Gabrielle watched him go, then went to the table. Assia hurried there ahead of her and took up the decanter. It did indeed
hold tea, and she poured a goblet full and handed it to the blonde. The first sip made the small woman feel as if she were a
dusty flower in the desert that was opening under the first cool rain in months. Eyes closed in bliss, she drained the entire cup,
then had Assia pour her another and drank over half of it before she felt ready to stop. Sitting the goblet reluctantly down,
she sighed, then wrinkled her nose at the smell of her foul clothing, and began stripping it off.
Assia began to help her undress, but the blushing healer made signs that she could do it herself. She removed everything
including her boots, and as she did, the veiled woman took it all and placed it in a canvas sack for her to take with her.
Disgustedly looking down at herself, she found signs of blood from the grim surgery all over her nude body. Somehow, some
had even seeped past her apron and clothing and had gotten on her belly. There was even blood on her feet where the boots
had covered them!
Grimacing with distaste the Greek healer stood naked and began to scrub every inch of herself she could reach including her
short blond hair with the hot water, brushes and soap. She felt fouled by not only the blood and dirt, but with the screams
and stink of fear and death she had faced all day. As she was washing her front, she felt Assia begin washing her back,
buttocks, and legs with a warm soapy cloth. She wanted to say stop, but it felt so good to have the places she couldn’t reach
being scrubbed, that she relaxed and began to enjoy it.
Afterward, the veiled assistant helped her towel off as well, and she found herself thanking the woman. Assia only lowered
her eyes, and nodded silently, but Gabrielle saw the smile wrinkles above the veil and knew that the woman was pleased.
Finally, clean and dry, she donned one of the soft fresh robes and a pair of sandals. After this, still a bit thirsty, she finished
the half goblet of tea and even drank a small glass of wine. After she did so, she felt a wave of warmth come over her and
suddenly felt tired beyond belief. She knew that sleep would be a welcome friend, and was worried that she could even
walk.
By the gods, she thought tiredly. How will I even get back to Zara’s ship? Surely everyone is back aboard by now.
Oh, well, I’ll find a way. Putting the silent questions aside, she told Assia that she could inform the master healer that she
was finished and to convey her thanks to him. She thanked the veiled woman once more for her help and went staggering out
of the tent in the robe, carrying the bag with her clothing.
Once outside, she was both surprised and pleased to meet Abu. It seemed that the tall man had been waiting for her all this
time. He bowed to her and offered her a supporting hand. His voice was respectful as he took the bag holding her soiled
clothing.
“Come, Gabrielle. You have done a great work this day and need rest. I have a boat waiting. We will return to the captain’
s ship.” Nodding gratefully, the healer allowed him to lead her to the boat, where she was promptly overcome with fatigue
and dozed off in a sitting position while he rowed them out toward the Moroccan ship.
As he pulled strongly for the ship, Abu fondly watched the small foreign woman sleeping. When she first came aboard at
Higuchi, I and the whole crew thought her a curse, he mused silently. Now it is plain for all to see, she is a blessing of
Allah and a part of His magnificent plan. Her many skills at fighting, healing, teaching, and storytelling have already
benefited us so much. What will she do next? he thought, smiling with wonder. Will she perhaps even be the one to free
our poor captain from her personal curse and bring her to the joy of life once again?
He stopped rowing to rest his arms and stroked his beard. Then he shrugged and thought, If Allah wills it, it shall be, for is
it not written that Allah Is Powerful to Do All Things, Abu smiled at the small blessing sleeping so peacefully in the back
of the boat, and took up the oars once more.
Once at the Moroccan ship, the Greek woman awakened somewhat restored and climbed aboard in haste. As she entered
the cabin, Nadrah came to her with a glad cry carrying her cat. Gabrielle hugged the girl tenderly.
“Prasha and I watched the captain sleeping all day,” the child whispered. “She hasn’t moved at all, so I think she’s all right.”
Hiding her concern, Gabrielle smiled. “You’ve done very well letting Zara rest, sweetheart, and she will be proud of you.”
She tenderly stroked the child’s hair and kissed her cheek. Nadrah smiled and then yawned and the blonde said, “Now go
and rest, I’ll take over watching the captain.”
Nadrah nodded sleepily, and went to her bed in the corner carrying the cat. Too tired to remove her clothes, the little girl
crawled under the blankets. Within moments, the child was asleep holding the purring cat.
Sighing, Gabrielle turned her attention to her Moroccan lover. Still unconscious, the tall form laid deathly still. The blonde
took a wet cloth and wiped it over the pale flesh. She noted the slight rise and fall of the dusky woman’s chest, her breathing
even, but shallow. Her body temperature was low as well, and that worried the small healer. The bruised swelling of her
right eye had decreased only slightly. When she peered into her Zara’s good eye, she noticed the pupil was unclear and
unfocussed, not responsive to light as if there was a fog lying over it. With a slight frown, the storyteller carefully removed the
bandages on the back of the captain’s head, cleaned the stitches, applied a healing poultice, and then bandaged the area with
clean cloths.
“I don’t know what else to do,” she whispered to the silent form. “Zara, please, I’ve done all that I know how to do. The
rest is up to you,” she spoke softly as she ran her fingers lightly through the dark locks of hair.
Perhaps, she thought worriedly, she needs to be warmer. At least that I can do something about. In silence, the healer
stood and removed her robe, then crawled under the covers. Like a mother with her babe, she pulled the Moroccan to her,
cradling her head in her arms as she gazed down at the taller woman.
As she gazed at the unconscious woman, she was reminded of another time when emptiness consumed her. Just seeing Xena
injured, her eyes unable to focus, the blood on her head seemed more than the storyteller could handle. After Xena died that
first time, and Gabrielle was returning her casket to Amphipolis, the young warrior never thought she could be so alone. She
never thought it could ever be that bad, but she was so wrong. After losing Xena at Higuchi, and now Zara’s massive
injuries, she felt the emptiness digging deeper into her soul.
As she held the captain close, she closed her eyes and kissed the Moroccan’s temple. “Please come back to me. I couldn’t
stand to lose anyone again. Please, don’t leave me, I… I care for you,” Gabrielle whispered as a tear ran down her cheek.
Sighing, she laid her head back and closed her eyes. As she felt the fatigue from the past day consume her, she fell asleep.
Xena moved from the shadows of the cabin and gazed down at her dozing bard. As she watched her soulmate holding Zara
so close, she felt her heart ached. She longed to be the one in Gabrielle’s arms, to be the one held, to hear Gabrielle’s soft
voice close. Just when her pain began to surface, she sighed as she wiped away a tear.
The tall warrior took a moment to look at the Moroccan. Her breathing was shallow, her face was pale and gaunt, and for
the first time the warrior realized how close the captain was to leaving them for good. Without even needing to think about it,
Xena became resolved to help, for both the captain’s sake and for that of her soulmate.
~~~~~~
The excruciating physical pain became buried deep within Zara’s dreams. At first she felt her consciousness diving
into a deep pool of blackness. It was neither cold nor hot, in fact, it had no temperature at all. There was no sensory
input, only the void of blackness. This alone caused her to want to stay, to remain forever in a place that had no
pain, a place where all time remained the same and where she had no worries or concerns. She no longer had to live
up to family expectations nor did she have to strive to prove her worth. It was an existence where the void in her
heart no longer existed, a place where she could remain alone with the all-consuming silence.
Just when she was becoming comfortable, the Moroccan captain felt another presence nearby. Its familiarity
brought solace to her soul. It was the now familiar ghost. With eyes closed, she allowed the warrior to envelope her
in a protective cocoon. She had only experienced the merging a few times, but it was enough to permanently etch the
feeling in her mind. Both Xena’s strength, and compassion seemed to sooth the captain’s troubled soul.
“Are you here to guide me to Paradise?” Zara asked the ghost warrior, but never once did she hear a word spoken.
Instead, it was more like a thought that had crossed her mind.
Linked as one, the warrior softly spoke in her mind. “No.”
