A seaside libertine city is far from my position. Down a valley, the Spartans camp runs to the shore. The women for sale were teasers to please, by my husbands words. I, always, felt that they were sugar stories of hidden torment.

I slide from descending rock ledges and jog along an animal path cutting a thick forest. Perfumed oils carry from salty breezes guiding my way. At the base of the mountain, a riverlet trickles into a muddy pool.

Just beyond patched foliage, their bonfire crackles with amber sparks. Sultry women sing and dance before salivating guards. I sit by the mud pool, starting to prepare.

I smear a thick layer of mud all over myself. A trick Xena uses to hide scent. Two male silhouettes stroll close to my isolation. A snarling dog pulls his master struggling with a lease.

A guard calls, "Who goes there?"

I open my bladder pouch and toss a sliver of fatty bait. The dog growls and jumps, bringing his master to a stand-still. I toss more meat leading to the muddy pool and crawl away.

"Kill," the guard yells.

The dog fetches the meat, sniffing for more. Other silhouettes race to the distraction as I quickly move around.

"Leave the rodents," the guard cries.

The dog obeys, finishing its meal. I creep for a quieter edge of the camp. The Titan mountain seems to glow with its eerie legend. Jungle rodents sing with bustling owls. I creep closer to the camp, all is quiet. A large tent seems unguarded. I slither on my stomach toward its entrance. Two torches illuminate a narrow plateau.

An angered slave, with blood lashes on his back, paces in circles. Though his hands swing free, he tugs ankle-chains attached to a whipping pole.

I whisper to him, "Men must be free."

He stops, glancings in my direction, then looks inside the tent. "Meed, Master." He paces faster around the pole.

A Spartan guard climbs out of the tent. "Save your strength for morning."

"I saw your beast as big as I." The slave points in my direction.

As the soldier turns, I shoot an arrow. The slave catches his corspe.

"Safe, now." He lays the body against the whipping pole, stealing a key from the guard.

I step forward holding a dagger to my side. "Where is the warrior woman?"

"She screams no more." He pinpoints an orange cyclops' light up a hillside. "I follow you, food."

"Take your need." Passing him my bladder pouch, I step backwards for Titan mountain. Xena never screams. I stare down at the slave. "May the gods smile on you."

He snatches the pouch and runs into the woods, heading for the city. In the distance, guard dogs bark then squeal in pain. Soldiers are emerging for answers. I stalk the orange eye of light, climbing the hillside without their notice. Conquer and divide is Caesar. But, Xena taught me a better plan, none compare to the warrior princess.

Nearing the opening of a cave, I spot two archers waiting in the darkness. A tarp moves from the hillside, displaying another glow, thinner and soon dissapearing behind the tarp. I hold my position. The slave is his own victim.

Hunting horns attract the guards in front of the cave. As they view their camp below, I slip behind the tarp. A poisoned arrow is cocked as I enter deeper. My light paces barely leave a trail, as Xena has taught.

Across a dim cavern, Xena hangs from a cross, drained and dejected. Her weapons sit on the grounds before her, a loathsome tease. With one sure-shot, I extend the sleep of a lazy Spartan guard resting by the entrance. The hunting horns stop blowing.

I hurry behind Xena. "Your life is your own." Using her sword, I chop the ties on her hands and feet.

"Gabrielle, no." She snatches her sword, pushing me back. "It's a trigger." Her eyes widen for an instant. "Mavis?"

Leather whips strike wooden levers, weighted blades swing across my entrance.

Xena grabs my arm. "Calami, remember?"

How could I forget? I race to the hidden exit, waiting for her word. A louder horn resounds and six Spartans march inside.

"YiYiYi Ya," Xena screams over my head. As she lands, four charge her. "Welcome to Hades."

One speaks above his men,"Your trip is sooner. Kill them both."

Two Spartans fail to Xena's swift sword. With my bow, I shoot one guard then graze another with my dagger. Three more Spartans charge over a dead colleague. I glance to Xena backing into a corner. One enters behind me as two others raise their swords.

"Now," Xena shouts.

I dive, rolling across the sand. Xena's chakram rings off the stoney walls. Four bodies drop then the last kneels from Xena's death-touch. He chokes slowly, agonizing.

"My debts are great." Xena pulls me up and pushes me outside. "Gabrielle doesn't understand the promises I must keep."

I glance down to torches climbing the hill. Hoofs pound the quaking road I stand on. I dive into the darkness.

"YiYiYiYiYi," echoes behind.

The torches race uphill, signaling me where to weave my struggle down. Circling a bonfire, I reach the muddy pool. Quickly, I plaster sweaty areas along my skin. A flock of wings flutter above.

A male voice shouts, "Where is this woman?"

Ducking low, I spy Spartan hunters dragging a slave into camp.

The slave is crying. "She want Xena."

A Spartan pulls his sword. "You lie."

Their dogs snarl at my fear. I keep low, cocking my bow with an arrow. A distant horn resounds from the cave.

A rushed male yells, "Xena is loose."

The Spartans pull their animals toward battle. Slowly I climb from tree trunks to rock. Over Haggis hill, I search for a mountain spring leading to a dull fire. As I reach our camp, I kick sand over dull embers.

Gabrielle rolls to her feet. "What's happening?"

"Xena's waiting in the valley." I slap her mare to run up the mountain and help her stagger onto my stallion. "They fear Haggis Ridge." I hop on behind her.

We ride bareback down the mountain stream. Spartans hounds yelp in confusion. Entering familiar woods, I tugs the reigns and veer for a vast road pocketed with hoofprints and cart tracks.

I stop at the base of a sandy trail. "She knows where I live."

Gabrielle scrambles off.

I offer my hand. "It's the ridge they fear."

"You lied to me." She takes my bow and quiver. "Xena never left their site."

"Foolishness deceives you." I gaze at the sun's arms reaching for the sky. "Come."

"Coward," she shouts.

I grab the reigns, tighter and tell her, "I hope the gods show mercy." Then, I ride up the trail for home.

Though three days hence, my hardest chores never yield a peaceful sleep. They must be all right, that is Xena. I work all day and most the night. It is not my fault.

Kneeling on the kitchen floor, I ignore blisters bleeding. I pitch a washer brush into a bucket and carry the toil to the door. I blow out a lamp my sister left and hobble outside.

From my sister's place, turquoise rays flood from a window. Hushed laughter echoes from Sarah's passionate husband chasing his wife upstairs.

I carry my bucket to the garden. Perhaps a traveler will bring the Bard's new story. Dumping the water, I watch the dark pools whirl about the plants and vanish into the soil. I wish I could follow.

Lugging the bucket, I stagger to a well sitting in front of my husband's hut. I'm so tired, sleep must come easy without the dreams. Curiously, a flickering light passes before a window. I rest the bucket by the well and creep to the window, peeking within.

A bottle of wine sits on my kitchen table. In dim corner, a petite silhouette steps away from a young fire.

Xena taps my shoulder. "Am I welcome, too?"

As I startle, she steps closer. After all this time, he beauty is sustained. The air thins. My heart believes her arms held me first. I cling to her, real again. Showered in her missed warmth, I want to summon the words.

But, the Bard calls, "Is she coming, Xena?"

I let go. Xena's arms dangle by her sides. She steps back. "Pour the wine, Gabrielle."

The Bard peeks outside. "Good, I'm starved." She hurries to my pantry dropping a cup on the floor. "Sorry, Mavis."

I follow a listless path to the well. "She'll enjoy the sweet water, instead."

As I hurry trembling steps, Xena follows in proud strides. "Mavis."

"I'll be but a moment." I move faster, shivering.

"She never replaced you." Xena touches my shoulder. "Each love is different."

The bucket drops. As she gazes into my eyes, tears betrays me. Is this the dream or nightmare? Pulling me close, she kisses the words that I always cower to speak.

She holds me shivering in silence. "Loneliness consumes the one who waits, Mavis."

I push from her and grab the bucket on the ground. "The gods blessed us with boys." Tears are burning to be released. "Two men with strong minds and rich fields." I moving easier as I keep working. "My parents say their children are happy. "

"What happened to you?"

I fall on my knees. "Leave me this numbness, Xena. Another waits."

"No." She lays her palm on my shoulder. "They deserve to meet you." She pulls me up then holds me, firmly. "I'll be back to see you battle on. Whose will is always stronger?"

She was right. These nights I dream of dynamic quests, onced shared with Xena. Our love, our shames, and glorious vivid anticipations have returned. As brown leaves gather, Sarah runs the lodge with her husband hoping for a first-born male. At first, the Haggis roads held fear for me and pain for things I already knew.

Xena did follow, true to her promise. Now, my grandchildren yearn for my stories. I battle for my family of cares, more than blood is among them. I promised Xena before she left with Gabrielle, to live again.

After all this time, I never realized, the oddity of my empathy. It has been Xena who is the one who waits with love.