Mind Games

Xena studied the temple from her hiding place in a tree. As she'd feared, they were expected. She noted the number of men patrolling the area; this wouldn't be easy. She dropped back down to where Hercules and Gabrielle waited. Signaling them to keep quiet, she led them away from the temple until she was sure it was safe to speak; then told them what they faced. "One of us is going to have to distract enough of those guards so the others can sneak inside," she finished grimly.

"And that one would be you, right, Xena?" Gabrielle had a stubborn look on her face that Xena knew all too well.

"I'm the best choice, Gabrielle," Xena hurriedly continued. She held out a hand for silence as she noticed Hercules about to interrupt. "I can distract them, lead them off on a wild chase, then circle back to meet you."

"Why should it be you and not me?" Hercules demanded.

"Because you’ll be needed inside. We don't know where they're being held or what condition they’ll be in. We may need your strength in there."

"Alright," the agreement was reluctant, but Hercules couldn't argue with her logic. "You've made your point. Gabrielle and I go in while you lead the guards away."

"Good." Xena watched as Gabrielle turned to head back. In a quiet voice she told Hercules, "Take care of her for me."

"Don't worry, Xena, I know how much she means to you." He smiled reassuringly then followed Gabrielle.

Xena watched them go, her face a study in conflicting emotions. Then she forced herself to calm down and focus. They could do this.

The three crouched in the low brush a few yards from the entrance to the temple. Xena's voice was barely audible, "Remember, wait until all the guards have gone and then go quickly."

"We'll be fine, Xena." Gabrielle squeezed her arm. "You just take care of yourself." Xena forced a slight smile to her lips, then she was gone.

"Don't worry, Gabrielle, she'll be fine," Hercules tried to reassure the girl.

"I know, she always is." Gabrielle smiled bravely at him. "I can't help but worry about her though."

Hercules put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a slight hug. "I know." Then the two settled down to wait for Xena's signal.

It wasn't long in coming. Screaming her battle cry Xena somersaulted directly into the midst of the guards, lashing out fiercely. At first the guards were stunned and disorganized by her attack, but gradually they began to retaliate. Satisfied that she had their full attention, Xena cleared a path back to the trees, vaulting over the last guard before he knew what was happening. With a shrill cry she took off running, the sounds of the men following music to her ears.

When Ares appeared in the small bedroom, Alynn was ready for him. She knew she would only get one chance. She didn't think she could kill him, even with Athena's sword, but she had to wound him badly enough that he couldn't follow her.

The god was in a foul mood when he appeared. At first he seemed to ignore her presence, ranting about interfering mortals ruining his plans. Alynn wondered if the help Artemis had promised had arrived and this was what had set Ares off. She shifted slightly, adjusting her grip on the hilt of the sword; trying to keep it hidden beneath the covers of the bed.

Suddenly Ares' gaze was riveted on her. She shivered with fear at the look in those dark eyes. "I have no more time for finesse," he informed her. "You're coming with me. Do what I tell you and I might even leave Iolaus alive." He reached for her. She waited, tensed to spring. As his hand closed on her arm, she acted. Bringing the sword up from its hiding place, she used his own grip to pull him forward as she ran the sword through his body. The shock and pain on his face was a balm to her bruised spirit. For a moment neither moved, then the reality of what she'd done hit them both.

A tiny voice in the back of her mind was screaming incoherently with fear but she ignored it. Athena had said that the key to the door was Ares' blood. Very well. With a quick wrench she pulled the sword out of his body. She was vaguely aware of him dropping to his knees as she turned her back and stalked over to the door. Almost fearfully she raised the bloodied sword and lightly touched the tip to the wood. The door seemed to hum for a moment before it vanished in a shower of sparks. Suddenly noise assaulted her: shouts, screams, the sound of running feet. In short, the sounds of battle.

Alynn tightened her grip on the sword as she stepped through the doorway into the corridor beyond. There was no one in sight. She was trying to decide which way to go when a low growl from the room behind her caused to her whirl. The rage on Ares' face as he slowly levered himself to his feet bordered on madness. His eyes glittered with malice as he stared at her. "You will pay for this!" Between one heartbeat and the next he was gone.

"Iolaus!" Alynn was certain she knew how Ares intended to pay her back and she raced down the corridor, praying to Artemis that she would find her golden hunter in time to save him from Ares’ wrath.

Hercules smiled as Gabrielle's staff took out another guard. She’d learned a lot since he’d last seen her fight. They'd been dismayed to find as many guards inside the temple as had been waiting outside. Ares had definitely been expecting them. They'd had a couple of close calls, but now most of the guards were moaning or unconscious on the ground. The clatter of running feet made Hercules swear; they didn't have time to deal with reinforcements. He wanted to find Iolaus and Alynn before Ares pulled one of his dirty tricks. He exchanged a grim glance with Gabrielle as they braced themselves for the next wave.

The figure that came through the doorway next to Ares' throne was not who he had expected. "Alynn?"

The woman's eyes were wild, her long hair flying around her white face; in her hands she carried a bloody sword. For one long moment he thought she would attack him then her eyes cleared and focused on him. "H-Hercules?"

"Yes, Alynn, it's me." He was aware of Xena running into the room as he approached her warily. "I brought some friends with me. We came to get you and Iolaus out of here."

As if Iolaus' name was a key, she started and looked around wildly. "Iolaus! Ares is going to kill him. We've got to find him!"

"Do you know where he is?" Xena asked.

Alynn shook her head. "In a cell. That's all I know."

"Hercules! Xena! Over here!" Gabrielle's cry brought all three running.

"Stairs." the single word conveyed a question as Xena looked at Hercules.

"Has to be," he answered. Before either of them could move, Alynn had brushed past them. She raced headlong down the stairs. "Alynn!" Hercules called after her, but she ignored him.

"Is she trying to get herself killed?" Xena asked as they followed a bit more cautiously.

There was no sign of her when they reached the bottom, but the moaning of a guard told them which way she'd gone. Grimly they followed, checking each cell as they passed. A scream of pure rage was followed by the sounds of swords clashing. Hercules and Xena exchanged glances then both took off at a dead run with Gabrielle right behind them. The sight that greeted them as they reached their goal stopped all three cold with shock and horror.

Iolaus' battered blood-encrusted body hung limply in the middle of the cell. Only the gleam of his blue eyes as he watched the other two occupants of the cell gave any indication that he was still alive. Hercules felt his own ire rise at what had been done to his best friend. Hercules rushed to him, ignoring everything else in his blind need to help Iolaus. He was vaguely aware of Xena helping to support Iolaus' weight as he broke the chains binding his friend.

Gabrielle watched, her stomach churning, as the two gently lowered the hunter's battered form to the floor. Xena's face was white, her lips pinched with rage barely held in check. She growled softly as she stood, turning towards the sounds of the fighting and drawing her sword. Gabrielle followed her gaze and gasped.

"Hercules! Look!" Gabrielle's hand on his shoulder caught his attention; he looked in the direction she indicated. Without thought, he cradled Iolaus closer, instinctively trying to protect his friend as he spotted Ares. Alynn was confronting him; her eyes burning with a feral light she attacked the god with fierce determination. And, to Hercules' utter amazement, she was winning!

In a few moments Alynn had Ares backed into a corner. With a quick twist of her blade she disarmed him, his sword skidding across the floor to rest at Xena's feet. Xena, a cold smile on her face, placed her foot on the sword, her look daring Ares to try to retrieve it.

Alynn hadn't even noticed there was anyone else in the room, her entire attention had been focused on Ares. Slowly she brought her blade up, the tip coming to rest in the hollow of his throat. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't run you through," she told him, meeting his glare with her own.

"My dear.." Ares swallowed hard. "How could you even consider it, after all we've been to each other?"

"That is not a reason. You mean nothing to me," she told him coldly, pressing the blade in a little more.

"Alynn," Gabrielle's voice was calm and soothing, "you don't want to do this." She moved up to stand beside Xena, trying to reach Alynn through her words.

"Yes I do!" Alynn snarled, never taking her eyes from Ares. "You don't know what he did to me, to both of us! All for revenge!"

"If you do this it will make you just like him." Gabrielle held out her hand, patiently reasoning with her. "Don't you see?"

"Listen to her, Alynn," Xena spoke up. "I've been where you’re going. It's not pretty."

"Yes, Alynn, listen to them," Ares told her. He brought up a hand to brush the tip of the sword, stilling when she growled and pressed harder. "You can't kill me."

"Maybe I can't," Alynn hissed, "but I can make you hurt!"

"Please, Alynn," Gabrielle scowled at Ares hoping he would keep his mouth shut. "Iolaus needs you now."

"You've won, Alynn," Hercules added his plea to the others'. "Let it go."

Hercules sighed in relief as Alynn slowly relaxed. She gave Ares one final glare. "Get out of here and leave us alone," she ordered, "or next time I'll aim a bit lower." Her words puzzled Hercules as he watched her step back. She slowly let the blade slide down Ares' body until it came to rest against his crotch. Hercules got another shock as he realized Ares was wounded already. Something strange was definitely going on here, but now was not the time to puzzle over it.

As Alynn stepped away from the scowling god, Xena hooked her foot under his sword and flipped it to him. "You heard the lady, Ares," she grinned. "Get lost!"

Ares' eyes glittered coldly as he straightened, catching the sword. Doing his best to appear poised and nonchalant, he tried to regain some of his dignity. "This isn't over," he told them as he disappeared in a shower of sparks.

Alynn walked wearily beside Gabrielle, mind and body overloaded with the tumultuous events of the last few days. Only the driving need to find somewhere safe to care for Iolaus kept her on her feet at all. She looked up. Hercules was walking ahead of her, tenderly carrying the injured man. She felt her heart clench at the paleness of Iolaus' face. He hadn't stirred at all since they had found him in that cell. She shuddered at the memory and felt Gabrielle place an arm around her shoulder in sympathy. She looked up trying to smile. "He'll be alright," Gabrielle softly assured her. "He's strong. Why, I remember the time when we all were trying to free Prometheus..." Alynn listened to her story, grateful for anything that could keep her mind distracted.

Iolaus was floating in soothing darkness, pain a distant thing that couldn't touch him. Once in a while he thought he heard familiar voices, but they faded away before he could understand what they were saying; he figured they were just another part of the dreams he'd been having. Some of those dreams had been terrible, monstrous things and he had turned away from them. Others he was sure were only products of his wishful thinking. He'd had one of those earlier. At first he had thought it would be one of the nightmares but then it had changed. Ares had finally come to kill him; he'd seen the god's sword raised to strike the blow that would end his life. Then Alynn had been there, an avenging fury driving Ares away from him. It was then that he'd started to hear the other voices.

Alynn's voice was calling to him now, beckoning him, coaxing him to leave his safe haven. He was torn. Pain was waiting for him out there beyond the darkness. Pain and a soul-deep anguish he didn't want to confront. Her words became clearer; his spirit responding to the fear and sorrow he heard in her voice. She needed him. Had she been hurt? A memory stirred, Alynn's face, white and still; his own fear at the sight of it. Now he had to know.

Awareness returned with a rush and with it came agony. He whimpered and felt a hand smooth his hair, a voice soothed him. Alynn's voice. He opened his eyes to see her bending over him, tears sparkling in her eyes. He tried to speak but his voice wouldn't work. She shushed him, bringing a cup to his lips. Water. Nothing had ever tasted so sweet as the plain water did at that moment. Greedily he tried to guzzle it, but she only allowed him to take small sips. She smiled encouragingly at him as he finished it.

Once more he tried to get his voice to work. This time he managed a hoarse whisper, "More?" She smiled and nodded, turning away. His eyes roamed the small clearing taking in his surroundings. He spotted the horses nearby. "Who?"

She understood what he wanted to know. "Hercules, Xena and Gabrielle."

Herc. He should have known his friend would be the one to find him. He smiled. "Where?"

"Hercules went to get wood for a fire," Alynn explained as she helped him drink another cup of water. "Xena went hunting. She wanted to find some herbs to put on your wounds. Gabrielle should be back any minute. She just went down to the stream to get more water." As he finished, she asked, "More?"

"No. Tired."

"Alright, you should sleep then. One of us will be here if you want anything."

He closed his eyes wearily but opened them again a moment later. He was so tired, but he didn't want to sleep. The nightmares came when he slept. So he settled for lying there quietly, watching Alynn as she built a fire and waited for the others to return. When he saw the shadow move, he thought it was Hercules, or perhaps Xena returning. Then the shadow moved again, resolving itself into a figure from his nightmares. He froze; terror paralyzing him for a moment as the man crept closer to Alynn. Light reflected from the sword in the man's hand and he forced out a warning cry, "Alynn!"

He breathed a sigh of relief as the man's sword cleaved only empty air. Then Alynn brought up a sword in her own hands. "Methias," she hissed as she swung her blade. Iolaus watched as the fight seem to progress in slow motion. He saw the madness in Methias' eyes. He cursed his body as he struggled to get it to respond; Alynn needed his help. Her responses were sluggish and she was barely holding her own. Helplessly he watched as Methias sent Alynn's blade flying from her hand, his return stroke slicing deep into her side. Iolaus screamed as she collapsed on the ground.

"It's all your fault." Methias stalked towards him. "Ares is blaming me for this." The comment was as casual as a remark about the weather. It sent chills down Iolaus’ spine. He desperately tried to free himself from the blankets ignoring the pain it caused, as Methias stood over him, sword poised. Iolaus closed his eyes, steeling himself for the blow. It never came. His eyes flew open as he heard Methias gasp. The man fell and he saw the hilt of a sword standing up from his back. When he looked back up he saw Alynn standing over them both. Blood was pouring from her side. Even as he watched she swayed and fell.

"ALYNN!!"

Hercules raced back to the camp, Iolaus' scream filling him with fear of what he would find when he arrived. The only thing he could think of was that Ares had paid them another visit; that thought made him run faster. He arrived to find Xena kneeling beside Alynn, desperately trying to staunch the flow of blood from her side. Gabrielle was seated beside Iolaus, pressing a cloth to her head and trying to keep him still. A few feet from where Iolaus lay, the body of a man was lying face down.

He panted, trying to get his breath. "Iolaus? Alynn?" Gabrielle shrugged, her concern clearly evident.

Hercules knelt beside Iolaus, assuring himself that his friend was still alive, "Who was he? Another one of Ares' goons?"

"Probably," Xena agreed, not pausing in her task.

Hercules glanced at Gabrielle. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she assured him. "He only clobbered me over the head." She winced. "I got back here just in time to see Alynn shove her sword into his back and collapse. Then Xena showed up." She smiled at Hercules trying to reassure him. "I'll be fine."

Satisfied that there was little more he could do for Iolaus, Gabrielle, or Alynn at the moment he went to examine the body. He was surprised to realize he knew the man. "Methias!"

"You know him?" Gabrielle asked curiously.

"Yeah, Iolaus and I had a run in with him a few years ago," he explained. "I'd heard he was leading the soldiers that were attacking Plethos. That's why I was there." He looked down at the body. "At least that's one less thing to worry about."

"Oh, yeah," Gabrielle finished his thought. "With their leader gone, any soldiers left after their attack the other day should leave the people alone."

"For a while anyway," Xena stated dryly.

Hercules looked at her. "How's Alynn?"

"The bleeding has mostly stopped, but I'll need to stitch that wound." She rummaged in her saddlebags. "She's lucky. The sword struck her ribs and glanced off."

Hercules nodded. "Anything I can do?"

"Yeah," Xena ordered him absently. "Get rid of that body and get the firewood you were supposed to bring back."

"Yes Ma'am!" Hercules grinned at her and she smiled back. Things could have been much worse.

"Alynn? It's time to wake up."

Alynn's eyes flew open at the sound of the masculine voice calling her name. Panic shook her for a moment as her hands scrabbled wildly for a weapon. Then the voice spoke again, "Alynn, it's me, Hercules. You're safe now."

She stared at him, slowly relaxing as the events of the prior day came back to her. "Hercules?"

The concern in his eyes was comforting as he gently helped her sit up. "Careful," he cautioned. "We don't want that wound breaking open." She tried to suppress a shudder at the feel of his hands on her, but knew from the sorrow in his eyes that he'd seen her reaction. He didn't say anything about it though. "How are you feeling?"

"Sore," she told him, "but I'll be fine. Iolaus?"

"He'll be fine." Hercules started to touch her arm in reassurance then drew back. "We'll be back in Plethos soon." He hurried on, trying to cover the awkward moment. "Then we'll have a healer see to you both."

She met his gaze; the understanding and compassion she saw there bringing tears to her eyes. Determinedly she blinked them away. Clearing her throat, she reached out to lay a hand lightly on his arm. "We'll both be fine," she tried to assure him. "You'll see."

He smiled at her, one large hand gently covering her own for a moment. "I know you will." Then he handed her the food he'd brought and went to check on Iolaus as Xena came to tend her wound.

The trip back to Plethos took much longer for the weary little band. Though Xena insisted that Alynn ride the gelding, the rest of them walked. Xena led Argo while Hercules once more carried Iolaus. They had taken turns the night before watching over the invalids. Xena rubbed a sore rib, glad that Gabrielle hadn't been on watch when Alynn had her first nightmare. She'd been afraid the woman's thrashing would open her wound again and made the mistake of trying to hold her down. Alynn had gone wild at that point until Xena had backed off and just talked to her. It was from Alynn's nightmares and those of Iolaus that she had begun to piece together what had happened to them. If even half of what she suspected was true, it wasn't a pretty picture. Her blood boiled whenever she thought about it. She spent the rest of the trip amusing herself with images of what she would like to do to Ares.

They arrived in Plethos just as the sun was setting. After seeing their patients safely ensconced in a room at the inn, Xena went to care for Argo and return the gelding to its owner. By the time she returned the local healer was just leaving. Hercules collared the man, demanding to know about Iolaus' condition. The healer sighed, trying to find a way to break the news to them gently. He ushered them into the next room, buying himself a little time. Once they were inside he closed the door and turned to find himself confronted with three anxious faces.

"Your friends will live." He decided to give the good news first. "The Amazon's wound is not life-threatening. She should be up and around in no time."

"And Iolaus?" Gabrielle voiced their deepest concern.

"Ahh, yes," the healer sighed. "I'm afraid he is a different story."

"Tell us," Xena ordered quietly.

"He will live." The healer wanted to emphasize that point. "But I'm afraid he will never regain the use of his hands, there’s too much damage. Even walking may prove to be more than he’ll be capable of, it’s too soon to tell." He saw the horror in their eyes. "I'm sorry. There is only so much I can do." Unable to face them any longer he turned back to the door. "I've left medicines for them on the table with instructions on their use."

Xena closed her eyes. She'd been afraid that the healer would only confirm what she'd suspected last night. For once she'd been hoping that she would be wrong. That in the darkness things had looked worse than they were. She'd held on to a faint hope that the healer here would know something she didn't. She heard Hercules' gasp. The man had gone deathly pale; she placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. Whatever happened now, they would deal with it... together.

Hercules had to sit down; his legs wouldn't hold him anymore. He heard Gabrielle quietly weeping, but his mind was still busy trying to absorb the news. He felt Xena's hand on his shoulder and looked up to see tears in her eyes. It was too much. He buried his face in his hands and let the tears come. One thought echoing through his mind. How was he going to tell Iolaus?

Alynn lay quietly on the bed, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. She had heard every word the healer had spoken. The thin walls between the rooms had barely muffled the sounds. She had felt each one as a blow to her own heart. Guilt was eating at her. She was certain they would blame her for what had happened to Iolaus. Not that she would deny it. If only...

Iolaus moaned, stirring restlessly, and she hastily wiped the tears from her face. Forcing herself up, she ignored the pain in her side to check on him. He opened his eyes as she sat down beside him. "Alynn." He blinked at her, as if unsure she was really there.

"I'm here, Iolaus," she hastened to assure him. "Can I get you anything? Are you in pain? The healer left medicine for you." She was babbling, but something in his eyes touched on her guilt, unnerving her.

"No, I'm fine," he interrupted her. "Alynn, I need to know..." His voice trailed off.

"Know what, Iolaus?" She looked away, afraid he was going to ask her about his condition.

"I need to know... Is what Ares said true?"

His question threw her. "Ares?"

"He told me that you and he.. that you.." Iolaus was stumbling over the words but she thought she understood what he was asking.

Her cheeks flushed. "Yes," she whispered, ashamed.

She heard him take a deep breath and dared to look at him. His eyes were closed and she could clearly see the pain in his face. "I've been praying you would tell me he was lying."

Alynn sighed, blinking back tears. "I wish I could, Iolaus, but I won't lie to you." He didn't speak, but the anguish on his face was clear to her. Without thinking she reached out to him. "I'm sorry," she told him, placing a gentle hand on his arm.

"Don't touch me!" The words were harsh, with an underlying note of bitterness as he jerked his arm away.

Alynn stammered, stricken to the core, "I-I..."

Iolaus turned his head away. "Just leave me alone."

Alynn rose and stumbled back to her own bed, choking back sobs. This was what she had been afraid of. He blamed her for what had happened. Dragging the blanket up over her, she silently resolved to leave before the morning. She couldn't bear to face Hercules and the others as well.

Iolaus woke to the sound of someone moving quietly around the room. He felt gentle hands begin to check the bandages that wrapped most of his body. Opening his eyes he looked up to find Xena leaning over him. She smiled when she realized he was awake. "Good morning."

He started to return her greeting, but hissed with pain instead when she checked a particularly painful wound. "Hold still Iolaus. This will only take a moment," she told him.

"That's easy for you to say," he panted, grinning and winking at her.

She laughed. "Good to see you're getting back to your old self."

"I'll be good as new in no time," he assured her. He ignored the shadow that crossed her face at his words. "Where's Herc?"

Xena frowned and he wondered what the problem was. "He's gone to look for Alynn," she explained.

"Alynn?" Iolaus didn't understand. "Why would he do that?"

Xena was clearly puzzled at his reply. "She was missing this morning when we woke."

"She's probably gone back to Ares," he told Xena bitterly. "I'm surprised she came with you at all."

"What are you talking about, Iolaus?" Xena was clearly astonished by his attitude.

"She didn't tell you? I'm not surprised." Iolaus looked away, he didn't want to see the pity in her eyes as he explained, "She served Ares all along. Her note was just a trick to get me away from Herc so Ares could trap me."

"She told you this?" Xena's voice betrayed no emotion.

"No, Ares did."

"Ares told you this and you actually believed him?" The scornful note in her voice brought his gaze back to her face.

"No, not at first."

"Alright, Iolaus. Out with it," Xena ordered him grimly. "Why do you think Alynn serves Ares?"

"He showed me." The admission was little more than a whisper.

"He showed you?" Xena was determined to get the whole story out of him, "How?"

"He showed me how they celebrated my capture," Iolaus told her, a slight blush staining his cheeks. "She went to him willingly, Xena." The anguish was clear in his eyes as he finally looked up at her.

"Damn it, Iolaus!" The anger in Xena's voice shocked him. "How can you be so dense?"

"W-what?" he stammered, totally unprepared.

"He used her."

"Used?" he questioned dazed by her anger.

"She wouldn't tell me but she had nightmares." Xena closed her eyes, calming the anger that rose at the thought of what those nightmares had revealed. "It's my guess that he offered her a bargain. Your life for her company in bed."

"Bargain?" Iolaus' mind reeled. "But I saw.. he showed.. she was responding to him!"

Xena's scornful glare withered his protests. "He’s a god Iolaus. He's had more practice at getting people to respond the way he wants than you or I ever will."

"No," he protested feebly.

Xena was adamant. "Yes, Iolaus." His mind was still trying to accept the idea when she told him the rest of it. "When we finally found you, Alynn was fighting Ares. He'd come to kill you but she wouldn't let him."

"Alynn fought Ares?" Xena was giving him one shock after another. From deep within his mind a memory surfaced. "She beat him," he whispered.

"Yes she did," Xena agreed.

Xena stared as Iolaus suddenly began struggling to get up. "What do you think you’re doing?" She shoved him back down.

"My fault," Iolaus muttered dazedly as he feebly batted at her hands. "I've got to go after her."

"You are not going anywhere for a while." Xena firmly pushed his hands away. "Hercules will find her." She tried to reassure the distraught hunter. "You need to rest."

"No, Xena," he tried to make her understand. "It's my fault she's gone. I've got to go. Important."

"Iolaus, if you don't stay put I'll tie you down!" Xena glared at him. "You have got to rest!" As the hunter finally ceased struggling with her, she asked, "Why is it your fault?"

Iolaus closed his eyes, he didn't want to see Xena's reaction. "I asked her."

"Asked her what?" The puzzlement was plain in Xena's voice.

"I-I asked her if what Ares said was true," Iolaus admitted.

"And?" He could tell Xena was getting impatient.

"She told me it was." Iolaus stole a peek at Xena, quickly shutting his eyes again as he saw the remote expression on her face. "S-She.. I was hurting, Xena," he tried to explain, "I-I told her not to touch me." He waited for the outburst he was sure would come. When she didn't respond he gathered his courage and opened his eyes.

Xena's eyes were like ice as she stared down at him. She was furious with him. For a long moment she struggled to keep control of her anger. How could he have done that to Alynn? Couldn't he see that the woman was suffering as well? The fact that Alynn loved Iolaus had been obvious to her from the beginning. Xena wanted to strangle him. "Idiot!" she hissed. "How was Alynn supposed to know what Ares said? Did you think of that?"

"No."

The thought really hadn't occurred to him, Xena realized as he blinked up at her in confusion. She sighed, sometimes Iolaus could be so simple. Her own guilt rose up to haunt her. He wasn't entirely to blame, Xena admitted to herself. She had been the one to teach him about betrayal. How could she blame him now for having believed that Alynn could betray him as well?

"Find her, Xena," he begged.

"Just rest, Iolaus, everything will be fine," she promised him, forcing herself to smile.

Iolaus didn't have the strength to protest further as she forced him to drink a foul tasting concoction and soon drifted into an uneasy sleep.

Alynn concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. Her body begged for rest but she ignored it, stubbornly intent on reaching Artemis' temple. She was aware of Lysia beside her urging her to take a break. She simply shook her head and kept going. She no longer cared what happened to her. All that mattered was reaching the temple. Silently she hoped that Lysia would just give up and go away, she was being a pest. She just couldn't summon enough energy to care too much one way or the other; so she kept going.

"That's it!" Alynn heard Lysia mutter. The next thing she knew she was on the ground, Lysia standing over her glaring. She started to get back on her feet. "Oh no, you don't!" Lysia dropped quickly, pinning her in place. The struggle between the two was brief, ending with Lysia sitting in the middle of her back, grinning smugly.

"Let me up," she growled.

"Not until you promise to stop and rest," Lysia informed her. "You've been pushing yourself to the limit ever since we left camp. Who knows how long you'd been doing it when you arrived." Alynn ignored the words, once more attempting to get up. Lysia was just as determined that Alynn wasn't going anywhere for a while. "Talk to me, please!"

"Alright," Alynn ground the word out reluctantly.

"You'll talk?" Lysia asked hopefully.

"I'll take a rest, but there's nothing to talk about. Now will you get off of me?"

Lysia sighed; Alynn was going to drive her mad. "I decide when the break is over," she told her firmly, waiting for Alynn’s agreement before shifting to sit beside her. Alynn sat up, turning her back to her friend. Lysia scowled at her, she didn't know what was going on, but she was determined to find out.

Alynn had shown up at the camp looking like death walking. No one had been able to get her to say where she had been or what had happened. She'd gone straight to the queen, then after a brief private meeting had packed a few things and left. Lysia had been hot on her heels. She'd had no problem obtaining permission to accompany Alynn. Quickly gathering a few personal items, she'd set out. She'd caught up with Alynn over an hour ago, and things had gone downhill from there. She examined her friend, looking for some trace of the woman she knew in the stranger before her.

After sitting in silence for several minutes, Lysia knew that Alynn wasn't going to say anything after all. Deciding to try a different tactic, she demanded, "At least tell me where we're going."

"Artemis' temple." The reply was so soft she almost didn't catch it.

"Artemis' temple? Why?" Lysia was relieved; they weren't more than a few hours walk from their destination then.

"I have something I have to return."

"What?" Lysia's curiosity was now fully aroused, but try as she might she couldn't get another word out of her companion.

They reached the temple by mid afternoon. To Lysia's surprise the priestesses seemed to be expecting Alynn. She spoke briefly to one of the woman, before being ushered inside. Lysia was left to wait with fear and worry as her only companions.

Alynn approached the altar, carefully placing the sword on it. Stepping back, she knelt. "Artemis, Lady, I have come as you bid." She drew in a breath as Artemis appeared. She watched as Artemis gently lifted the sword, gasping as it vanished.

"You have done well daughter," the goddess told her. "I am pleased."

Alynn raised tear-filled eyes to her. "Lady, I would ask one more favor of you."

"Your healing," Artemis replied. "I promised you that."

"No Lady." Alynn concentrated fiercely on holding herself together. She couldn't allow herself to break down before the goddess had agreed to her request. "Not my healing, another's."

Artemis looked at the bowed head in surprise. "You know what Ares did to you. It will take a god to undo, surely you have no desire to spend the rest of your life like that?"

"No, Lady, I don't," Alynn agreed. "But what he did to Iolaus was worse." She took a deep breath and began to plead her case. "I can live as I am. I still have the use of my body even if some pleasures are forever denied to me." Alynn willed the goddess to understand. "Ares' torture has left Iolaus crippled. He will never be able to walk, or do anything again."

"And you would trade your healing for his?" Artemis' voice revealed nothing.

"Yes Lady." Alynn held her breath, waiting for the decision.

"There is a price to be paid for what you ask, child." The goddess voice was remote and comfortless.

"Anything, Lady."

Hercules sat beside Iolaus' bed, his heart aching. Each day the hunter grew a bit stronger. The steady progress should have delighted him. Instead he found himself dreading it as each day brought the time when he would be forced to tell Iolaus the truth closer. He watched his friend sleep and agonized. The silence of the room was broken only by the sound of Gabrielle's quill as she worked on her scrolls. The door opened and he looked up, a question in his eyes. A slight shake of her head told him Xena had had no luck in picking up Alynn's trail. He sighed, turning his attention back to Iolaus. That would be the first question the hunter asked when he woke. He hated to disappoint him again. He closed his eyes desperately hoping that this time the hunter wouldn't ask.

Gabrielle's gasp startled him. He looked around to see what caused it and was shocked to see his sister Artemis leaning over Iolaus. "What?"

"Quiet," she ordered him. Artemis studied the sleeping mortal for a long moment before spreading her hands above him. It was Hercules' turn to gasp as he watched the golden light settle over Iolaus. When it finally disappeared, Iolaus' skin glowed with health, his breathing deep and regular. Unable to believe what had happened, Hercules reached out to peel back the nearest bandage. The flesh revealed was once again whole and healthy. No scars, not even Ares’ brand was left to mark what had been done to him.

"He will need to rest for a few more days," Artemis told him.

Hercules looked up at her, surprise and gratitude plain on his face. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me, Hercules," she told him. "Thank the one who bought this healing for him."

"Bought?" Xena questioned suspiciously. "Who?"

The goddess looked at her solemnly for a moment, already beginning to fade. "You know already. Alynn."

They had a hard time keeping the hunter in bed for the next few days. Iolaus was all set to head out as soon as he woke up and discovered what had happened. It took all three of them to convince him to wait and even then he tried their patience. They gave in when he threatened to sneak out and go by himself. Secretly they were all glad the waiting was finally over. None of them had spoken of it but each privately wondered what price Alynn had paid for this miracle.

They wouldn't allow Iolaus to overtax himself, so the days were short and the pace leisurely as they made their way to the border of Amazon territory. By the fourth day, they knew they were approaching the area patrolled by the women, so it was no surprise when one of them dropped from a tree to greet them. Xena and Gabrielle automatically raised their hands in the sign of peace. Lysia nodded to them both, then turned to the two men. "Hercules, Iolaus," Lysia's greeting was reserved.

Hercules was startled and wary at the coolness in her manner but Iolaus paid no heed. "Lysia, where is she?"

Lysia didn't bother to pretend she didn't know whom he was speaking of. "She isn't here, Iolaus," she told him bluntly, her anger at this man for the loss of her friend evident. "Because of you she has been lost to us."

"No!" The undisguised anguish in the protest, softened some of her anger.

Hercules clasped Iolaus' shoulder sympathetically. "I'm sorry Iolaus."

"How did it happen?" Xena inquired.

"In Artemis' temple of course." Lysia was puzzled by their reactions.

"Of course? What do you mean, of course?"

Lysia shrugged. "Where else do you become a priestess of Artemis?"

"Priestess?" Iolaus head came up, hope once more in his eyes. "You mean she's not dead?"

"Dead? What made you think she would be dead?"

"You said she was lost to you, Lysia," Hercules stated quietly. "We simply assumed."

"After everything that has happened," Gabrielle told her. "It's an easy assumption to make. What did you mean?"

Lysia stared at them thoughtfully. It was obvious all four of them knew what had caused her friend to take such a drastic action. "Alright, I'll tell you what I know," she told them, "but in return, I want to hear what happened."

The four exchanged glances. "It's up to you, Iolaus," Hercules told him.

Iolaus stared back at them; none of them had heard the full story yet. He wasn't even sure he would be able to tell it. Still, if it brought him news of Alynn he would try. "It's a long story, Lysia."

The four listened silently as he told the tale from beginning to end. No one interrupted. He found himself touching only lightly on parts of the story. Those areas still too painful to think of. By the time he had finished Lysia's eyes sparkled with tears of grief and rage. "She wouldn't talk of it. To anyone," she told them. "She ignored anyone who asked. She spoke briefly to the queen, then left again." Lysia closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to control her emotions. "I followed her to Artemis' temple. When we got there she went inside. The last time I saw her was as she walked into the temple. A priestess came out later to tell me Alynn was staying. That she wouldn't be coming back."

"How far is the temple?" Iolaus asked.

"A half days walk south of the camp," she told him, then realized what he intended. "It won't do any good Iolaus. You won't be able to see her."

"What? Why not?"

Lysia shrugged at his question. "I only know what I was told. No one will be allowed to see her. She is lost to us Iolaus."

Epilogue: One year later.

Iolaus stood on the small hill looking out over the lake. He didn't know why he'd come here but the need to return was too strong to resist. Hercules had insisted on accompanying him. Iolaus knew he was worried about the inexplicable compulsion he'd had. Iolaus didn't say anything, just quietly accepted the company when Hercules declared his intention. He'd been relieved though; he didn't want to face the memories alone. Even now, the knowledge that his friend was waiting for him a short distance away was comforting.

He'd asked Hercules to wait for him in their camp knowing that he had to face this place alone. Forcing himself to move, he headed down the hill. His feet found the path almost without his guidance. Before he knew it he was gazing at the place Alynn liked to camp. There was no sign there now of the tragedy that had begun on that spot. Slowly he moved to the beach and sat down. For the first time in a year, he allowed himself to remember Alynn. His heart ached.

"Waiting for someone?" He was so lost in his memories that the voice almost seemed a part of them. "Iolaus?" Slowly he turned his head towards the voice; sure that when he opened his eyes he would find he had imagined it. "Open your eyes, Iolaus." He opened his eyes bracing himself for the disappointment he was sure would follow.

He couldn't believe it when he saw her, standing there, smiling tentatively at him. "A-Alynn?"

"It's me, Iolaus. I'm here. I'm real." She held out her hand and he grasped it. It was warm and solid in his.

He stared at her, devouring the sight of her as a hungry man would devour the finest meal. She had changed, he realized. There were shadows in her eyes now as well as a calmness and surety to her presence that hadn't been there before. She had changed, and yet looking at her he could almost believe that time had rolled backward. Until she moved and sunlight sparkled off the pendant at her neck. Then he remembered why he'd believed he'd never see her again.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" she asked, a hint of laughter in her voice.

Iolaus tried to get his mind to work. He had so many questions. "How..? Why..? What happened?"

She sighed, dropping to the sand beside him. "I blamed myself, Iolaus."

"You? But it wasn't your fault!" he protested.

"I know that now." She smiled reassuringly at him.

"Why did you run away, Alynn?" he asked, watching her eyes darken at the memories.

"Because I couldn't face you.. or the others. But most of all, I couldn't face myself." She turned to stare at the lake, but her eyes saw the past. "Ares injured me more than any of us knew," she told him. "Artemis had already told me that Ares had tampered with my body, that I would require healing. She promised me that all I had to do was come to her when everything was over."

"So that's why you went to her temple?"

"No. When I heard the healer tell Hercules that you would be crippled by what Ares had done my own guilt began eating away at my soul. Then you turned away from me, unable to bear my touch. I knew then that you blamed me as well."

"I didn't! I don't!" Iolaus protested, horrified that she had taken such a burden on herself.

She smiled at him. "I know. But I didn't know it then."

The silence stretched between them. "What was your bargain with Artemis?" He thought he knew, but the question had bothered him for a long time.

"I asked to trade the healing she had promised me for yours," Alynn told him. "Artemis agreed, but only if I agreed to serve her as a priestess for the span of a year. During that time I would not be allowed to see or speak with anyone. I agreed." He started to curse the unfeeling goddess, but Alynn stopped him. "Hush. Artemis knew better than I did what I needed," she told him gently. "If she had let me go, I would have sought my own death and she knew it."

"But she didn't heal you," Iolaus stated bitterly.

"Yes she did." Alynn smiled at him. "She healed my soul, Iolaus."

"And your body? What Ares did to you?"

"That as well, though not until my soul had begun to heal."

Alynn stretched, reaching down she removed her boots and buried her feet in the warm sand. Iolaus smiled watching her as she tilted her head back letting the warm sun wash over her face. His smile faltered when he caught sight of the pendant again. "Are.. Are you still her priestess?" he asked tentatively.

She turned to smile at him. "I will always serve her Iolaus, but no longer as a priestess." A wicked gleam appeared in her eyes. Smiling slyly at him she sat up; undoing the lacing of her tunic she quickly pulled it over her head, laughing as he gaped at her in surprise.

Suddenly she was the Alynn he remembered. He watched stunned at the sudden change as she stood up, kicked off her skirt and raced towards the water. "Last one in washes the other's back!" she called tauntingly.

Laughing he quickly began to strip off his clothes, as he protested, "No fair! You had a head start!"

His Alynn was definitely back.

Hercules listened as laughter floated across the water to where he sat patiently waiting. Smiling, he nodded to himself and turned to leave them alone. "Thank you, Artemis." He told the silently watching goddess. The two shared a smile before the goddess faded away and Hercules went back to camp to wait.