Constructive criticism and/or unadulterated praise are always welcome! Write to me at emallen@earthlink.net

PART 2

They left town about an hour later, riding double on Argo, having first bought a few supplies and eaten a quick breakfast of bread and cheese. Xena had combined Gabrielle's money with her own in a single coin purse which was now tucked safely into her leather bodice. There was no telling what Gabrielle would spend her money on at this point, the warrior reasoned, so it was better for her not to know she even had any.

"I think you should have given me a lesson with the staff before we left town," the bard said.

"We didn't have time," Xena responded. "I'll give you a lesson tonight."

"But how am I going to defend myself?"

"Don't worry. I can protect you. And we may not run into any trouble anyway."

"You don't know that," Gabrielle said sulkily.

"No, I don't," Xena agreed. "But we can always hope for the best. Do you want me to tell you some things? About yourself? About your family? About our adventures?"

Gabrielle pondered briefly, then asked, "Have I ever met Ares?"

"Yes, but you haven't really had extensive dealings with him."

"Does he like me, do you think?"

"Well, no, I wouldn't say he does. He calls you an irritating blonde."

Gabrielle was silent for a moment. "Maybe he just hasn't seen me fight. Maybe he doesn't realize what a good warrior I could be, if I had the proper training."

"Maybe not," Xena said. "But I don't want to talk about Ares or about making you into a warrior. Why don't I tell you the story about Morpheus and Elkton and the dreamscape passage?"

"Okay," Gabrielle said in a resigned tone of voice, and Xena launched into the tale. At first, there was little reaction from the younger woman, but when Xena began to talk about how the priests of Morpheus tried to trick Gabrielle into using a sword to shed blood in her own defense, she got very excited.

"You mean I had a sword in my hand and I didn't use it?" she exclaimed. "That was really stupid! There's nothing wrong with killing people in self-defense. I don't see what the problem was."

"The problem was that if you had lost your blood innocence during that test, you would have been sacrificed as Morpheus' bride."

"Why would he want a dead bride?"

"I don't know exactly. I just know that's what they were going to do. Maybe Elkton can explain it to you."

"Well, if somebody was coming at me right now, trying to kill me, and I had a sword in my hand, I sure as Hades would use it to kill them first--that's all I can say!"

Xena sighed. "Don't you want to hear the end of the story?" she said. "You were really very brave and clever to get through it all without shedding any blood."

"No, I don't like that story. Tell me one about you. One where you fought a big battle and

killed lots of people."

Xena didn't respond immediately. Ares had been right--she wasn't liking this new version of Gabrielle very much, but surely, with patience and love, she could somehow get through to the "real" Gabrielle. She would have to be careful, though, to keep her warlike companion from appealing to her own darker instincts.

"Don't you have any curiosity about yourself, Gabrielle?" she asked finally. "About your family or where you come from?"

"Not much, I guess."

"Let me tell you the story of how we met," Xena said. "That includes a battle or two of sorts, and then you'll at least know the name of your hometown."

Gabrielle did not offer any opposition, so Xena began the tale of how the warlord Draco and his men had rounded up the villagers of Poteidaia, intending to take all the young women for slaves. She painted the warlord in the darkest colors possible and stressed the fact that Gabrielle would have ended up being sold into slavery by him if Xena hadn't intervened.

"I wouldn't have stayed a slave," Gabrielle said stoutly. "I would have found a way to escape!"

"Maybe you would have," Xena allowed. "Or maybe you would have been captured again and beaten so hard that it broke your spirit. Anyway, the point is that Draco left many victims in his wake--some dead, others homeless, most of them scarred for life in some way. And that's how I used to be. I was a lot like Draco."

She went on then to tell how she went back home to Amphipolis and tried to organize a defense against Draco. "But those people refused to be my victims again. They had learned their lesson, and I hadn't learned mine. They rejected me. Even my own mother rejected me. They were going to stone me right in my mother's tavern."

"But you stopped them, didn't you?"

"No, I didn't. You did. You saved me."

"I did? How?" Gabrielle asked sarcastically. "Did I take my little staff and bop them on the head?"

Xena smiled. "No, you didn't even have a staff in those days," she said. "You used your very best weapon--words. You simply talked them out of killing me."

"Talked them out of it! That's crazy! You didn't need me to save you. You could have easily killed those villagers and escaped."

"Yes, I suppose I could have, but I really think I would have let them kill me. I just couldn't see any good reason to go on living at that moment. But then you gave me one."

"What reason was that?"

"You believed in me and were willing to be my friend. You helped me see that there really was some good I could be doing . . . and that I wasn't alone." She paused, her throat tightening with emotion, then quickly went on. "But don't you want to hear about my fight with Draco? It was pretty exciting, really."

"Yeah, tell me about it."

"We fought on a scaffold, with staffs," she began, and then went on to describe the rest of the battle in some detail, ending with her pinning Draco to the ground.

"Then you killed him, right?" Gabrielle asked eagerly.

"No, I didn't kill him. He promised to get his army out of the valley and leave Amphipolis alone. That's all I really wanted."

"But I thought you said he was an evil warlord. If you let him go, he must have gone out and hurt more people."

"Yes, I'm sure he did," Xena said slowly. "But what you have to remember, Gabrielle, is that people sometimes change. I did and I've seen it happen to others, too. It even happened to Draco. But he couldn't have changed if I had killed him that day in Amphipolis."

"Draco changed? He goes around doing good stuff now, like you?"

"Well, I haven't heard much about him lately, but the last time I saw him, he had made up his mind to lead a different kind of life."

"What made him change?"

"He fell in love."

"Fell in love! With you?"

"No," Xena said with a smile. "With you."

"Are you kidding?" Gabrielle exclaimed. "Draco, the mighty warlord, fell in love with me? That's really exciting!"

"I'm afraid you didn't think so at the time," Xena said. "You were totally disgusted by him and his evil ways. That's why he eventually decided to change--so he could impress you."

"And was I impressed?"

"I think you were a bit skeptical about the sincerity of his efforts to reform. And besides, at a certain point, you realized you were in love with me."

"Oh."

While Gabrielle was pondering this information, Xena glanced up at the sun, and then guided Argo off the road and into a grove of oaks. "It's about midday," she said, "so why don't we take a break and have a little lunch?"

Without a word, Gabrielle dismounted, and Xena did the same. They sat under the trees and ate some of the bread, cheese, and figs they had bought in town, passing the waterskin back and forth, not talking much. Xena was growing somewhat tired of her unaccustomed role as storyteller and was glad to give it up for a while. Gabrielle seemed preoccupied with her own thoughts, and the warrior was unwilling to find out what those thoughts were, since she guessed they must involve the glories of war and wholesale slaughter. Studying her companion, though, she noted--as she had so many times before--how lovely the bard's hair looked as the dappled sunlight played across it. The body was definitely Gabrielle's, she mused, but everything else about this young woman was so unfamiliar . . . so unexpected. Xena's mind was in almost constant turmoil, trying to reconcile the physical form of her lover with the total stranger who now seemed to inhabit it.

* * * * *

"This travelling stuff is pretty boring," Gabrielle said as they mounted up a short time later.

"Yes, it can be that way," Xena agreed. She urged Argo into a brisk walk, glancing again at the position of the sun.

"I wish something would happen." Gabrielle continued. "I wish we could have a big battle and fight some evil people and send them all to Tartarus!"

"Hmm. Well, you never know what will come up."

Gabrielle yawned and then sighed deeply. "Do we have to do this all afternoon and all day tomorrow, too?"

"Yep. I'm afraid so. It's the only way I know of to get anyplace."

"Is this all we ever do? Just go places?"

Xena didn't answer. She was staring down the road at four men coming toward them on horseback. The fourth man was leading three extra horses, she saw, and one of those horses was wearing an empty saddle.

Gabrielle leaned around her to peer at the approaching men. "Who are they?" she asked. "Are they bad guys?"

"I'd say that's a good guess. They probably stole those three horses. It looks like your wish for a little excitement just might come true."

"Really? Well, it's about time! Where's my staff?"

Xena pulled Argo to a halt and twisted around in the saddle. "Gabrielle," she said, "I want you to get off and go wait in that stand of brush there. You can watch, but stay out of sight."

"What are you talking about? I'm going to help you fight!"

"No, you're not. You don't know how and you'll just end up getting hurt. I haven't got time to argue with you. Just get down. Now."

Gabrielle opened her mouth to protest, but Xena fixed her with a no-nonsense look that apparently made her change her mind. Reluctantly, she slid off the horse.

"Next time you can help fight," Xena said, "after you've learned to use the staff." She leaned down and put a hand on the younger woman's shoulder. "But for right now I want you to stay out of the way. It won't take me long to deal with these guys. Now go!" She gave Gabrielle a small shove, and the bard turned and headed slowly for the bushes.

Straightening up, Xena touched her heels to Argo's flanks. The mare moved forward, a bit warily, coming to a stop facing the lead rider of the approaching group. The man grinned at Xena, and as he did, the dark scar across his chin gave her the strange impression that he was grinning twice.

"Hello, Boys," she said. "Been out stealing some horses this morning?"

"Yeah, we sure have!" said the leader, his double grin widening. "And now we're going to take your horse, too, along with any money or jewelry you might have. Just hand everything over nicely, and there won't be any trouble," he added.

"Oh, there'll be trouble, all right," Xena said, flashing her own grin. "You bastards are going to be sorry you ever thought about taking my horse!" And with that, she kicked her feet out of the stirrups and hopped up into a crouch position on the saddle. Then, letting loose an exultant war cry, she flipped over Argo's head, striking her opponent solidly in the shoulders with both feet. He crashed to the ground, the wind knocked out of him, and she landed on her feet, just beyond him.

Almost immediately, a second horseman charged her, swinging his sword. Xena quickly ducked and then grabbed his wrist, flipping him head over heels out of the saddle. She looked up just in time to see a third man maneuvering his horse near Argo, reaching out for the mare's reins. Putting two fingers in her mouth, Xena whistled, then laughed as her well-trained horse nipped the would-be thief soundly on the arm. Screeching in pain, he wheeled his own mount and galloped off, followed closely by the fourth man and his string of stolen horses.

Xena turned then to regard her first two attackers, who had by now regained their feet. With swords drawn, they charged her simultaneously. A swift kick from the warrior sent one man's weapon flying out of his hand, and a second kick doubled the other man over. Grabbing both of them by the scruff of their necks, Xena slammed their heads together, and they sprawled, stunned, in the road.

"Now get out of here," she ordered, "and don't mess with my horse again!"

Staggering to their feet, the two ruffians slunk back to their horses, mounted, and rode off in pursuit of their companions.

Xena dusted off her hands and whistled for Argo to come. "Gabrielle!" she called, then saw that the bard was already running towards her.

"You let them get away!" Gabrielle exclaimed. "Why didn't you kill them?"

"I didn't see any need to do that," Xena said calmly, as she swung up into the saddle.

"But they were going to take our horse and our money and there's no telling what else they might have done to us!"

"Yeah, but I convinced them to change their minds," Xena said, then added, "Come on, get up here," and reached a hand down to Gabrielle.

"But they're bad," the bard continued from her seat behind the warrior. "They go around stealing from people and hurting them."

"Yes."

"So why didn't you kill them?"

"I try not to kill people anymore unless I really think it's necessary."

"How do you know when it's necessary?"

"That's the hard part," Xena said. "What you believe--or at least what you used to believe--is that it should never be 'necessary' to kill anyone, that it's always better to bring criminals to justice. I've tried to learn to live by that code, too, although there have been a few times--" She stopped and glanced back at her companion. "The thing is, Gabrielle, when you kill someone, it's as if you are setting yourself up as judge and executioner, all rolled into one. You're saying, in effect, that this person is capable only of wicked deeds and can never be redeemed. That's a big responsibility to take, and I'd rather not take it, if I don't have to. Can you understand what I'm saying?"

"You're saying that you still kill people sometimes, because sometimes it's necessary."

Xena sighed. "Yes, there's a dark part of me that will never get it right, I guess. But you've taught me so much about peace and love, Gabrielle," she added, reaching back to lay a hand on her lover's thigh. "That's why it's so hard for me to hear you talking like this, sounding so warlike and cruel. It's just not you, can't you see that?"

"No, I can't," Gabrielle said flatly. "But what I can see is why Ares would want you back. Xena, you're magnificent when you're fighting! So strong and smart--and you looked like you were really having a great time!"

"Yeah, well, I guess I'll always enjoy a good fight," Xena said with a crooked grin.

"I wish I could see you lead an army! Wow! What a sight that would be!"

"You did see me lead an army--against the Horde. And you didn't like it much at all."

"That was the other Gabrielle. Now things would be different. Now I'd be on the front lines, fighting with the rest of your troops!"

Xena closed her eyes as a shudder ran through her. "No, Gabrielle," she said softly. "I would never let you fight in my army. Never."

"Why not? Don't you think I'd be good enough?"

"I don't want to talk about this anymore. It's giving me the creeps."

Gabrielle fell silent and for a time there was only the sound of Argo's steady hoofbeats on the dirt road, punctuated by the occasional cries of birds from nearby trees.

"Would you tell me another story?" the bard asked finally.

"It depends on what you want to hear."

"Would you tell me a story about Ares?"

"A story about Ares, huh? Well, let's see. I could tell you about the time when he killed three men and framed me for the murders and I almost got executed."

"Uh--"

"Or how about the time he convinced the Furies to curse me with madness and I almost ended up killing my own mother? That's a pretty good story! You'd probably like that one!" she said, throwing a quick look back at Gabrielle. "Oh, or here's the best one of all! I could tell you about the time Ares disguised himself as a bard and drugged my best friend--the woman I love with all my heart--and made her into this stranger, this--this monster, who can only talk about the goodness of war and murder and--" She stopped, her voice choking and tears stinging her eyes. Pulling Argo to a halt, she sat for a moment, staring straight ahead and drawing long, shaky breaths in an effort to regain control over her emotions.

"I'm sorry, Gabrielle," she said at last, then turned to look at her companion. The bard stared back at her in bewilderment.

"Are you angry at me?" Gabrielle asked in a small voice. "Do you hate me?"

"No, I'm not angry at you," Xena said, "and I could never hate you. You can't help what's happened. But I've sure got a big bone to pick with Ares!"

Gabrielle breathed a sigh of relief. "Maybe I don't want to hear a story right now," she said.

"Good, because I don't think I'm in much of a mood to tell one." Xena smiled grimly and turned to face forward again. She started to pick up the reins, but then stopped, her senses suddenly alert.

"Xena--"

"Shh! Do you hear something?"

"No," Gabrielle said after a moment.

"I do. It sounds like someone moaning." She kicked Argo into a canter and felt Gabrielle's grip around her waist tighten sharply. As they rounded the next bend, she caught sight of a farm cart standing, horseless, beside the road. On the ground nearby, a man was lying, his face covered with dirt and blood.

Xena leaped quickly from the saddle and pulled her pouch of medical supplies out of the saddlebag. "Gabrielle," she said, as she helped the bard dismount, "in the other saddlebag, there are some rags I can use for bandages. Get those and bring them to me. And bring the waterskin, too."

She hurried to the man's side and knelt to examine the gash in his forehead. There were also some nasty bruises, she noted. "What happened?" she asked gently.

"I was coming back from market," he said, gasping a little. "I had some grain and the money I got from selling wool."

As he paused for breath, Gabrielle arrived. Xena glanced back, took the waterskin from her, and held it to the man's lips. He drank gratefully.

"Did you bring the rags?" Xena asked.

"Yeah. Here they are," Gabrielle said, dropping them in the dirt beside the warrior.

Xena sighed, exasperated, and picked up one of the rags. Shaking the dirt off, she poured some water on it and began cleaning the wound. "You were coming back from market," she said, "and then what happened?"

"I met some men--four of them--on horseback. They said they wanted my horse and my money. I tried to fight them, but they were too strong for me. They took all my money. I had forty-two dinars, and that was all I had to buy supplies for my family this winter! And my horse. They took my horse, too! I'll never be able to afford another one!"

"These men who attacked you," Xena said, holding the cloth over his wound to stop the bleeding, "did their leader have a scar across his chin?"

"Yes," the man exclaimed, "how did you know?"

"We ran into them a little ways back down the road," she said grimly, "but I was able to fight them off."

"I told you you should have killed them!" exclaimed Gabrielle. "Now you see that I was right!"

"Killing them wouldn't have helped this man," said Xena. "He had already been attacked. But if I had known which horse was yours," she added, smiling at him, "I could have gotten it back for you." She lifted the compress and noted that the bleeding had stopped. "This wound is going to need some stitches," she said. "Are you hurt anyplace else?"

"My ribs. I think they're broken," he said, putting his hands on his right side. "They kicked me here. It hurts to breathe."

"Have you coughed up any blood?" Xena asked, as she slid her hands under his tunic and began gently probing his side.

"No."

"Good. That means the ribs haven't punctured your lungs." Then, continuing her examination, she said, "I'd say two are broken, maybe three. I'll bind them for you and give you something for the pain."

She was just straightening up when she felt her sword being pulled from its scabbard. Turning quickly, she saw Gabrielle raise the weapon and aim it down at the wounded man. "What are you doing?" she cried, and leaped up to grab the bard's wrists, blocking the downward thrust. "Give me that!" she said, snatching the sword from Gabrielle's hands.

"I thought you'd want to put him out of his misery," said the bard.

Xena clamped a hand on her friend's shoulder and backed her away from the man. "What are you talking about?" she asked in a low voice. "This man's not even that badly hurt."

"He's weak. He couldn't even fight those thieves off. What good is he to anybody?"

"He's a farmer, Gabrielle. He's not a warrior. He doesn't know how to fight. He raises food for his family and his sheep produce wool for people who don't farm--people like us. That's what good he is!" She paused to take a deep breath and released her grip on Gabrielle's shoulder. "We're in a position to help him, and that's what we're going to do. Am I making myself clear?"

Gabrielle nodded and dropped her gaze to the ground.

"Now," continued Xena more gently, "you can help most right now by getting one of our blankets for me, so I can keep him warm. Please," she added as an afterthought.

The bard turned and walked slowly over to where Argo was grazing beside the road. With a heavy sigh, Xena sheathed her sword and went back to her patient.

"I'm sorry about that," she said as she knelt again at his side.Reaching for her leather pouch, she pulled out the needle and thread.

"She's not very friendly," the man muttered and cast a fearful glance in Gabrielle's direction.

"Actually, she's usually very kind," Xena said. "She's just not herself today," she added, with a grim smile. "But don't worry. I won't let her hurt you." How absurd this was, she thought as she threaded the needle, to have to protect someone from Gabrielle. "What's your name?" she asked the man as she bent over him to begin stitching the wound.

"Loukanos," he said and then yelped as he felt the needle pierce his skin.

"I'm sorry about the pain," Xena said, "but I need you to hold as still as you can. This shouldn't take very long."

The man nodded. "I guess I'm lucky you came along," he said, "but I don't know how I'm ever going to get home."

"Where is your village from here?" the warrior asked. Then, hearing Gabrielle behind her, she glanced up and said, "Just spread the blanket over him."

"It's not too far," said Loukanos, keeping a close eye on Gabrielle. "Just a little farther down the road to the turnoff, and another hour's travel after that."

Xena nodded and watched as Gabrielle moved awkwardly to cover Loukanos. "We'll get you home," she said. "It's not very far out of our way."

"Xena," exclaimed Gabrielle, "I thought we were in a hurry! Now you want to take time to--"

"Not that much of a hurry," Xena said firmly. "Loukanos needs our help."

"But what about my cart?" Loukanos said. "We can't leave it here!"

Xena looked at the cart for a moment before tying off another stitch. "Well, I think I just might be able to convince my horse to pull that cart," Xena said. "She's not used to that kind of thing, but if we ask her nicely--" She grinned and bit off the thread. "There! That's all done! Now, let's see about those ribs. I'm going to need some cloth to bind them with. I can either use one of your pants legs or the bottom part of your tunic. Which would you prefer?"

Loukanos frowned and then said, "My tunic, I guess."

"Okay, the tunic it is." Xena pulled out her breast dagger and prepared to cut the cloth. "Gabrielle," she said, "why don't you take our other blankets and see if you can make a bed for Loukanos in the cart."

The bard sighed and got reluctantly to her feet. Moving to the cart, she peered in. "Where am I supposed to make a bed with all this grain in here?" she asked.

"How much grain is there?" Xena said.

"Three bags."

"Is that what you brought from market?" Xena asked Loukanos.

"Yeah."

"Well, see, you didn't lose everything," she said cheerfully. "You've still got your grain and your cart and--most important of all--your life. Those men wouldn't have had any qualms about killing you."

"But they took my money!" Loukanos wailed. "Forty-two dinars! And my horse!"

"Yes," said Xena, "but I'm sure your family will be glad to have you home again alive--even without your horse and your money. Now I'm going to help you sit up, so I can wrap your ribs," she added when he didn't answer.

It took longer to hitch Argo to the cart than Xena expected. The horse thieves had slashed the harness and the warrior had to cobble it back together as best she could using scraps of rope and leather. She helped Gabrielle rearrange the bags of grain to create a cramped space for Loukanos to lie in, then gave him some willow bark to chew on to ease the pain caused by the jolting cart. Even then, he moaned and groaned most of the way, meanwhile keeping a wary eye on Gabrielle, who rode perched on the grain bags in the back of the cart. Xena sat up front on the narrow seat, driving slowly as she tried to find a few smooth places in the hopelessly rutted track. The trip seemed to take forever.

When they reached the village at last, Xena was more than happy to turn Loukanos over to the care of his wife and children. Taking the wife aside, Xena emptied out the contents of her coin purse into the woman's hand. "It's not much," she said, "but maybe it will help."

"No, you've done so much for Loukanos already," the other woman replied. "I couldn't possibly take it."

"Yes, please," Xena said. "Take it for the children. It's going to be a long winter. Three sacks of grain won't be enough."

"May the gods bless you," the woman whispered, and Xena turned away quickly, pretending not to notice the other's tears of gratitude.

* * * * *

"I can't believe you wasted so much time and effort on that pathetic man," Gabrielle said as they rode away from the village a little while later. "Did you hear him? He did nothing but groan and complain. He didn't even say thank you."

"He was frightened and he was in pain," Xena said quietly. "People aren't always at their most gracious under those circumstances. And anyway, his wife thanked me. She was very glad we brought him home."

"Well, if that's what doing good deeds is like, I guess I fail to see the charm in it."

"Doing good has its rewards, but they're not always obvious."

"I just think that what the world needs is more brave and noble warriors like you, Xena--not useless cowards like Loukanos."

"That's not you talking, Gabrielle," Xena said wearily, "it's Ares." She glanced at the sun, now more than halfway down the western sky. "We lost more time than I expected doing our good deed, but I think if we start early tomorrow and really push ourselves, we can still make it to Elkton's house by nightfall."

"Why are you in such a hurry to get there?"

"I'm in a hurry to break Ares' spell and get you back to being the Gabrielle I know and love."

"All you have to do is go back to Ares," Gabrielle said casually. "Wouldn't that be a lot easier than chasing all over the countryside like this? What makes you think this Elkton guy can help, anyway? I thought he was a priest for Morpheus. Why would he know anything about how to break a spell cast by Ares?"

Xena was silent for a few moments. "I don't know why I think that," she admitted, "but I do. I just have this really strong feeling that Elkton can help, and that's why we're going to see him."

"These feelings you have, are they always right?"

"Not always, but a lot of times they are. I had a feeling for two days that something bad was going to happen, and then I allowed you to talk me into letting down my guard, and that's when Ares drugged you."

"So it's my fault, is that what you're saying?"

"No, that's not what I'm saying. It was my own fault for not listening to my intuition."

Gabrielle was quiet for a minute, then said, "When are we going to camp?"

"Soon. I want to get back to the main road first, if we can."

"You have to give me a lesson with the staff, remember?"

"Yes, I remember."

Gabrielle gave a contented sigh and leaned her head against Xena's back. The gesture was so familiar, and yet the person doing it seemed like such a stranger. That was part of the reason Xena felt so desperate to find a way to break Ares' spell. Gabrielle was right, though. There was no logical reason why Elkton could be expected to know how to do it. Still, she had to go talk to him, at least. Even if he couldn't help, he might know of someone who could.

But what if this really was a wild goose chase and there was no way to save Gabrielle except by returning to Ares? Xena hadn't yet allowed herself to consider this question, but maybe it was time she did. One thing was clear: Gabrielle couldn't be allowed to go on like this, with this Ares-given personality. She would only end up killing people and thus assigning herself to Tartarus. The image of Gabrielle holding a sword aimed at the helpless Loukanos was still fresh in Xena's mind, and it sent cold chills down her spine every time she thought of it. She must save Gabrielle's soul somehow, she knew, but how? Going back to Ares would mean losing her own soul. Was she willing to make that sacrifice?

She drew in a long, slow breath, becoming aware again of Gabrielle's warm weight against her back. Yes, if that was the only way, she would do it--even if it meant eternal separation from the woman she loved. But surely there was another answer. Surely there was some way to outsmart Ares again. And then, suddenly, it came to her, as clear as a sunlit reflection in a quiet pool. She could go back to ride at the head of Ares' army . . . and then let herself be killed in battle. It would be simple enough to do, but it would have to happen quickly, before she'd had a chance to cancel out the good things she'd accomplished in the last few years. At least this way she might still have a chance--however slim--to make it into the Elysian Fields. Gabrielle, meanwhile, could live out her life in peace and love, and someday the two of them might be together again.

Xena closed her eyes for a moment and let out a long breath. It wasn't a happy decision, but having made it, she felt a strange sense of peace come over her. She still hoped with all her might that there was a better solution, but if there wasn't, she now knew how she could save Gabrielle, and that was all that mattered.

Behind her, the bard yawned and sat up. "It's getting late, Xena," she said. "If we don't stop soon, it'll be too dark for me to learn to use the staff."

"You're right," Xena said. "We need to start looking for a place to camp."

"How about over there in those trees?"

"No, we need to find a stream or a spring or something. Our waterskin is almost empty." Then leaning forward slightly, she called, "Argo!"

The mare raised her head and swiveled her ears back in Xena's direction.

"Find water, girl! We need you to find us some water!"

"She can do that?" Gabrielle asked in amazement.

"Yeah. It's a new trick we've been working on. Animals can smell water from a long distance away, so I thought why not put that ability to use?"

Argo continued to walk calmly along the rutted track, but now her nostrils flared as she sampled the breeze and her whole body seemed to be on the alert. They hadn't gone very far before she turned off to the right, pushing through the undergrowth to follow a narrow game trail. Xena and Gabrielle were forced to duck as they passed under low branches, but soon they entered a clearing and Argo stopped beside a rocky outcropping. Dropping her head, she snorted softly and then began to suck up water from a small pool.

"Good girl!" exclaimed Xena, petting Argo's neck enthusiastically before she hopped down. Kneeling beside the pool of water, she cleared some leaves and sticks away. "There's a little spring here in the rocks," she told Gabrielle. "We never would have found it without Argo!"

Gabrielle slid down and pulled out her staff. "Okay, time for my lesson now!" she said.

"No, sorry. We have some other things to do first. Now, would you rather unpack our gear and set up camp or gather wood?"

Gabrielle stared at her blankly. "I don't know how to do either one," she said, then twirled the staff experimentally.

"Be careful with that!" Xena said, taking it away from her. "You almost hit Argo." Then she studied the bard for a moment. "Are you saying that you don't remember how to set up camp or gather wood?"

"Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I lost my memories, remember?"

Xena sighed. "I suppose this also means you don't remember how to cook."

"Yep, I guess that's what it means."

"Well, you're going to be sorry about that, anyway, because my cooking is pretty awful."

"I don't care. Teach me to use the staff."

"Not yet. First I need you to gather wood. Just walk around and pick up any dead sticks you find and bring them back here. Don't bring any rotten wood, though. It doesn't burn well. I'll unpack our gear and start thinking about what to make for supper."

Gabrielle turned and walked off among the trees. In a short time, she was back with four sticks. "I found some!" she said brightly. "Is this the right kind of wood?"

"Yeah, those are perfect," Xena said, laughing, "but we need a lot more than that. We need at least thirty or forty sticks that size, and some bigger ones, too, if you can find them."

"You're kidding! Where will I ever find that many sticks?"

"Ah, that's the challenge of wood gathering! Now hurry! We can't have a lesson with the staff until there's a nice fire burning and I've put supper on to cook."

Gabrielle made a face, then dropped her sticks and headed off again. Xena meanwhile got out some dried fish, bread, and vegetables, filled the cooking pot with water, and cleared a place for the fire. "I wish Gabrielle were here to do the cooking," she muttered, then stopped and shook her head when she realized what she had just said. Gabrielle was indeed there, she reminded herself--in body, if not in spirit. But it was her friend's loving spirit that she missed most.

As soon as the fire was blazing brightly, Xena threw the fish and vegetables into the pot of water and set it in the coals, uttering a small prayer that the mixture would turn into something edible.

"Okay," she said to Gabrielle, "let's start learning to use that staff."

She demonstrated a few basic moves, then watched as the younger woman practiced them. There was some awkwardness at first, but after that, Gabrielle caught on quickly, and Xena suspected that it was a case of the body remembering what the mind had forgotten. She was just showing how the staff could be used to sweep the feet out from under an opponent, when Gabrielle stopped suddenly and said, "What's that smell?"

"Oh, shit!" exclaimed Xena, as she turned and rushed back to the fire. Snatching the pot out of the flames, she examined its contents and found a charred, smelly mess.

"Well, I hope you weren't very hungry," she called to Gabrielle, who had gone back to practicing with the staff. "I seem to have ruined our dinner."

"That's okay," Gabrielle responded. "I'll have more time to practice if I don't have to eat."

"But you do have to eat," Xena said. "I'll make sure you eat something. Let me see what else we've got."

* * * * *

They had a simple supper of bread and cheese, along with some nuts and dried apples. Afterwards, Gabrielle continued to work with the staff while Xena sat by the fire, using a sharp stone to scrape out the cooking pot. It had been foolish of her to waste that much food, she knew--especially after giving away their last dinar earlier in the day. And Gabrielle would not be at all happy when she found out what had happened to her pot. The "real" Gabrielle--not this other, warlike one. How long would it be before Xena got her back? And what if she never did? What if she never held the bard in her arms or made love to her again? Xena sighed and tried to put these dark thoughts out of her head. They only made her heart ache.

When she had cleaned out the pot as best she could, she set it aside, took off her weapons and armor, and then sat cross-legged on the blankets, watching Gabrielle. "You're getting pretty good with that thing," she called. "I had a feeling it would all come back to you."

"Show me some more moves."

"No. Not tonight. Come to bed now. We need to get an early start in the morning." She patted a spot on the blanket beside her, and Gabrielle came over and sat down, laying the staff reluctantly on the ground nearby.

"After I learn to use the staff, will you teach me to use a sword?" she asked.

"No," Xena said firmly. "I don't want you using a sword."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want you going around killing people. It goes against everything you believe in."

"That was the other Gabrielle. I believe in different things."

"I know," Xena said, leaning her chin on her hand and staring moodily into the fire. "That's the problem."

There was silence for several minutes, and Xena's mind began to wander along dark paths once again. She was abruptly recalled from her reverie, though, when she felt Gabrielle's hand on her breast. Starting slightly, she took hold of the bard's wrist and then looked at her companion. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"I thought you'd want to make love. That's what lovers do, isn't it? I don't remember how, exactly, but you can show me."

Xena stared at her for a moment, then gently removed Gabrielle's hand from her breast and held it between her own hands. "I just don't feel like making love tonight," she said softly. "I'm too tired."

"Don't you find me attractive?"

"Yes, of course I do, Gabrielle. I think you're very beautiful."

"Then why don't you want to make love to me?"

"I told you. I'm tired."

"No, you're not," Gabrielle said, pulling her hand away and hugging her knees to her chest. "You just don't love me anymore--that's what it is."

"You're wrong, Gabrielle. I love you very much. I always will."

"No. You loved me the way I was before. You don't love me now."

"Gabrielle--" Xena said, and then stopped, trying to think how to answer. Finally, she said, "I guess you're right, in a way. There are some things I don't like much about you right now. I don't like what Ares has done to you--how he's twisted your personality into something so aggressive . . . something so different from what it was before. I don't like some of the things I've heard you say today and some of the things you've done. But that doesn't mean I don't love you, because I do. You can love a person very deeply and still dislike some of the things that person says and does." She paused and waited for a response, but there was none. Gabrielle still hugged her knees and stared at the ground in front of her. Xena put a hand under the bard's chin and turned her face toward her. "Can you understand what I'm saying?" she asked.

"Yeah, I guess so," Gabrielle said sullenly, then turned to look at the ground again.

"The thing is," Xena said after another brief silence. "Right now you seem like such a different person to me that if I made love to you, it would be like making love to a stranger. And I don't want to do that."

"Okay," Gabrielle mumbled.

Xena regarded her for a few moments longer, then said, "Let's get to sleep, shall we? You lie here, on the side by the fire, and I'll be right here next to you."

"Should I take my clothes off?"

"Only if you want to. I think I'm going to leave mine on tonight."

After a moment's hesitation, the younger woman climbed under the covers without undressing, and Xena stretched out beside her. "Goodnight, Gabrielle," she said softly.

"Goodnight."

The warrior lay for a short time, staring up at the stars that winked between the tree branches, but soon her eyelids grew heavy and, closing them, she gave herself up to sleep.

* * * * *

She began to dream almost at once. It was a dream so clear and vivid, in fact, that she thought she must still be awake. Gabrielle was coming towards her, arms wide open and a smile full of love on her face. Xena ran to embrace her, holding her lover close with all the fierceness of her passion. But suddenly, she stiffened and pulled back, looking searchingly into the bard's green eyes. "How do I know this is really you?" she asked. "It could just be some trick Ares is playing on me."

Gabrielle smiled softly. "You'll know it's me because of what I'm going to tell you," she said, then glanced around. "But I'll have to be quick, because I may not have much time."

"What do you mean?"

"Ares doesn't know I'm here with you, and when he finds out-- Well, there's no telling what he'll do."

"Has he hurt you, Gabrielle?"

"No. He's been pretty well behaved, actually. He just keeps talking about how things are going to be when you come back to him, and it's really scaring me."

"Gabrielle--" Xena began, hesitated a moment, and then went on. "I hope there's another way, but if there's not--"

"No! Xena, don't you even think about giving in to that monster! It's totally out of the question, do you understand me?"

"I'm trying to find another way to break the spell. We're going to see Elkton. I think maybe he can help. But if not, I'll have to do something. I can't just let you--"

Gabrielle put her fingers over Xena's lips. "Listen to me. You're not going back to Ares. If there's no other way, then I want you to promise me something."

"What?"

Gabrielle was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath and plunged ahead. "I want you to promise that you'll kill me."

"Kill you?" Xena said in amazement. "I could never do that!"

"Yes, you could, and I want you to do it. I don't want to murder a bunch of people. I want to go to the Elysian Fields. I want us to be together someday."

"Wait a minute," Xena said."Let me get this straight. You are asking me to commit murder--because that's what it would be, premeditated murder--and not only that, you're asking me to murder the person I love most in the whole world, to have her blood on my hands when I appear before Hades, and you think I'll still end up in the Elysian Fields?"

"Yes, I do, because I think Hades will understand that your killing me is a selfless act--kind of like a sacrifice--not really murder. It will be like when you stabbed Marcus. Do you think Hades blamed you for that?"

"No, I guess not, but that was different. Marcus was going to die again anyway."

"It's not different. It's the same thing!" Frowning in frustration, Gabrielle cast an anxious glance behind her. "I don't have time to argue about this, Xena," she went on. "I just need you to promise me. Please! I have to know I can count on you! I can't have any peace of mind until I know that!"

Xena stared at her and tried to speak, but no words would come. She needed time to think. Was Gabrielle's plan better than the plan she herself had come up with earlier that afternoon? It was true that if she killed Gabrielle, she would assure the bard a place in the Elysian Fields.

But after she did it, she would have to live out her own life alone and with the knowledge that she had killed her best friend.

"Promise me, Xena!" Gabrielle pleaded. "If you love me, promise me you'll do this one last thing for me. Please!"

"All right, I promise," Xena softly. "But only if there is no other way."

"Yes! Thank you!" Gabrielle whispered, and threw her arms around the warrior in a tight hug. "I love you so much!" she added.

"I love you, too. And I miss you. This person Ares turned you into-- It's like being with a total stranger! She looks like you, but she's so different!"

"I know, but be patient, Xena," Gabrielle said, gently touching the warrior's face. "She may seem like someone else, but in some strange way, she's still me. She's the way I could have been if my life had been different."

Xena nodded, and pulled her lover close again. "I'm going to find a way to get you back," she said. "I swear it."

"If there's any way at all, I know you'll find it. Just try to keep me from killing anybody in the meantime," Gabrielle said with a weak grin.

"I'll try," Xena said, and then her mouth found Gabrielle's. She closed her eyes and let herself savor the sweet warmth of her lover's lips and tongue. If only this moment could last forever, she thought. But suddenly, she felt Gabrielle being pulled roughly away. "No!" Xena cried out. "Gabrielle!" She opened her eyes to see Ares, his face dark with anger, holding the bard with both arms twisted behind her.

"Well, well, well," he muttered. "I can see I'm going to have to keep a closer watch on this one. She's a bit more clever than I gave her credit for." Then, half turning, he snapped his fingers behind him and a cage appeared, with bars of shining metal.

"No! Ares, don't!" cried Gabrielle. "I'll behave myself!"

But her captor only laughed as he pushed her into the enclosure. Then, slamming the door shut with a resounding clash, he locked it and pocketed the key.

"Xena, help me!" pleaded Gabrielle, clutching the bars and looking desperately at the warrior.

But Xena could only stare back helplessly, knowing that she had neither sword nor chakram with her--no way of fighting Ares in this strange dreamscape.

"You know what you have to do, Xena," Ares said, turning to her with a cold smile.

"I'm not coming back," Xena said. "Not now. Not ever. I'll find some other way to defeat you."

"Go ahead. Look all you want," the war god said, moving close and fixing her in his smoldering gaze. "But I can assure you that you won't find another way. I'll just keep your little friend all locked up safe here until you decide you want her back." He grinned, but it was the kind of grin that left an icy chill inside her.

She took a step back. "I love you, Gabrielle," she called, looking past Ares. "I'll get you out of there somehow. Just give me a little time."

"I love you, too! Don't forget your promise!"

"I won't forget!"

"Xena! Xena!" Gabrielle was calling her name and shaking her, and when the warrior opened her eyes, she saw her lover bending over her, silhouetted against the soft glow of the campfire.

"What's wrong with you?" Gabrielle asked. "You were thrashing around and talking in your sleep, but I couldn't understand you."

"I was having a dream," Xena said softly. "It was a dream about you."

"Was it a nightmare?"

"Well, it kind of ended up that way, but the first part was nice. I dreamed that we were kissing, and then Ares came and locked you up in a cage." She reached up and touched the bard's cheek. Then she put an arm around her and tried to pull her closer.

Gabrielle stiffened. "What do you want?" she asked.

"I just want to hold you. Do you think you would like that?"

"I don't know."

"Well, let's try it and see. Just lie down here with your head on my chest."

The younger woman hesitantly followed instructions.

"Now relax," Xena said, as she wrapped an arm around her companion and gently stroked her hair. "How does that feel?"

"It's okay."

Xena smiled. "Do you think you can go back to sleep?" she asked.

"Yeah."

"Good. Because that's what I plan to do, too."

She didn't follow her plan immediately, however. Instead, she lay staring into the dark, thinking about her dream. Had she really promised to kill Gabrielle? Yes, she had given her word, but she had said she would do it only if there was no other way to break Ares' spell. Couldn't her own plan to get killed in battle count as that "other way"? She needed more time to think through the options. But right now there was still the hope that Elkton could provide some less drastic solution to the problem. She had to believe that her intuition was right. With any luck, by this time tomorrow night, she would know if it was.

Closing her eyes, Xena listened for several minutes to the sound of her lover's soft sleep-breathing. Then, with a small sigh, she drifted out on her own quiet sea of oblivion.

Continue to Part 3

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