Sex/Subtext ~ Four women in-love. There is subtext sex though.

Copyright ~ Universal and MCA owns Xena, Gabrielle, Argo, Eve, Eponin, and Hope as we know. However I claim the story line with the Hope and Eve relationship so don't touch them.

Time Frame ~ In the sixth season around "Who's Gurkan?"

Started: October 29th 2000, Sunday

Mini Series One: Thick as Blood Story: Four

If anybody has comments about my story please let me know at: redhope@redhope.net

Section 2

The pair came into a small town. They both walked side by side and rather close.

Hope studied the small village before peering up to her partner. "Are we staying for the night?"

The warrior nodded. "If you would like to."

The small woman considered the idea. "Yeah, let's stay."

Eve grinned and chuckled. "Alright." She directed herself and Hope through the town. She found a stable and went in. "Can you open the door?"

Hope nodded and walked ahead. She opened a stall door and watched her soulmate go in with her horse. "Want me to go get a room?"

Eve glanced back. "No, not without me."

The younger woman corked an eyebrow. "Worried I can't do it on my own?"

The warrior shot a small glare. "You know that's not it." She was untacking her bay. "I don't like you being by yourself," she said quietly.

"Oh gods, come on. I can handle myself," stated the small woman proudly. "How many people can say they have telekinesis?"

"Exactly my point." Eve turned her head and had a stern expression. "Eli only knows, what people would do if they found out you did."

Hope sighed before dropping her arms and chin onto the stall door. "Worry wart," she muttered with a smirk.

The warrior sighed with a grin. She grabbed the saddlebag and came over to the door. "You know you love it."

The small woman chuckled, straightened up, and opened the door for her lover. "Do we have enough money for a room?"

Eve shrugged. "We'll be okay."

"We'll be okay?" Hope closed the stall door after Eve came out. "What's that mean? We're short?"

"Just come on," replied Eve. She headed for the inn.

The smaller woman sighed and followed behind with her staff. We're low on money, thought Hope, that means we need to find a means of getting more. Slowly ideas came into Hope's mind about how to get more money. She eased a grin across her lips as the perfect idea came.

"Can we get a room for tonight?" inquired Eve with the innkeeper.

The man glanced up and down Hope and Eve's forms. "Alllright," he drew out. "It'll be five dinars."

Eve reached into saddlebag and pulled out a pouch, she handed it to her lover.

Hope opened it and pulled out the amount. Oh yeah, we're getting dry. After handing the money over, she asked, "Is there anyway I can do some performing for you?"

The innkeeper put his hands on the bar. "What do you perform, young lady?"

Eve narrowed her eyes at what her soulmate was up to.

"I'm… a poet," stated Hope. She smiled. "I can also do stories too." I think, she mentally added.

The innkeeper considered. "Alright, if you bring in a good crowd, I'll pay you at the end. Deal?" He held his large hand out.

Hope kept smiling as she shook the hand. "Thank you."

The man nodded and released the small hand. He looked up to Eve. "Up the stairs, turn right, third door on the left."

"Thank you," replied Eve. She nodded at Hope.

The small woman followed the signal and went upstairs; her lover was right behind with heavy boot steps. She went into the room and faced Eve. "You're not mad?"

Eve walked silently to the chair in the room. She placed the saddlebags down. "I don't know," she answered honestly.

Hope came over and grabbed her lover's hands carefully. She laced their fingers together. "I'm sorry… but we do need some money, Eve." She shrugged. "It’s the easiest thing." She grinned. "Think about it, I get paid for doing something I love."

The warrior laughed quietly and nodded. "Very true." She lowered her head. "And I get to listen to you."

"Is that a good thing?"

"Very good." Eve closed in the distance and kissed her lover tenderly.

The small woman whispered, "I love you," at the end of the kiss. She pulled Eve's head back down for a longer, passionate kiss.

Eve felt a warm tongue slip into her mouth. She moaned and encircled her lover's waist. Her own tongue glided into Hope's mouth as they tasted each other.

The fires arose inside of both soulmates.

Hope backed up and brought Eve along with her. She still kept the kissing going.

The warrior gently pushed her soulmate onto the bed and crawled onto her as Hope pushed back onto the bed.

While kissing Hope, Eve ran her hands along a muscular stomach of her lover.

Hope pulled back from the kiss and grinned. "Now this time it'll be wild."

Eve laughed quietly but stopped instantly when her lover flipped her onto her back.

The small woman grinned down at her warrior. She lowered her head for a passionate kiss.

Eve kept up with the demand of the kiss but groaned right when a knee went up between her legs. Passionate was what Hope wanted then Eve was going to give it.

~*~*~*~

"For once a normal meal," stated Hope with a mocking tone.

The warrior glanced back at her lover across the table. "Are you still upset about the dormouse?"

"Hades yes," growled Hope. She sat back in her seat. "I'll get you for that."

"Uh huh." Eve smirked. "I'd lllove to see that."

Hope nodded a few times. She grabbed her mug. "And you'll just never apologize for it, will ya?"

The taller woman snickered and looked away. "Nope."

The younger woman narrowed her eyes. "Hmmm, I'll get you to apologize."

"You couldn't," challenged the warrior with a smug look.

Hope arched an eyebrow. "I bet I can."

"No, because you couldn't."

The small woman leaned towards her soulmate. "Yes I could."

Eve leaned towards her lover. "No you couldn't." She narrowed her eyes. "Don't even waste your time."

Now Hope narrowed her eyes. She sat back in her seat without another word. Oh, she knew how to win this game.

The warrior actually became a little concerned when Hope didn't give a retort. She does have something up her sleeve.

The innkeeper came over to the table. "You can start anytime you're ready," he stated to Hope.

The small woman looked up. "Alright, thank you."

The innkeeper walked off after nodding.

Hope looked back at her lover. "Wish me luck." She stood up.

"Just relax up there," coached the warrior. "It is your first time."

The younger woman nodded and glanced around the tavern. "Its not too packed, I'll be fine."

"You'll be okay?" asked Eve.

Gabrielle's daughter nodded. "Don't worry." She winked and walked to the front of the tavern. She stood in front of all the people. This is for a good cause, Hope… money for feeding your stomach. She chuckled inwardly but went serious. I can do this, its now or never. "Excuse me everybody," she yelled with a warm voice. I'm gonna die.

Eve glanced over and locked eyes with her soulmate. She gave the courage to Hope through their connection. She nodded.

Hope smiled and gazed back at the people going silent. "Evening everybody." She paused. "I am a poet partially a bard." She crossed her arms. "I would love to recite a few poems to get warmed up then I can try a story or two if everybody is interested."

The people in the tavern all mumbled and whispered before starting to nod.

"Go on, tell a few poems!" called a man.

"Give it a shot," yelled another person.

Another voice rang clear, saying, "Go poet!"

Hope chuckled as everybody settled down. She thought for a moment, staring at the floor, she looked; preparing to recite one of her poems by memory. "Okay, this is a love poem." She took a deep breath. "This is titled the Reality of the Story." After one more deep breath, she began reciting with pauses at the end of each line.

" How I wrote about such things,
Then you came along,
And showed me it wasn't just a,
Story."

She paused and glanced over to Eve then back to the people. Her hands lifted now as she continued reciting.

"Reality hit me ten fold,
And I am still trying,
To catch up,
But I am loving,
This race to catch up,
Because you're right here,
With me."

A smile now creased her lips at the end of the second stanza. Her hands moving in motion of the poem.

"So we take hands,
Because I know I have,
Made your story,
Come true too,
So we run together,
Back to reality.

Yet you stop without warning,
And I look to you in alarm,
You shake your head with a smile,
And lean in,
To kiss me with such love,
Once pulling away you tell me,
That we should stay here,
Away from reality,
Where people will try to,
Tear apart what we only have."

Hope paused and locked eyes with Eve. Her smile went into pure love.

"I couldn't refuse such an offer,
To stay in love's kingdom,
In your embrace,
And glowing love,
So since then we have,
Stayed in this story of,
Passionate Love,
That we will live in for,
Eternal Time."

Hope went silent at the end of the poem.

Nobody spoke; just absorbing the poem. Then one by one claps started up.

The small woman sighed deeply and felt the tension recede like a tide. She smiled brightly at hearing the applause.

"Do another!" yelled somebody. Everybody said the samething within seconds.

"Okay… okay." The poet held up her hand and grabbed a chair. "My next poem is… Those Years." She lifted up the chair.

"Without you I have gone,
into my future
I found out after all
that I did not need you
to help me fight this life.
Does that hurt you?"

Hope looked up while taking steps backwards to a table, carrying the chair.

"Since the day I walked off,
I have found others
whom have lifted me higher
than you ever could.
What you think of that?"

The poet continued reciting but she pulled herself up onto the table behind herself.

"This new life without you,
is very refreshing
since the rains have fallen upon me
and swept away those years
in my memory
because you, I no longer think of.
Does that hurt you?"

Hope was on the table and propped her boots on the chair in front of her. She lifted her hands while finishing the poem.

"You were merely some dream of mine,
to good to be true
but you went sour one day
and I had to save myself
like you told me too so long ago.
What you think of that?

I don't remember when I last thought of you,
nor the last time my heart beat for you
in all of that turmoil you brought
down on me in those final hours
so I have stopped loving you
since then.
Does that kill you?"

She finished the poem and waited for the reaction. Once more, she received a collection of applause and cheers. Hope smiled and asked, "How about a story anybody?" Her response was certainly a cheer of yes's.

~*~*~*~

Hope smirked and patted the pouch of money. "Yup yup, my brilliant idea worked." She grinned at her partner across the room.

Eve laughed. "Toss it."

The small woman threw the pouch of dinars to her lover.

The warrior caught it and slipped it into the saddlebags. "Good idea." She came near Hope.

The poet grinned. "I know."

Xena's daughter laughed again.

"I'm just glad it worked out," whispered Hope. She leaned against her staff. "We almost hit the bottom of the money pouch."

The older woman chuckled quietly and grasped her lover's hips. "We're fine now, for a long while."

Hope stepped out of her lover's touch.

Eve corked an eyebrow. "What's this about?"

The smaller woman slipped a grin onto her lips. "Payback for the dormouse." She wagged a finger. "Don't touch me till you apologize."

The warrior narrowed her eyes. "Oh don't even, Hope."

"Don't get peeved, Eve." The poet snickered and headed for the bathroom. She shot a smug look back. "Self inflicted."

"I can cope with that, Hope," retorted the warrior.

"Right," taunted Hope from the bathroom. "You coping is like you trying to leave me, Eve."

Eve growled at all the rhyming. She chuckled though. "Well I hope… this won't last long."

The small woman rolled her eyes while in the bathroom. She came out after washing and drying her face. "Well on this eve, you're not allowed to touch me," she deadpanned.

The warrior narrowed her eyes. "You couldn't last."

Hope smirked. "I could." She walked over to the bed and sat down. She began taking her boots off. "I don't know about you, but I'm going to sleep."

The older woman huffed and walked over to a chair. She took her sword off, settled it onto the table, then began taking her armor off.

The poet was in bed while her lover was still taking her attire off.

Eve finished and only remained in her black leather top and leather skirt. She walked over to the table and blew out the candles. Afterwards, she crawled into the bed and lay down beside her soulmate.

The only thing that could have possibly touched between them were their elbows since they both hand their hands under their heads.

"Goodnight, Hope," taunted the warrior.

"Mmm," Hope closed her eyes and turned to her left; her back to Eve. "Sleep well," she taunted back.

Eve grumbled under her breath. She stared up at the ceiling. "You're serious about this, aren't you?" she asked.

The younger woman didn't say anything right away. She actually considered the question. "In a sense, yes."

"It was a joke," stated the older woman.

"Yeah," Hope's tone was sarcastic. "So funny I forgot to laugh." Her hands shifted under her head.

The warrior sighed. "You know I was teasing you."

"Uh huh." The poet took a deep breath. "But even after a joke, most apologize."

Eve knew her lover was right and could understand now what she was saying. Hope was hurt by the lack of care and it made Eve feel guilty. Yeah, she'd be a little angry if Hope did the same to her and didn't apologize for the joke. She rolled to her left and brought her right arm over her lover's waist. Cautiously, she drew her partner in close and whispered, "I'm sorry, you're right." She kissed Hope's shoulder.

Hope turned in the stronger arms, kissed Eve tenderly, and tucked her head under Eve's chin. "Thank you," she whispered.

The darker woman smiled and closed her eyes. She pressed her lips against Hope's forehead then draped her right leg over Hope's legs. "Get some sleep," she suggested.

The poet tightened her arms around Eve. "I love you, Eve."

"I love you too, Hope." Eve was still smiling when she went to sleep.

~*Part 7*~

"Hope!" yelled Eve, "get up!"

Hope bolted up in the bed and her heart dropped. "Oh gods!"

The warrior ran to the door, grabbed her partner's staff. "Move, move!"

The small woman jumped out of the bed. She ducked as a piece of burning wood fell. She coughed as the smoke rose up. Her eyes watered up from the smoke. "Eve?" she hollered.

Eve had her soulmate's staff, boots, and their saddlebag. They were caught in the middle of a fire, their room ready to go up in flames any second. "I'm coming!" She jumped over the burning board and came to her partner. "Get your boots on."

Hope put them on hastily and yelled, "What we going to do?"

"We have to go out the window!" Eve grabbed her lover's hand and took her to the window. She threw Hope's staff out the window then the saddlebag, far from the building. She turned to her partner and picked her up.

The poet glanced out the window and noticed the drop. "Oooh gods!" She looked back and saw the room begin engulfed in flames. "Eve!"

"Hold tight." The warrior backed up a few steps, then sprinted, and jumped. She slipped through the window, soared through the air, spun in midair, and came ground bound. She landed solidly on her feet.

Hope glanced up to the inn and noticed it was about to fall. "Eve, its going to come down!"

The warrior growled and sprinted for her life with Hope still in her arms.

The inn creaked in protest and the burning wall had begun its decent to the ground. It aimed for the young women but missed and slammed into the ground with a huge boom. The wood continued burning.

Eve slipped her partner out of her arms. She glimpsed back at the half-standing inn. "Well, that was fun."

The younger woman groaned and walked over to their stuff. She bent down and quickly tied her boots. "What's going on?"

The warrior glanced around and noticed raiders on horseback taking the village. "It’s a raid."

The poet looked up and noted it was and she'd been sleeping through it. "Oooh no."

Eve drew her sword. "Ready?"

Hope took her staff, rose up, and took the saddlebag. She hid it behind a tree then came beside her partner. "Let's go."

The older woman grinned and broke off sprinting towards a raider.

The poet shook her head with a grin and followed after her soulmate. She came to a halt as a sword swiped over her head. She raised her staff and fought back.

Eve had just knocked two raiders off horseback and now was fighting them.

Hope on the other hand used her staff to fight against an easy raider. She swiped his feet out from under him then smacked him across the face- she knocked him unconscious.

The warrior killed her two enemies then jumped to her partner's side. "We need to find the leader."

"And that'll do what?" asked the poet.

"Then I can kill him," responded Eve lowly. She nodded to the center of town.

Hope sighed but nodded back. She jogged into town with her lover.

Before even getting into the middle of town, Eve spotted the leader on horseback, watching.

The smaller woman came in from behind. The leader made her stop running, he sent a shot up and down her spine. She wasn't even sure why but she felt like she knew the leader.

The leader was a fair height, sandy-blond curly hair, and brown eyes with an evil glint. He didn't look at all muscular but aired a hubris attitude. He noticed Eve coming and dismounted his horse while having unsheathed his sword.

Eve stopped in front of him and held her sword out. "If you want this village you'll have to kill me." She grinned. "Which will be hard to do."

The leader laughed and spun his sword. "You'll be surprised." He circled Eve. "And if you want this village saved, kill me, and my men will leave."

"Sounds good." The warrior smirked and kept circling.

The leader's cold eyes flickered to Hope and he looked on her as if he known her.

The poet narrowed her eyes.

"Keep her busy," ordered the leader.

Eve growled and slashed out at her opponent.

Three raiders went after Hope.

Hope jumped back, went into battle stance, and prepared to fight the raiders.

The warrior and the leader kept fighting. Eve was loosing ground, which surprised her, the scrawny man was stronger than he looked. She focused her mind on the things at stake and she reached down into her days as a Roman commander. It fueled her body and rage, she broke out in the passion of fighting for death.

The poet, however, was just keeping her enemies back; not quite yet having mastered her staff. She smacked on raider across the face then the other two in the stomach.

One of them dropped their swords.

Hope took that opening and used her telekinesis. She grinned, stepped back as the sword hovered towards the raiders.

The raiders were frozen in place of fear and awe.

The small woman smirked and hurled the sword towards it owner.

The raider caught the sword in his stomach and fell down, dead.

The other two raiders dropped their swords, and sprinted for their lives.

Hope chuckled and glimpsed at her lover and the leader. She smirked because Eve was winning against the leader.

Eve gave a swipe to his head, she hoped he'd duck.

He did but soon found himself on his back from his opponent taking his feet from under him.

The warrior growled, lifted her sword, and slammed it down into his stomach.

The leader's eyes widened and he grabbed the blade in his stomach. His head slipped down the blade then he dropped his head. His eyes rolled up into the back of his head.

The other raiders saw what happened and frantically yelling words of retreat.

Eve stared at what she'd done. She bit back her regret because it was for the greater good. She removed her sword and stepped backwards.

Hope came up from behind and touched her lover's arm.

The raiders were running out of the village. Two of them had stopped and grabbed their leader's body. They threw the leader onto a horse's back and rode him out.

Eve knitted her eyebrows together at that. Why would they take his body…? It baffled her for she'd never seen that done before.

The poet smiled once the enemy was gone. "We did it," she whispered, "but it seemed too simple."

The warrior nodded in agreement. "Let's not complain too much huh?" She drained the darkness out of her system.

"Yeah," whispered the small woman. She studied the village and all the hurt or dead villagers. "We still have a lot of work to do."

The warrior examined things too. "Yes… this is the hardest part," she uttered. She sheathed her sword at her side. She glanced down at her soulmate. "Are you okay?"

"Yes." Hope leaned against her staff. "You?"

Eve grinned. "Perfect." She dropped the grin and said, "Let's see what we can do huh?"

The younger woman nodded. "I hope Shamrock is okay."

"I'm sure he is, we'll worry about him later." Eve nodded. "Come on." She walked off to a healer's house.

Hope followed along side her partner.

~*~*~*~

The raider rode the horse to the top of the hill, which overlooked the village they'd just attacked. He stopped and dismounted his horse. After he went to the horse's rump, he lifted their dead leader off the horse. He settled the leader on the ground then bent down.

Two other raiders came up the hill in a jog. The peered down at the dead leader.

"Is he…?" asked one raider.

"I don't think so," whispered another raider. He touched the leader's neck and felt a pulse.

Suddenly, a growl rumbled up from the leader's throat. His eyes flew open. "Move," he ordered.

The three raiders stepped back.

The leader got up to his feet, and brushed back his sandy-blond hair. He examined his wound in his stomach and watched it healed over then the armor become repaired, as if it never happened. He grinned and peered up at the awe struck raiders. "Did you not believe in his power?"

The raiders looked up.

"We do know," whispered one.

The leader laughed deeply and turned to the village below. "How many were killed?"

"Several," reported a raider. "Not that, that matters."

The leader smirked. "Very good." He folded his arms against his chest. "What is the report on Xena and Gabrielle?"

One raider gulped but said, "They are returning."

"What?" roared the leader, "They are suppose to remain in Africa."

"I'm afraid they killed Gurkhan." The raider paused. "They will arrive back here in three days."

The leader closed his eyes and growled, "I want them stopped." He turned his head to the raider while having opened his eyes. "I want twenty men sent to the port, kill them, drown them, I do not care!" He narrowed his eyes. "Xena purposes a threat to our plans, she is not to interfere."

"What of Gabrielle?"

"Bring her to me." The leader grinned. "We could use her again."

"But she's killed since then."

"No matter, she will still be of use." The leader chuckled and whispered, "We need more Hope."

The raiders exchanged glances.

"You have your orders. Kill Xena and bring me Gabrielle." The leader turned. "The rest of us will follow Eve and Hope."

The raiders nodded briskly.

The leader peered down the valley, his back to the village, and he studied the thousands of warriors at the bottom of the valley. "Love will not save them."

~*~*~*~

"You ready?" whispered Eve.

Hope nodded faintly. "Can we get out of here?"

"Yeah." The warrior went in the stable and found Shamrock waiting for them. She tacked up the horse in the stall.

"I think things will be fine here?" asked Hope.

"The village will be fine," answered Eve. She glanced up and noted how tired her lover was. "We won't travel far today."

"Just get some distance huh?" asked the poet.

The older woman nodded and continued tacking her horse.

It was late afternoon now. The soulmates had finished helping the village and did as much as they could. Now, they wanted to head off and be alone after the insane day.

Eve came out of the stall and walked out of the stable, Shamrock was in tow.

Hope came out and watched her soulmate mount the bay.

The warrior held her hand down to her lover. "I want you to ride."

The small woman didn't feel like arguing so she took her friend's hand. She was lifted into the front of the saddle.

Eve wrapped an arm around her lover's waist. "Just relax, huh?"

Hope nodded and dropped her head back into Eve's shoulder.

The warrior kicked her horse's side lightly.

Shamrock made his way out of the village and to the road.

~*Part 8*~

Gabrielle came up on deck, she went near the railing and leaned against it. She spotted the port ahead.

Xena came up from behind, happy to be coming home.

The small warrior studied the port and noted something odd. "Xena… were you expecting a welcoming party?"

"Nnnno." The Warrior Princess narrowed her eyes.

There on the dock were twenty or so warriors.

"I hope they're not waiting for us," whispered Gabrielle.

Xena's dark side had begun peaking inside. "They are," she uttered lowly. "Get ready."

"Hell," grumbled Gabrielle. "Remind me why I am your partner?"

The warrior chuckled deeply and answered, "Because you love it."

"That's right." The warrior-bard knelt down and extracted her sais. "When is retirement?"

Xena laughed. "Not today… tomorrow isn't looking good either."

Gabrielle groaned. "Wonderful." She grinned and noticed they were pulling into the slip. "Here we go."

The warriors on the docks all unsheathed swords.

Xena drew her sword. "Let's go off the bow," she whispered.

The Amazon Queen glanced up at the bow. She noticed how at that end of the dock there were no warriors. She also saw how big the jump was to the dock. "You sure?"

"Well, once this gangplank is down, we're going to be dead. Your choice."

"The bow." Gabrielle sprinted to the bow.

Xena laughed and ran up to the bow. She sheathed her sword, jumped up to the upper level of the deck. She picked up her lover. "Here we go."

Gabrielle held tight and closed her eyes.

The enemy saw what was going on and tried going after the soulmates but couldn't make it around the ship's ropes being thrown all over.

The Warrior Princess leapt off the ship, spun in midair, and landed on the dock with a loud boom. She put Gabrielle down and spotted the twenty warriors screaming and coming after them. "Move!"

Gabrielle broke off running and her partner was beside her.

Xena ran through the port and led her lover. Ahead she spotted a tavern and jumped into the door. She grabbed her partner's wrist and swung her in.

The warrior-bard dropped her head against Xena's chest and held onto her warrior.

The Warrior Princess breathed heavily and leaned against the doorway and watched the twenty warriors run by, hunting for them. She dropped her head against the frame once they were gone. "We're okay."

Gabrielle sighed and lifted her head. "What on earth do you think that was about?"

"I don't know," whispered the warrior. "But I know we'll find out… and soon."

"Was one heck of a greeting party."

Xena chuckled but stopped and peered down at her lover. "We need to be careful."

"What we going to do?"

The older woman considered their options. "Let's… follow them… see what they do." She looked up and studied the tavern. "Let's get some cloaks first."

The small warrior nodded. "Let's go."

The Warrior Princess ducked out of the tavern and glanced outside. She saw no one and went into the streets. "The market is this way."

The Amazon Queen nodded and let her partner lead the way. "I hope Eve and Hope are okay," she whispered.

Xena didn't respond for it was her fear too.

~*Part 9*~

Eve knelt down in front of her soulmate. "Hey, how are you doing?"

Hope peered up from her scroll. "Alright." She sighed faintly and lowered her quill onto her scroll.

The warrior sat down next to her lover. She glanced at the fire next to them, which lit the entire dark camp, she gently touched Hope's leg. "What is it?"

"What you mean?" The poet wasn't looking at her partner.

Eve sighed deeply and whispered, "Don't beat around the bush, something is up."

"Curtness is the key to understanding," whispered the small woman.

"Yes," agreed the older woman. "So, tell me what's eating at you?" She shifted her hand and grasped her lover's hand.

"I don't know… just yet," uttered Hope, "something just isn't… isn't right."

"You're not sure what it is?" inquired Xena's daughter.

The poet shook her head. "No." She lifted her eyes to her soulmate. "But we'll both know soon."

Eve searched the other woman's eyes- she too knew something, something was going to happen. She moved closer and wrapped her left arm around her lover's waist. She drew Hope in.

Hope rested her head on her soulmate's shoulder. "I hope our parents are okay," she murmured.

The warrior sighed deeply and lowered her head onto her poet's. "They can take care of themselves."

"I hope we can take care of ourselves too," joked the small woman.

Eve chuckled faintly but she really had to wonder herself.

~*~*~*~

Xena pulled the hood closer around her face. She caught sight of Gabrielle kneeling down beside her behind the brush in the dark.

The warrior-bard spread opened the brush faintly and peeked through.

The Warrior Princess narrowed her eyes at the twenty men in the camp. "We've been traveling a ways," she whispered.

Gabrielle nodded. "Headed west… north-west."

The older woman turned her head a little while she watched the camp. "Sssh." She reached up and pulled her hood down. She turned her head towards her partner but her focus wasn't on Gabrielle. She tried listening carefully to the men talking in the camp.

The Amazon Queen kept silent and let her lover concentrate.

Very gradually Xena's eyes went darker and darker as she listened more. "Shit," she growled lowly.

The younger warrior gave a worried look.

Xena came out of concentration and grabbed her lover's hand. "Let's go."

The pair quietly snuck off in the night back to their horses.

"What is it?" asked the warrior-bard hastily.

"They're apart of a massive army." Xena tightened Argo's straps then mounted her. "They're after Hope and Eve."

"What?" Gabrielle had almost yelled but didn't. She mounted her own horse. "Why?"

"I don't know, they didn't say." The Warrior Princess tapped her mare in the sides. "Doesn't matter right now, we need to get to them."

The Amazon Queen followed along on her horse. "Why are they after us?"

"To kill," stated Xena. She didn't reveal that they had intent to capture Gabrielle, her partner didn't need to know that. Only because it would mean more questions, more questions needed answers that she didn't have. "Let's go."

Gabrielle kicked her horse into a gallop. She headed west, to the only place they could think of where Eve and Hope were.

~*Part 10*~

Hope rose up out of the bedroll. Eve wasn't sleeping with her; it had her worried. "Eve?" She looked around the empty camp. She narrowed her eyes when the sound of swords clashing filtered to her. "Oh no." She jumped to her feet and grabbed her staff.

Eve bursted into the camp, her body was bruised and bloody, her sword out. "Hope!" She rushed beside her partner. "Get out of here."

"What is it?" The poet was becoming frantic over the chaos.

"Just get out of here!" yelled the warrior.

"No! I am not leaving you," growled Hope.

"Stop them!" ordered the leader of the army of the village raid.

"Shit," growled Eve. She twirled her sword and stood between Hope and the leader closing in.

The leader glanced around and watched all his men surround the campsite. He gazed back at the pair.

"How is he still alive?" whispered the poet. Her eyes went to slits because she knew that there was more going on then being said. "And why am I asleep when everything happens?" she growled.

"We will take out," stated the leader. "You're out numbered and surrounded." He pointed his sword at the women. "It'd be simpler if you come with us."

"Who the Hades are you?" yelled the poet.

The leader grinned at the small woman. "Your saviors." His eyes narrowed and he ordered, "Take them!"

The numerous men rushed in and captured the fighting women. It took them a few minutes bet eventually they had the women knocked unconscious and chained.

"Let's head back to the camp."

The men nodded at the command and dragged the women off.

~*Part 11*~

Xena spotted the brown horse outside of the clearing. "Its their horse," she yelled back to her partner.

Gabrielle kept her stallion at a gallop after her lover. "Are they there?" she hollered back.

The warrior stopped her horse and hopped off.

The warrior-bard halted her stallion beside Xena. She dismounted and looked towards the camp. That sinking feeling entered her and she sprinted towards the camp.

The older woman knelt down and touched the red liquid on the grass. She lifted her fingers and smeared the red blood. "Damn," she mumbled.

"Xena!"

The tall woman stood and jogged into the abandoned camp.

The warrior-bard held a half-written scroll in her hand. She knew it had to be Hope's. She faced her soulmate. "They've been captured," she whispered.

The Warrior Princess's jaw tightened and she ran her finger through her hair. She turned in complete circle, she tried finding some sort of clues to work with.

Gabrielle peered down at the incomplete poem on the scroll. She read it.

Its that nearing feeling,

Of the darkness's hand

That leaves us shaking

Here in this black evening

We fear; what we know not of

But soon we'll know

Soon will be the moment its

Too late

What crime will she and I

Pay for, tomorrow

We will be told tomorrow

And I fear we will not

Gabrielle swallowed and rolled the scroll up. She glanced over at her lover by the fire.

Xena knelt down and touched the ashes. Her fingers dipped under the ashes, she calculated the warmth- none. She lifted up her hand with a few ashes in it, she smell it carefully and there was a small scent left to it.

"How long?" whispered the warrior-bard.

"Three days… at the most," replied Xena. She brushed the ash off and got to her feet.

Gabrielle signaled the scroll. "They both knew." She glanced around the camp again.

"Get their stuff together and I am going to find some tracks."

The Amazon Queen nodded and walked over to Shamrock where there was a saddlebag and a scroll bag. She slipped her daughter's scroll in. She tacked up the bay in front of her and led him to the other horses. "How are you, boy?

Shamrock whined sadly.

"Did you see what happened?"

The bay nodded briskly and stomped at the ground. He stopped walking once he neared the other horses.

"Yeah I bet." Gabrielle gave him a scratch behind the ear.

Xena reappeared from the direction of the camp. "Found the tracks." She got up onto Argo. "I'll take care of the other horse."

The short warrior mounted her stallion and nodded. "Alright." She handed her soulmate the reins.

The Warrior Princess led the way to the tracks.

Gabrielle saw them way ahead, her eyes widened. "Oh god," she whispered.

There were numerous tracks of men and two things or people had been dragged behind.

"Xena, I will kill them if they hurt…" she trailed off, her voice in a low deathly tone. Her eyes flashed.

"I know," uttered the warrior because she felt the exact same way. For there was no wrath like that of a mother's. "Let's go," she said hotly.

"Ya!" Gabrielle kicked her horse into a gallop.

The Warrior Princess signaled her mare to follow and Shamrock galloped in tow.

~*~*~*~

Hope's eyes opened and the world swirled around her. She groaned and closed her eyes once more. She felt herself on some stone table, she knew she was inside a building after seeing the stone ceiling spin around.

"Welcome back, little one," came the soothing voice.

The poet groaned before she sensed a warm cloth touched her forehead. She opened her eyes. "Who are you?" she whispered.

"The flames from which you will be reborn from," the voice whispered gently.

Hope couldn't focus her eyes on the being. She started slipping again. "Where am I?"

"Home, Hope," said the soothing voice, "Rest, reviving it in you will drain you."

"Revive what?" muttered Hope but she never got her answer because she slipped unconscious.

"Your destiny," whispered the voice.

~*~*~*~

Eve lifted her head while she opened her dark, blue eyes. She stared, for a moment, at the bars of the cell. She knew her wrists were chained since they were hanging above her. With lowered eyes, she noted her ankles shackled too. Her sword and daggers gone but her armor still on.

A guard reappeared at the cell. "Good evening, messenger."

The warrior narrowed her eyes at the title. He could only be referencing to God… the way of love, decided Eve. "Where am I?" she growled.

"Being hostile will not help," stated the guard. "You do not need to know something of little importance." He grinned then he left the dungeon.

The warrior jerked at the chains even though she knew it was no use. "Son of the devil," she grumbled and tried relaxing.

Footsteps echoed down the dungeon- they were a light footfall, however.

Eve narrowed her eyes when the man in the black, red striped robe came to her cell.

"Ah, you've awaken, messenger," he said in a soothing tone. He slipped each hand into the open, large sleeves of his robe. "I'm so glad to finally see one of His own."

"Who the Hell are you?" Eve asked hotly.

"That is of little importance."

"Actually, it’s a lot of importance, to me," corrected the warrior. "So who are you?"

"Another time, maybe." The robed man started down the dungeon.

Eve grinned and called, "You know my destiny is not to stay in this cell." Her grin went more evil. "I am the messenger," she taunted.

The robed man stopped, turned on his heels and studied the woman in the cell. "Your destiny will be soon." He reached up and pulled his hood over. "And so will your friend's be soon." He continued down the dungeon and left.

"Stupid clergy," grumbled the warrior, "think they know everything." She jerked at the chains. "They know a lot of nothing."

~*~*~*~

"Wake up, little one," whispered the soothing voice.

Hope opened her eyes gently and stared up at the non-spinning world. She sat up, looking for the owner of the soothing voice.

Instantly, a fire roared up around the stone table that looked more like an altar. The fire shot up to the ceiling creating a wall and enclosing the poet.

The poet's eyes widened as she realized whose fire this was.

Then slowly, a flame stretched out of the wall towards Hope, over the altar table.

Hope felt the fear rush her. "No!" she screamed but her scream went dead as the flame flew into her mouth. She closed her eyes as the fire started pouring inside her and she could only lay back down on the table.

The fire continued spilling inside of the small woman until her entire body was filled with the flame. Once Hope's body was full of the flame, the firewall just disappeared in a poof.

Hope opened her red-yellow eyes for a second and they rolled up in the back of her head. She arched her back and groaned before she went unconscious. She slept and she slept and she slept for three solid days. Her body twitched this way, her eyes rolled under her lids, and small moans escaped her lips during the three days.

"Its time," uttered that same soothing voice at the dawn of the fourth morning.

Hope moaned deeply, her red-yellow eyes opened slowly. She stared at the ceiling as her eyes focused on them. She sat up on the table and studied her legs, lower body, upper chest, and then her hands. She turned her hands over and stared at her palms.

"Its time, Hope," whispered the soothing voice.

The poet's lips creased with an evil smile. "I'm home," she said quietly.

"Welcome home, Hope," greeted the soothing voice, "And its time you bring me."

Hope chuckled and slid off the altar. "Naturally." She strolled to the door of the altar room- she opened it.

The leader of the army turned around with the two guards beside him. He noted the change in the small woman- he bowed his head. "Welcome home, Hope. Its good to see you once more"

"I cannot say the samething about you, Deliverer," muttered Hope.

The leader chuckled as he lifted his head. "We didn't quite leave off on the same foot last time." He tilted his head. "Did we?"

Hope smirked. "No because I can't stand you." She brushed past the human form of the Deliverer. "What has happened since I've been gone?" she asked in her cold voice.

"Nothing really," reported the Deliverer. He followed behind with the guards.

The poet trekked down the hall with her boots pounding. "What of His messenger? I assume we still have her…?"

"Of course we do," stated the Deliverer. "She is one of the key components."

"She is," stated Hope as she stopped and whirled around. "I need to see her."

The Deliverer folded his arms. "I cannot, Hope… not until we're sure you've completely returned."

The small woman smiled falsely and neared the man. "Deliverer, let me put this way. He has ordered me to see her." She rapidly reached out and grabbed the man by his armor. She jerked his face down to hers. "I will see her," she growled.

The Deliverer narrowed his eyes, about to reply with harsh words.

"Let her see the messenger," uttered the soothing voice in the hall, "A test."

"Very well." The Deliverer jerked himself free. "You're free to see the messenger but we will join you." He escorted the small woman down to the dungeon cell through the large, stone building. The small group came to Eve's prison cell.

Eve raised her head up, a faint smile creased her lips at seeing her soulmate. But the smile turned upside down as Hope entered the cell with those red-yellow eyes. "Hope?" she whispered.

The small woman neared her lover and the closer she got the larger her evil smile grew. "How are you, Eve?"

"What's happen to you?" uttered the warrior.

"I've been reborn from the flames," whispered back Hope in a silky, deep voice.

"No." Eve shook her head. "No." She jerked at her manacles and growled, "No."

Hope chuckled with her glint in her eyes increasing. She pressed her body into the warrior's, she grasped Eve's shoulders. "You… you thought you could protect me." She grinned while she studied rich, blue eyes. "From my destiny."

"This is not your destiny," countered Eve.

The small woman shook her head. "Yes it is, Eve." She leaned her head more in. "You know what you never realized?" She tilted her head. "Is we're from two different worlds." She caressed her lover's cheek and gently touched the soft lips. "You are His chosen and I am the flame's chosen." Her focus went back to Eve's eyes. "We're enemies."

"We're the same," whispered Eve, she was becoming desperate.

The poet chuckled as her eyes went two shades redder. "No, we're counterparts." She licked her lips while she pressed her body hard into Eve's. "We're enemies." She leaned in more, her lips just touching Eve's.

The warrior tensed up and gritted her teeth as a hiss escape her lips.

Hope laughed while she continued bringing her nails down the other woman's left arm. She stepped back and ripped her nails down and deep on Eve's arm. "Until later, messenger." In a fluent motion, she reached forward and pushed Eve's forehead roughly.

The warrior's head smacked back into the hard wall.

Hope strolled out of the cell with a sway in her hips.

Eve clamped her jaw down and watched her soulmate leave with the other men. She sensed the blood rolling down her arm and the stinging in her arm pinninged at her. She felt the rage, from her soul, enter into her body. "Hope!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

Hope's next step was hesitant once she heard the cry outside of the dungeon.

"Problem, Hope?" inquired the Deliverer.

"No," growled the small woman. "Let's continue our plans." She closed her eyes as emotions flickered across her face, as fast as lightening. Her eyes reopened and were the deep yellow-red once more.

~*~*~*~

Gabrielle's horse galloped around the bend and begun to slow down at a slow pace. Gabrielle's heart sunk as she went farther ahead.

Xena caught up and stopped her horse next to Gabrielle's on the road. They were on the forest's edge and ahead were rolling hills while the tracks led on.

"No, no," whispered the warrior-bard frantically. She half dismounted and half fell off her horse. "No!" she almost screamed.

The Warrior Princess frantically got off her mare. "Gabrielle! Don't!"

The small warrior started running down the road as rage filled her.

"Gabrielle!" The warrior sprinted and caught her lover. She grabbed Gabrielle's arm and stopped her. "No, Gabrielle, that's suicide!"

The short warrior tore out of her soulmates grasp. "Xena, they…" She pointed towards the hills. "They have my daughter!" she hollered.

"And do you think you can get her back by running into that army?" yelled the warrior. "You won't be of any help to Hope." She grabbed her partner's shoulders and tried to calm down. "They have both Hope and Eve, we're gonna get them back."

The Amazon Queen was shaking her head, tears running down her cheeks. "Xena, we have to stop them." She grasped her lover's arms. "They have Hope and Eve," she whispered in agony. "He'll take her away from me," she rasped while she clung to her soulmate. Her tears become stronger. "He has my Hope." The pure desperation that comes when one tries to fight death filled her.

"Sssh." The warrior pulled her lover in and held her. She felt the intense anger fume up inside of herself. She would do whatever it took to save her daughter and her soulmate's daughter. The wrath drove her into the darkness. "We'll get them back," she promised with fury seeping in her words, "and kill him… end this forever." Her eyes continued darkening as she studied the large army, which surrounded Dahak's temple.

~*Part 10*~

"Stay awake!" snarled Hope.

The two guards snapped into attention and straightened up on either side of the door.

"Tense?" taunted the Deliverer.

The small woman whirled around and narrowed her eyes at the man. "Are you that dense?" she whispered hotly. "Xena and Gabrielle are near, stupid." Her upper lip twitched. "They wouldn't dare let Dahak back into the world."

The leader of the army folded his army. "How near is near?"

Hope strolled over to the window and gazed out over the view of the forest. "Very near."

The Deliverer unfolded his arms. "I'll send some men out to check." He started to head to the door.

"No," ordered Hope harshly. "That won't do a damn thing." She spun around on the heels of her boots as a huge smirk took her lips. "I have a much better idea."

The Deliverer lifted his eyebrow and waited for the idea.

~*~*~*~

Gabrielle heard the sound of leaves crunching then a twig snapping. She rose up from her seat by the almost dead fire. She extracted her sais and twirled them. She bent her knees and prayed her lover would be back soon from the river.

The brush ahead rustled from something moving through it quickly.

"Oh gods!" yelled a voice like Gabrielle's own.

"Hope?" called the warrior-bard. She raced ahead in desperation. "Hope!" She bursted through the bushes and spotted her daughter.

"Mother!" yelled Hope before she fell onto the ground rasping.

"Oh gods." Gabrielle ran to her daughter's side. She noted how Hope's body was bruised and battered. "Hope?" she whispered in agony, she touched her daughter's cheek gently.

"Mom, you have…" Hope closed her eyes and lay on her back. Her chest raised and fell at a fast pace. "You have-"

"Sssh," cut off the mother.

The poet shook her head. "They're coming… Dahak's men," she whispered. "Run," she uttered, "please."

"Not without you." Gabrielle slipped her arms under her daughter's body and lifted her up. She stood up and briskly walked towards camp. "How many, Hope?"

"Ten were… after me," rasped the younger woman.

The short warrior narrowed her eyes. "What's happened to Eve?"

"They… they have her." Hope shook her head and buried her face into her mother's chest. "We couldn't stop them." She opened her eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks. "They've beat her too," she whispered. "Their planning to use her."

"For what?" whispered the bard as she entered the camp.

"To bring back Dahak," uttered the daughter as she felt her body settled down on a bedroll.

"Xena!" screamed Gabrielle at the top of her lungs.

The Warrior Princess heard her name and sprinted back to camp. She saw the scene ahead and rushed up to her lover's side. "What happened?"

"Hope escaped and is being chased by ten men," informed the bard hastily as she knelt back down beside her daughter with a medical kit.

"Damn it," growled the warrior. "Which way?"

"In that direction." Gabrielle pointed.

"Alright, take care of Hope. I'm gonna go take care of these men." Xena unsheathed her sword and headed to the clearing's edge.

"Be careful," called the bard.

The Warrior Princess nodded before she disappeared.

"Try and rest," ordered Gabrielle.

The younger woman nodded as she sensed gentle hands clean her wounds. "What are we going to do?" she whispered and closed her eyes.

"We're going to stop him," stated the warrior-bard darkly. "We'll end this… forever."

Hope hissed when a few wounds were cleaned. "But you can't save Eve," she whispered sadly.

Gabrielle hesitated in the cleaning. She studied her daughter for a moment while she repeated the words in her head, and she licked her lips. "Just be quiet now," she ushered and continued cleaning. She blinked back tears as her anger rose up inside. She finished cleaning, pulled out an herb from the medical kit, and a tiny cup. She walked over to the mare and plucked off a waterskin. Damn you Dahak, she cursed mentally.

The short warrior knelt back down beside her daughter and filled the tiny cup up. She then put in a lot of her herb and stirred it in with her fingers. "Hope?" she whispered, "You need to sit up and drink this."

The poet sat up some with her mother's help. She drank the herbed water then settled back down on the bedroll. She sighed and closed her eyes yet her body was very tense, for the moment.

"Go to sleep," said Gabrielle soothingly. She wiped the tears away from her cheeks and put the medical supplies away. She then leaned towards her child and kissed her on the cheek. She whispered, "I love you, my Hope." She stood up onto her feet while extracting her sais.

Xena back flipped away from the ring of enemies. She dropped to the ground and did a roundhouse swipe kick. She took out five men, killed two, and had only three standing. She bounced up to her feet, charged one enemy, and stabbed him in the stomach.

Another man attacked her at the side.

The Warrior Princess kicked him away then faced him. She kicked behind and sent an opponent flying. She sliced her sword through the man in front of her.

Within a few more minutes, she had finished off all ten men. She stood there studying them for a moment. Then she considered the entire situation since Hope came back this morning. Hope escaped and is being chased by ten men, rang Gabrielle's words in her head.

"Hope escaped," uttered the warrior in confusion. She peered down the road at the mass army that fully surrounded the temple. "How could she have…?" Her eyes widened. "Gabrielle, no." She broke off running towards the camp.

Gabrielle ducked and rolled away as the sword breezed past her head. "Come on!" she challenged her enemy.

"Surrender!" urged the enemy. "This camp is surrounded by twenty-five men." He slashed forward with his sword.

"Take her!" commanded a deep voice with anger.

Ten men suddenly jumped Gabrielle and took her. They were soon chaining her up.

"No," snarled Gabrielle lowly. She glanced over at the leader; she quickly recognized the familiar face.

The leader lifted his sword and pointed it towards the clearing's edge. "Come join us, Xena."

The Warrior Princess strolled towards the man. "Well, didn't think I'd see you again… Khrafstar."

"Miss me, Xena?" asked the Deliverer.

"Immensely," replied the warrior dryly. Her eyes flickered over to her chained soulmate. "Well…" She turned her focus back on the Deliverer. "Where too?"

The Deliverer laughed and smirked. "Take her weapons and chain her too," he ordered.

Several men came over with chains and shackles. They stripped the warrior of her weapons then shackled her arms behind her back.

"Somebody get Hope," commanded the Deliverer.

"I'm trying," called one man. He kept shaking the small woman's shoulders. "She's not waking up, Deliverer."

"What?" roared the man and he stomped over. He bent down and touched her lips. Lifting his fingertips, he smelled them and picked up on the sent of herbs. "She's been drugged," he growled. He stood up and faced the two warriors with fuming anger. "What did you give her?" he snarled and stalked towards the to the women.

Xena sighed in relief inwardly at the fact her soulmate had figured things out ahead of time. Good thinking, Gabrielle, she commended her lover mentally.

"What did she take?" growled the Deliverer.

Gabrielle straightened her back out. "Three strong pinches of Opium Poppy. She'll be out for at least three days… if not more," she stated coolly.

The Deliverer suddenly lashed out and smacked Gabrielle hard across the face. "You bitch," he whispered with flashing eyes.

Xena quickly moved but was kicked in the stomach by a man. The wind was knocked out of her as she curled up.

The warrior-bard lifted her cold eyes. "You got that right, Deliverer. Nobody fucks with my child." She jerked forward but was stopped by the men. "She isn't Dahak's," she whispered hotly.

The Deliverer just gave a smug look back. "She's already Dahak's."

"That's what he thinks," snarled the warrior-bard. "He may control her body but he does not control her heart or soul."

The Deliverer laughed. "She has neither. She is just a vessel for Dahak's power." He turned and signaled a few men to pick up Hope.

"Hardly," whispered Gabrielle with a glint in her eyes.

The Deliverer was annoyed by the short warrior's words. He suddenly whipped around and slammed his fist into her face.

The Amazon Queen fell the ground; unconscious.

"Gabrielle!" yelled the Warrior Princess, and she broke away from the men.

"Stop her!" ordered the Deliverer.

Ten men all jumped on the warrior at once and beat her down hard, leaving her unconscious as well.

~*~*~*~

"Mother… Gabrielle?" whispered Eve; she was still chained in her cell.

There was a soft moan from the bard, and she opened her eyes. Her eyes slowly focused and realized she was in a cell.

"Gabrielle." Eve gave a warm smile to the small warrior in the neighboring cell.

The warrior-bard shook her head and peered up at Xena's daughter in the other cell. "Eve?" she uttered and rubbed her forehead.

"Welcome back." God's messenger gave a wry grin.

"Thanks," deadpanned Gabrielle. She gazed down and noted her arms and legs shackled.

Xena, however, was laying on the floor, out cold and chained to the wall.

The bard crawled over to her soul mate and lifted her head. "Xena?" she whispered in concern. She started inspecting her partner's body for any serious injuries.

"How is she?" asked Eve.

"She's okay, just unconscious." Gabrielle's attention flickered up to Eve then back to Xena. "How are you doing?"

"Hanging in there," replied the young warrior.

"More ways than one huh?"

Eve huffed in answer. "Have you seen Hope?"

Gabrielle sighed sadly. "Yes, what's left of her." She kept check the shackles on Xena's wrists, finding them rather strong. "How'd it happen?"

Eve shook her head and stared at the floor below. "They jumped us in the woods. I should have been more careful," she whispered.

"Don't start blaming yourself, Eve. We'll get out of this."

Eve lifted her head and stared across the cell. "I'm praying so."

"We will," stated Gabrielle deeply, "and with Hope." She lowered her head close to Xena's. "Come on, love. I need you." She closed in the distance and gently kissed her partner.

The Warrior Princess moaned softly and responded to the kiss. She pulled back and opened her eyes. "Earlier I was being beaten, now I am being kissed," she joked.

The warrior-bard smirked and said, "That’s for putting up with it."

Xena chuckled and sat up with her lover's help. She glanced up at her daughter in the other cell. "I see you and Hope found yourselves a fine mess."

Eve smiled and a bit sheepishly at that. "Sorry, mother."

The warrior cracked her neck and dropped her head against the wall. "This isn't so bad."

Gabrielle shook her head. "If you say so, Xena." She patted her partner's thigh and sat down beside her.

"Okay, what's happened to Hope?" The Warrior Princess's question going to Eve.

Eve shook her head. "I'm not sure exactly." She paused before saying, "I did hear a few of the men talking. They said something about her being locked up in a room for three days. And during the time she was cleansed by the flames."

Gabrielle sighed; she propped up her legs while she thought. "That means she's being control by Dahak."

"No," cut in Xena. "As you said Gabrielle, only her body is."

"Hope's will is far stronger than Dahak's," stated Eve. "She can beat him if she wants to."

"Well, she's not going to be doing anything for a few days," muttered the warrior-bard.

Eve furrowed her eyebrows at Gabrielle's words. "You drugged her?" she whispered.

The Amazon Queen nodded. "Opium Poppy, she keep her asleep for a few."

"How did you figure it out?" questioned Xena.

Gabrielle sighed and explained, "I told Hope that we were going to end this forever." She licked her lips and breathed calmly. "But you can't save Eve was her response. That's how I knew Dahak had taken her."

"She would have said, we have to save Eve," uttered the Warrior Princess.

The bard nodded at that. "Our Hope wouldn't have said we couldn't."

"Either way," started Eve, "she's still inside. Dahak didn't destroy her. There has to be away to get her to gain control of her body again."

Gabrielle lowered her eyes from Xena's daughter and looked at her lover.

The Warrior Princess locked eyes with Gabrielle.

The warrior-bard sighed and dropped her gaze.

~*Part 11*~

Slowly, boot steps echoed down the prison cells.

The three women, in the cells, lifted their heads in the early morning as the person neared.

"Hope," whispered Gabrielle in surprise.

Hope grinned evilly at her mother. "Did you think that Opium Poppy would keep me asleep for three days?" She reached forward with a key. "Dahak burned the medicine out of my body and healed my wounds." She inserted the key.

Gabrielle rose up to her feet with an ache in her body.

Xena stood up as well while she fisted up her hands.

Dahak's child opened the gate and quickly moved. She wrapped her hands around Gabrielle's throat and slammed her up against the prison cell bars.

"Hope!" yelled Eve.

The Warrior Princess was struggling against the chains that held her in place.

"Its all right, Eve," rasped the warrior-bard. "I can handle my own child."

Dahak's chosen smirked at the words. "Very funny you put it that way." She jammed her knee up into the bard's stomach.

Gabrielle closed her eyes and coughed hard. "We're going to get out of here, Hope." She opened her eyes slowly and whispered, "And with you."

"What makes you so sure?" countered Hope. "We just can't seem to escape that pit, can we… mother?"

"Dahak may be in control here but we have the upper hand." Gabrielle revealed an evil grin. "Our upper hand is our Hope… you." She suddenly found her head slammed against the bars then dropped onto the floor.

Hope glared down at the older woman before she walked out of the cell and started relocking it.

Gabrielle moaned softly but managed to whisper, "I love you, Hope."

Dahak's chosen was hesitant when she started pulling the key out. She narrowed her eyes, spun around on her boots, and strolled off.

Xena just controlled her anger. She peered up at Eve. "Do it, Eve."

"Mother-"

"Do it, now," growled the Warrior Princess.

Eve closed her eyes, took a deep breath and yelled, "Hope!" She paused then called, "Hope," again.

"Gabrielle?" whispered the warrior softly.

The warrior-bard climbed up to her feet and neared her lover slowly.

The older warrior pulled her partner in closely. "Do you trust me?" she whispered.

"You know I do, Xena," replied Gabrielle.

Xena reached up between her breasts and extracted her dagger. "Then play along. Understand?"

Gabrielle nodded and she heard the nearing of her daughter.

The Warrior Princess quickly inserted the breast dagger in between her soulmate's breasts. "Be careful," she whispered and kissed her lover quickly.

The warrior-bard stepped out of her friend's arms as Hope came back.

Hope ignored the two warriors in the cell and came up to Eve's cell. She grasped the bars, her red-yellow eyes locked on Eve. She just waited.

Xena's daughter took a shaky breath but narrowed her eyes. " I, as His messenger, will welcome Dahak into this world with my own blood. But only under the condition that you release Gabrielle and Xena."

"No," screamed Gabrielle, and she moved forward.

"Gabrielle," growled the warrior. She wrapped her arms around her partner and pulled her in. "Don't, it has to be done."

Dahak's daughter laughed deeply as an amused smile creased her lips. "And it will be done." She folded her arms. "At nightfall, it will begin."

"It will," stated Eve and she stared down her lover.

Hope gritted her teeth before she headed down the prison again.

"It will begin," repeated Eve in a soft whisper.