50

' Oh gods this has surely got to be a nightmare and I'm gonna wake up in a moment. I will wake up I will. ' Gabrielle thought her lungs bursting inside her chest as she ran. Running running, when all she really wanted to do was stop turn around and hightail it back to the woman who she loved and now feared losing.

So why was she doing just the opposite ? Because Xena had told her that's why. Go find the centaur Kaliepus and tell him what was happening back at the forge where the warrior and Gaia were fighting it out and it left Gabrielle feeling more afraid that she was running blindly to no purpose. Not only had she no knowledge of exactly where Kaleipus was she also felt she was simply leaving Xena abandoned to face the enraged goddess alone despite the fact that she wouldn't be of much use and it was exactly what the warrior had bid her to do after all.

The Centaur King might still be drinking and celebrating the party or he could have retired to his tent by now which was off on the other side of town to which then she would be going the wrong way. She could only hope that she was making the best choice of opting first to go to the town centre instead of running on to the encampment.

It was by chance that Jan saw Gabrielle as she turned the corner running full pelt across the street. Sensing something was amiss she called her name but the bard seemed not to hear her so Jan went after her. ' Blimey, for a little thing shesure isquick on her feet, or is it I'm just not as fit as I was ? '

Jan mused grimly as she dug her heels and hung on trying hard to catch up with the hurrying bard. Eventually closing the gap she reached out and grabbed at a swinging arm in front of her and managed to bring the girl to a halt.

" Hey Gabby are you deaf where's the fire ? Oh for pete's sake what's your rush ? " she panted wishing she had done more to stay in shape than she had bothered to recently.

Gabrielle pulled herself free of the woman's grip. " Fire's the right word. Gaia's turned up and she's mad as …. Xena's in big trouble look she's fireing up the town to get her and I've got to find Kaleipus. If she isn't stopped Gaia will kill her or even destroy Amphipolis. " Out of her mind with worry at being held up Gabrielle hopped from one foot to the other desperate to get moving again.

Jan shook her head. " Last I saw of him he was talking to the mayor but that was hours ago at the party. " Jan offered. " Ok you go on to the mayor he'll be more willing to listen to you than me. I'll go see if Kaleipus is sleeping it off. So after where do we go then ? "

Gabrielle pointed the way she had come from. " It's at the forge. By the western gate. " Jan nodded that she understood and then turned and sprinted off.

' Should have told her to get him to bring his army too, I wonder what or who is a peet ? 'Gabrielle said to herself as she continued to the centre of town.

" Stop wasting my time with your games. How long do you think you can keep this up you can't possibly win Xena. " Gaia shouted letting another power ball fly and seeing it missing her target as it burst into flame behind her.

Xena laughed at the goddess but she knew that before long time or exhaustion or Gaia's aim would see a quick end to this farce.

" Not a chance unless you're willing to offer a deal ? " Xena said.

" Just accept your fate and surrender mortal. "

" Not a word I know. I've had it with your ultimatums Gaia. " Xena hissed as another ball came her way and she jumped clear and avoided it easily.

" Oh that's right You get me to offer my help to you and your little friend and then you renege on your promise to honour me in my own temple. "

Gaia let another burst against the wall and a gout of flame shot to the ceiling in her frustration.

" That was your choice in helping, but I couldn't do it Gaia. It would only have been a worse betrayal for Gabrielle if I had. This is no honour to you or her and I won't do that to Gabrielle. Not for you, Not for anyone. " Xena bit back.

Although Xena would have preferred to have kept the fight contained where they were but there was no chance of that now with the flames rising around them in the confined space of the enclosed forge and which now threatened to roast her.

Rather than be engulfed herself Xena opted to make her escape while she could and she turned with a high scream and ran at the flaming wall and crashed through the flames and smoke.

Coming out through the wall Xena landed with debris landing all around her and the wall collapsing behind sending showers of hot ash and sparks scattering the firefighters with their leather buckets of water in all directions.

Afraid they too would become targets for Gaia's anger Xena yelled at them. " Go, get away all of you. Get out of here. " The people ran just as Gaia emerged out of the flames.

Staying was a risk to Amphipolis that she could not afford and there was only one thing for Xena to do now was get out of there as fast as she could. Xena made a leap to get away out of town and under cover amongst the trees. As she disappeared Gaia muttered. " Oh no you won't get away from me this time Xena. "

As Gabrielle explained and he heard what was going on the mayor plunged his head into the water butt to clear his head of his drink haze and then shook free the excess water from his head. Then he began to organise and fetch the citizen Militia, When the captain arrived they began to lay a plan of action.

Although many citizens were still too inebriated to be of much help it surprised Gabrielle that those who were sober enough fell into line without a seconds thought and set off toward the forge and to where the danger lay.

While Gabrielle was with the mayor at the same time Jan found and began to tell Kaleipus what she knew. She had the strangest feeling that this was the answer to her questions, of why she had been brought here to Greece and that it was in fact no accident. There wasn't any reason to it, she just knew. As she watched Kaleipus calling for his captains to mobilise his

centaurs to arms and barking out orders Jan felt for the first time that she had a part to play in this conflict and as she followed the Centaur on her way out of his tent she grabbed a short sword for herself determined to be a part of this one way or another.

" Are you another one of those Amazons ? " Kaleipus said looking uncertainly at the woman and the weapon. Jan quirked a grin and hefted it. " Sort of. You got a problem with that. " She answered. The Centaur shook his head as he led the way. " Not at all my dear. "

This was as much of a frustration for Xena too. To anyone else she would stand her ground and fight back but against Gaia,but to do that to a god that would just be plain suicidal. It was far from a new thing she had faced many gods but they all had one thing in common and that was the ability to kill her, short and long range. Right now all she could think of was get herself and Gaia away from Amphipolis as quickly as possible before the goddess did some serious damage and started killing innocent bystanders. Running, jumping, somersaulting over and ducking under and hiding behind the green cover of bushes while the goddess was trying to cut her path as she chased her throwing balls of fire and burning trees as it exploded while she was cutting her path in her attempts to stop her.

After they got to the forge it was easy for Kaleipus to just follow the sign and sounds of destruction. From the other side of town the Militia did the same and the two groups met stopping just short of the plain with Xena and Gaia in plain sight ahead of them. Then to Gabrielle's horror she saw Gaia about to shoot and Xena fell and she let out a cry as the warrior became an all too easy target for the goddess and she ran to cover her with her own body.

Kaleipus waved an arm and signalled to the centaurs and militia to fan out and put themselves between Gaia and Xena providing a barrier while everywhere Gaia went she found herself blocked and unable to get a clear shot at the fallen warrior.

The goddess yelled enraging her more. " You fools don't give me cause to hurt you get away. "

This was definitely not what Xena wanted to happen either and as she rose pushed Gabrielle behind her, but she too was being ignored by both the human and centaur wall building around her. " No please don't do this. " Xena also pleaded with her would be protectors and Gabrielle was no more compliant either as she kept putting herself in front of the warrior.

Jan also came forward and stood before Gaia. " Yeah that's right go ahead kill us all and prove how great at nothing you really are. "

Gabrielle chipped in." And all for what ? Just because your're a god and you can do it. What good would that do? There is little honour in going around arbitrarily killing people. "

Gaia rounded on her.

" After what I did for you two. " She shook a finger at Xena. The goddess called over their heads at Xena. " Some warrior you are. Will you hide behind them for that ? "

" No, no I won't. " Xena tried to get past them but she could not as they closed around her.

" I told you at the temple I couldn't do it Gaia I told you that and the reason's not changed I love Gabrielle and I couldn't, wouldn't do something that would hurt her by doing that. "

Gabrielle touched her arm. " You said you love me ? " she asked.

There was no time for Xena to answer as Jan drew closer to the goddess and said loudly for everyone to hear. " Come on Gaia no matter what it was you did for them nobody deserves to die. Are you that so crass a bully because she wouldn't please you on your alter ? Choose another task, something that Xena would be proud to perform and not what she cannot do. "

Gaia glared at her and then looked about at the sea of expectant faces staring back at her. Gabrielle's face stood out as a mixture of expressions not quite understanding what this all had meant yet also stunned at Xena's outright open admission of her love for her and she gave a hopeful look toward the goddess too.

" Is that the feeling of you all ? " Gaia asked looking about her.

" Yes it is. " Kaleipus said.

" Xena is one of us, an Amphipolean, and we stand or fall with her. " The mayor said defiantly.

With so much against her could do no more. Gaia gave in. " So be it then." she said bitterly and then she turned a stern look at Xena. " Don't think you've got away with anything. You made a promise to me and I'll hold you to it. If not this then something more appropriate. Don't worry I'll let you know all in good time. " Gaia wagged a finger at her then quick as a flash she disappeared before losing anymore face to these unworthy beings.

It had been time for them to leave and saying goodbye to her mother was no easier for Xena than it had once been before. She had already said her goodbyes to Solon and that had been as hard, not just because this time he knew more about being his mother and also what his relationship was to Cyrene. That had caused another hurt because Cyrene was only just getting used to the fact that she had a grandson but just as she had promised Kaleipus the boy would return to the Centaur lands with him the two women had to watch them go.

At least to make things better the King had agreed with Cyrene that Solan could come and visit his grandmother again in the summer and that had taken some of the sting out of the older woman's pain. Though it had not eased the situation between mother and daughter as Cyrene thought Xena hadn't dealt honestly with either she or her son and their farewells were tinged with unspoken tension as the two women kissed and Xena mounted up.

Dusk was falling and the two women laid out their large sleeping blankets together after eating and sat beside the fire staring into its flames. It had been a long hard day of travelling and Xena hadn't said much but they were both grateful to be back on the road once more and on their own after so many weeks in town.

As she felt the dig in her ribs Xena sighed again as she felt a dig in her ribs and looked into the bard's eyes. " Ow. " she said wryly and her grin broadened contentedly. " Okay Gabrielle what is it? "

" Gosh you'r e asking me! " Gabrielle bit her lip in surprise.

" Why not. I know you've been waiting all day to say something so come out with it, say it and clear the air. "

Gabrielle looked up and down. " Alright but on one condition. " Xena winced rolling her eyes. " Conditions yet ! "

" You tell me what it was that Gaia did for us, and what she wanted from you in payment. " Gabrielle said.

This was not the way Xena wanted the evening to start. " You sure you want to hear this now ? It's complicated. "

" I'm sure it is. " Gabrielle mumbled.
" Believe me it might be better if I tell you tomorrow. " The warrior said trying to fend her off.

" Xena ! "

" Yeah okay, well it began when there was a great storm and we lost, or was it gained a few years.

Well,,, that was Gaia's doing and it changed things for us. "

" Too many wells. "

" Hey are you going to let me tell this ? Your the bard, not me. Everything Gabrielle it changed everything. " Xena ground her teeth. This was not how she had planned their first night together and she took a long breath.

Gabrielle pushed. " I heard Gaia say you were to offer yourself on her alter. Come on give Warrior Princess. " Gabrielle teased.

" Oh Zeus gee thanks Gabrielle. So what happened to Jan ? " Gabrielle was going to moan about her changing the subject but instead the girl said. " Last minute she said she was going to stay and help Cyrene with the Inn. I thought you knew." Xena shook her head.

" You said that you loved me out loud in front of everyone. " Gabrielle suddenly blurted out and it caught the warrior of guard and made Xena redden under her tan. " It seemed to be the right thing because it's true. I do love you. " Xena admitted. Then just as suddenly she put her lips to the girl's in a long drawn out kiss.

" And I love you too Xena. " the bard said softly. " Alright you can tell me the rest of it tomorrow because tonight I want to lay here and make love to you... then perhaps we can just look at the stars after. " the bard breathed heavily and mischief sparkled her eyes as she clambered over the warrior and her hands began to wander under Xena's battledress tangs.

" Well if that's your intention my love I guess I just can't argue with that. " Xena gave a throaty laugh realising the sudden change in mood and what Gabrielle's hands were doing. " Let me help you. " The warrior reached up to cover that beloved face in kisses while her other hand began to unlace the green top.

The End.

I hope you enjoyed this story and thanks for being so patient with my mistakes readers.