"Come on sleepyhead" Xena called to Gabrielle in an effort to rouse her, "morning's here already and we've got a treaty to sign."

"Ohhhh, can't I have just five more minutes?" the Bard grumbled.

"That's what you said half an hour back," Xena countered, " time you were up!" She finished her sentence with a deft removal of her friend's wrap, exposing her to the chill air of the morning.

"And good morning to you Xena," she said sourly.

"Morning Gabby," Joxer called to her cheerily, emerging from the other side of the wood.

"Hello Joxer," she replied blearily, then did a double-take. "Joxer! What are you doing here?" she cried, more awake now.

"Oh, Xena found me on the other side of the wood last night and invited me to share your camp," he answered her. "Right, I'll be going then. See you guys around."

"But don't you want to join us?" Gabrielle asked in surprise.

"Xena said you were on a mission, so I'd be just in the way," he said, collecting his backpack and noisily putting his armour and helmet on. "Anyway, what if there was a fight? You'd both have to have eyes in the back of your heads to make sure I wasn't about to be killed."

"Joxer, you get back here right now!" Gabrielle said testily, "you and I are going to have a long talk on the way to this meeting Xena and I are going to. Or else."

Joxer made a face and sighed loudly, returning to her side. "Okay Gabby."

Gabrielle thrust the sleeping wraps at him, followed by a tied bundle of kindling. "Here - roll those up and put them in Horse's saddlebags. And make sure I haven't left anything behind in the camp," she said sharply.

He almost fell backwards underneath the wood and animal skins thrown at him, but Xena was sure she saw a triumphant smile for a second before he regained his balance and did what Gabrielle had requested of him.

Horse and Argo were ready to go, with their owners astride them, within ten minutes and Joxer stood alongside them. "And what do you think you're doing?" Gabrielle asked him wearily. "We're riding half a day's travel - how are you going to keep up with us by running? Who do you think you are, Pheidippides?"

"Well, erm, what do you suggest Gabby?" he asked her tentatively.

"Here, ride on Horse with me," she said brusquely.

"On a horse - me? Oh no, forget it Gabby!" he said flatly, his arms folded tightly and his stance confirming his determination not to get on the horse.

Xena rather abruptly ended this discussion by sweeping past on Argo and picking up Joxer by his armour and placing him on Horse's saddle behind Gabrielle. "Sit. Stay." were her words of advice to him.

Less than happy about being on a horse and nervous about being so close to Gabrielle, he nevertheless acquiesced with his current position, after Xena insisted so firmly. The horses moved out of the thicket at a careful trot and back on the coastal road, Joxer gripping the saddle tightly for all he was worth.

"Joxer, if you're going to ride with me, at least relax a little," Gabrielle said gently. "Here -" and she moved his hands from the pummel of the saddle to around her waist.

Xena saw Joxer's face go white as a sheet when she moved his hands onto her waist, and she only partially succeeded in disguising a snigger as a cough, earning a sharp look from Gabrielle. "Something on your mind Xena?" she asked pointedly, tapping her fingers on the side of the saddle.

"No, just I never thought I'd see the two of you together like that," Xena protested in mock innocence.

"Riiight," Gabrielle said hesitantly, giving the Warrior Princess a piercing glance, which she patently ignored. "So, Joxer, why don't you tell me something about you that I don't know?"

"Okay Gabby," he said after a pause, receiving an encouraging nod from Xena. "How about if I start with my family and my career?"

"Alright Joxer," she said and waited for him to relate some of his history.

Admittedly, it came in dribs and drabs, but eventually she learnt of his early childhood, his teenage years, how he was bullied mercilessly by his brothers, and just how odd his elder brother was, how he loved fishing and music but how both were extremely frowned on by his father.

He'd managed to hide his lute, but his fishing rod had been burnt to ashes, all forages to the river had been forbidden and suddenly all the music teachers were unavailable to teach the warlord's son any more tunes with the lute. "And then when I was old enough, I left home in the dead of night and met with you guys after Callisto's raid," he finished.

Gabrielle was aghast and agog at the same time; her hard childhood in a farming village paled when compared to the trials and tribulations he'd gone through, despite his family having more money than hers. The constant knockbacks, all self-belief and confidence shattered on a daily basis almost, his facade of a character he'd built up as a flimsy self-defence, spoke volumes of a man who'd been to Tartarus and back, yet was determined to succeed. She noticed he'd left out all the details of how he'd fallen for her in the first place, but she decided not to press the matter - it was after all, hard enough for him to tell of his past, she could tell, before they met him.

"And here we are," Xena said indicating the village of Phillipi.

"By the Gods, have we been talking that long?" Gabrielle said in astonishment.

"Well, you said you wanted a long talk, Gabrielle," Xena said with a small smile.

"So where's the meeting?" Joxer asked.

Gabrielle shrugged. "The messenger didn't say. He just said it was at Phillipi."

"So let's have a look around," Xena suggested, and cantered off in search off the Roman, and Gabrielle did the same.

"That's funny," Joxer said in puzzlement, "there's no sound or movement in the village, not even the song of a bird."

"Now you come to mention it, I don't notice anything either" Gabrielle agreed and went to re-join Xena.

They found her few hundered yards away, looking very concerned. "Well, I've found-"

Whatever Xena was going to say was interrupted by the dramatic appearance of a mass of Roman soldiers running through the treeline on the rising ground above, but they weren't in the mood for fighting; Xena charged Argo forward and sounded her warcry, but the Romans were streaming past her and were in rapid retreat.

"Gabrielle, ride!" Xena shouted to her friend, wheeling Argo round and pointing after the Romans. "This isn't a retreat, it's a rout!" Gabrielle didn't hesitate to look behind her, she knew that the alarm in Xena's voice meant this was an emergency.

"But who would the Romans run from?" Gabrielle panted as she drove Horse through the fleeing fugitives. She could tell Joxer was still with her, by his terrified grip on her waist. "They're the best army in the world!"

"Yes they are," Xena shouted back, risking a quick look behind her and confirming her worst fears, as the thunder of Cavalry echoed behind her. "Only from a victorious Roman army - and they're right behind us!"

For a moment, there was a temporary silence, then the now-distant village behind her and the open plain exploded into colour as the pursuing Roman army chased after the remnants of the first.

"Xena, we can't stay here!" Joxer called out, " we'll get chopped up with the rest of them!"

Xena was silent for a moment, sizing up the alternatives, as she looked around for an escape route for the three of them; The route to the coastal road was cut off, the valley in which they were in was a death trap for infantry against Cavalry, the river was full of fleeing infantry, no forestry nearby - wait, there!

"Xena?" Gabrielle prompted.

"Gabrielle, turn north now!" yelled Xena. "Hyah! Hyah!" she urged Argo with all the speed she could get out of the mare, with Gabrielle right behind her tail. They raced across the shallow riverbed, the hooves of the galloping horses splashing as they pounded across the valley. A detachment of Cavalry followed them until Xena deterred them by throwing her double Chakram in a viscous arc, cutting at the mouths of the horses chasing them, forcing an abrupt halt to the pursuit.

"Uphill!" Xena commanded and the flagging strength of the two horses at full pace was beginning to give out, only the desperation of their riders was keeping them going. Finally a possible haven was in sight; , the river ran past a half-hidden plain, which was only visible close to the jutting outcrop. Argo and Horse were exhausted and could go no further, so the trio dismounted and led the horses to apparent safety through the gap in the rock.

"What now?" Joxer asked, relieved to be off the charging Horse, the adrenaline flowing through him like the river in the valley full of Romans.

"We wait until they've passed and hope they don't notice us," Xena said grimly.

"Otherwise we're dead," Gabrielle finished, leading the blown horses out of sight from the gap in the rock.

"Ever been in a real battle before Joxer?" Xena asked him breathlessly.

He shook his head, his fear showing in his face.

"It ain't a pretty picture," Xena said candidly. "Soldiers get killed left right and centre, and you keep going because if you don't, you'll be killed. And you're looking for comrades and mates to watch your back, only they can't because they're dead, and the enemy is getting the upper hand because they have more troops than you do, and you can't run, because the Cavalry will ride you down."

Gabrielle nodded in agreement, gesturing to the vast Roman army covering the vale to their front. "I've only been in one battle and that was bad enough. It was only on the outskirts of the battle, but I was terrified; I had to keep going for the sake of those with me, even though every instinct told me to run and hide."

"If you're trying to scare me" Joxer told them," it's too late, I'm already scared out of my wits. But I'm not going to leave you whatever happens. To me you're everything in this world, all that I'll ever need - you two are the best thing that's ever happened to me."

The three of them held each other close then parted.

"Anyway," he added "you're both indestructible - you've both died twice and you're back again - you just can't keep a good woman down!"

"Well, it doesn't do to try and tempt the Fates," Gabrielle laughed, then held up a hand for silence and pointed across to a pair of mounted figures close by.

"Hail Mark Anthony! Hail Caesar!" the runner greeted the two generals. "Our Army is victorious and Cassius and Brutus are dead."

"Caesar?? He was killed by Brutus and a host of others in Rome," Xena muttered in surprise.

The more striking of the two generals turned to the other, saying, "Well Augustus, it looks like you have your great-uncle's skill as leader. My compliments to you."

"Thank you Marc Anthony, but it was a joint effort after all," the other replied evenly. "Will you organise the mopping up of the remnants of the opposing army, or shall I?"

"The honour's mine," Mark Anthony answered, "I'll let you bask in the glory of the field of victory! Ave Caesar!"

He saluted Caesar and left to rejoin his troops chasing the defeated army. Augustus Caesar looked reflective as soon as Mark Anthony had left, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Now where are you Xena?" he murmured aloud. "I know you're here, because that message I sent in Brutus' name would draw you here like a bee to honey with that sidekick of yours. Of course, killing you would be a bonus to winning this battle, but you aren't as important to me as you were to my adopted father."

He shrugged diffidently and moved on, escorted by his personal Legion. Xena breathed a sigh of relief, seeing the opportunity to get safely back on the road would be here soon enough. Patience wins battles, large and small, she told herself. She motioned to the others to be still, while time passed. Suddenly there was a tramp of feet as a horde of infantry approached the gap in the rock to the plain where they were hidden, the three friends waiting, swords and Sais drawn.

"Sorry Xena, I lied," Augustus hailed her from the other side of the rock, as his Legion reached the breach hole. "Of course I knew you were there - one of my scouts saw you from the village." "Now, let me see," he mused aloud "your horses are blown, but you're reasonably fresh and you're guarding an ideal defence position. Hmm, should be interesting - Attack!"

The first troops advanced towards the trio in tortoise shell formation as they neared the outcrop, then the first ranks collapsed as Xena's chakrams hit their exposed lower legs. The momentum was relentless however, and as one rank fell, another took its place and defeat seemed inevitable.

"So what do you think of my personal Legion Xena?" Augustus Caesar taunted her. "Quite good aren't they? I don't think your Chakrams will stop them in time, but you never know."

"How about Black powder?" Xena shouted back in challenge, and threw a series of flasks of fused black powder at the mass of Romans, the front ranks disintegrating in a puff of smoke.

"Impressive Xena!" he said and he waved an order to an officer. The ranks continued to disappear, the flasks raining down on them until they were too close to the breach to have the powder used on them. A viscous melee now commenced between the desperate friends and the hardened Romans, broadsword and spears against Joxer's short sword, Gabrielle's Sais and Xena's battlesword. The full fury of Xena in war-mode forced the Romans back until the entrance to the citadel was free again.

The cost for this initial victory was high, however - All three had multiple cuts and lacerations; Gabrielle had her left arm sliced open below the shoulder, Joxer had his left knee broken and Xena was wounded on her sides, her chest armour had been pierced in several places. Ironically, Joxer's armour and helmet had deflected the worst of the blows, save the one that broke his kneecap.

"Round 1 to you Xena, but it isn't over yet," Caesar called out and a squadron of Catephract heavy Cavalry trotted forward.

"Xena, look!" Joxer cried out, pointing to the top of the outcrop, "We've been outflanked!"

They had been indeed outflanked - about thirty or so infantry had climbed the rock and the numbers were increasing, rapidly descending to hit them from behind while the Cavalry were to hit them from the front.

"Damn!" Xena cursed in frustration, " how much black powder have we got left Gabrielle?"

"I'm out," the Bard said in a resigned voice.

"Well, Gabrielle, Joxer, this is it - the last stand, huh?" Xena said with a brief smile. "Come on then, let's be having you!" she shouted in defiance, and threw her last flask of black powder at the infantry on the rock, sending a deep tremor through the outcrop and eliminating most of those standing on the crest of the rock at the time.

There was a moment of brief silence as all watched and waited to see if the outcrop would collapse, but it only gave a mighty tremble before ceasing into silence again. "Gabrielle, watch the Cavalry!" Xena sang out as she leapt onto the rock, her mighty Warcry echoing around the valley, as her Chakrams and Battlesword fought in a deadly combination, desperately trying to throw back the Roman menace.

Bodies were strewn all over the rockface, but it was as though Xena was King Canute trying to stop the tide; no matter how many died, more came to take their place and Xena knew she was tiring, and she was gradually forced to give ground, her weapons beating their deadly tattoo as she slowly withdrew. And stopped.

Here would be her final battle - she could retreat no further and let the Romans loose on her friends on the ground. She stole a lightning-quick glance at Gabrielle and Joxer below, valiantly trying to hold off the Heavy Cavalry, slashing at their legs at their armoured stomachs and legs. Here it would end, there was no possibility of holding them off for much longer and hopefully the end would be quick, unlike the crucifixions in the winter snows she and Gabrielle had had to endure.

She heard a shout of alarm and Gabrielle was thrown back by a horse's kick, knocked unconscious, and now it was Joxer alone, but she had no opportunity to look to her friends, her blade was like a grinding mill; as legionnaires fell beneath her sword and the red mist descended over her eyes as she reached the ultimate war rage - what the Norsemen called a Berserker - and the Romans fell temporarily back under this fresh impetus, giving her a mere second of a breathing space.

She took this opportunity with open hands and threw her Chakrams for a final time, the twin weapons ricocheting of the rockwalls, cutting straight through the armour of the Cataphracts, causing the horses to rear up and unseat their riders.

"Joxer, go to Gabrielle!" Xena shouted to him, " at least you can die together in each other's arms!"

He scrambled backwards, but it wasn't to the side of Gabrielle that he went. "Save her Xena," he croaked in a voice barely above a whisper, and he threw his backpack and the torch that had been lighting the black powder bombs at the outcrop before he collapsed to the ground.

The citadel unguarded now, the Cavalry galloped in a race to be through the gap, and Xena, pushed beyond all endurance, sank to her knees, at last an easy target for the Romans who'd been hounding her for what had seemed like forever. She saw her fate in the blade raised to plunge down, but it never fell.

The heavy rockface disappeared, exploding in a shower of death; the horses pouring through the gap, the Romans about to overrun Xena, those following up, all were mercilessly trampled underneath in an avalanche, or thrown hundreds of feet in the air, until there was just a cloud of dust and a massive pile of rubble.

All was silence until Xena raised her head shakily from where she lay, hanging like grim death onto a branch of a old tree. "Gabrielle!" she called gently, hoping against hope that her friend was still alive.

"Xena?" a fragile voice called back.

Xena dropped down from her perch and landed gingerly on the ground, even though it was only a mere five feet to the ground. Her feet buckled as she landed and she fell onto her hands and knees, landing by the prone body of her friend, just coming round from the severe kick she'd received to the stomach, which had sent her flying back.

"Are we still alive Xena?" Gabrielle asked quietly, looking at the scene of devastation around her. "Is this Tartarus?"

"Gabrielle, somehow we're still alive, though down to luck and instinct I guess," the Warrior Princess answered her. "You by being kicked out of harm's way and I grabbed the branch of that tree as I flew beneath it."

"What about Joxer?" the Bard said, searching for him. "I can't see him."

"Gabrielle, I-I-I don't think he made it," Xena said finally.

"Xena, he must have!" Gabrielle cried in alarm. "If we survived, so must he!"

"Gabrielle, he saved us by throwing a cache of black powder in his backpack and the torch at the rock. It must have occurred to him when I threw my last flask at the Legion and the rock shook. There's no way he could have survived that rockfall."

"We must at least look for him," Gabrielle insisted, "help me up Xena."

Xena struggled to her feet, then helped Gabrielle do the same, and they searched the area near what had been the gateway, overturning rubble and shale, looking for their friend in a vast landscape of stone.

"Gabrielle, here!" Xena's voice had a quickening to it, and Gabrielle hobbled to join her, her right foot limping. "His helmet!" She removed the helmet and some of the rocks away, to reveal their friend lying peacefully; his chest armour dented and wrecked beyond all recognition, his stomach was a criss-cross effect of numerous deep wounds, the dried blood now ceasing to pour forth.

"Joxer, Joxer wake up!" Gabrielle shouted in more desperation than hope that he was only sleeping, shaking his still form with her free arm.

"Gabrielle, he's gone, " Xena said and Joxer the Mighty had breathed his last.

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