Eternal Spirit

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Eternal Spirit

Part 3

Xena stared blankly out the window beside the bed at the bright shades of color the full moon captivated. She was trying her best to push the thoughts out of her mind. The events remained vivid. She stroked her partner's hair softly, careful not to wake her. She gazed at the bard's bare skin tracing her finger lightly over the dark wounds that covered her body like a sheer blanket. Xena couldn't fight the tears any longer. Tears came flooding silently down her cheeks. She remembered what Gabrielle looked like when she and Ephiny had finally found her...

It had been five days of endless riding and searching. Neither Ephiny nor Xena were ready to give up, but hope was diminishing slowly day by day.

"Xena, let's stop a while by the stream ahead. Argo can use the break as much as you and I can."

"Alright". Once they reached the stream Xena led Argo by the reins to replenish the mare with some cool water.

Just then she heard Ephiny scream..."GABRIELLE!" horror had filled her voice. Ephiny put her finger to her neck to check for a pulse. "She is still breathing thank the gods" Ephiny whispered. Xena made her way quickly to her side. Gabrielle's delicate body was vastly thinned and covered with deep bruises. Her clothes were torn and scattered. Tender wounds exposed themselves across her still body. Her eyes were blackened and swollen. Dried blood covered her like the dark sky.

"Gabrielle I know you can hear me. Everything is going to be alright. Keep fighting. Don't give up! I love you." Her hand swept delicately along the bard's bruised face, as tears stained her cheeks.

"Xena, we need to get her back to the Amazon Village."

"Ephiny, get a piece of cloth from the saddlebag and wet it in the stream for me please. I want to tend to these open wounds before infection can fester. Then we will move her." She knew she had to act quickly if Gabrielle were to live. After cleaning the open wounds as best she could she wrapped the half dressed bard with a blanket and carried her to Argo.

Xena wiped away the tears that continued to streak her flushed cheeks. She knew Gabrielle couldn't have been by the lake more than a few hours or she would have been...dead.

"Some protector I turned out to be" she mutely berated herself, her eyes never leaving her lover's face. The bard began to tremble violently in Xena's embrace. Fear and pain exposed itself cruelly on Gabrielle's face as the beginning of a nightmare plagued itself on the defenseless bard.

"Its alright. You are safe. I've got you now and no one is going to hurt you." Gabrielle's whimpers reformed into a loud shriek and she jolted awake shaking limply in her Xena's warm embrace. Hot tears trickled down her face making their way to her trembling lips.

"No, don't touch me! Leave me alone!" She frantically tried to break from Xena's grip. Panic flooded her soft green eyes.

Xena struggled to keep her arms around her and tightened her hold slightly. "Its alright, it's just me, Xe," calming the bard down.

Gabrielle nestled into Xena's neck, tears flowing uncontrollably. "Xena?" she whispered trying to take in her surroundings.

"Yes Gabrielle it's me. I am right here with you," Xena crooned with a gentle comforting voice. "Thank the gods she has finally started to speak," she thought to herself with a sweet sense of relief. "Artemis, please give me the strength." She brushed the hair from Gabrielle's face and gently stroked her flushed cheeks with the outside of her hand. Gabrielle began to relax slightly in her arms.

"That's it Gabrielle, slow deep breathes. You are safe, it was just a dream," she comforted tenderly.

"Xena?" she whispered faintly.

"Yes?"

"I feel so safe in your arms. Please...don't go," she pleaded trying to choke back her tears.

I am right here with you now and always," kissing the bard on her forehead. Helplessness overcame the warrior.

Xena could feel her relax within her embrace and her arms tightening around her waist.

"Where are we Xe?"

"We are at the Amazon Village."

Gabrielle hesitated slightly. "How long have I been here?"

Xena thought for a moment, "Four days."

"I don't remember...How did you...How did I get here?" she whispered, confusion in her voice.

"You haven't been completely conscious until now. You were so weak when Ephiny and I found you." A tear trailed down Xena's left cheek. "We found you by the lake just outside Amazon Lands." Her voice broke off attending lovingly to the bard who began to tremble. "What is it Gabrielle?" she questioned gently.

"The lake...I remember being there...I thought...I thought I was going to...that I would never get to see you again." She began to whimper. "I remember everything getting hazy and then everything grew dark...They just left me there...Xena," closing her eyes tightly releasing hot salty tears. "I never lost hope...I knew somehow you would find me...I just knew it," her voice trailing to a faint whisper.

"I can only imagine how difficult this is for you Gabrielle. I know that you are hurting and I would do anything to take this pain from you. I would bear it a thousand times to save you from it." Stroking her cheeks softly. "Please talk to me."

"No...please...I can't," Gabrielle interrupted.

" Nothing can harm you, I promise." Gabrielle began to cry softly. "I would do anything..."

"You are doing something Xena...believe me you are." She tightened her grip around her warrior's waist. She wanted so much to erase it all from her memory. She was so afraid. She knew Xena's rage would be enough to consume her. She didn't want to think of Xena's dark side embracing her again. Deep down there was another fear; the fear of her partner not wanting her in the same way anymore. "Gods, I don't want to lose her," she said silently.

"Gabrielle, please tell me what happened," gentleness in her tone.

"I can't. I don't want to think about it right now. Please Xe, just hold me," her emerald eyes challenged the warrior's.

"I am right here with you Gabrielle. It's okay, we will talk when you are ready." Xena closed her eyes pushing back the anger she felt rising to the surface. "When I find that bastard I am going to rip him apart," she silently thought to herself. "How could...," her thoughts interrupted by a knock at the door. "Come in," Protectively she enclosed her arms a little tighter around Gabrielle.

Ephiny walked in with a tray of food. "Gabrielle, you're awake. Thank the gods," making her way to her friends' side relieved. "How is she, Xena?" Ephiny asked, looking at her friend with concern in her eyes. Before giving Xena a chance to answer, she sat beside Gabrielle speaking softly to her. "Gabrielle it's Ephiny, are you doing alright?"

Gabrielle nodded her head slowly. It still throbbed tremendously with pain. Her entire body ached.

"Why don't you try to sit up, ok?" Ephiny looked at Xena for support.

"That's not a bad idea Eph, come on Gabrielle let us help you sit up." She smiled down at her bard while helping her sit up. "Lean back against the pillows slowly," fluffing the pillows behind the bard.

"It hurts so much," Gabrielle managed to say between sobs. She felt surges of pain throughout her back and shoulders. Her stomach was sensitive to motion and with every movement, a flood of sharp pain followed. Xena and Ephiny comforted her as she finally sat up and leaned back against the pillows.

"I am so sorry Gabrielle," Ephiny's hand caressed her friend's cheek gently. "You have to try to eat something. You need your strength. You have been so weak for days," she spoke softly trying to get Gabrielle's attention on something else for the moment. She picked up the tray and placed it on Gabrielle's lap. Try to eat some of this warm broth, ok?" her eyes meeting the green eyes of her friend. Gabrielle nodded slowly. Ephiny motioned for Xena to get up with her as she slowly stood up.

"I'll be right outside the door Gabrielle. I am going to talk to Ephiny and I will be right back. Just try to eat as much as you can," she smiled sweetly. Gabrielle nodded. Now that she thought about it, she was surprisingly hungry. Xena and Ephiny exited the room.

Continued In Part 4