"Gabrielle, you really need to rest more. Letting yourself get ill isn't going to help Xena get better any sooner." Antithius' voice was soft, but very firm. The young blonde looked up at the healer, whom she had gotten to know very well the last few days. It was true she was bone-weary, but she wasn't going to let her exhaustion coax her from Xena's side. "She's sleeping so restlessly," Gabrielle told Antithius, "and her fever's gone up again." The healer bent to check the condition of the unconscious woman. Pulling up an eyelid, he was struck, as always, by the brilliant blue of her eyes. There was no change in her condition except for the rise of her body temperature. "Is she still responding when you talk to her?' Antithius asked. "Yes, Gabrielle replied. "It seems to help her rest easier." Antithius nodded somberly. Xena had taken a serious stabbing from a sword, and two arrows during her fight with Barclan. The healer and Gabrielle had removed her from the battlefield as soon as possible, to avoid her being further injured. He knew they had done the right thing, but the Warrior Princess had lost an unbelievable amount of blood during the escape. Since then, it had been a struggle to get enough liquids into her so she could replenish her blood supply. The fever she had been fighting the last three days only worsened the grim situation. "If you're going to stay here, at least lay your head down beside her and get some rest," Antithius told the young woman. "I've got to check on Gameal, then I'll be back." Gabrielle nodded, and watched the healer leave. Despite his gruff mannerisms, he had a very kind heart, and she had grown quite fond of him. Antithius respected Gabrielle, and trusted her to take care of Xena when he had to be elsewhere. Xena…Gabrielle looked at her best friend and sighed, her heart heavy. The last few days had been nothing short of terrifying, and now, even though Antithius saw signs of improvement, Xena's normally dark complexion was too pale. She had lost a great deal of weight, and was sure to be greatly weakened. Gabrielle swept the hair from Xena's forehead, and stared at the lovely face of her best friend. She had no way of knowing what had happened in Barclan's tent, and she wondered what Xena would remember if…no when…she regained consciousness. Would she remember the circumstances of Jamen's death? And if she did, how would she react? That was the question that frightened Gabrielle most of all. Xena moaned softly and turned her head so she was facing Gabrielle. "I'm here, Xena" Gabrielle whispered, and her hand went up to stroke Xena's tensed brow. Xena relaxed visibly within seconds, and her sleep became sound again. "What are you dreaming about, my friend?" Gabrielle mused, as she continued her vigil over the Warrior Princess. The battle had been raging for hours, and Xena was beginning to sense victory was in their grasp. This was the battle she and Lyceus had been training for ever since they were young children. Almost every day, they'd sneak away to spar and duel each other, until both had their own moves perfected. Cortese's army was large, but essentially, it was an army of thugs and mercenaries. Their reason for fighting was simple…they were in it for the money. That gave Xena and her army of Amphipolis an advantage. They were fighting to preserve their homes…their way of life…their freedom. Several Amphipolitans had fallen during the battle, but victory was too close for them to give up now. Three of Cortese's men moved at Xena, but she downed them all with one mighty swing of her sword. She had long ago lost count of how many men she had slain; and no longer felt anything when she knew she had ended a man's life. She had never killed before today, but the fighting was too fierce for her to be able to think about her actions. She had seen Lyceus strike his first soldier down virtually seconds after she had, and had briefly thought that action would disturb her more. Both sides were tiring, but Xena knew the end was in sight when Cortese's men noticeably slowed their attacks. They were slowly being driven back, and Xena was waiting to hear Cortese's call of retreat. Her left arm throbbed from a sword strike she had received an hour ago, but aside from that and a few scratches, she was unharmed. Many of her friends lay dead around her, but many more, including her beloved Lyceus, were alive and well . Two things happened simultaneously, one counteracting the other. Cortese bellowed out for a retreat finally, and Xena saw in horror that Lyceus was struck from behind by a sword. He went down, face first, and screaming "Lyceus!" Xena raced to aid him. She got there a scant second too late. Even as Cortese's men were running to regroup with their leader, one of his troops stood above Lyceus, his sword raised. "NO!" Xena screamed, desperately, while she was still twenty paces from them. The man paused, looking up to see who was making so much noise. The young woman who had been fighting so valiantly was quickly approaching. For long seconds, their eyes locked…hers filled with horror, his with triumph. He struck with his sword . Xena had seen the killer face-to-face for only a few seconds, and the pain and suffering that followed with the death of her brother Lyceus pushed the image of the murderer out of her head. But now, she saw it vividly, as if it had just happened. How could she ever forget the first time she looked into the handsome face of Jamen? Gabrielle was startled by the roar of anguish Xena let out before she sat upright in her bed. "Xena!" she cried, grasping the struggling woman's shoulders in her hands. "Xena…you're just dreaming. It's me, Gabrielle!" Xena wrenched herself away from the young bard, her eyes opening simultaneously. She drew in a ragged breath as she took in her surroundings. "Xena?" Gabriele asked, when she realized Xena was no longer fighting invisible ghosts. Xena turned her dark head toward the blonde, and after a few seconds, was able to focus on her friend's face. "Gabrielle," she said slowly. "Yes, thank the gods!" Gabrielle exclaimed joyfully, her arms going out to draw Xena into a tight embrace. Xena wheezed as all the pain in her body made itself known. She didn't return the embrace, nor did she try to avoid it. When Gabrielle pulled back finally, Xena could see her friend had tears of relief in her eyes. "What happened?" Xena asked, realizing it must be something serious for Gabrielle to be reacting in that manner. Gabrielle's eyes flooded then, and the tears ran down her face. "I don't know how to tell you," she said finally. Xena looked around her again, and recognized the healing hut she was in. Suddenly, all the memories rushed her, and she tightly closed her eyes. "Jamen…" she whispered. Gabrielle shook her head, not knowing how to tell her injured friend. "Uh, Xena…" Xena's eyes opened again. Her blue orbs were full of sorrow when she looked at Gabrielle. "I know," she said finally. "His own father killed him." She lowered her head, and remained motionless for long seconds. Gabrielle reached out to stroke Xena's ebony hair, understanding the depth of Xena's emotions. It was difficult to anticipate how the warrior would react, and her body remained tense, as she knew a violent outburst was one real possibility. There was a long shudder from Xena, and then she raised her hand again. "How long have I been out?" she asked. "Six days," Gabrielle replied. "You lost so much blood, and then you developed a fever. Judging from the sweat on your forehead, it finally broke." "Yes," Xena agreed. "But I feel weak…and Barclan has almost a week's head start.' She actually made a motion as if she were going to get out of bed. Gabrielle's green eyes widened as she realized what was happening, but instinctively, her hands came out against Xena's shoulders. She and Xena both realized what little strength Xena actually had. "What in Hera's name do you think you're doing?" Gabrielle demanded. Xena shrugged. "Apparently…nothing," she answered. Gabrielle nodded, satisfied her friend wasn't going anywhere for a while. "Could you eat something?" she asked. "It will help you regain your strength." Xena considered it. "Yeah, I think I could," she answered. "Good." Gabrielle patted her arm, then stood up. "Rest until I get back," she added. "Yes, Ma'am!" Xena's tone was light, but her expression wasn't. She was sleeping again when Gabrielle returned with a bowl of some chicken broth and some bread. Gabrielle set the meal down on the bedside table, not wanting to wake her friend. She rested her weary hand on her propped up arms, and before long, her heavy eyelids got the best of her. Resting her head on crossed forearms, she soon fell asleep. Xena woke up from a dreamless sleep a while later. Gabrielle was still sleeping, her head resting on the bed. Spying the bowl of soup, Xena reached for it and yelped as she felt unexpected pain in her back. The bard shifted a little, but didn't open her eyes. Cautiously, Xena moved again, and by slowly leaning way over, was able to reach the bowl of soup. The first couple of spoonfuls of the broth went down rough, but it got easier after that. When Antithius returned, he was surprised and pleased that his patient and her nurse had effected a reversal of roles. Xena sat propped up in bed, her eyes staring at some focal point on the wall as her hand stroked the blonde hair of the woman whose head was resting at her side. Xena had been lost in thought, but she shifted her vision to look at the middle-aged man entering the hut. "Well now," he said pleasantly. "I can't tell you how glad I am to see that you're awake." Xena returned his smile. "Hello, Antithius. It's good to see you again." Antithius approached her, and felt great relief at seeing her beautiful blue eyes wide- awake finally. They were dazzling. "How are you feeling?" "Stiff and sore," Xena admitted. "But I'm going to make it." "That in itself is amazing," Antithius answered. "The arrow in your back grazed your left kidney, but somehow, you didn't lose it. Gabrielle says you have amazing recuperative powers." Xena nodded. "So I've been told." "The sword thrust near your heart, but didn't puncture it, thank the gods. And the arrow in your thigh…well, it just added to the blood loss." Xena nodded as each wound made itself known as she focused on it. It bothered her that she didn't know how she was hit by the arrows, but could vividly remember their nettling pain as they had pierced her flesh almost simultaneously. "Your little friend there," Antithius continued, with a fond smile at Gabrielle as he gestured at her," risked her life to get you out of Barclan's camp. You couldn't ask for a more faithful ally." For the first time since she'd been injured, Xena's smile reached her eyes. "Her looks can be very deceiving," she told the healer. "She is the best friend I'll ever have." "She says the same about you," he replied. He was lost in thought for a few seconds, and then his demeanor changed. "How about leaning up so I can see how your wounds are healing?" He left her a half hour later, blowing out the candles in the hut and leaving Xena still awake in the darkness. Gabrielle had barely slept since she'd been unconscious, Antithius had told her, and she seemed to be resting comfortably now, so he left her there. There was a campfire near the entrance to the hut, and it cast flickering shadows inside. Xena considered trying to get up, but the sharp twinges in her lower back convinced her otherwise. That arrow wound in her upper back was definitely the most painful of all her injuries. It even hurt to draw a moderately deep breath. Her mind was too busy now for her to sleep. She had so many questions, so many memories, both old and new, that were tumbling one over the other. The most disconcerting of all was seeing Jamen's face as Lyceus was killed. She had been so haunted as to why Jamen looked familiar to her. Now she realized it wasn't Jamen who she had recognized, but someone whom he resembled very much…his father. It took some sorting out, but Xena soon began to realize until she had seen Barclan, that she had blocked out most of Lyceus's death. Until then, all she recalled was holding Cortese responsible. She hadn't been able to put a face on the actual man who had struck the blow. Now, she was remembering as if it had happened yesterday. Hw could her mind let her become so attracted to someone who so resembled one of her greatest enemies? There was no mistaking Barclan and Jamen were father and son. Their eyes were identical, and they had the same full lips and narrow nose. Xena had only seen Barclan twice, briefly, but now found his face indelibly etched in her mind. His face was carved in wrinkles and scars, but he still had the charismatic qualities that made men follow him. She found it difficult to imagine Jamen maturing to look like Barclan, as his good-natured demeanor would prevent the worry lines from crevacing his face. A burning sensation filled her heart as Xena suddenly realized she never would be able to see Jamen at Barclan's age. It was difficult to believe he was gone…it had all happened so quickly. Xena had seen many cold acts before, but the thought of murdering the dashing young man that was his own son…that was incomprehensible. Barclan had been almost gleeful as he had done it. A long shiver quaked Xena's body as she contemplated Barclan's future regrets at his actions. She would avenge Jamen, to be sure. But even stronger than that, at least for the moment, were her own regrets. It had been her plan for Jamen to convince Barclan he had captured the Warrior Princess. The plan had backfired, and Barclan's insistence that Jamen kill Xena had been unexpected. His concern for her had caused him to falter, and Barclan saw through the ruse. If she had handled things differently… Xena mentally shook herself. Jamen had been in a situation that was impossible to get out of. She shouldn't have survived, but somehow, she did. It seemed likes she always did, despite astronomical odds. For a brief moment, she wished she could have died along with Jamen, but that thought was fleeting. She had to live to see Jamen's death avenged. With another sigh, Xena looked down at Gabrielle sleeping. The firelight sparkled against the fair hair, giving her head a golden glow. Xena had long felt Gabrielle was the bright light in her life. For a few blithe days, she had felt the possibility of having two lights, Gabrielle's crystalline pure light of unselfishness, giving, and grace, along with Jamen's light of discovery, earnestness, and enthusiasm. It wasn't to be though, and once again, Xena had watched a dear friend die. Gabrielle stirred, and changed the position of her head, so she was now facing Xena. She always looked even younger when she was asleep. Xena reached out and touched Gabrielle's cheek. "It's just the two of us again," she whispered, before shutting her eyes.