The goddess gave the bard a grin, "Good to see you looking so well, my Chosen," she replied making Gabrielle flush with embarrassment. Caesar started to move, only to be threatened again by the huntress, "Back off, or you'll be sorry," she warned.

"Just who do you think you are?" snapped the Roman angrily. "You have no right interfering between me and my slave."

He received a burning look followed by the cold words of the goddess, "I'm Artemis. Gabrielle is my Chosen and Queen of the Amazons .. my people," she informed him tartly, "So that gives me all the rights I need to justify my actions to the other Gods. I do not need to justify myself to you, mortal!"

"She's the Queen?" he looked at Gabrielle with total disbelief. "But I thought Ephiny ...."

Smirking smugly the bard informed him, "Eph's the Regent of the Amazons. She rules in my place while Xena and I sort out the scum of the earth .. like you." She got a glare for that.

"I suggest that you order your men to surrender before they're all killed," instructed Artemis. "I want this over so that my Amazons can go home."

The sounds of hard fighting still echoed through the chambers, although it had considerably lessened and a quick glance was enough to inform Gabrielle that Xena and her friends had almost crushed the Roman resistance against them. She wasn't certain that Caesar had realised that yet, but she saw a calculating look spring into the Roman's eyes, "By all means .. take your Amazons back to Greece. You can even have the irritating blonde. But Xena is mine and she stays here."

"You have guts, I'll grant you that. Spilling them could be fun!" she told him coldly, "I haven't had a good mortal hunt for a long while, and I might just indulge myself if you persist in trying my patience. Do you have a preferred animal form, by the way, or shall I pick one for you?" she inquired with cold menace. A hog might be fun! I haven't been pig sticking for a long while ... then again a good chase after a stag is always entertaining, especially when the hounds rip it apart at the end of the hunt!"

Caesar had turned a pallid white colour. He had little doubt that the huntress was being entirely candid with him and he could almost image the fangs of the dogs as they ripped his throat out. He swallowed hard. He hated to be threatened and his ego wasn't about to cave in just yet, "You can't do that to me ... I'm the leader of Rome! The rest of the gods would never stand for such interference."

She grinned maliciously, "Yeah, well it would be too late for you by the time they got around to yelling at me. I'd survive. You wouldn't."

"I'm needed here," protested the Roman shakily.

"Well Xena is needed in Greece and she'll be going home with the Amazons .. it's up to you whether you still want to be alive when she leaves." Artemis informed him pointedly as she sighted the arrow between his eyes.

"You have no right to interfere with Xena's situation. She isn't an Amazon and Mars has agreed that she's mine!" snarled back Caesar.

"Ares is not exactly one of our Father's favourites at the moment, and two goddess' outrank one god," retorted Artemis acidly.

Looking pointedly around area, the Roman sneered and answered, "I only see one of you."

Before the Goddess of the Hunt could respond a burst of pink and gold heralded the arrival of Aphrodite who greeted the situation with, "Everyone needs to chill out! This whole gig's become a real bust." She blew into her hand and a shower of glittering sparkles burst forth filling the chamber. "There!" she smiled with satisfaction, "That should take care of things."

Artemis glanced around and could see all the fight going out of the situation, not only amongst the warriors (who appeared to have ended their resistance anyway), but also amongst the grumbling, angry guests of Graccus who had suddenly found something else to interest them. "'Dite? What did you do? I hope you haven't done anything to my Amazons?" the tone was mildly threatening.

"Don't be a muffin head, Arte .. I just laid a little lurve on the guys and Roman gals, ya know?" she giggled, "I didn't include stud muffin, here," she indicated Caesar, "but the rest of his toy soldiers are gonna want to make love not war for quite a while." The huntress gave her an amused look, "What?" Aphrodite demanded.

Taking a look around at what was going on, Artemis grinned wryly and answered, "There are gonna be some unhappy people here," she informed her sister cryptically.

Aphrodite shrugged, "Bummer! Not my problem."

"I'm making it your problem," growled a darkly threatening voice from behind her. "Un-zap my brother .. or else," snarled Xena, unamused that Toris had acquired a sudden urge to seduce and ravish any and all of Ephiny's Amazons. She held his neck in an iron grip ignoring his futile struggling.

"Sorry, sweet cheeks," smiled the Goddess of Love with reckless abandon, "Not part of the deal."

"Make it part of the deal, Aphrodite," growled a deeply masculine voice.

"Hercola," greeted the blonde goddess happily, "What's up?"

Moving into view, Hercules kept a firm hand on Iolaus' arm as his friend lusted desperately after the women around him, "Fix it!" he ordered flatly.

"Yeah!" snarled Gabrielle who was doing her best to fend off a very amorous Joxer.

"Aw! They look so cute! Especially Curly," she grinned at Iolaus.

"Aphrodite!" growled her brother warningly, while being deeply grateful that his demi-god status seemed to be protecting him from the 'affliction' conjured up by the Goddess of Love's power.

"Oh, that is so not fair!" she stamped her foot petulantly. "Try to do a favour and everyone ends up moaning."

"Just fix it, Aphrodite," commanded an adamant Hercules, noticing that Gabrielle was just about getting ready to brain Joxer.

Pouting, the Goddess of love blew sparkling kisses in the direction of Iolaus, Toris and Joxer. The first two blinked, shuddered, stopped struggling and were able to assure their respective captors that they were alright once again. Joxer, on the other hand, didn't stop his pursuit of Gabrielle until she struck him firmly on the head with her borrowed staff.

"Ow!" he complained, "What didya do that for?" he moaned as he rubbed the lump rising on his skull.

"Just knocking a little sense back into you," grinned the bard.

Caesar shook of his bewilderment at the latest turn in events and contemplated making a grab for the bard again. He fingered the hilt of his dagger, finding the metal a reassuring element in a world that had suddenly descended into madness. Everyone's attention seemed to be somewhere else for the moment, which meant that this could be his only chance.

"I wouldn't if I were you," growled Artemis, "I'm sure that you wouldn't like life in the sty!" She nodded to herself as she saw him relax, "Just accept you've lost and maybe you'll get out of this both alive and still a human." She made a motion of her head to Ephiny and the Regent assigned two of her Amazons to relieve the Roman of his dagger and hold his arms firmly. the Huntress relaxed the tension on her taught bow.

"You gods are not supposed to meddle in mortal affairs!" he snarled, frustration and anger blazing from him.

"Dah!" Put in Aphrodite, "Get a grip slick! That's, like, what we do! There has to be some perks to the job .. 'cause I'm telling ya that listening to endless complaints about love lives ain't no picnic!"

"Speaking of which," chimed in Ephiny with a frown, "I think you and I need to talk, Aphrodite."

"Later cutie. We've both got things to do now," squirmed the love goddess.

"Expect to hear from me," warned the Regent.

Ignoring the by-play, the raven haired warrior growled coldly, "Well, thank you for you help, ladies, but no thanks. We were taking care of this situation on our own and we didn't ask for you to interfere."

"Ex-squeeze me!" responded the pink clad goddess indignantly, "But in case you didn't realise, warrior babe, we just pulled your butt out of the fire."

"I think we managed okay without your help," came the Warrior Princess' retort, she hated owing anything to the gods.

"When? After you'd made shish kebabs of those guys and got yourself cut up in the process?" demanded Aphrodite.

"Like I said .. we were managing fine. Now if you'd excuse us, I've got some unfinished business with my old friend, Julius!" Her eyes were cold and uncompromising. She pushed past the loose fringe of Amazons and intended to brush past Artemis when the goddess' arm barred her way.

"Leave him Xena. It's not part of your destiny to kill him here," Artemis told her.

Glowering at the goddess the warrior snarled, "Forget it Artemis, I've let him run loose far too long. But I'll give him a sporting chance .. him against me in a fair fight to the death."

"Xena!" the bard interjected plaintively.

Not even looking at her friend, the dark brooding warrior returned, "No Gabrielle. If we leave Rome with him still alive we'll never be free of him. This way, his death .. or mine will finish things. It's the only way you and our friends are ever going to be safe."

"I can't allow this, Xena," Artemis told her calmly. "Many lines of fate are tangled here today. You cutting out one of the most important ones in not an option."

"I'm not asking for your approval, Artemis! Now stand aside, before I move you aside!" The warrior's tone had gone flat and cold, causing shivers to trail up and down many of the observer's spines.

"Herc!" hissed Iolaus urgently, "Do something."

Assessing the situation, Hercules considered what he could actually do here, and decided that he would have to wait for things to develop further, "Not yet," he told his friend, "Let's just see what happens."

Artemis turned and faced the Warrior Princess squarely, "Champion of my Queen .. you will obey my direction in this matter," she intoned firmly, allowing a faint glow to radiate from herself and engulf Xena. There was a feeling of compulsion as the glow touched the dark warrior's skin .. a feeling that Xena fought tooth and nail to shake off. "As Queen's Champion you are subject to my will in this matter," persisted Artemis, "and I will have obedience."

It felt as if a crushing force was being exerted upon her shoulders, trying to press her to her knees before the Amazon Goddess. Xena refused to submit to the pressure and beads of sweat decorated her brow as continued to stand and defy Artemis' will, "I am not your subject or plaything," gritted out the stubborn woman. "I kneel to no man or god .. not Caesar .. not you!"

On an instant the glow and the compulsion were gone to be replace by a grudging smile on Artemis' lips, "By Zeus' beard, you're arrogant, Warrior Princess. My Queen chose well when she chose you as protector."

"I'm so glad I meet with your approval," snarled Xena sarcastically.

Aphrodite leaned over to her sister and whispered loud enough for all to hear, "Told ya she was stubborn!"

Frowning, Xena decided to ignore that and attempted to move past Artemis once more, only to be blocked by her arm again, "This is getting old," she muttered to herself, "What now?"

"We still can't let you waste the guy, warrior babe," shrugged the blonde goddess, "Not part of the contract."

Caesar laughed mirthlessly, "Well Xena! Looks like when these ladies go home we get to play again!" He grinned at her scowl, "You might want to think carefully about becoming a runaway slave, or for that matter killing me. I have left very explicit instructions about the execution of those children you were getting to know at the whipping post each evening."

If he was hoping that his information was going to faze her, he was sorely disappointed, "I already know about it, Julius," she sneered, "You're going to sign a document of ownership over to Ephiny for them .. you just lost them in a wager."

He shook his head, "What incentive do I have to do that?" he queried, "After all, you've already told everyone here that you intend to kill me."

"That's true," she agreed, pressing against the obstruction imposed by the goddess, "What I didn't say was how I'd do it! Your choice, Julius. It can be quick and painless or long and very, very painful."

"Tut tut, Xena! That vicious warlord you pretend doesn't exist anymore, really is never far from the surface, is it?" he asked rhetorically. "As I see it," the Roman continued smoothly, "they're not going to let you kill me anyway. So I'll ask again. Are you going to abandon those poor innocent children to their fate?"

"You're a cold blooded bastard!" swore the warrior, still having no luck at pushing past Artemis. Anger glowing from her icy eyes, Xena stepped back a couple of feet as if giving in to the goddess' will before, startlingly, launching herself into a high forward tuck flip, that took her past the two goddess' and landed her directly in front of Caesar. "No more games, Julius," she growled, "You're mine!"

His eyes flickered with momentary fear before his gaze hardened on the sword she held menacingly, "Do your worst, slave, you'll live knowing that you condemned eight innocent souls to death with me."

"Xena! Don't!" pleaded Gabrielle, who could see the mad killing light in her friends eyes, a light that she had last seen when the Warrior Princess had attacked the Amazon village.

"Xena," warned Hercules, beginning to move forward.

"For the love of Lyceus! Don't Xena!" tried Toris.

None of them made any impression upon the Warrior Princess who had finally convinced herself that for her family and friend's safety, as well as for the sake of the world, Caesar had to be stopped .. here .. now! For the good of all, even if the act sealed her own fate and condemned her to Tartarus forever. Before Artemis, or any other, could move the dark warrior raised the Roman's own weapon against him, intending to deliver a killing stroke.

Time slowed to a crawl as the blade began to rise. Caesar watched it's blood crusted progress, unable to believe that his destiny would lead him to his death at this time on the end of his own sword. - It can't end like this! - he railed to himself in silent disbelief.

Gabrielle closed her eyes unable to watch the blow that would ultimately result in the final loss of her friend's soul. - If Xena does this now, we've lost her. - She shook her head in misery. - If the dark side, the destroyer, gains control here we'll never get the true, the good Xena back. - A tear escaped to run down a blanched cheek.

- Don't do this! - Hercules pleaded silently as he attempted to lunge across the intervening space to stop her, knowing that he'd be too late to prevent her from completing her deadly intentions.

Toris shivered seeing his sister, for the first time, as the dark destroyer that so many people feared. This was the woman who had rampaged far and wide bringing death and destruction to all who stood in her path. This wasn't the little girl who had grown up with him, teasing him and competing with him. Nor was it the incredible warrior who risked her life time and again for others against the oppression inflicted upon them by warlords and tyrannical rulers. No! This was the Killer. The heartless warrior that his sister had tried so hard to leave behind. He shook his head numbly not knowing what to do or say.

With an ear splitting scream of hatred, rage and loathing, Xena started the downward arc of the blade, aware of the indrawn breaths of all those watching her, knowing each face bore a look of helpless despair. Internally she fought a battle with her dark self for control and it was with almost superhuman effort that she pulled the blade at the last moment letting it shear across Caesar's armour raising a trail of hissing sparks in it's wake.

Silence reigned throughout the chamber until everyone remembered to breathe!

"That was a mistake, my sweet!" gritted out the Roman. "I do believe you've gone soft. Believe me, you'll regret not killing me. Because you'll never have another chance."

The warrior swung her icy eyes back to his, "Oh believe me, Julius. I already regret not killing you! But you see, there are some things in this life that are sweeter than revenge and that's the love of your family and friends. That's something you'll never know because you live your life in the shadows of power and conquest, away from the light and the warmth. So although I regret allowing you to live more than almost anything I've ever done, I think that if I killed you, I would regret a return to the shadow world more."

"Very well said, warrior," applauded a voice that emanated from a cascade of silver and gold.

"Bummer," swore Aphrodite, "What's old egg head doing here? Did you invite her to the gig, Arte?"

"As if!" grumbled her sister as she turned her unwelcoming gaze upon the newcomer, "What do you want here Athena? This is none of your business."

"And you two have every right to interfere here?" questioned the tall, elegant goddess of wisdom and War, "I think not."

"Technically I have the right because Xena is Champion to my Queen and Gabrielle was abducted," retorted the Huntress.

"Like she says," giggled Aphrodite inanely knowing that it drove Athena mad. Then seeing that it wasn't going to do she added, "I owed Arte a favour. No big deal."

"What's you excuse, Athena?" demanded Artemis a trifle acidly.

"If it's any of your business, Xena falls pretty much within my sphere of influence," returned the brunette.

"What is this?!" demanded the Warrior Princess, "The Goddess' convention of Rome?!" She glowered at the three deities, "If it's all the same to you ladies, I can sort out my own problems." All three goddess' turned long silent looks on the dark warrior, who returned their stares with a 'look' of her own, which wasn't going down too well with any of them.

Gabrielle tugged on Xena's tunic and hissed, "There's three of them Xena. Even you can't take on three of them. Just let them get on with what they want to do so we can get out of here."

Iolaus sidled up and added, "I've been around these three before. They're really bad news when they stop bitching at each other. Listen to what Gabrielle's saying, and maybe we'll manage to get back home without any more disasters."

"Alright, already," steamed the dark woman throwing her hands in the air in frustration.

"Look, I'll try and talk them into sorting themselves out," offered Hercules. "Why don't you organise the Amazons into lowering the rest of our captives down into the pit out of our way, then perhaps they can help Eponin with the rest in the building and get them down here too."

"Sounds like a plan," agreed Xena moodily.

Ephiny nodded her agreement and set about getting things sorted out into some sort of order. Signalling her warriors to begin dumping the live soldiers down into the pit, and instructing Malonda to work out a way of lowering the civilians down there too. That left Xena, Iolaus, Gabrielle, Toris and Joxer to keep guard on Caesar. Xena began relieving him of all his other weapons.

"Is your life usually so full of gods?" drawled the Roman laconically.

"When it isn't filled with murdering warlords and scum out to rule the world .. like you!" she responded tersely.

"Don't you find it irritating?" he questioned as he watched the family gathering taking place a few yards away.

"What? The warlords or the gods?"

"Lets stick with the gods since they've graced us with their presence," he said conversationally.

"Yes," she returned shortly.

"Yes what?"

"Yes I do find them irritating! Like I find this whole situation irritating. Like I find you more than irritating. Now just shut your mouth before I cut your tongue out." she glowered, not in the mood for smalltalk with her enemy.

"Get out of bed the wrong side this morning?" he jibed.

"Hey!" interjected Iolaus.

"What?" snarled Caesar.

"Shush!" came the blonde's simple order.

Caesar looked about to deliver a scathing retort, when the godly meeting broke up and Hercules, along with his sisters, returned to a moody fractious group.

"Well?" asked Xena coolly.

"We'll tie him up," Hercules pointed a thumb at their main captive, "and leave him here. The rest," he looked down into the pit with some interest, "are going to be busy for quite a while .. thanks to Aphrodite's, shall we say gift?"

Everyone took a moment to glance down at what appeared to be an incredibly athletic scene that would, in time, give rise to more organised lurid occasions which would become known in history as the Roman orgy!

"They look like they're enjoying themselves," commented Gabrielle as she watched one very enthusiastic pairing, wishing she had a quill and scroll to hand to take notes. "Isn't that your wife?" she asked a glowering Caesar, pointing to a woman that might just possibly have been Pompeia, but from the angle it was difficult to tell.

"I'm not going anywhere until we get those children. I won't leave them here to be butchered by him," snapped Xena glaring at Caesar.

"Already taken care of," smiled Athena. "A young man escorted then to the ship some time ago .. they're just waiting for your arrival."

"How do you know?" demanded the warrior suspiciously.

"I was watching," smirked the goddess. "Now, since everything here has been settled ..." she gave Xena an inquiring look, "You really don't want to kill him in cold blood do you?"

Shrugging the warrior replied, "I'd have already done it if I was going to."

"Good. Then I suggest you collect Artemis' Amazons and head for that ship. We three," she gave her sisters a look, "Have an appointment with Zeus, so you're on your own now."

"That suits me just fine," muttered Xena.

"Pardon?" questioned Athena.

Gabrielle jabbed her friend in the ribs and the Warrior Princess 'repeated', "It's good to be ... going home, it's time."

"Very well." She leaned over and gave Hercules a chaste peck on the cheek, "Good to see you little brother."

"Athena," he acknowledged a little embarrassed, as he watched her disappear in a shower of silver and gold.

"Keep my Amazons safe, my Chosen," smiled Artemis at Gabrielle, before following her sister.

"Hey slick," Aphrodite addressed Caesar. "If I were you I'd watch your back .. especially around the Ides of March sometime!" She giggled before vanishing in a puff of pink and gold.

"And you wonder why I hate visiting the family," muttered Hercules to no one in particular.

"What was that all about?" questioned Iolaus, cocking his head to where Hercules and his sisters had been standing.

"Family argument over precedence," he answered throwing a worried look at Xena. "Believe me, you really don't want to know the details.

Xena quickly and efficiently bound Caesar's hands and feet and was ready to go when Ephiny signalled that everything had been taken care of. She approached Caesar once more. "I'd like to say this has been fun, but I'd be lying."

"I've enjoyed it," sneered Caesar. "I'm sure we'll be able to take up where we left off really soon."

"If I were you, I'd back off," warned Hercules. "You've got off lightly for what you've done. Next time I doubt you'll be so lucky."

"Just who are you?" demanded Caesar.

"He's Hercules," Xena told him and then bent close to whisper so that only he could hear, "The next time you threaten Gabrielle, or any of my family and friends, I will kill you!"

"Ready to go?" smiled Gabrielle.

Standing, the dark haired woman allowed her gaze to travel over the pit one last time. Not seeing the sexual antics of the occupants, but seeking out the faces of the soldiers that she had been surrounded by for almost the past half year. Their images had been imprinted on her memory, especially the tall grey centurion who heeled Caesar like a dog. None of them would be forgotten.

"Come on," She said at last. "Let's go home."