She soaked the fraying cloth in a bowl of fresh water and herbs then, after wringing, gently applied the mixture to his unclad back. It would help the healing and also take the edge off his pain.

The couple were allowed a small torch, plate of fruit, pitcher of water, coverlet and the rough bed they were now sitting on.

'Fit for a queen.' Iolaus thought with bitterness while Gabrielle carefully administered to his inflamed whip cuts.

He glanced to the side at his tattered vest. It was now only worth the effort it took to drop it into a refuse bin. Hercules had told him a long time ago that it was time to update his wardrobe. They had laughed about that back then, especially after Iolaus shot back with a "You first."

"Iolaus, sometimes I just don't know where your head is." Gabrielle whispered from behind, clicking her tongue gently, "When I think of how bad this could have been ..."

"You know why I did it." he replied.

"Yes." Gabrielle, on her knees, laid the cloth and bowl aside and attentively moved to sit beside Iolaus, "I know why you took persecution in my place and I know why you say you came here. But," she considered before continuing, "you admitted to something more; another reason too, Iolaus."

He nodded and looked ruefully down at his hands, "Loneliness." he admitted.

"And Hercules." Gabrielle almost smiled, "He married again?" she commented and at his somber nod compassionately asked, "What's she like? Where did they meet?"

"Olympus." Iolaus looked over Gabrielle's shoulder, at the cracks between a shuddered window, as a flash of lightening then a thunder rumble announced itself. By the time Artemis and Xindra left for negotiations the mild sprinkles earlier in the day had turned into rain.

"Hercules on Olympus?" Gabrielle questioned, slightly dubious.

"Ever since Zeus and Hera got back together, Hercules has been taking regular trips to Olympus. He and Zeus still have conflicts but the three of them are trying hard to get along. Hercules felt he was making headway, finally getting to know his Father. The gods, of course, still think they're superior to mortals but Zeus is beginning to concede: Sometimes they **do** stick their noses in where they don't belong."

"The King of the Gods admitted that?" Gabrielle's eyes enlarged, "That's incredible, Iolaus. I'm so glad Hercules and Zeus are back on speaking terms. And Hera?"

"She sits back and listens ... which is monumental for Hera."

Gabrielle chuckled gently, "And Hebe?"

With a sigh, Iolaus' smiled altered slightly. "I don't know too much about her other than she's a halfgod like Hercules and shares a lot of his views. She's always petitioning Zeus. She's funny, smart, intelligent ..." Iolaus turned to look at Gabrielle with a gentle twinkle in his eyes, " ... and she's very beautiful." he recalled, "I was best man at their wedding and Hebe was just ... breathtaking. Almost a combination of all the women Hercules ever loved. The spirit of Dienerra, the gentleness of Serena, the determination of Morrigan, the mystery of Nemesis," he paused then, "and the guile of Xena."

It was Gabrielle's turn to look down at her hands, hiding the struggle on her face and recalling a few warm memories.

"You really miss her, don't you?" Iolaus asked and at Gabrielle's silence he reached over to take one of her hands in his, "We both knew we would have to do without them some day, didn't we? If any man in the world deserves happiness with a woman he loves it's Hercules and if any warrior ever earned the right to rest in peace, to be free from her guilty past, it's Xena." Then, lost in his own small piece of suffering, Iolaus continued: "But it hurts. When they leave us behind. It just hurts."

Gabrielle lifted her head and look closely at Iolaus' profile. Even in this rapidly darkening hut she could see his deep unhappiness. The difference between their situations became very clear to the amazon bard. Xena had died, had left her because there was nothing she could do to stop it. But Iolaus didn't lose Hercules because there was no helping it. He lost his companion because the demigod had chosen another over his best friend. Hercules had fallen in love and willingly - and very eagerly - left his best friend for another partner; a woman who became his wife. Then, when Iolaus had tried to follow suit, to go on as Hercules had done, he had been rejected again ... **By me** Gabrielle nearly sobbed at the gloom of it all, "Poor, dear Iolaus." she thought, 'To have traveled so far, have been persecuted so terribly, and gained so little.'

And right now, as she witnessed his vulnerability, it didn't really matter much to Gabrielle **why** Iolaus sought her out. What mattered was that it was SHE the hunter thought of when his life came tumbling down ... and that unexpected insight both stupefied and warmed Gabrielle. Iolaus was her husband now. Artemis had actually married them. Yet, it seemed too surreal ... too fantastic to be true.

Slowly, she lifted a hand to his cheek and felt the warmth of his skin against her fingertips. He was real. 'Too much pain. Too much uncertainty.' It was time to feel warmth and protection. Her small, unoccupied hand lifted to feel his well muscled upper arm. Unable to prevent herself, Gabrielle trailed a gentle kiss where her fingers had softly touched his cheek.

He turned to her, positively longing for what she was offering. "Gabrielle ..." he started, wanting to say something meaningful, to tell her how she **really** made him feel. Yet, a part of him also wanted to stop this. No good would come from it. Espoused or not, they weren't really together and they probably never would be. Gabrielle had made her choice. Besides, there was just too much danger right now. At any moment they could die!" ... I think we shouldn't ..."

"Sh." Gabrielle kissed him again, gently taking his chin between her fingers. Her other hand drifted, sliding over his shoulder. She hesitated fleetingly, mindful of his wounds. "No more Iolaus, please. No more talk tonight of woe or regrets." Her voice was barely above a murmur now; the words controlled as if being recited by the world's greatest bard, "Just ... be with me." Gabrielle looked deeply into his eyes and saw a yearning that nearly broke her heart, "Be with me tonight and make us unafraid ... make all the hurt go away."

Resigned and lifting his arms to gently encircle her in his embrace, Iolaus could think of nothing he would rather do, no where he would rather be, and no one he would rather take comfort with.

A timely rumble of thunder sounded, as if applauding the couple.

Iolaus, pressing his lips to hers, very gently lowered Gabrielle back onto the bed.

**

Much later he lay on his side, his back still stinging despite Gabrielle's very soothing touch, Iolaus looked down at her as she rested in his arms. Her head lay peacefully on the makeshift leather pillow that was her skirt, her fair hair in a fan, eyes closed and expression at peace. She seemed like some ethereal being to him, too lovely and gracious to be involved in something as impure and violent as an Amazon war.

What did Xena mean to her? It boggled the mind and he was careful not to dig too deep. Some things were better left unspoken. What mattered was here and now. Yes, she cared him, maybe even loved him as she proclaimed. But sometimes even love wasn't enough. If they ever got out of this mess he would respect her wishes. Gabrielle knew who she was, what she wanted to be and where she wanted to live. She had a future with the Melosans. Welcomed or not, he was an intruder. And, if this situation panned well, he would go home to Thebes and start farming or forging again.

It was time to give up life on the road. Some might say he was in his prime but Iolaus was feeling his age. He didn't have the agility of his youth and the situation they were currently in demonstrated his decline quite clearly. Five years ago, maybe even two years ago, he would never have found himself beaten and held captive like this. He would have won all (well, nearly all) the battles he fought, even with warriors as clever and mighty as the Amazons, and he would be free. He would be with Gabrielle in the Melosan village, a strategist helping them before combat.

Still ... Iolaus almost smiled as a self-serving thought entered into his head. It was also a fact that if he hadn't failed he wouldn't be laying in bed with a beautiful woman in his arms too. There was something to be said for being a washout.

The room was growing lighter and Iolaus realized the sun was rising. Soon, very soon now, they would know the verdict. Either a new life with a not too clear future, or death with an all too clear end.

He trailed fingers down her bare arm.

Even deeply asleep, Gabrielle stirred and moved in to be closer to his warmth.

Iolaus could not have asked for a better way to end his days.

**

They had fashioned a barricade between their village and the forest, where the enemy amazons would be attacking. Tracker amazons, with their keen eyesight, were positioned all around the perimeter, just to be safe.

Ephiny looked at her warriors, the way they wore their battle gear, and was once again proud. Everyone was participating and those who couldn't fight physically, like Bria with her broken arm and cracked ribs, were keeping the teenagers occupied, having them string bows and sharpen arrows and spears.

Trista, with unintentional stealth, came up beside Ephiny and startled her. "It's dawn." she stated the obvious, "If Gabrielle and Iolaus were coming back they'd be here by now. Shouldn't we go after them ...?"

"We were told to stay put." Ephiny declared firmly although it did not give her pleasure.

"How long?"

"Until we're sure."

Trista nodded and turned in the direction where she last saw Tamara. Odd how the usually vocal and ready for battle warrior had become quieter since her father turned up. Tamara had been so gentle with him when they had finally came into the Melosan village, escorting her father to her own hut, giving him water and telling him to lay down and rest. This amused and amazed Trista. 'Yes,' she thought, 'some of us really do show our soft spot when Daddy comes into the picture.' With regret, Trista wished she had parents. Of course, with her amazon sisters surrounding her the girl felt she could never quite consider herself an orphan.

**

It would have been asking too much to have the Animzos actually be considerate. But at least they had allowed the couple time to dress, Iolaus sans ruined vest, before dragging them from the hut into the middle of the encampment.. The animal-amazons roughly tied their hands behind them then, with little finesse, deposited Iolaus and Gabrielle onto a pile of dried straw and kindling

"I take it Priestess Xindra has not returned yet with Artemis?" he ventured rather dryly.

"No." Tiger stated, "and if we do not hear from her soon we'll assume our Queen has either abandoned us or is dead. Whatever the case, there will be a very large bond fire soon with the two of you in the middle of it. And we, The mighty Animzos, will dance and sing and make merry while your screaming, writhing bodies disappear into charred bone and ash!" she growled.

Iolaus watched Tiger turn from them and approach a few others of her kind who were discussing something of great importance. "Er," he gulped slightly, and glanced at Gabrielle. "She has quite a way with with words, doesn't she?"

"Yeah," Gabrielle agreed, watching Tiger steadily, her expression nervous. "Iolaus, I think she means every word of it." Gently, she bit her lower lip and cleared the fear from her throat before continuing, "Everyone knows the story of how Zeus slayed The Golden Hind, because he felt they were a threat to the gods. Do you think it's possible, even with Hercules on Olympus, that Zeus might ..."

"... have killed Xindra?" Iolaus watched as two more animal-amazons joined Tiger's circle. What were they talking about? What had they been discussing late last night while he and Gabrielle spent the evening together? 'Probably a lot of scheming.' he thought, 'Maybe a Plan B or C too.' but he said, "I don't think the Animzos and the Hinds have anything in common. Remember, the Animzos were favorites of the gods ..."

"No Iolaus, it was the Beauteus that were favorites. The Animzos were what they became. And look at them now ..." she urged, moving in closer and whispering into his ear, "Can you see it?"

"I'm not sure." Iolaus eyes narrowed as he watched the women.

"Without Xindra here, without her sway, they've become even more animal-like. I think Xindra's presence is what keeps the Animzo partly human. I think that's her function as their High Priestess."

While she spoke, Iolaus moved his shoulders against her's. They were now back to back and his nimble fingers pulled at the rope tying Gabrielle's hands together.

She understood and did the same with his bindings as she persisted, "And I'm beginning to wonder if Xindra wasn't the original High Priestess, not just a descendant."

"Does that really matter?" Iolaus asked.

"No. I guess not." Gabrielle admitted, And sucked in a gentle breath as she felt the rope part behind her. She was free and almost had Iolaus loose as well.

"I say it's time for blood!" Panther's voice, with a snarl, rose above the mutterings of the clique that had formed around Tiger.

Feeling panicked but looking deceptively calm, Gabrielle whispered an urgent, "Iolaus, I don't think we have long." as she worked frantically on a stubborn knot.

"I know!" he bounced back.

Then, time seemed to slow as they watched the Animzo turn and walk directly toward them ....

****

As a warrior Iolaus had faced the mad fury of hard driven barbarian hoards. As a hunter he'd been attacked by all manner of beasts, eager for the taste of his tender flesh and sweet blood. However, this was the first time he'd been faced with both at the same time. What Gabrielle said with regards to Xindra, how her mere presence gave the Animzo their humanity, began to ring true.

The pair watched a bizarre metamorphosis. As the female warriors came closer, slowly closing in on their prey, they began to resemble - in movement and sound - what their animal faces had once only represented. They weren't pretending. This was real.

"What's happening to them?" Gabrielle choked as she and Iolaus stood, still back to back. She continued to work feverishly on his bonds, feeling a rough scrapping on the already tender pads of her fingers. Gabrielle might have said more; called out to them, asking the warriors what was going on, if she was not cut short by a chant. It was nothing more than a grunt really, which rang in unison as the Animzo surrounded them from all sides. They stood just out of the line of hay and kindling.

Iolaus noted that the women's bodies swayed with their utterances and many had produced spears and drew knives. A few carried crossbows, aim directly at his and Gabrielle's heads. Baboon, who had looked upon Iolaus with favor since she first saw him, was hunched over, expression vacant, her knuckles dragging on the dusty ground as she muttered in time with her sisters. Iolaus almost called out to her, hoping for compassion from at least one of their adversaries.

Unexpected, the chant stopped and weapons were lifted.

Three torches were brought to the front, dangerously near the hay and kindling, presented to Tiger, Wolf and Panther. There was silence for a long period of time.

"We've been discussing what should be done with the two of you." Tiger said: "Burning you to vacuity seems wrong somehow. Such an incredible waste."

Iolaus and Gabrielle glanced at one another but said nothing. They were waiting for the other sandal to drop. No doubt it would. The animal amazons were not about to let them go.

"You think us inferior to your kind, because our faces are not like garden-variety humans. True, we are not smooth skinned and some of us have sharp teeth ..."

As she spoke Iolaus and Gabrielle recognized the change in Tiger's voice. She had always maintained a smooth tone, a near purr, even when angered. She didn't have the sophistication of Xindra, when their Priestess spoke, but Tiger's voice was clear and validated her position in their tribe. Yet now, from deep in her throat, Tiger truly sounded wild, like an untamed feline. Somewhere, she had lost control over her vocal chords.

" ... but we are not as beneath you as you might think ..." Panther took over for Tiger, her yellow eyes flashing something resembling amusement, "We are the same in so many ways. We laugh, love, bare children and even drink ..."

Then from Wolf: "And we **eat**." she barked, "But not raw meat, as do the beasts of the forest." she paused, her canines showing. She and the other females look up at her torch as she held it high - "We prefer **cooked** food."

Iolaus got a sick feeling in his stomach and felt Gabrielle stiffen behind him.

Some of the Animzo murmured amongst themselves, whispering they should wait for Priestess Xindra.

"We are what we are!" Tiger bellowed, her tone not to be trifled with. "We have rebelled against our very natures for far too long. Centuries of half measures have brought us to this! We are peasants when we should be gods! I say it's time to succumb to our animalism!"

Slowly, with building enthusiasm, the chant sounded again ... and the word was clear: "Burn, burn, burn!" Then, without further preamble, all three torches were thrown simultaneously into the kindling.

"Iolaus!" Gabrielle shouted as she jumped from the eruption of flame. She rolled onto her back then swiveled quickly to stand again. Unscathed, she braced herself, lifting her fists for a ferocious combat.

The hunter, with a fear induced adrenaline rush, pulled with all his strength and broke his bindings. He too jumped, in the opposite direction, the cleaved rope still hanging from his wrist. Once on his feet, he looked over the crowd to where Gabrielle landed and was relieved to see her well -- for the moment.

"Noooo!" came a wail from Tiger.

At first Iolaus and Gabrielle thought it was her fury at their prey's flight but soon, as all the Animzo let out a howl of apparent pain and fear, and collapsed onto their knees, it became clear something strange was afoot. Many of the women held their hands to their ears as if hearing a high pitched sound that no ordinary human being could hear.

Fleetingly, a thought came Iolaus. Creatures of the forest have a heightened sense of hearing; it's often what saves their lives. However, noting that both he and Gabrielle were in prime shape while the others were in trouble, whatever they were hearing was a deterrent and it obviously hurt a lot. "It's Artemis," Iolaus thought, "It has to be."

Confused, Gabrielle looked over to Iolaus as he approached her, pulling the rope from his wrists and weaving in and out of the women as they hunched over and moaned at duo's feet. "What's happening to them?" she asked.

"You!" Tiger shouted from her couched position and lifted a crossbow she had wrenched from the hands of an amazon beside her. "You are doing something to us! The scrolls said *Gabrielle* would mean our destruction and it's true. But we'll have our vengeance!" Anguished, the animal-amazon hit the trigger but fell on the ground again, wracked with pain, before she could see the outcome.

Iolaus, on the other hand, could see it all too clearly and, taking in the indescribable fear on Gabrielle's face, knew what he had to do. He raced as fast as his legs could carry him and jumped in front of her as the arrow made it's speeding way to her chest, then he fell to the ground ... groaning.

"Iolaus!!" Gabrielle screamed in horror, kneeling beside him, aggrieved tears falling from her eyes. She turned him over. "What have you done?!"

Again, Iolaus groaned. Then he lifted the clean arrow and shook it back and forth between his fingers.

Desperately, Gabrielle looked for a wound but saw nothing.

"I caught it." he stated simply, "I caught it with my hands."

There was a pause. They stared at one another.

"Really?" Gabrielle, awed but shaken, attempting to dry her tears with the back of her hand, "I ... I didn't know you could do that."

"*I* didn't know I could do it." Iolaus murmured, sitting up. Until now neither had seen anyone but Hercules and Xena catch an arrow with their bare hands ... "Desperation makes you try odd, impulsive things." he offered.

Helping him to his feet then smacking Iolaus across the shoulder, momentarily forgetting the tender lash marks on his back, Gabrielle shouted, "You scarred me to death! Don't you *ever* do that again."

Iolaus stared at Gabrielle for a moment then shook his head. He would never understand women.

They then returned their attention to the Animzo.

"My face! Something's happening to my face!" Ferret cried as she and the others wreathed in pain.

Now would have been the perfect time to escape. Yet, despite how brutally Iolaus and Gabrielle had been treated earlier by these women, how they had been tortured and verbally abused, compassion over-took the couple and they knelt down beside them. They attempted to help in some manner although, truth be told, neither honestly knew what it was they could do.

Iolaus crouched beside Baboon and took her right hand, "Tell me what I can do." he urged, gently.

"I'm sorry." she whispered intensely, through her pain, desperately grasping his lower arm, "Wrong ... We were so wrong! Please, please make it stop!"

And as Iolaus watched, as he witnessed humanity easing into the Animzo's eyes, he saw something more. Baboon's face was changing, becoming smoother. Moments later she lay before him - the pain having dissipated - as a human woman with a lovely, heart-shaped face, her tangled fire-red hair laying about her creamy shoulders.

The cries had lessened all through out the encampment and the beings, who were once the Animzo, slowly sat up ... all having changed from half animal to whole human.

Panther, now a dark mortal beauty, lifted hands to her leveled cheeks, an expression of total awe over-coming her. She looked at wolf, who sat beside her and was touching her teeth, noting how they were no longer sharp, and nodded to confirm that she too had changed.

Tiger, who was the first woman on her feet, seemed more frightened than any of the others. Her hands ran over her face with quick strokes from forehead to chin and she seemed on the verge of a nervous breakdown. "No, no, no ..." she keened, and nearly cried out when she felt something touch her arm.

"It's okay." Gabrielle spoke gently and put a hand to the woman's shoulder. She softly patted Tiger's tawny hair, as she might to calm a child. "You're going to be all right."

Timid, as if seeing the world from a new set of eyes, Tiger asked: "But how can you know? Is this a punishment? Are we going to ...?"

"I think it's a sign you have served out your punishment." Gabrielle surmised.

"That we have." said a familiar voice. A beautiful woman, with high aristocratic cheekbones and full red lips, stood beside the goddess Artemis, "My sisters, my daughters, we are now free women. We have been restored to what we once were."

"Priestess Xindra?" Ferret approached, still adjusting to the transformation - "But what shall become of us? We are Amazons but we are still different. We have warred against our sisters in neighboring tribes. Will they forgive us?"

"They may never forgive the Animzo but you are no longer that tribe. You are The Beauteus." Artemis said, "You are human beings, you are women and you will ally with all your sisters of the Northern tribes."

"Is that what you wish, our Queen?" Tiger asked, moving to the front of the group, slowly regaining control over her decisive voice.

With a smile, Xindra nodded slowly - "Yes, it is what I wish, it is what the gods wish ... and it is what we all should wish; a peaceful co-existence with our amazon equals. We have finally come home."

Iolaus and Gabrielle stood to the back, watching and listening. There was much work to be done and over the next few days they would be principles in the adjustment for this very ancient race but at least, for now, there was serenity. "The ancient scrolls were right." Iolaus stated, reflectively.

"Hmm?" Gabrielle turned to look at him.

"They said *Gabrielle* would mean the destruction of the Animzo and it's true." Then he smiled, "And you've restored these women to the what they once were, a proud Amazon tribe. Congratulation, Queen Gabrielle. You've done your job well."

She stared at Iolaus profile as he turned his attention back to the Beauteus and listened to what Artemis had to say to them. Gabrielle knew she should be concentrating on the goddess's words just to get a foothold on what would be expected from the Melosans but right now, looking at him, thinking of everything they had so recently shared, Gabrielle could think of only one thing: Soon the smoke would clear, both literally and figuratively, and Iolaus would be leaving.

*****

Continue to EPILOGUE ...