The young blue eyed girl stared in terror. The old woman had risen from the darkest corner of the dank inn and now stood staring down at her through matted, infested hair.

"So life is so light hearted that you can just run and play, play and run, eh ?" the decrepit woman scorned, waving her arms wildly. She reached quickly for the girls slender shoulder and grabbed her just that little too hard. With a scary intensity, she leaned forward, her fetid breath engulfing the girl.

"I’ll tell you a little about life…." she threatened, staring into the innocent’s eyes.

Gabrielle was not faring well. Normally, four armed men would pose no problem. These, though, were getting the best of her. Muscles tensing now, she was ready for defeat. It was going hurt; it was going to really hurt. Where the hell was Xena? She always came to her just when she needed , just when she got out of her depth.

"Now er, I know it seems like I wanted to fight but actually, if you think about it, as Homer was once heard to say…" she began.

"Get ‘er", shouted the biggest of her assailants. The four men advanced and though Gabrielle fended the first two blows, a third smashed into her and knocked her to the ground. Her staff fell from her hands and rolled forward. She reached for it but a fourth blow crushed her arm. Instinctively, she curled into a ball as blow after blow beat against her now helpless form.

"YIYIYIYIYIYIYIYIYIYI", an ancient Amazonian war cry filled the air and pierced the hearts of those present. Xena spun in mid air and landed in front of the unconscious bard. For a moment her concern for her dearest friend distracted her and a club contacted with one of her temples.

She reeled back and saw her friends’ limp body exposed to the thugs. Briefly, Xena was unfocused. She saw only her friends precious face, the face she loved, the face she would die for…literally.

Anger, when focused can be the most effective of weapons. These thugs would not be allowed to touch Gabrielle’s gentle form. They would not be allowed to desecrate her through pain, injury or hatred. Xena braced and stepped forward into the next blow but anger welled into her, steadying her feet. She drew her sword from its scabbard strapped to her back. The pure, bright metal brushed close to her smooth, tanned skin before swinging around in a deadly, unforgiving, arc - the first of four.

Gabrielle awoke to the sound and smell of the campfire. As her eyes cleared, she realised that she was staring into the dark eyes of her friend. Her head pounded but being gently cradled in Xenas lap helped to ease the pain. Gabrielle smiled weakly and coughed.

"I thought you weren’t going to come for me Xena. I though I was alone, I thought I might even…"

"Sshhhhh, I’ll always be there for you Gabrielle." Xena stroked her young friends’ hair gently, almost willing her pain away. Gabrielle rolled gently and carefully and closed her eyes again. She felt so tired.

"I’ll always be there for you too Xena" she managed, falling to sleep again.

Xena had nursed Gabrielle back to health again over several days. The bard had insisted on returning to the village that they had been attacked in, to explain about the dead men to the villagers there. Xena had argued vociferously not to do so, but Gabrielle was determined. The two girls rounded a hillock to be confronted with yet another scene of violence outside the inn in the village. Two oriental men were on their knees begging for their lives from a group of men who bore large stones.

Xena sighed.

Gabrielle raised her staff in preparation.

"Look out", shouted one of the men, as if on cue, "that’s Xena, run or she’ll kill us."

"Your reputation proceeds you", smiled Gabrielle, lowering her staff as the men began to scatter.

"I usually have to threaten them first" said Xena, confused.

"I’d call killing four men enough of a threat, wouldn’t you?" asked Gabrielle.

"I suppose." The two friends wandered forward to greet the oriental men, now standing but still looking very nervous. The taller of the two was very neatly dressed in black, his kimono tied at the waist. His black, shiny hair was tied back into a short ponytail. He bowed slowly and addressed Xena.

"Thank you. My brother and I are in your debt. Please allow us to buy you and your companion a meal as a token of our appreciation." The man bowed very gently, his eyes never leaving Xena’s.

Xena turned to look at Gabrielle, a little surprised at the foreigner’s eloquence. Her friend was somewhat pre-occupied with the shorter of the gentleman. Xena tilted her head and raised one eyebrow as she inspected the other man. He was well built, with a gentle face and hair that cascaded around his shoulders. For all the Gods, he reminded Xena of Perdicus, Gabrielle’s dead husband. Gabrielle was smiling shyly Xena noted. She turned back to the taller man.

"We’ll join you for a meal if you agree to explain how you came to be here and why those men were attacking you."

"Of course."

"Come on Gabrielle", Xena said nudging her friend back into reality, "we’re going to eat."

So as not to draw attention, Xena had chosen a dark corner of the inn for them to sit and talk. The two men had explained about their adventures and how they came to be here in Greece, so far from their home in China. Xena and Gabrielle had listened carefully and were now relaxing. The men explained how the locals had thought they had killed the men Xena had dealt with days before and had been jailed for this. Afraid that they would not be given a fair trial they had escaped and that, they explained, was when Xena had come along.

"Well," said Gabrielle "it’s a very good thing that we came back here as I suggested." She looked smugly at Xena who raised an eyebrow in disapproval. "We will tell the authorities here what happened and your names will be cleared." She sat back, smiling proudly, all the while looking at the younger man.

"My brother Li and I are most grateful young warrior," said Gabrielle’s friend. Gabrielle positively preened and looked at Xena with a smile on her face.

"Yes, young warrior, we’ll do that in the morning, " added Xena with irony, "but for now I need to talk to Li alone."

"Oh. I suppose that means please leave us alone by going away Gabrielle?" Xena was silent. "I don’t need asked twice."

"Well?" Asked Xena.

"Oh, now, you mean now? Chi, do you want to go for a walk with me?" Gabrielle asked, laughing a bit nervously.

"I would be honoured to walk with one as beautiful as a lotus flower." Chi said, standing and bowing slightly. His gentle face was very close to Gabrielle’s own and their eyes never left one another.

"There’s no need to bow, " said Gabrielle, then she titled her head forward, her hair cascading before her eyes, and added "well, maybe a little, every now and then." She laughed lightly and took Chis hand in hers, looked back at Xena who was watching disapprovingly, and then led Chi out of the inn, leaving Xena and Li alone in the corner.

The village was small and soon Chi and Gabrielle were walking slowly in the fields on the outskirts. The moon lit the fields enough to see clearly but not so bright that the two were easily seen from the village. As they walked, Chi talked of his home and how he studied Chinese poetry, especially the form known as Haiku. Gabrielle listened to his gentle voice as he recited a Haiku and explained the form, but her mind was wandering, looking at Chis neat black hair and his browned chest, exposed through his silk tunic. The moon played across his hardened pectorals and caught his dark eyes. His strong hand held hers and made her feel so safe, a feeling she usually felt only with Xena. Her heart began to beat a little faster and she found herself blushing. Slowly, Chi turned to look at her. For a moment, he paused, his dark eyes exploring her face, then, as if he had seen what he wanted, he took her face in both of his hands, gently but firmly and leant forward. He lifted her face a little and kissed her, gently at first, but then, as Gabrielle responded, with firm passion. Gabrielle melted, her legs buckling beneath her. She wanted this dark stranger, to feel his firm body pressed against her, to feel his heat in the moonlight. Slowly she dropped to the ground, pulling Chi downward with her. He removed his silk tunic and laid it on the ground next to her. She smiled and rolled onto it, spreading herself seductively before him

Perhaps it was his dark eyes, perhaps the darkness in the inn, but Xena could swear his face was cold. She had seen this look before. It was a look that spoke of amorality, the look she had last seen on the face of Ming Tien, all those years ago.

Chi wore only a small pouch, almost naked, he pressed his body against Gabrielles, her breasts squashed against his pectorals, her nipples erect. "I want you Gabrielle," he whispered.

Li leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. Swiftly, he pressed the table forward, pinning Xena against the wall. "I want you," he said, "I want you dead."

Chi’s hands found their way to Gabrielle’s breasts. Momentarily frustrated by her top, he fumbled, then with hidden strength, he tore it open, releasing her pale, young breasts into the night air. Gabrielle groaned, she could feel herself becoming excited, ready to accept her lover.

With lightening speed, Li reached for Xena’s breasts. He pulled at the leather with hidden strength and released them, her breast dagger falling to the table in front of them. With her arms pinned, Xena was unable to resist. Whatever Li wanted to do next, Xena knew she would be at his mercy.

Gabrielle was barely able to resist Chi. His weight pinned her to the ground and her mind spun, she wanted him inside her now. Chi reached with one hand and raised his buttocks. He ripped his pouch off, allowing his erection to spring forth. He lowered his weight, the feeling of his penis against Gabrielle’s soft thighs almost too much for her to bear. He groaned and rubbed his proud manhood in frustration up and down her inner thigh, probing just inches from her waiting, wanting, flower.

Li took his time. Slowly he reached for his belt and released the knot, his tunic falling open. His sword was suddenly visible. Slowly he began to withdraw it from the scabbard, inch by inch, until the gleaming tip emerged and turned toward Xena. She struggled against his weight but the warriors’ strength, magnified by his intensity, held her fast. The tip found its way to Xenas soft neck.

Chi bit, his teeth drawing blood on Gabrielles neck. The pain intensified her lust, sending her into a frenzy. She thrust her hips forward, pressing his penis hard against her, her legs parting, desperate to receive him. He needed no further encouragement and thrust deep inside her in one powerful motion. She yelled with pleasure as his rigid manhood penetrated, filled her entirely, feeding her uncontrollable lust. "Yes Gabrielle, oh yes," groaned Chi.

"Oh yes Xena, yes."

Chi thrust forward again and again, using his weight, supported by rippling arms, to penetrate deeper still inside Gabrielle. His hands gripped her wrists and pinned her arms back behind her head, giving her a wonderful feeling of helplessness, at the mercy of her dark stranger. She arched her back to allow him deeper entry. The moonlight reflected from the sweat building on his neck and instinctively she stretched forward and ran her tongue across the glistening vee above his sternum. Li paused for a moment, his eyes staring deeply into Gabrielle’s, then he quickened his pace until, pushing deeper, harder, faster. Gabrielle, arched, and screamed, losing all control, all thought.

"Chi, by the gods Chi, yes Chi, oh Chi…..yeeees, oh , uh yeesssss, oh…the….gods….yes, Chi, Chi, Chi!!!!"

" Ming Tien was my Lord and Master. Now Xena, I avenge his killing. My brother and I will return to China heroes and you will know the blackness of the Great Dragon." Li flexed, the blade arcing in a perfect curve, the blow perfectly straight. It ended, level, the hilt an inch from Li’s waist, a perfect blow. One he had practiced many thousands of times, each day at court, a broken court, no master, no order. Li had lost his rank and been forced to serve another who had replaced him swiftly following Ming Tien’s death. He had plotted for a decade with his brother how they might punish Xena. Finally, it had come to Chi. It was simple really. To punish Xena, destroy her friend, the flame haired girl with the large eyes.

Chi pulled out of Gabrielle and stood up. His face was cold, even hard. Gabrielle was confused- he was still erect. Suddenly she felt very open, very vulnerable." Your friend Xena is in trouble," he said smiling, "I think you ought to go and find her."

"How do you know?" she asked, pulling her skirt down and blushing. Chi turned his back on her, still smiling. Gabrielle became very scared, not for herself but for Xena. Something was wrong. With one more look at Chi, she began to run, glancing back to see him laughing, naked in the moonlight. Her heart was beating so hard as she tore across the fields, following her trail from earlier, that it filled her hearing with pounding blood. She forced herself to run faster and faster, her legs buckling and her lungs screaming for air but she would not slow. Rounding the corner to the inn she saw a figure disappearing across the lane into another part of the fields she had come from. Perhaps it was Li but she couldn’t detour now, Xena was in trouble, he would have to wait.

Gabrielle burst into the inn and turned her head. A crowd was gathered around the table where she last saw Xena. She couldn’t see what they were looking at. So she forced her way through. Her heart still pounding, she forced herself past the last person to the table. She stared up at her, her eyes blank, her face bloodied.

"Xena!" shouted Gabrielle and fell forward onto her knees, catching her weight against the table, her hands landing in Xena’s blood. Xena’s head rolled over, until it faced away from Gabrielle, completely severed from her mutilated body. Trembling, Gabrielle raised her hands and turned them to face her, the thick, crimson , warm blood dripped from her. She stared, her eyes wide, mouth hung open, eyebrows furrowed deeply. It took only a moment for her to realise what had happened. She place her hands back into the blood and began to rub them back and forth, turning them over until they were bathed in blood. She raised them again, but this time, ran them through her hair, over her face and down her chest.

The old woman let go of the little girl and brushed back her matted hair. "Now that, my little cherry, is how life works. The lucky die by the blade, the rest live with a soul chewed on by the monsters of their mistakes. Play today little one because tomorrow, all you care for, all you love will be flesh."

"Let go of her Gabrielle," said the barman’s gentle voice.

Gabrielle returned to her seat and stared at the table. The reddened surface had never been cleaned since that day. Gabrielle looked up and stared into Xena’s deep eyes.

"I’m sorry Xena, I’m so sorry."

"You let him fuck you whilst I cried for you to save me," scowled Xena with bitter venom.

"I’m sorry."

"You should have been there for me," accused Xena.

"I’m so sorry."

"But, no you had to go with him, didn’t you?"

"Please, I know, I’m sorry."

"Poor old bugger," said the barman to a customer staring at Gabrielle. "Every day for as long as I can remember, she sits there talking to herself."

Outside, the rain fell on a small gravestone, a rusted sword and a rotten stick.

Jason