ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

The High Priestess Of Hathos

by Daniëlle Buser

Genre: alternative post-fin

A lonely figure followed the dusty sandtrail. She didn’t look up or down, but walked on briskly. Well, drifting was probably a better word for it. Her eyes were set on the path, the eyelids almost closed because of the burning sun. It was noon and the sun had reached its highest point and scorched everything that lived. Or had lived. The blonde woman had stopped looking for relief for some time now. There was none. Not a tree to stop for shelter. Not a well to quench her thirst. Gabrielle wondered when the hallucinations had begun, but she couldn’t think straight. There were no clear thoughts, just despair and chaos. Images of the only one who had really been important to her. The only one. Why had Xena abandoned her? The throbbing pain in her head was too severe to answer that question. It was even too hot to cry - the tears vaporized almost immediately after they welled up in her eyes. She shook the water skin. It barely sloshed, which wasn’t good. Only a few drops and it would be over. Not that she cared. At least they would be together again. For a moment she scowled the horizon, hoping to find someone. Someone who would release her. Maybe Hades himself. But there was no one. She was all alone.

What on earth was she thinking when she took that boat to Egypt? In the corner of her mind Gabrielle could hear herself say: In the land of the pharaohs they’re looking for a girl with a chakram... How stupid that sounded now. Of course, she had learned a lot from Xena. Enough to survive, enough to help people. To fight for good. But everything had changed. A few weeks ago she still thought that even death couldn’t keep them apart. Her soul mate would be there to help her - always. Xena had promised her. And she had never doubted it. For Xena was there on the boat to Alexandria. The bard had felt her presence. Her strength. Her love. But not anymore. Xena’s spirit had left her for weeks now. Or had she been there at all? Maybe these hallucinations were only keeping her from the awful truth. That her best friend had died. That she had lost her. Forever. Suddenly the despair overwhelmed Gabrielle with such power that she screamed with her last bit of energy: ‘Xenaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!’    

There was no reaction. Of course not. Only silence surrounded her. And the truth. Xena was gone and she was alone. Left with nothing. How could she help anyone if she felt nothing? If all the love in her had died with Xena. She needed the guidance of her friend. She - just needed her. Why did you leave me, she thought. Memories of the captured souls of Higuchi came back to her mind. Yes, they had to be saved. But at what cost? Surely there had to be another way. It was so unfair. She took the water skin and a few drops fell on her tongue. It wasn’t enough to quench her thirst. It wasn’t nearly enough to survive another day. As the bard peered into the distance, she saw nothing but hot sand - and she just stopped trying. She only wanted to lie down. Lie down and sleep. Until death would take her away. She didn’t want to survive. Not anymore.

It wasn’t until she heard a terrifying roar that Gabrielle realized she wasn’t alone anymore. It was close by. So close that she could smell its breath. A heavy scent of rotting meat and sweet blood. Slowly the bard lifted her head, but her burning eyes didn’t dare to look at the beast yet. She knew it had to be enormous. Powerful but also patient, because it remained on the same spot for minutes now. She felt its stare, how it waited for one single movement. Slowly Gabrielle lifted her eyelids and saw what was facing her, only a few yards away. A beautiful creature with golden mane, the mighty animal the Egyptians called a lion. The bard had read stories about lions, but she never expected this cruel predator to be of such beauty. The lion roared again and she saw how it flexed its muscles, how the hair in its neck sprang up. So this was it. It would soon be over. With a giant leap the lion came at her. But she didn’t feel the liberating claws in her flesh or its razorsharp teeth in her neck. Instead she felt a push in her side and the grinding sand when she fell.

When Gabrielle looked up she saw a darkhaired woman. For a split second hope filled her heart, but soon enough she knew her eyes had fooled her... It wasn’t Xena. This woman was smaller and wore nothing more than a white cloth around her breasts and hips. But despite of the simple clothing she radiated a strength that was almost tangible. The lion seemed to freeze, like it was paralyzed by her hypnotic gaze. The dark eyes of this strange woman didn’t blink, they only showed a calmness, a mysterious power. It was as though she talked to the lion in silent words that only he could hear. For minutes they faced each other, not moving a muscle. Until the lion growled, turned and disappeared.

The bard held a trembling hand above her eyes to see her face – and stared into a beautiful bronzed face with large ebony eyes. The intensity of her gaze startled her. Gabrielle opened her mouth to speak, but the lion tamer beat her to it. In fluent Greek she said: ‘Sechmet shouldn’t have sent him. It’s not your time. Even if you wish it to be.’

The bard looked puzzled. How could she have known?  

The Egyptian woman sadly smiled: ‘You long to be in the hands of Osiris. But you don’t belong to him. Have patience.’ She reached out her hand. ‘My name is Memsut. Come with me. The day will soon die, we’ll have to hurry.’ 

The bard ignored Memsut’s hand and hung her head. ‘Leave me. Just leave,’ it sounded hollow.

There was a painful silence, then the lion tamer got down on her knees and whispered: ‘Only if you walk your path till the end you can enter the afterlife. Choose death and you will never see your loved ones again. It will doom you forever.’

The Egyptian woman whistled and not much later a donkey approached. She briskly took the bard by the arm. ‘You’re coming with me. The gods have not sent me here to watch you die.’

Gabrielle didn’t have the strength to struggle, so she let Memsut help her to mount the skinny animal. Fiercely the lion tamer walked on alongside the donkey, while the bard tried hard to stay awake. And to think. Who was this woman? Or was she a goddess? After all, she had chased off a lion! And how did she know she was Greek? After three hours the sun had reached the top of the western mountains. Soon darkness would fall upon them. Gabrielle had dozed off, but she woke when the donkey suddenly stopped. She could hardly open her eyes but faintly saw a few trees and a small hut made of clay and cane. Then she felt how two strong arms carried her into a hut. Gabrielle could not remember that Memsut poured a few drops of water in her mouth, carefully so she wouldn’t choke on it. She didn’t remember the moist cloth that gently removed the dust from her face either. Nor the hand that covered her forehead for minutes. Or the ointment that was carefully rubbed on her burned face and blistered lips. She slept. 

It was already noon when Gabrielle opened her eyes. She immediately met Memsut’s calm eyes. ‘How are you feeling?’ the dark woman asked softly.  

The bard took some time to think about that. Physically she felt better than she would have expected after five horrible days in the desert. The pain in her head was gone and even the ache of her burned skin had vanished. When she touched her lips they were still cracked, but they didn’t feel sore anymore. Still, her heart felt so heavy. So she kept silent.

‘Here,’ Memsut said while she handed over a waterjar. ‘Drink something. You need to regain your strength.’

Gabrielle took the jar and brought it to her lips. Regain my strength... She felt the cool fluid on her mouth. For what? The bard closed her eyes and put the jar down.

The Egyptian woman stared at her for a long time and then said: ‘Death will not take away the pain.’

Gabrielle’s green eyes flashed open. ‘You know nothing about my pain.’

‘I know what pain can do to the heart, how it can slowly destroy your soul. How it leads you into darkness, leaving you lost and alone. I have been there, believe me. But only life can teach you how to heal your wounds. If you let it.’ 

Suddenly Memsut got up and as she looked down on Gabrielle, she said: ‘I will leave you now. Think about what I said.’

A few hours later the lion tamer returned to the hut. Her face showed concern as she watched the sleeping woman on the ground. But then she suddenly began to smile. The waterjar next to Gabrielle was half emptied...

When Gabrielle woke she saw Memsut kneeling down before a small statue, her back towards her. ‘I’m glad you changed your mind,’ it suddenly sounded.

The bard wondered how she knew she was awake. ‘Who are you? Are you a goddess?’

‘No, I’m not. Here, eat something.’

Gabrielle took a piece of bread, but there was still distrust in her eyes. ‘You knew I’m Greek. How could you have known that if you weren’t a god?’

‘Your clothing told me you come from the land of the great Athena.’

‘But you knew I wanted to die.’

Memsut faintly smiled. ‘The lion frightened you, but it didn’t paralyze you. You could have used that round weapon you’re wearing, but you didn’t. In other words: you resigned to a death you could have prevented. You don’t have to be a god to see the truth.’

Gabrielle shook her head. ‘I saw what you did to that lion. You have a gift I have never seen before.’

‘I am a high priestess of Hathor, she who gives love. And yes, her teachings have given me great knowledge. But what you saw is not a gift. It’s the understanding of nature. Every animal instinctively knows if it can win a fight or not. It senses the strength of its opponent, its power, its fear. If you believe you can conquer the animal, it will flee. It’s all in the mind.’

‘It’s a gift alright.’ Gabrielle pointed at the little statue. ‘Did she send you to me?’

‘No this is the goddess Maat. She is indispensable for the existence of my country. She decides on life and death, she is justice. Without Maat there is no Egypt. Unfortunately the new pharaoh doesn’t believe that. It was Hathor who told me where to find you. She is the protector of women.’

Gabrielle bit her lip. ‘I’m still not sure I wanted to be saved.’

‘Hathor knows what’s right. You may not understand it now, but you will eventually. In the meantime I will be here to guide you.’ Memsut brushed a lock from Gabrielle’s face and smiled. ‘It looks like grain in the early morninglight. If the gods would give you a name it would be Nebehtiny, she with the golden hair... But I doubt that’s your real name.’

There was so much compassion in Memsut’s eyes and warmth in her touch, that Gabrielle got tears in her eyes. The blonde woman lowered her eyes and whispered: ‘It’s Gabrielle.’

Another day had begun and a pale light shone through a crack in the wall. The sun was barely up, but it was bright enough to illuminate the interior of the hut. Memsut lay next to her and Gabrielle saw how delicate her features were. How beautifully cupped her eyebrows, how perfectly shaped her mouth, the dark lashes long and curled, ravenblack hair... She had appeared so much stronger when she faced that lion. But now her face was soft and she looked as innocent as a child. Gabrielle couldn’t believe this was the same woman who had saved her life. Until Memsut’s eyes opened and her expression changed almost immediately. There was an alertness, an unexplainable force... ‘I see you are a child of Amun,’ Memsut said with a bright voice.

Gabrielle couldn’t help but laugh. ‘If that’s Egyptian for an early bird, I’ll have to disappoint you. I’m the worst sleepyhead you can imagine. I even slept through when our camp was raided and Xena...’

Speaking the name made her voice choke and she fought against the tears.

‘Is Xena the reason you wanted to give up on life?’

Gabrielle nodded. ‘She was my life. When Xena died, a part of me died with her. I feel so empty...’

Memsut was silent for a while. ‘In my country we believe that the dead never leave us. They are here to guide us.’

‘Then why don’t I feel her? I haven’t felt her presence since I got here!’

Memsut looked pensively. ‘If Xena still travels with you, she now entered the Egyptian underworld. Things are different here. Some people are barred from the Iaru - what you call the Elysian Fields - and lose their right to communicate with the living.’

Gabrielle looked at her in horror. ‘You think that happened to Xena?’

‘Don’t worry, only the wicked get that eternal punishment. Surely your friend is not evil. Is she?’

Gabrielle looked away, a light blush on her cheeks. ‘Xena was a warrior with a dark past... But ever since we met she fought her dark side and helped wherever she could. She even sacrificed herself to undo the sins of her past. What more could she have done?’

Memsut stared at the statue of Maat and whispered: ‘That is not for us to decide. When someone passes over to the world of Osiris, his heart is weighed by Anubis. If it is a pure heart, the soul may enter paradise. But if it’s not, the heart is eaten by a demon and its owner is doomed forever. That’s the law of Maat.’

Gabrielle was struck by fear. ‘Eaten by a demon?!’

Memsut got up and gave her a pensive look. ‘Maybe there’s another explanation. I need to think. Stay here, I’ll be back soon.’

Memsut walked along palmtrees and sugarcane fields to the river. The Nile lay in all its beauty before her and there was no one to share the view with. She sighed blissfully. Memsut stripped and slowly waded into the artery of Egypt. The cool water enclosed her body and finally she could think. The thoughts in her head had been a chaos, but now it became all clear. Gabrielle was the key, now she only had to find the door that would lead to the liberation of her tortured land. She had to find Xena. There was no doubt in her mind. Hadn’t Hathor predicted the arrival of a brave woman coming from the north to restore the law of Maat? She had sent her to the desert, so she would free the bringer of freedom. She had doubted the prophecy of the goddess when she saw Gabrielle. The blonde woman wore weapons and her body looked strong enough, but there was no fighting spirit in her eyes. This woman would fight to survive, not as a conviction. But now Memsut understood that Gabrielle was only the messenger, even if she didn’t know that herself. And she wasn’t to know. Not yet. 

After her bath Memsut got dressed and walked back to the cabin. It was time for the ceremony. She would ask Gabrielle to gather some food, that would distract her for a while. She couldn’t use a spectator. Not that she didn’t trust the blonde girl; she radiated a purity that had touched her immediately. Of course she was scarred by grief, but it hadn’t destroyed her Ka. She had not poisoned it with hatred. No, this woman would not betray her. But still she could not let her see what she was about to do. This was something that only a high priestess was allowed to witness. That was the law and Memsut intended to honor it. Fortunately Gabrielle seemed glad when she asked her to take care of breakfast. Now that she was alone Memsut took a golden statue out of a basket. With respect she placed the image of a goddess with the horns of a cow in a ray of light and kneeled down. She closed her eyes and whispered: ‘Honor to Hathor, beloved mother of the gods, nourisher of the people of Egypt, creator of love and ecstasy, goddess of music, protector of women, writers and the dead, I am your servant. Tell me how I can serve you.’

Memsut kept her eyes shut, but felt a change in the air. It got warmer and even with closed eyes she was aware of a bright light that filled the cabin. She did not dare to look. She had never looked. It was not something she had decided, it was an instinct.

A warm voice caressed her body. ‘The way has been given to you, but it will be risky. It will lead you to the domain of Osiris, where I cannot help you. But trust upon the gifts which you have earned as my high priestess. Only then will you find the chosen one. Have faith. Come to my temple.’

Gabrielle’s basket was filled with fruit, she had even found some eggs. More than enough for breakfast, lunch ánd dinner, she thought smilingly. When she approached the cabin she saw a strange light shining through the cracks. Like Memsut had started a big fire. But that was impossible, for there wasn’t a fireplace in the mudhouse. Gabrielle didn’t think twice, dropped the basket and rushed to the door. With a wild push she opened it and stumbled in. Surprised she looked around her. ‘The fire! The flames!’ Gabrielle panted, ‘Where are they? Didn’t you see it?’

Memsut looked at her in wonder while she got up. ‘You must have seen the sun. It’s right behind the hut now, maybe that gave you the impression that...’

‘I know what I saw and it was not the sun! So what was it?’

Memsut read the stubborness in her eyes and realized this girl wouldn’t rest until she knew the truth. ‘You weren’t supposed to witness it, but now that you have... It was Hathor.’

‘The goddess?’

Memsut nodded. ‘I can’t tell you much, but Hathor needs you.’

‘For what?’

Memsut took the bard’s hands and looked at her intently. ‘You are the key that will liberate my country.’

‘How can I free Egypt? I’m not a warrior. I tried, but... I just can’t do it. Hathor must be mistaken.’

‘Who says you have to pick up a sword to help my people? Freedomfighters come in different shapes, Gabrielle. Help Egypt and the gods will be in your debt forever. Please?’

The blond woman could not resist the dark begging eyes. ‘Alright, I’ll help. Although I’m not sure how.’

Memsut gratefully smiled. ‘Don’t worry. It will be revealed, when the time is right.’

Gabrielle looked over her shoulder to the fallen basket. ‘I can tell you the time is definitely not right for breakfast. Unless you would like a fig omelette?’

That day Memsut and Gabrielle gathered food for their journey. The Egyptian woman had told her that they would go to Dendera, the city that was built in honor of the goddess Hathor. As she watched Memsut hit a duck with her spear, Gabrielle thought about her decision to follow her. Somehow it didn’t seem right. As if she betrayed Xena. But Gabrielle knew that wasn’t fair. There would never be another Xena. There would never be someone who would make her feel so much at home. So loved. So protected. She woke from her thoughts when Memsut nudged her.

‘Want to try it?’ and she pointed at her spear.

Gabrielle grinned. ‘Nah, you don’t want to let me do that. I might skewer you.’

The Egyptian woman smiled and grabbed a line that went straight into the river. ‘How about catching some fish?’

Gabrielle let Memsut help her get up and together they strolled to the Nile. When Memsut pulled up the net it was filled with four big fishes and some little ones. Gabrielle was impressed. ‘Not a bad catch.’

‘The river has been very generous to me,’ Memsut replied. She threw the small fish back into the river and put the big ones in a bucket. ‘That should be enough. Let’s go back to the hut.’

‘I kind of feel useless. You did all the work.’

Memsut smiled and gave her the bucket. ‘Don’t worry. You may clean the fish.’

Gabrielle pulled a wry face. ‘Great.’ 

The next day they had left early. Hours went by without seeing a soul, but suddenly Gabrielle saw a small village alongside the river. Finally, the bard thought, civilization. But Memsut didn’t plan on visiting the village: she left the path and moved away from the river. Just until they were at a safe distance and headed for the river again. Gabrielle was used to long walks, but she was amazed how little energy it seemed to cost Memsut. She didn’t seem to feel the burning sun, she just walked on. And yet, aside from her toughness, there was so much elegance in the way she moved. Yes, Gabrielle could imagine this graceful, distinguished woman stride through the corridors of a beautiful temple. Why had they expeled her? What had she done? the bard thought.

For a moment Gabrielle thought that Memsut would never stop, but just before dusk the Egyptian said: ‘This looks like a good place to make camp.’

Gabrielle plopped down and drew in a deep breath. ‘Thank the gods! I’m bushed.’

Memsut looked a bit guilty. ‘It is not my intention to wear you out, Gabrielle. But we need to reach Dendera as soon as possible.’

‘It’s okay.’ And when she looked at the half-emptied skins: ‘Shall I get some fresh water from the river?’

‘It’s best to refill them at the next well. You would probably die from drinking the Nile-water. You are not used to our diseases.’

Gabrielle frowned and put the skins down. ‘Hm, the well sounds good to me.’ The bard took a blanket and covered her body with it. For a while she stared at the stars, while eating some fruit and dried meat. It tasted surprisingly well. She peered at Memsut who seemed to meditate. She sat there ever so still, her eyes set on the western mountains while her lips almost invisibly moved. Like she was praying. Finally she lay down and wrapped a blanket around her.

‘Can I ask you something?’ Gabrielle asked when the Egyptian had laid down her head.

‘Of course.’

The bard leaned on an elbow. ‘Have you never doubted the gods you worship?’

‘Have you?’

Gabrielle recalled how Xena destroyed most of the Greek gods and flushed. ‘Yes. I’ve met a man named Eli and he said that we don’t need the gods. We only need love.’

Memsut smiled and looked up to the heavens. ‘That Eli is a wise man. Love is indeed the most powerful force in this world. But it is not the only one.’ She looked at Gabrielle and said: ‘There is desire, hate, softness, wisdom, sickness, fear, beauty... In Egypt we worship the gods that represent these forces, because they represent us. It’s all in us. We are not made of love alone.’

Gabrielle took time to absorb the words. ‘I know we have negative feelings. But that doesn’t mean we have to honor them.’

Memsut rolled on her side and looked pensively at her. ‘We don’t pray to a goddess like Sechmet because she brings us death. We pray to her because we don’t want her to kill our loved ones. But when she does, we do not blame her. For it’s her nature. Like it’s the nature of a lion to kill the antelope. Because it needs to live. Death is just as important as life. One cannot exist without the other.’

Gabrielle sighed. Memsut made it sound so right. And still she wasn’t sure. ‘Eli believes there’s only one god. And maybe he’s right... I mean, if we have all forces inside of us, why can’t a god?’

‘Maybe it’s possible. But I doubt it would be a good thing. Give a person too much power and he will become a tyrant. There would be no balance. Just think about it...’

After a six hours walk they reached the well. There were some fresh footprints and tracks of mules and horses in the sand. The temple was only a few miles away and Memsut hadn’t been there in seven months. The thought that the rituals hadn’t been carried out like they should have, filled her with disgust. It no longer were the priestesses who had control of Dendera, but the puppets of the pharaoh. A bunch of drunken vultures who cared for nothing but money and power. They couldn’t care less for the people of Egypt; she had seen that with her own eyes. The change had come slowly. Laws that weren’t observed as precisely as they should, privileges that were given to the followers of the new king, ritual feasts that were canceled at the last moment... It made Memsut sick. She hated the corruption that had risen with the new pharaoh. She detested it that his government did nothing to prevent the famine that was about to torment the country. Egypt was about to destroy itself and someone had to save her. And only she knew how.     

It wasn’t long before they reached the outskirts of Dendera. A huge complex dominated the city and Gabrielle knew it had to be the temple of Hathor. But she asked it anyway: ‘Is that the temple where you lived?’

Memsut stood in front of her, gazing at the big building. ‘Yes, that’s the one. My home.’

Gabrielle could tell she was moved and without giving it another thought she laid a hand on her shoulder. She could feel the muscles flex and relax again. The bard wondered if Memsut had left a lover behind. Or did Egyptian priestesses needed to be virgins? For some reason she couldn’t imagine that Memsut had never been intimate with someone. Her body was like that of a predator and the gleam of her eyes showed passion. A smoldering fire that would blaze up when someone rubbed her the right way. In a flash she saw the Egyptian press her naked body against a handsome man... Embarrassed Gabrielle removed her hand. Her imagination was running wild again.

Silently the two women ate their meat. Until Memsut broke the silence. ‘Tonight we will go to the temple. We will have to eliminate the guards - at that time there will probably be eight.’

Memsut took a bundle of little darts and a thin blowpipe from her bag. She sniffed on one of the tips and gave Gabrielle a meaningful look. ‘Poison from the sandsnake. Don’t worry, it’s not lethal but it will paralyze a grown man within seconds. It only lasts for a couple of hours, so we will have to work fast.’

With a searching look she said: ‘You should know the risk of this mission. If they catch us they won’t show us any mercy. Only death will await us then. So I can’t blame you if you decide to leave.’

‘Not a chance. What are we looking for?’

Memsut smiled when she saw the dedicated expression on the bard’s face. ‘The water of the holy lake will protect us from dark powers and it will cleanse our Ka.’

Gabrielle frowned. ‘Ka? What’s that?’

‘It is the essence of our being. Everyone is born with a pure soul and it has to stay pure to reach the afterlife. That’s why we have to wash away the sinful thoughts that threaten the purity of our Ka.’

Even if the godly world of the Egyptians differed from that of the Greeks, Gabrielle understood that the main message was the same: do good and you will be rewarded with eternity. She recalled everything that had gone wrong in her life, all the stupid decisions she had made, the child she had to give up, her betrayal in Chin... How wonderful it would be if she could just wash all that guilt away.

Memsut and Gabrielle hid behind the well from where they had a perfect view of the entrance of the temple. From a distance the building had already looked huge, but now she really saw how gigantic it was. Hathor had to be a very important goddess. Memsut turned to her and whispered: ‘Stay here until you hear the cry of the falcon.’

Gabrielle nodded and watched how Memsut sneaked away. Too late she realized she didn’t even know how a falcon sounded. ‘How typical,’ she murmured.

Like a panther Memsut approached the two guards who stood before the exterior pylon. The men weren’t aware of the danger, they were too caught up in their boardgame. When Memsut was only three yards away, she took the blowpipe and pressed it against her lips. Her eyes narrowed when she aimed the weapon at the guard on the left. With a powerful blow the dart hit the man right in his fat neck. ‘Those damn bees!’ she heard him shout. But before he realized what was going on, he collapsed. Only a second later the second guard got hit in his thigh. He understood the danger, but it was already too late. As the guard reached out his hand to blow the horn, his movement stopped abruptly and he fell to the ground.

When a piercing cry filled the silent night Gabrielle knew this was the sign. She jumped up and ran blindly to the door, where a calm Memsut awaited her.

‘Where are the other guards?’

Memsut pointed at the gate. ‘They are probably on the main court, killing time with gambling and drinking beer. I’ll have a peek...’

Memsut gripped the doorhandle and pushed it exasperatingly slow. When the chink was big enough she peered at the courtyard. It was just as she thought. Five men where playing a game in the light of a couple of torches, and in the middle lay a pile of coins. Memsut was appalled by it, but on the other hand they couldn’t have picked a better night to disobey the law. They were so heated up that they didn’t even see her coming. A minute later five bodies lay on the ground in peculiar positions. Totally paralyzed. Memsut examined the spots where she had hit the guards and grunted with satisfaction. Not bad, not bad at all, she thought.

Right at that moment she saw a shadow on the wall, and it was not her own, for this one moved... Just when she was about to reprimand Gabrielle for coming in too quickly, she saw that the shadow carried a large weapon. Aiming at her!

She realized it right away: she had missed a guard. A fatal mistake, for he was ready to strike.

Suddenly she heard a splitting sound followed by a muffled bang. Briskly she turned...

The watchman lay stretched out on the ground and from his back stuck the blade of a dagger!

Gabrielle watched the still body in front of her, ready to strike with her other sai.

‘He is dead,’ Memsut whispered.

Gabrielle looked down on him and her voice sounded bitter: ‘Another life I have ended. This is not a good day for my Ka.’ Memsut stroke her arm and said: ‘You had no choice. It was him or me.’

‘I know, but...’

‘There is no time for feeling guilty, Gabrielle. Let it go.’ Memsut grabbed her hand and took her to the edge of the temple complex.

Millions of stars sparkled in the night and lit up the lake. Memsut put her bag on the ground and while she took off her leather sandals she softly said: ‘Take off your clothes.’

Gabrielle lowered her eyes. ‘All of them?’

Memsut smiled and dropped her gown, revealing her nudity without any shame whatsoever. ‘Don’t worry... I won’t watch.’

That remark made the bard feel even more self-conscious. Clumsily Gabrielle started undressing herself, while she realized that Perdicus and Xena were the only ones who had seen her naked. Most of the times when they bathed in rivers or lakes, she would not even totally strip. You just never knew when they were going to be raided. When finally her underwear fell on the marble floor, she looked up and found Memsut staring fascinatingly at her pubic hair. ‘You’re golden all over!’

‘You said you wouldn’t look!’

‘I’m sure the goddess will forgive me for studying the beauty of her creations.’

Then she took Gabrielle’s hand and led her to the holy lake. It felt pleasantly fresh, but not different from any other water.

Memsut waded behind her and said: ‘Close your eyes and clear your mind.’

Gabrielle did what she was asked. With closed eyes she listened to the mysterious words that the Egyptian woman murmured. Then she felt drops on her face and Memsut’s cool hand on her forehead.

‘Let yourself fall into my arms so that the holy water can cover your body. Don’t be afraid, I will catch you.’

Gabrielle nodded and slowly leaned backwards. She fell right in the comforting hands of Memsut who now started chanting sacred words that she couldn’t understand. And slowly she felt a strange calmness coming over her. It was not like she had washed away her sins, she just resigned in having them. And she felt free. If only for a little while.

Gabrielle was already dressed when Memsut came out of the lake. She wrapped the cloth around her damp body and stepped into her sandals.

‘Come with me,’ she softly said as she walked towards a small entrance in the outer wall. They reached a big hall that was surrounded by columns and then took a right turn. They followed a narrow corridor where a few torches burned, but they didn’t gave enough light to illuminate the beautiful hieroglyphics. Soon they reached the most holy of holy places, the sanctuary of Hathor.

Just before the entrance of the small room, Memsut said: ‘I must ask you to wait here. This is something I need to do alone. It’s not a matter of trust, it’s a matter of faith.’

Gabrielle nodded. ‘I understand. I’ll wait here.’

Memsut smiled gratefully and entered the room. Only one oillamp burned in the sanctuary, but it was just enough to see the shape of the goddess. Memsut bowed and got on her knees.

‘I have come to serve you, oh great goddess,’ she whispered. Almost immediately a divine light lit up the room. And Hathor spoke to her: ‘Do not fear the things that will come your way, for you are strong, stronger than you had ever imagined. Trust upon your knowledge and willpower, because it will be the only weapons on your journey. Go now to the chapel of Osiris and drink the water of death. The king of the heavens will lead you the way.’

And gone was the light. Memsut blinked and gave her eyes time to adjust to the darkness. It gave her time to think about what the goddess had said. The chapel of Osiris... There was a small sanctuary on the top floor. That had to be the place. Outside Gabrielle peered at her in anticipation, but she had no time to lose. The guards would be out for another hour, not more. She gestured that Gabrielle should follow her and paced to a small door. It revealed a small but steep stairway that led to the upper level. Soon they arrived at the small chapel that was dedicated to Osiris, the master of the underworld. Again she asked Gabrielle to wait outside and entered the room. She could see a huge statue of the mummified god and the Zodiac on the ceiling. And on the ground a small, green bottle. She took the cork away and brought the bottle to her lips. When she tasted the fluid, she knew immediately what is was... blood of the jackal!

The jackal represented Anubis, the god of mummification. It would help her to enter the underworld. The hallucinating ingredients would mingle with her blood, go to her brain and then her journey would begin. She felt her temperature rise and sweat covered her body, when she kneeled in front of the statue and looked up to the heavens. The Zodiac now seemed to glow. That would have to be the elixir, Memsut thought. Her gaze rested on the sign of Leo, she was strangely attracted to the image. The longer she looked at the goldenbrown lion, the more it seemed to escape from the ceiling. It reached out its claw, a paw that got closer and closer to her face. She felt fear, but the thought of fleeing did not enter her mind. The king of the heavens would lead her the way, Hathor had said. And this golden beast was truly a king. And so she stayed. The paw was now only inches away of her face, but she only saw the bright eyes that pinned her. They didn't let go of her for a second. When she felt nails on her forehead, the beast roared, but Memsut didn't tremble. It was like the power, the energy, the instinct of the animal flowed into her and slowly took over her body…

Minutes had passed, but it remained strangely silent in the chapel. Gabrielle started to get impatient… and scared. What if the guards woke up earlier than Memsut expected? She wanted nothing more than to enter the room, but she knew the high priestess would not like that. It surely was some sacred, secret ritual that wasn't meant to be seen by nosy Greek traveling bards. Suddenly she heard a roar. Like she was stung by a wasp Gabrielle dashed off to the temple. There, right before a gigantic statue, stood a lion! It lifted its head and growled, but despite her fear she searched the room for Memsut. But she saw no one. Only the lion. Gabrielle carefully walked backwards as the beast approached her. The beautiful creature was all muscle, but it moved gracefully towards her. Gabrielle grabbed her sais, ready to strike. The artery, that’s my only chance, it flashed through her mind. She raised the blades, but something in the lion's eyes struck her, a softness. The longer she looked into the lightbrown eyes, the heavier her weapons became, until they hung alongside her body. The lion was closing in on her. Its big head was inches away from her hand that trembled dangerously. The beast opened its mouth and… licked her hand. That’s when Gabrielle knew. This wasn't just a lion.

Memsut bowed her head for Osiris, still panting after her unexpected contact with Gabrielle. She realized how close she had been to death, for she knew she could not kill Gabrielle. The Greek woman was the key. And besides, she had gotten to like the girl. She couldn't hurt her, even if she had to. She laid down and waited for things to happen. It didn't surprise her that her movements felt natural, but she was aware of her renewed senses. Her smell - she could sniff the scent of Gabrielle, even if she was yards away. And her hearing was so much better. Her eyesight - it was amazing how clear she could see. Even the invisible things. The statue of Osiris seemed to vaporize and there he was: the god himself! Osiris wore his white crown, but he wasn’t wrapped up like a mummy as he was always represented on images. The god of the underworld read her mind. ‘Don’t believe everything you see in temples. A mummy doesn’t move easily in the underworld, which is pretty inconvenient when you’re the boss of the lot.’

His lighthearted tone surprised her. But that also was picked up by Osiris. ‘You think I would endure this work if I took everything deadly serious.’ The god roared with laughter. Memsut remembered how little time she had, and Osiris said more severely now: ‘Why are you here for? Make it quick. I know I’ve got eternity, but I’m not very patient.’

Memsut concentrated on her thoughts. ‘It is Hathor’s belief that there is a woman who can restore the law of Maat.’

‘So why come to me?’

‘The woman is dead.’

Osiris laughed arrogantly and snarled: ‘A dead woman must save Egypt? Hathor must be really desperate! And she will continue to be so, because I can’t help you.’

But Memsut didn’t give up. ‘Bring me to this woman. Hathor is convinced she’s the chosen one.’

‘Hathor has no power here. The dead are not supposed to mingle with the living. Let them take care of their own problems.’

Memsut showed her teeth and even though Osiris was immortal, he did feel intimidated. ‘It would be very unwise to make me your enemy, young lady. After all, you will need me when you’re DEAD! But very well... I’ll give you one chance to speak to this woman. On the next full moon go to the sanctuary in the valley of Hathor. And just a bit of advice... Lose the attitude. I might like it too much and make you my pet.’ A conceited smile play around his lips, just before he vanished.

Gabrielle jumped up when she saw the lion coming. She was amazed that she didn’t feel any fear for this animal. If she felt anything it was emotion, when the beast gently dropped a small bottle and Memsut’s robe in front of her feet. Gabrielle quickly picked it up and followed the animal to the stairs. She ran through corridors and halls, gardens and gates. She even ran when they had left the temple miles behind them. Gabrielle could hardly keep up with the lion that easily found its way in the darkness. But finally it stopped at a sheltered spot in the bushes and lay down. Gabrielle gasped: ‘I’m exhausted.’ She plopped down and took a gulp from the water skin. Suddenly she remembered that they had left their blankets at the last camp and it was a cold night. She looked at the lion, at its soft warm fur. As if it could read her mind the lion cuddled against her body, giving her its bodyheat. Pensively she looked at the lion. How long would Memsut be in this shape? Maybe forever? Fascinated Gabrielle peered at the majestic features of the lion’s head, its mouth slightly open, breathing softly but fast, gazing at nothing. Gabrielle felt her eyelids getting heavy and it wasn’t long before she was asleep.

Memsut watched the girl next to her. How could she sleep so peacefully, her hand on her paw, when she was... like this?! She wanted to nudge her gently, when she felt a strange cramp in her body. As if she needed to throw up. She got up and wanted to walk away, but a paralyzing feeling made it impossible. She broke out in a cold sweat, her breathing got heavy and irregular and there was a mist before her eyes. A terrible pain flashed through her body; it was so unbearable that she fainted. When Memsut woke again she saw that she no longer had a paw but a hand. And although she was glad to be back in her own body, she also felt its weakness. As a lion she had not known exhaustion, but now she was as tired and wiped out as she had ever been. She didn’t have the strength to get dressed, so she covered the bard and herself with her white robe and crawled next to her. She slept immediately.

Gabrielle woke up first. She pulled the cloth a little bit higher to enjoy the snoozing situation she was in. But then she realized it was Memsut’s robe and she looked slightly frightened at the figure next to her. But soon she saw the ravenblack hair of Memsut who was still asleep. A deep frown on her forehead told her that she had a unpleasant dream. Ever so lightly Gabrielle brushed her hair, frightened to wake her. But of course Memsut did, and Gabrielle withdrew her hand. ‘How are you feeling? Shall I bring you some water?’

Memsut nodded; her tongue was as dry as the desert. As Gabrielle got up, the robe fell down and it revealed Memsut’s elegant but very naked body. Gabrielle felt the blood rush to her cheeks and she quickly walked off to get the water skin. When she got back Memsut was already dressed, eating some fruit and dried duck. As lightly as possible Gabrielle said: ‘I’m glad you’re back in your own body. Although fur looks great on you.’

Memsut smiled. ‘Weren’t you afraid of me?’

Gabrielle shook her head. ‘No, it was so strange... I could see it in your eyes; I just knew you wouldn’t hurt me. I’ve never experienced anything like this before.’

‘Neither did I.’

A frown appeared on Gabrielle’s forehead. ‘So, why the transformation?’

‘Because animals are aware of the other world. They can feel the presence of the dead, they can see them. We humans have lost that sixth sense. That’s why Hathor showed me the way of the lion, it was the only way to enter the underworld.’

‘But why go there?’

Memsut had been afraid of this question, but she knew she had to answer it. ‘I told you that Hathor needs your help, but you’re not the chosen one. With the help of the gods this person can leave the world of Osiris temporarily to save Egypt.’

‘You know who it is?’

Memsut nodded and whispered: ‘It’s Xena.’

‘Xena?’ Gabrielle looked at her in disbelief. ‘Xena is never coming back. She’s gone!’

Memsut gave her a gentle look. ‘Hathor says she...’

‘Even a goddess can be mistaken! She is in hell, chopped into little pieces by some stupid Egyptian demon! I can feel it, she’s not there anymore.’

Memsut whispered: ‘You don’t know that, Gabrielle. In Egypt the dead have to pass twelve worlds to reach the gate of paradise. Maybe she didn’t know the passwords which are needed to cross the canals. Maybe she is lost. Let me find out what happened to her. Who knows, maybe she’s in paradise after all.’

The blonde woman looked at her intently. ‘In that case I want you to leave her alone. What if she needs to go on without me?’

Memsut withdrew her hand. ‘I won’t force her to do anything.’ ‘You don’t know Xena. If she has the chance to do something right, she will. Even if it means her downfall.’

Memsut looked her straight in the eye and said: ‘Then I will ask her to bring that sacrifice.’

For miles they walked silently alongside the river. Each consumed with their own thoughts. Finally Memsut said: ‘A felucca!’

She paced at the small boat that was tied up to a tree, talked briefly to the owners and gave them a few coins. The two men immediately untied the rope and soon they sailed to the south.

Memsut looked at the horizon and sat up straight. She could almost smell the city where she had lived for so long. Thebes, the residence of the pharaoh, the city of knowledge, of holy temples, the dead. Worried she looked at the faintly bulged sail, there wasn’t much wind. At this pace they would never reach the valley of Hathor in time.
She woke from her thoughts when Gabrielle sat down next to her. ‘Why are we going to Thebes?’

Memsut nodded as she looked ahead. ‘On the westbank of the river lies the Valley of Hathor. I need to visit the temple of the goddess in order to enter the underworld.’

‘So you are going through with this.’

Memsut whispered: ‘I have to. Xena is the chosen one.’

A silence fell in which they didn’t look at each other. But then Gabrielle said: ‘Is it dangerous?’

Memsut peered at the western mountains. ‘I don’t know. No living person has ever entered the underworld. But if it is my time, I will die knowing that I’ve served my country the best I could.’

‘Great, another heroic friend. Go ahead and get yourself killed. No one ever listens to me anyway.’

Gabrielle was about to walk off, but Memsut quickly grabbed her wrist. ‘This isn’t about me, is it?’

Gabrielle didn’t answer.

‘You feel lost without Xena, why won’t you let me find her?’

Gabrielle stared at the horizon and bit her lip. ‘I wish I knew...’

Memsut pinned Gabrielle with her eyes. ‘I think you do.’

When the bard kept silent the high priestess said: ‘You’re angry with her, aren’t you?’

Gabrielle looked away. ‘Why would I?’

‘Because she left you.’

The bard gritted her teeth. ‘She didn’t have a choice. If she hadn’t sacrificed herself, thousands of souls would still be tormented by Hidochi.’

Memsut laid a hand on Gabrielle’s shoulder and whispered: ‘But she did have a choice. That’s what torments you. That she didn’t chose to be with you.’

Gabrielle covered her mouth when she suddenly burst into tears. ‘I’m so selfish.’

Memsut held her and soothingly said: ‘If we weren’t selfish, we would never want to love and be loved. It’s a gift the gods gave us, Gabrielle.’

The bard wiped away her tears. ‘But it’s not right to blame her! I don’t want to feel this... this anger.’

‘But it’s there, you can’t change that. In my country we have a saying: the Ka is like a garden in full bloom. But if you don’t take away the petals that have finished flowering, the buds won’t bloom again. Anger is like a dead petal, Gabrielle. Don’t ignore it, for it will hurt your soul more than you can imagine. Just see it for what it is, accept it and then throw it away.’

‘I wish I had your wisdom.’

Memsut smiled. ‘I just gave it to you. You can keep it.’

Suddenly they looked up, the wind was picking up. Contently Memsut saw how the sail bellied out and the fellukah leaped forward. Now they would make it.

That night they moored on the eastbank, a few miles away from Thebes. It wasn’t safe to come nearer to the city, for news travelled fast and the army would surely expand their patrols to find the raiders of Dendera. So they went on foot. Under the light of the moon they walked to the south and soon found a shed. Gabrielle and Memsut shared a stable with a couple of goats. The bard pulled up her nose. ‘I have slept in better places.’

‘So did I. But the hay is dry, we got a roof above our heads and it’s unlikely that they will look for us in here. This isn’t such a bad place.’

Gabrielle didn’t look too pleased just the same. ‘If it’s okay with you, I’ll sleep against this wall. I don’t want to be rubbed by a horny ram.’

Memsut didn’t answer, but smiled silently.     

The next day Memsut stole some clothes from a farmhouse, leaving enough money to replace them. Memsut covered her hair and much of her face with a blue cloth, just like a Libyan woman would. And she gave Gabrielle a very wide dress. The bard could almost swim in it and she looked grumpily at Memsut. ‘Are you sure there wasn’t something smaller than this tent?’

The high priestess grinned. ‘It’s fine for a pregnant woman.’

‘Excuse me? I have not been intimate with anyone for years!’

To Gabrielle’s astonishment Memsut lifted up her dress. She kept her eyes on the bard while she placed a pile of cloth on the bard’s stomach and secured it with soft strips around her waist. Wearing a sensual smile she said: ‘Now you have. Was it good for you?’

The bard flushed and looked away.

Feeling her embarrassment Memsut removed her hands from her body and the robe fell down. ‘Forgive me my impertinence. It’s just so tempting to tease you.’

‘Yeah well, now that you had your fun, do you mind telling me the meaning of this?’

She sounded a bit angry and Memsut backed away a little. ‘A lot of pregnant women come to the temple of Hathor, because she protects the unborn life. You won’t attract attention with a big belly like that.’

Gabrielle folded her arms and tapped with her foot. ‘Right. And why don’t I get to wear the headscarf? I’m sure this hump will look wonderful on you too.’

Memsut laughed. ‘Unfortunately there’s no time to find out. Come on, we need to catch the next ferry to the westbank.’      

When the temple got in sight, Gabrielle was struck by the view. The building was of such beauty that it took her breath away. ‘Which pharaoh built this? It’s beautiful!’ ‘Hatsjepsut.’

‘Bless you.’

‘Hatsjepsut is the pharaoh’s name, Gabrielle.’

‘O... In any case, the man was a genius!’

Memsut laughed. ‘She was a woman.’

Gabrielle looked at her in shock. ‘But she wears a beard on that statue!’

‘It’s a fake one. Pharaohs use beards to symbolize their divine status. Hatsjepsut only wore it on ceremonial occasions.’

‘How do you know all this?’

Memsut smiled mysteriously. ‘When you move in the best circles, you hear certain things. Gossiping is one of the favorite hobbies at the court.’

Gabrielle was immediately on top of it. ‘So you’re not only a high priestess, but also a lady-in-waiting!’

Memsut nodded. ‘I come from a prominent family, we were close to the royal family.’

‘You know the pharaoh?!’

‘Yes, I do,’ the high priestess laughed. Suddenly the tone of her voice changed. ‘I would like to tell you more, but evening is falling. I have to go. You can stay at the small chapel. More people will spent the night there to pray for themselves and the dead. You won’t be bothered, not in your condition.’ And she looked smilingly at her big belly. But then her eyes grew dark again and she said severely: ‘There’s a chance I won’t return. If I’m not back before dawn, you must return to your own country. Because then this land will be doomed.’

Gabrielle swallowed a sob. She laid a hand on Memsut’s arm and whispered: ‘Just make sure you return. I’m not ready to lose another friend.’

Memsut gave her a tender smile. ‘You won’t. Not if I can help it.’ And then she said: ‘If I can’t bring Xena back, even though it would only be for a short while, is there something you want her to know?’

Gabrielle felt the tears burn in her eyes. ‘Just tell her I’m doing fine. And... that I love her.’

Memsut wiped away the tears that ran down Gabrielle’s cheeks. ‘Never give up hope. Only the ones with hope in their hearts really live.’

Memsut walked to the main entrance of the great temple. She had taken off her headscarf and wore the simple robe of a priestess. In her hand she carried a basket with fresh lotuses, the favorite flowers of the goddess. The guards didn’t even stop her. Satisfied Memsut walked to the small temple of Hathor. There was no one around and the high priestess sneaked into the most holy of holy places. She lay the flowers in front of the golden statue and took a sip from the green bottle. Within minutes she felt an inhuman force flowing through her veins and soon she was transformed into a lion. At that moment the wall seemed to tear apart and a corridor appeared that was illuminated by burning torches. She didn’t hesitate and walked into the tunnel. The wall closed behind her and she was alone in an unknown world to mortals. She walked deep into the mountain until she faced a gigantic wooden door which consisted of two panels. In front of them stood two soldiers carrying razorsharp spears, but they weren’t just soldiers... They had crocodile heads! They didn’t seem to be suprised to see a lion, in fact it was like they had expected her. They each grabbed a handle and with their strong arms they opened the heavy doors. Memsut entered an enormous hall. Soon she saw the man that she was looking for... Osiris was getting a manicure while another servant recited the names of the latest arrivals. When he saw the lion he grumpily sent the servants away. ‘There you are! Well, let’s hear it. What’s the name of this woman who will save Egypt?’

Memsut didn’t like the selfcontained look on his face, but she tried not to think about it. ’She comes from the land of the Greeks, her name is Xena.’

Suddenly Osiris looked less arrogant. ‘Then we have a problem. This woman wasn’t allowed to enter the Iaru.’    

Memsut startled. Even Xena couldn’t help her now that she was banned from paradise. So her sins were too grave after all, the high priestess thought. She knew that there was only one penalty for a heart heavier than the feather of justice: it would be destroyed by Ammit, the devourer of the dead. That was the law of Maat. But how was it possible? Gabrielle sounded so sincere when she said that Xena had walked the right path when she died. But maybe even Gabrielle didn’t know everything about her best friend. Memsut realized her defeat and with a broken voice she said: ‘Than I fear my journey was in vain.’

Osiris looked pensively at his nails. ‘I’m afraid so. An extraordinary case, this Xena. Eastern barbarians burned her body... They are so ignorant.’ The god spread his arms in a theatrical way. ‘I mean, how should a person be judged if there’s no heart left?! Anyway, Hathor insisted on an awakening ritual, so I gave her life – and took it away again. A total waist of my time, for she failed the test. Her heart was too heavy and that stupid woman refused to defend herself. Still Anubis wouldn’t give her heart to Ammit.’

Memsut’s curiosity awoke. ‘Why not?’

The god laughed aloud and poured himself a glass of wine. ‘Because he’s a stubborn ass, that’s why. There was an unanimous decision; all 47 judges were in favour of the destroying of her heart, but he wouldn’t hear of it. Mind you, he’s only the god of mummification. The most useless god in the pantheon, I should say.’ He took a big sip of his wine. ‘I mean, why even bother wrapping up the dead? They can wear the finest dresses once they enter the Iaru ór they meet Ammit and they don’t have a body left! You see what I mean?’

When Memsut didn’t react, Osiris continued: ‘But since he is a god he can use his right of veto. So I exiled Xena to an eternal stay in the dungeons of Duat. All dubious cases go there.’

A hint of hope entered Memsut’s heart, but Osiris immediately said: ‘Not that it will help you. This soul is sick, she would poison Egypt with her dark blood. I can’t help you... Hathor’s vision was an illusion.’

But Memsut refused to believe that the goddess was wrong. And so she dangerously growled: ‘Bring me to this doomed soul. I will not rest until I see her.’

Osiris sighed. ‘I’m really sick of this lion-thing.’ He pointed his staff at her and cast a sacred spell. The fur vanished immediately and she was her own self again.

Memsut looked upset at her naked body. ‘I cannot be here as a mortal!’

But Osiris laughed. ‘Says who?’

‘The book of the dead!’ Confused the high priestess continued: ‘It is written that...’

The god interrupted her. ‘Who do you think wrote that one? I did! I can do anything, I am the ruler of the underworld.’ Osiris pointed his staff again at her and suddenly she wore a red dress. ‘That’s better. We don’t want the doomed souls to go all crazy, now do we?’ He gave her a necklace with an amulet and solemnly said: ‘This will convince the ferrymen to help you cross the twelve canals of Duat.’

A door opened and they walked into a tunnel that after a few hundred yards led to seven corridors. Osiris pointed at the left one. ‘This tunnel will lead to the land of the restless. You will find the woman after the seventh canal.’ He gave her a severe look. ‘But remember that Maat, the goddess you so desperately want to help, has judged Xena’s case. And she has found her guilty.’

After a mile Memsut reached the first canal. The ferryman had the head of a rhino, but it didn’t scare her anymore. They couldn’t touch her, for she had the protective amulet of Osiris on her neck. The guards of Duat bowed their grotesque heads for her and quickly let her cross the river. No questions asked. The deeper she went into the Duat, the darker the atmosphere grew. Even the sounds around her got more terrifying. She saw eyes staring at her from their dungeons.  Hollow eyes, some with a devilish look, others hysterical, insane. But after the seventh canal she found a dungeon that breathed calmness. No eyes looking at her. Only a chained woman, sitting in a corner with her eyes closed. Her hair looked dull, but once they must have been as black as night. And even though she was all dirty, wore rags and had obviously lost weight, Memsut realized that this prisoner had been an impressive personality in life. She knew it had to be Xena. Memsut slowly approached her, but the woman didn’t move. She just sat there, silently, as if she was meditating. But then, unexpectedly, she opened her eyes. Memsut stared into the most beautiful of blue she had ever seen.

It took her a few seconds to catch her breath. ‘I’m Memsut, high priestess of Hathor. Are you... Xena?’

The woman never let go of her gaze and slowly replied: ‘Not anymore. What does a high priestess want from a doomed soul?’ Her voice was strong, compelling, dark.

‘There are rumors that you don’t belong here.’

A faint smile appeared on Xena’s lips. ‘You heard wrong.’

Memsut stared at her, not sure how to approach this withdrawn person. ‘Some people call you a hero. They say you saved thousands of doomed souls in a faraway country. Are they liars?’

‘I tried to restore the mistakes I’ve made, but some debts you just can’t repay. I have accepted that.’

Memsut looked around her. It was such a dreadful place and somehow she couldn’t believe that this intriguing person belonged here. ‘The goddess Hathor has predicted a woman coming from the north, a brave warrior who will free Egypt from an evil tyrant. I believe it’s you. Maybe there has been a mistake when Anubis weighed your heart.’

Xena got up and she looked even more impressive when she towered above her. ‘There has been no mistake. Believe me, you don’t want to know what I’m capable of.’

It almost sounded threatening, but Memsut answered calmly: ‘I know you are a warrior. But that’s just what this country needs; someone who can fight evil!’

The warrior smirked and brought her face close to Memsut’s. ‘I AM evil! Shall I tell you about the thousands of men I butchered? About the village that was torched because I just felt like it? You want me to tell you about the blood I got on my hands? Blood of men, women, even children...’

‘That’s enough! You might not believe in yourself, but there is someone who does. Gabrielle.’

She heard Xena holding her breath and her eyes grew softer. If only for a second. She soon got in control of her emotions. ‘Is she alright?’

Memsut examined this fierce woman who faced her. She looked so cool, but Memsut was sure it was only a mask. ‘Why don’t you check that out for yourself. Come with me. Gabrielle believes in you and I trust her.’

But Xena looked away and grunted: ‘Gabrielle should know better. I’ve accepted my fate, so should she. I can’t help you.’

‘But Hathor...’

Xena looked her straight in the eyes and her voice was cold as ice. ‘Your gods have put me here. And they had every right. Go!’

‘Very well. What do you want me to say to Gabrielle?’

Xena was silent for a while. ‘Tell her I’m with my mother and brothers, that I’ve finally found peace. I will always be with her, always.’

When Memsut walked away, a tear ran down Xena’s cheek.

After a dark journey Memsut returned to the spot where she had entered the underworld. She placed her hand on a big painted anch and the wall came tumbling down. When she stepped into the small sanctuary of Hathor, the wall closed behind her. Suddenly she felt a cramp and she fell on the ground convulsing. It lasted ten minutes, then she came to her senses again. Finding herself bathing in sweat, naked. The red dress was gone and so was her necklace. Trembling she searched the ground for her white robe and wrapped it around her. Memsut peered at Hathor’s statue, not knowing what to say. She kneeled down and started praying. ‘Goddess, I have returned but not with a good message. My journey brought me to the chosen one, but she’s in the Duat. Her heart was too heavy. The woman says it was a right decision, but I have reason to doubt her words. Even in the misery she’s in, this woman is capable of denying her own suffering and acts in the best interest of her loved ones. Is a bad heart capable of that? Tell me what to do, great mother of the gods.’

Hathor appeared in a ray of blinding light and her warm voice filled the room. ‘Trust your instinct, Memsut. On the next moon go to Osiris and claim the Greek woman. I will stand surety for her.’

Memsut knew what that meant. If Xena betrayed them, Hathor would lose her immortality.

Still shaking of exhaustion Memsut returned to the chapel. People were sleeping everywhere, but one figure sat up. When the bard noticed her she immediately jumped up and ran to her. ‘Are you okay?’

Memsut nodded tiresome.

‘Did you... see her?’

Memsut clenched Gabrielle’s shoulder and whispered: ‘Let’s sit down.’ Then she continued with difficulty: ‘I found her, but not where I expected her to be. She’s in the Duat.’

Gabrielle frowned. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘Xena has not been allowed to enter paradise.’

‘That can’t be... What about all the good things she did, don’t they count?’

‘She was judged, Gabrielle. And I believe the feather of justice makes no mistake. But maybe someone who doesn’t want her around has meddled with the scales... I know she’s the chosen one. I can feel it.’

Gabrielle rubbed her temples and said: ‘Can’t we get her out of there?’

Memsut shook her head. ‘I can’t.’

‘Why not? You can talk to Osiris!’

‘I could, but he’s not the problem. Xena believes it’s her fate to stay in the Duat and she refuses to come with me.’

Tears welled up in Gabrielle’s eyes. ‘There’s got to be a way.’

‘There is... Gabrielle, I can’t convince her. But you can. She will come if you ask her. You’re the key.’

Gabrielle wiped off a tear. ‘What if she decides to help us? Will she return to that same place again?’

Memsut took Gabrielle’s hands into hers. ‘Not if we find evidence of her innocence. Then she’ll go to paradise and her spirit will be able to travel again.’

The bard nodded. ‘When can I see her?’

The next evening Memsut and Gabrielle stood in the sanctuary of Hathor. ‘What are we supposed to do now?’ the bard said.

Memsut gave her the green bottle and softly said: ‘Drink this and you will enter the world of Osiris. Don’t be scared of the things you will see, you’ll be alright. Trust me.’

Gabrielle took the bottle, closed her eyes and carefully took a gulp. She pulled a wry face and then passed the bottle to Memsut. Soon Gabrielle started to feel something. A hot flush, a flow that took hold over her body. She started shaking uncontrollably – and collapsed.

Memsut bent over the bard’s limp body and started to shake her. ‘Gabrielle, wake up! Wake up!’

But nothing happened. Suddenly a bright light lit up the room. It was Osiris. ‘That trick ain’t gonna work on your friend,’ he said.

‘Why not?’

The god threw her a bored look. ‘For one she’s not Egyptian. And two: I’m not about to let you enter my world for the second time. This has got to stop, Memsut.’

But she stood proudly before him. ‘I am claiming the Greek woman. Hathor will stand surety for her.’

Osiris was flabbergasted. ‘She’s prepared to give it all up for this Xena? I must say she’s got guts. Okay, I’ll give you one week. Leave the girl, you can come.’

But Memsut didn’t shift. ‘I’m not going without her. She’s the only one who can tempt Xena into helping us.’

Osiris rubbed the bridge of his nose and drew in a long breath. ‘Very well, take the girl. You know the way. But I tell you, Hathor is going to regret this.’

He pointed his staff at Gabrielle and cast a spell. ‘She will be okay in a few minutes. But this better be the last time we meet!’

It wasn’t long before Gabrielle en Memsut reached Xena’s dungeon. Memsut took the bard’s hand and softly said: ‘Wait here. Let me talk to her first.’

Gabrielle nodded, then she turned with a fright when she heard a hysterical cry.

‘Don’t worry,’ Memsut said: ‘They can’t hurt you.’

When Memsut entered the dungeon she saw Xena lying on the ground, her chained hands in front of her face. The high priestess slowly approached and got on her knees. The woman breathed slowly and calmly. She slept. Memsut was staring at her long dark lashes, when she suddenly felt a chain glide around her neck. It happened so fast, she could hardly react. The chain tightened with tremendous force and she was not able to catch her breath. But the attack ended just as abruptly as it started.

With a hint of amusement in her eyes Xena said: ‘Oh, it’s you. Sorry, but you can’t trust no one in here.’

The chain slid from her neck. And even though Memsut’s throat ached, she couldn’t help but admire this woman. She was a warrior alright.

Xena got up and coldly looked down on her. ‘I thought I told you to leave me alone.’

‘I can’t. I come to take you away from here. If you help me, I’ll help you. I believe the pharaoh has someting to do with you being here. If we find evidence for that, you’ll be able to enter paradise.’

‘Haven’t you heard anything I said? This is where I belong!’

‘No, it’s not,’ it sounded softly behind her.

Xena’s face showed so much emotion when she heard her soul mates voice, but she didn’t turn around. Instead anger took over. She grabbed Memsut by her robe and hissed: ‘What did you tell her?!’

‘The truth. Gabrielle deserved to hear it.’

‘Don’t tell me you did this for her. You’re using her!’

‘Yes I am. I would do anything to make you help my country. And if you really believe you’ve earned this punishment, then make yourself useful. Your self-pity isn’t helping anyone.’

For a split second Memsut felt she had touched the warrior princess. But then Xena let go of her robe and grunted: ‘You know nothing about me.’

Gabrielle caught Memsut’s eye. ‘Can you leave us alone for a while?’

When Memsut was gone, Gabrielle slowly walked over to Xena who’s back was still facing her. Holding a hand against her lips to stop her from crying, she reached out and her fingers touched Xena’s shoulder. She was all dirty, but the bard couldn’t care less. She finally felt her best friend again, her warmth, her skin...

‘You shouldn’t have come,’ Xena whispered with a broken voice.

‘I could never stay away. I love you, Xena.’

‘I know,’ she heard Xena say and Gabrielle knew she was crying.

‘Won’t you look at me?’ The bard turned her gently around and when Gabrielle saw Xena’s face, the tears, the torment, the despair, she almost broke down. But the bard pulled herself together and ran her fingers through her dirty hair, kissing her cheek while ignoring the foul smell of her skin, holding her. She wiped away the tears and held Xena’s face.

‘Look at me. I know you feel guilty, but you have suffered enough.’

‘That is not for you to decide. My victims still suffer!’

‘No, they don’t. They are dead, Xena. It’s no use trying to make it up to them, because you can’t. You can only help the people who are still alive.’

Xena hung her head. ‘What if the judgement was right after all? What if they put me right back in here? Have you thought about that, Gabrielle?’

But Gabrielle held her face in her hands and whispered: ‘I believe in you, Xena. If not doing it for yourself, do it for me. Please.’

Tears filled the bard’s eyes and Xena lifted her chained hands, unable to wipe them away. ‘Don’t cry...’

She looked away and sighed, her eyes hurt by torment. ‘Alright, I’ll come.’

Gabrielle couldn’t speak, she just embraced her friend, Xena’s tied up hands between them. Then the bard pulled back and whispered: ‘Let’s get you out of here.’

On their way out, Memsut wanted to follow Gabrielle into the corridor. But Xena stopped her and hissed: ‘Do you have any idea what you’ve done? I don’t care if I end up here again, but she does. It will break her heart and I will hold you responsible for it. You got that?!’

When they reached the temple, Gabrielle and Memsut both felt the cramp, the sudden convulsions and for minutes they laid on the ground, unable to move. But finally the bard got on her feet, helped by Xena. She immediately peered at Memsut, who was still lying there. Concern was on her face when she looked down on her. ‘Maybe this second trip to the underworld has been too much for her. I know she’s strong, but...’

Xena kneeled down before her, examined her body and checked her pulse. ‘She’ll be alright. She’s just exhausted.’ She looked at Gabrielle again. ‘Do you trust her?’

The bard nodded. ‘I know my trust in people was sometimes misplaced, but I’m right this time. She’s special, Xena. I owe her my life and more. She brought you back to me.’

‘No. You did.’ The warrior princes swallowed. ‘I’ve missed you. So much.’

Gabrielle caressed her face. ‘I can’t believe you’re really here.’

Xena smiled and raised her chained hands. ‘You think you can help me with these?’

The bard grabbed a sai from her boot and pricked it into the locks of the shackles. It wasn’t long before they burst open. The skin of her wrists was swollen and raw... And it hurt her. It hurt her to see her friend in these rags, with so much wounds and filth on her body. All she wanted now was to wash her and attend to her battered skin. Hold her. Be with her. With trembling hands she reached out to hers. The view of their entangled fingers moved the bard so much that she broke down. Tears rolled over Gabrielle’s cheeks, while her shoulders shook uncontrollably. Xena held her in her arms and kissed her forehead. ‘It’s okay, I’m here. I’m here now.’

It was still dark when Memsut awoke. She looked straight into Xena’s piercing eyes who said sternly: ‘Try to sleep some more, you need it.’

But Memsut got up anyway. Her muscles were still tense and she didn’t know if she had the strength to make it to the river, but they couldn’t stay here.

‘We’ll leave as soon as possible. When dawn breaks this temple will be crowded. We can’t stay.’

Xena smiled amusedly while her eyes roamed Memsut’s weakened body. ‘In this shape you won’t last a mile. You’re shaking all over.’

‘Don’t worry about me. We will head for the river. It’s safer there and you will be able to take a bath. Believe me, you need it.’

Only when the high priestess saw Xena’s wounded pride she looked away and woke the bard.

Memsut had trouble keeping up the pace, but she didn’t want to show her weakness. Not after her conversation with Xena. So she walked on, her body covered with sweat. Gabrielle kept a constant eye on her, but Xena never looked over her shoulder. Not once. She even suspected her of keeping the pace up. Not that she would ask her to slow down. She had her pride. Fortunately the river was close by now.

Memsut pointed at a shed. ‘We shall stay there until the sun comes up. Then we’ll catch the ferry to the other side.’

She didn’t wait for confirmation, but went straight for the hut and plopped down on the hay.

‘Can I get you anything?’ Gabrielle asked in concern, while she kneeled down in front of her friend. But Memsut shook her head and glanced at Xena. ‘Why don’t you help your friend.’

Xena gnashed her teeth and said: ‘Ah yeah, someone was so kind to remind me that I haven’t had a bath for some time. Come on, Gabrielle, I could use a backrub.’ Only when the two had left the hut, Memsut closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Gabrielle gently rinsed the soap from Xena’s hair. ‘That should take care of the lice.’

The warrior looked over her shoulder and sulked: ‘Be nice.’ Gabrielle grinned and rubbed her back with the sweet smelling soap. She felt knots everywhere as she moved over her skin. ‘By the gods, what have they done to you?!’

Xena snapped her neck and dryly answered: ‘They took away my sword. Can’t excercise without a blade.’

Gabrielle gave Xena the soap so she could do her back. She shivered when she felt Xena’s strong hands on her skin. How much she had missed that touch.

‘Tell me something more about this Memsut,’ she heard Xena say.

‘She’s incredible. When I first met her she chased off a lion just by looking at it! It sounds ludicrous now, but that’s exactly what happened. Memsut is a wise woman, Xena. I wish you would trust her.’

The rubbing stopped. ‘Give me one good reason why I should.’

Gabrielle looked over her shoulder and said dryly: ‘She got you out of that pit.’

But the warrior shrugged her shoulders and moaned: ‘That doesn’t mean she’s a saint. She needs me for her plan.’

The bard turned and took the soap from Xena’s hands. ‘She wants to free her country from a corrupt pharaoh... That’s not bad, is it?’

Xena grabbed the soap back again and replied: ‘No, but what’s in it for her?’

Now Gabrielle got slightly irritated. ‘Come on, Xena. Memsut is like us. She fights against injustice. There’s no catch.’

‘I know you think highly of her, but I don’t know her. I don’t even like her! I mean, she doesn’t explain things, she orders us about the place!’

‘Now you know what that feels like for a change,’ the bard said. Gabrielle knew that one hurt Xena’s feelings, but she would not take it back. After a painful silence she turned to Xena and softly said: ‘Memsut saved my life. Doesn’t that tell you something? If you could just have seen her facing that lion. She was...’

Xena rolled her eyes. ‘Yeah yeah, I’m sure she was wonderful.’

Gabrielle smilingly nudged her friend. ‘You’re jealous.’

‘Am not,’ Xena growled.

‘Just admit it. You don’t like her because I do.’

Xena pouted her lips and sighed. ‘Okay. Maybe. Maybe a tiny, very tiny little bit. Are you happy now?’

Gabrielle smiled and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Yep.’

Then her expression became more seriously and she said: ‘Memsut has and will never replace you. You’re my soul mate and nothing’s gonna change that. You ought to know that by now.’

A faint light shone right in Memsut’s face. She blinked and had a good stretch. To her surprise Gabrielle wasn’t lying next to her. It was Xena. A lock of hair fell over her face, her lips slightly parted... Gone was all the dirt and filth. Here no longer lay a neglected prisoner, but a woman of almost divine beauty. Right at that moment Xena opened her eyes and Memsut was again struck by its color, power and intensity. She knew that this was the moment to say goodmorning, that every second of silence would make her feel even more awkward. But it was like her jaws were locked. She didn’t even have the power to look away. It wasn’t until Gabrielle yawned that the spell was broken. With a voice she hardly recognized of herself she said: ‘It’s late.’ And she got up. Memsut went straight for the river and washed her face. Why does she have to be so beautiful, she thought mockingly. After a while she returned to the shed and found both Gabrielle and Xena dressed. The bard greeted her sleepily while she took care of breakfast, but Xena just looked as surly as ever.

‘When we’ve eaten we will cross the river,’ Memsut said.

Gabrielle nodded and gave her a piece of bread. But Xena folded her arms and said: ‘I’m not going anywhere until I know exactly what is expected from me.’

Memsut cleared her throat and as friendly as she could she replied: ‘I will tell you everything, but not now. This is not a safe place.’

Xena gritted her teeth: ‘I tell you what’s not safe and that’s bossing me around. I don’t like that. So you tell me where we are going now, or you’ll go without us!’ Xena didn’t even look at Gabrielle for approval.

A dangerous flickering appeared in Memsut’s eyes and she got real close to the Greek warrior. ‘You have a big mouth for someone who’s just been saved from hell.’

‘I didn’t ask for this! Just remember that you need me, not the other way around.’

Memsut swallowed her anger, because she knew Xena was right. And so she said with difficulty: ‘We will go to my friend Kejan. He will provide us with clothes, food and weapons. Then we will make plans to break into the palace.’

Xena laughed sneeringly. ‘Break into the palace... Maybe you’re still woozy from burning incense all day long miss high priestess, but have you got any idea how heavily guarded that place is?!’

Gabrielle got ready to say something but Xena gave her a warning look not to meddle.  

Meanwhile Memsut snarled back at Xena: ‘Yes, I have! And I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that first remark.’

Gabrielle tried to intervene again. ‘Excuse me, can I say something here?’

But both women yelled at her: ‘NO!’

Highly insulted Gabrielle left the hut, but the two didn’t seem to notice. Memsut continued: ‘I do know the palace and yes it’s heavily guarded. But surely that wouldn’t hold a real warrior down? Unless you are afraid...’

Xena narrowed her eyes. ‘I have no fear. That’s the advantage of being dead: I have nothing to lose.’

‘But so much more to gain.’ Memsut delicately smiled when she saw that the warrior princess was left speechless.

Half an hour later they were on the ferry. Gabrielle frowningly watched the two women who refused to look at each other. It happened again. A battle between two women she loved. It was as if Xena disliked everyone who liked her. She had seen it with Najara, with Brunnehilde and now it was Memsut’s turn. Well, there was a difference... The first two turned out to be slightly insane, Xena had reason to distrust them. But this time there was no excuse for her bluntness. After all Memsut had saved her from hell! Was it just jealousy? Was she really scared that Memsut would take her place? Hm, she would definitely have another talk with Xena, to straighten her out.

Memsut was consumed with her own thoughts. Despite of the headscarf she was still afraid of being recognized in the city where she had lived for years. There were so many people on board that there was hardly room to breathe. Suddenly she heard someone whisper in her ear: ‘What do you know, a Libyan beauty.’

In the crowd he could rub against her body without being noticed. It would have been so easy to eliminate the man, but Memsut couldn’t take the risk. It was too dangerous to draw attention to them, so she let him and hoped they would dock quickly. His hands were on her waist and she could hear him pant, but suddenly he was all quiet.

A moment later his body plopped down on the floor: Xena had knocked him out with her elbow. Mockingly she said: ‘Already drunk... what a disgrace!’

But her self-complacent smile disappeared when the high priestess whispered: ‘That was not very sensible.’

Xena looked at her in disbelieve. ‘The man assaulted you, I stopped him. What’s not sensible about that?!’

Memsut made a hushing gesture and under her breath she said: ‘I try hard not to be noticed and what do you do? You floor someone!’

‘Do you hear him cry for help? I thought as much. You see, when I do something, I do it right.’

Memsut kept silent. This woman had an answer to everything.

After a walk through the narrow streets of Thebes they entered a classy area. Memsut pointed at a beautiful villa that was surrounded by a gigantic garden. ‘That’s the home of my friend Kejan.’

Gabrielle admiringly looked at the flowering plants and sighed: ‘Xena, look at those lilacs! Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?’

Xena gave her a quick smile and then said with sarcasm in her voice: ‘Fortunately not everyone’s suffering from the terrible reign of the pharaoh.’

Furiously Memsut turned to her. ‘Kejan knows like no other man what is wrong in this country. He risks his life when he decides to help us. And he will. So don’t you dare insulting him again!’

Xena was a little intimidated and when she saw the accusatory look Gabrielle gave her, she muttered an excuse. But Memsut was already on her way to the door... The servant who opened it looked in wonder at the strange group, until Memsut gave him a note and ordered him to give it to his master. Not long after that the servant returned and bowed for Memsut. ‘My master will welcome you in the garden. If you would be so kind to follow me...’

They walked in the shade of palmtrees and the smell of sweet hibiscus surrounded them. Dozens of blue lotuses covered a little pond and their fragrance filled the air. A nicely dressed man kissed Memsut’s hand and said: ‘Welcome in my humble house, my dear lady. How’s your husband Kalif?’ And then he said to the servant: ‘You can go.’

When the man was out of earshot, Kejan looked like an entirely different person. He bowed deeply for Memsut and whispered: ‘Your highness, please accept my apologies for my rudeness. But one can’t be too careful. The influence of the pharaoh may well have entered this house, there are spies everywhere. I don’t want to endanger you.’

Memsut touched his shoulder and gave him a comforting smile. ‘Don’t apologize, my friend. You could never offend me. Now, let me introduce you to my companions.’

When Memsut turned to Gabrielle and Xena, she saw amazement in their eyes. And somehow it amused her. But her voice was solemn when she spoke: ‘Kejan, this is Gabrielle, a bard from Greece. And this is Xena, the woman of whom the goddess has spoken.’

After Kejan had welcomed them both, he turned to Memsut and said: ‘How can I be of service, my majesty?’

‘First a good meal and some wine. Then we’ll talk business.’

Kejan immediately left.

There was still amazement in Gabrielle’s eyes when she whispered: ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘It was better to keep the truth from you. Too much knowledge can be dangerous.’

It was Xena’s sneer who broke their stare. ‘Dangerous for whom? For her or for you?!’  

Gabrielle threw her an indignant look, but Memsut kept her calm. ‘Both. But above all, it was dangerous for our mission.’ When Gabrielle saw that Xena was ready to strike again, she jumped up to say: ‘I understand. You just have to give me some time to cope with it. I mean, you’re a princess!’

Memsut smiled as she took the bard’s hand. ‘My mother was the first wife of the pharaoh. But that doesn’t make me any less mortal. So please, don’t treat me any different.’

Xena’s cynic remark spoiled the intimate moment between Memsut and Gabrielle. ‘Can we skip the sweettalk? Bottom line is you are fighting against your own father!’

Memsut narrowed her eyes and she swallowed down her pain. ‘My father passed away a few months ago. My youngest brother is the new pharaoh, but not with my father’s blessing. He knew Nofret has an evil heart.’

Xena folded her arms. ‘And when he’s no longer pharaoh, who will take over his crown... You?’

Memsut heard the suspicion in her question. Calmly she replied: ‘My youngest brother will. But since he’s too young, they’ll probably ask me to rule in his name. It’s not something I desire, but I’ll do whatever is necessary.’

While Xena and Gabrielle ate and drank in silence, Memsut talked to her informer. ‘How’s the situation, Kejan?’

His face showed concern. ‘The grain harvest was very good, but our stores are almost empty and the pharaoh refuses to investigate it. The messages from the southern provinces are simply alarming. There will be a famine if we don’t do something right away.’

Memsut answered determinedly: ‘Then we must hurry. Xena needs new clothes, armory and weapons. Make sure she gets the best.’

After Kejan had left, she turned to her companions. ‘Tomorrow we will go to the palace and look for evidence of my brother’s corruption and Xena’s innocence.’

She ignored the warrior’s wry face and carried on: ‘This evening I’ll show you the map of the palace and we will talk about our strategy. So I suggest you rest until then. Kejan offers us his house and staff. Take a bath with healing herbs, get a massage, sleep... whatever you want.’
Memsut got up and addressed Xena on a businesslike tone: ‘If you would be so kind to give Kejan your measurements. He will provide you with new clothes.’

Her voice immediately became warm and kind when she turned to the bard. ‘Gabrielle, please come with me. There’s something I want to show you.’

She reached out her hand and Gabrielle hesitatingly took it. For a short moment Memsut saw pain in Xena’s eyes. Was she jealous?

Memsut took Gabrielle to the bedroom Kejan had chosen for her. It was a room that looked out over the garden and the Nile. A lovely view... She picked up a small box made of ivory from the table and took the lid off. It revealed an elegant necklace of silver and turquoise, centered by an amulet inscribed with hieroglyphics. Memsut held it in the palm of her hand. ‘It means: she who is protected by the gods. My father gave it to me when he sent me away to Dendera to become a high priestess.’

‘It’s gorgeous!’

‘Glad you like it. It belongs to you now.’ And she put the jewel on Gabrielle’s neck.

‘I can’t... except this. It was a gift from your father.’

‘I would be honored if you accept this gift. You have a pure heart, Gabrielle. No one deserves the protection of the gods more than you do.’

Now that Gabrielle was sleeping, Memsut went to the bathroom. She had heard from a servant that Xena was taking a herbal bath. And it was time she concluded the peace with her, she needed her. When Memsut walked into the room, Xena got a massage while she was bathing. Memsut said something in Egyptian and the Nubian girl immediately jumped up and walked away. Xena gave her an angry look, but Memsut ignored it. Instead she said: ‘I can help you.’

‘No thanks,’ Xena answered coldly. ‘I feel great.’

Memsut smiled and kneeled down behind Xena. ‘Is that so?’ She placed her fingers on Xena’s shoulders and felt how tight her muscles were. Suddenly she pinched them hard. The woman in front of her cramped up, but said nothing. Memsut whispered in her ear: ‘Are you sure you feel great?’

‘I would, if you hadn’t sent that girl away.’

Memsut laughed and stretched out her hand to Xena. ‘She’s great with her hands, but she’s not a healer. Come, let me help you.’

‘I think I rather stay here.’

Memsut looked at her intensely. ‘You don’t trust me, do you?’
‘Trusting someone too soon can get you killed.’

‘Is that your warrior heart speaking?’

‘No, just my experience.’ Xena leaned back against the bathtub and arrogantly observed her opponent. ‘All I know is you want me to fight a pharaoh and might very well take his place. I think that gives me reason to be a little suspicious.’

Memsut secretively smiled, for she began to like their little war with words. But her expression was serious when she said: ‘I can’t take away your doubt. But I can take away the pain... If you’ll let me.’

Xena waded to the stairs. ‘Like I said, I don’t need any help. Now, if you will excuse me.’

But Memsut got up and reached out her hand again. ‘A true warrior knows how to endure pain, a wise warrior knows when to ask for relief. Don’t let your pride get in the way. Just come with me.’

Xena kept silent for a while, but then got out of the tub - not taking Memsut’s hand. She dried herself with a towel and looked surly at the Egyptian princess. ‘Alright. Let’s get this over with.’
Memsut pointed at a velvet mattress and Xena lay down on it. The high priestess looked down on her bare body that was covered with old wounds. But in a strange way they made her even more impressive. Memsut took a bottle of oil and wrapped her legs round Xena’s thighs. She put some oil on her palms and rubbed them together to make it warm. When her hands touched Xena’s back she waited a while, just until she felt an energy run through her veins. It was a healing method she had learned during her education in Dendera. Hathor called it the warmth of the gods, and it did feel like a divine power. She held her palms on the sore spots, there where Xena’s muscles were so flexed that a normal massage would only loosen up the surface, not the deeper layers. It was a strange thing but she could actually feel it when a muscle was healed, and she would merely have to gently rub the area to make the knot totally disappear. Every now and then a soft moan escaped Xena’s mouth, and her body would tighten immediately. A sign that this woman didn’t want her to know that she enjoyed it. Memsut smiled. She reacted exactly the way she’d expected.

When she was all done, the high priestess softly said: ‘There’s nothing more I can do now. It’s best to get some sleep, your body needs time to recover.’

She got up and noticed that Xena’s eyes had softened up. Memsut smiled down on her and said: ‘I’ll see you tonight, at dinner.’   

During dinner Xena had barely spoken. She hadn’t even looked at Memsut. But that came as no surprise to the Egyptian princess. Xena was the kind of woman who didn’t like to be confused. She liked control. She wanted to hate you or love you, and Memsut knew that Xena had chosen not to like her. But things had changed. Memsut was sure of it.

When the servants collected the dishes, Memsut took Xena and Gabrielle to Kejan’s study. Kejan rolled up a Persian carpet and removed a brick. It showed a small space where a couple of documents were hidden. He took one out and rolled it out on his desk. It was the map of a gigantic building.

Memsut said: ‘This is the palace of my family.’ She pointed out a part. ‘These are the quarters of my brother. And here, in this room, is a safe where he keeps his valuables. Hopefully we will find evidence that he stole from his people. And how he tampered with Xena’s trial.’

Xena ignored that last remark and leaned over the map. ‘What’s your plan?’

Memsut showed her the main entrance. ‘This one will be heavily guarded, but there is a secret tunnel that leads to the cellars. I shall use that one to get to the safe. But I need some distraction.’

Xena nodded. ‘Gabrielle and I will enter the main gate, that will keep them busy for a while. Any idea how many guards your brother has?’

‘The royal garde consists of a hundred heavily armed men, so... there’s a chance you won’t make it.’

Xena looked surly at her. ‘If you really thought that, you wouldn’t have gotten into all that trouble to get us here. So... how do we know you succeeded?’

Memsut could not help but feel the utmost respect for this woman and smiled deeply. ‘Just make sure you get out of there when you hear the cry of the falcon. Don’t return to this house, for they will track you down. The garde has dogs.’

She pointed at a spot on the map. ‘Run to the Nile, a boat will be waiting for you and bring you to a secret place. I’ll meet you there.’

Gabrielle looked at her pensively and said: ‘When do we leave?’

‘Tomorrow morning.’

Gabrielle frowned. ‘Why not tonight? Darkness will be an advantage to us when we flee.’

‘Every morning the pharaoh leaves for the temple of Amun to pray. Therefore security will not be as tight as usual. And because of the market it will be easier for you to disappear in the crowd.’

‘Clever,’ Xena muttered.     

Gabrielle yawned. ‘Does this mean I can go back to bed? Gosh, I feel like I could sleep a whole week! Must be the food or something.’

Xena grinned. ‘Or the wine.’ She watched her friend go, a deep smile on her face.

‘You must love her very much,’ Memsut said.

With her eyes still on the door, Xena replied: ‘More than anything.’

‘Then why did you hesitate to leave the dungeons?’ Memsut tried to catch her eye, but the warrior refused to look at her. ‘Don’t you want to be with her?’

When Xena finally did look at her, she could not hide the pain in her eyes. ‘It doesn’t matter what I want. I was thinking about her. I don’t know if Gabrielle can take it if she lost me again.’

‘What about you? Could you take it?’

Xena looked away and her voice became unsteady. ‘I care more for her than for my own life.’

‘Yes, I think you do. But the purest of love is not sacrifice, Xena. It’s loving yourself. You cannot truly love someone if you haven’t forgiven yourself.’

Xena reacted as if she had been bitten by a snake. Her eyes spit fire when she hissed: ‘Don’t you dare lecturing me about love and forgiveness. It took me years, but I have come to terms with my past!’

‘Really? Is that why you believe the gods have done you right by sending you to the Duat?’

‘I didn’t say I liked it. But they judged me and I accepted my fate.’

Memsut intensely gazed at her. ‘You judged yourself. Deep down you don’t believe you deserve paradise.’

Xena shrugged her shoulders. ‘So what if I don’t? That doesn’t mean I don’t love Gabrielle.’

‘But do you let her love you? Do you believe her when she says something kind about you? I don’t think so. I bet you think: If she only knew what I’m really like, she wouldn’t be here with me. Am I right?’

Xena didn’t answer.

‘No matter what you did, you deserve to be loved.’

Just when she thought the warrior would open up to her, Xena gnashed her teeth and snarled: ‘Let’s get something straight here: I didn’t come here to let you analyze my psyche. I’m a warrior. If you want to chit-chat, talk to Gabrielle.’

Memsut faintly smiled. ‘You think you are strong by biting the hand that strokes you. But remember this, one day it won’t come back for more.’ 

Memsut couldn’t catch sleep. She opened the doors of the balcony and let the soft desert wind play with her hair. The Nile glistened in the moonlight, a magical sight. She had seen it a thousand times, but she would never get enough of it. Suddenly she heard the hinges of other doors shrieking. When she looked aside, she saw it was Xena.

‘I see I’m not the only one who can’t sleep,’ the Egyptian said. ‘It’s a hot night.’

It was obvious that Xena hadn’t expected company, for there was a slight uneasiness in her composure. ‘I don’t need much sleep anyway.’ She kept silent for a while and then faintly smiled. ‘You know what they say: there’s no rest for the wicked.’

Memsut peered at her and there was a hint of amusement in her eyes. ‘They lied. The wicked have no conscience and therefore no guilt. Trust me, they sleep like babies. So in a way, your insomnia is a blessing.’

‘Well if the wicked sleep like a log, Gabrielle must be evil incarnated.’

Memsut laughed and looked up to the heavens. ‘Gabrielle is like a bright star. Don’t you think?’

Xena followed her gaze and nodded. ‘Yes, she is.’

‘Are you lovers?’

Xena stared at her in shock. ‘No!’

Memsut pinned her with her eyes. ‘Would you like to be?’

Seconds passed by. Finally Xena said huskily: ‘Of course not.’

‘Suit yourself. I for one think she’s an extremely attractive woman.’

There was no answer, but Memsut could tell by Xena’s irregular breathing that her remark had not left her untouched. When she looked at the warrior she saw confusion in her eyes. And she couldn’t help herself. With a sensual smile she whispered: ‘Although I prefer dark... Sweet dreams, Xena.’   

Just before dawn Xena, Gabrielle and Memsut stood by the secret entrance that was covered by a huge rhodondendron. Memsut gave her companions a severe look. ‘By the time the sun reaches the first branch of the sycamore, I’ll be in. That’s your cue to distract the royal garde. May the gods be with you.’

Gabrielle nodded and laid her hand on Memsut’s wrist. ‘Be careful.’

Memsut smiled and stroke her face. ‘Don’t worry. We shall see each other again, I promise.’

She glanced at Xena, who looked even more impressive with her new Egyptian armory. ‘Satisfied with your weapons?’

Xena looked at the short sword and muttered: ‘It’s not bad.’

‘It’s the best blade there is,’ Memsut said wryly.

‘I’m sure it’s the best in Egypt. But it’s not a katana.’

Memsut refused to be insulted, so she delicately said: ‘Just take care of Gabrielle.’ And she vanished behind the bushes.

Gabrielle and Xena watched how the sun slowly crawled higher and higher. The bard looked pensively at her friend. ‘What’s going on between the two of you?’

Xena play with her boot in the sand and mumbled: ‘What do you mean?’

‘All this bickering... Why can’t you just be nice to her?’

‘I was nice!’

Gabrielle folded her arms and looked mockingly at her. ‘You call that nice? Xena, she gave you this priceless sword that probably belonged to a pharaoh and you acted like it was a toothpick!’

The warrior shrugged her shoulders. ‘It is a toothpick compared to a katana.’

‘That’s not the point. You insulted her. And I want it to stop.’

‘She’s not a baby, Gabrielle. She’s perfectly capable of defending herself.’

The bard raised her hands in despair. ‘But why attack her in the first place? Is it because she’s my friend? I told you before, she will never replace you. There’s no need to feel jealous.’

‘I’m not jealous. We just... don’t get along.’

Gabrielle clenched Xena’s shoulder and softly said: ‘Are you sure that’s all? You do know you can tell me anything, don’t you?’

Xena looked down and said surly: ‘There’s nothing to tell.’

Then she saw the sun had reached the lowest branch. It was time.

Memsut had lit a torch so she could find her way in the small tunnel. She had to be careful where to walk, because snakes and scorpions had found shelter in the dark passage. After 20 yards the tunnel ended. Or so it seemed. The third stone on the left was slightly different from color. She pushed it through the wall and crawled into the gap. Memsut now stood in the cellar where hundreds of the finest wines from the Fayoum oasis were kept. She listened closely if she heard any suspicious sounds, but it was all quiet. The cellar was enormous, but finally she found a stairway. When she reached a door, she again listened intensely. Right above her she could hear a clattering sound. The kitchen. There was someone who paced up and down. A guard. But not near by. It was safe. She opened the door and sneaked out. Soon she reached the quarters of the pharaoh. Thoughts of her father haunted her mind. He was a wise man who she had loved very much, and he had loved her. If it was up to him she had ruled after him, but they both knew his first born son would be the next pharaoh. And Memsut didn’t object. Soenit was an intelligent boy who could grow up to be a fine ruler. And he would surely listen to her advise. But when her father died, Soenit was stabbed in the back. They found the knife in the room of his Nubian servant, but Memsut knew he would never kill his master. She knew her other brother Nofret was his murderer, but she couldn’t prove it. And so he took the reign. He sent out mercenaries to kill her, but she found out just in time and fled from the palace. Until now. She was back where she belonged.

Suddenly she heard loud noises coming from the main entrance. Memsut smiled: Xena and Gabrielle were doing their job very well. She heard men shouting orders, the sound of dozens of boots on marble floors, the banging of weapons... But Memsut knew that the pharaoh’s bedroom would not be left unprotected. She stalked through a corridor and then turned left. There was the door. Two guards. Just like she had expected. She grabbed two small daggers and hid them behind her wrists. She straightened her shoulders and took a deep breath. ‘Hathor, give me strength,’ she murmured and started walking. The guards immediately noticed her and pointed their lances at her. ‘Halt!’ they shouted, but Memsut kept walking, her eyes on the two guards. She was deaf for their warnings. The razorsharp points of their weapons almost reached her chest, but the guards seemed to be unable to strike. There was an invisible force that made them limp. It wasn’t until they saw the daggers that the spell was broken. But then it was too late. With the swiftness of a cat she attacked. Simultaneously she thrust the blades in the guards’ arteries and they collapsed gurgling.

Xena stood challenging in front of four palaceguards. ‘Come on, big guys. Give it to me!’ The muscled soldiers looked at each other and started laughing. But then they approached her with arrogant smiles on their faces. They had no idea. Until they heard Xena’s battlecry and saw her leap yards into the air to end up right behind them. When they turned in surprise, they were mown down by a rain of fists and kicks. Within seconds the four of them lay limp on the ground, but the alarmed royal garde was on its way. That was the moment Gabrielle accompanied her friend. ‘Promise you leave a couple for me.’

Xena smiled. ‘I don’t know if I can hold myself down - it’s been too long since I held a sword.’

Soon soldiers were everywhere, metal clashed on metal and blood splashed around. Gabrielle ducked just in time to avoid her head from being decapitated and kicked her attacker in the crotch. When he fell crying on his knees and threw her a filthy look, she gave him a butt of the head. That knocked him out alright. With a painful expression on her face she stroke her blonde hair; that man had an iron skull! But there wasn’t much time to rest, because another soldier came storming at her. Right when he wanted to slash her with his sword, a round weapon passed by and he dropped dead on the ground. Soon his blood colored the sand. Xena’s chakram had slid his throat. While the warrior put the chakram back on her belt she pointed her sword invitingly at the soldiers. But suddenly they heard the cry of a falcon. Gabrielle and Xena looked at each other. That was the sign. Xena grunted: ‘Just when I’m all warmed up,’ and started running.

It took little time to open the safe. Memsut knew the mechanic, her father had shown her many times. And Nofret was foolish enough not to change the locks. A big mistake. She soon found a document which proved his corrupt reign. It showed exactly how much grain was stocked and where it had been shipped. More than half of it was sold illegally, and the money went straight into Nofret’s pocket. And then there was a papyrus with names and amounts. People who decided to keep their silence in exchange for large sums of money. This was enough evidence to hang her brother, but she wanted more. She searched everywhere to find something that would connect Nofret with Xena’s trial, but she found nothing. She knew there wasn’t much time left, so Memsut closed the safe. But not without placing a ring with her name on it. It would make her brother mad!

Gabrielle and Xena disappeared in the crowd and reached the river with not much trouble. A boy took them by the hand. ‘You Greek ladies, come with me. The boat is waiting.’

Before they knew it they were on a felucca and the boy covered them with big white robes. They now looked like the rest of the Egyptian women who wanted to pray for the dead on the westbank. On the other side an old man awaited them. ‘Follow me, we must be quick.’

Soon they arrived at a small hut that seemed to be glued to the mountains. ‘This is our hide out?’ Gabrielle said when they were inside the hut. ‘They will find us in a heartbeat!’

But Xena examined the place and started smiling when she noticed the floor. ‘No, they won’t. Look at the ground, don’t you notice something strange about it?’

The bard looked for a hatch, but saw nothing like it. ‘I only see some footprints.’

‘And?’

Gabrielle sighed and looked again. She saw their tracks and a curved line in the sand, like someone had play with a stick... ‘Wait a second!’ She examined the wall and suddenly she saw it. ‘There’s another room behind that wall.’

The old man grinned and pushed his bony finger against a groove. A part of the wall swung open. ‘My mistress will come to you shortly. There is some food if you’re hungry and as you can see there is enough light. I will now shut the door behind you.’

Xena and Gabrielle looked at each other hesitatingly but walked in anyhow.

When the door closed behind them, Xena and Gabrielle saw a space that was faintly illuminated by torches. There were pillows, blankets, two baskets filled with food and jars with water, beer and wine. Gabrielle plopped down on the pillows and took the lid off of one of the baskets. She saw fruit, dishes with cold meat, soft bread, pies...

‘Mmm, this smells good. Want a pastry?’

But Xena was too busy pacing up and down.

‘Can you stop doing that? I cannot enjoy this delicious roasted duck when you’re running the marathon in front of my face.’

‘I don’t like to be locked up, okay.’

‘I kind of like this prison,’ Gabrielle said and started to nibble on a chickenwing.

Xena looked at her in bewilderment. ‘How can you eat when your friend is still out there?!’

Gabrielle threw the chickenbone away and answered dryly: ‘I have faith in her. What’s your excuse for not eating? Don’t tell me you are worried about her?’

Xena narrowed her eyes when she heard that facetious remark. ‘If Memsut is captured, it won’t be long until they find us. That’s what worries me!’

Gabrielle decided not to tease her friend anymore, she looked too tense. Something was bugging her, she knew that. But why didn’t she confide in her? Why did Xena always think she had to go through things alone? She sighed... Xena wasn’t easy to live with, but she also knew she couldn’t be without her for one second.

It suddenly dawned to her that they had only a couple of days left. On the seventh day Xena would have to go back to the underworld. Panic swept over her. Gabrielle tried to hold back her tears, but it was no use. Her soft sobbing alarmed Xena and the warrior immediately kneeled down before her.

‘What’s wrong?’ Xena took her face in her hands and asked tormented: ‘Why are you crying?’

‘I was just thinking... In a few days you will be gone. I don’t want to lose you again. I just can’t.’

Xena got tears in her eyes while she stroke Gabrielle’s wet cheeks. ‘Yes, you can. You are strong, Gabrielle.’

‘I can’t let you go back to that horrible place! I couldn’t live with that.’

Xena kissed her forehead and whispered: ‘You will have to. Just remember that I will never stop loving you. Not even death can’t change that.’

Gabrielle fell into her arms and Xena held her. The bard was now determined. Xena would not return to hell alone.

Memsut entered the secret chamber, but the two didn’t hear her. She could guess what was going on. And she was afraid she couldn’t relieve their pain. When she dropped her coat, Xena and Gabrielle looked up in a fright. The bard immediately jumped up and embraced her. ‘I knew you would make it!’

Memsut smiled at her and then threw a furtive look at Xena. The warrior simply nodded and began to chew on a grape.

Gabrielle handed over a waterjar to Memsut, but the high priestess said: ‘After everything we’ve been through I should say we deserve something a little bit stronger than that.’

She grabbed another jar and poured scarlet wine into three cups. ‘This wine was made during my fathers rule and is only served on special occasions. This is one.’

She gave Gabrielle and Xena a cup and raised hers. ‘To the most courageous women I know.’

She tasted the wine and it seemed to give her body new energy. She sat down on the pillows and asked: ‘Is our royal garde so weak or are you so strong? I heard from Kejan that dozens of soldiers were carried to the hospital.’

Xena smiled and grabbed her chakram. ‘I got this. And Gabrielle of course.’

The bard waved it aside. ‘I only took out a few. Maybe ten or so.’

Memsut grinned. ‘Maybe you can teach me a couple of moves one day.’

But her mood changed when Xena asked: ‘Have you found what you were looking for?’

Memsut looked through her lashes and answered softly: ‘I have proof that my brother committed a crime against his own people.’

‘Then why the long face?’

The Egyptian princess hung her head and said: ‘I had hoped for more. I’m convinced my brother has something to do with your trial. He must have known about Hathor’s prophecy and taken his measures.’

‘Well... You did what you could. It doesn’t matter.’

It was a lighthearted remark, but Memsut felt the emotion underneath it. She looked Xena straight in the eye and said: ‘My brother will pay for what he has done. That I promise you!’

Gabrielle lit another torch and sat down with a big sigh. ‘What are we going to do now?’

Memsut stared into the flames and muttered: ‘We’ll spend the night here. Tomorrow my informer will give us the latest news from the palace. Then we will decide on what to do next.’ Gabrielle plucked her pillow. ‘I thought that was already decided. We will bring your brother to justice, right?’

‘If it comes to that.’

Gabrielle stopped plucking. ‘What do you mean?’

Memsut didn’t answer.

‘You’re going to kill him, aren’t you?! Memsut, he did a terrible thing, but that doesn’t give you the right to murder him.’

A hard expression masked Memsut’s face. ‘And what gave him the right to kill my brother?!’

The bard looked at her in shock. ‘Your brother?’

Memsut lowered her eyes. ‘When my father died, Soenit was next in line to inherit the throne. But someone stabbed him in the back. I can’t prove Nofret did it, but I know it in my heart.’ Gabrielle shook her head and her voice trembled with emotion. ‘Don’t do it, Memsut. Let others judge him. Whatever he did, he’s still your brother.’

‘I know he is. But if it comes to it, I will do what’s necessary.’

Gabrielle covered her face with her hands. ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about. You don’t know what it’s like to kill your own flesh and blood... I do and it still haunts me. Don’t do it.’

The Egyptian princess kept silent for a while and then answered solemnly: ‘If I can prevent it, I won’t kill him. I promise.’  

Xena grabbed a couple of blankets and laid them on the pillows. ‘I think it’s better if we tried to catch some sleep.’

The bard nodded and crawled on the bed. She had barely smelled her pillow or she was already sound asleep. Memsut’s face showed surprise when she watched the girl. ‘Unbelievable, how does she do that?’

Xena grinned while she spun her chakram on her palm. ‘Not a clue, but I sometimes envy her.’

‘Ah yes, your insomnia. You know, I can help you with that.’

Xena looked ill at ease. ‘Like I said, I don’t need much sleep.’

Memsut smiled and watched her through her lashes. ‘How’s your back?’

Xena clearly did not expect that question and stopped playing with her chakram. ‘Okay, I guess.’

Memsut chuckled just before putting a grape in her mouth. ‘I’m not going to get a compliment from you, am I?’

Xena succeeded in producing a faint smile. ‘Alright. My back hasn’t felt this good in ages.’

Memsut’s eyes sparkled like stars. ‘Glad to hear it. Now, lie down.’

Xena pulled up an eyebrow and opened her mouth to say something, but Memsut pushed her down. ‘Don’t argue with me, just lie down!’

Xena did what she was asked, although it was only half-heartedly. ‘Close your eyes and try to relax.’

Memsut put her knees on each side of Xena’s waist and laid her fingers on her forehead. She smiled when she saw Xena’s jaws flex, but then she closed her own eyes and concentrated. Not that it worked. Xena’s drumming fingers were slightly distracting.

‘You’re not going to relax, are you?’

Xena opened one eye and moaned: ‘This is as relaxed as it gets.’

‘Okay, have it your way.’

Memsut got up, but briskly turned when Xena tried to move. ‘I’m not done with you yet!’

Xena pulled a wry face and lay down again. A moment later Memsut returned with a flower. She kneeled down and softly said: ‘This is the sacred lotus. Inhale the scent and you will feel better.’

‘No thanks. I like to keep my head clear.’

Memsut amusedly looked at the flower. ‘Isn’t it ironic? You have no problems with battling a complete army, yet a simple flower frightens you.’

The warrior narrowed her eyes. ‘Ever heard of a flower called foxglove? Looks very beautiful, but it can kill you. I think I’ve made my point.’

Memsut shrugged her shoulders. She pressed the flower to her own nose and took a deep breath. ‘Now you don’t have an excuse anymore. Your turn.’

Xena grumpily took the flower and sniffed it. As she threw it away she said: ‘There! I don’t feel a thing.’

‘Don’t be so impatient. Just wait and see.’

And indeed, after a few minutes she saw its effect in Xena’s eyes. Her pupils were wider than before and her muscles seemed to relax.

‘Good,’ Memsut said softly. ‘Now, close your eyes.’

She placed her hands on Xena’s forehead and soon she felt an energy flowing through her fingers. After some time she moved her hands to Xena’s temples. But then suddenly she felt something - a throbbing artery under her fingers. A heartbeat that pounded faster than normal. Memsut opened her eyes and looked at Xena’s face. Her lips were parted and she felt a strong desire to kiss them. But she couldn’t. Not now that Xena was finally beginning to trust her. So she closed her eyes and tried to suppress her beating heart. She was trying so hard, that she wasn’t aware that the pressure of her fingers increased. Xena coughed and Memsut woke up with a start. When she removed her fingers she could still see their prints on Xena’s skin.

‘I’m sorry. This was not my intention.’ She got up and kneeled beside her. ‘I’m afraid I can’t treat you.’

Xena faintly smiled. ‘Told you so - a guilty conscience.’

‘It’s not you. Or to be honest... it is.’ She looked her straight in the eye. ‘You’re simply too beautiful.’

Xena blinked. For a moment Memsut thought she would say something, but she didn’t. She just gazed at her. There was no knowing of what the warrior was thinking. Was she angry, astonished, suspicious?

‘I mean what I say. I am attracted to you.’

Not a word. Xena kept her mouth shut but she still had her eyes on her. Memsut started to feel uncomfortable.

‘Say something...’

She reached out to touch Xena’s cheek but the warrior grabbed her wrist. ‘Don’t!’

‘Is it because I’m a woman?’

Xena closed her eyes for a second and whispered: ‘It’s because I am a dead woman!’

‘You’re not dead, Xena.’

The warrior princess glanced at her cooly. ‘I will be in a few days.’

‘Then your time on earth is precious. Use it well!’

Before she got the chance to react, Memsut pressed her lips on Xena’s mouth.

Memsut expected that Xena would push her away, but nothing happened. She only felt her soft lips and the irregular breathing coming from her nose. What if she opened her mouth a little bit, would Xena let her do that? Just at that moment she felt Xena’s lips parted. It was only a slight movement but it was enough to feel her breath on her lips. Goose pimples covered her body and the blood rushed downwards. This was a sign she couldn’t ignore. She lifted her head and held Xena’s upperlip captive with her mouth. She kissed it as light as a feather. Gently she pushed her lower lip downwards and stroke Xena’s upper lip with her tongue. When she heard how Xena held her breath, she couldn’t stop anymore. Memsut grabbed her head and pulled her close. A wave of excitement overflowed her body when Xena opened up and kissed her. Slowly, deeply. She dived into pure softness and buried herself with desire when she felt Xena’s body tremble under hers. When she heard her moan. A deep longing rushed through her body when the play of their tongues became more passionate, compelling, almost possessive. Her hand caressed Xena’s hair, her throat, the strong muscles of her shoulders, the soft skin beneath it. She hastily unbuckled Xena’s armory and slid underneath the leather garment. But suddenly Xena pulled back and panted: ‘I can’t...’

Memsut looked up in a fright. ‘Am I going too fast?’

She noticed how different Xena looked. So vulnerable with her heated cheeks and soft eyes.

Then Xena’s expression grew darker and she expanded the distance between them. ‘There’s too much going on. I can’t even think straight.’

Memsut kissed her and whispered against her lips: ‘Then stop thinking and start feeling.’

But Xena pushed her away. ‘If you want me to help you, then I need to focus.’

The expression in her eyes was so determined that Memsut knew she could not be persuaded. So she backed off. ‘If that’s what you want.’

Xena hardly looked at her. ‘Yes.’

The highpriestess watched her crawl under a blanket, turning her back on her. She lay down herself, but sleep would not come. Not for a long time.

When Memsut woke, Xena was already up. Eating quietly. Memsut got up and sat down next to her, but Xena barely seemed to notice her. She asked her anyway: ‘Did you sleep okay?’

The warrior princess nodded. ‘About last night... I don’t want Gabrielle to know about it. It’s not that I’m ashamed of it. But Gabrielle... It would change everything. I don’t want her to think that I’ve lied about my feelings. I don’t want her to know.’

Suddenly they heard Gabrielle behind them. ‘What am I not supposed to know?!’

Xena turned with a fright and stared in the angry face of the bard. The warrior was in lack of words, but Memsut quickly said: ‘We were just discussing that it would be wiser to leave you here. It’s safer. Let Xena and I take care of my brother.’

Gabrielle’s eyes spit fire. ‘Are you out of your minds? If you think I’m going to sit back and wait while you risk your lives, then you don’t know me at all. Now either you take me with you, or we don’t go at all!’

Memsut pretended to overthink it for a while and then muttered: ‘Alright, have it your way.’

Gabrielle sighed with satisfaction. ‘Good!’

When the bard turned her back on them, Xena gave Memsut a grateful look.

Xena was polishing her sword when she abruptly stopped and hushed the others to be silent. ‘There’s someone in the hut.’ Memsut whispered: ‘That should be Rajif, my informer.’

But Xena didn’t take any chances and posted next to the door. She raised her sword, ready to strike. Slowly the door opened and a little man walked in. When he saw Memsut he fell on his knees and bowed until his nose touched the ground. ‘Your Highness, I came as quickly as possible.’

Xena stood behind him, but after a short nod from Memsut, she lowered her sword. ‘Stand up and tell me what I want to know,’ the Egyptian princess commanded.

The skinny man got up and said: ‘The pharaoh was furious when he noticed that there were documents missing from his safe. In fact he was so mad that he beheaded ten members of his royal garde! He doubled the security and sent out scouts and mercenaries to find you, your Highness. You must know that the soldiers have orders to kill you on the spot. I feel terrible to bring you this gruesome news.’

Memsut waved it aside. ‘I hadn’t expected anything else. What’s on the pharaoh’s schedule?’

Rajif bowed again and said smilingly: ‘Tonight he will go to your fathers temple of million years. That’s what I heard him say to his intendant.’

‘The temple... Alright Rajif, go back to the palace and keep your eyes and ears open. You have helped me a great deal.’

Still bowing the little man walked backwards and disappeared through the secret entrance.

‘Can we trust him?’ Gabrielle asked.

Memsut looked pensively into the flames of a torch. ‘I don’t know. But he’s all I got.’

While Xena sharpened her chakram she said: ‘When do we leave for the temple?’

Memsut gave her a grateful smile. ‘In a couple of hours. In the temple my brother will be vulnerable. Only he and one or two priests are allowed to enter the sanctuary. We will capture him there and bring him to this place.’

Gabrielle frowned. ‘Why not take him to the supreme court right away?’

Memsut quickly exchanged looks with Xena. ‘We need to get some information from him first...’

They each took a burning torch and walked into a shaft that was hidden behind a big statue of her father in the back of the room. When they reached a three-forked corridor, Memsut said: ‘The right one leads to my father’s grave, the left to his temple. It ends right in the sanctuary.’

She peered at Xena and then said: ‘Jafir knows about the secret chamber, not about the tunnels. Not even my brother.’

Xena muttered: ‘Let’s hope you’re right.’

After 300 yards they reached the end of the tunnel. Memsut pulled down a handle and a small door opened. But before they entered the holy place, Memsut prayed to the gods to apologize for the intrusion. After all, she was not allowed to enter the sanctuary herself, not to mention Gabrielle and Xena. But she knew she would be forgiven, for it was in their interest that she restored Maat. Memsut hid behind the holy trinity and saw that Xena and Gabrielle crawled behind gigantic statues of her father in the corridor that led to the sanctuary.

The pharaoh strode through the hall towards the most holy of holy places. Thirty soldiers rested in front of the temple, but the crowned man led a group of twenty priests. Memsut listened to the footsteps... There were far too many! Only the pharaoh and his highpriest were allowed to enter this room. This couldn’t be. She could hear her brother stop before the holy trinity. Only a short moment and he would bow his head to show his respect. Memsut clenched the hilt of her dagger so hard, that her knuckles went white. It was almost time... When the pharaoh kneeled down and bowed his head, Memsut jumped from behind the triad and held the blade against his neck. ‘Don’t move, brother, or you will be with our father sooner than you hoped for.’

The pharaoh said nothing, but shivered with fear. Memsut knew she had made a mistake. Her brother would have laughed, not trembled like a baby. She looked up to the priests and startled. From underneath their robes they had drawn swords. Memsut boiled with anger. She should have known that Jafir wasn’t to be trusted. She should have been prepared for this. Nofret had tricked her. But she knew him. He wouldn’t want to miss her failure for the world. He was here. To gloat. She looked at the faces of the priests. One of them... With a hard blow from the hilt she knocked the fake pharaoh out. Immediately the priests stepped forward and waved their swords at her, ready to attack. But Memsut didn’t shift. She just stared at them. And they stood there, hypnotized by a divine strength that seemed to surround her.

Suddenly a voice shouted: ‘What are you waiting for? Kill the bitch!’

It was like the men woke from a dream and Memsut knew she was in great danger. But then she heard Xena’s battlecry and she saw how three priests flew in the air. The men looked behind them in bewilderment and that gave Memsut the opportunity to strike. ‘Don’t kill them, one of them is my brother!’ she yelled.

It wasn’t long before Xena and Gabrielle had knocked down most of the soldiers. Suddenly Memsut saw someone sneak out of the room. He had barely reached the hall when he fell flat on the ground. A deep wound from Xena’s chakram was shown on his upperleg. Nofret tried to get up, but Xena held him down with her boot. With the tip of her sword resting on his neck she said: ‘I wouldn’t move if I were you.’

When Memsut reached them, Xena removed her sword. The Egyptian princess pulled Nofret up on his hair and looked at him with disgust. ‘Finally we meet again.’

Her brother smiled. ‘I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to welcome you when you paid me that little visit. Loved the gift by the way.’

‘Well, if you liked the ring, wait till you see the matching chain. You’re going down, Nofret.’

Right at that moment a silver arrow was about to hit Memsut’s head, but Xena caught it in mid-air. They all turned to see the archwoman: a dazzling beauty with golden hair and the eyes of a lion. ‘Sechmet,’ Memsut whispered.

The goddess aimed another arrow at her. ‘Let him go, Memsut. You can’t win this battle.’

Xena stepped forward and snarled: ‘We’ll see about that.’

‘Sechmet is a goddess,’ Memsut said quickly. ‘She’ll destroy you!’

Xena looked at her calmly. ‘I’ve dealt with gods before. They’re not as invincible as they make us believe.’

Sechmet slightly shifted her bow and fired at Xena. But again Xena plucked the arrow out of the air. Arrogantly she smiled at the goddess and broke the silver arrow in two. ‘Is that all you got?’

Sechmet’s eyes narrowed as she threw away the bow. She snapped her fingers and a silver sword appeared in her hand. ‘It seems someone needs a lesson in obedience,’ she said surly. The warrior drew her sword and flipped five time through the air, until she landed right in front of the goddess.

‘I have many skills, but obedience is not one of them.’

And she lashed out to the goddess. Sechmet was taken by surprise but she managed to intercept the blow. With her supernatural strength she gave Xena a push, sending the warrior yards away.

Xena crawled back on her feet. ‘Alright, have it your way.’

She cried out her battlecry, turned eight cartwheels in a row, flipped in the air and kicked Sechmet hard in the stomach. The goddess doubled up, and Xena’s knee hit her chin merciless, making her upper body sway back. But Sechmet wasn’t hurt, she was merely surprised. And bad tempered. When she looked up her eyes smoldered with anger. ‘You’re gonna die!’

Xena smiled. ‘I know. You wanna join me?’ And she swung at her again.          

Memsut and Gabrielle watched the battle in fear. Until something caught Memsut’s eye. Nofret tried to get away! He had already reached a small chapel when Memsut caught him. She pushed her dagger against his artery and hissed: ‘Where do you think you’re going?’

His eyes were filled with hate as he spit her in the face. ‘I have regretted it every day that I didn’t let you drink from father’s poisoned cup.’

Memsut always knew that Nofret had something to do with her brother’s death, but this... She pushed her blade so hard against his artery that blood dripped on the blade. She wouldn’t regret it one second if she killed him, but she needed information. She had to hold back her anger. ‘You should have killed me. It wouldn’t have mattered for your heart, for it was already black as night. On the other hand...’ and she gave him a defiant look, ‘why worry about that. You have meddled with the feather of justice before.’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

Memsut smiled and pushed the blade even harder at his throat. ‘I think you do. You knew Xena would end your reign. It was a clever plan, but it failed.’

‘I would never betray Maat. No one can deceive the feather of justice, not even the pharaoh.’

‘Unless you got help from one of the gods. Let’s say... Sechmet?’

Nofret roared with laughter. ‘Sister, sister. You think too highly of me, there’s no conspiracy. So why don’t you just do what you’ve been wanting to do for years. Go ahead and kill me.’

But Memsut couldn’t. Not as long as she didn’t knew what he had to do with Xena’s trial. Nofret saw her despair and started to smile.

‘That is the reason why you could never rule this country,’ he sneered. ‘You’re weak. Egypt needs a strong pharaoh, not a girl who get’s diverted by a pair of long legs.’

‘One thing’s for sure: your reign is over. With the evidence I’ve got, you will be chained in the dungeons for the rest of your life. Together with the rats, where you belong.’

Nofret’s triumphant smile disappeared and was replaced by a malicious gaze. ‘That’s not going to happen, you know me better than that. I think I rather have a throne in hell. Especially now I know how pleasant the company will be in three days. Tell Xena I can’t wait to see her again. Bye sister.’

Nofret pushed his throat against the knife and cut his own artery. The blood splashed around! Memsut tried to stop the bleeding, but it was too late. Nofret died in her arms, a cruel smile on his face.

Xena was about to give Sechmet a butt of the head, when the goddess looked in the direction of the chapel and roared: ‘Nooooooooooooooooo!’

The warrior pulled up an eyebrow. ‘Afraid I’ll mess up your pretty face?’

‘Your friend is the one who messed up.’ Sechmet snapped her fingers and she was gone.

Xena looked in surprise at Gabrielle, who stood there alone in the hall. ‘Where’s Memsut?’

Gabrielle and Xena followed the bloodstains on the marble floor and stormed into the chapel. They saw right away that they were too late. Nofret lay in a pool of blood and Memsut kneeled at his side, the dagger still in her hand. When she looked up, Gabrielle saw a cold rage in her eyes.

‘You lied to me!’ the bard shouted. ‘You said you would bring him to justice!’

Memsut wiped off the blade and the bard almost got scared when she heard her icecold voice. ‘There’s no justice for his kind. He took his own life.’

‘This is your knife, right? Are you saying that he slid his throat with your dagger? How stupid do you think I am?’

Memsut gave her a sad look. ‘I think the question should be: how evil do you think I am?’

Xena clenched Gabrielle’s shoulder and said: ‘Memsut is speaking the truth. If she had slid his throat, the cut would have been longer and deeper.’

Gabrielle lowered her eyes in shame. ‘I’m sorry. I really thought... I’m sorry.’

Memsut turned without a word and dragged her brother’s corpse to the exit. She had to carry a lot of weight, but it didn’t seem to cost her much energy. Gabrielle and Xena followed her outside where the royal garde was waiting. In shock they looked at their dead pharaoh. For a moment Gabrielle was frightened that the guards would attack, but they seemed to be indecisively. Memsut raised her voice. ‘The pharaoh is dead. And I, daughter of Thetmoses the third, first wife of Amon and high priestess of Hathor will claim the throne until my brother is old enough to lead the country.’

The guards kneeled down in awe for this impressive beauty they all recognized as the wise daughter of Thetmoses The Great. Memsut addressed the little man that stood at the back. ‘Rajif, won’t you kneel for me?’

The deathly pale man shook all over and sank crying to his knees. ‘Praise the gods! Hale to the Queen of Upper and Lower Egypt!’

Memsut ignored him and addressed the soldiers. ‘Help the wounded in the temple and bring my brother to the priests of Anubis. Ask them for a royal embalming.’

When Rajif wanted to walk away, she said coldly: ‘Not you, Rajif. Come here!’

He crawled to her and remained at her feet. ‘Do you know what the punishment is for high treason?’

He shook his head in agony. ‘I didn’t have a choice, your majesty. They saw me sneak out and threatened to kill me. They tortured me! Your majesty doesn’t know what they do to humble people like me.’

Memsut didn’t believe him for she saw no scars or bruises. She raised her dagger and snarled: ‘Any idea what I would do to you, if you don’t tell the truth?’

‘Please!’ he cried out. ‘I’ll tell you everything. Everything!’

‘Good. Now tell me. How did my brother tamper with the feather of justice?’

Rajif didn’t seem to understand. ‘I know nothing about the feather, your Highness. I swear.’

When Memsut pressed the knife to his throat, he doubled up. ‘I beg of you, I know nothing.’

Suddenly Xena pushed the dagger away and she swiftly pinched him. Rajif collapsed making a gurgling sound. But Xena pulled him up again and smiled: ‘I just cut off the bloodflow to your brain. You will be dead in thirty seconds, so if you have anything to say... be quick.’

Rajif gasped: ‘I swear... know nothing... nothing.’

After twenty long seconds she pinched him again and Rajif fell crying on the ground.

Xena turned to Memsut who looked at her in amazement. Dryly she said: ‘He knows nothing.’

That same day Memsut stood before the highest judge. When he had read all the evidence he proclaimed Nofret’s conduct as high treason. He concluded that Achnefer was next in the royal line, but because he was only eleven years old Memsut would rule in his place. From that moment she was the most important person in the country. She called the vizier and ordered to re-install all judges and ministers that had worked under her father’s reign. She restored the ceremonies for the gods, stopped the export of grain and took measures to provide the needy with food. But she didn’t feel good. Not good at all. Something was eating her and she knew it would only get worse. She had only two days left. And she still didn’t know how to safe Xena.

Gabrielle cupped her face in her hands. ‘That look in her eyes, the blood on her dagger... I really thought she had murdered him. She’ll never forgive me.’

‘Don’t be so hard on yourself,’ Xena said softly. ‘Everyone would have thought the same.’

‘You didn’t.’

‘I have seen too much violence, don’t be jealous of that.’

Gabrielle sighed. ‘Maybe I should go to her. To apologize.’

‘Yeah, you should. But let me talk to her first.’

Gabrielle lowered her eyes. ‘You still think she can help you now that her brother is dead?’

‘There’s always a chance,’ Xena answered sternly.

‘You want me to come with you?’

Xena hesitated and blinked a couple of times before she answered. ‘No. I haven’t exactly been nice to her myself. She needs to know that I won’t blame her if things don’t work out.’

Gabrielle looked away, she didn’t want to think about their upcoming farewell. ‘I understand. Just don’t stay away too long.’

Memsut stared at the stars when there was a knock on the door. She had expected Kejan, but it was Xena who walked into her private room. ‘Can I talk to you for a sec?’

Memsut nodded and pointed at a chair. ‘Sit down.’

‘No, I’m fine. I just want to say a few things and then I’ll go. I don’t suppose you’ve found anything?’

Memsut’s eyes showed sadness. ‘I’m afraid not. I tried everything, searched everywhere, but...’

‘It’s okay.’

‘No, it’s not! You don’t belong in the Duat. I will never forgive myself if you end up there for eternity.’

‘You can’t change my destiny. If this is how it’s meant to be, so be it. I can live with that. Don’t make it harder for me by blaming yourself.’

When their eyes met there was a strange silence. Until Memsut whispered: ‘I’ll try. You are not only a great warrior, Xena, but a great woman as well.’

Xena lightly blushed and grinned. ‘I have my moments. But that’s not what I came here fore. I owe you an apology. I didn’t treat you the way I should.’

Memsut waved it aside. ‘You had every right to feel suspicious.’

‘It was still wrong.’

Memsut smiled. ‘Alright. Apology accepted.’

‘Good.’ Xena smiled ill at ease. ‘I’m off then.’

‘Not so fast. We have unfinished business to attend to.’

Xena blinked.

Memsut clapped her hands and right away a servant came in. She whispered something in his ear and swiftly he left the room. ‘What was that about?’ Xena asked.

Memsut took her hand and said: ‘Come with me and you’ll find out.’

The warrior princess hesitated. ‘I don’t know if...’

‘Trust me. Some things you just have to experience.’

‘Look, I really don’t think this is a good...’

But the words were cut off when Memsut kissed her softly. It wasn’t long before Xena parted her lips and enclosed her mouth. When their kiss became too passionate Memsut pulled away. And with a sulky voice she said: ‘Like I said, some things you just have to experience.’

When she took Xena’s hand again, this time she didn’t resist.

When Memsut stepped into her bedroom she was pleased. Torches illuminated the room, the sweet smell of incense filled the air and from behind a shade sounded exotic music. She peered at Xena. The warrior’s expression showed just as much surprise as uncertainty. She led Xena to the majestic bed and slowly took off her sword, chakram and breastplate. ‘You don’t need armory in here,’ she whispered against her lips. ‘You’re safe with me.’

And she kissed her. Slowly. Afraid of pushing her too much. But she soon found out that Xena wasn’t about to stop her. She felt fingers under her robe, while Memsut stripped the warrior from her clothes. It wasn’t long before Xena’s garment fell on the ground and she was bare naked.

‘By the gods, you are beautiful,’ Memsut said and caressed the line of her jaw, right down to her throat, until she reached the softness of her breasts. She gently pushed her on the bed and slid next to her.

‘I don’t know what to do,’ Xena whispered.

Memsut kissed the hollow of her collarbone and smiled. ‘Just do what feels right.’

She leaned over Xena and very slowly lowered her body. When her skin touched Xena’s their eyes met. But not for very long, for the warrior grabed the back of her head and pulled her towards her. Her kiss was so passionate that it dazzled Memsut. There was nothing unnatural or inexperienced in her motions, gone was her shyness and unwillingness. Memsut buried her face in her hair and sniffed up its sweet smell, while Xena’s tongue roamed her shoulder. Soon the warrior rolled her over, pinning her down with her warm, damp body. Their kisses became more compelling and her longing grew. Her fingers where everywhere, first soft and tender. Then searching and impatient. And her sweet mouth. Xena’s lips went from her mouth to her forehead and then to her throat, her breasts, the sensitive part of her stomach, and yes, also there where she most wanted to feel her lips. Xena was so unrestrained, so tender and wild at the same time, that Memsut was about to lose all selfcontrol. For a second she tried to pull Xena away, scared of this overwhelming passion. But she was too far gone. She was engulfed by her desire.

Gabrielle was worried. It was already dusk and Xena hadn’t returned from her talk with Memsut yet. What took her so long? Suddenly it dawned on her. Of course. They were probably brooding on dangerous plans and they didn’t want her to be in the way. But Gabrielle had no intention to be kept out of trouble. She was more than capable of keeping her own and she was not about to sit and wait when Xena’s future was on the line. She paced through the corridors of the palace and went straight for Memsut’s study. But when she opened the door, there was no sight of them. On her way out she bumped into the house steward.

‘I’m looking for Me... I mean, her majesty.’

The servant bowed and said in a excusing way: ‘The regent has retired to her private chambers and wishes not to be disturbed.’

Gabrielle thanked him and slowly walked back to her own room. She had a funny feeling. Xena was missing, Memsut wasn’t to be disturbed and nobody had left her a note. She started to feel angry. Xena had promised not to stay away too long and now the stars already shone brightly in the sky. When she passed a corner, she heard music coming from Memsut’s quarters. She stopped and listened. It confused her. Somehow the exotic music didn’t seem to fit in with scheming plans. She slowly walked into the corridor, even though she felt a dramatic urge to turn around. Finally she stood before the doors of Memsut’s chamber and opened them. Gabrielle didn’t quite know what she felt when she saw them. She stood there paralyzed, not able to move a muscle, not able to feel anything. Until she heard a longing moan. Xena’s voice.

It was like she was slapped in the face and it awoke her with a start. She felt the urge to hysterically scream, but she held her hand just in time against her mouth. She turned and shut the door behind her, as softly as she could. Xena wasn’t to know.

As soon as she closed the door of her bedroom Gabrielle’s emotions got the better of her. She leaned against the door, got down on her knees and broke into tears. She cried until her eyes were red and her throat felt sore. How could Xena do this to her? How could she let her think that she was trying to find a way to enter paradise, while she - was with Memsut? She felt betrayed. Abandoned. Left out. Her grief turned into anger and she started pacing the room. Never had Xena told her about feelings she had for women. Never. There had always been men. She had been very close to Lao Ma and Akemi, but as far as she knew these relationships had been purely platonic. Or had she lied about that too? She didn’t know what made her more furious. That she had been dishonest with her all these years, that she apparently found a shag more important than her afterlife, or that she didn’t prefer to be with her in her final hours. In any case, Gabrielle was hurt beyond words. That morning she had been so sure. She would have followed Xena everywhere, even to the gates of hell. But now? Did she know Xena at all? What more did she hide from her? And again the tears welled up in her eyes.

Xena wanted to kiss Memsut again, but the Egyptian princess stopped her gently. ‘Maybe you should go to Gabrielle.’

It was like Xena was hit by an arrow. ‘You’re right. I never expected to stay away this long.’

‘Are you sorry you did?’

The warrior kissed her passionately. ‘I think you know the answer to that question.’

Memsut smiled, recalling Xena’s trembling body under hers. ‘I’ve got to go,’ Xena whispered and she quickly started to dress.

Memsut followed her every move. ‘I wish I had kept my mouth shut. You are far too beautiful to be covered with clothes.’ Xena shyly looked away and then sat down, a desperate expression on her face. ‘What am I supposed to say to her?’ ‘The truth.’

Xena shook her head. ‘I can’t tell her about this and then disappear. That wouldn’t be fair. And besides, what if she can’t deal with it? I don’t want to risk everything we had together.’

‘You’ve been gone a long time. What are you going to tell her?’

Xena closed her eyes and sighed. ‘What she expects me to say.’   

When Gabrielle heard footsteps coming she drew in a long breath. She wouldn’t let her know. She had even practiced it. She would say: finally, you’re here! I was worried sick! And then she would tell her about the stuffed goose she had allegedly eaten. But she couldn’t. As soon as she saw Xena, she knew it was impossible. She felt too much. She couldn’t even look at her. So she said nothing. Gabrielle turned her back on her and lay down on her bed.

Xena still stood in the doorway and looked sadly at the girl. ‘You’re angry. And you have every right. I shouldn’t have stayed away so long.’ Gabrielle didn’t answer, so Xena sat down next to her on the bed. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘What is it exactly that you’re sorry for?’ was Gabrielle’s biting reaction.

‘I should have been with you,’ Xena stammered. ‘But I thought there was still a chance to find evidence.’

She startled when Gabrielle turned around. Her face was red with anger. ‘Stop it! Just stop it. Your lies make me sick.’

Xena looked at her in shock, while Gabrielle raged on.

‘I would have done anything for you, Xena, anything. I would have followed you to hell. But you have destroyed everything. I thought our friendship was the most important thing to you.’ ‘It is!’ Xena cried out, trying to control her emotions. She wanted to touch Gabrielle, but the bard pulled away. ‘Gabrielle, you’re right. I should have never shut you out like that.’

Bang! Gabrielle had slapped her right in the face. ‘I don’t know what sickens me more. That you would rather be with her than with me, or that you lie to me like I’m a little kid.’ And she burst out of the room.       

Gabrielle went straight for Memsut’s bedroom but found the door locked. She ferociously knocked on the door.

‘Open up, or I swear I’ll break it down!’

It wasn’t long before she heard a key turn and the doors swung open. Memsut stood before her, wearing a beautiful gown. She looked dazzling, but the bard hardly noticed it when she slammed the doors behind her.

‘Do you have any idea what you’ve done?’

Memsut looked at her calmly. ‘No, but I’m sure you are going to tell me.’

Gabrielle grunted and gave her a shove. ‘I trusted you. I believed everything you said.’

She pushed her again and yelled: ‘All that talk about you wanting to help Xena... I’ve seen with my own eyes what you mean by helping her.’

Memsut raised her hands to calm the bard down. ‘Gabrielle, I understand why you’re upset, but...’

The bard interrupted her rudely. ‘Don’t you Gabrielle me! You wanted me to treat you like I would any other person, right? Well, have it your way.’

Gabrielle’s fist hit Memsut’s eye with a tremendous force. The blood splashed from her bruised brow, but Memsut didn’t even bat her eye. She just looked at the bard, while the blood ran down her cheek.

‘Are you finished?’

Gabrielle began to shiver as she realized what she had done. ‘I... I shouldn’t have done that,’ she stammered.

There wasn’t a comforting look from Memsut. ‘No, you shouldn’t. I said I would help her and I always keep my promises. And as far as what you saw... That’s something between Xena and me. Now if you will excuse me, I’ve got work to do.’

Xena found Gabrielle crying on a bench in the rosegarden. She wanted to hold her in her arms, but she didn’t dare to. She didn’t know what Gabrielle knew. Was she so upset because she felt cut out, or was it something else? Whatever it was, Xena knew she had no choice. She would have to tell her. ‘Gabrielle, we need to talk.’

Gabrielle looked up and dried her tears. She was about to leave, but Xena grabbed her wrist. ‘Please, don’t walk away. There’s so little time left.’

Gabrielle looked her friend in the eye and snarled: ‘And whose fault is that?’

Xena ignored that remark and swallowed the pain. ‘Gabrielle, I know that I’ve made a mistake, but we have to talk. We can’t part like this. Not after everything we’ve been through together.’

‘You should have thought about that before you crawled into her bed!’

Xena startled. So she knew.

‘Yes I saw you! For hours I waited for you, thinking about how much I would miss you, the pain that I would feel, the emptiness. And all this time you were with her. How could you?’

Xena nervously said: ‘I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you. Gabrielle, you’re the most important person in my life and that will never change. But Memsut... She awoke certain feelings. I couldn’t... I had to find out what they were.’

The bard looked away.

‘Gabrielle, I have never felt anything like this for a woman. You’ve got to believe me. I’ve never lied to you about that.’

Gabrielle swallowed a sob. If that was supposed to make her feel better, it didn’t work. ‘What about Akemi?’

Xena sighed. ‘I loved her, but nothing happened between us. Not in that way... There have only been men, Gabrielle. Believe me, this is just as much a surprise to me as it is for you.’

Everything Xena told her, confused her. ‘It’s really none of my business what you did with Memsut. It’s the fact that you lied to me. That hurts.’

Xena carefully placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘I know. I wanted to tell you, but... I was afraid. I didn’t know how you would react.’

Gabrielle looked away in embarrassment and thought about the blow on Memsut’s eye. ‘Maybe you had reason. I think my reaction was a bit severe.’

Xena waved it aside. ‘Don’t worry, I hardly felt it.’

‘Bummer. You earned it.’

Xena pulled up an eyebrow, so Gabrielle explained: ‘I was talking about Memsut. I think I hit her even harder...’

Xena sighed. ‘Oh.’

When Gabrielle left, Memsut washed her face and rubbed a bit of honey on the cut. That would disinfect the wound and quicken its healing. But meanwhile she thought about Gabrielle’s words. They haunted her. She had been selfish and stupid to let her desire get in the way. Her main goal should have been helping Xena. But she didn’t know how anymore. She had gone through all of her brother’s stuff. She had talked to his employees. She had asked everyone who could have known something. But there was not a shred of evidence. Nothing. Maybe Nofret had spoken the truth after all. It was impossible to tamper with the feather of justice. It must have spoken the truth about Xena’s heart... Suddenly it dawned on Memsut. What if the heart didn’t belong to Xena? What if Sechmet had secretly switched Xena’s heart with that of a murderer?

Memsut immediately called for a messenger and hastily said: ‘Go to the mayor of Thebes. I need a list of all deceased in the past month. And I need it quick. Then go to the minister of crime. Tell him I need him right away.’

After half an hour there was a knock at the door. Memsut thought it would be Mishraf, the minister of crime. But when she impatiently said ‘come in’ it was Gabrielle. She had a guilty look on her face, but it didn’t soften Memsut up. ‘I don’t have time for this. I expect someone.’

‘At this hour? It’s the middle of the night!’

Memsut got up, walked to the door and grabbed the handle. She opened the door and said rather bitingly. ‘Like I said, I have things to do. Now, if you would excuse me?’

The bard looked at her in pain, hurt by Memsut’s cold reaction. ‘Not before I told you I’m sorry about what I said... and did. I don’t know what came over me.’

Memsut looked at her intently. ‘I think you do.’

‘You seem to know me a lot better than I do. Why don’t you tell me.’

A faint smile dawned on Memsut’s face. ‘Some things are best to be discovered on your own.’

‘You forgot the you’ll find out when the time is right part,’ the bard jokingly replied.

There was laughter in Memsut’s eyes, but her tone was still severe. ‘I mean it, Gabrielle. All the answers are inside of you. You don’t need me for that. But I’ll be here to listen.’ With guilty eyes Gabrielle pointed at her eye. ‘Does it still hurt?’

Memsut’s face lit up. ‘Actually, it does. You have a wicked right jab, Gabrielle.’

They startled when there was a knock on the door. ‘That must be my visitor. Go back to bed, Gabrielle. It’s okay.’

Mishraf came in when Gabrielle left. The stocky man didn’t look happy, but he was sensible enough to keep himself from whaling. ‘Thanks for coming, Mishraf. I appreciate this very much.’

Mishraf bowed. ‘I presume this is a severe situation?’

‘It’s a matter of life and death. I want you to look at this list and put a dot next to every criminal.’

The minister frowned, but grabbed the ink and a quill without a question asked. When he gave the papyrus back to Memsut, she was surprised by the amount of dots. ‘There are at least a hundred of them!’

Mishraf played with the stubbles on his chin. ‘Unfortunately this country is not in loss for scum, your Majesty.’

Memsut examined the list again. They would have to narrow it down. If the feather of justice was deceived, the heart must have belonged to an evil person, not just a common thieve. ‘I’m looking for someone who was bad to the bone.’

The minister took the papyrus again. ‘Hm, let’s see... Memnoet killed eleven people. And Sichriet, he revolted in the mines and murdered eight of the finest soldiers. Yaksul, now he liked young girls... A real pervert. I think there are seven bad guys on this list.’

Still Memsut wasn’t satisfied. Suddenly she realized that the switch of hearts was premeditated. So whoever the owner was, he did not die a natural death. ‘How many of them were murdered?’

‘I wish they all were. But only Yaksul got what he disserved. Someone planted an axe in his skull. They never found the killer.’

Memsut tried to hide her excitement. ‘What happened to his body?’

‘His family was rich. They buried him on the westbank.’

Memsut barely dared to believe what she had just heard. Yaksul had been given a proper burial. And that meant his organs were kept. Even his heart...

Morning arrived and Memsut sent Mishraf away. She called her servant and said: ‘Wake the supervisor of the valley of the noblemen. I need him to bring me to a grave.’

When the servant dashed off, Memsut rubbed her temples and fought against her exhaustion. She had stayed awake all night and it began to take its toll. But she couldn’t afford to rest. She called for her chambermaid and asked for some food. In the meantime she wrote a letter to Xena. When she was done, she read it aloud.

‘An emergency obliges me to set out for the south. As a regent I have no other choice. Know that my heart is with you. Wherever you’ll go.’

She signed simply with her name. When her chambermaid served her a cold dish, Memsut gave her the note. ‘Make sure Xena gets this.’

She chewed on the meat, although she wasn’t hungry. She needed the energy. After a couple of minutes Memsut left. She had almost reached the gate when someone grabbed her wrist.

‘Don’t go,’ it sounded softly.

Memsut turned and stared into Xena’s eyes. But she could not honor her request. She respected the deep friendship between Xena and Gabrielle. There was no question in her mind that they needed to be together until the end. But Memsut couldn’t tell the truth either. She didn’t want to give Xena false hope. ‘I can’t. There’s an emergency situation in Nubia, my people need me. I’m sorry.’

Xena’s expression grew dark and she gritted her teeth. ‘Of course. You always said Egypt was the most important thing in your life. Who am I to stop you?’

The cynicism cut through her, but Memsut kept her calm. ‘I’m glad you understand.’

Xena whispered coldly: ‘I didn’t say I understood.’ And she walked away.

Memsut felt an urge to call her back, but she didn’t. There was little time left.

Xena tried to close the door as silently as she could, but Gabrielle awoke anyhow. Her hair was all tangled and she drowsily rubbed her eyes. ‘What time is it?’

When Xena didn’t answer, Gabrielle got up and sat next to her. ‘Did you sleep at all?’

Xena bit her lip and muttered: ‘I dozed off every now and then.’

‘Are you scared?’

Xena gave her a comforting look. ‘No. I’m scared for you though.’

She looked at the bard intensely. ‘Gabrielle, I don’t want you to stay here. Go back to Greece, go back to Lila and Sara. You belong with your family.’

But Gabrielle quietly said: ‘If you want me to cope without you, then you will have to let me make my own decisions.’

Xena smilingly pushed a blonde lock from Gabrielle’s forehead. ‘You’re right.’

Xena got up and reached out her hand. ‘Since this is our last day together, let’s not waste time. Let’s do something fun.’

Gabrielle pulled up an eyebrow. ‘Like what?’

‘You’ll find out,’ and she pulled Gabrielle up.

But the bard hesitated. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to be with Memsut? I mean, I would understand. I really would.’

Xena narrowed her eyes. ‘Memsut was a mistake.’

Gabrielle looked at her in utter confusion. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I don’t want to talk about it.’ But suddenly she seemed to change her mind and said: ‘I was just a fling. Kind of sad isn’t it? Being blown off on my dying day.’

Gabrielle couldn’t believe her ears. ‘Did she really call you a fling?’

‘She didn’t have to. She left. That says it all, don’t you think?’

Memsut took her sword and cut up the plaster that sealed off the grave. She didn’t care about the curses. She had to find Xena’s heart, no matter what the price would be. Soon all plaster was gone and the copestone could be removed. The supervisor and his men took on the hard work, while Memsut watched them impatiently. Finally the entrance was cleared. Memsut took a torch and stepped down in the stuffy grave. It was a small burial chamber with not much decoration. Clearly he wasn’t loved by his family. Only the absolute necessary hieroglyphics were painted on the walls. The sarcophagus was simple and consisted of only one coffin. When the men lifted up the lid and Yaksul’s body was revealed, Memsut coldly said: ‘Remove the linen.’ The men looked at her in fear, but obeyed her just the same. After all, you could not refuse the regent. When all linen was removed, Memsut examined the cut in his upper body. She drew in a long breath and stuck her hand in it. She searched with her fingers and soon found a package. It was Yaksul’s mummified heart. Or Xena’s. She dropped the heart in a leather bag and swung it over her shoulder.

Xena took Gabrielle to the stables and saddled up a horse. She jumped on it and pulled Gabrielle up.

‘Where are we going?’

Xena grinned. ‘To a beautiful place. That’s all I’m going to tell you.’

‘We’re not going to do something extreme, are we?’

‘Just wait and see.’

After half an hour they reached an open spot nearby the river. There were no houses, no cattle, no flowers... There was absolutely nothing beautiful about the place. But Xena sighed: ‘Isn’t it great?’

Gabrielle dismounted and looked around in disbelieve. ‘This is it?!’

Xena peered blissfully down on her. ‘Yep, this is the place.’

Gabrielle bulged her cheek with her tongue. ‘This is a trick, right? I’m supposed to get all angry because only pigs will appreciate the beauty of a quagmire. And then you take me to the real place. Right?’

Xena dismounted and attached the reins to a sycamore. ‘Nope.’

Gabrielle pointed behind her. ‘Look at the place! There’s nothing here except a lot of mud!’

When she mentioned the word mud Xena’s eyebrows flashed up and down, and a devilish smile appeared on her face. Gabrielle stepped back and warned: ‘Oh no, not on your life. I’m not going to wrestle you in that pool.’

Xena cracked her fingers. ‘Come on, Gabrielle. Just one round.’

The bard quickly grabbed a stick to defend herself. ‘I’m warning you. Don’t force me to use this.’

Xena stopped and looked as if she was scared. ‘O gosh, you are not going to hurt me with your little stick, are you?’ Gabrielle braced herself and smiled. ‘Not if you behave like a good girl.’

Xena came closer and said innocently: ‘Oh, I’ll be nice...’ With a swift movement she chopped the branch in two. ‘But not today.’

Gabrielle looked in shock at the broken branch. ‘Very funny.’ She threw the pieces away and brought her fists into boxing position. ‘Okay, you asked for it!’

She walked straight into the quagmire. While the wet earth sucked on her leather boots, she waved invitingly at Xena. ‘Get your warrior butt in here. For years I let you boss me around, but this is payback time. Believe me, you are going to regret this.’

Xena walked arrogantly towards her. ‘I don’t think so.’

The next moment she had hooked her foot behind Gabrielle’s leg, swinging the bard over her hip. Gabrielle was up to her waist covered with mud and grumbled something while she tried to get up.

Xena looked down on her and grinned. ‘I’m having fun. Aren’t you?’

‘Just help me, will you?’

Xena reached out her hand and Gabrielle gratefully took it. But meanwhile she kicked hard into the hollow of Xena’s knees. The warrior leaped forward and fell flat on her face. Gabrielle roared with laughter - until she saw Xena’s face. It looked more like a chunk of clay.

Ill at ease she said: ‘We’re even now, right?’

Xena rubbed the mud out of her eyes, saying nothing. Gabrielle backed away, but it was too late. A big hand of mud was thrown in her face. Xena smilingly showed her teeth. ‘Now we’re even.’

Gabrielle spit out a bit of dirt. ‘Is that so? I believe we’re just getting started!’

Xena laughed and cried out: ‘Gimme, gimme, gimme!’         

It was hours later, when Gabrielle panted: ‘I can’t take no more. Please Xena, have mercy on me.’

She grabbed a chunk of mud from her hair and gave Xena a begging look. ‘Look at me!  There’s mud in my ears, there’s mud in my nose, I even chew on mud!’

Xena pulled the bard up and plucked a bit of dirt from her cleavage. ‘I know,’ she said with a broad smile. ‘And doesn’t it feel great?’

Gabrielle peered at Xena’s smudged body and grinned. ‘You’re right. I haven’t laughed this much in ages.’

Gabrielle took Xena’s hands in hers and whispered: ‘Thanks. I really needed this.’

The warrior smiled back at her. ‘So did I.’

They were silent for a while, until Gabrielle said: ‘I don’t think we can show up like this at the palace. How about a plunge in the river?’

Memsut rode to the mountain of Ra where the sun died every day. On this mysterious place where no mortal dared to go, the goddess Sechmet lived. According to some the woman with her golden mane and lightbrown eyes was even more beautiful than Isis. They did call her The Enchanting One for a reason. But she was also feared because of her dangerous whims. One wrong remark and she would shoot a deadly arrow right through your heart. Like she planned to do at the temple of her father. Fortunately Xena had been there to protect her. But now she was alone. The sun tortured her body while she climbed the mountain. When she finally reached the summit she took a big gulp from the water skin, while her head pounded from the effort. The ridge was deserted, but this was the place. She felt it. Memsut grabbed the mummified heart and lifted it to the skies. ‘Sechmet, show yourself! I’ve got something that might interest you!’

Nothing happened. Nothing at all. But suddenly a hot desert wind rose. Memsut quickly stashed the package away and covered her face. The wind blew sand in her eyes and lashed her body. Until the storm abruptly died away. When Memsut lowered her hands, the sand slowly fluttered to the ground and sunlight broke through. And then she saw her.

First her blowing golden hair. Then her eyes in which a fire seemed to burn. And finally her perfect but arrogant mouth that sneered: ‘My my my, it’s Hathor’s puppy.’

She approached her like a mighty predator while pinning her with her burning eyes. ‘What could you possibly have that might interest me...’

She was only inches away now.

‘These lips maybe?’

She let her tongue slowly roam Memsut’s mouth and amusedly pulled back.

A shiver ran down Memsut’s spine, but she managed to keep her calm. ‘You’re wasting my time. I’m here to tell you that your little game is over.’

The goddess smiled and looked Memsut up and down. ‘You’re brave. I’ll admit that. But you’re not very clever. You see, I’m a goddess. And as far as I know goddesses are immortal. I can play as long as I want.’

She held Memsut by her chin. ‘But you on the other hand... You may be ruling this country, but you’re just as mortal as the girl that washes your feet.’

‘I’m not afraid to die.’

The goddess clearly was intrigued and she gave Memsut an approving smile. ‘I’m almost beginning to envy Hathor. You should have been my high priestess.’

‘I would never serve a goddess who denies the law of Maat.’

Now Sechmet came really close and she placed her fingers on Memsut’s lips. ‘Don’t say things you don’t mean.’

Her hand slowly went down while she looked Memsut straight in the eye. ‘And don’t say things that might make me angry. Don’t you know what I’m capable of? What I can do to you?’

The goddess touched her heart and whispered: ‘I can hit you right here. Right now. Is that what you want?’

‘No,’ whispered Memsut, ‘I think I want this...’

And she kissed the goddess.

For a moment Sechmet was confused, and she let go of her guard. With a wild passion she returned her kisses.

Until Memsut pulled back.

‘On second thought... I’d rather do this,’ and she pushed a blade against Sechmet’s throat.

The goddess was stunned. It took her a while before she said: ‘Maybe you’re cleverer than I thought.’

‘Spare me your compliments. You have two options: tell me what I want to know and I’ll let you go, or I’ll let my blade do its work. I may not be able to take your life, but I can rob you from your beauty. I know how important that is to you.’

Sechmet looked her deep in the eye and said: ‘You have no idea what’s important to me. What do you know about me? You detest me, but where would you be without me? Yes, I bring death and fear, but I’m also the power that keeps people alive, I’m the one thing that makes them so desperately long to be alive. I am passion. I’m that wild pounding heart that makes you able to do more than you could ever dream. I am the anger you feel when your loved ones are attacked. I’m the endless love that makes you forget your own safety. I am what brings you here, Memsut!’

For a moment Memsut was touched. Just enough time for Sechmet to jerk herself loose and spread her hands to the sky. A silver bow appeared in her hands. She swiftly stretched the tendon and pointed the arrow on Memsut’s heart.

‘Things look a little bit different now, don’t they?’

Memsut was furious at herself. ‘Maybe you’ve won, but I know what you did and it will not go unpunished.’

‘I doubt it. And if you don’t mind, I’m going to end this. Tell Osiris I said hi.’

‘Just answer one question.’

Sechmet sighed: ‘Let me guess... You want to know if that heart really belongs to Xena?’

Memsut shook her head. ‘I want to know why you became such a coward.’

Sechmet’s eyes narrowed, but she said nothing.

‘There was a time that they called you The Brave Defender. You were the only goddess who dared to rectify her mistakes. What happened to that brave woman? Has your hunger for blood become so strung that you doomed an innocent soul to gain more power? You may be a goddess, but you’re not half the woman Xena is.’

Memsut’s eyes spit fire while she braced herself. She was ready for the quick dead the silver arrow would bring her. But death didn’t come.

Sechmet almost sounded hurt when she said: ‘You’re right. I’m a coward. Maybe all gods are. No need for courage when there’s nothing to risk. Life is endless...’

She lowered the bow and gave Memsut a sad look. ‘Power is like opium. The intoxication is so sweet that it makes you forget everything. Even your conscious.’

Memsut impatiently answered: ‘Your words mean nothing to me. Only a few minutes and the sun will die. So will the woman you betrayed. What are you going to do about that!’

Sechmet blinked and she got a bit of her arrogance back. ‘Why would I want to do something about it?’

‘Because you need me. I have the power to close your temples. I can destroy all your images. I can even wipe out your name.’

Sechmet laughed and glanced at her bow. ‘You forget I can kill you.’

‘You won’t. If you wanted me dead, you would have done it already.’

Sechmet stared at her in bewilderment. Then she bowed her head and said: ‘Xena needs that heart. This night it will be weighed again. Go, before I change my mind.’

All washed they rode back to Thebes, but suddenly Xena pulled the reins. ‘What’s wrong?’

Xena turned and said softly: ‘The sun is setting... I don’t want to go back to the palace.’

Gabrielle stroke her arm and tried to banish the thought of Xena’s death. ‘Are you sure? Maybe Memsut is waiting for you.’

Xena turned back in the saddle. ‘Forget Memsut. This is about you and me. It always has. Let’s make camp outside, for old times sake.’

Gabrielle kissed her shoulder and whispered: ‘Alright. How about that spot by the riverside?’

A moment later they sat on a soft blanket, watching the river flow. They were silent. As the sun sank Gabrielle felt her heart getting heavy. She wanted to tell Xena so much, but she couldn’t. And every second she waited longer, it became more difficult. Panic took over when Gabrielle realized that Xena’s death was at hand. She grabbed her hand and burst out: ‘I can’t let you go, Xena. I just can’t.’

Xena clenched her shoulders and said severely: ‘Yes you can. You have your whole life in front of you.’

‘Don’t you understand? You ARE my life! I want to be with you, even if I have to die for it.’

For a moment they looked at each other, not able to move.

A tear ran down Xena’s cheek as she whispered: ‘I would never forgive myself if I let you do that. And besides, there’s no point. Don’t you see? You will never end up in the Duat.’ ‘I’ll think of something.’

‘No you won’t! I may not end up in paradise, but I have you in my heart, that’s all I need. I want you to give me your word, Gabrielle. Promise me that you will go on without me.’

The bard looked away, but Xena held her face and forced her to look at her. ‘Promise me!’

It took all of her power to say the words. ‘I promise.’ Overcome with emotions Xena kissed her forehead and took her in her arms. ‘Thank you. You couldn’t have made me happier. I love you.’

A shadow conquered the land and swiftly approached them. Quicker than she had expected the sun disappeared behind the mountainridge. Gone. At that same moment she felt Xena’s embrace slackened. And she knew it was over. When Gabrielle looked aside Xena’s eyes were closed as if she was asleep. But she knew the truth. Xena was dead. She thought she would cry in despair. That she would be torn apart by panic and grief. But she was very calm. Gabrielle laid her friend carefully on the blanket and stroke her tanned cheeks and soft lips. She softly kissed her mouth and whispered against her lips: ‘I love you too.’

It was already dusk when Memsut descended the mountain, and saw someone on horseback deep down below. She knew it was Gabrielle taking Xena’s dead body to the temple of Hathor. It took her another hour to get down. When she arrived at the temple, Gabrielle had laid Xena on an altar. When she heard Memsut coming, she didn’t look up but grunted: ‘You are too late.’

Memsut nodded and walked to Xena’s body. ‘I know.’

She took Xena’s cold hand into hers and looked at her peaceful face.

Gabrielle shook her head. ‘How could you let her down like that?’

‘There was something I needed to collect. And I’m going to give it back to her.’

She took the knife from her belt and cut up the leather garment.

‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?!’

Gabrielle pushed Memsut away, but the Egyptian regent gave her an intense look. ‘Have faith in me, Gabrielle.’

The bard immediately recalled her false accusations and backed off. Memsut turned to Xena’s body and freed her left breast from clothes. She drew in a long breath and then thrust her blade into the flesh. A sickening feeling swept through her body when she made an incision. The wound barely bled. With trembling hands she grabbed the package from her bag and showed it to Gabrielle who watched her with a greenish face. ‘This is Xena’s real heart. When the feather sees how courageous it is, Osiris will open the gates of paradise. I’m certain of it.’

She stashed the mummified heart in Xena’s torso and stitched the wound up. Then she folded Xena’s left hand and placed a golden scarab on her throat. She murmured something in Egyptian and turned to Gabrielle. ‘There’s nothing we can do for her now.’

In the temple garden Memsut and Gabrielle sat down on a bench. ‘Is that why you left. To find her heart?’  

‘Yes. I found out that my brother and Sechmet switched Xena’s heart with that of a criminal named Yaksul. I had to find his grave before Xena was judged by Osiris for the second time. There was no time to lose.’

‘But why didn’t you tell her?’

Memsut looked down and murmured: ‘I was afraid I wouldn’t find her heart. Besides, she needed to be with you.’

Gabrielle swallowed a sob and whispered: ‘You can’t imagine how grateful I am, but you should have given her the choice.’ ‘Maybe you’re right. But it doesn’t matter anymore, it’s all over now.’

After a long silence Gabrielle asked: ‘How certain are you that this is Xena’s heart.’

Memsut recalled her meeting with Sechmet and a shiver ran down her spine when she thought about how close she had been to death. ‘Sechmet told me.’

The bard looked at her in shock. ‘You talked to her?’

Memsut nodded. ‘I think she’s genuinely sorry about what happened.’

Gabrielle made a smirking sound. ‘Yeah right.’

For the second time Xena entered the big white hall where severe faces stared at her. The same faces who had looked at her with disgust when her heart sank. The same people who had glanced with eager faces at the dreadful monster that lied drewling on a chain next to the scales. Only one calm man with the mask of a jackal had shown her compassion and he had refused to feed her heart to the monster. And there he was again. Smiling at her. He was different from Osiris, who stood beside him. Not as decadent and arrogant, but kind and wise. The jackal god held a package in his hand and walked to the scales. In one dish lay a feather, in the other he placed her mummified heart. Xena forced herself to watch her judgement. She knew her heart would sink right away. But nothing happened. Nothing at all. The scales were in perfect balance. She looked amazed at Anubis and then to Osiris.

‘That darn girl...’ he stammered. Then Osiris peered at Xena and solemnly said: ‘The feather has judged you. You may enter the Iaru.’

A golden door opened, revealing a divine light. Xena hesitatingly walked to the gate, but when she almost reached it Sechmet stormed into the hall. ‘Stop her!’

Osiris furiously burst out: ‘What is this? Does no one respect the god of the underworld anymore?!’

Sechmet bowed for Osiris, but there was nothing submissive in her attitude. ‘I’m sorry, but I cannot allow Xena to enter paradise.’

Anubis coughed. ‘I don’t believe you have a say in this, Sechmet. The feather of justice has spoken. This woman has the right to enter the Iaru.’

The goddess addressed him with respect: ‘I know she has the right, my brother. But she doesn’t deserve it.’

She peered at Xena, who stood there rooted to the spot. Memsut lowered her eyes and whispered: ‘I did her wrong and I want to pay my dues.’

‘Don’t worry Sechmet, we will deal with you later,’ Osiris sneered. ‘But be a good girl and let us seal this case off. Please!’

Still the goddess refused to leave. ‘She doesn’t belong in this world. If it wasn’t for her Egypt would have died!’

‘And who’s fault is that?’

Sechmet bit her lip. ‘That’s why I’m here for, to pay for my sins. Osiris, you have the power to give her life.’

The god of the underworld gave her a severe look. ‘I have the power. But you know the law of Maat. When something is reborn, something must die.’

Sechmet shivered. ‘I’m prepared to obey the law.’

‘Do you realize what that means?’

The goddess nodded. ‘Yes I do. Let her go.’

It was almost midnight when Memsut found Gabrielle in the palace garden. She gazed at the stars and didn’t hear Memsut coming. The regent softly spoke: ‘We Egyptians believe that each star represents a soul. They are smiling down on us.’

Numbly the bard answered: ‘I hope so.’

‘It’s getting cold. Why don’t you try to catch some sleep.’

‘I’m too tired to sleep. Too tired to feel... I can’t even cry.’

Memsut kissed the back of Gabrielle’s head. ‘It will come in time.’

She clapped her hands and quickly Memsut’s chambermaid came rushing to her. She whispered something in her ear and the girl left again. A short while later servants laid pillows and warm blankets on the ground. Memsut lifted up a blanket, inviting Gabrielle to lie down. ‘If I can’t make you sleep, at least let me prevent you from getting sick.’

Gabrielle gave her a shy look and then began to untie the laces of her boots. When she lay down, Memsut pulled the blanket up. ‘Are you comfortable?’

The bard nodded. ‘Thanks... For everything you’ve done for Xena and me.’

‘Don’t mention it. That’s what friends are for.’

Memsut gazed at the stars and sighed. ‘Aren’t they beautiful?’ Then she looked down on Gabrielle. ‘She’s watching over you. I’m sure of it.’

When she wanted to get up, the bard faintly said: ‘Stay. I don’t want to be alone tonight.’

They stared silently at the constellations, until Gabrielle whispered: ‘Why don’t I feel anything?’

Memsut traced the stars of Orion with her finger. ‘Your heart tries to protect you. Have you never been wounded in battle without noticing it? Not until the fight was over and you saw the blood on your skin? It’s the same with a wounded heart. Sometimes the pain doesn’t come until you’re ready for it.’

Gabrielle said nothing, but Memsut could feel a change in her. ‘Come here,’ she whispered and gently pulled the bard close. They lay there silently. Gabrielle’s head on her chest, while Memsut softly fondled her back. No words were spoken. But Memsut knew exactly how Gabrielle felt. It was her irregular breathing. The way she clenched her fists. The slowly disappearing stiffness of her body. Memsut caressed her head and kissed it gently. And then she felt it. Her chest became moist with tears and soon Gabrielle cried wholeheartedly. Until she was so tired that she fell asleep in Memsut’s arms. 

The sun had awoken and Memsut carefully lifted Gabrielle’s head to free her arm. With some difficulty she got up and stretched her sore back. When she walked into her study a pile of documents awaited her, but she couldn’t bring herself to read them. She had hardly slept last night and she was still exhausted from the day before. With a sigh she buried her face in her arms, trying to sooth her aching head. It was a sharp pain, but suddenly she felt the touch of a hand - and the pain vanished. Memsut looked up and stared at the enchanting face of Sechmet. ‘Better?’

Memsut had not yet forgiven her. Sternly she asked: ‘What do you want?’

The goddess’ eyes showed hurt, but her voice sounded cool. ‘I’m here to give you a message. You must bring Xena’s body to the temple of Amun.’

Memsut leaned against her chair, an indifferent expression on her face. ‘Give me one good reason why I should do that?’

‘The gods will give Xena the gift of life.’

Memsut couldn’t believe her ears. ‘But... how is that possible?’

‘I’m not at liberty to tell you. Just bring Xena to the temple before dawn and it will be done.’

Sechmet was on her way out when Memsut said: ‘How do I know you’re not playing with me?’

When Sechmet turned her eyes showed an unusual vulnerability. ‘You will have to trust me.’

The young regent smirked. ‘Forgive me, but I have a little trouble trusting you. I know what you’re capable of.’

The goddess faintly smiled. ‘You think you know me, but you have no idea. No idea.’ She snapped her fingers and disappeared.

‘I thought the burial ceremony was in 70 days?’

Gabrielle’s face was all frown when they entered the temple of million years of Memsut’s father. Xena’s body was still lying on the altar, she had just been rubbed in with costly ointment from the land of Punt. Memsut knew she couldn’t postpone her talk with Gabrielle any longer. She had to tell her the truth. The regent waited until the priests had placed all scarabs and symbolic amulets on Xena’s body and then sent them away. They were finally alone in the dusky chamber.

Memsut slowly inhaled the fragrance of sacred incense and whispered: ‘She’s not going to be buried, Gabrielle.’

‘What do you mean? You want to cremate her body?’

Memsut shook her head while searching for words.

‘You want me to take her back to Greece?’

Memsut looked her straight in the eye and said: ‘Yes. The priests will take her to the eastbank. Tonight.’

Gabrielle covered her face in utter confusion. ‘I don’t understand... How can I take her with me? Her body... she’s not even prepared yet!’

Memsut bit her lip. ‘Gabrielle, there’s something I have to tell you. Maybe you should sit down.’

‘No! If you’ve got something to say, say it right now!’

Memsut gazed at Xena’s still body and whispered: ‘The gods are going to revive Xena.’

Gabrielle’s face showed total shock.

‘I don’t want to give you false hope, but that’s what my source told me. The gods will bring her back to life.’

Gabrielle gasped for breath. ‘This can’t be true!’

‘I know it’s hard to believe, but according to the sacred scriptures it is possible. There is a ritual which only Osiris and Amun may proceed.’

Gabrielle covered her mouth as she looked down on Xena’s cold face. ‘By the gods,’ it sounded smothered: ‘I so much want this to be true... Who is your source?’

Memsut looked away. ‘Sechmet.’

Gabrielle jumped up. ‘Forget it! She’s the one who got Xena into this mess. I’m not letting you do this, not if she’s involved. Let Xena rest in peace.’

‘Do you think we will ever find peace if we walk away now?’

Gabrielle paced the room up and down and finally burst out: ‘What if she lied to you?’

‘What if she didn’t?’

The bard looked at her for a long time and then walked to Xena’s body. Kissing her stiff hand she said: ‘Alright, we’ll do it. But if Sechmet lied...’ and she looked at Memsut with burning eyes and a grim expression on her face: ‘I will hunt her down!’

Xena’s body lay on a golden bier and was carried by eight priestesses from the royal barque. Members of the royal garde illuminated the road with burning torches and priestesses play ritual music on their systrems and flutes. Gabrielle and Memsut walked just behind Xena’s embalmed body, impressed by the mystic atmosphere. Darkness was already fading when they reached the temple of Amun. When two highpriests had carried Xena into the dark sanctuary they were left by themselves.

‘And now what?’ the bard asked with a small voice.

Memsut grabbed her hand and squeezed it. ‘We will have to wait and see.’

She had barely said it or Osiris appeared. His extravagant presence filled the room, hardly noticing the two woman who kneeled down behind the bier. A moment later Amun stood beside him. Memsut couldn’t believe her eyes. The god of light was never to be seen and always hid in the shadow, but there he was. And he looked so ordinary. She had expected a radiant personality, but here was a simple man wearing a simple robe and no jewelry whatsoever. Only his eyes were unusual; they were the lightest she had ever seen. Osiris peered at Xena’s stiff body and grumbled: ‘All this effort for a woman. A foreign woman mind you!’

Amun threw him an accusative look. ‘Do what you have to do and leave.’

Osiris pouted his lips, but he did it anyway. He placed his hands on Xena’s head and mumbled a sacred spell. Then he laid an anch on her heart and looked up to meet Memsut’s eye. ‘That’s it then. It wasn’t a pleasure, so be nice and don’t get in my face again. Until you’re dead of course.’ He snapped his fingers and vanished into thin air.

Amun shook his head and approached the two women. ‘Welcome in my home, daughter of Tethmoses. And welcome to you, daughter of the northern sun.’

Gabrielle lowered her eyes, a blush on her cheeks. Amun then turned to Xena and placed his hand on her chest. ‘It is almost time. The sun will awake and shine its heavenly light on your brave heart.’

He whispered something that Gabrielle and Memsut couldn’t hear, but it was as though a white light entered Xena’s heart. Amun lifted his hand and laid another anch on her heart. When the golden jewels touched they melted together.

The sungod took a step back and said softly: ‘You can come in now.’

Memsut and Gabrielle looked in surprise behind them. It was Sechmet! Memsut could only just prevent Gabrielle from attacking her and whispered: ‘Calm down. Let me handle this!’ Memsut got up and bowed for Amun. ‘Lord of the light, I object to the presence of this goddess. She has done great damage to the woman who you wish to revive.’

She felt Sechmet’s gaze on her, but she refused to look back.

Amun gave her a friendly look, but his voice was determined. ‘I understand your feelings, but I cannot expel Sechmet from this place. She’s part of the ritual. I cannot change that. Unfortunately.’

Memsut didn’t understand. Never had she read in the sacred books that the goddess was needed in a ritual like this. But then again, she had never seen someone raised from the dead. When she got on her knees again, she gave Sechmet a furtive glance. She startled when their eyes met. It was fear she saw...

Amun sprinkled sweet smelling oil on Xena’s body and muttered spells that even Memsut couldn’t understand. Then he peered at the entrance where a whitish light chased away the darkness. He nodded to the lion goddess and said: ‘It is time.’

Memsut looked in wonder at Sechmet. The fear in her eyes was gone, she suddenly breathed calmness. But it was not her inner strength that confused her, it was Sechmet’s smile when she looked at her. Such a loving smile.

The goddess closed her eyes for a moment, before she slowly kneeled down, right next to the warrior’s face. Then she bent over Xena’s body, until her golden hair covered the warrior’s forehead, until her lips almost touched Xena’s mouth. For a second Sechmet glanced at Memsut, with an expression she could not read. And then she pressed her lips on Xena’s and opened her mouth. At the same moment a sunray shone on the altar and bathed the two woman in light.

Memsut immediately understood what Sechmet was doing... She gave Xena her divine breath! She gave up her immortality! Gabrielle and Memsut breathlessly watched... Sechmet’s lips were still on Xena’s mouth and they could see how the warrior’s lungs filled with air. With every breath the goddess gave to Xena, her body trembled heavier and the gold seemed to vanish from her hair. ‘Enough,’ Amun commanded and he placed a hand on her head. ‘It has been done, Sechmet.’

Amun took Sechmet’s hand and kissed it lightly. ‘Take care, my sister. You truly have the heart of a lion.’ Amun closed his eyes and vanished.

Sechmet turned to Memsut and Gabrielle who still gazed at her in bewilderment. ‘She will wake up soon. Go to her.’

Gabrielle immediately rushed to Xena’s body and held her trembling fingers in front of her nose. And there it was. Her breath on her skin. ‘By the gods,’ she whispered and grabbed Xena’s hand. It was still cold, but not stiff anymore.

Sechmet smilingly watched her and then slowly headed for the entrance. But she stopped when she saw Memsut. Softly she said: ‘You’re strong, wise and courageous. Egypt is blessed to have you.’

When the blond woman passed her, Memsut grabbed her hand in a reflex and whispered: ‘Thank you. I won’t forget this.’

Soon she heard Sechmet’s footsteps die away.

‘Wake up, Xena. Please, wake up.’

Gabrielle caressed Xena’s ravenblack hair and kissed her forehead. ‘Come back to me. I need you,’ she whispered against her cheek. She kissed it and gently tilted Xena’s face towards her. ‘Don’t leave me here on my own. You and I belong together. I love you.’ And she kissed her lips as light as a feather.

Slowly Xena’s long lashes parted and she stared into the blue eyes she loved so much. Gabrielle hardly dared to breathe. Or to blink. Afraid she would wake up and realize it had all been a dream. But it wasn’t. Xena opened her mouth and tried to speak, but she lacked the energy.

‘It’s okay,’ Gabrielle said, her voice trembling with emotion. ‘I’m so glad you’re back. So glad.’

A faint smile curled Xena’s lips before she closed her eyes again.

Memsut watched them from a distance. And she knew. Knew that Xena would never stay with her. She walked over to Gabrielle and softly squeezed her shoulder. ‘The priests will bring Xena to the palace. I’ll meet you there.’

Gabrielle frowned. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to stay a while? I can leave if that’s...’

But Memsut raised her hand and stammered: ‘No, I ehm, I’ll talk to her later.’

‘No, you won’t.’

Gabrielle and Memsut both turned when they heard Xena’s weak voice. But her eyes looked as piercing as ever. ‘We have nothing to discuss.’

Memsut stiffened. She had expected this reaction, but it pained her just the same.

Gabrielle held Xena’s hand and whispered: ‘Xena, there’s a lot you don’t know.’

But Xena fought against her exhaustion. ‘I know enough.’

Gabrielle opened her mouth to say something, but Memsut laid a hand on her arm and said: ‘It’s okay, Gabrielle. Xena knows where to find me if she changes her mind.’  

Xena slept all day. Gabrielle didn’t leave her side, she couldn’t stop herself from watching her friend’s face. She could hardly believe that Xena was alive. Darkness had already fallen when the warrior finally opened her eyes. Seeing her beautiful eyes moved her so much, she had to clear her throat before she was able to speak. ‘How are you feeling?’

Xena lifted her hand and caressed her cheek. There was a gleam in her eyes when she whispered: ‘Reborn.’

The bard laughed through her tears and embraced her friend. ‘I missed you.’

 Xena managed to wrap her arms around Gabrielle and fondled her back. ‘It’s good to be back.’

Xena’s stomach made a roaring sound and they both chuckled. ‘Seems you’ve got your mortal urges back,’ the bard said: ‘I’ll get you some food.’

But when Gabrielle tried to get up, Xena stopped her. ‘Stay. My stomach can wait.’

When the bard sat down again, Xena took her hand into hers and said softly: ‘I just want to look at you for a while.’ Gabrielle felt the tears well up again, but she kept herself from crying. She smirked: ‘You really gotta stop dying on me. I can only take so much revivals.’

Xena smiled and managed to sit up. ‘I’ll try to stay alive for a while.’

‘Good. I happen to know a perfect survival technique: it’s called eating. Come on, let me get you something. You need to get your strength back.’

Xena sighed. ‘Alright. But promise me something first. Let’s leave this place as soon as possible. Let’s go home.’

The bard looked away. ‘I know you don’t want to hear it, but you misjudge Memsut.’

‘You’re right, I don’t want to hear it.’

Gabrielle hung her head and drew in a long breath. ‘You should. She saved your life.’

The warrior narrowed her eyes, but kept silent.

‘Xena, she didn’t leave you because of her work. She risked her life to retrieve your real heart. It’s a long story, but the bottom line is that Memsut tried to help you. She even challenged Sechmet.’

Xena was completely dazed and it took her a while before she burst out: ‘Why didn’t she tell me?!’

Gabrielle gave her a tender look. ‘Because she knows you. She knew you wouldn’t let her do this on her own.’ Gabrielle lowered her eyes and softly added: ‘Memsut wanted us to be together. In case her plan would fail.’ Gabrielle felt the blood rush to her cheeks, but she looked up to meet her friend’s eyes. ‘We owe her everything, Xena.’

Memsut was just discussing the latest news with Kejan, when there was a knock on the door. Memsut nodded to her chambermaid and she opened the door. It was Xena. The Egyptian regent hadn’t seen her in two days and she was surprised how quick Xena had recovered. She stood there strong and beautiful as ever, but there was something insecure about her. ‘Kejan, I’ll talk to you later.’

The minister bowed his head and walked off, but Memsut hardly noticed him leave. It took only a brief order to sent the Nubian girl away and they were alone in her study. The Egyptian princess looked at her intensely. ‘I’m glad you came.’

Xena play with the chakram on her belt. ‘I wanted to come sooner, but... I didn’t know how to face you.’

Memsut gently stopped Xena from spinning the chakram and smiled. ‘You came. That’s all that matters to me.’

They were so close their breath mixed. Xena lowered her eyes, her gaze on Memsut’s lips. Until watching them wasn’t enough anymore.

‘Come,’ said Memsut when their kisses became too passionate. She took Xena by the hand and pulled her towards a door. It revealed a small, dark corridor. Impatiently Xena pushed her against the cold wall and searched for her lips, pressing her body against her. Memsut had trouble resisting the wild feeling that threatened to overwhelm her. She wanted so much to give her body to Xena, but not here. Memsut clenched Xena’s hair and pulled her away. ‘Be patient,’ she said hoarsely when Xena looked at her, her eyes wide with desire. But Memsut would not be swayed. She took the warrior by the hand and walked on.

Finally they reached a door and Memsut opened it. A beautiful hall was revealed. From small openings sunlight entered the room and they lit up a huge sandstone statue of Hathor, giving it a golden glow. Xena looked in admiration around her, but not for long. She turned to Memsut who removed her belt made of tiny golden rings and lapis lazuli. Xena clenched Memsut’s hand and whispered: ‘Let me.’ While their eyes captivated each other, Xena slowly kneeled down and slid her hands underneath the thin white robe. Her fingers roamed her legs, upwards to her knees and thighs. They stroke over her hips and stomach, to stop right beneath Memsut’s breasts. Xena looked up to see the desire in Memsut’s eyes and smiled, almost maliciously. While getting up she lifted the robe, revealing Memsut’s naked body. She unbuttoned the first button from the inside and planted her lips on the freed skin. The Egyptian princess moaned and reached for the second button, but Xena said teasingly: ‘Be patient.’ Xena unbuttoned the second one and again kissed her skin, while her fingers roamed Memsut’s delicate curves. They reached for the third button, but Memsut had used up all of her patience and tore her gown up. ‘I’ve waited long enough.’

Hours later they lay glistening before the statue. Xena looked up to Hathor and said: ‘I hope she doesn’t like to watch.’

Memsut chuckled. ‘She’s the goddess of love, of course she likes to watch. And I think she’s very pleased the gods have awoken you.’

‘If it wasn’t for you... I owe you so much.’

Memsut smiled. ‘I’m glad I had the strength to resist you when you asked me to stay.’

Xena lowered her eyes, recalling the pain when she thought that Memsut had chosen not to be with her. ‘You should have told me.’

‘Maybe. I never meant to hurt you, Xena, but I saw no other option.’

The warrior caressed her cheek and whispered: ‘I know.’

Xena watched the sunrays that play with Memsut’s naked body and noticed that they had lost their brightness. Dusk was on its way.

‘When are you leaving?’

Memsut’s voice woke her up with a start. ‘How did you know...’ ‘I can feel it. And it’s okay.’

Xena looked away and bit her lip. ‘I’m sorry. Part of me wants to stay, but I just can’t.’

‘I know. I’ve always known that your path isn’t mine. My place is here in Egypt. Yours is with Gabrielle.’

Xena looked at her in wonder, but then she said: ‘Even if Gabrielle wasn’t an issue, I couldn’t have stayed. There’s a restlessness inside of me… I can’t explain.’

‘Not yet. But one day you will understand that everything you need is already there.’ 

The next morning Memsut started early. She had lost a lot of time the day before and some things couldn’t wait. She had just said goodbye to the Persian ambassador, when Gabrielle and Xena walked in. There was an awkward silence. Then Gabrielle said: ‘We’re ready to go... I will miss you so much.’

Memsut opened her arms and embraced her blonde friend. ‘So will I.’ And then she whispered in her ear: ‘Take good care of Xena. You’re the strong one, don’t forget that.’

She pulled away and Memsut continued rather businesslike to Xena: ‘I’ve saddled up a horse. She’s full of fire - I think she will please you.’ And while she gave Xena a ring: ‘If you have any trouble with the border crossings, show this to the soldiers. They will provide you with whatever you need.’

Xena put the ring on her finger and said ill at ease: ‘Thanks...’

Gabrielle looked from one to the other and coughed. ‘I think I’ll go pack the horse.’

When she was gone Memsut helplessly looked at Xena. ‘This isn’t going very well, is it? I’m not good at saying goodbye, so... Maybe it’s better if you just left.’

But Xena grabbed her hand. ‘You know I couldn’t. Come here.’ As she held Memsut in her arms she whispered: ‘Thanks for awakening me.’

The Egyptian princess looked up, her eyes filled with tears: ‘Thank Osiris and Amun. They gave you back your life.’

‘That’s not what I meant.’ And she kissed Memsut for the last time.         

Gabrielle and Xena headed north and had barely spoken since they left the palace. They were both consumed with their thoughts. But suddenly Gabrielle couldn’t take it no more. ‘Are you sure you want to leave?’

‘No. So let’s move on.’

As she walked on briskly she peered at the beautiful black horse. She had ridden it for a short while, but she didn’t want to force it. ‘How shall I call her?’

Gabrielle looked at the horse and then to Xena. ‘I think that’s rather obvious. I’d call her Memsut.’

Xena raised an eyebrow. ‘Memsut?’

‘Yeah. I mean, they have a lot in common: fiery, blackhaired, strong, you’ve ridden them both...’

Gabrielle chuckled, but soon flushed when she saw Xena’s shocked expression. So she quickly added: ‘On the other hand, Annie sounds nice too.’

Xena bulged her cheek with her tongue and patted the horse’s flank. Smirking she said: ‘Don’t listen to that annoying girl, she’s just babbling. Best way to deal with her is just pretend you listen and think of something nice. In your case that would be a hotblooded stallion. Or a juicy apple. Whatever turns you on.’

And she swiftly mounted the horse. Xena reached out her hand to Gabrielle, but the bard indignantly crossed her arms. ‘Oops, I think we have insulted Gabrielle.’ And then she addressed the bard. ‘Come on, take my hand. It’s a long way to Alexandria.’

But Gabrielle walked off, a determined expression on her face. ‘No thanks. The babbling bard is doing just fine.’

Xena rode slowly next to her, trying to hide her smile. ‘Okay, I take back the babbling part.’

‘What about calling me annoying?’

‘What about comparing Memsut to a horse?!’

Gabrielle smiled and stroke the black mane of the animal. ‘You’ve got to admit, Xena, it was kind of funny.’

Xena reached out her hand again and sighed: ‘It was hilarious. Now get on the horse.’

Gabrielle grabbed her hand and swung behind her. When she wrapped her arms around Xena’s waist she smirked: ‘I’m glad you’re not going to call her Memsut. It would feel a little bit awkward... Me riding Memsut as well, I mean.’

Xena pulled the horse to a stop. ‘I haven’t practiced my elbowpunches for some time now... Don’t tempt me.’

When Gabrielle kept her mouth shut, Xena nudged the horse and rode off. ‘That’s better.’ And she lightly squeezed the bard’s hand.   

The temple of Sechmet was crowded with workmen. They towed down statues and chiseled away her name from the pylons. Memsut watched it with mixed feelings. Soon this temple would belong to Bastet, the new goddess of war. It was the right thing to do, for Sechmet was no longer immortal and had left the pantheon. But it felt strange just the same. Even though the former goddess had done a terrible thing, she did feel a  weakness for her. She admired her strength, her passion, her energy. And that feeling had only grown when Sechmet gave up her immortality. The supervisor brought her back to reality. ‘Excuse me your Highness, but we’re ready to transport the statues.’

Memsut nodded that he could proceed, but then she waved him back. ‘Bring the one from the sanctuary to the palace.’

The supervisor looked a bit surprised, but he bowed and promised he would deliver the statue right away. When he was gone, Memsut walked into the sanctuary. It was empty now and had lost all its magic. She shivered when she saw that Sechmet’s name was removed from the hieroglyphics.

‘Like I never existed...’

Memsut turned with a start and stared into Sechmet’s face. She had lost her golden glow, but she looked as enchanting as ever. Still something had changed. The fire in her eyes was gone.

‘I’m sorry you have to witness this.’

Sechmet smiled and touched the wall where once her name had stood. ‘Don’t be. This is what I am. An empty space. Erased from history.’

Memsut shook her head and said softly: ‘Your life as a goddess may be over, but your mortal life has only just begun. This is not the end.’

Sechmet gave her a sad look: ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about.’

Memsut shrugged her shoulders. ‘Maybe I don’t. I can’t possibly know what it feels like to be a god, or what it’s like to lose the powers that go with it. I only know that I didn’t respect you until you gave up your immortality.’

‘Like I said, you don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m useless. Look at me!’ She tried to stretch her bow, but couldn’t. ‘I can’t even defend myself!’ And she tossed the bow away.

‘Then let someone defend you.’

Sechmet laughed sneeringly. ‘I never needed help before.’ Memsut picked up the silver bow. ‘Being dependent doesn’t make us mortals weak, it’s our strength. It brings us closer together. It gives us what the gods will never understand.’

Sechmet stared at her with her goldenbrown eyes. ‘Are you talking about love? You think I don’t know what that is?’

She shook her head in disbelieve and then looked at her with misty eyes. ‘I gave up everything I had... My youth, my beauty, my power. I let go of everything. And not because of Xena.’

Sechmet ran her delicate fingers through Memsut’s black hair. ‘I did it for you. So don’t tell me the gods don’t know anything about love.’

Memsut was so surprised, she could hardly think.

Sechmet traced her cheekline with her fingers. ‘If I had let Xena enter paradise, I would have had you all to myself. And you would have been mine...’

She looked so intensely into Memsut’s eyes, that it took her breath away.

‘Maybe not right away, but I can be very patient when I want something.’

Her finger caressed the curves of Memsut’s lips as she whispered: ‘I could wait for months. Just until you would open up to me.’

Memsut’s lips parted automatically and Sechmet let her finger enter. When it touched Memsut’s tongue a hunger began to shine in her eyes.

The blonde woman tilted her head to kiss her, but just before their lips touched, Memsut whispered: ‘So why did you do it?’ Sechmet pulled away and narrowed her eyes. ‘You are playing with me. Just like you did on the mountainridge.’

She smiled recalling the event. ‘The way you challenged me, that determined look in your eye, your courage, your beauty... I knew right then and there that seducing you would never be enough. I wanted to earn your respect.’

She paused and her expression grew sad again. ‘But respect is not the same as love, is it? Don’t worry, I won’t bother you again.’

She looked at the erased cartouches and shivered. ‘I know when I’ve lost.’

Memsut grabbed her by the wrist and said dryly: ‘Tomorrow at noon I have a meeting with my minister of war. It seems that Libyan tribes are plundering the Fayoum oasis. We could use some strategic insight. Be there.’ And as she passed the puzzled ex-goddess, she whispered: ‘And what you just said... I’m sure you’re very patient, but I’m not. Don’t wait too long.’

Xena and Gabrielle stood at the bow of a Greek vessel. A couple of sailors unmoored and slowly the boat left the harbor. ‘I can’t hardly believe we’re leaving,’ Gabrielle said. ‘So much has happened here.’

When Xena didn’t answer, she looked aside. The warrior stared at the fast increasing distance between the boat and Egypt. Gabrielle caressed her hand and whispered: ‘Are you okay?’

Xena blinked and replied hoarsely: ‘I’m fine. Really.’ Gabrielle knew that wasn’t the case, but she also knew that Xena wouldn’t open up to her now. So she left. Xena would come to her when she was ready. The bard grabbed her bag and sat down in a shady corner. She picked up her quill and started writing. She had scribbled down a few lines when Xena plopped down next to her. ‘What are you writing?’

Gabrielle peered at the warrior and saw that Xena looked a lot better. The bard didn’t want to make her feel sad again, so she lied while she covered the scroll with her hand. ‘Just some poems. About those strange white birds we saw. The sacred ibis.’

Xena looked her straight in the eye. ‘I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but don’t. It’s about Memsut, right?’

‘Hm, did the flaming red cheeks give me away?’

Xena chuckled and rested her hand on Gabrielle’s knee. ‘Yep. Come on, read something to me.’

And so Gabrielle recited with her bard voice: ‘I sing of Memsut, the great pharaoh of Egypt.’

‘Regent,’ Xena corrected.

The bard put on an aggrieved expression. ‘She’s a pharaoh to me. Memsut’s brother can’t even spell the word pharaoh yet!’

‘It’s still tampering with the facts.’

‘It’s not tampering. This is what they call poetic licence, Xena. Now do you want me to go on, or what?’

Xena smiled. ‘Go on. You won’t hear another word from me. Promised.’

Gabrielle drew in a deep breath and concentrated again. ‘I sing of Memsut, the great pharaoh of Egypt. A woman who made lions shudder with fear and warriors tremble with desire.’ When she saw Xena’s embarrassment the bard playfully shoved her and giggled. ‘Just kidding. This is the suitable-for-sisters-living-in-Poteidea-version. I’m thinking of giving the uncensored version to Aphrodite. She will be so proud of you.’ Xena rolled her eyes. ‘Right... Was that it?’

Gabrielle nodded and picked up the quill again to write some more. But it wasn’t long before she paused and sighed: ‘Stop looking over my shoulder.’

‘I just wanna be sure you’re not writing anything raunchy about me.’

‘I thought you didn’t want me to tamper with the facts?’

Under her breath Xena said: ‘Got me there.’

The bard looked at her for a while and finally gave in. ‘Okay, you may watch. As long as you keep your mouth shut.’

Xena smiled and leaned contentedly against a sack of grain. Gabrielle had barely jotted down a line, when Xena murmured: ‘A lonely figure followed the dusty sandtrail... Like that.’ Gabrielle hissed: ‘Stttt!’

She put the quill back on the scroll and with elegant motions scribbled down a few more sentences. Until it sounded: ‘Where do I get in?’

Gabrielle gave her an angry look and snorted: ‘I can’t work like this, Xena!’

The warrior raised her hands in defense. ‘Got it. Not a word.’

Gabrielle drew in a long breath and dipped the quill in the ink. She had written only three words when Xena muttered: ‘Don’t forget to jot down some action. A bit of blood, rolling heads, swaying swords... People love that stuff!’

If looks could kill, the warrior was definitely dead. Xena knew she had gone too far and tried to mellow the bard with her best pouting faces. But Gabrielle didn’t budge and took the bottle of ink. ‘This is the deal, Xena: one more word from you and I will pour the contents of this bottle in your cleavage.’

‘No, you won’t.’

‘Don’t make me do it, Xena!’

The warrior smiled at her teasingly. ‘That’s your last bottle of ink. Think Gabrielle. We’ll be on sea for weeks... If you can’t write, it will be just you and your sea sickness.’

Gabrielle put down the bottle and covered her face with her hands. ‘By the gods, this is going to be a long journey.’

And while she gave Xena a defiant look: ‘Don’t you have something useful to do? Like sharpening your sword, polishing your cupper?’

Xena wrapped an arm around her blonde friend and smiled: ‘Nope. I’m having too much fun with bugging you. It’s soooo good to be back.’

Gabrielle couldn’t help but laugh and gave her a loving look. ‘It’s good to have you back.’

Xena flashed her eyebrows up and down and replied: ‘Even now?’ ‘I find it hard to believe myself, but yes... even now. I can’t help but love you.’ And she kissed her lightly on the lips. Almost immediately she picked up her quill again and concentrated on writing.

Xena peered at her slightly puzzled. But then she leaned against the sack and let her gaze fell upon the gracious movements of Gabrielle’s hand. Smilingly she closed her eyes. She was home.

The End!  

Continue The Story in "HOME"

Back to FanFic Index