"Heart of Darkness"
Chapter Twenty-Six
Let's Get Physical...
Xena and Gabrielle continued through the Dream Passage.
Gabrielle stumbled a bit as she walked. Xena looked at her. She
noticed strain around the bard's eyes. "Are you all right?" the warrior
asked concerned.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm just a little tired."
Xena stopped suddenly, Gabrielle pulling up beside her. Callisto
appeared before them.
"My, you two are looking well," she said with an evil smile.
"Let's play, shall we?" She drew her sword and slashed at Xena who easily
dodged out of the way.
Callisto looked at Gabrielle, and evil smile appearing on her face.
"Oh, by the way, Perdicas said to tell you hello." Xena saw the stricken
look on her friend's face at the mention of her dead husband.
"We don't have time for this," Xena hissed. "I won't let you delay
us, Morpheus!" she shouted. Callisto disappeared at her words.
"Let's go," Xena said.
She was worried about Gabrielle.
----------
Elkton looked at the girls.
Xena seemed to be holding up better than Gabrielle. The blonde's
face was tight, gaunt. He splashed more N'Kama oil on her.
"Come on, little one," he urged. "You can't give up. Keep her
moving, Xena."
----------
Galvous walked around Mariah as he spoke.
"As I said before, you'll face three challenges. Spin the Wheel of
Torment and face your first test." Mariah looked at him and looked at the
wheel. She walked over to it, a determined look in her eye. She grabbed
the Wheel of Torment and gave it a hard pull.
The Wheel of Torment spun around and slowed to a stop.
"Here's your first test," Galvous said. "Physical Injury." He
threw her a staff.
She caught it easily, her still-swollen hands smarting a bit at the
contact.
He gestured at the guards. "You've never been a physical person,
Mariah. Oh, you've kept yourself in shape and all, but you've never been
big on fighting and physical violence, have you? Remember Risa? And in
your dreams, you've often questioned yourself about how you would react in
a physical life or death situation. How far would you go to save yourself
from certain death? Now here's your chance to find out. These two are
here to kill you. And they *will* kill you. If you let them. All you
have to do to pass the test is make it out of the room. Alive." He
exited, leaving her alone in there with the guards.
They both drew their swords as they advanced on her.
She backed up warily, stomach churning, as she watched them through
bleary, bloodshot eyes, twirling her staff in a series of defensive figure
eights. She had never simultaneously faced two swordsmen before, and
physically, she was almost at the end of her rope. She thought back to
something Xena had once told her: Divide and conquer. Could she do it?
The guards advanced on her. She didn't have much choice.
The first guard swung at her. Her instinct for survival kicked in.
She deflected the blade easily, swung her staff around and brought it down
hard on his forearm. She heard the bone crack. He howled in pain,
dropping the sword. She ducked to avoid a glittering blade coming at her
neck and brought her staff around in time to catch the second guard in the
stomach, ramming the staff in as hard as she could. She heard the air
whoosh out of his lungs as he dropped to his knees. Mariah turned again to
the first guard, bringing her staff down sharply on his other forearm,
breaking the bone there as well. A short quick shot to the jaw knocked him
out.
Now Mariah had to contend with the second guard who had recovered
from the blow she gave him. He was back on his feet, sword in hand, murder
in his eyes. She watched his eyes as Xena had taught her, backpedaling,
twirling her staff, her strength slowly leaving her. She caught the tiny
shift that telegraphed his next move. He feinted left, and lunged right,
but the teacher was ready for him. Narrowly dodging the blade, she hooked
her staff neatly around his sword, yanking it from his hand. She whipped
the staff around, deftly catching him on the side of his face. He soon was
on the floor unconscious like his partner.
She stood over them, breathing hard, hands throbbing, her body
trembling. She was still physically weak from lack of sleep, and this
effort did not help her. The men were out cold and would be for some time.
Taking a last look around, she left the room.
Galvous waited for her outside with two more guards. He turned to
the two men. "Take her back to her cell. Let her get a little rest before
her second challenge."
Mariah looked at Galvous, a grim smile on her face. She was still
shaky from her exertions. "Here," she said, tossing him the staff. "If
you've been in my mind that often, you know where you can stick this."
His eyes narrowed dangerously. Cocky little bitch!! "Get her out
of here," he said, his voice a whisper.
The guards took her away.
-------------------------
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Interlude...
Elkton looked at Xena and Gabrielle.
There was no doubt about it. The strain of being in the Dream
Passage was taking its toll on them.
"Come on," he told Myklos urgently. "Keep using the N'Kama oil.
It's their only hope. Theirs and Mariah's."
The merchant redoubled his efforts at saturating his fiancee's friends.
----------
Mariah was back in her cell. She thought about what Galvous had said.
Three challenges and she would go free. She didn't believe *that*,
not for a moment.
She had faced down one fear. She wondered how she would fare
against the other two.
She curled up on the bunk and closed her eyes, exhaustion
overwhelming her. She fell into a light doze.
----------
Xena and Gabrielle stopped. Mariah was sitting off to the side,
her flute in hand. With all that had happened to them, they looked at her
suspiciously. Was this another of Morpheus's tricks?
"Mariah! Is it really you?" Gabrielle asked.
"Of course it's me. Who do you think it is?" she asked. She
approached her friends. They looked terribly tired and drained, especially
Gabrielle. "How come we can see each other?" she asked.
"You must be asleep," Xena said to her. "Your dream and the Dream
Passage are overlapping. But, Mariah, we need to be sure you're you," said
Xena. "Tell us something so we know for sure."
The teacher looked down at the ground, her mind at work. A thought
popped in head when she saw her booted feet. "Nike will help me find my
way," she said. She looked up, a puzzled look on her face. "Where in
Hades' name did *that* come from?" she questioned aloud.
Her friends' tired faces broke into smiles. "Don't worry about
it," Gabrielle said. "We know now that you're you. How are you holding
up?"
"Oh, I'm giving them a run for their money. What have I got to
lose? I passed their first test. According to Galvous, I've got two more
left, but I don't believe him as far as I can throw him with my left hand.
I'm supposed to face three of my fears." She told them about the Wheel of
Torment. Mariah looked at them; their haggard appearance worried her.
"Are you two all right?" she asked, her voice concerned.
Xena gently waved her off. "We're OK. Remember: *you* focus on
defeating those challenges. You hang on until we get there."
"Oh, I'll hang on," Mariah said, a determined look on her face.
"I'm not beaten yet. Not by a long shot." Her face suddenly softened.
"I'll be waiting for you."
The bard and the warrior smiled encouragingly at her as she disappeared.
Galvous was in her cell, roughly shaking her awake. She blinked
back the sleep from her eyes, still groggy. She looked at him. "Galvous,
you just make me tired all over," she said, her voice weary.
"Get up," he said, dragging her to her feet. "Get ready, girl," he
said as he shoved her out of her cell. "It's time for round two."
-------------------------
Chapter Twenty-Eight
King Of Pain...
Mariah was led back to the Wheel of Torment.
"Spin it," Galvous told her. Two guards stood off to the side.
Mariah looked at the warlord. She gripped the wheel and spun it
for the second time. She was almost sick when she saw where it stopped.
Pain.
----------
"I need to sit down for a moment," Gabrielle said, her voice and
body weary. Xena eased her to the floor.
"You can't sit too long, Gabrielle," Xena told her. "We have to
keep moving."
Velasca appeared before them, sword in hand. "Come on, Amazon
Queen," she taunted Gabrielle. "It's just you and me. No Ephiny, no other
Amazons, no Xena. I want *you*!" she hissed. "I'll kill you just like I
killed Melosa."
"You're not here, Velasca," the bard said, shaking her head.
"You're still in that lava pit with Callisto. Give it up, Morpheus!" the
blonde shouted. Velasca disappeared.
Gabrielle looked at Xena. "Come on. Let's go find Mariah," she
said, her voice quietly resolved as Xena reached down and helped her to her
feet.
The two set off once again in search of their friend.
----------
"Oh, you'll love this," purred Galvous. He gestured at the two
guards. They each seized one of her arms and dragged her to a nearby room.
It was the room from her dream, the room that looked like the
torture chamber, complete with manacles, shackles, and the stretching rack.
The guards looked at Galvous. He gestured towards the rack. They easily
picked up her struggling body and strapped her into the device. She lay
there flat on her back, her body fully extended, her arms stretched over
her head. She turned her head and looked at Galvous. He stood by a large
wooden wheel. Attached to the wheel was a chain that was linked to her
extended arms. As the wheel turned, it would pull the chain attached to
her arms, stretching her.
"This challenge deals with how well you tolerate pain, Mariah,"
Galvous said, rubbing his hands together. "You've endured pain before,
especially when you had all those cancer surgeries. Remember all those
operations? Your neck, your stomach, your back? But that pain was dulled
by drugs, wasn't it? This won't be." He smiled evilly at her. Galvous
knew pain had frightened her in her dreams. He *knew* she would fail this
challenge! "Before we begin," he continued, "I have a question for you:
how many years had you been teaching before you wound up here? Four, five,
six years?"
"Oh, gee, that's a tough one, Galvous. Let me think," she replied
sarcastically as she tugged experimentally at her bonds. She gave him a
withering look. "You know damn well it was five years...why bother to
ask?"
"You won't be so cocky after I'm done with you, girl." he said
glaring at her. "Here's the test. I will turn the wheel and you will get
stretched. You have to withstand five links of the chain. One link for
every year you taught. Your back will just *love* this, especially the
area that was operated upon. Oh, and there are just two conditions,
Mariah: you can't scream and you can't pass out. If you do one, the
other, or both, you fail. Ready?"
"Like I really have a whole lot of choice in that matter?" she told
him, disbelief in her voice. She psyched herself up and silently prayed
for strength. She looked at the ceiling, picking out a point to focus on.
Focus and breathe, she told herself, you can do this. You *have* to do
this!
"One," he said, and turned the wheel so the chain advanced one link.
Mariah felt her arms pull as the wheel turned. Her shoulders began
to cramp slightly. It was uncomfortable, but not painful. Not yet.
"Two." The wheel advanced again.
Her upper and middle back began to cramp as her arms and shoulders
were pulled by the chain. She kept her eyes open, reminding herself to
focus and breathe, focus and breathe. Think of Xena and Gabrielle, she
told herself. They're coming for you. Be strong for yourself and for
them.
"Three." Another click of the chain.
Tears sprang to her eyes and she grimaced as the pain began to set
in. Her shoulders and upper back were on fire, a fire that slowly spread
to her lower back. The muscles alongside her ribs cramped and spasmed.
Focus. Breathe. You've dealt with worse, she told herself. Remember all
those bone marrow biopsies? Remember those needles drawing marrow out of
your hips? Come on, girl, you can *do* this!
"Four." Click.
The air whooshed out of her lungs. The pain was truly upon her.
Her bones, tendons, and muscles were in a world of hurt. Spasms moved
through her shoulders and her upper, middle, and lower back. Her pelvis
ached. She moaned as she breathed, fighting back the scream rising in her
throat. She closed her eyes as silent tears ran down her face. Damn it,
she thought to herself, you fight this, Mariah, don't you give in! Don't
you *dare* give in!
"Five." The final link.
The pain was exquisite, her whole body shrieking in protest. She
dug in her heels and head, trying to arch her back in an effort to relieve
some of the tension. She opened her eyes; her vision swam, darkened. She
almost passed out from the pain, but she fought the encroaching darkness.
She panted through her clenched teeth. It felt as if her arms were about
to tear out of their sockets.
Suddenly, the tension lessened as Galvous angrily released the
pressure on the wheel and the chains attached to her arms. The guards
walked over and undid the straps holding her to the table. Mariah lay
there, curled up, eyes closed, breathing hard, body trembling, muscles
twitching and throbbing. She wanted to cry, to yell, to scream, but she
refused to give them the satisfaction. There was one good thing about the
pain, she thought to herself ruefully as her body slowly recovered: it
sure took her mind off of her exhaustion.
Galvous walked over and looked down at her. She sensed he was
there and she opened her eyes.
"I just have one thing to say to you, Galvous," she said looking up
at him, her blue eyes turning icy, her pain easing, her fighting spirit
returning. "Do I send my chiropractor's bill to you or your pal Morpheus?"
He glared at her, cold fury in his face. "Take her back to her
cell," he told the guards. "Make sure she is fed and someone tends to her.
Morpheus wants her in good shape for her final challenge. Have her ready
in an hour. And make sure she doesn't fall asleep!"
The guards helped her down from the table. She stumbled and almost
fell. They half dragged, half carried her back to her cell.
-------------------------
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Second Interlude...
Elkton and Myklos looked grim.
Xena's and Gabrielle's bodies started to shrivel up.
Elkton whispered in the warrior's ear. "Come on, Xena. You're
running out of time."
They only had another hour or two at the most.
----------
"Gabrielle?" a voice gasped.
The bard turned at the familiar voice, saw a body lying on the
ground. Perdicas! She went to him, cradling his bleeding body once again
in her arms as she had done when Callisto took his life.
"Why didn't you stop Callisto?" he panted at Xena who knelt next to
her friend. "You were upset that I took Gabrielle away from you, weren't
you? Admit it, Xena: you *wanted* me dead!"
Gabrielle looked at her best friend and her dying husband, her
heart aching, tears forming in her eyes. "No," she said to Perdicas.
"Xena did everything she could to save you. It just wasn't meant to be,
Perdicas. Wait for me, my love. We'll be together again one day. I
promise." she told him softly as he died once again in her arms. They
watched as his body disappeared.
She looked at Xena, her weary green eyes glittering from the unshed
tears. "That Morpheus has a real keen sense of humor, doesn't he?" she
said harshly, the words burning in her throat.
Xena wrapped an arm around her and pulled her to her feet. "Come
on," she said gently.
They continued their trek through the Dream Passage.
----------
Galvous was true to his word. Food and water awaited Mariah when
she returned to her cell. A healer was there, too. He examined her arms,
shoulders, ribs, and back. He made her take off her top and lie face down
on the bunk. He wasn't as good as Xena, but he gave her a soothing,
thorough massage, rubbing an herbal liniment into her sore, aching muscles.
She felt much better after his treatment and after she ate and drank.
Mariah was bone weary, tired, at the brink of exhaustion. But she
was determined to win. The fire of survival still burned white hot in her
heart. She had to win. She had to hold out until Xena and Gabrielle could
get to her. Her very life depended on it.
The teacher heard the familiar sound of approaching footsteps. It
was Galvous and the ever present guards. He looked at her. "It's time for
your final challenge," he told her.
Taking a deep breath, she got up from the bunk and walked to the
cell door. Tenacity and fortitude were written all over her face. She
stared back at the warlord. "Let's do it," she said softly.
-------------------------
Chapter Thirty
Losing It...
Myklos looked at Elkton. "How much longer?" he asked, his voice
desperate. The N'Kama oil was gone.
"It's just a matter of time," the Mystic said wearily.
They looked at the girls' bodies. They were almost dead.
----------
Gabrielle was near exhaustion. Xena, weary herself, pulled her
friend along toward the door at the end of the passage.
"We're almost there," she told the bard. "Come on, you can do it."
Mariah appeared in front of them. "You don't need to save me," she
said gently. A female figure, a goddess, appeared next to the teacher.
"Go back. Save yourselves. I told you before: Nike will help me find my
way." She gestured at her companion.
Xena and Gabrielle looked at each other. "Nice try, Morpheus,"
Gabrielle said, a smile appearing on her terribly worn face. "Right name,
wrong Nike."
Both figures vanished.
They were almost at the door.
----------
Mariah was led back to the room containing the Wheel of Torment.
In addition to the wheel, she noticed something else. The room was now
full of a variety of offensive and defensive weapons. Swords, spears,
whips, bows and arrows, staffs, chobos, shields....The gear in the room
could almost outfit a small army, Mariah thought to herself. The guards
she had defeated earlier in her first challenge were nowhere to be seen.
Galvous walked around Mariah as he spoke. "It's time for your
final challenge, girl. Spin the wheel."
Mariah spun the wheel for the last time. It slowed to a stop on Loss.
"Ah, Loss," Galvous said, taunting her. "You know, you've lost so
much over the years, Mariah...your parents, your health, your friend Sandy,
your whole twentieth century life..." he trailed off. "You're a fish out
of water here. You've lost your way."
Mariah looked at him, refusing to be goaded.
"So how would you like to return to your old life?" he asked her softly.
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him. "Somehow, Galvous, I think
the price I'd have to pay would be too high."
"Think about it," he said, taunting her. "You'd be back in your
own time, with your family, your friends, your job..." he trailed off,
watching her think it over. "Your wish can be granted, Mariah," he told
her, his voice seductively quiet. "Morpheus can send you home."
"What's the catch?" she asked, her voice wary, not trusting him.
"No catch. This can all end now. All you have to do is ask him,"
he replied smoothly.
She stared at Galvous as she thought over what he said. He and
Morpheus had worked too hard to get her in the Dreamscape to let her go
*that* easily! She thought of something else, something more pressing,
more urgent. "What about Xena and Gabrielle?" she asked him. "Will
Morpheus let them leave the Dreamscape, too?"
"Does that matter? Think, girl! You can have your old life back!"
he hissed at her.
Mariah didn't hesitate as she answered. "I was right; the price
*is* too high," she replied, shaking her head. "My answer's no, Galvous.
I would *never* sacrifice them, never, not after all that they've done for
me. You're selling a bill of goods and I'm not buying it. Give it up.
I've made my choice. I'm staying. I'm happy with my life here," she said,
truly meaning it.
"Oh, you're happy here?" he said. He laughed suddenly. "Your
dreams don't always reflect that, Mariah."
"That may have been true at one time, but times change. *I've*
changed, you pig."
Galvous grinned at her. "Oh, you don't know how much I look
forward to being with you after you fail this challenge, teacher. The
first thing I'll do is teach you some manners."
"Why don't you go teach your mother some manners?" she said
nastily. The backhand shot to her jaw she received from him was almost
worth it.
She staggered under the blow, refusing to go down. Mariah tasted
the warm blood in her mouth. She spat it out onto his left boot.
He glanced at his boot and looked at her. Galvous stared into her
intense blue eyes, trying to intimidate her. "What makes you so tough?" he
wondered quietly, almost to himself.
"You couldn't understand it if you wanted to," she replied just as
quietly, staring back at him just as hard, failing to be intimidated.
They stood there toe to toe, each refusing to back down. It was
Galvous who finally broke off. "It's time," he said, backing away from
her. "All you have to do to defeat this challenge is survive and not lose
yourself in the process. Enjoy it. I know I will."
Mariah was enveloped in a yellow light. She felt strange,
lightheaded. She gasped, doubled over in pain. She felt as if her entire
body was being torn in two. She fell to her knees in agony, riding the
wave of pain. Just as suddenly, the pain was gone.
She was still on her knees, head bowed, winded.
"Get up," she heard a familiar voice say. She looked up in
disbelief at the figure who stood in front of her.
She looked at herself.
----------
Xena and Gabrielle struggled with the door at the end of the Dream
Passage. It wouldn't budge.
----------
Mariah stood and looked at herself, blinking. The only thing that
was different about her double was her clothing: her twin wore the
clothing Mariah had worn when she left the twentieth century: her
grandfather's gold ring on her left hand, her silver high school class ring
on her right, the silver watch on her right wrist, the high-necked silk
shirt, the pants, even the white sneakers.
Each girl warily eyed the other. "What do you want?" Mariah asked.
"I want my *life* back," the twentieth century double said simply,
smiling evilly. "And I can get it back, too. All I have to do is kill
you."
----------
"Xena we've *got* to find the way in," Gabrielle said, her voice
desperate.
The warrior thought for a moment, thought about something the
Mystic told Gabrielle.
"Gabrielle, remember what Elkton told you before we came here? How
everything we would see here would be things that we've experienced
together? That's got to be the key." She looked at her friend. "We've
got to do this together." She grabbed the bard's hand. "Are you ready?"
Gabrielle nodded wearily, at the end of her rope. "Let's do it."
She tightened her grip on Xena's hand.
They took a running leap and smashed into the door.
----------
Myklos looked at Elkton. It was nearly over.
Suddenly, the girls' bodies disappeared.
Elkton's face broke into a huge grin. "Come on," he said
excitedly, pulling the merchant out of the room.
"Where are we going?" asked a mystified Myklos.
"To the Psychic Caves! They made it!"
----------
Galvous chuckled as he watched the two Mariahs square off against
each other. This was going to be good. Each had selected a staff for a
weapon, each circled the other looking for an opportunity; one wanted only
to defend herself, the other wanted only to kill.
The warlord flinched as two figures crashed through the wall, still
holding each other's hands. Xena and Gabrielle rolled several times and
rose to their feet. They smiled as they looked at each other, and squeezed
each other's hands one more time before letting go.
Xena drew her sword against Galvous. "Oh, no, no, Galvous. You
aren't going *anywhere*."
Gabrielle advanced on the two guards, easily taking them out.
Xena and Gabrielle were stunned at what they saw.
One Mariah was attacking the other.
----------
Mariah had a difficult time defending herself against her twin.
The double knew everything that she knew and anticipated her moves. She
dodged, blocked, and feinted as best as she could.
"It was an accident that we wound up here!" she told her double,
ducking away from the staff swinging towards her head.
"I don't *care*," the double hissed, bringing the staff around for
another shot. "I want my old life back."
"This isn't the way to do it," Mariah said, deflecting the blow.
"Think about it. You're willing to kill a part of yourself to get that
life back? What kind of life would you have then?"
The double swung at her feet. Mariah stumbled, barely recovering.
In the teacher's exhausted state, it would be just a matter of time
before the double would overwhelm her.
----------
"Xena, we have to help her," Gabrielle said urgently.
Mariah heard her. "No!" she shouted at her friends. "This is
something *I* need to do." She looked at her twentieth century twin, her
face resolute. "This is my fight. No one else's."
Xena and Gabrielle could only watch grimly as their friend battled
herself.
----------
"Don't do this," Mariah said as she ducked, the double swinging the
staff at her head again. "You've always been strong. You've always been a
fighter, but don't fight this way!" She blocked another shot from her twin
"You're not a killer!" Mariah said, still on the defensive. "Look
in your heart! If you kill me, it'll only destroy both of us, and that's
what Morpheus and Galvous want. Do you really think if you kill someone
you'll get sent back to the twentieth century? Don't you see? Even if you
win, you lose!! You lose your soul, your hope!"
"I've already lost! I have lost my *life*!" the double screamed,
still attacking Mariah.
"No you haven't," Mariah yelled at her, backpedaling. "What have
you lost? You've lost a time, a place. A time and a place don't make up a
life. It's what you *do* with yourself in a time and a place that makes
your life!"
The double froze, staff in mid air, as the realization slowly hit
home with her.
"Look at what we have here in our new world," Mariah told her
urgently. "We haven't lost anything; look at what we've gained! We *have*
friends, we *have* a family, and most important, we *have* love. We found
a greater love here than we ever thought we'd find. Gabrielle. Xena. And
what about Myklos?" Mariah lowered her staff as she faced her twin. "He
loves us. He wants to marry us."
The double slowly lowered her staff, too, thinking over what she
heard. She suddenly spied Galvous, the one who tormented their dreams for
so long. A look of pure anger and hate appeared on her face as she
advanced on him.
"Wait!" Mariah told her twin. "He's not worth it. Neither he nor
Morpheus." She walked over to her twin and spoke quietly, looking herself
in the eye. "We can end this here and now. We can beat them *and* save
ourselves." Mariah held out her hand. "Come on," she said, her voice a
whisper. "Come back to me. Please," Mariah pleaded softly, insistently.
"You're a part of me I need. You're a part of me I can't live without. I
need your strength, your courage, your heart, your soul. I *need* you. We
*all* need you. Xena, Gabrielle, Myklos, me. We need you to come back to
us." A cocky grin suddenly appeared on her weary face. "You really want
to get back at Galvous? And Morpheus? You really want to stick it to
them? You really want to hit them where it hurts? Then let's show them
what we're made of."
The twentieth century double looked at the outstretched hand. She
stared at Mariah, grinned that same cocky grin, nodded, and slowly reached
for her hand.
The two forms were enveloped again by the yellow light, the two
halves of their bodies and souls rejoining. Mariah groaned, spasmed, and
dropped to her knees as the incredible pain shot through her once again.
Gabrielle was there to help her to her feet. With the bard's help,
she stood up, trembling but triumphant. She had overcome the sense of
Loss.
She faced the three challenges. She defeated her fears. She had
won. And she hadn't lost herself in the process.
Gabrielle supporting her, the two girls tottered over to Xena who
still held Galvous at sword point. "I passed Morpheus's three challenges,
Galvous," the teacher said. "Let us go."
"Dream on, girl. The three of you are here and now all of you
belong to Morpheus. You think he is just going to let you walk out of
here?" Galvous demanded.
"He has no choice," the voice behind them boomed.
They whirled around. Mariah saw a strange man. Xena's eyes
narrowed at the familiar figure walking toward them. "Ares," Xena said to
him. "I didn't expect to find you here."
Mariah looked at him. So this was the God of War.
"The girl passed the tests, Galvous," Ares said. "They can leave.
*All* of them...but not you. I just had a little talk with Hades. He's
expecting you. Say hello to him on your way to Tartarus." Ares pointed at
the warlord who screamed as he disappeared.
Xena looked at him. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her
voice wary, skeptical. "You're not known for lending a helping hand.
Especially for me or my friends."
He walked over to her as she sheathed her sword. "I couldn't let
the God of Dreams go after my favorite warrior again, could I?" he asked as
he reached for and lightly kissed her hand, their recent battle seemingly
forgotten, his love/hate relationship with her obviously back in the love
mode. He still yearned to win her back. The vinegar approach didn't work.
Maybe honey would. And he could afford to be patient. For awhile.
"Besides...maybe one day, the three of you can return the favor." He gave
an appraising look at the exhausted but elated Mariah still leaning on
Gabrielle. "She's tougher than she looks," he said to Xena.
"Oh, you have NO idea," Xena responded as she stood protectively
behind her friends, laying a hand on each of their shoulders.
Mariah looked at the God of War through her weary, bloodshot eyes.
"Somehow, after hearing all the stories about you, Ares, I thought you'd be
a little taller," she told him a little saucily. He looked at her. She
grinned at him, and he grinned right back at her, a thoughtful look
appearing on his face. He then turned back to Xena, all business.
"Oh, Krius and his men won't be waiting for you outside. I took
care of them. And I had a word with Morpheus about his choice of victims.
After that little chat, he wished he had never *heard* about your friend
Mariah here. Take care of yourself, Xena. I'll see all three of you
later, if I ever need that favor," he said as he vanished into the air.
A bright light enveloped the three of them. They looked around,
blinking in the late afternoon sunlight.
They were outside the Psychic Caves.
They had won. All three of them.
-------------------------
Chapter Thirty-One
Peace...It's Wonderful
The three girls sat down and rested outside the Psychic Caves,
sharing their experiences in the Dreamscape.
"You know, you could be trapped here for the rest of your life,"
Xena told her after Mariah told them of turning down Morpheus's offer.
Mariah shook her head, smiling a little tiredly. She was still
weary from her challenges and lack of sleep. "I'm not trapped, Xena," She
looked around as she continued. "This is my home. This is my life. This
is my choice." She looked at her friends. "You and Gabrielle are my
sisters, my family. My man is waiting for me in Tyldus. I've made my
decision. This is where I now belong." Her face and tone of voice showed
she meant it.
Gabrielle spoke up. "No regrets?" she asked gently, looking at her
friend sitting next to her, remembering their conversation of several days
ago at the inn. It seemed like a lifetime had passed since that talk, the
bard thought to herself.
"Not a one."
There was silence until Mariah spoke up again. "We have a saying
where I come from," she said sleepily, yawning. "I feel like I've just
gone through the looking glass and seen the other side of myself." She
fell silent.
"And?" Xena prompted.
Mariah didn't answer right away. Xena looked at her.
The young teacher had fallen asleep against Gabrielle's shoulder.
There was a small smile on her face.
Gabrielle put an arm around Mariah, pulling her sleeping form
closer. "She really went through the wringer today, didn't she, Xena? She
faced her darkest fears and survived," the bard said softly.
"Yes she did. We *all* did, Gabrielle. Mariah did all right for
herself. And so did you. I'm proud of you. *Very* proud." Gabrielle
faintly glowed with the praise.
Xena stiffened. She heard a horse-drawn wagon approaching. It was
Elkton and Myklos.
Xena slowly got up and walked over to them. The men stopped the
wagon and climbed down. Myklos ran over to Gabrielle and the sleeping
Mariah. Xena looked at Elkton. "Thank you," she said simply. "We
couldn't have done it without your help." She went to shake his hand, but
the Mystic wrapped her in a warm hug instead. Xena, surprised and moved,
returned it. "If *you* ever need a favor, Elkton, just ask. It will be
yours," the warrior said.
Gabrielle and Myklos came towards the wagon, the merchant carrying
his sleeping fiancee. He laid her carefully in the wagon bed, climbed in
next to her, and once settled, pulled her onto his lap, cradling her in his
arms.
"What happened in there?" he asked anxiously. "Will Mariah be OK?"
"She'll be fine," Elkton replied reassuringly as Gabrielle and Xena
climbed into the back of the wagon. They still looked drained from their
encounter in the Dreamscape. Elkton looked at them. "We'll be back in
town shortly after dark," he said to them. "Why don't you get some rest?"
He reigned in the horses. They were soon on their way back to Tyldus.
Mariah slept. Gabrielle slept. Xena slept.
As they slept, they didn't dream.
-------------------------
Chapter Thirty-Two
There Is Love...
Elkton was true to his word. It was just after dark when they
returned to Tyldus.
Gabrielle and Xena awoke as the wagon stopped outside Mariah's
house. The teacher was still sleeping soundly. They helped Myklos get her
out of the wagon, and the merchant carried her inside the house. He put
her gently on the bed, lightly brushing the hair off her face. Xena lit
the lamps while Gabrielle restarted the fire in the fireplace.
He straightened, turned and tightly hugged the still-tired
Gabrielle and Xena. "I don't know how to thank you," he began quietly.
"Why don't we wait until tomorrow?" Xena said gently, smiling at
him. "I think we could all use some sleep."
Myklos agreed. After telling them good night, he left the house
and went home.
Xena and Gabrielle broke out their bedrolls and were soon asleep on
the floor.
The early morning eastern sun peeked through the windows when
Mariah awoke after a sound sleep. The teacher felt wonderful, at peace
with both herself and her life. Even though she was sore and her back and
shoulder muscles ached, she felt healed, whole, refreshed, reborn. Mariah
looked around and spied her still-snoozing friends on the floor. For once,
she woke up earlier than Xena! She grabbed some clothes and some dinars
and quietly left the house, going down to the river to clean up. On her
way back home, she stopped at the marketplace. She had a surprise for the
bard and the warrior.
When she returned, they were waking up. "Good morning!" she said
cheerfully as she put her packages down on the table. "How about some
breakfast?" she smiled at them.
Gabrielle and Xena looked at Mariah. She moved a little stiffly
due to her soreness, but this was the Mariah they knew and loved. Her
vivid blue eyes looked almost normal, the circles and shadows barely
visible. She looked relaxed, comfortable, content. After she put on a few
pounds, she would look like her old self again.
There was a knock at the door. It was Myklos. She gently pulled
him in the house and kissed him. "You're just in time for breakfast."
Xena and Gabrielle stood up. "We'll be back after we get cleaned
up," said Gabrielle as they left.
They were barely out the door when Myklos took Mariah in his arms
and greeted her more warmly. It was some time before they came up for air,
both flushed and rosy and loving every moment of it.
Mariah looked at him. "Fifty years, huh? There's only one thing I
regret, Myklos...I wish we could get married today instead of tomorrow!"
They both laughed the gentle and knowing laugh of lovers in love. She
looked at him, her blue eyes gazing into his wonderful brown ones. "I love
you, Myklos," she said softly, intensely. "I love you more than I thought
I *could* love someone." She kissed him with a passion born of love.
Moments passed. "What would you like for a wedding present?" he
asked her, nuzzling her neck.
She gripped him tighter in her arms. "I already have it," she told
him softly. He dipped his head down to her lips for another kiss.
They heard Xena and Gabrielle talking as the they walked back
towards the house. Myklos looked down at her, his eyes twinkling. "Didn't
you say something earlier about breakfast?"
She laughed. "Yeah," she said. "Give me a hand, will you?"
When the two girls reentered the house, they saw Myklos tending to
the tea and bacon over the fire, and Mariah cutting up cheese and
vegetables and breaking eggs into a bowl. Gabrielle's eyes lit up.
"Oh, Xena, you're going to love this!" the bard exclaimed.
"Mariah showed me how to make it. It's called an omelette."
----------
It was after breakfast that they had a chance to talk to Myklos
about their adventures in the Dreamscape, Xena massaging Mariah's aching
back and shoulders while they talked. He shook his head in wonder at what
he heard. After they were done talking, Mariah gently shooed him out of
the house.
"Go on," she said with a smile. "I have to get ready for a
wedding." He stole one more lingering kiss before he left.
Mariah looked at her friends. "I think I'm going to need some
help," she said a little helplessly. All three laughed, got up, and walked
down to the marketplace.
The marketplace was packed with solstice celebrants. Xena and
Gabrielle helped her pick out a simple gown for the ceremony which would be
held at sunset on solstice, the next day. Mariah also bought some flowers
for the wedding. Gabrielle told her about her wedding to Perdicas.
Xena had a question for Mariah. "What are the weddings like where
you come from?"
Mariah told her all about the service, the vows, the exchange of
rings. A thoughtful look came over the warrior's face. Catching
Gabrielle's eye, Xena sauntered off away from them. A knowing look passed
over the bard's face. "Come on, Mariah," Gabrielle told her friend,
leading her gently by the arm. "I want to show you something over here."
The two girls walked off in the crowd, examining goods as they went.
It was some time before Mariah noticed Xena wasn't with them.
Looking around, she soon spotted her friend walking towards them. "Where
did you run off to?" Mariah asked her.
"Oh, I went to check on Argo. She's fine," the warrior said.
Mariah looked at Xena; the warrior's face gave away nothing. Gabrielle
grinned.
----------
Xena, Gabrielle, Mariah, Myklos, and Elkton dined at the inn that
evening. The wine, ale, and mead flowed freely as the five friends
relaxed, talked, ate, laughed, reminisced, and discussed the upcoming
wedding. Clytos prevailed upon Mariah and Gabrielle to entertain the
overflowing crowd which showed their appreciation with applause, cheers,
whistles, and dinars. It was late when they left the inn, tired but happy.
The wedding was fast approaching.
-------------------------
Chapter Thirty-Three
Get Me To The Temple On Time...
Time passed quickly as sunset approached, Mariah getting more and
more nervous as the day went on, pacing the floor of her house. I don't
believe this, Mariah thought to herself a little dazedly as she walked. In
a short time, I'll be married. Xena and Gabrielle looked at their friend
in amusement. They knew Mariah would be fine. The knew she would be
happy.
She dressed in her simple new gown. She was filled with worries
and doubts as they left for the ceremony which was to be held in a nearby
temple.
The temple was filled with her friends, Myklos's friends, and his
family. Mariah felt overwhelmed, but was reassured when she saw Myklos's
face. The love she saw there erased away all those worries and doubts.
She looked at Xena and Gabrielle, and noticed something she hadn't seen
before.
On gold and silver necklaces, her best friends wore her rings, the
twentieth century rings she had given them months before. Her
grandfather's gold ring rested comfortably against Gabrielle's neck, while
Mariah's silver high school class ring glittered brightly against Xena's
deep tan. She hugged them in gratitude, the tears coming to her eyes.
Elkton and Myklos stood at the front of the temple by the altar
waiting for her. She slowly walked towards them, flanked by Xena and
Gabrielle. When she reached them, Myklos took her hand, and they faced
Elkton, Xena and Gabrielle standing slightly behind them.
Elkton cleared his throat. "In honor of the bride," he announced,
"this wedding will be a little different than what we are all used to.
Dearly beloved," he began, "we are gathered here today to join this man and
this woman in marriage." He looked at Mariah. "Who gives this woman to
this man?" he asked.
"We do," chorused Gabrielle and Xena.
Mariah turned and looked at her friends, tears running down her
face. They smiled gently at her, the warrior arching that famous eyebrow
as only she could.
Elkton continued the ceremony. Xena had done a good job informing
Elkton and Myklos about twentieth century wedding procedures and protocols.
The Mystic turned to Myklos. "Do you have the rings?" he asked
him. Myklos did. He and Mariah exchanged rings as tokens of their love
for each other as they exchanged their vows.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife." Elkton looked at Myklos, a
twinkle in his eye. "You may now kiss the bride." Myklos did so with
gusto as applause broke out behind them. Friends and family cheered the
new couple, this couple which would be blessed because they married on the
summer solstice.
Mariah tightly hugged her two best friends. They all had tears of
happiness in their eyes. The couple was thronged by well wishers, and it
was some time before the wedding party could make it over to Clytos's inn
for the reception.
When they got to the inn, they were greeted once again by another
crowd of well wishers. A variety of food and drinks were brought out.
Toasts were made. Gifts were given. Gabrielle was urged to tell some
stories, which she did, much to the crowd's pleasure. Mariah was asked to
play her flute.
As she took the stage, Mariah wondered what song she *should* play.
She looked over the crowd, her heart almost bursting with the love she
felt: her husband, her sisters, her friends, her home, her life. She knew
what song she would perform. And she wouldn't play it on the flute,
either; she would sing it. She wanted these people to hear the wonderful
words that so reflected the feelings in her heart and soul. She looked at
the gold band on her left hand and called Myklos to sit on the stage next
to her. She waited for the crowd to settle in to silence.
"You know I'm a flute player," Mariah began, "But tonight, I would
like to sing a special song and dedicate it to my husband. My Myklos. My
love. My life." Her eyes glowing, she began to sing the ballad she had
heard and sung so many times in her old life:
After long enough of being alone,
Everyone must face their share of loneliness.
In my own time, nobody knew,
The pain I was going through,
And waiting was all my heart could do.
Hope was all I had until you came,
Maybe you can see how much you mean to me.
You are the dawn breaking the night,
The promise of morning light,
Filling the world for all to see.
And when I hold you,
Baby, baby, it feels like maybe,
Things will be all right.
Baby, baby, your love has made me,
Free as a song, sing forever,
Only yesterday when I was sad and I was lonely,
You showed me the way to leave the past and all its fears behind me.
Tomorrow may be even brighter than today,
Since I threw my sadness away,
Only yesterday.
I have found my home here in your arms,
Nowhere else on earth I'd really rather be.
Life waits for us, share it with me,
The best is about to be,
And so much is left for us to see.
And when I hold you,
Baby, baby, it feels like maybe,
Things will be all right.
Baby, baby, your love has made me,
Free as a song, sing forever,
Only yesterday when I was sad and I was lonely,
You showed me the way to leave the past and all its fears behind me.
Tomorrow may be even brighter than today,
Since I threw my sadness away,
Only yesterday.
Xena and Gabrielle grinned at each other. They knew this song
well, as Mariah had played it and sung it for them before, but this was the
first time the teacher ever sang it in public. They easily grasped the
hidden innuendoes the song contained. No, their friend would have *no*
regrets about the choice she made. They were sure of that. The people
stood, cheering, whistling, and clapping when Mariah finished her song.
Myklos grabbed her and swept her up in his arms, Mariah laughing with the
pure joy of the moment.
Still holding Mariah, a joyous Myklos addressed the crowd. "If you
will excuse us, it's getting late. I think it's time for my wife and I to
go home!" Cheers erupted from the crowd as the grinning merchant carried a
now-blushing Mariah out of the inn and took her to their home.
-------------------------
Chapter Thirty-Four
Goodbye, My Friends, Hello...
The reception lasted well into the night, Xena and Gabrielle
joining in the revelry until sleep caught up with them. Mariah told them
they could stay at her place, so that's where they went after they left the
party. The three of them planned to meet in the morning for a farewell
breakfast at the inn as Xena and Gabrielle were leaving; Xena wanted to go
back to Amphipolis to spend a few more days with her mother.
"I think that's one of the best weddings I've ever attended," said
a yawning Gabrielle as she readied herself for bed.
"Yeah, it was pretty good," Xena replied, crawling into the bed,
stifling a yawn of her own. The warrior was winding down for the night.
Gabrielle snuggled into her bedroll. "That was a great idea you
had about having a twentieth century ceremony. And you know, when you
think about it really wasn't a whole lot different from what *we* do."
Xena didn't respond. The bard looked at her best friend.
The warrior was sound asleep.
----------
The morning sunlight streamed in through the windows. Myklos
blinked at the brightness and looked at the woman snuggled up next to him.
He wrapped his arms around his wife. Last night had been
incredible for both of them. Mariah had been hesitant, a little shy at
first, especially about all of her cancer scars. Myklos reassured her.
"Those scars made you the person you are today, the woman I love. Your
strength. Your character. Your compassion. I wouldn't want you any other
way." As he lay next to Mariah, the morning sun pouring in through the
windows, he buried his face in her hair. He could not remember being so
happy, so fulfilled.
Mariah stirred and opened her eyes. "Hello, love," she whispered
to him.
He gently kissed her as she rolled over. "When are you going over
to the inn to say goodbye to Gabrielle and Xena?" he asked her, losing
himself in her eyes, rubbing her back.
She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer. "Oh, not yet.
And I think they would understand if I were a little late." She had a
mischievous gleam in her blue eyes and a smile on her face.
He grinned as he kissed her. It would be a wonderful fifty years.
----------
Mariah, Xena, and Gabrielle met as planned. The teacher glowed
despite her slightly disheveled appearance. She was a little late for
breakfast. Gabrielle and Xena grinned at each other as they exchanged
knowing looks.
"Where will you two go after you visit Amphipolis?" Mariah asked
them as she ate heartily. The teacher felt wonderful, satisfied, complete.
Xena shrugged. "We don't know for sure," she replied. "But
anywhere we go will probably be pretty tame compared to what's happened
around *here* the last few days! Between Morpheus, the Dreamscape, a
wedding..." the warrior trailed off. "You know what? I could use a
vacation!" she said with a smile.
Her friends laughed. "Well, the next time you visit, hopefully it
won't be so hectic," Mariah said. "We can spend some more time together
and you two can relax."
"Relax? Xena? I don't think so," said Gabrielle as she finished
up her breakfast. "I don't think the word 'relax' is in Xena's
vocabulary!"
They paid for their meals, got up, and left the inn. Argo was
saddled and waiting for them outside. The three friends looked at each
other.
Mariah tightly hugged Gabrielle. "My sisters, my friends, my
family. Thank you so much for everything," she said. "You two saved me
again," she separated from the bard and turned towards Xena.
Xena hugged the teacher. "No, Mariah...we just helped you get out
of the Dreamscape. *You* saved yourself. *You* conquered your fears.
Remember that, my friend."
Mariah looked at her. "I will." she said softly.
Gabrielle looked at her. "We'll be back soon, Mariah."
"I look forward to it. Don't wait so long next time!"
"Oh, we won't," said Gabrielle with a smile. She looked at Xena.
"You ready?"
Xena nodded and mounted Argo. Gabrielle stood beside the horse.
She gave the teacher one last quick hug. "Take care of yourself and
Myklos, OK?" she said.
"I will. And *you* take care of yourself and Xena," the teacher
said. "Have a safe journey," she told them.
Mariah watched, tears in her eyes, as her best friends left for
Amphipolis.
She prayed they *would* have a safe journey. She knew in her heart
of hearts that she would see them again.
She hoped it would be soon.
THE END
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