Chapter Four

Xena sat beside the bed silently watching her good friend as she slept. She could
tell Gabrielle was dreaming. She saw her fingers wiggle and her eyes moving
back and forth underneath their closed lids. Once in a while she moaned softly.
Then, slowly, her eyelids fluttered open and she blinked, trying to focus in on the
smiling, but amused face that stared at her.

"Uh, oh Xena. Hi." Gabrielle struggled to brush away the remnants of sleep.
"I'm glad you're here. What have you been doing?"
"Hey sleepyhead! Good to see you're still with us." Xena gave her friend a
playful punch in the shoulder.
"Ouch, Xena! That hurt!" Gabrielle rubbed her arm exagerating the extent of the
pain.
"Well, Aristippus did say bed rest, and you know me. When I can find a real bed,
I'll always rest in it!"
"I'm glad you're feeling better. " Xena placed her hand tenderly over
Gabrielle's."So what have I missed?"
"Hmmm. Where should I begin?"
"That much, huh?" Gabrielle rolled her eyes upward.
"Uh huh."

Xena began to tell Gabrielle about her encounter with Callisto and the
information she had learned. She related the tale of the strange cat and Callisto's
unusual reaction to it. She confessed that she and Callisto had become uneasy
allies against Ares, and ended by recounting the confrontation they had with the
God of War in the marketplace.

"Whew! Sounds like you've been busy. But, do you really think it's wise to trust
Callisto?" Gabrielle was worried for her friend. "I mean, you know how capable
she is of switching sides at the last minute?"

"Yes I know, but it seems I have no choice. I need her help. I only hope that I can
save your daughter from the dire fate that seems to await her."

"I hope so too, Xena."

The woman wandered through the stalls of the marketplace searching for her
son. When he did not return by early evening, she began to worry and set out to
find him. They had not been living in Poteidaia very long, only for several
months having moved here shortly after her husband died. Her young son
insisted on shouldering the responsibilities that being the man of the house
entailed. They were very poor, and she was forced to hire herself out to the
wealthy people of the village to clean their houses just to earn enough to feed her
family. Diomedes was not able to go to school like other children, instead he
remained at home with his younger sister to care for her while she worked. The
woman feared that all this responsibility on the shoulders of one so young had
begun to take it's toll. Lately her son had been disappearing for hours at a time
and then coming home with food and other necessities. She had no idea where
these things came from, and she was afraid to find out.

Joxer came bursting through the door of Gabrielle's room.
"Gabby! Xena! Guess who I just saw? She was right there in the market place!
Right there in front of me! You're never gonna believe...."
"Whoa, Joxer, slow down." Xena gripped his shoulder trying to steady
him."Who did you see?"
"Gabby's baby, er, I mean daughter! She was right there in the marketplace! Oh,
Gabby she's so beautiful she has long blond......."

Before Joxer could finish, Xena was up on her feet and out the door. She ran
swiftly in the direction of the vendors looking left and right hoping to catch sight
of the little goddess. As she neared the tavern the street became congested with
people. Darting through the crowd she had almost given up hope when all of a
sudden the sea of bodies parted and there she was. The golden haired child was
looking directly at her. In her arms was a black cat which she was stroking
affectionately.

Lileas, knew immediately that this dark haired woman was Xena. Confidently,
she quickly focused in on Xena's eyes. Ares had told her that she needed to get the
upper hand with this one right away since she was quite a formidable foe.

Suddenly the Warrior Princess began to feel her senses leave her, all of the hustle
and bustle of the market around her fading away. She was aware of nothing but
the girl. She felt the penetrating gaze reach inside of her and take full control of
her body's movement and she was unable to stop it. Xena slowed to a walk, her
feet beginning to feel like lead. She was unable to tear herself away from those
beautiful emerald eyes. She felt herself being drawn into them, hypnotized by
their incredible power. All too late she realized what was happening. The
Warrior Princess shook her head trying to break the spell, but it was of no use.
Each time she moved her head she felt it turn back towards those jewel like orbs.
She no longer had control of her own actions.

"You must be Xena." The child smiled at her. Xena was amazed at just how
much she resembled her good friend, Gabrielle.
"Yes, I am." replied Xena in a dreamlike trance.
"Oh, I have heard sooo much about you. My Uncle Ares just adores you." Her
voice was like pure silk. "He'll be so glad to see you again."
"Yesss, he will." Xena was unable to think for herself anymore. She no longer
had a mind of her own.

"AAYIIIIIIIII!!!"

All of a sudden Callisto backflipped into view, landing between Xena and her
surrogate child. Lileas dropped Diomedes abruptly, ready to do battle with her
former guardian. Callisto also was ready, standing her ground confidently,
smiling.

"Oh no you don't my sweet!"

The child stared into Callisto's large brown orbs. Callisto returned the gaze,
unaffected. Lileas started to become impatient focusing in on Callisto's eyes more
intensely.

"What's the matter, pretty, can't work your magic on me?"

The two began to lightly dance around in a swaying circular motion, eyes locked
together. Lileas was concentrating so hard that tiny beads of sweat began to
break out on her ivory colored forehead.

"You can't trap me, little girl." Callisto hissed. "You are made from me and
therefore you are me. We are one."
"Aaaagghhh"

Lileas' frustration was beginning to get the best of her, rage building as her eyes
bulged and her face redened. Callisto reached out, grabbed her arm and flung
Lileas to the ground. Suddenly, the black cat jumped up and raked his claws
across Callisto's face.

"Ugh! You wretched creature! I knew I should have sliced you in two when I first
found you!"
As she turned her back on the goddess, she reached behind her and drew out her
sword. She brought it down rapidly in a chopping motion. The cat escaped the
full brunt of the hit but his right hind leg was scraped leaving a few drops of
blood on the edge of the sword.

"Rreeeooowww!!"

Lileas , jumped to her feet and charged at Callisto. But she underestimated the
former goddess. Not thinking, and reacting instinctively, Callisto spun around,
brought her sword back and plunged the sword deep into the chest of the young
girl who was unable to stop her forward motion. For one very long moment, all
movement ceased. Lileas stood there her small pale hands wrapped around the
sword which was still embedded deep in her body, tearful amazement evident on
her face. She looked at Callisto sorrowfully and then crumpled into a heap on the
ground.

Chapter Five

Callisto was stunned. She had not meant to do that. She loved this child. She only
meant to take her under her wing and keep her from Ares. Lileas wasn't
supposed to be able to die. How could this have happened? The child was a
goddess!

Xena awoke from the spell which had immobilized her. She rushed over to where
Lileas lay and knelt down beside her. She pulled out Callisto's sword and threw it
on the ground, where it landed at Callisto's feet. The little girl's lifeless form lay
limp and still. She then gently picked up the child and began to walk towards the
house of Gabrielle's family intending to bring Lileas back to her mother for a
final good bye.

Callisto still stood in the same position, staring at the bloody sword near her feet,
her mind transfixed by what she had done. Then she slowly squatted down and
picked up her weapon. As she did this, a slow movement caught her eye and she
was mesmerized by the sight that she beheld. The small black cat began to grow
and change, reforming until what stood before her was a young boy. She could
see that his right leg was wounded where her sword had sliced across it. Tears
welled up in her large brown eyes. The crystalline liquid overflowed and rolled
down her high cheekbones and rested at the corner of her mouth. Diomedes
reached up and tenderly brushed away a tiny droplet.

"You had to do it. There was no other way. She had to be stopped."

Callisto looked at him sadly and shook her head back and forth.
"I loved her. Now she's dead, just like everyone else that I loved. And I'm the one
who killed her."

"Diomedes!"

The young boy turned around and a huge grin crept across his face. He ran
towards his mother arms outstretched.
"Mother! Thank the gods that you're here!"
"Diomedes! Where have you been? I've been looking all over the village for you!
And you're hurt."
"It's nothing. Oh Mother, I have an incredible story to tell you. But first I want
you to meet....." He turned to introduce his mother to Callisto but she was
nowhere in site.
"She's gone."
"Well, you can tell me all about everything while we walk home."

Joxer opened the old heavy wooden door. He backed away letting the Warrior
Princess pass. As she approached the doorway of Gabrielle's room, she could see
the look of incredible sadness creep onto the face of her best friend. Xena brought
the child over to the bed and gently placed her next to her mother. The bard
slipped her arms around the slim body and hugged her, holding her close. Tears
streamed down her beautiful face as she sweetly kissed the girl's brow.

"Why? Why did this have to happen? My poor baby was doomed from the
start.""I mean, first her father Perdicus dies and then she is stolen by Callisto,
then taken by Ares and now she's dead!"
Gabrielle's grief overwhelmed her and she buried her face in the chest of her
dead child weeping gently.

"Mmmmm." The moan was very soft. Shocked by the sound, Gabrielle picked
her head up and stared at her daughter. "Mmmmm."

Slowly Lileas' eyes fluttered open. She gazed up at Gabrielle and then she looked
around the room at the faces of the others. Lileas looked bewildered.

"Where am I?" She slowly rose up and sat on the edge of the bed. She turned
back toward Gabrielle.

Overjoyed at this miracle, Gabrielle beamed with happiness. Somehow, her little
girl had come back to life! Just then Diomedes burst into the room, his mother
right behind him.

"Lileas! You're alive! I can't believe it!"
"Lileas?"
"Don't you remember?" Diomedes came closer. He looked directly into her eyes.
Two sea green orbs stared back at him, the emerald color was gone. "Your eyes,
they're normal!"
"Huh?"

"Please forgive my son, he tends to be very animated at times. I live next door.
My name is Serena."
"Serena. I have heard about you from Hercules." Xena extended her hand.
"Hercules?" asked Serena as she shook hands with the Warrior Princess.
"Ah, I guess you don't remember him."
"No, I'm afraid I don't. Is he a friend of yours?"
"Yes, he is a very good friend of mine." Xena smiled at Serena, then they both
looked back at the bed.

Diomedes was smiling happily at poor Lileas who looked very lost. He was
speaking very rapidly to her recounting their recent adventure. Lileas just stared
at him, her skepticism clearly evident.

Gabrielle motioned to her best friend to approach the other side of the bed. The
two bent their heads together whispering back and forth. Then Xena nodded her
head in an affirmative motion and walked back over to Serena. She whispered
something into Serena's ear and they left the room together.

"Diomedes, you really like Lileas don't you?" Gabrielle smiled at the boy.
"Yes I do." he replied blushing slightly. "Now that she's normal I think we can
be great friends."
"You know, Lileas is going to need a good friend to help her back onto the right
path. Are you up to the challenge?"
"Hey! What are friends for?" Diomedes slipped his arm around Lileas.
Just then Xena and Serena reappeared.

"Lileas, how would you like to live with us?" Serena walked over and took the
hands of the child into hers.
"I, I guess that would be all right. I really don't know where I lived before. You
seem really nice.'
Diomedes grinned eagerly.
"Really, Mother?"
"Really."
"Lileas," Gabrielle began, "If you like, I will make it my business to come and
visit you whenever I return to Poteidaia."
"That sounds nice."
Lileas' puzzled expression was an indication that she was trying to process too
much information too fast. But somehow all of this seemed right to her so she
decided to go along with it. Then, Serena, Diomedes and Lileas began to leave.
Lileas turned around and looked at Gabrielle reluctantly. Gabrielle smiled and
waved and Lileas returned the wave. Then she was gone.

Once again Gabrielle began to sob quietly and softly. The Warrior Princess went
over to her best friend and gathered her into her strong arms.

"That was a very brave thing you just did."
"I know, but I think she will be safer with Serena than with us. If she stayed with
you and I, Ares would certainly try to get her back again. She could get hurt or
even die. I would rather see her healthy and alive with another family, than have
any harm come to her. But, Xena, it was so hard. "I still don't understand why
she died or how she came back to life."

"I think I do." began Xena, "Hercules told me the story once. You see, Serena
was once a golden hind. She and Hercules fell in love and she became his wife,
but was killed by Strife. He told me how he went back in time, before she was
murdered and forced Ares to take the hind but spare her human half. When
Hercules returned to the present, he found that she was married to someone else
and had children."

"Ok' said Gabrielle slowly, "But I still don't understand how Lileas died and
came back to life."
"I'm getting to that. I believe that when Ares took the golden hind, he was only
able to take her hind appearance, not her blood. Legend has it that only the blood
of a golden hind can kill a god. Now, since Diomedes was Serena's son, part of
him had hind's blood. When Callisto cut him and got his blood on her sword,
and then plunged it into Lileas, it only killed the goddess part of her, sparing her
human self. I believe that in a way, the hind's blood protected Lileas' mortal
being from the sword's deadly impact, thus enabling her to live again. You get all
that?" Xena smiled wryly at her good friend.

"Uh....sorta." Gabrielle returned the smile. "Does Serena know that she was a
golden hind?"
"According to Hercules, Serena has no knowledge of that part of her past. And as
far as I'm concerned, it should stay that way. Apparently, even Ares doesn't know
what she's still capable of."
"Well, she seems like a very loving mother and at least Lileas will have some sort
of normal life with her. And, my mother will be still be here living right next
door."

Sadness returned to Gabrielle's voice. "You know, Xena, it's true what they say."
"What's that?"
"That loving somebody sometimes means you have to let them go." her voice
cracked and the tears began again.

"Hey! Who says we can't come back here more often?!" said Xena brightly.
"And just maybe someday, you'll be able to tell Lileas about herself......and about
you, huh?"
Gabrielle wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Yeah." The corners of the bard's mouth began to turn up into the beginning of
a grin. "Maybe I will."

Epilogue

The full moon shone like a brilliant opaque pearl, cascading it's eerie white light
over the darkened land. The wind was gusty, bringing a warm breeze which
gently rustled tree leaves, creating a constant hissing sound. She stood,
illuminated by the moonlight, at the summit of the mountain. Ams crossed, pale
blonde hair fanned out by the oncoming current, she pondered recent events.
New emotions had forever changed her, this she knew, but she could not quite
comprehend what that now meant. All she realized was that a battle had begun
inside of her, and she knew not which side would win. Slowly, her lips turned up
in a wry grin.

"AAAYIIIIIIIIII!!!!!"

The slim leather clad form rapidly backflipped into the shrouded forest and was
swallowed up by the blackness.