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The Aftermath
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The petite blond bard glared at the back ahead of her until the warrior turned with questioning eyes. Quickly Gabrielle averted her gaze to watch the plodding hooves of her mount on the packed dirt of the road. How could Xena have renewed her vow of Chosen to the God of War with no discussion and no thought of how it would affect their relationship? Resentment burned in her with a bright flame akin to betrayal. Betrayal - yes, she felt betrayed and used. How could Xena be so selfish as to toss these last years away as though they meant nothing? She glanced at Joxer riding beside her but he was half dozing in his saddle. How could he take all this so calmly? Part of her wanted to jerk him awake so that he fell from his saddle. She looked back at Xena only to see the raven-haired warrior stiffen and halt Argo. She nudged her horse closer to Joxer as he was roused by his horse stopping and poked him to get him alert. As Xena flipped from her saddle onto the road, the two dismounted and waded into the seven bandits that suddenly appeared around her.

Xena landed with sword drawn and the smallest smiles on her face. She enjoyed a good fight and right now she welcomed it as a release of the frustration she felt with Gabrielle's manner. She caught the eye of the foremost bandit and crossed swords with him for a moment before she disarmed him and kicked him back into the dust of the road. Three others leaped forward only to be met with a double kicked leap with the third taken out by the hilt of her sword being brought sharply down on his head. She turned to find Gabrielle facing one bandit after having knocked one unconscious and Joxer wounding one man who turned tail immediately. A flip of the sais and Gabrielle had disarmed and wounded another who fled.

Xena smiled at her companions but Gabrielle just ground her teeth and remounted her horse, ready to move on. Joxer cast a wan smile in return to Xena's receding one and shrugged his shoulders. There was nothing they could do but wait her out he seemed to be telling her. She turned and mounted Argo and set off at a gallop not caring if the others followed or not.

"How long are you going to punish her?" Joxer inquired quietly.

Gabrielle rounded on him with a snarl. "What do you mean? She's the one that betrayed me - me, our friendship, all the greater good lip service she gave! She's the one that gave herself to Ares."

Joxer swallowed heavily and bowed his head. He hated confrontations - especially with Gabrielle and most especially when she was riled. It took him several moments to work up his courage to speak again. "So because she has renewed her vow to Ares, she has betrayed you?"

"Betrayed us! She's betrayed us and everything we've worked for, Joxer! Don't you see that?"

Joxer studied the pommel of his saddle intently for a few moments. "No," he said softly. "No, I don't see that at all."

Soft as the words were, Gabrielle heard them. She turned flashing green eyes and compressed lips toward him as she halted her horse. "What do you see then?"

He met the angry green eyes with an effort. "I see Xena in pain because of the way you've been acting this last couple of weeks. I see you tossing and turning in your sleep. I see you attacking with silence or hard words at the slightest provocation. It's not like you and it's hard for me to watch, Gabrielle." He returned his gaze to his saddle.

"Maybe you should consider leaving," she jeered.

"Or maybe you should," he whispered. He touched his heels to the horse and galloped after Xena, leaving Gabrielle gaping at his back.

*******

She prodded the horse forward at a walk as she thought of Joxer's words. Did he see something she didn't? Had she let her anger take control of her? It had been two weeks since Xena had renewed her vow to Ares and yet still she rode with them. Why? And why wasn't Xena with Ares since they had confessed their love for each other? And Joxer… why was he still hanging around if he thought she was being so unfair? Tossing and turning at night? Her? Yet it was true that she hadn't felt rested in what seemed like forever and her dreams….

The questions were hard on her emotions and she wanted to push them aside and not think about them. "I'm running from myself," she thought suddenly with a heavy sigh. Sparkles of pink heralded an imminent visit from a certain god. "Great. Just what I need." she thought sullenly as she halted the horse.

"Hello Aphrodite."

*******

I had checked in from time to time to see how things were progressing with my favorite bard and chance happened that I heard this recent exchange. Joxer had a point - the blond wasn't sleeping well and she did seem to be dragging this out. Why she refused to talk to Xena about what happened was anyone's guess as she had never seemed shy about expressing her displeasure before this. It seemed strange that Xena wasn't off with Ares somewhere arguing about whether a war should be fought or not but Ares was in an almost jovial mood lately so there didn't seem to be a problem there. Xena remaining with Gabrielle must have something to do with Gabrielle herself. But then, Gabrielle was a problem lately and Xena didn't run from problems. If I had to guess, she was remaining with the bard so that they could talk about what happened but Gabrielle didn't seem to be giving the warrior babe much of a chance to explain things.

I chewed the tip of my fingernail in thought, slightly annoyed that all this was disrupting what should have been a most relaxing massage by a serious hunk, but sacrifices must be made at times. All in all I could see no help for it but to visit with the bard and see if I could get her to talk. From the way she was talking to Joxer, she seemed to need it after all. The massage finished, I gave my masseur a kiss that would keep his imagination occupied for quite awhile and hurried off to see Gabrielle.

*******

"Hello Gabrielle. Feel like talking?"

Gabrielle's features fought with a frown as she answered. "About?"

"Oh… You, Xena, Joxer… whatever."

This time the frown did come. "Nothing to talk about," she growled.

"Suit yourself," I replied lightly. "How do you put up with those smelly animals?"

"Smelly animals?" Gabrielle looked around in bewilderment. "Oh! The horse! Not all of us can just travel where we wish, Aphrodite." She chuckled a little.

"Well… I suppose it does beat walking." I replied thoughtfully. "But for my part, I'm certainly glad I don't have to travel on one of those. Totally ruin a good outfit and my hair would probably be a disaster afterward."

Gabrielle did chuckle this time. "Don't you ever think about anything but your appearance?"

I raised an eyebrow as I goaded her gently. "You mean like you do?" I asked sweetly.

The laughter disappeared abruptly. "What do you mean?"

"I mean like all the thought you've given to everyone else this last couple of weeks."

"That's not fair!"

"Isn't it? As the Goddess of Love, my appearance is pretty important." I shrugged. "Who would listen to me if I appeared in ordinary clothes? People think that love should be beautiful all the time - the proverbial "rose colored glasses" and all that."

"Rose colored glasses?"

I rolled my eyes a little. "Never mind. People just think that love is always fresh and beautiful."

"It's still not fair. I'm not the one that allied myself with the enemy." Gabrielle huffed.

"Allied with the enemy?"

"Xena renewed her vow as Chosen to Ares. She betrayed me; I didn't betray her."

"So you're pouting because Xena has finally admitted that she loves Ares and you think that means she loves you less?"

"That's NOT what I said!"

"Isn't it?"

"No! When Xena allied herself with Ares, she turned her back on everything we've built over these last years. The good she's done, our friendship…"

"Did she?"

"Yes, she did."

I pretended to think about this for a moment. "How so?"

"Ares is War and destruction! He knows nothing of compassion or even friendship. He'll lead her back to the dark paths."

"So you don't trust Xena to keep her head? You don't think she's learned anything worth keeping in her time with you?"

"That's not what I said." Gabrielle's teeth ground together in frustration.

Once more I stopped in supposed thought and observed the bard's stiff posture. On closer inspection, I found the vaguest sagging in the shoulders that told me she was starting to doubt her own words - I pushed once more. "Where is she now?"

"Riding on up ahead," Gabrielle sighed.

"So she's still here wandering around Greece with you?"

"Yes." Gabrielle's eyes flew to my own in sudden question.

"Why?"

Gabrielle sighed heavily. This one thing didn't fit with her theories; didn't fit with what she wanted to believe. "I don't know." She stared down at her saddle.

"Have you asked her?"

Once more the bard sighed heavily. "No."

I smiled to myself and returned to my chambers on Olympus.

*******

When Gabrielle's head finally lifted, she found the Goddess of Love gone and the road empty. She prodded her horse forward with much food for thought.

*******

Xena heard the pounding hooves well before they came into view and guided Argo off the road into the cover of trees and undergrowth. When she saw the horse and rider, she prodded Argo forward and continued as he caught up with her. She heard the horse slow then drop to a walk just behind her shoulder.

Joxer knew that the warrior princess knew that he was there and that she knew who it was but he said nothing, simply joining her in silence. After a while she turned toward him. "Where's Gabrielle?"

"She's coming," he said.

"You left her back there alone?"

"She can take care of herself," he replied bitterly. Xena studied his eyes for a moment before nodding and facing forward again.

*******

Fire - fire all around her! Homes burning; people running - shouting! Screaming! Dead - so many dead. She stumbled through the chaos half blind from the assault on her senses with her sais drawn knowing what caused this - her stomach roiling less from the scene around her than what she had to do. She heard the hooves behind her and whirled to face the demon responsible for this destruction just as the warrior landed in front of her with crazed eyes over a smug smile and drawn sword. The cramps ceased as the adrenaline flooded her though she couldn't keep the doubts from her eyes. She lunged and cursed herself - this opening gambit was exactly what Xena was waiting for. Now began not only the fight for these people, but the fight for her life…

"Gabrielle! Gabby! Wake up!" Joxer's voice, shrill with fear, finally penetrated the depths of her consciousness as she sat bolt upright.

"Xena! By the Gods, Xena!" she moaned. Joxer's arms were around her, holding her close, rocking her gently. She buried her face in his shoulder with a muffled sob. His voice whispered reassuringly in her ear that it was just a dream - a nightmare; she was awake now and he was there - Xena was there - everything was fine.

Joxer looked up at Xena quietly standing over them. As the sobs subsided, his eyes sought hers in question. Her mouth tightened and she nodded. Joxer nodded in return as Xena knelt beside them. This had to be addressed whether this was the right time or not.

"I'm going to get some water now," he whispered in Gabrielle's ear. "I'll be right back." He rose and stepped back to look down at her. She nodded and he grabbed a pot and turned to leave them alone.

Xena put out her arms but the bard flinched away. The arms dropped and she silently waited for her to be calm enough to talk. Gabrielle covered her face with her hands as she tried to stifle the tears strangling her throat.

"Nightmare about me?" Xena asked quietly.

"You were… you were burning a village… killing people. I had… I had to… stop you." she choked out in a new rush of tears.

"Gabrielle…" Xena put out her arms again and Gabrielle let herself be drawn to Xena's shoulder as her hand stroked the blond tresses. "I think it's time we talked about this," she said gently. "You know I would never hurt you intentionally."

"You betrayed us for Ares! I keep dreaming of you - of having to stop you." She choked the words out as she tried in vain to halt the tears.

"I haven't betrayed anyone - especially not for Ares," Xena said softly. "So I'm Ares' Chosen - it doesn't make me less your friend or you less my partner. Have I done something that concerns you?"

"Not yet - but, Xena, I don't want you to turn into a monster!"

"And I'm not going to. I will have the occasion summons from Ares but otherwise we will travel as before. Don't you have faith in what you've taught me? Don't you have any faith in me?"

Gabrielle's sniffles got fewer between as she became calmer. "I thought you had forgotten - I thought that renewing your vow to Ares meant you were tossing all of that aside."

Xena held Gabrielle away from her to look into her eyes. "I love you, Gabrielle, and nothing will ever change that. You've taught me so much! I could never just desert you and what you've taught me. Ares' way isn't my way and he knows that - and we will have more than one argument in the future about it, I'm sure." The warrior smiled at the bard and after a moment she smiled back.

"Promise?"

"I promise. And if you see me getting out of line, you can smack me or something," Xena grinned.

"I promise!" grinned Gabrielle as she wiped the last of the tears from her face.

Xena sat back on her heels. "Joxer… Joxer! You can come back now!"

Joxer crashed through the undergrowth back into camp as Xena made the bard laugh with a rolling of her eyes at the noise.

"Are you okay, Gabby?" he panted as he dropped next to them, sloshing water on Gabrielle. "Oh! Let me get that!" he grabbed a cloth from the ground next to her and began trying to dab the spilled water causing more to slosh.

"Stop!" laughed Gabrielle as Xena sat back on the ground grinning. "I can get it Joxer!"

"Oh. Well," Joxer's turned red as he sat back on his heels and Gabrielle took the cloth from him and began drying herself off. "Uh… here's the water. Um… what's left of it," he looked down into the almost empty pot ruefully.

Xena got up, stretched, and looked toward the east where the sun was giving hints of rising soon. "Well - it's about time we were getting up anyway," she shrugged with a grin.

Gabrielle wrinkled her nose. "Morning already?" Xena and Joxer laughed heartily.

*******

"You're sure you're alright with this? No more questions? Anxieties?" Xena asked Gabrielle as they stood outside a temple of Ares.

Gabrielle shook her head as she embraced her friend and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Go! Spend time with him. I'm fine."

"Joxer? You'll take good care of her?" Xena smiled at the suddenly awkward man shuffling his feet.

He looked warily at the bard, took a step away from her, and grinned. "If she'll let me."

Gabrielle's hands went to her hips as she huffed in mock anger. "What do you mean? 'If she'll let me.' How much taking care of do I need?"

Joxer threw his hands up in laughing self-defense. "You want me to tell her no?"

Xena rolled her eyes and laughed at the two as she waved her hands as though to break them apart. "All right you two!"

Joxer stepped to his horse and mounted, waiting for Gabrielle to do the same. They were headed for a festival in Thebes where there would be a contest of bards that Gabrielle wanted to see.

One last hug and the women parted. Gabrielle mounted her horse and looked to Joxer. He nodded. "See ya, Xena!" he waved as he turned the horse to the road.

Xena stood on the steps and watched until they faded from view. She turned and looked over the temple for a moment, then walked inside.

*******

"Ares! Show yourself!" Xena said in exasperation. "You know I hate it when you do that."

Ares flickered into sight with a smile. "Thought I'd 'test the waters' so to speak before I showed my face," he grinned. "Wouldn't want the bard to beat me up or anything."

Xena rolled her eyes and shook her head at the god. "Did you want something?" she asked sweetly.

"Uh-oh. When you take that tone, I know to beware," he spread his hands wide and chuckled as he took a step back.

Xena took a tight grip on the grin threatening her face at the god's playful attitude and raised an eyebrow. "You wanted something, oh God of War?"

"I just thought I'd stop in and see how the bard was doing and spend a little time with you. Anything wrong with that? Especially since you happen to be here and apparently looking for me?" he grinned.

She stepped close and slipped a hand behind his head. "Nothing at all," she said as her lips claimed his.

****FIN****

Thank you for reading my very first fiction effort.