Warlord Daze

The following is a bit of alternative fiction based on certain characters from the Xenaverse. It is not meant to infringe on anyone else's rights.

Well, at least she wasn't hanging on a cross, Gabrielle thought. Not that she really felt that grateful. Instead she nakedly waited outside on a plank, kneeling, positioned with her hands between two wooden slats. A gigantic, bright, sharp metal axe hung above her, held only by a line of rope. She shivered when she looked up at the sparkling metal and would have leaned her head forward, except that it was too dangerous. She wriggled her hands, trying to squeeze them through the boards, but all that did was scrape her wrists bloody. She looked back up at the blade. It was a promise of a slow death. If the axe swung, her hands would be gone. If not treated, she would bleed and bleed and if she was saved. .. .she would never be able to hold . .anything. .again. Nope, Gabrielle didn't like this proposition at all.

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"Do you see her?" Sovereign asked Ares impatiently. He paced, looking once or twice at the gathered men behind him.

"Not yet," Ares said as he looked out over the chosen battlefield. "Her troops look good." He hastened to add, "So do yours, of course."

Sovereign hissed, "Spare me the commentary. Just let me know when she shows up. I want to get started right away." The muscled bound man glanced meaningfully at the war god. "I Know this slave is important to her. Xena's gonna come, I can feel it."

Ares turned and stared at the man, then pursed his lips, turned away and tried to squelch the images that roved through his head at that moment. It just hit him wrong is all. Ares shook his head a little bit, then contained his features. He couldn't help himself, "No doubt it will be hard and fast."

The Sovereign nodded seriously, "We'll have to watch for it then."

Ares jaw clenched, "I know *I* will be."

"Are you trying to tell me something?" The Sovereign growled at him.

An eyebrow lifted, "Don't lose your head."

"Hmmph." The sandy blonde demigod narrowed his gaze suspiciously at the God of war. Ares just shrugged and turned away. The Sovereign had a thought, "IOLAUS!!" The smaller blonde paced out of the tent. Sovereign smiled slightly. The warrior did look good in leather. And there was something about the way he. . .

Iolaus didn't run and didn't walk towards the Sovereign. He was, however, careful. When he finally arrived, the warrior kept himself a pace away. If Sovereign wanted closer, he would make the effort. "You summoned?"

"Xena's coming and," was that a snicker? The Sovereign glanced at Ares who gazed back at him sternly, "I want to be ready. I. . ."

"Excuse me," Ares interjected, "I've something to attend to. She'll be here, and you can't be any more. ..ready," There was a twitch, "than you already are." With those words the God of War sparkled away.

"What's with him?" Iolaus asked, forgetting himself for a moment.

"I have no idea." The Sovereign said. His eyebrows lowered in thought, then lifted, "Doesn't matter. You. . ."

"Me?"

"You," Hercules, no the Sovereign, purred, "Are going to be a great help to me. Come on." The demigod's head twitched as if he heard something. Then he shrugged and grabbed a heavy wicker object, "I need someone to hold the basket."

Ares couldn't help himself. He laughed until the tears came.

He was so Godsbedamned worried.

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Xena could feel the buzz from her troops. They moved quickly into their ranks, feeling in their bones that this was the last battle. She kept her own council, choosing to let Doba handle the pep talks. They knew where Gabrielle was, all of them, and it only made the energy level higher. The Queen's cousin and his lovers had committed to rescuing her. Xena had said nothing about having the same intent. Instead, she'd acknowledged that she couldn't be in two places at once. It was expected that she would be taking on the Sovereign himself.

Argo moved nervously under her, "Easy girl, easy." She stroked her beloved mount's neck soothingly. She couldn't blame the horse. Her own tension was spiraling up, aching for release. Wait. . .wait for it. .Her fingers twitched, wanting to grab the pommel of her sword. Wait. . .wait.

A signal flag waved.

Now!!

She shouted out, grabbing her sword. Her hand tingled with joy. There was a rolling wave of sound behind her that carried Argo out into the battlefield as she led the tide of battle. Her sword connected with the first fool to try and stop her. She could *feel* the blood slide from her sword. She could feel the bones crack and part and head separated from neck. OH. .yes... .Yes .. She felt the blood howl in her veins, but kept her decided purpose, even as the red darkness covered her in its moist embrace.

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Gabrielle watched the battle with a deep intensity. Ares watched *her*, from behind the veil of air. It was strange that it should be her that he was drawn to at this moment. But he'd gotten used to just feeling Xena's battle, and didn't have to look as much as he'd expected. Instead, he felt compelled to look at the reason for the battle.

It was hot, he suspected. He could see the bard was sweating. There was a small pool of it between her breasts, and upon her brow. She couldn't wipe it away. Her hands were red from twisting against the wood. The wrists were almost raw.

She ignored her discomfort though. She ignored the fact that she'd long ago ceased feeling her legs. She ignored the droplets that slid down the side of her face. She ignored how hot her head felt, how thirsty she was. She was focused, breathing it seemed, with each blow that Xena made.

Ares knelt besides her, and blew a breath. She didn't even close her eyes in relief, though he knew she felt it. She shivered and he saw it, experienced it. He closed his eyes for her, and heard the battle spilling in him, all those heartbeats. Something odd. He didn't track what it was, until, he counted the beats. Then he looked at the bard in amazement.

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The Sovereign didn't bother running forward with the troops. He knew Xena would get to him. Iolaus carried the glowing basket. He was ready to take the lid off as soon as the Sovereign was ready. The strong man smiled wickedly.; Yes, the training had turned out well. Iolaus hadn't asked one question, or tried to talk him out of throwing those bolts. The small warrior had simply accepted. It made the Sovereign's decision to keep the little man around much easier. Hera would just have to deal.

He watched as soldier after soldier fell to her hand. She cleaved through Sovereign's army determinedly, beautifully. Her smile and the very power of her moves told him all he needed to know.

She really *was* like him.

He shook his head almost sadly. Too bad Xena had to die.

---------------

The sword pulled out with a slurp, and so easily that it was as if the man were made of clay. He slumped to the wetly to the ground. She ignored the stench and looked up. Xena sneered at the Sovereign as she marched towards him. Her sword was raised and bloody, as was she. Her eyes were wild. "It's just you and me now." She spat the words out like an angry cat.

"I beg to differ," the Sovereign said as he pointed casually in Gabrielle's direction. "It's you, me, and her." Xena looked startled, as if she suddenly remembered something and felt a sudden clench in her gut. The bad Hercules smiled wickedly. His hand made a chopping motion and lightening thundered its hot way to the rope that held the blade.

"NO!!!!!" Xena shouted in shock. That wasn't how it was supposed to go!!! Her own sword fell as Xena sprinted towards her lover in feather sandaled feet. The blade sliced down and Xena realized a horrible thing. The sandals only guaranteed the speed of the passage, not the freeing from a locked box.

Agony of soul drowned out the whooshing sound behind the Greece's Warrior Princess. Two delicate hands lay upon the ground as Gabrielle screamed in Xena's arms.

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This page was last updated: May 09, 1998

İMay 1998

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