“c72″> 

Now,
there was no longer any danger for her in doing this though she
rarely had the opportunity to do it with Xena always being up and
about well before dawn. Her left hand slightly touched the right
biceps, and blue eyes slowly opened. What she saw brought a smile
to the warriors face.

“c72″> 

“c72″>Torches stuck in every corner of the room and a candle
stood at every bedside, but Xena only was interested in the
sparkling eyes in front of her, eyes the colour of the high sea
bathed in sunlight, the colour of a summer forest just after a
light rain.

“c72″> 

Even
when the young woman was smiling as she did now, there always was a
certain amount of sadness to be found. It hurt the warrior’s
heart that now it not only was directed to the past but also her
doing with the fighting and the trial and all.

“c72″> 

Xena
knew it was the right thing to do, the only thing to do but there
was also a part of Xena’s mind convinced that whatever the
jury might decide upon, it would never be enough to pay for all the
atrocities she’d committed, for all the deaths she’d
caused, all the families she’d destroyed. And there also was
a third part only striving to live a long and happy life with her
lover.

“c72″> 

“c72″>"I’m sorry, love. I’m so sorry to
cause you pain."

“c72″> 

“c72″>"I love you, Xena. Nothing will ever be able to
change my heart. You’re a part of me, and you always will be,
regardless of the jury’s verdict. Ephiny will find a way. I
trust her."

“c72″> 

“c72″>"I’m sure she will do her very best but
don’t blame her if it doesn’t work out. – I
suppose, it’s time for another
treatment?"

“c72″> 

“c72″>"Yes, Anara said to fight the inflammation
effectively it has to be done two more times, now and tomorrow
morning. But I really don’t … It was all right after
the first cleaning the Queen did, or so you
said."

“c72″> 

“c72″>"Yes, it was doing fine then. I don’t know
for sure what happened, Gab. I knew what I did in the sweating hut
was dangerous and we all were very lucky that it worked out. It was
very exhausting; the inflammation may be my body’s reaction
to the strain. I will heal fast as I always do. I’m certain
Anara will insist on putting me to sleep once again ‘til the
next treatment, and tomorrow morning my leg can by re-stitched for
good."