~ Prince Kashta's Way ~
                              by Daniel Stevens
                              jds1958xg@aol.com

DISCLAIMER:  The more familiar characters and situations in this story are 
the property of Renaissance Pictures, Studios USA, and Universal/MCA.  
Certain other characters are property of the producers of 'Touched By An 
Angel'.  No copyright infringement is intended.  

SYNOPSIS:  This story is a sequel of my story, 'A Chance Encounter', and 
takes place following the events depicted in the Fifth Season 'Xena: 
Warrior Princess' Episode titled 'Fallen Angel'.  Keep in mind that Prince 
Kashta loves Gabrielle very much, despite the brevity of their time 
together.  Also, this story was written prior to the airing of  the Fifth 
Season Episode 'Seeds of Faith', which is why I do not include any 
suggestion of Callisto being reincarnated as Xena's daughter, Eve.

WARNING:  Lots of angst, but no sex, and minimal violence (if that much).  
Also, the 'Eli (or Christianity} Arc' is touched on in this story.  

SPECIAL NOTE:  The land referred to in this story as Abyssinia is the modern 
day Republic of Eritrea, the modern day Republic of Djibouti, and much of 
the modern day Federal Democratic republic of Ethiopia.  The port of Adulis 
was in modern day Eritrea. The 'Great Northern Sea' referred to in this 
story is the Mediterranean, from an African point of view.  

++++++++++++++++++++

The Abyssinian seaport of Adulis, towards dusk.  A ship has just put in 
there from India, flying Kushite colors.  A small group of people come 
ashore, all of them clearly of that nationality.  Their leader is a 
black-skinned giant of a man, dressed as a Kushite nobleman, who's very 
presence commands respect and authority from all present.  Even the 
occasional Roman forgets his arrogant pride for a moment in the black 
titan's presence. 

He turns to one of his entourage. 

"Anlamani, I want you to find lodgings ashore for our people for tonight.  
I'll see about hiring a camel train for the rest of the journey home, and 
catch up on what news I can." 

"Yes, Sire." 

"The rest of you go with him." 

"Yes, Sire.", from the others in the party. 

Anlamani leaves to carry out his instructions.  The others follow him.  The 
black giant then proceeds to the caravansary.  Upon identifying himself as 
Prince Kashta, he has little trouble hiring all the camels and drovers he 
needs to get his entourage home.  The Prince then goes to a nearby tavern, 
not so much for a drink as for information. 

He gets there, to hear a Greek man talking about events far to the north, 
beyond the Great Northern Sea. 

"Have you heard about the latest news from Rome, about Xena and Gabrielle 
being crucified?" 

Just then, Prince Kashta cuts in with, "Who did you say was crucified?" 

"The Warrior Princess Xena, and Gabrielle, the Bard-Queen of the Amazons.  
For no other reason but that Caesar had a personal grudge against Xena.  
Story has it that the Amazons have started a Righteous War against them, in 
retaliation." 

Kashta just stands there for a minute, stunned.  Then, his face becomes an 
inscrutable mask, on which only one tear reveals the terrible grief and rage 
in his heart.  It is clear that he can barely control himself.  He says only 
one more thing to the Greek whom he had addressed. 

"Thanks.  And yes, I did know them.", with a voice that trembles with grief 
and fury. 

Then, Prince Kashta leaves, staggering like a man who is quite drunk, even 
though he had not had one drop to drink.  No sooner is he outside than the 
patrons in the tavern hear his reaction to the news of Xena and Gabrielle 
being crucified. 

*"NOOO!!!"* 

The sound of the Prince's grief and fury causes all present to quake with 
fear.  Fear of his wrath. 

*******************

Some weeks later, Prince Kashta is back at his estate, just outside Soba.  
Everyone has seen that he is not quite the same man they had know before he 
had gone to India.  He is still a good and decent man, but extremely upset 
about something.  Something that is tearing him apart inside.  He had made 
his report to the Pharaoh Amanikhabale well enough, but even His Majesty had 
realized that something is dreadfully wrong, that has nothing to do with 
official diplomatic business.  He had sent Kashta home on an extended 
sabbatical, with the Royal Court's best wishes that he be able to sort out 
whatever is eating away at him. 

From the moment he had gotten back to the inn that Anlamani had picked out 
back in Adulis, everyone around him has been walking on eggs in his 
presence.  This continues in Soba, even though he is being very careful not 
to take out whatever's bothering him on his vassals.  Finally, the Priestess 
Asetari decides that enough is enough.  She has always had the Prince's ear, 
and his trust.  She intends to get to the bottom of this problem before 
something tragic happens to a man she respects very deeply - and not just 
because of his stature, his strength, or his noble birth. 

*******************

Prince Kashta hears a knock on the door to his office.  He looks up, to see 
the Priestess standing there, concern written all over her face. 

"Come on in, Priestess, and have a seat." 

She does so.  He gets up, to pour her a mug of beer. 

"No thanks, Sire." 

Kashta resumes his seat. 

"I think I know why you're here, Priestess." 

Priestess.  Not Asetari.  This has to be bad, for him to talk to her like 
that. 

"Sire, do you want to talk about it?" 

He hesitates for a moment, then, with a look as grim as his mood, finally 
speaks. 

"They... crucified... her." 

"Crucified who?" 

After another moment, "Ga... bri... elle!" 

*"WHAT?!?!"*  Then, *"WHY?!?!"* 

"Because that damnable butcher Caesar had a personal grudge against Xena!"

Asetari reaches over, places her hand on his shoulder, to try to comfort 
him.

"Thanks, Asetari, but it will take more than a comforting hand, or even your 
prayers, to get me through this.  You met Gabrielle.  You know how it was 
for us, if only for that one night.  Even now, I still love her as life 
itself.  And those Roman butchers *murdered* her!  FOR NO *REASON*!!!!!"

In that moment, Prince Kashta slams a powerful fist down upon the table with 
all his might and fury, causing everything on it to jump up in the air. 

After taking a moment to regain control of himself, he addresses the 
Priestess again, as he stands. 

"Thanks, Asetari, for getting me to talk about it.  I know now what I must 
do, to make the Roman hyenas pay.", in a quiet voice that does nothing to 
mask the frightful fury he now feels.

He goes over, and rings a gong, *hard*!  One of the servants answers. 

"Get me Arqamani!" 

"Yes, Sire." 

"Then, have my armor and weapons brought to me!" 

"Yes, Sire." 

With that, the servant departs, to carry out his orders.  Asetari also gets 
up, and leaves, with the feeling that she has only succeeded in making 
matters worse.

Soon, Arqamani, the Captain of the Guard for Soba, reports to his  Liege, as 
Kashta's armor and weapons are brought to him.   He issues his orders as the 
armor is placed upon him, fitting him out for war!

"Arqamani, call out the entire Provincial Militia!  I intend to ask for 
volunteers, for an expedition of retribution, to avenge two murders!"

"Against whom, Sire?" 

"Against the butchering hyenas of Rome!" 

"I'll have them here in the morning, Sire." 

"Good enough.  This night, I shall offer a sacrifice to Apedemak, for our 
success."

Arqamani departs, to carry out his orders. 

******************** 

The Prince is as good as his word.  He has a bull brought to the altar of 
Apedemak, the fierce, lion-headed Kushite God of War.  The sacrifice is duly 
carried out, and the omens read.

"Sire, the omens are good, for small scale engagements against the Romans."

"What do you mean by that, Aspelta?" 

"You must not engage any Roman force larger than a cohort, with the forces 
you will have available to you, or it will be the Romans who will have a 
washing of spears."

After a moment, "Very well.  It shall be as you say." 

Prince Kashta then returns to the Manor House, intending to retire for the 
night.  He removes his armor, and prepares for bed.

******************** 

That night, Prince Kashta sleeps but fitfully.  Somehow, he senses that 
something is wrong.  He tries to tell himself that it is the fact that 
Gabrielle died so horribly, for no reason.  Still, that somehow fails to set 
his heart at ease.  It is as though something else is wrong.  Terribly 
wrong.  And though he can't put his finger on it, he senses that it involves 
him somehow.  Almost as if something is tugging at his soul.  Or someone.

Then, as Prince Kashta finally drifts off, he senses himself entering a 
dreamscape.  He looks back, to see his body resting peacefully.  He begins 
to walk, to see that the ground turns into a cloudscape.  He finds that he 
doesn't have to go very far at all, before he sees who had brought him here.  
A tall, quite slender feminine figure, of ivory complexion, with shoulder 
length platinum blonde hair, big brown eyes, a narrow face, and wings, like 
a bird's.  She is dressed in a gold and white dress.  He steps forward, to 
address her.

"Who are you?" 

"Call me Celeste.", with a warm. loving smile. 

"What do you want with me?" 

"I know what you're planning to do, in Gabrielle's name.  We appreciate it 
that you still love Gabrielle enough to contemplate doing such a thing as a 
reply to what Caesar had done to her and Xena, but we can't allow you to 
spill innocent blood in her name."

"What do you mean, innocent?!  These are *Romans* we're talking about!  The 
very same jackals who murdered Gabrielle and Xena!  And so many others!"  
Then, "When she left me, back in India, after telling me the truth about 
herself, that I could accept.  But *THIS*!!!"

Celeste now waves her hand.  A flat boulder appears, suitable for sitting 
on.  She has him sit on it, and then joins him.

"Prince Kashta, I understand how you feel.  Believe me, I do.  Once, I was 
called 'Callisto'."

Prince Kashta looks at her with horror. 

"Yes, the same one.  I'm sure you've heard about how my village was 
destroyed by Xena's army, and my family killed, and how I became a psychotic 
monster due to my desire to get my revenge on Xena at any cost.  May God be 
praised that I'm no longer like that."

"Yes.", somewhat skeptically. 

"Besides, I'm well aware that both Xena in her time, and now you, feel that 
violence is the only thing the Romans understand.  But it is that drive for 
revenge that does so much to keep the cycle of violence going.  I, of all 
people, should know."

After a moment, "Callisto, what are you saying?" 

"First off, please don't call me by that name any more.  I am now a new 
being, completely made over, and as dedicated to doing good as I once was to 
the quest for revenge.  Secondly, Xena and Gabrielle are alive again."

*"WHAT?!?!"* 

"Yes, thanks to the prayers of a holy man named Eli, with my help.  You see, 
for over a year, I was in a place called Hell, that makes Tartarus look like 
the Elysian Fields.  It was Xena who got me out of there, by taking my 
place.  Once I had realized what she had done for me, I knew that I had to 
return the favor by helping them both return to this life, to complete their 
work here on Earth.

"Besides, the only Roman who could truly be held responsible for their 
deaths was assassinated by his own people at the very same moment that Xena 
and Gabrielle died."

A moment later, "Yes, Prince Kashta.  Caesar is dead, and in Hell himself.  
Any other Romans you will encounter now were either unaware of their being 
crucified at the time, were opposed to it, like the noble Brutus, or were 
simply following their orders.  We don't want to see you stain your hands 
with their blood, *or* the hands of your soldiers.

"*Please* don't end up becoming the very thing Xena and Gabrielle fought 
against for over four years - yet another vicious, bloodthirsty warlord! The 
very thing I used to be!  Not on Gabrielle's account!  It would break her 
heart if you do!"

After a moment, "What *do* you want me to do, then?" 

"Honor Gabrielle's memory, and the love you two briefly had, by turning away 
from this futile course, and redoubling your efforts to bring about peace 
and understanding between people and nations, that had been your life's work 
when the two of you met.  She didn't fall in love with Prince Kashta the 
Warrior.  She fell in love with Prince Kashta the Diplomat, working for 
peace."

"Just as it was Gabrielle the idealistic Bard that I fell in love with.", 
smiling sheepishly.

"I know."  Then, "Prince Kashta, if you find that you *must* draw the sword 
in response to the way Xena and Gabrielle were treated by Caesar, then draw 
it not against the Romans, but against evil whenever and wherever you find 
it, *regardless* of the consequences."

"Against evil whenever and wherever I find it, regardless of the 
consequences?"

"Yes.  It's called 'The Way of the Warrior'.  In their last months of their 
earlier life, some time after they left you, but while they were still in 
India, Xena came to realize that to be her Way of Redemption from all the 
evil she herself had done earlier in her life, as a Warlord.  It would be a 
fitting tribute to them for you to take up their work, and I'm sure they 
will appreciate your efforts, in support of theirs."

Despite his deep suspicion of the person that Celeste had once been, he 
senses deep down inside that she is telling him the truth.  Every bit of it.  
After all, for one thing, he had heard of the holy man named Eli, and his 
friendship with Xena and Gabrielle, and how Gabrielle had become one of his 
followers.

"I see."  Then, "Celeste, I swear by my love for Gabrielle, that I will 
seriously consider all that you have told me."

"Very good."  Then, "Prince Kashta, it is time for you to return to your 
body now, but before you go, Gabrielle wanted you to have this."

Celeste hands the Prince a saffron scarf, woven from silk, and clearly of 
North Indian origin.  She then turns into pure light, and vanishes.  Prince 
Kashta gets up, and returns the way he had come.

******************* 

Prince Kashta awakens with a start.  He is in a cold sweat, yet feels as if 
a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders.  He looks down at his 
hand, to see a saffron scarf, woven in northern India from purest silk, 
which he knows in his heart to have been Gabrielle's in her previous life.

He now lights a candle, then goes into his office.  There, he writes out a 
document.  He knows now what he must do, to honor the undoubted wishes of 
the woman who had briefly been the one bright star in his universe - 
Gabrielle. 

******************* 

The next morning, the entire Provincial Militia is all present and accounted 
for.  They are drawn up in parade ground formation outside the walls of 
Prince Kashta's Manor House.  They are expecting the Prince to call for 
volunteers for a raid against the nearest Roman outposts.  What he does do 
is the *last* thing any of them were expecting.  Not even Arqamani is 
expecting this!

The Prince comes out before them, in his full battle armor, with the 
document that he had written out the night before.  He begins to read it.  
It proves to be a proclamation.

"Before all present, let it be known that I, Prince Kashta of Soba, son of 
Prince Amanislo and the Princess-Consort Shanadakhete, do hereby abdicate 
and renounce all claim to the suzerainty over the Province of Soba, and the 
holdings therein, effective immediately.  Pending His Majesty the Pharaoh's 
pleasure, I surrender the Province of Soba to Arqamani, until now my Captain 
of the Guard, and hold him seized of all claims thereto.  I retain nothing 
for myself save my armor, weapons, and war horse, which I pledge to a fight 
against evil, whenever and wherever I might find it, regardless of the 
consequences."

He then bends down, scoops up a clump of soil, and hands it to Arqamani, to 
symbolize the transfer of suzerainty.

"Sire,.. I... don't know... what to say!" 

"A simple 'thank you' will be more than sufficient, Milord.  And you need 
not call me 'Sire', or 'Prince', ever again.  I am now but a simple Warrior, 
fighting for justice."

"Th... thank... you,.. Kashta." 

"You're welcome, Prince Arqamani." 

As he leaves the scene, Kashta smiles at the shouts of, "All Hail Prince 
Arqamani!"

******************** 

Later that day, Prince Arqamani sees his former Liege mount up.  Kashta is 
wearing his full battle armor, but also wears a saffron scarf of clearly 
North Indian manufacture slung over one shoulder, and tied off at the 
bottom, on the opposite side.  He carries enough supplies and money to see 
him to the Egyptian capital of Alexandria.

"Kashta, may the gods go with you." 

"Thanks, Your Excellency." 

With that, Kashta rides out of Soba, heading north.  His first real stop 
will be Alexandria.  After that, who knows?

******************** 

Up in Heaven, Celeste is being introduced, by the Archangel Michael, to 
three other angels.  Two of them are feminine, the third masculine in 
appearance.  The younger looking of the two feminine ones looks to be of 
some sort of Celtic background, with dark auburn hair.  The other one has 
the appearance of an aging Egyptian or Kushite noblewoman, and is obviously 
the supervisor of the other two.

"Celeste, there are Monica, and Andrew, and their supervisor, Tess.  It has 
been decided that you will be on their team."

The Kushite, who was identified as Tess, now speaks, as Michael leaves them 
alone.

"I admire the way you handled both the resurrection of Xena and Gabrielle, 
*and* talking Prince Kashta out of his plans for revenge.  Not bad for your 
first two times at bat."

"Aye, those were two lovely pieces of work.", from Monica. 

Andrew simply nods his agreement with the other two. 

"Thanks.  I simply followed my instructions, my heart, and my common sense."

Tess' reply is, "That's all any of us can do, child.  And none of us are 
always successful, even when we do the best we can.  That Amazon war on Rome 
is proof of that."

Celeste now sees a look of failure and shame cross Monica's face, at the 
mention of the Amazon's War of Retribution against Rome.  Then, Tess speaks 
again.

"Monica, you did your best.  That's all anyone can ask of you."  Then, to 
Celeste, "Now, if you'll follow us?"

The four angels depart the place where Celeste had met the others.  No 
doubt, for their next assignment.

THE END