"Forgiveness" Pt 4

"I see you haven't changed your cowardly ways." Arianna replied. "You know you can't beat
Xena on your own, so you enlisted the help of the Gods. You're pathetic."

"You should be thanking me lady. I've taken down the enemy of your childhood. The woman who
destroyed your village and watched your best friend die."

"I won't thank you for stealing the satisfaction from me. Besides, I know of your plan and I'm here
to stop you. The last thing the world needs is a cowardly warlord running the show."

"Well then, prepare to be buried next to Xena!" He shouted as he charged Arianna.

Arianna and Talinares engaged in an enthralling dance of clashing swords. Gabrielle, ever
protective of her fallen friend watched intently. She was cradling Xena's head and still stroking her
hair. She looked down at Xena, unconscious and barely breathing and she started to cry all over
again. Then she gently kissed Xena on the forehead and pulled her closer in a tight embrace.

Arianna and Talinares were still battling. D'Lara watched again. It was her job to watch Arianna's
back. She'd rather not be in the middle of the fights, but when it was called for, she would be there
to protect her friend. As Arianna started to get the better of Talinares, he started to panic. Arianna
sensed this and was delighted with the prospect of putting this man out of his misery. Then, just as
she felt the advantage was truly in her favor, Talinares yelled for reinforcements.

"All attack!" he yelled. Suddenly, a new brigade of men rush out of the bushes and attacked
Arianna and D'Lara. They were outnumbered and barely able to hold their own. Talinares knew
this was his chance to escape so he slipped past his fighting troops, jumped on his horse and gave
it a swift kick to get it into full gallop.

"Talinares!" Arianna yelled after him in disgust as she fought off the barrage of men attacking her.

Gabrielle saw that Arianna and D'Lara could use some help, so, reluctantly, she lied Xena down
on the grass, picked up her staff and joined in the fray. The battle skills of the three were far
superior to that of Talinares' men and they soon had the battle in hand. Finally, the last of the army
retreated. Arianna gave chase, but Gabrielle instantly turned back and ran to Xena. D'Lara started
after Arianna, but Arianna quickly turned around and said "NO! Go back to them, get them to the
inn. I'll be back!"

D'Lara reluctantly complied and ran back to where Gabrielle was holding Xena.

"She's bleeding. I don't know how bad it is." Gabrielle said. He voice trembled and she looked at
D'Lara with pleading eyes.

D'Lara inspected the wound. "It's not fatal, it's low and off to the side. Nothing vital was
damaged." she said. "But we need to get her back to the inn. She's lost a lot of blood and needs to
be covered up to keep the shock from setting in. We have a room there. We can bandage her up
and she can rest."

Gabrielle nodded and thanked D'Lara

D'Lara took a quick inventory of the situation, then extended her hand to Gabrielle.

"D'Lara!" she said, introducing herself.

"Gabrielle" was the response from the bard. They shook hands.

"Gabrielle. Xena was poisoned by Talinares. Strife is behind it. The knife wound isn't fatal, but I
don't know how this poison works. I can't make any promises."

Gabrielle's throat tightened with the mention of Ares protege. "Please, whatever you can do, just
help my friend."

D'Lara looked at Gabrielle solomnly. "Let's get her to town" she said. And the two went to work
lifting Xena onto Argo.

Gabrielle covered Xena with a blanket from one of Argo's saddlebags, then mounted the horse
behind her. She let Xena lean forward in the saddle while she wrapped her left arm around Xena's
waist. With the bridle in her right hand, she guided Argo towards town. They rode back slowly so
as to make sure that Xena's injuries weren't traumatized further. When they got back to the inn,
D'Lara and Gabrielle lifted Xena's body into the room together. They put Xena on the bed.
D'Lara built a fire in the stone fireplace, lit some candles and proceeded to mend Xena's wound.
Gabrielle had removed Xena's armor already and cut the fabric around Xena's wound. D'Lara
cleaned and stitched the knife wound. As she was working, she glanced up at Xena's shoulder and
noticed the small gash that Arianna had put there earlier. 'What a mess this is' she thought to
herself. She finished tending to Xena's wounds and left her and Gabrielle alone for a while.

Gabrielle, lying next to a still unconscious Xena held her friend as if her life depended on the very
act of embracing her. Maybe, with the tight embrace, she could keep Xena's life force from
escaping. She rested her cheek on Xena's shoulder and started talking to her. "Did I ever tell you
how important you are to me? Did I? I kept meaning to, but somehow, it wasn't the time or the
place. Funny, but Iolaus told me that we just take for granted that people are always going to be
around. I didn't listen too well did I. I should have told you how I felt the moment I got you back
the first time." Gabrielle's voice trailed off, and the tears came again.

D'Lara stood outside and watched the last of the sunlight disappear. She wondered where
Arianna was. She was concerned, but intuitively, she knew that Arianna was alright. They had that
strong a connection. She took a deep breath and headed back inside. What she saw and heard
really affected her emotionally. She listened as Gabrielle tried to stir Xena back into
consciousness. The love and affection emanating form the bard touched her deeply. She
wondered how this young woman could have such strong feelings for a ruthless warlord like Xena.
D'Lara had heard that Xena had changed, but such stories were easy to dismiss as exaggerated
and untrue. Maybe it was true afterall.

"You really care about her don't you?" D'Lara asked as she took her place on the couch across
from the bed.

"She's my best friend. I love her!" came the response from Gabrielle

"Why? She's ruthless. A murderer. How can you care about someone as evil as that?"

Gabrielle looked down at Xena's sleeping figure. She smiled as she gently caressed Xena's cheek
with the back of her fingers. Then she captured D'Lara's eyes and started to explain. Gabrielle
recounted tale after tale about Xena's heroics and how she had changed. D'Lara sat, enthralled by
the bard. An understanding started to form inside of her. When at last Gabrielle had finished,
D'Lara was satisfied that the changes in Xena had indeed taken place. Gabrielle invited D'Lara to
read the scrolls she'd written about their adventures. An invitation that was gratefully accepted by
D'Lara.

D'Lara read for hours by the firelight. She paused several times to look up at Gabrielle and Xena.
Gabrielle had never let go of her friend and both were sleeping comfortably. A smile crept across
D'Lara's face before she realized how much time had gone by. Suddenly she was concerned
about Arianna. 'Where was she'! D'Lara put down the scrolls and stood up. She was about to go
outside when, suddenly, Arianna appeared at the doorway.

"Thank the Gods, I was getting worried about you." D'Lara stated

"I followed Talinares back to his camp. I had to remain out of site while I cased the encampment.
I found Talinares quarters and know where the sentries are posted." Arianna said. "Their a very
disorganized troop D'Lara. It's almost laughable that strife chose this man as his tool of
destruction. I can think of hundreds of better choices. However, all that means is that it will be
easier to get the antidote. I need you to come with me. We have to go tonight."

D'Lara nodded.

"Can I help?" Gabrielle said. She'd awakened and overheard the conversation.

"No, I need you to stay here and tend to Xena's needs. If she wakes up, there's some water on
the counter" D'Lara said. "She'll still be weak from the poison, so don't let her move around too
much."

Gabrielle nodded affirmatively. With that, D'Lara and Arianna headed out of the inn.