A Life Worth Living Part 15

Disclaimer: Xena and Gabrielle belong to Rob Tapert blah, blah, blah… You know what I mean.

This story is based on the loving relationship between Xena and her lifebond, Gabrielle. If this offends you and so on, don’t read on. Little bit of mild bad language here too.

Dedication: For Jan, who is a great encouragement to me to keep writing these stories and for Katie Dambrowski… I want to see that story, Honey, so get writing!

"Look Xena, I know you’re not happy about me doing this but we can’t let Aurestus go on hurting people."

Xena looked up at her lifebond and sighed heavily.

"It’s so damn frustrating being stuck on this stupid bedroll," she said irritably.

"You weren't saying that last night," Gabrielle replied with a lazy grin and Xena couldn’t help but smile.

"I’m alone now," she pointed out.

"Hmmm… good point, but I’ll be back soon. I’m not going in there with sais flying. I just want to see what’s going on."

Xena reached out to her as she turned to walk away.

"Gabrielle…"

"Hmmm?"

"Nothing, never mind."

The bard shrugged and turned again.

"Gabrielle?"

"Yeah?"

"Promise me you won’t kill him."

The bard’s face dropped and she shook her head.

"I can’t make that promise, Xena," she replied in a low voice.

"Gabrielle, you told me once that the only way to stop the circle of violence was through love and forgiveness."

"I’m not that naïve little bard anymore, Xena. I’m a warrior and I’m going to do whatever it takes to stop Aurestus."

"I fell in love with that bard," Xena replied, her face serious. "Who are you?"

Gabrielle paused uncertainly but then she hardened herself.

"I’m the one who’s going to stop this bastard once and for all."

Xena lay back and blew out a long breath as the pain from her ribs asserted itself. She was lost. She didn’t know what to do. She was worried that Gabrielle was turning into what Xena feared most… herself.

A rustle of leaves near her ear made Gabrielle jump and draw her sais as she crouched at the edge of Aurestus’ camp. She shook her head and released a breath.

"Stupid bush," she muttered and then fixed her eyes on the soldiers doing drills in the centre of the war camp. A tall, ruggedly handsome man emerged from a large tent and walked to his men, barking orders.

"Aurestus," the bard growled and her anger rose inside her. In her mind, she saw images of him beating Xena and gripped her weapons tightly in her hands. "Let’s see what you’re up to," she whispered and then crept silently into the camp.

"Seridicies!"

"Yes, Sir?"

"Have you found them yet?"

"Uh… no, Sir. Not yet."

Aurestus backhanded him across the face.

"Stupid, incompetent…" he muttered as he walked away. "FIND THEM! I WANT MY AMBROSIA"

Seridicies shook his head and rotated his jaw carefully. He knew he was close to his last breath.

"I’m going to get you, Xena," he whispered and strode off to prepare a search party.

Gabrielle ducked into Aurestus command tent and leaned in close to the map spread out on the table. She examined it carefully and noticed a town circled in dark ink. She squinted in the faint light but then her eyes widened in horror. She glanced at the door flap nervously and then looked back at the map, double-checking the name of the town.

"I don’t believe it," she whispered and then ducked behind the table as bootsteps approached. She dove onto the ground and wriggled out from under the tent on her stomach as Aurestus entered. She crouched low outside and listened carefully, heard another man enter the tent and moved slightly so she could hear better.

"Seridicies, I’ve made my decision. If Xena can’t be found, we’ll have to draw her out." He walked to the table and slammed his finger down on the map. "There," he indicated.

"Why there?" his lieutenant asked.

"Because everything she owns is there. Seridicies, we’re going to take Xena’s hometown. Get the men ready to move out. We’re heading to Amphipolis tomorrow morning at first light."

"Yes, Sir!"

Gabrielle thought for a split second that she was going to throw up. She thought back to the year of work they had put into the town and now it was being threatened again. She got a hold on her stomach and ran back into the trees. She had to tell Xena.

Xena swam lazily on her back and sighed as the cool water calmed her. Gabrielle had been gone hours and she was worried. Her experience with Aurestus had been less than pleasant, as her body was still reminding her, and the last thing she wanted was to have to tend to Gabrielle’s injuries the way the bard had tended to hers. If anything happened to Gabrielle, she didn’t know what she would do. Purely and simply, her life would end. She closed her eyes and imagined her lover’s face until a voice she knew as well as her own called out to her.

"XENA!"

The warrior jumped out of the lake and wrapped a blanket around herself as Gabrielle leapt over a log and crashed into the clearing. She skidded to a halt in front of her lifebond and bent over, leaning her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.

"Xena… Aurestus… army… marching… on…" she panted but the Warrior Princess shook her head, placing her hands on the bard’s shoulders.

"Gabrielle, calm down. Take deep breaths."

Gabrielle worked on controlling her breathing and then looked up at Xena, her eyes frightened.

"Xena, Aurestus is marching on Amphipolis."

She saw a thousand emotions cross the warrior’s face and then Xena strode back to her bedroll. She didn’t say a word. Instead she pulled her shift and leathers on and sat her weapons on her long, muscular body.

"Xena, what are you doing?" Gabrielle asked, her hands perched on her hips.

"I’m going after him," the warrior growled in reply.

"No you’re not. Xena, you’re still in no condition to fight. Look at you, you’re as stiff as a board."

Xena begrudgingly acknowledged her weakened state but she could see no way out of the situation.

"I have no choice," she replied.

Gabrielle stepped closer to her.

"You do have a choice. I’ll go back to Amphipolis. You go and get Gabby and follow me. I’ll rally the militia and prepare a defence. It’ll take Aurestus’ army at least a week and a half to get there. I’ll be there in five days if I push hard."

"But…"

"No buts. Do as you’re told!"

Xena grinned despite her worry and nodded.

"Alright. You go and I’ll catch up as soon as I can. Gabrielle, be careful."

"I’m always careful," she replied and bent to pack her bag. She rolled her bedroll and slung it over her shoulder, kissed her soulmate deeply and then set out on the road.

Four hours later, Xena was heading toward Amphipolis. She had picked Gabby up and was walking as fast as her bruised body would allow. She growled in frustration, settled her daughter comfortably on her back and broke into a jog, feeling slightly comforted as her sword knocked gently against her left thigh. At first, her body rebelled but she soon had her second wind and settled into long, loping strides.

"Owww! Gabby! Stop pulling my hair!"

The baby giggled and pulled harder. Xena looked back over her shoulder and glared at her daughter.

"Gabrielle!" she warned and the little girl knew she was in trouble. She smiled cutely and Xena couldn’t help but grin. "Just like your mom," she said and shook her head before increasing her pace.

Gabrielle took a long drink from her waterskin, got up wearily and started walking again. She was exhausted and the wound in her back was hurting but she pushed on, her fear and worry driving her. It was imperative that she reach Amphipolis as soon as possible. She had so much to do before the town would be ready to face an attack by Aurestus’ army. Her gut instinct was to fight back with everything they had but her gnawing fear was that they wouldn’t be ready. She pushed the fear down and kept going. She walked all night and into the next day before she stopped for something to eat and to catch a few hours’s sleep. Her dreams were troubled and she eventually gave up trying to get some rest and set out on the road again.

"I’m sorry, Honey. I know you’re tired," Xena explained to her cranky daughter "but we can’t stop yet. Grandma needs us." The warrior herself was exhausted and her knees were on the verge of giving out but she pushed herself on, running herself practically into the ground before she eventually stopped in a tiny clearing to get some sleep. She smiled as she saw the remains of a campfire there and nodded knowingly. Gabrielle had stopped there… she knew it and it was oddly comforting. She felt the embers of the fire. They were cool but not completely cold and Xena knew that her lifebond was probably only half a day ahead of her. She laid out her bedroll and tucked up with her daughter to get some sleep.

"Thank you," Gabrielle whispered as she rounded the last bend in the road and saw Amphipolis in front of her. She broke into a run and entered the town almost exactly five days after she had left Xena. She had walked for most of them and she was so tired that her muscles throbbed in a constant ache. She made the final home dash and burst into the Inn to find it packed.

"Cyrene?" she yelled but the noise in the room was overwhelming. Gabrielle ran into the kitchen and found her mother-in-law stirring a large pot of stew. The older woman looked up and a bright smile lit her face.

"Gabrielle! I didn’t expect you three back for a couple of weeks yet!" she said. The bard approached Cyrene and frowned.

"We’re in trouble," she said. "Cyrene, there’s an army headed this way. We have to get the militia together and set up some defences."

"Where’s Xena?" Cyrene asked immediately, her face serious.

"She’ll be here soon… it’s a long story."

"Are you ok?" the older woman asked and led the shaking bard to sit down at the kitchen table.

"I’m ok, just tired," Gabrielle replied.

"What’s this?"

"What’s what?"

"This bandage on your back. What happened?"

"Oh, an arrow… um… don’t worry about it. Look, we need to get moving."

Cyrene nodded and sat down beside her daughter-in-law.

"How long before they get here?" she asked.

"I… I’m not sure… um… five days, maybe six," Gabrielle replied.

"Well in that case, you have time to have something to eat and get some sleep."

"Cyrene…" the bard began but the older woman shook her head.

"Don’t argue with me, Daughter. I’ll speak to the militia commander and tell him to come see you. Meanwhile, you stay there and eat something."

She poked the bard gently in the ribs and Gabrielle smiled gratefully.

"Alright, but I want to speak to the commander before I sleep."

Cyrene nodded her assent and ladled a large plate of stew out, placing it on the table in front of Gabrielle and handing her a spoon.

"Eat!" she commanded and then went to speak to the commander.

Gabrielle paused to inhale the aroma deeply and then attacked her meal with an exuberance born of her growling stomach.

"Who is this warlord?"

The Commander of the Amphipolis Militia paced back and forward in front of Gabrielle.

"His name is Aurestus," the bard replied.

"I remember that one," Doran went on. "Xena used to ride with him."

"Yeah, she did. Now she wants to stop him."

Doran stopped pacing and looked away.

"So once again, Xena has put Amphipolis in danger. She’s brought another warlord down on us."

"What?" Gabrielle couldn’t believe what she had just heard. "You’re blaming Xena for this?"

The tall man slowly turned to face her.

"Who else is to blame? Gabrielle, Amphipolis has been attacked before and it was because of Xena. Now we’re facing a second attack? Tell me you don’t see a pattern here."

Gabrielle ran a hand through her hair and shook her head angrily.

"You’re not being fair. Xena and I have spent over a year rebuilding this town. We’ve made our home here. Are you telling me at this stage that you don’t want us here?"

"No… it’s not… I’m not saying that, Gabrielle. I just want this all to end."

The bard looked down.

"I know you do," she replied softly. "We all do… no one more than Xena. She blames herself for all this. Please don’t make it worse by blaming her too."

Gabrielle’s heartfelt plea melted the commander’s heart.

"Alright, Gabrielle. Now where do you want to start?"

Xena pushed open the door of the Amphipolis Inn and leaned against the doorframe. She barely had the strength to move and her daughter felt like a ton of rocks on her back but she willed power into her legs and pushed herself forward.

"Mom," she said as she approached and nearly fell into the older woman’s arms.

"Xena! Gods! Sit down, Little One."

She helped the warrior lower herself into a chair, noticing the bruising and healing cuts on her body.

"Where’s Gabrielle?" Xena asked.

"She’s been gone all morning. She’s going through a plan with Doran and arranging for the defences to be set up."

"Good. Mom, take Gabby would ya… before I keel over…"

The older woman chuckled, lifted her daughter out of the pouch on Xena’s back and hugged her tightly. Xena’s vision blurred and she collapsed, passing out and hitting the floor with a loud thump.

"By the gods! I thought she was joking! Marus, get Gabrielle!"

Gabrielle smiled at a worried Cyrene as she stroked her partner’s hair.

"It’s ok. She’s just exhausted. She gonna be fine."

"I’ve never seen Xena collapse like that before. She’s always been so strong," the older woman replied.

"She is strong," Gabrielle replied. "But even Xena isn’t indestructible. She took a bad beating and she hasn’t recovered yet."

Cyrene nodded slowly and sat on the bed beside her daughter. She took her hand and squeezed it gently.

"She’ll be fine," she said.

Just then, a pair of tired blue eyes opened and Xena looked sheepishly at her family.

"I fainted, didn’t I?"

Gabrielle shook her head reassuringly.

"Nah, warrior’s don’t faint," she replied and Xena grinned.

"Thanks."

"No problem, Honey."

Three hours later, Xena, Gabrielle and Doran were going over the plan to defeat Aurestus’ army. The bard noticed that Doran was brusque with her partner but she couldn’t really blame him. Xena was being just as gruff. Gabrielle got the feeling that there was no love lost between them… or maybe… she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Xena leaned on the table and pointed at the map.

"There," she stated. "If we can get them in between these two ridges, we might be able to stop them there."

Doran shook his head and glared at her.

"And just how do you expect to stop an entire army? A rockslide?"

Xena stood to her full six feet and squared up to him. Her voice was low and measured when she spoke and her face was tense.

"No, a rockslide would block off the trade route we have to the Amazons. It would take us weeks, maybe months to clear it. We can’t afford that."

"So what do you suggest?" Gabrielle asked softly, stepping in between them and trying to lighten the mood by smiling but Xena wasn’t biting.

"What do you suggest?" she countered, fixing her eyes on her partner.

"Archers," Gabrielle replied. "Line the ridge with archers. They can slow the army down long enough for the infantry to come out to engage them."

Xena’s lips twitched and she nodded her approval.

"That’s what I was thinking but we should have catapults along with the archers and all the projectiles should be on fire. The more men we stop in the pass, the fewer we have to fight when they come through." She looked at Doran. "What do you say?"

"Alright, Xena. I’ll arrange drills for the men and women of the militia."

"Good," the warrior replied tersely and then strode out of the room followed by her partner.

"Xena?"

"What is it, Gabrielle?"

The bard jogged to catch up.

"Xena, will you wait up! What’s wrong with you?"

The warrior stopped abruptly and she turned to look at her partner.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," she said.

"You’ve been in a bad mood since you got here. What’s going on?"

Xena’s face softened and her shoulders sagged.

"C’mere," she said softly and Gabrielle stepped into her for a hug. "I’m just tired and cranky. I’m sorry."

"You don’t like Doran much, do you?"

"Yeah, well, Doran and I go back a long way. He was there when Lyceus and I fought Cortese. Let’s just say we had a slight… disagreement. I dumped him on his butt and he’s never forgiven me."

"Why?"

"Because I did it in front of his father. He felt that I had shamed him."

"Did you?"

Xena sighed and scratched idly at an itch under her bodice.

"He shamed himself. He got drunk and tried to get under my armour during a mission briefing. I slugged him."

The bard chuckled.

"You didn’t like him?"

Xena closed her eyes and thought back to that time.

"No, I did like him. Let’s just say that I was a little more… innocent… back then."

"You’re kidding!"

"Nope. Gabrielle, I was only sixteen," the warrior said indignantly.

Gabrielle shook her head and laughed.

"I’m sorry, Honey. I just can’t imagine you as an innocent"

"Yeah, well, I met Petraclies soon after and that all changed."

"So Petraclies was your first?"

"Uh… let’s change the subject, shall we?"

She released her partner and walked on.

"So what happens if the army actually gets here?" Gabrielle asked.

"They won’t but I’ve thought about that. That’s why I want you to stay here." She waited for the objection but it didn’t come. "I said I want you to stay here," she repeated.

"I heard you," Gabrielle replied. "And?"

"And… " Xena came up with a plan quickly. She hadn’t expected Gabrielle to agree at all. "I’m going to leave some of the militia here with you. If the army gets here, I’ll be right behind them. It’ll be up to you to hold them back."

"I understand. Xena, I want Gabby out of here."

The warrior nodded.

"We could ask Mom to take her to the next village until this is all over. I’m not crazy about the idea of Mom being here either."

"Xena, we should move all the women and children out, just in case. That way, if the army gets here, there won’t be a high death toll."

The warrior was surprised at the unattached way Gabrielle was speaking about their friends but she realised that the bard needed to stay focussed.

"Good idea. Will you take care of that while I go talk to the militia?"

"Sure. I’m there."

Gabrielle jogged away and Xena walked toward the militia’s training area. She stood watching them with her arms folded across her breastplate but she suddenly stepped forward and spoke to a young man.

"Your aim is off a little," she said softly. "Here, try it this way. It might be easier for you."

She showed him a different grip for his bow and he tried it. He released the arrow and it flew to the target, hitting it dead centre.

"Good shot," the warrior praised with a smile and the man nodded shyly.

"Thanks, Xena."

Suddenly, the warrior was surrounded by eager men and women who questioned her nineteen to the dozen about the upcoming battle. Xena held up her hand.

"Hold it!" she yelled and silence fell over the group. She looked around, locking eyes with each soldier. "Alright," she drawled. "I’m here to tell you what’s going on."

Cyrene frowned at her daughter-in-law and perched her hands on her slender hips.

"Gabrielle, I’m not leaving… not again."

Uh oh "Cyrene, Xena and I aren’t happy about you and Gabby being here during the battle. We’re evacuating the women and children from the town and I’d like you to take Gabby and go with them."

"No way. Gabrielle, I’m not running anymore."

The bard shook her head emphatically.

"It’s not running. It’s being smart. If that army reaches here, Xena and I are going to have to fight. We won’t be able to do that if we have to worry about you and our daughter getting hurt."

The older woman turned and leaned on the kitchen table.

"That’s not fair," she said quietly.

"I know. I’m sorry but it’s true. Xena used to get hurt more often than she should because she used to be looking out for me. She doesn’t need to do that anymore but if our focus is off, there’s a bigger risk of one of us making a mistake."

There was silence between them for a moment and then Cyrene nodded.

"Alright, Gabrielle. I’ll take Gabby away from here."

Gabrielle placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently.

"Thank you. If something happens to Xena and I, at least we’ll know that our daughter is in good hands."

She hugged her mother-in-law tightly.

"If something happens to me, do something for me?"

"Gabrielle…"

"No, this is important."

Cyrene nodded.

"Give this to Gabby on her eighteenth birthday." The bard held out her hand and opened it slowly. "It’s my Amazon necklace. There’s a stone here for every sister in my tribe. I’ve added one for her. I’m going to give her my Right of Caste."

"Eponin and Solari will be back tomorrow," Cyrene said. "You can do it then but I promise you, Gabrielle, I will give this to Gabby or else I’ll give it to someone who can."

"Thank you, Cyrene."

Xena stood on the edge of the north ridge and looked down into the valley. The breeze was cool and lifted her long, dark hair gently. She drew her sword and waved it in the air, signalling to Doran on the south ridge. She saw him wave back and then duck back behind a large rock. Xena nodded, satisfied that everything was ready and sat down to await the first glimpse of Aurestus' army. The militia archers shifted nervously, their bows gripped tightly and she almost told them to relax but she knew that the adrenaline that was pumping through their bodies would keep them alert. The Warrior Princess crawled forward on her stomach and looked up along the valley. It was then that she saw the cloud of dust rising that signalled the approach of the warlord’s cavalry.

"Alright," she said. "They’re coming. Light the torches."

The torches were lit with shaking hands and she looked up at the sky.

Please let me make it through this. I can’t leave Gabrielle and Gabby alone.

The Warrior Bard of Potedaea stood at the edge of the village, the bright sun beating down on her. She wiped a trickle of sweat away from her face and turned into the breeze, allowing it to cool her down. It was at that moment that she saw the flaming arrows shoot into the air between the north and south ridges.

"And so it begins," she whispered. "Xena, be careful."

She ran back to her small army and gave her orders.

"Move out past the edge of town and wait. We’ll engage the enemy as soon as we see them come out of the pass."

Xena growled as she ducked another arrow. Aurestus' archers were good. She had to admit that. She leapt off a rock and somersaulted through the air, barely avoiding an arrow from one of her own men. She landed with a bounce and then ran to join the rest of the militia, fighting in the pass. She unhooked her chakram and hurled it with all her strength. It bounced of six enemy heads, knocking them out cold before flying back to her outstretched hand.

"Fall back!" she yelled. "Let them come to us!"

The militia broke off their attack and backed up, waiting for Aurestus' army to follow. They stood in a line, blocking the pass with Xena standing in front of them. Aurestus' army was down to three quarter strength, thanks to their flaming arrows and other projectiles, but the militia was still outnumbered at least six to one. Xena looked around and spotted a handful of soldiers trying to sneak up on them.

"Stupid," she muttered and circled around them. She came up behind them. "Where do you think you’re going?" she growled.

The spun simultaneously and immediately attacked but she made short work of them and ran back to her small army. Aurestus' men were almost upon them but they stood their ground and as the men attacked, they fought hard. Xena trilled her war cry and charged into the fray, punching, kicking and slashing as if she was possessed. The darkness rose inside of her as she fought and she laughed with glee as she beheaded a young soldier with a single blow. She turned to gauge their position and gasped as she saw a quarter of the warlord’s men slip out of the pass and head toward Amphipolis.

"Doran!" she yelled and the Commander turned to look at her. "Get everyone back. They’ve got past us. We’re going to have to take a stand with Gabrielle in Amphipolis."

Doran nodded and pulled his soldiers back, closely followed by Xena but as she ran, an injured soldier threw a dagger at her and caught her right in the thigh. The dagger buried itself up to it’s hilt in the warrior’s leg and she lost her balance, crashing to the ground on her side and skidding a couple of feet.

"Son of a Bacchae!" she cried and grasped the dagger. She gritted her teeth, pulled the knife out of her leg and ripped the bottom of her shift to make a temporary bandage. Then she climbed painfully to her feet and grabbed the reins of a riderless horse nearby. She swung up into the saddle and urged her mount into a gallop, making it back to Amphipolis before Aurestus men could attack.

"Gabrielle! They’re coming!" she yelled when she saw her partner wave at her. The bard turned to her men.

"This is it! We’re going to have to protect our homes!" she cried but she turned as she saw the shocked look on their faces. They had caught their first glimpse of Aurestus’ army and it was bigger than they had hoped.

"Oh gods," Gabrielle whispered and swallowed deeply against the fear that rose inside her. She had thirty men and women but the enemy had to be two hundred strong. She reached over her shoulder and drew her sword.

"FOR AMPHIPOLIS! ATTACK!"

The End