“Hades,” she thought to herself. “I’ll
let HIM make the decision. I know he’ll be fair. He will only
keep those that deserve to remain in Tartarus.”

Slowly, the violet glow that eased the man’s pain turned
black as the Goddess of Healing gently ended his life.

As Xena brought the injured to her, Gabrielle continued to Heal
those she hadn’t done so before, and the ones she remembered
helping time after time. But she was still troubled – where
should she draw the line? At four, or five, or six times? 

She finally decided four would be the limit. At number five she
would allow them to Crossover, even if she had to give them a
slight push. But she would always ease their pain so the Crossing
would be easier for them.

As she moved from soldier to soldier, Gabrielle sensed
Hades’ thanks for sending them to  him, and his
assurance that he would do just as she had hoped – the
deserving would spend eternity in the Elysian Fields and the
remainder would go to Tartarus. But this gave her small
comfort.

Just before sunset it was over. The battle field was all but
cleared. Those Gabrielle had Healed had either gone home (she
hoped), had left to find their commanders to rejoin their army, or
had taken the dead to be buried.

Gabrielle and Xena were about to leave themselves when Ares
appeared in front of Gabrielle, angrier than either one had ever
seen him.

“What do you think you’re doing!” he shouted
at Gabrielle. “You’re supposed to be Healing these
soldiers, not letting them die!”

“But I’ve Healed them so many times . . .
.”

“You’re killing my best warriors! What kind of army
do you think it will be with nothing but inexperienced
amateurs?”

As he was ranting at her, Ares was advancing on Gabrielle, and
she was backing away from him.

“You either do your job, or so help me I’ll . . .
!”

Despite the fact that Gabrielle was immortal, and in her own
way,  was as powerful as Ares, Xena stepped  between
them, facing Ares.

“Or you’ll WHAT!” she demanded of Ares, a
snarl on her lips.

Surprised at her interference, Ares was at a loss for words, and
after several moments, made a threatening noise, then
disappeared.

Xena immediately turned to Gabrielle. “You all
right?” she asked.

“Yeah, sure, I – I guess. I don’t  know
why I let him intimidate me like that. I just . . . .”