My Warrior wishes to thank BL Miller, bard extraordinaire, for her invention of the card game "Axes and Hammers" in her story "Cards Anyone?". A mention of this game is made in my story, "Closure," and it is with respect that I wish to post full credit here. Thanks BL!

Comments and feedback are always welcomed and appreciated at: warriorsbard@hotmail.com

"I will remember you,
Will you remember me..
Don't let your life pass you by..
Weep not for the memories"
 
-Sarah McLaughlin
 

 
I lay awake, unable to sleep in spite of having an exhausting day. My body is weary, each passing day taking its expected toll as the years quietly mount. I consider myself fortunate to have lived this long, for you must understand that 60 years is longer for an Amazon than for most of the rest of the population. I have seen my sisters come and go, some of them, many of them-being claimed in their youth in some glorious quest or unavoidable battle. I am proud to have been a mentor to so many; I consider it an honor and a privilege which I wouldn't have traded for anything else. In all that I have seen, one thing touches me more deeply than the rest, and brings me both sorrow and joy though I don't know which emotion has been with me the longest.
 
I glance over in the dark at the now sleeping form on the other side of my large bed. Suddenly, though I had no children of my own, I feel like a mother who knows not what to say or do. The form stirs, and I know that another restless sleep is preparing to overtake her again.
 
It has been ten years, yet there is nothing that seems to lessen the pain for her, nothing that can completely erase the fact that a loss without closure is so much worse than having the chance to say goodbye.
 
In the moonlight I can see the soft, strawberry-blond locks, streaked here and there with a slight flash of gray. The bard is just past 40, and I find myself wondering benignly if the gray would have been there if the pain had not.
 
"Where are you taking her!?" she cries out, the same phrase I have heard on countless nights before.
I am called the village elder, the mentor, the one from whom advice is sought and yet I feel helpless now.
 
So I do what I always do when the young one knocks quietly on my door and asks if she can stay with me awhile. I lie awake until she falls asleep, exhausted from dealing with her own inner turmoil. I reach out a hand and place it reassuringly on the bard's shoulder.
 
"Gabrielle?.shhh?it's alright.." I say, though I know it is not.
 
She always wakes at this point, and tonight is no different. I had been hoping that the nightmares had lessened somewhat, for, before tonight, two full moons had gone by before that familiar knock on my door.
 
She is always welcome here; the one who has been like a daughter to me. The one who, despite her own pain and suffering, has stood up and ruled her Amazons like the role of rightful queen she stumbled into so many years ago.
 
"XENA!" she yells, the verbal effort finally waking her and causing her to sit bolt upright in the bed.
 
It takes her only moments to realize where she is, and she lets out a weary sigh and looks at me.
 
"Adia?"
 
"Yes dear."
 
"Why?.?"
 
The unanswered question hangs in the dark between us, for she knows there is no answer for me to give.
 
"Dammit Xena," she says quietly. "You, said you'd be right back?"
 
A pause.
 
"You said you'd be right back!!!" Louder now, nearly a shout.
 
"Come here, child," I say, gathering her into my arms. "Sleep now."
 
As she drifts back into the arms of Morpheus, I find my own thoughts slipping back into the mists of time. It was an ordinary day, but perhaps that fact alone keeps the bard awake at night. The warrior's sword and chakrum, extensions of her really, rest in their place now in the bard's hut. She looks at them frequently, as if doing so will cause the warrior to materialize out of the air.
 
Xena had been a friend, a confidante, a teacher or a mentor to all of us and without her, the nation of Amazonia would not have the peace we now enjoyed. She had fought for us, by us, with us..and we vowed to fight for her too, or at least honor her memory by seeking out the truth and the goodness in each of us, and in what we could do to change things in this world.
 
As for the bard, her life was forever different after that day, and there is still something missing in her that nobody here can restore, try as they may. Even after ten years, she will not give even herself any measure of closure, for she feels there is no justice in the way her warrior was taken from her. Perhaps if there had been something tangible for her to hold onto-a battle, a disturbance, a village in dire straights?but there was none of that..It had been just an ordinary day?.
 

For a moment, I laugh at the irony of my thoughts?"ordinary"?well, for those two I don't know if the word ever really fit. On an ordinary day I hang out my washing and make a trip to the market. But on that day, warrior and bard had been on their way to Amphipolis to see Cyrene, a journey that they had hoped to make more often but were determined to follow through on then. They found themselves camped by the edge of the river, a quiet, serene spot that contrasted with the busyness they were accustomed to, and thus they were determined to just sit back and relax?for once. It had been extraordinarily hectic time, and Xena promised Gabrielle that they would take a few days off..for real this time.
 
The fire burned down to glowing embers as the sun made her graceful exit and the stars took their turn in the sky. All was quiet except for the steady scraping of whetstone against metal as Xena sharpened her sword. Gabrielle was busy with one of her scrolls but looked up occasionally to watch the warrior at her nightly task. Xena would catch her watching and raise up one eyebrow, a trait Gabrielle found extremely endearing although she didn't know quite why. After several failed attempts to raise her own eyebrow in return, the bard simply grinned and conceded on the point that since she didn't know anyone else that could perform that particular physical feat, it had to be a abnormality in the gene pool. The bard's teasing was followed by a good natured poke in the ribs from the warrior, who finally seemed satisfied with her blade and put it neatly back in the scabbard.
 
Gabrielle smiled. Her normally tense companion had leaned back against a tree; hands locked together behind her head, and had closed her eyes.
 
"You look good relaxed," she remarked. "It suits you." She sat down on the ground next to the warrior and leaned against her comfortably.
 
"I don't remember seeing "pillow" in my job description," Xena said. She was grinning but the bard was turned the other direction and couldn't see it.
 
"Well," Gabrielle pointed out. "If you ever tire of all that do-gooding, I think there's a career opportunity in this somewhere."
 
"Great," Xena said. "I can see it now-from Thrace to Athens they'll sing of the exploits of Xena, Warrior Pillow." She looked over at the bard. "My momma didn't raise me to double as bed linen, you know."
 
"Don't want anyone to know how soft you really are, huh?" The bard remarked dryly.
 
Xena poked the bard in the stomach, eliciting a giggle from the ticklish storyteller.
 
"If that's the best you can come up with, bard, your career is over."
 
Gabrielle grinned. "Actually, my best material is about you, warrior."
 
"You're biased."
 
Gabrielle snorted. "Maybe so, but I'm not the only one who thinks so. At least half the known world would back me up without a moment's thought."
 
"You know what the difference between you and half the known world is?" Xena asked quietly.
 
"No, what?"
 
"I only care what you think."
 
The bard grinned, absorbing the compliment, and leaned over to throw another small log on the fire. Her golden hair sparkled and danced in the firelight and she kept brushing it out of her eyes so it wouldn't get too close to the flames. As she stepped back and kneeled down to gather a few more twigs and leaves to add to the blaze, the warrior instinctively reached a hand up and brushed the errant locks away herself. Gabrielle laughed.
 
"Gods, my hair's a mess!"
 
"Well, you do have quite a tangle going here." Xena's long fingers had freed the snarl in seconds, and she gently pushed the rest of it behind the bard's ear, out of the way.
 
"Your hair's really soft, Gabrielle."
 
"Umm..thanks, I think. I don't do much to it. I guess it's just naturally like that." The bard sighed. "By the way, that feels really good."
 
"Glad you think so. It's supposed to be relaxing, you know, having someone play with your hair."
 
"Do you like it?"
 
Xena paused a moment and leaned down towards the bard's face.
 
"Do I like what, Gabrielle?"
 
"Your hair. Having someone else play with your hair."
 
"I guess so. I liked it when my mom used to fix my hair. Funny but?in my warlord days, nobody seemed to want to engage in that particular activity with me," Xena deadpanned.
 
This drew a giggle from the bard. "I don't understand that at all. After a long day of cutting down villages and running up the body count, you could've used a little relaxation." Gabrielle took a breath. "So?can I?"
 
"Pardon me?"
 
"Brush your hair. Can I?"
 
Xena shifted against the tree trunk and stretched her shoulders back.
 
"Umm, sure. If you want to."
 
"Would you like that?"
 
"Yeah. Sure. I think so. Good luck, though. A long day's riding and I look worse than Medusa."
 
Gabrielle went to the saddlebags and drew out the hairbrush. She stared at the warrior for a few moments as if trying to come to a decision. Xena raised her eyebrow.
 
"I'm just trying to calculate the best way to do this." She said, thoughtfully. "After all, you are just a bit taller than I am. If you sit up, I could kneel behind you, but that wouldn't be very relaxing for either of us. Not to mention the chore it would be getting you to sit still for that long."
 
Xena sighed. "How about if I just lie down?" With that, the warrior flopped down on her blanket by the fire and rolled onto her stomach. "How's that?"
 
"That'll work," Gabrielle observed and sat down next to her. It took the better part of half a candlemark to work through the snarls, but Gabrielle's toiling paid off and she was able to run the brush idly through Xena's raven mane from the top of her head to the ends of her hair.
 
"Gods?" the bard said, finally. "Xena, your hair is gorgeous." Then she giggled. "You should comb through it more often."
 
"Everybody's a comedian," the warrior remarked dryly. "But you know what? That really does feel very nice."
 
"I'm glad."
 
The brush had been discarded in favor of her fingers and Gabrielle played lightly with the shining strands. After a few more moments of indulgence, the warrior rolled over and looked up at the bard. "Thanks." She said.
 
"It was my pleasure." The green eyes twinkled. The warrior arose.
 
"Be right back, my bard."
 
"Where are you going?" Gabrielle asked, noting the endearment and tucking it away somewhere in her soul, the same way she did with all of the usually stoic warrior's affection.
 
"Well?you know?I need to make a trip to the bush."
 
"Oh." Gabrielle grinned. "Yeah, alright. Just you stay away from my scrolls this time."
 
The tall form chuckled and disappeared into the trees for a moment before emerging again. "I hope you don't mind," she said with mock seriousness, "But that last scroll?the one where you blatantly over exaggerate my heroism? It's toast."
 
"Stick to fighting the bad guys. I think the comedy club circuit will try and survive without you."
 
They settled back in with the night, the moonlight bathing the campsite in a quiet glow. The insistent symphony of the crickets provided the only sound.
 
"Guess we should try and get some sleep," Xena said, a tired sigh escaping her throat. She rubbed one eye sleepily, like a child up way past her bedtime.
 
. "Mother's expecting us sometime in the early afternoon tomorrow, and if we hope to make it there by then.."
 
Gabrielle nodded and sat up. "I guess it wouldn't do to have the wayward daughter late for her yearly visit, huh?" She grinned.
 
"Hmmmm?probably not." The warrior rose, and walking over to her bedroll, flopped down on it with a grunt.
 
Suddenly Xena was completely alert, and turning to face Gabrielle, she held up a finger to her lips in an unmistakable gesture of silence. The bard reached for her staff and gripped it firmly, trusting that the warrior's keen hearing had indeed detected something in the surrounding forest. A full five minutes passed in which neither woman spoke. Gabrielle was just about to ask the warrior if she was sure she had heard something when Xena fixed her gaze on a tall pine about 20 yards to the south.
 
"Alright," she growled, drawing out her words and advancing slowly on the tree in question. "I know you're there." She unsheathed her sword and began twirling it in a slow arc in front of her body. "Show yourself!"
 
In less than a second, four figures swooped down from the tree and immediately held their hands above their heads in the traditional Amazon gesture of peace. Muffled laughter accompanied this action, and the warrior lowered her sword and stood with her free hand on her hip. Four Amazon masks were removed to reveal the faces of their friends.
 
"Ephiny!" Gabrielle yelled, running over to the blond warrior and enveloping her in a fierce hug.
 
"Hey Gab!" She grinned and nodded towards the warrior, "Xena."
 
"Ephiny." Xena smiled. "By the gods, were you actually attempting to sneak up on us, hmmmmm?" She raised her eyebrow.
 
"Well?.yes. Eponin bet me 10 dinars that it was impossible." She smiled broadly. "I should have known my money was as good as gone on that one."
 
Eponin grinned. "Told ya."
 

Solari laughed. "She knew it was a losing bet. But we heard you were in the area, and we just couldn't pass up a chance to see our favorite warrior and bard. So,?we figured there was no harm in sharpening our stalking skills." She laughed again, the sound echoing through the quiet glen.
 
"Yeah, if you're gonna stalk," Adia chimed in, "You might as well sneak up on the best."
 
Gabrielle grinned. "Adia," she said, hugging the older amazon, "Hey, it looks like you're missing something here."
 
"Not for long," a voice called out as Lysha joined the small gathering. "Just had to stash our supplies. It's hard to be sneaky with five horses and a full load of gear."
 
"Hey, Lysha!" Gabrielle grinned widely, pleased as always to run across their good friends but pleasantly surprised that the two village elders were along. Adia and Lysha were both in their 50's, and had been together for more than 25 years. Both had been former warriors, but had assumed a more matronly role in the village and were highly respected in all matters of concern.
 
Xena greeted the two women with equal enthusiasm. "Back in the fray for awhile?" she said with a grin.
 
"No, not really," Lysha answered. "Nothing more glamorous than a routine trip to Athens for a few supplies. Just felt like tagging along. Getting Adia out of the marketplace was quite a chore, though. Zeus, the woman can shop!" She grinned at her companion.
 
Xena had to laugh. "I know exactly what you mean." She cast a deliberate glance over at Gabrielle, who stuck her tongue out at the warrior.
 
"She forgot to mention the last trip to Athens." The bard said. "There was a merchant there selling all kinds of elaborate weaponry. I think it was a quarter moon before we even left his stall."
 
"Oh, very funny, my bard," Xena said. "In fact I recall having to drag you, screaming, from the parchment vendor's booth. "
 
"What? Was that before or after you made a deeply methodical examination of absolutely every breast dagger in the Grecian Empire?"
 
They grinned at each other.
 

Ephiny laughed. "It's getting kind of late, so we'll probably set up camp soon. Mind if we join you two?"
 
"Not at all," the bard answered. "We can stoke up the fire here. Have you eaten?"
 
"We have. But if you're game, we picked up a few bottles of the best wine in all of Greece. "
 
Three candlemarks later, the wine, the Amazons, the warrior and the bard were still communing. Gabrielle and Ephiny were deeply engrossed in a conversation about the last Amazon council meeting. Adia and Lysha were reclining by the fire, watching the scene before them with great amusement. Solari and Eponin had talked Xena into a lively card game, which was heavily accentuated by one or two additional bottles of the finest wine in all of Greece. They were using pinecones for money. The normally stoic Warrior Princess was 23 pinecones in the hole and giggling like a schoolchild. Eponin wasn't much better off, but found Xena's predicament intensely funny and said so. After a few minutes of labored concentration, Xena was able to get her legs working again and she walked over to where Ephiny and Gabrielle were sitting.
 
"Hey, Xena.." Ephiny said. "I take it you enjoyed the wine?" She grinned. The warrior had plopped her full six feet down on the nearest bedroll but had one eye open and was looking out of it at the amazon.
 
"The finest wine in all of Greece!" Xena answered with a smile. "Yeah?it's pretty good."
 
All of a sudden the warrior's face split into an absolutely silly grin. She looked up at Ephiny out of the one eye, which sparkled brightly in the firelight. "Eph!" Xena's voice was just a whisper, but held a strong hint of mischief. The amazon leaned down towards her.
 
"Yes?"
 
"Know what?" she said, as if about to bestow on the woman the best kept secret in all of Greece.
 
"What?" Ephiny whispered back, grinning.
 
"The bard.." She said, eyes twinkling.
 
"Yeah?"
 
"The best thing in my life." The ensuing grin was lopsided, but sincere.
 
Suddenly, Xena sat up. "Hey Eph!"
 
The amazon leaned over towards her again. "Hmmm?"
 
"You didn't tell her I said that, did you?" The warrior's eyebrows both shot up, and she pursed her lips together.
 
Gabrielle giggled. She wasn't sitting more than two feet away, and could clearly hear the warrior.
 
"No, I didn't." Ephiny answered. "Should I?"
 
"No!!" Xena said, her face the picture of seriousness. Then she grinned broadly. "It's a secret."
 
"Secret. Got it. I won't tell." Ephiny grinned at the bard and shook her head. "Ladies and gentleman, please turn your attention now to a woman of great notability, her eminence Xena, Warrior Marshmallow."
 
The bard burst out laughing.
 
Xena had returned to the bedroll and closed her eyes. Gabrielle crawled over next to the warrior and put a hand gently on the armored forearm.
 

"Hi, you.." Gabrielle said softly. "You okay?"
 
The warrior nodded.
 
"I do believe my big bad warrior is just a little bit drunk." She reached up and brushed Xena's bangs off of her forehead.
 
"Why don't you try and get some sleep. We've still got a few hours travel ahead of us."
 
The warrior smiled. "Yeah, Okay.." she agreed. "But umm, Gabrielle?"
 
"Yeah?"
 

"Stay with me."
 
"I'm right here." The bard pulled a blanket over the warrior's shoulders. "Here, this should keep you warm. Gods, Xe, you're freezing."
 
She crawled under the blanket and tucked herself up against the warrior.
 
"Night, Xe?"
 
"G'night," Xena mumbled, gathering the bard comfortably into her arms and drifting off.
 
They were both asleep in seconds.
 
The first rays of dawn filtered in through the trees, waking the warrior first in spite of her predicament of last evening. She lay there for a few minutes, watching the bard snore softly, still tucked up against her chest. After a few moments Gabrielle awoke. She turned her head and grinned at the warrior. Xena smiled.
 
"Good morning."
 

"Hey?" Gabrielle answered, "How are you feeling?"
 
"Like my head is stuck in a bottle."
 
Gabrielle giggled. "You mean a wine bottle?"
 
"Yeah. The finest wine bottle in all of Greece." The warrior groaned.
 
"Want me to make you some tea?"
 
"That'd be nice." She glanced around at the sleeping forms of the amazons. "Remind me again why I started on that 3rd bottle of wine."
 
"You forgot how to count after the first bottle."
 
"What's with all the pinecones?"
 
"You were using them for money. Axes and Hammers, remember?"
 
"Yeah, that's right. I think I was winning, too."
 
The bard smiled. "Actually, you were 23 pinecones and a fig leaf in the hole."
 
"Oh gods."
 

 

" The Amazons had begun to stir, and one by one they awoke. Eponin groaned as she made her way over to the fire and accepted the offered tea with a grateful smile. Solari had just returmed from the bush but was certain her stomach wouldn't receive even the tea with any amount of dignity. Ephiny groaned.
 
"I guess it wouldn't hurt the rest of us to lay low for a few hours while those two return to the land of the living," She remarked. She glanced over at Xena. "Why is that you seem to have no ill effects? That was pretty strong wine, warrior."
 
Xena shrugged. "I have many skills."
 
"Oh sweet mother of Zeus."
 
Xena grinned.
The day passed slowly, and it was well after lunchtime when they took their leave of the Amazons and made their way, once again, towards Amphipolis. The bard walked alongside Argo at a leisurely pace, her hands making lively animated motions in the air as she related a new tale to the warrior. For her part, Xena listened patiently atop the warhorse, enjoying the day and the sound of the bard's voice and marveling at the fact that they hadn't run across a single deadbeat all afternoon.
 
At dusk, Xena pulled Argo to a stop and declared them officially at their destination for the evening. It was an hour yet to Cyrene's, but for once Xena was determined to keep her promise to the bard that they weren't in any hurry. Gabrielle looked around the small clearing with obvious enthusiasm.
 
"Xena!" she remarked, trying to look in every direction at once. "This is beautiful!"
 
The clearing came to an abrupt stop at the edge of a lazy stream, and due west was an impressive waterfall cascading off a sheer cliff wall.
 
Xena pulled the saddle off the mare and set it on the ground.
 
"Lyceus and I used to sneak up here all the time," she said fondly. "Mom would be absolutely furious with us, because she'd have to leave the inn and spend an hour walking up here to drag our sorry hides home again."
 
Gabrielle smiled broadly. " I can see what the attraction was, though." She pointed to the falling water. "That is amazing."
 
"There's a space behind it," Xena said, and for a moment she could almost see herself and Lyceus swim the short distance over and duck under the surface, coming up sputtering with laughter on the other side.
 
"We'd get ourselves back there and climb up on the cliff. There was a tiny ledge just wide enough for us both to sit on. You could see through the waterfall, just a little bit, so we always knew when mother was coming." Xena's eyes twinkled. "If you were on this side, you couldn't see us though." She laughed. "We got into so much trouble, he and I."
 
Xena pulled herself back to the present and turned to look at the bard. Gabrielle was smiling broadly.
"I love it when you tell the stories."
 
Xena bent down to and arranged a few twigs and branches for their fire. "You're much better at it than I am. But it's nice to remember. I miss him."
 
The bard walked past the warrior, giving her shoulder a light squeeze as she went by. By the time darkness descended on the clearing, they had a healthy blaze going and a rabbit on the spit.
 
Xena got up and listened intently for a moment, then walked over to where Argo was standing. Not bothering to put the saddle back on, she deftly jumped onto her back and urged her forward.
 
"Be right back, Gabrielle," the warrior said.
 
"I'll be here."
 
The bard cleared the supper dishes, laid out their bedrolls, and had thrown 2 new logs on the fire before she began to get uneasy at the warrior's delay. She sat with her back up against a tree and gripped her staff, listening intently for any sounds coming forth from the night. But she heard nothing??..
 

 
"I was torn, Adia?I wanted to go..somewhere?search the perimeter of the camp or something?I couldn't stand just waiting?" The bard rolled over and looked at the Amazon.
 
"But I didn't. I knew Xena would be upset if she came back and found me gone..especially at night. But every night since then, I wondered if I could have changed things if I'd gone looking for her?."
 
"Oh Gab?" Adia said gently. "It's not your fault. You know that. Besides, Xena left on horseback. You couldn't have caught up with her."
 
I knew it seemed unfair to the bard, to all of us maybe, that a person such as Xena had left us so unceremoniously. A warrior deserves better, I knew, but whatever it was that spooked Argo in the woods that night and dumped her mistress to the ground, only the gods had seen.. The morning light found the horse standing guard over her still form, the only good thing that could be derived from it was that the fall broke her neck immediately and caused her no pain.
 
"Maybe not." The bard rolled onto her back. "Gods, I miss her?" A single tear escaped from her eye and made it's way slowly down her cheek. "After all this time, it still hurts so much..It just doesn't get any easier."
 
"She'll always be with you Gabrielle." Adia tapped her chest. "In here."
 
"I know." The bard sighed. It was all I could think to say, the best of my speeches, and yet it seemed so insignificant. I tried again.
 
"I'm so proud of you."
 
The tears came again, and I knew the moment it was out of my mouth that that was something Xena used to tell her too.
 
"I am, Gabrielle, and Xena would be too, just like she always was."
 
Gabrielle snorted through her tears.
 
"Xena always told me I was the bravest person she'd ever met." She laughed. "You know, if this is one of her survival tests, she's in big trouble!!"
 
The bard laughed genuinely then, a sound I never tired of hearing. I smiled too, remembering that the warrior would test her when she least expected it, just to see how she'd react.
 
"Gods, Adia, I learned so much from her?"
 
"And she from you, Gabrielle." I trailed off. "Everything happens for a reason. You and Xena, you had your time together. Fate took the two most unlikely people and forged a bond within them that not only changed their own lives, but the lives of others too." I looked at her. She was propped up on one elbow, listening intently. "That's something that'll be part of you forever."
 
"It was an ordinary day," The bard finally said, softly. "But you know what? We had such a good day together."
 
"Yes you did."
 
Gabrielle shifted until she was comfortable again, and stared up at the ceiling. "She said she'd be right back and I told her I'd be there. "I'll be here,"that's what I said. That's the last thing I said to her, Adia. "I'll be here." ?.I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye. I think?no, I know-that's been the hardest thing about letting her go." She rolled aver again, restless.
 

 
"You know, Xena was one of the only people I've ever known who actually lived her life everyday. I mean really live, not just exist. The funny thing is, she just did it, it wasn't anything that she had to be taught to do."
 

"You do too, Gabrielle," I said softly. "Maybe because of that, saying goodbye isn't necessary."
 
She looked at me.
 
"You may not have actually used the word goodbye, but the other words you used..the ones you said everyday to each other?even the simple ones.."I trailed off.
 
"Are the ones that count," The bard finished for me.
 
She got off the bed. "Thanks Adia."
 
The door opened, and I heard her greet her royal guard as she went past. The door to her hut opened with a gentle creak and closed again.
 

The Queen's hut was dark, but the moonlight came in at an interesting angle and bounced off the chakrum hanging on the far wall. In a moment of dazzling brilliance, the room flooded with light and Artemis stood, shimmering, in front of the surprised bard. She lowered her eyes both out of respect and to avoid the blinding deity.
 
"Artemis,.." The bard said quietly. She started to lower herself to a knee but the moon goddess put a hand out and wordlessly asked her to remain standing.
 
"Please, child," she said, "Look at me."
 
Gabrielle looked up, finding the protector of her Amazons bathed in a soft light no brighter than a candle. She looked upon her with tenderness and finally spoke.
 
"Now you understand." She said quietly. "Someday, I knew you would."
 
Gabrielle smiled. "Betcha a dinar or two you want me to pass that wisdom on.." She looked for a reaction from Artemis, unsure if she was allowed to tease a goddess.
 
Artemis smiled wryly. "From you, it's alright."
 
"I forgot you can hear my thoughts." Gabrielle grinned.
 

"You have pleased me greatly, child. And?I'm not the only one who can hear your thoughts."
 
And in a flash of light, Artemis was gone.
 

Gabrielle stared into the dark. A noise behind her made her whirl around and with lightning speed, her staff was in her hand.
 
"You still got it.." a voice said admiringly.
 
The bard gasped and leaned on her staff for support.
 
"Xena??."
 
"Gabrielle?," the voice answered, and the warrior stepped out of the shadows.
 
"Xena?" Gabrielle choked out. "Gods?what are you?how??what?"
 
"Artemis?" The warrior trailed off, stepping forward and gathering the sobbing bard into her arms.
 
"She let you come back?" Gabrielle hugged the warrior tighter.
 
"Just for a moment?." Xena pulled back and looked the bard in the eyes. Her hand came up and she brushed a tear off Gabrielle's cheek. "She said there was something you needed to say."
 
Ten years of emotions seemed to overwhelm the bard at once and she opened and closed her mouth several times with no success.
 
Xena smiled. "Speechless? You?" She laughed. "Alright, who are you and what have you done with my Gabrielle?"
 
Gabrielle had to laugh. "I miss you, Xena."
 
"I miss you too. They tell me I'm in the Elysian Fields, but it won't be Elysia for me until you get there."
 
Gabrielle squeezed the warrior's hand. "I knew they'd let you in."
 
"Oh they let me in alright. By the seat of my leathers, probably." She grinned.
 

The bard smiled. "So what's it like?"
 
"It's pretty much everything you'd expect. Hundreds of souls, everybody's happy. The usual "opposite of Tartarus" gig.
 
"You've got everything you need, then?"
 
"Definitely not."
 
"They wouldn't let you bring your sword, huh?" The bard laughed through her tears, which had crept up on her again and began to blaze a trail down her cheek.
 
"It's not my sword I miss." The warrior tapped the bard on the nose. "It's you."
 
"I'll be there as soon as I can."
 
"I'll be here."
 
And the warrior was gone.
 

"Xena! No, Xena?wait?wait?.please?"
 
Only the night answered her, and the bard sat down on the bed, head in her hands. "I Love you, Xena.." she said quietly.
 
The moonlight caught the polished metal of the chakrum again, and spun a brilliant path to the small table that rested next to the bard's bed. Gabrielle followed the light trail absently, until she noticed a faded piece of parchment sitting there. In Xena's unmistakable scrawl, it said, simply,
 
You don't' have to say a word. I already know.