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.

gldartt@ns.sympatico.ca

Enemy Mine

by

G. L. Dartt

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, though Gabrielle had said she understood when Xena told her of the need for speed and how Argo could not carry them both. However it had not hid the sadness in the small red-head's mist green eyes as the warrior princess rode away. 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.

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. Apparently the look in 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 turned red. "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 a little at 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. She 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, unseen scars.

"I know who you are, Xena," he said, hands held up in a calming 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."

Xena's rage was a molten inferno by now but she could also tell he was trying to explain and the shame 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 responded. "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.

She 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 coming out of shops and homes to take up good vantage points. 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, massive slabs of muscle displayed and glistening in the sun as sweat streamed from his bald head and shoulders. He didn't seem to have a neck and in his immense hands, a double-bladed axe gleamed silver.

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 one hand.

"I figured you'd be wanting to talk to me," he said, 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."

"Gareth didn't think so," 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 him," she added in a snide tone.

The village, who had heard of her defeat of 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 with 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 parried and thrust, her skill gradually bringing Merticles to his knees. A gasp escaped them as she let loose her metal disc, the chakram ripping through the axe handle, the blade falling impotently to the dirt. Her battle cry vibrated through them as she flipped through the air, booted feet driving 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, it was.

"Callisto."

***

The crowd drew hastily away from the black cloaked figure as Xena's hissed word identified the slender woman. The last time the warrior princess had seem her nemesis, Callisto had been battling with the rogue Amazon, Valasqua. The two combatants had consumed ambrosia, turning the women into gods and the cutting of the rope bridge on which they fought had been as much an act of desperation as strategy, sending the two falling into a lava flow. Xena had hoped the molten rock would hold them for eternity. So much for that wish.

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. The eyes were dark brown and not the blue-white of ambrosia induced power but that was not anything Xena could rely on to tell her anything. Callisto's outfit had changed as well. In addition to the long dark cloak flowing from the silver clasp at the hollow of her throat, the armor had been replaced by 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 leather gauntlets and a silver armband which adorned 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 Valasqua or Ares.

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.

Callisto smiled. Her eyes widened with a wicked delight.

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

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 neither," 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 it."

Xena wished she did 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 kneed her horse to one side of the trail, as Argo thundered up behind her, supposedly to allow Xena to pass her. Her face betrayed the briefest of surprise when the warrior princess instead choose to rein Argo in, slowing to ride along side the black gelding. For long moments they galloped side by side, silent until they came to a cross roads where they pulled their mounts up for a breather.

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 out of the lava flow?"

"Gabrielle," Callisto said. "She forgave me. Did you know that?"

"I knew," Xena replied flatly. She hadn't agreed at the time and since Callisto was here, it seemed she was right. What she couldn't figure out was what the blond was up to.

"Well, she also prayed for me." There was the barest trace of wonder in the blond's voice which was immediately covered by her more customary cynical tone. "I guess our little Amazon Princess is favored by Artemis. Since Valasqua apparently blew up one of Artemis's temples and I fought Valasqua in Gabrielle's defense, Artemis interceded for me to be granted a petition. That got me summoned to the Hall of the Gods for a hearing as to whether I would get to be a god or not."

"And," Xena prompted coldly.

"Of course, they don't want mortals becoming gods, even minor ones," Callisto explained. "But Artemis spoke for me, so after a while, they made me an offer. Renounce the godhood, and I could be returned to Earth as a mortal. Refuse, and I got to go back to the lava flow and join Valasqua in being a goddess of lava. I chose to give up the ambrosia. However, Artemis made a deal on the side for me to keep my immortality. All I have to do is protect the irritating bard from the immortal problems her big dumb warrior can't."

"I can't picture you serving anyone," Xena said, ignoring the insult. She paused, searched her enemy's face thoroughly. "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. "Have 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 planning to do to me or people I love," 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. "While I was waiting for the decision to come down, I wandered around Olympus a bit," Callisto related. "Took a little trip over to the Elysian Fields to talk to my mother."

Xena didn't quite know what to say to that. When they had been in each other's bodies, Xena had lured Callisto back to Tartarus where Callisto's mother had come to them, telling her daughter how much she had been hurt by her actions, that every time Callisto had killed, she was killing her. It had forced Callisto to face up to her guilt. Xena knew that. Otherwise, the warrior princess would never have gotten out of Tartarus, albeit, in Callisto's body.

The warrior princess also remembered how Callisto's mother had told her daughter how much she loved her, and that she always would, a marked contrast to how Xena's mother had reacted when she had first returned to Amphipolis after her warlord days.

"That's why you decided to serve Artemis?" Xena said finally. "Your mother asked you to?"

Callisto didn't answer right away, her face still. "Do you remember when I made you tell that story in the village before we went off to destroy Valasqua?" she responded with another question, apparently not wishing to reveal anything more about that conversation.

"I do."

"Nobody cared, Xena," she said shortly. "I don't think they even knew who you were and they sure didn't care about a village that no longer exists."

"Time passes," Xena said after searching for the words. She couldn't remember being in a more difficult conversation in her life. "I cared."

Callisto shot her a look, sudden anger in her face but instead of the sharply sarcastic reply Xena expected, the blond took a deep breath and seemingly steadied herself. "We're the only two that remember Cirra," she allowed. "I can't let that disappear. Immortality means that I'll remember. Even if no one else does. Even when you're long gone. I'll remember Cirra and the people who lived there."

"How does this apply to Gabrielle," Xena asked after another long pause.

"I told you, she's the favored of Artemis, much as you were with Ares," Callisto said. "That's why the goddess sent me."

"So you're Gabrielle's immortal guardian?" Xena asked coldly. She really didn't like this whole concept. "Fitting penance, since you killed her husband."

Callisto actually laughed out loud at that. "Oh, Xena," she said slyly, eyeing her through the wild strands of hair blowing about her elven face. "Don't forget who you're talking to here. You don't regret his death in the slightest. It brought your bard back to you. I actually did you a favor and you know it. You weren't nearly as guilty about sinking me in quicksand as you were about feeling glad the oaf was dead. I should know, I reached you from Tartarus through all that guilt."

Xena was silent for a long time after that pointed sally from her nemesis, unable to respond without making herself commit to an untruth. Callisto's words revealed the secret she had tried very hard not to reveal, even to herself. "I still don't know why Artemis chose you." she said finally.

"I'm good, Xena, as good as you," Callisto reminded her. "And with immortal abilities, I'm better; not that we may ever have a chance to prove it, now. Of course, I'm not allowed to kill you because that might upset Artemis's favorite but....maybe someday," she added brightly in a-girl-can-dream kind of tone. "In any case, you've made a lot of enemies. Artemis just wants to make sure the ones you can't handle don't harm Gabrielle. Like Circe for example, who sounds pretty nasty."

"I don't remember Circe," Xena sighed.

"Well, this does sound more like circumstance," Callisto allowed. "Besides, I think they made a mistake. Didn't deadboy say they needed a virgin? I'm pretty sure that Perdicus impaled her 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 with surprised delight. "And I thought I wouldn't get to torture you anymore," she admitted after recovering from her burst of merriment. "Anytime I'm required to rescue Gabrielle, you have to put up with me. I was only thinking of the downside of that. This is an unexpected fringe benefit. After all, you can't try to destroy me either. Not only might it cost Gabrielle her life, Artemis wouldn't like it. This might be fun after all."

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

"I am," Callisto admitted. "I just hope this isn't going to be a regular thing. I have things to do other than waste all my time 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. For every one of my crimes, there was a punishment. When exactly do you pay for anything you've done?"

"I seem to be paying right now," Xena said through clenched teeth. "With you."

Callisto smiled happily. "Oh, Xena," she said. "How I've missed you."

***

Nightfall saw the pair making camp in the hills before a mountain pass. Though Xena was anxious to push on, and Callisto did not need sleep, the horses needed time to recover and rest, forcing them to take the break. It was an uneasy truce as the pair sat next to a respectable fire that did its best to hold back the darkness.

"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. But I made a deal and I need my immortality."

"Why?" 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.

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 wasn't in the Elysian Fields," she said. "And even if she had done something horrible which isn't too common for four year old girls, I never came across her in Tartarus. That would have been a torture too good for Hades to pass up."

Xena absorbed this silently. "That means..." she allowed slowly.

Callisto looked at her. "Cassiope is still alive," she said. "Somewhere, somehow. And I have to find her. Being immortal and the abilities it entails will help me." Callisto tossed a twig fretfully in the blaze. "She'd be about ten now."

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

Callisto rose up, eyes flashing angrily. "She's certainly not alive because of you, Xena," she reminded icily. "And someday, if the bard dies at a mortal's hands as I'm sure she will if she hangs out with you long enough, then I'll be free to kill you for what you've done to me and my family."

If Gabrielle died because of me, I'll be glad to let you, Xena thought, refusing to take her eyes from the bread, ignoring the blond's ranting which was almost comforting in its familiarity.

She couldn't help but remember how Merticus had challenged her that day, how he had held utter contempt for her threats, even after she had defeated him physically. It was true that Gabrielle had done a good job of spreading the word of how she had changed and now fought for the side of justice. 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. Not to mention the advantage of being an Arrow of Artemis. Xena, without Callisto's knowledge, 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.

"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 any 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. You might not be much good when we catch up to Gabrielle however."

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 said you didn't sleep well at night," she said flatly. "You seem to sleep fine to me."

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 road 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 laughed, eyes sparkling at this sally.

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

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

He frowned, looked around as his men stirred uneasily around him. The warrior queen had destroyed a village not far from there less than a year before. "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. "I don't think you will."

She drew her sword with her free hand. "But I do hope you make a good fight of it."

Her words, however, 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. "I think I'd rather have your rep, Xena," she complained, pouting slightly as she slid her sword back into its sheath. "Then I'd get to kill somebody."

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

***

They topped the ridge and looked down at Perth spread out below them. Beyond the fishing village, the sea sparkled deep Mediterranean blue as a steady breeze heavy with sea salt blew into their faces. Rising from the water in the distance, a dark shadow of an island beckoned. On the horizon, looming clouds filled the eastern sky, threatening the approach of a storm. Xena nodded at it.

"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 killer 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. It must have really driven you crazy when I came back from the dead. Especially after going to all the trouble of watching me sink in that quicksand."

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 think you'd do it. If I had suspected, I certainly wouldn't have humbled myself like that. I thought you'd try to save me and I'd have a shot at you. Instead, I died with you thinking I actually pleaded for my life. Do you know how absolutely humiliating that was? Honestly, I had to come back just so you wouldn't go through life thinking I had begged you for mercy."

She shook her head and shot Xena an impish grin. "I gotta admit though, it was pretty cold-blooded. Maybe you should get Gabrielle to tell that story." She tilted her head, observed Xena with a sly smirk. "Did you tell her exactly how I died? Or did you skip over the details and just tell her you killed me? Like it was in honorable combat or something?"

Xena continued to stare intently at the sea ahead though fury made the blue eyes glacier chips of ice.

Callisto smiled slowly after studying her for a long moment. "I believe I struck a bit of a nerve there. Interesting. So you never told her how you stood by and watched me die? And what about hubby? How did you explain standing by without making an effort to stop me?"

That got Xena's full attention, glaring at the blond. "I didn't dare leave Gabrielle's side," Xena said bitterly. "You'd have killed her if I tried for you."

"I think you overestimate my speed, Xena," Callisto said sardonically. "But, I certainly don't underestimate yours." She looked towards the bow, the island getting closer every second. "Tell me, Xena," she added with delicate wickedness. "Were you able to 'comfort' the bard properly?"

"I wonder what I ever did to Artemis to cause this," Xena said, almost to herself.

"You can't blame Artemis for the results of your own actions," Callisto pointed out with mild humor. "You made me. You created your own nightmare."

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. And you keep trying. You exist for me. You've even come back from the dead for me, defied a god 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."

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 furthers 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.

***

They dragged the boat up onto the beach above the high tide mark, tying it securely before retrieving their gear. Looming above them, casting them in dark shadow, the cliffs rose to where a stone castle perched imposingly. Callisto stood, her head thrown back as she studied the cliff, lips pursed as she considered the rock face.

"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 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 have it and it certainly wasn't this involved. I only had to kick Hercules around a little."

"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 blood 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. 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 stoicly 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. "Hypothermia 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 renewed, wary respect.

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. "Don't tell me what to do," she hissed back. "I don't need your help. This is my show, remember? That means leaving no one to wake up and give a warning. You want to play games with Gabrielle's life, do it another time," She smiled icily. "Unless you want to settle it here and now? I'm sure Artemis will be thrilled to know I couldn't rescue Gabrielle because you wanted to fight with her Arrow. Suppose the bard dies while you're delaying me. That would be even better, wouldn't it."

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 deep down, there was a tiny 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.

They found themselves 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.

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.

***

Horror filled Xena in a way that had seldom happened before, an almost physical blow to her guts as she took in the scene before her. The scent of blood had led them here after passing through three more circular foyers connected with booby-trapped corridors, growing stronger with every step and escalating her fear for Gabrielle with each passing second.

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 you thought I was 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. "My geas would have ended." 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 was a virgin after all," came Callisto's cool assessment from behind her. "They were saving her for something special."

"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.

"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 thirteen 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 can tell a virgin," she said with contempt. "In any event, it matters not, the ceremony 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 Xena, considering her. "You, of course, are unsuitable. A pity about your associate. She would have worked."

Callisto was a virgin? This thought skittered across Xena's mind in a trail of amazement. She never would have guessed. She 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.

"I thought you said I was unsuitable," Xena reminded reasonably.

"Oh, not for a ceremony," Circe offered, licking her lips. "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 abruptly released her grip, turned away and walked 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.

***

As they left the castle, Xena dropped torches on the floor in their wake, igniting the carpets and furniture with every intention of seeing this foul place destroyed as well as serving as a sort of funeral pyre for the unfortunate victims of Circe. Outside, the full force of the storm hit them though initially, they welcomed the cleansing rain and wind, needing to breath the fresh air. Then the chill hit them and they hurried for the staircase. A slender figure waited there, outlined in the flashes of lightning.

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.

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 and 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. "How come she isn't trying to kill you? Or me? And what about Valasqua? How did she get out of the lava flow? And what's she doing fighting at your side? Is she still a goddess? Why is she here?"

Xena waited until the barrage of questions had trailed off 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?" Her green eyes were wide.

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."

"So what does this mean, Xena?" The bard's earnest features looked at her warrior companion with confusion and not a little trepidation.

"I wish I knew," Xena responded pensively after a moment.

She looked at her friend affectionately then, 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. "You want to be feared?" 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 hadn't left me alone, it wouldn't have happened," she said heatedly. "And I don't need your protection. I can take care of myself."

"Gabrielle," Xena's stronger voice overrode the bard's and Gabrielle subsided angrily. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you behind."

That was not what Gabrielle had been expecting. The red-head looked suddenly sheepish at her anger and rested her hand on Xena's arm.

"No, I'm sorry," she apologized. "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 what's worse, Callisto trying to kill me, or her being my protector."

Xena rested her hand on Gabrielle's, keeping her face from showing what the bard's touch did to her. "I know exactly how you feel," she said sincerely. "It was easier to predict her moves when she was trying to kill me and it was hard enough then." With a sigh, she leaned her head back, wetting her hair.

"Do you want me to do your hair?" Gabrielle asked, not really waiting for a response before she moved behind the larger woman, finding some soapstone and attacking the long dark tresses.

Xena relaxed against the bard and tried not to be too aware of Gabrielle's body as she had her hair washed. It got a lot harder 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. "That's what I mean," she tried again. "I almost didn't. 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, and apparently totally unaware of the effect she was having on Xena. "I understand that," she allowed. "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."

"Maybe if you just concentrated on the action more," Xena offered. "You know, I do still kill people," she added almost desperately.

"I know," Gabrielle said, grinning. "But I like telling how you save children and kittens from trees."

"I've never saved a kitten from a tree," Xena pointed out dryly.

"Well I'll try to play up the dead bodies more," she promised. "This adventure was a good one for that. It certainly had enough blood in it. And you decapitated Circe good."

"Well, it seemed the right thing to do," Xena agreed modestly. 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, resheathing 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 hesitantly prepared the rabbits Xena had clearly left for her. Except for asking the immortal to watch the rabbits, she hadn't spoken to her husband's killer. 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 gamely.

Callisto raised a sardonic eyebrow. "I am an Arrow of Artemis," she answered shortly. "I do as she bids. As long as it suits my purpose," she added, just in case there was any doubt.

"So 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. "I find that unlikely."

"What did she leave out?" Gabrielle asked curiously.

Callisto smiled slowly as she watched Xena's eyes shade with worry. "So why are you still a virgin?" she said suddenly, surprising herself as well as the other two with the change of subject. She turned her eyes on the bard.

Flustered, Gabrielle poked at the fire.

"I'm not," she said defensively.

Xena was looking at Gabrielle now, as well, a reluctant curiosity furrowing her brow. "Why would Circe believe it?" she asked carefully.

Gabrielle met her warrior's eyes with annoyance, forgetting Callisto's presence for a moment. "I was with Perdicus," she said in the sort of tone that indicated the conversation was over as far as she was concerned.

Callisto, who had begun to enjoy herself, was not willing to let it go so easily. "You know, I ran into the little sleaze in Tartarus," she offered conversationally. "It seems he had a thing for raping little girls when he was a soldier. Weren't you young enough for him, Gabrielle?"

The bard turned on her furiously, Xena frowning as she considered Callisto's words. "You lie," the bard spat.

Callisto spread her hands, shrugging. "It was another reason Artemis chose me," she said in her most believable tone. "Even when I wasn't trying, I ended up protecting you. He looked you up and tried to marry you in a desperate attempt to hide from his past. He was so bad, even his army had him banished. The only reason they didn't have him killed was that he was a friend of yours. He used your name to save his life. Then he must have figured you could continue to 'save' him." She paused, judging how her words were being received and well pleased at what she saw. Gabrielle was staring at her in horror, Xena with speculation. "If you don't believe me, go look up some of his old army buddies. They'll tell you how he damaged one little girl so badly, she died right there in his tent. So tell me, Gabrielle, what exactly happened on your wedding night?"

Xena reached out and slid a comforting arm around the bard's shoulders. "Maybe you'd better start swimming," she advised coldly, staring at Callisto.

Callisto snorted, but got to her feet. However, she did have some parting words. "Imagine if he had managed to get you pregnant and you had a little girl," she pointed out. "Perdy-boy would have enjoyed that." She left the cave, her head held high to meet the wind and rain.

Gabrielle buried her head into Xena's shoulder, the larger woman holding her tightly and rocking them gently. "Oh, Xena," she whispered. "Could it be true?"

Xena was silent. She wanted to comfort the bard, to say that Callisto had been lying. The only problem was, she had a feeling the story was true. She didn't know why. She hoped it wasn't because she wanted it to be true, that she wanted the perfect Perdicus tainted in Gabrielle's mind.

"I don't know, Gabrielle," she said, finally, hating herself as she saw the pain in Gabrielle's eyes as the bard drew back to look at the warrior princess, tears sliding down the flushed cheeks. "I know Callisto isn't trustworthy.....I didn't know Perdicus that well. Gabrielle, is there anything you want to tell me?"

"Oh, Xena," she whispered again.

Xena looked at her helplessly. "What happened on your wedding night," she asked gently.

Gabrielle blushed hotly, lowered her eyes and Xena felt her blood run cold. "What did he do?" she asked again, more insistently.

"It had been a long day," the bard said hesitantly. "He said that he was tired and that he would be better the next night. He wanted me to....with my mouth....when I was afraid to, he said I could use my hands.....then he fell asleep." She looked back up at Xena. "But he was very gentle, Xena. He didn't force me into it. I....I wanted to please him."

"It's alright, Gabrielle," Xena whispered, drawing her close once more, resting her cheek on the top of the bard's soft hair. "You didn't do anything wrong. It's okay."

But her eyes were solid granite as she looked out the cave entrance to the wind swept greyness outside. He may indeed have been gentle, but it had clearly been a display of power, making Gabrielle pleasure him and ignoring her needs, using her innocence which is probably what really attracted him. The games would have no doubt gotten rougher. So you did do me a favor, Callisto, Xena thought with cold acceptance. Because I most certainly am glad he's dead and in Tartarus. Or I would have sent him there myself by now. And Gabrielle would never have forgiven me.

Her heart caught as she though how she hadn't objected when Gabrielle had married him even as every fiber in her fought against it. She had even encouraged Gabrielle in an attempt to hide her own secret feelings for the bard. You're right, Callisto, all I did that entire sorry episode was stand by and let things happen. Let Gabrielle marry a man against my better judgement, let you ride away after killing him, let you sink into the quicksand which led to the whole mess with the guilt. That was my biggest crime of all. Standing by and doing nothing.

Xena didn't know how long she held Gabrielle, whispering soft words of comfort and love until finally she felt Gabrielle relax in her arms. Slowly she eased her grip and looked down to see the bard had succumbed to the emotional exhaustion and was sleeping. Carefully she lowered the young woman to the ground, covering her with one of the blankets and taking a moment to absorb that gentle face, tenderly wiping the tear stains away with feather light fingertips.

"No one will ever hurt you again," she swore quietly. "I won't let anyone bring anymore pain into your life. Not even me."

Wearily she got to her feet and retrieved her sword and chakrum from beside the fire. With a last fond look at Gabrielle, she strode out into the storm.

***

The storm had let up and there was blue appearing on the far horizon as the clouds began to dissipate. Callisto sat on a rock, looking down at the water spread out before her, the thin dark line of the mainland finally appearing as the drizzle ceased. The slight sound of skin on grass alerted her and she turned to see Xena walking barefoot towards her, sword in right hand, chakrum in her left, the brief tunic clinging to the muscular body as the wind whipped the dark hair around the stern features and burning blue eyes.

She really is magnificent, Callisto allowed to herself. I could do worse than emulate her.

That traitorous thought she squelched quickly, and she assumed a superior expression as the warrior princess joined her. "The bard throw you out?" she asked snidely.

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

"Me?" Callisto protested in her best innocent tone and was suddenly rolling off the rock to avoid the sword which crashed into the stone where she had been sitting. With an exultant laugh, Callisto drew her own sword and met the next slash, sparks flying from where the blades intersected. "I guess I pushed a little too far," she allowed with amusement. "Going to try to finish it, Xena?"

"Once and for all," the warrior princess promised.

"Excellent," Callisto breathed with pleasure.

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. Patience, after all, was a virtue, and unlike Xena, she would not tire. She was keenly aware of Xena throwing the chakrum 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 into the dirt. If there was one thing the lava pit taught her was that all good things come to those who wait. 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 immortality, not just the discovery of her sister's life, but there was the fact that the madness had been brought under control. 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, though not entirely gone, was damped down, and forced into a contained flame.

Callisto smiled with glee as they fought. It truly was a pleasure to cross swords with the warrior princess. She suddenly realized just how much Xena's guilt had held the warrior princess back in their previous battles. Now the dark haired warrior attacked without restraint, without mercy or hesitation. There was no question in Callisto's mind 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, Callisto would have died at several points.

But she was immortal and slowly the battle 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, albeit, in Xena's body. 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. And since Xena had initiated the fight, Artemis would not punish her for defending herself.

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 the wind on that cliff top.

"Oh, I don't think so Xena," she whispered. "Kill you, and it's all over. That much you got right on the boat." 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 the boulder, bending down to pick up her chakrum 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. "What I said about Perdicus was true," she added softly. "Hades had him interned with the rest of the child killers."

Xena nodded. "I never would have guessed it," she admitted. She wiped the sweat away from her brow. "He would have hurt Gabrielle badly. Sooner or later."

"And all that disgusting innocence and slavish belief in his innate goodness would have blinded her to it until it was too late," Callisto cheerfully agreed. She replaced her sword back into its sheath and drew her legs up, wrapping her arms around them. "She'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.

Callisto rolled her eyes and looked up at the sky, the sun beginning to appear, brightening the day and making the water below sparkle. "I don't suppose you know the currents around here," she said.

Xena shook her head. "You weren't serious about swimming that," she said.

"I'm your only chance to get off here," Callisto said with a disturbing grin.

Xena allowed herself the very tiniest of sighs and looked out into the strait, 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 towards that spit there," she pointed across to the mainland. "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 grinned wearily. "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."

"Oh, I'm supposed to send a boat?" 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 looked out over the water, judging the depth here where it crashed against the rocks below.

"I'll keep an eye out for your sister," Xena added. "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 running forward from twenty yards back, she launched herself off the cliff, the slender form arching out as it cut the air, finally hitting the water far, far below. Xena stood and keenly watched the water, not moving until she finally saw the small dot that was Callisto's head moving through the waves. With a sigh of relief, she gathered up Callisto's boots and weapons and went back to the cave.

***

It was late afternoon before Gabrielle woke. Xena had debated over it, but she let her be knowing how little the bard had got the night before not to mention the emotional shock she had received. 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 the knowledge of Perdicus's true nature had profoundly hurt the young woman.

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 was asleep. 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.

"Do you think Perdicus....do you think Callisto was telling the truth?"

"Yes, I do," Xena answered simply after considering and discarding several gentler, more untrue answers.

Gabrielle ducked her head. "I do, too," she whispered unhappily. "I never should have married him."

Xena leaned forward and rested her hand on the redhead's shoulder. "There was no way you could know," she said gently. "He fooled a lot of people."

"No, I don't mean that," Gabrielle said. She reached up and rested her hand on Xena's. "I knew at the time we were marrying each other for all the wrong reasons. I knew he was trying to escape something in his past. I thought it was something else, but even then, I knew marrying me was just a way to try to forget. But I thought.....I could help him."

Xena squeezed gently. "If anyone could have, it would have been you," she assured intently.

"But it was the wrong reason for marrying him," she admitted. "I cared about him, but I didn't love him. I just....I liked the idea of it. Of him needing me, and wanting me when ....... when no one else did."

A stricken expression crossed Xena's face. "When you thought I didn't want or need you, you mean," she said in a small voice.

Gabrielle looked up quickly into the blue eyes clouded with grief. "Xena...." she began.

Xena shook her head.

"I encouraged you to marry him," Xena said. The warrior princess had learned something about herself in the last few days. If nothing else, then how to be finally honest both to herself and Gabrielle, even if it meant losing her. The bard deserved truth for a change, and the opportunity to decide for herself what to do with that truth. "I did want and need you, Gabrielle. Probably more than I should. But I was too afraid to tell you how I felt. I decided that Perdicus was just what you needed."

Xena pulled her arm back, huddling into herself, as she laughed bitterly. "A child killer was just what you needed," she repeated emptily. "I pushed you into it. If Callisto hadn't killed him, what would he have done to you? It was all my fault."

Gabrielle stared at her in absolute amazement.

"You are so competitive, Xena," she said after a long moment.

Xena's head jerked up, and the bard almost laughed at the expression, would have if things weren't such a mess.

"I'm a grown woman, Xena," she pointed out. "And even if you don't want to believe it, I make my own decisions. You can't make me do anything I don't want, and you'd better get that through your head right now." She scrambled forward and put her hands on Xena's shoulders, her face mere inches away as she stared intently into the blue eyes. "You are not responsible for me, Xena," she said. "I know I let you off the hook a lot of the time. I let you have your own way because usually it's easier. But no more, I'm through doing that because it usually causes a worse problem in the long run. But everything I do, I do because I choose to do it and don't you ever presume differently."

Xena managed to raise an eyebrow but it was a weak sally and she knew it. It just wasn't her day. First Callisto outfights her and now Gabrielle outargues her. She was getting old.

"And do you know what I choose to do now?" Green eyes sparkled in the firelight.

Xena shook her head, not trusting her voice.

"This."

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 two years had led to this moment. And when she finally drew back, both women were shaken to the very core.

"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.

"There you go again, questioning me," 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. "Xena, I don't know much about the physical stuff," she whispered. "That's your department and I trust you totally with that. But feelings are my specialty. I'm not always sure about yours, but I am sure about mine."

"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. "So I'm in charge of the physical stuff?"

"I think you have to be," Gabrielle pointed out. "I'm still a virgin, remember?"

In truth, Xena had forgotten and the reminder made her breath catch, a thrill shooting through her belly as it created a flood of wetness lower. "Oh Gabrielle," she whispered. She held her bard close, nuzzling the cheek and jawbone. "I won't let you down," she promised, almost dizzy with the honor the young woman was giving her.

"I know you won't," Gabrielle assured her. "You never have before."

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."

***

Bemused and a little hurt, Xena remained seated as the bard dug through their meager supplies and manufactured a few torches. Then slowly the warrior princess began to realize what the bard was up to, and she relaxed. She was beginning to get impatient though. The bard had made several trips outside, returning with arm loads of ferns, and refused any help. Xena began to deliberately sharpen her sword which did not phase Gabrielle in the slightest. She merely flashed her a impertinent smile and continued in her preparations. Finally, the bard took her torches and the bag, crawling through the hole. Xena frowned as several more minutes passed, then Gabrielle stuck her head back through the opening.

"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 little resources.

This cavern was much warmer than the outer one, the heat from the pool penetrating the farthest corner. On a less cool night, it would be uncomfortable but as Xena has predicted, another storm had moved in and the temperature had dropped.

It certainly hadn't dropped in here. Gabrielle had spread the cloak and blankets over the big pile of ferns which rested on a sandy nook, beckoning invitingly. The two torches threw seductive shadows over the cavern, reflecting off the water where the bard waited. Gabrielle reclined in the pool, the steam bringing a fine blush to her face and breasts which she deliberately kept above the surface.

Xena groaned and dropped her belongings where she stood, the tunic hitting the ground a second later as she doffed it and made her way to the pool. She hesitated on the edge as she saw how Gabrielle was taking her in. She even posed a little, aware of the power of her beauty and thrilled that she could offer it to the person she loved.

"Xena, where'd you get all those fresh cuts," Gabrielle said.

Oops. Xena quickly got into the pool, trying to avoid the question. She should have known better. Once Gabrielle noticed something, she tended to be like a bulldog.

"Were you in a fight today, Xena?"

"Um," Xena stalled, developing an intense interest in the stalactites above. The nearness of the bard was driving her crazy and she really didn't want to prolong this. "Callisto and I had a little .... disagreement this morning," she admitted. "Nothing serious."

Gabrielle stared at her. "I assume you won because you're still alive," she said.

Xena winced. "Actually, no," she said. "She is immortal after all. And smarter than she used to be. I wasn't able to cause enough damage to her before I tired." She closed her eyes briefly. "She beat me, Gabrielle, then let me go. I don't know which was worse."

"Oh, Xena," Gabrielle breathed and moved over, wrapping her arms around her warrior.

"I hope you're not feeling sorry for me," Xena rumbled warningly.

"I'm just repairing the damage that mean old Callisto inflicted on my brave warrior," Gabrielle said, using a cloth to clean each cut. Xena would have objected but for the fact the bard was administering healing kisses as well to each wound no matter how minute.

"You're rather good at this," Xena allowed, her head thrown back as she tried not to show how much this was affecting her.

"I have a good imagination," Gabrielle said. "All those nights by the fire, watching you sharpen your sword, or polish your armor, what do you think I was doing?"

"Writing stories?" Xena guessed.

"Imagining this moment," the bard corrected. She raised herself up, pressing against the warrior as Xena enfolded her in her strong arms. "However," Gabrielle added shakily. "I guess I never imagined past this point exactly."

"I have," Xena revealed before capturing her bard's mouth in a long lingering kiss. She wanted to take the bard right then and there but she would not dream of letting Gabrielle's first time be anything less than perfect. Especially considering how Perdicus had used her for his own miserable pleasure....Xena took a deep breath, carefully crushing her anger and turning her full attention to her love.

Xena was very skilled in the art of making love. It had been a weapon used to control both men and women under her command and there were very few weapons the warrior princess did not wield well. However, never had the stakes been so high nor the rewards so great. For it wasn't loyalty she sought. She knew she had that from Gabrielle without question. No, it was the bard's heart she wanted to capture totally and completely.

Just as Gabrielle had captured the warrior princess's heart and soul.

Xena's capable hands gently stroked the bard's back, soothing even as her tongue did wonderful things to the inside of Gabrielle's mouth, teasing at first, then seizing with passion before drawing back to tease again. The combination of emotions were leaving the bard breathless, and she clung to the warrior with desperation.

"Gabrielle," Xena's voice was soft against the bard's ear, almost humming as she brushed kisses along the neck and jawbone, making her shiver. "I think we're clean enough."

"Un huh, okay, yep, we're clean," Gabrielle mumbled in agreement.

Xena chuckled and rose out of the water, the bard gasping as she was lifted up at the same time, the warrior supporting the bard's buttocks as she stepped out of the pool. Gabrielle tightened her grip around Xena's neck and in an added attempt to hang on, wrapped her legs around the flat waist. Xena groaned as she felt the wet heat against her belly and cradling her bard gently, she carried her over to the ferns, lowering them both slowly to the blankets, the delicate odor of mint rising around them in a refreshing cloud of scent.

"Oh, Xena," Gabrielle whispered, looking up into the blue eyes that gazed down at her so lovingly. She lay on her back, her warrior reclining on her side to her right, propped up on her left elbow as she lazily drew circles on the bard's stomach with her right hand. "I've never felt this way before."

"Neither have I," Xena admitted quietly, with a note of wonder in her voice. "I love you, Gabrielle. I thought I'd loved before... I guess I was wrong."

Gabrielle smiled, her entire face lighting up with joy and tentatively, she reached up and stroked Xena's face, lingering as her fingertips brushed over the warrior's lips. Xena kissed them gently, then she bent down, and those wonderful lips were touching Gabrielle's, the bard sliding her arm around the neck, the dark hair falling gloriously about them.

Xena's palm slid up from the stomach, rubbed over the bard's nipple, the sensitive tissue immediately hardening as she used her fingers to stroke it further. Then with slow pleasure, she trailed over to the other one, repeating her actions.

"Xena," Gabrielle groaned into Xena's mouth.

Xena smiled at the response, drawing back slightly. "We have all night," she explained softly, her fingers continuing to tease the nipples which strained towards her. "I'm not going to hurry this when I don't have to."

"I don't know if I can stand this," Gabrielle warned, eyes dark with desire in the torchlight.

"Oh, I think you can," Xena allowed. She leaned down once more, her mouth against the bard's ear. "I'm going to make you scream, Gabrielle," she promised, huskily. "I'm going to take you places you've never been before. And then, I'm going to take you there again."

"How come you're so talkative all of a sudden," Gabrielle complained.

Xena laughed and ever so gradually, slid her hand down from the breasts, over the hard abdomen, hesitating in the curls there, scratching luxuriously with easy pressure.

"Xena," Gabrielle urged.

"Patience," Xena replied. She slid her fingers lower and as Gabrielle parted her legs, she veered off, stroking the smooth thighs and bypassing where Gabrielle had expected....and needed her to go.

"I'm gonna kill you," Gabrielle swore fervently.

"No, I think you'll want to keep me alive," Xena whispered with a grin. Slowly her fingers trailed up the thigh, and once more bypassed the juncture, the heat radiating from there nearly searing her hand as she slipped by, up over the stomach which was now covered in a light sheen of sweat to the breasts which quivered as the bard struggled for breath..

Gabrielle was no longer able to talk, small whimpers coming from her throat as she shuddered under Xena's caresses. Xena drew her hand down once more as she lowered her head, sliding her tongue over Gabrielle's breasts, capturing the nipple between lips, then between her teeth, nipping gently. Her fingers crawled through the triangle, hesitating at she reached the top of the slit. Then she gently slipped one finger down, rubbing tenderly over the aching nub before dipping into the wetness below.

Gabrielle cried out, hips raising off the cloth in involuntary response. Xena groaned herself as she brought a second finger into play, spreading the fluid over the tiny erection of flesh which rapidly hardened beneath her touch. She left the firm breasts, kissing the collarbone and neck, sliding along the jawline to the bard's delicate ear.

"Oh, Gabrielle, you're so wet," she breathed, fondling her slowly. With each downstroke, the fingertips dipped ever deeper into that wellspring, penetrating a little further each time. "Does that feel good? Do you want me inside you, Gabrielle? Do you want me to take you?"

"Oh gods, Xena, yes," Gabrielle sobbed. "Please...Xena, please....oh, Xena...."

Carefully, Xena continued to rub Gabrielle with her thumb in gentle circles as she ever so slowly slid her middle finger into the bard to the first knuckle, withdrawing it from the moist grip, then slipping it in again, a little further each time. Everything was so marvelously wet and tight, the scent filling the warrior's senses until she felt she was drowning in the bard. It was all she could do to maintain her control when her finger met the thin barrier and the wonder of it almost made her heart burst.

"I love you, Gabrielle," she whispered, increasing her thumb's pressure, the finger stilled against that barrier as she stimulated the bard further, wanting the pleasure to far outweigh the pain she knew she had to cause. "I've never loved anyone as much as you, I never will. You are my world, my whole life." Xena knew how much words meant to her love and she wanted the bard to be totally surrounded with the sound as well as the physical nature of her love. She drew back from the barrier briefly, adding her index finger to stretch Gabrielle even further. The bard was crying steadily now, her hips moving against the hand with ever increasing speed. "I want to wake up with you in my arms every morning, my love, and go to sleep in yours every night. I want to make love to you all the time. I'm going to take you, Gabrielle, I going to make you mine, now and forever."

And then, the long, talented fingers were breaking the barrier, sliding deep into the bard and curling up to find the smooth place which made Gabrielle scream Xena's name, the word echoing throughout the cavern as her insides clamped down on the warrior's fingers, feeling the explosions that made the bard shudder and buck, against Xena's wrist.

Slowly, slowly, the pulses ceased around Xena's fingers, still buried deep inside her lover, the warrior's thumb continuing to gently manipulate the sensitive nub, drawing out the pleasure as it gradually subsided. Then she very gently withdrew, and Xena wrapped herself around the sobbing bard, cradling her gently in her arms, legs entwined. The warrior princess felt like crying too, discovered she already was, the tears sliding down her face as the love she felt for Gabrielle overwhelmed her.

"I love you my bard," she whispered. "I love you, I love you." She repeated the words as if they could somehow make this moment last forever.

"Xena," Gabrielle cried softly. "I love you. Oh Xena, don't let me go."

"I won't," Xena promised. "I can't."

And finally, the sobs quieted and Gabrielle was able to draw back, looking into the bright blue eyes that she could fall into for eternity. "What did you do to me?" she laughed shakily, the tears still very close to the surface.

"I made love to you," Xena replied quietly with a smile so full of joy and sweetness that Gabrielle thought she would die from the light of it. The warrior stared at the bard's face so close. Her passion had somehow disappeared as she made love to the younger woman, the desire still there but it was if when Gabrielle had orgasmed, she had as well. For all she knew, she had. Never has she felt such emotion before, such love and tenderness, totally swept away in her lover's pleasure and the whole incredible experience of being Gabrielle's first. Now all she wanted to do is stare into Gabrielle's green eyes and hold her close, feel the body warm against her, the beating of their hearts synchronizing, the scent of mint and their lovemaking surrounding them, the gentle sound of each other's breathing filling their ears.

Gabrielle closed her eyes, and Xena smiled again as the bard yawned sleepily. "Uhm, Xena," she whispered.

Xena pulled her closer. "It's okay," she soothed. "Sleep, my love. I'll be here when you wake. I'll always be here."

And with that promise, the bard relaxed and she slept in the arms of her warrior.

***

The torches had gone out when Gabrielle awoke, feeling safe and content in the inky darkness, the warm presence of Xena's body wrapped around her. She wondered briefly if it had all been a dream but the slight pain between her legs and the musky scent that filled her nostrils told her it was all wonderful reality. She didn't know how long she slept, and this deep in the cave, there was no way of knowing if it were still night or the middle of the day. She guessed she had only slept a few hours. She wasn't hungry like she would have been if she had slept the whole night. At least not for food.

She smiled and gently hugged the warm body next to her, feeling Xena stir and draw her close. "I'm sorry I fell asleep," she whispered.

"It's okay," came the reassuring voice out of the dark, vibrating through her bones. "It's perfectly normal."

"I'll have to take your word for it," the bard whispered. She reached between them, seeking and finally finding Xena's breasts, fingers lightly stroking the nipples which hardened instantly. "I'm glad you were my first, Xena," she continued lovingly. "I can't imagine ever being with anyone else."

"Oh is that what you're trying to imagine?" came the husky response as Gabrielle leaned forward and gently covered one of the nipples with her mouth, licking the erect point with soft pressure. Gabrielle smiled, her teeth lightly raking the nipple, enjoying the gasp that inspired.

"Actually, I'm trying to imagine where I should start," she said. "There's so much of you to explore." She ran her hands down Xena's sides, reaching back and cupping the firm buttocks, pulling the hips tight against her. "I...un, I'm not sure what to do," she admitted. "You'll have to tell me."

"I think you're doing just fine," Xena said reaching up to hold the bards head, tipping it back gently so she could find Gabrielle's lips. The kiss was deep and prolonged, the bard finding herself losing her grip as the warrior overwhelmed her.

"Wait," she gasped when they finally parted for air. She felt the warrior hesitate.

"What?" There was a thread of worry in the tone and Gabrielle nuzzled her reassuringly.

"I want to touch you," Gabrielle whispered. "I want to make love to you like you did me. But when you touch me, I lose myself. Can you...sort of just lie there and let me do this. I really want to learn how to do this."

For a long moment there was silence and Gabrielle was afraid she had somehow asked the wrong thing of her warrior. She realized suddenly that she had basically asked Xena to totally surrender to her. "Uh, Xena..." she began.

"No, it's alright," came the swift response. "I'm just trying to figure out if I'm strong enough to just lie there. You drive me crazy, Gabrielle. I want you so much." Lightly, Xena stroked the bard's back. "I don't know if I can promise not to...take over when things get...to a peak. But I'll try. I really want to try."

Gabrielle smiled in the darkness. "I won't take it personally if you absolutely feel compelled to take over," she whispered. She rose up and pressed Xena back against the ferns, imagining the long, lean body stretched out below her. "Tell me if I do something wrong," she said, softly caressing the breast nearest her.

Xena laughed. "I don't think that's possible," she said.

Smiling, Gabrielle bent over her warrior and gently took the nipple with her mouth, tongue dancing over it while she teased the other with her index finger. She wished suddenly the there was a fire so that she could see Xena, see the blue eyes burning with a passion so hot instead of imagining it. She had to find everything by touch; not that touch was such a bad thing, mind you. And with her eyes useless, she was forced to rely on her other senses to gage her lover's needs, the sound of Xena's moans and increased breathing, the taste of sweat under her mouth, the speed of the heartbeat beneath her lips, the scent of readiness that wafted up and intoxicated her, the hardness of the nipple between her lips.

"Gabrielle," Xena groaned quietly as the bard slowly slid her mouth lower, kissing the taunt abdomen, dipping the tip of her tongue into the navel.

Gabrielle remembered her wedding night, the way Perdicus had urged her to use her mouth on him and her utter distaste for it. Now she was inexorably drawn to the musky place ever lower on Xena's body, seeking it out unerringly, craving a taste that she had never known.

"Gabrielle?" The tone was hesitant, questioning as the bard maneuvered herself between Xena's legs, her small hands on the inside of each muscular thigh, parting them as she leaned down and gently kissed the triangle of hair.

"Do you want me to stop?" Gabrielle asked teasingly, using her fingers to gently stroke the soft flesh at the angle where legs met, gently kissing on either side of the swollen lips. "Am I doing it wrong."

"No, you're definitely not doing it wrong," came the voice breathless with laughter and arousal. "And I certainly don't want you to stop." There was a pause and Gabrielle felt the large hands tangle themselves in her hair. "But are you sure?"

"Never more sure of anything," the bard whispered. She bent down once more, delicately touching the tip of her tongue to the nubbin of flesh revealed when she used gentle fingers to spread Xena open.

"Gabrielle." It was said sensually, low and throaty, and the bard thought she would never tire of the sound of her name from Xena.

Nor did she think she would ever tire of this. She moaned as she tasted the juices soaking everywhere, tasting wonderingly what she considered the finest ambrosia, running her tongue around in a circle before covering the small bump with her mouth, sucking on it forcefully. A little too forcefully.

"Gabrielle!" Xena cried her name again, this time in a forceful, commanding tone, the powerful hips thrusting up and the bard was forced to grab onto the legs on either side of her as she lost her balance, face mashed into the wet warmness by the strong hands which gripped her head tightly. She couldn't help it, she started to giggle, desperately trying to compose herself and totally unable to. Instantly Xena released her and Gabrielle drew back, laughing so hard tears came to her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Xena," she said finally, resting her head weakly on the warrior's belly. "I was doing so well up until then."

"So was I," Xena replied ruefully in the darkness.

Gabrielle chuckled and gently stroked the warmth that was so close, running up and down the wet slit, and finding the place to penetrate, two fingers sliding deep inside as Xena twitched under her. She wrapped her arm around the leg, pinning it with her shoulder. Now, better positioned and able to hang on, she once more bent down and used her tongue to swirl round the center of Xena's pleasure, delighting in the scent and taste of her warrior. She added another finger, increasing the speed of her thrusts as together, she and her lover found a complementary rhythm, tongue, fingers and hips all moving together in delicious harmony.

Xena's hands stroked the bard's hair, once, twice, then afraid of what she might do in her passion, she put them by her sides, digging them into the ferns which she crushed as wave after wave of pleasure shot through her. Though inexperienced, the bard was going on instinct, using what Xena had done to her or what she wanted Xena to do to her and trying to apply it to the warrior. It was more than enough to drive Xena over the top and with a incoherent howl of joy and ecstacy, the warrior stiffened and pulsated around the bard's fingers, body spasming without control. Remembering how Xena had slowly drew away from her earlier, Gabrielle did the same, gradually slowing her caresses and mouth until the warrior was still beneath her.

Smiling, Gabrielle climbed back up Xena's body, the smile disappearing as, shocked, she discovered the warrior had her arms crossed over her eyes, crying softly and helplessly.

"Oh Xena, I'm sorry," the bard whispered frantically. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

The warrior princess shook her head, unable to speak, reaching out to pull Gabrielle down onto her, tucking the bard up under her chin, hugging her tightly.

"No," she said huskily after finally getting her composure back. "You did everything right." She swallowed and kissed the top of Gabrielle's head. "I just...you overwhelmed me, my love."

"Yeah?" Gabrielle said, tremendously pleased. "I'm good, huh?"

"Don't let it go to your head," Xena managed to regain her dry tone.

Gabrielle laughed and rose up, eyes straining in the darkness to look down at her lover, not seeing a thing but certainly feeling it when Xena reached up and captured her mouth, pulling her back down as they kissed deeply. The bard felt Xena's tongue darting over her lips and thrusting into her mouth, realizing that Xena had tasted herself and was trying to taste it all, the thought sending a flood of desire through her.

"Xena," she urged when she was finally able to draw back for breath. "Please..."

Xena laughed then and rolled over, taking the bard with her and pinning her to the bedroll, catching the wrists in one hand and raising them above Gabrielle's head, leaving her other hand free to caress the woman beneath her. Gabrielle was breathless, tensing a little at her helpless position and as if sensing her brief resistance, Xena released her hands immediately, bringing her mouth to the bard's ear.

"I'm sorry, Gabrielle, I'd never hurt you," she said.

"I know," the bard responded readily, stroking the long, dark hair. "It just startled me. I can see where it would be exciting to be your prisoner."

"I'm your prisoner," Xena whispered. "Now and forever I'm yours."

Gabrielle smiled in the dark and tried to pull the weight of Xena tighter upon her, wrapping her arms and legs around the warrior and holding her as close as possible. Xena kissed her, a deep, dizzying kiss of love and passion, her tongue entwining with the bard's as they tried to absorb each other.

"Gabrielle, I want to taste you," Xena whispered, finally managing to draw back.

"Un huh, good idea," Gabrielle agreed readily.

"You have to let me go," Xena pointed out. She had tried lifting herself off the bard by pushing up off her arms but the bard, plastered to her as if painted on, had simply lifted up with her.

"Oh, bad idea, very bad," Gabrielle objected, nuzzling the warrior and tightening her grip with her arms and legs.

"Then we are at an impasse," Xena observed, trying to support her greater weight on her elbows.

Impossibly, the bard snuggled even closer, smiling against her warrior's neck. She was enjoying the fact that she had Xena trapped. Even though it would be nice to feel Xena's mouth on her. She was debating wether she could let her go just a little, when Xena decided to fight back.

"Gabrielle," she purred in the bard's ear. "If you let me go, do you know what I'll do?"

"It would have to be pretty good..." Gabrielle warned.

She felt Xena smile against her cheek, accepting the challenge.

"Well, after kissing you so much you couldn't breath anymore, I would make my way down to your breasts. I'd taste each of your nipples, first one, then the other," Xena breathed throatily into the bard's ear, flicking an earlobe with her tongue for emphases. Gabrielle could not get over this sudden display of words her normally uncommunicative warrior was coming up with. "I would lick them at first, very softly, then a little harder until I was sucking on them. They'd get so hard and start to ache and while I was doing that I'd be rubbing you with my fingers until you're so wet that I can slide right into you. I'd slide in and out and I would kiss my way down your belly to where you're so wet and warm and I would slide my tongue around and around, before...."

"All right, enough talk," Gabrielle interrupted, totally releasing her grip. "More action."

The warrior princess laughed, rearing up to loom over her conquest, covering the breasts with her callused hands so unbelievably gentle. "You held out longer than I thought," she told her, before bending back down.

Gabrielle would have retorted something clever but Xena had captured her mouth passionately, kissing her until she was indeed breathless as those wonderful hands stroked her body to a fever pitch. And by the time Xena had left her mouth and had made her way to her breasts, just as she had promised, all the witty remarks had left a mind finding it very hard to think at all.

***

It took six days for a boat to appear off the cliffs of the island. Xena had been out checking her snares when she saw the fishing boat anchor off shore and a smaller boat lowered to the waves. The warrior princess was struck with a sense of loss and regret as she saw their rescue approach. She and Gabrielle had been totally safe here on the island and their days and nights had been spent in a joyful celebration of life, swimming, eating, talking, laughing and making long, slow, passionate love. They had become even closer than they had been before, closer than Xena imagined was possible for any two beings. Certainly closer than she had ever been with another before. She was sorry to see it end and the real world intrude once more. Slowly she began to take down her traps.

Gabrielle was no happier to see their time on the island come to an end.

"I don't suppose we could just ask them to pretend they never found us?" she asked as they began to pack what little they had.

Xena smiled fondly at her, drew her near with one strong arm.

"Don't tempt me, love," she said. "I'd like nothing better than to stay here forever with you. But you know we can't."

Gabrielle buried her head in the warrior princess's shoulder. "I know," she said regretfully.

"But I don't know when we'll ever find a place where we can be together like this again."

"We'll make a place," Xena promised, reaching a hand up to tip back the bard's chin and kissing her thoroughly.

And soon the bard's natural exuberance imposed itself once more and she went off happily to meet their rescuers. Hesitating, Xena stayed behind a moment, looking around the cave and remembering all that had happened here. She wondered if Gabrielle would have made the first move if Callisto had not revealed the truth about Perdicus, had not forced the warrior to find her own truth.

If not, then it was true that she owed her nemesis far more than she could ever repay.

I hope you find your sister, Callisto, she thought. I hope you find peace. I hope you find happiness. But most of all, Enemy mine, I hope you find love.

Because it was true what her bard had told her so many months before, the only way to stop the circle of hatred was with love.

With a last, lingering look around, she left the cave and ran to catch up to Gabrielle. And a new beginning.

Epilogue

The well in the middle of the town square was a gathering place for gossip and just passing time, the cool shade of the nearby olive trees delightful in the noonday sun. Beside the tree, on a bench, a slender figure sat patiently as people came and went, drawing water, stopping to chat with each other, to pass on the news of the day and catch up on other tidbits. One or two spoke to the figure and were responded to politely if shortly. For the most part though, the town's people ignored the woman, concentrating on their own lives, and their own business.

Shortly before midday, from one of the larger homes in the town, the slaves made their way to draw the daily lunchtime portion of water. Amongst them was a ten year old girl with long blond hair who's eyes still flashed angrily every time the collar around her neck was tugged on by the chain of the slave master. She was whip thin with an old burn scar that ran down the side of one jaw which enhanced rather than diminished her elven looks. Dressed in a short tunic, her arms and legs were browned golden from long days in the fields which had somehow not broken the spirit which shone from features proud and untamed.

The ten year old's eye was caught by the lone, cloaked figure who was looking at her with a curious intensity. She stared back insolently, attention caught for so long that she held up the line and the master shoved her forward to stumble into the dirt. Instantly the cloaked figure had risen, and had moved to the side of the man, drawing a sword which poked the slaver not so gently under the chin.

"That was unnecessary," the blond woman said coldly, dark eyes daring the slaver to give her an excuse. Keeping one eye on the slaver warningly, she reached down and helped the child to her feet. As she did so, she turned the arm so that it was held up, the unmistakable reddish birthmark shaped like a crescent moon and a lightning bolt spread over the crook of the elbow.

Brown eyes met brown eyes and recognition flashed, more so for one than the other but each somehow knowing the other as being familiar.

"Tired of being a slave, child?" Callisto finally managed to ask.

Cassiope nodded, not daring to say a word to this odd but comforting stranger.

"Then I think it's time you stopped," she said gently then. "Mother did not raise us to be slaves." She whistled and a large black gelding jerked away from where he had been grazing on the common, turning to gallop towards them. The woman drew a dagger and sliced the collar from the girl's neck. Then she favored the slaver with a glare that bespoke nothing but bad things.

"Tell your owner that Callisto has claimed her sister," she said as she lifted the child unprotesting, onto the saddle. She mounted behind her and looked down, sheathing her sword.

"And tell him I'll be back later," she added, just to see him turn white. "To pay him a visit."

And with that, the two blond sisters rode away from the village and towards a new beginning.