While he sat there like that; thinking nothing, feeling nothing, the large doors were opened, and then the hall echoed with the steps of a guard. He was wearing the finest black mantle and a helmet of mithril, but the Steward didn't look up to him as he made his way across the hall. "My Lord," said the guard, kneeling before the chair. "My Lord, there is a woman who wants an audience with you."

"I don't take visitors, Beregond," said the Steward.

"I know, sire," Beregond answered, "I told her so, but this woman is persistent. Her name is Xena."

Denethor started. "Xena," he yelped, but whatever he had felt for a moment, it quickly faded and he fell back into apathy.

"Shall I turn her away?" asked Beregond.

Denethor was quiet, staring forward with dull eyes. The guard made his own decision, bowed, and turned to leave. When he was at the doors, he heard Denethor's faint voice; "Let her in." Beregond took a deep breath, and sighed with relief. His master had been like that ever since the news of his son's death had arrived, and Beregond had been desperately searching for any possibility to revive his master. Then he smiled, and nodded at the tall woman who had been waiting outside.

Xena entered the throne hall, and Beregond closed the doors. These great pillars that held the ceiling, and these tall statues of former Kings that watched her from the shadows by the walls, every time they filled her with respect, and made her feel insignificant. That feeling didn't last long, but nevertheless, she had felt it once again. Then she saw Lord Denethor at the other end of the hall. It startled her to see how the past couple of years had changed him, as he seemed small and bent, and his former power had left him.

"Xena, my friend," the Steward uttered, "Come closer so that I can see you better."

"Greetings, Lord Denethor," Xena said lightly, even a little mischievously, yet deep inside she was shaken by Denethor's changed appearance. "What's happened to you eyes? They used to be sharper than anyone's."

"Used to, you say. Yes, that's an accurate expression. I'm getting old and tired, Xena." He sighed, and for a moment he seemed to be falling asleep. Then he jerked his head up, and asked, "What brings you here at this miserable moment?"

"I was called, and I came," Xena answered.

"Called? By whom?" asked the old man slowly.

"By your son, Faramir."

"My son," he mumbled, and turned his gaze at the horn in his lap again.

Xena knelt before him, and clasped his hand holding the horn. "Was this Boromir's?" she asked, and the old man nodded. "I'm sorry. He was a fine man, and a great warrior."

"Thank you, Xena," Denethor said, "I know you two were good friends. Won't you stay here for a while and grieve with me?"

Xena shook her head. "Later, maybe, when the war is over. Warriors like us can't allow ourselves that luxury at times like this. You should know it better that anyone. I realize it's hard to lose a son, but you must get over it, and lead your people to the fight."

"Fight," he whined contemptfully, "There will be no fight. Just one big slaughter! Don't get me wrong, so that I wasn't happy to see you, but you could do better if you just ran away as far as you could, just so you could live a few years older."

"Don't say that! Gondor has the greatest army ever, and Gabrielle will arrive in a few days with five hundred warriors more."

"Five hundred! What is five hundred against fifty thousand? A pebble in a land slide. A mouse against a Mumak."

Xena stood up, watching him sadly, and at last she said, "What's happened to you? You sit alone here in your hall and wait for the doom to come. This way it really will come sooner than later. Stand up, Denethor! Put on your mithril armor, and take your sword. Your men need your example, and they need you to tell them that it's better to die fighting than not to have fought at all."

"And other trites like 'as long there is life, the hope remains'?"

"Yes! Don't you see it?"

"See?" The old man laughed dryly. "See, you say? I see more things that you can imagine." Then a cunning sparkle flashed in his eyes. "I'll show you," he said, "Yes, I'll show you something that I have shown to nobody before you. Swear not to speak of it to anyone, and come after me."

Denethor lead Xena into a chamber behind the throne. He opened a steel reinforced door, and started to climb up a spiral staircase. The stairs made seven full circles before they ended up to a new level that resided above the great throne hall. Eight windows looked out to eight directions, and right in the center of this round, open space was another spiral staircase. The old man didn't hesitate when he took the first steps up the stairs, and Xena followed.

The long stairs reached the very top of the Tower where they suddenly ended in a level; an empty room with a wooden floor and large windows giving a good view to the East. Outside the windows a balcony went all around. Yet that was not all, as there was still one level up to go. Denethor pulled a secret switch, and a trapdoor in the ceiling was opened. Smoothly and quietly ladders were lowered down, and then they climbed up to still one more room on the attic.

This small room was as high in the tower as one could get. It was very dark as there were no windows, until Denethor lit an oil lamp, and Xena saw that the room was empty with three exceptions. There was a simple chair, and before the chair lay a small table, and on the table a spherical object had been covered with dark cloth. "Sit," Denethor commanded. Xena looked at him suspiciously, but she sat in the chair, and he removed the cloth like it had been his most precious thing.

The object on the table was a perfectly round, black sphere, but it looked like there was a peculiar, dim light trapped inside. Xena glanced at Denethor again, and asked, "What it it?"

"A Palantir," he answered.

"A Stone of Seeing?" The man nodded, and Xena continued; "I thought they were a myth. Does it work?"

"Yes. Just look into it, and you will see."

"See what? What will I see?"

"What ever you want."

Xena was still suspicious, but she decided to give it a try anyway. She locked her eyes to the orb, and tried to find that dim light again. At first the orb was completely dark, but then the light appeared, like a faint, distant star. The light started to get stronger, like the star had come closer, and then it suddenly sucked her inside. She yelped in surprise, and fell down with the chair while she backed away. "I... I was inside the Palantir!" she said breathlessly.

"Good, very good. You seem to have a natural ability to work with it. What did you see?" Denethor asked.

"I saw a town. I think it was this town, Minas Tirith, but I was floating high above it, not walking down on its streets. It was... incredible."

"You saw a view from this tower. Now try again. Maybe it will show you something else this time."

Xena replaced the chair before the table, glanced Denethor, and paused for a while. "Can I see Gabrielle with this?" she then asked.

"It depends. If your mind is strong, and if you're committed, and she's not too far away, then it should be possible."

Xena sat down again, and looked into the Stone, focusing on Gabrielle. Again, the sphere was black for a while before the light burst out, and swallowed her. The Stone showed her a forest green and beautiful, and suddenly she started to hear voices. It was the wind that blew into leaves of the trees, and then singing that seemed to come from the left. She wanted to turn, and the view obeyed. Gabrielle appeared. The girl was singing some song while walking, and even if Xena was glad to see her, such carelessness made her nervous. "Stop that," she said, and to Xena's amazement Gabrielle stopped singing immediately.

She wondered if it was nothing more than a coincidence, and tried to give Gabrielle another command, but there was no response. The bard just went on, undisturbed. Happy to see her friend was all right, Xena looked ahead the path Gabrielle was walking, and seeing that the direction was right and that there was no danger, she decided to try another target.

At the moment when she turned her mind away from Gabrielle, the vision blurred, and countless of images of other places flashed through her eyes, until they finally fixed into single one that shocked Xena. And then, all against her will, she became yanked somewhere else, to a completely different place.

She found herself standing on an open wasteland. The ground was black and hard, full of sharp shards of stone, and no living things whatsoever. Toxic fumes rising from hidden, underground pits painted the sky red and black, and darkened the sun so that soon it was merely a pale disc. Right in front of her stood a great tower, dark and terrible, and in the top of the tower a flaming Eye. It saw her, it fixed at her, and then it started to grow until it filled all of her view.

Then it disappeared.

It was dark again in the attic. "You are not ready for that," said Lord Denethor. He had put the cloth over the Palantir again.

"What was it?" Xena asked, and she realized that she was extremely weary.

"You know what it was, or who it was," he answered, and blew out the oil lamp. "That will be enough. Now do you understand how I know the future? I've seen it in the legions of Orcs that are being bred at the very moment. I've seen it in the war machines that are built to tear down the strongest walls, and in creatures too horrible to be described in words. There is no future for us."

Xena was almost too tired to disagree, and she understood that arguing was useless; Lord Denethor was hopelessly and irrevocably convinced. In silence they slowly descended to the throne room. As the night was falling upon them, Denethor gave his servants an order to arrange Xena a room in the King's House that lay behind the Tower. They both went to sleep, and they both slept uneasily, as Denethor still grieved for his deceased son, and Xena was disturbed by the vision that she had seen in the Palantir.

In the following morning, Xena found Denethor eating breakfast in the dining room, and he asked her to join him. She gladly did so, and a servant came to set her a place in Denethor's table.

They ate mostly in silence, and when they talked, they mostly talked of Boromir. Xena wanted to know more about the town's defenses, and the strengths of each side, but whenever she mentioned those questions, Denethor went completely quiet. Finally, he seemed to lose his patience, as he suddenly struck his tankard to the table, sprang up, and yelled in almost falsetto, "Well! You still wish to fight? Fine! You shall have a fight. Guards!"

Beregond appeared with two other guards, and they had drawn their swords, alerted by their master's furious yell. Xena sprang up, looking for a weapon for herself, as she had been disarmed at the door to the Tower in the evening. No weapons were allowed here, except for the guards.

"Beregond," Denethor said, "I have orders for you to deliver. From this moment on, Xena will be responsible for this town's defence, offence, and any other fence she decides to utilize. Make sure everyone is aware of that."

"I can't take a job like that," Xena protested by instinct. At the same time, leadership of such an army felt tempting.

"Didn't you come here to offer your services, Xena? I'm giving you a chance to serve the best possible manner; by leading my army."

Beregond was as overwhelmed as Xena. "But Sir, what about Faramir?" he said.

"Do you see Faramir anywhere near? And don't you ever talk back to me like that. These are my orders!" He said it with such tone that talking back would have been mutiny, and the price of mutiny would have been death. Xena realized that she couldn't reason with the steward in his current state of mind, and so she soon found herself walking on the city walls, inspecting the defense arrangements with Ardabil.

Ardabil was the highest ranked soldier in town; a tall, intelligent man who had been Boromir's right hand before he had left for his quest. For him the leadership of the army had fallen as a surprise after the departure of Faramir a few days ago. He felt that he wasn't ready for all that responsibility, and he was more than glad when Beregond had come with an order to pass the leadership to Xena.

And now Ardabil was standing on a walkway upon the main gate of the outmost wall, explaining to Xena how the preparations were advancing. "The town lies on a mountain side that slopes east. It is protected by seven circular walls. The first circle has the strongest wall, and most of battle gear. On the first, second and third circles are soldier barracks. Then come regular buildings, and the most vital and most vulnerable facilities are on the last circles which are also highest up the hillside. The enemy will put greatest pressure against this gate, that's why it's so strongly fortified. As you can see, over there on the open field men are making trenches and ditches. Some of them are to be filled with oil, so that the enemy can't drive siege machines on that area."

"How far are those trenches?" Xena asked, peering around at the diggers.

"Four to five hundred yards. Behind that limit the throwing machines can't reach to the wall, and if they come closer, our bowmen will have them.

"Five hundred yards. I don't think it's enough. You should go at least a hundred yards further."

"Are you sure? I've never seen a throwing machine that could throw six hundred yards."

"Neither have I. Still, you would be wise to listen to my advice about this. The Enemy has had long years to design new weapons. What else can you tell me. These men don't look like they could defend the city effectively. I hope you're expecting reinforcements?"

"Yes, of course. Thousands of warriors should arrive soon from other parts of Gondor. I think we can hold this fort for quite a long time with ten thousand men."

"You see, that's exactly your problem," Xena said, and there was a hint of irritation in her voice. "You're locking yourself inside the city, and waiting for the enemy to start the attack. Then you expect a miracle to save your butts while you should look for a way to break the siege. The best thing is not to be besieged at all." She paused, and looked around. "Well, until we get more men, we must utilize the current ones the best we can. It's no use of keeping the walls fully manned. The Fields of Pelennor is miles wide. There's plenty of time to regroup at the time of attack."

That day, Xena moved from the King's House to a house on the fifth circle to be closer to her soldiers. She borrowed a horse, and rode around the fields of Pelennor, inspecting the preparations. In the evening she took a few men, and traveled to the ruined city of Osgiliath where a small group of soldiers were guarding the bridges that led over Anduin to North Ithilien. She spent the night with them, having anxious dreams of Lorien and her son. When she returned to Minas Tirith in the morning, her mind was wavering. She had already become keen in leading an army again, but on the other hand, she was becoming worried.

Yet that time, leading an army was still more tempting, also more logical, and she once more counted the men, and then called for Ardabil. "I've been thinking," she said to him, "there are two thousand men of the city guard, isn't that correct? You said that you expect a thousand soldiers from Lossarnach, twice as much from Morthond, at most four thousands from Dol Amroth, and a few hundreds of others. With Gabrielle's five hundred Amazons, that adds up to about ten thousand warriors, more or less skilled."

"Yes, that is right, Xena," Ardabil said. "With those forces we should easily defend the city against the enemy, but they're hardly enough to strike back."

Xena turned away, thinking about options. "What about Rohan? Are they coming?"

"I don't know about that," he answered.

"Then let's call them. Does the alarm system between Gondor and Rohan still work? The seven beacons on the mountains between Minas Tirith and Edoras? Light them now."

"But we're allowed to light them only when the enemy threatens. Denethor..."

"What good is it to call for help that is a weeks' ride away once you're already being sieged. You may be dead before it arrives. Light the beacons!"

Ardabil realized the wisdom in Xena's words. He beckoned one of his sergeants closer, and gave specific orders. The sergeant gave him a funny look, but didn't question him. Over the following night, beacons were burning on the White Mountains all the way to Rohan.

Early in the morning, there was a knock on the door of Xena's bedroom in her house on the fifth circle. Quickly she threw a robe on, hiding a long knife somewhere in its folds, and opened the door. Her precautions were unnecessary, though, as there was only a guard in black armor, summoning her to Denethor's chambers. She said that she would come, and the guard responded that he would wait for her while she was making herself ready. He didn't have to wait long, and soon she was following him up the road to the sixth circle, and at last through the last gate to the highest level.

Up there above the city she stopped, turned around, and peered east where the sun was just rising over Mordor. The whole eastern sky was abnormally red; on other circumstances one might have seen it beautiful. This time it worried her. Then she sensed another presence coming near, and at the same time the guard went away.

"Admiring the sunrise, Xena?" said Denethor behind her.

"Something like that," Xena answered, "and fearing what it may bring."

"So, you see it too. That it is the first sign of fire that is to swallow us all."

"No, no fire," Xena answered, "Darkness." Denethor nodded, and glanced her like he had known what she meant, but then he understood that she actually meant it literally. "I believe that this is the last sunrise that we will see until Sauron's defeated," she continued.

"You see darkness, and I see fire. What a nice couple we are," Denethor said dryly, and sighed. "Well, maybe tomorrow will show us which one is correct."

Xena didn't know how to put it delicately. "I won't be here tomorrow."

The old man laughed dryly, bitterly. "You too, Xena. You too are leaving me? Like the others, you smell the defeat, and leave before it's too late. Like rats they leave, and I say, let them go! I had thought you'd have been different."

"No, my Lord, no! I swear, if I only could, I would stand by you to the end. But there are things that require me elsewhere."

"Then why did you come at all!" Denethor suddenly shouted, fire burning in his eyes. "Why did you come if you knew you couldn't stay!" He grasped her arm, turned her to face him, and glared her sharply. Then his rage changed into wonderment. "You saw something!" he said at last. "You saw something in the Palantir, just before you were caught by the Dark Lord, didn't you?"

"Yes," Xena admitted. "That vision has troubled me ever since. I saw Lorien in flames, and my... someone whom I care in a deadly peril. Somehow I know that it was only a premonition, and if there's any chance that I can prevent it, then I will."

"Why, Xena! I didn't know that you cared that much for the Elves?"

Xena grunted, and tore herself free from his hold. "I have a reason."

"I'm sure you have. Very well. Throughout the times the Elves of Lorien have been one of the greatest allies of Gondor. Granted that lately our relations have been all but good, still I am one that won't forget the past. If you think that you can save them, then you should at least go and try."

"Thank you. If you don't mind, I will leave at once."

"You do that. Your short presence here resurrected my life's meaning, and I'll take charge of this city again. I wished that you would have stood beside me in the final battle. But now; farewell, dear friend. When you come back some day, if you ever do, I may not be here any more. Minas Tirith may not be here any more."

"I won't be away that long," Xena said, clasped the old man's hand for farewell, and then she left.

Xena fetched Nightchild who had been waiting for her impatiently in his hideout at the mountains near the city. She didn't care if someone saw her taking off, as the citizens would only suspect a Nazgul was flying there, and she was out of their weapons range.

Instead of flying by the Great River she took a more straightforward route this time, flying directly north until the river wound underneath her, and she came to the island of Cair Andros. From Cair Andros she flew North-West to the Falls of Rauros, and then over Emyn Muil where she had tamed Nightchild, and which was the half way point of her journey. The River went almost north from there on, winding and twisting like a great serpent, but she was so high that she could see the general direction in spite of the curves and fly straight.

When she saw the dark green line of the rim of Mirkwood appear in the horizon, she abandoned the river, and flew towards the fortress of Dol Guldur, just to see what was going on there. Even before she saw the fortress itself, she saw the black smoke that arose from its numerous chimneys. She ordered Nightchild to descend. And behold! The great gates were open, and a host of warriors greater than she could count was marching out. The head of the army was already miles away on the road, so far that she could barely make it, and there seemed to be no end. Such a vast army couldn't have lived inside the walls of Dol Guldur, unless the tunnels under the fortress went far deeper than she had imagined; far deeper than the levels where she once had been held as a prisoner. That was not a pleasant memory, and Xena shivered while she turned, and flew over the host that was making steady progress towards west; towards Lothlorien. She had not arrived an hour too soon. There might still be time for preparations.

Early in the following morning, she brought Nightchild down at the rim of the forest of Lorien. She took the last hundred yards afoot, and stepped under the first Mallorns. Then she halted, knowing that she was being watched, and that she had already come dangerously far. "People of Lorien," she then shouted, "I have information that you may value." Nobody answered, yet she knew that they were listening. "The Orcs of Dol Guldur are on the move, and they're heading this way. They'll be here by tomorrow, and their number is great enough to crush you all. Be prepared!" She paused, but as there was still now reply, she turned to leave, just to turn on her heels, and continue, "I want you to know one more thing. I will do what ever I can to protect my son. Right now this world is about to drown into fire, and if Lorien is the last safe place for him, then, and only then, I will help Lorien. Tell these regards to your Lord and Lady. Tell them that Xena will be back when the time is due. And if she arrives with a Nazgul beast, don't be alarmed by it."

She still felt their eyes observing her, and their arrows aimed at her back when she walked away, wondering if they were going to let her go. Not many people had been known to enter these woods and return in the old days, and even those few that had returned had not been quite the same than before, and they remembered little of their visit. But times change. Xena had been in Lorien twice already, each time getting out in one piece, and now she did it for the third time. She mounted on Nightchild, took off, and flew back east to scout how the Orcs were doing, and see if she could delay them.

----

Meanwhile, Draco was thinking about the million ways of paying back his humiliation to the people of Rhosgobel, and especially to Xena and her mother. That old woman had so cleverly forced him to make an oath that he wouldn't harm them, before she let him out of the cave. That oath had lasted only a couple of days until his physical strength had returned, and he had started planning on his revenge. But he needed more men first, as the town was not to be taken so easily any more. Xena had done miracles with those farmers. More men, more soldiers, yes, that's what he needed, and he knew where to get them.

But those men were a four days' horse ride away in a completely different direction. Draco wanted something else at the moment. Something that would give him an edge against Xena. Something that would eventually crush her, if he only played his cards right. And if he couldn't find her, that something would make her come to him. He grinned while musing, and looked down at a valley where an Orc army was building up a camp. The Orcs were an unexpected factor who, if handled delicately, would make a valuable addition to his plan. Then he turned around, and started his way back to his camp, considering the right way to approach his possible allies.

----

Naltzik had never feared for his life before now. Ever since he had taken that ill-fated trip with Xena to find the Ring, things had been getting worse. He had been lucky to remain in the lead of the invasion army of Dol Guldur, though he had been challenged by some. That hadn't happened before, it would take some time to re-establish his position as the commander. But how the fate had been against him! At first, he lost the Ring-bearing Hobbits to an unknown band of Orcs wearing a new mark of a white hand. Next, he was to get the warrior woman and her little pet from the Pit, and only found them gone! How could they have escaped? That he couldn't make out at all.

And finally, when he returned with empty hands to Dol Guldur, he had been welcomed by a Nazgul who wasn't happy at all about his actions. Naltzik congratulated himself that he was still alive, even if a little less ranked at the moment. But those things might change quickly, as the sword held against his throat would soon rank him dead. His only chance would be to negotiate, and play for time until one of his servants would come to see him.

Then he remembered that only a minute ago he had beaten up his most trusted servant to death for no reason. The rest would stay away from him as much as possible for the rest of the day that was left. He would be alone against this tall human who now removed her hood, and the Orc chieftain recognized her as Xena. He was astonished.

"So, we meet again, Naltzik" said the dark warrior woman.

"You! How? How did you get out? Why are you here?"

Xena laughed shortly. "Wouldn't you like to know that, you stupid rat face. Maybe I flew out! But now, I want back my weapons," she said, and her voice was hoarse when she continued, "All of them."

"I don't have them here..." Naltzik started, but Xena's interrupted him by pressing her sword forward so that some blood began to trickle down to his chest. "I mean, I don't have all of them with me," he corrected, and the pressure eased.

"Your sword is back at the armory in Dol Guldur, as it was taken from me, but the whip hangs right there," the Orc continued, nodding at the center pole that kept his tent standing. "I've used it to keep servants in order."

Xena glanced at the pole, and saw a whip loosely hanging there in a nail. "And the chakram? The round, sharp thing?"

"In my back pack," said Naltzik warily, "If you let me turn over..."

"Slowly, Naltzik. Use your left hand only, and take it out."

Awkwardly, as Xena didn't give him room more than absolutely necessary, Naltzik removed his back pack. He opened it, and slowly pulled out a leather wrapping. It was tightly bound, and he had trouble opening the strings one-handedly. Eventually, he got it unwrapped, and laid it at his feet, when his luck turned. An Orc soldier had an important announcement about suspicious movement on the hills north from the camp. He was so excited by his own importance that he forgot his master's ill temper, and burst in without permission.

Xena reacted by instinct, and ran her sword through his neck before he could say a word. She turned back at the Orc leader, and barely managed to dodge the flying chakram that cut a tuft of her hair. As if that hadn't been enough, it hit the center pole and bounced back at her! While she fenced her own weapon away with Faramir's loaned sword, Naltzik had already yelled alarms, and soon her escape route through the tent door was cut by dozens of vengeful Orcs.

The Orcs came in, one by one, and Xena retreated, keeping an eye on them and on Naltzik at the same time. The Orc chieftain had retrieved the chakram that had fallen down to the ground, and he was preparing for another throw. The warrior looked around anxiously; this was not her day, but at least she would sell her skin for a high price. So she grinned, let out her war cry, and flipped upwards from a stand-still. During her first somersault her sword slit a hole to the tent fabric, and the second one took her outside.

She came down behind the tent. The Orcs were mostly crowding on the other side, therefore she had plenty of space and time to consider her next move. As Naltzik's tent was in the center of the camp of the first Orc brigade, she was quickly spotted, and then the race was on. It was a hopeless run through the camp, dodging and weaving wildly; something that she had once lived for, but this time the stakes were too high. This time other lives depended on her. She had to get through.

And she did.

To her good fortune, the Orcs had not only been unprepared for any kind of trouble inside their camp, they had also been busy keeping an eye on the hills around. A good deal of their forces was being assigned to secure a completely different direction. And now, when someone was trying to get out of their camp, she was allowed to go with abnormally little disturbance.

Xena dodged a few arrows and an axe thrown at her, flipped over a barricade, and then she had a clear run to the forest covered hills. She had a good lead, and even though the Orcs followed, she had only a mile or so to run to Nightchild's hideout. Up the hill side she ran, using trees as cover, all the way to the top. She looked back to see that a great number of the brigade was after her, and then she was over the ridge that covered her completely.

And then she sensed that there was another threat.

In the last second she bent her body back, and the sword missed. Her current speed didn't allow that move, though, and because of that she fell flat on her face.

"Just the woman I was looking for," said a familiar voice.

Xena found herself facing a point of a sword. "Draco," she said under her breath. For once she couldn't think of more to say. Her run was over. She lay down before Draco, while his men watched her warily a few yards back, and right behind the ridge an Orc army was closing in. There was no escape any longer.

"Well, that's what you get when you trust amateurs. Don't worry, Xena, they're unharmed. For now. But that will change as soon as I've killed you. I will have my revenge on you, your hometown, your little friend, and every one of your family. How lucky for me that I found you in the first place I looked."

"Really? That's really fortunate," Xena said, playing for time. "How did you know where to look?" And then one thought led to another, and Xena's eyes widened as she cried, "My son! You son of a troll, you were after my son!"

"Oh, very good, Xena," Draco admired, "That's an absolutely clever conclusion, even coming from you. And oh, so true."

"Draco," Xena said slowly, now smiling, but her mind was black and filled with hatred. "I'll give you this one chance. If you leave now, and run fast, you and your men shall live."

"Ha!" Draco laughed. "Ha ha! I won't fall into your bluff any more. I know you too well. You're at my mercy, Xena. Just admit it."

"Don't say I didn't warn you," the warrior woman said, and then she yelled at the top of her lungs something that sounded at first like only brutal grunting and murmuring, but a careful listener could soon make out the words of a foreign language. Whatever it was, it startled Draco's men, and even himself somewhat.

"What did you do?" Draco asked, thrusting his sword even closer at Xena's throat. "What in Mordor was that?"

"In Mordor, indeed. How appropriately put," Xena replied. "It was Black Speech. I was calling for my Orc friends for help. They will crush you all!" Draco was unfocused for just a moment. Xena saw that moment, kicked his weapon away, and backflipped up to her feet, and yelled, "Orcs to attack! Kill all the men in the woods!" She added something in Black Speech again, and a mad choir answered her behind the ridge.

And then the Orcs were all over the hill top, and the battle was on.

Obviously Xena hadn't begged the Orcs to help her. No, she had thrown at them the worst insults that she knew, and it had driven the Orcs mad with rage. How the human dared! She had threatened them with Draco's army, claiming that they would fight on her side, and slay all the Orcs. After the insults it wouldn't have mattered if the entire western army had been behind her; the Orcs would have attacked anyway. Her trick was based on the fact that only very few humans knew Black Speech, and since Draco wasn't one of those, he didn't have time to figure things out and react.

What ensued was a long and bloody battle. Naltzik's Orcs outnumbered Draco's men, but the latter had an uphill advantage. Therefore it was pretty even, and even more so as Xena fought to make sure that neither side would get an upper hand of the other too soon. But she hadn't taken one thing into account.

"Xena!" came a yell from Draco's direction. He had just managed to get rid of a group of opponents, and now he and three of his men took Xena as their target. Xena didn't have an opponent of her own at the moment either, and she had only observed for the last minute. Now it seemed that she once again had to participate. It suited her fine, as the overall battle seemed to be nearing to its end.

She turned to face the foursome when she was suddenly alarmed by something else, and then it was too late. A whirling, round weapon cut through air, and struck two of Draco's men down. Draco himself was a target also, but he was able to parry the attack. His third companion fled in terror. "She's mine," said an Orc voice in common language. Both humans instinctively turned at the speaker, and saw Naltzik catching the chakram when it returned to him. "You tricked us, Xena."

"How clever of you," Xena said in a teasing tone, even though Naltzik's rough ability to use the chakram worried her. "Now you may choose; will you give my chakram back to me before you die, or after you die."

"Why don't I give it back right now," the Orc roared, and threw. Xena ducked, and the weapon missed her, hit a tree, bounced to a rock, and then headed back at Naltzik.

But Xena had closely observed its flight path. She flipped to intercept it, and managed to catch it midair. "Thank you," she said, and grinned. It felt good to have her dearest weapon in her hands again. Quickly as a lightning she tumbled towards Naltzik who swung an axe at her, but missed, and then Xena had her chakram on his throat. The Orc chieftain stood perfectly still, afraid to move a limb.

"Very well, Naltzik," Xena said, "We understand each other, don't we? Huh? Blink if you agree. Good, that's my Orc. Our talk was so rudely interrupted down there, hopefully we can finish it this time. I know your mission..."

Whatever Xena had really thought of when speaking about interruptions, well, she was interrupted again. She made a pretty, deliberate sidestep, and Draco's sword missed her, and instead struck Naltzik in his belly. It went in to the hilt, and suddenly there were four minds in different states.

Naltzik was surprised. He looked Draco into eyes, and then he met a painful death.

Xena was furious. She had had a plan that might have saved Lorien lots of trouble. Naltzik had been the key, as he was smart and also ambitious.

Then there was an Orc warrior who had appeared just in time to see his captain getting killed. He was scared, frozen to a stand still.

Finally, Draco was merely frightened at first, as he had just killed an Orc who was his ally in his plans, and a little later he was devastated. What scared him so bad was that other Orc who had seen him make the kill, and that Xena had yelled a few words, among which Draco had heard his own name, and the Orc had run away.

"What did you do?" Draco cried at Xena.

Xena shrugged casually, as she had quickly calmed down when a new chance had come to her. "I simply told him that we were now allies. I'm sure he'll spread that information to everyone."

"But... that will mean that they'll come after me..."

"Not just you," Xena corrected, "but all other Easterlings as well."

"Are you out of your mind! If the Orcs attack our towns in the east, they'll kill every woman and child as well!" Draco whined.

"Well, only a minute ago you were after my family and friends. Anyway, you still have some time to do something about it. The question is, what will you do?"

"You... I... You... This isn't over, Xena!" Draco threatened. "You won this round, but I will be back another day." He understood that he didn't have options. After the fight today the Orcs would assume that the Easterlings had changed sides; if not all of them then at least Draco's folk, and they would come after them sooner or later. Therefore Draco gathered the remainings of his troops, and hurried towards his hometown by the Lake of Rhun in the east.

Xena, on the other hand, watched Draco go, gritting her teeth with anger. "You're right, Draco," she mumbled, "This is far from over. You threatened my son, and I won't forget it." It had taken all of her self-discipline to keep her from slitting Draco's throat. At the moment the warlord was more valuable alive, as he would draw at least some of the enemy strength away. When the man disappeared, she jerked to motion, and jogged towards the place where she had left Nightchild, and soon she was flying west again.

The night was falling, and the darkness was getting deeper when she saw the faint, silvery gleam of the mallorn trees. The forest of Lorien was right below her, and she should start looking for a place to land. Just then there was a flash of light ahead, that quickly disappeared and then reappeared again. It was like a lantern that was by turns covered and uncovered. She immediately knew that it was a sign meant for her, and flew towards the light that was brighter and more even than any lantern.

----

A few miles ahead, Celeborn climbed down from the highest tree on the area. He was wearing his silver and mithril armour, a helmet of the same kind, and a light cape buckled with a clip on his chest. Although the moon was covered with thick clouds, an emerald in the clip was emitting moonlight which had been collected inside it for the past thousand years.

Swiftly the Elf Lord walked to the edge of an opening. He now let his buckle cast light constantly, and so guide the dark, flying shadow safely down. That silhouette of that flying beast chilled his heart even though his mind tried to assure him that this one was on the same side.

The beast landed in the middle of the opening, softly and quietly, and a rider jumped off. Celeborn put his light off and approached, and at the same time, lamps were lit at every direction. The beast jibbed uneasily, but the rider was able to hold it and calm it down while she herself warily kept a sword at hand. "Be at ease, Xena," Celeborn uttered, "Lorien is at war, but not with you."

"Greetings, Celeborn," Xena said, "I suspected it was you giving me signs."

"Yes, I was. I've been waiting for you, since you said that you would come. It's an ugly beast that you have with you."

"That's what everybody says. But you can rely on Nightchild. Just don't go too close. Now, tell me what's going on. Maybe I can help."

"I doubt that you can, as you only roughly know the Elven way of fighting."

"Maybe, but better than that I know the Orcish way of fighting. I also happen to know that the Orcs planned to attack at nightfall today."

"We have the same knowledge. I'm a little surprised that it hasn't begun yet."

"Unfortunately for them, there has been a delay. They will start moving as soon as they have elected a new leader, and that will keep them busy for a few hours. They can't afford losing a whole day, though, so I believe they'll attack in the morning."

"That is good to know, and gives us more time to prepare. But I have news, too. Another Orc army has departed from Misty Mountains two days ago, and they'll attack us from west. They think they could surprise us now that our attention is turned on Dol Guldur. However, the Lady of Lothlorien is far sighted, and wise. Half of my men are giving them a warm welcome."

"Call your men back," said Xena. "You'll need them here."

"But... that would leave us defenceless against the north and west!"

"That other army is already taken care of. Trust me, they won't bother you. Now, if you don't mind, I've had a long day, and I'd like to get some sleep before tomorrow."

"By all means, Xena, sleep well. Before that, let me still ask you one more time; are you really sure about this? That I should call all my men here and ignore the west?

"Yes, I'm sure. Wake me up when the first Orc crosses Anduin."

"The first one will die trying, but you will know about it. For tomorrow, Xena."

----

Early in the morning, the battle began. The Orcs quickly realized that the straight route over Anduin was heavily defended, and so they crossed the river a few miles upstream where there weren't any trees, and therefore no Elves. When they later entered the woods, they got a thousand arrows against them, shot out of sight from the trees. Many fell, but twice as many came to replace the dead and wounded.

The Orcs were unable to see the Elves that hid inside the foliage of the great Mallorns, but they had a powerful weapon; fire. Soon everything above shrubbery was burning, as the fire jumped from tree to tree, and the Orcs raised their war cries. However, the wind was against them, blowing out from the heart of Lorien, and so the fire didn't spread inwards towards the defenders. It didn't stop the Orcs from advancing, though, and setting more trees on fire.

Then, a mile from the rim of the forest, the attackers at last met an obstacle that stopped them. There was a seven foot high fence that encircled the whole forest, consisting of hawthorn and other tough and spiky plants grown by the Elves into a living barricade. The Elves had the skill to walk over this fence unharmed, but to the Orcs it was impenetrable. Every Elf had retreated behind this barricade, and from its cover they sent out lethal swarms of arrows towards the attackers. Bodies were piling up. The first day of battle was turning into night.

A few yards outside of the action, Xena was crouching on a talan in a tree with Celeborn. So far the Elves had been doing just fine, but there were things that made her uneasy. This fence was their best and only defence before the cities many, many miles away. If the Orcs could break through, they could really do damage.

Then her attention was attracted by an Orc who was running towards the Elves without any visible weapons, if his tower-shield wouldn't count as such. Such a run looked suspicious under those circumstances; in fact, in any circumstances. The Orc got shot in a leg, which stopped him, he fell over his shield, and died there hit by more arrows. Another Orc appeared, though, who ran to his pal, turned his body over, and took a little bag from him, in his turn starting to run towards the fence. Ten yards away, he stopped, and holding the bag he took his arm back, as if preparing to throw. However, something suddenly went through the bag, and black liquid drained to the ground.

"It's oil, Celeborn," Xena yelped, and caught her chakram as it returned. At the same time, more shielded Orcs appeared at all directions. Celeborn gave his soldiers an order to concentrate on those Orcs, but it was too late already. Elsewhere the fence had already caught fire, lit by a sack of oil thrown against the sharp spikes, and a burning arrow had finished the job. The Elves were unprepared to put out such fire, and it started to spread. More oil sacks flew against the wall, and soon it was burning all over.

For three whole hours no arrows were fired. Both sides just looked at the fence which was burning so hot that nobody could approach it. They had time to move the wounded away, and to regroup, and wait.

At last the flames had consumed most of the wood, and the Orcs and Elves could once more see each other on the opposite sides. Then the battle began for the second time, as the Orcs breached the still burning barricade, and forced the Elves in hand to hand combat.

The Orcs had a massive superiority in numbers, so they steadily forced Celeborn's Elves to move deeper to the woods. Xena fought back to back with Celeborn in the front line, their blades singing a deadly song that made most enemies stay away from them, but still they could only delay.

Then the war had another turn. From the west, new sounds of battle reached their ears, and then a few terrified Orcs ran across the battlefield. "What's going on?" Celeborn asked. "It can't be the other half of my army. They couldn't have made it here this fast."

"You're right," Xena stated, and took care of two very overwhelmed Orcs with one strike. "I believe this is a very different kind of reinforcement."

Celeborn quickly climbed up to a tree to see better, and Xena followed her with a smug grin on her face; she knew something the other didn't. Right after that, a small enemy group ran below their tree, utterly horrified, the reason for their fears on their tails. And more followed.

"Bears!" Celeborn yelped. "Dozens, hundreds of bears!"

"Not all of them are bears," Xena replied, her grin still widening.

"I know that now. They are Beornings, aren't they."

"Yes."

"But how?"

"I guess they like the Elves better than the Orcs."

With the help of Beornings it was only a matter of time for the Elves to defeat the scattered and dumbfounded Orcs. While the remains of the enemies were still hunted down, a black bear approached Xena and the Elf Lord. A few yards away, it raised itself to its back feet, there was a strange noise, and where the bear had stood there now stood a tall man.

Celeborn didn't seem surprised; he preserved his unaffected face. "Grimbeorn?" he said, "We have not met but I have heard of you. I thank you for your help."

"You must be Celeborn," said the bear man. "My father has told me about you. I'm only repaying his debt to you."

"In these cheerless times help comes from unexpected quarters. Your father was a dear friend of mine, although we only met twice. His debt is now repaid. But how come you are so far from your home?"

"Some time ago, an Orc army emerged from Misty Mountains. I tracked them for days until we finally caught up with them, and killed them to the last one. It turned out that they were on a way to attack Lorien, that's why the decision was easy when Xena asked for my help three nights ago."

"So, Xena is behind this! Well, well, I should have guessed. Yet your land is far away, and you are here. Weren't you worried for your own people?"

Grimbeorn suddenly cast his eyes down, and if possible, seemed to blush. "Well, I was a little reluctant but... she knows how to ask nicely." He glanced Xena who looked back, and then they both quickly looked away, and tried to appear casual.

There was a short time of silence while Celeborn watched the humans with amusement, before he again turned at Grimbeorn, and said to him, "So, you've saved Lorien twice in a short time. Looks like the roles have changed, and now I'm in debt to you."

"And I will call for you if I ever need your assistance," said the bear man. "But know this; debt or no debt, you can always count on me and my folks, as we are there for all those who are fighting for the better tomorrow."

There was nothing else to be said. Both the black haired man and the noble Elf were moved by the situation. They only bowed at each other with mutual respect, and then Grimbeorn turned and left. Celeborn faced Xena, and thanked her as well.

"I was only protecting my son," said the warrior dryly. "Gabrielle saw him, and what I learned from her, you have raised him well. That is one debt that I can't repay, not ever."

"That boy has brought us much joy. But this isn't over yet as you know."

"Yes," Xena admitted reluctantly, "The Orcs will regroup, and attack again."

"And we will be ready for them. We struck back their most powerful forces. They can't gather an army stronger than that. I say this because I can see that you don't know whether to leave or stay. Lorien will be alright, Xena. You're free to go where you're needed most."

"Thank you, Celeborn. I'll leave now, but I'll soon return to see my son."

"You'll be welcome, but what if you won't return?" asked Celeborn, "You're going to a war again. Anything can happen."

Xena turned away, and she was quiet for a while. At last she said, "Grimbeorn doesn't know about Solan yet. The boy has the right to know his father."

----

Xena flew directly back to Minas Tirith. There were new guards at the gate when she walked in, and they were unwilling to let her enter. She was, after all, a stranger to them, and one who claimed to be the Warrior Princess. Fortunately, Beregond happened to walk by, and he cleared the situation, letting Xena in.

"Thank you, Beregond, for explaining them that I'm not the Destroyer of Nations," Xena said.

"Thousands of warriors everywhere have arrived in Minas Tirith. Those were men from Lamedon where knowledge of you is only based on rumours about the woman that you used to be. For me, it's good to see you back, Xena," Beregond said. "Did your trip go well? You're back sooner than I expected."

"Everything's fine," Xena answered. "Has Gabrielle arrived yet?"

"Not that I know of it?"

"Believe me, you'd know if she had. Well, it shouldn't take long. Have you seen Ardabil, by the way? On the way here I saw something he might want to know."

But Ardabil already knew what information Xena had for him. The fortress on the isle of Cair Andros had been lost, and the one in Osgiliath was under attack at the very moment. It wouldn't take many days before the Orcs would run over Pelennor, and attack the walls of Minas Tirith.

Still, it surprised them both that it took only a day before Osgiliath was taken by the Orcs, and the way to Minas Tirith was open. As Xena again stood on the outmost wall, and gazed over the field at the approaching army, she at the same time peered south, hoping to see any sign of her best friend.

"Where is she? She should be here already," she mumbled.

"Who?" asked Ardabil. "Whom do you expect, Xena?"

Xena glanced him quickly. "Gabrielle. She and the Amazon army should have arrived long ago."

Ardabil rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "If the Amazons don't arrive very soon, the Orcs can isolate them from us, and slay them separately. We couldn't help them."

"They're not stupid, Ardabil. Ephiny is an experienced leader and scout. They wouldn't walk into an easy trap. And they won't try a flanked attack without contacting us first, so that we could make a combined effort."

"Contact? How? We're soon to be surrounded by thousands of bloodthirsty Orcs."

"I'm sure they'll find a way."

"Let's hope they do. And let's not forget that they still have a little time before the way to the town is closed."

But hours passed, and there was still no sign of Gabrielle and the Amazons. The Orcs took over the field, and attacked the walls. The defenders held it, though, and after the first attempt, the enemy pulled back, but only to give room for siege machinery. Soon the walls reverberated like thunder, as massive stones pummeled it, thrown by the machines. Later, when even larger machines arrived, they could throw projectiles over the first wall, and they also hurled burning barrels that exploded when they hit and broke. However, the most terrible projectiles were those that carried dead bodies, or sometimes only heads, of the slain defenders.

As the siege and battling went on at its own pace, Xena was getting more and more anxious about Gabrielle. "Where is she! By the Valar, where is she?", she cried. She had to do something to find out about her friend. And she just knew what it might be. She had played with the thought a few times during the day, and each time she had discarded it. Now her anxiety had grown too strong to be put aside any longer. It was time to go see the Palantir.

The warrior princess found it very difficult to get to the top of the White Tower without getting noticed by anyone. She tried three different approaches, and finally she succeeded, and the round, black stone lay before her on the table. She sat down, put her both hands around the stone, and concentrated her thoughts on Gabrielle.

As soon as she became absorbed into the stone, she realized something was terribly wrong. She felt like she had fallen into a void, but in this void there was a presence; and that presence was hostile. She didn't see anything, yet she felt that she was inspected, or probed mentally. "Who are you? Show yourself," she said. Somehow her words didn't seem to come out as convincing as she had meant, but they had an effect. A large, fiery eye filled her view. She fell under it, she felt naked, and she felt that she was completely open to its glare, and she knew that she couldn't keep any secrets.

"Who are you in the White Tower?" asked the Eye.

"My name is Xena." She had to answer. She didn't have a choice not to.

"I have recollection of you," the Eye continued. "Ten of your years ago. Just a blink of an eye to me. What do you do?"

"I have many skills."

"Yes, I can see you do. Oh, you're still fighting back. Trying to get free. You do realize it's pointless? Now that you've come this far, you're mine."

"Not yet, Sauron!"

"Soon you will be. Now, what do you know?" The Eye seemed to grow again, and it tightened its hold of her. She felt suffocated.

"I know the size of the Western Army. It's far less than appears on the walls. But we're expecting reinforcements."

"You speak the truth. But, how sadly, I can see that fear gnaws your mind that they will not arrive. Ah, that's not it. Someone was supposed to arrive with those reinforcements. You are worried for that someone."

"Yes."

"A friend? Who is he? She? What makes her so important to you?"

"Get out of my head!"

Until now the Eye had spoken sweetly, but now Sauron's patience for her wriggling failed, and he yelled, "Stop fighting back, stupid human. You should already know it's futile. Better men than you have failed. Now, tell me more... wait! Could you... Yes, you recognize the Ring. How clever of you, feeding me information that I already know to keep my thoughts away from the Ring. It doesn't matter. You will now tell me everything. Where is it? Who has it? Your friend? No, someone else. Who? Is it a Halfling?"

"No!" Xena yelled, and her whole body jerked because of her mental effort. Only barely she yanked herself free of his hold, and pulled her eyes from the Orb. Her heart was beating as if after the most intense battle, and for a while she leaned on the table with exhaustion.

Then she covered the stone with the cloth, and got ready to leave, when another person popped his head inside from the trap door. It was Lord Denethor. "You! Have you used my Stone without permission?" he yelled, and stormed in.

"Yes, and I'm sorry I did," Xena said, "But I needed to know..."

"What you needed doesn't interest me. Guards!" he yelled downstairs, and drew his sword. He was mad and furious. "You used my Stone!" he yelled, and attacked. "I trusted you like a daughter I never had; like I trusted my sons. And now you all have betrayed me!"

In a normal situation Xena wouldn't have had trouble dodging the old man, but now she was tired, and the space in the attic was extremely limited. Denethor's madness gave him strength that he normally didn't have, and so he managed to cut her to her thigh before she was able to trip him down with the chair, and escape through the door. Then she raised the ladders and closed the trap door before Denethor recovered, and since the door couldn't be opened from the other side, he was trapped inside at the attic.

A few moments later, the guards arrived. They saw nobody, but they heard knocking and furious yells above the ceiling. They knew about the secret room, but didn't know how to enter there, as they had been forbidden to search for the opening mechanism. Denethor gave them the instructions, and the trap door was opened. "Where is she?" he shouted as soon as he got out.

"Who?" asked the other guard.

"Xena, who else!"

"Nobody came down this way."

"Then she must still be up here."

"But she isn't. I already looked everywhere, even on the roof. And there is not much to look, and no hiding places at all."

"Then how did she get out? Or in, for that matter?"

----

A few hours afterwards, Xena was already flying above South Ithilien. Her exhaustion had been mental only, and now the high altitude coolness had refreshed her. She wondered if she could dare to return to Denethor ever again, but decided to reconsider it after she had found Gabrielle. She had a strong feeling, though, that she was still needed back in Minas Tirith.

She came near to the rim of the Amazons' forest and was starting to descend when she unexpectedly smelled smoke. She looked around, and noticed that it was rising from the direction of the Amazon village. She had planned to land at the same place where she had left Gabrielle a week earlier, but now she changed her plan without hesitation, and piloted directly towards the village.

The smell of smoke thickened as she came closer, and then the village, or what was left of it, appeared from inside the forest. It was utterly burned down. Her heart constricted with concern, she prepared to land in the center square of the village.

The tracks went north a couple of miles, and turned sharply west, descending to a ravine. At the bottom lots of grass had been stomped, and the track suddenly split up into two directions, and there were signs of a battle. She kept following one of the tracks which soon left the ravine, heading west towards the shore, and then she ran into the first dead bodies. They were tall and strong men, much like the men of Gondor, and each had one or more arrows in his chest. Some had not died until a spear or the blade of a sword had ended their pains. Xena recognized them as Corsairs from Umbar. The corpses were several days old, as their rotting flesh was beginning to smell. She wondered what was happening, as it was common with both Amazons and the people of Umbar to either bury or burn the dead, whether they were their own or their enemies'. These bodies just shouldn't be here, she thought as she went on with her tracking.

Then something alerted her, and she peered around, realizing that she was surrounded. She drew her sword and waited for the attack which came soon. On her left, three Corsairs came in, and from her right two more. They stopped at a safe distance, measuring her for a little while. "Finally one of them alone," said one of them on her left, and another from her right yelled; "Get her!"

Then they all attacked at the same time, but she backflipped away, and made sure that they didn't get a chance to try it again. Quickly she stabbed one of them while they still were surprised at her move. The next one managed to get a pair of hits through before Xena found an opening in his defenses, and she punched at his throat, thus causing him great pain and breathing difficulties. The remaining group was a hard threesome. She gave punches, she took punches, but none of those were good enough to put any of the fighters out.

However, Xena was enjoying the battle as she was controlling the events, and she was convinced that unless something unexpected happened, she would soon defeat them. Then the odds changed, as about twenty more Corsairs came from the west, and suddenly Xena had to do her all to defend herself and keep out of a clear arrow sight.

If the odds had suddenly turned against Xena, they equally suddenly turned against her opponents again. In a second the air was filled with arrows coming from the trees, and a third of the men got wounded. Then a great number of Amazons slid down, and they attacked the Corsairs with fury and skill. They took the attention away from Xena, and she was left in the middle only to watch, and for a change she enjoyed it.

She soon realized that the Amazons were following a well thought battle plan that was very uncommon to them. First of all, outnumbering the enemy three to one made things a little easier, even though the Corsairs were much taller and stronger, and could have overpowered almost any single Amazon in one-to-one combat. They attacked in pairs, separating each man from his partners, and poking with spears they forced him towards clear space. If some pair got into trouble with a stronger opponent, there was always a back up fighter who came from the line that surrounded the battle field. That line of fighters also took care of anyone trying to escape.

But there was one who coordinated the fight all the time. She was the only Amazon who didn't have a partner, and fought only when she was threatened personally, or when she ran to aid a fellow Amazon in trouble. Even then she only used her bright white staff to disable the opponent, not to kill. In the mean time, she just observed, and gave orders for the line to close up the ranks where she expected a larger escape attempt, or other kind of trouble. With such strategy, the enemy was soon slain. One by one the Amazons removed their masks, and came to greet Xena, and the one with the white staff was the first.

"Hello, Gabrielle," Xena said, addressing her words to the obvious leader of the group. The bard was now wearing an Amazon Queen outfit, and that together with her spear made her look somewhat authoritative indeed. "You pulled it pretty tight this time," Xena continued.

"Hello, Xena," said the Amazon Queen. "It looked like you would appreciate working in peace." She then bent closer, lowered her voice, and with a straight face she teased the warrior, "Besides, we were making bets about which opponent you would take out next. But then it went unfair -- unfair for us, I mean. Keeping a count was getting impossible."

Knowing that Gabrielle was teasing, Xena looked at her friend with her stern-faced Warrior look in return. Some surprised Amazons quickly reached for their weapons to be ready to protect their Queen, but the bard couldn't be fooled, and soon the friends embraced each other, laughing with relief. "I saw the village. What happened?" Xena then asked with concern.

"It looks worse than it is, actually," said Gabrielle, "But it's a long story, and my troops are tired. We've tracked that particular group of Corsairs for a whole day, trying to trap them, but failed until now. Come to our camp with us, and you'll hear it all."

Xena agreed, but she also said that the battle was heating up in Minas Tirith, and she had to hurry back as soon as possible.

The Amazons walked along into ever thickening forest, and Xena came behind them with Gabrielle. They moved like shadows, making not the smallest sound, in a way only the Amazons could manage in a forest, if not taking the Hobbits into account. There might still be enemies around, even if scattered and lost, and they wanted to keep their hideout secret.

The Amazons' refugee camp was located in a long gorge that once had cleaved a hill in half. It was not a cozy place, but it could be easily defended. The hill tops gave a good view all around, so that the enemy had a very difficult job trying to take them by surprise. After a narrow and camouflaged entrance the gorge widened up a little but it was mostly less than thirty feet wide. On both sides by the walls lay shelters; low, simple constructions made of poles, leather, and fir branches. On the first shelters after the entrance dwelled the best fighters and the fastest runners, then came the mediocre fighters, and after them, in the middle were those who were either too young or too old to fight. Their job was to nurse the wounded resting among them, and also take care of everyday matters. In the very core of the hill was a widening that was used for counsel meetings, and which also held shacks for the Amazon Queen and her closest in command, namely Ephiny, Solari, and Eponin. On the other side of the widening and towards the other exit, the gorge was again filled with the wounded and old at first, then with fighters, so that the elite forces guarded both entrances.

When they passed the first fighter shelters, Xena saw that most of them were unoccupied, until Gabrielle's group took them over. Gabrielle greeted them all, one by one, thanking them for a good fight, before she went on towards the core. On the way, however, she paused constantly to check the wounded, or to pour faith into her people. At last they arrived at her shack, and sat on a bench outside, beside the door. At last they had a moment for themselves, and time to greet each other properly.

"What exactly is going on?" Xena asked after a while.

And Gabrielle answered. "For a few days we've been hunting for the Corsairs of Umbar. They're seafarers, but since we sank their ships, they're now totally lost in the forest."

"How many?" Xena felt a constriction around her heart again.

"Corsairs? Three, four times more than us, I believe," Gabrielle said, and gave a nod to someone nearby.

Twenty yards away, a young girl had been keeping a pot on fire, and now she noticed them. She took two bowls, filled them with soup from the pot, and brought them to Xena and Gabrielle. Her name was Maribeth, and she was very excited when introduced to Xena. She had the most beautiful face, but she had covered her legs with a long skirt, and walked awkwardly with a severe limp.

"Here you are, Gabrielle," the girl said, as she gave her queen a bowl. "Was it a good fight today?"

"Yes, Maribeth, it was," Gabrielle answered, "but we got some help from Xena. Mmm, this is good soup."

"Thank you. Not too much garlic, I hope?"

"It's just perfect. What is it, by the way?"

"For you, it's the best part. Mumak heart."

"Really? It doesn't taste like that. But it is very good," Gabrielle commented, and then paused. "Any word from Ephiny?"

"Nothing since Solari came back at noon, just to leave soon again with almost every warrior she could get."

"Hmm, sounds like trouble, or else they had something in mind?"

"Yeah, something big. She was looking for you, too, but you hadn't returned yet. I think Eponin went with her as well."

"Maybe they ran into a larger group of Corsairs..."

Then a whistle from the ridge high above made them look up. "It's Ephiny and the others. They're coming back," yelled a hill top guard.

"I guess we will soon find out," Xena said, ending the speculation.

They finished their meal, taking their time. Cheerful Amazon warriors passed them, and with them, in the middle of the host came Ephiny with Solari, and Eponin who had been cut in the arm. The wound was not bad, though, it would only make her stronger, she would say. Ephiny recognized Xena's tall form as soon as she came to the opening, and took a few running steps towards the warrior princess. Then she noticed Gabrielle standing by Xena's side, as she had expected, and yelled, "Victory!". And the choir of the warriors that had arrived with her, responded with the same yell.

Ephiny came closer, and hugged her queen and good friend. "We've won, Gabrielle!" she said again, and her smile was all over to her ears. "Xena! I got word that you were here as well," she said to the tall warrior, clasping hands with her.

"We won, Ephiny? Already?" Gabrielle then asked with confusion. "You didn't try to take all of the West Group at once? I thought we agreed that they're too strong to be taken as a whole."

"My Queen, if they walk right into a trap, then shouldn't I use it to our advantage? It was a clean and perfectly safe victory."

Gabrielle laughed shortly. "I would doubt it if I heard it from anyone else but you. Good job, Ephiny!" Then her gaze caught a pair of young women who passed them within the last of the victorious army, but who were not taking part to the cheering. In fact, they looked miserable. "What's wrong with them?" she asked Ephiny, but Eponin answered.

"Neela saved my life today, and made her first kill. I guess it wasn't as easy as she had expected," said the Amazon warrior.

"Neela!" Gabrielle called as the girl walked by. Neela stopped, and waited for her to come closer. "Are you all right?"

"I'll survive," said Neela bravely, but she looked very upset, barely able to stand as Oruro had to support her.

"Come here," Gabrielle said, and led the girls aside to the bench at her shack. They sat, and holding Neela tenderly she asked what had happened.

Neela had an unusual problem of not finding words to say, and so it was Oruro who explained. "We were on the line led by Eponin. We shouldn't have been there at all. Ephiny told us to keep watch but we managed to convince Eponin to let us into the line. The fight begun, and it seemed to go so well that the line had nothing to do.

Neela interrupted, saying, "It was all my fault. I was so eager to fight." Then she was quiet again, and Oruro continued.

"We sneaked closer when some Corsairs tried to break away, running directly towards us. They were so big, so strong... Eponin and the others came to aid us in the very last second. She saved me from a Corsair, but he cut her, disarmed her, and then he tripped her down."

Neela couldn't keep silent any more when it came to her deeds. "I didn't think anything when I slashed him with my sword. He fell down, and I moved to finish him. But... his helmet had fallen off... and he was so young and scared when he realized that he was dying. I held my sword on his throat, looking at his deep, teary eyes, and I couldn't kill him. I... I had never thought that an enemy could be a human like me... but this man was. I had never seen eyes so blue, so beautiful. He wasn't a bad man."

The girl cried a few tears. She was so moved that it took her a great effort to continue. "He could only move his left arm, and with that he grasped my sword, even though it was sharp and it hurt his hand which began to bleed. He set the point of the sword to his chest, upon heart, and pleaded with me to push it through. I guess he was in great pain, and knew that he was fatally wounded already. But I couldn't do it. I just... Then someone was flung at me from behind, and I fell forward with my weapon. He... died."

"So it was basically an accident."

"But I slashed him first so badly that he would have died anyway! I killed him, and nothing can take that away."

Gabrielle looked at the youngster with great sympathy. "You're right. What's done is done. You're a good person, Neela. The fact that you feel so strongly about this proves it. Don't forget that, and you will get through. I can't really give you much better advice."

"But the pain! Will it ever go away?"

"I don't know. But I know this; it will get easier in time. Yet even Xena still sees nightmares of her kills. It may feel overwhelming at the moment, but remember that you don't have to bear it all alone. You have Oruro to talk to, and I suggest you use that chance. If you need another friend, you can count on Eponin who'll gladly tell you that her wound is just a scratch, and also Ephiny. You may think that she treated you unfairly, but she did it because she only wanted to protect you. She doesn't admit it but she loves you very much. And you can always come talk to me, of course."

"And Xena?"

"Hey, don't push your luck," Gabrielle said, and managed to lure a faint smile out of the young Amazon.

Neela brushed the tears away, sniffed, laughed shortly, and said, "Some Amazon, huh? What kind of an Amazon will I become if I can't kill a man without crying?"

"A very good Amazon, Neela. The very best kind."

Xena looked at her companion comfort the young girls, and a realization hit her. At that very moment, Gabrielle looked more an Amazon Queen than ever before. It had not been the way she had fought, and led the fight earlier. It had not been the plan that had been taken through with cleverness that Xena was just starting to understand. It was the way Gabrielle took care of her people; how she felt honest concern about them. An Amazon Queen in talks and deeds. Xena couldn't have been more proud of her friend.

Gabrielle sent Neela and Oruro away, and came back to Xena and Ephiny. "Let me get this straight, Ephiny," Xena said, "The Corsairs attacked you. You abandoned your village and let them burn it down while you were sinking their fleet so that they couldn't travel on to attack Gondor. You got them scattered around the forest and then you hunted them down one by one."

"That's right, Xena," Ephiny confirmed.

"Good plan, even if it cost you the village, and quite an accomplishment for someone who's been a Queen for only a week," Xena continued, turning to Gabrielle.

"Hey, I had little to do with all this. Just going with the flow," the bard protested.

"Ha!" yelped Ephiny, "You're underestimating your influence, Gabrielle. We could never have done all this without you."

"But... I didn't know what to do... or what was happening!"

"And that's why you asked questions -- all the right questions at the right time. Then you were our inspiration and instructor while the plan was perfected. You had the knowledge how to sink their ships. Yes, Gabrielle, this is your victory. Xena, don't let this young woman fool you. She's becoming serious competition to you."

"Is that right?" Xena asked, grinning at her best friend who shyly looked down and away, blushing. "First a fighter and now a strategist. I bet that if I taught you the pressure points, you would soon be flying with them. Maybe I should start writing down your adventures."

"Stop teasing me, Xena!" The bard showed an angry face, but deep inside she was flattered. Getting recognized by Xena wasn't an everyday thing. However, she couldn't enjoy this attention for very long as right then, Amazon drums were starting up the beat of a triumph party. A large group of Amazons led by Solari were approaching the square, gathering around the Queen, and the space was quickly getting tight. "Come, we must celebrate this victory," Solari said, grasping Gabrielle of her shoulder, and wanting to take her out of the gorge.

"Not just yet," Xena said, and waved to silence the crowd. All of a sudden, a dead silence fell upon them. Everybody looked at Xena, and she felt more than guilty for what she was to say. "I'm sure Gabrielle has told you about the situation in the north. Well, it's turned worse since then. I had counted a great deal on Amazons, and now it may be too late."

"I'm sorry, Xena," said Gabrielle, "I forgot all that."

"No, don't be sorry. You did well. If that fleet had gotten to Minas Tirith, even a thousand Amazons in the city wouldn't have been much help. But now you all must hurry, or soon there will be nothing left to defend."

The Amazons had been so happy only a moment ago, now their spirits had sunk. Only Ephiny kept her head up, staring at Xena defiantly. Everybody was silent until Ephiny spoke, "Gabrielle, you're still our Queen. What do you say?"

"I'm afraid Xena is right," said the bard, and thus confirmed what everyone had already known; that Xena was always right. She climbed on a bench to be heard better, and continued with a dejected voice. "I'm the Queen of Amazons; your Queen, and I'm expected to give you an order to go sacrifice your lives for the greater good." She paused, gazing over the listeners, and smiling subtly. "I can't give you that order. Not to such great people like you, not right after a battle like we just had. Nevertheless, Gondor needs us; she needs us desperately, and we must help her. I will go, and those who come to this war with me, will do it with free will, by her own choice. Not many of those will be coming back. Nobody will be thought less of if she chooses to stay behind."

Ephiny looked at Gabrielle, and grinned. What a speech it had been! Secretly she glanced around, and her grin widened as she saw determination on faces that a moment before had been depressed. But it was not yet over. One wrong word could still turn it around. The unspoken deal was lacking a seal, and when she happened to look at Xena who stared tightly at her, and arching an eye brow, she realized that she was expected to seal it. "Amazons!" she yelled, and jumped beside Gabrielle, "Will you follow you your Queen? Step forward, and raise you hands now!" While she yelled that, she clasped her right hand to a fist, and raised it up.

And behold! The Amazons around them raised their fists, and let out a war cry, even those who knew that they couldn't go along for one reason or another. It was so incredible that Gabrielle couldn't help being moved to tears. While the drums awoke into life again as Ephiny agitated the crowd to even wilder ecstasy, Xena pulled the bard closer, and said something to her ear.

Gabrielle had some trouble silencing the crowd so that she could speak again. "There's been a change of plans already, and we haven't even made plans yet. I'm flying ahead with Xena, and we'll leave as soon as possible. Ephiny will make the arrangements for the rest. Those who can will leave tomorrow morning."

After that, they said quick goodbyes, Gabrielle picked up her gear, and then they left. Ephiny escorted them for a couple of miles, and Xena gave her instructions how to get to Minas Tirith, and information about what to expect at the battle field. Then Ephiny turned back, and the two were alone in the forest.

----

"I don't like the way he looks at me," Gabrielle said at a safe distance from Nightchild. "I think he hates me."

"He doesn't hate you, Gabrielle," Xena answered while mounting on her steed. "He just likes to intimidate you as long as you give him a chance. Just hop on." Gabrielle did, a little reluctantly, but she did it anyway, and then Nightchild took off. In a short while the sun was covered with black clouds. Xena wanted to fly above them, and they gathered more height, flying through the clouds. The clouds smelled terrible, making them feel sick, but after they got above them and back to the sun, they soon got better.

Up there the air was clear and beautiful. The dark clouds were like a soft floor that gave Gabrielle false sense of security; that falling down would be not lethal but an interesting experience, and for the next few hours she actually enjoyed flying. Snow topped mountains made it easy to find the right direction as there weren't any distractions. On their right the line of the highest peaks of the Mountains of Shadow warned them from straying into Mordor. Far ahead in the north, Mount Mindolluin marked the eastern end of the White Mountains as the highest mountain in sight. Somewhere in the gap between it and the three distinctive peaks of Emyn Arnen lay their target, the city of Minas Tirith.

When they were at the gap, Xena pulled the reins, turning the beast into a dive. Holding their breaths they fell into the clouds which were here, closer to Mordor, thicker and made up of stronger fumes. Just when it seemed to Gabrielle that she couldn't hold her breath any longer, they came through, and the city of Minas Tirith was right under them. Xena sighed for relief as she saw it. It was still holding on. She was not late.

Xena flew around above the city, making observations. There were some fires burning on the first and second circles, but nothing big. The outmost wall had been taking damage, but it was too strong to be broken all together, and it still gave the same protection as in the beginning. Two siege towers at the south wall were burning, one had collapsed completely. Outside the city, the whole Pelennor was swarming with Orcs. Only the closest troops were in battle readiness, the rest had put up camp fires further away.

But what was that thing right outside the main gate? She flew closer to see better, and right then there was a crash so loud that even she could hear it high up there, as the great gate was rammed. She let out a desperate howl, as she now flew directly at the gate, and saw a Nazgul Lord enter the city.

But the Ringwraith stopped at the broken doorway, confronted by a force that he couldn't repel. Bright starlight blazed behind the Wraith's silhouette, and as Xena came still closer, she saw that it emerged from a staff held by an old, bearded man with a white, pointy hat.

"It's Gandalf, Gabrielle," Xena yelled, "Gandalf is here! We still have hope."

If Gandalf's appearance raised Xena's spirit, it also had an affect on the city defenders. Being temporarily paralyzed by the Nazgul they now gained the courage to return to the walls. Among the first was brave Ardabil who had been wounded by three arrows, but still he kept fighting. He ran on the wall, pulling his men up, and yelling them not to give up. He came to the walkway above the gate, and looked towards the battle field. The first thing he saw was another beast of the Ringwraiths, flying right at him. Without hesitation he wrenched a bow from a dead warrior who was lying against the wall, his last arrow still in his hands, and fired hastily.

Xena almost fell off as Nightchild suddenly stopped in the air, and screamed with pain. Gabrielle had been even less prepared for the change of course than Xena, and the only thing that saved her was sitting behind the warrior, arms wrapped tightly around Xena's waist. The beast wriggled in the air, trying to get away from the fortress, and struggling against falling, and the women struggled to hang on. For a while it seemed that Nightchild was going to get enough speed to be able to fly decently again, when he suddenly just lost all the altitude and flopped down on a little hill in the middle of an Orcs' camping area. Both of the women fell off its back, and rolled halfway down the hill side.

Screaming horribly, the beast got to his feet, and flapped his wings with panic. Now that the extra weight was lost, he was able to take off, and fly unsteadily towards east, an arrow still sticking out of his left wing.

"Nightchild! Come back! Don't leave us!" Gabrielle yelled, but the beast was gone. She ran to Xena who had picked up her spear which had slipped from her hands at the fall.

"Looks like we're on our own now, Gabrielle," said Xena with a grim face, tossing the spear at her friend. She looked around, and drew her sword. The Orcs were slowly recovering from their surprise that the crash landing had caused.

"Xena, what do we do?" asked Gabrielle desperately as the foes were closing in.

"We'll take out as many of them as we can. You cover me, I'll cover you. And no holding back! For once you don't have to be afraid of hurting your opponents. Just strike anything that moves with all you've got," Xena answered, and then the fight was on.

If the Orcs had expected a quick and easy victory, they couldn't have been more wrong. The first five Orcs rushed recklessly at them. Three of them headed at Xena, who took a step aside to dodge a mace of the first Orc, while she thrust her sword into the second Orc's chest. She kicked the first Orc in the stomach to get him to bend over, and took hold of him as she flipped over his back and kicked the third Orc in the skull. Then she gripped the second Orc's neck, and twisted backwards, breaking it.

Meanwhile, the other two Orcs attacked Gabrielle with their maces. She blocked them both with her spear, then took a step back, and swung her weapon in an arc that struck them both down. The third Orc, kicked by Xena, fell at her feet, so she spun the spear, and unhesitatingly thrust it into the Orc's back. Then she did the same thing with the fourth Orc as Xena finished the fifth Orc with a sword loaned from the second one.

No time to take breath, no time to let the guard down for a second, as the Orcs kept coming. Gabrielle quickly realized that in this battle she could manage as well as Xena, and that Xena understood it too. They soon learned how many opponents each of them could take on her own, and how to use each other's skills to their common advantage. They learned to move so that they had always clear ground under their feet, while the Orcs were tottering over dead bodies, and how to make the opponents pack together so that only few could actually attack.

Although she was horrified with the situation, Gabrielle felt it most uplifting to be able to fight at the same level together with Xena. She felt that she had never learned so much in so little time. She started to enjoy the battle, seeing how the blades of her spear spread death and terror among the enemy, with the same efficiency as Xena's chakram did.

The bard glanced Xena, and saw her striking down another enemy. The Orcs had completely encircled them, and the space was running out. She took a grip from the very end of her spear, and swung it in a deadly arc against the closing Orcs. Three got wounded. She spun around, and did the same again. Two more went down. She heard Xena's call, and turned around. If the Warrior Princess tells to jump, then the Bard jumps. She did so, and Xena took a grip of her ankles, starting to spin her around, and around, and around. She still had the Spear of Alatariel in her hands, and it sowed terrible destruction among the Orcs.

Yet how long could they sustain, the bard wondered, as Xena let her down. She had bought them valuable time to take breath, and look around a little, as after that demonstration the Orcs were much more careful. They kept their distance until some of them gained enough courage, and started the attacks again. The bard was now opposed to five large Orcs with morning stars and heavy maces, and they took all of her attention. She evaded the first strike, and tumbled away, blocked another mace, and swept at the attackers legs. And then, an enormous shadow lay upon her, and at the same time, her opponents fled with terror. "Nightchild?" she yelped with relief, recognizing the monster that landed behind her. "Thank the Valar, you're back."

"Look out, Gabrielle! That's not..." Xena yelled, but her warning came too late. The beast turned about, and swung its tail that hit Gabrielle with full force. Two spikes dug into her flesh, and one of them went all the way through, coming out under her shoulder blade. A surprised expression on her face, the bard looked at the tail, and at the pair of spikes that went into her chest, but she didn't feel any pain. She looked at Xena, and Xena looked back at her, and their eyes were locked at each other's.

Xena watched, petrified with shock, as the beast lifted Gabrielle up with its tail, and tossed her away like a rag doll. She wanted to go after her, but the beast now turned, covering her view to the bard. Only then Xena became aware of the Rider. He was none other than Witchking himself, the head of Nazguls. He rode a winged beast similar to Xena's, but larger, darker, and meaner.

Witchking restrained his steed, and didn't approach to attack. Instead he leaned forward, and tilted his head. Then he said, "I know you! You were on Weathertop with that Wizard. I was drawn to you by the darkness inside you. Yes, I can still see it. You have such a potential to be something great. What's you name, mortal?"

"My name is Xena."

"Well, Xena, I can help you to reach your full potential." He talked with his sweetest voice. "You see, we are only eight at the moment. One of my fellow Riders was destroyed some time ago. He was wielding this ring that gave him great power, but not great enough to be uninjurable. I now offer this gift to you."

"And it would turn me into a mindless servant like you? No, thank you."

"Maybe not, maybe not. Let me tell you a secret." He leaned forward, and lowered his voice. "The Dark Lord is weak. He barely has power to keep his form. A strong-minded person might be able to maintain his or her will. Don't you want to rise up against Him? With the power in this ring you could just succeed. You could rule instead of Him. You could stop this war. Wouldn't you want to do that? All you need to do is accept the ring."

"And why would you give it to me if it's that powerful. You're on the enemy's side."

"Because I would kill him myself if I could, but I'm already too deep to oppose Him. I can give you this weapon now that his Eye is looking away. Soon he'll see me, and then I will have to fight you again. So think quickly!" Xena looked up at the dark rider who reached his hand out, holding the ring. "Take it, and you can go up against the Dark Lord, if you wish. You can revenge the death of your little friend, if you wish. You would have a slim chance to win."

It was tempting, more tempting than she was prepared to admit. Witchking threw the ring through air to her, and she caught it by instinct. She held the ring made of silver with a large ruby attached to it on her palm, but then dropped it down, and raised her gaze at the faceless Rider.

"Thanks for the offer, but I've already got a ring of my own," she said, and slowly removed the chakram from her belt.

But the Lord of the Nazguls laughed gruesomely. "You are using THAT weapon against me?"

"What's so funny about that?" Xena spat between her teeth.

"You don't know? Well, this situation humours me so that maybe I'll tell you. It's a work of my Master, the Dark Lord Sauron, made before there were any Rings."

"You're lying," Xena spat, "Galadriel already told me the truth."

The Ringwraith chuckled. "Made by Elves, Dwarves, and Men? Is that what she told you? And who told the Men how to refine the metal, or the Dwarves how to forge it to a weapon. Who taught the Elven Smiths the spell to be bound to it? No, my friend, this weapon can't harm me, as it is forbidden from doing so!"

Xena hesitated only a moment. Then she shrugged the doubts away, gritted her teeth together, and raised her chakram, instantly letting it fly at her opponent. The weapon screamed, but Witchking simply raised an open hand against it. At the same time, his steed jerked, frightened by Xena's strange, whirling weapon, and started to pull back. The chakram hit Witchking's hand without making the smallest scratch, bounced away, and bit into the winged beast's throat that accidentally got into way, thereby very effectively cutting the flow of blood to its brain.

The beast wavered for a while, and then came heavily down. Its rider was close to getting buried under the huge mass, but in the last second he jumped off, and tumbled clear. He was mad now, mad with rage. He grabbed the mace that he had dropped on falling, and attacked Xena who was already approaching.

As soon as Xena saw his great mace, she realized that her sword couldn't give her enough protection. The ground was covered with battle gear of dead Orcs, though, and she picked up a buckle shield. With that in her left hand she let out her battle cry, and flipped into attack.

But the cry died suddenly midair. Witchking waved his mace, and although her shield blocked the hit, she was still thrown back by the mere force. She fell hard, but got soon to her knees, and when she saw that he was upon her again, she quickly thrust her sword forward towards his guts. Unfortunately, he hit with the mace at the same time, and the two weapons clashed. But such strikes weren't meant to be taken like that, and so her sword flew out of her grip, and shattered in several pieces.

That didn't even slow him down. His third strike was a terrible vertical blow that she barely managed to block by lifting her shield against it. The impact was so terrible that she didn't even feel it, only heard the sound of the shield breaking, and a snap that told her that her arm broke as well.

Witchking watched his opponent fall back and lie still. She wasn't dead yet, but soon he would correct that flaw. He stepped closer, bent towards her, and looked at her. What a waste of talent, he thought. He lifted his mace up and prepared for the killing stroke.

Then a crackle made him turn around, barely in time to evade a silvery spear flung at him, together with a war cry. "You! You again," he said, "You were on Weathertop as well. For the second time you interfere me. Now I'll make sure it won't happen again." And he started to advance towards the bard, who retreated limping her right leg. Blood had coloured the left side of her chest red, and her left hand hung limp and powerless. He raised his mace to strike her dead, when she flashed him a charming smile, which surprised and stopped him. "You... don't fear me?"

"No, I don't," said Gabrielle, and when he was again about to hit, she continued, "Don't you wanna know, why?"

Once again the hammer stopped in an upright position, and Witchking waited suspiciously for the explanation.

"Maybe I've met you guys too many times," the obnoxious girl said. "Maybe it's given me immunity of a kind. But I just realized something else." She paused, and watched right into his red, glowing eyes, without a hint of fear. "I realized that you can't hurt me."

"What? Of course I can..."

"No, you can't," she said, and paused again.

Witchking waited for her to continue, but soon he realized that she wasn't going to do so before he would ask her to. Damn that irritating little pest! He would show her, but... He was trying to fight against his itch, and almost succeeded, but then he couldn't but let her win. What would it matter, anyway, as soon she would be dead? So he asked the question that she had been expecting; "Why? Why can't I hurt you?"

"Because you've forgotten something."

Suddenly, the weapon in Witchking's hand felt heavy, as his inhuman mind sensed that the young woman spoke the truth. He had forgotten something, but what it was? Then it came to him. He swung quickly around, but it was too late. A white Elven spear penetrated his armor in the front like it was paper. The Lord of Nazguls cried out in pain that was a thousand times worse than any that he had caused to his victims.

The weapon had found its target, but Xena didn't let go. She wanted to make sure, and so she pushed it deeper, and deeper, and also upwards. She didn't care about her broken arm. She didn't care about the cold, black flame that burst out of the wound in Witchking's chest, burning the spear, and burning her. She just pushed on, until there was nothing more than an empty cloak and chain mail hanging on the head of the nearly consumed spear. Black smoke rose up from those remains, and drifted north with the wind.

Then the last bit of Xena's power drained out, and she fell down before her best friend's feet. "It's so cold, Gabrielle," she said. "I didn't believe it could be so cold."

"I know," her friend answered with experience. Totally worn out herself she lay down at Xena's side, and put her head on Xena's chest, and the warrior curled her arm around the bard's neck. Then Gabrielle just fainted in exhaustion and blood loss. Xena's last image was an Orc with a war hammer, coming to perform the final strike, before she passed out as well.

But the Orc never got a chance to hit. Before that, he was killed by a throwing knife into his throat, and as if ensuring that he wouldn't rise up, a light brown mare in full battle armor crushed his head with her hooves. Then the mare just stood there, blowing steam from her nostrils, and in a stance that said; "This is my mistress. Go away, or die." Soon after that, an unstoppable wave of Rohirrim swept the Orcs from around the hill.