Spoilers: Between the Lines
Summary: Between the Lines from a different POV.
Author's Notes: This is part two of my five-part Reincarnation Arc, which began with "Karmic Joxer". This is the last part based on an actual episode until part five. I've borrowed large chunks of dialogue and situations from the episode for use in this story. All of the action takes place in the future part of the episode.
Disclaimer: Xena, Gabrielle, Joxer, Alti, Shakti, Arminestra, Khindin, and Atlhan don't belong to me, they belong to Rob Tapert and company. Nobody here belongs to me, but I did give a name to one anonymous character. There is some subtext in this story, but not the kind you think. :) Any violence is from the episode. There is no language or sex in this story.

Atlhan polished his sword as he waited for word from Shakti. Shakti had heard that Arminestra, the mother of peace, was in the area and trying to negotiate with Khindin, a powerful warrior. Atlhan was one of the only people in Shakti's army who didn't snicker at the idea of a powerful woman warrior. Him and Shakti himself.

He had been riding by Shakti's side for five years, and Shakti trusted him to follow his commands to the letter. They had a closer relationship than anyone else in the army.

Atlhan had been glad to become part of the army. Until five years ago, he had tried to join the army of several kingdoms, but each had rejected him. They said he was too soft, he didn't have enough skills beyond what his uncle taught him. He made a better doctor than a soldier, they all said.

Shakti was the first to accept him. Atlhan had been surprised when Shakti let him in his army, but he had said he sensed potential in him. Atlhan didn't do much fighting, but he helped lead others to safety. He was hoping for some more action, though.

He turned around and got up as he heard hoofbeats. Shakti trotted into camp. "Everyone, mount up!" he shouted. "Arminestra's talking with Khindin right now. Let's go."

Everyone scrambled to their horses and took off.

They arrived just as a fight was breaking out. "Great, we may be too late," Shakti said. They continued on, though.

"Find Arminestra. Find the mother of peace," Shakti said to his men. He got off his horse to fight Khindin's men.

Atlhan looked over and found Khindin among those fighting. For some reason, he felt instant fear when he saw her. There was something dark and evil about this woman....

Just then he heard Shakti's voice. He was leading an old woman that had to be the mother of peace. "Take her to safety, Atlhan," Shakti said.

Arminestra turned to Shakti. "You are?"

Atlhan was surprised to hear the woman be so forward.

"Shakti. The army needs me. Go!" Shakti quickly replied. He then ran to rejoin the fight.

Atlhan reached down from his horse. "Come, Arminestra." He grabbed her arm.

Arminestra hesitated. "I can't leave."

Didn't she understand her life was in danger?! "You're the only hope the people have, Arminestra," he said, hoping she'd come to her senses. "Come now."

Atlhan became anxious when Arminestra didn't budge, but he didn't want to force her onto the horse either. She continued to look at the fighting going on around them. Atlhan looked up in time to see Khindin aim an arrow, and it hit Shakti. Luckily Sebor came and put Shakti on his horse to take back to the tent. Arminestra had to leave now.

"Come on!" he said more urgently. Finally, Arminestra complied and climbed on the horse. They ran back to the camp with the rest of the army.

Atlhan hated to see Shakti hurt, and he'd seen that arrow wounds were one of the most painful kinds. After dropping Arminestra off in the guest quarters, and telling her to wait there, he headed to Shakti's tent. If he didn't help his leader soon, he wouldn't be in any shape for the next battle. At least the medical techniques he'd learned from his uncle would help.

"Thank Rama, you're here," said Shakti when Atlhan got to his tent. "This pain is getting terrible."

"I'm sorry, Shakti, I came as quickly as I could," said Atlhan, bowing his head.

Shakti sighed. "You know, that Sebor is no good at medicine. He wouldn't know how to treat a toothache, let alone an arrow wound."

Atlhan walked over. "I'll take a look." He carefully examined the area, which was red and swelling around the arrow. He hated to think how much an arrow hurt.

Shakti was beginning to get impatient. "Is there a problem, Atlhan? Break the tip and pull it out."

"It's not that easy," Atlhan replied. "There could be damage to the lung, and if I pull it out, it's possible it will-"

Suddenly they realized they weren't the only ones in the tent. "Let me take a look at that," said Arminestra.

Atlhan was horrified. The mother of peace take care of such an injury? He had enough problems with it himself! "Good mother, this is not something for you to see. I said I'd come and get you when we-"

"I'm not much of one for waiting around," Arminestra said curtly. Atlhan was shocked by her forwardness. Then again, she sounded like she knew what she was doing, and he didn't like seeing Shakti hurt. He decided to step out until Arminestra was done, but stay in reach in case she was bluffing.

After checking his supplies, he returned to find Arminestra and Shakti still together. He was surprised that Arminestra did indeed seem to know medicine. Very unusual for an old woman.

What was even stranger, though, was the sudden change in Shakti. He seemed nervous suddenly for some reason.

Arminestra had noticed it too. "Something wrong?"

Shakti fidgeted with his shirt. "No, no, I'm fine. I was just thinking of someone I need to find. What- what were we talking about?"

That was unusual, thought Atlhan. Shakti never loses track of anything.

"I was saying that Khindin is not afraid of your army," said Arminestra. "She lives off the fear of others. She's more than just a woman."

Atlhan started. That was just what he sensed when he saw Khindin. For once he was right about something.

Shakti turned. "A warrior? Khindin?"

"I know this doesn't make much sense to you," Arminestra replied, "but she's trying to recreate powers she lost long ago."

Atlhan found it didn't make much sense to him either. Was this Khindin some kind of magician?

Shakti looked down. "Is she still... tall, black hair, a particular war cry when she attacks?"

Atlhan sensed that the description was familiar for some reason. Shakti had seen Khindin too, though. Why did he give a description like that? It didn't sound like Khindin. He was talking about someone else altogether.

Arminestra had relaxed. "Leave us," she said without looking at Atlhan.

Leave me, leave me, I'm always getting tossed out when things get good, thought Atlhan.

Atlhan was sitting in his tent alone when a shadow appeared. "Atlhan, can I talk to you?" asked Arminestra.

"Of course, good mother," said Atlhan, quickly clearing some of the room. "Come in."

Arminestra hobbled in, and Atlhan helped her carefully sit on his bed. "What would you like to talk about?" he asked.

Arminestra sighed. "Atlhan, Shakti and the others are going up against Khindin again tomorrow."

"What about me?" asked Atlhan.

Arminestra narrowed her eyes. "I have a very important job for you to do. Something I know you can do."

"Anything, Arminestra, just name it," he said, smiling.

"There is a building not far from the town you met me in," Arminestra said. "It has a stone wall. In it, there is a drawer you can pull out. In that drawer, you'll find an old box, it's very small. I need you to get it for me."

"What is in it?" asked Atlhan.

"It's nothing you have to know about," said Arminestra. "Just get it and return to us."

"I will, good mother," said Atlhan.

The next day Arminestra travelled with Shakti and his army to find Khindin. Atlhan went with them so he'd know where to find them. When they arrived, they found Khindin threatening a young girl, which made Atlhan wince. How could anyone do that to a child?

After Shakti and the rest of the army left, Atlhan moved next to Arminestra. "Good mother, I'm afraid I don't understand a lot of this."

"Just trust me, Atlhan," said Arminestra. "You're clear on where to find the box?"

Atlhan nodded. "Yes. It will be done."

"Good," said Arminestra, then Atlhan left.

It took a good ten minutes before he found the building but he finally did. Feeling along the wall, he found the spot that Arminestra had talked about, and pulled the drawer open. He groped with his hand because it was above eye level, and finally found the box. It was covered with dust. Blowing it off, he quickly turned and headed back to the battleground. He was glad to have done something helpful.

He arrived at the battlefield and looked for Arminestra. He stopped in horror as he saw Arminestra about to stab Khindin. She couldn't do that! "No! Good mother, you can't kill!" he shouted.

This time Arminestra did listen, and looked back at him. Then Khindin suddenly elbowed Arminestra in the face, stood up, and aimed her crossbow. It happened so fast that Atlhan didn't realize who the arrow was pointed at until it hit him. Shocked, he slowly crumpled to the ground as his vision started to fade. He had done his good deed, at least he could move on to a better life. He felt someone lift him, and realized it was Arminestra.

"Let me see," Arminestra said, looking at his wound.

Atlhan was starting to fade. "I've never known such pain," he gasped. He realized dimly that Arminestra might have wanted to kill Khindin. "I'm sorry, mother, I couldn't let you kill."

Arminestra was getting choked up. "I know," she said. "You were protecting my soul. Otherwise, Arminestra's... my karma would have been destroyed."

Atlhan lifted the box Arminestra had wanted. "I've done what you asked."

Arminestra smiled sadly. "Thank you, friend," she said.

The last thing Atlhan saw before he died was a brief but familiar image of a woman with dark hair and bright blue eyes. Somehow, that face seemed so familiar....

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COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER:
Xena: Warrior Princess, Xena, Gabrielle, Joxer, Alti, Shakti, Arministra, Khinden, Atlhan, and all other characters who have appeared in the series, together with the names, titles and backstory are the sole copyright property of StudiosUSA and Renaissance Pictures. No infringement of copyrights or trademarks is intended in the writing of this fan fiction. This story is copyright © 2001 by trfan and is her sole property along with the story idea. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.