Even in Death

Eve was walking along a path through a seemingly quiet wood. While doing so she was admiring the beautiful countryside of Brittania. She started to smell some kind of smoke in the air, so she followed the scent to see where it was coming from. With in minutes she saw a group villagers sitting around a campfire, slowing she started to walk over to them. "Hello." She said cheerfully. "Hello there." Replied one of the men in an unfamiliar accent. "My name is Eve, I have travelled from across the world, from the land of Chin." Eve looked at them and saw she had their attention. "I have been on a great journey to spread the message of Eli and the way of love. Would you care to listen?" The expressions on their faces changed and one of the men walked over to her. "Eve, messenger of Eli?" The man asked Eve nodded her head suspiciously. "Daughter of Xena, friend of Gabrielle?" He continued to interrogate. "Yes, but I have no intension of talking about my mother or of Gabrielle. I am here to talk about…." Before she had time to finish the man started to attack her. Eve quickly defended herself, but then the rest of the people started to help the man. "What are you doing?" She asked. Still trying to stop them from beating her. The attackers didn't answers and one of them managed to trip Eve up. Before she could rise another picked up a sword and was about to kill. She lower the sword onto Eve's neck getting ready to cut her head off but then all of a sudden a woman's voice was heard behind them. "That's enough!" She shouted. "What has this women done to you?" She continued. The villagers looked around at her. "Kallopiea you have no place here, leave now." One of them demanded. "So you can kill this unarmed women, I do not think so." Kallopiea replied sternly. She started walking over to Eve and the villagers. Eve looked at her and saw she was carrying a sword in one hand, the handle was engraved with skulls and the blade had a jagged edge. She was wearing black leather trousers and a heavily armoured black top. On her belt she had an axe dangling almost to the ground. Eve couldn't quite see her face because she was wearing a hooded black cape. Kallopiea continued walking over to them. "Again I ask you want has she done to you?" Kallopiea said. "She is Eve, daughter of Xena." One of the villagers told her. "You can not kill her because of want happened her in the past. Eve was not even born then." "It doesn't matter, any friend of Gabrielle is an enemy of ours." The women with the sword scream and raised the sword about to cut of Eve's head. Kallopiea kicked the sword out of the women's hand then wrestled her to the ground in one fast move. "Move and I will break her neck." Kallopiea warned the villagers. "Please don't shed blood over me." Eve told Kallopiea. Suddenly one of the villages hit Kallopiea hard on the back of the head. It didn't knock her out but she was very dazed. While trying to stand one of the villagers made an offer. "Tell you what," he started, "I wont kill Eve now if you don't fight anymore, but we will take her to prison instead." Kallopiea looked down at Eve and realised she couldn't save her with her head injury. "Very well." She said reluctantly. As the villagers picked Eve up off the ground Kallopiea took down her hood. Eve could hardly believe it, Kallopiea could have only been 16, 17 at the most. The villagers then restrained Eve and started to force her to walk out off the forest. Kallopiea stood with her back against a tree still trying to get her vision back properly. After a few minutes a man walked up to her. "Kallopiea are you OK?" He asked. "Koprobiades, I need you to do me a huge favour." "What?" He asked concerned for Kallopiea. "I need you to go to Greece." "Greece." Koprobiades laughed, "Why?" "I need you to find Xena and Gabrielle, bring them back to Brittania." "Kallopiea, I think you must have took a hard hit to the head." "I did, but you still have to go to Greece, Eve is here and is in trouble.." Koprobiades looked at the ground. "This is not our problem." "It is now. Please go; I have to see which prison she is being taken to. Please!" "OK," Koprobiades replied," But you have to pay for the boat trip and you are going to have to tell mother some excuse. I don't think she will be pleased if she finds out what we are getting ourselves into. You know how much this country hates Gabrielle, Xena and their family." "Which is why you have to leave now." Koprobiades nodded his head in agreement, "Be careful." He said. "You know me." Kallopiea replied as she started to follow Eve's tracks. "That's the problem." Koprobiades shouted to her. Then he started to make his way to the docks. Xena and Gabrielle were on their bedrolls reminiscing over past times. "Xena, you should have told me the helmet of Hermes was in Aphrodite's bag then it would have never happened." "Well if you had have trusted me then you wouldn't have swapped bags." Gabrielle laughed, "I wonder how Genia's doing, hopefully she is still creating that hospice." Xena started looking around the trees that surrounded them, she couldn't see much because it was so dark. "How many is there?" Gabrielle asked. "Just one." Xena said. "I don't think he's a warrior. Just listen to his footsteps." "Maybe he's a messenger." Gabrielle said while slowly getting off her bedroll, she pick up her Sais and listened. Quickly she turned around, the man had just come out of the bush from behind her but before he had a chance to speak Gabrielle put her Sais to his throat. "Please don't hurt me, my name is Koprobiades and I have a message for you." The man said. Gabrielle started to look proud of herself, "I was right." She said. The man looked at her confused. "What's the message?" Xena asked, who was now stood next to Gabrielle. "It's you daughter, Eve, she has been captured and thrown in prison." "Why what's she done?" Xena said worriedly. "Oh she has done nothing." "So why is she in prison?" "She came to Brittania to spread her message of peace, but unfortunately she wasn't welcome. In Brittania many people are very bitter towards you." He said looking at Gabrielle. "Me." Gabrielle laughed, "Why?" "Because of your daughter." "Hope." Gabrielle whispered quietly, "But that was so long ago, people don't even remember it." "After Hope started her rampage in Greece, Rome started killing thousands in Brittania, because it was here that Hope was born and they were scared it would happen again. Many died and because of it their deaths were blamed on you and Xena. And as Eve is your daughter, many hate her to." Gabrielle put her hand over her eyes trying to cover her tears and started walking back to the fire. Xena quickly followed her. "Xena I can't do this again, I can't. This is suppose to be over, but even in death my daughter is getting many people ruthlessly murdered." Xena brought Gabrielle closer to her and gave her a supporting hug. "This brings bad memories up for both of us." Xena said remembering Solan. "But we have to say strong and we have to stay together. Gabrielle, Eve is my child and I will not let her be killed because of Hope. Will you help me?" Gabrielle looked at Xena, trying to dry her tears. "Where ever you go Xena, I'm with you always." Xena walked back over to Koprobiades. "Please takes us back to Brittania with you." Koprobiades nodded and lead them back to the boat, which was waiting for them. "You should rest on the boat, it is along journey and even with my sisters help you will need to be refreshed." "Your sister?" Gabrielle asked. "She will explain when we arrive." "Mother, Koprobiades had to go to Greece, he had no choice." Kallopiea said staring at an aged woman with curly blonde hair. "So you knew about this." The women replied angrily. "Yes I knew, I was the one who told him to go." "Why?" The woman asked even angrier. "Mum, Eve is going to be executed because of Hope, if I was Eve wouldn't you want someone to go and tell you?" The women looked at the ground, "When he comes back with Xena and Gabrielle, how do you think the villagers will react to seeing them. They will execute you and Xena and Gabrielle." "Koprobiades is going to take a back alley way, we are the only ones who know about it." "Kallopiea, this is two risky." "Well it's a risk I am going to take." Kallopiea shouted. Suddenly the door flung open, in the doorway stood a cold, wet Koprobiades. Then Xena and Gabrielle walked through the door. Kallopiea walked over to Xena. "You must be Koprobiades's sister." Xena said and held out her hand expecting Kallopiea to shake it. "I am, my name it Kallopiea." She said taking Xena's hand. As she grabbed it Xena started to feel hot, very hot. All of a sudden her head started to spin widely, she tried to keep focus but was unable to and fell to the ground. Then her sight was fine she looked up and saw Gabrielle in front of her fighting a huge demon surrounded by fire. Suddenly things jump a few minutes forward in a second and Gabrielle was lying on the floor about to be stabbed by the demon. Xena couldn't get to her because of the flames. "Gabrielle!!!" Xena shouted but Gabrielle couldn't hear her. Suddenly the demon fell to the ground and behind it was Kallopiea with a sword covered in blood. Gabrielle nodded to Kallopiea in thanks and went to fight another demon. Xena's head started hurting and her sight went again, she closed her eyes and when she opened them she saw Gabrielle over her. "Xena are you alright?" Gabrielle asked concerned. "This is the second time that has happened now." Xena got to her feet and wiped a bit of blood off of her nose. "What happened?" Kallopiea asked. "I don't know, it's nothing, really." Xena said. "Come and sit down." Kallopiea lead Xena to a medium sized sitting room. "So I here Eve is in trouble?" Xena said getting to business. "She was found yesterday in the wood, some villagers attacked her and tried to kill her." "What stopped them?" Gabrielle asked. "I did, but there were to many for me to fight so I let them take her to the prison. Today she was sentenced to death." "Death, just for knowing Gabrielle?" "Hope was the worst thing that has ever happened to Brittania, because of the Romans so many died. Unfortunately people around her have become like the Romans and are killing people who aren't to blame." "When is the execution due to take place?" "Tonight, in the forest of the Banshee's. They where killed years ago and to stop them coming back all executions take place there." "Let's go." Xena said to Gabrielle. They both stood up and headed towards the door. "Wait!" Kallopiea said, "I'm coming with you." "It's to dangerous." Gabrielle replied. "If it wasn't for me Eve would be dead and you wouldn't even know about it." Xena nodded at Kallopiea, "You can come, if your mother agrees." Xena smiled. Kallopiea looked at her mother, "Please." She said. "Not a chance in Hell." "I have to do this, you know me I will be fine, please…please." Kallopiea's mother looked at Xena, "Look after her." She begged. Kallopiea smiled and followed Xena and Gabrielle out the door as she passed Koprobiades he said, "If she goes I go." "You heard Gabrielle, it is to dangerous for you." Kallopiea said as she walked over to the door, closing it behind her. "So which way to the Banshee forest?" Xena asked. "Follow me." Kallopiea replied. After a long walk they reached the forest, the sun was starting to set and the sound of hammering could be heard to the end of the forest. "What's that noise?" Xena asked. "They are making crosses by the sound of it." Kallopiea replied. "They plan to crucify Eve." "Like I said things have become very Roman around here." The three warriors followed the sound of the noise, after a few minutes they reached a dirt circle in the forest, in the centre there was one cross lying on the ground. There was a huge crowned around the circle so Xena and Gabrielle hid behind a bush, trying not to be seen. All of a sudden Eve was brought out of a wooded hut, she was looking ill and exhausted. Kallopiea walked over to Xena "I will distract them, you and Gabrielle follow the trees around to the other side of the circle, when the time is right come out. I will get Eve to safety while you fight off the villagers." "Eve can take care of herself." Xena said. "Fine we will all fight then." Kallopiea suggested. Gabrielle smiled at Kallopiea, "Sounds like a plan to me." Xena and Gabrielle started following the trees to the other side of the circle, trying to stay hidden. While doing so they were listening to Kallopiea who was next to the three men about to stake Eve to the cross. "Wait." Kallopiea said. "You can not kill Eve yet." "And why's that little girl." Said one of the men. Kallopiea walked up to him and looked at him dead in the eye. "Because little boy, you have to wait for more spectators." She said trying desperately to think of an answer. Xena and Gabrielle had reached the other side of the circle by now, and quickly showed Kallopiea they were there. "I think you need two more guests." Xena and Gabrielle knew that was their cue and came running out. Kallopiea hit the man she had been talking to hard on the head, and then kicked him in the stomach, sending him to the ground. She hit him in the nose then drew her sword and went running over to Eve. Xena and Gabrielle were busy fighting some off the villages who were trying to stop them. They were not armed so Gabrielle only used the handle of the Sais while Xena fought with her fists. Eve was tied to the cross, so Kallopiea cut her loose then gave Eve her sword. Eve started fighting one of the men who was about to execute her while Kallopiea got her axe and was ready to fight the other. After knocking both of them unconscious Eve and Kallopiea ran over to Xena and Gabrielle. "Follow me." Xena shouted and made a run for it over to the trees. Xena and Eve both jumped up on one of then and wrapped their legs over a branch and lent down to pull Kallopiea and Gabrielle up. They sat there quietly and watched the villages run past not knowing where they were. "Thank you." Kallopiea said to Eve once the villager were out of sight. "No thank you." Eve replied. Kallopiea nodded her head in respect but didn't smile. "Eve what were you doing in Brittania, I told you to say out off trouble." Xena joked. "After leaving Chin, Brittania seemed like as good place of any to spread the way of love mother. I suppose next time I should find out the culture of a land before I go." "Don't talk to me and Xena about finding out culture, we have had trouble of our own." Xena laughed remembering Egypt. "We had better get Kallopiea back to her mother." The four of them jumped down from the tree and started the long journey back to the village. By the time they reached Kallopiea's house it was almost pitch black. Kallopiea's mother came rushing out of the door and put her arms around Kallopiea. "I don't ever want you doing that again." She said relieved. "You know that's not going to be easy." Xena interrupted, "What with Kallopiea coming with us." Gabrielle, Eve, Kallopiea and her mother looked at Xena strangely. "Xena what do you mean?" Gabrielle asked. Xena walked over to Kallopiea and her mother, "Kallopiea has a talent for fighting, which is one that should be treated with respect. I think Kallopiea should join us for a while and learn how control those skills before someone gets hurt." Kallopiea looked at her mother, "I will not go in less you say it is OK, but it could be my destiny to go with Xena, Gabrielle and Eve, please let me go." "You can go." Kallopiea's mother said, "But you look after yourself, I don't want to find out you have been injured, or worse." "I'll be careful." Kallopiea assured. Her mother gave her a hug and they said their goodbyes, "I'll be home soon I promise." Then Kallopiea followed Eve, Xena and Gabrielle back to the docks. Once on the boat Eve and Kallopiea both fell asleep in minutes. Xena and Gabrielle were still up and sat next to each other on the boat. "So what do you think of Kallopiea?" Xena asked Gabrielle. "I think she's OK, a little serious maybe, but nice. You obviously like her, you know you could have at least told me that we were taking her with us." Gabrielle laughed, "It's not like you to trust someone so easy." "Well she did save Eve, but that's not why I asked her to come." "Then why did you." "When I first met Kallopiea I had a vision. I think we are meant to take her with us." "Xena, a vision, what else happened in it? Was that what happened when we met Autolycus." "Yes but I didn't want to tell you, not after last time in Rome. Gabrielle we were in hell fighting demons, lots of them." "Are you sure it isn't of the past, we have been to Hell before." "No, Kallopiea was there." Gabrielle looked at Xena, "Has anyone died in the vision?" "No." Xena said sternly. "Well Xena, we have done some strange and dangerous things before. It wont be any different to them, accept this time you get a chance to know what might happen, so we'll be prepared." "I guess your right. I just hate premonitions, visions, dreams the lot of them." "Let's just forget about them now, OK. They wont come true any how." Gabrielle said and started to lie down on a nearby bed. "OK Xena." "OK." Xena said quietly and laid down next to Gabrielle. "Ok." Even in Death by Kitana copywrite Kitana 2002©

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