A War Begun of Innocence by WrriorBard
(A Summary of the Rift)
It was a war begun of innocence. Gabrielle, the very soul of purity and goodness, gave birth to the destruction of our world. Hope finally escaped from PandoraÕs box, leaving in her place death and betrayal. The sacrifice of GabrielleÕs blood innocence allowed Dahak to plant his evil seed within her; the sacrifice of both flesh and blood brought on the rebirth of the One Great Evil; and the sacrifice of Hope, in more way than one, will result in whatever suffering may lie ahead.
The Fates had never intended for her to follow Xena, to become a warrior, a princess, a queenÉto kill. It had been her destiny to lead a simple life as a villager: to help her mother carry water from the well, to obey her parents and argue with her sister,to marry Perdicas, bearing him many children--simple, mortal children-- who would work on their simple farm.
And then came Xena, a warrior like no other; six feet tall, long black hair, fought like the harpies in a bad mood. Gabrielle wanted nothing more than to befriend this extraordinary woman, to travel with her, to be her.
This desire, to live both the life and destiny of another, became the source of her anguish. Her desire for action and adventure, not the vengeful Warrior Queen, had killed her husband, Perdicas. Her jealousy nearly led to the execution of her best friend, leaving a ruthless emperor in power. And it had been her own maternal instincts, not her daughter, that took the lives of Solan and Kaliepus.
Gabrielle looked at Callisto. Her once sworn enemy now stared back at her with a curious expression on her face, as if to say, If you go, so shall I.
Gabrielle glanced at Ares. The God of War stood beside her, wide-eyed and open mouthed at the image of his daughter closing in on GabrielleÕs own, HindÕs Blood Dagger in hand, ready for the kill. Meeting her eyes, he looked at her with a pleading warmth she had seen from him only once before. He seemed to be asking her, Are you prepared?
Nodding, her memories returned to haunt her, taunt her with sins of the past.
She had sat next to the body of her lifeless daughter, tears silently streaming down her cheeks. She had raised the wineskin to her mouth, the very wineskin her daughter had drank from, the wineskin containing the poison. She had felt herself close her eyes as her lips brushed against the cool metal rim. It is best we die together.
Just as she had begun to tilt back both her head and the wine skin, she heard the distinct clanking of metal against metal, a familiar and strangely comforting sound Gabrielle knew well. It was Xena. Lowering the poison, slightly, she had turned to look at her, and though too ashamed to make eye contact, she noticed the warriorÕs hand loosely holding her chakram. She had not wanted to die then, just as she did not wish to die now.
If Xena kills Hope, XenaÉwillÉdieÉ
Gabrielle took a deep breath, the last she would ever take; at least in this life, this form. For Xena, she told herself, for us all.
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ÒJoxer!Ó Xena yelled at one of the captives, ÒThe Dagger!Ó
He tossed her the jeweled knife, the one covered in the blood of a golden hind, the dagger she had so cleverly sent him after. Catching the weapon, she closed in on Hope, the evil creature Gabrielle had given birth to, the monster which had killed her own son. She was prepared to die, if it meant keeping Dahak from entering her world.
ÒNO!Ó Gabrielle screamed from behind her, and Xena watched as her best friend, her source, threw herself at Hope, hurling the two of them into DahakÕs fiery abyss.
