Callisto traced her finger along Xena’s jaw line. What a wondrous beauty to behold, she marvelled. As soon as Callisto and Xena appeared on the other side of the Vortex, the blonde goddess had been forced to cast the warrior into a deep sleep. She needed time to think. She didn’t know how long she could keep Xena in her possession, but she was going to make the most of her fortuitous opportunity.
Callisto left Xena for a moment and found her way over to the Pool of Reflection. She revelled in the stricken look of anguish on Gabrielle’s face. It was that look which made her irrational actions well worth it. Callisto pondered her rash behaviour and watched as Ares and Aphrodite bickered over her escape.
"Now look what at you’ve done!" Aphrodite accused the God of War.
"Me?!" Ares replied indignantly. "You’re the one who released her from the Vortex, or are you too vain to admit Callisto outsmarted you. Looks like there’s an annoying gnat in your love potion." Ares smugly reminded her.
"So you think you would have controlled her better, brother dearest?" Aphrodite retorted.
"Quiet!" Gabrielle screamed. "That’s all you two can do is stand there and bicker? You have to do something!"
From her view from the Vortex, Callisto cackled. She knew that both Ares and Aphrodite didn’t have the guts to chase her into the Vortex. Who knew, they might get stuck in here forever too. For Callisto, Eternity was an excellent bargain price to pay for Xena.
"Uh, Gabrielle, there’s, um, nothing we can do," the Goddess of Love hesitantly admitted.
"What do you mean? ‘nothing you can do’, you’re gods from Mount Olympus, aren’t you?" Gabrielle’s voice was edged with panic and fear. She refused to believe that Xena was really gone.
"Yes..." Ares started. "But the Vortex is forbidden. There’s no way to follow her in there."
"Yes, there’s no way," Aphrodite agreed, eager to go along with Ares’ twisted fabrication until they could figure out what to do. Her auspicious plans had gone awry in the worst way. She was beginning to understand why the gods weren’t permitted to interfere in mortal’s lives. Things could become a tangled mess in a hurry.
"Well, who is this Callisto anyway? Is she a goddess?"
Ares and Aphrodite exchanged worried glances.
"It’s complicated," Ares replied. "But let’s just say she’s an old enemy of Xena’s. She’ll do anything to make sure she’s miserable."
"I see. So are you two going to rescue Xena?"
"We’ll discuss it," Aphrodite said. She nodded at Ares, "Let’s go." Both she and Ares vanished into a misty cloud.
"No, wait!" Gabrielle yelled into the dark forest but the only answer was the echoing sounds of night creatures.
When Callisto returned from the Pool, Xena lay nude and unmoving on the ground. Callisto examined the warrior’s many scars and brushed aside her bangs, studying the thick scar hidden just below her hairline. The scar was obscured by fine dark hairs but it stayed lighter than her bronze skin. Callisto moved further down the warrior’s body and licked the most recent gash on her shoulder from Darphus. It was fresh and tender but the goddess’ healing powers sealed the wound and all that remained was a vertical line that bore witness to her survival.
Another zippered line traced the swell of her breast. Impulsively, Callisto licked the well-worn wound, noting the rugged and disfigured mark. She traced her finger down to the mark of birth just below the scar and even further still, her palm came to rest on the evidence of an arrow that pierced through Xena’s side. Ouch, that must have hurt, the goddess surmised, the corner of mouth turning up into a half grin. Callisto’s tongue found its way across the warrior’s abdomen and she allowed her mouth to take a long meandering path to the dark wet patch between the Conqueror’s legs.
Xena, the Conqueror sat in regal glory on her throne. She wore her majestic robes that signalled her dignified reign of power. Four Amazons surrounded the Amazon Queen and they all danced before her in swirling seductive movements. Xena watched intensely as Gabrielle danced especially for her. The sway of her hips and the curves of her breasts made an unbidden heat rise in Xena’s cheeks. She loosened the sash on her royal robes and reached inside, caressing her unencumbered breasts. Her breath quickened and the gathering moisture between her legs made her almost wish the dance could be over so that the Amazon could pleasure her most intimate place. She spread her legs slightly inviting Gabrielle to join her as soon as the dance was over, but the Amazon Queen continued dancing. Her green eyes smouldered in the reflection of the candlelit room as she allowed the sweet tension to be prolonged for as long as possible. Xena adjusted her robe and was grateful that she’d had the foresight not to bother with undergarments on this evening. Mercifully, the dance ended and the Amazon Queen dropped to her knees in front of the Conqueror. She greedily dove into the sweet flowing nectar and sank deep into the steamy entrance. She lapped at the juices and swept her tongue over the covered bud, enticing it to come out of hiding. Xena writhed on her throne, with her eyes closed and her head thrown back. She held Gabrielle’s head in place, not wanting the Amazon to stop but knowing that if she didn’t stop, she would climax much faster than she expected. In the end, she gave in to her body’s desires and a burst of fire swept over her as she collapsed into the arms of the golden throne.
Xena opened her eyes. She had never left the Vortex.
"My, my, my, but are you a passionate warrior," Callisto grinned as her lips hovered just inches above the Conqueror’s mouth. Xena elbowed the goddess’ neck and threw her head long over her, sending Callisto spiralling to the ground. The warrior scrambled to her feet.
"What are you doing?!" she demanded.
"Just giving you what you wanted, Xena." Callisto answered innocently.
Xena took in a deep breath and relaxed her body. She stood upright facing Callisto with more confidence than she felt. Suddenly, everything came back to her. She wasn’t the Conqueror any more and she had run away with Gabrielle, but now this goddess or demon or whatever she was had kidnapped her and brought her here, wherever here was. She was still without clothing but she acknowledged the pain from the wound in her shoulder was gone.
"Where are we?" Xena asked, stalling for time and hoping to find a way out of this mess. Callisto grinned. "There’s no way out, Xena. You’re stuck with me now. You want to know for how long? Forever!" She laughed. Xena ignored her.
"Can I at least put on some clothes?" Xena figured at least her armour would help her think.
"Well, I kind of like you naked," she teased. "That’s how you dressed me, isn’t it? Your naked little slave with nothing on except two sets of cuffs and a collar." With a wave of her hand, Callisto adorned Xena in an exact replica of her "outfit" as the Conqueror’s pleasure slave. A black leather cuff on each wrist and ankle with a collar to match.
"Yes, that’s better," Callisto purred.
Without warning, Xena zeroed in on Callisto and attacked her at mid-torso. She knocked the wind out of the blonde goddess, who landed hard on her back, banging her head into the solid ground. The warrior leaped atop the prone goddess and pummelled her chest, backhanding her face with several hard slaps. For a moment, Callisto was stricken with unmitigated fear but then she broke into laughter, hauling Xena off of her and sending her clear across the barren landscape.
"Here! You want to fight?" Callisto tossed Xena her sword and withdrew her own.
Xena ran straight at Callisto, wildly swiping at the blonde’s right arm, knocking the sword out of her hand. The warrior struck a vicious blow to Callisto’s jaw and the goddess once again landed on her back. The Conqueror dropped to her knees and raised her sword with two hands and pierced a gaping hole into the middle of the goddess’ solar plexus. Callisto’s eyes opened wide with terror as she futilely reached for the sword protruding from her chest. Slowly, she closed her eyes and her body went limp, her arms dropping at her side.
Out of breath, Xena gazed down at the motionless goddess. She surveyed the unique netherworld and wondered how she would escape now that Callisto was dead. A shimmering pool caught her attention and she wandered over to drink some water. What she didn’t notice was that behind her Callisto opened one eye and her mouth formed into a smirk.
Gabrielle waited in the forest for two days and two nights but nothing happened. She kept hoping that maybe Ares or Aphrodite would come back but her silent pleas were answered with nothing but silence. Finally, she made a decision to go back to the Amazons, at least to give her a chance to regroup and maybe find a way to rescue Xena. On the third day, she gathered her belongings and mounted the Conqueror’s horse, Argo.
As each day brought her closer to Amazon lands, she pondered what she would tell Ephiny. The newly crowned Queen of the Amazons would be expecting her to arrive with Xena, but Gabrielle’s tale was much too fantastic to believe, unless Ares or Aphrodite wanted to stand as witnesses. Better chance for snow to survive the flames of Tartarus, she mused.
The steadily trotting hooves of Argo gave Gabrielle a comforting rhythm that afforded her time to think. It was hard to believe that less than two full moons had passed when she’d first conceived of the plan that would lead to the Conqueror’s demise. No one could have believed that her plan would work but somewhere along the line, all her plans were thrown askew. Yes, the Conqueror had been defeated, but it was really an abdication rather than a clear cut victory. Gabrielle was personally responsible for that and she was sure all of her Amazons sisters were revelling in her glorious triumph.
As Gabrielle crossed into Amazon lands, she made the Sign of Peace. None of the patrolling warriors wondered why she was alive, as word amongst the Amazons had spread that she wasn’t dead. If they wondered where Xena was, they said nothing. She was escorted directly to Ephiny’s hut and her secluded quarters.
"Thank the gods you made it back safely." Ephiny said as soon as they were alone. Gabrielle and Ephiny held each other in a long comforting hug. "I’ve missed you," Ephiny whispered.
"Me too." Gabrielle answered, her eyes brimming with tears.
After several long moments, the two women gathered in their emotions. Ephiny was the first to speak.
"Where’s Xena? I thought you were going to bring her back to stand trial."
"We were on our way, but you won’t believe what happened," Gabrielle answered.
"Is she dead?"
"Not exactly," Gabrielle replied sadly.
"What do you mean, either she’s dead or she’s not," Ephiny queried, confused by Gabrielle vague answers.
"She was kidnapped by an evil goddess and I don’t know how to get her back. Ares and Aphrodite won’t help me."
"Ares and Aphrodite? What do they have to do with it? If Xena’s still alive, she has to stand trial. The gods can’t intervene with something like that!" Ephiny was livid that Xena just might get away with all the atrocities she had committed against the Amazons due to intervention by the gods. It wasn’t fair.
"I know they can’t," Gabrielle reasoned. "But this wasn’t a goddess from Mount Olympus. It was that Callisto woman."
"The pleasure slave?!" Ephiny asked incredulously.
"Yes."
"Gabrielle, why don’t you start from the beginning and tell me what happened."
When Gabrielle finished telling the fantastic and bizarre tale, Ephiny undressed the Amazon Queen and led her to the bed.
"You must be exhausted, you need some rest," she assured the redhead.
"Ephiny?" Gabrielle asked in a small voice. "Can you stay with me tonight?"
"Yes, of course, my Queen," Ephiny smiled. Gabrielle invited the blonde Amazon to join her beneath the blanket. Ephiny complied. "Just hold me," she whispered.
The two women slept in the comfort of each other’s arms deep into the night.
Xena watched the entire scene with a growing fury inside. She was half mad with jealousy as well as a monstrous anger at herself for being so stupid. How could she have fallen in love with such a conniving and deceitful woman? Callisto had been right all along. Gabrielle had set her up. She was almost amused at the irony that she had done almost the exact same thing to Caesar, except he had the misfortune of being stabbed in the back. At least she had survived, but just barely. Nonetheless, she knew if she could figure out a way to get out of this purgatory Callisto had brought her to, she could form a new army and start all over again. And she knew the first place she would be headed would be to Ephiny and Gabrielle’s Amazon village.
"See, I told you so, Xena."
Xena whirled around to find a perfectly healed and healthy Callisto standing behind her. The warrior gritted her teeth but said nothing. She was still thinking of how many tiny pieces she could cut the Amazons into.
"I’ll make a deal with you, Xena. You help me figure out how to get us out of here and I’ll make sure you get your Kingdom back. Oh, and, with my talents, tracking down Gabrielle won’t be a problem at all. Not at all."
"So why did you appear before my court?" Xena asked Callisto. They sat across from each other around a campfire Callisto created in the vacant vortex. Fortunately for Xena, Callisto restored her armoured leathers and the warrior adjusted the gauntlets on her forearms as she mentally formulated a plan for their escape.
"It’s a long, boring and complicated story," Callisto replied wearily.
"It appears we have plenty of time," Xena said sardonically. "Am I supposed to remember you?"
"Not really, but you have a lot to answer for."
"What happened, I killed your family?"
Callisto laughed long and hard. "Oh, I like this Xena!"
"What?" Xena asked, confused by Callisto bizarre reaction.
"You don’t mince words, do you? Let’s just say we share a long history and I’m making up for lost time." Callisto smiled evilly. "I must say, though, that your brutal honesty is refreshing."
"What do you want from me? I mean after we leave here, I start a new army, win my Kingdom back, destroy the Amazons. Then what?"
"That’s a good start." Callisto stood up and circled behind Xena. She rested her hands on Xena’s shoulders and bent down to whisper in her ear. "You need to fulfil your destiny, Xena. You were on the right track, and for a time I thought I could change things. But I can’t change what’s in your heart. Neither can Gabrielle." Callisto felt Xena’s back and shoulders stiffen with the mere mention of the Amazon’s name. "Think of it this way, Xena. You’ve fallen off your horse but there’s no reason you can’t get back up and ride. I want to take that glorious journey with you. You are my destiny now." The goddess pulled back Xena’s hair and brushed her lips lightly against the delicate hairs lined on her neck.
"Don’t," the warrior murmured. Callisto ignored her. "Don’t resist me, Xena. I can make you forget everything that’s happened." The goddess’ soothing words melted Xena’s resolve to refuse her charms. Suddenly, she didn’t care about anything or anybody. Only Callisto’s melodic tones beckoned her down a familiar dark path she had not wanted to yield to for quite some time.
With an unexpected force, Xena whirled around, grabbing Callisto’s wrist as she stood. She twisted it and held it away from the goddess’ body. The blonde smiled seductively, unfazed by Xena’s unrelenting grip on her wrist. "I can you give what you want, Xena." She paused.
"And what’s that?" Xena asked, mightily holding back her wilful desires.
"Peace."
With that final word, the warrior yanked Callisto close to her and smothered the blonde’s mouth with her own. Xena swooped her up into her arms, and carried her to an open space on the barren land.
The plans for escape were put on hold for quite a while.
Gabrielle soaked in a steaming hot tub and soothed her exhausted and aching body. It had been days since she’d had a good night’s sleep. Two full moons had passed and finally there had been word of Xena’s return to the land of the living. She had wanted to discreetly seek out her beloved, but the news from the surrounding lands had been devastating. What started out as seemingly wild rumours were confirmed as Xena’s army stormed the land in the name of the Conqueror. With Callisto by her side, they had steadily marched through the nearby countryside and it didn’t take an oracle to figure out that Xena and her army were headed directly for Amazon territory. The Council had wanted to form an alliance with the neighbouring Centaurs, but just three days before, they received word that the Centaurs had been viciously attacked by Xena’s army. No one was spared. Those not willing to work as slaves were killed with brutal savagery. The Amazons were surrounded and a message from the Conqueror demanding the surrender of the Queen sealed the fate of the Amazon Nation.
Tears rolled down Gabrielle’s cheeks as she wondered what had happened to change Xena back. Things were happening too quickly. It appeared that Xena was lost to her forever. She cursed the Fates and the gods for allowing Callisto to intervene. Gabrielle had been perfectly willing to give everything up for Xena and the Conqueror seemed willing to abdicate her title as well. It was true she had originally planned to bring Xena to the Amazons to stand trial, but that was when her auspicious plan was first conceived, before she’d fallen inexplicably in love with the notorious warrior.
Ever since she’d returned to the Amazon village and her throne, she had held out hope that Callisto would release Xena and somehow she would find a way to return to the warrior’s side. In the meantime, she couldn’t bring herself to admit to Ephiny that she had truly fallen in love with the Known World’s greatest enemy. She went through her daily rituals that being Queen of the Amazons entailed but nothing held her interest. She thought only of Xena. Several times Ephiny asked her what was wrong but she sealed the truth of her love for Xena in a dark corner of her heart. And she was miserable without her.
Gabrielle dunked her head under the water, washing away the tears that welled in her eyes once more. She recalled the message from Xena. It said,
"Queen Gabrielle, the Amazons are surrounded. You, alone, are to surrender to the Conqueror at First Light. No escorts. Or else all will be killed."
Everyone knew this was no idle threat. To a woman, each vote in the Council objected to the conditions of Gabrielle’s surrender. No one wanted the Amazons to give up without a brave fight. For most of the Council meeting, Gabrielle said nothing. She admired the Amazons’ fierce bravado but a brave dead Amazon was still dead. She acquiesced to the Council’s ruling but covertly made a decision to circumvent their plans. Unless she met with Xena alone, the situation was hopelessly bleak. Gabrielle resigned herself to her fate as she knew there was only one way that this could all end. But before she died, she needed to speak with Xena.
"Ares, you have to do something!" Aphrodite pleaded. The God of War sat in his throne picking imaginary pieces of dirt out of his fingernails with a dagger. He knew the mere fact that Aphrodite chose to visit him in his own temple hailed his triumph as surely as any battle on the field.
The God of War chuckled. "Let’s see, Xena’s back to murdering and pillaging and destroying everything in sight with her new sidekick, the Goddess of Chaos, and you want me to do something?!" he roared. "No thanks, sister, I’m having the time of my life. Why don’t you talk to her?"
Aphrodite was silent. She couldn’t even begin to sum up all that had gone wrong since the start of her so-called ingenious scheme. What was happening now was much worse than she could have imagined. Much worse.
Ares looked up from his fingernail-picking and raised an eyebrow in recognition. "She can’t see you anymore, can she? You appear before her but she ignores you. She’s blinded by her hatred," he jeered at her triumphantly.
Aphrodite looked away, unable to admit defeat to her despicable brother. "No," she answered softly.
"Don’t you see? This is her Fate, her Destiny, she belongs to me, Aphrodite. It’s in her blood."
"Well, so am I!" Aphrodite declared indignantly, vanishing into thin air as his diabolical laughter echoed throughout the sacred temple.
"Yes, I know all about it, Aphrodite. Gabrielle will soon need my protection," Artemis said.
"Will you help her? I mean, she and Xena belong together, not this Goddess of... of... whatever she calls herself."
"Chaos." Artemis filled in the blank. She wasn’t happy with the turn of events and she was especially angry with Aphrodite for starting this whole mess. She could protect Gabrielle, but only for so long. They would need help to turn things around. A lot of help. "We’ll need to ask for help, you know," she said aloud. "And since you got us all into this predicament," she paused. "You’re going to be the one to ask."
Aphrodite took in a sigh of resignation. Deep down, she had known it would come down to this. All along she had managed to escape her father’s wrath, but this time she might never be forgiven.
Xena hesitantly walked through the echoing chamber. She looked up at the towering walls and saw no ceiling. It was dark and she couldn’t see where she was going. She wore her sleeping shift and the slap of her bare feet echoed in the silent chamber. She had no idea where she was or where she was going.
"Are you guilty!?" a disembodied voice roared.
"What?" she asked confused.
"She doesn’t even know what you’re talking about," Ares laughed.
"Guilty of what?" Xena asked. The voices swirled around her and faces appeared as they spoke.
"She’s never done this before," Aphrodite said defensively.
"She’s has no idea what you’re talking about," Ares boasted.
"Yes, she does, she’s admitted it once before," Artemis declared.
"What are you talking about, guilty of what?!" Xena cried. She put her hands to her ears as she shouted. "It’s Callisto! She makes me crazy!"
"Look! She can’t even admit it. She blames Callisto!" Ares shouted gleefully.
"I’ve committed so many crimes! I’m sorry!" Xena confessed.
A soft voice spoke above all others.
"Xena, you’re not on trial for your crimes, but are you guilty?"
Xena looked up to see the face of the softspoken woman. It was Gabrielle.
Xena eyes shot open. She looked around her and remembered where she was. She was in her tent with Callisto. Two full moons had passed since they escaped from the vortex. They had been travelling for several days as they gathered and trained soldiers for the invasion into Amazon land. She relaxed back into the bedroll, turning on her side away from Callisto. She didn’t want the blonde to know that she had been dreaming about Gabrielle again. She hated to admit it, but the blonde goddess’ magical touch drew her steadily away from Gabrielle’s memory but no matter how hard Callisto tried, she could not blot her out entirely. Night after night she dreamed about her beloved Gabrielle, but this was the first one she had remembered so clearly. What could she be guilty of, she wondered. She knew she was guilty of many things and yet she knew that the guilt of her many crimes was not what the dream was about. If she was guilty of anything, it was that she missed Gabrielle. Despite Gabrielle’s betrayal, she loved her and would be willing to forgive her if only she could see her face to face. Xena knew they were on their way to destroy the Amazons but the closer they got to Amazon territory, the more she thought only of the good times she’d had with Gabrielle. She remembered how her heart melted just being around her. Before Callisto intervened, they had planned a life together without the Amazons or her army. It was supposed to be just the two of them, together. Her note of surrender demanded the Queen’s solitary presence but she knew the Council would never allow such a condition. Nevertheless, it was worth a try. She had to speak to Gabrielle alone at least one last time.
As the half Moon rose in the sky, Gabrielle crept through the trees of the Amazon lands. The note had said First Light, but she had no intention of waiting that long. She hoped to catch Xena off guard by getting there several candlemarks ahead of time. She felt like a spy amongst her own people but she knew this was the only way. She had stopped at Artemis’ temple on the way and asked for protection by the Moon Goddess. To her surprise, Artemis appeared before her, warning her that Xena knew all about Gabrielle’s plan to return her to the Amazons for trial. To Gabrielle’s great relief, she finally understood Xena’s relentless march. Nevertheless, the harrowing culmination of the past few weeks welled up inside her and she tearfully confessed her dark secret. The secret of her love.
"I know you love her, my child. But love is never something to be ashamed of," the Moon Goddess reassured her. "If you love her, that is what you must tell her."
"If she doesn’t kill me first," Gabrielle replied, doubting that so simple a plan could work. Nevertheless, she would not want to live without Xena.
"I will protect you as much as I can. But remember, you must speak from your heart. That is the only way you will reach hers," she added.
Afterwards, Gabrielle snuck around behind the small structure and escaped through the trees. She figured by the time the other Amazons discovered she was gone, she’d be deeply entrenched in Xena’s encampment.
Gabrielle spotted several soldiers lining the perimeter. Silently, she waited for the perfect time to elude their protective ring. She used the time to think of what she would say to Xena and how she could convince her to put down her sword. It was a daunting task. Finally, there was an opening and she slipped through their defences and made her way to Xena’s tent. She wriggled under a loose flap and gazed from the bottom of the bedroll where she found Xena asleep. She kneeled at her side and reached out to touch the warrior’s dark hair.
"Well, well, well, if it isn’t Queen Gabrielle," Callisto announced. Gabrielle glanced behind her when a fist slammed into the side of her head. Stars danced before her eyes and then everything black.
Gabrielle patiently waited for a sign of First Light. After she’d been knocked unconscious by Callisto, she awoke to find herself being dragged to a tent occupied and surrounded by twenty or more of Xena’s soldiers. Dazedly, she had resisted little while the evil goddess bound her to the pole in the centre of the tent. She had heard Callisto boastfully inform the soldiers that she was Xena’s merchandise, clearly indicating that she was to be touched by no one except the Conqueror herself. After Callisto left, Gabrielle was stoically ignored by one and all.
The Amazon Queen surmised that Callisto had cast Xena into a deep slumber and rendered her oblivious to the waking world. Normally, the Conqueror would have awoken within a blink of an eye, but Xena never stirred. Nevertheless, Callisto apparently wanted Gabrielle alive but she wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was because Xena would never forgive the goddess for not allowing her the sole privilege of killing the Amazon herself or maybe it was simply that Callisto wanted to witness the Conqueror lay waste to Gabrielle once and for all. However, none of that mattered now. All she could do was have her final words with Xena and hope that she could penetrate her darkened soul like she’d done once before.
In the candlemarks of pre-Dawn, Callisto knew this was her last chance. She lay beside the Conqueror as she slept in their tent on the bedroll. The blonde goddess was aware that no matter how much her godly powers held the Conqueror spellbound, Xena would never truly be hers. She watched Xena sleep and her eyes fluttered with the activity of dreams. Sadly, Callisto knew that the dreams were certainly not about her. The goddess knew it was only a matter of time before Xena chose Gabrielle over her once again. She saw how Xena’s eyes lit up with anticipation that the Amazon Queen might be brought to her. If Callisto had her druthers, she would have simply invaded the Amazon home base without so much as warning aforethought and she encouraged Xena to do so. But Xena wouldn’t listen, and instead demanded that the Amazon Queen be brought to her. When Gabrielle showed up in their tent, Callisto knew then that she couldn’t hold back the current of Fate that always seemed to bring Xena and Gabrielle together, no matter what universe they were in or what the circumstances. While the Amazon was held captive in another tent, Callisto bid her final farewell to her beloved warrior.
Callisto examined her lover’s beauty while she slept. She committed the peaks and valleys of her features to memory knowing that this would probably be her last few moments alone with Xena. She wanted the Conqueror to forget about the irritating Amazon entirely but Callisto knew the dreams of Xena’s former lover haunted the warrior and permeated her waking hours like a grey cloud in a tranquil blue sky. The goddess vowed to strike a bargain for when all was said and done, and it would be as if she had never met Xena of Amphipolis nor Xena, the Warrior Princess, nor Xena, the Conqueror in her brief wayward life.
Xena opened her eyes, blinking away the grogginess of sleep.
"Is she here yet?" she asked excitedly, propping herself up on her elbows.
"Shh, shh, don’t worry about that now, she’s fine," the blonde goddess hushed, pushing Xena back down on the bedroll. She stroked Xena’s bangs away from her face and melted into the kaleidoscope of her crystal blue eyes. "She’s being taken care of." Callisto covered Xena’s lips with a searing kiss making the Conqueror forget all that had gone before. The blonde made Xena know only her goddess touch, her divine kiss, her godly love, her unholy obsession. Her hands gracefully relieved Xena of her leather tunic, along with her britches. Callisto relished the hunger in Xena’s response as the warrior rose up to meet her roving hands. Carnal sounds of pleasure emanated from the Conqueror’s throat.
"Oh Xena, my love, you’re so precious," Callisto murmured as she nipped and licked the smooth skin of Xena’s neck. Her hand gently parted Xena’s thighs and she dipped her fingers into the silky wetness she found there.
"Don’t stop, Callisto," Xena pleaded. Her breathing was becoming ragged and the blonde goddess enjoyed the effect she was having on the so-called Conqueror of the Known World. She would miss this passionate woman, she mused. The fiercesome warrior who writhed beneath her sent currents of lust raging through Callisto and she cherished the power her goddess touch provoked. Her mouth found its way across Xena’s breasts and Callisto lingered at a hardened tip, flicking one back and forth between her teeth. The dark warrior arched her back, lifting her torso off the bedroll while loud moans echoed the blonde’s relentlessness. She released the tiny nub and left an imprint of swirls through the film of sweat covering Xena’s stomach. Callisto inhaled the scent of Xena’s desire and dove into the lubricated mound.
"Ohhhh…" the Conqueror moaned, spreading her legs wider to accommodate the goddess’ fervent appetite. Callisto lapped at the overflowing juices and focused merciless pressure on the erect nodule. Xena thrashed wildly against her and held the blonde mane firmly against her mound. However, Callisto didn’t want the Conqueror to take control, she wanted this last time to be hers. And she wanted to leave Xena with an everlasting impression. She pulled away from the warrior’s sopping triangle as Xena let out a sharp cry.
"Don’t stop!" she gasped.
Callisto smiled slyly. "You’re hardly in control now, Conqueror," Callisto taunted. She wanted the warrior’s complete surrender.
"Don’t leave me this way," Xena moaned as the goddess moved off the bedroll. Callisto had no intention of leaving the warrior unfulfilled but first she stood back to admire her prized possession. The goddess took her time removing her leathers, wallowing in the powerful intoxicant of Xena begging her to vanquish her aching desires. A depraved smile crossed Callisto’s lips. Now this is how she wanted to remember her radiant beauty, she thought.
"Don’t worry, Conqueror, I won’t leave you unfulfilled, but I must say I’m enjoying your distress," she smirked.
"Please, I need you," Xena breathed heavily.
Callisto approached the warrior and smothered Xena’s mouth with her own. Her body covered the bigger woman’s and the goddess slid her own wet centre against Xena’s thigh. She held the warrior in place with a yank of her thick hair and two fingers slipped inside Xena’s warm entrance.
"This is my cunt, Conqueror," Callisto declared.
"Yes," Xena groaned, arching her pelvis against the smaller woman’s hand.
"And this cunt of mine will not be fulfilled by any other."
"All...yours," Xena panted.
"Really?" Callisto queried, her eyes gleaming with the possibilities. Maybe she could still get her life back. "Will you do anything for me, my sweet?"
"Yes! Anything!"
Callisto knew that it wouldn’t take much to bring Xena to the brink of ecstasy, but she wanted to prolong that indulgence for as long as possible. She slowed her pace and embedded a third digit inside Xena and the warrior eagerly obliged her thrusting fingers. The steady rhythm drove the Conqueror wild with lust, her hands gripping the tops of Callisto’s shoulders, but again, the blonde refused to be rushed.
"Please, Callisto, I need to…" the Conqueror teetered on the verge of frenzied desperation.
"Xena, the Conqueror pleading for mercy. Do you know that you’re just simply gorgeous when you beg?" the goddess mocked. A guttural sigh escaped Xena’s throat as Callisto’s hand kept up a slow steady pace. She knew she was driving the warrior to near madness with her frivolous conversation.
"Please!" Xena insisted, her jaw working noticeably as she gritted her teeth. Callisto grinned when she detected a trace of anger in the warrior’s voice. Now that was the Xena she knew from before and the one she most wanted to conquer.
"Oh, you’ll get your wish, my pet, but first...." Callisto licked the length of Xena’s jaw, coming to rest at the base of her neck. She balled her hand into a fist and manoeuvred it inside the Conqueror’s flooded cavern as the steaming walls engulfed her small hand like a well-worn glove. Xena grunted. She instinctively arched her back and spread her thighs wide, inviting the goddess to invade her most private domain.
"There will be no one who can fill you like I can, will there, Xena?" Callisto breathed heavily into the warrior’s ear.
"No one…yes…fill me…please," the Conqueror moaned.
Xena bucked wildly against Callisto as she thrust her fist into the very core of her being. The goddess’ own juices lathered Xena’s thigh as she matched the carnal beat of her lover’s pace. Xena raced to the edge of absolute bliss but Callisto slowed down not wanting her to peak before she’d extracted a little promise out of the lust-crazed warrior.
"Don’t slow down, I’m almost there!" Xena nearly screamed, her chest heaving from the strain.
Callisto laughed. "Oh, I know, my sweet, but you forget, I love to see you writhing in torment."
"Please, Callisto, don’t stop, I can’t take it. It’s just that it feels so good," Xena tried to sweet talk the blonde into continuing.
"Yes, I know, my luscious beauty." Callisto smoothed Xena’s matted hair away from her face, admiring the dark beauty that was the exact opposite to her own. "And what would you do you make me continue?"
Xena didn’t hesitate. "Anything!" she heaved.
"That’s exactly what I wanted to hear." Callisto kissed the warrior’s full lips, pushing her tongue inside as their mouths duelled for dominance. The goddess continued the rhythmic movements of her fist inside Xena and built a friction that was soon to explode. The tempo of her own climax against Xena’s thigh quickly paralleled the warrior’s throbbing beat.
"Come for me, Conqueror, come for me," Callisto hissed.
"Oh, yes! Callisto! yes!" Xena wailed. She bucked frantically against Callisto’s hand and she carried the blonde goddess along for the ride. Xena’s inner walls squeezed and convulsed against Callisto’s hand and she revelled in the sheer pleasure of driving Xena delirious with desire. Drops of sweat poured down Callisto’s face and her hair became a scraggly wet mess. The sound of Xena screaming her name sent her over the edge and then the warrior arched her back one final time. Callisto steadfastly held her grip as the two women reached the pinnacle of paradise together.
Afterwards, Xena held Callisto in her arms until the beginning signs of First Light.
"Xena?"
"Hmm?"
"Promise me something?"
"What’s that?" Xena asked quietly, apparently still exhausted from their early morning tryst.
"Promise me you will grant me my last wish."
"Your last wish? What do you mean?" Xena leaned up on her elbows to face the goddess.
"Just promise me, okay? When they come for me, you’ll bargain for my last wish."
"Well, what is it?" Xena queried, confused by Callisto’s strange request.
"I can’t say but you’ll know when the time comes. Just promise me that, okay?"
Xena laid back down on the bedroll and kissed the top of Callisto’s head, "I promise," she whispered.
Callisto was content with the promise she’d extracted from Xena but she knew that her fragile hold on her darling warrior would soon slip through her fingers like the elusive granules on a sandy beach. Nonetheless, she was delighted that her final farewell would leave Xena with a lasting memory, whether they remembered each other or not.
The two warriors dressed and prepared themselves for the encounter with the new prisoner, Gabrielle, Queen of the Amazons.
The Conqueror entered the tent, immediately prompting all soldiers to stand at attention. With a nearly imperceptible tilt of her head, she dismissed everyone from her sight and the silent and obedient soldiers departed in single file. Only Xena, Gabrielle and Callisto remained. As soon as the Conqueror laid her eyes on Gabrielle, her heart threatened to squeeze her throat shut. She swallowed hard to force down her emotions. She was surprised at how much she had missed the Amazon and a twist of guilt seized her. How could she allow herself to be seduced by one when her heart clearly belonged to another? she wondered. The only threadbare excuse she could claim was that Callisto was a goddess and it was nearly impossible to resist her alluring charm. A wisp of a dream swirled around her as she remembered a question, "Are you guilty?" Xena answered silently, "Yes. I love her." Finally, she realised the meaning of the question. Callisto rudely interrupted her reverie.
"Here she is, Xena. Gabrielle, Queen of the Amazons," Callisto mocked derisively. She stood to Gabrielle’s left while the Conqueror hovered on her right. The Amazon’s gaze fixed unwaveringly on the ground. She was clearly frightened by her predicament. "Kill her!" the goddess’s eyes gleamed triumphantly.
"Hold on, Callisto, there’s plenty of time for that later. Isn’t there, little queen?" Xena lifted the Amazon’s chin. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the warrior was held captive by the mesmerising windows of Gabrielle’s soul. She found herself wanting to get lost in the emerald ocean and press her lips against her succulent mouth. There was something about this woman that seeped into her soul but first, she knew there were things she needed to find out.
"I don’t know," Gabrielle answered, her voice subdued and hoarse.
"Xena, she doesn’t expect to live, does she? She and the Amazons are as good as dead right now!" Callisto goaded.
"Quiet!" Xena growled. The warrior was growing weary of Callisto’s meddling. Suddenly, she wanted the goddess out of the tent and out of her life. She only wanted to turn her wholehearted attention to the Amazon Queen. Xena knew it was Gabrielle who invaded her dreams and it was she who enlightened her spirit. Although there had been a place for Callisto at her side, it was clear she only knew death and destruction. Xena released her hold on Gabrielle’s face and turned her back to the prisoner. She needed some answers but first she needed to get a grip on herself. She nonchalantly took in a few deep breaths, then after a few moments, she turned to face her captive.
"Gabrielle, she’s right, you know, by rights you should all be dead. But I want to hear your side of the story. Is it true you intended to take me back to the Amazons, only to be held for my crimes against them? Or were you really in love with me?"
"Yes," Gabrielle answered meekly.
"See, Xena? She admits her betrayal! You meant nothing to her!" Callisto exclaimed.
"No!" the Amazon shouted. Gabrielle spoke fast but faltered midway. "I mean yes, I was supposed to take you back but that was in the beginning, before…before…"
"Before what?" Xena asked. She crossed her arms defiantly and waited for an explanation.
"Before I rescued you, Xena," Callisto interjected. "She was going to lead you right into their little trap!"
"Xena," the Amazon spoke with soft resignation. "I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but I swear by the gods this is the truth. Yes, I was supposed to — "
"She’s lying!" Callisto broke in again.
"Shut up! Callisto! Let her talk," Xena said through gritted teeth. Callisto seethed with fury. Even though she knew that this would happen, it was hardly comforting to know the truth and then have it happen. She’d lost Xena once again.
Gabrielle continued, "The plan was for me to seduce you, forge an alliance and then bring you back to the Amazons for trial. But none of that happened. You seduced me, Xena," the Amazon quietly admitted. "You were the one who gave up everything for me and I was going to as well, but then…um, things happened, and…I don’t know, things just got out of control." She paused for a moment, gathering the strength to continue. "I want to be with you, Xena, just you, no Amazons, no army, no one else, just you." Gabrielle looked down at the ground again.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, she loves you," Callisto chimed in.
"And how do I know you’re telling the truth this time?" Xena queried, still not entirely sure if she should believe Gabrielle, but she very much wanted to.
Gabrielle was silent for another moment. "I don’t know. All I know is that I don’t want to live without you. I wrote a few words for you and if you still want to kill me after I have my say, then go right ahead. I can’t take it anymore."
Callisto rolled her eyes. "Oh, for the love of Aphrodite, here comes the mushy part. Xena, I can’t believe you’re going to listen to this nonsense."
Xena glared at the blonde goddess, trying very hard to ignore her caustic tone. "Go ahead," she said to Gabrielle.
Gabrielle began:
If you ask how much I love you
How can I explain?
I need you, my dark warrior, like roses need rain
If you ask how long I’ll love you
Let me tell you true
Until the last of Never, I’ll still be loving you
I’ll love you until the flowers forget to bloom
I’ll love you until the honey has lost its perfume
I’ll love you until the bards run out of rhyme
Until the last of Never and that’s a long long time
Callisto watched with growing jealousy the effect Gabrielle was having on Xena. She couldn’t take it anymore as her rage reached a boiling point.
"Oh, so she’s a bard now?!" Callisto interrupted.
Xena knew that Callisto was angry but she also knew that her heart belonged to the woman with the melodic voice. Her heart was laid waste by her charms and she knew that some strand of Fate tugged at her soul. The Conqueror knew Gabrielle spoke the truth.
"Let her finish, Callisto!" she barked.
Gabrielle continued:
I want you to hold me close
And never let me go
When you hold me close
My heart melts like April snow
I’ll love you until the moon refuses to rise
I’ll love you until the oceans turn barren and dry
I’ll love you until the sun has lost its shine
Until the last of Never and that’s a long long time
Tears streamed down Gabrielle’s cheeks as she finished and the warrior’s eyes brimmed with tears of her own. Xena stepped toward her, intent on releasing the Amazon from her bonds. They were completely unaware that Callisto had withdrawn her sword. But just as an enraged Callisto made a certain deadly thrust towards Xena and Gabrielle, the Conqueror turned in time to see the sword mysteriously vanish from the goddess’ hand. Confused, Xena, Gabrielle and Callisto all gasped as a thunderous white flash materialised into Zeus, King of the Gods.
"All right, all right, Callisto, you’ve had your little fun," he said wearily.
Xena’s tent glowed with the powerful aura of Zeus, King of the Gods, but swiftly the bland colour of the canvas faded away into a bright room that seemed to be lighted by the very presence of Apollo himself. The Sun God wasn’t there, but a few of the other ones were. One by one they showed themselves - Aphrodite, Artemis, and Ares. Xena instinctively knew that they had all journeyed to Mount Olympus. The high expansive walls exuded immense power to all who passed through and Xena recognised the majestic hall from her dreams, but why they were brought here, she had no idea. Protectively, she steered Gabrielle behind her, shielding her from the formidable pre-eminence of the Olympian gods. Callisto simply resigned herself to her fate.
"Why have you brought us here?" the Conqueror demanded.
Zeus ignored her question. "You have chosen well, my child," he said calmly as he nodded his head in Gabrielle’s direction.
"You can’t be serious!" Ares interjected angrily, disregarding the significant edge in the realm of power Zeus held over him. His father’s wrath was well known but despite his bravado, Ares knew Zeus held a special place for his malevolent son.
"Face it, Ares, your beloved Xena chose love above all else," Aphrodite boasted.
"Yes, and now the balance of all the realms has been restored," Artemis agreed.
"Not with her still running around," Ares chided, as he cocked his head in Callisto’s direction. He chuckled to himself as if he were the only one to get the inside joke. Even though he considered Callisto his enemy as well as his rival for Xena’s affections, he admired her dogged determination to weave through space, time and an alternate reality to get revenge on her dark nemesis.
"Yes, so what will you do with me, Zeus? You know no confinement can hold me," Callisto stepped forward to confront Zeus, showing neither fear nor deference. It was clear to all the gods that the fledging goddess had an uncanny ability to escape any prison known to her, be it Tartarus, the Labyrinth, the Vortex or any number of caves. "And you know that I’ll never give up in my quest for revenge. Oh, she’s infatuated with the little brat for now, but how long do you suppose that will last?"
The Conqueror stepped forward to speak. Zeus shot up his hand to silence her.
"All right, Callisto, you’ve proven your point, what do you want?" he asked the blonde goddess.
Callisto smirked, surprising even herself that Zeus would accede to her demands. She crossed her arms across her chest and boldly presented her case.
"The only way for me to forget about your precious Xena…" she said, waving her hand in a dramatic fashion towards the warrior. "…is to make it so I never met her. Make it so the Warrior Princess bypassed Cirra altogether. Make it so she never torched my village to the ground. Make it so her army never burned my mother and my sister to an unrecognisable crisp. Make it – "
"I get the picture, Callisto," Zeus interrupted.
"You can’t do that!" Artemis protested. "She deserves to be punished!"
"Sure he can, my dear sister. Unless you have a better idea," Ares offered. He envisioned the villainess being taken out the picture, thus leaving his magnificent warrior all to himself.
Artemis had no answer, but after all the hurt Callisto had caused Xena and especially Gabrielle, she wanted something far worse to happen to the unruly goddess than a second chance.
"She should be granted her last wish," Xena spoke in a hushed tone, so soft that mere mortals could not hear her, but the gods clearly did. The warrior finally understood Callisto’s puzzling request earlier in the morning. After what she, as the Conqueror, apparently had done to Callisto and her family, she should at least grant her that much. It was especially deplorable that she couldn’t even remember when or how it had happened. But she was certain the goddess spoke the truth.
"Make it so she never met me," Xena declared.
"I agree with Xena," Aphrodite admitted. "Callisto should get a second chance. It was she who got the two of them together in the first place. And besides, that was our original bargain."
"If I were you, Dite, I wouldn’t bring up your ingenious scheme," Artemis glared at the Goddess of Love. "We wouldn’t be in this twisted mess if you hadn’t decided to wreck havoc with the Fates."
"The Fates? You call Xena throwing Gabrielle over a cliff, the Fates?! It was true they were having some problems, but then Ares decided to intervene – "
"Me?! I don’t know who’s worse, you or Artemis!" he roared. "You’re both intent on throwing those two into each other’s arms at every turn!" Ares was livid that Aphrodite tattle-taled on him to Zeus. Xena and Gabrielle exchanged puzzled looks. They had no clue as to what the gods were babbling on about. When had Xena toppled Gabrielle off a cliff?
"I did not!" Artemis fumed.
"They did that on their own!" Aphrodite protested.
"Silence!" Zeus’ voice boomed in the expansive room. He waited for his bickering children to calm down and demanded some semblance of order. "It doesn’t matter who got whom together," he said. "The point is, they’re together now and they belong together. Don’t!" he raised his hand, addressing Ares without looking at him, "contradict me." Ares was about to speak but his father’s tone stopped him.
Zeus continued. "Now, all of you will, beginning with right now, cease meddling in these two women’s lives. They seem to want to make a new start. And they’ll get it. As for Callisto," he waved a hand in her direction. "She’ll get another chance too. It will be as if she never met the Warrior Princess. My decision is final." No one dared to quibble with him. Zeus then turned to Xena, the Conqueror.
"What do you intend to do with that army?"
"We’ll surrender to the Amazons immediately."
"And as the Queen, Gabrielle, what do you intend to do with Xena’s army?"
Artemis took a step forward, anxious to answer for her favoured mortal. Zeus held up his hand for her to be silent.
Gabrielle spoke for the first time and it was almost as if being in the presence of the Olympians had taken away her most useful asset, her voice. She cleared her throat and swallowed hard. "If I may, I don’t want to go back to the Amazons, and I don’t want Xena to surrender."
"Gabrielle!" Xena exclaimed.
"Let her speak," Zeus said.
"I would willingly abdicate my throne if it meant being with Xena. But I don’t want her to be the head of an army either. There’s been enough killing already. I’d just as soon as live out lives our quietly rather than go back to that."
"That would be impossible, my child," Zeus reminded her. "Xena cannot simply walk away." Nevertheless, Zeus pondered Gabrielle’s proposal. If so many lives weren’t at stake, he could see Gabrielle’s proposal working, but he couldn’t allow it. It would mean altering yet another timeline and he wasn’t about to do that. He grinned imperceptibly as he realised why Artemis was so fond of the girl. She had to have immense bravery just to even ask him. He turned his attention back to Xena.
"Xena, you’ve been asked this question many times and I will ask it yet again, are you guilty?"
The Conqueror studied the patriarchal god and contemplated her answer. She squeezed Gabrielle’s hand for courage.
"Yes, I love her," the Conqueror said quietly, holding the King of the Gods’ steady gaze. She realised that saying those words out loud no longer frightened or shamed her. Of all the crimes she had committed in her illustrious past, this one she was proud to be "guilty" of.
Ares snorted while Aphrodite clasped her hands with glee. Callisto merely yawned.
"And you, Gabrielle, do you love her?" Gabrielle nodded and opened her mouth to speak. She paused when Zeus continued. "Do you love her enough to overlook her murderous history? To overlook the crimes she’s committed against the Amazon Nation? Can you even begin to forgive her?"
All eyes were upon the Amazon Queen who had, up until that moment, been known to wholeheartedly devote most of her life to the glory of the warrior tribe.
"Yes, I can," she said convincingly. "I know her past and I’d be willing to live with it if she can." Gabrielle turned to meet Xena’s gaze. She swallowed back the emotion welling up in her throat and continued. She lowered her voice and spoke directly to Xena as if she and the warrior were the only two beings who existed. "All I know is that I’ve never been more complete than when I’m with her. She’s the other half of my soul and I couldn’t bear to live without her."
The Conqueror leaned toward the Amazon, "I’ll always be here," she said. Their lips met in a soft fiery kiss.
"Oh, puhlease!" Callisto sighed.
Zeus intervened. "Those are very pretty words, but I’m afraid they won’t be enough," he informed the affectionate couple. Xena and Gabrielle pulled away from each other.
"Xena, your days as the Conqueror were spent destroying every Nation your army encountered. You killed without warning and condemned without concern for the life of your prisoners. There is only one way to atone for your past."
Xena swallowed hard, realising suddenly that the atonement for her past was not going to be easy. "Go on," she said.
"According to Amazon law, you are entitled to a fair trial. And further to that law, if you are found guilty, the penalty is forty lashes."
"No!" Gabrielle gasped. Even though she knew by all rights Xena should stand trial and be punished for her crimes, she didn’t want that to happen to her beloved warrior. Gabrielle silently pleaded with the goddess who had protected the Queen and her Amazons through so much.
Artemis shook her head, then looked away, unable to meet Gabrielle’s wistful eyes. She was powerless to do anything to help them this time.
Xena betrayed no emotion, somehow already knowing that it would all come down to this, and rightfully so.
Callisto cackled in the background. The other gods remained silent, each of them realising how deadly serious Zeus was. They all had their own reasons for wanting Xena to remain alive, but Zeus’ word was final in this matter.
The King God continued. "If you survive the lashes, you will be free to live the rest of your life in peace with Gabrielle as you both see fit. That is also in keeping with the laws of the Amazons. However, during all of this, there will be no intervention by the gods. I repeat. None." He eyed each one of his meddling children to emphasise his point, each of them silently acknowledging an agreement.
"Oh, wouldn’t I love to witness that!" Callisto gleamed.
"Quiet!" Zeus hissed.
"Oh, Pops, you take all the fun out of everything," she pouted.
Zeus ignored her recalcitrant behaviour and addressed the Conqueror. "Xena, do you agree to the terms?"
"Yes, I do," Xena answered without hesitation. She stood proud and regal, shouldering the weight of her responsibilities during her life as the Conqueror.
"Xena, you can’t!" Gabrielle exclaimed. "You’ll die!" The Amazon knew that very few had ever survived forty lashes. Could Xena survive? It was too much for her to bear although she was quickly resigning herself to the fact that Xena would most probably be hunted down and killed anyway. She would either face her crimes now or forever be stalked wherever she went. Her hopes that Zeus would send them back in time were dashed by the gravity of his proposal.
"Zeus, please, isn’t there another way?" she pleaded with the King of the Gods, hopeful that there was at least one last chance she could convince him.
"No. Both you and Xena have declared that love will conquer all. This is the way you will prove it. Now go. All of you."
And with a dismissive wave of his hand, everyone disappeared from Mount Olympus.
The Punishment Court overflowed with Amazons. There wasn’t a soul amongst them who hadn’t known who the prisoner was or what her crimes had been. Most curious were the rumours that floated about that the Amazon Queen was truly in love with the former Conqueror of the Known World. The entire village was abuzz with the latest developments surrounding the ultimate fate of Xena. She had adamantly refused a trial, and so had resigned herself to the ancient punishment of the fatal forty lashes. The more romantic rumour for her surrender was that she wanted to prove her love to the Queen, but the more cynical amongst them believed that it was merely a ploy by Xena to convince a sympathetic Gabrielle to spare her life at the last minute. So far, it hadn’t happened and the Amazons singularly watched with growing astonishment and disbelief that the fearsome warrior would willingly succumb to her dire sentence.
Xena relaxed into the manacles that restrained her. Surrounded by nameless faces, she imagined that they were all the victims she had crucified during her indisputable sovereignty. Despite her considerable fear, she held on to the threadbare lifeline that adjoined her to Gabrielle as she stood in the middle of the Punishment Court and braced herself for the pain that would soon assail her. She was decorated with the headdress she wore frequently as the Conqueror and as she awaited the ultimate penance for her crimes, the headdress was the final humiliation. Nonetheless, it was deemed by Amazon law that there must be a public symbol of her identity. The rest of her attire consisted of a thin tan-coloured shift. It hung loosely around her torso and she knew that the flimsy material would soon be mere strips of cloth when they were through.
Xena spotted Gabrielle atop the dais along with the rest of the Amazon Council, including Ephiny. The Queen of the Amazons held her face expressionless except for the message that could only be described as pure love for Xena. It was a look the warrior knew well and she held that look as it caressed her soul in the moments before her damnation was to begin. Xena closed her eyes and memorised the face of the woman for whom she had given up everything. She knew none of those things meant anything to her if she couldn’t be with Gabrielle. And if she couldn’t be with her love, she didn’t want to live. Her ultimate sacrifice was at hand.
The Punisher moved into place behind Xena and awaited a command from Gabrielle. The Queen pulled down her official headdress over her face, in effect declaring the proceedings to commence. "Begin!" she announced.
Xena never knew how long it lasted or if she even succumbed to the entire penance. After the first few strokes, she withstood the pain by simply surrendering to it. She knew to resist would only prolong it and so she let it wash over and comfort her in a dark haze of nothingness. Too late, her nerves tried to numbed themselves of all feeling and she was vaguely aware that rivulets of blood circled around her torso. She couldn’t feel the trickle but she saw droplets splatter to the ground. Her tattered shift was sticky and refused to separate from her flesh. She was only vaguely aware that she had once worn it as a whole piece. At some point, her head piece crashed to the ground.
Slowly, but surely, an unrecognisable sensation engulfed her. It snaked its way through every raw fibre of her being and her nerves sang in unison like a well-trained angelic choir. It interloped its way through her muscles, through her veins, and through her flesh until finally, it seized her in an unyielding grip. Eventually, she felt nothing at all. Then she heard a voice she supposed belonged to her that gathered from the pit of her stomach and seem to burst forth directly from the bowels of Tartarus. She hadn’t even been aware that she had held in any emotion at all. But then she couldn’t hold back any longer and a voice, her voice, spewed out of her like a volcanic eruption. It reached for the heavens high above her and the depths of Hades’ realm far below her. She screamed and screamed until a heavy shroud of darkness entombed her and all was quiet once again. Somehow, peace had found her.