"

Solari gave out a frustrated sigh. "They think they owe a debt for screwing up."

"Sweet Artemis." Ephiny squeezed the map scroll and tied it up. "Fine, they can be runners. Hopefully that'll keep them out of trouble."

"Hopefully," muttered Eponin.

"Take care of informing the runners, Solari." Ephiny tapped the leather covered map scroll on the table a few times. "Anything else?"

"I think that covers it," confirmed Solari.

"Alright. Let's get things organized," instructed the Regent. She, Solari, and Eponin left the cave to see how the Amazons were making out.

 

Part 21

Ephiny, the Regent of the Amazons, ducked out of the cave and was instantly hit by a freezing wind gust. She reached back and pulled her hood over her head then continued on her way. She was looking for Eponin and Solari along with Amarice. It'd been almost two days since they'd arrive here, she expected everybody to prepared for battle by dawn tomorrow.

As Ephiny strolled through the camp, she'd look over her Amazons and watch them prepping their armour and weapons. When she turned her head to the right, she could make out the huge battering ram strapped down in a wagon for tomorrow's attack. Then off to her left were twenty racks that held bows and quivers, ready to be grabbed at a moments notice.

Ephiny felt a chill ripple up her back as she looked away and pushed through several more Amazon tents. Just ahead, she saw Amarice standing up over a large group of Amazons and talk with them. She was going over the plans one last time for tomorrow catapult attack. Ephiny came up to the side of the group and just stood there and listened.

"After we get that catapult well on fire, we're to get down off that ledge," reminded Amarice in a loud voice. "When I say retreat, you Amazons need to haul feathers out of there." Amarice watched all her Amazons nodded their heads. "Then we're to join up with the first wave."

"What happens if they don't send out a force?" called an Amazon.

Amarice's attention went to that Amazon. "Then queen Mairead will be instructed to bring her battering ram team forward." She paused. "We'll smash their gates in and if that's the case then the archers need to back up." She went quiet and scanned each Amazon's face. She didn't see any fear, confusion, or misunderstanding. "Alright Amazons, get some rest and be ready very early before dawn to attack."

The Princess stepped back as all the Amazons dispersed and went their separate ways. She then turned and found Ephiny watching her. She smiled some and went over to the Regent.

"How goes it?"

Amarice nodded a few times. "I think they're ready."

"Good." Ephiny folded her arms over her chest. "Are you ready?"

The Princess tried not to get annoyed at the question. She knew Ephiny was only asking out of concern. "Yes," she promised.

Ephiny faintly nodded then she took a step closer. "There is one thing, Reece." She saw how curious the young Amazon was now. "I'm sending Talon with you."

"Eph-" Amarice fell short on her protest when Ephiny raised a hand for silence.

"Don't argue about this, Amarice." Ephiny dropped her hand. "I'm doing this not only as your Regent but as your friend." She reached up and grasped the Amazon's shoulders. "We can't afford to let you get hurt, Reece." She searched Amarice's eyes. "You're Gabrielle's chosen legacy. You're next in line."

Amarice closed her eyes then started to shake her head. "No… no." Her fiery amber eyes opened again. "You are, Ephiny… you're the Regent."

"Yes, Regent… I'm merely a Regent… a substitute." Ephiny squeezed the young Amazon's shoulders again. "I am not the Queen nor the Princess. Gabrielle chose you, Amarice."

Amarice's shoulders suddenly slumped down as this concept wrapped around in her mind. "Why?" Her eyes focused back on Ephiny. "Why'd she choose me? What is so special about me?"

"I don't know Gabrielle's exact reasons, Amarice but…." Ephiny nodded a little. "I think she sees her younger self in you." She tilted her head to one side and smiled. "Young, adventuress, idealistic, lost, confident, always learning, loyal... and innocent." She saw how confused Amarice was now. "She made an excellent choice."

Amarice wasn't sure what to say or even think.

"Talon is going to protect you," whispered Ephiny. "As Gabrielle would want it. Is that clear?"

Amarice was hesitant at first but she slowly nodded. "Yes."

"Good." Ephiny squeezed Amarice's shoulder then pulled her in for a hug. "You'll be fine."

Amarice hugged the older Amazon back but whispered, "I rather they be okay right now."

Ephiny sighed and tightened her hug. "They will be," she promised. She pulled back from the hug then said, "Come with me, I need to speak with Solari and Ep."

"Alright." Amarice started walking with Ephiny.

Within a few minutes, Ephiny and Amarice caught with the other two Amazons. They all went through the plans again and checked their list to make sure things were in ordered. Once again, Amarice was reminded to be ready a candlemark before dawn. The entire Nation would break camp a candlemark and half before dawn to setup in the woods. They could only estimate what the battle would be like against two hundred Persian soldiers that followed the god of madness.

As the last candlemarks of day continued, the Amazon Nation did their last preparations for battle. All the Amazons had been broken down into their teams and assigned their queen or queens. Their weapons were at the ready, their armour shined and cleaned, the horses prepared to be saddled in a minute's notice, and their war paint was now being coated onto their faces and bodies.

Before sunset, Ephiny briefed the Nation of the overall battle tactics and fuelled them with ambition to win. She reminded her Amazons to sleep with their swords tonight and masks at their sides. The small Persian army was expecting them and Queen Gabrielle needed the strength of all her Amazons. After her speech and the cheering, Ephiny gestured for the war ceremony to begin for tonight.

For a couple of candlemarks, the war ceremony took place around a gigantic bond fire in the middle of the camp. Ephiny was sure that by now that Renotta and Kyle knew they were here between the defying chanting and beacon like fire glowing so far around. Ephiny didn't care whether the ex-Amazons knew or not, she'd already made plans to flatten the Persian army and bring Kyle and Renotta to justice. And most of all, she had every intent to save Xena and Gabrielle at any price.

As Ephiny's eyes scanned the hundreds of Amazons in the camp, she already knew they'd win the battle tomorrow. She didn't know if they'd win the war and she didn't know the costs. Deep inside, she was scared and fearful and not of her enemies but of her Queen and Xena. She could not imagine what the two warriors were enduring and what kind of evil emotions breed in their minds. The mere thought of that level of darkness made Ephiny cold to the bone. Ephiny was not sure if she even had the sanity to survive such torture and be able to keep any remote scrap of hope. She couldn't begin to think how Gabrielle and Xena were doing it… if they were.

Slowly the war ceremony started to slow down and Ephiny decided to retire into the cave. She ducked inside and made slow steps to her shared bedroll with Solari. As she walked into the firelight cave, her mind continued to think about this Persian god, Aesma Daeva. She could only hope she was reading too much into this battle yet the knot in her stomach told her otherwise.

 

Part 22

Xena winced then felt the pressure disappear from her left wrist. She couldn't help but grin, a rather cat like grin. She quickly wiped it away as she worked on the next shackle. She knew this one would go a lot faster now that she'd figure out the lock system on the shackles.

Xena dropped her head back against the cold stone wall. Her eyes drifted shut and she focused on picking this lock properly and efficiently. She'd spent too much time in this torture chamber and she was fuelled with anger and aggression to pull these two ex-Amazons apart piece by piece.

She started to grind her teeth together while working on the last shackle. She only had another fifteen minutes before the guard showed with her drugged dinner. Xena had to work quickly to find the spring in the shackle. A small growl filtered from her between her lips then there was a ping and the shackle went loose.

Xena quickly caught the shackles before they hit the floor. She brought her arms around from her back and felt that dull ache in her shoulder scream at her. She sighed in relief then bent forward to get the chains off her ankles. Spinning the dagger around, she poked the tip of Gabrielle's dagger into the key hole and started to probe around. If it was one piece of knowledge she'd gained from the King of Thieves while in his body it was how to pick locks. It only took her a minute to pick the right lock and another two minutes for the left.

The warrior stepped out of the chain shackles and eyed the door. The guard would be here in three minutes and counting. She glanced to her right and grinned at the whip and wood stick. She hurried over and collected them since they would come in handy.

Xena turned around and tilted her head to side when she heard the jailhouse door open and close. "Great," she muttered and rushed to the door. She hastily tied the whip to her right side then moved to the side of the door. She put both the wood stick and dagger into her right hand and held out her left. She carefully listened to the guard putting the key into the door and the lock giving way.

The guard pulled his key out, hooked it to his side, and pushed the door open. He was about to bend down to get the plate of food off the floor but he hesitated. He suddenly felt a strong hand grab his neck and swing him around, out of the doorway and smack into the wall.

Xena pressed her body into the guard and pushed the wood stick against his throat hard. "Ssssh… be quiet." Her evil grin grew darker as she lifted her right hand with the dagger. "If you yell, I'll make this more painful."

The guard opened his mouth but he couldn't yell as a sharp blade slowly eased through his chest, between his ribs and stabbed his heart.

"Hmmmm." Xena rammed the rest of the dagger through his heart then gently pulled it back out. She took one step back and watched the dead guard slide down the wall. Xena cocked her head to one side and curiously stared at the guard. "Interesting." She bent down onto one knee and with her bloody dagger she traced the outline of the bull on the guard's body armour. Her sharp blue eyes lifted and focused on the unique and defined helmet he wore. "Persian," she whispered in anger. "Hades," she growled, ripped the keys from his side, and stood up.

The Warrior Princess stepped into the torch lit dungeon hallway. She needed to find Gabrielle and quickly before anybody noticed the guard hadn't returned from his duties. She looked to her left and saw the jailhouse door so now she knew the exit. She turned to her right and headed down the dark hall in hopes she'd find Gabrielle.

Gabrielle growled as she jerked her legs through her wrist shackles. She almost screamed at the pain when the shackles cut into her wrists but the pain settled once she'd gotten her legs and feet through. Now she urged her weaken body to get up off the floor. Her legs lifted her and she was relieved that her idea to slip her legs through her wrist shackles had worked and now her hands were in front of her body.

Without wasting anymore time, Gabrielle walked over to the rack of torture items. She studied them and decided on the wood stick that looked like a chobo. She pulled it off the rack and went to the door. She calculated the guard would be here any second and she hoped she had enough strength to take him down.

A key inserted into the lock of the thick wood door.

Gabrielle took a steady breathing, lifted the stick, and her body tensed up.

The key pulled out of the door and the door started to creak open.

Gabrielle growled when the guard started to appear in the door way. She brought the stick down to hit them over the head but abruptly her stick was caught in midair.

Xena grinned at her partner and held onto the stick. "Nice one."

"Xena?" whispered the smaller warrior. She lowered her hand with the stick. "How'd…."

Xena chuckled and stepped into the room more. She closed the door but not all the way, too worried the lock would reset. "Ready to get those shackles off?"

"Yeah." The stunned Amazon Queen shook off her astonishment and dropped her stick to the ground. She held out her hands and watched as Xena brought her dagger down to the keyhole.

"That's how you did it," muttered the warrior-bard.

Xena only nodded as she focused on getting the lock picked. She noted how Gabrielle's wrists were coated in fresh blood. She could only imagine what her partner had done to do that to her wrists. She tried to remain calm and keep her thoughts together but it was coming increasingly harder as she took inventory of Gabrielle's injuries. "Do you have any broken bones?" she quietly asked.

"I think a few fracture ribs," admitted the Queen, "a nice welt in the back of my head so I haven't slept at all." She then forced her fisted hands to open up and she held her hands out palm up. "Two broken fingers and one jammed."

Xena ran her tongue along the front of her teeth. She was breathing heavily.

Gabrielle sighed when the shackle on her right wrist fell. She then watched Xena work on the next shackle. "What's the plan?"

"We're getting the Hades out of here," hotly whispered the Warrior Princess. She picked the left shackle then bent down to take care of the ankle shackles. "But not without our weapons and my armour."

A slightly amused expression shaped Gabrielle's face but it was lost in her dark surfacing thoughts. "I want those two dead, Xena."

Xena picked the left shackle then started on the right one. She finally commented on Gabrielle's statement. "That's my job." Her burning blue eyes rose up to meet Gabrielle's.

"I don't think so," hotly countered the warrior-bard. "I will not let them enjoy a fair Amazon justice… they do not deserve it." She paused and grounded her teeth against each other. "They are mine."

Xena flinched when the right ankle shackle broke open. She spun the dagger and slowly rose up. "We'll see." And for the first time, Xena saw Gabrielle's darkest expression ever and her eyes lit with anger and hatred.

"Xena," whispered Gabrielle, her hands on Xena's hips. "We're going to make it out of here. We can't let this evil win, I don't care what it takes."

The Warrior Princess closed her eyes briefly then they slowly opened again. She lowered her head close to Gabrielle's. "I can guarantee that."

"I know," uttered Gabrielle, "don't let them stop us." She brought her right hand behind Xena's head and brought her lips close to Xena's. "Use your darkness," she whispered with hints of anger. Gabrielle then sealed her lips over Xena's.

Xena returned the passionate kiss. She'd never felt a more demanding kiss from her soulmate and it seemed to ignite an old and deadly fire in Xena. When the kiss broke, Xena tasted blood and she knew it came from Gabrielle. "Keep this." She held up her hand and offered the dagger.

Gabrielle took the dagger. She nodded at Xena's questioning look.

The Warrior Princess grinned and turned around; she swung open the door and started out of the cell. Gabrielle followed but not without bending down to grab the stick. Quietly the pair started for the jailhouse door.

"Its dark out," quietly mentioned Xena, "dawn will be in a candlemark, I suspect." She was fishing through the keys until she thought she had the right one for the jailhouse door. "Let's hope we can get out of here by then."

"Alright," whispered the smaller warrior. She saw Xena look at her in question to see if she was ready. Gabrielle just nodded.

Xena faced the door and pulled open the door slowly. She poked her head out and already saw several guards across the open grounds. She pushed the door wider and signalled for Gabrielle to follow.

The Amazon Queen slipped out and silently shut the jailhouse door so nobody would suspect anything. She briefly hesitated when she saw the gigantic catapult in the centre of the grounds. She refocused and nodded at Xena in confirmation to go. She then hastily followed Xena down the side of the building and made sure to keep close the wall.

Xena came to a stop by a door and carefully pushed it open. She waited until her partner got in then she closed the door again.

Gabrielle scanned the torch lit room and figured it was a lobby of some sort. She looked off to her left and pointed at the shadow of a guard walking down the hallway.

Xena motioned for Gabrielle to follow. Xena pressed her back against the wall right next to the doorway where the guard was coming towards. She watched the guard's shadow and when she saw him close enough, she sprung out and gave him the pinch.

Gabrielle stepped around the kneeling guard and poked her head around the corner to see if there was anybody else.

"Do you know where our weapons are?" hotly whispered Xena.

Gabrielle turned her head around and watched the suffocating guard strive to breathe.

"Answer my question and I'll release you," growled the Warrior Princess.

The guard started to nod. "Go to the end of the halllll," he rasped, "Make a right then a leffft." He tried to gasp but he couldn't. "It’s the th-third door on the right." His eyes started to roll up. "It’s the commanders' offices."

Xena brought her fingertips close to the man's neck. She was about to remove the pinch but she pulled her hands away. "Let's go," she ordered Gabrielle.

Gabrielle narrowed her eyes at the dead Persian soldier then turned around. She quietly and quickly followed Xena down the hallway. She was on one side of the hallway and Xena on the opposite side.

They came to the end of the hall where it connected with another lobby. Gabrielle noted Xena's narrowed eyes and Xena pointed to left and held up one finger.

Gabrielle nodded her understanding. She slid her stick between her belt and put the dagger into her right hand. She bit her lip and mentally counted to three. She suddenly sprung from her spot behind the guard and brought her left arm around his waist. She held him long enough to bring her blade across his throat and kill him.

Xena nodded her approval when the body collapsed on the floor.

Gabrielle wiped her dagger clean on the Persian's maroon cape. When she straightened up, she suddenly heard all this commotion outside on the grounds. "What…." She walked towards the window.

The Warrior Princess quickly came up behind her partner and looked out the window as well. A grin pulled at her lips when she realized what was happening. "Looks like backup showed."

The Amazon Queen chuckled when she saw several of her Amazons fighting Persian guards on the ledge. She tilted her head when she saw lit bottles sailing through the air. Her eyes rested on the catapult that was starting to catch on fire.

Persian soldiers were racing around and trying to put the fire out but it was useless with the amount of bottles hitting the catapult.

"Gabrielle," whispered Xena, she grasped the small warrior's shoulder.

Gabrielle understood what her partner was saying and she spun around. She raced down the next hallway behind Xena so they could get their weapons.

The two warriors stealthily raced down the halls then slowed down when they came to the huge dark oak wood doors. Gabrielle grabbed the large brass handle on one door but Xena caught her hand. The small warrior peered up and saw Xena had her head tilted some. Gabrielle tried to focus and now realized why Xena had stopped her. Six were voices in the room. Gabrielle's eyes slitted and she knew one of them was a female's voice and the rest male's.

Xena's eyes focused on Gabrielle. "Five soldiers."

"And Renotta," whispered back the warrior-bard. She raised her left wrist and slipped the dagger under her thick silver bracelet. She watched Xena untie her whip from her side and Gabrielle pulled the small stick free.

"Take this," uttered the Warrior Princess. She handed over the second stick. She then arched an eyebrow.

The Amazon Queen nodded then stepped back as her partner flung open the door.

The soulmates casually strolled into the office and smirked at the five soldiers and Renotta.

Renotta rose up from her chair; her eyes were wide and she held her breath. "How'd…."

Gabrielle grinned wickedly. "We're here for our weapons." Her eyes darkened as she bent her knees. "And you."

Xena uncoiled her whip and tensed up.

"Stop them," hotly whispered Renotta.

Suddenly the five soldiers rushed the two warriors.

Xena instantly acted by cracking her whip at them. The one furthest from Xena made it past and attacked Gabrielle.

The Amazon Queen used her chobo sticks to stop his drawn blade.

The Warrior Princess laughed when three soldiers came towards her with raised swords. She took a few steps to lead them further from Gabrielle and gain more open space. Suddenly a Persian yelled and charged Xena.

Xena waited until he was close enough then she did a spinning kick to send him flying back.

The Persian soldier went sailing back and smashed into another soldier.

The third soldier astounded looked at Xena.

Xena evilly laughed then pulled her whip back.

The third Persian yelled and tried to attack but suddenly he felt his right hand jerked and his sword was gone.

Xena reached up as the sword went reeling at her. She caught it by the handle, gave it a spin then stepped up to the soldier and the other two, whom were getting up.

Gabrielle already had one soldier knocked unconscious and was fighting off her second attacker. From the left corner of her eye, she saw her and Xena's weapons and armour mounted behind a glass display against the far wall.

The Persian saw Gabrielle's brief distraction and took advantage. He brought his sword across her chest and managed to cut her.

Gabrielle winced and stumbled back as her chest stung from the slash. She felt her body tremble with anger and her eyes locked on the Persian.

The soldier froze when Gabrielle's enraged eyes set on him. "Aesma Daeva," he whispered then yelled and came at Gabrielle.

The Amazon Queen quickly lifted both her hands up in the air and crossed her chobos when the sword came down at her. She gritted her teeth as he pushed down to weaken her. Gabrielle reacted by unexpectedly kicking him in the groin.

The Persian dropped his sword and fell down onto his knees.

Gabrielle smirked and lifted her eyes to the case. She rushed past the Persian and started for the case.

Renotta drew her sword and ran towards Gabrielle.

The Amazon Queen heard her and spun around in time to stop Renotta's attack. "You bitch," she seethed.

Renotta grinned and used all of her weight to push Gabrielle against the wall.

Gabrielle knew she wasn't at full strength and she lost ground. Her back suddenly slammed into the wall case and all the weapons shook violently, Xena's chakram teetering on its hook.

Renotta peered up at the case and grinned at the chakram over Gabrielle's head. Her eyes lowered to Gabrielle. "Wouldn't that be funny?" She then freed her right hand, fisted it, then pulled back.

Gabrielle's eyes widened and she dropped her head forward as Renotta's fist went through strands of her hair. She then heard the glass of the case shatter and it all fell onto her back. When she lifted her head again, she caught a quick glimpse of Renotta's bloody hand. "Even if you kill me, you still have Xena to deal with."

Renotta laughed and said, "I think I can handle that." She lifted her right hand again and fisted it. "And to think you were so close to escaping alive."

Gabrielle knew if she ducked, Renotta's blow would certainly drop Xena's chakram on her. Instead she braced herself when Renotta's glass sharded fist smashed into her face. Gabrielle felt her mouth fill with blood and warm blood trickle down the bridge of her nose and forehead.

"You don't give up, do you?" growled Renotta. She pulled back her fisted hand once more. "How many can you take, my Queen?"

This time Gabrielle acted and instantly dropped to the ground.

Renotta couldn't stop her punch in time as it roughly connected with the case.

The chakram went loose and came spinning down and sliced through the side of Renotta's forearm.

The ex-Amazon hissed and jumped back in shock. She turned around right as Gabrielle threw a kick at her and sent her onto her back.

Gabrielle quickly moved and grabbed Xena's chakram from the floor. She didn't hesitate an instant and brought it against Renotta's neck.

Renotta held still as she was getting to her feet. Her eyes locked on Gabrielle. Then for an instant, Renotta's eyes flickered behind the Queen.

"Gabrielle!" yelled Xena's voice.

The small warrior's adrenaline shot through her body. She bounded up onto her feet and faced the Persian soldier behind her.

The Persian soldier had been expecting it and he kicked at Gabrielle.

Gabrielle jumped to her right as the kick missed her left side. She became cornered between the wall, Renotta, and the soldier. She lifted the chakram in one hand and the chobo in the other. "Come on," she growled.

Renotta chuckled and spun her sword. "As you wish, my Queen."

The Persian soldier lifted his sword for the attack. His grin broadened but as he brought his sword at Gabrielle, he suddenly lost his grip.

Gabrielle had seen Xena coming to help.

The Warrior Princess let the sword fly off her whip but she trusted her sword forward.

The Persian went stiff and looked down at his chest, a sword tip sticking through his chest. His eyes rolled up and he fell when the sword was jerked out of his body.

Renotta took a step back and looked around the room to see nothing but five dead men, blood, and two angry warriors.

Gabrielle bent down and collected the dead soldier's sword. She then stalked forward towards Renotta. "I owe you, Renotta."

The ex-Amazon held up her sword and tried to show no fear despite she knew she was cornered. "It only takes on scream for more men to come in here."

"Will you live long enough to see them come in here?" whispered Gabrielle. She took a threatening step.

Xena took a sidestep to give Gabrielle more room.

"And will you make it out of here?" retorted Renotta. "There are over two hundred Persians here. You can't possibly make it out." She took several steps back, leading Gabrielle into open space.

"Didn't you hear?" Gabrielle spun the sword and followed her prey. "My Amazons are attacking."

"No," whispered the now shocked renegade Amazon.

The Warrior Princess tied her whip back onto her side then turned around. She lifted her hands and carefully freed her brass armour. She easily slipped it on but it took her a minute to tie everything down in place. She turned her head and watched her partner fight Renotta.

Gabrielle parred several of Renotta's attacks. She then came back at Renotta with a few stabs and slashes, all of them parred. Renotta then threw a kick at the Amazon Queen.

Gabrielle moved out of the way but not enough as the blow hit her right shoulder, sending her back a few steps.

Xena's head shot up when she heard her soulmate growl in pain. She saw Gabrielle rubbing her shoulder with her free hand. Xena grounded her teeth; she quickly turned around and pulled her bracers and gauntlets free. She slipped them on and finally pulled her sheathed sword free. It only took her a few seconds to hook it on her back. Xena then collected two last items, Gabrielle's sais.

Gabrielle dropped to the ground and rolled away before the slashing sword caught her. She sprung back up to her feet and stabbed at Renotta.

Renotta jumped back too late and the sword sliced through her shoulder. She yelled some when the sword pulled out of shoulder. She growled at Gabrielle's satisfied look and brought her sword up. She saw how smug the Queen was then she found out why as a sai stopped her blade.

Xena had stopped Renotta's blade with Gabrielle's sai. She then punched at Renotta's face.

Renotta dropped her sword and went stumbling backwards, her hands on her face. "Fuck," she hissed.

Xena turned to her soulmate and held up the sais.

Gabrielle threw her sword away and caught the flying sais in her hands. She gave them a few quick spins in her hands then lifted her attention to her soulmate and Renotta.

Xena stepped between Renotta and Gabrielle, her knees bent and hands up.

Renotta pulled her bloody hands from her face. Her eyes finally concentrated on the tall, dark warrior before her. She lifted her own hands and fisted them, she actually felt fear course through her body.

Xena slowly grinned and her eyes grew wild. Her hands weren't fist but instead slightly making a circling motion in midair. She didn't make any moves other than taking a slight step to her right.

Renotta shifted to the left some, her body trembled because she didn't know what to expect. She became so full of fear that she attacked out of blindness. She ungracefully came at Xena with her fists flying.

Xena ducked left then right and sidestepped right as another punch missed her face. But she caught Renotta's out stretched arm and in a rapid motion she touched Renotta's pressure points.

Renotta's screamed echoed in the room as her left arm shot with pain and was rendered useless. She stepped back from Xena and looked in horror as the tried to understand what happened.

Renotta forced her anger back and attacked with a left kick.

Xena expected it and shifted out of the way but her hands shot up again.

The ex-Amazon screamed even louder this time and fell to the floor. Her left leg was shooting with pain and she couldn't move it.

The Warrior Princess stood over the immobile and bleeding woman. She slowly bent down and smirked at Renotta. "Hurts doesn't it?"

Renotta growled and threw out her right hand for one last punch.

Xena caught the punch in her right hand. She began to squeeze. "I can't believe you thought you could stop us."

Renotta held her breath as the immense pain shot up and down her right arm.

The warrior lifted her left hand and pointed her index and middle fingers out. She struck Renotta's pressure points in her right arm. She contently listened to Renotta whimper in pain and it made a throaty chuckle come to life in her. Xena gradually rose up and turned her head to Gabrielle. "She's yours."

Gabrielle's lips curled into a toothy grin and she slowly stalked over. She held out Xena's chakram and her partner gratefully took it. Gabrielle took Xena's spot in front of Renotta and as she knelt down, she reached to her right bracelet.

Renotta froze when Gabrielle revealed a silver dagger. "You can't, my Queen." Her breathing went ragged as the dagger slowly spun in Gabrielle's hand. "I plead for Amazon justice."

Gabrielle stared into the ex-Amazon's eyes. "You plead, Renotta?" She leaned forward and pointed the dagger. "Do you beg, Renotta?"

"Yes," whispered the shaking woman. "I have a right to a fair trial." For a response, she received a laugh from the Amazon Queen.

"I don't think so," whispered Gabrielle, her voice completely amused. "You kidnapped Xena... her brother…." She leaned in more and pressed the tip of the dagger against Renotta's chest. "You kidnapped me." Her eyes twinkled with raw hunger for death. "You tortured us… beat us… threaten us."

The dagger slowly trailed towards the right of Renotta's chest.

"Deceived my Nation." Queen Gabrielle brought her face even closer to Renotta's. She could smell the fear on Renotta and Gabrielle absorbed it as power and strength. "You deceived me."

The dagger's trailing finally stopped over Renotta's heart.

"As your Queen," uttered Gabrielle, her voice venomous, "I'll bring justice." She slowly pushed the dagger forward.

Renotta's last breath caught in her lungs as her chest fired with pain.

"As Queen of the Amazons," whispered Gabrielle, "I sentence you to Tartarus."

Renotta used her last breath to suddenly scream out. "Guards!"

Gabrielle growled and rammed her dagger deep into Renotta's heart.

Renotta felt her heart suddenly stop and the extreme pain in her body faded into a dull ache. A sharp sting then ripped through her heart when the dagger was twisted in tightly. She couldn't hear anything anymore as her body fell back onto the floor. The room was growing dark and she couldn't move her body, couldn't feel, and couldn't hear.

Renotta's eyes became locked on the ceiling but then her eyes filled with the image of Gabrielle standing over her. She could just make out the glinting of the red dagger blade in the darkening vision. Before everything went black, she watched a drop of blood fall from the tip of the dagger and glide down in midair. Then there was nothing.

"Gabrielle!" yelled Xena.

Gabrielle turned away from the lifeless body of Renotta and she watched as soldiers flooded into the room. "Hades," she hissed and reached for her sais.

 

Mairead ordered her team of Amazons to sweep through the compound. She estimated about fifty Persians were still guarding the compound. The rest of the force was outside of the compound and fighting against the third and first wave of Amazons.

Mairead sensed somebody coming up along side her. She quickly turned to see the Princess and Talon rushing up to her. "Amarice?"

"Have we found Xena and Gabrielle?" quickly asked the hard breathing Amazon.

"No but the jailhouse is this way." The queen signalled for the Princess and Talon to follow. As she, Amarice, and Talon made their way, they collected about fifteen Amazons to follow with them.

Amarice made it to the jailhouse door first. She shoved it open and raced down the steps with everybody following her. "Gabrielle?" she yelled. She went sprinting down the hallway when she caught sight of the two open cell doors. Mairead caught up to the Princess and when she stepped into the cell after Amarice, she saw the dead soldier. "They must have escaped."

Talon had gone down to the other open cell and scanned it. She looked back down at the queen and Princess. "Nobody here."

Amarice stared at the dead soldier then scanned the room. She tensed when she saw all the torture weapons and she looked at the queen. "We have to find them."

Mairead nodded and turned around. "Everybody out!" she ordered.

Talon came back to Amarice and squeezed her shoulder in reassurance. Talon noted it seemed to ease her friend's worries but not enough.

All of the Amazons filed out of the jailhouse and waited for their next orders.

Amarice came out last and yelled, "Everybody follow me. Let's sweep through this compound and find them!"

"You heard the Princess," hotly yelled the queen. "Let's move!"

The group of Amazons broke into a run and went to the nearest door. They all poured inside of the building and came to a dead stop in the lobby when they saw the dead Persian.

"This way," commanded Amarice, she hurried down the hallway to the left.

The group filtered down the hall and entered another lobby but Amarice led them down another hall to the right. They then came to a fork and they all stared at both hallways.

"Go left, Amarice and ten Amazons go with her. The rest come with me." The queen turned to the right hallway and hurried down it.

The Princess signalled her Amazons to follow and as she ran, she picked up on the sound of fighting. Suddenly her ran turned into a sprint when she saw the two huge open wood doors. "Hurry!" she called out. She came to the doors and looked in to see a swarm of Persians fighting somebody. "Attack, Amazons!" As her Amazons flew into the room, Amarice turned stopped the last one and said, "Go find queen Mairead. Now!"

The sweating Amazon took a quick breath, nodded then turned and ran back down the hall.

Amarice turned her head back when she heard Xena's war cry. She slightly grinned then rushed into battle to help her friends.

 

Janelle halted her horse before Solari and Eponin. "The Regent orders you to move!"

The second in command looked back at her team of calvary and she yelled, "Fall out! Sweep in and take out the left side, Amazons!"

The Amazons all gave out warcries and drew their swords.

Solari gazed at Eponin, whom had her sword drawn. She nodded, drew her sword, and yelled out, "Attack!"

Eponin and Solari kicked their horses into gallops and launched the attack to the battle field.

The Amazon calvary swept through the forest and came flowing towards the thinning Persian army.

The ground forces of Amazons started yelling and chanting when the two waves of calvary came smashing into the battle against the Persians.

Solari's horse leapt over several dead bodies then reared up when a Persian soldier jumped at them.

Solari quickly thrusted her sword and caught him in the neck. She straightened up and her eyes rested on Ephiny not far away.

"Solari!" yelled out Ephiny, "Get into the compound and stop that burning catapult before the place goes up!"

Solari raised her sword in acknowledgement. She pulled her horse's right rein and urged him through the battle to the compound. When she finally slashed and hacked her way through, she rounded up several foot Amazons to help her stop the fire. She was relieved when she saw the gigantic water tower was close enough to the catapult like Amarice had said.

Solari carried out the plan and ordered her Amazons to hack away at a leg of the water tower with their swords. "Hurry, Amazons!" She was holding her breath and watching the Amazon swords chop at the wood leg one after the other. She turned her head and noticed the flames on the catapult were growing close to one of the buildings. "Hurry!" she bellowed again as her horse danced in a circle.

"Look out!" yelled one of the Amazons. She and the rest of the Amazons all ran from the water tower as the leg splintered and the tower began to collapse towards the catapult.

The second in command spurred her horse and cantered away from the catapult to be safe. She turned her horse around once she was far enough and watched as the water tower collided with the burning catapult.

All the Amazons cheered as grey and white smoke rose up from the catapult and water rushed around on the ground.

Solari smiled at the small success. She then turned her head to the right when two doors bursted open and Persians came out screaming. Her stallion whined and took a few steps back in fear. She was about to call for Amazons to stop them but another voice caught her off guard.

"Kill them all!"

Solari's mouth gaped open some when Queen Gabrielle came out of the building coated in blood.

"Stop them," ordered Queen Gabrielle. "Don't let them escape!"

"Gabrielle?" whispered Solari in shock. She finally shook away her amazement and trotted her horse over to the Queen. "My Queen?"

Gabrielle stopped and turned to Solari. "Solari?" Her faint smile quickly slipped. "Where is Ephiny?"

Solari hesitated but then pointed her sword to the broken gates. "She's out there on horseback."

Queen Gabrielle approached Solari and ordered, "Let me have your horse."

Solari briskly nodded and started to dismount and as she did, she caught a quick glimpse of a Persian coming up behind Gabrielle. "Gabrielle, look out!" She tried to race to get out of the stirrups but she was too slow.

"No!" yelled a deep voice.

Gabrielle turned around in time to see queen Mairead catching the Persian's blade in midair.

The queen growled and came at the Persian.

Gabrielle faintly smirked then turned back to Solari. She stepped up to the stallion and grabbed the saddlehorn. "Solari, Xena will be coming out any second. Stay with her and make sure nothing happens to her."

"Yes, my Queen." Solari was about to help her friend onto the horse but Gabrielle brushed her off.

Gabrielle swung up into the saddle and settled down into it. She then focused on Solari. "If you lose track of Xena, you'll have me to deal with."

Solari held her breath when her Queen threatened her like that. Never before had she heard Gabrielle threaten anybody or anything. "Y-yes, my Queen." Solari took a step back but when she did, she heard a cry.

Gabrielle's eyes flickered up and she went still when she saw a sword sticking through Mairead's back. "No!"

Solari had already reacted and caught Mairead when she fell from the Persian's blade.

"Solari!" hollered Gabrielle.

The second in command lifted her sword up horizontally when the Persian struck at her and the queen. "You bastard," she seethed.

The Persian soldier smirked and raised his sword back up.

Solari quickly took the advantage and rammed her sword into his stomach.

The Persian hissed in pain but he still tried to bring his sword at the two Amazons. He didn't make it far when a second sword from behind cut through his back, through his body, and out of his chest.

Xena grounded her teeth then jerked her sword free and watched the Persian fall to the side.

Solari dropped her sword and turned her attention to the queen. "Mairead, Mairead?" She touched the queen's bleeding chest. "You have to stay with us."

"I can't," whispered the queen. She closed her eyes then her next whisper was so low only Solari heard it.

Solari felt her eyes sting as Mairead went limp in her arms. She then felt a warm hand on her shoulder.

"She's gone, Solari," uttered Xena.

The second in command faintly nodded and swallowed down her tears. She carefully lowered the queen down then rose up with her sword.

Gabrielle was breathing hard in rage at seeing her queen die. Her dark eyes lifted from the dead queen to Xena and Solari. "You two take care of the compound."

"Be careful," ordered Xena.

The Queen nodded then spurred her horse into a full gallop towards the gates.

Solari faced the Warrior Princes and finally took in what she looked like. "Sweet Artemis, how can you still stand?"

Xena revealed her darkest grin. "This is what I use to live for, Solari."

"But…."

The dark warrior understood what Solari was misunderstanding. "Certain… emotions can fuel your body with strength." She paused then said, "Let's secure this compound."

Solari nodded her agreement and rushed along side Xena to tie up the last ends of the battle in the compound.

 

"Ephiny!"

The Regent caught her enemy's blade then she looked up when she thought she heard Gabrielle's voice. Her mouth dropped when she saw a bloody and beaten Queen Gabrielle pushing through the small battle towards her.

The Persian soldier took advantage of the Amazon's distraction. He thrusted forward with his sword as hard as he could.

Ephiny suddenly screamed when the blade tore through her shoulder. She fell backwards and landed on her now dead horse that this same soldier killed. She quickly lifted her sword to stop him from cutting her head off. Yet her strength in her arm faltered as pain shot through her since it was now wounded.

The Persian pulled his sword back and prepared to give his death blow.

The Regent prepared herself to try and stop the attack. She held her breath then she waited far longer than necessary. She suddenly felt a grin tug at her lips when another arrow struck the Persian in the neck and chest. Ephiny urged her legs to lift her.

"Regent, are you okay?" hollered queen Nyx.

Ephiny gave an appreciative smile and called back, "Yes, thank you!"

"Anytime." The queen strung another arrow and continued shooting at other enemies.

Ephiny now started looking for the Queen and spotted her not too far away. "Gabrielle!"

The small warrior kicked at an enemy then urged her horse to leap over him when he fell. She then trotted up to Ephiny and halted the horse.

"It's good to see you, my Queen." Ephiny couldn't help her happy smile.

Gabrielle grinned and held out her hand. "You don't know how great it is to see you, Ephiny."

The Amazon laughed and took the offered hand. She was helped up into the saddle and wrapped her arms around her friend. "Are you okay?" she whispered.

"I'll make it," uttered the Queen. "I would say they're finished."

"Yes," agreed Ephiny as she gazed over the few Persians left.

"Let's go in the compound." Gabrielle turned the stallion around and cantered back into the compound. There by the charred catapult, she let Ephiny dismount.

Ephiny requested Gabrielle to stay on the horse and she then organized a few Amazons to stand guard around the Queen. Next she started ordering the Amazons to capture any remaining Persians and round them up in the compound.

Gabrielle finally felt her pounding heart start to calm down. She grasped the saddlehorn for support as her body began its long process of draining the adrenaline rush she'd been feeling for over a candlemark. Gradually she turned her head to the east and she actually smiled at the sun that was streaming through the tree tops. She never felt so relieved to see the sun after being locked up so long in the prison cell.

Queen Gabrielle looked away from the sun. A wave of dizziness slightly hit her and she decided to dismounted so she wouldn't fall off. She tried to remain calm as she leaned against the stallion for support. As her body started to feed off the remaining adrenaline, she could feel her skin cooling off. The crisp winter air started to bite at her skin and she tried to contain her shivers.

One of the near by Amazons caught it from the corner of her eye. She grabbed at her cloak, starting to take it off and said, "My Queen, take my cloak."

Gabrielle held up her hands and shook her head. "I'm fine." She gave a faint smile. "Thank you though. Please keep it on."

"Are you sure, my Queen?" asked the worried Amazon.

"Positive." Gabrielle quickly looked away when her tall, dark warrior captured her attention.

Xena slowly approached her soulmate, her bloody sword in her right hand and a grin pulling at her lips.

Queen Gabrielle stepped through her circle of guards and approached her lover. She couldn't help but show the same smug grin like Xena. And despite how bloody, beaten, and bruised Xena was Gabrielle still saw Xena as incredibly attractive by the raw power Xena gave off.

Xena came to a stop when she met up with Gabrielle. "Are you okay?"

Gabrielle faintly nodded and grasped her partner's hip for some support. She wouldn't admit her sides were on fire with pain, her head was spinning, and she felt weak. "We made it so I'm okay." She tilted her head and reached up to brush some hair from Xena's face. "How about you?"

"I've had worse," whispered the warrior. Her attention quickly went to the approaching Regent.

"Gabrielle, we've rounded up the last remaining Persians." Ephiny paused as a self satisfied grin covered her face. "And we have Kyle." Ephiny put her hands behind her back then added, "They're being restrained now with shackles." She slowly lost her smug look when she noted how dark Gabrielle's expression grew. "Gabrielle?"

"Where is she?" hotly whispered Gabrielle, her voice dripped with fury.

Before Ephiny could manage an answer, her friend was already briskly walking off too find the captives. She quickly followed after Gabrielle to make sure she didn't do anything.

Xena narrowed her eyes and reached back to sheath her sword. She then followed far behind the pair, her stomach was starting to knot up with worry.

Gabrielle stepped into the open space where the captives stood and shackled with hands behind their backs. Their weapons and armour had all been stripped from them and many were rather injured. Very slowly her eyes finally narrowed down to a small leather-clad Amazon in the centre of the group. Gabrielle couldn't help her amused express at seeing Kyle shackled like she had once been.

Ephiny came up to Gabrielle's side and grasped her arms. "Gabrielle, the battle is over."

"I know," whispered Gabrielle. Her cold eyes were locked on Kyle.

Xena had stopped on the edge of the open space. She stood on the edge of the Amazons, whom circled around the captives.

"I want them dead," whispered Gabrielle. She turned her head to her Regent. "All of them… but Kyle."

"Gabrielle, no." Ephiny was shaking her head. "We must take them back to the Nation to be put on trial." She tensed when Gabrielle's eyes narrowed at her.

"They will not get a trial," uttered the angry Queen, "They are our enemies. I want them dead."

Ephiny released Gabrielle's arm then straightened her back out. "No," she stated in a cool voice.

Gabrielle growled at her Regent then suddenly turned to face her crowd of Amazons. "Amazons, I want these prisoners lined up and shot." She paused then yelled, "Then this compound is to be burned!" She saw nobody move so she yelled, "Now!"

Suddenly several Amazons obeyed and started to move out of the crowd to approach the captives.

"No!" ordered out a young voice.

Gabrielle's eyes flashed over to Amarice.

The Princess had pushed through the crowd and ordered, "No. I order you Amazons not to touch the prisoners." Her eyes shifted over to Queen Gabrielle. "They are war criminals and shall be tried as such."

From nowhere, there was a bellow of laughter within the group of prisoners.

Gabrielle spun around as did Ephiny and Amarice.

Kyle shoved a few of the Persian soldiers out of her way and said, "Look at you, my Queen." She laughed a few more times. "You can't even control your Amazons or your Princess."

Queen Gabrielle felt her adrenaline pulse alive as her anger charged it.

"Gabrielle, don’t listen to her," called Amarice. She carefully come closer to the Queen, worried she'd get struck by Gabrielle. She figured out earlier that Gabrielle was blinded by her anger and hatred. "She's just trying to manipulate you."

"Shut up, Amarice," hotly ordered the Queen. She then turned to Ephiny. "Give me your sword."

Ephiny took a step back. "No, Gabrielle I will not submit to this." She shook her head. "Think about what you're doing, Gabrielle."

"Ephiny," lowly uttered the angry Queen, "give me your sword." She saw the Regent's refusal again so she rushed forward and unsheathed the Regent's sword and walked up to the prisoners.

"No, Gabrielle." But Ephiny stopped short when two large hands grabbed her shoulders.

"Leave her alone," whispered Xena. She squeezed Ephiny's shoulders then released them as her eyes lifted up to her soulmate.

Gabrielle stopped in front of Kyle and stared into the ex-Amazon's gleaming eyes. "How does it feel to know you've lost?"

"I haven't lost," replied Kyle, "I can't lose." She chuckled and took a step closer to Gabrielle. "If I live, I'll be a constant reminder to you of what you did today." She gave a proud yet evil smile. "And if you kill me, I still win because you'll have failed your Amazons, Xena… yourself." Kyle chuckled at the angry woman before her. "You can't win, my Queen."

"Fine," agreed Gabrielle. "But I'll enjoy knowing your fate in Tartarus." And the gleaming smile on Kyle's face sent Gabrielle over the edge and she lifted the sword. When she was about to bring it down, a strong hand wrapped around her sword hand and held her arm still.

"Gabrielle, don't do this," soothed Xena.

Gabrielle almost felt enraged until she looked into Xena's calm blue eyes. "Xena." She tried to keep her edge off her tone. "Let go… I'm going to finish this."

"And if you do, what will this accomplish?" urged the warrior. "It's over, Gabrielle."

"Xena, I can't…."

"Yes you can," whispered Xena's soothing voice, "let it go, Gabrielle." She could feel Gabrielle's grip loosening on the sword hilt. "This will only prove useless, killing these people." She shook her head some. "This is slaughter, Gabrielle… it's not right."

"And it was right for them to get away with what they did?" hotly questioned the small warrior.

"No but they will pay in their afterlife." Xena felt her and Gabrielle's arms starting to lower down. When their arms were down, Xena still felt the need to get the sword out of her soulmate's hand. "Gabrielle, your Amazons need you… I need you. Don't do this to us."

Gabrielle's anger was dying inside of her. Her heart started to ache in unison with her body.

Xena took a deep breath to relax her nervousness. She lowered her head closer to Gabrielle's head and whispered, "The cycle of hatred has to end and the only way to end it is through love."

There was a loud cling as Ephiny's sword hit the dusty ground.

Kyle stared down at the Amazon sword then looked up at the soulmates. She grunted, shook her head, and just smirked at the Queen.

Gabrielle had her head up and staring at the Amazon. She couldn't hate this woman anymore nor could she understand her. Instead of looking at this woman with every dark emotion and letting it destroy who she was, Gabrielle did one of the hardest things in her life. "Kyle," she whispered, "I… forgive you." She then turned and walked away.

Xena sighed and picked up Ephiny's sword then looked at Kyle.

"Thanks, Xena," taunted Kyle.

The Warrior Princess grinned as clenched her right hand at her side. "She may forgive you… but I don't yet."

Kyle cried out when a hard punch smashed into her face and she fell to the ground in pain. She couldn't breathe quite as well when her nose was broken by Xena's punch.

Xena turned away now and walked off.

Gabrielle stopped at Ephiny's side. Her confused green eyes lifted up to Ephiny and she uttered, "Let's go home, Ephiny."

Ephiny just nodded then turned her head as Gabrielle brushed past her.

Xena came up to Ephiny next and returned her sword to her.

"Xena," started Ephiny but she wasn't sure what to say.

The warrior clasped the Regent's shoulder and gave a reassuring squeeze. "She'll be okay." Without another word, she followed after her soulmate because that was where she needed to be now.

Gabrielle wasn't sure where she was going but she had to get some distance from the compound, from her Amazons, from Kyle. When she came out of the compound, she went to the left and started into the forest and got pretty far until her body gave up. Gabrielle almost collapsed onto the ground when her legs gave in under her. She managed to sit down and pulled her legs up against her body.

Xena hurried up to her soulmate. She wasn't sure how much longer she could stay together because her body was beginning to fail her. She slowed her pace down when she came up to Gabrielle. She carefully sat down beside her soulmate and put her hand on the small of Gabrielle's back.

Gabrielle lifted her head and turned to Xena. "I can't believe what… what I've done, Xena."

The warrior wasn't feeling any better, just as a shamed as her soulmate.

"Who have I become?" whispered the shaking Amazon Queen. She turned her head away. "I'm no better than them." She felt Xena's strong arms come around her and pull at her.

Gabrielle accepted the offer and used the last of her energy to move onto Xena's lap and into her arms. She closed her eyes and tried to let Xena's body keep her safe but she didn't truly feel safe.

Xena lowered her head onto Gabrielle's head and she felt her eyes sting. Her mind was spinning out of control and she felt she'd failed Gabrielle more than ever.

Gabrielle felt her tears roll down her cheeks and sting in her open wounds on her face. She had no more control over her body and she started to slip away from exhaustion and weakness.

Xena still remained awake but barely. She just made out the sound of somebody coming towards them and she lifted her head up.

Ephiny stopped in front of the pair and felt her heart drop. Her eyes flickered from the unconscious Queen to Xena. "Xena...." Her heart broke when Xena's red eyes focused on her. "Stay here and… I'll get Solari and a few others to take care of you both."

The warrior didn't say anything and instead lowered her head back onto Gabrielle's head.

Ephiny didn't move for a moment but then quietly hurried off. She knew she'd just witnessed something not many every saw and few should ever know about.

Xena was able to stay remotely conscious until she heard the sounds of Solari, Eponin, Amarice, and Teresa around her. She saw they had come with a wagon drawn by two horses.

Solari bent down in front of Xena and quietly said, "We're going to put you both in there." She paused. "When we get you back to the camp, we'll take care of the wounds." She then reached forward but hesitated. "We'll get Gabrielle in the wagon first."

Xena never said anything but she nodded her head. She lowered her legs and relinquished her hold on her soulmate.

"Ep, help me."

The weapons master came over and helped Solari carry Gabrielle to the wagon.

Amarice and Teresa took the Amazon Queen and carefully lowered her into the straw in the wagon.

Solari and Eponin were then helping Xena make it to the wagon but without touching her.

Xena took a deep breath, grabbed on side of the wagon, and hauled herself up. With help from Teresa, she made it up and then lowered down into the straw next to her partner. After she was settled down and had Gabrielle in her arms, she felt a cool blanket lowered onto her.

Teresa hopped out of the wagon and walked back to the front.

Amarice however stayed at the foot of the wagon so she could watch them.

"Get them to the healer," ordered Solari.

Teresa cracked the reins and ordered the two horses to go.

As Xena swayed back and forth out of semi-consciousness and sleep, her mind was still working. She couldn't help but wonder what rested ahead of her and especially for Gabrielle. In times past, she'd been upset and angry at herself for giving into her darkness but this time Gabrielle had joined her in it. Gabrielle soaked up her darkness and fed off it because of their eternal bond as soulmates. Xena knew the risks but she disregarded them this one time. She damned herself for letting go of her control. As her mind finally went unconscious she was left with only one question. The darkness brought protection, but what are the prices?

 

The End

 

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