"It was hardly two hundred of them," Xena interrupted the speaker.

"Well it depends on how one counts them," Gabrielle retorted, a bit embarrassed. Then her papers and pens flew all over as she sprang up. "Xena! You're back!" Xena felt another person fling herself to her neck and hug her. Xena wanted to return the hug, but she was unable to move her left arm, and the other was stuck under Gabrielle.

"It's good to be back," the warrior answered, and slowly she opened her eyes. Light struck them painfully, and it took her a while to get used to it, and then another while before she could see any shapes.

"How do you feel?" Gabrielle asked.

"Mostly numb. You're a little blurry at the moment," Xena said, and she could just make out that Gabrielle smiled at her. "Where am I?"

"In Minas Tirith at the Houses of Healing. No, don't try to get up! You must rest. You've had the roughest of times lately."

"But I should be outside, and help them fight in the war."

"Xena, there is no war any more."

"There isn't? Is it over? Did we... win?"

"No, it's not over yet. It just went elsewhere."

"Went elsewhere! Just how long was I out?"

"Ten days."

"Oh! That long." Xena relaxed, and took a few deep breaths. "What's wrong with my arm? I can't move it."

"The healer put a splint on it. Witch-king broke it when you fought."

"Witch-king? Hmm, yes. I remember now." While her memory about the fight came back to Xena, she took a closer look at her friend, and saw that under her cape Gabrielle wore bandages that went around all of her upper torso and her left arm. "So, how are you doing?"

"Better than you yesterday. Thanks for asking," Gabrielle answered. "Three fractured ribs on either sides, an aching leg, and a broken clavicle. I've been worse. It only hurts when I breathe. But it's much better now as the healers do an amazing job. But with what happened to you, your broken arm was the least of your worries. You touched a Ringwraith, but he touched you deeper with his cursed flame. I was really worried about you. We all were. Without Strider's healer skills you would be dead, if not something worse."

"Strider! Is he here? Is Thorongil here?"

"He was. Now he's in the war again. But he's now called Aragorn. And there's one thing about him that you won't believe."

"What's that?"

"That if he ever returns from Mordor, he'll take the throne of Gondor as the rightful king. It's only a rumor, but quite a strong one!"

"Well, of course he's the King. If you're the Queen of Amazons then anything's possible."

"Hey!"

"Okay, seriously. This is too much information in too little time. Start from the beginning, and tell me everything that has happened."

But Gabrielle didn't get the story started before there was an interruption. A young lad, so it seemed, bolted in. "Gabrielle! Gabrielle, a message! A message from Aragorn!" He noticed Xena awake, and halted immediately. Then his face turned into a broad smile. "Hullo, there, lady Xena. It's good to see you up at last," he said, and bowed deeply.

"Xena, this is master Meriadoc Brandybuck from Shire," Gabrielle introduced.

"Hullo, master Brandybuck," Xena greeted with amusement, "Gee, a Hobbit. You've come a long road from home."

"Just call me Merry as everyone else does," the Hobbit laughed. "And I'm no master, just a humble knight of Rohan. Yes, I've traveled farther than any of my kin before me, save perhaps my three best friends. It's been a rocky road -- too rocky for a little Hobbit, some would say -- but I wouldn't give away a single day."

"Alright, Merry. What message did you have that was so important?"

"Oh, that. I was at the garden with Lord Faramir when a homing pigeon arrived. It happened just an hour ago. It was a very short note, and it said, 'The Black Tower has fallen'."

"Black Tower!" Xena yelped. Then her vision went momentarily blank, and she realized that her condition didn't quite allow quick movements. "It's Sauron's place. Does this mean that it's over?"

"That's what I asked from master Faramir," Merry answered. "He didn't say one thing or another, and I suspect that he didn't want to raise any false hopes until complete information arrives. But he couldn't cover his excitement."

"I'm sure it means that we defeated Sauron, and the war is over," said Gabrielle. "What else could it be?"

"We'll see about that," Xena answered. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go back to sleep." For the last minute she had been fighting against fainting, now the fatigue felt overwhelming.

"That's a good idea," said Gabrielle, "I think I'll join you. This has been the longest while that I've been up, and it has made me weary. Merry, will you come and awake us if more news arrive?"

"Oh, of course," said the cheery Hobbit, "You two sleep well. From what I've heard, you've earnt it."

----

The next time that Xena woke up it was dark around her, as it was night. A few of oil lamps by the wall cast dim light into the room. At first she didn't know where she was, but then her memory came back. By an instinct she looked at her left, and saw Gabrielle sleeping in the bed next to her, breathing regularly. The young woman looked not like her peaceful self, as her face was in a slight twist of distress. Poor girl,, Xena thought, feeling sorry for her.

The warrior raised her head up a bit to see better. There was an empty bed behind the bard, and in the bed behind it, slept a man with his back turned towards her. On the other side of the room, in the first bed lay a tall, bearded man, silently wailing for his pains, even though he was deeply asleep as well. The next bed was empty again, and in the next one a very small figure, no larger than a child, and Xena suspected he was Merry the Hobbit whom she had met earlier.

In the last bed a pale and beautiful woman was having a peaceful looking dream. Xena stretched her head, and tried to peer through the dimness, as there was something familiar with the woman. She completely missed how Gabrielle's breathing changed -- a thing that she normally would notice immediately -- and started as the younger woman soon spoke to her.

"Slept enough, Xena?" the bard whispered so that the other patients' sleep wouldn't be disturbed.

"Oh, yeah," Xena answered, quickly glancing at her friend, and covering her surprise. They were both quiet for a while, until Xena asked, "How did we get out alive?"

"It's somewhat unclear to me, too," Gabrielle responded. "Apparently, the Riders of Rohan arrived in the very last minute and saved us, though I've heard something about a rider who rode with the them, yet he wasn't one of them. And he would have gotten to us first, way before the others."

"A lone rider? And no idea who he was?"

"No. I was mostly unconscious like you for the first few days, and now he's probably gone again, if he isn't dead. I didn't think it was important."

"It isn't, I just thought it would be nice to thank him."

"Yes, you're right. That would be the right thing to do," said Gabrielle, and paused. "Xena," she then continued shyly, "have you ever had a slumber party?"

"What!?" Xena yelped, almost too loudly, and continued with less volume, "We're fatally wounded in a hospital and you're thinking about a slumber party?"

The bard chuckled, then she coughed and whinged, as her chest hurt. "Make room, I'm coming over," she then whispered, and before Xena could protest, she had picked up her blanket, taken the few steps to Xena's bed, and then she was getting settled beside the warrior. Finding a comfortable position for both of them on the narrow bed took a few seconds more than expected, as there was always some aching body part that was in the way.

"Now what?" Xena asked as the bard had settled down.

"Since pillow fights are out of question, we just talk all the night until we're too tired, and then we go to sleep."

"And all of that you couldn't do in your own bed because...?" The warrior intentionally left the sentence unfinished.

"...because it's more fun like this."

"Okay, then. Well? It's your party, what shall we talk about?"

"Oh, girls' stuff; clothes, make-up, boys..."

"Battle axe designs?"

"But naturally!"

"This is my kind of party. But before that, who's the woman? She looks familiar."

Gabrielle turned a little so that she could see the figure that Xena meant, though she know it quite well without looking. "She's Eowyn. You know, Eomer's sister."

"Oh, really? She's changed since I last saw her."

"Yes, she has. We had a long talk on the other day. She's a good sport. She came to the battle in disguise with the Riders and Rohan, and nobody knew it was her. Amazing. Oh, wanna hear a gossip? I think she has something going on with Faramir." The young bard chuckled.

"Something going on? Hmm, they're each other's type, that's for sure," Xena said, then grinned mischievously. "You on the other hand, you must be impatiently waiting for Eomer to come to visit his sister."

"Oh, please, Xena," Gabrielle bemoaned. "Let's not go there."

"Didn't you just say that you want to talk about boys?"

"Yes, but... Okay, with one condition. When we're done with Eomer, we'll start about your boyfriends. Grimbeorn, for instance."

"Why don't we go back to battle axes," Xena grunted with inconvenience.

As the men were now a forbidden subject, the discussion turned to the events that Xena was not aware of, and speculations by Gabrielle about what was yet to come. As usual, the bard did most of the talking, except on the matter of Solan. As they talked, drowsily and quietly, momentarily wavering between awareness and sleep, morning dawned, and the sun shone inside through the window between their beds.

That was when Xena suddenly interrupted Gabrielle's talk with a squeeze on her shoulder, and hushed her silent. "Something passed by the window," the warrior answered when Gabrielle asked what it was. Then they both heard a distinctive scratch, as a twig was pushed into the gap in the window frame. Xena was looking around, searching for a weapon, just in case. It was unlikely that it would be an enemy, but it never hurt to be more careful than necessary.

"Under your pillow," Gabrielle whispered, knowing what was on Xena's mind. The intruder got the bolts open, and carefully pulled out the glass. Xena's right hand curled back under her pillow, and clenched around her chakram which some friendly person had kindly managed to deliver there past the watchful eyes of the healers. While a shadow completely covered the window, the women pretended to be asleep.

"Psst," said the intruder, and hopped softly inside. "Gabrielle? Xena? Are you awake?"

"Ephiny!" Gabrielle yelped, and sprang to her feet to give her friend a hug.

"Hi, Gabrielle. I came as soon as I heard that Xena was awake."

"You're lucky you didn't get yourself killed sneaking in like that," Xena announced. Her voice had a tone of a serious warning, yet her smirk revealed a different message.

"I didn't have a choice," said Ephiny, "That old hag has a thick skull. Yes, I'm talking about Ioreth, the medicine woman. For a half an hour I persuaded her to let me in to see my Queen, but she insisted that you must rest and that I'd be allowed to see you later when you're awake, IF you let me. Valar know how long that would have taken."

"You've never been too patient with things like that, have you, Ephiny," said Gabrielle, smiling. "What about the Amazons? Are they alright?"

Ephiny chortled. "You really are something, Gabrielle. That was the exact question that you asked me when I came to see you here four days ago, first thing when we had arrived. You were hardly strong enough to stay awake, and the first thing in your mind was the concern of the Amazons."

"Sorry, Ephiny. I know they -- you -- can take care of yourselves."

"No, no, I didn't mean it like that. It's really wonderful of you. And yes, they are alright." Ephiny realized that Xena wasn't fully aware of the happenings yet, and she explained a little further. "When we arrived, the battles had ceased, and the host of the west was already far away. There wasn't much that we could do but to wait in the town. Then someone realized that we are people of the woods, and so we were assigned to scout the nearby forests, and slay any enemies possibly hiding there. We're very happy with that job, even though we came to fight."

"And I'm glad that I didn't lead your people to their deaths," Xena said. "You've already suffered so much, sacrificing your homes for the greater good. I'll make sure that you'll be rewarded because of it. I have, well, friends in high places."

"Thank you, Xena," Ephiny said, "But I don't think Gondor has anything that we want. Anyway, I should probably go before that pig-headed healer comes to check you guys up. If you need me, our camp is just inside the forest north from the city. Just send a word, and I'll come." Ephiny said quick goodbyes, and left the same way she had come in, closing the window as she went.

----

Shortly, the news of the victory was confirmed, and great relief came over the city. As the week passed, Xena and Gabrielle got stronger, and their wounds were healing. Soon they were allowed to go out for a short time. One morning, the women were sitting at the garden behind the Houses of Healing. Gabrielle hadn't had much chance to write since they had left Rhosgobel, and now it was the perfect time to catch up. While the bard was doing something that she found enjoyable, Xena was withering with boredom. She wanted to do something, just anything but stay put and wait. She entertained herself with flinging small stones at the wall when Ioreth came to them, and after the general talk of how they were doing, she seemed to ponder something. "You're healing quickly," she said to Xena, "but I see that you are tired of waiting. For a person like you it can lead to drawbacks in your state. I wasn't going to give you this for another week but... well, you're a strong woman." She put her hand to her inside pocket, and took out a piece of paper which she handed over to the warrior princess.

"What's this?" Xena asked as she read the few letters and numbers in the note.

"It's an address, I believe," the healer said, "First circle, second house from the main gate, first stall in the stables."

"What's in there?"

The healer shook her head as she didn't know. The man that had given her the note hadn't said it, only that it might make Xena feel better if she ever were to wake up. She warned them to take it easy as the way down to the first circle would be long for a weary body, and the way back would be twice as hard.

It turned out that the healer was right. Xena had only a broken arm, and the way down was easy for her, but Gabrielle still had trouble breathing. They had to stop several times for her to sit down and rest. Breathing didn't hurt any more, but she got tired easily, and that's when the pain came back as well. For a while Xena even carried her in her back, impatient to get down as she was, but they soon gave that up. Not only was Gabrielle finding it an uncomfortable position, but the bard seemed to be much heavier than Xena had remembered, and now the warrior was getting tired. She considered of turning back, but they were down on the third circle already, and going back would be much more tiresome, that's why they continued.

It was almost noon when they arrived at the stables by the gate. Xena pulled the barn door open, and they stepped in. It was dark inside, but rustling followed by a snuffle told them that there was some kind of an animal inside. However, to Xena it told even more.

"Argo?" she yelped incredulously, and a familiar whinny answered her somewhere inside.

The warrior strode towards the sounds' source, and soon she saw a figure of a horse lying in a stall at the back corner of the barn. The horse rose to its front feet, welcoming Xena with a joyful whinny. "Down, girl, down," Xena said while she held the mare's muzzle on her hands, as she realized the Argo had trouble getting up. She rubbed Argo's mane, and the horse brought its nose very close to her face, smelling her, and then touching her lightly to her cheeks.

It really was Argo. As Gabrielle got to the faithful mare, the same procedure repeated. "Xena, she's hurt."

"I know, Gabrielle," Xena answered, not removing her gaze from Argo's eyes as she caressed the horse's snout with her hands. "She can't get up. But we'll fix it, won't we girl."

"But Xena, how did Argo get here? I mean, it's a long way from Misty Mountains."

"Maybe I can answer that question," said a new voice from behind, belonging to a slim and handsome young man in a Ranger costume. Argo neighed joyfully at him, as if she had known him, and without hesitation the man came to pat her. "My name is Attahin," he continued with a smile.

"Attahin! You're Lila's husband," Gabrielle yelped.

"Yes, and you are Gabrielle, her sister," said Attahin, "And you are Xena. I know all about you two."

"You saved our lives, didn't you? You're the lonely rider," Xena said.

"Yes, and no. I see that I'm expected to tell you the story of mine, and I'm dying to learn about yours. Let me just take some breath first. I've just returned from the battle against Mordor, and I'm a little weary for the journey."

"You came alone? Where's Strider and all the rest of the army," asked Gabrielle.

"I came with a little group only. The army is still resting in North Ithilien. They'll take it slowly. I wanted to come and see my family; that is you, Gabrielle, now that I'm married to your sister. And I also wanted to see that Argo was all right. And finally, to meet the legendary Warrior Princess. I also bring messages from Aragorn to the town leaders, and after I've delivered them, perhaps we can meet and catch up. The stories that we have require more time than I have right now."

Gabrielle looked at Xena who didn't give any sign of her opinion, only cooed at her favorite steed. "It sounds fine to me," the bard then answered, unable to cover her eagerness of hearing the whole story right there and then. "You can meet us at the Houses of Healing in the evening, if it's all right with you."

"I'll be there. Oh, Lila sends regards, by the way. Somehow she foresaw that out paths would cross."

"Lila! By the Valar, she must have her baby by now. How is she?"

"She was fine when I left, and a mother of a healthy baby boy. That's the reason why I came with the Rohirrim, and not with my own people. I remained behind to see that Lila's delivery went well. It broke my heart when I had to leave so soon after."

"I'm sure it had to. He must be wonderful. Whom does he look like? You or Lila?"

"Well, Lila says he's got my nose but I'm not that sure. He sure is beautiful. Actually, I think he has a little bit of your looks you as well. I'll try to return home to see him as soon as I can."

"And what about Argo? Where did you find her? You two seem to get together quite well."

The young Ranger chuckled. "This is going all wrong. You're good, you're very good, Gabrielle. Not only can you tell stories yourself, you also get other people tell their stories, even if they're in a hurry to deliver a message. Okay, I'll give in. The message can wait." He sat down on a pile of hay, and Gabrielle sat beside him as he started his story. "It was early November when I was doing some ranging east from Bree, and I met some Elves on their way to the west. They said that in Rivendell they had a wounded horse that they suspected belonged to Xena. I went to see it, and then brought it back to Bree with me when I couldn't find out what had happened to you two. It had been seriously wounded but the Elves had taken good care of it."

"So you didn't meet Grimbeorn?"

"No, though I looked for him, as he was the one who had delivered Argo to the Elves. And she's a tough horse! It took me two months until she let me ride her, and even then I suppose it was because I explained her that I needed a steed to go south to a battle where Xena might be."

"Ha! That's a reason good enough for Argo."

"So it seemed," the man smiled, and patted the horse again. "Then came the day when we were called by our leader. All of my fellow Rangers departed, but I was forced to remain with my wife a few more days. I told them that I'd follow them shortly, but when I did, I was unable catch up with them, as they had taken a path that no man could take alone, no matter how brave he was. Therefore I joined to the Riders of Rohan, led by Lord Theoden."

"When we came to the battle field, we completely surprised the Orcs. They didn't expect an attack from our direction, and we brought great havoc among them before they even knew what hit them. Then all of a sudden, Argo stopped so that I nearly fell off. Then she sprang forward and straight to the center of the field in full gallop. The Rohirrim didn't keep up with us as we ran through the Orcs. I couldn't stop her, so I just tried to hang on, and throw my knives at the opponents that engaged us before they had a chance to hit. And then I saw where she was heading. There was this tiny hill upon which there stood a monstrous creature, and two women were opposed to it. I recognized you by description, and I saw the whole thing, but as fast as I rode, I was still too far to do anything, until it was all over. I spent my last throwing knife on an Orc that was there to finish you, and Argo did most of the work protecting you until the Riders caught up with us. But the price was terrible, as she got wounded again from several Orc spears."

"At least you got out alive," Gabrielle said.

"Yes, but for Argo it wasn't that obvious. People don't usually let a horse that badly wounded live. They believe it's more merciful to put an end to the pains. That's what they thought of Argo as well, but I persuaded them to move her here. Her wounds were serious, but now I know that she'll recover, and that my decision was right."

"You don't know how much I value what you did. Thank you, Attahin," Xena said.

"You're welcome," said the Ranger, and stood up. "Now I must leave you, and deliver my message. I'll come later in the evening to hear your version of the story."

"We'll be waiting for you."

"One more thing," said the ranger as he was leaving, but turning back from the door. "It was one amazing fight that you had." And then he was gone.

The women looked at each other in silence until Gabrielle said, "It was an amazing fight. We really kicked some Orc butt, didn't we?"

"Yes, Gabrielle, we really did," Xena answered, smiling drowsily.

----

A farmer's wife was delivering supplies to the castle on top of the hill, and the women got a lift in her wagon. She left them at the Houses of Healing, and went on to the castle herself. In the evening Attahin did as he had promised, and came to them, and they talked late until the healers drove him away. The next morning he was gone, on the way back to Bree to his family.

Then came the day when the splints were removed. Xena's wounds had healed better than anyone had hoped for. She was soon making backflips in the garden, and twice a day she ran down the hill to see Argo, and then up again, proving herself that she was getting into her normal condition. Gabrielle, on the other hand, had not been so lucky. Although her visible wounds were merely scars by now, she still limped her one leg, and she was unable to lift her left arm above shoulder level. The arm was also much weaker, and although she could live otherwise normally, any harder exercise soon wore her out. All in all, it worried her.

Every day Xena's uneasiness grew, and soon she declared that it was time to move on. Gabrielle couldn't understand it. "But Argo's still too weak."

"I'll take Nightchild and leave Argo still here for a while," Xena said. "I can get back later when she's fully healed. Come on, start making preparations. We'll leave tomorrow morning."

Gabrielle sighed, and cast her eyes down. "Xena," she uttered, "I'm not coming with you."

Her unexpected words struck Xena like a lightning bolt. Something seemed to be stuck in her throat when she asked, why.

"Your life is a constant battle," Gabrielle answered. "And it's been all right so far. In the beginning I could at least run until I learned to defend myself. But now... look at me. I can barely lift a staff, and I'm completely worn out after running a tenth of a mile. I'd be nothing but a burden to you."

"No, Gabrielle! You'll never be a burden."

"But I will be! At least I will feel like one."

Xena held Gabrielle's shoulders in her hands. Her voice was mixed with anger and desperation. "Listen to me. You will be alright. Your wounds will heal, and then it will be like it was. Sure, it will be rocky in the start, but we can make it work."

"And how long will it take? A year? Five years?" Gabrielle shook her head. "No, you listen to me. Our lives are dangerous. You can't protect me all the time. I may get killed, or you may get yourself killed while protecting me. Are you willing to risk it? Are you, Xena!?"

The warrior turned away, once again hiding her true emotions. She hated it when Gabrielle subdued her with the truth. It didn't happen too often, but when it did, it was always painful. "What now?" she asked, keeping her voice steady and falsely calm as she sat next to her best friend to a table.

"I don't know, Xena. I really don't know," Gabrielle responded.

"Maybe you can stay here until I return for Argo."

"I think not. Ephiny left two days ago, so there's nothing for me here while you're gone. And what happens after that?" She paused. "Do you really have to go?"

Xena nodded silently. Her blood demanded her to move on. Sooner or later it had to happen. There was only one logical solution. "I could fly you home," she suggested quietly.

"Would you really?"

"If that's what you prefer."

Gabrielle took a while to think about it. Then she took Xena's hand to hers, and confirmed, "Take me home, Xena. Please."

"Alright. Fine. I will take you home," Xena threw as she strode out.

When Xena came back hours later, she had reconciled herself to the new situation. The night was due, and she found Gabrielle already in bed. "All packed up?" she asked.

"Yes," her friend answered. "Everything's in those bags, except for the clothes I'll be wearing tomorrow."

"Good. Put them on."

"What? Now? Are we going already?"

"No," Xena said, grinning mischievously. "I'm going to sleep. You're going out." She paused just to enjoy the other's confusion before she explained. "I asked Eowyn to fix you a date. Quick now! He'll be here any minute."

Gabrielle had little time for objections, as right then there was a knock on the door. Driven by Xena's insistence, the bard quickly changed clothes, and then let the man in.

"Queen Gabrielle," he said, and bowed with a smile.

"Prince Eomer!" Gabrielle yelped as her heart skipped a beat.

"King Eomer, to be precise," he corrected, "But why don't we forget the titles. Shall we?"

Gabrielle glanced nervously at Xena who was standing away from Eomer's sight, signaling her to go on. She took his hand, unable to believe she was actually going out with the man of her dreams, until they really were out, and the new King of Rohan was leading her to an unknown destination.

----

"Wake up, Gabrielle. It's a lovely morning," Xena said. She was already wearing her armor, and with a plate of food in front of her on the table.

"Hmh?" came Gabrielle's grumpy answer. "I'm awake. Good morning to you too."

"You came back late last night."

"Not that late. You were sleeping."

"So you think. Well? What happened?"

"That's the problem. Nothing happened. No sparkles. None whatsoever. And you know I need sparkles. My Sindar poem didn't have any effect on him, he just wanted to test his skills with the staff against mine. Bah. Once a warrior, always a warrior."

"Oh, really?"

"Sorry, Xena, you're an exception. The point is, he was just in love with my warrior skills, and not who I really am."

"And that is?"

"What?"

"Do you know yourself who you are?"

"What do you mean? Of course I do. I'm a bard and the Queen of..." Gabrielle paused with the realization of facts. The title of an Amazon Queen almost automatically made her a warrior, and she had been fighting a lot lately. So many things had changed. "I -- I'm a warrior," she uttered at last.

"Yes, you are," Xena said. "And you are so much more than that. You're still the bard too, but first of all, you're the most caring person that I've ever met. And if Eomer doesn't value that, then shame on him. You have to understand him; he's been fighting all of his life. He wouldn't know another way."

Gabrielle sighed. "You're right. I guess I was just in love with an illusion of a man, created by myself."

Xena took her arm around her friend, and kissed the bard upon her head as a comfort. "I'm sorry it didn't work out."

"No you're not. I bet you knew all along that he wasn't the right for me. I was just too stubborn to listen."

Xena simply smiled at her. "Come on. Let's go." It was time to leave Minas Tirith and Gondor behind.

They grabbed their belongings and walked up to the King's Castle, looking for Aragorn, as they now called him, but the guards told them that he would be up in the Tower. "What a coincidence, as that's where we were going anyway," Xena said, and soon they climbed up the spiral staircase.

On the highest level of the White Tower they finally met the new King in a meeting with Faramir. "I hope we're not interrupting anything," she said as she entered from the staircase, a few steps before the gasping bard.

"No, not at all," Aragorn answered smiling. "It's always a pleasure to see you two. What are you doing up here, by the way?"

"We're leaving Gondor."

"Already? I was hoping that you would be staying until my crowning. It doesn't feel the same without you."

"I'm not really a party person," Xena said a little awkwardly.

"And you know me -- I go where ever she goes," said Gabrielle, grinning sheepishly. Only this time they would soon part, she thought bitterly.

The men looked at each other, and laughed. "This must be one of the weirdest places to say goodbyes," Aragorn said, before he pulled Xena closer to give her a warm hug while Faramir did the same with Gabrielle. "Goodbye, Xena. And thank you. You saved us."

"No. That little Hobbit saved us. He destroyed the Ring."

"Yes, but without you none of us would be here to celebrate it. But tell me, where do you head now?"

"Bree. Gabrielle needs to see her family. Then I'll go to Lorien for Solan. After that, who knows."

"Family is important," Aragorn said seriously. "I hope you will finally get yours."

"So do I," Xena answered, and then she turned to Faramir while it was Gabrielle's turn to get the King's blessing.

"And Gabrielle," he said. "It was one of my greatest surprises when you were introduced to me as the Queen of Amazons."

"Not half as surprised as I was in the first time, I'm sure," the bard smiled.

Aragorn laughed again. "I had thought the Amazons were extinct, but there you were as their Queen. It suits you, though, even better than you think, because of your father."

"You know my father?"

"Yes, indeed I do. Once he was a Ranger like me, and therefore a descendant of the people of Numenor. The blood in your veins, Gabrielle, is powerful."

"My father... a Ranger?" Gabrielle was dumbfounded. "That can't be true. How come he never said anything?"

It was Xena's time to laugh. "Wow, Gabrielle. Did you really think an ordinary farmer would know ancient lore and Elven languages."

Aragorn turned away towards south, letting the wind blow at his face from an open window, and memories took him over as he spoke. "When I was just a boy, your father was my mentor. He taught me history of my people, and the healing power of the herbs. He taught me to fight -- not just how to to fight, but when to fight. When I grew up he also became my best friend. We were together in many battles. Yet all the time he was more a teacher than a warrior. Then all of a sudden, about twenty five years ago, something happened; something that turned his life around."

"What was it?"

"He never told me. He just drifted apart from us, got married, settled down in Bree, and denied his old friends approaching him. I met him a few times, though, and he took me an oath that if anything happened to him, I would look after his daughters. Well, I believe I'm free from that oath now." He smiled, and tenderly brushed Gabrielle's cheek with his hand. "Your father wanted to protect you. That's why he hid his past."

"This is incredible," said the young woman. "But why? Why do you tell me this? Don't you feel that you've betrayed my father?"

"Because you have the right to know. Your father wouldn't tell you unless you ask him directly. Yes, he'll blame me for this for a while, but then he'll understand that sometimes the best way to protect is to tell the truth."

"Well... thank you. For telling. And everything."

"You're welcome. Well now, if you're made up your mind, I really can't hold you. But at least let me accompany you for a few miles. And surely you're not in any hurry, so if you give me a few hours, I shall arrange you escorts to secure your way."

"Thanks for your kind offer, but you can't follow us where we're going." Xena stepped outside to the balcony, and while the men watched her in wonderment, she whistled a couple of times with all that she got.

"Well, I'll be!" said Gabrielle, after she had recovered from her surprise. She already guessed what was happening.

"Why did you do that for?" Faramir asked. His ears were ringing because of the sudden, loud noise. "Anyway, I thought that you were leaving. Why don't we go down?"

"You may go down if you like," Xena retorted grinning smugly, "I'm staying here with Gabrielle.

At the same time, on the slopes of Mount Mindolluin, a large creature was curled up in a tight ball. As the echo of Xena's whistle reached him, he raised his head, then slowly got to his feet. Flapping his wings a few times he jumped into a dive across the wall of the mountain, just gathering speed before pulling up, and taking a direct route towards the white tower that brightly bathed in the sun.

"There!" Gabrielle announced triumphantly, and pointed out to a little spot against the side of the mountain, that quickly grew. The others soon followed her gaze, seeing it as well.

"Xena," Faramir began cautiously, "You have taught that foul creature to answer to your call? This must be some sorcery that I can't comprehend."

"No, Faramir, it's not sorcery. Xena hates sorcery," Gabrielle remarked.

Xena barely grinned, as Nightchild landed on the rail of the balcony. He was almost too large to fit in the space, and the rail groaned under his weight. "Good boy," Xena said, and he snorted her a friendly greeting as she patted his neck before mounting. Gabrielle followed her immediately, willing to give the men watching in awe an impression that she didn't have any problem with the beast or the height. She climbed to sit behind Xena, and tried to appear relaxed.

"Be seeing you," Xena said, cocked her head, and then pulled Nightchild into a drop that gave him good speed. They took a few circles around the tower, waving at the men who waved back, and then they headed away towards Bree.

"Well, Gabrielle. How do you feel?" Xena asked.

"Hmm? Not so bad, as long I keep from looking down," the bard answered, awaking from her musings. Xena's smug grin as she glanced behind told Gabrielle that it hadn't been what she had meant. "What? Feel about what?"

"Being a Ranger."

"A Ranger?" The bard was quiet as the thought sank in. She was a Ranger! A Ranger by blood. "I don't know. I don't feel like a Ranger."

"Because you're not tall and grim?"

"Like you are."

"No," Xena grunted, "I didn't mean that."

"You would make a great Ranger. You're a Ranger prototype!"

"Well, I'm not one."

"You're not jealous, are you, Xena?" said the bard with a teasing tone. Immediately after saying that, she wanted to take her words back. She herself was an Amazon, and now a Ranger. She had a sister, and loving parents. Xena was alone, she didn't belong anywhere, she didn't have anyone to give her comfort. Well, Xena now had a mother, but she was in Rhosgobel where the townspeople still treated Xena cautiously. And she would have Solan, if things were to go as hoped. At the moment, Xena had no one. No one but Gabrielle. What would become of Xena if she now left her? The warrior was acting brave and stoic, but she must be hurting.

The bard followed an urge to give her friend a strong squeeze of affection. "What was that for?" Xena asked.

"Just something I needed to do," Gabrielle answered with a smile. "Hey, what if I came with you to Lorien?"

"But I'll leave as soon I've dropped you in Bree. You wouldn't..."

"No, I mean now. Let's go to Lorien first."

Xena gave a curious glance at the younger woman. "Oh-kay... What changed your mind?"

"You did. Just don't ask about it."

Xena didn't ask about it, not wanting to give her friend any second thoughts. She smiled, and turned Nightchild at north, towards Lorien. Until they were past the marshes of the estuary of Entwash, Gabrielle was talking incessantly. It was the decision of staying with Xena for just a few more days that had helped her drive away the misery, and for a little period of time it felt the same as before the whole war.

"The greatest loss, however, was Galadriel's spear," explained the bard. "That weapon made me strong. I could do anything, even fight by your side as your equal. Now, if I'm ever fully healed, I'm back at the beginning again."

"I don't think so, Gabrielle," Xena said. "You said that you learned a lot when fighting with it. Those things don't just disappear like that. You still have the skill, you just need to dig it out."

"Hmm, that's one point of view. Nevertheless, it's all in the past now. It was fun as long as it lasted. I got a glimpse of what it is being you - being a hero - if only for a moment. I'd give anything just to be able to feel like that again."

This time Xena didn't answer. "Xena?" Gabrielle asked, but the warrior still replied nothing. Something in her posture had changed also; she was now tense which was easy to discover as Gabrielle had arms around her waist. She peeked over Xena's shoulder, and noticed something like a dark cloud rising in the north horizon, a little left from the green line that represented the forest of Lothlorien. "Xena, what's that?" she then asked.

"Smoke," came the warrior's wry answer.

"I can see that, but where does it come from?"

"Dol Guldur." Xena had a bad feeling about this. Her neck itched, it was always a sign. Why was Dol Guldur still smoking? It should have fallen earlier. Had it just been conquered within the last couple of days, after long and exhausting siege, and a month later than every other enemy base went down, or could it be that it was still fighting back?

Gabrielle sensed the tension, and didn't like it at all. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" But she already knew the answer. Black smoke lingered on the sky above the fortress so that the hill that it sat on and its vicinity lay in permanent darkness. It didn't fade into air, it didn't obey the wind.

"Let's find out," Xena grunted, and gave Nightchild an order to gather more height while steering away from the Lorien forest at the same time.

When they neared the fortress, it only got worse. The thick smoke forced them to take a lower flight path that trailed the highest tree tops. A planned scouting flight above the fort couldn't take place now, therefore they landed a mile or so before the opening around the Naked Hill. Right after leaving Nightchild on a little forest opening they ran into the first Elven guards who after short persuasion led them to their main camp at the rim of forest south from the hill.

The air in the camp was still, gray with mist, and depressing. The dark shadow of the fortress loomed on top of the Naked Hill, barely visible. The Elves walked around the camp like in a dream, silently and with joyless faces. "Xena, what's happened to them," Gabrielle asked, utterly shocked, but she didn't get an answer. Then they were already outside the command tent, and after their guide had announced them, they were called in.

In the tent there were only Celeborn and Galadriel. If the Lord appeared like his usual self, clad in his silver armor, stout and fearless, the same couldn't be said about the Lady. She looked smaller than before, smaller and slimmer. Her sad face was paler than ever, and not once did she smile. Her armor was made of the finest rings of mithril, and on her lean shoulders she wore a green cloak.

"Welcome, Xena. And Gabrielle," said Lord Celeborn. Galadriel only nodded at them, and her gaze quickly passed Xena before fixing on Gabrielle for much longer. The Lady looked like she had seen a ghost, and her staring made the bard feel uncomfortable.

"Thank you," Xena answered, slightly bowing. "What's happening here?"

"We're suffering in this mist," he replied. "It's been three weeks since last we saw the sun."

"But I thought the enemy didn't have such power any more, not after Sauron was defeated."

"So did we. But there seems to be some new power occupying Dol Guldur, and we don't know what it is."

Xena's expression was grim. "Perhaps I can help. What are your plans?"

"Well, at the moment we're considering on engaging an attack. We're open for any suggestions."

"Why bother?" Gabrielle interrupted. "Why not siege and wait until they run out of supplies."

"I don't think they will," said Galadriel quietly. "We've been here for a full month now. When we came, the fortress was too strong to be taken without heavy losses, and we decided to wait, just as you now suggested. Since then, it has only become stronger."

"What?" Xena yelped. "How can that be? They're completely cut off, aren't they?"

The Elf lady twisted her arms with frustration. "I don't know how it's possible. It just is, as I've felt it, and I'm feeling it happen right now."

"The thing is," Celeborn cut in, "the longer the siege continues, the more it seems to be turning on their advantage."

"Then you should attack as soon as possible," Xena stated.

"If we only had a way, but the gates are too strong to be conquered. The only possibility would be that someone inside opened them for us."

"Is that all?" the warrior princess asked belittlingly. "I know a way in."

"You do? How?"

"The same way I got out the last time." She took a tactical map that had been spread on the table, and examined it closely. "The Orcs have several secret tunnels in and out of the castle, just for occasions like these. They lull the besiegers into a false sense of security, and then they launch an attack at them from one or more of these tunnels. There," she pointed at a place inside forest, a mile or so away from the castle. "There's the door that I found."

Celeborn was dubious. "Naturally, we know about the secret passages. If you used that one, then it's probably destroyed already."

"They don't know that I came out that way. But even if it was destroyed, we only have to find another one."

"There are other problems, of course," Celeborn continued. "Even if we found another door, it's probably heavily guarded. And even still, we have no means to open it as they are shielded by black magic."

"You're wrong again," Xena said, fully enjoying the situation. "They are not guarded at all. It's unnecessary, as they can't be opened from outside. Inside there is a very simple switch that opens them, but outside - nothing." Xena took a moment, letting her words sink in. She was looking for someone to ask her about how she planned to open a door that couldn't be opened, soon realizing it wasn't going to happen. Her audience knew her, understanding it was just her way of showing off. Well, she couldn't expect it to work every time. Putting her pride aside, she answered anyway; "So, they'll have to open the door for us."

----

It had been six hours since Xena had left. It was the day after they had arrived, and Gabrielle was walking around in the command tent. This waiting was maddening. Her instincts told her that she should be with Xena, and that something terrible would happen if she weren't. Her senses said that it would be too late now, and that in her current condition she would only be in the way. That's the reason why Xena had left her behind in the first place. That was what she had wanted herself. So why did it feel so wrong now?

It wasn't completely clear to her how Xena was going to get inside. She was sure, however, that the warrior had a plan, or at least a vague shadow of a plan. What was clear was what would happen after she was in. Xena would lead a small group of Elves through the tunnels. They would find their way to the main gate, and they would take it, open it, and keep their position until the main army could reinforce them, and then take the fortress piece by piece. Of course, there was much more, but Gabrielle hadn't paid much attention to the details, as she wasn't going to have any part in this battle.

"Please, Gabrielle," said Galadriel, standing by the table. "Calm down and get some rest. It's too early still. Xena said..."

"Xena said what she said!" Gabrielle interrupted, and stopped walking. "She knew it wouldn't be that easy as she let you know. Always expect the unexpected when you're dealing with her, that's what I've learned." She grunted, and rolled her eyes before sitting down onto a couch, but sprang up again when Celeborn entered the tent. He saw the expecting fire in her eyes, and shook his head as he had nothing new to tell. The bard slumped back down to the couch, leaning her elbows to her knees, and burying her face to her hands.

Still one more hour passed like those before. The bard was unable to stay in one place for more that a few seconds. Then a messenger entered the command tent. He was one of the team that had gone with Xena, and his expression immediately told that something had gone terribly wrong. "What happened, Gildor" Celeborn asked.

"The tunnel collapsed, my Lord. That way is closed now."

"What about Xena?" asked Gabrielle.

The Elves looked at each other. "She -- she didn't make it," Gildor said.

"Do you mean she's -- dead?" Gabrielle asked, her voice wavering with dismay.

"Well, we... it's possible that she was fast enough to reach the other side before the crash. But I wouldn't put too much hope on that. I'm sorry, Gabrielle."

The young bard sat down, devastated. Then she got new strength somewhere. "No. No! She's alive, I know it! And she's alone. We must rescue her."

"Gabrielle, please," said Celeborn. "Xena if anyone can take care of herself."

"But what if they catch her? Or what if she's hurt? She can be lying there her legs broken and... No, I don't even want to think of it."

Galadriel moved closer to comfort the young woman. "Then there's nothing we can do. If Xena can't get out by herself, the only way would be conquering the fortress altogether. And we already know that can't be done, as we can't even get over the walls. I'm sorry, Gabrielle. You just have to wait now. Be patient. Have faith."

Galadriel reached out to give the girl a comforting touch, but she drew away and sprang out of the tent, wiping away her tears at the same time.

But Gabrielle had no intentions to mope, or leave it there like that. If the Elves were not ready to help Xena, then she would do it herself. She ran to her own tent, picked up Xena's back pack, and rushed out again. Her next stop was a pit where the Elves had piled up the dead Orcs, planning to burn or bury them later. Just when she was about to climb down to the pit, an Elf arrived pushing a cart loaded with two Orc corpses. She stopped him before he had time to empty his cart, and started to undress the Orcs frantically. The taller Orc had been wearing a robe and a ring mail which was almost her size, and they fitted without adjustments. The other, shorter and sturdier Orc had heavier gear, and she took his helmet and gauntlets. When the puzzled Elf asked what she needed the equipment for, she was already striding away.

She finally arrived to a snug little opening in the forest. It was the place where Xena had left Nightchild. The beast was lying peacefully under the cover of the trees, curled into a ball so that his head lay on his tail. He appeared to be asleep, but his one eye was slightly ajar, and keenly kept watch at the approaching woman. When she was only a few yards away, he lifted his head, and gazed straight at her with a menacing look.

This time the look had no effect on Gabrielle. "Listen, you overgrown bat. I've no intention to be harassed by you today. Xena is in trouble, and you're going to help me while I'm going after her. Got a problem with that?"

Nightchild clacked his beak once, as if showing what might happen if she accidentally got between those jaws. It still didn't have the effect he had used to get. On the contrary, the little woman just stood more proudly, and took her hand into a backpack that she had been carrying.

"You remember this, don't you?" said the bard, as she held up the spiked iron bridle. The beast seemed to remember, as he bowed his head down, so that it at last crawled on the ground. "It's a good thing Xena never throws anything away," she thought aloud. Before the beast would get any new ideas, she tugged the bridle back to the backpack, and mounted.

For a while she just sat in the saddle, thinking about what she was getting into. Compared to this, Xena's knock on the front door and the wolf ride was nothing in the scale of craziness. Then she sighed, put on an Orc helmet that completely covered her head, and kicked Nightchild's flanks like she had seen Xena do. The beast immediately jumped to his feet, starting to flap his wings to take off. Terrified of what was happening, Gabrielle lost her balance, and pulled the reins to avoid falling. The beast snorted, and backed off, and then stood still.

"Okay, a little jumpy start," said the bard. Then she took better hold of the saddle, and kicked again. This time the take off succeeded.

She didn't really know how to steer. She pulled the reins, and yelled directions at the same time, hoping that some way the beast would understand her meaning. She never came to know, which method he understood better, as she continuously used them both, but somehow he just flew where she wanted.

At the same time, confusion was spreading among the Elves as suddenly, a beast of the Nazguls was seen flying above them towards the fortress of Dol Guldur, ridden by something that looked a lot like an Orc. The disorder quickly also got the attention of the Elven Lord and Lady who came out of their tent.

"Shoot it down before it reaches the fort," said Lord Celeborn when asked about what to do with it. They all knew it could be Xena's pet, but at the same time, they couldn't be sure, and the rider was clearly an Orc.

"No, wait," said Galadriel. "It's Gabrielle."

"Gabrielle!" Celeborn yelped. "Has she gone mad! What does she think she's doing? We must stop her."

"No, dear, let her go..."

"But they will kill her!"

"Yes... they will."

----

"Valar damn it! Not again!" Xena cursed as she raced through the tunnels in complete darkness, the rumble of falling rocks tailing her. It had been a trap, she just knew it. They had been expected. Luckily, she had smelled the trap, literally - not because the tunnel had smelled like Orcs, but because it hadn't, meaning that wind had blown through it lately. She had scouted ahead, and then the first rock slide had separated her from her team. At that point she had still had her torch to give her light, but she had also triggered something. Now every tunnel was a potential death trap, as they tended to fall upon her neck as soon as she entered them. Now she didn't have any idea where she was, or which direction she was going to. And as if that wasn't bad enough, her scabbard had got caught on a rock as she ran, and she had been forced to abandon it along with her sword.

This slide, like every one so far, only lasted a few seconds, and then it was dead quiet around her. But this time something ended up differently. This time she noticed faint light ahead through the dust. She stumbled towards the light, and found out that it came through a keyhole in a door. Finally, she thought triumphantly, she was getting somewhere. Anywhere was better than in these treacherous tunnels. Cautiously, she pressed her eye to the key hole.

Then she jerked back with surprise, unable to believe her eyes.

But as she took another peek, they were still there. And they were seemingly unguarded. Taking a deep breath she dared to push the door. It was stuck at first; she suspected it was locked, but then it yielded, and started to open. The creak sounded terrible, and she stopped, expecting a half of the host of Dol Guldur burst in any moment. When after a minute nothing had happened, she dared to enter the hall.

Her luck had been uncanny, as she now stood in the other end of the armory. This hall was enormous. Everywhere she looked, she saw weapons. Clubs, swords, spears, daggers and maces lay on her left in vast piles. Long bows and crossbows with their proper arrows hung on the wall next to spiked chains, morning stars, and battle axes. And on her right, rack after rack after rack of armors; plate mails, ring mails, gauntlets, helmets... everything. She just had to choose.

Like a kid in a candy store she browsed the shelves, taking a sword, then discarding it as she found a better one, and then changing it again to a war hammer. Just when she thought she was ready, when she thought there was nothing else she needed that she could easily carry, she saw a doorway leading to a side chamber. Already before she entered, she realized that this room held something special. Her intuition was right, and now standing in the center of this chamber, she was again struck with awe.

Without hesitation she dropped every weapon that she had picked up from the main hall. Then she walked towards a sword that hung among a few others on the wall. It was her sword, the same one she had bought from the Dwarves, and later lost to Naltzik. She took the weapon still in its scabbard, and pulled it out. It shone like if it was new, without a single nick in its edge. Hastily she put it on to her back, then randomly selected one more sword from the wall. Now she had to find her way to the main gate, and somehow open it for the Elves to get in.

She returned to the main armory, and walked calmly to the exit. She pressed her ear against one of the double doors, listening for sounds from the other side. Hearing nothing she dared to pull it slightly open, and peeked out. Seeing nothing and still hearing nothing she slipped out and into a broad hallway. She had taken only a couple of steps when a pair of Orcs appeared at the other end of the hallway, and forced her to hide behind a grotesque statue standing by the door to armory. She waited until the Orcs had passed by before coming out from her hideout. That's when the statue conked her on head, and her world went black.

----

Gabrielle flew over the wall of Dol Guldur. When she dared to look down, she saw Orcs running in all directions with confusion, but no one shot at her. She was allowed to pass as she had hoped for, as the Orcs only recognized one of Sauron's flying beasts, and thought that it was one of their own coming for a visit.

Gabrielle was about to land on the yard behind the wall when she realized that the wall on the other side of the yard that she had thought to be the back wall, was in fact a wall of the second circle of the fortress. She flew over that as well, and saw still one more, a little higher wall inside the second one. This third wall encircled another yard and many buildings, and in the center of this yard stood a tall granite tower which could be seen from miles away, and which could see everything miles away.

She landed on the yard in front of the tower, and looked around. All the houses looked the same to her, and the scale of her quest felt overwhelming. How could she hope for finding Xena here, and even hope to get away with her? But this was not the time to wait for a miracle. The first Orcs were approaching, and when they would get closer, they would see through her disguise. She had to act before that, and so she jumped off, and marched inside the tower's front doors, trying to look like she knew what she was doing. She came to a small hall and encountered her first surprise; the broad stairs in the hall didn't go up to the tower. They went down.

----

Xena woke up with a jerk. Her face and hair were wet, and there was cold water dripping to her chest. Some of it ran inside her armor, and chilled her. That was unimportant, however, as her focus lay now on an Orc warrior who watched her very closely, his nose only inches away from hers so that she could smell his bad breath. Realizing that she was awake, he grunted with satisfaction, and walked away with an empty bucket.

"Good. Bring her closer," someone said, not so far away. The voice sounded confident, even arrogant, yet suave in its soft masculinity. Xena shook her head to drive away the last dizzy feeling as the two Orcs who had held her the whole time, turned her around, and threw her flat on the stone floor in front of something which seemed to be a podium made of a single, flat piece of red granite. Slowly she raised her gaze. On both sides of the podium stood two large Orcs as guards. On the podium there stood a throne.

At first, Xena saw only his boots. Well, one boot, actually, as only one lay down on the granite. It was pitch black, with decorations of steel rivets. The boot belonged to a leg covered with black leather trousers; the other leg hung easily on the arm rest of the throne, so that the man in the trousers sat a little sideways; confident and carefree.

He wore black; all black. His medium-length black hair edged a ragged but very handsome face of a man in his late fourties. His narrow mustache was connected to a short goatee beard with two black lines that went down both sides of his mouth. A cocky smile played on his lips, and his eyes, like two pieces of coal, were fixed at her.

"Welcome, Xena," the man said. "I was expecting you hours earlier. Your attempt was brave but futile, skilled but destined to fail, as I know everything that happens inside there walls. You were mine the very second you entered the tunnels."

"How do you know my name? Who are you?"

"Oh! I'm devastated!" he yelled, cocking his head back and grabbing his chest as if struck with inner pain. Then he laughed. "Don't you recognize me, Xena?"

"I've never seen you before."

"Yes you have. Of course, I looked different back then. You can call me King Angmar, but the last time we met I was called Witchking."

"You're Witchking? But I killed you!"

"Yes, I WAS Witchking, and I give you credit for doing a very good job slaying me. I barely managed to keep my spirit together all the way here to be resurrected. But now I'm as good as ever, and thanks to you, free from my former master as well. The downside is that I'm only a human now, without any special powers."

"I suppose you wouldn't reveal how you escaped the death?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Angmar held up his hands. "See these?"

"More rings?" Xena asked, looking incurious, but behind her facade her mind was running in circles.

"Not just any rings," Angmar said, and chortled. "The seven rings for the Dwarven Kings. These were Sauron's backup plan. He kept them here in Dol Guldur. He wasn't stupid - he knew something might happen to the One Ring some day. But one thing he didn't expect. I stole his rings and used them before he could. And now he is forever unable to take a physical form."

"What do you say? Sauron's alive?!" Xena yelped unwittingly.

"Oh sure," Angmar's voice was nonchalant. "He's alive. He's circling around this place at the very moment, and he's as pissed off as a bodyless being can be. Of course, he's virtually powerless, and unable to do any harm as long as these rings are occupied. Don't worry about him. What comes to you..." He paused just to rise to his feet before he continued, "I have great plans considering you."

Words seemed to stuck in Xena's throat as he stepped down and came near before her. "What... plans?"

"When I was a wraith, I offered you the world. You despised me then, and turned me down. I can't blame you, considering what a monster I was. Now that I'm a human again, I make you the same offer. Together we could beat any opponent, win any challenge, shape the world into what we like."

"An interesting offer," Xena said slowly, "but the answer is no." She pushed him away, and surprised her guards, using their own swords against them, and then threatened Angmar with the point of one sword. "Now, let's negotiate."

He was overwhelmed at first, but then he gained his self confidence. "You wouldn't kill an unarmed opponent, Xena. That's your new code, isn't it?" With a widening smile he slowly backed away, and sat down to his throne, Xena following him, keeping eye of the remaining guards.

"I may have a new code, but you shouldn't count on it saving you. As much as I know, killing you now would save the world much grief."

He glanced at his guardian Orcs who were aiming their crossbows at her. "But you would be killed yourself, too. That's why you need to negotiate." Xena just cocked her head, and he continued. "I place myself under your mercy. You can easily kill me now, but that would be a cold blooded murder. Your little friend wouldn't like that, do you think?"

He snapped his fingers, and one of the side doors opened. Three more Orcs came in; two short and burly ones, a slender and a little taller one between them. Xena instinctively glanced at them before turning her focus back to the former Witchking. Then she looked again at the taller Orc, longer this time, and a surprised groan escaped her mouth, "Gabrielle?"

The Orcs held Gabrielle's arms, removed the helmet that she had been wearing, and then threw her over to the floor. Slowly she got up, and her defiant gaze met Xena's shocked one. Then she turned to look at the man under Xena's sword. "Witchking," she said slowly, "You have killed so many, and caused so much sorrow. Now it looks like my innocence is greatly exaggerated. This is for the greater good. Kill him, Xena! Kill him!"

Xena hesitated too long before thrusting her weapon ahead. Angmar blocked it, and kicked her away. "You just wrote your death sentence, girl!" he cried with fury. He crossed his arms above his head, and a blue sphere of energy took shape in between his hands. Before anyone could do a thing, he thrust it forward, and the sphere hit Gabrielle who was flung against the opposite wall.

"Gabrielle!" Xena cried, and bolted at her friend. Oblivious to everything else she held her, looking for any way to help her.

"I'm sorry, Xena," the bard said quietly, and the rest of her words trailed out. He body tensed for the last time, and then it remained limp and lifeless.

Xena cried Gabrielle's name multiple times, and tried to revive her with every means she knew. Nothing helped. The young woman remained dead. "You were supposed to be powerless!" she yelled at Angmar.

"Oh, what can I say? I lied," he announced triumphantly, and then burst into a maniacal laughter. "What? You didn't expect that I was called Witchking for no reason? I got that name decades before Sauron converted me. I served him, and in return he gave me power that I had not dreamed of. That power may be gone, but the man who I was before him, and who I'm now again, is no less dangerous."

His laughter echoed in the hall, and raised the rage in Xena. Gritting her teeth she picked up the sword, and rushed at him with a vengeance. The Orc guards were no match to her, and she was soon alone in the hall with the man whom she now hated more than anything. "You will pay for this," she said, stopping for a moment to measure her opponent who now stood in front of his throne.

"Oh, I don't know. I have a feeling that you will give me exactly what I want," he said with confidence, and started to approach. In his right hand he held Xena's personal sword, and in the left he spun her chakram playfully. "You want these? Yes, you do. Come and get them!"

They clashed together. He was a much better fighter than she had assumed at first; they were evenly matched. "Yeah! Come On, Xena!" he kept spurring. "You can do better than this!" He punched her a few times, and quickly ducked when she swung back. "Oh, come on! Hate me," he urged.

As good as he was, she was still better. Openings started to appear in his defenses, yet at the same time his yells became more insulting. At last she managed to strike the sword out if his hands, and then she delivered a blow meant to be lethal at him with her weapon.

But her sword bounced back from a green glowing sphere that appeared around him. After a moment of surprise, she struck again with equally disappointing results. "Don't give up now, Xena. You're almost there already. Hate me, Xena! Hate me!" he shouted behind his protective sphere.

She had no intention to give up. "Yes, Xena, let your rage take over! Feel the hatred." As she kept striking her sword against his shields, he seemed to be getting intoxicated. "Yes! I can feel it now. I can feel you rage. Your dark side... it's so strong, so beautiful." Then suddenly, he extended his arm so that it pointed at her face, as if trying to grasp it, even if it was ten inches away. At the same time, Xena stopped her attack, and only stood still. Her face was expressionless, her eyes looked empty.

Angmar watched her calmly. He removed one of his rings, and gave it to Xena, telling her to put it on. "It will seal our relationship." She looked at the ring that was offered. She took it, and put it in the middle finger of her left hand. "Now," he said, "your dark side is controlling you, and I control your dark side. Given time, you will regain your free will, but in no circumstances can you work against me. I believe this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship."

He laughed as he eyed his prize, then picked up Xena's sword that she had struck away from him during the fight. "I believe these belong to you," he said as he handed the sword and also the chakram to her. Xena took the weapons, putting the sword into its scabbard and chakram in the clip on her hip.

Then he clapped his hands together with excitement, and beckoned Xena follow him. On his way he stopped and talked at Gabrielle's corpse, "Ironic, isn't it? All the way you were the thorn in my side, one that kept Xena from joining me, and in the end it was you who delivered Xena to me. I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you so very much." He laughed an evil laughter, then continued with confidence of his victory, "Follow me, my Warrior Princess! Let's give the Elves something to think about."

He walked across the hall towards the doors leading out, and Xena followed him. Then suddenly, he felt how she tore herself free from his hold, crudely and easily, as if she had been toying with him all along, and as a result he gained a very quick peek into her mind. He became utterly terrified and utterly charmed at the same time, with the diversity and power and depth that he saw.

So much anger. So much pain.

How could he have known?

So much love.

Decapitated by Xena's sword, his head fell down to the floor while his torso still stood upright. Just before the darkness engulfed him, he realized that he never stood a chance.

Before nightfall, the Elves had swept almost every Orc away from the facilities above ground level. The last ones in the main building were slain by Celeborn and Galadriel while looking for Xena. Galadriel knew that she was alive, as she had foreseen it.

"Here they are!" Gildor yelled as he opened the doors leading to the throne hall.

Galadriel entered the hall where Xena sat on her knees, and held her friend's body in her lap, rocking back and forth. "... Six must do ... Six must be enough ..." Her voice was almost too obscure to make out the words, but the tone was filled with desperation.

Something moved in the Elf Queen's heart, and the hard spot which was there for Xena melted into almost nothing. "She's gone, Xena," she said as she lay her hand on Xena's shoulder, "She had to die so that you could fulfill your destiny."

"My destiny?"

"Yes. That's what I foresaw; that's what happened. The Mirror told it to me, only I had expected this earlier. Now you must let her go as there is nothing we can do."

Xena bowed her head, and wiped the tears away before lifting her gaze. "No, she can't die! These rings will revive her. I only could get six, but they must do."

"Xena, the rings lost their power when the One Ring was destroyed. They won't help your..."

"No! They must." She paused, then looked up at the Elf again. "Maybe she's not quite dead yet. You brought me back once, help her now!"

Galadriel smiled sadly, shaking her head slowly. "Xena, it's out of my power. Back then I couldn't bring anyone back from dead, much less can I do it now. Please, Xena, let her go. Let her..."

But Galadriel's sentence was interrupted, and her eyes widened up with awe. That moment, Gabrielle twitched, and soon after, her eyes flew open, she arched her back, and she inhaled, deeply, greedily. She started breathing, at first with quick gasps, but while it became steadier, she began trembling with cold, and curled into Xena's warm embrace.

Galadriel stood up, and her smile was gone, replaced by coldness. "So, the rings are not powerless after all."

The Elves in the room watched them wryly, and as Celeborn spoke, his voice was grave and his face almost as pale as his wife's. "Xena, those rings are infected with evil. Take them off at once, and maybe it's not too late."

Xena looked at him suspiciously. Then she looked at Galadriel who now kept her hand on the hilt of her sword. She nodded slowly, and took Gabrielle's hand. The ring in the index finger seemed to be stuck, and the younger woman screamed as Xena tried to remove it, and snatched her hand back, beginning to sob. Xena didn't try another time. "They won't come off," she said quietly. "Do you think I didn't try?" She held up her own left hand, and there she had the seventh silvery ring in one finger. "I took his rings, all of them," she continued, referring to Angmar's headless corpse lying nearby. "I reckoned they could bring her back the same way they brought him back. But I couldn't remove the one in my own finger. I tried so hard; it doesn't come off!"

"There's an explanation to this," said Celeborn grimly. "The rings are cursed. They will resist any attempt you make to take then off, and soon you stop trying. On the contrary, you will fight anyone who's trying to touch your ring."

Then Galadriel spoke. "There is only one solution. The Rings must be taken from you by force, and they must be destroyed like the One Ring was. Otherwise they will consume you, and you'll fall under their evil power. You'll fade away from this world, and become a wraith. We can probably save you by cutting off your finger, but I'm afraid she has to die."

The women sprang up as the Elves drew their weapons. "You want to kill Gabrielle?" Xena yelled furiously, her chakram ready to be flung. "Want something else!"

"Unless you want Gabrielle to become as evil as the creature who you just destroyed, you will..."

Galadriel's sentence was interrupted by a chakram which cut off the blade of her sword, then made the same to each of other Elfs' weapons, finally knocking out Lord Celeborn before returning to Xena. "This way," Xena yelled, already tugging Gabrielle towards a side door. She barricaded the other side hastily before the Elves rammed against the door. It would hold only for a moment.

The women ran through halls and hallways where the Orc hunt was still in progress. The Elves who they ran into on their way didn't try to stop them as the news arrived seconds after they had passed, together with the pursuers. They took the stairs going down to deeper levels, ending up into a hallway that looked familiar to Xena. "I know this place!" she yelped, "Come, this way. Watch out for the statues. You don't want to get too close to them." In the other end of the hallway was the door to the armory. That would offer at least a few alternatives.

In the armory a big fight had taken place. At least a dozen Elves were inspecting the remains of at least thirty Orcs, making sure that the dead corpses remained dead. Weapons that had been neatly piled up or placed on the racks were now in disorder all over the floor. The women rushed in, and they immediately got Elven swords pointing at them until the Elves recognized them, and let them pass through the hall.

They got to the door on the other side which Xena had used to enter the fortress in the first place. Now she planned to use it to get back into the tunnels. However, her plan failed, as the door was blocked. A number of Orcs had escaped to the tunnels and the Elves had barricaded it from their side to keep the Orcs from returning. It would take too long to tear down the barricade, and the pursuing Elves had already entered the hall from the other end.

"Seize them!" Gildor yelled as he came in. Soon the women were surrounded by a ring of swords and spears that seemed impenetrable. Xena pulled Gabrielle behind her, and held her deadly weapons in ready positions.

Celeborn and Galadriel broke through the Elves surrounding them. "Stop resisting, Xena," the latter said, "You're only delaying the inevitable. My heart cries for the horrible thing that I must do, and I wish there was another way. But no; she must die before it's too late."

"She already died once today! Doesn't it count?"

"Step away, Xena."

"No!"

"Xena, wait," said Gabrielle. "If you can't figure out a way to remove the rings, please, let them have me. I don't want to turn evil. I'd rather die."

"No! Nobody will die today. Not any more. Galadriel, how do you know the rings are evil?"

"You've seen the Nazguls, and still you doubt!" Fire blazed in the Queen's eyes, as she couldn't believe the stubbornness that the human showed.

"I know them, but what about these rings? These are very different rings, aren't they? I've been told that Sauron never used them. And the other Rings; would they have been evil without the One Ring controlling them?"

Celeborn held a cloth on his forehead over the gash that the chakram had made. He took it off, and saw to his pleasure that bleeding had ceased. Then he glanced at Galadriel, and said, "I think she has a point, my love."

The Elf Lady started, and stared at her husband. Wondering how he could agree with an old enemy like that, she let her weapon slowly fall down. She turned at Xena, looking sharply into her eyes, then looked to Gabrielle, doing the same. At last she returned to her husband, as if searching an answer on his face. She seemed to find one, and laughed dryly. "I apologize," she said, "to both of you. I let my fears blind me. What an irony that now that I've lost my power of premonition, I can finally foresee your future clearly." She paused, and started smiling. "Your great destiny is still lying in the future, Xena, and it will be together with Gabrielle. These rings will expand your lives. They will be your blessing and your curse. That's what the Mirror tried to tell me in the first place, if only I had been wise enough with my interpretation."

The weapons were put away, and the Elves disbanded with joy and relief in the air. Galadriel had still a warning to share. "Make no mistake; we don't know enough of these rings. I let you have them but they may still turn out to be evil. So be very careful."

"We know one thing about them," Xena said, "There is a reason why we must not take them off, even if we knew how."

Everyone was silent for a moment, then Galadriel said quietly, "Sauron?" It was a statement as much as a question.

Xena nodded. "As long as his spirit floats around he's only looking for a chance to use the rings and bring himself back. Gabrielle and I can make sure that he won't get that chance."

The Elf Lady smiled again. She looked at the twosome in front of her, wondering how their differences completed each other. Warriors of light and dark indeed, just like the Mirror had said. But a part of her was glad that it was the warrior of light who wore the majority of rings. "I couldn't think of better protectors than you two. Now come! Let's leave this foul place."

The women were taken back to the main camp of the Elves on the feet of the Naked Hill where they were given anything they needed. They slept for an hour or two in their tent but it was hard in a busy camp, as the morning was dawning. The dark clouds were dissolving, and the sun peeked in, greeted by the Elves with happy singing which not only awoke the women, but was also powerful enough to drive the weariness away. The Elves were collecting leafy branches and setting them down onto ground in circles. During the day, a large pavilion was built upon one of the circles, and a victory party was ready to begin. It was only a shadow of the party held a week later in Lorien when the army returned, yet now it felt luxurious.

In the center of the pavilion were seats for the Lord and the Lady, and the two humans were placed on either side of them, as they were the heroes to be celebrated. The rest of the people in the circle were those who had somehow influenced their success, including all the members of Xena's invasion team, and the one very confused Elf at-the-time who had helped Gabrielle to find suitable Orc disguise for her. The food was simple, roasted without any tools, and brought in leaf wrappings, or on a piece of bark, or in a stick. It was an Elven way of respecting nature after hard times.

Nobody declared the feast started, it just began by itself. The sun was setting, and little bonfires were lit all over the place. The Elves were dancing and singing, and they sang songs that originated in the time when the world was young. Xena was almost too tired to be interested but then something in those songs got her attention. They touched her very soul, and made her feel safe and forgiven. She felt that she was finally allowed to let her guard down, and as she did that, great happiness got let in.

Gabrielle was mesmerized by what was happening, even so that she forgot eating. Those songs, that language -- it was something so beautiful that she couldn't remember any better. She was almost fluent with Sindar, but this was something else! She knew it could only be Quenya, an even more ancient Elven language than Sindar. She didn't understand the words but she was certain that she understood the stories that they told.

Seeing her excitement, Galadriel bent towards her. "I see you like the song," the Lady said.

"Yes, I do," the young woman answered. "I didn't know anything can be so beautiful." She paused, and sighed. "Everything in your world seems so perfect. The music, the people, the forest... Even the spear that you gave me last time."

Galadriel nodded. "The Spear of Alatariel. I've been wondering what happened to it."

"I'm sorry to tell you that I lost it. It was destroyed in a fight against Witch-king, but so was he."

"Ah, then I'm only sad and not disappointed. A worthy end for a worthy weapon."

"I'm sad, too. It was magnificent. I can never again hold a staff and not long after the Spear."

"Then why don't you make one yourself?"

"Excuse me? I don't know anything about making spears, and even less that kind of spear."

"You can learn, Gabrielle. You don't have to start now, or tomorrow, not even for the next fifty years! You'll have all the time you need."

"Well, I don't know. I think it was one of a kind, and when it's gone, it's gone. One magical weapon in our team is sufficient." She glanced at Xena, and started in surprise. The warrior was laughing! And she really seemed to be enjoying herself. Now this was something new. Gabrielle smirked, and crawled behind the Elves to sit beside her best friend. "Hi, Xena. What's wrong with you?"

"What? A girl can't loosen up every now and then?" Xena asked, still laughing.

"No, it's just that you haven't been like that in the company of Elves before. I'm very happy for you."

"I'm happy, too," Xena said. "I'm happy that I've been forgiven by these people. I'm happy that the war is over, and that we got out alive."

"And I'm thankful to you that you got me out alive," said the bard, and the women hugged each other. Then she became serious, and asked the question that had been bothering her during the day. "Xena, what happened after I died? How did you beat him?"

"He took control of my dark side," Xena explained, "but he made a mistake..." Suddenly, her eyes turned darker and deeper, a shadow covered her face, her voice grew stronger. "I am my dark side. I live with it every day, I know it inside out. He didn't understand how much I hated him after he killed you, and how much power that hatred would take to restrain. He couldn't do it, and in the end it was my hatred that destroyed him - the very same thing that he tried to use against me."

Gabrielle shivered. "It's a scary thing, that dark side of yours," she said.

"Yeah, tell me about it."

For the Elves the feast went on through the night but Xena and Gabrielle didn't take a part to it. They went to sleep soon after midnight. Fighting, dying, and living on the edge in general was finally taking the toll.

----

"Do you think the Rangers have secret meetings?" Gabrielle mused as they walked in the forest the following morning.

"I dunno," Xena answered. She was enjoying the babble of her best traveling companion.

"They must have secret meetings. And now that I'm a Ranger, they must take me in. Right?"

"Sure, right."

"Maybe we can make you a Ranger, too! They must have initiations or something. Like, when I was made an Amazon."

"What makes you think I want to be a Ranger?"

"Hey, no offense. It was just a thought."

They arrived to the opening where Nightchild had been staying. Xena looked around but the beast was nowhere to be seen. Then she let out a loud whistle, and waited. "Hmm, this is embarrassing," she said, thinking so hard that she didn't realize she was saying it aloud. "I was sure that he had returned to this same spot."

"Maybe he took off without us," Gabrielle suggested, "Or maybe he just couldn't hear your call." Xena whistled once more, and they were both silent for a moment.

"I wouldn't like to think that he just took off," Xena protested.

"What if the Elves killed him when they took over Dol Guldur."

Xena frowned. "That's possible but I'm sure they would have mentioned it.

"Where else would he go, then?"

Xena shook her head. "I have no idea. He fancies high places but there aren't any mountains near by." Then she stopped with an idea. "The tower, Gabrielle! That's the highest place around."

"And I left him right in front of it, and told him to wait for us! You're right, that's where he would go."

"Yes. And he's probably still there waiting for you. I'll give you five minutes to catch your breath, and then we'll start out way back. Is that okay to you?"

"Thanks, Xena, but I'm fine. Let's just go on."

"Not just a little bit tired?"

"Nnoo-oh." Gabrielle glanced Xena sharply. The warrior was up to something -- her voice was too casual, too carefree. "Why do you ask?"

Xena had a strange suspicion. "Gabrielle, raise you hands up."

"What?!" She was now sure of it. The warrior was definitely up to something.

"Just do as I told you."

"And then what? You'll play some dirty trick on me?" The bard's eyes narrowed as she slowly backed away.

"Hands at the sky!" Xena shouted, and suddenly she threatened Gabrielle with her sword. The bard was frightened, and in a fraction of a second she raised her hands straight up as high as she could manage. Xena held the threat only for a moment although it felt much longer. Then she spun her sword around, and put it back into the scabbard. "That's what I thought," she said, a self-content smile playing on her lips.

"Xena, what was that?" Gabrielle asked when she finally dared to lower her hands. Then all at once, she realized it. She had just walked a long way, and she wasn't tired. She could lift her both arms up without trouble. She flexed her left bicep, and held it with her right hand. She turned her formerly weak arm around, testing its mobility, and examining it from side to side. It felt good. It felt really good, and as strong as before. "Xena," she yelped lifting her gaze up at her friend, "I'm cured!"

"Must be a side effect of being brought back from the dead," Xena said. She now smiled broadly as the younger woman sprang ahead to hug her. She lifted the blonde up a few inches, and spun a couple of times around before letting her down. It was a mistake as the bard, now aware of the strength that had returned to her muscles took a better hold of Xena's waist and lifted her in turn, thus giving the warrior a slightly humiliating moment. Fortunately, there was nobody to see it.

"Come on, Xena!" Gabrielle yelled, "I'll race you to the tower!" And then she was already running, and had a remarkable lead before Xena started after her. Through the forest and up the Naked Hill the warrior let her be ahead, and even gave her a playful push from behind on the steepest slope. They passed a group of Elves keeping guard at the wrecked main gate, and raced on to the inner parts of the fortress. Gabrielle was still leading when they arrived at the tower yard, until Xena finally overtook her, and eventually hit her hands to the wall of the tower, dispelling any doubt of the winner. The bard arrived a second later. The defeat didn't bother her at all, as she was just too happy that she had regained her stamina. She could run, and she was feeling good.

As the women were laughing and making happy noises, a large birdlike head peeked out of one of the windows highest in the tower. The head tilted, and a purr of curiousness got out of the beak. Xena heard it first, and looked upwards. "Told you," she said, "Here he is." The beak disappeared inside, and a few seconds later the winged monster appeared from behind the tower, circled around, and then landed in front of the women.

"Ah, at last," said the bard, "Hey, I don't have to leave you now! I can travel with you again. I mean, if you allow me."

"Why wouldn't I allow you, Gabrielle! Of course we'll travel together."

"Great. Then let's go and finally see your son."

"Hmm, I don't know about that, Gabrielle."

"Oh? Don't tell me now that you have second thoughts."

"No, not like that. It's just that every time I try to go and see Solan something gets into my way. He's in good care in Lorien, and won't go anywhere in the near future. No, we'll take the more urgent matters out first. I know how important this is to you, so we'll visit Bree first, and this time we will do it to your timetable, without any hurry.

"Thank you, Xena. Hey, after that we have to go and get Argo from Minas Tirith."

"Yes, we'll get Argo. And at the same time I'll let Nightchild go free."

"I can see how that goes," Gabrielle snickered. "Go, Nightchild! Fly away! Find a nice monster-girl and make many nice little monster babies."

Xena laughed. "You've developed a soft spot for him!"

"What? No, you're mistaken."

"I think I'm not!"

"I admit that he's not as bad as I judged in the beginning, but he's still a monster. I can't have a soft spot for a monster."

"Not as bad as in the beginning," Xena repeated, imitating her friend's intonation.

"Xena, I know where you're aiming at with this discussion. It's not gonna work. So let's just drop it and start going."

"I'll drop it soon enough," Xena said with an amused grin. "But I know you're dying to see one thing."

"What's that?"

"Your sister's face when you land on her yard with this beast."

"You are so right! I would give a world for that." Soon they lifted off, and headed west for Bree where Gabrielle was doubtlessly waited for. For once their journey was uneventful. For once everything went as planned.