Love’s Return, An Awakening XXVIII
Frau Hunter Ash
(Aka Dana Cooper-Kjarr)
Xena had searched the surrounding towns, up and down the coast, and the roads leading away from the town where she had tracked the wagon. She finally settled in at the inn after three days.
The warrior sent word to both Gabrielle’s family and her own about her missing mate. She received word from Lila that Gabrielle hadn’t returned and they had no news on their end either and begged Xena to keep them informed.
Sitting around waiting was driving the warrior crazy but she didn’t know what else to do. Xena put out a description of Gabrielle, even offering a reward for any information leading to her mate. She had threatened a few of the local bandits and was frustrated when they knew even less than she did.
On the fourth evening, the warrior sat in her room sharpening her sword for the 50th time in two days. A knock caused Xena to narrow her eyes and reach for her chakram.
“Enter,” she called, holding the chakram at the ready.
A young boy, around 12 winters old, stuck his head in cautiously. His eyes widened at the sight of the warrior and the sharp object in her hand. He threw a message tube at her and slammed the door shut behind him.
His footsteps were already echoing on the steps by the time she reached the door and flung it open after him.
Xena gave up any ideas of catching him and turned to the message tube. Securing the door, the warrior broke the seal on the end and pulled out the parchment inside.
“Xena, hello old friend. It’s been a long time, too many years. As you may have gathered, Gabrielle has disappeared from your life. My demand from you is simple: you have two choices.
1) Release her from your bonding so she can recognize her place with me. Send word to her that you are moving on without her. You can have anyone in the world, Xena. Gabrielle and I are meant to be, no one ever touched me like she has and my desire and love hasn’t lessened over the years.
2) Follow the map and you’ll find a boat waiting for you. I have made a home for Gabrielle and myself on a small island. If you cross over then consider yourself hunted half a candle-mark from the time you land. I will kill you, dedicate your death to Mars and gain his favor and Gabrielle will be mine.
Knowing you and your pride, I’ll see you soon, Xena.
Draco”
Xena’s eyes narrowed.
“You’ll see me soon enough, just before I send you to Tartarus this time,” she promised.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gabrielle growled as she worked at the chain again. Rubbing it against the stone floor hadn’t even scratched the links and all attempts at picking the lock had failed over the last two days that Draco had been gone.
The cook had proven extremely loyal to Draco and wouldn’t even talk to Gabrielle despite the bard’s best efforts to draw the older woman into conversation. The woman was very attentive to Gabrielle’s needs but the bard figured it would be easier to get a decent conversation out of a plant than this woman.
Draco ducked when he entered the room and Gabrielle threw a goblet at him, barely missing his head.
He grinned at her enraged face.
“I missed you too, my darling,” he said easily. “Don’t bother with the chain or the lock, both are enchanted. Only the key that hangs in the other room, can unlock that padlock and the chain can’t be broken.”
“Draco, you son of a diseased demon, let me go!” Gabrielle shouted, having lost her patience days before.
“Gabrielle,” Draco shook his head sadly, the tone of his voice sounding like a parent explaining something once again to a stubborn child. “You know this is what the Fates wanted. I never felt anything about anyone before. Oh, I wanted Xena back in my bed, I admit that.”
He sat down on the edge of the bed and caught her wrist as she attempted to hit him. Draco ignored the action as if it hadn’t happened.
“But it’s nothing to compare to what I’ve felt for you all these years,” Draco continued. “Our love has to be.”
“Cupid, I’m going to strangle you,” Gabrielle muttered. One day of a mischievous child left unattended had led to this mess. A child who happened to be the son of Cupid and armed with Cupid’s arrows. Draco falling for Gabrielle, Gabrielle for Joxer, Xena for Draco, Vestal Virgins for bandits and Joxer for Gabrielle. The bard had no idea that the affects of that damned arrow would have such long lasting consequences?
“I sent word to Xena to release you from your bonding or come and face her death,” Draco informed the bard.
“Draco, not that you stand a chance, but if you harm Xena,” Gabrielle growled. “I will kill you and then myself, damnit.”
“No you won’t,” Draco grinned a confident smile. “You said you had a son. I know you, Gabrielle; you won’t kill yourself as long as he lives.”
Draco dove to the floor just in time to avoid her fists heading for his head. The bard lunged off the bed at him and the former warlord had to scramble backwards like a crab to avoid her fingernails, which were now like claws.
He laughed as he slammed the door shut as Gabrielle reached the end of her chain just a couple of feet from the bed.
“Damn you!” she shouted. “Father! Don’t you dare leave me here like this!”
The bard grabbed up a chair and smashed it into pieces when her father, Apollo, didn’t appear to her.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
“Gabrielle!”
The bard frowned as she blinked in the darkness.
“Gabrielle!”
Gabrielle quickly jumped to her feet and went to the window of her room and leaned out.
A figure stepped out of the shadows into the moonlight and pulled his cloak hood back. Mischievous brown eyes sparkled up at her.
“Auto?” she hissed.
“Are you okay?” he called.
“Yes, just pissed off,” she said just loud enough for him to hear. “This feels too much like old times.”
“Get down here and let’s go!” he hissed.
“I’m chained!” Gabrielle hissed back.
“I’m coming up and get you out of that chain,” he called softly with a grin. “Xena’s waiting with a boat.”
“You can’t!” Gabrielle hissed back. “The lock and chain are enchanted, nothing can break them. The key is now around Draco’s neck and he’s awake.”
“Damnit!” Auto growled.
“Get Xena, her chakram can cut through,” Gabrielle yelled.
“Alright, I’ll be back,” the thief promised and disappeared into the shadows.
Gabrielle waited impatiently, she knew it would take time to get back down to the beach and then back to the villa, even if two years in the galleys had left Autoclysus in good physical shape.
She wanted to pace with her restless energy but was afraid the clanking of the chain might bring Draco back into the room. Gabrielle sat on her bed and tapped her foot impatiently.
“Gabrielle!”
Gabrielle smiled with relief when Auto climbed through the window after a moment. He quickly crossed the small space and picked up the smaller woman in a welcome hug. The thief then pulled out half of the famous chakram with a grin.
“She wouldn’t give me the whole thing,” he explained and Gabrielle felt like laughing for the first time in days. He bent over the chain.
“What’s the plan?” Gabrielle asked.
“I’m going to cut through one of the links, you stay here,” Auto snapped as he worked at the chain. “Xena meets Draco tomorrow morning, kills him and we get out of here.”
“Why can’t we leave tonight and just leave him frustrated and behind?”
“This obsession thing of his is only going to get worse,” Auto shook his head. “He’s willing to kill Xena to prove his love to you, how twisted is that?”
Gabrielle frowned, knowing he was right but not wanting to see anyone else die, including Draco.
“I’m surprised he’s letting you sleep in a small bed and hasn’t forced himself on you,” Auto said seriously.
“He tried but backed off when he realized he was hurting me,” Gabrielle said softly.
Auto merely nodded. “I thought he might have. I’m glad he’s still convinced he loves you enough not to force you. Xena told me about that damned enchantment.”
“Yeah, how is she doing?”
“Going crazy, she was looking all over this region for you and we were covering the rest of Greece. She sent word to Joxer and me when Xena got word from Draco,” Auto smiled.
“Joxer is here?”
“Yeah, he wouldn’t take no when Xena told him to stay home,” Auto explained.
“I don’t like the plan, damnit!” Gabrielle growled.
“Got a better one? Once he finds you missing he’ll just come after you and keep coming until Xena kills him,” Auto shrugged, grinning as he held up the broken link, freeing Gabrielle from the wall. “I personally think she should just sneak up on him tonight and bury the other half of this chakram in the back of his neck.”
“Auto!” Gabrielle protested.
He grinned a rueful smile. “Yeah, that’s what Xena figured, that’s why she’s giving him a fair chance in that hunt he’s set up.”
“It’s still insane,” she complained.
“I know and Xena said that if you’re dead set against it then she’s waiting for you,” Auto said.
“You mean she’s willing to listen to me instead of just planning without me?” Gabrielle smirked.
“Some things don’t change, do they?” Auto laughed softly. “Still treats you like a kid at times?”
Gabrielle, instead of being upset, smiled. “Sometimes, even though our daughter is almost 15 spring seasons old and our son is getting bigger everyday.”
“What do you want to do, Gabrielle?”
The bard frowned and sat down on the bed, deep in thought.
“Auto, I can’t just sit here and wait for Xena or Draco to come through that door,” Gabrielle growled. “I’m not some damned prize in a contest. If Xena is going to face Draco, it’ll be with me at her side.”
“Okay, then lets get out of here,” he grinned and gestured to the window.
Gabrielle wasn’t surprised to see a climbing rope hanging from a grappling hook. She quickly scampered over the side and down to the ground. The bard heard Draco telling the cook he was going to sleep and to alert him if Gabrielle tried anything.
Auto twisted the rope and caught the hook before it hit the ground. It wasn’t as fancy as the one he once wore tucked up his sleeve but it did the job. Gabrielle was actually glad to see his skills hadn’t rusted over the years. He had a lot of gray in his hair and moustache but it made him seem more distinguished.
He raised a questioning eyebrow at her appraisal and she grinned.
“Admiring your work,” she commented.
“Like falling off a horse,” he grinned. “Let’s get out of here before your boyfriend finds you missing. I’m afraid I don’t run as fast as I used to and it’s going to rain.”
They had made it about 100 yards when they heard Draco scream Gabrielle’s name.
“Damn!” Gabrielle growled. “Lead the way to Xena.”
“You can’t go running down these cliffs with that chain around your ankle!” Auto protested and was met with a clash of thunder and lightning. Both bard and thief looked up as the sky opened up with a hard driving rain.
“I can carry the chain, lets go!” Gabrielle shouted.
“Gabrielle!” Draco yelled from the doorway of the villa. Both bard and thief ducked down in the shadows and pouring rain. They looked around and scurried behind some large rocks and began to make their way down the steep hill.
Gabrielle and Auto increased their pace when they heard shouts behind them over the sound of the thunder and the rain. The bard almost fell into a large boulder when Auto crashed into her.
“Auto!” she yelled as she turned and he collapsed in her arms.
“Gods, that hurts!” he complained as she gently lowered him to the ground, noting with horror the arrow sticking in his shoulder. “Why do I always get injured whenever I’m around you?”
“Shut up for a minute,” Gabrielle muttered and reached down into his belt.
“Hey! I thought you were married,” he protested and felt his dagger leaving his side.
“In your dreams, Auto,” Gabrielle growled and pulled the knife into her hand and watched the path.
“You have often been in my dreams, Gabrielle,” Auto admitted with a smile as he winced against the pain. “I just got out of prison clothes and now I’m lying in the mud with my new clothes.”
The thief heard shouting behind them and glanced back to see a soldier pounding down the path, arrow notched in his bow. The bandit warrior stopped and took aim but lost his hold on the string when Auto’s dagger sliced into his throat.
Auto looked up at Gabrielle with an amazed look on his face.
“You kill?”
“It’s been a long time since you traveled with us, Auto,” Gabrielle smiled sadly. “I’m a warrior and I’ve been a gladiator.”
“Wow,” Auto muttered. “Can we go now? This kinda hurts.”
Gabrielle bent over him and broke the arrow off without warning as Auto rammed his fist into his mouth to keep from screaming. The bard helped the thief to his feet and held him for a moment while he swayed with the pain and blood loss.
“Listen, I don’t know if I can make it down the hill, you go and get to Xena,” Auto suggested.
“No way, we don’t leave our friends behind,” Gabrielle shook her head and wrapped one arm under his and around his ribs. “Let’s go.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Xena heard the figures moving in the dark before she saw them. The warrior hissed and caught Joxer’s attention. He nodded when she pointed towards one of the paths leading to the cliffs and rushed forward with his sword drawn, taking a position behind a large rock.
“Xena!” a voice called softly in the dark.
“Gabrielle, here!” Xena called back and darted forward just as Gabrielle came into sight, helping a stumbling Autoclycus down the path. Joxer came out from behind the rock and took the other side of the thief from Gabrielle.
“Into the boat, quick!” Xena growled. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Auto got hit with an arrow,” Gabrielle panted. It had been hard work helping the injured man down a large rocky hill without falling and killing both of them on the rocks below.
“I’ll be fine, just smarts like Tartarus,” the thief growled. “That chakram thing did the trick with the chain.”
“Good, let’s get out of here,” Xena urged, practically dragging Auto across the sand.
Gabrielle was already at the small boat and shoving it back into the beginning waves.
Joxer let Xena help Auto the rest of the way and moved to help Gabrielle with the boat.
At the sound of shouts behind them, Xena dropped Auto into the boat, trying to ignore his cry of pain as she spun and drew her sword.
Joxer and Gabrielle gritted their teeth against the cold water and continued to shove, diving in from the sides as the waves began to grab the boat.
“Xena! Come on!” Joxer shouted.
“Xena! We’ll meet him on the mainland and finish this!” Gabrielle urged. “Not in the dark and not on his land!”
Xena turned to look at her mate and nodded. Gabrielle breathed a sigh of relief as the warrior sheathed her sword and jumped into the boat, practically on top of Auto.
Both Joxer and Xena grabbed up oars and began working the small boat further into the water.
After a few moments they could see torches making their way to the beach and the small group of friends could make out Draco and several men watching them angrily.
“Draco!” Xena shouted. “I accept your challenge, only on equal terms!”
“Name them!” he screamed.
“Sunrise on the beach straight east from here, two men only with you,” Xena yelled, never easing up on the rowing.
“Agreed! I’m going to bury you this time, Xena!” Draco threatened. “I always had a soft spot for you but no more! You won’t stand in the way of my undying love for Gabrielle any longer!”
“Undying love?” Xena muttered. “Careful, Draco, you will die for it,” Xena called back and ignored the rest of his threats.
Xena smiled and leaned her cheek on Gabrielle’s hand as the bard touched the warrior’s shoulder.
“Gods, I missed you,” Xena said over the sound of the waves.
“I went crazy without seeing you,” Gabrielle said.
“Did he hurt you?”
Gabrielle heard the tense emotions in her warrior’s voice and squeezed Xena’s shoulder reassuringly.
“No, just made me mad,” Gabrielle said truthfully. “He tried to force it one night but realized he was hurting me and backed off. He truly thinks he loves me.”
“I’m going to have to kill him this time,” Xena said firmly.
“I know,” Gabrielle said sadly. “I wish there was another way but unless that enchantment is removed he’ll just keep coming now.”
“Why haven’t we seen him in all these years?” Joxer asked, smiling at Gabrielle’s welcoming smile.
“He was in prison for his past and just got out,” Gabrielle explained.
“Figures,” Xena muttered. “I knew you wouldn’t wait,” she grinned over her shoulder as Auto moaned.
“You finally gave me choices and options instead of telling me what to do,” Gabrielle teased with a touch of truth.
“Yeah, maybe you can teach an old war dog new tricks,” Xena growled and smiled at Gabrielle’s laughter. “I’ll learn yet.”
“I know, my love,” Gabrielle agreed, wishing she could hug her mate right then. “I love you as you are, frustrating as that can be sometimes.”
“Hey!” Xena protested and even Joxer laughed along with Gabrielle.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Once they had Auto safely on the beach and a cloak under his head, Gabrielle turned and tackled Xena to the sand, kissing her fiercely.
Xena laughed and wrapped her arms around the smaller woman, holding Gabrielle tightly.
“Gods, I missed you, Little One,” Xena whispered as Gabrielle’s lips and teeth explored the warrior’s throat.
Xena heard Gabrielle sigh and let the little bard pull back slightly until they could see each other’s eyes.
“Xena, what about Draco?”
“One of us meets him in the morning and we end this,” Xena said firmly. “Zeus has ordered that none of the gods interfere in our affairs; helping or hindering.”
“That’s why Apollo didn’t come to me,” Gabrielle said thoughtfully, looking up to see Joxer gathering wood for a fire.
“Yes, Artemis was raising all kinds of windstorms about our trip to Egypt and pissed Zeus off,” Xena explained.
“That means Cupid and Aphrodite can’t remove the enchantment off Draco,” Gabrielle complained.
“No, it might not even work after all this time,” Xena nodded.
“Auto is hurt, lets take care of him and we’ll decide about Draco in the morning,” Gabrielle suggested and rolled off her warrior.
Xena grinned, leaped to her feet and reached down to pull Gabrielle up.
“Thank you, Xena,” Gabrielle said softly.
“For what?”
“I noticed you said either you or me will face Draco in the morning, you didn’t automatically order me to stay out of the fight,” Gabrielle said softly.
Xena felt herself blushing and looked down at her feet.
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since that mess in Egypt,” the warrior admitted as they began walking towards Autolycus and Joxer. “I know I’ve done a lot of things wrong over the years and mostly because I’m so damned stubborn and don’t listen. You told me you weren’t ready to go into the Spirit Realm again and we both ignored that. I should have listened to you. I didn’t listen when you said you wanted to stay with me in the North, even at the risk of losing the use of your hands. I let the gods trick us into separating us. If I hadn’t done that, we would have learned about your pregnancy together.”
“Xena,” Gabrielle felt tears filling her eyes. “I made mistakes too and I admit it. All I want is to get home to our son, daughter and best friends and spend a few years making it up to you.”
“Back at you,” Xena managed to smile a small smile at her mate. “I can’t wait to see Asher again. I hate being away from him for even a week, let alone a couple of months.”
“I agree!” Gabrielle said firmly. “Did you notice his hair darkening a little before we left?”
“Yeah, he may end up somewhere between our coloring,” Xena nodded, wrapping an arm around Gabrielle’s shoulders. “I think he’s going to be tall though.”
Gabrielle laughed. “You’re just hoping he’s tall so you both can tease me.”
“Yup!” Xena agreed as they squatted down and Joxer brought over a lantern so they could see the broken arrow in Auto’s back.
“Hey, how bad is it?” Auto groaned as Xena ripped the rest of his shirt open.
“Not too bad,” the warrior responded after a few moments of inspecting the wound. “That’s going to hurt coming out, though.”
“Yeah, I know,” he growled and accepted a piece of firewood from Joxer to grip in his hands.
Xena, without warning, shoved the remaining part of the arrow through his shoulder as Gabrielle held him in her lap. Autolycus managed not to scream but his body broke out into a cold sweat in the chilled winter air and he gasped with the pain.
“Auto?” Gabrielle asked softly and the thief nodded that he was okay.
“I’m okay,” he said, breathing heavily as Xena quickly bandaged the shoulder and Joxer made a sling. “Why do I always get injured around you two?”
“You do not!” Gabrielle protested.
“Oh no!” he said loudly. “Broken arm from some psycho Amazon who loved pain! Almost burned to a crisp from some religious box! Nearly assassinated several times from screwball schemes, now I get shot!”
“Auto, calm down,” Xena laughed lightly. “You’ll be fine, old friend. All of those things happened years ago.”
“Yeah, I’ve been hiding as a Roman slave to avoid things like this,” he snapped and found himself lying face down in the sand. “What?” he demanded as Gabrielle walked away.
“She was a Roman slave and gladiator, Auto,” Joxer said softly, his voice angry.
“Oh damn! I forgot that!” Auto muttered. “I’m sorry, Xena, I really am. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“I know you didn’t mean to hurt her,” Xena nodded and sighed with relief when the bard walked back towards them.
“Gabrielle! I’m sorry,” Auto said, trying to sit up and wincing with the pain.
“I know, just forget it,” Gabrielle smiled slightly. “Let’s just get some sleep and get ready for Draco in the morning.”
Joxer grabbed the bedrolls and gear out of the boat as Gabrielle and Xena helped Autolycus roll over onto his blankets.
Within a few minutes everyone was curled up near the rocks, trying to avoid the winds along the beach. Gabrielle curled up in Xena’s arms, a smile of contentment on her face.
“I love you, Gabrielle,” Xena said softly as she cut at the chains holding Gabrielle’s wrists.
“I love you, Xena, more than anything,” the bard muttered, feeling safe for the first time in days.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Draco was almost purple with anger as his boat slid up onto the sand.
The small group of Greeks just stood, watching and waiting as he and his men jumped out of the boat.
“Gabrielle! How in Tartarus did you get out of that chain?” he demanded.
“You forgot my chakram, Draco,” Xena smirked. “Made by the gods, it can cut through anything, even things made by Hephaestus. Was easy to cut the chains.”
Draco was so angry that he couldn’t even speak and the two men with him shifted uneasily.
“Draco, I’ll say this one more time,” Gabrielle said firmly, stepping in front of Xena. “I am in love with Xena and have been since I was 17 summers. It is a blood bonding and approved by the gods. Stop chasing me and I’ll walk away. Don’t force me to hurt you to stop you.”
Draco was breathing heavily and Xena growled at the manic light shining in his eyes.
“I can’t move on and I can’t fall in love with anyone while you live,” Draco grumbled. “I thought by getting rid of Xena that we might have a chance, but I see I was wrong. I can smell her all over you!”
Gabrielle’s green eyes flashed as she looked up at the former Warlord.
“She is my wife, Draco,” Gabrielle hissed. “You are nothing to me!”
“Maybe when you’re dead I can love again,” Draco growled. “Don’t force me to do this, Gabrielle. Just come back with me.”
“Never, even if you managed to kill Xena, I would slit your throat the first chance I got,” Gabrielle promised.
Xena reached out and put her hands on Gabrielle’s shoulders and gently pulled the bard back away from Draco.
“Then die here, my love,” Draco growled and turned back to his men.
One of the soldiers stepped forward and dropped the bundle he was carrying in his arms. Xena and Gabrielle frowned as weapons tumbled into view.
Joxer and Auto began protesting loudly.
Xena held up her hand for quiet and knelt down to examine the weapons. She nodded and returned to Gabrielle.
“Let me do this, Little One,” she begged softly.
“No, this fight is mine, Xena,” Gabrielle said firmly.
“Anything that affects you is my fight,” Xena countered and Gabrielle’s face softened.
“I’m sorry, you’re right,” Gabrielle agreed, wrapping her arms around Xena. “He doesn’t realize I’ve become a fighter. He still sees me as the gentle, non-violent bard.”
“So do I,” Xena said softly.
Gabrielle smiled as she looked up into blue eyes.
“Thank you, my love,” Gabrielle whispered. “Draco won’t be expecting me to know how to fight; it’ll be to my advantage. Add to it that he’s totally unstable around me and I’ve got more than a fair chance.”
“Counter that with you are still reluctant to kill and hold back in a fight,” Xena grumbled. “He won’t if he thinks the only escape from the madness is your death.”
“I’ll do what I have to,” Gabrielle growled.
“He’s taller, has a longer reach and has weight on you,” Joxer complained.
“I’ve also been taught how to deal with that,” Gabrielle countered and looked over at an impatient Draco. “I’m Dancer, Champion of Rome.”
“Gabrielle, I love you,” Xena said softly and kissed the bard gently.
“I love you, Xena, no matter what happens,” the bard responded and faced Draco. “You’ll fight me.”
“Good, conditions?” he grinned.
“If you are defeated can you give your word never to seek me or Xena out ever again and disappear from our lives?” Gabrielle questioned.
Draco appeared to think seriously about it for several moments.
“No,” he admitted and Gabrielle closed her eyes as she sighed. Xena could see the sad resignation in her mate’s face and eyes when Gabrielle opened them again.
“Then there’s no conditions because I’ll never come with you willingly,” Gabrielle said, her voice flat.
“Then to the death, my love,” Draco growled.
“So be it,” Gabrielle muttered and looked at the weapons scattered on a cloak.
She picked up her sais from the pile and tossed them at Xena’s feet. “Keep these for me, lover.”
“I’ll keep everything for you,” Xena said softly.
Gabrielle turned and looked over the swords, spears, and maces. There were two of everything and the bard selected one of each quickly. She dropped the mace and planted the spear in the sand near Xena and hefted the sword and twirled it, adjusting to its weight and balance.
Gabrielle glanced around the landscape as the sun rose over the horizon, committing to memory where rocks, where there were paths leading up the hill, and where the beach ended and the water crashed into rocks, almost a dead end.
Xena, Auto and Joxer moved back while Draco’s men shifted closer to their boat opposite the small group of friends.
Xena saw Gabrielle breathe deeply and then saw a shift in the bard’s face and eyes as her body moved into a fighting stance. The experienced warrior knew she was now watching Dancer preparing for a match.
Xena was worried, though. It had been years since Dancer had been called on by Gabrielle. It had taken a long time for the bard to integrate Dancer, Brie, and Gabrielle, bard, warrior and mother into one entity now known as Gabrielle. Xena wondered if her mate could focus enough to just let Dancer come through and handle business.
Draco moved forward after selecting the sword from his stack of weapons as well. He faced off in front of the bard.
“Last chance, Gabrielle,” he growled. “Either come away with me or die!”
Looking up into his brown eyes, Gabrielle knew that he had lost his sanity from the enchantment with her and merely shook her head no.
Draco screamed in rage and rushed at Gabrielle, surprising her. The bard just barely got her sword up in time to block Draco’s overhead strike as Xena screamed and Joxer held Xena’s arms, trying to keep her calm.
Gabrielle stumbled in the sand and fell over backwards but kept her sword up, her arm and body shaking from absorbing the blows Draco was raining down on her. Finally, the gladiator growled and lashed out with her feet while her sword blocked another sword strike. She managed to tangle Draco’s legs up until the warrior fell backwards himself.
Dancer rolled away from his feet and regained hers. Green eyes flashed angrily as Draco sat up and shouted a war cry of rage at her. Gabrielle shoulder rolled forward, bringing her sword up and out. Draco desperately rolled backwards and to the side to avoid the blow and yelled as he felt the sword glance across his upper arm, drawing blood.
When both warriors regained their feet, they began circling cautiously.
Xena grinned at the puzzled look in Draco’s eyes and the hesitation. He really hadn’t expected the bard to be the fighter she was.
Draco attacked again and Dancer flipped backwards out of reach and turned at a trot to several rocks near the cliff side. Draco growled in anger and followed, slashing at her with his sword. The former gladiator literally ran up the side of one of the huge boulders and back flipped over her opponent as he slashed where she had been. She hit the sand in a crouch behind him and sprang up, using her impressive leg muscles like springs and drove her sword through his side. Dancer had been aiming for the center of his back, but Draco had turned at the last moment and took the sword along his ribs.
Out of an instinctive reaction, Draco backhanded Gabrielle and connected with her jaw, rocking her concentration for the moment. Giving him the chance to complete his turn and get his sword up in a defensive position, his hand holding his ribs.
Dancer moved forward in a series of acrobatic moves that left Joxer breathless and Autolycus with his mouth hanging open in admiration and surprise. Xena grinned at the skill and talent the bard was displaying. Draco, if he hadn’t been left bleeding in several places, would have been impressed.
“By the gods, Xena,” Joxer said softly. “She’s amazing!”
“Yeah, as good as I am or maybe even better,” Xena admitted. She knew that Gabrielle never wanted to learn how to kill but Xena recognized the talent in her mate. The gentle bard had a gift for the physical part: speed, muscles that moved before thought, strength, agility, and a natural talent for the fight.
The warrior frowned when Draco got in a good blow with his sword hilt against Gabrielle’s temple and the bard fell to her knees, dropping her sword.
“Gabrielle!” Joxer yelled and tried to keep from moving forward to help his friend.
Dancer rolled to the side as Draco attempted to overwhelm and overpower her, kicking the bard in the ribs as she rolled away from him. Gabrielle cried out in pain as several of the kicks connected with her ribs. She surprised Draco by reversing her roll and grabbing both his legs.
He rammed the hilt of his sword into the back of her neck, sending her to the sand.
Joxer and Auto held Xena’s arms when they all realized the bard wasn’t moving in the dark sand.
Draco, breathing heavily, stood over the bard and scowled at the friends as he raised the sword in both his hands.
Xena screamed as the sword flashed in the sunlight.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Xena, Joxer and Autolycus blinked in disbelief as they watched Gabrielle spin in the sand. It took them a moment to realize she had turned over and slapped her hands up just as the sword descended. The blade was caught in between her palms.
Before Draco, also stunned for a moment, could twist the blade and slice the gladiator’s hands to ribbons, Gabrielle kicked up and smacked Draco in the jaw.
As he stumbled backwards, Dancer got to her feet and smacked the sword against the rocks, shattering it.
As Draco tried to comprehend the loss of his weapon, Gabrielle was on him with her fists and feet flying.
It took Draco another full minute to realize that the bard had driven him back and he was left shaking his head from another blow to the temple.
With a growl he finally comprehended that Gabrielle was no longer hitting him but going for her weapons. Draco shouted in anger and dashed for his own weapons.
The former Warlord barely dived into the sand at the base of his weapons and grabbed up the mace when he heard Dancer’s footsteps behind him. Draco turned over and raised the mace up with both hands, barely blocking the blow aimed for his head.
He kicked Gabrielle in the knee, causing it to buckle and the warrior bard to cry out in pain and fall to her other knee. Before she could recover, Draco jumped to his feet and knocked her mace out of her hand and swung his own in a backhand motion, catching Gabrielle along the temple again.
Draco fell to the sand, his head swimming from the blood loss and strength it took to keep fighting at this level. He glanced over and saw Gabrielle trying to get to her hands and knees, blood flowing freely from her scalp.
Xena was screaming and Draco’s men were cautiously keeping an eye on Gabrielle’s mate and friends.
Draco crawled to his feet, the mace still in his hands and stumbled over towards the bard.
“Gabrielle!” Xena screamed but Gabrielle’s eyes were closed and she gently swayed on her hands and knees. It was apparent that she was about to pass out.
“Dancer!” Xena screamed and the bard turned towards the shadow moving over her and threw her arms up in an Amazon defensive position of crossed wrists.
She screamed as her arms absorbed the shock from the blow but she twisted her hands and grabbed the mace out of the unsteady hands of the warrior. Before she could turn it and use it, Draco growled in rage and kicked it from her hand, out of both their reaches.
A blow from a massive fist sent the bard back to the sand and Draco stumbling for Gabrielle’s unbroken sword.
Xena saw everything move into slow motion as Draco grabbed up the sword and Gabrielle regained her feet but swayed unsteadily. The warrior and male friends all could see that Draco would reach Gabrielle before she could reach any weapon.
“No!” Xena screamed as Draco rushed in close for an overhand killing blow.
Dancer shifted her body weight to her back foot and let her ears and senses guide her. As Draco began to lower the sword, Gabrielle dropped her body over to one side, bringing her leg straight up, almost vertical and under Draco’s chin.
Xena grinned; she remembered that move from practicing with Gabrielle in Egypt. She had commented to Gabrielle that move could take someone’s head off with the right momentum.
With the injured knee and lack of strength, it wasn’t enough to take Draco’s head off but everyone heard his jaw crack as he was lifted off his feet and sent flying backwards. Gabrielle fell to her hands and knees and slowly crawled over to the fallen former Warlord.
“End it here, Draco,” she whispered as she grabbed up the mace and held it over his head. “Don’t force me to kill you.”
Draco’s eyes flashed as blood spilled from his broken jaw. Gabrielle could see nothing but hatred and insanity and raised the mace high with both hands as Draco held his arms out to his sides in submission and acceptance of the killing blow as Gabrielle straddled him.
Gabrielle screamed a war cry and hesitated. Xena could see the confusion and pain in her bard’s face and eyes and slowly moved forward out of Joxer and Auto’s hold. Draco’s men approached slowly as well, keeping their hands in plain sight.
Gabrielle’s eyes were closed in mental anguish as she held the mace high for the killing blow.
“Gabrielle,” Xena said softly. “Give me the mace.”
Draco attempted to growl.
“You aren’t Dancer anymore, Gabrielle,” Xena continued softly. “Dancer is there but she doesn’t control you. If he comes after us again, we’ll deal with it then.”
Xena saw Gabrielle’s shoulders slump and gently took the mace from the bard’s hands and then pulled Gabrielle up off of Draco and into her arms. The warrior turned to Draco’s men.
“Take him back to his island and take care of him,” she instructed. “Try and talk some sense into him.”
“Yes, Xena,” they said at the same time and dragged Draco away from the Greeks.
Xena wasn’t surprised when Gabrielle began to cry in her arms and clung desperately to the warrior.
“Shhh, it's okay, Little One,” Xena said softly. “Never cry because you couldn’t kill.”
“No!”
Xena was confused when she heard Joxer and Autolycus scream. She was about to lift the injured Gabrielle into her arms when she looked up and saw Draco rushing at them with a spear.
Everything moved too fast and too slowly, as if in a dream for the couple.
Something flashed by Xena and Gabrielle before the warrior could pull Gabrielle out of the way.
Everyone stared at the sight of the spear sticking through Joxer’s chest.
Xena and Gabrielle screamed as Joxer fell onto his side, grasping the spear shaft, blood spilling over his hands. Gabrielle winced as she heard the familiar sound beside her and looked over at Draco.
The former warlord was trying to hold the blood back into his throat as Xena caught her chakram. Draco’s eyes lost their spark and his hands fell away from his throat.
Gabrielle knew he was dead before he hit the sand face first. The bard stumbled and fell beside Joxer and drew his head into her lap.
Xena and Auto quickly knelt beside the former soldier. Xena looked up into Auto’s brown eyes and shook her head. They all knew what a wound like that meant. Xena looked up at Gabrielle and saw the same knowledge as the bard gently stroked Joxer’s spiky hair.
“Is she safe?” Joxer whispered, coughing on his own blood.
“Yes, Joxer,” Xena answered firmly as Gabrielle closed her eyes and let the tears begin to fall from her eyes. “You saved her.”
“Then I’m happy,” he tried to smile. “Wish I could see Meg just one more time.”
“Don’t worry about it, cute and lanky,” a voice giggled.
Gabrielle opened her eyes with a confused look as Xena and Auto’s mouths hung open in similar surprise.
“’Dite?” Gabrielle asked softly and the Goddess of Love giggled again.
“Hey, Sweetcheeks,” Aphrodite said cheerfully. “Autolcycus, you just get even more handsome with every year.”
“What brings you here, Aphrodite? I thought none of the gods could interfere?” Xena demanded.
“Not with your fate but Joxer’s just got messed up,” Dite said cryptically.
“Artemis said that he was meant to father another child before Death came for him,” Gabrielle said thoughtfully.
“Now it's like totally messed up because of a love spell,” Aphrodite tugged impatiently at her pink nightgown, trying to get it to hang right.
Xena shook her head, trying not to be impatient with the self centered Goddess.
“So because of the love spell on Draco, Joxer’s future has been messed up,” Autolycus repeated, hoping to bring Aphrodite back on track. He noted Xena’s impatient narrowing of her eyes and wanted answers as much as the warrior did. He had come to like Joxer over the last week.
“Yeah, so it’s up to me or Cupid to fix it. Here I am,” ‘Dite grinned.
“So how do you fix it?” Gabrielle demanded as Joxer’s head dropped forward into unconsciousness.
“I take him home, cure his wounds and watch over him until it’s his time,” Aphrodite said simply.
Gabrielle leaned forward and kissed Joxer’s forehead. “Tell him thank you and that we love him,” she said softly.
“Will do, blonde and beautiful,” Aphrodite promised. “Then I’ll be back, zap you home to gather your things and then take you north and get you out of this madhouse that is the Roman Empire right now. Dad can yell at me later.”
Gabrielle sighed gratefully and only jumped slightly when Joxer and the Goddess of Love disappeared.
The bard’s head fell back as hands reached for her to keep her from falling.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Xena sighed with relief when Gabrielle began to stir in her sleep. The warrior got up from the fire and lay down next to the bard and gently stroked the blonde’s hair from her forehead.
Gabrielle opened her eyes slowly and smiled when she saw Xena’s face.
“Hey,” she whispered, her voice harsh.
“Hey yourself,” Xena smiled. “You scared me there for a little bit.”
Gabrielle frowned as she realized it was dark and they were by the campfire again.
“Joxer? Draco?” she asked.
“Draco’s men took his body away,” Xena explained. “No threats or anything. Aphrodite returned about a candle-mark ago and said that Joxer will be fine. A couple of days in bed to regain his strength and he’ll be up and running the inn again. She said that she can’t do anything about the illness that’s eating his insides up though.”
“I know, Artemis explained that its part of his fate,” Gabrielle said softly and smiled as Auto brought over a flask of water.
“Sometimes I am very glad that I don’t know what in Tartarus the Fates have in store for me,” Autolycus said firmly. “Would take all the fun and adventure out of it.”
“Auto, you just spent two years as a Roman galley slave for stealing,” Xena laughed. “Haven’t you had enough adventure? If Gabrielle hadn’t been looking for Eli, we never would have found you down in that ship.”
“I know, I know,” he nodded but they could both see his eyes sparkling. “Just think about it though, Xena. I’ve been cooped up for two years and my skills have gotten a little rusty.”
“Gods, Autolycus! You are a handful!” Xena grinned.
“How bad am I hurt?” Gabrielle asked, trying not to laugh.
“Broken knee, cracked skull, a couple of deep cuts, some light cuts and minor bruises,” Xena said.
“How long to heal this time?” Gabrielle asked, her voice almost whining.
“I don’t think you have the energy to heal yourself, so I figure a couple of days for the lights stuff and the skull. Probably a week with that knee,” Xena said thoughtfully.
“Home?”
“Aphrodite will return in the morning and take us to your sister’s place for our stuff and then we’re home to our son and family up north,” Xena smiled.
“Are you coming with us, Auto?” Gabrielle asked.
“Uh, no,” he said slowly. “Your Germans are even less kind to thieves than the Romans. I’ve got some people to look up since I’ve been gone. You’ll tell Herc and Iolaus I’m okay and hello?”
“Of course, and you’d better visit sometime in the future,” Xena declared. “You’ll like our son and daughter.”
“If they look like either of you, then they’re bound to be beautiful,” Auto grinned.
Xena noticed Gabrielle’s eyes closing and wrapped her arm around the little bard.
“She’s quite a fighter, Xena,” Auto said softly.
“Yeah, but killing still isn’t easy for her, thankfully,” Xena responded.
“Yes, somehow she’s never lost that touch of innocence around her,” he said, pulling up his blankets next to Gabrielle after getting a nod from Xena.
The warrior knew that Auto wouldn’t dare lay a finger on Gabrielle but was offering to share his body warmth with his injured friend and shield her body from the shifting winds.
“You told me all that you’ve both been through,” he continued, looking at the stars as he lay back on the bedding. “Kidnapping, rape, torture, gladiator fighting, Ares, gods, Amazons, all of it, yet there’s something about her that is untouched. Her love for you is still so strong and so is yours.”
“Thank you, Auto,” Xena smiled. “She’s my life.”
“What a life you’ve led too,” he grinned. “Not sure I could handle twenty more years around you two,” he joked.
“Did I mention that we’re immortal?” Xena grinned in response.
“Oh gods, which means this could go on forever!”
“Yeah, but with Gabrielle at my side, I can face forever,” Xena said firmly.
See what happens next in "Amazon Queen on Trial, An Awakening XXIX"