(This will not necessarily follow the original storyline but will hopefully cover all the bases)
Elissa moved through the Norse town with the ease of an accomplished warrior. People moved out of her way without realizing it. When she moved past them, they watched her in awe. Some whispered that she was a goddess, while other said she was a Valkyrie but none dared to ask her name or reason for being in their sleepy town. Her eyes stayed focused on a mountain that the others couldn't see. Once she made it out of the town, Elissa bowed down on her knees. Her voice rose in a chant to beg for an audience with Odin. Her eyes closed while she swayed from side to side then stopped when she heard the fluttering of large wings.
A beautiful woman on a winged horse landed in front of her. She jumped off with a lithe grace that came with the gifts she received upon becoming a Valkyrie. "Odin sends his greetings little goddess. Please, come with me to Valhalla." She turned but stopped when she heard Elissa's voice.
"I am no goddess, just an Amazon looking for her lost sisters."
"We see what you are and acknowledge it even if you do not." The Valkyrie bowed her head then mounted waiting for Elissa to climb on behind her. Once they were both safely mounted, the winged horse took off.
Elissa couldn't stop the smile from crossing her face at the exhilaration of flying so high in the air. All too soon, they landed on the steps of Valhalla, her escort walked up the steps that led Odin's guest to him. She stopped before large doors engraved with large ravens, Odin's messengers. "Odin awaits you inside, little goddess." She bowed then quietly left Elissa alone in front of the doors.
"Come in child, come in." A soft voice called to her from the other side of the door. A stately man sat on a large throne made from marble. His two wolves, Geri and Freki, sat quietly by his feet while the two ravens, Hugin [thought] and Munin [memory] guarded each shoulder. An eye patch covered the eye he sacrificed for the wisdom he gained from drinking from the Well of Mimir. The king of the Norse gods looked at the tiny golden warrior who stood before him. He could feel the part of her that came from her father. It radiated about her without her even being aware of it, which made her that much more enticing.
"Thank you for agreeing to see me, Lord Odin. I come to you in the hope that you can help me to find my lost sisters. I am Elissa, Queen of the Syeria Amazons. We answered a call from a supposed ally to help fight against a common enemy. They betrayed us and as a result, many of my sisters as well as my mother were killed. They further added insult to our ways by killing our goddess, Artemis. Being one of such wisdom, I am sure that you already know the fate of our other gods. Mt. Olympus is no more." Her voice dropped to a soft whisper.
"Come and sit beside me, child. I will help you if it is in my power to do so."
"I know that some of my sisters are here but do not know where to look. Your kingdom though beautiful is vast and my fear is that if I do not find them soon they will be lost to me forever. My home is lost to me until I can return those taken so unjustly." Her hand unconsciously stroked the head of Freki, whose tail thumped on the floor.
Odin watched Elissa's face as she remembered her reasons for being here. She represented all the things the Norse held dear - courage, loyalty and beauty. He took her small hand into his own large war roughened one.
"What are the names of the ones that you are looking for?"
"They are called Prothoe, Tecmessa, Melousa and Euryleia. Each of them are dark haired of medium height with dark eyes. Although their coloring is similar, they do not resemble one another. They are proven warriors who have seen combat on many occasions. Tecmessa is especially dear to me since we grew up together. Her mother was my own mother's mate. We are closer than many true sisters. She lost her mother two years ago to a hunting accident. Have you heard of any of them, Lord Odin?" Hope lit her eyes for the first time since she started her quest.
Odin was torn but he had no choice, since he gave his word to one who carried the blood of a god in her blood. He couldn't bear to see the light behind her beautiful green eyes dull. "I know of the women you speak. I must tell you that I did not know that they owed fealty to another. When they came to our land, they were offered to me in sacrifice, but I saw their courage and offered them a place here among my Valkyries."
"They are here, where my lord? May I see them, please? Are they near, are they well?" The questions rushed out of her mouth in a jumble of words.
"Yes child, they are near and you will be reunited with them soon. May I ask a boon?" Elissa nodded to the Norse God. "Stay with me for a short time and if any of your tribe wishes to stay would you allow this?"
"If any of my sisters wish for this then I will not stand in their way. I must warn you though that to walk away from ones tribe is unthinkable to our way of life. It goes against the very meaning of what we believe in the most. To an Amazon, the tribe is everything, well to 'real' Amazons." She couldn't hide the bitterness from her voice.
"Has one of your tribe turned her back on your tribe?" His eyebrow rose in surprise. Even though he made the offer, he didn't expect any of the women to accept. Odin knew about the Amazon way of life and respected it. Their ways were not that different from the Valkyries and by default his own. "You do not have to answer me because I can see it on your face that you have met such a person."
Gabrielle and Xena found the rescued Amazons boarding a ship the next morning. Deianeira refused to say a word as to where Elissa went, but Xena took the opportunity to talk with Ainia. As the youngest among them, she was an easy target to wheedle the information out of. Bright blue eyes met green ones passing a silent signal between them Gabrielle wished the women a safe journey then walked away. The companions waited until they couldn't be overheard then stopped to talk about what they knew.
"She has gone to Norway." There was an odd note in Xena's voice that Gabrielle didn't catch.
"That is wonderful. How quickly can we find a ship to take us there? We won't be too far behind her. Maybe this time she will give me a chance to explain what happened, maybe she will give me a chance to get to know her. I know she isn't ready to accept me as her mother,, but maybe just maybe, she will allow me to be her friend."
"Gabrielle, it will all work out I promise. I, Norway, is a dangerous place so we must hurry and find Elissa. We will need to get away from it as quickly as possible. Odin is not a forgiving god." The last she said more to herself.
The small blonde looked at her lover confused but knew that Xena would tell her when she was ready and not a moment before. She went back to their room to start packing as quickly as possible. Xena followed lost in thought of another time in her dark past. She wondered what would be there to greet her when she arrived back in the land controlled by her former lover, Odin. That time seemed so far in the past that it didn't seem real. No matter how much she changed over the years there were still sins from her past that she needed to make amends for.
She knew that she would have to explain about her time as a Valkyrie and stealing the Rheingold from the Rhein Maidens. It was because of her own greed for power that a good woman became a monster. The thing she feared the most was the disappointment in her lover's eyes. Xena could never stand to cause Gabrielle to lose faith in her or their love.
They found a ship much easier this time and were at sea only two hours after the Amazons left to return to Syeria. Gabrielle felt more hope for this journey than their previous one. She looked out over the waters then closed her eyes. Her daughters face came to mind and this time there was a smile on it rather than the normal angry scowl. Their next meeting would be different; she knew what she needed to do. Elissa was her own woman and needed to be treated as a respected equal. Hopefully, in time they would be able to have some type of a relationship.
Xena came to stand beside the blonde bard. "I need to tell you about Norway and my time there before we arrive. It was a long time ago, long before I met you." She took in a deep breath, before she started to tell her story about meeting Odin, becoming a Valkyrie, stealing the Rheingold and finally the ultimate consequences for Grinhilda. The silence that met the ending of her tale was a heavy one. "I'm sorry Gabrielle, I know that you are disappointed in me but it was a long time ago." Her bright blue eyes filled with tears when still her lover never said a word. Xena turned to walk away but Gabrielle stopped her.
"No, Xena don't leave. I am not disappointed in you. You are not the same person, when are you going to understand that I don't hold your past against you. If you would only forgive yourself then you would never doubt my belief in you. I am only worried about what will happen to Elissa if Odin finds out that she is in any way connected to you through me. Will he try to punish my daughter for what happened so long ago? We need to get to her quickly before she finds herself in more danger than she can handle."
"I know but I doubt that Elissa will tell him about either of us. She will be fine until we can get to her."
They stood close to one another in the comfortable kind of silence that only longtime companions could create. Each woman was lost in her own thoughts but always aware of the woman next to them.
Elissa joyfully greeted her sister Amazons. They looked healthy but she saw the sadness deep in their eyes for the hardships they endured. Thinking that both leaders perished in the battle then being sold into slavery were not experiences that any would ever forget. Tecmessa grabbed Elissa in a bone-crushing hug. The childhood friends laughed to see the other alive.
"I am sorry, my sisters, that you have endured such disrespect. Odin invited me to stay here for a while and I have agreed. You will all share my joy to know that almost twenty of our tribe are on thier way, or already back with the tribe. I must tell you that Odin has extended his offer to any who would like to remain as a Valkyrie. If any of you want this I will not stand in your way." They all protested loudly, but quieted when their queen lifted her hand. "I explained to him that it is unthinkable for one of us to turn her back on her tribe, but that I would extend his offer."
"That is a kind offer but I think that I speak for us all when I say, when can we go home, my queen?" Tecmessa answered formally for the group. "I know that you must be tired but we will follow you when you have rested."
Elissa brushed long dark hair back from her friend's face. "I will not be able to go with you." Once again, they protested but Elissa spoke over them. "I came for you, but there are still others in the land of Jappa that must be freed before I can return to our home. It is the promise that I made to them upon my mother's own grave. There is nothing that I can do to avenge her death but this I may do for our tribe. I want nothing more than to return to our lands and never again leave them. That way is blocked for me until I complete my journeys."
Dark brown eyes saddened with the realization that her friend carried a heavy burden, one that she would not turn her back on. They walked over to a balcony while holding hands to look out at the beautiful land below. The air held the cool kiss of the snow covered mountains. A brilliant blue painted the sky and water while deep inviting greens defined the woods and grasses.
Odin watched these women who previously belonged to his elite guard the Valkyries. They remained close even on their entrance into the hall of Valhalla. He knew that they shared a past but now knew why they acted as if they were family. The Amazons were honored warriors, even a world away stories of their exploits filled people's minds with awe.
Elissa saw the woman who escorted her to Odin. A small group of six Valkyries followed her only to stop in front of Odin. "My Lord, there is news of a great warrior in our lands. His name is Beowulf and he is not alone, he brings with him one known to us here in Valhalla. He goes to battle Grindl for the glory of the Danes and in your name."
She stepped up interested in learning more about the brave soldier, but also to hear what caused the woman, named Brunnhilda, to sound so worried. Elissa's ears perked up when she heard the hated name - Xena. Damn that woman she leaves nothing but sorrow in her path.
Odin sent his ravens out to learn more about what his former lover was doing. If Xena was here then was Valhalla to meet the same fate as Olympus? The rumors ran through the home of fallen soldiers. Xena, the Warrior Princess, as beautiful as she was deadly. The Valkyrie called her a demon from the land of Jin.
"Will you tell me the story of this demon? It sounds like one from my own land?" Elissa smiled charmingly at the Norse God of Wisdom and War. She took a seat on the floor next to the pet wolves, who whimpered happily from her scratching fingers. He told her about his own foolishness with regards to the brunette he allowed his pride to believe. It wasn't that he knew that he wasn't attractive to women, it was just that he knew that Xena wanted him for his power not as a man. It somehow made what he did even worse, because he turned his back on his true lover Grinhilda.
"I am sorry that you lost the one that you loved, my lord but do not allow it to cause you to turn away from your love. Is there not something that can be done to save the woman she used to be?"
A deathly quiet answered her question as the dead warriors, Valkyries and Amazons waited to hear his response. The two who knew what it meant to carry the fate of others in their hands seemed locked in an internal struggle of wills. Air stiff with turmoil, power and challenge surrounded them but still no sound escaped their lips.
"I don't think that I am worthy of her forgiveness."
"Who are you punishing yourself or her? She tried to keep the Valkyrie on the true path and you allowed this demon to change a good woman into a monster. There is always a way to make things right if you are willing to do whatever is needed."
Gasps were heard throughout Valhalla. No one ever spoke to the ruler of the gods this way. They all waited with baited breathes to see what would happen to this tiny woman/goddess. Amazement replaced shock when Odin threw back his head and laughed.
"You are a bold little thing aren't you? I never tried to find a way and I should have. Thank you little goddess for showing me the error of my ways."
Elissa looked at him then smiled. "I have found that most times the answer is right in front of our faces, we just have to truly look and then we will see. My sisters wish to return to our home and I would like them to leave as soon as possible. They have been separated from their families for too long. Your generosity is appreciated in the honor that you have shown them." She bowed her head to him.
Xena and Gabrielle arrived in Norway several days behind Elissa. The looks Xena received as she walked through the village brought all the bad memories rushing back to her, of her arrogance and thirst for power.
Gabrielle took her lover's hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You aren't that woman anymore. We will make it all right after we find Elissa." Gabrielle stopped when she saw a mural of Valkyries on winged horses. All the women were blond, except for one with black hair and cool blue eyes, she traced the figure with her finger.
"She was called a demon but I think that she was an amazing warrior." A tall blonde stood looking at the mural with hero worship in her eyes.
"No, she wasn't but now she is. I'm Gabrielle." The small bard put her hand out to the other woman.
"My name is Brunnhilda. Do you know the story behind the mural?" She looked at Gabrielle with interest in her eyes.
"Some, but I would love to hear the story the way that it was told to you."
Brunnhilda relayed all the intricacies that she heard for as long as she could remember. "Ever since I heard the first story I knew that I wanted to be a warrior like her, to live for battle, die with valor."
Xena heard the last part of this causing her eyes to sadden. "Well, I've gotten a lot smarter since then. I've learned to respect life, love, and peace."
"Why? What happened?"
The lovers exchanged a loving look. "Lots of reasons. Let's go and get something to eat, then find a place to stay."
All three women walked into a tavern with food roasting that made their mouths water. After finishing a wonderful meal, Xena looked around to try and find out who was watching her. She saw an attractive man get up from his seat to walk over to their table.
"You got a problem? I don't appreciate people staring at me while I'm eating."
"Are you Xena?"
"Who wants to know?" A dark eyebrow rose in challenge.
"My name is Beowulf." Without another word, he dropped a double raven lock that Xena had used to lock up Monster Grinhilda thirty-five years ago.
It's rusted clean through causing Xena to become quiet and serious. "Sit down and tell me how long ago you found it."
Beowulf explained about the monster terrorizing villages and how he followed its trail to a cave where he found the lock.
Gabrielle caught Xena's hand underneath the table giving it a supportive squeeze. "We will help you take care of this monster, but then we have to continue on our journey. We are following someone and don't want to lose them again."
Xena smiled at the small bard. Her love and support never ceased to amaze the Warrior Princess. "I think that we can accomplish both. Odin is not far from here and will no doubt look for me. If she came for the others, then he will know whether they are still here or where they are headed."
Gabrielle got up from the table while three sets of eyes watched her. "We need to find a place to stay for the night then we can go after the monster in the morning."
Odin convinced Elissa to rest in Valhalla for a short time before continuing her quest. He took it upon himself to teach her to accept and utilize the power that she inherited from her father. She refused at first, but after hearing stories about the Orient, she decided some additional knowledge could prove useful.
Their lessons brought another time to Odin's mind. The time he decided to teach someone else how to tap into her inner power. Xena came to his mind followed quickly by Grinhilda. The two women were complete opposite, one ambitious and ruthless while the other thought of him and the Valkyries before her own welfare. Odin admitted that he found the dark-haired Warrior Princess exciting, but he missed what he shared with his lover.
"Do you want me to help you?"
Odin shook his long white hair. "What?" He tried to ignore Elissa, but should have known better.
"My help, do you want me to help you get Grinhilda back? She deserves her place by your side. I'll help you. You treated my sisters honorably when many others wouldn't. Your lover deserves the same treatment. She didn't do anything wrong, but has suffered all these years because of another's greed. I would like to help you end her suffering."
"You are a strange woman, Elissa. How would we do this? I am not sure that my Grinhilda is still alive inside that monster. The years may have killed her spirit." A tear fell from his lone eye.
She looked at the Norse god, wondering how someone who supposedly knew so much knew so little. "Her spirit is the only thing keeping her going. Don't you think that it's strange that after all these years the monster picks now to break free? The Fates weave strange tapestries, but somehow the threads come back to where it started to complete the picture. She's been waiting for you all these years. It's time to do what's right, not only for her but for the others as well. The Ring is too powerful to remain in the world on a monster's hand. Some fool might get lucky and kill her." Elissa watched Odin's face turn from sad to angry. She smiled to herself. "Then what happens when he or she..." She let her voice drop low, bringing to mind a certain Warrior Princess. "...decides they want to be the next powerful being. Will they be locked in a cave held by your locks or will they rampage through this world?"
"Enough, you have made your point. I let this go on too long, and Grinhilda has suffered from my negligence. I take it you have a plan."
Elissa's eyes sparkled with mischief. "This is what I have in mind." She whispered her plans long into the night.
Odin stared at her shocked. He wasn't sure that she knew what she was asking him to do. The risk was high, but the reward was too. The ring's hold on Grinhilda would be broken, but would Elissa survive. He hoped that she listened to all the lessons he gave her.
Xena, Gabrielle, Beowulf and Brunnhilda followed the destruction of the monster the villagers call Grindl. They entered a barn where villagers lay in pieces. Gabrielle looked at the destruction wondering what type of monster could do this. A long arm shot through the wall and pulled her back through. She screamed causing the others to run after her.
Xena pushed her legs to go faster, but Grindl seemed to disappear. "Gabrielle." She dropped to her knees in the dirt. The monster she created from her own greed had the most precious thing in her life. Xena felt like she couldn't breathe. Her hand clutched her Chakram until blood dripped between her fingers. "I will get you back and I will make this right. Hold on Gabrielle."
"Where is she? Where is Gabrielle?" Beowulf and Brunnhilda ran up panting.
"Grindl took her. It won't hurt her."
"How do you know that? Did you see what it did to those men in there? How do you know so much about this monster?" Beowulf challenged, his mind on the beautiful bard.
"I created it." Xena turned away without another word. She walked off toward the caves. The same caves that she closed with a raven lock years ago.
A raven landed in a tree to watch the three scuttle about. It flew to a cave not far away, there a small blonde woman prayed for the one she loved to find her. Another heart inside the cave beat; it beat with betrayal, pain and anger, but hidden deep in its farthest, deepest depths, hidden through years of exposure to the Ring was love. This night would reveal much to the world.
Xena marched through the night wondering why it was taking so long to reach a cave that was only a few miles away. Odin sprang to mind, but thoughts of Gabrielle in trouble soon crowded out thoughts of the wily Norse god. She stood at the cave's mouth unable to stop the shiver that raced down her spine. She could still feel the Ring's power racing through her body. The unlimited power was a heady rush. If it weren't for Grinhilda's interference, that monster inside would be her. She wouldn't let Gabrielle pay for her past sins. A large shape shot past knocking Xena to the ground.
Brunnhilda shouted out. "Look." She pointed to a murder of ravens flying from the inside the cave.
"It looks like they're chasing Grindl." They warriors took off running after the monster only to stop dead in their tracks in a clearing.
There stood Grindl hideously deformed, holding a pale but beautiful Gabrielle. They looked like what they were - Beauty and the Beast. Some type of flat stone stood beside Grindl, Xena realized it was a funeral pyre. She stepped forward, but the monster put a large hand around a small delicate neck.
"NO! Don't, I won't come any closer, just don't hurt her. She isn't the one you want, I am. Put her down and you can have me." Xena tried to cajole Grindl into letting Gabrielle go.
They heard rustling in the bushes to their left while ravens circled their heads. Valkyries dropped from the sky like flies surrounding them. Xena and Beowulf turned to stand back to back, readying themselves for a fight.
Brunnhilda fell to her knees when Odin appeared. "You did well, little one, although falling in love with her lover wasn't part of your duties."
"I was merely watching them father."
Xena started forward, but found her way blocked by several swords. "Odin, I should have known that you would come sniffing around sooner or later." She curled her lip at him.
A white eyebrow lifted at the insult. "I remember a time when you liked my sniffing."
The rustling quieted, ignored while the two old lovers quarreled.
"Girls have been faking it for eons old man. Didn't you learn that when you took your big drink."
"ENOUGH!" Everyone turned watching a small figure walk forward. "You still want her don't you? Or is it something else you want more? Perhaps something, that even now glitters on your lost love's finger. Do you want the ring? Have you forsaken love Odin? If you don't love Grinhilda anymore, then kill her and slip it from her finger. What about you Warrior Princess, is your petty quarrel with him more important than the woman you love? Or perhaps you want the Ring too? If you can get by me then you can have your heart's desire." With those cryptic words, Elissa walked away.
Odin and Xena looked at each other shocked. Neither one trusted the other and Elissa's words brought back memories neither wanted to face. Xena stepped forward intending on taking Gabrielle away from Grindl, even if she had to go through Gabrielle's daughter to do it.
Elissa smiled. "You didn't think it'd be easy did you?" She watched Xena pull her sword and started laughing. A dark brow rose in question. "This isn't a battle of strength, Xena, although I would love to beat on you. This is a battle of love." Elissa closed her eyes to pull on the power Odin showed her. A warm wind blew her hair back. Slowly the warmth changed into a raging heat, it engulfed her in flame, until she was the flame. A wall of fire circled Grindl and Gabrielle. Elissa's face appeared clearly outlined in the blazing heat. "You may pass through my flame, only if your heart's desire is on the other side. You may enter and exit only once. Choose wisely, what you leave behind will be destroyed."
The rustling grew louder, until another monster rushed from the bushes screaming. It transformed when it threw itself through the flames landing the other side. It was Grinhilda. She rushed over to the monster. Talking in hushed whispers, Grinhilda convinced it to put Gabrielle down.
"What is going on here?" Odin looked at his lost love from years long past. "If that isn't Grinhilda, then who is it? How did it get the Ring?"
"I don't know. I'm going to get Gabrielle out of there before anything happens. She wasn't part of this mess and I'm not going to let her get hurt because of it." Odin tried to stop her, but Xena shoved him away.
She eyed the wall of flame, not liking the fact that Gabrielle's daughter created it. The same daughter that hated her guts, but she'd been in tighter spots before. Stepping through the flames, Xena cautiously walked over to Gabrielle. A smile broke out on her face when she saw her looking around.
Gabrielle remembered something hitting her in the head, then nothing. She saw Xena moving closer and smiled. Getting to her feet, she met her lover half way. "What happened and how did I get in the middle of a fire?"
"Grindl took you and the fire is Elissa."
"What do you mean its Elissa? How can my daughter be a fire? Xena, what do we do? How does she change back? Will she change back?" Gabrielle found that she was unable to speak, because there were two firm lips keeping her occupied. Her arms wrapped around Xena's strong shoulders holding her close. She knew as long as they stayed together that they would figure out a way to reach Elissa.
"Come on, we have to get out of here. Odin is next and I don't want us still inside while he figures out what he's going to do." Xena started dragging Gabrielle toward the flame's edge, but Gabrielle drug her heels.
"Wait, you can't leave her in there with a monster."
"Gabrielle, do you trust me?"
"What does that have to do with leaving her inside?"
"Yes or no?"
"Yes."
"Good, come on."
Gabrielle sighed, looking back over her shoulder at the beautiful woman who held the monster close to her breast. She stepped through the flame with Xena wishing she could hold Elissa the same way.
Odin couldn't take his eyes from the sight of flames dancing around Grinhilda's body. He stepped through the flame, once more stand to beside his onetime love. Do I still love her above anyone else? Did I love her more than the power the Ring would bring me? He glanced down to see the Ring gleam up at him.
Grinhilda watched Odin wondering what he would choose. Would he once again forsake our love? Does he understand what is standing in front of him?
Odin picked up the hand with the Ring on it while everyone watched. He leaned over to kiss Grinhilda tenderly. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
He cried as he walked back through the flames. The Ring slipped from his fingers to the grass, before he picked up the small child that appeared - his child. Grinhilda found out she was pregnant when Xena went after the Rheingold. Grindl was doomed to the same hell because of the Ring. Somehow, Odin knew this was his child. He wasn't going to lose them, not again. Picking Grindl up, he offered Grinhilda his arm and they walked back though the flames as a family.
Elissa started moving in a circle, faster and faster. Everyone held on to one another to keep from being blown away. She looked like a blur of reds, oranges and yellows. All at once, the flames shot into the air. Odin and Xena looked at each other then walked back to where he dropped the ring. Nothing was there.
The Rhein Maidens swam peacefully in their private cove. They heard a horse in the distance, and frightened of discovery they dove under the water. After several minutes of silence, they gathered their courage and peeked above the waterline. No one was there. The youngest saw something glimmer. Always the curious one, she swam close then shouted out for her sisters to come and see. There in a small box sat their Rheingold, beside it was a small note. It read.
Guard your treasure and your innocence. Do not trust strangers.