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"NO!" Without warning, Gabrielle came out from the momentary safety of her hiding place and hurled herself onto
Mephistopheles broad back. Her firm arms wrapped forcefully around his neck in an odd version of a choke hold. The spiked heels of her black shoes dug deeply into his sides, eliciting a determined 'yes!' from the bard and a yowl of pain from Mephistopheles. "Leave him alone!" Gabrielle cried as she held on for dear life. "You can't have him!"
The young woman's reckless cry was enough to bring Iolaus out of his shocked stupor, "Gabrielle!' he shouted in fear for
her safety. He struggled again with the restraints.
Angered beyond all measure, the demon bellowed his displeasure. An earthquake was the result. Rubble fell from the stone
ceiling above, pummeling both he and the girl. However, Mephistopheles - supernatural as he was - was easily able to brush the harden earth aside. Gabrielle was not as fortunate. The torrent of earth and stone was too much for her and she had to give up her hold on the creature.
Gabrielle fell painfully to the ground, cuts and scratches all over her face and hands. Her black gown was now torn to
shreds from her ordeal. Yet, she crawled to get to Iolaus. She had to protect him, to shield him ... But not before a heavy rock unceremoniously dislodged itself from the ceiling and hit her rudely on the back of the head. Unconscious, Gabrielle lay still, only a few meters away from Iolaus.
As the dust from the quake billowed about the chamber, Mephistopheles looked down at both mortals and snorted, "Fools.
If only you had listened to me." Then, he watched Iolaus, at the concern in his expression as he stared at the female. An idea formed in Mephistopheles head. He placed one of his cloven feet on the back of Gabrielle's head and pressed gently, "I think I will exterminate the girl first, crush her little skull, then I will deal with you. Once dead she will be my play toy. I will be her monster, the foul creature that tries to ravage her in her nightmares ... and the others below will have their fun as well."
"No ..." Iolaus, still bound by the demon's power, moved his body as quickly as he could next to her's, knocking his foot
aside. "Don't do it, Mephistopheles!" Then, with wretched humility - "Please don't hurt her."
The demon paused, "You can stop it, Iolaus; the terror that will be inflicted upon you and she. Simply pledge your soul and
her soul to me. I still want you both. It's not too late but you must do it now ... or you will be forever damned."
"And we'll be damned if we do." Iolaus murmured, tears beginning to form in his eyes. His indecision was brief. Sadly,
slowly moving his head downward, next to Gabrielle's, Iolaus kissed her cheek and closed his eye in ultimate grief, "Forgive me." he whispered in her ear. Iolaus then sat up and set his jaw firm, "NO. I can't do it. You may kill us and turn us into horrible trolls -- but I have to be true to me and what I believe in ... And I won't speak for Gabrielle. Her soul is not mine to give away. So -- you do what you have to, Mephistopheles! But remember this, you failed when it came to us. We out- lasted you and never gave in to any of your temptations or force. We are better than you!"
Obscenities blasted from the creatures mouth as another great wind engulfed the chamber.
Iolaus leaned down to half shield Gabrielle's unconscious form. Abruptly he was aware that his limbs were no longer bound
by the spider web. Uncertainly, Iolaus sat up and pulled Gabrielle into his arms for a last protective embrace. He then watch what followed:
A gentle glow of sparkling light blanketed the chamber. A golden clad form appeared.
"Nooo! I need more time!" Mephistopheles roared.
"We could give you years but it would not make a difference. You have you answer and now it's time to pay the penalty."
"Michael ..." Iolaus whispered his recognition.
"You tricked me!" Mephistopheles accused.
"I told you the truth but you could not accept it." Michael turned and looked as Iolaus as he held onto Gabrielle, "Some
heroes truly learn their lessons."
An unspoken acknowledgment passed between angel and mortal.
"And now," Michael refocused his attention on the demon, "thanks to our bargain and these free, courageous souls -- you
are bound to stay here for all time. Never again will you surface to physically torment mortals above."
Mephistopheles, clenching his taloned fists, warned - "I can still get into human thought! Don't forget that Michael!" the beast
snorted, "And one day I will find someone to set me free and when I do ..."
"Someone will be there to stop you, destroy you and take your place. But that time is not now."
What happened next was an assault to the mind and body. Motion, color and sounds whirlpooled about the chamber in a
wave of ethereal smoke. Iolaus closed his eyes against it and held tightly onto Gabrielle as she continued to lay oblivious in his arms. He could feel he and the woman being gently lifted and he heard Michael's voice: "You have done yet another great service for mankind, my friends. You are blessed among the living and we will call on you again ..."
And they awoke.
The sun shown brightly on the outside of the cave as Iolaus opened his eyes and looked about. Gabrielle was resting, with
her head on his shoulder, as she had the night before when the rain started and they came to the cave. They had built a fire and ...
He looked over and down at the sticks that still smoldered.
Gabrielle came awake and, smiling drowsily, stretched, "What a night ..." she murmured.
Iolaus stared at her. No scratched or bruises and both of them were wearing their usual clothes. "Gabrielle, what happened
last night?"
"We fell asleep." she said, "And I had one very strange dream ..." Gabrielle stood and smoothed her skirt. She then checked
to see if her sei's were in their holdsters, "All sorts of strangeness about demons, retribution, heroes and even Hercules' wife was there. We called her Sin even though ..." Gabrielle suddenly met the hunter's eyes and was well aware that he was not smiling. "Iolaus? What is it?"
"Gabrielle, I had that same nightmare. It was real."
She stood still for a moment. "Real? Are you sure?"
The fire, the smoldering embers, suddenly ignited in a large blaze before them.
"Yeah," Iolaus said, "I'm sure."
***********
EPILOGUE:
They decided to have breakfast, fruit and spring water, in front of the pond where their "sacred ducks" paddled and enjoyed
the wonderful weather about them. Gabrielle had grown thoughtful after she and Iolaus compared notes about their adventure together. It worried Iolaus but he had to remind himself that Gabrielle had been through a lot with Xena and this was just another chapter in an already bumpy quest. Still, he attempted to distract her with stories, jokes and a soft touch when she appeared to need a hug.
Finally, by mid afternoon - when they were both feeling much better - Iolaus told the bard they had better get back to the
village. "Xena's going to think I kidnapped you." he quipped, sitting beside her as they gazed out at the pond. "But before we leave ..." Gently, he leaned in to kiss Gabrielle -- and felt her pull away.
Iolaus stopped, pulling back himself. With genuine disappointed looked again out at the lake.
Gabrielle didn't make a move but her breathing was uneven, "Iolaus, after all we've been through together this is going to
sound unbelievably ungrateful but -- I care for you and don't want to be just another one to you. Do you know what I mean?"
"You could never be just another one to anyone, Gabrielle, particularly me. Not ever." he whispered.
She smiled softly and lifted a hand to gently touch his amulet, carefully tracing the lines of its unique design, "I care for you,
Iolaus." she repeated, "I really do. But I just have this feeling that if we start something here a disaster will come along and wipe it clean, as if it never happened." then she chuckled, "Paranoid sounding, isn't it?"
"I understand." Iolaus confessed, "What we do and the people we have decided to spend our lives with ... Well, let's just
say anything can happen and it usually does."
Gabrielle nodded, still staring at his amulet and recalling how it was broken. "I know it was phony, the future Sin showed
us, but when I saw that image of me stabbing you ..." She broke off, unable to continue with the thought.
He reached up, anticipating her fears, the backs of his fingers gently caressing Gabrielle's cheek. "It wasn't real and could
never be real. Don't belittle yourself, Gabrielle." Then he smiled, "Or me."
She sighed, swooning slightly under his tender touch, and also feeling embarrassed. "If nothing else I should have learned to
stop under estimating my ... our place in the known world. I know I'm special to one person, Xena, and her opinion should mean everything. It does but ..."
"Two people." Iolaus corrected.
"What?"
You are very special to at least two people in the world and, if I know my bards right, you probably have a lot more fans
than you think."
Gabrielle stared at Iolaus for a long moment. It sounded like something Xena might say -- but The Warrior Princess hadn't
been very complimentary lately and Gabrielle suddenly felt warmed by the fawning. "Iolaus, I'd like you to make me a three part promise." she whispered.
"Of course."
"First, promise me we'll see each other again after we part today. I want to see you again ...." she ducked her head a bit
shyly, "Second, remind me again of my worth when we do get together. Sometimes I need someone I respect, someone other than Xena, to tell me I'm okay. And third ..." She paused and looked deeply into his eyes, "Actually, it's more of a request .."
His eyes bore into her's, curious.
"I want you to kiss me. Really kiss me."
With a lopsided smile, Iolaus looked from Gabrielle then out to the duck pond. He then brought his attention back to the
bard again, "The first two promises I can almost guarantee ..." he murmured, " ... and the third ..." He leaned forward, carefully lifting her chin with a finger, then tenderly pressed his lips to her's. Iolaus could feel her hands move up from his arms to the hard muscles of his shoulders.
Gently, they fell back on the grass together.
*********
"I will never completely understand mortals and your interest in them." the white robed figure next to Michael commented as
he and the archangel observed Iolaus and Gabrielle from Heaven. "Hercules I can understand. As the son of a Greek deity he holds promise but these two ..."
"... are more impressive each time I see them." Michael said and waved a hand, causing the sound from the image of the
occupied couple to lower, "It's going to be the mortal heroes that will eventually lead the way for this world. Besides, The Light has plans for Iolaus and Gabrielle."
"Together?"
"The plan hasn't yet been revealed. Together or apart or with their constant companions. Does it really matter?" Michael
looked over at his subordinate.
"Suppose not." the angel shrugged, "As long as they're strong and can be used. At least they were beneficial in keeping
Mephistopheles in his place. I'll give them point for passing the test."
Michael's brow furrowed at these words, "Lucifer, have you ever considered that one day your own character may also be
tested?"
"I'm an angel and no angel has ever fallen, Michael. I think I have proven myself worthy and strong and if The Light
chooses to give me a challenge, I'm ready."
'Prideful.' Michael thought and looked back at the couple on Earth as they continued to show affection. Why was it he could
admire the pride in these mortals but it caused unease when he thought of Lucifer in the same manner?
Yet, now there were other things to concentrate on.
Xena and Gabrielle were in for an astounding, Callisto-induced surprise not long into the future.
Hercules and Iolaus needed to stop some trouble brewing in Egypt.
The Light and Michael would be watching.
THE END
Oct-Nov 2000
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