About Artemis

by B L Miller

part 2 (conclusion)

"What exactly are we looking to purchase?", Artemis asked as they strolled through the maze of carts and table that displayed the various wares that the village had to offer.

"Well, for one thing, we need more thread and some new needles. We’re constantly stitching either our clothes or our bodies. It’s a job hazard.", both women chuckled at the joke. "We also need a couple of knives and a small pot, she’s always denting mine, and more cloth for bandages and parchment and ink and…"

"Gabrielle, doesn’t your jaw ever ache?" The bard looked at her for a moment before realizing that she was being teased.

"Funny, very funny. Taking lessons from Xena?", she quipped as they approached a small table covered with several bolts of cloth. Gabrielle smiled and picked through them, shaking her head at the coarse cloth and again at the sheer, fine cloth. "We need something…absorbent.", her eyes fell upon a bolt of hemp. "Perfect." She looked up at the merchant. "How much?"

He smiled as he thought of the easy sale. "Ah, that is an excellent choice, my dear. It is very popular and I’m afraid that what you see is all I have left.", his smile became toothy as he prepared to close the deal. "I can you let you have it for, say…five dinars?"

"Five dinars?", she exclaimed. Artemis watched the exchange with interest. "For five dinars I can purchase the best room in town. The best I can possibly do is…", she looked around the table until she spotted the spools of thread. "…two dinars and that’s only if you throw in a spool of thread."

The merchant looked as though he was going to explode. "Two dinars? There is no way I can let this fine material go for so little. Four Dinars."

"Three.", she countered, her green eyes never leaving his as she stared him down.

"Four."

"Well…", she set the cloth down and started to turn away.

"All right, three dinars.", his voice carried the tone of his defeat.

"And the thread.", she reminded. He sighed and handed her the thread. Gabrielle grinned as she tossed him the coins.

"I can’t believe you talked him down like that." Artemis said as they continued on their purchasing spree.

"Oh, that’s nothing. I have a way with words." Gabrielle grinned. "Sometimes I can even get Xena to see things my way."

"You care about her very much, don’t you?"

Gabrielle turned her head toward the midday sun. "I can’t imagine my life without her. She’s my friend, my protector, my mentor. Xena would do anything to protect me and take care of me. She knows that I would do the same.", she gestured toward an empty bench and they sat down. "I know she doesn’t think much of the gods."

"No, she doesn’t. She blames all of us for Ares.", she responded, the tone conveying the hurt. Gabrielle nodded and placed her hand gently on the huntress’ forearm.

"It’s not just Ares. Every time the gods enter her life, trouble usually follows. As I was saying, I know she doesn’t care much for them, but I remember a time when she got down on her knee and prayed to you not to let the light go out of my eyes."

"I remember.", Artemis replied. "She didn’t know if anyone was listening. I was.", she lost herself for a moment in that memory. Her young princess in pain, on the verge of losing her blood innocence. The strong warrior bending down and praying for the first time in many winters. Bringing herself back to the present, she apologized. "I’m sorry, go on."

Gabrielle nodded and continued. "There is so much good in Xena, so much that she wants to do to help the world. She’s not the person she once was. There are times when I look at her and all I see is a woman who needs to be held and loved and other times when I see the only person I can turn to for comfort. I have no regrets about following her."

Artemis thought about saying something to Gabrielle about Xena’s feelings for her, but then the warrior came striding up to them.

"Let’s go. I know what’s going to happen.", she said firmly as the two women stood to follow her to the inn.

Once inside, the three women quickly headed upstairs to the privacy of their room. Artemis and Gabrielle sat on the beds while Xena took a spot near the window and stood. "There’s a band of thieves led by a warlord named Riberious. They’ve already threatened the village with complete annihilation unless they agree to turn over the gold in the mines."

"What’s the plan, Xena?", Gabrielle asked, knowing that the warrior already had one in mind.

"From what I could gather from the town elders, this group is mostly on horseback. We should be able to use that to our advantage."

"The old pull the rope, catch their necks, pull them off the horse thing, huh?", she said in a bored tone reminiscent of her best friend. Xena smiled at her.

"Well, only if I can’t come up with anything new and original.", she quipped.

"Excuse me for interrupting, but how can you be so sure that the townspeople won’t get hurt if you put up a fight?"

"Artemis," Xena used the tone that Gabrielle found most irritating, the I-can’t-believe-you-don’t-get-it voice. "Some of the people will get hurt, some will even die. I can’t prevent that."

"You can’t do anything to keep them from being hurt? If I had my powers…"

"That’s why you don’t have your powers, Artemis. This isn’t about you or me. It’s about these people. They have to stand up for themselves."

"I could go to Riberious and tell him who I am and threaten him if he tries to attack this village.", she offered.

"And would you watch this village all the time, every day? The Amazons are your people, yet you can’t watch over them constantly. These people need to be able to defend themselves, otherwise they’re always going to be looking over their shoulders for the next attack."

"Artemis," Gabrielle jumped in to help explain. "Look at it this way. When I first met Xena, I didn’t know how to make a fire or anything like that. At first, she would make the fire, and that would keep me warm for the night. But what would happen if she wasn’t there anymore? So she taught me how to make a fire by myself. Now I can stay warm forever. Instead of always picking the right kind of berries, she taught me so I would know. It’s the same with these villagers. We can’t stay here and protect them forever. They have to learn how to defend and care for themselves."

"I never thought about it like that before. I was only thinking of saving their lives.", the huntress replied solemnly. Xena smiled at Gabrielle in appreciation of her talent with words. It was met with an equal smile of thanks for all the lessons learned.

After a quick meeting with the village elders, Xena and Gabrielle split up to instruct the people and set up defenses. Artemis was assigned to help pass out skins of water to the sentries and help set up an aid station for the men that would soon be wounded in battle. "Now I understand why Gabrielle needed to buy so much cloth.", she said to herself as she started to cut the bolt of material down into strips and bandages.

As the battle started, Gabrielle and Artemis reported to the medical tent. "Fawn,", she said, remembering to use the alias, "start setting up basins of water and throw some more logs on the fire outside, we may need it to cauterize wounds."

"Cauterize…you mean burn these poor men? Prometheus made a huge mistake when he gave mortals the gift of healing. If you prayed to Apollo…"

"If we prayed to Apollo and sat around waiting for an answer, half the people we treat would be dead.", Gabrielle responded a little more forcefully than she meant. "I’m sorry, but Xena is right about this. We have to learn to take care of ourselves."

Just then the first of many men to fall in battle was brought in. "We have work to do.", Gabrielle said firmly as she went to examine his wounds. She knew that if it was anything she couldn’t handle that she could send for Xena to help. She also knew which ones couldn’t be helped by anything other than a gentle voice and a soft hand to lead them peacefully over to the other side.

As planned, a taut rope cut down the first bandits to enter the village. With the rope in place, many of the riders were forced to forego their horses, putting them at a disadvantage to the villagers. Another group ran into a pit dug during the night and covered with thin sticks and straw. Still more were brought down by arrows. Xena battled with the villagers, helping to stem the flow of marauders and turn the tide of the battle.

The severity of the injuries increased as the battle went on. Several times Artemis had to excuse herself from the gory sights and step outside. She let out a gasp when she saw a young man being dragged in, an arrow sticking hideously out of his abdomen. "Gabrielle!", she yelled as she guided the men inside.

"Over here.", the bard answered as she quickly washed the blood off her hands from the previous patient. "Okay, lie him on his side.", she locked her eyes with his and spoke softly. "My name is Gabrielle, what’s yours?"

"Saral.", he gasped.

"Okay, just relax, Saral. I’m going to tell you a story while I do this, okay?", she gently opened his shirt, pulling one arm free and exposing the wound. She proceeded to clean the area with the wet cloths while telling her tale. "There once was a man who…", she continued to speak softly, relaxing him as she determined the course of action. "Saral, the arrowhead has to be pushed through. I’m sorry."

"Do it. I don’t want to die, Gabrielle.", his soft voice pleaded with her. Remembering Xena’s warning about muscles clenching in anticipation, the bard made a quick decision. "Okay.", without warning, she grasped the shaft of the arrow and pushed the head through his back. He screamed out in pain. Artemis winced and shook her head at the sight. Gabrielle acted as if this was something she did normally, although truth be told, this was the first time she had ever had to remove an arrow from someone without Xena standing right there next to her. "You did fine. The arrow is out. Now, where were we in that tale? Oh yes, the handsome prince…", she instructed a nearby member of the walking wounded to help her keep Saral still while she broke off the head. Not being as strong as Xena, Gabrielle was forced to use a sharp knife to cut a notch out of the wood before being able to snap it. "Shh, you did fine.", she said as he screamed again. She maintained the smooth, calming tone as she slowly pulled the shaft out. "Fawn, go outside and place a knife blade in the fire. Once it’s orange, bring it in here."

"Right away."

"Fawn!", Gabrielle yelled, stopping the huntress in her tracks. "Use several layers of cloth to protect your hands from the heat.", she said, remembering how everything was still so new to her.

"Right.", she nodded, grateful for the reminder.

"Okay Saral, this is going to hurt. Do you want me to go get Xena to cut off the feeling?", she asked as she gently rubbed his shoulder.

"No, I know you won’t hurt me more than you need to.", he croaked. She smiled and gave him a sip of water from the nearby skin.

Artemis watched as Gabrielle, whom she thought of as a fragile young woman, placed the searing hot blade against his stomach and then again across the wound in his back. The entire time Gabrielle kept speaking in soft tones, comforting with her voice and touch as she completed her task. Even when she had finished tending to his physical wounds, the young bard continued to talk to him, lulling him into a slumber with a peaceful story.

"Gabrielle.", Artemis called her over much later, after most of the wounded had been treated. "I just wanted to tell you that what I saw you doing today was nothing short of amazing. Even as a full goddess, I couldn’t have comforted him as well as you did. You truly have a talent for healing."

"Everything I’ve learned about healing comes from Xena. I’ve seen the way she treats the injured, and I try to do what she would have done.", Gabrielle explained.

"I could never be as good at healing the inside as you are, Gabrielle.", both women turned to see Xena standing before them. The bard jumped off of the stool that she was sitting on and ran to the warrior’s side.

"You’re hurt.", she exclaimed as she put her arms around the taller woman and led her to an empty pallet. Her fingers nimbly removed the armor and leathers that kept the extent of her warrior’s injuries from view. Artemis went to get a basin of clean water and bandages.

"I’m fine, Gabrielle.", she protested as she tried to stop the probing fingers that were moving around her ribs.

"Lay down and be quiet.", the bard ordered as she placed a firm hand on Xena’s shoulder and pressed down. "Now, not a word unless you’re telling me where it hurts."

"Gabrielle…", she said as she arched an eyebrow. One look at the determination in the storyteller’s face was enough to make her sigh and lie back.

"Let’s see what we have this time…hmm, good gash, nice and jagged. I just love to stitch those up.", she reached for the needle and thread, placing them nearby. Artemis returned with the water and cloth. "Thanks.", Gabrielle said, her eyes never leaving her charge. "And what do we have over here?"

"Hey!"

"Sorry, not my fault.", she answered as she looked at the piece of metal before tossing it out of the way. "Would you have preferred that I left that piece of a dagger in you? Hmmf, I didn’t think so. Now let’s see what else we have."

It took two candlemarks for Gabrielle to finish patching all the wounds and scrapes that Xena had received. She worried that Xena was in more pain that she was letting on because of her ragged breathing when the ribs were being bound. "There, all done.", she handed Xena a clean shirt. "It’s looser than your shift would be. You’ll be more comfortable."

As the three of them headed out of the tent, Artemis noticed an object hanging from a knife imbedded into the side of a tree. "My quiver!", she shouted as the unexpected emotion of joy flooded through her.

"I guess she passed her first test.", Gabrielle said as she smiled broadly.

"Uh huh. Now we find out what the next challenge is. Look.", she pointed at the huntress, who was unrolling the scroll that was nestled inside the quiver.

"What does it say?", the bard asked as Artemis returned to their side.

"It says ‘The second trial lies down the deepest path to the lair of the Last One.’ I don’t understand.", she shook her head. "My father is being too vague."

"I think it refers to all these tunnels.", Xena said as she looked at the nearby mountain.

"How will we find the deepest one?", Gabrielle asked as they walked back to the inn.

"We’ll ask the miners. I’m sure someone knows where the deepest tunnel is.", the warrior answered.

"I’m not sure I’m going to like this.", the bard murmured as she thought of the cold, dark tunnels. Xena leaned over and gave her a gentle one-armed hug.

"Don’t worry, Gabrielle. I’ll protect you."

"I know you will.", the look of adoration and trust in the green eyes was almost overpowering to Xena. She smiled slightly and released her hold, mumbling something about getting to sleep and an early start in the morning. Artemis placed one arrow in the quiver before fastening to her back. To Xena and Gabrielle’s quizzical looks, she merely replied, "The quiver gives me an endless supply. No need to worry.", she allowed a smile to come to her lips as she walked past them.

Despite Xena’s protests, Gabrielle insisted on sleeping with Artemis or on the floor. "There’s no way I’m going to take the chance of hurting you by rolling over in my sleep.", she turned her attention to the huntress. "Artemis?"

"Of course you are welcome to share my bed. As uncomfortable as it is, it just has to be better than the floor."

None of them slept comfortably. Xena tossed and turned, partly from discomfort and partly because she wasn’t used to sleeping in an inn without Gabrielle next to her. It was rare indeed when they would decide to get separate rooms, either money or her protective nature would insist on a single bed. Gabrielle’s light snoring and wiggling kept Artemis from getting comfortable, although she knew that true comfort couldn’t have been found on the lumpy pallet anyway. The bard’s dreams were filled with the crimson visions of the day’s events, causing her young body to twitch and flinch. The strong arms that used to hold and comfort her through the nightmares were on the other side of the room.

It took less than a candlemark to find out where the tunnel was and reach it. Xena had packed several days of food, some clothes, flint, oil, and medical supplies into a pack. She fastened it to Gabrielle’s back before hefting the bedrolls onto hers. The need to keep Artemis’ quiver clear kept the huntress from having to carry any of the supplies, though she was forced to carry Xena’s sword and scabbard. All three women each carried a waterskin.

"Everyone stay behind me. Keep your eyes and ears open and your mouths shut. We don’t know what we’re up against.", Xena took the torch from the holder and started to cautiously enter the tunnel. The obsidian walls reflected little light, forcing the trio to remain close to one another. Several times Artemis missed seeing the other women stop and ran into Gabrielle’s back, causing the bard to bounce into the warrior. Both mumbled apologies to Xena, who merely scowled and reminded them to be quiet.

Two candlemarks into the trek, the tunnel started to slope downward. "At least we know we’re on the right track.", Gabrielle quipped, trying to lighten the tense mood. To her surprise, Xena turned and gave her a small smile.

Xena’s boot slipped on a wet spot on the smooth rock. Not wanting to take a chance of the torch landing in any puddles, she let the blankets on her back cushion her fall while she kept her arm out, protecting the flame. Gabrielle stopped and put her hand out to keep Artemis from running into her. Taking the torch from Xena, the bard reached out with her other hand and helped her to her feet. "We have to be careful.", she took the flame and moved it about, trying to see the ground beneath them. She frowned. "The floor is too wet and steep. We’ll never be able to walk without slipping."

"How else are we going to get there?", Artemis asked, slightly annoyed at the latest development. She was beginning to feel closed in and desperately wished for fresh air. Gabrielle noticed the increased breathing and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"We crawl.", Xena said firmly as she knelt down. Having to carry the torch, she didn’t have the luxury of using both hands and knees. They moved along slowly, Xena alternating the arm that held the light. She refused to pass it to Gabrielle, citing the need for it to be in front.

"Okay, let’s take a break.", the warrior said as she rolled into a sitting position, leaning her back against the smooth wall. Without saying a word, Gabrielle moved next to her.

"Your arms ache.", it wasn’t a question and she didn’t wait for an answer. She took the torch from Xena and handed it to Artemis. "You should have said something."

"Gabrielle, you worry too much about me."

"I only worry because I care so much about you.", she removed the bracers and massaged the sore muscles. "Doesn’t that feel better?"

"Mm.", in the blackness of the tunnel, the bard couldn’t see that Xena’s eyes were closed. With practiced ease, Gabrielle’s fingers sought out and relieved every ache in the powerful forearms. No words were exchanged as the young woman continued her ministrations. Artemis couldn’t see very well, even with the torch, so she closed her eyes and took advantage of the break to rest for a few moments. Xena allowed the gentle massage to continue as long as she could without being obvious. "Okay, let’s get going."

"We take turns with the torch this time.", Gabrielle said firmly as she handed Xena the bracers. The warrior reached out and placed her fingers on the bard’s forearm.

"Gabrielle, thanks. You do that very well, you know.", she gave her a slight squeeze before taking the torch from Artemis. She didn’t need light to know that her young bard was smiling from the unexpected compliment.

They stopped once to eat and several times for short rests. The tunnel was getting gradually steeper as the floor seemed to get even slipperier. Gabrielle’s knee slipped, sending her down, her still tender temple connecting with the heel of Xena’s boot.

"Ow, ow ow ow ow…..", she groaned as she grabbed her head and rolled around, not noticing that she was soaking her clothes as well as the pack in the process. Xena twisted and pulled her up to a sitting position, holding out the torch for Artemis to take from her.

"Are you all right?", she asked as she checked the wound for signs of renewed bleeding. She released a breath slowly as she felt no new blood. Xena’s hand moved behind Gabrielle. "Great.", she muttered as she felt the wet cloth. "Stay here. Artemis, give me the torch.", she held the light near Gabrielle’s head, visually verifying what her hands had told her in the darkness about the wound before turning and heading forward into the darkness.

Xena inched her way along, grimly noting that the slope was getting more pronounced. She was still within earshot when the tunnel suddenly dropped steeply, sending the warrior sliding down several body lengths before landing on smooth, flat ground. A quick examination of the area showed that the running water channeled into a small crevice, leaving the ground dry. The plateau was just large enough to accommodate the three of them comfortably. She threw her chakram, imbedding it into the soft rock, then set the torch into it. "Gabrielle, Artemis.", she yelled, her voice echoing off the black walls.

"Right here.", Gabrielle responded from just above her. "Where are you? I can’t see a thing."

"Gabrielle, stay where you are, there’s a steep drop off.", she warned, but it was too late.

"Whoa!", the bard yelled as she felt herself sliding downward. Unseen, but familiar strong hands caught her just before she would have reached the ground. Although Xena couldn’t see her, she followed the sound of her voice and just managed to catch her.

"Easy now, I’ve got you.", she said as she cradled Gabrielle in her arms. "You okay?"

"Yes, thanks to you. You’re always saving me.", in the dim light, Xena couldn’t see the look of adoration in the green eyes, but she could feel it in the tone of Gabrielle’s voice. Before she could respond, Artemis called out from above.

"Okay, hang on.", Xena called back before reluctantly releasing the storyteller from her embrace. "Artemis, take off your bow, quiver, and my scabbard. Push them forward so they fall down here."

It didn’t take them long to set up their makeshift camp. With no wood to start a fire, dinner was cold dried meat and small sips from the waterskins. Xena removed the items from the pack, trying not to let her disappointment show at all the soaked items.

"Are any of the c-c-clothes dry?", Gabrielle said through chattering teeth. Artemis pulled the torch out of its holder and brought it close to the shivering bard. Xena swore under her breath and unwrapped the bedrolls.

"All the clothes are wet. You’ll have to wrap yourself up in the bedrolls.", she said, trying to keep her frustration out of her voice. The clothes were wet and there was no way to dry them in the damp tunnel. Artemis helped the bard wrap herself up in the blankets.

"Xena, I’m s-s-sorry about the clothes."

"Nothing we can do about it now, Gabrielle."

"Xena, would thin sticks work to build a fire?", Artemis asked. A smile crept to the warrior’s face as she followed the huntress’ line of thinking.

It took only a few moments for Artemis to pull enough arrows out of her endless supply from her quiver for Xena to get enough wood to start a small fire. Artemis kept busy pulling more arrows out and snapping off the points, making a small pile to feed the fire. The obsidian walls absorbed the light rather than reflect it, keeping their small area dim. The warrior looked over at the still shivering bard. "Come sit next to the fire."

Gabrielle complied, moving slowly to sit near the small fire, but trying not to be too close to Xena, who she was convinced was mad at her. Artemis laid out the last bedroll and snuggled into it. "I’m tired but I don’t know if I can get any sleep on top of this rock.", she stated simply. Both women nodded in agreement. Even the hard ground was softer than the flat stone. Xena pulled her sword and whetstone out and began to sharpen her blade. There was no way to make the fire large enough to heat the cavern to a point where the clothes would dry and Gabrielle knew it. Her head drooped as she stared into the fire.

"Forget about it.", Xena said without looking up from her task.

"Forget about what?"

"Whatever it is that you’re moping about. Let it go, Gabrielle. There’s nothing that can be done about it anyway.", she looked up in time to see the bard do an all over shiver. "Why didn’t you tell me you were still cold?", she said as she removed her armor and set it safely out of the way. Xena threw more arrow shafts into the fire before joining Gabrielle under the blankets.

Both women were sitting up, Gabrielle’s head leaning against the warm chest behind her. "Looks like Artemis was able to sleep after all.", she mused as the looked over at the sleeping form. She felt rather than heard the soft chuckle from Xena.

"Your skin is like ice.", the warrior said as she ran her hands up and down Gabrielle’s arms, trying hard not to think of how soft the skin felt to her touch or the fact that the woman she dreamed of was sitting naked in her arms.

"You are always warm.", Gabrielle said as she snuggled deeper into Xena’s embrace. She let out a contented sigh and closed her eyes. "You know,", she said as she yawned, "I could fall asleep like this."

"Let’s set the blankets out and lay down. I’m not in the mood to sleep sitting up.", Xena said as she forced herself to move back from the softness and stand up. She let Gabrielle sit there while she laid one blanket on the ground, folding a third of it over upon itself in an attempt to make it softer for the bard. Gabrielle smiled at the gesture.

"Xena?"

"Hmm?", she replied as she curled up against the bard’s back.

"I think I’d be warmer if you didn’t wear your leathers. I mean, if you don’t mind. It’s just that your skin is warmer.", she let out another shiver as if to prove her point. After a brief mental war with herself, Xena pulled her leathers off and pressed up against Gabrielle, wrapping one long arm around the small waist.

"Better?", she asked as she mentally concentrated on anything other than the sensation of their naked bodies touching. Gabrielle nodded as she drifted off into a contented sleep. Xena laid there, absentmindedly stroking the bard’s belly with her fingers and wondering how she ever survived without Gabrielle in her life. Only when she gave in to the comfort and softness that was her bard and buried her face into the honey colored hair did Xena finally doze off.

Xena awoke to the pleasant weight of Gabrielle’s head against her breast, one arm and leg thrown across her long body. She gently rolled the sleeping bard off of her and stood up, stretching as she worked the night’s rest out of her bones and muscles. She dressed and fed more shafts into the fire as she waited for the others to wake up. In the near complete darkness, it was impossible to tell if it was day or night, or how long she had slept. Although she felt rested, she knew that she was capable of going on only a few candlemarks rest while Gabrielle required at least seven or eight candlemarks. Artemis seemed to take after the bard in that respect too. Xena heated up some tea for herself and ate her meager breakfast in silence as she mentally reviewed their surroundings. The drop to the area that they were in was too high for any of them to get back out the way they entered. Not knowing what was ahead of them didn’t help to ease the warrior’s mind at all. A quick mental inventory told her that even with rationing, they only had enough food for three days. She wondered if Artemis’ quiver could perform the same miracle with food that it did with arrows.

Three candlemarks later, all three women were awake, fed, and ready to continue on their journey. Xena removed her chakram from the wall, took the torch, and led the way. The tunnel leading away from where they slept was wide and dry, allowing the women to cover the distance at a much quicker rate. Gabrielle filled the air with stories of Hercules, to which Artemis was quite pleased. So long as Hera was underfoot on Mount Olympus, the subject of her half brother was taboo. She interrupted the bard often, asking questions or requesting clarification on certain points. Xena was glad that Gabrielle had chosen not to tell stories about her.

It took over twelve candlemarks for them to finally reach the end of the tunnel. All were well aware that there wasn’t enough food to cover the journey back. Xena’s hope that the quiver might be able to replicate the remaining food was dashed when the huntress explained that it could only be used for arrows, which was why the second scroll didn’t continue to repeat itself once removed.

The tunnel opened up into a huge cavern, illuminated by red hot rocks. The heat alone was enough to make all three women perspire, much less the imposing figure that sat in the middle of the room. Xena moved in front of Gabrielle, a protective habit that she found she still couldn’t break away from. She silently wished she had made the bard bring her staff along instead of deciding that it would be better to leave it back at the inn.

"Xena, is that what I think it is?", the young woman asked with awe and fear in her voice. Artemis simply continued to stare at the large, scaly creature.

"It’s a dragon. Very old if the color is any indication.", she said, noting it’s inky black color. "I thought they were all dead."

"This must be what the scroll meant. The last one.", Gabrielle said quietly, in fear of waking the massive winged creature. The dragon’s head moved and snorted, a puff of smoke appeared from the two large nostrils.

"Stay behind me.", Xena said as she pulled her sword from the scabbard on Artemis’ back. She slowly entered the cavern again, this time keeping large rocks between her and the dragon. A low growl filled and reverberated off the walls as the dragon’s red eyes locked with the ice blue ones of the warrior. For several long moments, no one spoke, the mammoth creature continued to maintain eye contact with the sword carrying human.

"I don’t understand what this has to do with my quest.", Artemis said quietly to Gabrielle. Xena held her hand out to silence the huntress.

"So...you have come to slay the last dragon, have you?", the winged creature lifted a paw and licked it, totally nonplused. "I must say I’ve waited a long time for someone to come and challenge me. There is no way that you can defeat me with that little thorn, woman.", the deep voice was obviously female.

Artemis moved up next to Xena and lightly touched her forearm. "Xena, let’s find a way around her. This can’t be the trial."

"I have a feeling that it is.", Gabrielle said softly. "She is the last one, just like the scroll said."

"I won’t stand by and watch the last dragon be slaughtered.", the huntress said vehemently. She addressed the dragon. "What is your name?"

The dragon looked at the soft brown eyes before answering. There was something familiar about the human with the bow and arrow, something gentle and safe. "My mate called me Shalia. I haven’t spoken that name in many winters.", there was a touch of sadness to the dragon’s voice that pulled at Artemis’ heart. "He was caught in a rock slide and the humans butchered him."

"How did you end up here?", Xena asked.

"This was our lair until the rock slide. I’ve been trapped in here ever since.", Shalia let out a deep breath, sending a wall of smoke and heat in their general direction. Xena immediately stepped in front of Gabrielle to protect her.

"How have you survived in here all this time? I mean, it’s not like there’s a constant food supply or anything.", the bard said, although she remained behind the leather clad woman.

"I am cursed by the gods, pure one. So long as my heart is not pierced, I will not die. I am forced to remain here forever, entombed within my own lair for eternity."

"The gods would not curse you. The immortality that was bestowed upon you was a gift.", Artemis said haughtily, remembering the day that she and Apollo bestowed that gift upon the mighty winged creatures. It was under Apollo’s direction that they be given the one vulnerability of their hearts, lest they have no fear or compassion.

"Bah, a gift. It is a gift to live day after day, trapped in a place that used to bring pleasure and joy? To be unable to fly through the air? To be alone?"

"Perhaps we can help you find a way out of here.", Gabrielle offered. Xena reached back and put her hand on Gabrielle’s forearm.

"No, that’s not what she wants.", in a louder voice directed at Shalia, she said "Is it?"

"Xena, you can’t be thinking...", Artemis said, her brown eyes growing dark at the thought. "No! I won’t allow it. She is the last one. Once she is gone, there will be no more."

"Artemis, don’t you see how unfair it is for Shalia to go on suffering here?", Gabrielle spoke up, moving out from behind the warrior and addressing both the dragon and the huntress. "She is all alone here. If you let her go, she can be with her mate again."

"Artemis? The goddess of the hunt?", Shalia said as small puffs of smoke came from her nostrils. The red eyes darkened. "You are why I cannot die and you call it a gift? I beg you, goddess, free me from my prison. Let me go."

"I only meant to help. Perhaps we can free the rocks and let you out of here."

"I have tried for twelve winters to move the rocks that keep me trapped in here. Do you really think that you three can move them?"

Xena looked at the large pile of boulders that covered what was once a large opening. It was obvious that there was no way to move them, even if Hercules was there. "She’s right, there is no way to move those rocks."

"Then you have no choice but to kill me, warrior woman. Take your little sword and plunge it into my heart. Kill me and set me free.", the deep dragon voice was ringed with sadness.

"No, I will not allow this.", Artemis angrily cried. "You are the last one, Shalia. I will not allow Xena to take your life."

"I won’t kill her, Artemis. This is your quest, your trial. It’s up to you to do it.", Xena said as she dropped her sword on the ground, no longer fearing the lonely dragon.

"No!"

"Artemis, can I talk to you privately?", Gabrielle asked as she guided the huntress back into the tunnel. Xena stayed in the cavern, keeping an eye on the mighty winged creature.

"Gabrielle, nothing you can say will make me change my mind. When Apollo and I decided to give them the gift, it was because they were in danger of extinction, of being no more. How can I take the life of the last one?"

"Artemis, listen to me. I know it’s hard for you to understand, what with being a goddess and all, but all creatures need companionship. I know you thought you were doing the right thing by protecting them, but it’s time to let go. Let Shalia go and be with her mate. Don’t you think she’s suffered enough? If something were to happen to Xena, if she should…", she didn’t finish the thought. "I wouldn’t want to go on if I thought that I would never be with her again in the Elyssian fields…or Tartarus."

"But there are other people who can take her place, Gabrielle. You can make new friends. Surely Shalia would be able to find a place where she would be happy."

"The only place that makes me happy is by Xena’s side. The only place that will make Shalia happy is to be by her mate’s side. Let them be together, Artemis. You are a kind and compassionate woman. Surely you can see now that letting her go would be for the best."

"Gabrielle, what if you’re wrong? What if she could find happiness just by being free?"

"I know that she misses him very much. To go day after day without the peace of mind that someday she could be with him again must be unbearable. I can see why she sees your gift as a curse. I know it would be for me.", she said the last words in a softer tone as the thought of life without Xena filled her with a sense of sadness worse than when she lost Perdicus. Artemis put her hand on the bard’s shoulder.

"You really wouldn’t want to continue on with your life without Xena?"

"It’s not a case of wanting to continue on, I couldn’t continue on without her.", she said sincerely.

Artemis stepped back into the cavern and walked over to Shalia. "I didn’t know. I understand now."

"You will release me?", the deep voice of the dragon asked. Artemis took a deep breath before returning her gaze to the red eyes that were begging for an answer.

"I will release you."

With tears in her eyes, Artemis raised her Amazon bow and took aim. After a momentary hesitation, she released the string, sending the arrow true to its mark. Xena bolted from her position and knocked the huntress to the ground as Shalia howled in pain and slumped limply to the ground. "Thank you.", she said before closing the red eyes one last time.

So overcome with emotion was Gabrielle that she buried her teary face into Xena’s chest, ignoring the unyielding breastplate in her need for comfort. The warrior held her tenderly, gently stroking her hair as the blue eyes watched thin wisps of smoke escape from the now-dead dragon. "Gabrielle, look."

Getting control of her tears, the bard turned her head and saw what Xena was referring to. The drips of blood from the arrow wound turned into small winged insects, taking flight and sailing above their heads and up the tunnel. The two women watched as hundreds and hundreds of the small flying creatures formed and left the lair. "Flies."

"No,", Gabrielle corrected. "Dragonflies."

Within moments, Shalia’s body dissolved away, the only sign she was ever there were the insects still making their way out of the lair. Soon they too were gone. Xena maintained her hold on Gabrielle the entire time. Artemis smiled warmly as the last dragonfly flew from sight. "As one life dies, another is formed. The new…", she looked at Gabrielle, "dragonflies will find acceptance in the world that Shalia and the other dragons could not. One had to die so that others could live.", she smiled with the new understanding and the knowledge that she had indeed passed her second challenge.

A gust a wind signaled the arrival and departure of Hermes. Following the direction of the breeze, they saw the glimmer of silver that signaled Artemis’ bow. Gabrielle separated from Xena to run over and hug the huntress, who was actually smiling with joy. The trained senses of the warrior instantly alerted her to danger. A slight tremor shook the lair. "Run!", she screamed as she bolted toward them.

They barely made it into the opening where the bow had been found when the stalactites crashed down from the ceiling. Xena pushed against the other women’s backs, forcing them to the ground as she covered them with her own body. Fear raced through their minds as the cavern collapsed around them.

"Everyone okay?", Xena asked as she slowly lifted herself off of them. As she stood, a cloud of dust fell off her back, along with several small and not so small stones. Her armor did little to protect her from the pounding of the stones. She stretched, forcing herself not to grimace.

"I’m all right.", Gabrielle replied into the darkness. "I can’t see a thing."

"I’m here, but I hurt my arm.", Artemis replied from somewhere behind Gabrielle. Running her fingers along the wall to get her bearings, Xena approached them.

"Where are you?", the pitch blackness made it impossible to see.

"Over here, Xena. Just follow my voice.", Gabrielle said. Within a heartbeat, she felt the strong fingers of her warrior upon her shoulder. Xena smiled in the darkness at the familiar sensation of Gabrielle’s skin beneath her fingertips. The bard took the strong hand and guided it until Xena felt the cloth of the huntress’ tunic.

"Gabrielle, feel around and see if you can find my chakram.", she said as she examined Artemis’ arm by touch. "Nothing broken, but I think your wrist is sprained."

"It hurts a lot.", the huntress protested.

"That’s because you’re not used to pain. I could cut off the feeling to your arm if you like.", she offered as she felt Gabrielle come up against her and hand over the chakram. Xena was once again glad for the darkness.

"No, thank you. I’ve seen you do that to other people.", Artemis replied, causing the usually stoic warrior to chuckle.

Taking an arrow from Artemis’ quiver, Xena broke the point off before striking her chakram against the wall to cause sparks. Within moments, she had the end of the shaft blazing with a small fire. Holding three shafts together, the warrior made a small torch. The dim light showed that the entrance was hopelessly sealed. "Guess we go that way.", Xena said, pointing into the dark tunnel ahead of them. All were aware that they no longer had any food or water or even any of their supplies. The only items to have made it through with them were the quiver, bow, and chakram. Not even one waterskin was to be found.

"The scroll!", Artemis yelped as she tried frantically to move some of the rocks.

"Stop!", Xena pulled the huntress back forcibly as the loosened stones now started a small avalanche , blocking the exit even more. Not a word was said as they silently acknowledge that the scroll was hopelessly buried, and with it, the clue for the third trial.

The catacombs branched out in several different directions. Xena insisted that they stick together as they began to search for an exit. The tunnels were dry and large enough to walk upright. Following the main vein for several candlemarks, they eventually reached a dead end. "Artemis, give me an arrow.", Xena said. Using the metal point, she marked the wall. "This way we’re not running around in circles.", she explained. "Let’s head back and start looking down the other tunnels."

Gabrielle entertained them with stories as they walked, all three trying to keep their minds off of their empty stomachs, which were taking turns making themselves known. "Not even rats down here.", the warrior grumbled.

"The gods wouldn’t have left us down here without there being a way out.", Gabrielle said, trying to cheer up her companions.

"There wasn’t a chance to read the third scroll. I have no idea what the next challenge is."

"This isn’t enough of a challenge?", Xena quipped as she came to yet another dead end. She marked the wall again. "We have no food, no water, and right now...", she looked at the long tunnel they had to walk back through to get to the main one. "...no way out of here."

Sixteen different branches of the catacombs were searched and sixteen times they ran into a dead end. Gabrielle had stopped talking long ago due to the overwhelming thirst that made her throat raspy and dry. Finding a small alcove, Xena decided that it was time to stop and rest. Artemis produced several arrow shafts to make a small fire.

Xena sat down, resting her aching back against the smooth wall. Artemis laid down and quickly fell asleep. Gabrielle stared at the fire as she contemplated the situation. "Xena?", she said in a small voice.

"Hmm?", the blue eyes opened and saw the fear that was evident on the young face.

"Do you think we’ll find a way out?"

"Come here.", she said, holding her arms out. Gabrielle quickly moved into the warm embrace. "Don’t worry, Gabrielle, we’ll figure out something.", she said reassuringly, although inside the warrior was filled with the same fear.

Xena woke up much later to a dead fire on the ground and dead weight on top of her. The honey colored hair laid across her chest, one arm and leg thrown over her. After several moments of gentle nudging, the warrior was finally able to extricate herself from the sleeping bard. Within a few moments, she had the fire blazing again. A quick look over told her that Artemis was still sleeping. She crawled over and placed a soft kiss on Gabrielle’s cheek before rising and searching out some more tunnels on her own.

Gabrielle awoke to find Artemis sitting up and tossing more shafts into the fire. "Where’s Xena?"

"I don’t know. She was gone when I woke up.", the huntress’ normally soft voice was now as raspy as the bard’s from lack of water. "Gabrielle, do you really think that she can find a way out of here?"

"I’m certain that if anyone could find a way out, it would be Xena. You don’t know her, Artemis. I’ve seen her do some pretty amazing things.", in a softer voice, she added, "especially if it means trying to save me."

"I’ve seen some of the depths that she has gone to save you, my little queen. She’s battled Poseidon and Ares to protect you and I suspect she would die rather than let you be hurt.", Artemis wondered if she should tell the young woman of the warrior’s feelings for her.

"I would do the same for her, if needed.", Gabrielle said firmly, putting a hold on the huntress’ train of thought. "She’s the first thing I see when I wake up and the last thing I see before going to sleep. You may not believe this, but I’m quite happy being with her. Some people look at Xena and all they see is the warlord, but when I look at her, I see the good that she’s become. There’s a gentle side to her that few people know about. I’ve seen it."

"Gabrielle, don’t you miss not having a home, a place to call your own?"

"No, my home is with Xena. Wherever she goes, I go. Besides, I have a home with the Amazons, if I ever needed it.", she laughed lightly, "Of course, I would never leave her again."

"Never? Gabrielle, you shouldn’t say never. What if you find someone?"

"Find someone? You mean like another husband? I don’t think so, Artemis. Perdicus was a nice, gentle man and I cared about him a great deal, but being married and having children is not what I want in life anymore."

"And what do you want in life, Gabrielle?"

"To be with Xena. To help right the wrongs and protect the innocent with her, to do everything I can to help her in her quest for redemption."

"And for that you would give up everything? Your dreams of becoming a bard, your right to rule over the Amazon nation?"

"Artemis, I haven’t given anything up. When I told Xena that I wanted to go to Athens, to the academy, she did everything in her power to help me get there. I won the competition, you know."

"I know. I also know that you left the academy to continue traveling with her."

"At the academy, I would have just been telling stories. With Xena, I live them. And as for the Amazons, she has never told me that she didn’t want me to be queen, never. It was my choice to leave the village and pass control over to Ephiny. Xena would never force me to do something that I didn’t want to do, you have to believe that, Artemis."

"I do believe you, Gabrielle. You have to understand that you are my chosen. I just want to make sure that you’re happy."

"When I’m with Xena, I’m happy. It’s just that simple."

Gabrielle gazed into the fire, her mind obviously somewhere else. The conversation yielded much information to Artemis. She now knew two things. One, that Gabrielle was unaware that she was in love with her best friend; and two, that she was also unaware that her best friend was in love with her. The huntress was now glad that she held her tongue. She hadn’t realized the depths of the bard’s feelings for Xena. This wasn’t a simple case of an older, more experienced woman falling for a beautiful younger woman. That happened all the time with her Amazons. This was definitely more. This was a young, inexperienced woman slowly learning her feelings and a woman who had seen too much of life finally letting a light of love and hope into her once blackened heart. The two women continued to sit quietly, neither wanting to reveal their thoughts or speculate on their current situation.

Xena came back a short time later, the tightness in her lips answering the unspoken questions; no water found, no exit located. Gabrielle tried to keep a look of hopefulness on her face, but the warrior saw it for what it really was and felt her heart breaking at the gesture. Betraying no emotions on her face, she spoke crisply and precisely. "I marked the entrance to every tunnel I went through and found dead ends. The ones with other tunnels leading off of them have slash marks to indicate how many tunnels I found.", she scooped the pile of arrowheads up and split them between the other two women. "If you go down one of the branches, mark it with a circle when you enter it, and a slash through the circle when you leave. That’s the only way we’ll be able to find each other if something happens."

She paused for a moment to collect two piles of shafts, handing one bunch to Gabrielle. Xena also paused to give herself time to breathe after speaking for longer than she normally would. She had no choice, with the maze of tunnels that all looked the same, she had to make sure that they all knew exactly what to do. "If you find an exit, water, vegetation, signs that someone else was here recently, anything, yell to let the others know.", she looked Gabrielle square in the eye, "And don’t forget to mark your tunnels…clearly.", the last word said in a slightly more commanding tone that barely covered the unspoken fear. It was far too easy to get lost in the labyrinth of dark tunnels.

They stopped at the first branch off of the main tunnel that contained other branches. Several slash marks as well as a crossed out circle stood out against the black wall. "There are eleven tunnels off of this one and I’ve only explored the first two fully."

"Xena, don’t you think we should split up, I mean really split up? You continue to explore this area while Artemis and I start on the next two tunnels off of the big one.", Gabrielle beamed when she saw a brief smile play across the warrior’s lips as she realized the logic behind the suggestion.

"Be careful."

Xena figured that it took two candlemarks for a torch made out of three shafts to burn down. She held the torch in her left hand and enough shafts to make two more torches in her right hand. She knew that Gabrielle had at least as many and Artemis could make all she wanted from her quiver. "Make sure you use less than half of your torches before you start to head back."

"Better to come back with some light than not to come back because it’s too dark to see, huh?", the bard said as she tilted her head and smiled. Even in the dim torch light, the green eyes twinkled.

Gabrielle’s suggestion to split up was quickly rewarded. The second branch that she examined yielded a small pool made by a trickle of water running down the wall from a crack near the top of cavern. It was too small to bathe in, even for a small woman like Gabrielle, but by the gods it was water. She let out a shriek of joy as she buried her face into it. Remembering Xena’s warnings about salt water, the bard pulled her face out and cupped some liquid in her hand. A quick taste told her that she had indeed found a source of fresh water. She immersed herself in the cool liquid, swallowing several times before having to lift up and gasp for air.

The three women stopped their exploration to settle and enjoy the absolute refreshment of the cool water. Their chances of staying alive long enough to find an exit suddenly increased dramatically thanks to Gabrielle’s discovery. Had they stuck to Xena’s plan of exploring only one secondary tunnel system at a time, they would not have found the pool for at least two more days.

All track of time was lost in the continual darkness. The lack of sunlight did nothing to improve any of their moods. They would wake up, drink as much water as they could, then went in their separate directions to explore the labyrinth. Xena and Gabrielle carried more shafts with them in their attempts to go deeper and deeper into the tunnels. All were losing weight rapidly as they demanded their bodies move on despite the lack of any food. Several times Artemis and Gabrielle found themselves completely exhausted after a few candlemarks of searching. Xena’s fortitude was stronger, but after over a quarter moon without food, the strain was showing on her too. With no sword to sharpen, she found herself with nothing to do except sleep when not out searching. Gabrielle was running out of stories that didn’t involve Xena and was starting to alternate between the two, much to the warrior’s displeasure. It didn’t help that Artemis sat there, entranced, listening to every word. Gabrielle even replayed every story about the goddesses and gods that she knew. Each one of which caused a lively debate with the moon goddess about every detail. Xena would sit silently and listen, sadly noting the increasing prominence of the bard’s ribs and the increasing lack of enthusiasm to her voice. Artemis sadly watched the decline in all of them and cried many times in the privacy of her tunnels as she struggled to figure out what her third trial could possibly be.

In the quiet solitude of her set of tunnels, the goddess-turned-mortal thought again about how her interference in mortal affairs caused tragedy and sorrow. She understood the first two trials, so what was the third? Artemis’ mind focused on her two companions, dying slowly because of her. She blinked and shook her head slightly as the answer formed in her mind. She now knew what she had to do to pass the third trial…and save all their lives.

As they all started to settle in for another rest, Artemis stood up and fastened her quiver to her back.

"Where are you going?", Xena asked as she sat up.

"I feel invigorated and want to continue exploring.", she lied. "I’ll be gone at least four candlemarks.", maybe longer if needed, the huntress thought to herself.

"Be careful, Artemis.", Gabrielle said as she too sat up, tossing a couple of shafts into the fire.

"I will.", with that, the moon goddess left.

"You tired?", the bard asked.

"Not really."

"Me either.", Gabrielle said as she rose and sat down right next to Xena, close enough for their thighs to touch. "I need this, Xena.", her green eyes shone with unshed tears. "I’m scared. I don’t want to die here."

"Gabrielle….", Xena pulled her into her lap, shocked at how much weight the bard had lost. While not skin and bones, It was enough to make anyone think her sickly. Unable to control herself any longer, Gabrielle buried her head into the warrior’s neck and sobbed. Strong but thinning fingers stroked the honey hair as a rare tear fell from the blue eyes.

"I-I’m glad you’re here with me.", she choked and looked up. "I know that’s selfish, Xena, but if you are the last sight I ever see, I’ll be happy."

"Shh, don’t talk like that, Gabrielle.", she said in a soothing tone as she placed a gentle kiss on the bard’s forehead.

"I love you, you know.", she said as she moved up and gave Xena a chaste kiss. When she pulled back, she saw a mixture of fear and something she couldn’t identify. The warrior’s eyes lowered to stare at the ground. It’s now or never, she thought to herself.

"Gabrielle…you know how I feel about you.", she paused and gave a short laugh. "No, you don’t, do you? You don’t know because I never tell you."

"It’s okay, Xena. I know."

"No.", she put her finger on the bard’s lips to silence her. "I need to say this, Gabrielle. You are, above and beyond all else, the most important person in my life.", she took a deep breath and looked into the green eyes for courage before continuing. "And I love you.", her finger moved slowly, tracing the outline of Gabrielle’s lower lip. "I have for a long time.", Xena looked away from her and lowered her hand.

Several heartbeats passed before Gabrielle reached up with a slightly shaky hand and touched Xena’s cheek. "You never told me. I didn’t know.", she pressed with her fingertips. "Xena? Look at me…please?…there, that’s better.", she gave a small smile in an attempt to remove the sad look on the warrior’s face. She now knew what the other look on Xena’s face was. The same deep love that she felt. There was something else now, too. She had seen this look before, desire. The bard’s heart skipped a beat when she realized the look was for her and her alone. She knew this was more than a physical desire, it was a desire of the heart. In her mind’s eye, she imagined what it would be like to share such intimacy with Xena. Gabrielle’s gaze flickered between Xena’s blue eyes and her lips as she slowly, hesitantly moved closer.

"Gabrielle…", she whispered as their lips became close enough for their breaths to mingle.

"Tell me again.", she urged softly.

"I love you.", it was barely a whisper, but it might have well been a shout for the power it had. "You don’t have to…", all words were silenced as the bard’s mouth pressed up against hers.

Gabrielle’s lips were far softer than Xena imagined. She brushed her lips across the bard’s again and again as she savored the sensation. She pulled the lower lip in and sucked gently, causing a soft gasp from the younger woman. All fears that this wasn’t what Gabrielle wanted disappeared as she felt a shy tongue come out and touched her lips. "Gabrielle…", her voice was low and throaty she released the lower lip and entered the storyteller’s mouth. Xena was unable to suppress a moan as she tasted the sweetness that was Gabrielle for the first time. When their tongues connected, Xena felt it all the way through her body, ending with a tightening in her loins. Gabrielle’s eyes had closed at the first contact of their lips. All her senses was filled with the gentle kiss that spoke more than words about what they meant to each other.

Gabrielle moved one hand down to touch the leather strap on the warrior’s shoulder, eliciting another moan. Xena’s hand moved under the now loose top and cupped one perfect breast. Neither woman knew which moaned or if it was both of them as the bard arched her back, pressing herself into the strong fingers. Xena pulled her mouth back and planted small kisses up the jaw until she reached the earlobe. "Gabrielle…."

The sensation of Xena’s warm breath on her ear and her fingers manipulating her nipple made the young woman dizzy with pleasure. "I…never…knew.", her voice came out in small gasps as the warrior’s warm mouth worked its way down to her throat, the soft tongue brushing against her pulse point. "Xena…unh, yes…."

"Gabrielle….", her mouth moved back to capture the soft lips again and again, feeling both their passions rising. The bard’s hands began a tentative exploration of Xena’s body through the soft leathers. Her hand pressed and squeezed the right breast, causing the warrior’s eyes to close tight at the long awaited sensation. Xena’s own hand continued to massage and excite Gabrielle.

"Xena….", the huskiness of the bard’s voice fueled the warrior’s own passion. Their kisses continued as strong fingers deftly unlaced the green top, exposing the soft mounds to the Xena’s hungry gaze. The look of want and desire both excited and scared the storyteller. She had never known passion such as this, the desire to be totally one with another person. With the simple act of a kiss, her whole world had changed. She now understood her need to be physically close to Xena all the time, the looks that the warrior gave her whenever someone else showed interest in her, all the clues and signals that she had naively missed. She watched as the ice blue eyes grew dark with desire as they gazed down at her half naked body. "Xena…please, I want…but I don’t know how…."

Her words were stopped by a kiss so gentle, so full of love and tenderness, that she though it impossible to have come from her stoic warrior. "Gabrielle…", another soft kiss ending with a flick of her tongue across the bard’s lips. "…trust me."

"I do.", Gabrielle answered as the green eyes locked onto the blue. Only one heartbeat passed before the warrior moved down to claim the soft mouth again. Kissing her bard was far more pleasurable than Xena ever imagined. She slowly pushed Gabrielle down to the ground as their tongues continued to dance together, each tasting and being tasted by the other. She stretched her long body half onto the bard’s smaller one, again taken aback by the sheer intimacy and pleasure of so simple an act. There was no question in the green eyes as Xena’s mouth lowered to have its first taste of her erect breasts.

The gasp that left the bard’s mouth momentarily stunned and worried Xena, who tried to pick her head back up, but was stopped by a surprisingly strong hand pressing down on her raven hair. "Don’t stop…please.", Gabrielle said, her voice husky with the desire that was filling her soul. "I need…", she tried to come up with the word to describe what it was that she needed. "…you."

"You have me, my Gabrielle. You’ve had me for a long time.", she said before her mouth resumed its previous task. Her long arm reached down and stopped against the bard’s hip, gently massaging it through the Amazon skirt. Gabrielle’s fingers started to clasp and unclasp the long strands of hair that were wrapped around them as her hips started to move in a small rocking motion. Xena’s mouth returned to the bard’s as her hand worked to remove the last vestige of clothing between her and the treasure she sought.

The soft golden curls glistened with her desire. Xena moved her hand over the triangle of hair, moaning into the bard’s mouth when she felt the intense moisture. A small hand wrapped around her wrist, pulling her away. "Wait…", the bard said as she pulled away from the intoxicating kiss. "I want to see you too."

Xena pulled back and rose to her knees. As she reached up to reach her leather straps, Gabrielle moved into a kneeling position in front of her. "Let me.", she reached forward and lowered first one, then the other strap, taking a moment to enjoy the unhindered view of the strong shoulders before tugging the leather downward. She inhaled deeply as the warrior’s breasts and tight stomach were revealed to her. Without saying a word, Xena rose to a standing position. So slowly that it was almost painful, Gabrielle lowered the garment the rest of the way, her gaze never leaving the dark patch of hair that was level with her eyes. Xena’s legs trembled as she felt the bard’s warm breath so close to her center. She stepped out of the leather and knelt down in front of her awe-filled bard. "In all the times I’ve seen you naked, it’s never affected me like this.", Gabrielle said as she wrapped her arms around the taller woman’s waist, pulling her closer. "I never imagined…I mean, I knew it was possible, but…"

"I know, Gabrielle, I know.", she said softly before returning her mouth to its favorite place to be. Their bodies pressed together, belly against belly, breasts on top of breasts. There was no room for air between them as their kisses communicated their love and exchanged their souls.

Xena felt the slim hands move their way from her back to the sides of her breasts. Their eyes locked as Gabrielle slowly moved them forward to cover the pebbly flesh that contracted and hardened at the contact. The warrior shuddered as she felt the warm mouth replace one hand. Her own hands moved involuntarily to bury themselves in the honey hair, pulling her love even closer. The bard’s mouth and tongue worked a magical spell on the warrior, driving all thoughts from her mind save the sensations the younger woman was causing deep within her.

As much as she wanted to surrender herself to Gabrielle, the urge to bring the bard to that pinnacle of pleasure was greater. Xena pulled back reluctantly from her questing mouth and claiming it with her own. It took only the slightest of effort to press the excited bard onto her back. "Gabrielle….", she sighed as she buried her face in the golden tresses until her lips found an earlobe. "I love you, Gabrielle.", she murmured over and over as the walls around her heart collapsed. When she heard the words returned in kind, Xena swore that the Elyssian Fields couldn’t hold a candle to the eternal joy she felt at the moment.

Gabrielle cried out when she felt the warrior touch her in the most intimate of ways. As much as she tried to keep her eyes open and focused, every movement of Xena’s fingers overwhelmed her senses and forced them closed. What started out as soft moans and sighs quickly turned to cries and gasps of unintelligible words mixed with Xena’s name. Her hips moved of their own volition, matching the pace set by the warrior’s questing fingers. As she felt herself rising beyond any previously known point, Gabrielle reached up and wrapped her arms around Xena’s neck, pulling their bodies together. She held on tight as her body trembled with the impending climax. She dimly heard the warrior’s throaty voice murmuring words of encouragement and love to her as she crossed over to a kaleidoscope of colors and sensations. Her cries echoed throughout the cavern before she collapsed, spent, into the strong tanned arms of her love.

Artemis smiled when she heard Xena call out Gabrielle’s name in a scream of passion. Without looking, she knew that the arrow within her quiver was now made of silver instead of wood. Her body felt lighter as she crossed back into her full godhood. Her father’s voice echoed in her mind. "You did well, my daughter. You learned that interference, whether deliberate or not, has its consequences."

"My third trial was the two of them.", it was a statement, not a question.

"If you had said one word to that girl of the warrior’s feelings, you would have pushed a wedge between them that might never have been mended. She was not ready to hear those words until she had examined her own heart. You may return home when you are ready."

Artemis floated slightly above the ground, relaxing for a while longer to give the lovers more time alone.

Both women were dressed when she finally returned to the alcove. She found Xena sitting up, leaning against the wall with Gabrielle curled up on her lap, her head nestled against the warrior’s neck. Their faces shone with both the afterglow of their lovemaking and their indescribable happiness. "Is anyone hungry?"

"Artemis, you’re a goddess again!", Gabrielle said joyfully as she moved off the warrior’s lap and gave the huntress a hug. "But how did you…?"

"My third quest was in front of me all along.", she smiled at the quizzical look from the bard. "It was you two. I’ve known since the first night we camped that Xena was in love with you."

"You did?", Gabrielle looked over at Xena, who merely shrugged and smiled.

"I did. You don’t know how many times I wanted to say something to you, to tell you exactly what she felt about you and what your feelings for her meant. I’ll admit at first that I didn’t say anything because, frankly, I didn’t think that Xena was the right choice for you. But as time went on and I saw just how much you loved her, I realized that I was wrong. That’s why I left earlier, to give the two of you some time alone."

"It worked.", Xena said as she gazed at the vision that was her Gabrielle.

"You know, Xena, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so positively happy and content.", the comment from the goddess was met with a smile from the warrior and a furious blush from the bard. Artemis chuckled. "Okay, enough teasing. Let’s eat, then I’ll get us out of here.", she said as she raised her silver bow and fired a silver arrow onto the ground. The impact turned the arrow into a tray of breads, vegetables, and meats. The two mortals ate ravenously, both practically choking on their food in an effort to get it down. With the slightest movement of her fingers, Artemis calmed their stomachs, which after not having food for so long were beginning to protest the sudden deluge.

With renewed energy from both the food and the strength of their love, Xena and Gabrielle followed Artemis down the main tunnel until they reached the area where the rocks had fallen and blocked their way. "Stand back", the huntress said as she fired a silver arrow at the barricade. The large rocks disintegrated into sand, opening the way for them to enter the dragon’s lair. Another arrow at the old rock slide opened the lair to the outside world. The lovers covered their eyes at the bright sunshine after being in the dark tunnels for so long.

"Isn’t it just wonderful?", Gabrielle sighed as she stepped out and breathed in the fresh air.

"Yes, it is.", Xena answered softly, but her attention wasn’t on the clear sky or the fresh air. The bard turned and gave her a special smile in understanding. Artemis came up behind them carrying Xena’s scabbard and sword.

"I’m afraid the rocks scuffed up your scabbard pretty good, but your sword appears to be undamaged.", unknown to the warrior, Artemis had touched the hilt of the weapon and given it her blessing. She handed it over to the grateful Xena, who quickly strapped it to her back.

"Thank you, Artemis.", Xena said. Turning to look at her lover, she added, "For everything."

"Yes.", Gabrielle added, her eyes meeting the warrior’s. A moment passed as the women shared unspoken thoughts with each other.

"Is there a place that I can take you ladies to?", Artemis asked. Gabrielle looked thoughtfully at her warrior for a moment before answering.

"Someplace secluded and private would be nice. I think Xena and I need some time alone to sort everything out before we go back to dealing with warlords and towns in need again."

"So be it.", she said as she stepped forward and placed a hand on each woman’s shoulder. "You risked your lives to help me and for that, I will be eternally grateful. Gabrielle, you have a heart that shines brighter than any star. Your wisdom and love will persevere no matter what the circumstances and every life you touch is better off for knowing you.", she turned her attention to the tall warrior. "Xena, you’ve shown me that the blackness that once touched your life is gone, replaced with the good that you kept buried for so long. Know that there is at least one god that loves and looks out for you.", with a final squeeze on their shoulders, she smiled. "I bless the two of you as my chosen. Let no other god or goddess interfere or cause harm to either of you.", her voice carried the words to Mount Olympus, where they were heard by all. She gave them both a gentle smile. "You shall have as much time as you need. When you feel ready, return to the Amazons and we’ll have a celebration to rival summer solstice."

With a flash of light, Xena and Gabrielle found themselves in a secluded glen with a perfectly calm stream running nearby. There was no sign of Artemis, but the warrior quickly found Argo munching away on some sweet grass nearby, all their gear neatly stacked nearby. Gabrielle wandered over to the edge of the stream and stared at the setting sun. Apollo’s chariot was a deep orange on the horizon, casting a warm glow across the land. Strong arms encircled her waist. "Xena?"

"Hmm?", she was quickly losing herself to the warmth of the bard’s body against hers.

"Do you have any regrets?", her voice carried the trepidation she felt. Xena’s grip on her midriff loosened as the warrior turned her around to face her.

"Gabrielle, the only regret I have is that I was too scared to tell you of my feelings sooner.", she brushed a stray lock of golden hair off the bard’s forehead. "But do I regret making love to you? Never.", she pulled Gabrielle closer and lowered her voice. "If I could, I would make love to you again and again until the sands of time run out.", she sealed her statement with a kiss full of promise and love. "I love you, Gabrielle. What we have will never diminish or weaken. It can only grow stronger."

"And you call me the bard.", she said as a tear fell from her green eyes. "I love you too, Xena. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"And you shall, my love. And you shall."

They spent the next several days were spent enjoying their love for each other, learning each other’s bodies and adjusting to the new depths of their relationship. Sometimes they just sat together by the fire, simply enjoying the feeling of holding each other close. They realized that this indeed was the once in a lifetime love for them. There would be nothing and no one who could ever come between them again. Gone was the fear on both sides that the other would one day leave, replaced with a contentment that only comes from finding the other half of one’s soul.

Finally, it came time for them to move on and head for the Amazon village. Argo had been enjoying the rest and had fatten up a bit, as did both women, who were now back to the weight their bodies were used to. They took the journey slowly, neither feeling like ending their private time too soon. They walked or rode together most of the time before finally admitting to each other that they each preferred their normal mode of transport. They arrived at the Amazon village, Xena riding on Argo with the young bard walking alongside her.

Artemis had communicated what happened through her priestess, Julia. The Amazon nation had been waiting for the couple to arrive so they could start the celebration. Julia retired to the temple to pray to the moon goddess while the others were starting to set up for the festivities. Barrels designed with steel sides to contain fires were placed throughout the village and filled with lumber soaked with flammable oils. Multitudes of drums and other percussion instruments were laid out in a semi circle in the middle of the village. Trays of food and skins of drink were freely passed around as the sounds of laughter and merriment increased. Several Amazons began a traditional fast paced dance and quickly dragged their young queen in. Xena stood back and watched as her lover danced and laughed, thoroughly enjoying herself. At one point, Gabrielle turned and locked eyes with her and smiled a special smile that would forever be reserved for the warrior. Once again, Xena felt her heart melt with the tenderness and thoughtfulness that was her Gabrielle.

By the time the moon was high in the sky, the festivities were in full swing. Although occasionally separated, both were well aware of where the other woman was. There was no jealousy or fear, just a comfort that came from the knowledge that they would always be together. Unseen to any of the women, Artemis passed through the crowds of women, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the party. Her gaze came to rest upon her companions throughout her trials. They were standing together, Xena leaning against a pole for support while Gabrielle leaned against her, the long night of drinking and dancing wearing her out. Both women wore a look of such utter happiness and joy that Artemis couldn’t help but smile.

"You think we can turn in now?", Xena asked as she felt the bard’s head bob again. "You’re falling asleep on me. You don’t want me to carry you to our hut, do you?"

"Hmm,", her green eyes locked with her lover’s blue ones. The fires burning brightly illuminated their faces in an orange glow that only made them look more beautiful to each other. "I guess it’s late enough.", her eyes twinkled with an unspoken thought of what the privacy of their hut could bring. Xena caught the look and felt a tug in her abdomen.

As Gabrielle lay sleeping in her arms, Xena turned her head and looked at the setting moon in the early morning grayness. "Thank you, Artemis."

From high on Mount Olympus, a pair of soft brown eyes smiled down at the couple. "No Xena, thank you."

THE END

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