Xena was awake and already packed when Gabrielle got back to the tent they had shared. Her friend wanted to say something to her, anything to make this easier on her. But she couldn't find the words when she saw the bleak expression on Gabrielle's face. Words were her partner's specialty, not hers, but Xena suspected that there weren't any words that could have made much of a difference in this case. Only time would bring true comfort. Gabrielle would simply have to endure the heartache until it faded enough to be forgotten. Thankfully, she knew how strong her friend's spirit was. They'd been to Tartarus and back together, and somehow they'd always managed to pull through the worst times together.

So instead of offering a few inadequate words, Xena reached over to Gabrielle and squeezed her shoulder. Gabrielle lifted a hand and covered Xena's with her own for a moment, then went to pack her own gear. When she finished she faced Xena, her eyes full of determination.

"Breakfast first, and then we go, right?" she asked with forced cheerfulness. Pretending everything was all right helped to make it become so in reality all the sooner.

"Sounds good to me," Xena agreed gently.

They slung their bags over their shoulders and headed over to one of the cook fires. It was still pretty early, but the cooks were already hard at work preparing food for the camp. The men who'd been relieved of their watch at the dawn shift change were eager for a hot breakfast before the start of the rest of their day.

The women fished their bowls out of their packs and got them filled with porridge by one of the cooks. They found themselves a seat out of everyone's way to eat their steaming breakfast. They were nearly finished when they were approached by Damon.

"Gabrielle, can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked hopefully. He hadn't had a chance to apologize to her again, and he knew he owed it to her. If he didn't do it now, he might never get the chance.

"Of course," she replied a bit nervously. She waited with a certain amount of trepidation, Every time they talked Gabrielle ended up feeling guilty about Perdicus, and after spending last night in Alexander's bed, there was more reason than ever. She hoped this conversation would go differently. If he had something to say about Alexander, she was determined not to let it get her down this time. It really wasn't any of his business.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to make this quick. Xena and I were just about to leave."

"It won't take long," he assured her.

Xena stood up. "I'll wash your bowl while I do mine. When you're done here, meet me at the east guard post."

"Thanks," Gabrielle told her, passing her empty bowl over to her friend.

Xena took it and walked away. Gabrielle took a swig from her water bottle, then put the cork back in and dropped it into her pack, waiting for Damon to start.

"Gabrielle, I know you and I haven't exactly gotten along since you got here, and that's my fault," he said uncomfortably. "I'm really sorry. I was living in the past, and I guess I expected, no, needed you to as well. But that wasn't my only problem.

"I couldn't let Perdicus go because I felt guilty that my only brother had married and died years ago and I didn't even know. What kind of man never even tries to stay in touch with his family? So I blamed you to keep from blaming myself."

"Damon, it's not something you should feel guilty about. I know how much you and Perdicus cared about each other. You can't blame yourself for leaving home to live the life of your choice."

Damon shook his head sadly. "Gabrielle, I've only been home once in the last four years. I haven't even been in Greece for the last three! I tell myself I love my brother, but how can that be true when he hasn't been part of my life for so long?"

"Separation doesn't change the way we feel about the ones we love, and I should know. You left your home to follow your own way, just as Perdicus did for a time. He'd be the first one to tell you that you were right to do it. He forgave me when I left without even saying goodbye, so he wouldn't hold a grudge against you for leaving.

"I also know there are some things you wish you'd said to him when you had the chance, but none of that matters now. The dead can hear the thoughts of the living, so he knows how you feel. All you can do now is decide to do all the other things you know you'd regret not doing.

"Alexander is sending his army back to Macedonia. You could go home and visit your parents. They've lost one son, but maybe his loss can return their other son to them. Remember, it's never too late to start all over again."

"That's a good idea. I can see them and tell them about my promotion," he said thoughtfully.

"Promotion?" she asked.

"Yeah, can you believe it? General Craterus made me a Lieutenant. He said he was impressed by the initiative and skill I showed getting you out of your prison and bringing Hephaestion to him. Oh, and he promoted Cleitarchus, too. Now's he's got my old job," he told her, obviously just as happy and proud of his friend's good fortune.

"That's great," Gabrielle told him, pleased by his news. "I can't think of any two men in this army who deserve it more."

"Thanks," he said, slightly embarrassed by her praise.

Gabrielle stood up to go. "Well, I better get going. Xena's waiting for me, and she's a little impatient when she's ready to do something."

"Wait, there's just one more thing," he told her.

Gabrielle waited.

"I could see how close you and Alexander were getting. I hope you're not leaving because of me and what I might say or think about it. I see now that I was wrong to act the way I did. I know Perdicus would want you to find love again. So I don't want you to feel like I would blame you if you wanted to be with the King, because I won't."

Damon's words were the balm that her raw and wounded soul needed. "Thank you, Damon, that means a lot to me. I promise you, I'm leaving for my own reasons. Maybe I'll be ready to be with another man someday, but I'm not yet. And even if I was, there's still Xena. I don't know if I'll ever be able to leave her. So don't worry, I'm not going because of you. But thank you for caring. You're a good friend, and a good brother."

"You're a good friend, too," he said a bit huskily. "I guess you better get going, then."

"Goodbye, Damon," she said, kissing him on the cheek. "I'll see you around."

"I hope so," he replied. "Goodbye, Gabrielle."

His brother's widow gave him a small wave and a final smile. She walked away, and Damon watched her go. He wished he could think of something else to say before she was gone, but he couldn't. All he could do was let her go, probably out of his life forever.

Alexander, Hephaestion and King Porus were at the east guard post with Xena when Gabrielle arrived there. The three man had given the beautiful warrior their thanks again, and then went on to discuss the women's road ahead. King Porus had invited Xena and Gabrielle to his palace for a visit, though not until their return trip home, since he wanted to be there to personally see to their comfort.

"And after you get back from India, where will you be going?" Hephaestion asked Xena.

"Oh, Gabrielle and I usually go wherever our feet take us, unless we know we're needed somewhere in particular," Xena told him. "But we always go back to Greece eventually."

"Well then, you'll just have to make sure you visit us also when you get there," Hephaestion said. "I'm not sure where Alexander and I will be, but I'm certain someone in his empire will be able to tell you where we are."

"Sure we will, " said Xena with a smile. Of course, she planned to leave the actual decision up to Gabrielle. Xena had heard Alexander tell Porus that he was ready to marry the Princess Roxanne, so her friend might not might not want to make that visit.

She turned to Gabrielle, who was waiting silently, staring at the ground. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah, I'm ready," she answered her companion quietly. There was no point in prolonging the agony.

Xena extended her arm to the Macedonian King. "Goodbye, Alexander. I hope everything works out for you."

"Thank you, Xena, I'm sure it will. And as I'm certain you already know, I would greatly welcome a visit from you as Hephaestion said," he told her with only the faintest hint of pleading in his voice. He knew he'd be breaking his promise to Gabrielle if he made his feelings more obvious, but he couldn't help asking. They gripped each other's forearms for a few, meaningful seconds and then released each other.

Meanwhile, Hephaestion addressed himself to Gabrielle. "Thank you for all your help, Gabrielle. I hope you find what you're looking for in India. Have a safe journey."

Gabrielle had told him about her spiritual quest. He'd sincerely found the idea fascinating, and had asked her to share any insight she found with him. Hephaestion was curious to see if there was a better way than that prescribed by the Olympian Gods, especially since they'd be spending a lot of their time in the east and out of the Gods' realm.

"Thank you, too, Hephaestion. Have a good trip back to Greece," she told him.

Hephaestion smiled and turned to Xena. Alexander faced Gabrielle, and invoked a prayer to the Gods that it wouldn't be for the last time of his life.

"Goodbye, Gabrielle. I'll never forget you," he said with quiet intensity.

"I'll never forget you, either," she replied. She smiled one last time for him, and he did his best to match her as he had promised. Then she walked away at Xena's side.

Alexander watched her depart pensively.

"Are you going to be all right?" Hephaestion asked his friend.

"All right?" he asked. "Yes. Anything beyond that?"

There was no answer for that question yet. Only the Fates knew if his heart would ever mend.

Hephaestion clapped his friend on the shoulder and left. King Porus followed him with a knowing look on his face. Alexander remained there until the two women were out of sight. Then he turned and walked away. Duty called him. He had a meeting to attend with King Porus, and the woman that was soon to be his wife to see.

Epiloque

Xena and Gabrielle left King Alexander and the Macedonian army behind them. They quickly settled into their accustomed walking pace, traveling in thoughtful silence. Each felt as if their was an embargo on many of the topics of conversation from the last week. Luckily there were still a few safe subjects left, so once their silence had stretched to the limit, Gabrielle picked one and began a conversation.

"Xena, do you realize you just stopped a war by using words, not fighting? You always say that words are my strong suit, not yours, but I think that just proves you underestimate your powers of persuasion. If it weren't for your decision to deliver a message of peace to Porus, Alexander would be dead and Porus' Kingdom would be overrun by a bloodthirsty army," Gabrielle pointed out to her best friend.

"It wasn't really me," said Xena with a shrug, embarrassed by the praise. "Alexander and Porus were the ones who laid aside suspicion and chose peace instead. All I did was help to make sure they'd get the chance to talk things out before things got out of hand."

"Still, if it wasn't for you, there'd be war."

"And you, Gabrielle. Alexander never would have listened to me after I got back if it wasn't for his trust in you."

"Maybe," said Gabrielle uncomfortably. She wasn't ready to talk about Alexander or her influence over him. Instead she attempted to send the conversation in another, safer direction.

"King Porus was a pretty amazing sight, wasn't he? I mean, he has to be one of the biggest men I've ever seen. He was humongous! I wonder if he has any giant blood in him?"

"I don't think so," Xena replied. "But you're right, he was huge. Remember the warlord Cleon? Even he would look small next to Porus."

Xena knew she couldn't bring up Alexander yet but she figured it would be safe to ask her about Damon. Their conversation couldn't have gone too bad or the bard would have been even more upset than she already was when they left the Macedonian camp.

"So, what did Damon have to say?" she asked.

"He wanted to apologize for having blamed me for leaving Perdicus," Gabrielle told her friend. "And he also wanted to know if I was leaving because of him. I told him I wasn't. His accusations hurt, but they didn't make up my mind for me. I left because I knew that in the long run that was what would make me happiest."

"You couldn't have been happy with Alexander?" Xena couldn't help asking.

Gabrielle paused a moment before answering. "I would have been happy in some ways. But I would have been miserable in others. I know I made the right decision, no matter how hard it may be to deal with the consequences."

"Gabrielle, you may have left him for now, but it doesn't have to be forever, does it?" Xena asked encouragingly. She wanted to keep the possibility alive if it would keep Gabrielle from being crucified at her side. "You might decide to go back and see him someday."

"I don't think that would be a very good idea," Gabrielle told her friend. "When he knew that I wouldn't be staying he decided to accept King Porus' proposal that he marry the Princess Roxanne. If I did go see him he'd be the one who wasn't free to follow his heart. And I have no intention of coming between a man and his wife, even if it's only an arranged marriage. No, seeing him would just make giving each other up harder on both of us."

Xena nodded. Alexander being married did put a new spin on things. She wished for Gabrielle's sake that things could have ended differently. But at least she and Gabrielle still had each other, and not even death would tear their love apart.

They mounted a small hill near the border of Taxiles and surveyed the expanse of land ahead of them. They were about to enter a new land together and both wondered what they would find there. Only the Fates knew what India had in store for them, but whatever it was, the only thing that mattered was that they would face it together. And for both of them, that was exactly the way it should be.

"You know, this is all going to make a great story," commented Gabrielle.

"I'm sure it will," Xena agreed with a smile.