Heart of Darkness
Chapters Seventeen through Twenty-Four
by Lynn M. Price

Continued from Chapters Nine through Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen
Report...

The men went directly to Krius. "Elkton's here, and Xena just had a talk with him."

Krius thought over what he heard. "OK, tomorrow we make our move. Early. We'll grab the flute player and take her to the Psychic Caves as Galvous wants. As much as I'd like to, we can't harm her, or kill the warrior princess or the bard Morpheus and Galvous were emphatic about that. They've got something special planned, though, for all of them. Go tell your men and get them ready." The men nodded, and left the tent.

It wasn't the kind of revenge Krius would've liked, but it would have to do. For now.

Chapter Eighteen
Honesty Is Such A Lonely Word...

Mariah paced the room as she waited for Xena to return.

Gabrielle and Myklos tried to get her to rest, but the teacher was filled with a restless, nervous energy. She stalked the room liked a caged lion, her exhausted, ring-encircled eyes looking for Xena.

Mariah was angry. Angry that she and Xena had been targeted, angry that she had been invaded, angry that it was Galvous, and angry that this was affecting her life and affecting the lives of the people she loved the most.

Gabrielle's heart ached for her friend. Myklos's heart ached as well. He wanted to take Mariah in his arms, hold her, protect her. He finally arose, went over to her, and put an arm around her. "You must rest," he insisted gently but firmly. He looked in her bloodshot eyes, and Mariah could see the love on his face. Her anger left her. Her heart broke.

"Oh, Myklos," she sobbed as she buried her face in his shoulder. He held her close, not saying anything, letting her ride out the emotional storm that had built up inside of her for so long. He looked at Gabrielle; the bard nodded in understanding, grabbed her staff, and stepped outside to let them have some privacy.

Mariah's crying gradually tapered off, but Myklos refused to let her go. "Do you know how long I've wanted to do this?" he asked softly, his hold on her tightening as he burrowed his face in her curly hair. "By the gods, I love you, Mariah. I love your strength, the way you embrace life...I love everything about you." He cupped her chin so he could look directly into her weary blue eyes. "Don't shut me out," he pleaded.

"There's so much you don't know about me," she whispered tiredly as she looked at him. "I love you too, Myklos, and there's so much I've been afraid to tell you..." she trailed off as she slid her hand down his cheek.

"I know," he said softly.

She looked at him, her eyes narrowing.

He laughed gently. "Mariah, I know I'm not *that* fascinating. Every time I want to talk about you, to learn more about you, you turn the conversation back to me. Let me tell you this: whatever has happened to you, whoever you are...it doesn't matter. It doesn't change the fact that I love you, and that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I can think of nothing better than waking up next to you every morning for the next fifty years."

She looked at him a long time before finally making up her mind. Crunch time, she told herself. "Come here," she said quietly, as she led him to the table. "Sit down. This is going to take awhile." They sat down, Myklos holding her hands. Swallowing hard, her voice shaking slightly, she told him her strange story.

His eyes widened when she told him where and when she was from, how Xena and Gabrielle had found her and saved her life, her battles with cancer, and the battles taking place in her dreams. Myklos said nothing as he held her hands and listened to her tale.

"So you see," she said finishing, her voice weary. "I couldn't tell you; I couldn't tell anyone. I didn't want to endanger the ones I love. Especially you." She stopped talking and looked down at the floor, waiting for Myklos to say something, anything.

Myklos looked at this girl who had stolen his heart. As he listened to her, he found that his love for her grew as she detailed the strange and wonderful events that led her to him. He loved her courage in her fights for survival, and loved her all the more for her wanting to protect him. He cleared his throat before he spoke. "Well, I *do* have one question, Mariah," he said, his voice serious. "Since Gabrielle and Xena are the closest people you have for family, when can I talk to them to ask permission to marry you?"

Her head shot up as she looked at him, his brown eyes sparkling merrily. "You mean, after all that, after everything I told you, you *still* want to marry me?" She was astounded at this turn of events.

He grabbed her in a warm embrace and held her close. "I told you, my love," he said murmuring in her ear. "You are my life. I love you. How can I make you realize that?"

She ran her fingers through his thick black hair, a smile on her face, the love shining in her eyes, one tremendous weight now off of her shoulders. "Oh, I'm sure we can figure out a way," she teased as their lips met in a passionate kiss, a promise of more to come.

The door opened. Gabrielle looked in, saw the couple locked in their embrace, and coughed delicately. Mariah and Myklos broke off their kiss. Gabrielle saw the look of contentment on her friend's weary face, and smiled. She remembered she had that look when she was with Perdicas. "I hate to interrupt," she said. "Xena's coming back, and Elkton's with her." Even though the bard had been outside, Xena left orders for her to remain close, so she had inadvertently heard most of Mariah's conversation with Myklos. She was ecstatic that her friend had found her heart, her soulmate.

Xena entered with the Mystic Head Priest. The warrior looked at Mariah, still in Myklos's arms. Even though her friend looked tired, there was a lightness on her face and a look in her eyes that wasn't there before. She introduced the Mystic. "He's here to help you, Mariah."

Mariah looked at the Mystic. "Thank you for coming," she said simply. "What do you need me to do?"

Chapter Nineteen
Take A Trance On Me...

Elkton led Mariah over to the table and sat her down. He motioned Xena, Gabrielle, and Myklos to stand off to one side. The Mystic looked around, found a candle, and brought it over to the table. He sat across from Mariah.

"Xena's told me about you and what's been going on with you," he told her. "I want to try something," he said as he lit the candle. "You've remembered a great many of your dreams; there still may be something locked away, something that may help us fight Morpheus and Galvous if the worst happens and you are taken to the Dreamscape. I want to hypnotize you. You'll be absolutely safe, I promise."

Mariah only briefly hesitated before she gave assent, but she had one condition. "Myklos, Gabrielle, Xena...I want them here with me," she insisted. She saw a look on Xena's face. "It's OK," Mariah told her warrior friend. "Myklos knows about me. *All* about me." Xena looked at Gabrielle; Gabrielle nodded to her, smiling. The warrior looked at Mariah and smiled herself, understanding written on her face.

Elkton agreed, but cautioned them that they would have to remain quiet, that only he could ask Mariah any questions during the session. He directed Mariah's attention to the candle. "Look into the flame, Mariah," he said, his voice getting soft. "Concentrate on my voice. The more you hear it, the heavier your eyes feel."

Mariah's eyelids began to droop slightly as she listened to Elkton's soothing voice.

"That's right. Don't fight it, Mariah. Embrace it. Relax." The teacher's eyes began to close. "Breathe deep, Mariah. In and out. Close your eyes, dear. It's too much effort to keep them open. You're perfectly safe. You're surrounded by those who love you." Mariah's breathing became deeper, as Elkton took her deeper into a hypnotic state.

When the Mystic was satisfied she was under, he began to question her, asking her things he already knew to assess her reliability under the hypnosis.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"Mariah Evans." she replied.

"What did you do before you met Xena and Gabrielle?"

Mariah launched into a brief explanation of her twentieth century life before her slip on the ice.

"Very good. What do you do now?"

The flute player detailed the events of her new life in Tyldus.

"Excellent, Mariah. Now these next few questions may be difficult for you to answer, but your friends are here with you. You're safe. Please answer them if you can. What do you fear?"

A troubled look appeared on Mariah's face; she found it difficult to answer. "The dreams." She broke off, a light sweat forming on her brow and upper lip.

"You're doing fine. Breathe deep. There you go. What do you fear in the dreams?"

She panted as she struggled to answer. She was near tears as she listed the fears which her dreams explored.

Myklos looked angry. He whispered to Xena. "How much longer will he put her though this?" The warrior put her hand on his arm to reassure him, although both she and Gabrielle suffered as their friend suffered.

"We're almost through, Mariah. Only a few more questions," Elkton said. "Deep breaths. Another. One more." Mariah struggled to regain control. "You're doing fine," Elkton soothed. "Tell me one thing about your current life that Morpheus and Galvous don't know."

Mariah smiled in her trance. "Myklos," she said. "They don't know I'm going to marry Myklos."

A look of pure joy crossed the merchant's face. Xena raised an eyebrow and looked questioningly at Gabrielle. "I'll explain later," she whispered to the warrior.

Elkton frowned. She couldn't hide that bit of information. She'd probably dream about it that very night. He continued. "This is important, Mariah: tell me one thing about your twentieth century life that Morpheus and Galvous don't know."

Mariah thought for a moment. "Nike," she said softly.

"Nike?" Elkton repeated, his eyes narrowing. "The goddess?"

"No, the shoe. It-it was a nickname my students had for me because I always wore Nike brand sneakers." A small smile came to her lips at the thought.

Elkton shook his head, a little bewildered. It would have to do, he thought to himself.

"I want you to do something, Mariah," Elkton said. "I want you to bury something deep inside your subconscious where no one can find it. Bury it so deep you won't think about or even *dream* about it. Bury the name Nike and the shoes associated with it. If you are ever caught in the Dreamscape, Mariah, Nike will help you find your way. Repeat it."

"Nike will help me find my way," Mariah said.

"Say it again."

"Nike will help me find my way."

Elkton sat back. "If you're trapped in the Dreamscape, you'll remember Nike when you're at a moment of need. I want you to rest now. You're going to wake up soon, Mariah, and you'll have no memory of what we just discussed. No memory at all. When you awake, you will feel safe, protected. You will feel rested as if you had slept for several hours. On the count of three, you'll open your eyes. One. Two. Three."

Mariah's blue eyes fluttered open and she looked around the room. "How do you feel?" Elkton asked her.

"Better," Mariah replied. "Not as tired. Hungry, even." Her stomach rumbled, and she looked at her friends. "Do you think I could get something to eat?"

She didn't understand why they laughed. "Come on," Gabrielle said smiling at her. "I think we *all* could use a bite to eat! Let's go."

Chapter Twenty
The Wedding Bells Will Start To Ring...

They left the house and went to Clytos's inn. Mariah and Myklos walked ahead, arm in arm, deep in conversation, while the other three walked behind, Gabrielle filling in Xena and Elkton on what occurred between Mariah and Myklos while they were at the inn.

When they arrived at the inn, it was late, but the place was still crowded. Clytos found them a large table, and soon Xena, Gabrielle, Elkton, Mariah, and Myklos were seated around it.

"Are you feeling better?" Clytos asked Mariah as he wiped off the table. He noticed the shadows around her eyes.

"Yes, I am." She looked at Myklos. "Should we tell him?" Myklos nodded, his face breaking into a broad grin.

Mariah grabbed Myklos's hand. "We're getting married, Clytos," she told him, her blue eyes shining despite the dark rings encircling them.

"Congratulations!" he said, kissing Mariah on the cheek and shaking Myklos's hand. "It's about time you got her to come around," he teasingly scolded the merchant, who blushed at the words. "What took you so long? First round's on me, in honor of the bride. What'll you have?" They placed their order and Clytos went to the bar to fill it. He soon returned with their drinks, took their food order, and went off to the kitchen.

Gabrielle couldn't resist. "Um, Myklos?" she asked, a smile threatening to break on to her face. Myklos looked at her.

"You still haven't asked Xena or me if it's all right for you to marry her." Xena rolled her eyes affectionately at her best friend. They all shared a laugh. A thoughtful look suddenly appearing in Myklos's eyes.

"You're right, Gabrielle," he said. He looked at the bard and the warrior, his face and voice suddenly serious. "I know you two are the closest people Mariah has to family; in fact, you *are* her family, and I would like your permission to marry her. I love her. I would give my life for her." He looked in Mariah's weary eyes, his love for her enveloping her.

Xena looked at the young merchant, liking what she saw. Yes, Myklos would make her friend from the future happy. Very happy. She smiled and looked at Gabrielle, who nodded her head in agreement. "Very well, Myklos. You have mine and Gabrielle's permission to marry her. But on one condition. Marry her soon so she won't have the opportunity to change her mind!"

"Not a chance!" Mariah said, laughing with the rest of them. Even though she was tired, this was the most relaxed she felt in days. Mariah turned to her fiance. "So when do you want to tie the knot?" she asked him.

"Summer solstice," he answered immediately. "Three days from now."

"You don't give a girl a whole lot of time, do you? Well at least it'll be easy to remember our anniversary," she teased. Clytos appeared with their food. She addressed the innkeeper. "Clytos, we want to marry on the solstice. Could we have a little party here after the wedding? Would that cause any inconvenience?" Clytos reassured her it wouldn't.

She turned toward Elkton. "I have a favor to ask of you. Would you perform the service?"

Elkton was flattered. "Of course," he said, patting her hand. "I'd be honored."

Mariah turned to Gabrielle and Xena. "Would you two stand up with me? It's a custom where I come from to have the best friends of the bride be a part of the wedding."

"We'd love to," Gabrielle answered, Xena nodding her head as she took a drink of her wine.

As they ate, they planned out the events of the simple ceremony and the reception afterward. It was after dinner that they began to discuss the more pressing, serious issue.

Elkton broached the subject first. "Mariah, Xena and I discussed what's been happening to you. We both agreed that you need to keep a low profile until the solstice. Somebody will have to be with you all hours of the day for your protection. This time of the year is Morpheus's strong period. If he's going to make a move, he'll make it soon. Very soon," the Mystic said grimly.

Mariah, deep in thought, looked at the Mystic. "Will this ever end?" she asked him. The light began to go out of her eyes as she thought once again about her predicament.

Elkton was quiet before he spoke. "It will end by solstice. If you're not in the Dreamscape by then, you will be all right. We've got to keep you safe for three more days. Then it will be over."

"What's to say he won't come after me in the future?" the teacher asked, her voice weary. Her mind was still a bit fuzzy from her lack of sleep.

Elkton smiled gently at her. "After your wedding night, he can't, remember?" he said simply. Mariah colored slightly at the subtle innuendo, suddenly remembering her and Gabrielle's discussion. Consummating the marriage would take care of *that* type of innocence!

Gabrielle, seeing the blush on her friend's tired face, spoke up. "It's getting late. Why don't we all get some sleep? Xena and I will stay with Mariah tonight. Let's meet here tomorrow at midday for lunch."

Everyone agreed. Elkton went to his room, and Myklos escorted the women back to Mariah's home, kissing Mariah goodnight. The women went in and unpacked Xena's gear and readied themselves for bed. Mariah insisted on taking the floor. "And I'm too tired to argue about it," she said with a gentle smile, trying to stifle a yawn. She was desperate for a good night's sleep. "You two decide between yourselves who will get the bed. Good night." She rolled over and was soon asleep.

Her friends watched over her, hoping, wishing, she would have a quiet night.

Sometimes, wishes don't come true.

Chapter Twenty-One
Rage Against The Machine...

Mariah slept.

As she slept, she dreamed.

She was back in the brick-lined room of the Dreamscape, a reddish-orange glow filling the room. The teacher was at a wedding. Her wedding. She looked around. She wore a simple dress and held a bouquet of flowers in her hands. There was a man standing next to her. Galvous!

"What do you want?" she snarled at him. "Haven't you done enough? Gods, can't you just leave me alone?"

"Oh, my dear, so rude...and just when we were getting to know each other better," Galvous purred, chuckling.

Mariah glared at him. "Oh, I know all about you, Galvous. Murderer. Warlord. Kidnapper." She spat the words at him. "I know as much as I want to know about you." She turned away.

In the dream, Galvous grabbed her, an iron grip on her arm. "Don't you *dare* turn your back on me," he hissed.

She struggled to pull free. Myklos appeared by her side. The merchant never saw the dagger in Galvous's hand as the warlord plunged it into his heart.

"NO!" Mariah screamed as she watched her fiance crumple to the floor, dead. "Damn you, Galvous!" she yelled at the warlord while he laughed at her. "You murdering *bastard*!"

Her screams woke her up, a rage filling her heart. Xena and Gabrielle were by her side. She pushed passed them, grabbed her staff, and ran out into the night. Xena and Gabrielle exchanged a worried glance and quickly followed their friend out into the darkness.

Mariah ran until she stumbled. She picked herself up, grabbed her staff, and began walloping on the nearest tree, screaming at the top of her lungs.

"I've had it! Do you hear me? Damn you Galvous! Damn you Morpheus! Damn the both of you!" Her staff beat a furious rhythm against the tree. "I can't take this anymore! You want me, then come and get me, you miserable little pissants! I'd rather face you two in the Dreamscape than endure another night of this!" She continued whaling on the tree, bark flying, swearing up a storm, a wild look in her eye.

Xena and Gabrielle caught up with her. They approached her carefully. This was a side of their friend they had never seen before, never before suspected. The rage emanating from her was almost palpable.

"Mariah?" Gabrielle said. "It's OK. Come on. Put the staff down and come back into the house."

Mariah didn't hear her as she continued her beatings and rantings. "You hear me, Morpheus?" she said, screaming in the night. "I'm talking to you! Stay away from my friends, stay away from me, stay out of my mind! Do you hear me? BECAUSE I HAVE HAD IT!" These last words were punctuated by ferocious blows. Xena was surprised the staff hadn't split under the enormous strain.

"Mariah, put it down," Xena began.

The teacher turned on her, totally consumed by the rage, pain, frustration, and anger. Her face was almost unrecognizable. "Don't TELL me what to do!" Mariah raised her staff against the warrior and advanced on her.

Reacting quickly, Xena took a defensive stance. Her hands shot out, hitting the pressure points that would render her friend unconscious. She caught Mariah as she crumpled to the ground.

Xena held her close, tears coming to her eyes. How much more could Mariah take, she wondered. The teacher was cracking under the strain. She looked at Gabrielle and saw the look of understanding on her face. Xena hated to knock her out, but Mariah had left her little choice. With Gabrielle's help, the warrior carried Mariah back to the house.

Chapter Twenty-Two
The Morning After...

Mariah's head and hands ached as she slowly awoke to sunlight streaming in through the window.

She found herself on the bed. That was strange, she thought. She knew when she went to sleep last night she was on the floor.

She sat up slowly, cradling her aching head in her hands. Her hands throbbed. She looked at them. They were wrapped in cold wet towels. She looked at them, puzzled.

She looked around. Gabrielle was fixing breakfast, and Xena walked over and sat next to her on the bed. "How are you?" the warrior asked as she checked her friend's pulse, unwrapped her hands, and looked into her shadowed eyes.

"I don't know," she answered wearily. "I'm not exactly sure what happened. A lot of it's a blur."

"What *do* you remember?" Xena prompted.

Mariah thought for awhile. "I had another dream. I was in the Dreamscape. This time, Galvous killed Myklos at our wedding." She shut her eyes at the memory, her body spasmed. "I remember a little: I woke up and ran out of here." She looked at her hands as she flexed them painfully. They were still red and slightly swollen. "I had my staff, didn't I? I remember yelling, screaming, beating on something..." she trailed off.

Xena looked at her. "You lost it last night, my friend," she told her gently. The warrior filled her in on what happened and how she had to subdue her.

Mariah looked in horror at her friend. "I went after you? Oh, Xena, I am so sorry. I don't know what came over me."

"It's all right, Mariah," the warrior began.

"No it isn't," Mariah said, interrupting her, her voice upset. "Last night, I could've hurt someone. I-I don't know how much more I can take. That rage...it just overwhelmed me. I've never felt like that before. I didn't know I had it in me." She buried her head in her swollen hands.

Xena reached for her and held her close. "You only have to deal with it three more days, and during those days, Gabrielle or I will always be by your side. I promise. We *will* get through this."

Gabrielle came over. "Think you could handle some breakfast?" the bard asked softly, putting her hand on the teacher's shoulder.

Mariah looked at her friends. "I'll try," she said.

Xena escorted her outside to get cleaned up. When they returned, Gabrielle had the food on the table.

They sat down. Mariah's appetite didn't do justice to Gabrielle's cooking. Her heart and stomach just weren't in it. Her friends watched her as she pushed the food around on her plate, eating some of it, but not enough. Her eyes were sunken and bloodshot, her hands still slightly swollen from the previous night's vigorous workout.

Xena stood up. "I'm going to check on Argo and see Elkton. You two stay here. Don't leave the house, OK?" She headed off to the stable and the inn.

From a distance, Krius's men watched her leave. They knew they would have to be careful, quiet, cautious to successfully carry out their plan.

It would soon be time.

Chapter Twenty-Three
Living On The Edge...

Argo was fine, so Xena went to the inn. Clytos saw her and greeted her. Elkton was at a table finishing up breakfast. Xena joined him.

She told the Mystic what happened to Mariah last night. He listened as the warrior told her story, his brow furrowed.

"She's on the brink, Xena," Elkton told her. "It won't take much to send her over."

The two sat in silence, thoughts whirling through their heads.

There was a knock at the door. Gabrielle carefully checked to see who it was. It was Myklos. He warmly greeted the bard, and went over to his fiancee, giving her a kiss. He looked at her face. "Another bad night?' he asked her.

The look on her face gave him all the answer he needed.

Gabrielle stood watching them, leaning on her staff, her back to the closed door. She felt the door shove violently into her back, knocking her to the floor as Krius's men entered the house, swords drawn. Krius himself held his blade against the back of Gabrielle's neck as she lay on the floor, dazed from the terrific blow she had taken. Myklos rose; a solid punch to his head took him out, sending him to the floor to join Gabrielle. One of the men raised his sword against his unconscious form.

"Wait!" shouted Mariah. "Stop it! Don't hurt them!"

Krius looked at her. "We won't...if you cooperate."

The teacher swallowed hard as she looked at her friend and fiance lying on the floor. "What do you want, Krius?" she asked the warlord, her voice almost inaudible.

Krius's reply was short but not sweet. "You. You're coming with us."

Her eyes narrowed. "Where?" she asked suspiciously.

"You'll soon find out," he told her.

Krius addressed his men. "No harm is to come to any of them. Morpheus's orders." Mariah stiffened, her eyes widening in alarm when she heard the name. Krius continued. "And whatever happens, the flute player is to remain awake at all times. Tie them up and gag them. Quickly." Two men grabbed Mariah, gagged her, and bound her hands in front of her. The still-dazed Gabrielle and the unconscious Myklos were dragged to two nearby chairs and tied securely to them. Gags were placed around their mouths. Krius walked over to Gabrielle who was slowly returning to her senses.

"Can you understand me, bard?" he asked. Her glare told him she could. She remembered him well after their encounter earlier that year. "When Xena gets back here, tell her Morpheus and Galvous expect her in the Dreamscape. If she doesn't show, Mariah dies. You tell her that." He turned to his men. "Put a blindfold on her and let's get going." Mariah's world went dark as a cloth covered her eyes. Rough hands grabbed at her. She stumbled as she was pulled out of her house. She felt herself being lifted in the air and put on a horse. A man sat behind her, holding her tight so she wouldn't fall off. The man spurred the horse; she grabbed, found the pommel, and held on. She felt herself moving at a high rate of speed.

The Dreamscape beckoned.

Gabrielle struggled against the ropes that held her to the chair, silently berating herself for what happened. Her back hurt where she was hit. She heard a groan. Myklos was slowly coming back to consciousness.

Xena looked at Elkton and rose to her feet. "I'm going back to thehouse. Let me know if you think of anything. We'll be back around midday."

The warrior walked to Mariah's. Her eyes widened when she entered the house. Gabrielle and Myklos were gagged and tightly bound to two chairs and there was no sign of the teacher. She quickly went over and removed Gabrielle's gag.

"What happened?" she asked as she untied the bard. She saw the beginnings of bruising on her friend's back.

"Krius. He took her." Gabrielle quickly explained what happened. She looked at her best friend. "He said if you don't appear in the Dreamscape, Morpheus and Galvous will kill her."

Xena's eyes narrowed. "Untie him, will you?" she said gesturing at the still-groggy Myklos. The warrior went outside to look for tracks.

She found tracks all right; lots of tracks, going off in several different directions. Damn, she thought to herself. Which to follow? The warrior scanned the area looking for clues. Gabrielle soon joined her.

"Any idea which ones are Mariah's?" the bard asked her.

Xena sighed. "No...and time is against us. Let's make sure Myklos is OK. And then we need to see Elkton as soon as possible." She looked at Gabrielle, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Are you sure you want to do this? Morpheus is after me, not you. You don't have to come into the Dreamscape with me if you don't want to."

The bard looked at her. "Both you and Mariah are my closest friends, Xena," Gabrielle replied, her voice quietly adamant. "I would go to Tartarus if I had to. Let's go."

Chapter Twenty-Four
A Long Day's Journey...

From the grim looks on Myklos's, Gabrielle's, and Xena's faces, Elkton knew immediately that something was wrong. Xena filled him in on what happened.

Elkton paced the room as he thought. "They'll probably take her to the Psychic Caves. And it would take you too long to fight Krius's men to get to her." He looked at the warrior and the bard. "It looks like the Dream Passage is your only hope of saving her."

"How much time will we have?" Xena asked him.

"Not much," replied Elkton. "Three hours, maybe four. The N'Kama oil can't give you more than four hours." He looked at the warrior. "You've been there before; you know what to expect. Remember: you have to find the exit door at the end of the Dream Passage. If you don't, you'll die. Both of you." His glance shifted to Gabrielle. "Do you know what you're up against? Since you're going in together, everything you see will come from both of your minds. You could see anything and everything you've both experienced since the two of you have been together."

The bard nodded. "I'm ready. Let's do it."

Myklos looked at them. "What about me? I just can't sit here while-while," he couldn't finish the statement.

"*I* need you," Elkton told him simply. "Come with me, all of you. We need to prepare."

Mariah felt the horse slow from a gallop to a walk. Hands grabbed her and hauled her down from the animal. Still tied, gagged, and blindfolded, she was marched for what seemed like hours. Stopping

suddenly, she felt someone untie her hands. A door clanged as she reached up to remove her gag and blindfold.

She was in a cell. She walked over and shook the bars. Nothing. She was locked in tight. She moved over and sat on the bunk.

She waited.

"It's time," Elkton said as he mixed the last of his concoctions. The room was filled with lit candles.

Gabrielle and Xena were seated on long wooden tables. Buckets of N'Kama oil were on the floor next to the tables. Elkton brought a cup over to each of them.

"Drink it," he said. "After you drink it, lie down."

Xena and Gabrielle did as they were instructed. Myklos began dripping the N'Kama oil liberally on their bodies. Elkton carried the cup containing a mixture of the fire of dreams. As the Mystic stirred it, the flames grew larger. He lifted two spoons from the cup, spoons heavy with the mixture. He reached over and placed one spoon on Xena's head, leaving a small burning square on her forehead. He did the same to Gabrielle with the other spoon. He put a piece of strong leather in each of their mouths.

"Bite down hard. Both of you." He brought his hands over their eyes, closing them as they bit down on the leather. They could hear thunder in the distance.

"May the gods walk with you," he said softly as he blew out the candles.

Each girl tensed, stiffened, then relaxed.

They were on their way to the Dream Passage.

Morpheus called Galvous over.

"This is better than I thought. The bard is joining Xena in the Dream Passage. I can get my revenge on her, too. I'll make their trip through the Dream Passage very memorable, especially for Gabrielle. She'll never forget it; if she survives. And Xena will have two friends to worry about." Morpheus laughed. "But first things first; it's time for Mariah's tests. Get her ready."

"With pleasure," Galvous grinned. "Which challenge would you like her to go through first?"

Morpheus thought for a moment. Oh, where to start! "Let's make it interesting, shall we? In her dreams, she's shown she has many fears. Let's use the Wheel of Torment. She'll spin it three times. Each challenge will be based on the fear she spins. Let her think she has a chance."

"As you wish," Galvous said. He turned and left the room.

The former warlord had been looking forward to this for months.

Mariah sat on the bunk in her cell, her back leaning against the wall. She drew her legs up to her chest, rested her head on her knees, and closed her eyes. The teacher wrapped her arms around her knees and massaged her raw, aching wrists and throbbing hands. Although physically and emotionally drained, she felt a strange sense of peace. It was the peace of the acceptance of her grim situation. She silently blessed Gabrielle and Xena for telling her about the Dreamscape. Now that she knew what she was up against, she could better deal with it. It's battle-mode time, she thought to herself grimly. The fire of survival burned hot and deep within her heart as it had in times past. She knew she had the fight of her life on her hands, literally and figuratively, and she psyched herself up for it. If she was going down, she would go down fighting. No whimpering, no begging, no pleading for mercy...don't give them the satisfaction, she told herself. Be a cocky, defiant, tenacious, arrogant pain in the ass. You survive, girl, you *live*. You've got too much at stake: Myklos. Xena. Gabrielle. Your friends. Your life.

Thoughts whirled through her weary mind. She told herself to focus, concentrate, to hold out against whatever they did to her until Xena and Gabrielle could reach her. No fear, she coached herself. Don't make it easy for them. You've fought before, and you will *damn* well fight now! Hell, girl, you've beaten cancer twice, paralysis, dealt with leaving your time, your home...and you've made a new life for yourself here. You've got a lot to live for, a lot to fight for, and you fight as hard as you can for as long as you can.

A song from an old movie began playing over and over in her head. Eye of the tiger, she thought to herself, eye of the tiger.

She heard the sound of approaching footsteps. She looked up and saw Galvous standing outside her cell door. Two guards were with him.

"Galvous...so nice to see you again," Mariah said sarcastically, grinning at him, shifting gracefully into her battle-mode, the smile not reaching her weary, bloodshot eyes. She wanted to keep him off-balance.

Mariah was tired, not defeated. Not by a long shot. She would show this half-baked son of a bitch just what she was made of.

He grinned back at her. She looked exhausted, whipped. Black rings and shadows encircled her blue eyes. "It's test time, teacher," he said to her.

"Oh?" she responded. "And just how many tests will I have to take, Galvous?"

"Three," he said, lying smoothly and she knew it. "And if you pass all three, then you go free."

A strange gleam appeared in her eyes. "Oh, sort of like, 'if it doesn't fit, you must acquit,' hmm?" She saw the confused look on his face, loving every moment of it. It did wonders for her morale. She'd beat this bastard at his own game, she thought, him *and* Morpheus. Girding herself up, she rose to her feet and walked to the cell door. "Well?" she demanded. "What are we waiting for? 'Lead on, Macduff,'" the former high school English teacher said mockingly, quoting Shakespeare. "'And damned be he that first cries "Hold Enough.'"

Continue...

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