ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

Enemy Mine by Gina L. Dartt

Disclaimers:

* The following story uses characters and situations created and owned by MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. Thus I'm not sure anything I write can belong to anyone but them but since I'm doing this for fun and no monetary profit, I'm not sure it matters.

* This story does contain certain scenes of violence and bloody action. If that makes you ill, best not go on.

* There are same-gender love scenes in here and if you have a problem with the thought of that, then there are other stories you might like better. Though if you got over this silly prejudice, you would find a heck of a lot of good fiction out there.

* I did most horrible things to Perdicus's reputation in this story so if you're a fan of the guy, then perhaps you should not read this.

*And I just want to point out, when I first wrote this, all the clichés being used here weren't clichés. You know, the cave, the hot spring, the falling asleep. I'm not sure what's going on in Xena fan fic now, but back then, you could actually keep up with it all.

Xena didn't like this at all.

The tall, dark-haired woman with the cobalt blue eyes had immediately known something was wrong as soon as she entered the small town. People were making a point of getting out of her way and finding things to do inside shops and homes as soon as she came in sight. Uneasily, the warrior dismounted the golden palomino in front of the inn where she had left Gabrielle some four days earlier.

Her traveling companion had not liked it when Xena told her she had to stay behind while she dealt with an old foe in another village, and had been very vocal in how the whole situation was all too reminiscent of the times before. But eventually, the bard had apparently allowed herself to be convinced that it was the most expedient course and grudgingly stayed behind. Xena had promised herself she would make it up to her friend; a promise she remembered even as she entered the tavern, looking about the common room.

Gabrielle wasn't there.

Not necessarily alarming within itself but the way the inhabitants suddenly went silent and made a point of not meeting her eyes triggered every sense she had into overdrive. Warily she went to the bar and nodded at the innkeeper who was polishing a glass.

"What can I get you?" he asked gruffly. A greasy ring of hair circled a speckled scalp that gleamed wetly in the defused light cast by the candles that did little to illuminate the dim tavern even in daytime.

"Nothing," she responded shortly. She put both hands on the bar and leaned forward, unconsciously turning her unease into a threatening posture. "I'm supposed to be meeting a friend here. She's about this high, has reddish-blond hair and green eyes. She's a bard. Hardly ever stops talking."

The barkeep didn't answer right away, intently interested in his glass and Xena forced herself not to reach across the counter and seize him by the throat. The wariness was beginning to flare into full blown worry.

"She was here," he admitted finally. "She's gone."

"What do you mean, gone?" Xena stated coldly, her deep blue eyes turning glacier. Had Gabrielle followed her after all? It would have been just like her. Except, of course, that shouldn't be making him sweat like he was or give his every motion a jittery air. Something was wrong.

He refused to look up at her and sudden fear for her friend sparked rage. She grasped him by the front of his shirt and hauled him halfway across the bar, glaring into features gone pale, forcing him to look her in the eyes. Her strong hands tightened on his collar, choking him menacingly.

"I'm not gonna ask again," she snarled. The look on her face convinced him.

"They took her. They took her yesterday, all right," he gasped, eyes beginning to bulge out in his head as his face flushed dark. "There's nothing we could do. They take what they want."

"Who?" Xena's blood suddenly ran cold.

"Darulus and his band," he said, struggling weakly against her grasp on his throat. "They show up every so often. I don't know where they took her or why."

"Then who can tell me?" She shook him slightly.

"Merticles," one of the men behind her said.

She dropped the innkeeper who fell behind back behind the bar, rubbing at his neck and relieved to find himself intact as he gasped some much needed oxygen. Xena turned quickly, hand going to the circle of metal at her waist. She relaxed slightly as she saw a thin man dressed in a farmer's simple tunic. He had soft grey eyes and a scar running down his left cheek. The awkward way he carried himself and held his arm told of even deeper, more damaging, unseen scars.

"I know who you are, Xena," he said, hands held up in a nonthreatening, submissive motion. "But there's little we can do to help you. The war between Theris and Pheribus took most of the able bodied men from around here and the village doesn't have much in the way of defense at the best of times. Darulus knows he'll find no resistance here and besides, he has twenty strong and experienced warriors. Most of us was just glad they took an outsider and not one of our own," he added shamefully.

Xena's rage was a molten inferno by now but she could also tell he was trying to explain and the beaten expression in his eyes told how much this village had been cowed. It would not do to take it out on him, especially since he seemed to be the only one volunteering information.

"Who's Merticles?" she spat.

"He's the blacksmith," he muttered, head bowed. "He's the only one who does business with them, sells them weapons. They pay him in gold and he doesn't care what else they do in the village."

"It's about time he started," Xena said coldly.

His head snapped up at that and he reached out in a half pleading motion. "He's a monster," he warned her. "A killer."

"So am I," she reminded shortly before turning on her heel and walking back through the door.

Xena strode angrily from the inn and looked down the street to where the smoke and shimmers of heat marked the blacksmith's shop. She was vaguely aware of people spilling out of the inn behind her and the rest of the villagers lurking in shops and homes, peering through cracks and windows at her. They all seemed to know what was about to happen. As did the target of her wrath, apparently. From the dark shadows of the door, one of the largest men she had ever seen lurched out into the street.

He was bare to the waist, thick slabs of muscle displayed and glistening in the sun as sweat streamed from his upper body. His shoulders were as broad as some men were high and in his massive hands, a double-bladed axe gleamed silver, hefted easily as if it were a child's toy. His head seemed absurdly small, perched on his body as if he had no neck at all and his eyes were small pits of dark in a battered and brutal visage.

The warrior princess did not hesitate, did not pause in her stride, did not alter her expression other than a narrowing of her eyes. She understood now why no one had objected to his dealing with the raiders. He could break most of them in half with no more effort than swatting a fly.

"I figured you'd be wanting to talk to me," he greeted her snidely, grinning unpleasantly. "That's why I suggested they take the bard rather than one of the villagers. I wanted to cross blades with the great Xena. Though I've heard you've gotten soft."

"You heard wrong," she responded evenly, drawing her sword. She paused as she reached him, looked him up and down with insulting condescension. "You're just a wee pup compared to most I deal with," she added in a snide tone.

The village, who had heard of her defeat of Gareth, the biggest, meanest giant around were suitably impressed. Whether Merticles was or not was unreadable in the flat, scarred features. The sudden swipe with the axe told her, however, that she had struck a nerve.

She dodged it easily and sliced a red line down his arm before darting away, easily avoiding the next swing of the axe that tried to decapitate her. As she had suspected, he relied on his muscles and size to destroy his victims. A big man in a very small pond; a bully who had yet to run into someone to who knew brute strength did not necessarily mean power. He was not used to a swift warrior who's speed and reflexes could bring him down with a multitude of small cuts and slashes. The problem with this style of fighting, however, was that it took both time and patience; traits she was in short supply of at the moment. Her concern for the fate of her companion threatened to overwhelm her. Still, she forced herself to keep control, not to hurry or make a mistake. It was Gabrielle's life that was at stake here.

She was peripherally aware of the crowd which had gathered, leaving a large circle for the combatants. They were enthralled by the spectacle before them. The warrior princess, long dark hair flowing free around classically beautiful features as she fought, was a poetic dance of motion and fury which made a marked contrast to the lumbering, mound of muscles which had bullied them for so long. Of course, they didn't dare cheer her on lest she lost and his anger fell upon them, but their hearts soared silently as she blocked and swung, her skill gradually bringing Merticles to his knees. A gasp escaped them as she let loose her metal disc, the chakram deflecting off the anvil and a hanging metal tool before ripping through the axe handle, the blade falling impotently to the dirt. Her battle cry vibrated as she flipped through the air, booted feet crashing into the bald head and sending Merticles to his back in the dust.

None of them, including Xena, noticed a rider on a big, black gelding join the outskirts of the crowd, the horse dancing slightly as the slender figure dismounted and bade him to stay. The cloaked warrior forced through the villagers to a front row vantage as Xena hauled Merticles to a sitting position and applied the infamous pressure point pinch to the thick neck.

Xena wasn't entirely sure that it would work through all that muscle and was gratified as he immediately stiffened, struggling to draw breath.

"I've just cut off the flow of blood to your brain," Xena growled, her worry for Gabrielle finally breaking her control slightly as she loomed over him. "You've got thirty seconds to tell me where your buddies have taken my friend."

Unfortunately, it did not have the desired effect. He didn't talk, beady eyes glaring at her as he shuddered under the pain and increasing pressure. She stared at him, frowning as a trickle of blood appeared and began to run from his nose. Still, he refused to speak and as the seconds sped by and his eyes rolled back in his head she had no choice but to release the pinch. He was, after all, her only lead to Gabrielle.

He choked and gasped as he fell back, hauling air into tortured lungs. Finally he snorted laughter and glared challengingly back at her. "I knew it was a bluff," he spat. "They say you've gone soft, that if I don't talk, you'll release it before death. Palaemon beat it."

Xena rolled her eyes briefly in disgust. That story had certainly gotten around quick enough. The punk kid had tried to make his reputation by attacking her and had indeed, called her bluff. Unfortunately, the circumstances were the same now as then; she needed information and a dead prisoner was not remarkably co-operative in that area.

"Oh Xena," came a disturbingly familiar voice from the crowd. "Your reputation is truly shot, isn't it?"

Xena whirled, drawing her sword and staring with horror at the slim blond figure standing at the edge of the crowd. She couldn't imagine this day getting worse and then suddenly, impossibly, it was.

"Callisto."

Callisto strolled into the circle, sparing a glance at Merticles before stopping entirely too close to the warrior princess, allowing Xena's blade to rest against the slender neck. Callisto's outfit had changed from her normal brief armor, Xena noted. In addition to the long dark cloak flowing from the silver clasp at the hollow of her throat, Callisto wore leather breeches and a vest that laced up the front to a deep v that revealed smooth skin and a generous amount of cleavage. The arms sported black gauntlets adorned with silver inlay matching the armband encircling her right bicep. Her sword hilt protruded from beneath the cloak at her back and Xena could see daggers in each of the calf-high boots. But Callisto made no move to draw any weapon, instead leaning forward slightly against the point of Xena's blade until it entered the soft flesh, inserting far enough to sever the jugular.

"Aren't you glad to see me, Xena?" Callisto queried softly, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Her voice reverberated a little as if her voice box vibrated against the steel. She drew back slightly, pulling off the blade. There was no blood and the smooth skin closed up without leaving a mark to scar the porcelain flesh.

"No," Xena said shortly, noting this without pleasure. Her eyes darting about to see if there any more unpleasant surprises. Like Ares or much worse...Hope.

Callisto assumed a much put upon expression. "Oh, Xena, you hurt my feelings," she pouted. "I'm always so glad to see you."

"What do you want, Callisto?" Xena said flatly. Clearly the blond was here, existed once more, was standing right in front of her. The mystery of how and why Callisto had managed it was less important than what she was up to.

Callisto smiled. Her eyes widened with a wicked delight.

"Oh, my dear Xena, you could not even begin to guess," she responded earnestly.

She glanced over at Merticles who had not moved but had an ugly grin on his face as he watched the two women. "What are you smiling at, meat," she snarled, losing the pleasant expression.

He lost the grin but not the smugly triumphant look as he gestured at Xena with his head. "I can help you kill her," he said in a fawning tone.

"Like I'd need your help," Callisto snorted. She shot a look at Xena from underneath lowered lashes. "You wanna fight to the death today, Xena?" she asked blandly, a mischievous grin touching the corners of her mouth.

"Not really," Xena answered carefully, not knowing where this was going.

Callisto shrugged. "Me either," she said in a bored tone. She looked back down at the man on the ground. "I guess this just ain't your lucky day, meat."

Her hand whipped out fast as a striking snake, grasping him by the ear and twisting brutally. Bemused, Xena lowered her sword, staring at Callisto who knelt down until she was eye-level with the suddenly shaking blacksmith.

"You see, I happen to want to know about Gabrielle as well," she continued in that sweet, syrupy voice that sent chills skittering down Xena's spine. "So talk quick. Who took her, why did they take her and where are they taking her."

"It's Daludas," he began to talk rapidly and with great sincerity as he looked into the dark eyes. "They have a cave up in the hills to the north. That's probably where they took her...for a little fun, y'know?" He tried to smile ingratiatingly at her.

Xena began to turn to get Argo. Callisto reached out and snagged her arm, smiling icily as Xena whirled, eyes snapping fury. Callisto shook her head, took her hand away carefully. "Too easy, Xena," she explained. "Artemis would not have summoned me here for a small thing like that."

"Artemis?" Xena frowned, raised an eyebrow.

Callisto spared her a brief look before turning her attention back to Merticles who realized from the cold expression in the blond's eyes that his lie did not go over as well as he'd hoped. A blade suddenly appeared from its hidden sheath in her gauntlet and she pressed it gently against his throat.

"I don't know any fancy pressure points," she told him conversationally. She drew the edge caressingly along the line of throat and collarbone and trailed down his chest. "But I do know what happens when I slit open your belly and your intestines fall all over the ground. You'll die real slow and I know you'll tell me what I want just so I'll end your suffering. Unless, of course, you think I'm bluffing."

"They follow Circe," he admitted, beads of sweat appearing on his head. "She changes men into swine."

"Oh, is that who does it? I thought it was a natural occurrence," Callisto muttered.

Xena had replaced her sword, more than a little chagrined at how easily Callisto was getting the information when she had been stymied.

"She lives on an island off the coast of Perth down south. She makes sacrifices to those she worships," he continued, seemingly mesmerized by those dark, dark eyes. "Nasty, evil things that grant her eternal life."

"Ah, immortal, and a sorceress," Callisto allowed. "That explains a great deal."

Xena wished it did for her but she stayed silent and listened, heart in her throat as she realized just what sort of danger her friend was in.

"She has a temple where she and her followers bring their offerings," Merticles continued, swallowing convulsively. "She owns the group she sent out here. They were looking for a virgin for one of her ceremonies. Daludas told me that Circe needs to bathe in the blood of virgins at midnight during a full moon. They say she has a tub of pure gold and that she does this every year so she can stay young, too. Not just immortal. That's all I know, I swear."

"I believe you," Callisto said. She smiled gently at him, replaced her dagger back in its sheath. Then, with a swift lunge and immortal strength, she reached out and twisted his head, snapping his neck instantly. She rose to her feet and raised an eyebrow at Xena who had grabbed at her, way too late to save the man. "Honestly, Xena, just because you don't care if your reputation goes down the tubes doesn't mean I want mine to disappear," she said, shrugging off the warrior princess.

She stepped gracefully over the corpse and walked towards her horse, mounting the black gelding in a smooth motion. She looked back at Xena with an expression of polite patience, clearly enjoying the expression she saw on the features of her longtime enemy.

"I'm off to save Gabrielle," she said with insulting condescension. "Coming?"

With that, she reined the big animal around, and in a cloud of dust, he reared and carried her off to the south.

Callisto leaned on her saddle horn, looking at Xena with smokey eyes, lids half closed. Xena stared back at her, features impassive which belied the emotional turmoil inside. Callisto nudged her mount closer until she was thigh to thigh with Xena, well within sword's reach, their horses standing in opposite directions. She tilted her head slightly, observing the dark haired woman with interest.

"What?" Callisto asked.

"So how did you get here?"

"Gabrielle," Callisto said. "She's a favorite of Artemis. Did you know that?"

"I had heard," Xena replied flatly. In fact, it was a theory posed by the Amazons, one she had no reason to agree or disagree with . Until now. Nor was she sure if it were a good or bad thing considering who she was looking at.

"Well, she is, and while the belief is that as you go, the world goes," Callisto paused to snort, indicating just how ludicrous she found that to be. "Artemis believes instead that as Gabrielle goes, so do you."

"And?" Xena prompted coldly.

"Of course, Artemis can't interfere directly but it was agreed that Gabrielle requires a little more ... protection than you are able to provide," Callisto explained. She paused and eyed the warrior briefly before adding maliciously. "Maybe even from you. Heard about how you dragged your little friend all over the countryside, Xena. Nice touch, that."

Xena went still, quelling her immediate reaction. She remembered all too well how hatred and the loss of her son had overwhelmed her, removing all restraints from her dark side. What she had done had been unforgivable, and yet ... somehow, Gabrielle had. Carefully she formed her next query, brutally suppressing the fury rising in her. "So what have you to do with it?"

"Well, you know, Xena," Callisto offered breezily, waving her hand. "That's me, always in the right place at the right time. It was decided that part of my penance for my crimes would be to exist to protect the little bard from those nasty immortals determined to get their hands on her. And I guess I needed to be immortal in order to fight them."

"You must be joking," Xena blurted.

Callisto's face darkened, but her response was mild, uncharacteristically quiet. "I wish I were. In fact, they probably made me immortal to make sure you didn't kill me ... or allow me to kill myself."

Xena searched her enemy's face thoroughly, cold eyes drilling holes into the unusually even gaze of Callisto. "How much of this is true?" Xena asked quietly.

Callisto leaned forward and slid a familiar hand up Xena's thigh, ignoring the warrior princess's gritted teeth and narrowed eyes. "I'm not in the habit of lying to you, Xena," she purred. "Am I?"

Xena paused to search her memories.

"No, you're usually more than glad to tell me all the horrible things you've done, or are about to do," Xena allowed after a moment.

Callisto shrugged and removed her hand with impertinent grin. She urged her mount on, resuming her journey to the south. Xena reined Argo after her until once more they were riding side by side, now at a more sedate but still ground eating pace. "The Olympians were quite upset with me over that little matter with Stryfe," Callisto related casually. "Not to mention that I had opposed their order by siding with Gabrielle's little brat. Apparently eternal nothingness just wasn't good enough for them. They decided I must somehow make reparations and Artemis came upon this idea, rot her eyes."

"So you're Gabrielle's immortal guardian?" Xena asked coldly. She really didn't like this whole concept but couldn't see how to get around it, at least, not yet.

"I'm immortal at any rate," Callisto responded with an arch look. She took a breath. "If I fulfill my task, they've promised me I will be allowed to rest after this. Forever."

Xena was silent for a long time after that. This seemed very much a losing proposition no matter which way she sliced it. Not for her, not for Gabrielle, and in a way, not for Callisto herself. Not that Xena particularly cared about that. "I don't like it," she said finally.

"Well, who does?" Callisto reminded her. "We're stuck with each other. Like it or not. In fact, I hope you don't like it. Makes it a little more bearable."

"There must be another option," Xena responded coldly.

"Yeah, well, when you come up with it, you let me know," Callisto spat. She looked away and a weary expression crossed her face. "I'm so tired of it all. I just want to rest."

Startled, Xena glanced at her. Reluctantly she began to accept that perhaps this was a punishment for Callisto ... as much as if she were in Tartarus.

"I've never heard of Circe," Xena ventured hesitantly after a while.

"Well, this does sound more like circumstance," Callisto allowed. "Besides, I think they made a mistake. Didn't dead-boy say they needed a virgin? Even discounting good old Dahok's role in getting the bard with child, I'm pretty sure that Perdicus impaled Gabrielle before I impaled him." She snickered audibly and contrived to look innocent as Xena shot her a poisonous glare. Not very successfully. "What? You think he didn't get the job done? It's possible I suppose. He might be one of those quick archers. The arrow leaves the bow before it's actually strung?"

"I don't want to talk about this," Xena snarled.

"I'll bet you don't," Callisto agreed readily. "The thought of him taking your precious bard, his hands all over her, lying on her and sliding his---"

"ENOUGH!" Xena roared.

Callisto laughed again. "And I thought this was going to be boring. This might be fun in its own little way."

"As long as you're enjoying yourself," Xena said dryly.

"I am, a little," Callisto admitted as if surprised herself. "I just hope this isn't going to be a regular thing. I'd hate to have to waste all my time in the mortal world saving Gabrielle's pathetic carcass."

"And what's so important?" Xena asked acidly. "A few villages to destroy?"

Callisto looked at her from the corner of her eyes. "That's always been more your thing, Xena," Callisto reminded sweetly. "I only tried it for a few months on and off. You did it for ten years steady. And I was held accountable, Xena. I was sent to prison, died in quicksand, spent time in Tartarus, was trapped in a pit, got dumped in a lava flow. Got to see my mother die again and again. Was slaughtered by your hand. Then finally ended up here, with you. For every one of my crimes, there was a punishment. When exactly do you pay for anything you've done?"

"Oh don't fool yourself," Xena said through clenched teeth. "I'm paying right now."

Callisto smiled happily as she considered that. "Oh, Xena," she said. "I guess I've missed you after all."

"How do you know Gabrielle is alright?" Xena said with forced patience. She was eating her meager rations, not really hungry but knowing she had to maintain her strength. Callisto of course, no longer required food.

Callisto shrugged. "I just do," she said. "She's still alive. So far. If she weren't, I wouldn't have to be here. And I know I have to be here."

"I'm just supposed to take your word for it?" Xena replied acidly.

"I don't really care if you do or not," Callisto said carelessly. "I don't like being here, I don't like having to help the bard, and I sure don't like having to listen to you whine. This is how it is. I have no choice, I'm here. There's nothing either of us can do about it."

"You sure?" Xena said, eyes narrowed. The mad woman of the past was a familiar evil. This person was much harder to deal with, to predict. It was possible that a sane Callisto could be a greater threat than the insane monster of before.

"Believe me, if I could, I would," she replied flatly. "There are more important things for me to do than be here with you."

"Yes, you mentioned that," Xena said, voice dripping sarcasm. "Like what?"

Callisto didn't answer right away, staring into the fire as if she had not heard the warrior princess. Her face was still, her eyes dark in the flickering light. Finally she spoke and her voice was so quiet that Xena had to strain to hear. "My sister isn't dead," she said.

Xena absorbed this silently. "How did you..." she allowed slowly.

Callisto looked at her. "When Hope sent me back in time, it was all an illusion. My sister wasn't there, it was as if she didn't exist. That was something I overlooked at the time but later, when I thought about it, I began to wonder why. So when I had a brief chat with Hades before I was returned to the mortal world." She snorted. "I don't know why he answered but he did. He said that she had never crossed over."

Xena studied the bread in her hand. "I'm glad," she said softly.

Callisto glared at her, eyes flashing. "I find that difficult to believe," she responded icily. "If by some miracle she escaped the razing of Cirra, it certainly had nothing to do with you."

Xena remained still, refusing to take her eyes from the bread, angry at how the words made her feel, how much power she was allowing Callisto to have. But the fact remained, it was true. This all started with her. And the choices she had made in life; some horribly wrong, terribly misconceived choices. Perhaps this was a punishment sent by the gods after all. She shook her head. Sometimes if felt as if the weight was too much; too many old enemies, too many ghosts, too many consequences all seeming to haunt her. Even from doing good. Unbidden, her mind wandered to a small event in a day filled with them. An event that boded bad things for the future.

She remembered how Merticus had challenged her, how he had held utter contempt for her threats, even after she had defeated him physically. It was true that Gabrielle stories of how the Warrior Princess had changed and now fought for the side of justice had spread far and wide, but there was something to be said for being known as a wanton killer. Callisto proved that when her mere presence had caused him to talk. Well, that and the prenatural senses bestowed upon her with immortality. Xena, without Callisto's abilities, would probably have believed the first story and wasted precious time checking it out.

Xena lost what little appetite she had and tossed her bread into the fire, her face bleak as she wondered what she could do to protect Gabrielle if no one had any fear of her. It just made things so much harder. Was that the real reason Callisto was sent? Because she couldn't do the job anymore?

"Why don't you get some sleep," Callisto offered after a few moments when she saw Xena was clearly unaffected by her verbal abuse, the blond's mood easily swinging back from rabid rage to a jittery calmness. "I don't need to anymore so I'll keep watch."

Xena looked at her, eyebrow raised and Callisto audibly exhaled in annoyance. "Xena, for the last time, I'm not going to attack you," she added in an impatient tone, reading Xena's expression easily. "But if you want to stay up all night, that's fine with me. I don't really need you at all to help save Gabrielle. You can be as useless as you want."

Xena took a deep breath, wishing she could argue the point but realizing Callisto was right. And it was true that if her long time foe had wanted to kill her, she probably would have tried something by now. Wearily she rolled herself up in her bedroll. The last thing she saw before she closed her eyes was Callisto huddled near the fire, rocking slightly as she hummed soundlessly. It was not the sort of thing that inspired restful slumber or pleasant dreams.

She woke abruptly in the predawn, acutely aware of being observed. She felt very vulnerable as she saw Callisto staring at her intently and wondered how long the immortal had been studying her. It could have been all night. She felt ill that she had allowed herself to fall asleep so easily with her foe within reach. She must have been more tired than she thought.

Callisto had no expression on her face, not turning away when the blue eyes opened to meet hers. Xena swallowed, trying to moisten her suddenly dry mouth. "What?"

Callisto looked at her with contempt. "I thought you told me once you didn't sleep well at night," she said flatly. "You sleep fine to me. Another lie. But then, lies are something you're good at."

Xena carefully remained impassive. There was little she could say. How could she explain about the nightmares that had plagued her for so long and had only recently began to recede under the aegis of Gabrielle's friendship. Or how many times she had woken to find herself weeping in Gabrielle's arms. Even if she could, she doubted Callisto would listen or even try to understand.

Callisto finally tore her gaze away with an snort of disgust and got up, going over to saddle her horse. Xena suppressed a sigh and snatched some jerky for herself to keep up her strength before joining Callisto to ready Argo for the hard ride ahead.

They were on the trail before the sun was quarter way over the horizon, their mounts cantering easily as they headed south. Xena knew they'd reach Perth by mid-day and she tried not to think about how Gabrielle was doing. At least by being a sacrifice, the bard's safety was somewhat assured until the full moon which was that night. Xena just hoped they were treating her well and that she wasn't too terribly afraid.

Just hang on, Gabrielle, she thought. I'm coming for you.

Just before reaching the last stretch of road leading into the village, the faint smell of ocean reaching them on the breeze, they were accosted by five men who leaped out of the underbrush. The two warrior women reined to a stop and five more scruffy men took up a position behind them. Their ragged clothes and unkept appearance marked them as mere bandits, not any threat to worry Xena but it did mean a delay if they tried to fight.

Xena drew her sword impatiently, glaring at the largest one which seemed to be the leader.

"Step aside," she snarled. "I'm not in the mood for this."

"Oh really," he said, sneering at her. "And who might you be?"

"The name's Xena," she said flatly.

The leader looked her up and down with insulting consideration. "The do-gooder who travels with a bard," he said. "I heard you were something ... once."

Callisto snorted laughter from her perch on the gelding, leaning negligently on her saddlehorn as she listened to the conversation with interest.

"And who are you, sweet thing?" he asked, turning his attention to her with appreciation.

Callisto did not loose the smile but suddenly her eyes lost the humored sparkle and took on a decidedly nastier glitter. "Callisto," she offered gently.

He frowned, looked around as his men stirred uneasily around him. The warrior queen turned goddess had once destroyed a village not far from there. "Callisto's dead," he sputtered.

"I got better," she offered, drawing a dagger and sliding it down her fore arm, slicing open the skin and muscle. She showed it to him, the bone gleaming white in the sun before the flesh closed around it and healed without blood or leaving a scar. "However, I doubt the same could be said of you. But let's find out, shall we?"

She drew her sword, pausing as she saw that the last of her words had fallen on absent ears as the men immediately took to their heels and ran for their lives after this graphic display. Callisto shot a disappointed look at Xena. "No one wants to play," she complained, pouting slightly as she slid her sword back into its sheath.

"I'm sure you'll get your chance to kill someone before the day is through," Xena assured blackly.

"You're just trying to cheer me up," Callisto accused as they resumed their journey.

As they galloped up the dirt trail, the warrior princess couldn't help but consider what had been going on lately. When she had first joined up with Gabrielle, the looks of fear and hatred directed at her had sickened her, stark reminders of her dark warlord past. She had longed for a day when she could leave it behind, a time when people could finally believe she had indeed changed and now fought for good.

I guess it's true, she mused sourly. Be careful what you wish for.... 

"Bad weather," she said.

Callisto nodded. "We'd better hurry if we want to get to the island before nightfall. I don't want to be on the sea in the dark with a storm brewing."

"We can rent a boat in Perth," Xena allowed and nudged Argo down the hill, unaware of Callisto looking after her with confusion.

"'Rent'?" she queried in amazement.

But Xena was already galloping towards the village and Callisto had little choice but to follow. They pulled up in front of the stables and Xena handed her some coins. "Stable the horses," she ordered. "I'll arrange for the boat."

Without waiting for a response, the warrior princess strode towards the docks, leaving Callisto to contemplate Argo who was regarding her with equal suspicion, ears laid back warningly. Not even wanting to start something, Callisto directed the stableboy to take the palomino's reins and then dismounted her gelding. She reached out and snagged the stable master by the front of the shirt.

"Do you know me?" she asked pleasantly. His expression told her he did. He nodded shakily, avoiding her eyes. "I want these two horses looked after to the best of your ability. I don't have to tell you what will happen if I don't like how you cared for them."

"I'll take good care of them," he managed with a quaver in his voice.

"Good," she said, releasing him with a shove and dropping the coins disdainfully in the dirt before walking away. She did not look back to see the man scrambling on the ground, thankful to escape with his life and overwhelmed that he had actually been paid.

She stopped briefly on the docks and looked over the boats moored there with careful deliberation. One caught her eye, a pleasure craft that stood out amongst the fishing sculls and row boats. It was clearly the sort of toy that belonged to the rich, the bright paint and the lines which promised speed. Unusual in a fishing village. She entered the harbor master's building and found Xena haggling over a price with a lavishly dressed, portly merchant. She didn't seem to be having much success with it. He wanted far more than she carried and was stubbornly not budging, his supercilious features showing he felt he was doing Xena a favor by even speaking to her. Everyone fell dead silent when Callisto entered and she gloried in the thick sense of fear that descended. She motioned back out the door.

"There's a sailboat out there," she said.

Xena nodded. "That's the one I'm trying to rent," she responded, her voice showing the strain of maintaining her patience.

Callisto met the eyes of the merchant who suddenly paled and backed away, drawing a silk handkerchief from his tunic and mopping the sweat that had popped out all over his head. "It's all yours," he said quickly, half bowing. "Please, consider it a gift." He eased his way out the door and quickly disappeared.

Callisto noticed Xena looking at her. She shrugged. "They know me here," she said without apology. "Let's go."

She scooped up a bag containing supplies, features daring it's owner to make something of it before leaving the building and walking confidently to the sailboat bobbing gently at the dock. Xena joined her a few moments later, dropping some ropes and climbing gear on the deck, having left all the dinars she possessed with the harbor master for payment, meager as it was.

"You know, Xena, perhaps you'd better get Gabrielle to lay off the kinder, gentler, reformed warlord in her tales and start playing up the action more," Callisto offered casually as they cast off, the little boat flying across the waves like the thoroughbred it was. "The softer you appear, the quicker people are going to try to take advantage of it, especially those who know of you only from the stories. Unlike people like me who know you for the sadistic bully you really are."

Xena did not answer. Not only was it galling to be receiving advice from one of her greatest enemies, she certainly didn't want Callisto to know just how much she was starting to agree with her.

Instead, she nodded at the gear. "They tell me Circe's castle in on a bluff overlooking the beach," she said, trying to change the subject. "There's only one way up, a staircase set in the cliff side. I think we should avoid it if we can, try to keep our presence unknown for as long as possible."

"Fine, you're the military genius," Callisto said in a bored tone. She lounged on the deck, letting Xena do the sailing as if she were a queen out on an excursion and Xena her subject. She threw back her head, her blond hair whipping in the wind, delighting in the sea spray. She looked back at Xena who held the tiller with a firm hand. "You must really hate this," she said slyly.

"I always hate it when Gabrielle's in danger," the warrior princess answered shortly.

"No, I mean working with me," Callisto elaborated. "You despise me. Ironic really when you consider how similar we are."

Xena kept her eyes on the island, face impassive as she tried to ignore Callisto.

"You know, the worst part about that," Callisto went on. "I really didn't realize how much we were alike until I helped dear little Hope remove your brat. When I helped kill your family like you killed mine, did you feel empty inside? Or did you just let the rage and hatred fill you up like it did me? Oh, that's right, you couldn't get to Hope so you went after her mom. Now me, I just usually killed people, Xena, I didn't really make them suffer all that much. You were the only one I wanted to suffer. And of course, I don't really have any, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't torture anyone I called a friend."

She shook her head and shot Xena an impish grin. "I gotta admit though, it was pretty cold-blooded. Does Gabrielle tell that story?" She tilted her head, observed Xena with a sly smirk. "How you raided the Amazon village and abducted their queen, maiming and murdering all who got in your way? Then dragged the queen halfway across Greece. I hear even Argo wouldn't help you with that. The little bard should tell that story. It would do your rep a world of good."

Xena continued to stare intently at the sea ahead though fury made the blue eyes glacier chips of ice as every word struck deep in her soul.

Callisto smiled slowly after studying her for a long moment. "You know, Xena, you keep saying I'm beyond redemption and maybe I am, but I never pretended otherwise. I never fooled people into thinking I was this great hero when all along, the brutal warlord was lurking just below the surface, ready to be let loose at a moments' notice. But little Gabby found that out quick enough didn't she? She must've gotten a head injury, bounced off a couple of rocks or something. She'd have to be damaged mentally in some way to even consider staying within a league of you. I mean, that's what's so funny. Hope and I killed your kid, but it was your friend who you made pay and pay and pay."

That got Xena's full attention, glaring at the blond. "You are a miserable being," Xena said bitterly. "Why you keep getting second changes is beyond me."

"Probably for the same reason, you do Xena. Someone up there likes me," Callisto said sardonically. "Or maybe I'm just your mirror. Maybe I exist just to show what kind of monster you really are beneath that pretty face you show the world." She looked towards the bow, the island getting closer every second. "Tell me, Xena," she added with delicate wickedness. "How did you and Gabrielle ever make up? What possible story did you come up with that convinced her to forgive you?"

"Why can't you just stay dead," Xena said, almost to herself.

"I ask myself that frequently," Callisto pointed out with mild humor. "I guess you're just not good enough to get the job done."

Xena was silent for a long moment, thinking furiously. Then finally she spoke.

"So I win," she said flatly. She laughed with a cold irony.

"What?"

Callisto straightened, turning around to look at the warrior princess with startled disbelief.

"I mean that you're right, I made you," Xena allowed.

Suddenly her tone was arrogant, her features the haughty mask of her warlord days. Her blue eyes pinned the brown ones with hypnotic intent, capturing her in their gaze which slid over Callisto's astounded features with contemptuous possessiveness. With one hand, she reached out and gripped the narrow chin in surprisingly gentle strength.

"I've been looking at this all wrong," she continued huskily. "They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. You did your best to become me, the warlord. You weren't as good, of course. You kept getting beat. Imprisoned, dying, spending your immortality on futile attempts to gain my attention. You weren't even the one to kill my family. Someone else had to do the job. And you keep trying. You exist for me. You've even come back from the dead for me, defied a god for me. Dragged from eternal oblivion for me. I guess I should be flattered."

Xena smiled a slow smile of deliberate domination, an odd sort of desire crossing her features as she let her eyes slide down over the blond's body and back up to meet horrified eyes. "No matter what you do, Callisto, you can't change it," she said, almost purring. "No matter how many of my friends and family you kill, no matter if you even manage to kill me, it won't change a thing. Your mother will still be dead. You'll still have to face your sister with what you've become. You'll still hurt. You'll never be able to undo what I did. I win. Your life belongs to me. Your existence belongs to me. You... Belong... To me. And I will never belong to you."

Callisto stared back at her, hatred and doubt warring with the faintest shade of fear creeping into her face. She jerked back shuddering to the furthest corner of the small scull and turned to the wind, away from the warrior princess who carefully hid her satisfaction as she guided the boat through the waves. The rest of the journey passed in blessed relief from any further conversation. 

"I don't suppose you want to rethink this climbing idea," she suggested cooly to Xena who was already shaking out the ropes. It was the first time she had spoken in a long while. It was with a sort of wary respect that she looked at Xena now. How long it would last was unknown.

Xena shook her head. "We have to hurry," she reminded. "We only have about six hours 'til midnight."

"Midnight?"

"That's when---" Xena began.

"That's when Circe bathes in virgin blood, not when she prepares it," Callisto pointed out silkily. "How long does it take to fill a tub with blood? It's going to take about three hours to climb that cliff."

Xena stared at her, swallowing hard. How could she had not considered that? Being in her enemy's presence for this long was starting to cloud her thinking. She was more concerned with what Callisto might do or say than the matter at hand. Hiding the effort it took, she focused herself, swearing that she wouldn't be distracted again.

"We're going to have to take the stairs," she admitted.

"And kill anyone who sees us," Callisto reminded.

They trotted down the beach, climbing over the spit of rock which jutted out into the water and had concealed their landing from anyone guarding the stairs. They paused there, carefully scouting the steps carved into the side of the cliff itself. Xena didn't even want to consider the amount of work hours in creating such a structure.

There were no guards at the base or on the stairs themselves but they could see one at the top who looked out over the sea. Xena shot a look to the west where the red light of the setting sun highlighted the horizon, the storm clouds flooded the air overhead. Already they could feel the first few drops of rain.

"At least the weather's on our side," Xena mumbled. "We have to wait, though, until the fog really moves in and it's completely dark. I wonder if Circe needs to see the full moon."

"I doubt it," Callisto allowed. "You know, this is really a lot of trouble to go to for eternal youth. I can't seem to get rid of mine."

"Not everyone's as good as you, Callisto," Xena said in a tone heavy with irony.

Callisto grinned evilly and glanced at her. "Something else just occurred to me."

"What?" Xena asked warily. It seemed that her performance on the boat was starting to lose its effectiveness.

"Well, I freely admit I've spilt a lot of it in my time," Callisto allowed. "But I'm the first to bow to your much greater amount of experience. Is there really enough in one person for someone to bathe in? I don't mean just wipe yourself down, I mean actually fill a tub and immerse yourself in blood?"

Xena thought about that for long moments. "You think there's other captives in there," she offered. She shot a look at Callisto from lowered brows. "I wouldn't expect that sort of consideration from you."

"Oh, don't kid yourself, Xena," Callisto showed her teeth without humor. "I know you. You're in your hero mode at the moment, though how long that lasts remains to be seen. If there are others, you'll probably want to save them. I just want you to understand, I'm contracted for Gabrielle only. Anything else, and you're on your own."

"Now why doesn't that surprise me," Xena allowed dryly.

That quashed the conversation for awhile as they waited for the fog to roll in and the darkness to cover them. The rain had started in earnest, the wind blowing cold off the water. Callisto was unmoved by the chill, temperature unable to affect her. Xena found herself suffering miserably but she stoically bore it without complaint. She had not brought any coverings with her and her leather and armor offered little protection.

Wordlessly, Callisto handed over her cloak.

Xena accepted it with a raised eyebrow, looking at Callisto with utter amazement..

Callisto rolled her eyes. "Don't get all mushy, Xena," she said. "Freezing is far too gentle a death for you."

Xena didn't answer. But she was grateful for the warm cloak that seemed to shed the water, drawing it up over her head as she was finally able to stop shivering. She had the opportunity to examine the silver clasp that held it. It was a crescent moon shape that had what seemed like a lightning bolt radiating through it. The warrior princess had never seen anything like it and it occupied her during the long moments while they were waiting for total darkness.

Finally she deemed it time for them to move. She handed the cloak back to Callisto who took a moment to pull it back over her shoulders before following the warrior princess to the base of the stairs. Pressing as close to the rock as possible, they swiftly ascended the staircase, pausing below the summit to observe the guard.

Xena frowned as she judged distances, drawing her chakram from her belt. Callisto put a hand on her forearm, shaking her head. Xena knew that it would be noisier than she liked but she didn't see any other choice and an emphatic gesture indicated that. Callisto shook her head again and reached inside her vest, drawing out a tube.

Xena looked at the blowgun, then back at Callisto who smirked at her. They both had memories of another blowgun, and the results of it's use. Callisto drew a tufted dart from a pouch in her belt and inserted it into the tube. She raised it to her mouth after filling her lungs with air and aimed it at the guard.

Xena's keen hearing barely detected the dart leaving the gun but it's effect was immediate as the guard stiffened suddenly and toppled off the cliff silently. He would have had to be either instantly rendered unconscious....or dead, for him not to make a sound on the way down and Xena looked at the blowgun with a new appreciation.

Swiftly they scampered up the rest of the stairs, cautiously easing their eyes over the edge of the top stair. Apparently there had been only one guard on duty here. There was no movement near the gates but there were no doubt others beyond the walls. Moving silently, they scaled the wall, the rough stones providing secure hand and footholds. Callisto waited as Xena slid over the top first and dispatched the lookout. The slender blond joined her and looked disgusted when she saw he was merely unconscious. Without hesitation, she whipped out her dagger and slit his throat.

Xena grabbed her and thrust her up against the wall, a forearm across Callisto's neck.

"Don't do that again," she growled.

Callisto regarded her evenly, eyes dark with contempt. "What's the matter, Xena. Mad cause you didn't get to torture him first? Why don't you just make up your mind what you're gonna be. It would make my job a lot easier."

Shaken, Xena released her, fighting back her fury as Callisto shook her cloak back into place and strode haughtily past her. Xena needed another second to regain her control. It was more difficult to deal with Callisto when they were on the same side than when they were opponents. She knew she was fooling herself by trying to control the immortal; Ares himself hadn't been able to do it. She didn't even know why she made the attempt. What was worse is that there was a part of her that envied the blond. There was an intoxicating attraction to killing at will, at taking whatever you wanted whenever you wanted. It was a feeling she was all too familiar with and one that she had tried hard to suppress. Grasping her sword, she followed Callisto deeper into Circe's castle and tried to bury the envy deep inside, beyond even her own acknowledgment.

She caught up to Callisto in a long corridor lit by torches which sputtered oily smoke into the still, stale air. There was an oppressive quality to the hall and both of them hesitated in the entrance.

"Don't like this much," Callisto gave voice to both of their thoughts. "Too easy."

Keen eyes surveyed the corridor which was unguarded. They knew there had to be a reason for that since it was a main entrance to the interior.

"There," Xena said, nodding at darker shadows underneath each torch holder. Callisto dropped to her belly on the floor and looked towards the end of the hall. From this angle, she could easily see the whisper thin wires strung across from each wall. Invisible against the carpeting, one had to view them against the darker wood at the exit twenty feet away.

"There's a wire strung at every torch marker," Callisto informed her as she reached out and gently flicked the one directly in front of her.

There was a breath of sound and from the hole beneath the closest torch holder, a thick, short metal bolt was released to thud into the wall opposite, propelled by enough force to drive through the average person's torso. Which was exactly what was intended.

"Nice," Callisto said admiringly while Xena raised an eyebrow. The blond got to her feet and looked at her nemesis. "It appears Circe likes booby-traps."

Xena didn't answer, still smarting from their last conversation. Instead, she began to walk down the hall, careful to step over the wire threads.

Callisto, who had immediately forgotten the other argument as soon as she walked away, cheerfully strode behind her, snapping each wire and trying to catch the bolts before they hit her. The couple she missed, she yanked out of her body with little concern and dropped them on the floor.

"Ten out of twelve," she informed Xena when she reached the warrior princess.

Xena rolled her eyes and carefully eased open the door. It led to a circular foyer with thirteen doors equidistance apart. In the center of the room, a circular staircase with thirteen stairs led to a hole in ceiling. Xena was keenly aware of the time slipping rapidly away as she studied the room. A wrong decision here could cost her dearly.

Callisto walked to the center, peered up the stairs and frowned as she looked at the many doors.

"Any ideas?" she asked.

Xena carefully opened the nearest door which revealed another corridor, again unguarded and again with suspicious shadows along the walls.

"You?" Xena replied. It was a sign of her utter frustration that she even asked.

Callisto tilted her head and breathed deeply for a few moments. Xena realized after a few seconds that she was sniffing the air.

"Smell that?" the blond offered.

Xena breathed deeply, concentrating. The faint coppery scent was familiar and unmistakable. It made her heart clench in her throat. Too many times had she smelled this during battle.

The thick, sick-sweet odor of freshly spilt blood.

In this cavernous stone room, twelve naked women hung upside down from the ceiling beams, their hands tied behind them. Their throats had been slit and their dead features were obscured by the gore that covered them, their hair sodden bunches of red that still dripped sluggishly into the channels grooved in the floor. The flickering flames of the thirteen wall lamps threw eerie shadows over the macabre scene.

"And I thought you were bad," Callisto offered conversationally as she studied the corner of the floor where the channels all met in a single drain. She looked back to see Xena kneeling down before each one, straining to see through the blood to the face below, terrified at finding a familiar one. "Gabrielle isn't here." she added gently, more gently than she'd intended.

Xena's head snapped around and Callisto shrugged. "I'd know if she were dead," Callisto reminded her. "I could rest." She took another look around. "Maybe they're saving her for something special. She would be the last one."

"How do you know that?" Xena tried to keep her voice even, obscuring the fear in her heart.

Callisto jerked a thumb back at the room where they had entered from. "Haven't you noticed Circe's thing with the number thirteen? I bet if we figure out where this drain empties out, we'll find the golden tub."

Xena shook her head. "I don't want the tub, I want Gabrielle."

"Where the tub is, Circe is," Callisto reminded. "She can tell us."

Xena allowed the point and barged back out into the circle room. She noticed that the staircase in the center this time led down and she quickly took them, not looking to see if Callisto was following. Below, in the depressingly familiar circle room, Xena grabbed the door in the middle, having noted the pipe appearing from where the room above would have the corresponding drain. Down the expected corridor, she could see the pipe continue on the ceiling and without any preamble, she whipped her chakram down the hall at ankle height, snapping all the wires before rebounding off the far door with a muted thud to return to her hand. She barely waited for the bolts to embed themselves in the walls before dashing down the hall and smashing through the far entrance.

It was a good thing she did, because unlike the others, there were men on the other side, bowled over by the door flying off it's hinges and smashing into them. Xena rolled through the opening and gained her feet, sword and chakram ready. She froze at the tableau before her.

In the center of the gigantic room, glowing from the torches dripping from the walls, a golden tub sat on a dias. In it was a thick red liquid which still dribbled from the pipe directly above. Before it, a tall slender woman with long, deep raven hair stood reverently, a scarlet silken robe drawn down over her shoulders by attendants, all of which were staring at Xena in astonishment. But the warrior princess's attention was on the golden cross beyond the tub where a familiar figure hung spreadeagle, wrists and ankles bound by black velvet cords.

"Hmm, guess she wasn't a virgin after all," came Callisto's cool assessment from behind her. "They were saving her for something else."

"Xena," Gabrielle screamed.

And all hades broke loose.

Hastily, Circe redonned the robe and gestured toward the two warriors. "Kill them," she howled with fury.

Her attendants which included several heavily armed men which Xena guessed correctly were Daludas and his men, all moved towards them. With her yell echoing throughout the cavernous room, Xena leaped to meet them, only vaguely aware of the blond whirlwind beside her, the shrill scream a deafening counterpoint to her battle cry. The two crashed into the wave of enemies rushing towards them like identical forces of nature, and this time, Xena matched Callisto blow for blow, no hesitation as to her intent. With a savage grin of fury, she slashed through, blade opening up one belly there, a chest here, decapitating and dismembering with cruel efficiency as she waded towards Gabrielle.

With dread, she realized that Circe understood her intent and was hustling towards the bard herself, drawing a wickedly long dagger from beneath the robe. Suddenly, over head, Callisto had launched herself upward, catching the pipe. Swiftly traveling hand over hand, she bypassed the battle below, reaching the bard scant seconds before Circe's murderous swipe, intercepting the blade with her chest.

"So sorry, dear," Callisto said with a mock innocent grin as she plucked the blade out. "And believe me, I'm not enjoying this."

She kicked Circe in the jaw, booted foot snapping the sorceress's head back, sending her pin-wheeling across the floor.

Behind her, Gabrielle was staring in fear and tremendous confusion at Callisto. Xena dispatched the last opponent and bounded up onto the dias, going to her friend.

"It's all right," she said, slicing through the velvet bonds with her sword and catching the bard in strong arms before she hit the ground. "I'm here now."

"Oh Xena," Gabrielle whispered, hugging the warrior. "She murdered twelve other girls. She was going to eat my heart after she bathed in their blood."

"You're safe now," Xena assured, turning to look at Circe who was on her hands and knees, dazedly shaking her head clear of the effects of Callisto's kick.

Callisto was looking at the tub speculatively. With an imprudent grin, she drew her sword and hacked away the wooden supports, causing the golden container to develop a decided list.

"NOOOO!!!" Circe screamed as Callisto gleefully finished tipping it over with the heel of her boot, the blood gushing out in a scarlet wave to spread over the stone floor, washing up against the walls and painting the bodies scattered about with even more gore.

"Bathe in that," Callisto offered cheerfully.

"Bitch!" Circe's face twisted with rage and hatred. She raised her hand and before Callisto could move, a glowing ball of energy exploded from the sorceress's fingers to smash into the immortal's chest, flinging her back off the dias, sending her crashing into the wall.

Xena had already gathered the bard up in her arms and dived off to the side, the pair sliding across the slick floor and covering themselves in the sticky substance.

"Ugh," Gabrielle said, her face taking on a decidedly green hue.

Xena was already scrambling to her feet, acutely aware of Circe turning her attention to them. She had managed to retain her grip on her sword though she didn't know what good it would do her against someone who could throw balls of light with her hands. Not that it made her hesitate in the slightest as she launched herself at the skeletal figure.

She was shocked to find herself suspended in mid-air, frozen, unable to move a muscle as she hovered some five feet above the ground.

"How dare you interrupt my sacred ceremony," Circe snarled as she approached, her bone-white features drawn with annoyance. "Do you know how hard it is to find virgins in these parts."

"I said I wasn't a virgin," Gabrielle protested. The bard knew she should be running while the sorceress was distracted with the warrior princess but she could no more leave Xena than Xena could leave her.

Circe cast her scowl on her and Gabrielle quailed inwardly as those red eyes centered on her. "I know that," she said with contempt. "That's why you were chosen for the ceremonial feeding. In any event, it matters not, the whole thing is ruined. I'll have to wait another month."

"I guess that means you'll have to let us go," Gabrielle offered hopefully.

"I guess it means you'll be my guest for a month," Circe returned bitingly. She turned back to warrior, considering her. "You, of course, are too dangerous to try to hold for that long."

Xena cleared her throat, wondering at the fact that she was still able to talk though every other part of her body stubbornly refused to follow her orders. Even her eyes were static, unblinking as she stared into the glowing red orbs in Circe's face. She guessed her captor liked to talk with her victims.

"What now?" Xena asked without fear. The slightest shadow of movement out of the corner of her eye raised her hopes and she tried to keep Circe's attention.

"Now, I eat your heart," Circe promised.

"But the ceremony's ruined," Xena reminded reasonably.

"Yeah, well," Circe offered, licking her lips. "I guess I'm just hungry."

Then Callisto leaped on her back, her forearm tight across the sorceress's throat. "I hate it when people kill me and walk away," she hissed.

Circe was clearly unused to physical confrontation and she staggered under the weight of the immortal, her control shattering. Xena plunged to the floor, suddenly free, barely managing to hang onto her sword. Instantly she was back on her feet and lunging towards the two combatants.

"Callisto, duck!" she instructed and Callisto immediately let the sorceress go, spinning her towards Xena with a forceful shove.

With a feral smile of joyful revenge, Xena swung her sword, slicing through the woman's neck with meaty clunk, Circe's head spinning through the air in one direction as her body flew the other.

"Oh, splendid, Xena," Callisto laughed, kicking the head across the room. "Hard to heal from that."

Gabrielle looked speechless, not sure what she was more horrified at, Xena's joy in killing Circe, Circe's bloody end, or the fact that Callisto was standing there in cozy allegiance with her warrior.

"Xena, can I talk to you for a moment?" she asked sweetly.

Xena was immediately aware that she and Callisto were clasping each other's arms in a warrior's salute, celebrating in appreciation of a mutual job well done, exchanging grins of triumph. Apparently Callisto realized it in the same breath as well, the animation draining from her features as she released her grip with a jerk, and abruptly turned away, walking towards the exit.

Xena took a step after her, stopped as she realized there was little she could say, that the moment had simply swept them up and now it was over. And they were enemies once more.

"Callisto," she called.

The blond stopped but did not turn.

"I hope you find your sister," Xena said quietly.

Callisto hesitated, seemed about to turn to speak, then continued out the door.

"Xena?"

The warrior princess looked back at Gabrielle. The bard was a sight, covered in blood and filth, eyes wide with fright and reaction to her ordeal. She supposed she didn't look much better. Xena reached out and pulled the smaller woman to her in a comforting hug.

"Let's get out of here," she said wearily.

Without speaking, Callisto pointed at the beach below.

At what used to be the beach.

Xena looked down to see the strip of sand totally submerged, the waves crashing up against the rock face. The sky lit up enough to reveal the shattered debris of their sailboat floating on those waves.

"We'll have to hole up in the castle," Callisto yelled.

Xena looked back at the structure which was just now starting to light up the sky, smoke billowing as flames began to shoot from the roof. There must have been a lot of lamp oil in there, Xena noted idly. She turned back to Callisto who was staring at her with annoyance.

"What is it with you and fire?" she asked. "I didn't use it that much when I was a goddess."

Xena shrugged sheepishly then became aware of Gabrielle shivering in the night. "We have to find some other shelter," she yelled over the howl of the wind.

Callisto rolled her eyes, removing her cloak once more and handing it to Gabrielle as she brushed past her, heading along the cliff to find a path to the interior of the island. Gabrielle looked at the cloak in her hand, looked at Callisto's retreating back, looked at Xena, then looked back at the cloak, totally at a loss.

"Don't ask," Xena said, taking the cloak from the bard's shaking hands and throwing it about Gabrielle's shoulders. "C'mon," she added, leading her with an arm around the smaller woman's waist as they tripped after Callisto.

It seemed to take forever, but in reality only an hour or so had passed before they stumbled across a cave. Xena couldn't believe their good fortune but perhaps it was time a little luck fell their way. It wasn't overly large but it was dry and the overhang of rock nearby kept the wind and rain from blowing into the entrance. The dead remains of a tree shattered by previous lightning was close by and Xena along with Callisto were able to cut off some respectable chunks with their swords.

Soon, the warm golden light of a fire was lighting the interior and the three women slowly began to dry out. Exhausted, Gabrielle fell asleep on the ground, Callisto's cloak still wrapped around her. Xena sat next to her, back supported by the cave wall as she rested for the first time that day. Her nerves still sang even though weariness flooded through her and made her lightheaded.

Across the fire, Callisto remained free of the frailties of mortals, fresh and wide awake. She drew a piece of granite from her belt pouch and carefully began to sharpen her sword, the stone scraping steadily along the blade in long, even strokes. Xena knew that Gabrielle sometimes found the sound irritating. She didn't. She found it soothing, the noise relaxing her and making her sleepy. It was a good sound, a sound that said the battle was over and they lived to fight another day.

The fact it was Callisto making the sound scarcely mattered at this point and before she knew it, her head had fallen forward and the warrior princess slept.

She woke hours later, sitting bolt upright. The grey light of dawn penetrated the cave though the storm clearly still raged. She was not sure what had woken her and she blinked in the morning light, feeling uncertain and very grimy. Then she realized that Callisto wasn't there. Beside her, Gabrielle still slept peacefully, face peaceful in her slumber. Xena's eyes softened momentarily and she reached over, gently brushing some of the matted hair away from those features. Then she leaned forward and rebuilt the fire which had been reduced to glowing coals.

Food was high on the list of necessities and she reached for her weapons, intending to do some hunting. A sound at the cave entrance made her leap to her feet, sword ready before slowly lowering it as Callisto came in, four rabbits hanging from a string and carrying makeshift netting made from some torn fabric containing roots and herbs. She was also carrying a sodden bag which had been their supplies.

The immortal tossed the bag down in front of the warrior princess. "That's all I could salvage from the boat." she said shortly. She handed Xena the rabbits and the vegetables before sitting down on a log at the far side of the cave. "I hope you can cook."

"Thank you," Xena said quietly, observing her foe closely. It was an unexpected gesture on the part of Callisto. Especially since the blond had no need to eat.

Callisto shrugged, dismissing it. "The castle's gone, although it's still smoldering," she reported as if she were one of Xena's lieutenants of a time long past. "There's probably enough game on the island to sustain you both indefinitely. If you crawl through that hole at the back of the cave, you'll find a couple of springs, both hot and cold."

"Springs?" Xena had wondered why Callisto had appeared so clean and tidy this morning. It seemed the day was looking up after all.

Callisto didn't answer, instead leaning back against the wall and closing her eyes in clear indication she didn't want to talk to the warrior princess any further. With a shrug, Xena let her be. She cleaned the rabbits and left them for Gabrielle when she woke, the bard being a far better cook than she was. She crawled through the hole Callisto indicated, noting that the slender woman must have spent time enlarging the opening in the long hours before morning.

Xena began to get a glimmer of what it was like not to have to sleep, to not tire or need to rest. There was no question it had its advantages but she realized it also would make for a long day, and an even longer night. Especially for one perpetually filled with nervous energy as Callisto seemed to be.

She smiled as she rose to her feet on the other side of the rock wall. This sub-cavern was much larger than the outer one, dominated by a pool which steamed slightly at one end. At the opposite end of the cave, crystal clear water spilled from the wall into a natural stone basin and when she tried it, she found it was cold and clean.

The pool was hot but not uncomfortable, just the right temperature for bathing. This couldn't be more perfect if she had conjured it up herself. A couple of makeshift torches told Xena that Callisto had spent some time in here; they lit the interior of the cave, bringing out sparkles in the stone itself as if the walls were covered with a multitude of jewels. With a groan of relief, she rid herself of the blood encrusted armor and slid into the water, the heat soaking into muscles tired from the long day before. It was practically a piece of heaven and it did not become any less so when Gabrielle crawled through the opening to join her.

"Do you want to tell me what's going on?" the bard asked finally as she settled back into the water, her gory garments soaking in a small puddle in the rocks.

"About?" Xena raised an eyebrow at her companion even though she had a pretty good idea what was coming.

"In case you hadn't noticed, Xena," Gabrielle said with exasperation. "That's Callisto out there watching to make sure the rabbits don't burn."

"Oh that."

"Xena," Gabrielle moved closer and nudged her in the ribs. "What's going on here?"

Xena waited a moment, trying to collect her thoughts before attempting to answer. In truth, it took very little time to bring Gabrielle up to speed on everything that had happened while she had been Circe's captive. Not that the bard necessarily believed it all.

"Waitaminute," she objected. "You're telling me she's my protector now?" She looked at Xena is sheer disbelief.

Xena sighed. "It's not something I'm happy about," she said honestly. "But I don't think there's much we can do about it. It's the work of the gods. They think they're punishing her."

"They're punishing us too, Xena," The bard's replied acidly.

"Guess they didn't think of that," Xena responded pensively after a moment.

"Or maybe they did," Gabrielle added, scrubbing her arms with a trifle more determination than was necessary. "After all, we were involved with letting Dahok get a door into this world."

Xena looked at her bleakly, wondering if she should object or just be grateful that the bard was using the plural 'we' as opposed to just the singular 'you' or 'me'. She made an abortive attempt to reach out, but kept her hand unseen beneath the surface of the water and tried changing the subject. "There's something else I have to talk to you about," she added. "It's about your stories. I need you to go easy on them for awhile."

Gabrielle blinked. "What are you talking about?"

Xena closed her eyes. This was actually going to be a lot harder than explaining Callisto's presence had been. "Gabrielle, you know I love your stories, and I certainly don't want you to stop telling them, but all the ones that have been showing me in such a good light should be put aside for awhile," she explained.

Gabrielle looked at her as if she had lost her mind. "I don't understand, Xena," she said. "I thought you wanted people to know you've changed, that you now fight for good."

"The problem is, I don't want anyone to think that means I've gone soft," Xena persevered even though it was hard. She paused for a moment, searching for the right words. "Gabrielle, if it weren't for Callisto, I wouldn't have found you in time," she said. Gods, that was difficult to admit but she needed to make the bard understand. "The people I was getting information out of, weren't scared of me. They even defied my pinch, all because of Palaemon and his damn bragging. But Callisto ... they couldn't talk fast enough to tell Callisto everything she wanted to know. People don't fear me anymore."

Gabrielle looked stubborn. "And we certainly want you to be feared, don't we," she said with annoyed disbelief. "You're telling me you want to have a reputation like Callisto's?"

"It would've helped me protect you," Xena replied shortly ... and wished she could bite back the words even as she spoke them.

Gabrielle's eyes sparked. "I don't suppose it occurred to you that if you had let me go with you, it wouldn't have happened," she said heatedly. "I've already learned not to rely on you for protection, Xena."

There was a appalled silence as the words hung in the air like so much poison.

"Gabrielle," Xena's said finally. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you behind."

"No, I'm sorry," Gabrielle apologized quickly. "I was wrong to say that. I know you had to go and I know that if I'm not going to get a horse that sometimes I have to stay behind. It's my choice. It's just that ... this whole thing has me on edge. I don't know if I can stand having Callisto around too much."

Xena rested her hand on Gabrielle's. "Hopefully, we won't have to. It's just when there is an immortal threat. The rest of the time ... well, I guess she has her own agenda that doesn't include us." With a sigh, she leaned her head back, wetting the luxurious dark tresses.

"Do you want me to do your hair?" Gabrielle asked hopefully, wanting some way to apologize further for her words but not wanting to overstep her bounds. At Xena's quick nod, she moved behind the larger woman, finding some soapstone and attacking the tangled strands.

Xena relaxed against the bard and tried to forget the angry tension that seemed to come quicker between them now. Though at least they had learned to back down just as quick and try to make it right, try to apologize. She attempted to concentrate on something else, like the warmth of the pool or how good it felt to have Gabrielle's body against her back as she had her hair washed. It got a lot easier to concentrate on that when Gabrielle started to wash her back and shoulders.

"You know, I wasn't really worried," the bard said softly after a while.

"Really," Xena said idly as she enjoyed the feel of Gabrielle's hands. Possibly too much, she noted and she forced herself to focus. "Worried about what?"

"When I was kidnaped," Gabrielle elaborated. "I knew you would come for me. I knew you would save me."

Xena sighed again. "I almost didn't, Gabrielle," she tried again. "I couldn't get the information I needed. Not fast enough. I hadn't realized what a useful tool being thought of as a monster was."

Gabrielle was silent for a moment, her small hands gently kneading the strong neck as she thought. "I understand that," she allowed reluctantly after a while. "But I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to make you out to be a monster. Especially since I know you're not."

"You're sure about that?" Xena murmured sadly, then quickly offered in a lighter tone. "Maybe if you just concentrated on someone else," Xena offered. "You know, Autolycus is always telling us about his great adventures. You could make stories about them," she added almost desperately.

"I know," Gabrielle said, grinning. "But who would believe them?"

"He does," Xena pointed out dryly.

"Well I'll try to bring in some other characters," she promised. "Though most of the characters we meet are ... well, you know."

"As long as I'm not mentioned," Xena agreed with some relief. She pulled away from the bard and turned. "I'll do you now."

They switched positions and she pulled the bard against her, Gabrielle's smooth back silky against her chest and stomach as she began to wash the gore from the reddish-blond hair. If her hands lingered on the bard's shoulders, or buried themselves in the hair more than necessary, neither woman took note of it.

Callisto did as she stuck her head through the opening, a sardonic grin drifting across her face. "Hey," she yelled, making both Xena and Gabrielle start in surprise. "If you want this food, you'd better get it now."

She drew back into the outer cavern and settled on her log against the wall, drawing out her daggers and starting the precise job of sharpening them. She didn't speak as the other two joined her, though she did spare Xena a knowing look which the warrior princess gamely ignored.

The mortals fell on the rabbits and vegetables with intense appetite, not having eaten for a while. For the bard in particular, this had been a trial. In no time at all, the meal had been reduced to a few scattered bones.

Gabrielle leaned back with a satisfied smile, Callisto's cloak wrapped around her for her only cover as her clothes dried by the fire. Xena had rescued a tunic from the bag which had turned out to be the one Callisto had taken from the fisherman back in the village. The water-tight lining had succeeded in protecting the clothing from the sea and had also contained some dried herbs, a tattered blanket, cooking utensils and some simple medical supplies. If the tunic smelled faintly of fish, well, at least it was warm and dry. It was going to take hours for her to clean her leathers. A task she immediately started.

"What are we going to do now?" the bard broke the silence, unable to keep silent for long.

"As soon as the storm dies down, I'll swim to the mainland," Callisto said, sheathing her daggers and relaxing against the cave wall, arms crossed over her chest, legs stretched out with her ankles linked. "Maybe I'll remember to send somebody to get you."

Gabrielle stared at her. She had been horrified to see the blond upon waking and was astonished when Callisto had blandly informed her as to Xena's whereabouts. She was even more startled and not a little grateful that the blond immediately closed her eyes and proceeded to ignore her as the bard defiantly prepared the rabbits Xena had clearly left for her. Except for asking the immortal to watch the rabbits, she hadn't spoken to her daughter's ally. She hadn't waited for a response, or to see if Callisto would indeed keep the meat from scorching before scrambling through the hole to find the warrior princess. Now, with Xena busy with her leathers, that left the bard with nowhere else to focus her attention on.

"So Xena says you're my protector now," Gabrielle began challengingly.

Callisto raised a sardonic eyebrow. "Seems that way," she answered shortly. "The Olympians brought down this judgement on me. It wasn't my idea," she added, just in case there was any doubt.

"But now you can find your sister," Gabrielle noted, eyes bright with curiosity.

Callisto favored Xena with a withering glare. The warrior princess, feeling the eyes upon her and following the conversation, raised her head to meet the look evenly. "You know about Cassiope?" the immortal said silkily.

Xena's eyes narrowed warningly as Gabrielle nodded. "Xena told me everything," she said.

"She did, did she?" Callisto said coldly. "How refreshing."

"Where will you begin?" Gabrielle asked.

Callisto stared at her, then reluctantly shook her head. "I don't know," she admitted. In truth, she had not gotten that far. One moment she was in limbo, complete nothingness, the next she was deposited in front of the gods and informed of their judgement upon her. There had been a flash of light and she found herself in meadow next to a grazing black gelding and an irresistible urge to ride towards the west, no matter how much she fought it. Since then, she'd been compelled to rescue the bard and once that was done, found herself at total loose ends.

Flustered, she poked at the fire.

"Maybe we can help," Gabrielle offered brightly, getting the immortals full, startled attention.

Xena was looking at Gabrielle now as well, with an amazed sort of horror. "Gabrielle," she grumbled warningly.

Gabrielle returned the warrior's gaze with annoyance, forgetting Callisto's presence for a moment. "Maybe this is the real reason she's been returned," she argued. "Not a punishment, but a final shot at real redemption, Xena. Maybe if she saves her sister, she saves herself."

Callisto, fascinated in spite of herself, broke in. "What makes you think she needs to be saved?" she asked keenly.

"Or that Callisto is the one to do it?" Xena frowned.

The bard turned on her. "If we believe that everyone's beyond hope," and if she choked a little on the words, she covered quickly. "Then why do we even try, Xena? Wasn't that what you meant with Tara? Everyone deserves a chance. Even Callisto. There's a reason she keeps coming back no matter what happens to her. Maybe her sister is the key. Maybe this will make up for ... well what's she's done."

Callisto snorted and looked at her. "What I've done?" she said. "Might I remind you that your little brat came looking for me?"

Xena opened her mouth to protest but not in time as with a sort of wounded dignity, Gabrielle got to her feet and furiously left the cave, her head held high to meet the wind and rain, the cloak still wrapped around her. Callisto watched her leave then looked at Xena only to find the warrior had picked up her sword.

Xena stared at her evenly. "You didn't have to hurt her," she said without expression.

"Me?" Callisto protested in confusion and was suddenly rolling off the rock to avoid the sword which crashed into the stone where she had been sitting. Quickly, Callisto drew her own sword and met the next slash, sparks flying from where the blades intersected. "You can't kill me, Xena," she allowed with amusement. "So why bother?"

"I can leave you in seven pieces," the warrior princess promised

"No, you can try," Callisto responded flatly.

Then there was no more talk as the blond was hard pressed to block the flurry of blows that rained down upon her. But Callisto knew that time was on her side and she maintained her defensive posture, keeping a tight rein on her temper. Unlike Xena, she would not tire and she knew that. She was keenly aware of Xena throwing the chakram to her left and with concentration, she followed the sound, reaching behind her and catching the disc just before it imbedded itself in her skull. That caused the warrior princess to widen her eyes and press the attack even more.

Oh no, Xena, Callisto thought grimly, holding her ground and dropping the disc onto the cave floor. If there was one thing her various incarcerations had taught her was that patience was a virtue. And since she was concentrating totally on defense, Xena was not able to cause the damage she wanted. Callisto knew that she had changed since the last time the two had fought. Not just the punishment or immortality, not just the discovery of her sister's life, or the tiny bit of hope it had brought. It was the fact that the madness had been extinguished. It no longer ruled her, no longer sent her careening into foolish moves, no longer drove her to react to someone else's whims. No longer blinded her with rage when encountering Xena. The fire in her heart had been destroyed, leaving only cold and bitter ashes which produced a resigned, helpless attitude. That whatever happened next was beyond her control and all she could do is accept it.

Despite this however, Callisto found herself smiling with glee as they fought. It truly was a pleasure to cross swords with the warrior princess. Before, one or the other had held back for one reason or another. Xena, the first few times because of her guilt, Callisto, the final few because she no longer cared. Now they both found themselves able to fight without restraint, without mercy or hesitation; to fight for no other reason than because they simply didn't like each other. And it suddenly occurred to Callisto that if she were without her immortality, that if she was subject to tiring from the effort of defending herself, that if the slices and cuts Xena managed to score were not healing as quickly as they appeared without the draining blood lose, the blond would no doubt have died at various moments in the battle.

But she was immortal and slowly the tide began to turn. She sensed Xena starting to tire, the little nicks Callisto inflicted sending trails of red streaming to mingle with the sweat sucking at the warrior princess's strength.

But oh, she's incredible, Callisto accepted. Even Ares would be hard pressed to battle this woman and Callisto had crossed swords with him as well. She was sorry to see this struggle end. But it was inevitable, Xena's blows coming a little slower now, the blocks not so swift or impenetrable. And finally, Callisto had her opening, lunging to catch Xena's arm, levering it up and leaving the warrior princess wide open to her blade. The point of her sword sliced the tunic. And stopped, the cold metal pressed against Xena's skin at her heart. Callisto stared into those blue eyes, mesmerized as the two women stood frozen in stifled air of the cave.

Too bad part of her judgement was that she was to harm neither the warrior princess or the bard.

"Oh, I don't think so Xena," she whispered. "Who would I bother out here in the mortal world." She tilted her head, smiled, almost affectionately at the woman she had hated so long. "You won't make peace with your feelings for Gabrielle by taking it out on me," she added, almost as an afterthought.

She lowered her sword and released Xena's arm, waiting to see what the other would do.

Xena inhaled deeply, trying to catch her breath. Callisto watched her curiously, wondering what the older woman was thinking. Xena slumped down on a boulder, bending down to pick up her chakram before leaning back wearily to contemplate her enemy.

"I must be getting old," she growled finally.

Callisto threw her head back and laughed. "Oh, Xena, you and I both know immortality was the only thing that saved me," she said. Callisto found herself her own rock and they considered each other for awhile. "So what now?" she added softly. "I have no choice but to be here when Gabrielle is threatened. And, I guess, neither do you. Like it or not, this will probably not be the last time we see each other. There was a reason Dahok chose you and her, a reason Hope chose me. And I suspect that reason still exists, whatever it is."

Xena nodded reluctantly. "We can't keep trying to kill each other all the time," she admitted. She wiped the sweat away from her brow.

"As much fun as it is," Callisto cheerfully agreed. She replaced her sword back into its sheath and drew her legs up, wrapping her arms around them. "Gabrielle's your salvation, Xena," she said. There was a pause as the blond considered it. "I suppose in a way she might be mine," she surprisingly added.

"She deserves only happiness," Xena responded.

"And for some reason, we only bring her horror," Callisto allowed without heat. "Yet we are tied to her in some strange way." She sighed and looked out at the sky, the sun beginning to appear, brightening the cave marginally. "I don't suppose you know the currents around here?"

Xena shook her head. "You weren't serious about swimming back to the mainland," she said with a touch of disbelief.

"I'm your only chance to get off here," Callisto said with a disturbing grin. "At least in a hurry. And frankly, I think I've overstayed my welcome."

Xena allowed herself the very tiniest of nods and looked out the cave entrance, searching her memory from when she sailed these waters years before. "It's pretty good," she said slowly. "You'll have to go right angle the mainland, at least for awhile. I know it'll seem like the long way, but the current will help carry you until you can strike out to the harbor. It's not very strong, a good swimmer can pull out of it." She allowed a reluctant grin to touch the corners of her mouth. "And as I discovered, you really don't get tired."

Callisto nodded and removed her weapons and boots. Xena held her hand out. "We'll bring them along," she said. "When you send out a boat for us."

Callisto smiled icily. "I probably won't be there when you get there. So, don't bother. They'll be glad to outfit me with whatever I ask for if it means getting rid of me. There is something to be said for a nasty rep, Xena."

Xena nodded. "I want to thank you for saving Gabrielle," she said evenly.

Callisto hesitated, surprise warring with discomfort. Finally she nodded briefly. She straightened and started out of the cave.

"I'll keep an eye out for your sister," Xena added as she followed. They paused outside the rocks. "Is there anything I should be looking for?"

"A ten year old screaming in terror and running away when she sees you might be a good clue," Callisto couldn't resist the final needle.

"Anything else?" Xena let her have that one.

"Cassiope had a birthmark on the inside of her left arm, at her elbow," Callisto said. "It was shaped like a crescent moon with a lightning bolt shooting across it."

"All right," Xena said, enlightenment stirring in her eyes.

Callisto spared her a final look, and then started jogging briskly for the shore. Xena watched her go, then with a sigh, the warrior started in the other direction to track down her bard.

It was late afternoon before she woke. Xena had debated over it, but she let her be knowing how little the bard had got the night. Xena hoped it would help, being a big believer in the healing property of sleep. She grabbed a nap herself before going out to forage for supper. Now there was fish roasting over glowing coals, wild potatoes baking in the ashes and she had found a large patch of blueberries which was one of Gabrielle's favorites. It was one of the few meals she couldn't ruin. She hoped the treat for desert would help cheer the bard. If the bard could be cheered. Xena knew that Hope was still a raw subject with her, and the bard had profoundly hurt by Callisto's carelessly tossed out words.

Sighing, Gabrielle turned over and opened her eyes, smiling as she saw Xena who had just finished cleaning her armor. Then her eyes darkened and she looked around. "Where's Callisto," she said coldly.

"She's swimming for the mainland," Xena said calmly. "They should send a boat tomorrow or maybe in a few days. The wind's starting to pick up again. We may be in for another storm."

"If she tells them," Gabrielle snarled, sitting up and stretching.

"She will," Xena allowed with assurance.

Gabrielle paused, looking at her companion, judging the tone of the words. Something had happened when she had been gone. That much was clear. She just didn't know if she'd like it. She looked over at the fish, then at the large container full of blueberries.

"Oh, Xena," she said, letting go of her anger and hurt for the moment. "Blueberries." She reached over and snagged a handful, shoving them into her mouth with pleasure.

"Hey, those are for desert," Xena growled, pulling the container out of reach of the bard, heart lightening at the smile on Gabrielle's face.

Gabrielle tried again, knowing Xena was teasing her, then surrendered finally as the warrior princess refused to let her have them. "Okay, I guess I can eat the fish first," she pouted.

"You'd better," Xena said. "You know how hard it is to find salmon this time of season?"

Gabrielle looked at her for a long moment and Xena found herself avoiding the eyes, trying not to blush. The bard leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "All my favorites," she said. "Are you trying to cheer me up or something?"

"Is it working?"

Gabrielle thought a moment. "I guess so," she allowed grudgingly.

Happily, Xena watched as Gabrielle reduced the two large fish, three potatoes and most of the blueberries to a memory. As always, she marveled at the bard's prodigious appetite, more than satisfied with her portion of fish, potato and few handfuls of blueberries. She never tired of how Gabrielle enjoyed her food either.

Finally the bard wiped her mouth and leaned back with a soft grunt of satisfaction. She had tucked the cloak around her like a toga while she ate and Xena tried not to stare at the expanse of thigh she kept revealing.

"Can I ask you something?" Gabrielle offered.

"Yes," Xena said slowly, steeling herself for what was coming. Knowing the bard, it could be anything. The very fact she asked if she could told Xena it was a tough one. Generally Gabrielle just went ahead and blurted whatever was in her head.

"Why are we waiting?"

Xena raised an eyebrow. "To be rescued?" she said.

"No, us. What are we waiting for? Some sign from the gods?" the bard said, scooting closer to her. "We've been through so much, Xena. Why do we still keep denying how we feel?"

Xena gulped, hoped it wasn't audible. Gabrielle couldn't possibly be speaking about what she thought she was speaking of. "I love you," she said evenly. "I've never denied that."

"But you haven't done anything about it," the younger woman said. Her eyes were glinting in the firelight, a soft glow as she regarded Xena intently.

"What would you like me to do?" Xena didn't know where this was going nor was she sure she wanted to. How much more complicated could things get?

With a passion that surprised even her, Gabrielle kissed the stunned warrior with everything she could manage to pour into one kiss. All her love, all her desire, all the fear and hopes that the last three years had led to this moment. And when she finally drew back, both women were shaken to the very core.

Apparently very complicated, Xena thought dazedly.

"Gabrielle." Xena's voice was husky and she cleared her throat, tried again. "Gabrielle, what are you doing?"

"I just realized, if I wait for you," Gabrielle frowned, "I'd need to be as immortal as Callisto. Frankly Xena, I don't want to wait that long."

She leaned forward and kissed Xena again. Just when the bard was beginning to wonder if she had been gravely mistaken, Xena surrendered with a tiny whimper of joy and relief and wrapped her arms around the young woman, pulling her close, drawing her down as Gabrielle straddled the warrior's lap, encircling Xena with her legs. They clung to each other for long moments as they kissed, their embrace trying to pull each other as close as possible until Gabrielle finally emitted a protesting peep.

Immediately, Xena released her, but not far as they tried to catch their breaths. Apparently as mortals, breathing was a pretty important factor in this sort of thing.

"Are you sure about this?" Xena whispered, burying her face into the reddish-blond hair.

"I wouldn't be doing this otherwise," Gabrielle said. She reached up and cupped the warrior's face in her small hands, forcing her to look at her. "I know what I want. I know who I love. And that's always been you. From the first moment I saw you." She kissed Xena very gently, barely brushing her lips over hers.

"I love you, Gabrielle," Xena responded, humbled by the bard's strength. "I have for a long time. I should have told you sooner."

"Shh, no more should-haves," Gabrielle said. "No more if-only, no more why-didn't-I. There's no past. We're starting new, right now. Okay?"

"All right," Xena agreed. That was more than fine with her. She smiled suddenly, teeth white in the firelight. "Oh Gabrielle," she whispered. She held her bard close, nuzzling the cheek and jawbone. "I won't let you down," she promised. "Never again."

"I know you won't," Gabrielle assured her.

Xena smiled and gently stroked the bard's back and shoulders, surprised as Gabrielle suddenly pulled away. "Uhm, Xena, I want this to be..." she started then suddenly leaped to her feet. "Just stay there. Don't touch me."

"I think you should put out the fire," she said, seductively. "Then come on in and put out the one in me."

Xena wasted no time in kicking dirt over the coals, making sure no embers were left. Not that there was much to burn in the cave. Carrying her armor and leathers, she crawled through the opening, stopping in amazement as she saw what Gabrielle had managed with very li