By K.Jones.

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"Xena, I still don't understand why we have to get there so quickly."

Xena led Argo along, not pausing to answer Gabrielle. The evening was quickly approaching, and she wanted to squeeze as many miles from the dimming light as possible.

"Gabrielle, just keep up, please." Gabrielle quickened her step, then grabbed Xena's arm and forcibly turned her.

"Tell me what's so important."

Xena took a deep breath, then turned, facing the road ahead.

"I just have to get there Gabrielle." Xena responded.

"I don't understand." replied Gabrielle. Xena was being very mysterious and the bard didn't understand why. "Where are we going anyway, Xena? You still haven't told me. You know, it might be nice, if, once in a while, you told me where we were headed."

Without responding, Xena turned and looked at her friend with a smirk. She turned to Argo and made a noise to coax her on.

"Come on girl."

Xena and Gabrielle kept walking without a word for what seemed like an eternity. Xena stopped dead in her tracks. Gabrielle, knowing that Xena sensed something was amiss, remained silent. This was not an easy task for the young bard. Xena gave Gabrielle a look that said, "Get your staff ready." It was a look that she had become very familiar with.

"Stay focussed." Gabrielle kept saying to herself.

Xena drew her sword from its sheath and stood ready. She released Argo's reins and instructed the horse to remain where she was. Argo obeyed.

"What's that funny smell, Xena?"

"By the Gods, it's too late!" yelled the warrior, horrified. "We have arrived too late." She drooped her head and clinched her fists.

By now they could see the edge of town. There was smoke rising from every building. The town was ablaze. Xena whistled for Argo. As the horse rushed past her she grabbed the saddle horn and mounted the horse with the skill of an acrobat. It was one of Xenas many skills. Gabrielle was still amazed every time she saw her execute the manoeuvre.

Riding into the town, Xena realized that all the homes and barns were on fire with the exception of one. She rushed up to the untouched barn and began to yell." Why? Why have you done this? " Xena was yelling hysterically. Tears flowed from her eyes. She dismounted Argo and started pounding the door of the barn.

"Open this door you coward! Open this door!"

Gabrielle arrived in the town and looked around at all the burning homes. She made an observation that there did not seem to be any life in this village. It was a total mystery to her. She realized that these buildings were on fire and no one was there to put out the flames. There were no people, alive or dead. She heard the cries of the warrior.

Xena sat on the ground outside the door of the building. Gabrielle had not seen Xena this helpless since having to revive her with ambrosia, food of the gods. As usual, Xena had placed her life in harm's way for the life of another. That was one time Xena lost the battle and her life. It had been up to Autolycus and Gabrielle to retrieve the ambrosia to regain Xena's life.

They had succeeded.

Gabrielle approached her friend with caution. Gabrielle knew that by Xena's reaction, caution was definitely called for. She placed her hand on her friends shoulder.

"Come on Xena. There is nothing we can do here."

Gabrielle's voice was soothing to Xena's tortured mind, but it did not change the fact that this village had burned to the ground. Xena blamed herself for this tragedy. If she had left Gabrielle with the Amazons after vanquishing Valasca and Callisto, things might have been different. She stood with tears in her eyes. Slowly she turned and looked at the young Amazon Queen.It suddenly became clear what she must do. She would have to insist that Gabrielle return to the Amazons. She would have to ride alone once again. This was a thought that Xena had pushed from her mind for so long. Her love for Gabrielle had become too overpowering for her to contain. She did not want to see Gabrilelle hurt anymore than she had been already.

"Gabrielle," Xena said softly. "You must return to the Amazon village"

"What? No way, Xena. My place is here with you." replied Gabrielle defiantly.

"You must, it means the difference between your life and death."

"Huh? I don't get it Xena."

"Just Go! Go to the Amazons. You'll be safe there. I have to deal with this ALONE." Xena was adamant. "You can't be with me!"

Tears began to well up in Gabrielle's eyes. She realized that Xena was serious about this. There was no changing her mind. She had fought so hard to get Xena back and now she was losing her. Angrily Xena pushed her friend to the ground. "I don't want you around me. OK?" she yelled, "Not right now, it could be dangerous for you."

Stunned, Gabrielle pulled herself to her feet. "Fine then, I'll go."

She turned and started to walk away from Xena. She felt hurt. She hoped that Xena knew what she was doing.

"Wait." Xena said softly.

Gabrielle stopped and turned to face Xena, hoping that Xena had changed her mind.

"Travel safe. Take Argo, please," she requested.

"What? Why? I don't get it Xena. Why do you want me to take Argo?"

"Just do it!" Xena commanded. With that she turned and ran full force toward the barn. Gabrielle stood and watched in amazement as she saw her friend disappear into the doors. They had not opened, they had just swallowed Xena up. She ran over to the barn and pounded on the doors. They were solid.

"Go to the Amazons, Gabrielle, be safe. Please!" echoed Xenas voice.

Heeding Xena's request, Gabrielle turned and took the reins of Argo's bridle and started to walk out of the town. She turned to look at the village. It was gone. The burning houses, the barn, everything. It was as if the village had never existed. Gabreille began to cry. It was almost more than she could bear. She had lost Xena to death and now she had just come to the realisation that she may be losing her once again to this mysterious force.

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Xena's eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness. She looked around the cave that she now found herself in.

"You can't save her by sending her away Xena." the voice from the shadows continued. "She has lost her blood innocence, thanks to you. Now she can be mine."

"Ares!" Xena replied. "Never! She did not kill Valasca. Valasca did not die in the hall of ambrosia."

"I know that Xena, but the intent was genuine."

"No! It was me, I cut the rope, not Gabrielle."

"Well, technicalities Xena. It was her hand, not yours, that cut that rope."

"You lied to me about this village, Ares, why?" Xena asked.

"I had to get you and the little one here." He continued. "She will make the choice to join me, Xena." he announced.

"She's not here, Ares. I sent her away."

"Did you think she would actually go to the Amazons, Xena? She is still near."

"No, she can't be. Leave her alone Ares. Don't you ever give up?"

Xena walked over to the shadow from where the voice of Ares was originating.

"She has lost her blood innocence Xena. Now that she has, I can take her, and she will be mine Xena, unlike you. Why must you always fight your destiny? You live for the battle Xena. You relish it. You enjoy it. It keeps you alive!"

Xena turned her face away from Ares who was now in close proximity to hers.

"Leave her alone Ares, please." Xena's tone had changed from defiance to pleading.

"No, Xena, I don't think I will. She will be mine all right. Willingly too."

Before Xena could respond she found herself lying on the ground just outside where the village had been. It was no longer there. Slowly she rose to her feet. She heard a familiar voice.

"Xena."

"No! No! No, Gabrielle. Oh, by the Gods you should not have come back here."

"What made you think for one minute that I was just gonna leave you here to deal with Ares yourself?"

Xena looked at Gabrielle with a stunned expression on her face.

"How did you know it was Ares?"

Ares had visited Gabrielle in her dreams the night prior to them arriving at this village. She had decided to keep this information from Xena. This was not her usual practice, but knowing Xena's history with Ares she felt it best not to mention it.

"He is part of my destiny too Xena, as he is part of yours."

Gabrielle placed her hand on Xena's shoulder to comfort her friend.

"We will fight this together Xena."

"You don't know what Ares is like, Gabrielle. He is a very persuasive God."

"I know that Xena. You fell for him once, but he can be beaten. I think I know how."

"What, you? You know how to beat Ares?" Xena was surprised at Gabrielle's announcement.

"Yes, I heard it in a story once."

"A Story!" Xena was annoyed now.

"Yes a story, one passed on from many generations of my family."

"OK, I'll bite. Continue." Xena said sarcastically.

"Hey, no need to be sarcastic, Xena. You want to hear about this or not?"

Xena gave Gabrielle a sly look, "Go on." she commanded.

"Well, it is said that only one thing can hold Ares captive."

"Yeah, whats that?"

"The eye of Hephaestos. Ares has to be tricked into going to the catacombs where the eye is located."

"Yeah, so!"

"We need to get Ares to the catacombs. If we can do that, he will be out of both our lives forever."

"Hows that?"

"According to the story, if a God is tricked into entering the catacombs, they will be trapped there for all eternity. They can't be free until that person or a descendant of the person who was responsible for his capture, releases them. When the eye is struck by a mortal it closes, trapping the God or Goddess."

"Uh huh, and how do you propose we trick Ares into the catacombs, assuming we can even find them?"

"He wants me, Xena." Gabrielle's voice cracked.

"How did you know that, Gabrielle?"

" He came to me in a dream last night Xena. He wants me because I killed Valasca."

"No, you didn't Gabrielle. She did not die in the hall of Ambrosia."

"There is no way she could have survived that fall Xena. She must have nibbled on a piece of Ambrosia before she arrived in Amazonia. I cut the rope that made here fall onto the spikes." She paused, tears welling up in her eyes. "I killed her, Xena."

"Let's get this straight here and now, Gabrielle, you did not kill Valasca. I was in control of your body. If she died it was my will that was the cause, not yours. She could not have been dead, if she was how could she have "nibbled" on the Ambrosia. She would not have been able to place it in her mouth."

"One of her followers might have fed it to her, Xena."

"I am not going to get through to you on this am I?"

"No, Xena you're not. I would like nothing more than to believe that I was not the cause of Valasca's death. It was my hand that cut the rope not yours."

"Can we drop this for now Gabrielle? Look out!!!"

Xena withdrew her sword from its sheath and intercepted a blow headed for Gabrielle's back. Five men had converged upon the two women. Xena had been watching them as they were talking. She stood ready to do battle and protect her friend at all costs. Gabrielle was momentarily stunned but recovered quickly. Her staff ever at the ready came down hard on the man Xena had intercepted. He hit the ground with a thud. He vanished. Gabrielle looked at the ground where the man had been.

"Xena!" She called out.

Xena's swift sword plunged into the chest of one of the other fighters. He vanished off the tip of her sword. Gabrielle swept the feet out from under one of the remaining three and he vanished as well. In one fluid motion, Xena took out the other two men who then vanished as well.

"What the? Where did they go?" Gabrielle was at a loss for words.

"Ares!!!" Xena yelled.

An echoing laugh could be heard as Gabrielle and Xena composed themselves.

"I will have her, Xena." announced Ares. "She will be mine."

"Go to Tartarus, Ares."

Gabrielle had heard the announcement made about her. She had learned by now that the Gods acted in mysterious ways.

"Lets find those catacombs." Xena announced to Gabrielle.

"How can we be sure that Ares won't know our intent Xena?"

There was a glaring light in the road ahead of them. It was very bright. Both Gabrielle and Xena were blinded by it. A voice came from within the light.

"Don't worry little one. I will make sure Ares is unaware of your movements and your thoughts." Gabrielle and Xena turned towards the voice.

"Who are you?" yelled Xena.

"I am Hephaestos." he answered

"Why are you helping us?" inquired Xena.

"Ares has caused mortals enough pain and suffering. The gods can not do anything against him. We need a mortal to eliminate him for all eternity. He cannot be killed but as you know he can be trapped for all time.

"Go now."

Gabrielle and Xena watched as the light dissipated and the generous god had disappeared completely.

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The pair had travelled without saying a word to one another for quite some time before Gabrielle broke the silence. Gabrielle was very happy they had the opportunity to stop in her home town. They had retrieved the tablet with a map of the catacombs. It was a family heirloom which Gabrielle had seen very few times. It was made of solid marble and was quite heavy for its size. It was about the size of a large loaf of bread. It was rectangular in shape. The detail of the writing was very beautiful.

She had always been told that it was part of her family's destiny that someone in her family would one day be part of saving the world from a very a petty God. Never in her wildest dreams had she figured she was the one spoken about in this prophecy. She had the chance to spend time with her sister and talk about Xena and her adventures. Lilla had wished that she would remain home for a while and allow Xena to deal with Ares. She knew her headstrong sister would never settle for village life when there was an adventure to be had.

"I think it's this way Xena" she pointed in the direction of a patch of trees. "I am glad my Father still had this tablet."

"Hmmm, what, oh, yeah" mumbled Xena. "I wish you had stayed in Potadeia like I wanted you to Gabrielle."

"You're not gonna get rid of me Xena, so stop trying. Ok?"

"You don't make this any easier, Gabrielle. I don't want you to get involved with Ares."

"What the...whats this Xena?" Gabrielle bent down and picked up a small piece stone she had tripped over. "Look at this, Xena."

"Shhhh, Gabrielle. Be quiet. I hear..."

Xena silently moved towards the bushes just in front of them. Quickly she grabbed at something hidden within the bush. Pulling the offending object to within her vision she realized what she had a hold of.

"Autolycus!" She exclaimed. "What are you doing?"

"Ummm, owwww! You can let go now Xena, Geeze. He answered. "Hey that's mine!" He pointed to the piece of stone that was now in Gabriell's hand.

"Where did you get this?" Xena grabbed the piece from Gabrielles hand.

"Hey, I found that. It's mine. It just dropped out of my pack." He grabbed the piece from Xena's hand.

"Wait just one minute here!" Gabrielle announced as she grabbed the piece back out of Autolycus' hand. This is on the map. Look Xena." Gabrielle turned to Autolycus and asked "Where did you find this?"

Gabrielle placed the tablet on a flat rock to get a better look at the map and the rock. On the map was a picture of a circular rock with the imprint of a hand in the centre of it.

"Look, see here?" Gabrielle was pointing to a part on the tablet that showed an entry way. It had the shape of a sun with the shape of the hand in the centre of it. There were two darker spots on the tablet indicating that one was a ruby and one was an emerald. On it, it said "Turn to the ruby then the emerald."

"What's this?" Autolycus said grabbing the tablet for a closer look.

"It's none of your concern." Xena said angrily. She yanked the tablet out of his hand and handed it back to Gabrielle.

"Oh, but it is, Xena. You remember that favour you promised me? Well if there is treasure involved here, I am calling in my favour. Besides, I can show you where I found this."

"We are not going for treasure Autolycus. We have to lure Ares to the catacombs." replied Xena.

"Ares?"

"Yes, Ares. He is after Gabrielle. I need to stop him." explained Xena.

"No. We need to stop him." interjected Gabrielle.

Xena looked at Gabrielle with a concerned look on her face. Gabrielle was annoyed at the fact that Xena was bent on taking Ares on herself. Gabrielle knew that she was involved, like it or not. She had killed Valasca in her mind and there was no changing her thoughts on the matter.Ares would use this to his advantage.

"Wait a minute Xena, if he is after Gabrielle, why doesn't he just take her?" inquired Autolycus. "What the Tartarus does he want with Gabrielle?"

"She has to consent to joining him first." answered Xena.

"He wants me because I have lost my blood innocence. I have killed and now I am vulnerable to his charms." She paused. "I think we should camp here. I'll get some firewood." She had been unable to continue the conversation and had decided to make a graceful exit under the pretence of looking for firewood. She turned and walked away from Xena and Autolycus.

"Wait Gabrielle." called Autolycus.

Gabrielle ignored his plea and continued on her quest to find some firewood.

"Forget it Autolycus, she won't listen. I have tried."

Gabrielle had returned to the camp with a large plie of wood. There was enough to keep the fire burning all night long. They had eaten dinner and were all very tired. Gabrielle was lying on her bedroll trying to fall asleep. Autolycus and Xena were sitting across the campfire talking. Sleep had finally come to Gabrielle. It was a restless sleep.

Xena and Autoclycus sat across the camp from where Gabrielle was sleeping.

"She seems tormented Xena." announced Autolycus.

"She is, she still believes she killed Valasca."

"She didn't though."

"You try telling her that. The thing is, Ares is using her guilt to get to her."

"You want me to talk to her?"

"Not yet Autoycus, I know what I have to do." answered Xena.

"What's that?"

"I have to convince her she DID kill Valasca. Its the only way." Tears began to form in the warrior's eyes. "She has to be convinced of her guilt or Ares will see through our trap. Hephaestos has aided us in that Ares does not know our plans for him. Once we are in the catacombs we must lure him there. Gabrielle is the only one that can do that."

Autolycus stared at Xena. He was speechless."How could she ever do such a thing to her best friend" he thought. He contemplated her decision for a moment and came to the realisation that she was right.

"That must have been very hard for you to decide Xena."

Xena was lost in thought as she stared at her sleeping friend. "I hope she will forgive me" she thought.

"Xena?"

"Xena?" he repeated.

"Umm. What? Oh yeah."

She put on her best cold front. She noticed that Gabrielle was tossing and turning. She rose and went over to where the bard was sleeping.

"Hello Gabrielle." Announced a familiar voice. "Did you think you could hide from me? I will get you Gabrielle. Ares will avenge me."

"Valasca!" yelled Gabrielle.

Gabrielle was startled as Xena placed her hand on Gabrielle's shoulder.

"Gabrielle, come on, your having a bad dream. Wake up now."

Gabrielle threw her arms around Xena's neck as if she might save her from these continuing nightmares. Her eyes were streaming with tears. She was trembling all over.

"Come on, settle down, it was a bad dream."

"Oh, Xena." Gabrielle managed to sputter out. "It was awful!"

"We heard you calling out in your sleep."

"It was Valasca."

"We heard you call her name." She gently lowered Gabrielle back down onto her bedroll and began to stand up. Gabrielle pulled her back down so that she was now sitting beside her. Gabrielle had noticed the tears in Xenas eyes but had decided not to mention it. Xena tried to comfort her friend but knew what she must do in order to succeed against Ares.

"Valasca came to me in my dream Xena. She said that I could not run away from my guilt."

"You can't Gabrielle." She answered as she cringed inside at her own words.

Xena's answer shocked Gabrielle. It was not the response she had expected from the warrior.

"Huh?" Gasped Gabrielle.

Xena stood and walked over to the other side of the camp. "Try to get back to sleep." she said "We have a long journey ahead tomorrow."

Autolycus looked at Xena with a new found compassion for her. He knew that what she had just said to Gabrielle was not much but it spoke volumes to Gabrielle.

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"AHHHHHH!!! "

Xena Gabrielle and Autolycus heard the cries of someone in trouble. The voice sounded vaguely familiar. They ran towards the sound of the cries. They came to a clearing and saw that one of the man was engaged in a fierce fight with five men. He was trying to get away when he was hit from behind and fell to the ground. One of the man was standing over him about to pierce his chest with a sword. The man on the ground put his hands over his eyes believing that this action might change his ultimate fate.

"WHOOSH."

He heard a familiar sound as the man standing over him had been struck by Xenas chakram. He fell to the ground and vanished.

"Oh, by the gods not again." cried Gabrielle as she rushed into the fight. Xena and Autolycus had already joined the fallen warrior on the battlefield.

"Come on Joxer." Xena held her hand out for Joxer to assist him.

He grabbed her hand and rose to his feet. "What? Where'd he go?"

The other four phantom warriors were dispatched quickly.

"Hi Joxer. You ok?" asked Gabrielle

"Ummm. Oh yeah. I had them right where I wanted them." he replied.

"Yeah right." replied Gabrielle. "Right about to kill you." She rolled her eyes and walked away from him.

"What are you doing here?" asked Xena "I thought you were in Thrace."

"Nope. I heard someone was in need of a fierce warrior and decided to lend them my many talents."

"Un huh." replied Xena.

"Xena look!" Gabrielle had sat down on a nearby log and had taken the tablet out to see where they were. Xena walked over and sat beside Gabrielle on the log. She was pointing to an area on the map. The map showed an glen and just above it were some mountains.

"Look here. Doesn't that look like this place?" she remarked "I think we are close. I think we go that way." she pointed in the direction of the mountains.

"You're right." Xena replied. "Lets go."

"You see Xena there were people in need of a fierce warrior. I'll come along and protect you." announced Joxer in his usual delusional state.

"Yeah." was all Xena could muster without breaking into fits of laughter.

The four had travelled up the side of the mountain for quite some time.

"Hey! This looks familiar now." announced Autolycus. "We are here."

"What? Here? Where's here?" questioned Joxer.

"Look Xena. That's where I found the stone."

"You mean stole the stone." remarked Gabrielle.

"No, really, it was on the ground right there."

He showed them the imprint that had remained after he dug the piece out. Gabrielle took out the tablet again. There was an area on it that showed where they were. On the map was a doorway made of stone. The stone which Autolycus was now holding in his hand was part of a larger stone on the map.

"Look around, we have to find this doorway." Xena instructed.

The four looked around the area for hours. There was no stone that resembled the doorway on the map. Since the light was beginning to dim they decided it was time to call it a night, make camp, have something to eat and try again in the morning.

Xena was the first one to waken just as dawn began to break. She noticed a rock shape that they had not seen the night before. Perhaps it was due to the lack of light, but now it was quite visible.

"Wake up everyone, I found something."

The others woke and went over to where Xena was standing.

"Look Gabrielle." she pointed to a rock that had two jewels on it.

"Wow! Those are worth a fortune." remarked Autolycus.

"Forget it Autolycus." Xena warned.

"What?"

"You know exactly "what" Autolycus. Just forget these jewels." Xena grabbed him by the throat, as a warning then released him.

"All right! All right, I wasn't going to touch them." He was lying and Xena knew it. But he would leave these stones alone. He wouldn't cross Xena. Having Xena's spirit in his body had made him quite aware that when Xena said something she really meant it.

There was a shape carved into the stone. It was a sunburst with two jewels on it. There was a ruby to the right and an emerald to the left of the top of the sunburst. There was an indentation in the stone that matched the stone that Autolycus had found.

"Give me the stone Autolycus."

Autolycus reached into his bag and pulled it out. He handed it to Xena, honouring her request.

She took the stone and placed it with the fingers down. It would not fit into the indentation. Gabrielle took the stone from Xena's hands. This annoyed Xena. Gabrielle flipped the stone so that the fingers of the hand imprint were facing the sky. It slipped into the indentation with ease.

Xena looked at Gabrielle with amazement. A doorway appeared.

"Well I'll be." gasped Autolycus.

Gabrielle began to read the instructions:

"First turn to the ruby then turn back to the emerald."

"Turn what?" asked Joxer

Xena placed her hand on the palm print. She was surprised that it fit her imprint exactly. She turned the stone so that the finger tips were pointing to the ruby, then she turned it back so they were facing the emerald. The stone doorway began to move. It opened slowly revealing a staircase just inside the door. They all walked inside, with Xena leading the way. She was cautious. She had the feeling that this place could hold traps of all sorts.

"Look out, don't anyone step on the stairs." Xena cautioned.

Autolycus took out his small grappling hook and threw it at the beam above them. It wrapped around the beam. He held tightly to the rope and swung down to the floor below. He tossed the rope back for the others to follow. Joxer was the next to take the rope. He swung down to the floor below landing on his rear end.

"Ouch!" he cried.

Xena and Gabrielle looked at one another and giggled at Joxer's folly. Xena took the rope and handed it to Gabrielle. She took it and was soon on the floor with the other two. As she landed the rope unhooked from the beam and it fell at her feet.

"Great!" remarked Joxer.

Xena took out her whip and unfurled it. She caught the same beam with it and swung down to the floor. It was very dark in the catacombs. The only light provided by the open door at the top of the stairs. The light began to fade as they noticed the door closing. Xena found a torch and managed to get it lit before the door closed completely.

"That's our way out. We're stuck here forever. We're gunna die in here. I gotta get out. I can't take closed in places." ranted Joxer.

Gabrielle struck Joxer across the face effectively bringing him out of his ranting fit.

"Oh, thanks I needed that." he remarked "But how are we gunna get out of here?"

"I am sure there is another way out Joxer. There always is in tombs like this." explained Xena.

"Tombs?" queried Joxer.

"Yes. It will become a tomb if we have our way." answered Xena.

The four had travelled throughout the catacombs for what seemed like hours. By the markings on the map they were to find a room that had the Eye of Hephaestos in it.

"It might be better if we split up." Xena announced "You and Joxer go that way Autolycus, and Gabrielle and I will go this way. If you find the room call out. We will do the same."

"All right Xena. Good luck." Autolycus knew that Xena would most likely take this opportunity to put her plan into effect. She would convince Gabrielle she killed Valasca. A thought that had Autolycus very worried.

Xena and Gabrielle wandered the catacombs without saying a word to one another. Gabrielle had not really spoken to Xena since the night of her nightmare. Both were beginning to tire and decided it was time for a short break. Gabrielle found a place to sit down for a moment. Behind her was a circular stone with the same design that was shown on the entry way door. She heard a scraping noise. The stone behind her was turning. When it stopped she noticed that there was a rock with many holes in it. The holes were empty.

"Xena, look."

"Xena walked over to where the rock was. Whats this?"

"I don't know. There is a nothing here. Its empty. There are a bunch of holes here. I wonder if these holes ever held something."

"They are intended for your scrolls, Gabrielle." A voice in the darkness was heard.

"Huh, what?" Gabrielle was stunned.

"Place your scrolls of yours and Xenas adventures in the holes provided Gabrielle." instructed Hephaestos.

"Xena?"

"Do it Gabrielle. Your scrolls will be safe for all eternity." Xena coaxed.

Gabrielle took the many scrolls out of her pack she had been carrying and placed each one in an empty spot. She noticed there were many unfilled holes.

"This is part of your destiny Gabrielle. Your stories will live on for centuries to come. Many years from now your scrolls will be found by one of your descendants. Xena's goodness and struggle against evil will inspire many in the future. Her stories will be told again one day. This I promise you. Follow the hall to the right. You will find the Eye." He faded away after revealing these facts to Xena and Gabrielle.

"My scrolls will be read centuries from now? I am honoured Hephaestus."

"Come on Gabrielle, lets go." Gabrielle took one last look at her scrolls as the stone turned and closed.

Xena whistled a few times to let Autolycus and Joxer know where they were. They had not been too far away and were by Xena and Gabrielle's side in no time.

"We know the right direction now, lets go." Xena announced.

They all made their way into a larger room. It was dark. Xena touched the end of her torch to a torch on the wall. Many torches lit themselves one by one. The room was huge. In the centre was a sarcophagus. Above it was a large eye. It was made of gold. Autolycus was in awe of the gold in the room. It took all his self control not to want to loot this room. He thought better of it. "Now what?" questioned Joxer.

"We wait." answered Xena. "Lets try and get some rest we can't do anything right now."

They had been travelling in the catacombs all day long and were all very tired. They all found a comfortable spot to sit. Autolycus naturally sat as close to the golden eye as possible. If he could not have it there was no reason why he could not admire it. Joxer found a place to himself. Xena and Gabrielle sat beside each other. They both leaned against the sarcophagus.

"How are we going to get Ares here Xena?"

"Don't worry, he'll show up."

Gabrielle had not realised how tired she had become. She slowly drifted off to sleep, using Xena's shoulder as a pillow. Xena stayed awake ever ready for trouble. It was not long before Gabrielle was screaming in her sleep once again. Autolycus and Joxer jumped to their feet. Xena shook Gabrielle awake.

"Gabrielle wake up."

"It was Valasca again Xena, she invades my dreams. All I see when I close my eyes is her angry face telling me I killed her."

Tears had begun to flow from Gabrielles eyes once again.

"Only you know what's in your heart Gabrielle. You believe you killed her. There is nothing I can do to change that for you. Your guilt must be real then." These words cut at Xenas heart as she said them.

"What are you saying Xena?" Gabrielle pushed away from Xena and rose to her feet.

"She is saying you ARE guilty of killing Valasca! Thanks you for the help Xena. Now she's mine! Come join with me little one. You too Xena it will be glorious."

"Ares!" Gabrielle screamed. She turned with a jolt to see Ares standing directly behind her.

He took her in his arms and whispered in her ear. "You can have it all Gabrielle. Everything I offer and more. Xena knows you killed Valasca. She's just been trying to protect you from this realisation."

"No!" cried Xena "You will not have her, Ares."

"I beg to differ Xena she IS mine now."

Xena ran at Ares and hit him from behind. He fell to the ground losing his grip on Gabrielle. She also fell to the ground.

"Take the top off of the sarcophagus." Xena instructed Joxer and Autolycus.

They moved towards the sarcophagus and did as she had instructed. Gabrielle still lay on the ground. She was not injured but was stunned by the sudden jolt that had forced her to the ground.Xena took her sword from its sheath and stood ready to engage Ares in battle. Ares rose to his feet. He took his sword from its housing on his belt. He too stood ready for battle.

"You have angered the wrong god this time Xena. I will have her, like it or not."

"Not!" remarked Xena.

Autolycus and Joxer had managed to slide the top of the sarcophagus half way off.

Xena stuck out at Ares with her sword. He countered every blow. She countering his as well. He had forced Xena into a corner of the tomb and was about to plunge his sword into her breast when he felt a whack against his back. Gabrielle had recovered and had hit him hard across the back with her staff. This gave Xena the moment she need to get away. She turned towards the wall and in one motion ran up it and flipped in the air and landed behind Ares. Ares was in between them. Gabrielle on the left and Xena on the right. Gabrielle fought him with a new found courage. It was as if Xena was back in her body and was helping her fight Ares. She knew this to not be true because Xena was standing right there fighting him with her. They had pushed him closer and closer to the sarcophagus. Gabrielle was hit by the angry hand of Ares. She once again found herself on the floor. Xena continued to fight Ares. She noticed that Gabrielle had been hit and was on the ground behind Ares. Right behind her was the open sarcophagus. Gabrielle was beginning to get back to her feet.

"Stay down, Gabrielle." Xena commanded.

"Huh?"

Before Gabrielle could rise to her feet Xena had hit Ares directly in the centre of his chest with a mighty flying kick. It hit Ares with such force that he was swept off his feet. He fell over backwards tripping over Gabrielle. He landed in the sarcophagus. Chains began to wrap around him.

"NO!!!" yelled Ares. "Hephaestos! These are your chains!"

Hephaestos appeared in the tomb. Ares struggled in vain against the chains that held him. They were chains forged by Hephaestos, and very much like the chains that had held Prometheus.

"You have tormented humankind long enough Ares. It is time for you to be stopped." He turned to Xena "Strike the eye with your chakram Xena."

Xena took careful aim and threw he chakram in the direction of the eye. It hit its mark with the accuracy that Xena is known for. The eye began to close. The sarcophagus also began to close. Ares could be heard screaming as it did so.

"No, Xena! What have you done to me?"

Xena expected the chakram to return to her as it always had. After hitting the eye it had snapped in two and fell to the ground. Hephaestos picked up the broken piece."Sorry about this Xena I must keep this." He vanished.

Xena and Gabrielle watched and listened to Ares screams until the sarcophagus was completely closed. He could not be heard any longer.

"Good job Gabrielle." Xena patted Gabrielle on the back but Gabrielle pulled away from her and walked over to Autolycus and Joxer. "You two ok? "

Xena was well aware of the reason for this cold shoulder. She had all but come right out and said that Gabrielle had indeed killed Valasca. It was going to take some fast talking to close this rift between them now.

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Hephaestos was back in the hall where the scrolls had been left. He was opening the scroll chamber. He had the piece of the broken chachram in his had. There was a burst of fire as he welded it into the rock. As he did this he chanted.

"With this chakram I seal your fate Ares. By mortal hand you are trapped. It is by this mortal or her descendants that you may be freed. When the two halves of the chachram become one you will be freed from your slumber. When the eye is struck by the chakram once again you will be released. Sleep well, Ares, for I hope that will be for all eternity."

At the same moment back in the tomb the sarcophagus began to glow. When it stopped the likeness of Ares had been engraved into the surface of the rock. Hephaestos returned to the tomb.

"I am sorry about your chakram Xena."

"That's all right, if it means the world is free of Ares I don't mind giving it up." She had the other half of the chakram in her hand.

"I am afraid you will have to leave that here too, Xena."

Xena walked over to Hephaestos and gave him the remaining half of the chachram. She placed it in his hand.

"Hold out your hands Xena."

Xena did as he instructed. Her hands began to glow.

"A gift Xena. My thanks for your help."

A chakram appeared in her hands. It was exactly like her own. There was one difference. This one had be forged by Hephaestos himself. It was a gift she would use in her fight against evil.

"Your scrolls are safe here Gabrielle. Don't stop telling of Xena's and your adventures. To ensure all of your stories will be safe for all eternity, I give you this gift Gabrielle." He placed a scroll in her hands. She opened it only to find it was blanc.

"There is nothing on this scroll."

"There will be when you write of your next adventure. Or this adventure Gabrielle. Then when you have finished it, it will become part of the scrolls hidden in here. You will be given a new scroll each time a story is completed."

"Thank you Hephaestos."

"You are welcome, Gabrielle, keep telling the stories. As for you two." He walked over to where Autolycus and Joxer were sitting. He put his hand out to Autolycus and placed the largest emerald in his hand he had ever seen.

"Wow, thanks." he was dumfounded.

He turned to Joxer. "You have a brave heart Joxer. But you lack the confidence to truly be a warrior. I give you this insight into yourself Joxer. In time you will be able to see that you are as brave a warrior as any.

With all his gifts bestowed, Hephaestos began to fade.

"Hey wait a minute. How do we get out of here? Asked Joxer

A door began to open. It was a heavy stone door that scraped as it opened. The four walked through it and it closed behind them.

"Goodbye Ares." remarked Gabrielle.

******************************************************************************************

Xena and Gabrielle made camp at the base of the mountain. Autolycus and Joxer had gone their separate ways, leaving Gabrielle and Xena alone. Gabrielle was finishing up the scroll that Hephaestos had given her. As she placed the last word on it, it vanished from her hands and another appeared.

Gabrielle had not really spoken to Xena about what had happened in the catacombs. She had been hurt to realize without question she was the killer of Valasca. It bothered her deeply. Now, Xena too was convinced of this as well. This too bothered her. She sat staring off into space. Xena walked over to her and sat down next to her.

"Gabrielle, we need to talk." Her voice was gentle and non judgemental,Gabrielle noticed.

"When I was in Autolycus' body and I told you to close your eyes and think of me, who did you see?"

"You."

"Right." Xena continued. "And who did you speak to at that moment?"

"You."

"Not Autolycus?"

"No, it was you."

"You are certain of that?"

"Yes."

"So who was it that said "I will always be here." ?" Xena moved closer to Gabrielle.

"It was you." answered Gabrielle.

Xena moved to within an arms lenghth from Gabrielle.

"And who was it that did this, Gabrielle?"

Xena leaned over and tenderly touched her lips to Gabrielles. Her arms came around the young bard. Xena held her close. She pulled back slightly to continue her questions of the woman in her arms. Gabrielle tried to hold Xena's embrace closer but could not.

"You." she answered.

'So if that was me, why is it that you continue to believe that it was you that killed Valasca?"

"It was my hand that cut the rope."

"And my will that cut it."

"I could have stopped you Xena."

"No more than Autolycus could have stopped me from getting him to steal the Dagger of Hellios. No more than he could have stopped me from making him steal my body from the fire. When I was in his body, he did as I wanted. Everything I wanted. Understand? When I was in your body it was the same. I cut the rope Gabrielle. If I had known it would have caused you this much pain I would not have done it."

"But then Valasca would have most likely killed me and you along with me."

"Right Gabrielle, you see now. You were not the cause of Valasca's death."

"I see that now Xena." she continued " I love you." Gabrielle pulled Xena back into her loving embrace and returned her kiss.

"I love you too." Xena answered.

Tears began to flow from the young bards eyes. Tears of relief.

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