DISCLAIMER 1:
This story is in the general category, I guess.
Violence: Same as the series.
Subtext: Same as the series.
Timeline: Season 1 probably.

DISCLAIMER 2:
Where I live X:wp hasn't aired beyond season 3. So I don't know what transpires beyond that point. Yet!

DISCLAIMER3:
Xena, Gabrielle, Argo and all other characters who have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess, together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. Absolutely no copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. All other characters, and the story itself are the sole property of the author. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.

The Eater of Flesh
by Cocke

---

Xena stopped dead in her tracks. Something was not right. She turned slowly, scanning the forest around the narrow road she and Gabrielle had been traveling along. She heard but did not quite register Gabrielle's worried question. As she continued to turn she spotted a man in full armor standing in the road behind them, where none had stood moments ago. Her right hand jumped to the hilt of her sword.

The man calmly observed Xena reach for her blade but although he uncrossed his arms his stance was non-threatening.

With furrowed eyebrows Xena pushed the half drawn sword back into its sheath.
"What do you want," she asked in a harsh voice.

In answer the armored man reached up and removed his helmet. "I would ask your help, Xena."

Recognition dawned on Xena's face. "Oh, it's you."

"Who are you talking to," Gabrielle demanded.

A quick glance at Gabrielle's bewildered face told Xena all she needed to know. She turned back to the man.

"Show yourself!" When he didn't seem to comprehend, she added a short: "To her," and indicated Gabrielle with a wave of her hand.

The man seemed about to say something but instead he moved one hand slightly and the air shimmered briefly around him.

With a gasp Gabrielle took a step back. She had already guessed that it must be a god standing before Xena, and she had assumed it was Ares from the tone in Xena's voice.

"Hades!" She blurted out and quickly slapped a hand over her mouth.

"Satisfied?"

Xena noted the edge in Hades' voice. Upsetting the god of the underworld was probably not a wise thing to do, but she didn't like it when people or gods treated Gabrielle like she wasn't important.

"Forgive me if I don't jump with joy when the ruler of the underworld says he wants my help." She said that for the benefit of Gabrielle who hadn't heard Hades' first utterance.

Hades ignored her comment. "I think you'll want to help me when I tell you what it is, especially since it seems to be true that you no longer are as close with Ares as you used to."

Xena scowled. "I was never close with Ares."

Hades lifted an eyebrow slightly. "Really? All the same, a lot of innocent lives could be lost if we don't act quickly."

"Hades, trying to save lives," Xena said skeptically. "Now that has got to be a first."

"I wonder," Hades replied in a musing voice. "Why it is that mortals conceive of me as evil and foul. I represent after all a natural part of life."

"That's one way of putting it," Gabrielle mumbled making a face.

Hades turned sharply towards Gabrielle. "What was that?"

Gabrielle's face paled. "Uh, nothing. I was just clearing my throat." She put on an innocent smile.

"So are you going to tell me what it is you need help with," Xena said trying to draw Hades attention away from Gabrielle.

Hades gaze swiveled back to Xena. "Certainly." He made a slight pause as if he was looking for the right words. "Someone escaped from my realm, and I want you to help me return him to where he belongs."

"I thought that was supposed to be impossible. Anyway, why don't you bring him back yourself?"

Hades started pacing slowly. "It's not that easy I'm afraid. While in my realm I had total power over him but it is offset by my total lack of power in the mortal realm."

"I didn't know you were powerless in the mortal realm," Gabrielle said, an interested expression on her face.

Xena quickly shot Gabrielle a warning glance.

The dark god stopped and turned to face Gabrielle. "I'm not."

"If someone manages to escape your grasp maybe he deserves a second chance," Xena suggested pointedly.

Hades nodded. "Maybe, but this is not a second chance."

"You mean he has escaped before," Gabrielle asked incredulously.

"Not exactly, no." Hades answered.

Xena threw her arms up in the air. "Enough of this! There is something you're not telling us. If you want our help I suggest you tell us what's really going on."

Hades seemed to be considering Xena's demand. "You're right," he said finally. "Have you heard of a being called Eurynomus?"

"The mother of the graces," Xena said doubtfully.

"No, you're thinking of Eurynome," Gabrielle interjected.

Xena gave Gabrielle a questioning look but she shook her head in reply. Xena turned back to Hades. "In that case, no I haven't." She felt Gabrielle moving close to her.

"Xena he said being," Gabrielle whispered anxiously.

Xena's eyes narrowed. "Exactly what manner of a creature is this Eurynomus?"

"He is a demon," Hades replied in a flat voice.

"Great! You let a demon run loose and now you want us to catch him for you. Ever heard of the expression, cleaning up your own mess?" Xena fixed her steely gaze on Hades.

Gabrielle couldn't believe that Xena would talk to a god like that, let alone Hades. She was so unbelievably brave and… A cold hand of terror gripped Gabrielle when she saw the expression on Hades' face. Without thinking she took a step forward and leveled her staff.
"Don't you dare touch her," she heard herself say. She didn't take her eyes off Hades but out of the corner of her eye she saw Xena look at her with a perplexed expression on her face. "What?"

"Nothing," Xena replied in an innocent voice and turned back to Hades. "How can it be that you have no power over a creature from Hades?"

Hades sighed. "I told you, it's about balance. I have no power over him in the mortal realm because he was never supposed to be here."

Suddenly feeling a bit silly, Gabrielle lowered her staff and stepped back again. "But how did he escape then?"

"I don't know right now, but believe me when I say that I aim to find out. Right now it's more important to bring him back though."

"Well, we can't just ask him nicely I suppose," Xena said. "So what do we do? Kill him?"

Gabrielle winced at how callously Xena said that, even if it was a demon. Maybe she was being silly but she couldn't help it.

"Yes, that would probably be best. He is immortal but if you slay him in the mortal realm his essence will return to Tartarus and then he is mine," Hades replied grimly. "Unfortunately it might not be so easy. He is a rather terrifying creature I'm afraid."

"If it's possible we'll do it," Xena replied with a confidence she didn't quite feel. "Is there something else we should know?"

Hades looked down for a moment before returning Xena's gaze. "Eurynomus, what he did … In Tartarus I mean. He ate the flesh of the corpses. I'm very much afraid that if we don't get him soon he might acquire a taste for the living."

Gabrielle turned visibly pale at Hades' last admonition, and even the warrior princess herself looked a bit taken aback.

Hades quickly continued. "I know Eurynomus is headed into the valley ahead. There is a village down there, it could get ugly."

Gabrielle's expression turned into one of horror. "That valley is at least a days travel from here. Are you sure there is nothing you can do?"

"I think," Hades said, suddenly looking preoccupied. "…That you'll get there in time if you ride hard."

"That could be a problem," Xena replied.

"No!" Gabrielle interrupted. "You mustn't think about me Xena."

Xena motioned for Gabrielle to be quiet and addressed Hades again. "Can't you transport us to the village or something."

But Hades, who seemed to be staring into space seeing something other than mortal eyes could discern, gave no indication that he had heard Xena's question.

Xena glanced at Gabrielle who in turn shrugged her shoulders. Xena was just about to repeat her question when Hades suddenly let out a loud curse.

In a pure reflex Xena drew her sword and crouched into a defensive position. There was an unmistakable but indefinable sense of danger.

Hades's shout had stunned Gabrielle but seeing Xena's familiar movements, she recovered her senses. She took a firmer grip on her staff and followed Xena's gaze with her own, trusting to the warrior's superior instincts.

"So it's you," Hades exclaimed. He quickly donned his helmet and then the air around him started to shimmer. An instant later he was gone.

Still poised for an imminent attack Xena started to circle. Hades' reaction coupled with the fact that she couldn't pinpoint the source of the threat told her it was not of this world.

Gabrielle sensed her companion's nervousness, which made her all but frantic. Anything that could scare Xena must be truly frightening. "Xena what is it? What do you see?"

"I don't see anything, I don't hear anything, I…" Xena let the sentence trail off. Her eyes narrowed as she concentrated on the feeling of danger. It was diminishing, and almost before she finished the though it was completely gone. She stood up and returned her blade to its sheath. "It's gone," she said to Gabrielle.

Looking uncertain Gabrielle relaxed her stance. "What was it? Where did Hades go? Did it get him?"

Xena held up a hand. "Slow down Gabrielle. Let's see. I don't now what it was but it felt really bad. I don't know where Hades went, probably back to the underworld and what was the last question."

"Never mind," Gabrielle said shaking her head. "What are we going to do now? Do you think it was Eurynomus that Hades saw? How are we…" She faltered in the middle of the sentence when she noticed Xena watching her intently. "To many questions again," she asked sheepishly.

Xena nodded, but couldn't quite suppress a smile. Her face quickly grew somber again, however, when she remembered why Hades had sought them out.

"I guess we should move on, we need to reach that valley as soon as possible." She pondered the situation. The fastest way to get there was for her to ride there as fast as Argo could carry her. She could take Gabrielle on the horse but both Argo and Gabrielle would be miserable and it would take a lot longer. The best alternative was probably that they took turns riding and running. Her train of thought was interrupted by Gabrielle.

"If you're trying to work out a way to reach that village and it includes me riding really fast,
you can forget it."

"Listen Gabrielle, this is serious we must get there as quickly as possible."

"I know, that's exactly why you must take Argo and ride ahead. I will catch up with you."

Xena shook her head. "No, I don't want to leave you here when there are demons and who knows what else running about."

"You heard what Hades said, Eurynomus is headed into the valley. That's where the danger is and that's where you must go. Believe me when I say I don't want to let you go off and face this alone, but it is the only way you can get there in time." Gabrielle saw that Xena was hesitating and thought it best to press on before the stubborn warrior dug herself in again. "It's not like I can't take care of myself for a day and that village really needs you. They don't even know what's coming."

Xena sighed. "I guess you're right, but I don't like it, " she said pointedly.

"Duly noted," Gabrielle replied with a smile. "I'll run like the wind. Just you wait, I'll get there before that pesky demon and then we can kick him back to Tartarus together."

"Maybe," Xena said skeptically.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Go on, shoo!" Gabrielle gestured at Xena in a way that the hens at her old home in Potidaea always had found very suggestive. To her great surprise Xena did too.

The warrior quickly swung up onto her horse, then seeming to remember something, she turned in the saddle. "Just one thing. Back there with Hades, were you going to protect me?"

Rolling her eyes Gabrielle nodded. "Yes…"

"Against Hades?"

"Yes!"

"Ok, just checking. You better not get yourself into any trouble while I'm gone or you'll be sorry," Xena said with a wide grin.

"Yeah, right back at you."

With a battlecry Xena kicked Argo into a gallop and thundered off down the path.

"Show off," Gabrielle mumbled to herself, a fond smile creeping onto her lips. She wondered why it was that Xena always assumed she had the right to risk her life for Gabrielle, but if Gabrielle tried to do her the same favor she started foaming at the mouth. That was definitively something that she had to straighten out with her friend when this was all over. She heaved a small sigh and started walking in the direction Xena had disappeared.

***

Gabrielle had resolved to walk all through the night. That way, she figured, she would be arriving in the village early the next morning. She was smiling when she though about the surprised expression Xena would be wearing when she realized how fast Gabrielle had reached the village. Gabrielle wanted nothing more than for Xena to be proud of her. Suddenly the real reason for her haste came back to her and she felt a guilty twinge. How selfish of her to think about her own accomplishment when a great many people's lives were at stake including Xena's.

Normally she didn't get scared anymore, like she used to, when Xena was fighting. But this time it wasn't no ordinary thug she was up against, and worse Gabrielle wouldn't be there. That was unless she put her mind to walking and nothing else. Determinedly she continued on with a new spring in her step.

Darkness had fallen many hours ago. It seemed to Gabrielle that she had been stumbling around in the darkness forever. She was so tired, but somehow her legs just kept on moving and she followed along as best she could. Hold out Xena I'm coming, she thought.

However, when she stumbled and almost fell for the third time in a short while she finally stopped. That village must have been further away than she thought, or maybe she wasn't walking as fast as she should have. She thought her pace had been rather good, at least until now. Spying a meadow next to a winding creek, she decided that she might as well make camp before she fell asleep on the road. There wasn't much to her camp though, she drank some water from the creek, rolled out her blanket and fell down on it. The sun would be up soon so she figured there was no need for a fire. Just a few hours, she told herself. She'd do better when it wasn't so dark. Her last thought was that Xena would have chided her for not examining the possibility to defend her campsite against a surprise attack.

***

Riding away from Gabrielle, Xena inwardly cursed herself for teasing the young bard. She so admired the bravery of her companion. Xena got a lump in her throat when she thought about Gabrielle's challenge to Hades. No matter how many times she resolved to tell Gabrielle how much she cherished her companionship it always turned out that somehow she didn't. She was looking for the right moment, but always she waited too long and the moment was passed. And then she resolved not to miss the next moment. In a sudden fit of anger she kicked at Argo's flanks urging the horse to greater speed.

Argo responded by increasing her pace but she also snorted and shook her head to show her displeasure.

"Sorry, my friend. I'm at fault and yet I make you suffer." She quickly reined Argo in and set a slower trotting pace. If she was going to reach the village before night, she needed to conserve Argo's strength.

Xena decided to calm herself down by considering the upcoming fight. It was unfortunate that Hades hadn't told her anymore about this demon. How large was it? What weapons did it favor, if any? Did it have any weaknesses that could be exploited? He ate the flesh of the corpses, Hades had said. Somehow that thought chilled Xena to the bone. What carnage couldn't such a creature wreck on an unsuspecting village? She had to get there in time; she just had to.

After a few hours she dropped off Argo and jogged alongside the horse. Since she didn't know from what direction the demon approached she would have to wait for it near the village. Then she would try to lure it away from the village somehow, preferably to some spot that she had previously scouted out that would allow her to ambush the demon as it followed her. This was all great in theory, but plans seldom survived the first encounter with the enemy. Still a plan was always better than no plan at all, and the simpler the better. Pity it would be dark when she arrived. It would be hard to carry out her plan in the darkness. But until she knew more about the demon and the layout of the village this would have to suffice as a plan. As darkness fell she mounted again and thankful for the surefootedness of her steed, she continued on.

***

Someone was gently brushing away Gabrielle's tears, and she knew it was Xena. She leaned her head against the leatherclad chest, reveling in the familiar smell of Xena and her armor. But the smell was all wrong, it was acrid, smelling like something charred.

"What …" Gabrielle started to get up on one elbow, blinking away the tears trying to see clearly.

Xena put a hand on Gabrielle's chest trying to keep her down but Gabrielle ignored it.

The sun was low behind Xena, and Gabrielle squinted trying to make out her friend's visage.

The warrior looked away in an uncharacteristic way.

Anxiety started to grip Gabrielle. "What is it Xena? Why won't you look at me?" Something was wrong with Xena's hair she realized. She lifted her free hand to touch it. A jolt of excruciating pain shot through her.

Gabrielle awoke with a shriek of pain frozen on her lips. It was dark around her. She gripped her wounded arm and tried too look around for Xena. Then it hit her. It was only a dream, a nightmare. She gingerly flexed her left arm. It had felt so real, but there was nothing wrong with her arm. She fell back on her blankets and let out her breath in a rush. That was too real, almost like a premonition.

When her breathing had settled down to normal, she noticed a sound that didn't fit in with her surroundings. There was the bubbling and spluttering of the creek and intermingled with it was another sound, the sound of someone crying. Gabrielle jumped up and hurried to the creek, reaching it in a few heartbeats. She strained to pick up the sound of crying again, but it was gone.

"Xena," she said tentatively. "Is that you?" Slowly, she started to walk downstream. Get a grip girl, she told herself. Xena was in the village making sure … Taking care of business. Someone else was crying out here in the night, though, a woman unless Gabrielle was totally mistaken.

A moment later, she caught a furtive movement, further ahead. Quietly she lowered herself looking for a silhouette against the slightly lighter sky, like Xena had taught her. She noticed that the sun was about to come up. That meant she had only just fallen asleep. However, before she could think of a good curse she spied the source of the crying.
"Whoever you are I mean you no harm," she said gently. "I heard you crying and I just wondered if there was anything I could do."
There was some slight movement from the shadow ahead, but Gabrielle decided to wait. But if the woman ran, should Gabrielle follow or let her go.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize anyone was here."

The voice that floated out of the darkness was little more than a whisper and Gabrielle had to strain to make out the words.

There was a bit of sniffling and the sound of someone getting up. "I'll move away a bit. I'm really sorry I woke you up."

"Wait!" Gabrielle cast about for something to say that would make the mysterious woman stay. "You didn't wake me up, I had a nightmare, it woke me up. I was crying," she finished a bit lamely. Nice going Gabrielle, now she'll think you're a nut.

But the woman stayed, seemingly waiting for Gabrielle to say something else.

Gabrielle couldn't think of anything else to talk about except her own fears. "I miss my friend. I mean that she's not here, she went ahead to the next village …"

"To Dipaea, " the woman interrupted.

"Yes, that's right. Do you know it?"

"I live there, or I used to."

"What happened," Gabrielle asked and slowly inched closer to the stranger.

"Oh it's a stupid story, you don't want to hear it."

"Tell you what, I swap you my silly story for your one. What do you say?"

"I don't know, I should be moving on. And it's not safe to be with me, you should go look for your friend."

Gabrielle's instincts as a bard told her this was a story she wanted to hear, and she was not going to let this woman carry it all by herself. "My friend is a big mean warrior who can take care of herself." She noticed the sun was just under the horizon. "Anyway, I was about to get some breakfast. 'You hungry?"

The woman was hesitating, clearly tempted by Gabrielle's offer.

As the sun rose Gabrielle moved up to the woman and gently put a hand on her arm. "Come on, my camp is just over there and I'm a pretty good cook." She fired off her most hospitable smile.

With a tired smile and a small nod the woman acquiesced.

"Great! I'm Gabrielle, welcome to my humble and slightly disorganized camp," she gestured towards her bedroll and pack.

"Thank you Gabrielle, my name is Leaina."

While Gabrielle set about to arrange some food she studied the young woman sitting on her rolled up blankets. She was older than Gabrielle but not that much. She was about Gabrielle's height and quite slender as far as Gabrielle could discern. It wasn't easy to judge under all that cloth. Moreover, the woman's clothes kept distracting Gabrielle from the woman herself. They were absolutely lovely. Her himation was a stunning blue with exquisite embroidery, and the chiton she wore underneath was a wonderful red color that Gabrielle didn't quite know how to describe. It was a sort of pinkish, red something.

As Leaina wearily brushed the hair out of her face, Gabrielle noticed that she had very dark hair that framed her face beautifully, like Xena. Thinking about Xena's hair made Gabrielle remember her strange dream. It had spooked her good, and she had to admit it still gave her concern. To take her mind off it she decided to tell her silly story. Not much of story yet, she though. However, it might turn out to be quite a tale by the time it was finished and Gabrielle had a sneaking suspicion that this mysterious woman, and her story, would fit into it somehow.

***

Xena reined in Argo on a small hill and observed the village of Dipaea that lay just ahead. It looked quiet enough, and the few twinkling lights showed that it wasn't deserted.

"Looks like we're not too late," Xena whispered to Argo, who only shifted her ears slightly at the sound of her mistress voice. Riding slowly into the village, her senses focused, she didn't notice anything amiss. She steered Argo to a tavern and dropped quietly to the ground. There was the sound of music and laughter coming from the tavern, which she took as a good sign.

"I'll just have a quick look around and then I'll fix you up," she told Argo and patted the horse.

The warhorse swung her head around and nuzzled at Xena's shoulder.

The atmosphere in the tavern was one of good cheer. Xena concluded that Eurynomus hadn't been here and nobody knew he was coming. She debated with herself whether it would be better to alert the villagers or not. The fair thing to do was to warn them but on the other hand, it would probably cause a panic. People trying to leave in the middle of the night and the demon might not even come here. That was if anyone would believe her. Xena only had Hades' rather sketchy words to go on. She didn't think he would lie, but what if the demon decided to go somewhere else. Unless… Hades knew it was coming here for some specific reason. Xena found herself wishing for a certain chatty bard. Gabrielle had a knack for finding things out. People opened up to her in a way that amazed Xena. Or rather it didn't. Gabrielle even got her to talk, well sometimes at least. And that was no mean feat. If someone could have dug up a reason for a demon to visit this sleepy little village, Gabrielle would have. She went outside again to take care of her horse. She moved Argo to a stable and hastily removed saddle and tack.

"Sorry girl, I don't have time to take care of you properly tonight."

Argo snorted in response.

She left her pack next to Argo and went outside to have a better look at the village. It looked much like any other small village in Arcadia. The stable was behind the tavern which faced the village square. As she came around to the front of the tavern she spotted the dark silhouette of a well in the center of the square. She imagined the square would be filled with stalls and carts on market days, but now it was quiet and deserted.

While she moved through the dark and mostly silent village she continued to ponder what to do. She couldn't set up a good ambush in the dark; in fact it would be hard enough spotting someone nearing the village if they approached with stealth. Not that she thought a demon from Tartarus would use stealth, but preconceptions like that could prove to be dangerous. That led her to the next problem, guarding. If she stayed up all night she would be too tired to fight properly tomorrow. But if the demon arrived in the dead of the night and Xena was asleep… That was just not on. She would have to sleep very lightly and uncomfortably, like in the old days. Not that she usually slept soundly, but she did find sleep relaxing these days. It used to be this dark period when she had to let her guard slip.

There was light spilling out from behind closed shutters around the village, but already there were more dark windows than when she arrived. People were settling in for the night. She spared a thought for Gabrielle, sleeping alone in the forest, or maybe she would go on until she cleared the forest. The girl was certainly stubborn enough. A slight feeling of worry lodged itself in Xena's chest. If Gabrielle got too close to the village she might encounter the demon on her own. She turned in the direction Gabrielle would be, staring out into the night. All things considered, it was highly unlikely that Gabrielle would come across the demon, and she had proved on many occasions that she was capable of looking after herself. With a shake of her head she turned towards the tavern.

When she entered the tavern, people were starting to leave for the night. The owner was quite surprised when Xena didn't want a bed for herself, just stabling for her horse. He seemed genuinely concerned, probably thought Xena was short on dinars and spent her last on her horse. Xena figured she probably would have.

She ordered some soup and bread, which she wolfed down. A habit she had tried to break because Gabrielle didn't like it. No sense in upsetting your cook. Saying that to Gabrielle would probably have had her ducking the frying pan next. The thought brought a brief smile to Xena's lips.

After accepting a blanket from the hospitable tavern owner she returned to the cool night outside. The sky was clear and full of stars. No moon, but at least it wasn't totally dark. She found a good spot near the center of the village and sat down against a large oak. Pulling the blanket up to her neck, she settled down for a long night.

Xena awoke suddenly. Only her eyes moved as she tried to find out what had awoken her, but there was nothing. Not seeing anything Xena concentrated on her other senses. It was the smell, she noticed first. Something smelt acrid. She turned her head slowly. The faintest of sounds was coming from the north. Shedding her blanket Xena stood up and started to move north, quiet as a shadow.

As she slowly made her way through the silent village she had a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. There was no way to put it into words but she knew the demon had arrived. The acrid smell was getting stronger and when she poked her head around the corner of the building she was creeping up along, she saw a dark shape standing outside a house right across from her. It was human sized and seemed to be wearing a hooded cloak. Xena wished she had drawn her blade earlier. The sound might give her away.

As she considered her options, the hooded figure headed for the door of the house. It was too late to come up with anything fancy. Xena stepped boldly into the street and drew her blade in one strong motion, making sure it gave off an ominous sound. "Where are you going friend." Her emphasis on the last word rang out like a challenge.

The dark shape whirled around. From inside its dark cowl came an unearthly red glow.

Xena started to circle around the demon, slowly pulling away, hoping to draw the demon away from the village.

It turned its head following Xena's movements but otherwise didn't move.

"You don't belong here and I aim to send you back to Tartarus," Xena taunted while she slowly continued backing away down the street.

When Xena stopped circling, the dark figure didn't move at all. It just stood there, watching.

Damn you! Follow me. Xena stopped. This wasn't working. She had been sure it would charge her head on as soon as she showed herself. She would have been much happier if it had.

The cloaked figure suddenly seemed to loose interest in Xena and turned back to regard
the building before it.

There is something about that house, Xena thought.

The dark shape started for the door again.

"Oh no you don't." Xena exploded into action like a tightly wound steel spring being released. Letting loose her war cry she sprinted towards the dark shape of the demon.

It turned but too late, Xena was already airborne.

She executed the summersault and twist without fault and landed behind the demon facing it. She put all her strength behind a blow aimed at where she imagined the creature's neck would be, not knowing what to expect. The blow connected solidly.

The demon didn't even have time to scream as its head fell to the ground with a muted thud. An instant later its body crashed to the ground.

Xena was breathing heavily even though she had only struck a single blow. "Well, that was easier than I though, " she mumbled distractedly. She noticed that the village was still quiet. "I guess rampaging demons isn't big news around here." She shrugged and turned to the house. "Now I wonder who lives here." She went up to the door and knocked. The door swung inward on silent hinges. Gripping her sword firmly Xena made her way inside.

Out in the street the dead body twitched.

***

Gabrielle began her story by telling of the strange meeting with Hades.

A gasp escaped Leaina at the mention of Hades. "You really met…"

"Hades, yes," Gabrielle filled in.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. Please go on."

Gabrielle smiled. "It's ok, and it really was very strange. Anyway, I was afraid Xena had really angered Hades when she said…"

"Xena! Your travel companion is Xena?"

Gabrielle nodded enthusiastically.

"The warrior princess?"

"Yes the same, but she's nothing like what you've probably heard." She frowned. "I can't believe I didn't introduce one of the principal characters. Sheesh, and I'm supposed to be a bard." She rolled her eyes. "I'll have to blame the early hour. It's not my best time of day you see, certainly not where telling stories are concerned."

"Oh no it was fine, please go on."

Taking a deep breath, Gabrielle proceeded to tell Leaina about the rest of the meeting with Hades. She did however exclude her own rather embarrassing challenge to Hades." Poetic license, she thought. However, she just knew that if she told this story while Xena was present the damn woman would see fit to mention it.

Gabrielle got so caught up in her tale that she didn't notice that Leaina blanched and almost dropped her food when Gabrielle told her of the demon that was threatening the village in the valley ahead.
"Well, that's it, so far anyways. Not really a good story yet but…" She fell silent when she noticed Leaina's white face. "It wasn't that bad, was it?" She asked with a frown and a crooked grin.

Leaina shook herself out of some private thought. "No. No, it was fine… It's just that…"

Things were suddenly starting to fall into place in Gabrielle's mind.
"Leaina, do you know something about this?"

Leaina was mouthing a protest but it died on her lips, instead she nodded and cast her eyes down.

"Yes."

The whisper was barely audible.

"What is it Leaina? Is the demon looking for you?" A silent nod answered her question. Gabrielle put a hand to her mouth to suppress a gasp. "But why? How?"

Leaina looked up tears starting to form in her eyes. "It's so stupid, it's all my fault."

Gabrielle moved over and sat next to the distraught woman. She put her arm comfortingly around Leaina's shoulders. "Tell me," she said simply.

Leaina didn't speak. She just sat there trying to hold the tears back.

Wise beyond her years in matters such as these, Gabrielle didn't push. She waited patiently although another part of her mind was screaming that this could be information that Xena needed, needed badly maybe.

Her dream came back to her again, so vivid so clear. Xena turning away, the strange and bitter smell, the pain in her arm. Involuntarily her left arm jerked when she remembered the sharp pain.

Leaina mistook Gabrielle's sudden motion for a prompt to go on. "I'm a tailor by trade," she started weakly.

"No wonder you have such wonderful clothes," Gabrielle exclaimed.

A slight smile touched Leaina's lips. "Thank you. However, it is because of them I'm here. I was waiting on a customer two days ago, taking measurements and discussing fabrics. Suddenly a very beautiful and… Imperious woman stormed into my shop and demanded service." She stopped and glanced at Gabrielle to see if she was listening.

Gabrielle gave a slight nod.

"I told her that I'd be with her shortly, as soon as I finished with the current customer. But she said that she hadn't come to wait for some stupid peasant. That made me kind of mad but I tried again to explain that if she just looked around my shop for a little while, perhaps picking out some fabrics…" She let the sentence trail off.

"She didn't like that, I take it?"

"No she didn't. She started screaming insults at the other customer and me. She said I would be really sorry if I didn't attend to her at once. Now I was quite upset and told her to leave my shop before I threw her out. And then she said… She said…"

"She was a goddess," Gabrielle volunteered. "Who was it? Aphrodite? Hera?"

Leaina gave Gabrielle a surprised look. "How did you know?"

"Oh it sounded like something a goddess would do. Well, some goddesses, not all of them are nasty like that. So which one was it?"

"It was Eris. Oh Gabrielle, she said she would make me suffer worse than death." The young woman grabbed Gabrielle's arm. "Anyone close to me will be in danger as well. You see now why you mustn't stay here with me?"

"Yes," Gabrielle mumbled trying to make the pieces come together in her mind. Direct violence wasn't usually Eris' way, at least according to the stories Gabrielle knew. And if Eris had said …suffer worse than death. She turned to Leaina. "Did she mention Eurynomus?"

"Who?"

"Eurynomus, the demon. Did she mention it?"

Leaina shook her head. "No, but it must be coming for me. You said it was going to Dipaea, why else would it be going there."

"I guess." Gabrielle hesitated. Something didn't quite fit. "Did Eris say that those close to you were going to be punished also?"

"Yes. Well, she said that I would be weeping for my anyone close to me."

A thought dawned on Gabrielle, one she didn't like at all. "Did… Do you have anyone special in Dipaea," she asked hesitantly.

"What, like a sweetheart?"

Gabrielle nodded. Afraid that Leaina would make the same deduction that she had.

"Yes, there is someone," Leaina admitted a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "Neoptolemo is his name. Oh, I hadn't thought about him, he will be heartbroken when he finds me gone."

"Lets hope that's all that is broken," Gabrielle mumbled quietly to herself.

"Could you take a message to him Gabrielle?"

"Sure, just be quick writing it. I'd like to get started as soon as possible." She started to get up.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to push you. You shouldn't be going there, it's not safe."

"Oh but I have to, Xena is there."

"Sorry, I forgot about that. I can't believe that you are friends with Xena. You're so lovely and…"

Gabrielle turned on Leaina. "And what? Have you ever met her," she asked angrily. The way people always assumed that Xena was a monster sometimes got to her. It was so unfair.

Leaina's eyes widened at Gabrielle's outburst. "No, it's just that I heard…"

"Well you heard wrong. Xena is my friend and she is a very nice person."

"I'm terribly sorry Gabrielle I didn't mean to offend you or your friend. Please say that you'll forgive me."

Gabrielle's anger evaporated instantly. "I'm sorry too, it's not like me to get so upset but you can't imagine how often I hear things like that about Xena." She flashed Leaina a smile.

Leaina returned the smile tentatively.

"How far is Dipaea," Gabrielle asked, hoping it wouldn't be far.

"It's just over that hill," Leaina replied, turning and pointing east.

"What! You mean I was that close." This time she did remember a rather good curse. Quickly she dug a piece of a scroll, a quill and some ink out of her pack. She handed them over to Leaina. "Just write down your message on this." She looked expectantly at Leaina. Realizing she was being a bit pushy she hastily added: "I'll pack up while you do it." She collected the eating utensils and headed towards the creek to clean them.

She had only taken a few steps when she heard the sound of breaking crockery. She turned and saw the inkpot lying broken on the ground. Ink had splattered all over Leaina's lovely himation. Gabrielle quickly forgot about Leaina's clothes when she saw her face. It was drained of blood and her lips were trembling.

Leaina was staring at the ground before her. "It's him isn't it? Eris is going to punish me by taking my love from me. She raised her head and looked straight into Gabrielle's eyes. "The demon is going to Dipaea to kill Neoptolemo."

Gabrielle tried to think of something to say but with Leaina's eyes on her she couldn't come up with anything. She nodded mutely.

Burying her face in her hands, Leaina started to sob.

"But I could be wrong," Gabrielle added quickly. "And Xena is there, she won't let the demon hurt anyone." She tried to sound optimistic but she could tell she wasn't doing a very good job.

"What can she do, she's only a woman," Leaina sobbed.

"I can tell you have never seen Xena in action. She's not just a woman. Still, I should get there as soon as possible. She would want to know about this."

"I'm coming with you."

"Oh no!" Gabrielle shook her head vigorously. "I don't think that would be a good idea. The demon might be looking for you and…"

Leaina stood. "I'm coming and there's no way you can stop me."

Gabrielle took one look at Leaina's determined face and sighed. "All right, lets get going then."

***

It was pitch black inside the house away from the door. Xena carefully navigated to the nearest window and parted the heavy drapes. It was still dark but she could see enough to tell this was a shop of some kind. Moving towards another window her hand fell on a soft bundle. Cloth. Yes that fitted with the smell, Xena thought. A dark shape made her freeze. Her eyes narrowed. She moved forward and patted the dummy. A dressmaker. Why would the demon come here? Surely it wasn't looking for an outfit. Xena smiled to herself in the dark as she sheathed her sword.

There was a slight draft. Her head whipped around towards the door. The floor was trembling. Instinctively she dove for the side window, and then there was pandemonium. As she flew through the window the entire front of the building evaporated in a thunderous crash. Debris was flying everywhere. Xena landed in a heap outside, entangled in the heavy drapes. The sharp edge of her boot dagger cut trough the cloth and she sprang to her feet. She stared in disbelief at the house. The front had totally collapsed. Her eyes darted to the street where the demon had fallen. The body was gone.
Xena cursed herself for a fool. She should have known it wouldn't be that easy.

There was another crash as the demon emerged back out into the street. It turned its head from side to side, obviously searching.

It didn't look anything like before. It was a good seven feet tall not counting the horns, which were curved forward and looked quite sharp. Its body was hugely muscular and covered with weird spiky outgrowths. The color of its skin was a lifeless gray which reminded Xena of a corpse. Even with its back turned it was easy to see the unnatural glow emanating from its eyes.

Xena's hand found its way to the silvery circlet at her hip and her fingers closed around it briefly, but she let it go it in favor of her sword. As she started to move forward she could hear confused yells from people who had been awoken by the noise. Good they'll distract the demon, she thought and hated herself for thinking it. As soon as she neared the entrance of the alley, however, the demon turned around and saw her.

Xena quickly moved out into the open so she wouldn't get trapped if it charged. "I thought you were dead."

The demon answered with a deafening roar, which felt like a blow and enveloped Xena in a searing heat.

Xena staggered back a few steps. She could see now that the glow wasn't coming from the eyes but rather from inside its huge maw.

"Is that the best you can do," she said with a predatory grin. She planted her feet firmly; determined not to be caught off guard again.

The demon moved forward a few steps and tilted its head slightly as if to gain a better view of Xena.
"Are you a goddess?" Its voice was harsh, brutal and full of wonder.

"No I'm not, but…" Xena started.

"Then DIE!" The Demon lowered its head and charged.

Xena jumped aside but not fast enough, one horn caught her shoulder.

With a powerful twist of its head, the demon threw her into the air.

Curling her body up, Xena landed on the other shoulder and rolled with the fall ending up on her feet. Her right arm was feeling numb from the blow, and something was wrong with her breastplate but she didn't have time to check it out. She barely avoided being gored a second time when the demon charged again. She revised her opinion about being out in the open. She needed some cover, and fast. While the demon recovered from its last charge, she ran between two buildings. Continuing around to the backside she spied a cart near the back wall. With two quick jumps she was on the roof. She dropped flat on her stomach just as the demon appeared.

It stomped right passed her, pushing the cart aside as if it was a toy.

Without hesitation Xena jumped up and uttering her war cry she leapt straight at the demons back.

Her blow was aimed to cleave its skull in half but the demon managed to deflect the blow with an upraised arm. As Xena landed agilely the demon howled with pain. A huge gash ran across its left arm oozing black blood. It slashed at Xena with its uninjured arm but Xena nimbly dodged and stabbed at its midsection. The demons blow however, having missed its mark, caused it to turn and Xena's sword glanced off its bone-plated hide.

Xena danced away. "Well, at least we're even now," she mumbled to herself. A quick glance at the sky told her that the sun was starting to come up. As the demon lunged again she jumped aside and swung at one of its legs.

It was quicker than she had thought and avoided her blow at the same time as it landed a cruel blow to her left side. The force of it threw her to ground and the demon tried to follow up by squashing her head with its foot.

She managed to roll out of the way just in time and jumped to her feet. With a grimace she clasped one hand to her side. The demon's claws had ripped right through her armor but it had only grazed her skin, or so she though. Her hand however came away stained with blood. Seeing her own blood only served to make Xena furious. She wiped the blood off her hand and gripped the sword anew.

***

Ares saw the telltale glimmer out of the corner of his eye, but he didn't look up. He already knew who it was.

"You must help me Ares," the woman demanded almost before she became visible. She was dressed in all black, matching her lips and her raven colored hair. She would have been beautiful but for the disdainful sneer that seemed to be permanently etched on her face.

Ares pretended to examine a scroll carefully. "Greetings to you as well." He looked up. "Dear sister."

Eris strode up to his throne. "Stop playing games Ares. I'm in trouble and I need your help."

Feigning surprise, Ares rose from the throne. "You, in trouble? How can it be?" He walked slowly away from the throne. "Let me guess. Someone got angry and let loose a demon in the mortal realm. Zeus got angry with Hades because the demon was his. And Hades became down right furious." He turned back and gave Eris a questioning look. "That about sum it up?"

Eris treated her brother to a disgusted grimace. "Who would have thought Zeus would get so upset over mortals, and I didn't know the damnable demon couldn't be controlled. And I was tricked. He told me Eurynomus was perfect for the task."

"Who told you?"

"Thanatos." She spit it out like it was something disgusting she had just discovered in her mouth.

Ares laughed. "Oh I see. Thanatos wanted to discredit Hades before the other gods, hoping to wrest the underworld away from him. And all he needed was a fallguy, sorry girl." He laughed again.

"I'm so happy I can entertain you but this is not amusing. I'm in serious trouble. Hades is out for blood you know."

Ares made a dismissive gesture. "Relax, look here. He walked over to a large stone font and touched the water lightly. When the ripples died out the blank surface flickered and turned into a scene showing a demonic figure fighting a female warrior."

Eris approached and looked into the font. "What is it?"

Ares smiled fondly. "Xena. She's fighting Eurynomus."

"Can she beat it," Eris asked eagerly.

"I don't know," Ares answered pondering. "Oh, did you see that move? I think I'm going ringside." He turned to Eris. "Coming?"

Eris gave him a haughty stare. "I'll stay here if you don't mind."

"Suit yourself."

"Hey, what about…" Eris stamped her foot in anger as Ares disappeared.

***

"There it is, Dipaea." Leaina pointed ahead.

Gabrielle squinted her eyes. There looked to be a lot of movement in the village, and wisps of smoke were rising from it. A feeling of anxiety had been growing inside her the closer she got to Dipaea.
"Come on, let's run." She didn't wait for an answer from Leaina.

When Gabrielle entered the village she found she had been right. There was indeed a lot of activity in the village. People were running everywhere. Some were packing their belongings on carts and donkeys, some were putting out fires and some seemed to be trying to organize a defense. Everyone was running and shouting. Gabrielle walked up to a young man who was trying to put out a fire.

She didn't feel comfortable asking if a demon was responsible for all the chaos.
"Excuse me. What has happened here?"

The harrowed looking youth didn't stop his frenetic attempts to beat out the fire. But he managed to confirm Gabrielle's fears in clipped sentences. A terrifying monster had appeared in the village just before sunrise. It had run around the village destroying anything in its path and setting houses ablaze. A foolish warrior woman had tried to fight it but with little success.

Calling Xena foolish earned the young man a nasty glare from Gabrielle but he didn't notice as he continued to beat ineffectually at the fire.

"Well what happened? Where did it go? And where is the warrior?" Gabrielle asked in an exasperated voice.

"She ran away and it chased her. Praise the gods."

"Where? Where did they go?"

The young man pointed vaguely to the north.

"Thanks, oh and you should stop that, it doesn't work. Get some people and start a line from the well." Gabrielle turned towards the village square and whistled loudly. She managed to get several peoples attention. "Hey! If you don't get this fire under control the entire village could burn to the ground. Get some buckets or something and start a line." To her surprise most of them immediately followed her order. Maybe leading people wasn't so difficult. She had more important things on her mind however. She was just about to run north when someone called her name.

It was Leaina, who had finally reached the village.

"They went north." Gabrielle pointed. "I'm going after them. You should stay here." Leaina was shouting for her to wait but she knew something bad was about to happen, or already had happened. She ran out of the village and looked around but couldn't see any movement. She figured they must be among the trees lining the stream, and headed towards the nearest ones.

As she neared the trees she heard something large moving. Then she saw it. It was huge and utterly frightening. A voice in her mind screamed for her to run, but she had to stay and look for Xena. At any moment the demon could turn around and spot her. For a heartbeat she was caught in indecision, a flash of her strange dream was what tipped the scales. She had to find Xena. Just the though that Xena had been battling that monstrosity was enough to make her tremble. Looking around, she quickly found some bushes to hide in.

The demon was standing on the bank, looking out across the stream. It shook its head and opened its huge maw letting out a bellow that sent shivers down Gabrielle's spine.

Gabrielle couldn't understand at first what the hideous creature was doing but then she realized it must be afraid of the water. Xena had probably gone across the stream and now it couldn't follow her.

The demon let out one last frustrated bellow, and then it turned around and stomped back towards the village.

Gabrielle knew she should try to warn the villagers, but the demon would surely see her if she tried to run back. She decided it would be better to find Xena and get her to help. As she moved out onto the bank, looking for a good place to cross, a glint of metal caught her eye. Someone was lying in the water, someone in armor.

Gabrielle jumped into the stream, frantic with fear. Oh please don't let her be dead. Please, please, please.

***

Fighting the demon was very frustrating. Xena managed to cut it several times, a couple of times deep, but not enough to hurt it seriously. Every time she thought she had a killing blow it somehow dodged or parried. And the fighting was taking its toll on her as well. The sun had come up and she was still at it. The gash in her side was bleeding, her shoulder hurt and she was limping. She had also found out that the demon could breathe fire. It was after it had started several fires she realized she had to get it out of the village. Miraculously none of the villagers had got hurt during the fighting so far. They were wise enough to stay out of the way. Nevertheless, if the village burned someone was bound to get hurt. She had already tried several times to lure it out of the village, but every time it had stopped following her and returned to the village. Xena was certain it was looking for something or someone.

In the end she managed to land a blow to its face that seemed to make it mad with rage. After that, she found she had no problem making it follow her. In fact it was all she could do just to keep it away from her.

It was mostly open countryside around the village, but a small stream ran by to the north and that was where Xena headed. Trees grew along the banks of the stream and it was their cover she sought.

Xena fought furiously in among the trees, trying to make maximum use of the cover they offered. Eventually however, she found herself with the river at her back. She knew immediately that her situation was precarious and was about to vault into the air when a powerful blow sent her reeling into the stream.

Xena shook her head trying to clear it. She raised her sword to fend of the charge, but it didn't come. The demon was standing on the bank roaring and waving its arms. She took a moment to steady herself and observe the demon. It was staring at the water and roaring with rage.

She realized it couldn't enter the water for some reason. The thought distracted her for an instant. It was enough; she missed the telltale signs of the demon drawing breath. At the last moment she realized what was about to happen and tried to dive out of the way but standing in the water hampered her movements. She was caught in the outer fringe of the blast. It seared her skin, which made her gasp in pain. That was the big mistake.

As the superheated air entered her throat, pain exploded through her and everything went black.

***

The water seemed to willfully resist Gabrielle as she ran trough it. She cursed incoherently at it, demanded that it let her go. With every step she took she became more certain that Xena was dead. Her head was entirely under water. She couldn't breath like that, nobody could, it was impossible.

When she reached the body she threw herself down and grappled desperately with it trying to lift Xena's head out of the water. Xena's face was very pale and her skin felt cold to the touch.

"No! You can't be dead, you promised." She moved her free hand along Xena's body searching for a wound; afraid she would find something horribly savage. But her fingers found only minor wounds. Maybe. She blinked a few tears away and tried to feel Xena's pulse but her hand was shaking and she couldn't find it. She noticed that Xena's left arm was badly seared and covered with blisters. The fires in the village, the demon had caused them, the demon had burned Xena. Gabrielle's thoughts fell, one pushing the next, like pieces in some game. She sat in the cold water gently cradling her friend's head in her lap while numbness slowly entered her body. She should do something, something to save Xena but the world seemed to become fuzzy along the edges and she was not going to leave Xena. Not ever again.

On the bank behind Gabrielle the air shimmered briefly and suddenly Ares stood there looking at the scene in the water. "What's this," he mumbled to himself. He moved along the bank to get a better view of the body although he was pretty certain who's it was. He was right; it was one of his finest disciples. Xena.
He moved his hand in a warrior's salute. "Farewell then stubborn warrior."

The voice hit Gabrielle like a sledgehammer, shattering the numbness that had enveloped her. She looked behind her and saw Ares on the bank, looking smug. "You murdering bastard!" She practically flew out of the water and attacked Ares like a fury.

The startled god took a few steps back while the enraged girl showered him with blows from her tiny fists. He gripped her by the shoulders and moved her an arm's length away. "I don't know what you're talking about, but this is not my doing."

"You're a god, you gods killed her. What had she ever done to you? What?" She tried to break free of Ares' grip, but it was impossible.

"Listen girl, I didn't have anything to do with this," Ares said earnestly. "That demon is Hades' pet. You should take it up with him."

Gabrielle stopped struggling for a moment. "You lie! What are you doing here then? You came here to gloat, didn't you?"

"Xena could have had my blessing had she wanted it. She wouldn't be dead…" Ares stopped as he noticed a slight movement from Xena's body. She was trying to lift her head out of the water. "She lives." He turned Gabrielle around, forcefully. "Look she is not dead after all."

"Xena," Gabrielle breathed. She moved forward, a deep need pulling her. She didn't notice Ares letting go of her.

Xena had struggled up onto one elbow and was coughing and retching.

Gabrielle reached down and helped Xena to her feet. She half supported, half dragged her friend to the bank and put her down as gently as she could. "You gave me such a fright. You… How are you feeling."

Xena opened her mouth and a spasm of pain crossed her face.

"What! What is it?" Gabrielle's voice was full of concern.

Xena gripped her throat while her face twisted into a grimace of pain.

Gabrielle turned to Ares. "What's wrong with her?"

The god of war kneeled down beside the warrior. He moved his hand slowly in the air over Xena's body.
"I think… She has been practicing her fire eating skills. It's not usually wise to breathe in when you're surrounded by fire. You should know that Xena."

"Can't you do something," Gabrielle asked pleadingly.

"Sorry girl. Healing isn't my shtick." He rose calmly brushing some grass from his knee. His gaze turned towards the village where loud crashing and breaking sounds could be heard accompanied by screams. "My, my Eurynomus is really tearing up that village."

"You know its name," Gabrielle said accusingly.

"Hey, I'm a god, of course I know. Well, I guess this fight is over."

Ares disappeared just as Gabrielle rose to her feet. "Hey! Come back here you coward," she shouted. But he was gone. She kneeled at Xena's side again. Gabrielle's hand moved to brush Xena's hair out of her face but she caught herself when she realized there was no need. Xena's eyes were closed and she seemed to have difficulty breathing. Gabrielle was glad Xena had missed her horrified expression, just then. Quickly she composed herself and resolved to put on a brave face. Get a grip on yourself girl, Xena is hurt and she needs you to take care of her, she told herself.

She had a salve for burn wounds in her pack but she had dropped the pack in the village.
"Xena," she said gently. "I need to get a salve for… for your wounds. It's in the village, can you manage?" She was trying desperately to keep the tears back when Xena opened her eyes. Gabrielle couldn't avoid smiling when she saw the fire in those eyes. Xena was not going to give up. She probably didn't know how, Gabrielle thought. "Will you be alright, I'll just be a moment."

Xena nodded but just as Gabrielle was about to raise Xena gripped her arm. Demon she mouthed.

"It went back to the village," Gabrielle answered.

Xena released Gabrielle and started to get up but Gabrielle would have none of that.

"No! Stay down. You're not fit to fight now." Her friend continued to struggle. "I'll be careful, I promise. Just lie still please."

Xena relented and settled back down. Careful she mouthed and touched Gabrielle's cheek with her good hand.

"Ain't I always," she replied with a smile.

As she ran back to the village she noticed that the crashing and screaming had stopped. She hoped it meant the demon had left. Then she remembered that the demon was after Leaina. She had completely forgotten about that, and now Leaina had probably been slain. Gabrielle wished she had never allowed her to return.

As she rounded the last building before the village square, the well where she had dropped her things came into view. She froze. The demon was standing in the village square holding a man by the neck. The man, who Gabrielle assumed was Leaina's sweetheart Neoptolemo, was struggling vainly to free himself from the chokehold. Before them Leaina stood wringing her hands.

"Please don't hurt him, it's me you want," Leaina was saying in a pleading voice.

Eurynomus lifted the man effortlessly from the ground and shouted: "Discord! I have done your will!"

Gabrielle hated having been absolutely right. She wondered if Eris would show herself. No matter, she had to do something. She spotted her staff and pack by the well. The demon's back was turned, but she couldn't possibly defeat this monster with weapons. She needed something, a miracle. Her eyes fell on a bucket of water next to a smoldering building. The demon feared water. Maybe she could use that knowledge. She ran over and picked up the bucket. This was probably crazy, she told herself.

A woman in black garments appeared, out of thin air, next to Leaina.

The demon turned to the black clad woman. "Discord, our bargain is complete. I have the man, what do you wish me to do with him."

Leaina threw herself down at Eris' feet. "Please mighty Eris, I humbly beg your forgiveness. I didn't mean to be rude, please let him go. It's my fault, punish me if you must but let him go."

Eris stepped away. "Don't touch me mortal," she said with distaste.

Gabrielle had no time to think; this had better work. She started creeping up on the demon from behind, brandishing the bucket of water. If she hadn't been so terrified she would have laughed.

Eris smiled wickedly at the distraught Leaina. "So, have you learned your place now mortal."

Leaina nodded. "Yes Eris, ask me anything and I will give it to you."

"Good, I want his life." She pointed at Neoptolemo. "Kill him," she said to the demon.

"Nooo!" Leaina wailed.

Gabrielle ran the last few steppes and hurled the content of the bucket at the demons back.
"Let him go," she screamed.

The effect of the water exceeded her wildest expectations. As it hit the demon there was a loud sizzling sound that was soon drowned out by the deafening roar from the demon.

Stunned, Gabrielle took a step back. She looked at the bucket, was that really water.

Smoke was rising from the demon, which had dropped the hapless Neoptolemo. It slowly turned around looking for the new threat. Its baleful, yellow eyes locked onto Gabrielle. "I will feast on your flesh human." It started forward.

Gabrielle turned with a yelp and ran for the well. Water, she needed more water. She realized there was no way she would have time to pull it out of the well. Frantically she looked around for another source. She spotted a trough and headed for it. She could hear the demon gaining on her, fast. Suddenly Eris appeared out of thin air, blocking her way.

"Going somewhere?" Eris asked with an evil smile.

Gabrielle tried to feint to one side and run past Eris on the other, but Eris didn't fall for the trick and blocked her path. Gabrielle turned around just as the demon reached her. She could hear Eris laughing behind her.

Eurynomus swung a huge arm at Gabrielle, who dove for the ground.

Gabrielle heard Eris scream and then there was a splash. Clutching the bucket, Gabrielle rolled to the side and got to her feet. Eris was sitting in the trough, screaming with fury. Eurynomus must have hit her by mistake and sent her flying into the trough. This was her last chance. With two steps she reached the trough and dunked the bucket. Elation filled her as she pulled it up and turned around. The blow took her by surprise. It hit her low on the left arm, and in a moment of absolute lucidity she knew her arm was broken. Then she hit the ground.

Eurynomus took a step back to admire his handiwork, finding it good.

"Kill her," Eris screamed as she got herself out of the trough.

Eurynomus growled threateningly. "Our pact is over. I don't do your bidding anymore."

Eris' brows furrowed momentarily with concentration, all at once she was dry and her appearance was immaculate again. "What do you mean, over? You haven't killed the man yet."

The bucket was lying on its side but there was still some water left in it. Gabrielle reached out her hand slowly. Even the slight movement caused a sharp pain to shoot up her injured arm but she gritted her teeth and continued. Another hand's breadth and she would have it. She saw a shadow move across her arm and snatched her hand back just in time to avoid having it crushed by Eurynomus foot.

The demon reached down and pulled Gabrielle up by her neck. Her feet dangled in the air as she was lifted off the ground. Eurynomus pulled her face close to his. "I said I would feast on your flesh human."

Between the pain in her arm, the viselike grip on her throat and the intense heat coming from the demon's mouth Gabrielle couldn't manage more than a weak croaking sound in reply. The foul fumes emanating from the demon's mouth made her want to gag but the chokehold prevented even that. This is it, she thought. Her last thought was that she hadn't brought the salve to Xena, and Xena was hurt, hurt badly. As her vision started to fade, she heard a familiar voice. It sounded hoarse and broken, but it was unmistakable all the same. She tried to twist her head to see. The demon let go of her and she fell to the ground like sack of grain. The pain from her arm made her eyes fill up with tears. She lay on her side blinking and gasping. Next to the well she saw Xena standing. She looked like she had just risen from her grave.

"Oh, look the great warrior is here to save her pathetic friend," Eris said with a sneer. She kicked Gabrielle for emphasis.

Gabrielle yelped with pain.

The rage was overwhelming Xena, threatening her sense, her mind. She took a deep breath and put her feelings in a dark place inside her. Her expression went from one twisted with rage to one absolutely neutral. "You hurt the wrong human this time demon," Xena said in a deadly flat voice.

"Are you threatening me," Eurynomus asked incredulously.

"For what you did to Gabrielle I will eat your heart," Xena replied coldly.

Eurynomus threw back his head and laughed.

Gabrielle saw that Xena was unarmed and she favored one leg heavily. She was in no condition to fight. It was a miracle she had managed to walk here. "Xena, you shouldn't have come back," she whispered. Xena couldn't possibly have heard her, but their eyes met for an instant. And then the demon charged.
"Help her," Gabrielle screamed desperately at anyone who would listen.

Eris looked down at Gabrielle, a puzzled expression on her face, as the demon bore down on Xena.

Xena knew she had only one chance to get this right. If only her leg wasn't in such bad shape. She hunched ready for the impact.

"You're dead human," Eurynomus roared.

"I'm taking you with me," Xena replied just as the demon crashed into her.

Everything appeared to Gabrielle as if it happened really slow. The demon charging, Xena hobbling near the well, the challenges, and out of nowhere a flash of red lightning hitting the demon in the back just as it collided with Xena. Suddenly everything was moving fast again. Xena fell backwards with the demon on top of her. Somehow she managed to use her legs to propel the demon over her. It fell headfirst into the well.

The echoing scream from the well was bloodcurdling. It ended with a splash, followed by a sound akin to boiling water. A cloud of noxious vapors rose out of the well to dissipate into the morning air.

Xena rose shakily. Keeping low to avoid the foul air, she moved to where Gabrielle lay and sat down. She gently helped Gabrielle lift her head so she could rest it in Xena's lap.

Gabrielle smiled warmly at her friend. Looking at Xena's hair she realized this was like her dream, only this time she didn't try to lift her injured arm.

Leaina approached with a frightened look on her face. "Is she badly hurt?" The question was clearly addressed to Xena.

Gabrielle turned her head. "I'm fine, only… I think my arm is broken," she said wistfully.

Xena's face instantly became concerned as she moved her hand along Gabrielle's arm, probing the injury.

"Ouch! Stop that, it hurts."

"It's a clean break, it should heal fine. I'll splint it for you," Xena said in a raspy and broken voice.

"You shouldn't speak," Gabrielle admonished.

Xena started to open her mouth but Gabrielle interrupted her. "No, Xena. Let me do the talking, you know I'm better at it anyway." She beamed a smile at her companion who rolled her eyes in answer

Gabrielle spotted Eris standing nearby. She looked like she had just found out she'd swallowed something vile. "Thank you Eris. Thank you for helping Xena."

Xena's head whipped around and a mask of hatred descended on her face when she spotted the goddess. She started to get up but Gabrielle held her back.

"Xena, I think she helped us."

Xena turned to look incredulously at Gabrielle.

Gabrielle nodded. "She… She hit Eurynomus with lightning just as he reached you. I don't know, but I think she was trying to help."

Xena looked very skeptical when she turned back to Eris.

Eris had had quite enough of that brazen warrior staring disapprovingly at her. At her! Eris face twisted into an angry grimace as she gathered her power to teach the warrior a lesson, and that irritating blond a well. But before she could release her power Ares appeared next to her.

"Well, well, Discord. Are you going soft on us?"

Ares mocking smile infuriated Eris.

"Never! I just weighed my options and decided getting rid of Eurynomus was the more important task."

Ares just raised an eyebrow while his grin became even wider.

"Besides," she continued in an irritated voice. "…I can take care of them some other time. They're not important." She flickered and was gone.

"Well I guess she's fine after all," Ares said before disappearing.

"So much for your theory," Xena said.

"Hey, no talking. And it might have been unintentionally but she did help us. Eurynomus might not have fallen into the well without her… Ehm push."

Xena looked at Gabrielle's serious face and smiled, shaking her head.

Gabrielle put on a face of mock anger. "Don't you shake your head at me warrior."

Xena raised an eyebrow at her friend. She pointed at Gabrielle's arm and showed her, with gestures, that it was time to splint it.

Gabrielle turned slightly pale. "Oh, yes. I guess it has to be done." She turned to Leaina and queried her about Neoptolemo's health, in an effort to stall the inevitable. Leaina assured her that Neoptolemo was fine. A bit shaken up as one might expect, and a soar throat but otherwise unharmed.

Xena firmly took hold of Gabrielle's chin and turned her face back to her. Now, she mouthed.

A small sigh escaped Gabrielle. "Yes, now. Fine let's do it."

THE END