Beowulf And Grendel, An Awakening XX

by Frau Hunter Ash

 

Disclaimers

Ownership:  Repeat after me: I don’t own Xena, Gabrielle, etc.  I’m borrowing them for entertainment purposes, please don’t bother to sue me, you wouldn’t even get court costs.

Violence:  This one probably rates an “R” rating for the descriptions of violence and it’s aftermath.  Don’t expect “Dawn of the Dead” but it’s not “Mister Rogers” either.

Subtext/Alt Fiction/Sex:  the story assumes a loving and sexual relationship between people of the same gender and of the opposite sex.  If this offends you or is illegal for you then please leave.  Come back when you are older, have an open mind, moved, or changed your laws.

Feedback:  always welcome and responded to!

Storyline:  Xena and Gabrielle travel North with two Amazons to rectify one of Xena’s past mistakes and meets Beowulf, the Viking warrior. 

The story can stand on it’s own but it is part of a series and you might want to catch some of the earlier parts to know exactly who is whom.

A Visit Home, an Awakening 1; An Awakening, Discovery, 2; Amazon Bonding, Awakening 3; Gabrielle, Healing, Awakening 4; Trial of a Roman, Awakening 5; Gladiator, Bard, Warrior, Mother; Awakening 6; Reunited, Awakening 7; Ides of March, Awakening 8; Children of Gods, Awakening 9; Even with Ares, Awakening 10; Settling with Brutus, Awakening 11; Darkness Awakening, Awakening 12; Amazons North, Awakening 13; Amazon Darkness, Awakening 14; The Wild Hunt, Awakening 15; Bard Scrolls, Awakening 16; A God’s Twilight 17; Chakram 18; Death and Rain 19; Beowulf 20

Timeline in the Awakening story-line

Year and Events - BCE: Before Common Era

49        The Furies,

Been There, Done That,

Caesar defeats Pompey,

Xena and Gabrielle become lovers.  Gabrielle age 19, Xena age 26

48        Library of Alexandria burned by Caesar.

X&G married

Xena 27, Gabrielle 20

47        Gabrielle taken as slave, age 21 “Gladitor, Bard”

46        Sasha born - Gabrielle a gladiator, returns to Xena

45

44        Caesar assassinated.  Xena age 31, Gabrielle 24 (both stop aging)

42        Philippi - Brutus and Crassius defeated and killed, Sasha four years old. 

41        Sasha five, Solan 15  - “Amazons of the North”

40        Sasha age 6 - “Wild Hunt”

39        Sasha age 7, Solan 17 -

“Bard Scrolls;”

“Twilight of a God” (Ares imprisoned);

Gabrielle 29, Xena 36

38        “Chakram”

37-4     Herrod king of Judea

              “Beowulf” - Gabrielle 31, Xena 38
           

The warrior could hear and sense the other woman approaching as Xena sat on the north wall of the village, keeping an eye out for the healers and the supplies desperately needed by the village that evening.  Thankfully the rain had stopped, the warrior thought to herself.

Jaeger leaned against the battlement, seeming to watch the road with Xena.

“Guten Abend, meine freund,” the German Amazon said simply.

“Evening,” Xena answered easily.  After a moment she glanced at the Viking next to her and took in the young woman closely.  “You want to try and kill me like you promised?”

“Nein,” Jaeger said simply.

The Viking was taller than Gabrielle but not as tall as Xena with a shock of black hair that seemed to always be ruffled and spikey.  Jaeger had clipped the sides short but the back was long and braided, Viking style.  The grey eyes were bright and quick and the body lean and muscled.

“You know what Eponin asked me earlier?” Xena ventured.

“Of course not, what?” Jaeger responded.

“How I became immortal, she swears Gabrielle and I haven’t aged in six years.  I told we weren’t immortal but I think I should be asking you that question, you haven’t aged any, Hallvor,” Xena commented, her eyes watching the warrior closely.

“No, just a bit,” the warrior agreed.  “You grew up from the young and angry warrior you were then.”

“I’ve changed a lot,” Xena admitted.  “It doesn’t look like you’ve aged a day.  It’s been almost twenty winters and you were, what? About seventeen?”

“Yes, that would make me what, Xena?  Almost 35, almost as old as you, yes?

“Have you aged any?”

“A couple of years, maybe,” Jaeger answered. 

“The Amazons don’t know?” Xena frowned.

“No, I may not have aged much but I have learned a few things, my friend,” Jaegar stated.  “Including how to control certain things.”

“Seems we’ve both changed,” Xena stated.

“Yes, and I’ve seen the reason for your change,” Jaeger grinned at Xena’s raised eyebrows.  “Gabrielle seems remarkable.”

The warrior felt herself begin blushing slightly.  “She is, best thing that ever happened in my life.”

“Good, maybe someday I’ll find my mate,” Jaeger said somewhat wistfully, turning to watch the road.

“Hallvor,” Xena began to speak and the Viking held up her hand. 

“You rescued me, Xena, but my heart was never yours and you never pretended different.  Then you used me and threw me aside when I was no longer useful.  What happened simply was, that was a very long time ago.  It’s a small thing.”

“What have you been doing for the past years?” Xena asked, grateful to change the subject.

“Mercenary mostly, even served with a Northern Roman Legion for awhile,” the warrior grinned at Xena’s raised eyebrows and then laughed.  “It was…. Interesting.  None of them ever figured out I was female during the five years of my service.  I learned a lot about the Romans and their fighting, it will come in handy when they move against the North again.”

“Not as reckless and blind as you once were?” Xena teased.

“No, I don’t want to behead every single Roman I see now.  I learned how to think and plan ahead,” Jaeger grinned.

“Not so much the berserker?  Rushing headfirst into battle, the odds be damned?”

“Werserker,” the Viking corrected with a smile.  “It’s still there.”

Xena nodded and looked back at the village and smiled.

 Some of the villagers were beginning to get back on their feet and move around slowly, cleaning up and moving things back into place and drawing fresh water from the well for the animals and humans still sick from the grain.

Xena still couldn’t believe the misfortune that had hit them recently.  She and Gabrielle had only meant to travel through the village, not even stopping for breakfast.  That had ended when the bard had entered the village ahead of Xena and Sasha only to discover everyone in the village down with what appeared to be a plague.

Xena had been forced to leave Gabrielle in the village while she and Sasha went for healers.  Everything had gone wrong, reluctant healers, never ending rain and a rock-slide delayed the warrior by days.  Leaving Gabrielle to tend to a small village of dying villagers by herself.

On Gabrielle’s side it hadn’t been easy either; dying villagers, never ending rain, bandits and the fact that it wasn’t a plague but poisoned grain.  The bard hadn’t realized the true cause of the illness until after she had consumed some of the bread made from the grain, becoming sick from the poison herself.

Then Eponin had seemingly risen from the dead and returned as Gabrielle took sick.  The Amazon was hunting for Gabrielle, having been told that the bard and Xena had betrayed the Amazons to the Romans and leading to the destruction of the majority of Amazons in the Black Forest.

Eponin and her new Amazon sister, Jaeger, had found Gabrielle but the bard collapsed from the poisoning.  Eventually the bard, Amazons and one of the villagers dealt with illness, rain and bandits and settled their past, the truth finally coming out.

Xena had gotten around the rock-slide ahead of the healers and Sasha in time to save Gabrielle and most of the villagers with the antidote.  The warrior had been very pleased to find that Gabrielle’s planning against the bandits had led to several of them being trapped in the temple and several killed without any loss to the village or Amazons.

Jaeger grinned at Patron and two other villagers guarding the doors to the temple and at the shouts from inside.  So far the doors were still holding the bandits trapped inside.

“If the healers don’t get here tonight then they should be in the morning,” Xena commented.

“Good, then you can send for the militia from the next village to come and get those idiots,” Jaeger grinned.

“You know, you’re Greek has gotten a lot better except when you’re around Eponin,” Xena questioned with a grin.

“Yeah, I can’t tell them that this young and lost German has actually been running around the world for the past sixteen years without explaining a lot of things I’m not ready to yet,” Jaeger commented.

“I won’t say anything, I know what it’s like fighting against your past,” Xena said softly.

“Thank you,” Jaeger said, sighing with relief and then frowned.  “That would mean you not saying anything to your mate?”

“I won’t,” Xena stated.

“Hmmm, not sure if I like that, Xena,” Jaeger frowned.  “Mates shouldn’t have secrets.”

“Friends sometimes keep secrets for friends,” Xena countered.  “Don’t you think that Eponin and the others would accept everything about you?”

“I don’t know and I’m not sure I want to risk that.”

“I didn’t think Gabrielle wanted me as a mate and I was willing to keep my feelings a secret from her and live with it.  I almost lost her because of it,” Xena advised.

“You know me and how I got my back broken by my own people, would you accept me?” Jaeger countered with an angry look.

“I already did, remember?  I didn’t leave you because of what you are, Hall,” Xena asked and then turned towards the steps, leaving the Viking with her thoughts.

It took five days for the bard and the village to be totally on its feet again.  The total remaining villagers numbered eighteen with four of those being children.

Gabrielle reassured Xena and Sasha with a smile that she was ready to travel as the bard tied on her travel packs to her horse, it having survived as well.  The bard glanced up gratefully at the sun as they prepared to leave the village.  It had been a long few days in the rain and Gabrielle was grateful just to be alive at the moment.

“Hey, Hall,” Xena called and tossed a pack to the Viking Amazon. 

Xena didn’t notice Gabrielle’s narrowed eyes.

Gabrielle turned to the villagers who stood around to see the women on their journey.  She grinned and hugged Patron tightly.

“Thanks for everything,” he said with a smile.

“You’re welcome, and thanks for holding me.”

The young man began blushing and quickly looked at Xena and began stammering at her withering gaze.  “I… uh… you’re welcome.  I know you and the warrior are together but if anything ever happens, I’d be glad to hold you again,” he whispered.

“Thank you, Patron,” Gabrielle smiled and kissed his cheek and began hugging some of the other villagers she had gotten to know.

Urban bowed slightly and hugged her.  “You saved the village and almost died doing it.  Is there any way we can repay you?” he asked.

“Just rebuild, Urban,” Gabrielle grinned.

“We will, thanks to all of you.  You will always be welcome here as honored guests!” he announced loudly to the cheers of the villagers and Gabrielle blushed as she mounted her horse. 

The cheers followed them out of the village gate.

Eponin grinned at Xena's blush and Jaeger merely shrugged as they followed Xena and Gabrielle down the road.

Gabrielle fell back to ride alongside Eponin after they had been on the road for a couple of candle-marks. 

During her recovery from the poisoning, the Amazon Queen and weapons-master had talked endlessly about how Eponin had survived the Roman attack and how she had begun to rebuild the tribe with the few survivors and were beginning to take in outcast women from the surrounding Germanic families and villages. 

Gabrielle had told Eponin about her life with Xena after the Amazons had been attacked.  Pony had grinned at the thought of Xena finally getting Ares out of their lives, even if it had almost killed the warrior and Gabrielle again. 

Eponin pointed to the sais at the bard’s boots.

“I remember teaching you the beginnings of how to fight with a staff because you wouldn’t kill,” the Amazon stated.

“I remember,” Gabrielle smiled sadly.  “I never really changed in that viewpoint, I just didn’t have a choice.”

“Everything happened so fast when the Romans attacked us and you exchanged yourself for the ones who had been captured.  When I saw you after the Ides of March and Caesar assassination, you were deathly sick from the crucifixion and couldn’t use your hands yet.  We never did catch up on how you became a fighter,” Pony said.

“What did you know?” Gabrielle asked.

“We received word from Hercules and Iolaus that you had been found and returned to Xena while she was still in the north, keeping her pregnancy a secret from Ares.  The message said that you had been a slave but were healthy and safe.  Later, after you sent us north towards the Black Forest, word spread that you had been a gladiator in Rome for Caesar,” Pony frowned.  “We knew that couldn’t be right because Caesar was looking for you to hold you hostage against Xena.”

“It was true,” Gabrielle grinned slightly at Eponin’s surprised look.  “He didn’t know who I was.  I had been taken as a slave and sold to a gladiator school.  I had to learn to kill and fight or die.  I choose to learn and survive to get back to Xena,” Gabrielle began explaining. The bard took in the smell of the trees and the sound of the birds, remembering a time when they were a distant thought behind the walls of a Roman villa, behind the walls and chains of the gladiator school.  “Brutus recognized me but kept quiet, protecting me and bought me.  Caesar found out his favorite General had taken an interest in female gladiators and demanded to see me.  I became one of his fighters and won my freedom in the Circus.”

“Oh Sweet Artemis!” Pony whispered.  “A gladiator?”

Gabrielle nodded unhappily.  “Yes, I became a trained killer,” she said bitterly.

“You survived for your mate and then you survived being crucified to save the Amazons,” Eponin frowned.  “Gabrielle, I’m sorry I doubted you.”

“Forget it, Brutus betrayed all of us,” Gabrielle said.

“What happened?  He was your friend and then he betrayed us and Xena said he kidnapped Sasha?”

“I don’t know.  When he returned me to Xena we were friends.  I knew he was in love with me, or lust, I don’t know,” Gabrielle said thoughtfully.  “I don’t know what happened.  I think something snapped when he killed Caesar somehow and he found himself fighting Antony for control of Rome.  I think he crossed a line somewhere in his soul and was determined to have everything that he wanted, no matter what the cost.”

“And he wanted you,” Eponin said grimly.

“Yes, he kidnapped Sasha to gain favor with Ares and he was hoping I’d be captured.  If he couldn’t have me willingly, he was willing to force me.”  Gabrielle felt her jaw tightening at the thought of more rapes at the hands of the Romans and almost growled.

“Gods, does everyone fall in love with you?” Pony grinned at the exasperated look the bard gave her.

“Not everyone!” Gabrielle protested, regaining her smile.  “You didn’t! Your heart is elsewhere!”

Pony’s eyes went wide and the Amazon began blushing.  “I don’t know what you mean!” she whispered, her eyes glancing at Xena and Jaeger riding in front of them, with Sasha riding with Xena.

Gabrielle’s eyes caught the glance and grinned even wider.

“Tell me something, Pony,” she lowered her voice.  “Why aren’t you with Jaeger?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Eponin mumbled and then gave up the pretense.  “Oh Hades, is it obvious?”

“Just a little, but then people tell us Xena and I were the same way, everyone knew but us.” Gabrielle grinned.

“I don’t know.  I think she’s interested and then she turns cold,” Eponin complained.

“Well, I think she’s got it bad for you,” Gabrielle smiled.

“Don’t take this wrong, but have you noticed something different between Xena and Jaeger?  I don’t mean sexually, but…”

“Yeah, there’s something there, it’s like they know each other somehow,” Gabrielle agreed.

“Have you asked Xena?” Pony asked.

“Yes, she says it’s nothing.”

Eponin and Gabrielle continued on, both reflecting on their thoughts as they watched their warriors ahead of them.

“I hope Mom isn’t going to worry too much about this little side trip of ours,” Gabrielle muttered as she curled up in Xena’s arms that night.

“She shouldn’t, we just didn’t expect to take another trip to Eddval’s so soon,” Xena smiled, running her fingers through Gabrielle’s short hair and feeling the bard snuggle down against her.

“You think the message will get to her?”

“Should, Clement, the healer, promised me he’d send a reliable messenger to both our families.”

“I think Mom wants to marry that farmer next to her, the widower,” Gabrielle commented after a moment. 

“Be a good match, I think,” Xena said simply, holding her mate close and raising up momentarily to check that Sasha’s bedroll was filled and the child sleeping.

“I think so to, she actually blushes when she talks about him,” the bard grinned.

Both mates lay looking at the stars.  After a few moments Xena could tell Gabrielle wasn’t done talking but was nervous, the bard’s hand playing over Xena’s nightshift and ribs.  The warrior waited for her bard.

“Are you going to hunt tomorrow on the way?” Gabrielle asked softly.

“Yes, what is it, little one?”

“It’s almost a full moon,” the bard said softly, her fingers nervously pulling at Xena’s clothing, unconsciously revealing her tension.

“I’ll take the flask with me,” Xena said simply and pulled the bard close for a tight hug and heard Gabrielle sigh with relief.

After a few moments Xena found herself frowning with thought.  “Are you going to tell Pony?”

“About?” Gabrielle asked slowly and Xena’s eyes narrowed, sensing that Gabrielle knew exactly what she was asking but was dodging the issue.

“About the bacchae thing,” Xena stated simply. “About needing blood during the full moon?”

“It’s not something that I go around advertising,” the bard snapped.

“I know, but you want Pony to be your Regent or even Queen, shouldn’t she know this?” Xena questioned.

“I don’t know,” Gabrielle admitted.  “I don’t want to find out.  We just patched up our relationship and I don’t want to risk rocking that boat right now.”

“She’ll accept this, it’s not like you had a choice in the matter!” Xena urged.

“It’s hard enough for some people to accept that my father is the god of the Sun, how are they supposed to accept the fact that I drink animal blood, your blood and sprout fangs?” the bard demanded.

“The Amazons accepted me with my past,” Xena argued.

“That’s because you were changing your future, this isn’t something I can change.  We’ve tried,” Gabrielle countered, her jaw taking on that stubborn set the warrior knew so well.

Xena knew that any further argument would be hopeless that night and let it drop.

Xena found herself in the middle of three secrets and wasn’t pleased with keeping any of them.  The past she shared with Jaeger, Jaeger’s secret nature, and now Gabrielle’s bacchae side.  The fact that the bard had been bitten and turned into a fledgling bacchae and had tasted Bacchus’ blood.  Only two drops but enough to change her when she had died at the hands of Caesar, ever since then the bard needed animal or human blood, usually once a month.  Sometimes she also needed the sexual contact along with the blood.  Fortunately, Xena had accepted that about her mate and because Xena was the daughter of deities herself, Gabrielle’s bite didn’t harm her.

It still wasn’t something the bard wanted normal humans to know about and Xena could understand that but she felt Eponin should know.

The problem would be convincing Gabrielle to risk that trust so soon after Pony had wanted the bard’s head.

The night suddenly felt long and somewhat lonely, even with Gabrielle in her arms.

Xena wasn’t surprised when Gabrielle wanted some private time with her warrior away from the others the next night.  Since Eponin and Jaeger knew they were mates they didn’t have to explain. The bard wasn’t about to explain to the two Amazons that, not only did she want some romantic time with Xena, she also needed the private time with Xena’s blood.

The warrior also wasn’t surprised when they had barely gotten away from the camp when Gabrielle turned and pulled Xena into a rough and passionate kiss that took the warrior’s breath away and made her knees weak.  The warrior found herself backed into a tree and fought to maintain her balance in the dense woods as her bard attacked her.  Xena could tell this was not one of those times when her bard wanted nice, gentle and slow lovemaking and growled in return, pulling Gabrielle off her feet as Xena responded to the kiss, the bard wrapping her legs around the warrior.

Xena lowered her bard to the grass as Gabrielle continued to hold tightly to her warrior, both of them moaning, hands quickly pulling away clothing as their tongues dueled for dominance.  The warrior felt her heart almost skip a beat with emotion as her body melded with the bards.  Xena was always awed by the feelings and energy between the two of them, even after several years together the intensity didn’t seem to ebb or grow stale.  Touching Gabrielle was as close to a religious experience as Xena could hope for and she relished every touch, every sound, every scent, and every electric spark that tingled between them.

Neither one of them knew who had gotten what clothing off the other one nor was Xena aware when Gabrielle’s fangs sank into her neck as Xena entered her mate, their bodies beginning to rock with the connection and building waves.

Ever since that first time Gabrielle bit into Xena’s neck in the bacchae cave, the warrior understood how victims could keep coming back for more, even to the point of dying.  The magic surrounding the bacchae bite ensured that, the eroticism behind the bite capturing the victim in waves of orgasm and desire until they would beg to be bitten again and again.  Combined with the fear, the sexual energy created by a bacchae was beyond anything Xena had ever felt.

The fact that it was Gabrielle biting her that night only added to the intensity.  Xena already knew she was more than attracted to her young traveling companion but didn’t think Gabrielle was interested in her as a mate.  The fear of falling to the bacchae bite, the sensuality of the bacchae, and having Gabrielle be the one to bite her, had given Xena such a rush through her body that she had never felt before.  Xena still wasn’t sure where she had found the strength to resist long enough to attack Bacchus and end the nightmare, except that she had to save Gabrielle.

Even though Gabrielle was still uncomfortable with being part bacchae, Xena didn’t have a problem with it and welcomed the bite from her bard.  Being the child of gods did have advantages, Xena thought whenever Gabrielle’s fangs sank into her neck. The bite draining her of a small amount of blood and bringing about some of the best sex and connection Xena had ever felt with anyone.  

Xena felt herself whimpering as her body trembled and approached that wave of total loss of control.  Then shock hit the warrior like a physical blow as Gabrielle’s fangs left her throat and the contact was broken.

“What?” she mumbled and then with her concentration on Gabrielle broken, she heard growls mixed with a sharp voice and shouting.

Without conscious thought, Xena was on her feet and running back to camp in an instant with Gabrielle on her heels.

Gabrielle slid to a stop and tried to mentally process the scene in front of her.

Xena was tackling a growling creature and Eponin and Sasha were in a tree, shouting and yelling.  The full moon casting weird shadows through the tree branches adding to the strangeness of the scene of confusion.. 

Gabrielle rushed forward as Xena managed to stay behind the figure and lashed out with her hands, hitting several pressure points.  The creature went limp just as Gabrielle reached them.

Xena, pushing the furry shadow off of her, looked up at her bard.  “Get some ropes out of the saddle bags,” the warrior instructed as she stood up and tried to rearrange what few clothes she had on.

As Gabrielle rummaged through the packs Xena picked up the large figure and threw it over her shoulder.  The bard realizing that she wasn’t wearing many clothes either and tried to pull her vest closed.

“Come on down, Pony, Sasha,” she called and walked back towards the fire and gently lowered the creature down on Jaeger’s bedding.

Gabrielle handed Xena the rope as Eponin and Sasha got down out of the tree and rushed up.  The bard again found herself trying to process her thoughts as she realized that the furred creature was dressed in Jaeger’s clothing and probably was Jaeger.

The Viking Amazon was now covered in fur and larger with muscles standing out under the fur.  What stunned the bard was that the head was more like a wolf than human, complete with muzzle and a full set of teeth. 

Xena quickly bound the werewolf’s arms behind her and then her legs.  Then the warrior released the nerve pinches.  Instead of struggling against the ropes the werewolf turned away and whimpered.

“What in the name of Artemis is going on?” Eponin demanded loudly.

Xena gritted her teeth and quickly hugged Sasha and checked her daughter over head to toe.  Finding the child okay the warrior smiled at her daughter and kissed the child’s forehead with a hug.

“Want to do me a favor,” the warrior asked the child who nodded enthusiastically.  “Go and find our clothes?”

The child grinned and headed for the trees.  Xena grinned a moment and then turned to Eponin and lost her smile.

“Jaeger suddenly grows fur and fangs,” Eponin shouted.  “Gabrielle has bloody lips and fangs and your neck is bleeding!  What is going on?!”

“Oh damn,” Xena muttered as she took in Gabrielle's blushing face, yellow eyes and fangs.  “Put some more wood on the fire, it’s going to be a long night,” she instructed as she pulled a blanket up over Jaeger’s wolf-human body.

Half a candle-mark later Xena sat down next to the fire and pulled the blanket back from Jaeger’s head.  Eponin and Gabrielle gasped slightly at the sight of the Amazon Viking’s normal self but Xena didn’t seem surprised and merely untied Jaeger.

The Viking Amazon sat up slowly with her head down, not meeting anyone’s eyes.

Gabrielle put more wood on the fire, raising the heat around the space and pulling more light out of the flames.

“Okay, I owe Pony an explanation,” Gabrielle stated, sitting across the fire from Xena and Jaeger, next to Sasha, the child crawling into her lap. The bard wrapped one of the sleeping furs around the child and held her tight.  Pony sat down in between Xena and Gabrielle.  “It’s also obvious that you know more about Jaeger’s condition than you’ve let on,” the bard growled at her mate.

“I promised I’d keep quiet until she was ready to tell everyone,” Xena answered.

“You know her,” Gabrielle stated, her eyes narrowing.

“For nearly twenty years,” the warrior answered.

“What?” Pony demanded, “she can’t be more than seventeen some winters.”

“Actually I’m almost Xena’s age,” Jaeger finally spoke softly, her voice harsh and rough. 

“Okay, who goes first?” Pony demanded.

“I will,” Gabrielle said flatly and began the long explanation of how she was now a partial bacchae.  After a candle-mark the bard had finally finished, her eyes downcast and blushing, waiting for Eponin’s reaction.

“Well, that explains the fangs and blood,” Eponin commented and then smiled slightly.  “Gabrielle, if Artemis accepts you then why should I have a problem with it?”

Xena could almost see Gabrielle’s muscles relaxing and the Amazon Queen smiled at her Regent.  “Thank you, Eponin.”

“With everything we’ve all been through, I have a feeling this is a small thing,” Eponin commented.

“What happened tonight?” Xena asked the Amazon Regent.

“I was telling Sasha a story and we heard Jaeger thrashing in a nightmare.  I got up to wake her up and calm her down and Sasha turned over to go to sleep.  I shook Jaeger awake but she was still rattled so I laid down next to her and was holding her,” Eponin answered.

“Let me guess, things heated up between you two and then got weird,” Xena grinned a grim smile.

Eponin looked surprised and confused.  “Yes, how did you know?”

“I’ve seen it before,” Xena answered softly and gently nudged Jaeger.  “Your turn Hallvor.”

Jaeger/Hallvor shifted and looked uncomfortable.  She unconsciously pulled at her clothes nervously.

“Many years ago I was a Viking warrior, a sword-maiden.  Came my seventeenth year and my family was determined that I should finally marry.  No one cared or had a problem with me being a warrior and dedicated to Odin but it was also expected that I would marry and provide children to a family in addition to fighting by my husband’s side,” Jaeger began, staring into the fire.  “They also didn’t care that I preferred females in my bed rather than males, family obligation was still strong and I agreed to a marriage with a minor Jarl, a lord of the region.”

Jaeger glanced over at Eponin, “Hildgara was a lot like you,” she said softly.  “She was the sister to Thorkin, the Jarl.  He suspected our relationship and forbid us to see each other after the wedding.”

Gabrielle and Eponin noticed the Viking’s hands beginning to shake.

“Night before the wedding he found us together and stabbed Hildgara with a dagger and then tried to force me sexually.  Something happened…” Jaeger pulled the blanket over her shoulders and was surprised when Xena placed her hand on the Viking’s shoulder, reassuringly.

“I knew I had werserker fury, I had gone battle mad a couple of times,” Jaeger continued.

“Werserker, like a berserker only your totem animal is a wolf instead of a bear,” Gabrielle commented.

“Yes, no one, including me, had any idea that I was a full werserker until that moment when I changed, like I was earlier.  I killed Thorkin.” Hallvor hesisted.  “Because he had killed his sister and he and I weren’t yet married when he tried to force me, I was spared a death sentence for his death.  Instead I was exiled by my people, outlawed.  My sister was given to his family as weregild payment for the two deaths.”

“Blood price,” Xena commented to Eponin, explaining weregild.

“As I was leaving the holding Thorkin’s brother attacked me and broke my back with a war hammer and dragged me outside the gates.  Because I was declared wolfs-head, outlaw, no one could help me or would.  I remember crawling to the woods to the creek.”

“I found her a day later,” Xena continued the tale.  “I had found a secluded hunting cabin and took her there.  Hallvor told me what had happened and I was intrigued by her power, by her wolf side." Xena's face looked pained.  "I had just come from Chin and through the Northern Amazon region, I was filled with power lust from Alti and the Vikings intrigued me.”

Gabrielle knew her mate didn’t like to talk about her past, being too ashamed of what she had done as the Conqueror and it seemed like they were always running into it.

“I nursed her back to health and began planning on how to use that power,” Xena continued.  “I couldn’t totally heal her injured back, that’s why the limp and why she can’t climb trees like other Amazons.  It was a long recovery.”

“I was wounded and bitter and willing to do whatever Xena wanted.” Hallvor commented. 

“Which was?” Eponin asked.

“To gain power over the gods themselves,” Xena admitted, lowering her eyes.  “With Alti’s power I was able to capture a Valkyrie and hold her.”

Gabrielle felt a chill run over her body and saw Eponin frowning. 

“One of the Choosers of the Slain?  Odin and Freya’s handmaidens?” Eponin questioned.

“Yes, I set about creating a monster that could bring down Asgard so I could get to the golden apples.  The apples that can turn any mortal into a god,” Xena said softly.

“By the gods, Xena, what did you do?” Eponin asked.

“I bound Hallvor with the Valkyrie and used Alti’s magics to change both of them, merging their magic - Valkyrie and werewolf and centered it in the Valkyrie, Gerulda,” Xena admitted, a tear escaping down her face.

“I don’t remember much of the ceremony, I remember shaking my head and looking up at this monster.  Gerulda was no longer Valkyrie or human,” Hallvor/Jaeger continued.  “She was seven feet tall and big as a giant and twice as strong.  Her skin had hardened, almost like stone or bark and her face was distorted and uglier than your Medusa.  There was no humanity left.  Next thing I knew I was flying through the trees and landing hard.”

“I couldn’t control her, she attacked the two servants we had and ripped them apart, drinking their blood and smashing the body pieces under her foot.  My sword was useless against her, it just bounced off her skin.  She was too fast and strong, she almost killed me,” Xena said.

“She got away and we went after her, trying to control her,” Hallvor continued.  “We finally caught up with her and had another battle, giant monster against a werewolf and warrior.  We lost again.”

“By this time Odin and some of the other gods had found out about my plans and joined in the attack against Gerulda.  Odin, Thor, Tyr, Freya and Freyr joined forces with us and we were able to get Gerulda into an old mine of the dwarves.  Odin used some of the same magical rope that the gods had used to bind Fenris the wolf to seal the gates of the mine,” Xena explained.

“Doesn’t Fenris break that chain sometime in the future?” Gabrielle, remembering her Viking tales, asked as a chill swept over her body.  She glanced down and noticed Sasha was still awake and listening to the tale.  Sometimes the bard worried that the child knew too much of the grownup world and of Xena's past and at other times the child seemed wise beyond her years.

“Someday, when the end of the world comes,” Xena nodded.

“What happened after that?” Pony questioned.

“The gods were not amused with me,” Xena conceded with a smile.  “We ran.”

“We also had help,” Hallvor added.  “Loki, the Trickster god, decided that we were amusing and he was irritated with the gods that week and hid us from them.  He said the Norns had told him that Xena had a future in the north and should leave quickly.”

“For once I decided to take the advice of the gods and left the north as fast as we could travel,” Xena smiled slightly.

“When they decided to stop chasing us, Xena decided I was no longer useful,” Hallvor stated and Gabrielle saw the pained expression on her mate’s face.

“Hall…” Xena began.

“I told you, that was a long time ago and I don’t hold any grudges." the Viking stated.  "I like the way you’ve changed.”

“Thanks, I had some help,” the warrior smiled at her mate and Gabrielle smiled in return and nodded.

“I spent the next years roaming the known world, working mostly as a mercenary.  I can control the wolf most of the time.  Sometimes in battle it comes out,” Hallvor continued.

“And during sex?” Eponin complained with a small smile.

Hallvor turned a bright red, “No, only when…. When I, uh…”

“Only when she’s really aroused by someone she cares about,” Xena answered.

“You two were together?” Eponin questioned and glanced at Gabrielle quickly, realizing too late that the question might hurt her queen.

“Yes, but no one had Xena’s heart then,” Hallvor answered quickly.

“No one ever did like Gabrielle,” Xena confirmed.

“So that’s what Odin meant when he said he didn’t hold a grudge about the past,” Gabrielle said thoughtfully, remembering the last time they were in the North and Xena had been approached by the AllFather, Supreme god of the North.

“Yes, and why he sent a Valkyrie to help me when Sasha was born and you were in trouble.  He realizes that I’ve changed and he’s changed as well.  Not as headstrong and angry.”  Xena confirmed.

“So you can’t ever have a lover?” Pony frowned as she asked Hallvor.

“Not like I want with you,” Hallvor answered and quickly got to her feet and walked into the shadows of the woods.

“Oh sweet Artemis, what a strange crew we make,” Pony muttered.

“Yeah, vampires, werewolves, Amazons and children of gods,” Gabrielle agreed.  “Can’t anything be done for Hallvor?” she questioned her mate.

“I don’t know, I don’t have the power from Alti and wouldn’t have the slightest idea how to reverse the spell that made it so easy for her to turn,” Xena admitted.

“And I don’t think Gerulda would cooperate either,” Pony growled.

“Probably not.  She was in a bad mood before I locked her away for so many years,” Xena agreed.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Gabrielle muttered.

To a stranger Xena appeared calm as ever as she settled into the sleeping blankets and furs that she shared with Gabrielle.  Those who knew the Warrior Princess would have been able to tell just how nervous she was as she waited for Gabrielle.

Hallvor was still roaming around somewhere in the woods with her thoughts and Eponin was tossing restlessly in her bedroll.  The only one sleeping soundly seemed to be Sasha.

The warrior bard approached slowly and crawled into Xena’s arms without a word.  She could feel Xena’s tension and hugged the warrior.

“Gabrielle,” Xena began, “About Hall and me those years ago…”

“Xena, that was years ago,’ Gabrielle said simply.  “I was, what? Thirteen? I know you had others before we met.  Hades, we both had lovers before each other.”

“What I did to Hall….”

“Xena, I know we seem fated to keep dealing with your past, but I accept that about our lives.  Just like you accept my bacchae cravings.” Gabrielle smiled into Xena’s blue eyes and nuzzled her mate’s neck.  “I love you and accept you, including dealing with your past.”

“I love you so much, Gabrielle,” Xena voice cracked with emotion as she hugged Gabrielle tightly. 

“What are we going to do about Hallvor?” the bard asked after a moment.  “Pony is having a hard time dealing with this.”

“That’s what Hallvor was afraid of, like you were afraid of how Pony would react to your bacchae side,” Xena agreed.

“Yes, I wish you had told me though.”

“I know and I’m sorry,” Xena said softly.  “I know we’ve agreed there would be no secrets between us, I was hoping Hall would tell Pony and I could tell you.  I was also ashamed, a lot of this is my fault.”

“Why? You didn’t make her a werserker, she had already changed and killed once,” Gabrielle pointed out.

“Yes, but berserkers and werserkers usually only change because of anger, usually in battle, not in the heat of passion.  My shaman working with the Valkyrie made Hall’s werserker side more vicious and more unstable." Xena countered.  "She’s changed a bit, though, there was a time when a bad tasting ale could almost bring the wolf out.  Hall’s managed to gain quite a bit of control but because of my damned lust for power she can never be with anyone.”  Gabrielle flinched as Xena’s hand smashed the ground in frustration. 

“You’ve changed a lot too, Xena,” Gabrielle pointed out.

The warrior shrugged and then kissed the top of her mate’s head.

“You didn’t get much tonight, love,” Xena said softly.

The warrior could almost feel Gabrielle blushing.  “No,” the bard admitted softly.

Xena almost sighed outloud, no matter that Gabrielle’s patron Goddess Artemis accepted the bard as bacchae, no matter that Xena accepted Gabrielle as bacchae, no matter that Eponin accepted the bacchae, or Hercules, Iolaus, or Yakut of the Northern Amazons.  Gabrielle still was ashamed of her bacchae side.

The warrior knew that neither of them were up to the loud, rougher sex that the bacchae craving usually demanded, Xena hoped that what sexual connection they had earlier that night would be enough in addition to more blood now.

Xena held her wrist up to her bard.  Gabrielle whimpered slightly and felt her eyes turned yellow and her fangs extend.  The bard ran her tongue lightly over her mate’s wrist and felt Xena shiver in reaction.  Then the warrior cried out softly as Gabrielle’s fangs sank into her wrist and her body jerked in sexual response against her bard.

“Oh Gods,” she whispered as she felt the eroticism of the bacchae sweep over her.  It seemed to go on forever and last but an instant and then Gabrielle was kissing her.  Xena whimpered as she held the bard tight to her, Gabrielle’s hand roughly seeking between Xena’s legs as the warrior felt her hips thrust against the bard.  Xena could taste her own blood on Gabrielle’s lips and crashed with the sexual waves.

Gabrielle felt herself avoiding Eponin’s eyes the next morning as Sasha helped the Amazon prepare breakfast for the group.  The bard looked around and saw Xena coming up the trail with a string of fish but Hallvor was nowhere in sight.

Xena grinned at her mate and felt herself blushing at the memory of the night before and shook her head.  Even after years of marriage one look at Gabrielle could cause the warrior to blush like a lovesick teenager.

The bard finally looked at Pony and was relieved when the Amazon grinned at her.  Gabrielle knelt down and began cutting some of the goat cheese. 

“Where’s Hallvor?” she finally asked.

Xena dropped the fish and knelt down to begin cleaning them.  Eponin merely shrugged at Gabrielle’s question

“She’s around somewhere,” Xena said simply.  “I saw her before dawn.  I thought we’d stay here today and regroup.  She promised not to run away.”

“Last night was a bit stressful for everyone,” Gabrielle agreed.

Pony didn’t comment and refused to look up.  Xena and Gabrielle exchanged glances but left the Amazon to her thoughts.

Gabrielle spent the morning working with Sasha, working on the child’s education while Xena was off hunting and fishing for the evening meal.  The bard caught Pony’s face as the Amazon watched Sasha and the bard working over scrolls and frowned. 

“Sash, can you work on your numbers for a bit?” she asked the blue eyed child and Sasha nodded distractedly, determined to learn everything as quickly as possible. Gabrielle hesitated a moment, watching the child struggle with the numbers scratched in the dirt, Sasha's blue eyes intense like her mothers'.

Pony readjusted her eye-patch as Gabrielle sat down next to the Amazon and wouldn’t look at the bard, her Queen.

“Talk to me, Pony,” Gabrielle ordered.

“About what?” the Amazon asked in a sullen voice.

Gabrielle’s eyes narrowed in frustration, she knew Pony was dodging the obvious question.

“You know what about,” Gabrielle growled.  “You just found out that your Queen is a partial bacchae who grows fangs and needs blood once a month and the woman you’re head over heels about grows fur and fangs and is deadly.  A bit to digest, don’t you think?”

Eponin couldn’t help but grin in agreement.  “Yeah, I’ll admit I don’t know how to deal with Jaeger’s problem.”

“And your Queen?” Gabrielle asked softly.

“You’ve reassured me that it won’t be my neck that you’re munching on,” Eponin grinned ruefully.

“That’s Xenas’ job,” Gabrielle agreed with a smile.

“Sounded more like her pleasure last night,” Pony casually looked away with a mischievous grin as Gabrielle blushed bright red.  Then the Amazon’s face grew serious again.  “From the way I understand it, I can’t have that with Jaeger without risking being killed by her.”

“We’ll work it out, Pony,” Gabrielle said simply.  “Just don’t shut her out right now.  Look at all Xena and I’ve been through.  You might talk to Xena.” Gabrielle suggested as she stood up and headed towards the woods.

“About what?”

“What it’s like to have a lover who might rip your throat out during sex,” Gabrielle said easily and then took to the trees.

With the ease of Amazon training, Gabrielle moved through the trees silently and quickly.  While not as talented or as experienced as most Amazons born into a tribe, the bard was actually fairly good after a few years at traveling through the trees.  Xena, she reflected, was almost a natural at anything she tried, including Amazon tree fighting and traveling.

The trees were still covered with leaves and lent more than adequate cover for the bard to travel in without being seen by anything or anyone on the ground.  The bard took in the scent of the forest and trees with a sigh of pleasure as she stopped and looked around.  She knew her senses had heightened with the increase of bacchae influence in her life and she could sense Xena was near without seeing or hearing the warrior.

The warrior herself was also known for her incredible hearing and Gabrielle wasn’t surprised when she spotted Xena along the river fishing that Xena was watching her in turn.  The bard grinned and waved at her mate and then moved on along the trees.

Xena smiled at Gabrielle’s ease of movement in the trees.  It had taken a bit of time, experience and training but the bard was now comfortable in the trees and was almost as quiet as an Amazon scout.

The warrior drew in her line and headed back towards camp.  She knew where Gabrielle was heading and what the bard had planned.  Xena figured it was a good time to get her talk in with Eponin.

Gabrielle spotted Hallvor further up the river, sitting on a boulder next to the water. The Viking was twirling her battle-axe in her hands, obviously lost in thought.  The bard made sure to make noise as she dropped out of the tree, one sai held defensively as the werserker spun with war axe drawn back to throw or slash.

“Easy, Hallvor,” Gabrielle said simply.

Hallvor slowly lowered the axe, her face flushed.  Gabrielle sheathed her sai and walked casually towards the Viking.  Hall sat back down on the rock and turned to watch the water.  The bard sat down next to the warrior and leaned back against another rock.

The warrior bard let herself drift in the beauty of the land around them.  They had reached the dark forested area of Germania and getting close to where the Amazons had settled after leaving Greece.  The trees were so thick in places that the sun never reached the ground.  The river was wide and deceptively calm and peaceful.  The trees were of so many colors that it was almost overwhelming to look at, an artist pallet of reds, greens, yellows and oranges. 

“You alright?” Gabrielle asked finally.

“I’ve been better,” Hall admitted. 

“You’re trying to think of how to run but your oath to the Amazons is holding you up,” Gabrielle commented.

“How do you know that and how in Hella’s Halls did you sneak up on me?” Hall demanded.

“Well, I’ve been trained by Amazons and Xena,” Gabrielle responded easily.  “Add to that the fact you were deep in thought, I was able to get within throwing distance.  To answer the first question, logical isn’t it?  Vikings are extremely loyal to family, tribe and friends.  The Amazons are your sworn family now and you don’t know how to run away from that oath.”

“That is the truth, yes,” Hall admitted, twirling the axe in her hands again.

“You’re also attracted to Pony and you’re afraid of how she’s going to respond to this dangerous side of you,” Gabrielle continued.

“How would you know?” Hall demanded in a sullen voice.

“You’re forgetting that I also grow fangs,” Gabrielle smiled ruefully.

“You don’t try to kill your mate.”

“True, I’ve had to learn control and not let the darkness control me,” Gabrielle stated.

“I’ve learned a lot of control over the years but not total, I can’t risk Pony’s life for that,” Hall glanced away but not before Gabrielle saw the Viking’s eyes filling with tears.

“Xena and I seem to have a way of finding answers,” Gabrielle said firmly.  “I know Xena, she’s not going to give up on you.”

“She’s feeling guilty about the past.”

“Yes, she’s feeling guilty and responsible,” the bard admitted.  “She also considers Eponin and the Amazons as family and you are now an Amazon.  We’ll find a way.”

“Are you always so optimistic?” Hall asked with a smirk.

“Seems to be a fault of mine,” Gabrielle admitted with a grin.  “Xena never gives up and I’ve learned not to as well.”

“Maybe I can learn some more from Xena and something from you,” Hall smiled a tired smile.

“Let’s go eat,” Gabrielle suggested. 

“Pony?”

Eponin turned and glanced at the warrior and then turned back to the repair work she was doing on some clothing.

“Going to tell me what it’s like to have a dangerous bed mate?” Eponin asked with a smirk.

“Carefully, Eponin,” Xena suddenly growled.  “That’s Gabrielle you’re talking about.”

“Come on, Xena,” Pony snapped.  “What do you want from me?  Sleeping with a wolf is a little beyond me.  You may get a kick out of fangs on Gabrielle but the thought of a Hallvor ripping my throat out in the middle of sex does not turn me on.”

“She’s not an animal,” Xena snapped back.

“No?” Pony countered.  “What I saw wasn’t human and, unlike Gabrielle, wasn’t thinking like a human either.”

“Alright, a relationship between the two of you may be beyond you, but she is your Amazon sister.  Try and remember that and treat her decently.  It’s not her fault, you know.”

“She was this way before you cast that spell and she had already killed,” Pony reminded the warrior.

“Yeah, I just made it worse,” Xena commented.

Despite discussions between Xena and Eponin, Xena and Hallvor, Gabrielle and Hallvor, and Gabrielle and Pony; the tension was still thick among the four women and child and nothing seemed settled between Hall and Pony. 

They were polite and cooperative after the first day of silence but it was strained and frustrating for everyone.

Gabrielle threw up her hands in exasperation at the end of the next evening and pulled Sasha aside to talk more about the Amazons customs and myths.  Xena grinned at her mate’s frustration and continued sharpening her sword while Eponin and Hall ignored everyone.

“We’ll stop in the next village for the day, Hall’s horse needs new shoes before we go much further,” Xena announced to everyone in general.

Eponin nodded.  “Do we stay the night?”

“Not if we can get the work done before nightfall.”

“We should be at the Amazon camp by noon the next day then.  It’s hard travel though, it helps keep the locals from finding us,” Eponin commented.

“Good, it’ll be good to see the other Amazons and the new ones,” Gabrielle said softly.

“Damn, aren’t the portions a little small here?” Xena complained as she and Gabrielle sat in a crowded inn eating lunch.

“I’d have to agree,” the bard commented, continuing to eat.

“You going to eat all of that?”

“You’re not getting my food,” Gabrielle growled and grinned at Xena’s obvious frustration. 

It was turning into a frustrating day for the small group.  The blacksmith was out of the village until the next day, Pony and Hall were barely talking to each other and neither one of them wanted to interact with the villagers and had decided to wait outside the village, now the food was barely edible besides being very little of it.

The group was looking at a day in the village while the blacksmith did his work with villagers who weren’t happy to see Romans, Greeks or any other outsiders.  On top of that they served miserable food to travelers. 

The tavern was crowded, noisy and smelled of miserable food and unwashed bodies.  Gabrielle was sympathic to her warrior's frustration over the food, it was something she usually enjoyed on the road when stopping at an inn or tavern, now the bard was regretting not going back to camp and eating trail food with Eponin, Hallvor and Sasha, even if they weren't talking to each other.

Xena’s eyes narrowed as she noticed a tall, large Viking warrior watching her closely, even more intently than any of the other curious travelers and villagers.  He kept staring until Xena felt herself growling.

“I don’t like being stared at when I’m eating,” she snapped, blue eyes blazing at the bearded warrior.

The warrior, taking her warning as an invitation, stood up from his stool and walked over to their table.  He glanced down at Gabrielle and noticed her left hand moving down under the table and knew that she had a hand on a weapon and smiled at her reassuringly before turning to Xena.

“Are you Xena?” he asked simply, keeping his voice low and speaking in Latin.

Xena was always cautious when people recognized her, given her past reputation and the way most people felt about the Warlord Xena. Even after years of leaving that past behind, it kept coming back and haunting her. 

And the warrior was already in a bad mood.

“Yeah, what about it?” she snapped, chewing on her food.

Without saying a word the warrior reached into his vest and dropped something metal onto the table.  Gabrielle flinched at the sound and looked at the twisted metal with a curious glance.  She glanced up and was surprised when she saw Xena’s face was pale as the warrior stared at the twisted gold rope chain and the gold raven that was torn in half.

Xena felt a roaring in her ears and she felt her hands gripping the table.  “What are you called?” she asked softly.

“Beowulf,” the warrior answered simply.

“Where can we talk?” Xena asked.

“Outside at the stable, out of the rain,” Beowulf suggested.

“I’ll be there in a few minutes,” Xena responded.

The Viking nodded to both the warrior and bard and disappeared in the crowded room. 

“What is this about?” Gabrielle asked, picking up the broken metal and examining it.  Xena didn’t answer but continued to frown as she watched the light dancing off the tarnished metal.  Gabrielle’s eyes suddenly went wide.

“Oh sweet Artemis,” she whispered.  “This is the metal rope holding Gerulda, isn’t it?”

“It was,” Xena said grimly.

“Oh gods,” Gabrielle muttered.  “What do we do?”

“I don’t know,” Xena growled.  “Fix my past screw ups again.”

“Xena…” Gabrielle tried to begin but the warrior brushed her reassurances aside and stood up.