The warrior cleaned her sword of the poison and blood
in the pure white snow, then went to Gabrielle's side. Aradia
quickly cleaned her wounds with the snow, chanting in a language
neither the warrior nor the Bard knew, but the wounds began to
close of their own accord. Xena looked at Jaièl, then knelt
beside the still princess.

"I know you can hear me – wherever you are. The
dead hear the thoughts of the living. You are avenged – your people
are safe – and I'll take your sisters home to your mother – as
I promised. You should have just let me handle her," the
warrior whispered, brushing away the snowflakes which now fell on
Jaièl's pale face. "You didn't have to
die."

"She didn't," said Nadi',
approaching, carrying Ariel. She set the cat down. "Go and get
your mistress." Ariel ran off into the trees. "Jaièl
intended this. Her familiar told me – It was predestined that
Jaièl – not I – should rule our people after our mother. I was
Temple-born – twice, now. Her familiar will go and bring her back
to us."

As soon as the child finished uttering the words, the
cat returned, carrying something which none of the women could
quite discern in her mouth. She jumped upon the Princess and
dropped whatever it was on her chest, then jumped down and twined
about Nadi's legs until the child picked her up again. Suddenly
there was a crash of thunder and lightning rent the sky like
skeletal fingers ripping through cloth. The Unicorn flew through
the portal it created, rearing and beating its silver wings, the
sweetly scented breeze created by those wings blew away the dry
husk that had been the demon, Cleia. Then it was gone and
Jaièl's eyes fluttered opened. The princess smiled and sat
up, holding out her arms to Nadi'. The child helped Jaièl
to her feet, allowing herself to be enfolded in a tight hug.

"Come on," said Jaièl. "Our
mother has waited a long time to see you again."

"This really is touching," said Xena,
dryly, arms folded across her chest. "But we still have the
problem of the snow – no way we can get through these mountains in
this stuff. We're not going to be going anywhere for a
while."

In answer, Nadi' turned and smiled at Xena,
showing a charming gap where she'd lost two teeth – once again
a sweet six-year old child – only the falling snow turned to a warm
rain and the blowing wind turned warm, too – swiftly melting the
drifts of whiteness. It was then the warrior realised that the
magic was not only real, it was still with them – and Jaièl
saw that springtime in these mountains was very lovely indeed.

The End