Fantastic last chapter.
The whole sense of sorrow and fear comes across really well.
Gabrielle knows she has to get out and that she can't trust Callisto's word at all.
Caesar is still being too proud to even accept help, fully knowing that if he doesn't escape he will end up dead. How Gabrielle is going to cope being on the road with him I have no idea, but it will be fun to find out.

“Xena’s not even cold yet and this is what happens to her army?” - I love Caesar's disgust at this, of Xena's army being reduced from what it was, it like he is angry for Xena as if he ruled them by her side, or thought he did should I say.
I also liked that Argo refused to take him without Gabrielle :D
Certainly looking forward to where this story is going.

Fantastic chapter I really enjoyed it. You nearly had me in tears by the end!
The way Gabrielle is so happy in finding her soulmate was very touching. I think you caught her innocence perfectly. Her compassion for Xena is very Gabrielle and also very sweet.

Then things begin to grow bleaker. There is the battle and you wrote the tension, fear and panic that would surround a situation very well. I really liked the fact that Gabrielle found some kind of solace at Xena’s throne as if by being there somehow Xena was protecting her.

The fight scene between Callisto and Xena was beautifully written. Face paced and detailed without becoming too focused upon the small things so perfect to hold my attention and keep the blood pumping. It felt as if I were seeing this whole scene played out, I could see this scene in an ep very easily.
The passion and force behind Xena as she tries to protect Gabrielle is just so very powerful and leads to her death. I loved how Xena sacrificed herself in order to save her soulmate, very touching. Caesar cry of sorrow and futile attempts to reach her were also heartbreaking, you portrayed the raw anguish in him very well.
“G—Gabrielle.” Xena coughed, and Gabrielle could see blood on her lips, bright against her waxen pallor; her features twisted into something that looked like a smile. “Told—toldja—it was too late for me. Didn’t I? Toldja it was too late….” – Beautiful and so very sad, this is where I had to start holding my tears in lol

Callisto’s reaction is also very well done, wanting to join Xena, unable to even begin to think of life without her.

Xena’s last wish is to protect Gabrielle but she does not even give Caesar a kind word, which I can understand but I feel she must have felt something for him, else why would she have kept him. Was she giving him his freedom in those last words or was she really telling him he was nothing to her? Perhaps I must read on to find out ;)

Had to wait a little before I could read this chapter due to more comp issues but it was certainly worth it.

"She can’t be dead. I’d know it if she were. I’d feel it. I know my destiny, and she’s a part of it. It is not my fate to die here and now, and neither is it hers." - I just love this whole part, knowing that Caesar actually cares about Xena...perhaps even loves her in his own way. The fact he'd 'feel' it if she did die is just very touching and also the fact that he is almost tender with her when he finds out she has been hurt, and the way he wants to help her, but doesn't know how he can. Great reading :)

Also loved the way Gabrielle talked her out of killing many people, you can feel their is something special between them and the talk of soulmates, I just feel so sad for Xena, she's beenm searching for so long and finally she finds the one person that completes here.

“Where were you?” she cried. “Where were you five years ago, six years ago, ten years ago? Where were you when it might have made some kinda difference? Where were you when it mattered?” she cried. “Where were you when it mattered!”- The pain is just so raw you write it beautifully. My heart really does ache for her.

Looking forward to the next one!

Another great chapter.
I loved how you show Xena not as bad, no black and white..it's all grey. She feels, hurts, cries...
I was very touched by the scene between her and Gabrielle, you write their connection beautifully.
Looking forward to the next one!

Another great chapter. Really enjoyed it and refused to work until I'd finished it all lol it's a good job I'm my own boss ;)

I love all the torrent of thoughts coming from Gabrielle, fear, sorrow, curiosity. It's really great to read. I'm as fearful as she is as to what happened to the 'other' girls. You seem to have a great talent of being able to put us in there thoughts.

And Gabrielle is finding out even healers submit to Xena's will, her innocence and niave attitude is melting away.

I love the 'slave', the fact we know he was such a great man and he's been lowered to this level, but still keeps his biting comebacks, his pride, love it! He's so mean to Gabrielle, but we can almost understand why, he has no other way to vent his depression, his hurt.

I also really, really love your evil Xena...she fantastic! lol

Can't wait to get time to read more!

Wow! I'm hooked by your story, I couldn't tear my eyes from the page! That doesn't happen often lol
This is the first story in your series that I've read as I heard it had some Xena/Caesar which is very rare. I know it's not going to focus so much upon that but still I'm very glad I started reading it!
Why on earth hasn't this got more reviews! You have a beautiful writing style and you tell a story very vividly. Ah well I will have to make sure I continue to review :)

very good! whana reade more about it.. =) so please hurry up!