A Life Worth Living Part 16

Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to Renaissance/Universal Pictures. I've just borrowed them and no copyright infringement was intended. This series is based on the relationship between Xena and her lifebond, Gabrielle and while there are no graphic scenes in it, if this may offend you please find something else to read.

Dedication: For my mother, Patricia. She is my strength. She supports me totally and loves me unconditionally. Sometimes I wonder why! Lol! Love you, Mam.

The lieutenant nodded slowly and wiped his bloody face.

"Yes, Sir. They can't stand against us for much longer."

Aurestus mounted his horse and looked down.

"Seridicies, you've done well. I might just let you share the Ambrosia with me, my Brother."

He turned his horse toward the battle and heard a trilling war cry as Xena attacked. His men had strict orders not to kill her. If she died, he would never get his map back.

Gabrielle grunted as a soldier punched her squarely in the jaw and she fell back onto the ground. He raised his sword to plunge it into her chest but she rolled at the last second and took his legs from under him before punching him out. She bounded to her feet and looked around. The militia were fighting well and Gabrielle was very glad that she and Xena had taken the time to train them during their busy year in Amphipolis. She spun as she heard a noise behind her but her sword was kicked out of her hand. She ducked the enemy sword swipe and flipped into the air and over the soldier's head. She landed steadily and then jumped, spinning in mid air and taking him down with a spinning heel kick to the jaw. She pulled her sais out of her boots and met the next attack.

Xena's leg was aching. Her makeshift bandage was almost soaked through and the blood was starting to run down her thigh. She could no longer stand on it and as her sword moved in a blur around her body, she tried to concentrate on staying on her good foot. She ducked and rolled under a sword and thrust her blade under her right armpit, plunging it into an enemy's stomach. She didn't wait to check if he was dead but just moved on to her next opponent and the next and the next, grinning in glee as the darkness inside her fed from her bloodlust. She caught a glimpse of Gabrielle locked in combat with a man a head taller than her and twice her weight, but he suddenly dropped, rolling and clutching his injured groin. Gabrielle's face was bleeding and the blood from her gashed arm was dripping off her elbow. She was starting to get dizzy but she took a moment to wrap a piece of cloth around the wound to slow the flow of blood. Then she threw herself back into the battle with new determination.

Xena finished off her last opponent and whirled, looking for Aurestus. She was faced instead by Seridicies. She spun her sword slowly in her hand and smiled coldly.

"I told you that the next time I saw you near my family, you would die," she growled.

"Xena, just give Aurestus the map and this will end," he replied.

"Never!" the Warrior Princess yelled and launched her attack. Seridicies knew he couldn't survive and as her sword severed his windpipe, he said a silent farewell to his brother. He had peace at last. Xena grinned as she pulled her sword from Seridicies body and turned to look for Aurestus again but her eyes grew wide as she saw her partner coming up behind him.

"Gabrielle..." she whispered and took off after her, pushing back the pain from her wounded leg. By the time she reached her lifebond, she was standing over his prostrate form with her sai raised above her head.

"Gabrielle! No!" Xena yelled but the bard didn't take her eyes away from the warlord.

"You bastard," she said in an emotion-choked voice. "It's time for you to pay for what you did to Xena and my friends. I ought to tie you to a tree, beat you and leave you to die."

"Please..." Aurestus whispered, clutching at the stump where his hand had once been.

"Please what?" the bard growled.

"Don't kill me... please. I'm sorry."

Gabrielle laughed coldly.

"Oh, you're sorry? That makes everything ok!"

Her lip curled in disdain and she tensed her muscles to plunge her weapon into his chest but she paused as she saw Xena's face in her mind.

'I fell in love with that bard. Who are you?'

She shook her head and raised her sai again but Xena reached out to her.

"Gabrielle," she said softly. "Don't do this."

"But he beat you almost to death," she replied and a single tear ran down her face, mixing with the blood already beginning to obscure her vision.

"Yes, he did but I don't want you to do this. I've forgiven him."

"Forgiveness? FORGIVENESS? It's a crock, Xena! He has to pay for what he did!"

Xena nodded slowly and stroked her lifebond's face.

"Yes, he does and he will. He'll be tried and sentenced in a court of law. It's not our decision to make, Gabrielle. You know that."

She watched as the bard's face told of the war between the desire for vengeance and innate goodness that was going on inside of her. The goodness finally won out and she lowered her weapon.

"Alright," she whispered and then walked away. Xena crouched and pulled Aurestus forward by the front of his armour.

"You're the luckiest man in the world," she said in a low voice. "If you had beaten Gabrielle the way you beat me, I would have killed you." She pulled back her fist and punched him out cold. "With no second thoughts."

She stood up slowly as the pain and exhaustion of the previous weeks finally caught up with her fully. Gabrielle was standing nearby and Xena limped slowly to her, throwing her arm around her shoulders.

"Let's go home," she said and Gabrielle hugged her tightly.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Gabrielle" came the weary reply.

Two very battered warriors limped back to Amphipolis to begin the post battle clean up... starting with twelve hour's uninterrupted sleep.

Xena woke slowly as the sun shone through the window of her home. She could tell that it was late in the day, probably mid afternoon but the breeze wafted across the room, cooling the temperature to a comfortable level. She looked down at her partner who was snuggled up against her, her head nestled at the base of her throat, and smiled tenderly. Once again, they had survived and beaten overwhelming odds. Xena moved slightly to get more comfortable and slowly moved her injured thigh out from under her soulmate's. She released a long breath and then closed her eyes again letting the peaceful sound of birds singing wash over her senses. Gabrielle stirred slightly and Xena tightened her grip on her, gently stroking the soft skin of her back to bring her to wakefulness. Sleepy, emerald green eyes gazed up at her and her heart swelled with love.

"'Morning," she said softly, her voice husky from all the yelling she had done in the battle the previous day. "Or should I say good afternoon."

"Gods, is it that late?" Gabrielle asked as she pushed her hair away from her eyes.

"Yeah, but I don't think there are many people up. Everyone's exhausted."

"But there's so much to do!"

She tried to sit up but Xena pulled her back.

"You're not going anywhere," she said. "You need the rest."

"So do you," the bard replied and Xena nodded.

"Yeah, I don't think I've ever felt this bad after a fight. I think I'm getting too old for this."

"Nah, it's just been a rough few weeks, that's all. Your body has taken a lot of punishment..." She trailed off as she thought back to the previous day. "Xena, why did you stop me from killing Aurestus?"

"I was trying to stop you from doing something I knew you'd regret. Gabrielle, I remember what you felt after you killed Meridian in Britannia... and after your father died. I couldn't risk that pain being awakened. I love you too much to see you go through that again."

"It's so difficult, Xena... to balance my knowledge as a warrior with my desire for peace. Sometimes, I don't know who I am anymore. I realised that when you asked me who I was when I first decided to go after Aurestus." She looked away. "I guess the truth hurt."

"I know and I'm sorry but I needed you to see what was happening to you. I'll always love you, Gabrielle, but I don't want to see you turn into what I was. You saved my soul and I owe you more than I can ever repay."

Gabrielle leaned up to kiss her lifebond gently on the lips.

"No," she whispered. "Being with you... knowing you love me... is thanks enough."

"Welcome back, Cyrene."

Gabrielle opened her arms to her daughter and Gabby leaned over toward her.

"Mama!"

Gabrielle held her tightly, cradling her head with her hand.

"I missed you, Sweetie," she whispered. "Xe missed you too."

"Xe?" Gabby asked, looking around. Her eyes widened and she giggled and pointed as the warrior entered their house. "Xe!"

"Hello, Honey." She took her daughter into her arms and hugged her. "It's so good to see you."

The warrior dropped ungracefully into a chair and sat Gabby on her lap, careful not to put pressure on her injured thigh. As she played with her child, Cyrene took Gabrielle aside to speak to her.

"This belongs to you," she said softly and curled something into the bard's hand. Gabrielle opened her hand slowly and smiled.

"Thanks, Cyrene. You have no idea what a weight you took off my shoulders during the fight." She tucked her Amazon necklace into her bodice. "It meant a lot to me to know that, if I had died, Gabby would have had something to remember me by." Gabrielle hugged her mother-in-law tightly.

"Gabrielle, how many people did we lose?" the older woman asked.

The bard looked down and shook her head.

"Sixteen," she replied, "Including Doran. Xena's already arranged the funeral fires. They'll take place tonight. Cyrene, she's so upset. She's blaming herself for all this." Gabrielle took a deep breath. "We talked last night and came to a decision. It's too dangerous for Amphipolis for us to be here. We're leaving, going back on the road."

"But Gabrielle, this is your home!" Cyrene exclaimed in shock.

"Yes, it is and because of that, we want to protect it. Cyrene, the life that Xena and I have been living for the past seven years hasn't been easy. We've made a lot of enemies and there's always the danger that one of them will try to attack here. It's better if we go elsewhere and draw them away."

"Gabrielle's right," said Xena, coming up behind them. "Mom, it's for the best."

"But your home... you worked so hard on it," Cyrene said, wiping the tears from her face.

"We'll be back some day," Gabrielle said softly "But right now, we can make a difference out there. Xena and I will always be here if you need us. Just send for us and we'll come straight away."

"Yeah," Xena agreed.

"When are you leaving?" Cyrene asked.

Xena looked down.

"Tomorrow. We're leaving everything here."

Gabrielle placed a gentle hand on her lifebond's forearm and stroked lightly.

"It's for the best," she whispered and then watched as the Warrior Princess limped away, taking her daughter with her.

"She's hurting," Cyrene whispered.

"We both are," Gabrielle replied and left her home. For the first time in a long time, she needed to be alone.

Xena sat down on a fallen tree and hugged her daughter tightly.

"I'm so sorry, Gabby," she whispered. "This is not the life I wanted for you. I wanted you to be safe and to have a home and friends. But as usual, things haven't turned out the way I wanted them to. You know, when I was a kid, your grandma loved me as much as I love you, but she was tied up with the tavern and everything and because of that, I was pretty wild. I used to hang out with the young bucks in town and get up to all kinds of trouble... but I wanted your childhood to be different."

She released the little girl and smiled tenderly at her. "I promise you, my sweet little girl, I promise I'm going to do everything in my power to keep you safe. I love you so much, Gabby."

Gabby turned bright green eyes, so much like her mother's, to the stoic warrior.

"Wuv Xe," she said and Xena broke down. She cried for a long time as everything she was holding inside surfaced in a rush of emotion... the loss of her friends, the fear of losing her family and the loss of her home for the sake of her hometown.

"I wish I'd never followed the sword in the first place. I'd be able to give you a better life, Gabby," she whispered but she suddenly tensed and looked around, her senses on full alert.

"I can help you with that," said a deep masculine voice and Xena was on her feet in an instant, shielding her daughter with her own body.

"Ares," she growled. "So much for the God of War keeping his word. You promised to stay off my back."

Suddenly, Aphrodite materialised beside the tall god.

"Back off, Bro!" she cried, waving her hand in disdain.

"Stay out of this, Aphrodite," he growled but the Goddess of Love took a step closer to him.

"I'm not letting you do this to my friends," she stated but Xena held up her hand.

"Hold it! Will you two please stop talking about me as if I'm not here! Ares, what's this all about?"

Ares leaned against a tree and smiled.

"Well, Xena, as you know, your daughter is a demi-god. The gods can give her the life she deserves. Let me take her to Olympus and raise her. I can mould her powers and shape her into someone her mothers can be proud of."

Xena shook her head in disbelief.

"I've heard enough," she said and turned to walk away but Ares grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"What kind of a life can you give her, Xena? Danger? Hardship on the road? Think of Gabby."

Aphrodite reached out a hand.

"Xena, don't listen to him. Gabby is destined for greatness but only if she's raised by you!"

Xena laughed coldly.

"Don't worry, 'Dite, I have no intension of giving my daughter to this second rate god."

Ares slapped his hand against his chest, a wounded look on his face.

"Excuse me? Second rate? No one calls the God of War second rate!"

Xena stepped up close to him.

"Oh I'm sorry," she said sweetly. "I didn't mean second rate." Ares nodded and grinned. "I meant third rate!"

She turned and stormed away leaved a very pissed off God of War and a very pleased Goddess of Love glaring at each other.

"You have got to be kidding me!"

Xena flopped into a chair and settled her daughter in the crook of her arm.

"No, that's what he said, Gabrielle," she replied with a frown.

"I think Ares has finally lost his mind," Gabrielle cried, throwing her hands dramatically into the air. "What made him think we'd even consider giving Gabby to him?"

"I don't know but it's something to do with her being a demigod. Aphrodite said that she was destined for greatness but I have no idea what she meant. Actually, I didn't stick around long enough to find out."

Gabrielle sat down on the arm of Xena's chair and stroked her dark hair back from her face.

"I wouldn't blame you," she replied. "I would've left too. I think keeping away from him is the best idea."

"I know, but I have to admit that my curiosity is killing me," the warrior said with a smile.

"Xena, you're not thinking what I think you're thinking... are you?" the bard asked nervously.

"No. I'm not going to call Ares, Gabrielle. We have too much to do here before we leave tomorrow. Besides, he'll only put me in a bad mood."

She saw the bard's face settle into sadness and took her hand, squeezing gently.

"It's going to be ok," she said softly. "I don't want to leave either but we have no choice this time. I don't want to see Amphipolis being attacked again. This place is too important to us."

"Yeah, you're right but I've really come to think of this town as my home. It's more of a home to me than Potedaia ever was."

"It will always be our home. We just have to leave it for a while. Gabrielle, we will be back someday."

Xena and Gabrielle spent their last night in their home with their daughter. The packed up essential belonging for the road and the warrior went to the stable to check Argo's shoes and tack. Everything was soon ready and, after dinner, they laid out some cushions on the floor and sat in front of the fire, holding each other tightly and thinking back over the previous year. The memories were good and they knew that someday, they would make more.

"Be careful, my daughters," Cyrene warned as she stood beside them on the street. "I'm going to miss you so much. Make sure you come and visit often."

"We will, Mom," Xena said softly as she loaded the last of their belongings onto Argo's back. Gabrielle's horse was already packed and Gabby was seated in her chair strapped to the bard's saddle.

"Goodbye, Cyrene," Gabrielle whispered and hugged her tightly. She blinked back tears as she mounted her horse. Xena stood in front of her mother, shifting nervously from foot to foot.

"Mom, I don't know what to say. You've done so much for us over the past while. I don't know what we would have done without you."

Cyrene smiled as she pulled her daughter down to her for a hug.

"Just think about me once and a while and send me word now and then to let me know you're ok," she replied. "Xena, remember that I love you and I'm really proud of you."

"I love you too, Mom," the warrior replied. "Well, I guess we'd better be going. We'll see you soon, ok?"

"Ok, Little One."

Cyrene began to cry as she watched her daughter and her family ride out of town but Xena suddenly turned and waved to her, her face lit with a bright smile. Cyrene sobbed harder as she waved back.

"So where to?" Gabrielle asked.

"Dunno," Xena replied with a shrug. "We've got the whole world to choose from."

"How about Africa?"

"Africa?"

"Yeah, we've never been there. It's as good a place as any."

"Alright. Africa it is. Hey, we can visit Cleopatra in Egypt. She said she'd have a party waiting for us."

"Sounds like a plan. I hope she remembers us."

"Oh I think she will!"

The End