Xena threw off her cloak as she entered her tent. She waved the two amazons standing nearby out. She grabbed a cup of wine from the table, accidentally spilling some of the deep crimson liquid on the table. She grabbed a chair and sat down heavily. The tents entryway parted again, and Ephiny appeared.

“All is ready. Hercules should be here with a small contingent from Athens by dawn. It’s the best we can do for now. We didn’t expect Ares to move so fast.” Ephiny settled wearily in a nearby chair. “Meleagur’s recruits are well trained. The two northern amazon tribes have been placed as you asked, and the special detachment is ready. Xena, are you sure this person you have on the inside can pull off this?”

“Yes, I do.” Xena glared at Ephiny. “It will all be over by morning Ephiny, Gabrielle will be dead. Ares will have lost.” Ephiny just nodded, laying her head down on the table to rest. The tent flap parted again allowing Eponin inside.

“Xena, he is here. He says it’s urgent he speaks with you.” Xena looked past Eponin, and nodded. Ephiny rose quickly and assumed a position behind Xena. Eponin pulled back the flap, allowing the “him” in question to enter.

“Hello Joxer. It’s not every day the enemy is invited into my camp.” Xena was sitting board straight, leisurely taking a sip of wine with a smirk on her face. Ephiny stood behind her in silent threatening repose.

“Yeah, well desperate times deserve desperate measures. I have a message for you from a friend.” Joxer shuffled nervously feeling the deep glare from Xena rake over him. Eponin stood close behind, making sure he understood that one wrong move would mean his death.

“Really? I wasn’t aware I had friends over there. Well, what’s the message.” Xena popped a grape from the fruit bowl into her mouth, taking her time to savor it’s flavor. Joxer slowly place a hand in his vest, and pulled out a piece of paper. He placed it on the table, and stepped back.

“I was told to wait for a reply.” Xena nodded, and picked up the paper.

“Eponin, take Joxer to get something to eat. He looks like he hasn’t been eating well. Bring him back in half a candlemark. Eponin, no target practicing.” The amazon let a grin spread across her face and shoved Joxer outside, as Ephiny came to stand beside Xena.

“Well?” Ephiny could barely contain her curiosity.

“They’ve found the package. It’s deep within the castle’s dungeon. Seems Ares has put some special restraints on it. This will call for a certain person with a special skill.” Xena’s face paled as she read further.

“What is it?” Ephiny asked as a queasy feeling began in her stomach from Xena’s reaction.

“Gabrielle’s wedding is at dawn, we don’t have much time left.” Xena continued to read. “Damn you Gabrielle.”

“What’s wrong?” Ephiny drew near Xena.

“Gabrielle has set some very ingenius traps. Seems she has been listening a lot more than I realized.” Xena quickly moved to the map. “We need to shift this troop from the hill and move it here.” Xena continued to brief Ephiny. As the Amazon listened, she understood why Xena had become a most feared and victorious leader. Xena gave Ephiny one last word of warning and then she left to check on Joxer. Joxer was sitting on the furthest corner of food tent, trying to avoid the accusing stares and abusive language thrown at him. All grew silent as Xena stepped inside and motioned Joxer to follow her. She led him to where his horse was being held and handed him a message to take back to the castle.

“Return quickly, and Joxer.” He stopped his movement on the horse, and looked down at her. “If you betray us, I will personnally flay you with my breast dagger. Do you understand?” Joxers face paled, but he nodded. Then he spurred the horse and rode off into the night.

“Queen Gabrielle, it is as you feared.” Rage had stepped in the room as Gabrielle was getting out of her bath. She motioned him to wait, and then dried herself and dressed. Rage watched out of the corner of his eye with a subtle appreciation for what Ares was getting.

“Rage, you can leer later. Now, Are you sure Joxer is no where about?” Gabrielle said as she hooked the clasp on her cloak. Her hand trembled, but not from anger, from the loss of the only friend she had left.

“Yes, we have double checked everywhere. He is not here. I told you not to trust him. His heart is too soft, too gentle to follow Ares plan.” Rage sneered with confidence.

Gabrielle backhanded Rage.“I will remind you that I was once gentle and soft.” He quickly recovered and found the point of a knife at his throat. “Do Not Question my Decisions again or I will remove you permanently. Have I made myself clear?” The feral gleam and deep menace in her voice sent a thrill through him that was only found in battle. However, he held back, knowing Ares would destroy him if he harmed her.

“Yes my Queen. I did not mean any disrespect. I only meant to point out, his heart was never with us. I ask your forgiveness.” Gabrielle released Rage, and then motioned him to sit.

“If Joxer should return, I want him brought to me immediately. I will personally question him. I mean it Rage, I will question him. No one else!” Rage nodded his acknowledgment. Though he wanted to see to Joxers questioning, he knew better than to disobey. The boy had been nothing but a pain in his side since his arrival. Joxer had constantly pointed out his errors and had still tried to persuade their queen from the path she had taken. “At dawn, I want you on my right flank. We will form two rows of foot soldiers to the front and on each side. They will shield the archers directly behind them.”

“Will the archers be using fire as we discussed?” Rage looked up from the map on the table.

“Oh yes. Plus a few little surprises that Xena herself gave me. The Night crews have stealthily placed pitfalls out on the battlefield. Each one I have placed strategically. If all goes according to plan, a third of Xena’s army will fall from them.” Gabrielle remembered back to earlier, when Xena had come out to her gates asking her to surrender. Xena had been within a foot of falling into one of the pits without knowing. If she had, her plan would have been discovered. “Remember, when Xena makes her charge. You let the archers fire off four volleys, they are to retreat along the appointed pathways. The foot soldiers are to engage Xena’s army, slowly drawing them back toward the gates. A full retreat will be called when they reach this point.” Gabrielle pointed to a spot nearer her side of the battlefield, but not to close to the castle. Everyone is to fall back carefully. If they cannot, then they should stand and fight till dead. When our army reaches this point just inside the safe zone, they are to stop and form up again.”

“Yes, but I have something that will make her come into the trap.” Rage looked up, mystified. Gabrielle’s evil grin told him she was very sure of what she had to lure the warrior princess. “Once there troops fall through, the gate will be opened and the second and third group will join you. You should number 200 by then. Xena won’t have a chance.” You are to drive forward, and sweep your flank inward toward the middle. Commander Therus will sweep his left flank forward and toward the middle. We will crush them in and wipe them out. No mercy is to be shown. All die, except for Xena. I want her brought to me.”

“And if it doesn’t work?” Rage looked at the plan. It had holes and it depended a lot on what the enemy would do. He didn’t like it.

“If it doesn’t work, well you could take up grave digging.” Gabrielle laughed softly. “Go on Rage, I need time alone.” Rage saluted, and left.

Gabrielle took another look at the map and headed out of her room toward the dungeons. She needed to retrieve a special package. Ares watched her go as Strife appeared next to him.

“Well, Do I have time?” Ares looked at Strife expectantly. Strife nodded, visibly nervous.

“Yes, but time is running out. Artemis has almost convinced Zeus that Gabrielle has been coherced. How is the prodigy?” Strife said, watching Gabrielle’s retreating shadow.

“She has exceeded my wildest dreams. The loss of her blood innocence and a little influence from Rage has to say the least, worked marvels for her. She has the potential to rival even Xena. But she has one minor weakness and I plan on eliminating that one tomorrow.” Ares evil laughter rang through the castle.

(End of chapter 1)