Old Problems in the Night,
Awakening 26
Frau Hunter Ash
(Aka Dana Cooper-Kjarr)
*Disclaimers: see Part 1
The next morning was a strange one for the Greeks. When they opened the door to the cabin they found Jarl Svenkender’s men camped in their clearing. Hercules and Iolaus walked out among them cautiously while Xena and Gabrielle stayed close to the door and near the weapons.
After half a candle-mark, Hercules and Iolaus returned to their home with amused smiles on their faces. Xena and Gabrielle began to relax slightly as they took in the easygoing manner both men had walking back to them.
“What’s up?” Gabrielle demanded as they walked up the steps.
“Seems that they’ll be camped there until the duel so that both sides can keep an eye on each other,” Iolaus grinned. “Leave it to the Vikings, come for a fight and they settle in for a party.”
Xena shook her head with a smile. “That pretty much describes them at times,” she agreed. “Tell them they’d better get to hunting and take down a couple of deer if we’re going to share our stock and land with them.”
“How do we know Jarl Svenkender isn’t planning something if one of us isn’t there?” Gabrielle asked thoughtfully.
“We don’t, we’ll have to chance it,” Hercules muttered.
The next two days were busy for both the Greeks and the Vikings. It was fortunate; it didn’t give either side too much time to brood about the upcoming fight except at night. The days were spent hunting and having mini feasts which Jarl Sven was noticeably absent from, the Greeks noticed.
The Greeks reluctantly discovered that they liked the Jarl’s men and found them brave, fun loving and very loyal to their code of honor. The Vikings in turn made no secret of their admiration for the Greeks after hearing the tales of some of the adventures Gabrielle wove around the fires.
The Vikings had been hesitant to believe that the Greeks could be brave warriors, especially the smaller Gabrielle and Iolaus until they heard how Iolaus had been crippled. They also listened to some of Iolaus’ adventures both with and without Hercules. The Vikings had roared at some of the misadventures he had found himself in and the small Greek had taken their joking and ribbing with a wonderful sense of humor. Hercules and Xena were already known in the North for their warrior skills; Hercules for his strength and his friendship with the great god Thor. Xena was known with a mixture of terror and awe for her bloody skills in battle.
The Vikings had grown quiet when Iolaus took a turn at telling tales and told the story of Gabrielle winning the wooden sword as a gladiator in the Circus of Rome. Even in the far North, the Vikings knew of the love the Romans had for bloody spectacles. Xena knew they were now looking at her mate with a new sense of admiration and wondering if they had under estimated the small woman.
In turn the Vikings had told many tales of adventure as a free mercenary unit who had actually served under Antony for awhile. Both Xena and Gabrielle shot each other a glance of interest when they had heard that one. Both of them considered themselves under a blood oath to kill Antony.
Xena knew that these Vikings better understood her and the others by having served with Romans and having traveled to the South. They had also dealt with Amazons and knew first hand the strict code of honor that bound the warrior women and respected it.
Both Xena and Gabrielle knew this was a good thing; at least Jarl Svenkender’s men would honor whatever the outcome of the duel was. If Xena won then his men wouldn’t challenge her right to protect Hallvor or Gabrielle’s right as Queen of the Black Forest Amazons to claim equal status to Jarl Svenkender.
Nighttime, however, was not as pleasant. Both Iolaus and Gabrielle found their nightmares had returned in full force.
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“No!”
Xena wrapped her arms around Gabrielle from behind, attempting to comfort her thrashing mate until the bard could snap out of the nightmare holding her tightly in its grip. The warrior growled as one of Gabrielle’s arms got loose and Xena almost got an elbow in the eye.
“Gabrielle!” she shouted and shook the younger woman and felt the bard tense up. After a moment the bard collapsed, breathing heavily and muttering. “Come on, Little One,” Xena encouraged, shaking Gabrielle a little more gently.
“Xena?”
The warrior loosened her grip and let Gabrielle turn over in her arms. It always hurt Xena to see the confusion and pain in her mate’s eyes after one of the nightmares. What hurt the worst was that Xena always felt guilty for not protecting her lover from all of it.
Gabrielle, memories of the nightmare flashing through her mind, began crying and the warrior drew her into her strong arms.
“I saw you again…” Gabrielle whispered between sobs. “Hanging from that tree… blood everywhere…”
“Shhhh,” Xena whispered and motioned Asher over when she looked up and saw the young boy was wide awake and sitting up in his bed across the room. He quickly scampered into the bed with his two moms and into Xena’s arm on the other side of Gabrielle. “It’s okay, I’m here. I’m alive.”
“You died, Xena,” Gabrielle whispered, her hand absently playing with the laces of Xena’s sleeping tunic in her nervousness. She glanced over and noted Asher’s groggy eyelids closing as he slid back into sleep. “When I went into that trance and pulled your spirit back, Xena… you had already let go. I can’t go through that again.”
“I’m not going to let that arrogant bastard take me, lover,” Xena promised.
“I need you, Xena,” the bard mumbled, her hand slowly stopping and her breathing becoming more regular. Xena didn’t get back to sleep as soon. Her sharp ears caught the muffled sounds of more cries of terror from the other bedroom and Hercules’ voice trying to calm a nightmare frightened Iolaus.
Xena was concerned, she hated when Gabrielle had nightmares no matter what they were. What was worrying the warrior was that the bards’ nightmares were usually of the sexual assaults she had suffered over the years or the men and women she had been forced to kill in the Arena. Gabrielle normally didn’t dream of Xena’s death and the bards dreams were known to be prophetic at times.
Xena continued to frown into the night while her son and lover slept in her arms.
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Hercules found Gabrielle up well before dawn on the third morning and wasn’t surprised.
He sat down in a chair next to the fire, reached for a mug and then for a pot over the fire as Hallvor kept sleeping on the small bed they had set up next to the fire. Gabrielle handed him the box of tea as the demi-god poured the water into the mug. He dumped some of the leaves into a small bag and dunked it into the mug.
“Where’s Xena?” he asked after a moment.
Gabrielle smiled slightly. “You knew she wouldn’t sleep much. She’s in the barn warming her muscles doing sword drills.”
“You’re worried more than you normally would be,” he commented. “What’s up?”
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Gabrielle admitted. “I’ve talked with Hallvor, Jarl Svenkender broke her ribs after she was captured by his men and tied up. He then set his dogs on her but she turned werserker and escaped. I don’t trust him, he’s too sneaky.”
“I agree,” he commented. “Which one of us will stand with her at the river?”
“You, I’m staying here with Asher,” she said without thinking. “Standing around waiting for her to come back from a battle would drive me crazy, always did. This would be worse.”
“Alright,” Hercules agreed as he leaned forward and gently raised her chin until her eyes met his. “I won’t let anything go wrong on this side of the river,” he promised.
“Thank you, Herc,” Gabrielle answered softly. She looked around and noticed the darkness in the cabin lessening and sighed heavily.
She and the Greek Demi-god of Strength rose as the dawn began to turn the sky purple.
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Gabrielle tried to smile as Xena walked out of the barn at the same time her small Greek family walked out of the cabin, Asher in Hercules’ arms. The boy was strangely quiet, unlike his normal morning chatter-self, as if he was sensing the tension from the adults around him.
Xena joined her family at the bottom of the porch and turned to face Jarl Svenkender and one of his men as they broke away from the rest of the Vikings. The Greeks said nothing as the Jarl approached, his man carrying two shields. Xena and the others saw a traditional sword at Jarl Sven’s side and a long Viking knife known as a sax. A large single edged blade that resembled a pirate short sword. Xena’s sharp eyes spotted a slight bulge in his right boot.
“You ready to die?” the Jarl taunted.
“Not particularly,” Xena smirked. “Got your death song ready?”
Jarl Svenkender grew very red-faced and turned towards the path heading to the river.
Xena turned to her mate. “Gabrielle, I know you want to be with me…”
“Its okay, Xena,” Gabrielle said softly. “Hercules is going to stand with you. I’m going to wait here with Asher and Iolaus. We’ll keep an eye on the soldiers.”
Xena looked relieved and hugged the smaller woman. “I am coming back to you,” Xena whispered firmly. “Remember I love you more than life itself.”
“Just come back to me, damnit!” Gabrielle said softly and turned out of the hug.
Xena’s face was pained as she reached onto the porch and tucked a dagger into her boot, strapped on a sax of her own at her belt. Hercules handed Asher to Gabrielle and grabbed up two traditional Viking shields.
Gabrielle refused to watch Xena walk towards the battlefield. The bard turned inside the cabin and left Iolaus to watch the soldiers.
She knew the two fighters would cross the river by a small boat, leaving their companions on the riverbank. It would take time to settle everything. The bard was hoping that Xena would end the fight quickly and not take any unnecessary chances.
Gabrielle sat down at the table and waited for her mate while playing with their son.
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Xena bit her lip to keep from screaming as she pulled herself off the stake. “Damn coward!” she shouted from the small pit she had fallen into. A pit that happened to contain stakes set in the ground.
The warrior growled and glanced up as Jarl Svenkendur’s shadow fell over her from above.
“Maybe, Greek,” Svenkendur grinned. “But it works.”
Xena knocked the remaining stakes aside and held her bleeding side.
“Come on out and we’ll finish this, quickly,” he suggested with a sneer.
Xena grinned and launched herself up out of the pit with one of her famous war-cries.
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“Gabrielle!”
Iolaus’s voice had the bard running out the door and onto the porch before she had even thought about it. She was expecting to find Xena returning, probably bloody and wounded and was puzzled at the sight of the Vikings standing around watching the trail leading from the woods, Iolaus among them.
He turned and spotted her and trotted up to the porch.
“Perimeter guard says that two riders are headed this way,” he announced. “They don’t know them.”
“Probably wouldn’t since they’re strangers in this region themselves,” Gabrielle commented. “Two riders, doesn’t sound like a threat.”
“I don’t think so,” he said thoughtfully. “The scout reports they are coming up the trail without hesitating and their weapons are sheathed. A woman and a man.”
“Probably someone from Eddval’s Steading or Axel,” Gabrielle muttered, opening the door to the cabin to keep an eye on Asher as he napped on the rug in front of the fire.
What Gabrielle and Iolaus didn’t expect were two familiar forms appearing out of the tree-line on horseback. Gabrielle blinked in surprise.
“Isn’t that Joxer?” Iolaus asked. “That must be Meg. Gods, they were right, she does look like an older Xena.”
“Joxer?” Gabrielle whispered.
The Vikings encamped on their doorstep parted to let the riders through and the riders stopped in front of the porch.
Gabrielle felt a pain grip her heart when she looked into Joxer’s eyes and saw caution and a touch of fear. Once again Gabrielle cursed Callisto’s revenge and cried inside.
“Joxer, Meg? Welcome,” Iolaus said cheerfully. “What brings you this far north?”
“We are acting as messengers,” Meg replied.
“All this way for a message?” Gabrielle asked with a puzzled frown. “Is it our families?”
“No,” Meg answered quickly. “Can we speak inside?”
“Yes, of course, welcome,” Gabrielle answered and motioned for them to enter the cabin.
Iolaus was looking at the bard with his face containing an open question about the obvious tension between Joxer, Meg and Gabrielle but she shook her head that she wouldn’t answer right then.
Joxer and Meg dismounted and slowly approached the bard and Greek hunter.
“Joxer?” Gabrielle asked softly as they stepped up on the porch. She felt her jaw tightening when his eyes didn’t soften.
“Gabrielle,” he said in a flat voice. “Where’s Xena?”
“You probably won’t be surprised,” Iolaus grinned and walked into the cabin, followed by the Greek messengers and Gabrielle.
The bard was very pleased at the large grin that came over the aging warrior and his wife when they saw Asher sleeping on the rug. Joxer knelt by the boy quietly and Meg walked up behind her husband and placed her hands on his shoulders.
“Your family told us about the child,” Joxer said softly. “Congratulations, Gabrielle.”
“Thank you,” she said simply. “Xena is off having a duel with some petty Prince. The Viking over in the corner sharpening her sword is Hallvor, a member of my Black Forest Amazons.”
“And the cause of the trouble,” Hallvor grumbled.
Joxer and Meg frowned. “Why aren’t you with her?” Meg questioned the bard.
“Because waiting at the river or in the cabin would be same, both are driving me crazy!” Gabrielle snapped.
“Maybe we should wait until she gets back until we talk about this,” Meg suggested. “Hercules with her?”
“Yes,” Iolaus answered. “I’m Iolaus, by the way.”
“I recognized you from Gabrielle’s descriptions,” Meg grinned.
The next candle-mark was spent with Meg and Iolaus telling both sides of what had been happening in their lives since Gabrielle and Xena left Greece. Iolaus noticed that both Gabrielle and Joxer were strangely quiet and seemed unable to look at each other beyond a glance, which was quickly broken off.
The Greek hunter knew from Xena that things had gone terribly wrong with their friendship with Joxer and his wife Meg when Callisto used them to hurt Xena and Gabrielle. The warrior hadn’t gone into a lot of details except to say that it hurt all of them very badly emotionally and Joxer was brutally beaten and tortured while Callisto had been in Gabrielle’s form.
Iolaus could see that it was still affecting their friendship and hurting all of them.
“I’m sorry, I’m going to check on those Vikings,” Gabrielle muttered finally and dashed outside, carrying a grumpy Asher with her.
Iolaus started to go after her but Joxer held his hand up and stood up. “Let me.”
Joxer found Gabrielle sitting on the porch with Asher playing. He sat down beside her and closed his eyes in pain when he realized she was crying.
“Gabrielle,” he said softly.
“I can’t do it, Joxer,” she snapped. “I’ve apologized countless times for something I didn’t do! I would have done anything to stop Callisto and what she was doing to you. I can’t change the fact she made you think it was me and I can’t go on paying for it.”
“I know,” he responded softly. “That’s why we agreed to come up here. I do want to work it out. It’s just hard to get those images out of my head.”
“I understand, it hurts me too,” Gabrielle agreed. “Joxer, I treasured our friendship, you were more than a brother to me. To think that Callisto betrayed that kills me.”
“I’m partly to blame,” Joxer countered bitterly. “I gave in and betrayed Meg and my vows to her.”
“Joxer,” Gabrielle tried to say gently but Joxer shook her hand off his arm.
“No, it’s true! That’s the worst of it!” he angrily wiped at a tear escaping down his cheek. “It was so easy for Callisto to trick me and I was so weak. All because I wanted to believe that you finally wanted me as a lover. How could I believe that?” he asked bitterly.
Gabrielle didn’t know how to answer him, her face reflecting her concern over his pain.
“After all you’ve been through with and for Xena, how could I ever compare?” Joxer demanded his voice cracking.
“Joxer, I’m not going to help you beat yourself up,” Gabrielle snapped. “I love you and I always have. You also know I loved Xena from the moment I saw her.”
“I’m sorry, Gabrielle, I failed you too,” Joxer whispered.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m sure the thought and images of Callisto taking your form and having sex with me isn’t pleasant,” he muttered.
“Joxer, don’t do this, please,” she begged. “You can’t continue to blame me because I didn’t want you sexually. It was always Xena and you know that.”
“I know and now you even have a child together, can’t blame Ares for that one,” Joxer attempted to smile. “I’m sorry. I’ll try and get past this.”
“I’m glad, we’ve all got memories to get past, Joxer,” Gabrielle said softly. “I’d like to have your friendship back.”
“Me too but I know it’ll never be the same,” he commented.
“No, probably not,” Gabrielle agreed and laid her head against his shoulder. For once he didn’t flinch away at her touch.
Gabrielle hoped that was a good sign.
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The Greek warrior moved cautiously through the woods. She could sense Svenkendur nearby but somehow he was still able to evade her.
Xena growled in anger when something dived out of a tree above her, causing her to drop her sword. The warrior threw her arm up in time to protect her neck. Xena screamed as massive jaws clamped down on her arm as she desperately reached for her sax.
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At the end of another candle-mark, Gabrielle was pacing impatiently in the clear space in front of the porch and Iolaus noticed that even the usually carefree Viking warriors were growing quiet and watching the path to the river as well.
“I’m sure she’s fine,” Iolaus said, trying to reassure his friend.
“She’s not dead, I’d know that much,” Gabrielle muttered, impatiently twirling a sai in her hand.
“There!” one of the Vikings shouted and Gabrielle and Iolaus quickly spun towards the path and saw Hercules carrying a very still Xena in his arms.
“Xena!” Gabrielle screamed and dashed towards her mate and friend along with the Vikings, Iolaus and Joxer.
Gabrielle skidded to a stop in front of the demi-god and demi-goddess and was relieved when Xena raised her head from Hercules’ shoulder and managed a small smile.
“Hey, beautiful,” the warrior said softly.
“Hey, yourself,” Gabrielle choked out, trying not to cry from relief.
Hercules looked at the gathered Vikings and nodded over his shoulder. Everyone glanced past the hero and saw the Viking who had accompanied his Jarl dragging a body by an arm.
No one had to announce that it was Jarl Svenkender.
“Who now speaks for your group?” Hercules asked and one of the older appearing Vikings stepped forward.
“I do,” he answered. “I am Thorkull, son of Harkon the Brave.”
“I am honored to meet you, Thorkull,” Hercules said formerly. “Do you wish to try and claim the outlaw Hallvor from her Amazon Queen?”
The Viking appeared to think about it for a moment.
“We will fight for her,” Gabrielle warned.
“I understand,” Thorkull nodded. “I declare the matter ended. Jarl Svenkender has no close relatives to press the claim and I don’t care about something that happened when I was but four winters old.”
“Thank you, Thorkull,” Hercules nodded and two of the Vikings went to retrieve their Jarl and the others started back to their camp.
Xena blinked in disbelief. “Joxer?” Xena whispered in amazement.
“Yeah, we’ll explain back at the cabin while you explain why it took so damned long!” Gabrielle said firmly but with a smile.
“Deal,” Xena whispered and closed her eyes again.
Gabrielle resisted the feeling of panic attempting to sweep over her.
“Hercules?” she demanded.
“She’s hurt bad,” he said softly as they walked towards the cabin. “Where’s Asher?”
“Meg’s with him and Hallvor,” Iolaus smiled at his mate.
Within minutes the small cabin was a flurry of activity as Xena was placed on the table where Hallvor had been before. Hercules quickly unbuckled the warrior’s favorite combat clothing as Gabrielle grabbed the healing supplies from a shelf.
The bard gasped at the sight of the wounds covering her mate’s body and then went to work with Meg cleaning and stitching the wounds.
“Those wounds on her thigh, I don’t think stitching will close those,” Meg muttered.
“Heat a poker then,” Gabrielle said simply, again avoiding facing that it was her mate she was talking about.
“Right,” the twin of Xena responded and moved to the fireplace.
Hercules sat near Xena’s head and gently wiped away the blood and sweat from her face.
“Xena, tell us what happened,” he urged as she gritted her teeth. “Those look like claw wounds.”
Gabrielle glanced over and saw Hallvor playing knucklebones with Asher and trying to keep him from chewing on them but she knew the Viking was listening closely. Her wounds were coming along nicely, Gabrielle thought. She knew Hallvor would probably be up and moving within a day or two.
“I thought it would be over quick,” Xena growled. “We met with shield and sword… not my… usual but I… was doing okay. We both got in some good hits and then he surprised me…”
The warrior growled in pain as Gabrielle cleaned another deep wound.
“The area…was cleared of brush and trees…like I expected for a dueling…area. Then I discovered…he didn’t play fair.”
Gabrielle glanced up at Hercules as Meg brought a hot poker over from the fire. The demi-god nodded and offered his hands and wrists to the female warrior. Xena glanced down and saw the poker and grabbed Hercules wrist to hand.
“Xena?” Gabrielle asked softly.
“Do it!”
Gabrielle took the poker and quickly placed it against one of the wounds. She shut out the sounds of Xena’s scream and followed through with the next three slashes. Meg took the poker away and gently touched Gabrielle’s cheek as the bard fell against the table.
“Xena?” Gabrielle asked softly, moving to her mate’s face and cried as Xena’s blue eyes opened.
“I’m okay,” Xena whispered. It took a few moments before she could continue though.
“I stepped into a pit trap…he had dug,” Xena said softly. “I…I was stupid. Never should have…fallen for that…. I took a stake through my side….He almost had me…I got out of the pit and disarmed him from his sword….Then it got really interesting…” the warrior attempted to grin as Gabrielle and Meg bandaged her wounds.
“The bastard…he ran into the woods…” Xena hesitated and Gabrielle held a cup of water to her lips. Xena reached out to hold her mate’s hand now that the worst of the pain was over.
“I debated whether to…follow him or go back…and declare him….a coward,” Xena whispered as Meg covered her with a blanket and Hercules carried her to the bed she shared with Gabrielle.
“I followed him… it took forever to find….him. Almost…wasn’t quick….enough when he…jumped out. He was a werserker…like Hallvor… He got my thigh and… knocked my sword away…I got my sax out…and took his arm.”
“Oh gods,” Gabrielle said softly.
“He howled…and attacked again…”
“The bite marks on your arms and shoulder,” Gabrielle muttered.
“Yeah,” Xena whispered, letting Gabrielle sit up in the bed and gently take the warrior into her arms. “I…crippled his leg and he kept coming…I finally…was able to take his head.”
“Gods,” Hercules muttered.
“My turn,” Xena smiled slightly. “What are Joxer and Meg doing here?”
“We were waiting for you to get back before asking them that,” Iolaus grinned.
Joxer walked into the bedroom at that moment and smiled at the warrior lying on the bed.
“We were asked to find you and ask your help,” he began.
“From who?” Gabrielle asked.
“Cleopatra and Marc Antony,” Meg answered.
“What?” both Gabrielle and Xena exclaimed at the same time.
“Artemis showed up with a message from them asking your help in defeating Octavian and then she transported us here, just a couple of marks away,” Joxer finished.
“Artemis?” Gabrielle questioned.
“Right here, Gabrielle,” a familiar voice responded and the warrior bard spun on her heels with sais in hand. Xena attempted to sit up and Hercules frowned.
“What are you doing here?” Hercules asked.
“I came to see Xena and Gabrielle,” the Goddess of the Hunt, the Moon and Amazons answered.
“Why send Joxer and Meg when you could just pop in here on your own?” Xena demanded.
“Because I wanted to give you all a chance to mend your friendship,” Artemis said simply and Gabrielle’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Cleopatra and Marc Antony are in need of your assistance.”
“I’m confused,” Xena admitted. “You’re the patron goddess of the Amazons, Marc Antony slaughtered the Black Forest Amazons and we’ve sworn blood revenge. Now you want us to help them?”
“In a way,” Artemis said. “I want Marc Antony dead and Cleopatra alive. I don’t care if she’s victorious over Octavian or he is victorious over her. She is a good ruler for Egypt and has asked my aid. If Octavian is successful, he’ll place Cleopatra as a subject ruler. If she stays with Antony then Octavian will likely destroy them both.”
“You want us to break up Antony and Cleopatra and you don’t care who wins the final battle?” Gabrielle questioned.
“Yes,” Artemis answered.
“We helped Cleo in the past and I like her,” Xena growled. “I don’t like the idea of breaking up a couple that’s obviously in love. They’ve been together 10 winters and have four children.”
“They stay together out of love and love of power,” Artemis responded. “Do you still want him dead even if he’s with Cleopatra?”
Gabrielle’s green eyes flashed. “Yes, I heard what happened to Ephiny, Solari and the others. I saw what the attack did to Eponi and how hard they’ve struggled to rebuild. I want him dead or defeated, totally.”
“I agree, dead or dragged behind Octavian’s chariot as a prisoner of Rome,” Xena growled.
“Do you think the two of you can do it?” Artemis questioned.
“We’ll figure it out,” Xena nodded.
“What about Asher?” Gabrielle asked. “It’s a very long trip to Egypt; I don’t want to leave him that long.”
“Neither do I,” Xena agreed.
“I’ll transport both of you there and back,” Artemis promised.
“It still might take some time to figure it out,” Xena said thoughtfully. “Antony isn’t going to trust us.”
“But Cleo might,” Gabrielle added.
“The boy would be safe with Hercules and Iolaus,” Artemis suggested.
“Could do that, we do the planning and stay out of battles?” Xena asked thoughtfully.
“Let’s discuss this,” Gabrielle suggested.
“Okay,” Xena mumbled and Gabrielle noticed her mate having trouble keeping her eyes open. She carefully helped Xena into a lying position and kissed her mate softly.
“Get some sleep, I’ll be back in awhile,” the bard promised.
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Gabrielle waited by the barn after the sun had set and everyone was finished with dinner. Joxer and Meg were catching Hercules and Iolaus up on news of Rome and Asher was asleep in Hallvor’s arms.
Artemis appeared with a sparkle of light.
“Waiting for me, Chosen?” the Goddess asked.
“Yes, there are some unanswered questions,” Gabrielle nodded.
“Why I sent Joxer and Meg instead of just coming myself?” Artemis questioned.
“Yes,” Gabrielle nodded again. “Why give us the chance to see them?”
Artemis lost her smile.
“Joxer is dying,” she said softly and grabbed the bard as Gabrielle’s knees buckled.
“No, please, no,” Gabrielle pleaded.
“I’m sorry, it’s an illness that I can’t heal,” Artemis explained, taking the bard in her arms as Gabrielle broke into tears. “It destroys the insides, slowly. He has maybe another two winters.”
“No! Please, can’t one of the other gods help?” Gabrielle pleaded.
“Gabrielle, are you going to beg the gods every time one of your friends or relatives is sick or dying?”
“Doesn’t everyone?” Gabrielle countered.
Artemis actually shrugged and smiled. “Yes, I guess you’re right. They just don’t have direct connection and family relations among the gods.”
“I’ll beg but I won’t always expect to get what I want,” Gabrielle tried to smile. “Thank you for bringing them then. Do they know?”
“Joxer knows and Meg suspects,” Artemis answered. “Meg is also pregnant and hasn’t found out yet. He’ll have a son and she’ll be pregnant with a daughter before he crosses.”
“How can I face him knowing this?” Gabrielle asked, turning from the Goddess.
“Just mend the friendship, let your love for him guide you,” Artemis suggested. “I’ll come back in three days for you.”
“We’ll figure it out; Antony will pay for what he did to the Amazons and half the known world,” Gabrielle promised and turned to look at the goddess and found her gone and Joxer walking towards her.
“Hey, Gabby,” the inn-keeper said easily. “I saw Artemis.”
“Yeah,” Gabrielle didn’t know what to say to her longtime friend.
“She told you, didn’t she?” he asked softly.
“Yes, she did,” she admitted. “How did you figure it out?”
“I’m passing blood and it didn’t get better with the herbs the healer gave me, finally hit us that it’s not going away.”
“I don’t know what to say, Joxer,” Gabrielle admitted, tears beginning to flow down her face and they finally broke loose when he took her into his arms and held her. “I should be comforting you.”
“We’re friends,” he said softly. “I’ve had time to adjust. I figured Artemis wanted us to make up before it happens and I’m grateful.”
“Can I tell Xena?” she asked as she hugged her friend.
“Yes, no secrets between mates,” he said simply.
“Thank you,” Gabrielle said softly. “I do love you, Joxer.”
“I love you, too,” he smiled slightly down at the small female. “Always have and always will.”
“You’ll have to tell Meg eventually,” she warned.
“I know, she already suspects. I’ll wait until she’s a little further along with the pregnancy,” Joxer grinned.
“You know and she doesn’t?”
“Yeah, Meg doesn’t think she can have children so she’s missing a lot of the signs and Artemis confirmed it.”
“Gods, Joxer, I just wanted a few more seasons of a normal life,” Gabrielle complained. “Now we’re about to go to Egypt and settle with Antony, possibly destroy Cleopatra’s life, and endanger myself and my mate.”
“Antony and Cleopatra have determined their path, if you don’t get involved, they’ll still fall eventually,” Joxer said gently. “Even Caesar with all his power and talent fell.”
“Thank you, Joxer,” Gabrielle smiled and reached up to kiss him on the cheek.
“It won’t be easy, any of it,” he cautioned.
“Including between us?”
“Yes, it still hurts to remember it, the pleasure and the pain,” he admitted as they began walking back to the cabin. “I won’t let go of our friendship though.”
“Good, Callisto will be screaming in Tartarus,” Gabrielle tried to smile.
“She never could succeed, no one can beat Xena and you and your love for each other,” Joxer smiled. “I should have realized that and not fallen for her trap. I was blinded by my puppy dog love for you.”
“And now?” she asked gently.
“I love you and always will but I love Meg, the way someone should be loved,” Joxer said thoughtfully. “Now I just have to make up to her for what I did before it’s too late.”
“Too late for what, lover?” a voice called from the porch and Meg stepped into the light of the moon.
“I’m afraid you’ll still reject me after that mess with Callisto and I won’t be able to tell you and show you how much I love you,” Joxer said honestly.
“I heard most of that, Joxer,” Meg admitted and stepped down from the porch and took his hand. “Come show me how much,” she said in a low and husky voice, leading him back towards the barn.
Gabrielle smiled and turned back to
the cabin to take care of her mate and plan for Marc Antony’s destruction.