A Matter of Pride

Part 1

The road kicked up a cloud of dust, surrounding the lone figure trudging up it’s length. A small mule clopped slowly behind, bringing it’s own cloud along with it, past wheat heavy fields that spread out to either side.

To one side of the road ran a broad river, it's waters moving steadily under the surface of two barges making their way upstream. Across the river was the sprawling buildings of the city, reaching out along the banks to either side and bracketing the large docks where four or five barges were already being unloaded.

The man paused, and regarded them, wiping the sweat off his brow, then he glanced up to the high point on this side of the river where a sturdily built town with a strong protective wall guarded the approach. He shook his head. "Place sure looks different, huh?"

The mule didn't answer.

The man continued his journey, up the slope of the road and past two fragrant orchards whose fruit sent a sweet, rich scent blowing past him. He licked his lips, but resisted the temptation and kept on walking, right up to the gates of the town. He was greeted there by a tall, thickly built man with salt and pepper hair dressed in leather half armor. "G'day."

"Bit hot, but sure." The guard agreed amiably. "Something I can help you to find?"

Polite guards. The man almost laughed. "I'm looking for work." He explained. "I heard there might be some here."

The sentry studied him. "Maybe." He confirmed. "Depends on what you do."

"I fight." The man stated, with a grin. "Something that's always in demand."

"Okay." The stocky guard scratched the back of his neck. "And? We got plenty of fighters here. This place attracts them like a bee to flowers. What else you do?"

The newcomer regarded him stolidly for a moment, then sighed and went to his mule, unstrapping the large pack draped across the animal's back He drew out a crossbow and turned., holding it down and displaying it's unloaded state before he crossed back over to the guard. "Something useful. I make these."

"Huh." The guard tilted his head. "Not for me to judge." He shrugged. "G'wan up to the armory and show the chief."

The man put his weapon away, and lead the mule past the gates, up a neatly bordered road and into the bustling activity of midday. To one side a path lead up to a two story inn, with a wide porch and open windows that allowed the scent of venison stew to escape across the square. To the other side, rows of cabins stretched, neat walks between them, and to the rear he could see the peaked roof of a well built stable.

He passed the communal well, giving the two women there a smile, and kept walking. One of the women, slim and dark haired, watched him go, hazel eyes speculative. The armory was a squat building to one side of the inn, and he made for it, giving his surroundings an approving nod. As he paused by the watering trough to let the mule take a drink, the back door to the inn opened and a young woman came out, shouldering a linen bag as she headed his way.

Hm. He watched her without seeming to. She wasn't tall, but something about the way she carried herself caught his eye. Dressed in a pretty sleeveless tunic, which was belted in at her slim waist, she appeared little different than the rest of the women moving about the place. Except to his eyes. The soft fabric covered a smoothly muscled body whose rolling, powerful walk clearly denoted a person who spent more time moving than sitting still. The man smiled in approval at her as she met his gaze, a little surprised at the intense power of the mist green eyes he found pinning him. "Ma'am."

"Hi." The woman detoured over to him and stopped a pace away, cocking her fair head to one side and studying him. "Looking for something?" Her face was open and engaging, a curious mix of youth and experience, a pleasant smile that belied the quiet shadows that lurked behind those pretty eyes.

The man debated whether to give her a saucy answer, then decided against it. "Guy at the gate told me to go to the armory. I'm looking for work." He pulled the crossbow partially out again. "And I make weapons."

The woman absorbed this. "Okay. You want to see Xena." She decided "C'mon." She turned and started walking, clearly expecting him to follow her. He was still frozen in place though, by that one single name. "Xena?" He asked, hesitantly, putting the mule's reins down and belatedly chasing after his new guide. "Is she here, now?"

An impish grin briefly transformed the woman's face, making her seem much younger than he'd first thought. "Of course she's here. You're not scared of her, are you?"

"Well.." He cleared his throat. "No, no, of course not, but I.." He hadn't expected to run into her, not this soon. Not ever, if he was honest, all he was looking for was a little work, and a bed.

"Don't worry." His guide told him kindly. "She won't hurt you." A pause. "Unless you're a troublemaker. Are you a troublemaker?"

"Me? Oh, no. No." He quickly shook his head.

"That's good." The woman stated, opening the door to the armory. "She hates troublemakers. Hangs them in the stable naked and lets the bugs eat them alive."

He stopped dead in his tracks and turned his head, his eyes going round as he stared at her. Then he looked back around, to the doorway in the back of the armory, where a tall, shadowy figure was just visible.

"Go on." The woman gave him a gentle push. "It's okay. She's already had lunch."

He swallowed hard, and took a few steps towards the open doorway, stopping again when the shadowy figure leaning over a workbench turned and straightened up, peering his way. He shivered, seeing the ice pale eyes of legend, and realizing even from this distance that she would tower over him.

A very dark eyebrow lifted in his direction. "Yeah?" The low, vibrant voice made his knees shake.

He swallowed again and forced himself forward, approaching the intimidating figure cautiously. He was vaguely aware of the fair haired woman's presence at his back and he just barely resisted the urge to dash back to her much more reassuring presence.

Xena was wearing a set of leather armor and heavy riding boots, and as he got closer, she seemed to get taller, the muscular body under those leather shifting with fluid grace as she walked towards him and raked him with her eyes. "What do you want?"

"Uh…" He tried to collect his thoughts, finding his head tilting back as she came closer. By the gods, she was tall, with broad shoulders and large, powerful hands. Her face was striking, high, planed cheekbones lending it a hawk's sharpness capped with thick, dark hair that matched the evenly tanned skin.

"Well?" She growled, putting her hands on her hips.

He thought about the stories. His teeth started to chatter. His eyes rolled up into his head, and he dropped without a further sound, crumpling at Xena's feet in a sodden, helpless lump.

Xena studied him with a perplexed look, then glanced up at the doorway. She spread her hands wide. "What the Hades was that?" She demanded. "I didn't do a damn thing to him!" A scowl. 'Will you stop laughing?"

"Bwahahaha…" Gabrielle slipped inside and skirted the poor victim as she slid her arms around her partner, giving the powerful body a squeeze as she regarded the lump on the floor. "Ah.. the power of your personality, Xena. It just overwhelms people." She tugged on a bit of Xena's leathers playfully. "You're such a knockout."

Xena rolled her eyes. "Give me a break.. who the Hades is this, Gabrielle?"

Her partner studied their new friend. "Well, he's a soldier…"

"Another one?" Xena sighed. "Gods."

"Honey, did you really expect to attract tailors?" Gabrielle asked reasonably. "Anyway, he's a weapon smith, and from the looks of the crossbow he pulled out, a pretty good one."

"Mmmph." Xena grunted, mildly mollified. "Where were you headed?" She turned her attention from the unconscious man to the bard at her side, nuzzling her hair a little.

"Here." Gabrielle told her. "I thought maybe you’d agree to take a break and join Dori and I for lunch." She paused and tilted her head, kissing the warrior lightly on the lips. "Since I haven't seen you all day."

Xena exhaled, and glanced around, giving the room an approving nod. The new armory had just been completed to her specifications, and well made weapons lined the walls, and rested in various stages of becoming on the worktables. The crew she'd been training were on a break, and it seemed like a good time for her to do the same. "Agreed." Xena stuck her head outside the window. "Bennu!"

Heavy boot steps approached, then the door was filled with Xena's second in command, a very tall, very broadly build fighter with curly red hair and a square, earnest face. "Yes, Genr'l"

Xena pointed at the lump on the floor. "Get him a place in the barracks."

Bennu ambled over and took hold of the unconscious man, pulling him up and slinging him over his shoulder with very little effort. "Right you are, Genr'l." The big man boomed. "Got that training session set up for ye a bit later. Lads are looking forward to it."

Xena chuckled. "So am I." She offered a hand to Gabrielle. "C'mon. I hear a certain two year old yelling for us."

The bard gladly took her hand as they followed Bennu out of the armory, watching him trudge off towards down the long path that headed through the orchards and exited down the slope where the militia barracks had been built. Something else new, Gabrielle mused, as she paced alongside her partner, their hands clasped warmly between them.

Xena seemed to be deep in thought, so Gabrielle remained quiet , as they walked between all the new construction, around the other side of the inn to where the newest building was having some final touches put on it's thatch roof. It was a long, low structure, with large, square windows, and from them laughter and squeals were drifting out.

Gabrielle reached out and opened the door to the schoolroom, allowing Xena to precede her inside. She followed and closed the door, standing quietly for a moment to absorb the scene inside. A dozen children of various ages were playing, some with stuffed toys, some with blocks hand hewn from fallen wood. The room itself was very colorful and bright, chests against the wall held toys and books, and there were sturdy tables where the children could work with bits of charcoal on forming letters.

She spotted her daughter almost immediately, in the corner with some of the youngers, her thatch of midnight dark hair shaggy and vivid. Dori was playing tug with a knotted rope, her face intent and serious as she held her ground against the three other children pulling against her.

Tall for her age, and possessing a sturdy frame that promised a lot of future growth, Dori took advantage of her greater size and strength and pulled hard, letting out a tiny grunt as she successfully gained possession of the tug toy, and sent her three competitors sprawling on the rush covered floor.

"Got!" Dori chortled, holding the toy up.

"She's such a brat." Gabrielle sighed. "Dori!"

The dark head turned and spotted them, big green eyes widening in delight. "Mama!" Dori dropped her prize and bolted, rambling across the floor. "Boo!!!"

"Cmere, honey." Gabrielle knelt down and opened her arms, gathering in her daughter and hugging her as she threw herself at her mother. She stood up and hefted the tot, glancing up at her partner. Xena watched with a quiet smile, reaching out and letting Dori capture her hand as the child giggled in delight.

"Boo!" Dori warbled. "I got rocks!"

"You did, huh?" Xena chuckled. "Where are they?"

Dori pointed at a pile of stones on a nearby table. "Dere." She wriggled in Gabrielle's arms, as though she could fly to the table. "Mama, go dere."

"Good a place as any for lunch." Xena commented as they complied, thought the seats were on the short side for the tall warrior. She settled down, though, extending her long legs out along the floor and watching benignly as some of the other children climbed over them. Xena and Gabrielle were a common sight in the schoolroom, and their presence didn't excite that much attention, though the two children's keepers waved at them from where they were preparing lunch for the rest of the kids.

"What do we have for lunch today, huh Dori?" Gabrielle opened her sack and poured out it's contents. "Ah ah ah… you save the cookies for later."

Xena chuckled, filching one of the nut pastries for herself and popping it into her mouth.

"Stop that, you bad influence." The bard shook a finger at her. "Here." She gave Dori a small dish of vegetables.

"Want now." Dori argued. "Mama, no like that." She sat down on the table and pushed the dish away, then changed her mind and picked up a carrot, studying it seriously before she looked up, spotted a likely target and flung the carrot at it.

Xena lifted a hand lazily and swiped the item out of mid air. "Dori, that's not nice." She drawled.

"Not nice." Dori repeated seriously. "Want cookies."

"Maybe if you ate that carrot, she'd copy you." Gabrielle suggested pointedly. "Boo."

Blue eyes flicked her way, then Xena smiled and popped the vegetable into her mouth, crunching it and swallowing obediently.

They both looked at Dori, who was staring at Xena with utter absorption. Xena lifted an expressive eyebrow. Dori got to her knees and crawled over to where her beloved playmate was sitting and leaned over, bracing one hand against Xena's leather covered body. The tot boldly grabbed Xena's mouth and pulled, peering inside when the warrior obligingly opened it, trying hard not to laugh.

Gabrielle had no such compunction, and she giggled heartily. "Oh, Dori… you just did exactly what I was thinking."

Xena picked up Dori and put her on her lap, laughter shaking her own body as she plucked a bit of beet from the bowl and offered it to the child. "So." The warrior addressed her partner. "How's it coming?"

"Eh." Gabrielle portioned out some meat and grain filled pastries, handing Xena one and taking one for herself while setting a smaller one aside for Dori "I don’t like some of what's going on down in the city, Xena." She took a bite of her pastry, and watched the warrior do the same. "There's an element drifting in down there, especially near the market that's just up to no good."

Xena considered this, as Dori reached up and snatched a handful of her pastry, cramming it into her mouth with a happy gurgle. "I don't want to send the militia down there." She stated. "Council's gonna have to name a constable, Gabrielle. Get a magistrate in here, and start putting in some laws. We can't just on like this."

Amphipolis' growth had, Gabrielle wryly acknowledged, definitely turned out to be a two edged sword. While she was glad her adopted home town was doing well, and growing, each new influx of people caused problems, most of which eventually involved either her, as the city's chief Arbiter, or Xena, who had accepted the task of being in charge of the militia .

They still called it the militia, of course, even though now with a force large enough to defend the vastly expanded territory Amphipolis and it's outlying hamlets now covered, it was truthfully an army in fact if not in name.

Gabrielle knew why Xena refused to change the name, though. She watched her partner's angular profile as she shared her meal with Dori, thinking about the changes time had wrought in both of their lives. Xena, surely, had never dreamed she'd end up being asked to command the largest military force for many leagues. Gabrielle herself had never intended on controlling the legal fate of the now substantial populace in her hands.

But here they were. A year after Xena's defeat of Andreas, squarely in the midst of the onrushing stream of progress that was reshaping their familiar world, and making the peace of their sleepy hometown a thing of the far past.

Gabrielle wasn't sure if it was all a good thing. "All right. I'll call a council meeting for tomorrow morning." She told Xena. "Will you come convince them?"

"Like that?" Xena smiled as Dori smeared some of her lunch across her chubby cheeks.

"Mm.. like that." Dori giggled. "Where's Boo?"

"Right here." The warrior put a fingertip on Dori's small nose. "Gonna show me your rocks?"

Dori shoved the pile towards her buddy. "Look." She picked up a round, speckled specimen. "Dis was near fishie."

"Mm." Xena picked up the rock and studied it seriously. "Did you catch the fishie?"

Gabrielle munched on her pie, and just watched them. Xena and Dori were so cute together, the two dark heads bent close together as their daughter earnestly explained how rocks and fishes were the same things. If nothing else, the year past had solidified them as a family, the responsibilities they'd taken on grounding both her and Xena in a way far different than they'd ever been before. It had brought a veneer of comfortable normality to their lives and given them both the time, and the space to heal parts of themselves she'd long thought past healing.

"Next time, you should catch the fishie." Xena was saying, wiggling her fingertips a little. "Like this."

Dori waved both her hands in mimicry, and they all laughed.

"Well, it's a start." Xena leaned back, after ruffling Dori's hair affectionately. "Right, short stuff?"

"Yes." Dori agreed solemnly.

Xena leaned back and sighed, resting an arm on the table, her eyes regarding Gabrielle. "Know what I feel like doing?"

Green eyes twinkled gently. "No, what?" Gabrielle asked, watching the expressive face opposite her. "Taking the afternoon off?" She hazarded a guess, reading the faint sense of twitchiness present.

A half grin appeared. "Let's take the munchkin and go find some quiet space." Xena said. "My nerves are rubbed raw today for some reason." She played with Dori's foot, inside it's leather bootie.

"Sure." Gabrielle readily agreed. Xena had been too quiet lately, going about her tasks with a sense of stolid determination, but lacking, to the bard's eyes, a certain spark that she missed. She wondered if all the responsibilities and tasks weren't getting to be just a bit too much for her partner's sometimes wild, and often restless spirit. "Gods, I'd love to… hey, want to spend the night out?" She suggested. "We can take Dori's knapsack, and teach her to count stars. What about it?"

Xena's eyes lit up, though her expression remained casual. "All right." She nodded. "What about it, Dori.. you want to go ride with us?"

"Horsies?" Dori squealed. "We go now?" She scrambled to her feet and flung herself at Xena, who caught her in mid air and tossed her up. "Yes!"

"Looks like it's unanimous." Gabrielle laughed. "C'mon, let's go pack. I'll stop by the inn and tell Mom and the Amazon posse we're taking off."

Xena cradled her daughter in the crook of one arm and stood up, stretching out her body with a few soft popping noises. "Don’t bring dinner." She told her partner. "I'll teach Dori how to catch fishes.. how about that, huh Dor?"

"Fishies." Dori sucked her thumb. "Mm."

"Uh huh, then I'll have to teach her how to cook them." Gabrielle teased gently, as she slipped her arm around Xena's waist, and they left the school. Xena's idea had surprised her a little, but in a pleasant way, and the more she thought about it, the more she liked it.

Yeah.

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

Xena realized, of course, that having Dori splashing alongside her was going to make actually catching any fish a tough ride. So she left the tot to 'help' Gabrielle gathered wood for the fire and slipped off, stripping out of her armor as she headed for the cool, blue/black water.

The chill was a slight shock, but she waded on, allowing the surface to creep up her body until she was submerged to her waist. For a moment, she merely stood there, absorbing the wild feel of the current against her skin, and the relative silence, the sounds of the wood around her brushing lightly across her hearing with something almost like relief.

It was ludicrous, she reasoned, that she could actually miss having to scrounge for her supper every night. She cocked her head to one side and listened, as the sounds of Dori's laughter and Gabrielle's clear voice faded and she focused down tight, listening for ripples, feeling the shift of the current against her legs…

Ah.

A wry smirk appeared. Xena waited patiently, eyes half closed, acknowledging the almost primal pleasure that swept over her as her prey swam within her reach. A sobering thought suddenly occurred to her. What if she missed? One blue eye peeked over her shoulder, checking to see where her beloved soulmate and their child were. Gabrielle was swinging Dori over her head, and neither seemed to be watching closely.

Reassured she wasn't about to make a complete fool out of herself, Xena returned her attention to the water, fixing her focus once again on the motion below the surface. She allowed her reactions to settle, then pounced, her hands slicing through the water towards a target pinned with every sense she had save vision itself.

The slick, scaled surface scraped along her skin and she clamped down hard, anticipating the struggle. The fish didn't disappoint her, it's body twisting powerfully inside her grip as it fought to escape. "Ahhh…. Gotcha." Xena growled at it, as she flexed her legs and pulled backwards, yanking her furiously fighting dinner from the water.

"Oooo… " A voice almost made her drop the damn thing. "Nice one!"

Xena swiveled her body and heaved the fish from her, out over the surface of the water towards the bank which now held an interestedly watching Gabrielle and a completely fascinated Dori. "There ya go." The fish flew over both of their heads and landed on the ground, where it flopped and grunted.

This was way too much for Dori, who wriggled free of her mother's grip and bolted towards it. "Mama! A fishie!!!'

Gabrielle laughed. "Yes, honey.. it sure is." She glanced back at the water, where her partner now standing easily, watching the show. The afternoon sunlight poured across Xena's body, unnecessarily gilding her skin and reflecting off the droplets of water clinging to it. "Say thank you to Boo for your supper, okay?"

Dori touched the fish, then jerked back as it flopped. "Bad fishie"! She slapped it wit a small hand. "Go shhh!"

Xena watched the action contentedly for a moment, then returned her attention to the river, knowing one fish wouldn't be enough to satisfy all of them. She wiggled her fingers and went back to the hunt, allowing herself a guilty enjoyment now seldom indulged.

Gabrielle neatly dispatched the fish and hung it up outside of her daughters reach. Dori wasn't pleased with this, however. She hopped up and down and reached up with one hand, making a sound of childish frustration. "Dori, now stop."

"Mama! I want fishie!" Dori wailed. "Gimme!"

"Dori…" Gabrielle put a finger to her lips. "Shh… Boo won't catch another one if you make so much noise."

"That never stopped you." A voice rumbled behind her, and the bard turned, to see Xena dripping on the leaf litter, her leathers slung over her shoulder and a huge trout depending from it's gills in one hand. "Sounds just like you used to at the end of a long day, matter of fact."

"Very funny." Gabrielle took the fish and poked her partner in the belly. "It's not my fault you used to run us both ragged." She held the fish up out of Dori's grasp and hung it near it's fellow victim. "Now put your dinars where your mouth is and show her how to catch one of these suckers."

Xena chuckled, as she laid her leathers down and picked up the outraged Dori, cradling her against her damp skin. "Hey, shortie.. wanna go swimming?"

Dori accepted this distraction amiably. "Go swim." She agreed, tugging on Xena's dark hair. "Go swim, and get a fishie." A pause. "Now."

Xena laughed. "Yes, ma'am." She turned and headed back towards the river with her imperious offspring, leaving Gabrielle to finish getting the campfire laid. "Ah." The bard knelt beside the neatly stacked wood, striking the sparks that would light it. "Don’t' tell anyone, but damn, I miss this." She addressed the fire as it started, blowing gently on the sparks to catch the tinder. "Not so much the dirt, and the bugs, and the work of it, but just… " She sat back with a sigh, regarding the two figures now playing in the water. "The depending on ourselves for everything part."

She wondered if that wasn’t' what prompted Xena's idea. Gabrielle allowed her eyes to linger on her tall soulmate's frame in quiet speculation. Then she sighed and brushed her hands off, crossing her legs and starting to untie the laces on her boots.

"Okay." Xena watched Dori splash enthusiastically through the water, her strong body making mincemeat of the light current. The baby had been swimming since she'd been only months old, and she adored the water, treating it with a complete fearlessness that sometimes worried her more cautious parents. 'Now, c'mere."

Dori swam to her arms and grabbed on, her legs continuing to move until Xena slid a hand under her and supported her in the water. "Boo, love you." She burbled happily, clutching Xena's arm and giving it a sloppy baby kiss. "Can we go fly?"

Xena grinned. "Which do you want first, fishies, or flying?" She asked pragmatically. "Can't do both." She slipped into deeper water and held Dori's hands, swinging her around. "Gotta choose, Dori."

The little face scrunched in thought, looking so much like Gabrielle that it brought a smile to Xena's face. "Both." Dori decided. "Go fly, and catch fishies."

"You just want everything, don’t'cha." Xena gazed at her.

"Yes." Dori splashed her parent enthusiastically.

Blue eyes looked carefully around, then Xena bent her head closer. "That's okay." She murmured. "Cause I do too.. you get that from me, y'know." She informed her daughter.

Dori giggled, and grabbed Xena's nose, tugging hard. Then she turned, at the sound of more splashing. "Mama!"

"That's me." Gabrielle joined them, swimming over with quick, powerful strokes. "What are you two up to? Making trouble?"

"Yes." Dori assured her. "Boo trouble."

Gabrielle snickered. "Oh, honey, you just said a mouthful and you don't even know it." She kidded her soulmate, who snorted.

"Nah." Xena shook her head. "Not anymore." She flicked a bit of water at Gabrielle. "Despite your tormenting newcomers with wild stories about me." She handed Dori over to her mother, then disappeared under the water, leaving the bard to quietly speculate.

Was that really true? Gabrielle floated on her back and played with Dori, who had found a bit of underwater fern she was busy decimating. Yeah, maybe it was, she decided, feeling a little surprised. Xena had, without question changed this past year, just as she had. The warrior had accepted her new role of military commander easily, but it had changed the way she was regarded, in Amphipolis and in the surrounding lands.

The Warrior Princess was fading into the mists. It her place stood the stalwart Defender of Amphipolis, respected throughout the region for her planning skills and military acumen. There were people living here now, Gabrielle suddenly realized, who had only known Xena as champion and hero, who hadn't heard or didn't know about her dark past and the potential for violence still coiled behind those pretty blue eyes.

Weird. Though certainly there were many who remembered the past, their visitor from earlier among them. But over time, the bard mused, the majority would accept the Xena they knew now, the captain of their guard, the loving mother, the faithful friend.

"Wow." Gabrielle said aloud. "That's cool."

And of course, she was swamped by cold river water seconds later. She surfaced spluttering, wiping the pale hair out of her eyes and glaring around, to see mischievous azure eyes sticking up above the river's edge, watching her . "You… you…. You….. "

Dori giggled. "Mama's wet!" She pointed. "Funny!"

Gabrielle got her feet under her and stood up, letting the water sheet off her in the waist high river. "Just for that, madame, no cookies for you." She pointed at Xena.

The warrior also stood up and waded over to her, towing Dori along by one hand. She stopped as they came face to face and tilted her head, capturing Gabrielle's lips with impudent expertise. "Sorry." She breathed as they parted. "I couldn’t resist."

"Oh." The bard replied, leaning forward and accepting another kiss. "So you think this'll make me forgive you?"

"Uh huh." Xena brushed lightly against her, a tingle of heat amidst the chill waters. Then she lifted Dori up and slipped past, letting her free hand slide across Gabrielle's skin, ending with a tweak in a very sensitive spot.

Gabrielle closed her eyes, and waited for the splashing to stop. Then she opened them and released her breath, feeling the flush rising to her skin. "Whoo." She addressed the river, glad at least that was one thing that hadn't changed. With a sigh, she ran her fingers through her damp hair and turned, slogging out of the river and up onto the bank as the breeze brought goosebumps to her skin. "Hey, Xe…" She almost got the words out before her shirt hit her in the chest, and she grabbed it. "Thanks."

"Here." Xena handed her one of the soft, woven towels they'd gotten at the last big market. She took a second and carefully wiped Dori off while Gabrielle got one of the baby's jumpers out of their gear. She handed the jumper to her partner as she used the towel she'd been given to dry Xena's back instead of her own.

The smooth surface moved under her hands, and she glanced up to see Xena watching her over one shoulder. "Hi."

Xena put Dori down and turned, using the towel in her hand to start drying Gabrielle off, wiping carefully around her ears and down her neck, all without saying a word. The fire crackled softly in the background, warming their skin, and Gabrielle found the combination of chills and heat very….

Interesting.

She looked up into Xena's eyes, and smiled. "Thanks for suggesting this."

A quick grin, then Xena wiped her ears and winked at her, glancing over her shoulder as they heard a rustling in the nearby bushes. "Ah." The warrior chuckled, as Ares, their pet wolf trotted into the firelit circle, shaking his head and scattering some small feathers as he did so. "There you are. Didn't like the idea of fish for dinner, huh?"

"Gruff." Ares sat down and panted, as Dori scrambled for him with a delighted squeal. The wolf quickly laid down, having learned from experience it was easier than being knocked down by the toddler's enthusiasm.

Dori wrapped her arms around the wolf's neck and warbled a greeting. "Guff, guff guff.. bad guff. Go bye bye, bad."

Ares gave Xena a plaintive look, then sighed and started licking Dori's face, cleaning the river water off it as Dori tugged at his thick, black fur.

"Now that the family's all here, I guess I can start dinner going." Gabrielle laughed, as she pulled a linen shift over her head and let it settle over her body. "Any chance of you… " She started to ask Xena, then realized the warrior had vanished after donning a tunic of her own. "Getting some greens to go with it." The bard finished, with a sigh. "Guess we'll just have to see what Boo comes back with, huh Dori?"

"Cookie." Dori looked up from her chewing of Ares ears. "Boo get cookies."

Gabrielle just chuckled to herself, as she pulled out her knife set, a long ago gift from Xena, and started working on the fish.

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

The fire had burned nice and low, it's heart a solid red glow sending a wash of crimson across the campsite. Dori was snoozing peacefully in the clever, collapsible hide cradle Xena had dreamed up a few months back. Xena was leaning back against a granite boulder and Gabrielle had taken the spot between her outstretched legs, comfortably wrapped in her partner's arms as she shared out their dinner.

Xena had, actually, remembered the greens, but she'd also found a sackful of nuts, berries, and the most delicous plums Gabrielle had ever seen or tasted. She cut a sliver of one now, and handed it back over her shoulder, smiling when she felt soft lips exploring her fingers after removing it. "These are even better than cookies."

"Mm." Xena rested her chin on Gabrielle's shoulder. "More."

The bard provided another slice. "You're starting to sound just like Dori." She kidded her partner gently, as the hold around her middle tightened. She felt Xena exhale. "You all right?"

Xena was momentarily silent. "Yeah, I'm fine." She answered, in a normal voice, leaning back and pulling Gabrielle with her. "Why?"

Why. Good question. "You just seem very quiet tonight." Gabrielle felt her way carefully. "I mean, not that you're ever really noisy, Xena, unless you're fighting, and you make those grunting noises and that yowl you do." She felt the surface she was leaning against shake slightly as Xena laughed. "You just seem like you're thinking hard about something." She glanced over her shoulder at the half shadowed face behind her. "Are you?"

Xena regarded her quietly for a long moment. Then she shrugged lightly. "Nothing special." She gently moved a bit of Gabrielle's fair hair out of her eyes. "Just how much things have changed."

Gabrielle half turned so she could see her partner's face better. "I was thinking about that too." She said, knowing the one way to get Xena to talk was to start talking herself. "I was thinking about how much Amphipolis has changed, and how our lives have changed because of that, because of the responsibilities we've taken on in the last year."

Xena nodded. "Yeah."

Okay, so maybe not. "It's a lot of work." Gabrielle added, then fell silent herself.

The still, tanned face twitched a time or two. "Worthwhile, though. If you let things just grow out of control, it's a mess." Xena stated finally. "It's just… strange for me to find myself in the position I.. " She paused. "When Lyceus and I used to talk about what would happen, after Cortese, this is what we thought it would be like."

"Mm." Gabrielle considered that. "So, it just took a little longer than you expected?" She hazarded quietly. "I think you do a great job, by the way. Everyone is in awe of your knowledge and planning skills."

"Thank you." Xena smiled. "Damn good thing it took so long, because I didn't have those as a fifteen year old." She reminded her partner wryly. "You do a damn good job yourself, y'know. I heard two of the councilmen talking the other day about you."

Nice change of subject. Gabrielle almost made the comment audibly, then decided to give it a rest for a bit and find a different angle to prod later. "I try to." She answered modestly. "It's going to be nice when we finish the performance area.. we've got six or seven singers and poets who can't wait to start, and with the size the town is now, they should be popular." A pause. "And, um.. I've got a few new stories I'd like to try out there too." She smiled as she added the last, feeling again the tingle of anticipation.

Xena grinned at her. "Can't wait to hear you." She slid a hand around the bard's neck and pulled her closer, planting a kiss on the top of her head and hugging her tightly. "I always wanted this kind of life for you." She murmured. "I just never figured on being there to see it."

Tears stung Gabrielle's eyes unexpectedly. She clenched her jaw and swallowed, then drew in a shaky breath. "I wouldn’t have wanted any kind of life if you hadn't been there to see it." She felt her hair stroked gently, and her body relaxed under Xena's familiar touch. "We deserve the lives we're living, Xena. We went through Hades twice to earn them."

"I know." Xena affirmed. "I think we should enjoy every minute of it." She lifted Gabrielle's chin up and kissed her. "I intend to make sure you do."

What about you? Gabrielle asked silently, searching the depths of Xena's eyes. Seeing no shadows lurking there, she relaxed and leaned in again, tasting the sweet tinge of plum and a hint of wild berries on the warrior's lips. "With you here, everything else is just nice frills." She brushed a thumb over one planed cheekbone. "You're all I've ever needed, Xena."

The blue eyes warmed and gentled at the statement, all the more so because it was the simple truth, and they both knew it.

Sometimes, life just worked out. Even when all the odds said otherwise.

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

I must be going insane. Xena mused silently, as she watched the first rays of dawn creep across the thick, green grass leading towards their campsite. She could, she knew, have been lying in complete comfort in their cabin, on their bed. Gabrielle had surprised her by adding a thick padding of quilted down to it several months back, after she'd twisted just the wrong way during a melee drill with the militia and thrown her back out.

She'd been in agony, and to come home and find that little bit of pure consideration waiting for her had almost brought tears to her eyes. It had made the pain almost irrelevant, lying there cradled in Gabrielle's arms in that soft comfort, listening to the bard murmur a favorite story to her until the muscles finally loosened and released her from that fierce grip.

So, she could have been curled up in that comfortable nest with Gabrielle, but instead here she was, lying on cold, hard ground, with dew coating her face, and a rock for a pillow under her cloak. And she was completely contented, enjoying the warmth of Gabrielle's deeply asleep body draped over hers, and the sharp, clean smell of the earth and grass so nearby.

It made her think about the years she and Gabrielle had spent on the road, alone together and wandering the world in search of her redemption. They'd been hard times, no doubt about it, and many long nights spent shivering and hungry, but somehow… Xena glanced down at the bard's profile, seeing the faint crease of a smile pulling at the edges of her lips. Life had been so much simpler then. A day was just getting up, finding breakfast, and wandering off to find some new adventure, some new problem to solve, or sometimes, just a new road to walk down and explore.

Now, it was different. Xena sighed. Not that different was bad, really. She didn't have to worry about either of them being killed or maimed on a daily basis, for one thing. That was good. They could count on shelter, and three meals a day, and that was good too, because it meant there was much less chance of either of them getting sick. Gabrielle hadn't had a bout of coughing sickness since Dori'd been born, in fact, and they both had put on some solid reserves and were mostly strong and healthy.

Xena still got to fight everyday, as part of the training for the army. That kept her nerves in good order, and burned off the energy reserves she tended to hoard. So that was good. Gabrielle was in charge of the school, and heavily involved in the new theatre, and she'd just finished a bound volume of new poems, her bardic muse fully restored now that she didn't have to spend half her time fighting for her life.

That.. that was very, very good.

So, Xena. Her conscience prodded her. What the Hades are you doing out here lying on the ground with a rock under your head, and a spider crawling on your shoulder? She blew the insect off with a puff of breath and scowled at the trees rustling softly overhead. She knew soon her little jaunt would be over, and they'd head back to town for breakfast and the start of another long day.

Was she going insane? Or was it just that she truly cherished these moments when her family was together, and … Xena's brow creased. Could it be that she liked the self sufficiency? The fact that out here, her family could depend on her, and her alone for all their wants and needs, even Gabrielle, who was perfectly capable of sustaining herself?

Oh wow. Xena let her eyes close, at this very complicated and not very productive thought. Besides, there was no going back, and she knew it. That era of her life was over, and she wasn't either a rampaging warlord or a penitent wanderer anymore.

The fire crackled a bit, and Xena opened her eyes, seeing the faint reflection as Ares did the same, curled up as he was right next to Dori's cradle. Oh well. She regarded the lightly fog tinged campsite with a faint smile. There were always nights like last night to be had for the asking, and when Dori was older, longer camping trips on the horizon when Xena could teach her the woodcraft skills she'd spent a lifetime acquiring.

That would be fun. Xena relaxed, and shifted her hold on Gabrielle's inert body, pulling her just a bit closer as she closed her eyes again. Then another thought occurred to her, and she let her eyelids drift open, at a far more sobering picture. What if Dori wanted to learn her other skills? The ones that involved steel, and blood, and killing?

What then?

She'd refused to teach Gabrielle those skills, in her misguided efforts to keep her young friend innocent, and look what happened. Xena gazed at the bard's profile with a sense of residual, distinct sadness, an ache she knew she would always feel, for as long as they both were alive and together. The world, her world, had gotten too dangerous, and Gabrielle hadn't been ready for it.

So. Xena eyed the cradle. You know, Xena, you're gonna have a few years before you have to make this decision. Her more pragmatic side tapped her on the shoulder. I don't think Dori's going after the chakram any time soon, so why not shelve this, and think about something more productive like what to scrounge for breakfast?

It was that moment when she realized she intended to draw out their excursion for as long as possible, and had to wonder again at what was going on inside that thick skull of hers.

"Hey, sweetie?" Gabrielle's voice was husky with sleep.

"Mm?" Xena gazed down at her partner, whose eyes were still firmly closed.

"What would I have to bribe you with to get you to go berry picking with me for breakfast, then sneak off to our spring for a day of hedonistic sunbathing and self indulgence?"

Whatever it was, seemed contagious. Xena mused. "Oh, not much. Some of those apples, maybe." She replied, with a grin. "But I thought we both had a full schedule today."

Gabrielle sighed, a warm gust of air that Xena could feel even through the rough, linen tunic she was wearing. "We do." She admitted. "And the responsible thing would be to stick to it, right?"

"Right." Xena agreed.

They were both quiet for a moment, then they looked at each other, in a wordless understanding so profound it made them both smile.

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

"Cyrene?"

The innkeeper looked up from her ledger. "Afternoon, Josc."

The town reeve entered and crossed over to her, taking a seat across the table. "You have any idea where Gabrielle is? She's missed two council meetings this morning, and that's not like her."

Cyrene gazed innocently at him. "Sorry, Josc. I don't have a clue. Haven't seen her since last night."

Josclyn drummed callused fingers on the table.

"Or Xena either, so it's safe to assume that whereever she is, Gabrielle is probably pretty safe." The innkeeper smiled.

"Well." The reeve shook his head. "I don't know. Those merchants walked out today and they were very upset."

Cyrene shrugged. "They'll live, I'm sure."

"That's not the point." Josclyn stood up and paced back and forth. "Cy, you know how long we've been working to get that market consortium going. The winter season depends on it, and it looks like we're finally close… now this happens."

"Too bad." Cyrene told him bluntly.

Josclyn stared at her. "What?"

"I said, too bad." The innkeeper repeated. "There are things more important than the market."

He put his hands on his hips. "Like what? I thought we were all part of a team here, Cyrene. What's your beef?"

Cyrene stood up herself. "What's my beef? Same as it's always been. It's great that Amphipolis is going up in the world, but you forget whose shoulders it's being carried on." She snapped back. "Sometimes I want to smack you people, and remind you that you don't own either of my daughters, and they have a right to take time off for themselves sometimes."

Josclyn sat down slowly, and exhaled, scrubbing his hands through his grizzled hair. "I know." He admitted.

"No, you don’t know." The innkeeper sat down as well. "No one really understands, Josc. Not even me." She went on, softly. "Just, please. If they ask for some space, give it to them, and don't ask questions." She regarded the ledger soberly. "They're taking the day off. Leave them alone."

"Okay." Josclyn nodded. "I'll just tell everyone to sit tight until tomorrow." He stood up. "Sorry, Cy."

Cyrene watched him leave, her head shaking slowly. Toris entered, obviously having overheard. "You were a little tough on him." Toris commented, as he leaned against the post next to her table. "He's just trying to keep a handle on things, mother."

Cyrene merely grunted, and went back to her task.

"Xe's fine. She's been fine for a year." Toris went on.

"She's too quiet." Cyrene stated flatly. "I've known her longer than you have."

Toris rolled his eyes. "Mother, give me a break. Maybe it's just time for her to join the rest of us, okay? I don't look a gift horse in the mouth, and this one gave me my sister back. The one I remember." He sat down. "The one who played with me and Ly. "

His mother looked at him.

"She's finally just becoming one of us, again." Toris argued. "What's wrong with that?"

"One of us?" Cyrene leaned on the table and pinned him with her gaze. "Toris, you're not the brightest candle in the inn, but even you have to realize Xena's never been one of us."

Toris sat back, hurt.

"One of us doesn't come back from the dead." Cyrene went on, mercilessly. "One of us doesn't leap across mountains, or fight gods." She slapped the table. "Name another girl from Amphipolis who fathered a child."

"What are you saying?" Toris asked, in a quiet voice.

Cyrene exhaled, and gave her head a tiny shake. "I don't know what I'm saying." She murmured. "Toris, I would love for your sister to be exactly as you say. Shedding her past, settling down, becoming one of us." She stared at the table. "I just don' know if it's as easy as all that."

Toris fiddled with one of the quills on the table. "I think you're wrong, mother." He finally told her. "I think Xe's found some of the peace that's always evaded her." He hesitated. "And I'm damned glad for her if that's true, and more glad for us. I know what she's capable of."

"Do you?" His mother replied, in a whisper. "I wonder if any of us really does."

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

"Ready, Dori?" Gabrielle stood near the edge of the spring, and held out her arms. "C'mon.. come to mama." She laughed as her fearless offspring leaped off the small, flat rock she was standing on and into the water, splashing vigorously towards her until she ended up thumping against the bard's chest. "Good girl!"

Xena swam over with long, lazy strokes and ducked under the surface, twisting underneath them and coming up on the other side of Gabrielle in a spray of clear, cold liquid. She shook her head to clear the wet hair from her eyes, and offered a hand out. "Want me to take her for a swim?"

"Booo!!!! " Dori squirmed out of Gabrielle's arms and chugged over towards Xena, grasping her outstretched fingers as the warrior backed away, pulling her through the water. "Gogogogogogogogogo…"

Xena turned and let Dori climb up onto her bare shoulders, then she took off across the spring, swimming with powerful strokes of her arms and smooth kicks as the baby hung tight and drummed her small feet against Xena's back.

Gabrielle watched a moment, then she turned and put her hands on the rocks, pressing her body up and out of the water into the warmth of the sun in a single motion. The rock's heat felt good against her skin, and she stood and stretched, absorbing the light before she climbed up onto a taller boulder and paused.

The light breeze blew against her, and she took a moment to simply revel in how wonderful it felt. Then she took two steps forward and launched herself out into space, curving her body and ducking her head as she dove into the clear, clean water head first.

It was always a shock, just hitting the surface, but she'd taken a breath before entering, and now she opened her eyes a bit, ignoring the sting as she watched a school of trout move frantically out of her way. The reflected sunlight glanced off their scales as they moved, and she smiled, hitting the bottom of the spring and kicking off it back towards the surface.

She kicked rhythmically and erupted from the water with a splash, sucking in a big lungful of air as she spread her arms and looked around, spotting Xena not far off. Her soulmate was swinging Dori around in a circle, to the child's utter delight. Gabrielle watched indulgently for a moment, then started swimming back to the rock for another dive.

"You like that, huh?" Xena asked, as she slowed her circling and pulled Dori close, cradling her on one arm. "You're getting to be a big fishie, huh?"

Dori clutched her arm and giggled, her face breaking into a happy smile that wrinkled her tiny nose. "Boo so funny." She slapped the water. "Make fishie, Boo."

"Ah, so you think I’m funny, eh?" Xena leaned back against the sun warmed rocks and gazed at her daughter, who hiccuped and plunged a fist into the water, searching for booty. "Hey Dori?"

Dori looked up at her, blinking her pretty green eyes.

"Where's mama?"

Dori immediately turned her head and peered across the spring, then pointed with one small finger. "Dere." She indicated the lithe form standing on the diving rock. "Mama up dere."

"Right." Xena tilted her head back and regarded her partner, a fond smile tugging at her lips as she watched Gabrielle close her eyes and revel in the sun, her strong hands flexing a little before her dive. "Y'know what, Dori? Your mama's very beautiful."

Dori looked back at her, blinking in amiable agreement. "Go mama." She pointed. "Mama fly!"

Xena watched the bard execute a perfect plunge into the water. "Yeah.. that's sorta like flying." She agreed, sparing a moment to dredge up the memory of Gabrielle's first tentative attempt at diving.

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

It was a scorching hot day, after a long string of scorching hot days, and muggy nights. They'd traveled across the sun blanched scrub until late afternoon caught up to them as they trudged down a road more thin dust than anything else.

Xena had resigned herself to just enduring it, walking along in silence next to Argo while Gabrielle trailed along behind them, the girl's normally open and curious nature seemingly shut down tight by the heat, and the grime, and the weariness of the road. But then, Argo's head had lifted, and the mare nickered softly. "What is it, girl." Xena had asked, getting a brisk nudge in the ribs towards the side of the road that sloped up a little. "What? Oh all right."

Xena had dropped the reins, and told Gabrielle to stay put, then climbed up the shifting slope, using her hands to grab bits of grass to pull herself up. When she'd gotten to the top, she'd just seen… more dust. More grass. She'd almost just turned and jumped down, but a gust of hot air had brushed across her senses, and her nose had detected what Argo's had moments before.

Water.

And at that moment, Xena had wanted nothing more on earth than to be out of her leathers and armor, and rid of the dust that seemed to have caked every square inch of her body including her tongue. So she'd turned around and leaped down, then strode over to where Gabrielle was bribing her horse with a bit of green grass she'd found somewhere. "Cmon." She'd said brusquely. "There's water up there. Small pond or something."

"Water?" Gabrielle had visibly squared her shoulders under their covering of dirty linen. "Wow. That would be great. I really could use a drink, and I bet you could too, huh?" She hadn't waited for an answer. "And we could wash, and have some soup, I think I've got some stuff we can make soup from, and… "

Xena had just started walking, leading Argo up a gentler part of the slope and trusting that Gabrielle would follow along, which of course she had. They'd cleared the small stand of trees and rounded a patch of tumbled down boulders, and found not the small pond Xena had predicted, but instead a deep, clear spring that gushed out of the rocks.

"Wow." Gabrielle had sighed. "I feel like I could drink all of that." She'd wiped a dusty hand across her forehead, moving her fair hair back and leaving a smudge of dirt behind. After a month traveling with Xena, the road had knocked some of her bubbly enthusiasm off, and she regarded the water thankfully.

"Well, if that's what you want, g'wan." Xena had dropped Argo's reins, and pulled her saddle off, then unbuckled her armor and tossed it down on top of the horse's tack. "Help yourself." She'd pulled off her boots and unhooked her leathers, before she'd looked up at Gabrielle.

Who 'd had her eyes firmly fixed on the rocks, a faint blush on her face. Xena had rolled her eyes, sparing an amused thought for her new friend's modesty. "I’m going swimming. You want to join me?" She'd stepped out of her leathers and chucked them, then jumped up onto the rocks, and dove in, exulting in the crisp cold of the water.

When she'd surfaced, Gabrielle had removed her skirt and blouse and entered the water nearer the end of the spring. She'd watched as her young friend ducked her head under the surface and scrubbed the dust out of her hair, then straightened up with a look of almost pathetic relief.

"Feel's good, huh?" Xena had decided to spare a few words for the kid.

"It sure does." Gabrielle had responded. "I don't think I’m used to being dirty all the time yet. " She'd paused, and blushed. "Not that. I mean, I don't want you think I think you're.. um.."

Xena had snorted softly. "A pig?"

"Um. No, of course not." Gabrielle had hastened to reassure her. "I mean, well, we're traveling all the time, and we sleep on the ground, mostly, and it's not like we keep a bathtub with us, and places like this don’t' happen really often and.. um.. but I'll get used to it." She'd finally finished, in an earnest voice. "Really."

Oh kid. Xena had sighed to herself. Give up, and go home. "Yeah. Right." She'd just shook her head and swam to the side of the rocks, pulling herself out of the water and climbing up onto a shelf of granite just above it. She'd dove off again, and this time, when she surfaced, Gabrielle was treading water uncertainly nearby.

"Not really a swimmer are ya?" Xena had asked, wryly.

"Um.. we didn't do much of that in Potadeia, no." Gabrielle had admitted. "Or what you just did."

Xena had eyed her, realizing again the huge gulf between them. A sarcastic remark trembled on her lips, but as she was about to issue it, her eyes had met Gabrielle's unexpectedly, and she'd gotten hit broadside with that open, innocent, far too trusting look.

What that didn't do to her. Xena had groaned inwardly. What in Hades was it about this kid? "Well, c'mon. I'll show ya how to do it." She'd swum over to the side and turned, glaring at Gabrielle until the girl started swimming awkwardly towards her. Refusing to either think about or rationalize what she was doing, Xena got up out of the water.

"C'mon." She'd turned and offered Gabrielle a hand. The girl had taken it hesitantly, and scrambled out of the water with an adolescent awkwardness to stand self consciously at Xena's side, her still growing body with it's pale skin and light layer of puppy fat in stark contrast to the warrior's.

"I.. um.. " Gabrielle had swallowed a few times, as she paused near the edge of the rocks. "I'm not sure I.. "

"Come here." Xena had ordered, pointing to the rock next to where she was standing. When Gabrielle reluctantly obeyed, she'd bent her knees a little, and held her arms over her head. "Just do this, and go in head first. "

"Head first?"

"Yes. It's not hard." Xena had told her, with a touch of impatience. "Just do this, and jump. Head first." She'd demonstrated, launching her body up and out in an effortless arc, then cleaving the water cleanly and surfacing. "Now. " She'd ordered. "Cmon, just remember…"

Poor Gabrielle. Xena had seen the brow scrunch from where she was, as the girl threw first mental, then physical effort into the task. She'd taken a step, then leaped awkwardly into the air, trying her best to throw her body forward as Xena had done.

Xena had realized, halfway through the jump, that the girl was in trouble. Her body had tensed in sympathetic effort as she'd seen Gabrielle become disoriented in mid air, her body frantically trying to compensate and just not having the skill or the strength to accomplish what she needed to. She'd twisted over and landed on her back on the water, with a wild yell that made nearby birds scramble into flight and startled Argo.

Xena lunged forward in pure reflex as Gabrielle fell, then only barely gotten out of the way as the girl's body plunged into the water next to her. She'd grabbed for Gabrielle just as Gabrielle was panicking, and she was unable to avoid her frantic clutching. They'd both gone under, as Xena used her greater size and strength to shove off from the bottom, and they'd ended up tangled together, and nose to nose, drenched and breathing hard.

"Head first, Gabrielle." Xena had finally sighed, blowing the sodden hair out of her eyes with an impatient breath. "Head first."

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

"Hello? Anyone in there?"

Xena looked up with a start, pulled out of her memories by Gabrielle's voice not a body length from her. The bard was standing in the waist high water, hands on hips, regarding her with bemusement. The gawky adolescent had disappeared completely, replaced by this attractive, self confident young woman, whose cleanly sculpted body was clearly under her control. "Sorry." The warrior gave her a quiet smile. "I was just remembering the day I tried to teach you to dive."

"Oh gods." Gabrielle covered her eyes and laughed as she waded closer, ruffling Dori's hair with her free hand. "You have no idea how many weeks I stayed up at night agonizing over that, and hoping I hadn't made you so disgusted with me that you'd just drop me off the next village we came to." She slid into a seat on the submerged rocks next to Xena, and took Dori. "What a little dork I was."

"Nah." Xena draped an arm over her shoulder. "You were never a dork, right Dori? Your mama's great, huh?"

"Yes." Dori finished mouthing a bit of rock she'd recovered from the bank.

"See?"

Gabrielle smiled. "Who can argue with that?" She gave Xena a gentle poke. "Race you?"

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

Xena pushed the door to their home open and entered, cradling Dori in the crook of one arm. She set the toddler down and closed the door behind them, watching Dori amble over to her toy box with an indulgent look on her face. "Didja have fun today, Shortie?"

Dori paused in the act of pulling out her favorite toy, and sat down. " Yes." She grinned. " Like fishies. Boo like a fishie." She hugged the toy to her, a ragged, almost formless doll dressed in what might have once been a tiny leather outfit. " Go take Bittyboo fishing, too."

Xena put down their gear and walked over, dropping down to crouch next to Dori. " Oh yeah? I don't think that's a good idea. I don't think Bittyboo can swim." She touched the doll, but. Dori scowled and wrapped her arms around it. " You don't want the fishes to eat Bittyboo, do ya?"

Dori pouted.

Xena ruffled her hair and stood, moving back over to start unpacking. She shook the furs out they'd slept on and took them into the washing room, slinging them over a wooden partition. Then she went back out into the cabin and removed the tools and gear, their flint and tinder, the good iron pan Gabrielle treasured for grilling fish just so, and the worn pot they made tea in.

These last she ran her fingers over, smiling a bit over the memories they called up, before she opened the cedar trunk near the door and set them inside, where the rest of their traveling gear was neatly packed. Two more sets of sleeping furs, the rest of Gabrielle's carefully hoarded cooking kit, her camp tools, and the well used hatchet she'd used every night for firewood.

Xena hefted the ax and checked the head, pleased that it had still kept it's edge. " At least one of us has." She remarked, with an easy smile, then she put the tool back down. Gabrielle's carry sack was there too, much mended and neatly stitched, the front and back covered with her partner's laboriously acquired talent for beadwork, which at first had looked formless to Xena's eyes until she one day realized the pattern matched the one on her own armor. Xena chuckled, even now, thinking of it.

She closed the chest and stood up with a sigh, pausing as she considered her next move. It was late afternoon, and she usually spent some time sparring with the militia about this time every day, just before dinner. Xena leaned on the windowsill and gazed out towards the barracks, the sounds of grunting and the clash of weapons coming faintly to her ears.

" Not tonight." She murmured. It had been a long, active, wonderful day, and she had no pent up energy to release, having spent it on hours of swimming, and diving, and taking Dori for runs, and even a little hand to hand wrestling with Gabrielle. That was always fun. Xena found herself smiling at a pair of squabbling robins.

For her size, Gabrielle was very tough, and very strong, more so than most of the men in militia, or even in the rest of Amphipolis for that matter. Her lower center of gravity, and her fierce determination made her a formidable opponent, even the Amazons treated her with a very healthy respect.

Despite all that, she wasn't, truly, a true challenge for Xena, who, after all, was tough and strong all out of proportion to her actual size as well She outweighed Gabrielle considerably and stood almost three quarters of a foot taller than her partner.

So that meant Xena had to continually come up with ways to counter Gabrielle's inventive attacks that didn't involve merely body slamming her to the ground. Sometimes it was a matter of using speed, sometimes she had to find a way to get inside her soulmate's guard, which was tough because her compact form didn't leave much in the way of angles, where Xena's taller body did. So they'd tangle with each other, and scrap, and roll around, and it would almost always end the same way, with Xena letting Gabrielle get a solid hold on her, then using their intimate position to turn the bard's thoughts from fighting to loving.

And that, Xena exhaled. Was what she intended on doing tonight, instead of sparring. She had a nice, intimate dinner in mind, a bath and bedtime for Dori, then maybe a bath and bedtime for her and Gabrielle. Tomorrow was soon enough for her to get back to the business of running her army.

Army. Xena never misidentified her force to herself, only to others. This group of soldiers who word tabards bearing her hawks head insignia, and followed her rule of law was an army. She was teaching them solid defensive strategy, true, but she was also teaching them how to be an innovative and aggressive attack force, and she knew every one of them to a man or woman would follow her out from Amphipolis to take on whatever target Xena could think of.

It was a very heady feeling, and she was honest enough with herself to admit she liked it.

" Boo!" Dori ambled over and whapped her in the back of the knees with her doll. " Come play!"

Ah. Paradoxes. The general of the army straightened and turned, putting her hands on her hips as she regarded her tiny assailant. " Dori, that's not nice." She warned. " You shouldn't hit people." A pout. Xena crouched down and put a finger on Dori's nose. " At least not until you're big enough to learn what to do if they hit you back."

Dori mouthed Xena's knee, and looked up at her from under dark lashes.

Xena sighed. " Am I a sucker for a cute face, or what." She sat down and picked Dori up, cradling her in her arms and rocking her back and forth. " What do you want to play, Dori?"

Dori was giggling, enjoying the swinging. She kicked her arms and legs out, smacking Xena's chest with her doll. " We go fly!" She begged, curling up and tucking her fists under her chin.

"Figures." Xena stood, and took two steps and launched herself into a flip, then reversed into a back somersault, accompanied by squeals of pure toddler joy.

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

"Gabrielle!" Halfway across the courtyard, Gabrielle stopped on hearing her name, and turned to see Josclyn hurrying to catch up to her. A pang of guilt hit her in the gut as she belatedly remembered all the things she was supposed to have been doing that day, and she squared her shoulders as the town reeve closed in on her. " Hi, Josc."

The older man studied her for a moment. " We missed you today."

Gabrielle thought a moment before she answered. What excuse did she have, really? That she wanted to spend the day playing with her daughter and her partner? Did she even have a valid reason for just running out on everyone? " Yeah, I know. I'm sorry." She murmured. " I should have sent word back here."

Josclyn hesitated, taken aback by the ready apology. "Well." He patted her arm awkwardly. " I know things do come up, after all." A pause. " Is everything all right?"

Loaded question. " Oh, sure." Gabrielle smiled a bit. " We just… " Decided to spend the night sleeping under the stars for old time's sake? " Needed a break, I guess. Xena wanted some time out."

"Mm." Josclyn nodded. "Been a busy season for all of us, after all. But those merchants were pretty upset when we had to cancel the meet this morning."

A gust of wind sent a shiver up Gabrielle's back, it's cool touch chilling her sunburned skin. She was physically tired out, and her temper suddenly surged. " They'll live." She heard the edge to her voice. " We can just reschedule the meeting. They have more to lose than we do if they don't show up."

The reeve turned and started to walk her towards the inn. " Well, now I know that, Gabrielle, but the point is.. "

"The point is." Gabrielle stopped and faced him. " My family needed me to do something, and I did it, and that's always going to be the way it is, Josclyn. I thought we talked about this when I agreed to start helping you out again."

Josc paused, and looked at her. " We did. I mean.. but I thought you understood… "

Gabrielle took him by the shoulders and looked intently into his eyes. " I understand that Xena asked, and I gave, and Amphipolis will always take second place to that." She spoke clearly, aware of the stares of several passing people. " Do you get me?"

He sighed. " I do understand, Gabrielle." Josc admitted. " I just want what's best for the town, and sometimes that means I have to put the groups needs before individuals."

"Well, that doesn't work for me." The bard stated flatly. She turned and walked away, mounting the steps and pushing open the door to the inn, leaving a stunned Josclyn behind her. The crowd called out to her as she entered, but Gabrielle continued on through the inn and into the kitchen, releasing a small sigh of relief as the swinging door closed behind her.

Thankfully, Cyrene was alone in the room and she turned as the bard entered, giving her a warm smile of greeting. " Hey there, cutie."

"Hi." Gabrielle ran a hand through her hair. "You going to yell at me too?"

Cyrene stared at her, then put down the spoon she was mixing with and walked over to where Gabrielle was standing. " Honey, why would I yell at you?" She asked in a concerned tone. " Are you all right?" The innkeeper guided her daughter in law to a bench at the large kitchen table and sat down beside her.

"Yeah." Gabrielle selected a pear from the bowl on the table and nibbled it. " Sorry." She went on. " Josc just caught me outside and I lost it a little."

Cyrene produced a noise somewhere between a sneeze and a curse. " Stupid fool. I told him to let you two be." She scowled. "That's the whole trouble with you both giving so much of yourselves to this place. Everyone gets to be expecting it." She examined Gabrielle. " Got some sun, did you?"

The bard nodded.

"You have a good time?" Cyrene asked, gently.

Another nod.

"Yeah." Gabrielle admitted. " I don't know, mom. It seems so silly when I think about it, much less if I tried to explain to anyone, but we… " She fell thoughtfully silent. " We both love it here, but every once in a while, something just… " Her mind flipped to the long afternoon spent in total immersion in each other and their daughter. " I don't know." She hesitated. " Sometimes I think we just went through too much, and all this normality is hard to absorb."

Cyrene looked dismayed. " Honey, I thought… " She paused, then started again. " It's been a good year." She put an arm across Gabrielle's shoulders. " I can't tell you how happy it's made me to have you both here, and see you at peace, and raising my rapscallion granddaughter."

Gabrielle bit into the pear, worrying off a piece of the fruit and chewing it. It gave her a moment to think about what Cyrene had said, and she felt herself relaxing a little. " You're right." She smiled gently. " It has been a great year.. and I've loved being here, watching Dori grow, and just being able to have a consistent, normal life with Xena."

A small silence fell. " But?" Cyrene asked, quietly.

Gabrielle stared off across the kitchen, trying to find words to articulate an emotion she scarcely understood herself. " Sometimes I wonder if it's enough." She stated softly. " If it's enough that we're just living our lives, helping our friends and family. Not out there doing more."

" Haven't you done enough of that? Good gods, Gabrielle!" Cyrene protested. " How much can you give of yourselves, of your lives just to.. " Here, she stopped.

"Just to atone for Xena's past?" Gabrielle continued the thought with a faint smile. " I don't know." She fingered the pear. " But what I'm afraid of is that Xena's made the choice to trade her redemption in for us, for Dori and I, to keep us safe."

Cyrene stayed quiet for a moment, obviously collecting her thoughts. " Well." She murmured. " Honey… "

Gabrielle curled her fingers around Cyrene's and squeezed her hand. " That question has no good answer." She admitted. " Because neither of us know the future, and we can't tell what's going to happen. Xena's faced with risking our lives for a forgiveness she'll never allow herself, or risking our eternities in some place so dark it makes this life seem like a picnic." A pause. " Because she knows whatever her fate is, I'll share it and she knows that."

"Even if that's a thousand years in Tartarus?"

"Even if." Gabrielle answered evenly. " Especially if, because she'll need me there more than in the Fields."

Cyrene stood up and walked over to the oven, picking up her spoon and stirring whatever was in the pot. She kept her back turned to Gabrielle, but the bard knew it wasn't from anger. Gabrielle continued to eat her pear, feeling oddly better just for having articulated what she was feeling to her mother in law. " I've accepted that." She commented. " The problem is, Xena feels she can't let me accept it."

Cyrene turned, and wiped the back of her hand across her eyes impatiently. " Probably because she thinks she doesn't deserve what you're offering to do for her."

True. "Yeah, maybe." Gabrielle sighed, regretting the sudden decent into morbid seriousness. " Anyway, I came over to tell you we were going to clean up, then probably be over for dinner. I got a little sidetracked, I guess."

Cyrene looked like she was about to protest, but after a moment of studying the bard's tired features, she merely exhaled, and shook her head. " Okay, cutie." She murmured. " We'll be glad to see you. Looks like you all had a good time."

That brought a smile to Gabrielle's face at last. " We did." She agreed. " I even managed to win a swim race out of a dozen, which ups my previous score of zero to one." The bard stood up and stretched out some very sore muscles. "Mind if I steal this fruit basket and take it back with me? I see some plums I know a certain buddy of mine loves."

Cyrene forced a smile. " Go on. I know she likes them." She nudged the basket towards Gabrielle, and watched as the bard lifted the handle and slung it over her arm. " Tell her I've got lamb roast for dinner, okay?"

"Okay." Gabrielle smiled. " See you in a bit." She turned and escaped out the back door, letting it shut behind her as she disappeared into the crimson sunset light.

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

"Where's the baby?" Xena called out, diving for the floor and pressing her body against it. She heard a giggle, then spotted small hands and knees crawling behind the bed. "Dori… Dori Dori.. where are you?"

An impish face peeked at her from under the bed. "Boo no catch!"

"Oh yeah?" Xena squirmed along the wood floor in a sinuous wave, circling the bedposts with unlikely speed, reaching out as she cleared the last one to grasp a small, retreating foot. "Gotcha!!"

"Ugh! Ugh!" Dori tugged on her foot. "Bad Boo!" She rolled over and sat down, fiercely pulling on her leg to free it from Xena's tenacious grip.

The warrior propped her head up on one hand while she held onto her prize, tickling Dori's sole with a long finger. "That'll teach you to run away from me, huh shortie?" She laughed as Dori gave up pulling, and crawled over to her, tangling her fingers in Xena's hair and pulling on that instead. "Hey!"

"Boo come!" Dori stated imperiously.

Damn. Xena caught the tiny hand, and untangled it, but had to release Dori's foot to do so. With a victorious squeal, Dori scrambled away, squirming under the bed where she knew Xena could not follow her. "Hey!" Xena repeated. "You little stinker!"

A giggle.

"All right." Xena edged forward, squeezing her broad shoulders under the bed's surface. "You just wait, Doriana. I'm gonna set the dust bunnies after ya." She crawled further, then lunged as Dori crawled away, catching her with her outstretched fingers and clamping on.

Then she realized she was stuck. "Dori." She sighed. "Get over here."

The baby complied, inching over and coming nose to nose with her. "Bbbbboooo.." She gave her parent a sloppy kiss on the nose. "Good."

"No, Boo's stuck." Xena informed her daughter. "Now listen. I want you to crawl on out of here, cause I gotta move this thing and I don't want you to get hurt. Okay?"

"Otay." Dori agreed, not moving an inch.

"Move." Xena repeated.

"Boo." Dori started playing with her beloved playmate's hair.

Xena let her forehead rest on the wood floor. "Dori, I really need you to get out from under here."

"Go fly." Dori whispered in Xena's ear. "Boo, go fly, and catch fishies."

"No, we can't." Xena replied. "Not unless you go out that way." She pointed a finger. Dori grabbed it amiably and pulled. "No, huh?"

"No." Dori confirmed, curling up and putting her head down on Xena's forearm. "Love my Boo." She mouthed the tanned skin, drooling happily all over her parent.

"You know something?" Xena rolled her head to one side, and regarded her offspring. "You're just like your mom."

"Mama?" Dori burbled.

"Never make it easy." Xena steeled her body, then gathered her strength and pressed upward, lifting the huge bed as she extended her arms. Dori watched in amazement, reaching up towards the now fairly far off bottom of the bed with one hand. "Ready?"

"Bck."

It was all really in body control. Xena heaved upward, clearing the bed off her shoulders and at the same time twisting and snatching Dori, while she arced back and rolled out of the way as the bed slammed back down with a distinct crash. She ended up on her back with Dori sitting on her belly, green eyes wide in amazement. "Hi, there." Xena crossed her ankles, glad to be out of the tight spot. "What brings a cute little girl like you to a place like this?"

Dori pointed at her. "Boo!" She bounced up and down . "Boo Boo Boo Boo…"

Xena chuckled, and tickled her belly. "That's me." She gazed fondly at the child, studying the round face, and sparkling green eyes. "Want to play clap with me?" She held up a hand invitingly. Dori squiggled forward and patted Xena's palm with her own. "Atta girl." They both laughed.

***********

Gabrielle wandered across the courtyard, deep in thought as she dodged other residents with automatic skill, responding to their greetings absently. The argument with Josclyn troubled her, and she wondered if she shouldn't seek him out and try to smooth things over.

Not that she felt she was wrong in her views, exactly, but she knew Josc only had the good of the town in mind.

Didn't he? Well, Gabrielle squared her shoulders. She had the good of the town in mind also, because it was tied up with the good of her partner, it's protector and defender. Xena was her responsibility, and that responsibility took precedence.

The bard slowed her steps as she approached their home, and mounted the stairs. A low, vibrant voice distracted her and she went to the window, peering inside to see her soulmate flat on her back on the floor, with Dori perched on top of her playing pattycake with childish glee.

Xena's face. Gabrielle felt a smile forming on her own as she watched the look of unbridled joy on her partner's expressive visage. The blue eyes glinted with warm highlights, and a playful grin shaped her lips as she played with Dori, matching the baby's clumsy pats with her own.

Maybe she was right, and maybe Xena had chosen this route, regardless of it's ending consequences. But watching her partner and their daughter at play was so priceless, Gabrielle could understand at a gut level a truth both bittersweet and inevitable.

She would risk her future for the happiness she saw in those blue eyes, and never regret a moment of it. If it meant she endured Tartarus at her side… well, then, she would. Gabrielle leaned her chin on her hand as she watched the play, glad of the rare chance to observe her soulmate unaware. Dori decided pattycake was too tame for her, so she gurgled and launched herself at Xena's face, squealing and throwing her arms around the warrior's neck as her feet drummed against Xena's chest.

Arms that could break a man's back closed over the child, and squeezed her with tender gentleness, as Xena murmured something into Dori's ear, and chuckled. Then the pale eyes lifted and caught Gabrielle's, still warm and full of love that only deepened as she took in her soulmate's face.

No. Gabrielle smiled back at her, and waggled her fingers in greeting. Never regret a moment. "What are you two up to on that hard floor?" She asked. "Good grief, Xe. Can't you at least go sit on the bearskin?"

"Eh." The warrior sat up, then launched herself to her feet with a powerful flip while still holding Dori in her arms. "Dori and I were exploring under the bed."

"Ah." Gabrielle decided to forgo the door and climbed in the window instead, carrying her basket of fruit with her. "Is that where.. "She plucked a feather from Xena's dark locks and held it up. "This came from?"

"Mama!" Dori clutched after the feather. "Mine! Go make box!"

"No, honey.. it's not a quill." Gabrielle laughed. "Here.. give me her.. she's covered in dust balls, Xena.. what on earth were you two doing?" She handed over her basket and took Dori, plucking the debris off the child's playsuit. "Were you chasing dust bunnies, Dori? Hm?"

"Sort of." Xena put the fruit down on the table. "We were playing hide and seek, and she chose to hide under the bed. I had to go drag her out."

Gabrielle eyed the bed, then tilted her head sideways to study the space. "You got under there?" She asked in an incredulous tone. "Amazing." She took Dori over to the linen press to retrieve a fresh playsuit. "Mom made lamb stew for dinner.. she wanted me to make sure you knew that."

"Ah." Xena chuckled, as she dusted herself off. "Well, how about I go over and get some, and we have dinner here? I'm not really in the mood for all the noise in there."

Gabrielle glanced at her, a touch surprised. "Um.. okay, sure." She finished changing Dori and put the toddler down, watching her make a beeline for her neglected doll lying on the rug. "It's been a pretty long day, I'd have thought you'd have had enough of just us for a while." She smiled as she said it, taking any sting out of the words.

"Never." Xena came up behind her and riffled her fingers through the bard's pale hair, letting her fingers slide through the soft strands and begin a gentle massage. Gabrielle dropped her head forward, allowing a soft sound of pleasure to emerge from her throat. "Got a couple knots there."

"Mm. I know." Gabrielle mumbled, abandoning herself to the strong fingers. The thought of spending a quiet evening in the cabin was sounding better every moment, now that she considered it. Maybe she'd get some work done on her poetry, in fact.

Teeth nibbled casually on her earlobe, sending a jolt of sensation straight to her guts.

Then again, maybe not. "I think I have knots all over."

"Guess we'll have to fix that." The low rumble tickled her ear. "Still want to go to the inn?"

Gabrielle turned her head and met the soft lips nibbling her jawline. "You're kidding, right?" She gazed up into the darkened blue eyes. "Want me to start warming up the bath?"

Her answer was a very sexy grin.

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

Gabrielle slipped through the now thinning woods around the town, letting the rich, summer green leaves brush against her body. It was dark, and the night sounds tickled her ears as she prowled through the underbrush, following a sweet, almost intoxicating scent.

"Ah." She rounded a large, gnarled tree and found what she was searching for, large clusters of silky white gardenias that released a gorgeous bouquet into the air. She gathered them up into the light wicker basket on her arm, leaning over to get the prettiest ones she could find. Why Xena wanted them, she had no idea. Scented bath water, maybe, since the warrior had been setting buckets by the fire to warm, or just to put in a bowl in the cabin near their shared mirror.

With her head near ground level, she glanced over and spotted something else, which caused a grin to appear. On the next bush, somehow forgotten by the town’s conscientious gatherers, were heavy clusters of blackberries. "Oh boy." Gabrielle made room in her basket and scuttled over to the hedge, carefully collecting the berries and only stealing a handful for herself as she did so. "Mm." She munched in delight as she settled the basket back on her arm and straightened, dodging around the thorny bush and heading back towards the path into town.

On the way, she passed a familiar brook, where once upon a time she’d walked knowingly into trap, and if she traveled up the less beaten path just to her right, it would take her to Xena’s hidden dell, where they loved to spend the hottest part of the day, and where she’d walked unknowingly into a trap that turned out to be her last adventure with Solon.

Gabrielle tensed her lips a bit, as she sidestepped a rock. It still hurt, thinking of that. Thinking of Solon, a boy she’d taken into her heart and soul and started to think of as a child of hers, as well as of Xena’s. He’d been so brave, and so very much like her soulmate, and they’d come so close to being a family together.

The bard exhaled, and allowed the memory to slide past her. It was one of the things in her life she knew she’d always live with, and one of the things she knew she could never forgive herself for. It had given her a more profound understanding of how Xena felt, and one day she and Xena had talked about it, and Xena had told her if she didn’t hurt when she thought about it, she’d be really worried about her.

It made sense, and it had helped Gabrielle to come to terms at last with a very sad, and very dark part of her life. An owl hooted softly and she paused, looking up at the branch over her head, seeing it’s large, fluffy outline against the moonlight. "Hi there." She greeted the bird, an old friend of theirs.

The owl blinked at her, and shifted sideways along the branch, raising it’s viciously clawed feet one at a time to move over. "Hooo."

"Want a berry?" Gabrielle offered, holding one up. The owl looked suspiciously at her, then rattled it’s feathers and sunk down into a huff. "No? Oh, that’s right. You like bugs, don’t you?" The bard made a face. "You can keep them. I’ll take the berries." She popped the treat into her mouth and continued on up the stairs, the wooden surface echoing her footsteps as she crossed the porch. The door opened as she reached it, and a gust of fragrant air blew out, full of stew and fresh bread and the crisp, green scent of spinach.

Amazing. She’d finally found a vegetable that Xena would eat willingly, and of course it turned out to be one she wasn’t that fond of. Then she glanced up at Xena and forgot all about the spinach.

The warrior had found somewhere a very sheer piece of fabric and fashioned it into a wrap that was just barely modest. Her skin held a scent of their bath soap and Gabrielle felt like she was being immersed in a bath of sensuality herself as her partner took the basket from her and hooked a finger in the neck of her shirt, pulling her forward. "Figured you went all the way to Potadeia for those flowers." Xena remarked. "I was about to come looking for you."

"Like that?" Gabrielle lifted a hand and let her fingers trail down the filmy fabric, stroking the powerful body beneath it. Her eyes lifted to Xena’s. "You’re gorgeous, you know that?"

It earned her a pleased smile. "Glad you think so." Xena tugged her slowly across the floor, setting the basket down. "Now it’s your turn."

"My turn?"

Xena indicated a tiny piece of silk draped over the back of the chair. "Your turn."

Gabrielle looked at the bitty thing, then at Xena, and wondered at why, since she saw Xena naked all the time, the sight of her dressed in a light lace covering was overwhelming her with a sense of sensual delight. "Okay."

The warrior grinned rakishly at her. "Bath first." She continued through the cabin, past Dori’s crib where the child was already asleep, towards the bathing room.

Gabrielle followed in a dreamy haze, her eyes taking in the candlelit space and the gently steaming water. "So.. what did I do to deserve all this?" She murmured.

Xena began unfastening the laces that held Gabrielle’s shirt closed. "Well, for starters, you were born… " She untied the first lace and went on to the second, exposing the bard’s collarbone. "Then you grew up and picked a wild, half baked ex warlord to go chase after." She continued to the third tie, pulling the lace free while Gabrielle started exploring the folds of cloth covering Xena’s body. "And after I let you catch me…"

"Let me?" Gabrielle felt the belt on her tunic release, and the warm air brush across her bare skin. "Why do I sense some revisionist history here?" She nibbled her lower lip, and gazed up at her soulmate.

"After I let you catch me…" Xena repeated blithely, sliding the tunic off and tossing it into the corner. "For some reason you stayed around."

"For some reason?" Gabrielle lifted her hand and laid it along Xena's planed cheekbone. "Honey, I fell in love with you the moment I saw you. You would have had to sell me to a pirate going across the Aegean to get rid of me and you know it."

"Yeah, I know it." Xena tilted her head and kissed the bard's waiting lips with deep and passionate sincerity. "Still amazes me."

It was always surprising. Gabrielle relaxed as Xena slipped her arms around her and lifted her up, swinging her over the edge of the tub to lower her into the warm water. She knew Xena was strong, very few people knew that better than she did, but even though she knew, experiencing the power that resided in her partner's tall body still always gave her a little tingle of wonder.

Only for a moment, though, until the bath claimed her, and Xena's hands went from supportive to teasing as she took their sponge and started cleaning Gabrielle's skin. The slightly rough surface of the sponge left behind a pleasant feeling, and she tipped her head back as Xena scrubbed under her chin. "I could probably do this myself." She commented softly.

"Do you want to?" Xena inquired, watching the green eyes flutter closed at her touch.

"No." Gabrielle admitted. "You bring out my most hedonistic impulses." She leaned into the pressure.

"Thanks, I think." The warrior chuckled softly, as she scrubbed in tiny circles down the bard's back and down her spine. Gabrielle straightened and lifted herself up as she did so, nibbling at Xena's neck with curious, warmly damp lips. "Mm… hungry?"

"Yes." Gabrielle whispered into her ear. "For you."

Xena's nape hairs prickled in pure reaction. Gabrielle didn't articulate her earthier thoughts with that precision often, but the warrior always loved when she did. "Nice to hear." She growled back. "Cause the feeling's mutual."

"Good." Gabrielle wrapped her arms around Xena's neck and tugged fiercely, as though she could pull the taller woman over the edge of the tub and into the water with her. Much to her surprise, that's exactly what happened, and the wooden basin was suddenly filled with the both of them as water sloshed over the side and went everywhere.

She almost laughed, but just then Xena's lips found hers, and a touch circled her breast, and the entire River Styx could have been pouring in the window and she'd never have noticed. Her fingers brushed against the now drenched fabric Xena was wearing, and she impatiently pulled at it, tearing it loose across Xena's shoulder and pushing it away as their bodies intertwined.

Mmm. Xena's skin definitely felt even better than a sea sponge. She slid her hands down her partner's sides, tracing lazy circles across Xena's chest as her ribs expanded sharply. Then she was cradled as the room spun and she found herself settling on top of Xena's now submerged form, their legs tangling together. "Woo." She murmured against the lips exploring hers. "That was fun."

"Wanna make sure you don't drown." Xena chuckled wickedly.

"Drown? " Gabrielle inhaled, uttering a soft groan as Xena's hand eased up the surface of her inner thigh. "Too late…" Her whole body was tingling now, responding to the relentless stroking of hands whose owner knew her better than she knew herself.

A deep shiver ran through her at a more intimate touch, and she wondered, just for an instant…

Just how long Xena could really hold her breath.

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

"You know… " Gabrielle exhaled in contentment as Xena tucked a fold of the soft woolen blanket around her shoulder. "We should do this more often." She and her partner were both quite naked, very clean, and completely entangled in each other in front of the small fire in the fireplace. They were sharing a large bowl of stew, a smaller one of spinach, and a loaf of very fresh bread and honey butter between them.

Xena settled back and slid an arm around the bard's waist, resuming her comfortable position behind her. She accepted a forkful of warm stew and chewed it, swallowing it before she answered. "Nah."

Gabrielle turned her head and peered at her. "Huh?"

"That would make it less special." The warrior explained, picking up a slice of bread and offering it to the bard's lips. The room was lit with warm candelight, and she'd made a comfortable nest of pillows and furs next to the fire for them to cuddle in. The fire wasn't really necessary, since it was just pleasantly cool outside, but something in Xena liked the snap of the flames, and always had.

Besides, Gabrielle was roasting apples in it, which were emitting a savory sweet fragrance of nutmeg and honey into the air. Xena sniffed appreciatively, and decided her plan had worked out to perfection. It was a gorgeous night, they were both relaxed and sated, they had good food and a nice skin of wine, there were apples roasting…

Perfect. Xena closed her eyes and gave Gabrielle a little squeeze, smiling as she heard the bard utter a soft grunt. Who needed Elysia? She doubted it could ever equal this, and she had every intention of soaking up every moment of mortal joy her life afforded to her because chances were anything that came after wasn't going to be this good.

What she had here, right now, was everything. Life, love, a family, a community… everything she'd thrown away when she walked down that dark path so many years before, and though she believed she really didn't deserve most of it, she wasn't about to throw any of it away.

"Hey there." Gabrielle ran a finger along Xena's jawline. "Dinar for your thoughts?"

Xena captured the hand and clasped it, then lifted it to her lips and kissed the bard's knuckles. "You're worth more than a dinar."

Gabrielle's eyes brightened at the compliment, then she grinned wryly. "Bet Josc doesn't think so. I got yelled at today when we got back."

One dark eyebrow lifted expressively.

"I had a meeting with the merchant's guild today." The bard admitted.

Xena's other eyebrow lifted. "You could have said something." She frowned.

Gabrielle nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, I could have. But I decided not to." She replied. "I wanted that time out as much as you did, and it was worth it to me to blow them off." She offered Xena a rolled spinach leaf, watching bemusement as her soulmate munched on it. "You really like that?"

The warrior nodded, opening her mouth for another leaf. She chewed on it as they gazed at each other. "Josc really give you a hard time?"

Gabrielle used a mouthful of bread and stew to give herself a moment to consider the question. "He was mad, yeah." She dipped her bread into the fragrant bowl and bit off another piece. "But, I mean, what can he do, relieve me of the position? He's the one who came and begged me to take it back in the first place." She selected a large chunk of lamb and offered it to Xena, who accepted it with a flash of white teeth. "Sometimes I think everyone just forgets.. we've been here so long, people take it for granted that we'll just do things like everyone else will."

Xena chewed thoughtfully, and responded with a tiny grunt of agreement. "If he gives you any grief, tell him you'll quit and come be my lieutenant." She decided. "Help me knock these farmboys into shape."

"Mmm…. " Gabrielle smiled her full smile. "I like that idea… then I could wear one of those snazzy tunics that match my tattoo." She indicated the hawk's head patterned on her shoulder. "And walk around telling all your soldiers stories about you.. yeah…mmf." She suddenly had to deal with a mouthful of spinach, which she hurriedly chewed and swallowed. "No, huh?"

Xena kissed her. "They already know stories about me. That's why I've got so many of them coming around here." She reminded her partner, as she was offered another piece of lamb. "Besides, aren't you out of stories already?"

Gabrielle returned the kiss with loving intensity, then she untangled herself from her partner and stood, her sturdy form outlined in firelight as she picked up a platter and moved towards the hearth. "No." She knelt, aware of the eyes on her, and removed two large apples, their centers stuffed with nuts and drizzled in honey. "I just started on a new one, as a matter of fact." She straightened and turned, meeting the pale blue eyes. "I’m getting a chance to go back and finish some of the older ones I started."

Xena held the blanket open as Gabrielle returned and settled back down into their nest. "Older ones?"

"Mm." The bard dug a spoonful of the fragrant apple up and fed it to the patiently waiting warrior. "It's a lighter piece."

A wince. "Not that Solstice thing."

Gabrielle chuckled wickedly.

"Gabrielle…."

Another spoonful followed the first. "It's a cute story. I’m sure you'll love it when I'm done.. or at least Dori will." Gabrielle teased.

Xena gave her a long suffering look, which was somewhat ruined by the pink tongue that flicked out to clean her lips of honey. She imagined a series of equally cute stories, drawn on the somewhat lighter adventures they sometimes had encountered, and winced.

Maybe she'd have to do something to give Gabrielle something new to write about.

Hm.

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

Continued in Part 2

A Matter of Pride

Part 2

Xena adjusted a catch on her armor as she stood for a moment on the porch, letting the early morning sun warm her skin. The town was already bustling with activity despite the early hour, and she let her hands rest on the porch railing as she watched a group of Amazons walk by, mixed with a couple of her militia men deep in a discussion of arrow tips.

"Morning, Xena." The last Amazon looked up to see her watching, and gave a wave. "How's the Queen doing?" Solari detoured away from the group and walked over, leaning against the railing as she faced the warrior. "Heard everyone was looking for her yesterday." She pushed a lock of her long, dark hair back behind an ear, and shifted a few feathers.

Xena raised an eyebrow. "Everyone? Not everyone. I knew where she was." She replied. "So did Dori."

Solari looked at her. "No, really?" She remarked wryly. "Anyway, I just wanted to let her know that Eph's due here in a day or so, for the summer conclave. She's bringing Pony, and, um… " The Amazon hesitated.

"And?" Xena cocked her head. "Everything all right with them?"

Solari twisted a lock of dark hair around one finger. "Um… well, yeah, sure."

Xena looked right, then looked left, then leaned on the railing, pinning Solari with a very intimidating icy blue stare. "Spill it."

Solari’s brown eyes widened. "B… ah…"

"Solari." Xena’s voice dropped a full octave.

"Okay." The Amazon peered furtively around, then lowered her voice. "Listen, if they found out I told you guys before they tell you, I’m creamed chipped centaur on a piece of rye toast, okay?"

"Appetizing thought." Xena remarked dryly. "C’mon, Solari. I don’t have all day."

"All right.. all right… Zeus, you sure haven’t gotten any more patient, huh? Okay – " Solari held a hand up as the warrior shifted. "They’re having this big argument over having a kid."

A ripple of different emotions crossed Xena’s expressive face. "Argument?"

"Yeah, you know. That’s when you like, have an opinion, and another person has a different opinion and ..fmopf."

Xena removed her hand. "Lemme guess. Eph doesn’t want a kid?"

"Oh, no, she does."

"Pony doesn’t?

"She does too."

Xena put her hands on her hips. "Then what’s the problem?"

A shrug. "They can't decide which one of em should have it." Solari said. "They want to talk to you about it."

"Me?" Xena snorted. "What in the name of Hades would make them think I had an opinion on that?"

Solari glanced at the door to the cabin, then up at Xena's face, with a puzzled expression on her own. "Didn't you…"

"No." Xena cut her off quietly. "It was Gabrielle's decision. I had nothing to do with it." Which wasn't, honestly, the total truth, but it was close enough. "Tell Eph to talk to her." She went on. "Or tell em to flip a half dinar coin. What's the big debate? They're both healthy." Xena finished adjusting her bracer and stepped down off the porch, heading down the path that would lead her to the militia barracks.

"Xena." Solari called after her, hesitantly.

The warrior turned. "Yes?"

The dark haired Amazon gazed at her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to… "

"Don’t' worry about it." Xena waved her off and continued on down the path.

Solari sighed. "Great. Good job, Sol. While you have your boot stuck all the way inside your mouth, why not try tying the laces with your tongue?"

"What?"

A lighter, warmer voice with a hint of a chuckle in it almost made her jump. Solari turned quickly to see Gabrielle leaning against the doorjamb of the cabin, her pale hair tousled, and her arms clasped across the roughly woven linen tunic that fell to her knees. "Oh, sorry." She gave her friend and Queen a rueful grin. "I was just talking to myself. You know how it is."

"C'mon up." Gabrielle invited her, easing out of the door way and taking a seat in one of the two comfortable chairs on the porch.

Solari climbed up to join her, taking the chair next to her and extended her booted legs out.

Gabrielle braced her bare feet against the lower railing and stretched, stifling a half yawn as she blinked amiably at the stirring village. "Beautiful day, isn't it?" She mused.

Solari peered around at the muggy scene, and waved at fly buzzing around her head. "Uh.. yeah."

The bard rolled her head to one side, and regarded her. "So. What were you arguing with Xena about?" She asked. "Anything I can help with?"

How had Gabrielle known? Solari frowned. They hadn't been talking that loud, and it had only last a few seconds…" Uhm .. we weren't arguing, really. I was just telling her to tell you that Eph's coming up in a day or two with Pony."

"Uh huh." Gabrielle nodded gravely. "I was expecting them. I've got a lot to discuss with Eph.. I think I want to see if she's ready to move the village down here. Xena found a spot about five miles upriver she thinks would be good for the tribe to settle in."

Solari picked at a splinter. "Yeah. I think she's ready." She said. "She and Pony want to have a kid."

Somehow, this didn't seem to surprise Gabrielle. "Cool." She nodded. "I’m really glad their experiences with my child didn't convince them otherwise." She grinned. "Which one's going to get dibs?"

"Ah." Solari sighed. "That's what we were talking about.. they're squabbling like hyperactive ducks in a puddle about it. Eph says she's already had a kid, and besides, she's the regent. Pony says at least Eph know she can do it, and besides, she's the weaponsmaster."

Gabrielle folded her arms. "Immovable object, irresistible force, huh?"

"What?" Solari cocked her head.

"Never mind. I'll see what I can do to break the impass." The bard told her. "I know it's a kinda touchy subject.. both Pony and Eph are so into the warrior thing."

"Yeah." Came the soft answer, as the dark haired Amazon gazed at the floor. "Guess it was an easier choice for you, huh?" She glanced furtively at Gabrielle. "Not that.. I mean, not that you're not a warrior, Gabrielle, I didn't mean to.."

But the bard merely smiled. "Compared to Xena? No, I'm not a warrior." She traced a scar on one tanned knee. "I tried to talk to Xena about her having another child… I never got anywhere with her, though. I think she was surprised when I decided to."

Solari was out of her depth and she knew it, but she hadn't been hanging around Amphipolis for the last year for nothing. "Mm." She dug into her stock of noncommittal responses, then decided to take the plunge and ask the question the whole town was buzzing about and had been for months. "Hey, Gabrielle?"

"Mm?" The intense green eyes turned her way, one blond eyebrow lifting slightly in just the faintest echo of her soulmate's typical look.

"It's true that Dori is you and Xena's kid, like together, right?"

Oh, that question. "That's right." Gabrielle agreed.

There was a little silence as they regarded each other. Then Solari leaned on the arm of her chair and lowered her voice. "How in Hades did you do that?"

Eh. Gabrielle managed a smile. Now that was the question they never really knew how to answer, so she generally just stuck to the truth. "We exchanged apples seeds while making love." She stated calmly. "In a tree."

Solari blinked.

"No, really." The bard smiled.

Solari blinked again.

"You asked."

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

Xena put her hands on Argo's saddlebow and vaulted onto the horse's back, settling her knees into place just behind the mare's shoulders as her hands gathered the reins with automatic and casual precision. Around her, the militia was swirling with business like efficiency, loading wagons full of newly made weapons, and grouping off in small clumps for hand to hand and sword practice.

"Genr'l!" Bennu loped over to her, and put a hand on her stirrup. "Far outpost just signalled in. There's a passel of armed riders on t'way inbound."

Mm. Xena's ears perked up, and Argo moved restlessly under her, sensing the tensing of the warrior's thigh muscles. "All right. I'll check it out." Xena told him. "Send word up to the inn." She guided Argo around the milling soldiers and set her on the road out of town, a path that would lead her up and over the ridge Amphipolis was built on and then to slope down slowly to the river valley.

It felt good to be out and riding. Xena urged Argo into a canter, and shook her head as the wind blew the sweat dampened hair out of her eyes and cooled her skin. She felt Argo settle into a smooth pace and she relaxed, her body moving with the horse's in an instinctive rhythm.

She rode past burgeoning homesteads, the residents outside lifting a hand to wave at her as she went past. Xena returned the wave, then ducked under an overhanging branch as the path lead into a more wooded area.

It was quieter here, the sounds of wood being chopped faded behind her, and only Argo's footfalls echoed in the still summer air. Xena shifted her armor a bit, and made a mental note to adjust the plates later on to better conform to the new leathers she wore underneath.

A gift from Gabrielle, in fact, when the bard had refused to allow her to put one more patch into the old ones she loved. This new set was a slightly lighter shade of brown, and was cut very comfortably but still needed to be broken in a little.

They were sort of snazzy though. Xena glanced down and ran a finger over the swirling dark brown beadwork Gabrielle had patiently worked into the leather with her own hands. Given her soulmate's innate distaste for needlework, Xena did indeed appreciate the gift as the loving sacrifice it was.

Besides. Xena drew in a deep breath and released it, her senses taking in the surrounding forest automatically. She could actually breathe in these, something that was getting a little tough in the old set, since being at home didn't pare her to the skin and bones living on the road did.

The path curved upward, and she slowed Argo as they came to the top, and she had a view of the river basin that stretched off into the horizon. The long road that went along side the river had become wider recently, from hundreds of wagons and animals traveling it and down this wide and dusty path came riding a party that set all Xena's instincts right on fire.

"Whoa, girl." Xena gentled Argo absently. "I see em."

There were an even dozen of them. Ten what were obviously soldiers, and two in the center in the robes and silks of rich men. The soldiers bore heavy weapons, spears resting in stirrups that bobbed as they rode, longswords strapped to their backs, and crossbows lashed to their saddlebows.

"Well well." The warrior's eyes narrowed, as the breeze pulled at the banner of the leadmost soldier and fluttered it open. "What brings such a gaudy group all the way from Athens, Argo?"

Argo snorted.

"Yeah, I agree." Xena's mind started clicking. "Bet they're not here for the market, huh, girl? Let's go find out what they want." She gathered Argo underneath her and made for the road, taking a course calculated to intercept the visitors just short of the entrance to town.

That they outnumbered her never even crossed her mind.

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

The standard bearer wiped his forehead with the back of his gloved hand, and peered ahead. "Town's just up there, sir."

"So I see." The man dressed in expensive robes replied. "Hard to believe a place halfway out to nowhere is actually big enough to warrant our presence, but here we are." He gestured lazily towards the outlines of Amphipolis. "And there it is."

They were riding slowly down the road, in deference to the heat. "Bigger than the last place we stopped." The captain of the guard commented. "What a little pisshole that was."

They all chuckled. "Now, Allas, be kind." The nobleman chided. "These people were through a rough time a year back. They can't help only being grubby peasants."

The captain snorted, and adjusted his epaulet. "All due respect, sir, but I’m thinking those stories were mostly exaggeration. No group of ignorant dirt grubbers could pull themselves together to fight off an army. It's not credible."

"Mm." The official shrugged. "Perhaps." He shifted in his sedate horses saddle. "Well, I hope at least this place has some decent baths."

"Sir?" The point guard's voice was sharp. "There's someone up ahead."

The noble and the Allas looked forward. In the shimmering haze of the summer heat, a golden horse stood squarely in their path, it's rider waiting quietly for them to approach.

"What the Hades?" The captain squinted. There was an unmistakable glint of brass armor in the sun, and the rider sat erect in the saddle, the hilt of a sword clearly visible strapped across her back. "It's a woman."

"Certainly is." The noble gazed with interest at the figure. As they got closer, he could see the beautiful, but stern features, framed in dark hair that whipped in the wind and catch a glimpse of surprisingly pale eyes which watched them alertly.

"Clear the road." The guard captain ordered, riding ahead of them.

Xena merely looked at the man, and lifted an eyebrow. "Or?" She inquired, deriving a completely guilty enjoyment from the confrontation. "You gonna try to move me?"

The man hesitated, clearly not expecting a challenge to his authority. But not for long. " I'll move you." He drew his sword and rode towards her.

The look Xena gave him was almost affectionate. She waited for him to come even with her, then lazily slipped her boot from her stirrup and lashed out in a ripple of bare, muscular thigh as she caught him in the ribcage and knocked him right off his horse. "Tch." She admonished the startled man. "What are they teaching in the Athenian army these days?"

Allas scrambled to his feet and advanced on her. Xena merely sidestepped Argo around him, keeping out of his reach with skillful ease. "You don't want to do that." She warned, as he took a swipe at Argo's hindquarters. She signaled the mare, who kicked viciously out, slamming a hoof into the man's kneecap with an audible crunch. "She's got metal on hers."

The guard captain dropped to the ground and grabbed his leg. The rest of the soldiers immediately drew their weapons. Xena stopped Argo's circling and faced them head on, eyes glinting, an almost mischievously sexy grin on her face.

"Hold it." The nobleman raised on hand.

"But sir.. " The standard bearer protested.

The nobleman rode out from between them, and crossed the space between the group and Xena. He stopped in front of her. "I am Delethan, official tax master of the government at Athens."

Xena's ears twitched. She leaned on Argo's saddlebow and eyed him. "Congratulations." She remarked dryly. "What do you want with Amphipolis?"

The man patted a pouch at his belt. "To do my job. Collect the taxes you owe, bring the new laws, and deliver the order for conscripts for the army." He edged his horse closer. "So, my.. ah.. dear lady… please take yourself out of our way, and let me proceed."

The warrior didn't budge an inch. "Athens has never bothered with us before. Why now?"

Delethan smiled. "You've got something worth bothering for." He started past Xena. "I'll forget your little argument with my dear captain, since he did start something he wasn't capable of finishing. Perhaps I will only fine you a few dinars."

"You could try that" Xena stopped him. "But don’t' ride into that town thinking your being from Athens means three ticks on my horse's tail, cause it doesn't."

Delethan looked at her in bemusement. "Doesn't it? I guess this far out in the boondocks people have forgotten what the Athenian army does to lawbreakers." He said mildly, aware of the watching, smirking guard. "It's not pretty."

Xena sidestepped closer, until they were nose to nose. "I guess Athens' forgotten what I do to people who try to take advantage of my friends an family." She met his eyes levelly. "That's not pretty either."

The soldiers looked at each other. Delethan looked around at the fields of wheat gently waving. "You?" He asked, with a small chuckle. "Who are you? Captain of the cows?"

Before the guard could even twitch, or move, or even so much as breathe, there was a sword point tucked neatly under Delethan's chin, held rock steady in a strong grip across the length of a sinewy, outstretched forearm.

"Just someone who looks out for Amphipolis." Xena stated softly. "My name is Xena."

No one moved an inch. "Interesting." Delethan finally said, in a forced tone. "Rumors had you quite dead."

Xena smiled broadly. "Slight exaggerations." She twirled the sword over her arm and sheathed it in a smooth motion. "G'wan into town, but behave yourselves. The council'll meet with you and we can talk about your.. requests."

Delethan almost answered, then thought better of it and merely inclined his head, gathering his horses' reins together and easing the animal away from the warrior.

Allas had limped over and gotten on his horse, and now they all filed past Xena, who sat easily on Argo's back and watched them go. She waited until they were out of earshot, then let out a few choice curses, making Argo turn her ears back at their viciousness.

"C'mon, girl." The warrior turned the mare and urged her up a little used path that would lead her back to the town ahead of the longer route of the main road. "This ain't nothing good."

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

Gabrielle twitched her tunic straight as she left the school, having dropped Dori off safely into the teacher's hands. She strode down the path to the council chamber, bypassing the inn until a familiar voice called out to her as she went by. She looked up to see Cyrene waving in the kitchen door, and angled her steps to bring her over to her mother in law. "Morning, mom."

"Hey, cutie." Cyrene greeted her warmly. "You two get some rest last night?"

Rest. Gabrielle smiled at her. "Absolutely." She replied. "And you know what? I really feel great this morning. What gorgeous day, isn't it?"

"A bit dewy." Cyrene wiped the sweat from her forehead. "But not bad.. you off to council?"

Gabrielle nodded.

"Had breakfast?" The innkeeper asked, knowingly. "Other than one of those chicken feed bars my daughter scrapes together?" She took Gabrielle's arm and led her inside the kitchen. "Come in here and sit down. Those stuffed tunics will wait another quarter candlemark for you."

Gabrielle sat down and accepted a fragrant many grained muffin and a slice of cold lamb, watching while Cyrene ladled them both a cup of cold cider. The innkeeper set the drinks down and took a seat next to her, pushing back a bit of her silvered dark hair as she did so. "I had a little talk with Josclyn."

Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "Mom." She sighed. "Come on now. I can handle my own battles, okay?"

"Shh. I know that." Cyrene frowned. "But he's a stubborn old goat."

"Oh." Gabrielle half turned, and leaned on one elbow, giving her mother in law a very dry look. "And I have absolutely NO experience dealing with stubborn people." The edges of her lips quirked upward though. "Besides, he was right. I should have sent word, or gone to the meeting or.."

"Gabrielle." Cyrene sounded, for a moment, uncannily like her daughter.

"Mom." The bard deliberately pitched her voice lower in mimicry. "He was right." She took a bite of the muffin. "And I know better than to just toss off responsibility like that. So I’m going to go find him, and apologize, and see if we can reschedule that meeting."

Cyrene leaned towards her, a serious look on her face. "Gabrielle, there are responsibilities, and there are responsibilities. Yes, you're responsible for helping administer this gods forsaken, growing out of control excuse for a town, but you're also responsible for yourself, and your family." She put a hand on the bard's arm. "Did Xena ask you for time out?"

Silently, Gabrielle nodded.

"Then you don't owe anyone an apology." Cyrene said quietly. "And that's what I told Josclyn. It's a miracle of the gods she's been here, and at peace for so long. I don't want anything to jeopardize that, understand me?"

The bard studied her face. "She's doing fine."

Cyrene nodded. "I know."

Mist green eyes narrowed slightly. "That surprises you." Gabrielle said.

"Yes, it does."

"Why?" The bard inquired softly.

The door opened, startling them both. Gabrielle turned to see one of the younger militia standing there, breathing hard. "What's wrong?"

"Armed men coming up the road. Xena said to tell ya."

Gabrielle stuffed the rest of her muffin into her mouth and got up, sliding around the table and heading for the door. "Graph." She swallowed quickly. "I knew I jinxed it by saying it was too quiet around here." She nudged the militiaman "C"mon.. let's get to the gates."

Cyrene watched her go. Then she picked up her cup and sipped it, staring pensively at the fire.

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

Xena leaped off Argo's back, landing lightly on her feet as they arrived near the stable. One of the stablehands hurried towards her, and she held the mare's reins out willingly. "Thanks, Galen. Take her inside, willya?"

"Sure thing, Xena." The boy smiled at her, as she gave him a pat on the shoulder and slipped past.

Tax collectors. Xena shook her head as she headed towards the inn, her eyes roving restlessly over the courtyard in search of her soulmate. The Hades if she was going to let those stuck up Athenian elitists take what they'd worked so hard to build up.

It wasn't as though Amphipolis was a well established city, after all. This was the first season, the first real harvest they'd have a good chance at really profiting by, after the long, stagnant years they'd suffered through and the destruction of the war. So now, now that they'd finally managed to get above water, now Athens shows up and wants a cut?

Like Hades. Xena felt her skin prickle with excitement as her body recognized the signals that for her had always meant battle. Her heart picked up a little, and sent a warm flush of blood to her skin, and she felt her hands flex, the long fingers of her right hand extending and curling as though cupping a sword hilt.

That, however, made her pause and think. Just how are you going to stop them, Xena? Her mind sifted over that as she sensed a familiar presence ahead and circled the end of the inn, heading towards the gates of the upper town.

Sure enough, she spotted Gabrielle's sturdy form in a group of villagers standing near the entrance, and headed directly for her. She got about ten more paces when Gabrielle stiffened and turned, her eyes meeting Xena's with vivid relief.

"There you are." The bard trotted over to her. "The guard says we have company."

"I know. I met them on the road." Xena replied. "Bad news."

"Raiders?" Gabrielle guessed, with a grimace.

"Worse." The warrior said. "Tax men from Athens." She glanced down the road, where the small party could now be seen advancing towards the river gates, and the lower city. "Raiders would b a lot more welcome. I could just kick their butts."

"Tax men? What do they want from us?" Gabrielle asked. "We haven't made a profit yet."

"And if it's up to them, we won't." Xena growled. "Greedy bastards."

Gabrielle watched her soulmate in bemusement, as Xena craned her neck to watch the approaching me. "Sweetie." She lowered her voice, and stepped closer, patting the warrior's ribs under their covering of leather. "I’m sure we can work something out with them. Just relax, okay?"

Xena growled again wordlessly.

"Tell you what." Gabrielle nudged her. "Let me handle this. I"ll go meet with them, and see what I can arrange. I’m sure it won't be as bad as you think, after all, we're barely a city, remember?" She could see the tension in Xena's body, the strong form shifting under her touch like a restless horse's. "Xena?"

Sharp blue eyes darted to her face.

"Will you relax? You're making me neck hurt just looking at you."

The warrior scowled, but made an effort to stop twitching. "Sorry." She rested her forearms on Gabrielle's shoulders. "But after what we went through, keeping Andreas off their backs, for them to show up looking for a handout gets my goat."

Gabrielle glanced towards the road, then back at her. She butted Xena gently in the breasts. "You don't have a goat." She muttered. "But I know what you're saying. I’m sure they can be reasoned with."

"Not to mention looking for conscripts." Xena's eyes narrowed.

Blond eyebrows lifted. "Conscripts?"

"For the army."

"To go fight their fights?" Gabrielle's voice lifted. "Not from my town." She snorted. "Who do those rats think they are?"

Xena grinned suddenly. "Glad we're in agreement." She turned Gabrielle around and put an arm over her shoulders. "C'mon. Let's go get em."

"Absolutely." Gabrielle put her arm around Xena's waist as they walked in easy rhythm through the upper gates and down the path towards the river.

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

The inside of the council chamber was, undeniably, stuffy. Xena leaned against the wall a little closer to the window, and blinked the sweat out of her eyes as she watched Gabrielle and Joscyln negotiate with the men from Athens.

It wasn't going well.

"All right. But let me understand." Gabrielle stood up and paced slowly behind the table, aware of the faintly amused looks following her from Delethan and his mostly silent partner Gregas. "You say you're assessing a percentage of the total worth of the town, is that right?"

Delethan exhaled in mild impatience. "Listen, young miss, we really don't have the time to.." He stopped as Gabrielle circled the table and perched right next to him, holding a hand out invitingly. Cautiously he took it.

"Hi." Gabrielle smiled at him. "Sorry, I guess it got lost in the shuffle, but my name's Gabrielle." She clasped his hand in a firm grip. "And as the chief arbiter of Amphipolis, and a Queen of the united Amazon nations, I think I'm entitled to ask a few questions about the assessment of a value that hasn't been established yet."

Delethan blinked at her.

"How can you assess us for something we haven't earned yet?" The bard persisted. "We won't know how well the year will end until the harvest."

"We run an estimate." Delethan released her hand and rubbed his fingers, a mildly distasteful look on his face. "So many acres, so many people.. it's a mathematical algorithm."

"Ah." Gabrielle folded her arms. "What if it's wrong?"

"Wrong?" A laugh.

"Wrong. What if you assess more than we make." Gabrielle persisted. "What if storms drown the crops, or the river floods, or.."

Delethan shrugged. "We'll make it up to you next year." He tossed a scroll on the table. "You have two fortnights to deliver the tax to Athens. After that, you'll be in arrears." He stood up. "I think we're done with this conversation. It's hot, and it stinks in here." His nose wrinkled, as he glanced around the small room.

Gabrielle fingered the scroll, very aware of the smouldering warrior several body lengths from her. "All right. What about the conscripts. What's the point of that?"

Another shrug. "The defense of the common good. We maintain the army that protects Greece, in case you haven't heard." He smiled at her. "Your taxes buy you protection as well, you know."

"We can protect ourselves." Xena spoke for the first time.

"Xena's right." Gabrielle quickly agreed. "We maintain our own militia. So I guess we can drop those conscripts, and take a credit on the protection, right?"

"Wrong." Delethan shook his head. "Two fortnights, in Athens. You can bring your conscripts to the military barracks, and the money to the tax collectors' office in the main square. " He paused. "Failure to comply will result in censure, penalties, and a visit from the military garrison to forcibly collect what is due to us. Good day."

And then, he just turned and left, fanning himself as he walked out the door and slammed it behind him.

The gathered councillors all looked at each other, then at Gabrielle, who was still leaning against the council chamber, arms folded, one pale eyebrow lifted to her hairline. Very slowly the bard turned her head and looked at Xena. "You know something? In five years of traveling with you, I don't think we've ever met a bigger jerk than that."

Xena pushed herself away from the wall and stalked over. She picked up the scroll and untied it, pale blue eyes flicking over the contents with an expressionless look. Then she very deliberately smoothed the folds out, lifting the parchment in her fingers and launching it up into the air.

And with a move as smooth and powerful as a waterfall, she drew her sword and whipped it into a tight, exquisite pattern, the steel moving so fast it was impossible to distinguish the strokes.

Straw like confetti drifted slowly to the floor as she sheathed the sword, the parchment cut into so many strips they looked like a pile of Cyrene's noodles when they finally came to rest.

There was a definite moment of very respectful silence after her display, which Xena herself broke. "Looks like we're going to Athens." She remarked to Gabrielle. "No sense in bothering talking to lackeys. Let's just take it to the top."

Josclyn cleared his throat. "Um… Xena, not that any of us doubt your abilities.. or Gabrielle's, but wouldn’t it be more prudent just to pay them?"

"No." Xena and Gabrielle answered in perfect unison. "Besides.. "Gabrielle went on. "We're not sending anyone to be part of their army, Josc. I won't ask that, and you can't either."

The reeve hesitated, then nodded in agreement. "All right. Yes, I can see your point." He levered himself to his feet. "We'll all go." He looked around at the council. "We can talk to them, make them see how unfair this is."

Everyone nodded.

Xena and Gabrielle's eyes met, and in a flickering exchange of minute facial shifts, complete agreement was met. "Why don't we recess, and come back later this afternoon to talk about it." Gabrielle said. "When it's cooler." She smiled at the council, mostly elders, who were all sweating like pigs. "Sound like a good idea?"

Nods. Everyone filed out gratefully, a buzz of concerned conversation trailing back into the room. That left only Xena, Gabrielle, and Josclyn. The reeve sighed. "What a mess." He glanced at the other two. "Price of success, eh?" With a shake of his grizzled head, he made his way out of the room after the others, leaving the two soulmates alone.

Gabrielle drummed her fingers lightly on her thigh. "They all have a stake in this. I guess it's natural they want to go and try to fix it."

"Mm."

"Think we can pack and be out of here before dinner?"

"Mmhm."

The bard sighed. "I'll break the news to Granella, you get the gear ready?"

"I'll drop by the inn and warn mother." Xena agreed, as they ducked out the back door to the council chamber and parted ways, heading in opposite directions across the dirt ground.

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

They rode out just before lunchtime, cantering along the outbound road for several miles in silence before they slowed down to an easier pace, and eyed each other. "Do you feel as rotten as I do?" Gabrielle asked, after a moment.

A warrior eyebrow twitched, then Xena sighed.

"That's what I thought." The bard fiddled with one of her reins. "You think we should…"

Xena nudged Argo closer to her. "Look." She glanced at the sky. "Weather's chancy. We don't know what we're in for on the road. It's a long trip. Gabrielle, it's honestly too dangerous to risk it."

Heavy sigh. "I know." The bard muttered. "I just keep seeing those eyes.. she looked so betrayed." In fact, if she concentrated, Gabrielle could almost convince herself that she could still hear Dori's wails from where she was.

They rode on in silence for a few lengths. "Yeah, she was pretty upset." Xena admitted.
"I think we spoiled her the last couple times, taking her with us, over to Potadeia and up to the Amazons."

"That's true." Gabrielle acknowledged. "We haven't been away from her in almost a year." She said. "Those trips were kind of fun, but you're right. They were all short."

"Right." Xena nodded.

"Fairly safe."

"Uh huh."

Another few moments of silence. "Boy, we'd better bring some good toys back from Athens." Gabrielle suddenly stated. "Or we're toast."

A rueful sigh.

"Is she ready for a pony, you think?"

Sharp blue eyes glanced at her. "A pony? Gabrielle, she's only two years old!" Xena protested, but relaxed a little into her saddle.

"And how old were you when you rode down Sparky on the back of that plow horse?" Gabrielle replied unrepentantly. "Don't give me that 'she's only two' Gabrielle bit, Ms. I was doing backflips off the inn roof at age three."

Xena snorted, fidgeting with the reins. "That's different." She grumbled. "That was me. I’m sure Dori won't be like that."

Gabrielle just started laughing. "Xena.. Xena.. c'mon!" She covered her face with one hand. "Good grief, did you not see her actually up in the hayloft last week? How do you think she got there, by me lifting her?"

Xena eyed her. "Well, sure, I… you mean she climbed up there? By herself?" The warrior's eyes widened in alarm. "Gabrielle, she could have fallen out of there and killed herself!" She protested. "How could you let her do that?"

"Let her?" Gabrielle shot right back. "You're kidding, right? Like I would stand there and watch? Give me a break, Xena. I came in to get a blanket I'd left in there and she threw a rock at me."

The warrior collected Argo and guided her around a large depression in the road, as Gabrielle went around the other side. They joined each other once again and continued on. "Anything else you'd like to accuse me of while you're at it?" The bard asked, visibly annoyed.

Xena leaned on her saddlebow. "Sorry." She murmured, then fell silent, hit by the bittersweet irony of their argument. She wondered if Gabrielle was thinking about that too, about how, of all people, she was the last to have a right to judge the bard's fitness as a parent.

Sometimes she managed to push the knowledge of their past together back for a while, but then, like now, the reality would swing around and confront her with mocking vividness.

Ah well. Xena straightened and released a heavy sigh, then braced herself and turned to meet the eyes she knew were looking at her.

Expecting righteous anger.

Finding starkly knowing compassion instead.

Wordlessly, Gabrielle extended her hand, and clasped the one Xena held out. They rode that way for miles down the road, fingers and hearts intertwined.

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

Thunder rumbled loudly overhead, rattling the clouds that obscured the late afternoon sun as they left the river valley and started up through the foothills on the other side. "Uh oh." Gabrielle glanced up. "That doesn't sound too good." She wiped the sweat off her brow with the back of her hand. "Though it's making it cooler at least."

"Mm." The warrior agreed. "And there's no town anywhere within range.. better find a place to hole up." She stood in her stirrups and reviewed the countryside they were riding through. It was mostly scrub and brush, very little in the way of shelter, and as she sat back down she felt the first light sting of rain against her skin.

"Great.' Gabrielle pulled her cloak out and shook it's folds free of her saddle bag, settling it over her shoulders with a grimace. "Ugh.. nice and warm and sweaty… and wet." The temperature had risen as they'd ridden on, and there had been precious little shade. She'd been glad of the gathering clouds until now, in fact.

Xena ran a hand through her damp hair and sighed. "Yeah." She juggled her options, deciding against adding her cloak's extra layer to her already overly warm garments. Leather was great protection in a fight, but not so wonderful when riding in the hot sun, and wearing brass armor over it didn't help matters one single bit.

It started raining harder. Xena found herself caught between relief and annoyance, as her body cooled down, but Argo shook her head vigorously, not liking the stinging drops. "I know, girl. Just hang on.. we'll find some place to keep dry."

Would they? Gabrielle shaded her eyes from the rain and peered forward, seeing little but underbrush around them.

A sudden crack made them both jump, and Iolaus shied, almost unseating her. A bolt of lighting had hit a nearby tree, and now it smouldered, emitting a sharp, burning smell into the air. Xena grabbed instinctively for Iolaus' bridle, and urged Argo in the other direction, towards a small thicket.

A hedge. Gabrielle exhaled, as she pulled her cloak up over her head. The rain started coming down in torrents, and she was quickly wet through. Well, any port in a storm, right? She felt Iolaus come to a halt and she peeked out, to see Xena sliding off Argo and pulling their bags down with her.

Another roll of thunder, and a bolt that lit up the sky ominously. Gabrielle scrambled off her restless horses back and was glad not to be the tallest object around at the moment. She unclipped the bags off her saddle rings and threw herself after Xena, who was barely visible in the downpour. "Xena!"

"Over here!" The warrior yelled. "Let the horses go.. they'll find shelter on their own!"

Gabrielle did as she was told, and heard Argo and Iolaus's hooves rumble as they dashed away, a gust of wind almost blowing her cape right off. She clutched it with one hand, and slung their gear forward with the other, relieved when a hand gripped her arm and pulled her down. "Good gods!"

"Yeah." Xena agreed, uncharacteristically frazzled looking. "Storm came on too fast." She was pawing at the bushes in front of her, yanking on branches with powerful impatience. "Damn it…. " One branch resisted her, and she unhooked the chakram, using it as an effective hatchet as she cut her way into the hedge with short, vicious strokes. "Ah."

"Ah?" Gabrielle huddled closer, peering past her shoulder. "Oh. " She said in surprise, ducking as a sharp crack of thunder sounded right over them. "It's… "

"Yeah." Xena shoved her packs inside the hollow space, then ducked back and gestured towards the bard. "In ya go."

Any port? Gabrielle moved gingerly forward, scraping past the broken branches with their sharp green scent and into the center of the bush, a surprisingly large, mostly hollow space. She curled up against the far lacing of branches, giving Xena room to join her, though it was going to be a tight squeeze for both of them.

"Good thing we're close friends, huh?" The bard remarked wanly, as the space next to her was filled with warm, drenched warrior. The branches overhead were definitely not waterproof, and the place was leaking like a sieve, but at least the fury of the storm was being kept at bay. Gabrielle could feel the winds rising, and tugging at the branches, but inside it was relatively calm.

And full of dirt, and sweat, and the two of them, and all their gear.

Xena settled down and let out a disgusted sigh, then removed her cloak from her pack and started fashioning at least a partial roof to their lair. It took her a few minutes, but at last she sat back, satisfied for the moment there was nothing more she could do.

Gabrielle reflected that life certainly was a series of contrasts. She regarded her companion thoughtfully, Xena's sharp profile outlined as a series of lightning flashes lit up their hiding spot. The warrior was drenched, and her skin was smeared with mud and dirt, which also caked her boots liberally. As the bard watched, she lifted a filthy hand and scrubbed her hair with it, glaring as the wind blew in a wash of rain through the side of the hedge.

"Ah." Gabrielle had to smile. "The romance of the road… gotta love it." She leaned her head against one of Xena's muddy shoulders and closed her eyes, laughing just a little.

Xena cleared her throat lightly. "What's so funny?" She asked, as the thunder almost obscured her voice. "We're dripping wet and covered in muck inside a bush in a thunderstorm, Gabrielle."

"True." The bard agreed. "But you know what?" She lifted her head and met Xena's eyes, pale flashes in the semi darkness .

"What?"

"The 'we' makes it okay." Gabrielle said. "You know something else?"

A smile appeared, despite the circumstances. "No, what?"

Gabrielle slid an arm around her partner's neck and drew her head down, kissing her gently but throughly on the lips. "You're really cute when you're covered in muck and drenched." She said, as a warm hand brushed her cheek. "I love you."

Xena leaned over and returned the kiss, then rested her forehead against Gabrielle's. "I love you, too."

They gazed into each other's eyes, letting the storm roll violently overhead. Finally, Gabrielle glanced around their rude little nest. "It's a good thing Dori's not here." She remarked wryly. "We'll just have to tell her about it when she's older."

Xena kissed her again. "Okay." She traced a bit of mud across Gabrielle's cheek. "Maybe we could leave out a few details."

A smile started to tug at the bard's lips. "Maybe." She tilted her head and let the discomfort fade, finding a nugget of quiet joy inside the maelstrom whirling around them Well, she reasoned. She had called it the romance of the road, now hadn't she?

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

Xena prided herself, really, in having achieved a mastery of her physical body to the extent that she could, when needed, block out almost any discomfort.

However

A blue eye opened and regarded it's surroundings dourly.

Sleeping in full armor, inside a bush, in a mud puddle, with branches sticking into her back and sides and a slug on her arm was really asking a bit much of even her. She lifted a hand and removed the slug, tossing it into the underbrush then wiping her fingers on her damp cloak.

It was still raining outside, which explained the puddle she was sitting in, though the thunder seemed to have tapered off now, here in the quiet hours just after what she calculated was midnight.

And it wasn't like she could move, either, since Gabrielle was curled up against her sound asleep, the bard having little or none of the difficulties her partner was in ignoring her surroundings. Of course Gabrielle, unlike Xena, was not having to deal with prickly branches, only the slightly rough surface of Xena's leather covered body she was using as a pillow.

Just like in the old days. Xena smiled slightly, her night adjusted vision taking in Gabrielle's dimly seen features. At least, after they'd gotten to know each other, that is. If she cast her mind back, she could just barely remember before that, to the awkward shyness that had characterized their first days together.

In her sleep, Gabrielle shifted, her brows contracting slightly as she got caught up in a dream, tiny twitches tensing the muscles in her face, pulling her lips up in grin that betrayed the images she was seeing as happy ones.

Xena watched contentedly, nodding once or twice to herself. Good dreams. That's what she wanted for Gabrielle. The past year had given back to her partner some of the youthful wonder their travels had stolen from her, and restored to her a sense of vivid curiosity at the world that Xena had thought might be gone forever.

She'd actually asked one of 'those' questions the other day, in fact. "Xena, why are horses so fast?" Gabrielle had inquired, after they'd spent some time watching the Amphipolis stud herd race around in it's paddock. "Look at them. Other animals, like the cows, they run when they have to, but not horses. They run because they love to, don't they?"

"It's their nature." Xena had responded. "Yeah, they love it."

"Yeah." Gabrielle had chewed a stalk of grass as she watched. "That's so cool."

Xena tilted her head, moving to get away from some of the more prickly branches, and resettled her shoulders with a sigh, wondering if she could manage to get a little bit more sleep. The patter of rain against the makeshift roof was soothing, but it was hard to ignore the rest of the discomforts now that she was fully awake.

One good thing, at least. She didn't have to worry about raiders tonight. Not even the scruffiest back alley starvelings would be out here in the badlands in the rain searching the center of bushes.

A rustle, and her eyes darted to her right, searching the patterns of meager light and shadows. Was it just wind?

Her nostrils twitched and extended, sucking in a lungful of the wet air, detecting and discarding the green scent of the leaves, and the damp earth… ah. An animal, nearby. Xena listened intently as a soft rustle came to her again. The wind shifted slightly, and now she could smell it, a heavy, musky scent she didn't really recognize.

Her senses pinpointed the location, though, and she stared at the spot, willing the dimness to resolve into the shape of the creature. The rustling stopped, and Xena had the distinct feeling she was being watched. Her heartbeat picked up and she felt any thoughts of sleep fall away. Her fingers curled quietly around the chakram as she waited.

More rustling. Xena was concentrating so hard, the sudden warmth of Gabrielle's fingers curling around her hand almost make her levitate thorough the hedge. Only a quick clamping of her jaw kept a yelp from emitting, and she glanced quickly down to see a pair of glistening eyes peering up at her. They widened slightly, and the brows over them lifted in question. Xena cocked her head. Gabrielle nodded in understanding and very slowly turned over, her body tensing with anticipation.

They both froze as a louder rustle indicated the animal was moving closer, then Xena lifted her other hand, cocking her wrist just a little as the muscles in her arm tensed as they took on the weight of the chakram.

Gabrielle got her knees under her and lifted her body off her soulmate’s, one hand sliding out to curl it’s fingers around the long, well used staff she’d tucked near the edge of the bush.

The leaves trembled. Xena’s body stiffened. For a long second, everything held it’s breath.

Then, with a thump, the intruder broke through into the center and shook itself, stopping in shock when it saw what was waiting for it.

There was a second’s utter silence.

"Good grief." Gabrielle finally spluttered. "What is THAT?"

Xena sighed, and released her tense body, letting the chakram come to rest on her thigh. "That’s a badger."

The animal stared at her, then decided sharing space wasn’t in his best interests and bolted, scurrying out through the hole Xena had made earlier.

Gabrielle watched it leave, then she turned slowly and put her hands on her hips. "THAT is a badger? The animal you always say I remind you of???"

Oh boy. "That’s not what I said." Xena shook her head.

"Yes, it is." Gabrielle pointed after it. "You always say I look like that thing." She glared at her soulmate. "Xena, that is the ugliest animal I’ve ever seen!"

"Gabrielle."

"Don’t you Gabrielle me." The bard actually sounded close to tears. "How would you like it if I said you looked just like a warthog?"

The warrior glanced down at herself, then back up at her angry partner. "I’d say that was a damn accurate observation, sweetheart." She remarked mildly. "But I never said you looked like a badger."

"Xena…"

"I just said you walked like one."

"Oh, that’s just so much better." Gabrielle snapped. "That thing waddled like a duck, Xena!!!!" Tossing her staff aside in disgust, the bard got as far from the warrior as she could in the small space and started to rummage in their gear.

For a moment, Xena was bemused. Then a sudden, bleak memory erupted in her mind, and she felt a sting of fear grab her as she thought about how it had all started to go wrong the last time.

Just like this. Only it had been her snapping at everything Gabrielle said.

A thousand doubts took her over, and she straightened, her mind churning over hateful memories that had lead her straight to her own personal Tartarus.

No. Xena put the chakram down and ran a hand through her hair. No, I have to stop this now. She heard a virulent curse from the darkness and reached out in unconscious reflex. "Gabrielle?"

Unexpectedly, her call was answered as a compact body hit the muddy ground next to her making her flinch. "Listen, Gabrielle, I..mfof." Something covered her mouth and inserted something inside it, setting her reflexes almost into a panic mode.

Wait.

Xena bit down as her jaw clenched in pure instinct, and she froze, unable to force her mind to reconcile the churning in her guts with the sweet taste in her mouth.

"Stupid… " Gabrielle was doing something with her hands. "I should have known the first time."

Xena heard the sound of water gurgling. She turned her head, able through the shadows to see her soulmate put the waterskin down and swirl liquid in one of their traveling cups, before she grimaced and swallowed the contents. "Ugh. Gods. That sucks."

There was a momentary, awkward silence before the bard turned her head and regarded her partner. "Sorry. I should have realized when I went off on you earlier. I’m a couple days early."

Couple days… wh… Then, finally, Xena put the taste of raspberries, the cup, and Gabrielle’s temper together, and almost passed out from pure relief. "Oh." She muttered. "No problem." She lifted a shaking hand and rested her head on it, the panic dissolving out of her and leaving a trembling peace behind it.

"Xe?"

"Yeah?"

Gabrielle leaned a little closer. "You okay?"

"Fine."

The bard put her cup down and rested a hand on her shoulder. "What’s wrong?" She got close enough to see her partner’s face, and the solitary tear tracking it’s way down her cheek. "Xena?" Gabrielle’s voice dropped to a gentleness she seldom used. "Honey, I didn’t mean it.. you don’t really look like a warthog. I was just really out of it there."

A faint smile crossed the warrior’s face. "It’s okay." She replied. "It just… " Xena hesitated. "Stirred up some bad memories.. made me realize how you must have felt when I kept doing that to you.. for no reason."

Gabrielle went very still, only her eyes moved as she let the words sink in, and realized what Xena meant. Her gaze softened, and she exhaled in a long sigh.

"I think the rain’s overstressing my imagination." Xena went on, with a deprecating chuckle, casually wiping the back of her hand across her eyes as she straightened up, resting her elbows on her knees and assuming a more normal attitude. "Or maybe it was waking up with a slug on me. You know how much I hate that."

"Yeah, I know." Gabrielle answered softly.

They looked at each other. The bard linked their arms and leaned against her, regardless of sweat and mud. "Well, it could be worse." She allowed a grin to cross her face. "You could have compared me to a goat."

"Nah." Xena smiled, the relief almost making her sleepy.

"Naaaaahhhhh." The bard repeated, making a stuttering, goatlike sound, nudging her until she felt the muscles in the warrior’s shoulders and back relax. "Besides… you know when I get mad, that’s not how I show it." She reminded Xena.

That was true. Gabrielle held it inside until it boiled over. "Yeah, I know that." Xena smiled. "Just my mind going sideways for a second, that’s all.. they say that’s what happens to ya when you get old."

The green eyes rolled. "Oh, gods… not again." Gabrielle lifted a lock of her pale hair and addressed the shadowed warrior. "Which one of us has gray? Hmm?"

"You don’t have gray hair." Xena stated.

"Yes, I do." Gabrielle’s eyes twinkled. "Just because it’s very light gray, doesn’t count. It’s still gray, and we both know it." She reached up and tugged a bit of the dark, damp hair laying along her partner’s shoulders. "Haven’t found your first one yet."

"Yet." An old, familiar, comfortable argument. Xena realized what the bard was doing, and couldn’t find it in herself to object. "I’ll probably get all mine at once.. wake up one morning looking like a damn skunk." She pointed at the bard’s head. "And you do not have gray hair, you little punk. It’s blond."

"It’s gray, I’m sure of it." Gabrielle grinned, though, a sudden mischievous look that belied all her pretensions. "With all the worrying I do about you, and our daughter, it should be white as a ducks butt."

That got a laugh out of Xena, finally, which was what the bard was after. Gabrielle extended her legs in front of her, and patted her lap. "C’mon… I slept on you all night.. your turn for a nap."

Normally, she wouldn’t have even considered it. The surge of emotion, though, had left her wrung out, and she squirmed around and curled up on her side, ignoring the squelching mud under her as she rested her head in the bard’s lap, feeling strong fingers tangle themselves immediately in her hair, gently rubbing her scalp. She surrendered to the touch, exhaling as she felt the muscles under her cheek shift a bit. Her eyes drifted shut, and she curled one hand around Gabrielle’s knee, running the edge of her thumb over the tiny scar there absently.

Gabrielle kept up the gentle stroking until she could feel Xena's body start to really relax. She watched the warrior's breathing even out, and spent a few moments simply looking at her mud spattered, grubby, sweaty yet intrinsically gorgeous partner.

Then she exhaled, and wished the raspberry infusion would start working and untie her now knotted guts, belatedly realizing it was her imminent cycling that had set her on edge all day, and made her parting with Dori so full of angst.

Poor Xena. The bard looked down in silent apology. Usually she knew, sometimes before Gabrielle did that her time was close, but they'd been so busy this week….and with the excitement of the tax men, it had slipped both of their minds.

And, of course, it had to happen while she was here of all places. Gabrielle spared a wry glance for her surroundings. Well, maybe tomorrow would be better

Abruptly thunder rolled, and the rain started coming down again in torrents.

Gabrielle released a truly heartfelt sigh as a draft of cold rain hit her in the back of the neck.

"Hey, Gab?" Xena murmured.

"Mm?" The bard tucked a corner of her cloak over Xena's curled up body.

"Look at it this way. No way in Hades this trip could get any worse than this."

"Xena?"

The warrior turned her head and looked up. "Yeah?"

"Shh."

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

For once, Gabrielle was glad of being on horseback. She leaned over the front of the saddle, taking the weight off her back and stifled a groan as a spasm worked it’s painful way through her gut.

It was still raining. They’d found Argo and Iolaus sheltered nearby, and Xena had concluded it would be better if they pushed on to the nearest village rather than tried to find another insufficient place to hole up in.

Part of her certainly agreed with that, since she’d only just gotten the mud stains off most of her body utilizing the clean rain that was drenching both of them. The other part of her, unfortunately, wanted nothing more than to curl up in a ball and remain still, even a second dose of raspberry leaves doing little to ease the cramps.

She kept her complaints to herself, though, knowing Xena did, actually sympathize with her. The warrior didn’t have regular cycles, but when she did, it was always bad and had in fact been just the month prior when they’d timed it together. For someone who could stand pain like few others Gabrielle had ever known, Xena didn’t take cycling well at all. She treated it halfway between embarrassing and infuriating and acted like a cornered weasel, all snappish and irritated.

However, this time Gabrielle had discovered something that worked on her surly friend and she’d made a note to see if she could get hold of more of the sweet, rich fruit wine that had soothed the warrior’s frazzled nerves without being strong enough to get her even mildly tipsy.

Ow. The bard winced, and bit the inside of her lip. Maybe it would work on her too. She tugged her cloak closer around her and tried to ignore the ceaseless pounding of the rain, which plastered her fair hair down and darkened Iolaus’ pale coat to almost bay.

"How’re you doing?" Xena’s voice made her almost jump, and she lifted her head to see the warrior now almost knee to knee with her.

Gabrielle sighed. "Bck." She commented, imitating their daughter. "No good, Boo."

Xena’s eyes twinkled gently in reaction. "You look miserable." The warrior said. "Another hour or two and we should be up to Ethos, though. We can stay overnight there."

"It’s only lunchtime." The bard protested.

"The next town’s a day and a half out. You want a hot bath and a dry bed, or not?" Xena asked, in a reasonable tone.

Another sigh. "I’m trying to be responsible. We’ve got a job to do in Athens."

Xena stood in her stirrups and viewed the sodden countryside. "Athen’s has stood for hundreds of years. It’ll last a couple more days." She said. "Besides, we’ve got a month before they’re expecting their blood money… plenty of time to get there." She looked over at Gabrielle. "And you’re making my back hurt just watching you, so we’re stopping, got me?"

The bard waited for a spasm to ease, the let up on biting her lip to answer. "Okay." She nodded. "You know, that was one of the nicest things about being pregnant with Dori. No cycles."

Xena considered the statement. "Yeah." She said. "Has to be some kinda trade off, doesn’t it?"

Another nod. "Yes. Makes me want to give that another go." Gabrielle chuckled wearily. "Another hour, huh? Can we ride faster? Maybe that’ll take my mind off my guts." She glanced over at Xena, surprised by the expression on her face. "No? Oh, right.. riding in this weather when we can’t see the road clearly is a bad idea.. sorry. Forgot about that.. it’s been a while."

They rode together in silence for a few moments. "Would you?" Xena finally asked quietly.

"Would I what?" Gabrielle answered, a little confused.

"Want another child?"

"Sure." Gabrielle answered easily. "I’d love one." She watched Xena’s expression with pleasure. "The only catch is, I only want yours, so if you can figure out how we did it the last time, and do it again, I’m all for it."

The rain plastered Xena’s dark hair over her head, as she gazed forward between Argo’s knees, the muscles moving repeatedly along her cheek and in her throat.

Gabrielle smiled and gazed at Iolaus’ neck, moving some of the drenched hair from one side to the other. "Knocked you for a loop, didn’t I?" She listened to the fabric and leather shift as Xena fidgeted in Argo’s saddle next to her.

"Yeah." The warrior finally admitted, clearing her throat as her voice broke a little on the word. "I know you love Dori, but I didn’t think… I guess I just didn’t think."

Gabrielle chuckled a little. "That’s okay, honey. I didn’t think I was much for maternity myself to be honest… but you know what? I’m really starting to get into it. I like being Dori’s mom." She peeked at her partner. "And I know you do. You’re so good at it."

Blue eyes met hers. "Did that surprise you?"

"No." The bard shook her head. "Not at all.. I knew you would be.. I was glad, because I knew one of us had to have that skill, and I knew you did, so if I totally fell down on the job, it’d still be okay."

"How did you.."

"You took care of me." Gabrielle correctly interpreted the question. "You taught me, and watched out for me, and made me the person I am. Of course I knew, Xena. I knew you could be this child’s mother even if I totally tanked at it." She reached over and curled her hand around her soulmate’s. "Even if it didn’t seem that way to you at the start."

Xena looked… it was an odd cross between flattered and a little puzzled. "Thanks." She finally looked over and smiled, returning the warm grip on her hand. "I’ll…um… " A slow nod. "Have a talk with Jessan when we get back." She said. "He might have some idea of how we did it."

Gabrielle glanced up as a renewed blast of thunder shook the air. "Great." She gave Xena a wry look. "Now can we ride faster?"

Ethos was a small village, about the size Amphipolis had been before the war, in fact. Xena guided Argo’s paces through the muddy streets of the mostly deserted streets, the few residents she did see hurrying along to get out of the downpour.

They stopped in front of what was obviously the inn, a sign with a rooster outside waved in the gusts of wind, slamming against the pole that supported it. Xena kicked her boots free of Argo’s stirrups and swung her leg over the mare’s neck, sliding down to land in a moderate sized puddle. She ducked around the horse to grab hold of Iolaus’ reins, and extend a hand out to steady Gabrielle as she got down. "Easy."

"Ugh." Gabrielle hung onto the saddle and slowly stretched her aching back out. It was actually a bit later than they’d figured, as they’d had to find shelter a few times from the blasts of lightning that lit up the sky, and it was near sundown. The bard was hoping for, at best, a bed and a bowl of soup, and at worst, a bit of straw in the corner of the stable and her trail rations. She didn’t really care, just so long as it was quiet, dry, and she could lay down. The cramps had gotten worse throughout the day, and now she’d progressed from being annoyed to being truly miserable. She let her head rest against Iolaus’ side for a moment, and sighed. "You’d better negotiate for the room, tiger, and let me take the horses. The way I feel, I"ll get us both thrown out of here."

"All right." Xena patted her back, and shouldered her saddlebag. "Gwan over to the stable… I’ll get us squared away, then come get you."

"Right." Gabrielle straightened and took Argo’s reins, then started slogging through the mud towards the stable with the two horses trailing behind her.

Xena watched them for a moment, then turned and made her way to the inn’s door, pushing it open and slipping inside. The room was mostly full, townsfolk and travelers crammed together at trestle tables, a couple of serving wenches threading between them carryiny bowls of something that smelled like soup and platters of roast meat. Xena let her eyes flick around the room quickly, not identifying anyone she knew, before she made her way down a small hallway to where a somewhat uneven stairwell lead up to a darkened second floor.

At a table near the back of the stairs, an older man sat, sipping at a mug and watching her. Xena set her saddlebags down on the wood floor and straightened, cocking her head and regarding him. "Got a room?"

The man, dressed in a worn tunic and leather breeches, regarded her with stolid seriousness. "Got coin?"

Xena held up a small bag and shook it, producing a muted jingle.

"One?" The man asked. Xena held up two fingers. "Bed’sr small."

"No problem." Xena almost smiled. "Stabling and feed for two horses, too."

"Four dinars. In advance." The man held a hand out. "You break anything, you pay double."

Being treated like a common traveler was interesting. Xena opened her pouch and removed four coins, then swept her cloak back to return it to it’s place on her belt. That exposed her armor and weapons, and she was quick enough to see the sharp reaction on the innkeeper’s face before she turned and handed him the money. "No problem. We’re just looking for a dry place to sleep."

The man fingered the coins, watching her warily. Then he glanced at his hand, examining the dinars in the dim light, bending close to see the stamp on the reverse. His eyes lifted, regarding her with a touch more respect. "Amphipolis, eh? Been there lately?"

"Just come from. I live there." Xena told him. "Got a problem with that?"

"Nope." The man pocketed the coins with a good deal more cheerfulness. "Sure beats the highbrow scum we had through here t’other day up from Athens. Didn’t bother to pay, even." He pointed up the stairs. "Last one, on the top. Dinner’s up till a candlemark after dark and included. After that, you pay separate."

Xena nodded. "Thanks." She lifted the bags and glanced towards the rear of the inn. "Door out to the stables?"

He pointed.

Xena edged down the hallway, passing one of the servers as she did so. The woman gave her a tired smile, then continued on towards the main room as Xena found the back door and eased back outside into the rain, almost colliding with Gabrielle who was coming in the other direction. "Hey."

"Hey." The bard looked exhausted. "They actually had nice stableboys, and I felt safe leaving the kids with them." She slung her own saddlebag over her shoulder. "Please tell me we’ve got a room."

"We’ve got a room." The warrior turned and held the door open, following Gabrielle inside. "And what smells like something decent for dinner."

"Pass." Gabrielle murmured, as they reached the stairs and started up. She glanced down to see the innkeeper watching her with curious interest, and dredged up a smile for him, which he returned. "Gods, Xe.. I haven’t felt like this in years." She felt a comforting hand rest on her shoulder. "I think I’m going to throw up."

"Let’s get upstairs." The warrior replied, in a low voice. "I’ve got something that might help, but it’ll knock you out."

"Perfect." Gabrielle sighed. "I’ll take it."

The room was small, but acceptably clean. It had one wooden window, now firmly closed on the far wall, and a bed that just might possibly hold both of them in the center. To one side, a small table held a basin and pitcher, and some strips of clean linen. The walls were bare, and so was the floor, but it had been swept recently, and was blessedly, wonderfully dry. Gabrielle exhaled in relief as she set her bag down, and just stood, glad to be out of the rain at last. "Know what this reminds me of?"

Xena had stripped off her cloak and hung in over a nail pounded in the wall, then walked over to remove the bard’s as well. "That time we got caught in the spring floods in Thrace?"

"Ugh. Yeah." Gabrielle snorted, as she untied the laces at her throat, and felt Xena lift the heavy, sodden fabric off her. Then she trudged over to the plain chair near the wall and sat down on it, leaning her elbows on her knees as another spasm hit. "Gods."

Xena pulled of her left bracer and let it drop on the armor pile she’d created, then she walked to the table with her smaller bag and set it down, rooting inside it and pulling out her healer’s kit. "Give me a minute." She muttered, sorting through the herbs with careful fingers. Selecting three, she put them in the small mortar she carried for this purpose, and crushed them into almost a powder, then poured them into one of their traveling cups. A light sniff, and she bypassed the water in the pitcher and rooted out a small wineskin from her bag, unstopping it and pouring a cupful over the herbs.

"Uh oh." Gabrielle had been watching from her seat. "I can just imagine what that tastes like if you have to put that fig wine over it."

Xena smiled, unseen because her back was turned. "I could just be making it pleasant for you to take." She commented. "Well, which do you want, this, or your stomach ache?"

Gabrielle pushed herself to her feet and came over. "What a choice." She rested her cheek against Xena’s shoulder. "This place hasn’t changed much since the last time we came through here."

"Mhm." Xena finished mixing her concoction, and handed it over. "Bottom’s up, my friend." She pushed Gabrielle’s very disheveled hair back from her eyes, frowning a little at the visible shadows under them, and the pallor under her normal healthy tan. She laid her palm against the bard’s forehead, and grimaced, as she confirmed her suspicions. "Little more than cycling, love."

Gabrielle quietly sipped the tisane, ignoring the bitter undertaste of the herbs in the sweet, rich liquid. "Fever?"

"Yeah." Xena agreed. "Maybe you picked up a bug or something along with it."

"Maybe." Gabrielle drained her cup, then handed it over. "How soon will this stuff…" Her knees buckled, and she slumped into Xena’s waiting arms, as a wave of lethargy swamped her. "Buh…"

"On an empty stomach?" Xena lifted her in her arms and carried her over to the bed, laying her down and taking a seat next to her as she removed the bard’s damp clothing. "Oh, I’d say not long."

"Ya coulda warned me." Gabrielle mumbled, her eyes closed. "Wow."

Xena chuckled. "Feel better?" She finished undressing the compliant woman and moved down to strip off her boots.

"Uh huh."

"Complaining?"

"Nuh uh."

Xena rose and retrieved one of the thick sleeping furs they carried, and shook it out, having kept it dry inside the larger of their saddlebags. She settled it’s folds over the slim figure on the bed and sat down again, brushing her fingers across the bard’s cheek. Mist green eyes fluttered open and regarded her sleepily, but with a look of quiet gratitude. "Thanks."

"Get some rest." Xena told her. "I’ll grab some dinner.. maybe you’ll feel more like it when you wake up." She watched Gabrielle nod, then roll onto her side as her eyes closed again. She pulled the furs up over the bard’s shoulder, and tucked the end in, then spent a few moments simply sitting beside her as Gabrielle fell asleep.

Then she got up and wandered over to the window, opening the wooden panel and peering out as she started to unfasten the shoulder straps on her leathers, preparing to change them for a dry set. Outside, the rain continued, but she could see through it’s mist a party of five or six men in front of the inn, talking to her friend the innkeeper.

They were armed, and boisterous, one reached out and gave the innkeeper a shove as she watched.

Xena’s fingers stopped moving, and she grinned, as she leaped lightly up onto the windowsill, and stepped off into the storm.

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

'I told you, there's no rooms." The innkeeper repeated, brushing the rough hands off his arm. "G'wan down to the blacksmith.. maybe he's got some space he can rent ya."

"Like Hades!" The leader of the men shot back, grabbing him by the front of the shirt. "I don't give a crap where you get em, but we're gonna take two of them rooms, and get out of this damn rain or you'll know what's what!"

"Hey!" The innkeeper struggled, but now two more of the men grabbed him, kicking and slapping at his chest. "Hey! Help!!!"

"Shut up, you pig!" The leader lifted his hand and aimed a slap at him, swinging his arm in a short, vicious arc toward the man's head. He got halfway there, then abruptly his motion stopped as his arm was grabbed by a powerful hand. "What the…"

"Not nice." A low voice told him. He turned his head to see a tall, dark haired woman standing in the rain at his side, dressed in dark leather armor and little else. "The man said, there's no room at the inn, so beat it."

The ruffian ripped his arm loose, or tried to, surprised when the iron grip didn't budge an inch. "Let me go, you bitch!" He growled. "Or I'll knife your guts!" He held up his other hand, curled around a thick knife hilt.

Xena grinned at him, tossing her head to take the dark hair out of her eyes. "You can try, pig breath."

And so he did, swiveling towards her and jabbing swiftly at her kidneys, only to find himself lifted fair off his feet by a knee that caught him between the legs. A high pitched curse squeaked from his throat, and the rest of the brigands shook off their paralysis and attacked, leaping on the two combatants with wild yells.

Xena dodged the first of them, and ducked under a swinging pike as she dug her boots into the mud and took hold of a third, using her body weight to swing him around her and take out the fourth.

The rain helped, of course. They were bigger and clumsier than she was, and Xena wasn’t weighted down by supplies or weapons. She was all quicksilver motion and laughter, evading their grasp and using kicks and punches to disarm them.

"Bitch!" One of them grabbed her leathers.

"Ah ah.. " Xena slammed her elbow backwards and nailed him in the jaw. "Hands off the merchandise, boys." She laughed, as she grabbed hold of the man closest to her and lifted him up, hurling him across her body and dumping him into the overflowing water trough next to him. "You’re outta your league."

The slither of steel being drawn. Xena’s instincts warned her even as the sound touched her ears and she ducked, sending the movement of a blade over her head with frightening speed. She turned and lashed out with a booted foot, the kick impacting against a heavy body and moving it backwards, accompanied by a cough. She wiped the back of her hand across her eyes to clear the rain from them, and straightened just in time to meet the man’s next swipe. Xena brought her hands up and half curled her hands into fists, dodging the clumsy sword blow and knocking it aside. She watched the man’s motions, then jabbed quickly in with her left hand, snapping his head back as her fist impacted his jaw. He stumbled backwards, and she whirled, sensing the motion behind her, sweeping her leg around and nailing the brigand leader in the throat and cutting of his wild yell mid sound.

He dropped, his hands scrabbling at his crushed windpipe.

Two of the men lurched to their feet, and stumbled away from her. A third lay in the mud, slowly getting covered with rivulets of water. The last one standing stared at her as she straightened, letting the rain course down her body. "Beat it." Xena repeated. "Or you’ll be eating that sword for lunch."

The man slowly backed off, then turned and ran, leaving his two injured comrades without a backwards glance. Xena watched him go, then idly rolled over one of her victims, who appeared only stunned. She left him and went to the brigand leader, crouching down and listening to his tortured breathing.

After a moment, wet footsteps approached and the innkeeper crouched down next to her, resting his elbows on his knees. "He worth fixing?"

Xena considered the point. "Maybe."

The innkeeper nodded. "Eldon… go get the healer." He ordered a young stableboy nearby, then stood.

Xena stood as well.

Their eyes met. The innkeeper smiled, and held a hand out. "You can only be Xena."

The warrior took his hand and returned the grip. "Think so, eh?" But she smiled.

"Oh yes." The man laughed. "I thought you were, when you got the room from me, and I saw the little one with you, but now, yes, now I’m sure of it." He exhaled. "My name is Geseral, and my brother fought with you against Andreas, Xena. By his description alone, I should have known you."

The warrior released his hand and ran her fingers through her rain drenched hair, shaking her head to clear it’s long length from her eyes. "Had much trouble of this kind?" She indicated the figures in the mud, her body tingling from the aftereffects of the fight. It wasn’t often anymore she got to scrap like this, and a very feral part of her had thoroughly enjoyed it.

"A little." The innkeeper lifted a hand as the healer arrived. "Jerre, see what you can do w’this one. Seems he didn’t want to take no for an answer."

The healer glanced at Xena’s tall form, then knelt next to the brigand leader, examining him in silence.

"Had enough of the weather, Xena?" The innkeeper asked. "Got some new ale in, and you’re welcome to it, on the house."

Xena noted the reaction of the healer, who looked up at her for a long moment before he went back to his work. She flexed her hands a little, then nodded. "Sure." She gestured. "I was about to come down and collect our dinner.. my partner’s a little under the um.. " Xena chuckled as the rain came down harder, drenching them. She held her hands out a little, cupping her palms. "Weather."

Geseral chuckled and lead the way through the front door of the inn, holding it open for Xena to follow him.

"Not many of that kind left around here." The innkeeper told her, as he walked with Xena into the main room. "Not since the war, at any rate. Once in a while, sure, but mostly they stay clear of these parts."

"We’ve seen the same." Xena agreed, glancing around the room at the other patrons. She was attracting attention now, eyes watching her curiously, and in some cases, with mildly flattering lechery. "It’s been quiet."

"Mm." The innkeeper agreed, leaning on the bar next to her, and indicating his barman to pour them both mugs of ale. "S’why we didn’t take to those Athenians coming round. Said they were headed up your way.. left a tax bill behind. Bastards."

Xena sipped from her mug. "We’re headed to Athens to negotiate that." She told him. "They’re asking for a lot."

"Too much." Geseral nodded. "Asking for ten percent of the harvest.. and worse, our boys for their damn army. What need of we for their army?" He slapped the bar top. "Did we see an arrow tip of theirs while Andreas rampaged? Not a damn one of them gave a brass dinar for us. Him we had to take care of ourselves… they’s the ones who owe us, if you ask me."

Xena nodded slowly.

"And thinking they’re better’n us." The man went on. "Stuck up little bastards.. said we weren’t nothing more than backwoods pig farmers, with no class, and less worth.. laughed at us, they did. Said we didn’t know more of culture than a brass hog."

"Mm." The warrior grunted.

"Told em about Amphipolis, we did.. about the new market there, and the new theatre.. they just laughed at us and called us bumpkins."

One dark eyebrow lifted.

"Said we’d never get more than illiterate tale tellers there."

Xena’s other eyebrow lifted. "We’ve already got better than that." She remarked. "But yeah, I didn’t like their attitude either." Her lips twitched. "That’s why we’re going out there.. see what we can do about changing it."

The innkeeper chuckled softly. "If anyone can, it’ll be you, Xena." He cleared his throat a little. "Speaking of culture… I don’t suppose… "

"Not tonight." Xena correctly interpreted the request. "If we’re still around tomorrow, though."

Xena made her way up the stairs a short while later, laden down with a pot of decently succulent lamb shanks nestled in noodles, a thick loaf of wheat bread and a pot of goats cheese to spread on it, and a flagon of cold ale that smelled almost as good as her mother’s.

She was still drenched, but the fight had jacked her spirits up, and she almost whistled as she ambled along the hallway and nudged open the door to their room. Once inside, she set the food and drink down, then walked over to the bed to study it’s occupant.

Gabrielle apparently hadn’t heard even a bit of the fight, her face completely relaxed in sleep. Xena felt a rueful smile tug at her lips, knowing her soulmate would be grumpy at missing the action, but glad she was getting the rest she needed to. She knelt, and laid a hand over the bard’s forehead, and the still figure stirred at her touch, not quite waking up, but aware at some level of Xena’s presence. "Shh." The warrior murmured softly. "It’s okay, sweetheart… I’m here. You’re okay."

Gabrielle mumbled something in her sleep, but reached out instinctively and found Xena’s arm, curling her fingers around it and pulling it close to her. "Need you." The whisper emerged, almost subvocally.

Xena reached over and smoothed the pale hair back. "Yeah, I need you too, honey." She whispered back. "Just hold on for a few minutes, and I’ll come back and keep you company, okay? Let me get this wet stuff off."

The grip on her arm tightened. "Xe."

With a sigh, the warrior sat down, and started removing her boots with her free hand, tugging the laces out and yanking the sodden leather off her feet, followed by the socks she wore under them. Then she got back up on to her knees and unfastened her leathers, still without removing her arm from the bard’s grip. It wasn’t easy, but then, sometimes life just wasn’t.

She got her leathers off over her head, then paused, regarding her damp skin ruefully. "Sweetheart, I love you, but you’re not going to love me if I get under those covers like this." She told her partner, regretfully easing her arm free of the bard’s grip. "Let me dry off, okay?" Xena got up and walked over to their bags, removing a piece of linen and running it over her body briskly, not seeing the sleepy green orbs watching her from under half open lids, or the faint, mischevious grin tugging at Gabrielle’s lips.

The fireplace held a stack of firewood, and she knelt beside it, using her flint and striker to get a small fire going, setting the pot of lamb above it to keep warm. Then she set out their things neatly, and turned, stopping short when she found herself face to face with a drowsy, if smirking bard. "Hey."

"Hey." Gabrielle replied, in a husky tone. "That stuff you gave me is great… it makes me dream of naked warrior princesses. Awesome."

Xena put her hands on her hips and smirked. "How long have you been awake?"

White teeth flashed as Gabrielle smiled. "Long enough to really enjoy the view. You’ve got a very cute butt, you know that?"

"Think so, huh?" Xena chuckled, and walked back over, gazing down at the bard with a complete lack of self consciousness. "How do you feel?"

A faint shrug. "Like I’ve been run over by a supply wagon." Gabrielle admitted softly. "My whole body aches."

The warrior knelt and felt her head again. "Yeah.. you’re warm." She sighed. "My stupidity for keeping us out there in this blasted weather." Xena watched the bard’s eyes blink closed. "Hungry?"

Gabrielle shook her head.

"Not even for lamb?" Xena persisted gently. "C’mon, Gab.. you haven’t eaten since yesterday."

Another head shake. "I’ll just chuck it back up." Gabrielle said. "Water would be okay, though."

Xena got up and went to their gear, retrieving the waterskin she always kept with it. She unstopped it and sniffed at the contents, then nodded and returned to the bed, sitting down on it and curling a hand around Gabrielle’s neck as she helped her sit up a little. "Here." She supported the bard while she sucked on the water, listening to the soft, gulping noises as Gabrielle swallowed. "Good girl."

"Mm." Gabrielle smiled a little, and put her head back down. "Am I?"

"Absolutely." Xena assured her. "In a little while, I’ve got something else I can give you for fever, all right?"

"Know what I think?" Gabrielle ran her fingers over the strong hands still resting on her shoulders. "I think I’d feel much better if you’d just get under the covers with me."

"Is that a hint?"

"No, it’s a royal decree."

Xena chuckled softly. "All right, your majesty. Move over." She helped the bard slide over in the small bed and slid under the furs with her, carefully slipping her arms around Gabrielle’s warm body. "How’s that?"

Gabrielle repressed a shiver and huddled closer, craving the body heat and the skin on skin contact. She felt lousy, and while she appreciated the herbs, and the dry blankets, that all paled in comparison to Xena’s presence. "D’ja find out anything downstairs?" She murmured into the warrior’s ear.

"Athenians suck." Xena replied.

"We knew that already."

"Uh huh. We’re not the only ones." Xena murmured. "They’re not making friends in these parts."

"Guess we’ll have to go kick their butts." Gabrielle sighed. "Jerks."

Xena felt the bard’s body relax against hers, and she resigned herself to a long afternoon of napping, deciding to use the time to consider their options, and maybe plan their route. She regarded the pale head tucked against her shoulder, wondering how the bard’s illness might complicate things. Maybe it would just a be a short fever. Gabrielle hadn’t been coughing, and..Xena listened carefully to the light breathing. No, her lungs sounded clear, so maybe they’d get lucky this time.

"Xe?"

"Mm?"

"Did you say lamb?"

Xena grinned. Yeah, they’d get lucky this time.

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

Lightning lit up the town outside the window, but it's harsh silver flare didn't penetrate far into the warm candle and firelight inside. Gabrielle was curled up in bed, the furs tucked around her body but awake, one hand twirling a quill while she studied a page in her diary. On the small table nearby, a gently steaming mug rested, and after a moment, she put the quill down and picked the mug up, sipping it's contents carefully.

"Feeling any better?" Xena asked, from her spot near the fire. She was cleaning her armor, wiping each piece meticulously with a linen cloth. "Want more of that stuff for your gut?"

Gabrielle pondered that, still feeling a dull ache, a nagging cramping that was crawling up one of her few last nerves and preventing her from fully concentrating on her writing. "I do, and I don't." She told her partner. "I'd like these damn cramps to stop, but I don’t want to pass out again." The bard sipped from her cup. "I'll stick with the raspberry tea for now, thanks."

Xena nodded. "Okay." She was dressed in a simple shift, her leathers out to dry in the fire's cast off heat.

"Least my fever's gone." Gabrielle said. "Not sure what that was about."

They both looked up as a knock sounded on the door. Xena rose and set her armor down, then crossed the wooden floor and pulled the latch back, standing back as she pulled the door open. A middle aged man stood there, his cap in his hands, looking quite intimidated. "Yeah?" The warrior asked, glowering at him.

Gabrielle rolled her eyes, and scratched the back of her ear with her quill. "Never changes." She murmured to herself.

"Um… pardon.. but.. I was looking for..um.. Xena?" The man said, timorously.

"Yeah?" Xena repeated, putting one hand on her hip. "What do you want?"

"Are you Xena?"

Xena just looked at him.

"Okay.. right." The man stepped inside, obviously not really sure where he should be looking, his choices being the disheveled and obviously bare shouldered bard in bed, or the gorgeous, but wild looking woman in her underwear. "I've uum… come to ask a favor."

"Yeah?" Xena walked over and poured herself a mug of ale, swirling it around before taking a sip. "What kind of favor?" She leaned against the wall, watching him with hooded eyes.

"Um."

Gabrielle exhaled. "Xena, sit down." She scolded her soulmate, then turned her attention to their visitor. "Hi. What's your name?"

Gratefully, the man faced the bed. "Orestes." He watched Gabrielle exchange startled looks with Xena. "No, not that one. My mother had a very strange sense of humor."

"Ah." The bard smiled. "Okay, Orestes. My name is Gabrielle. What can we do for you?"

His reaction was very surprising. "You're Gabrielle?" He asked, focusing fascinated eyes on her. "You're the one I’m looking for, then." He glanced back at Xena. "They said you'd know where I could find her."

One dark brow lifted. "They were right." Xena commented, mildly intrigued. "Pretty easy guess, though, since we're married to each other."

Orestes blinked at her, then looked at Gabrielle, then scratched his head. "Well.. " He turned back to the bard. "I need your help."

Gabrielle folded her hands over the open pages of her diary and gazed at him. "Okay… if I can, sure. What's the problem?" She caught sight of Xena leaning forward to listen in her peripheral vision.

"It's this." Orestes said. "They said you were heading to Athens. Is that true?"

"Yes." The bard agreed.

"My cousin lives there…. Lived there.. we don't know. We can't find him."

Gabrielle blinked. "Um… okay. I’m really sorry to hear that, but what makes you think I can find him? Athens is a pretty big place."

"He knows you." Orestes said. "He talks about you all the time.. how you guys met, and all that.. an no one else cares about where he is."

"Uh huh." The bard said, encouragingly. "And.. his name is…?"

"Homer."

Gabrielle felt a sense of shock at the name, and she blinked back a flash of memories from what seemed like several lifetimes ago. "Homer. Wow. I haven't heard that name in a long time." She murmured. "Yes, I do know him… but… you said he's disappeared?"

Orestes fidgeted, then nodded. "He was supposed to have a reading, of his new play. We went to go see it, but.. when we got there, someone else was being read, and no one knew where Homer was. We're really scared for him…but they don't care!" He glanced down, a little embarrassed. "They just think we're a bunch of bumpkins."

Gabrielle nodded a little. "I remember Homer very well. He was a friend when he didn't have to be for me." She said. "Of course we'll try to find him." She stole a glance at Xena, but the warrior was merely polishing an armor bit, her expression quietly interested. "No one remembers the last time they saw him?"

Orestes shook his head sadly.

"All right. Just leave it to us." The bard told him. "When we get to Athens, we'll find him, or at least, find out where he went. Okay?"

Orestes looked at her with utter gratitude. "Thank you." He exhaled heavily. "Homer was right. He said you were the kind of person who would help people if you could."

Gabrielle gave him a brief smile. "I think he and I will have some interesting stories to trade when we find him." She allowed. "And we will."

"Thanks." The man smiled back at her, then glanced behind him, before he backed towards the door, giving Xena a nervous nod before he ducked out and closed the door.

Warrior and bard regarded each other quietly. "Wow." Gabrielle finally exhaled. "That was unexpected."

Xena walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed, her armor bit still in her hands. "Yeah." She agreed softly. "Guess we'll have to find him.. gotta meet this guy who was so nice to you." She looked up and gave the bard a warm smile. "Musta been exciting, that whole thing, huh?"

Gabrielle let her memories wander back to the last time she'd seen Homer, back to the days of a much younger iteration of herself. "Yeah." She murmured. "Being accepted to the academy… that was special. I never thought in a million years I'd…" She paused, and shook her head. "It was everything I'd dreamed of."

The warrior studied her hands.

"And yet, once it happened… I realized my dreams had changed." Gabrielle put her head down on the furs, gazing at the candle by her bedside. "It was so hard for Homer to understand that."

Xena set the armor down, and shifted, facing her partner. "It was hard for me to understand that. So I’m not surprised." She said. "I thought you'd stay."

The mist green eyes studied the candle, then lifted to search Xena's. "I know you did." She replied. "I tried to convince myself you wanted me to stay, but there was something… " Her lips twiched, and she reached out to cover Xena's hand with her own. "Y'know, that was the first time I think I realized you didn't hate my guts."

Xena spared a moment for that night when she'd left Gabrielle to what she thought was her future, remembering the unexpected, and to her, outrageous pain in her gut at leaving her new little friend behind.

She remembered sitting on a rock outside Athens, just listening to the silence. Angry with herself because she'd slipped, and let herself care a little, about this kid.

Angry because she'd realized she missed her, and might go on missing her.

"Xe?"

"Mm?" Xena dismissed the memories, and focused on the present.

"We have to find him." Gabrielle rolled over onto her back. "Because I have to introduce the two of you. I think he always thought I was making you up."

Xena glanced down the length of her body, and spread her arms out. "You've got a good imagination, sweetheart, but that's stretching it, don't you think?"

Gabrielle just chuckled, and rolled back onto her side, curling her body up a little.

"Athens is a big place." Xena went on, a little more seriously. "What if he doesn't want to be found? Maybe he got cold feet.. took off before his stuff was going to be shown." She casually reached over and rubbed the bard's back, finding a knot at the base of her spine and working at it with strong fingers.

"Homer?" Gabrielle closed her eyes blissfully in relief as the massage eased her cramping. "No way. If there was attention, he wanted it." She opened one eye. "I mean that in the nicest way, but still.. he'd never have passed up a reading of his work."

"Hm." Xena considered that. "So we've got a mystery to solve along with some bureaucrats to tame. Gonna be an interesting trip."

"Mm." Gabrielle agreed. "Probably make for some great stories."

The warrior grinned silently.

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

The sun, creeping across the furs and hitting her in the face woke Gabrielle up the next morning. She opened one resentful sea green eye and peered at the window, then calculated the time and rotated the eyeball up in surprise to study the somnolent body still curled up against hers in bed.

It was late. Really late. Even after all this time, getting Xena to sleep in was always a struggle for her. The warrior woke like clockwork before dawn, and was a very restless, light sleeper. Gabrielle had given up trying to coax her into staying in bed later than sunrise, and she'd just reconciled herself to meeting the warrior for breakfast after Xena had gotten her morning run or indoor drills out of her system.

So, seeing her partner sound asleep here, in a strange inn, long after dawn shocked her. Anxiously, she studied Xena's face, searching for signs of illness.

No, the tan skin seemed to have it's normal healthy tint, and the warrior seemed to be sleeping comfortably, her body relaxed under the light fur. No sign of sickness, no rasp to her breathing… Gabrielle gently felt the skin of the arm curled around her. No hint of fever.

Hm.

She felt a lot better herself, for that matter. The cramps were gone, and her head felt clear. The fever she'd been shivering with was gone too. Gabrielle put her head down, and thought about something Elaini had told her, way back when.

Years ago, when she and Xena had first visited the forest dwellers, and Xena had been trapped under a rockslide, almost ending her life. The forest dwellers had encouraged Gabrielle to sleep with her injured soulmate, intimating somehow that it would help Xena to heal.

Had it?

"Morning." Xena's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Hey, sleepyhead." Gabrielle murmured, rubbing her hand over the warrior's belly. "Kinda late."

"Uh huh." Xena agreed, taking a snugger hold around Gabrielle's body. "Got a problem with that?"

"Nnoo…" Gabrielle replied. "It's just not like you, when we're on the road." She paused. "Or at home, for that matter." She felt Xena exhale. "Not that I mind."

"I was tired." Xena answered. "It's nice to be out here on our own, doing what we want, when we want. I decided staying in bed was a good idea."

Gabrielle glanced up. "Okay, honey." She replied mildly. "I’m not complaining… I feel a lot better for it, and you know I love sleeping late." But she thought about Xena's remark, and wondered, just a little.

"Mmph." The warrior grunted contentedly.

The bard smiled to herself, then frowned, as she spotted a bruise on Xena's chest, just in the center of her breastbone. "Hey, sweetie?"

"Uh?"

"Where'd you get this?" Gabrielle traced the bruise, which looked very fresh. "I wasn't fevered enough to hit you last night, was I?" The surface under her fingers moved as Xena took a breath, then released it, and she was momentarily distracted by the interesting pattern of sunlight that burnished her partner's skin and the soft, fine hairs on it.

"Ah… " Xena mumbled. "Just some guys making trouble last night. Had to kick their butts."

The bard's brow creased. "When was this? I don't remember that happening."

"You were sleeping."

"They were in here?"

"Nu uh. Outside."

"I thought you just went downstairs to get dinner."

"Took a detour."

Gabrielle peered over Xena's side. "Through the window?" She glanced up to see the warrior nod sleepily. "Hm." The bard eyed the bruise, then did a quick visual check for more, sliding her hand up across her partner's neck and running her fingers lightly through the dark hair as she felt for telltale lumps or bumps.

"Mm." Xena's lips quirked. "I should find scum to bash more often, if it gets me this kind of attention."

Gabrielle paused, and just looked at her, stung a little by the comment. Was Xena saying she didn't pay attention to her? That wasn't true, was it? She paid attention to her all the time, didn't she? Her brows knit. Of course, it wasn't like they'd done anything lately at home for her to have to worry about that kind of thing, but…

Slowly, Gabrielle tilted her head back and studied Xena's face.

'Hey, wasn't that great, Xena?" Gabrielle had skipped alongside her dour companion. "Didja see those guys faces? They were so glad to see you! Wasn't that great?"

Xena had glanced at her, consternation and bewilderment clear on her face. "What are you talking about? We just moved a damn wagon, Gabrielle."

"Well, sure.. but we didn't have to, right?" Gabrielle had argued. "We could have just kept walking, or gone the other way, or even just sat there and laughed at them. But you'd never do that, right?"

Blue eyes had studied her with evident pity. "Sure I would have."

"No way." Gabrielle had shaken her head positively. "You do good stuff now, and everyone knows it Didn't you hear them thank you?"

A shout behind them had brought them up short. Xena had put a hand on her sword, and turned, by instinct putting her body between Gabrielle and whatever was coming towards them.

But it just had been the wagoneer, jogging up and panting, a packet in his hands. "Hey.. wouldja.. I mean, we just wanted to say thanks. You saved our load, and that's all we had this season. Here."

He'd shoved the packet into Xena's hands before she could protest, and backed off, then turned and left.

"See?" Gabrielle had grinned in triumph. "Doesn’t' that feel great?"

Xena had stared at the packet, then at the retreating man. Then her eyes had turned to her young companion, reflecting a look of surprised realization. "Yeah." A faint smile had crossed the warrior's face. "Ya know, it does."

Gabrielle pressed her cheek against Xena's shoulder, listening to the powerful heartbeat, and thinking about all the facets that made up her very complex partner. "Glad you found some trouble to get into.. save some for me next time, okay?" She commented lightly.

"You snooze, you lose." Xena chuckled, giving her a friendly scratch on the back. "Wasn't that much.. just some losers pushing the innkeeper around. Just knocked em around a little."

The bard nodded to herself, and traced light circles with her fingertips, listening to the heartbeat under her ear slow as she did so.

"Thought you said it was late." Xena murmured.

"Nah.. not that late." Gabrielle eyed the window. "Just after dawn…it’s just late for you. It’s early for everyone else but the chickens." She felt the light line of a scar under her touch, and cast her mind back, trying to remember it’s source. A moment, then a smile appeared. Ah. Yes, I remember that cut. She’d sewn it up, as a matter of fact. Nice, neat tiny stitches in an old barn somewhere down south. "At least the weather cleared up."

Xena made a small noise of assent, then sighed. "Guess we’d better get going then."

"Guess we’d better." Gabrielle agreed, continuing her gentle patterns. "You know something, tiger?"

A fingertip tickled her ear. "What?"

"We’re out here, we’re on a long road to Athens… maybe it’d be nice if we sorta helped some people out on the way.. like we used to." Gabrielle tilted her head back a little. "What do you think?"

A tiny, charmed smile appeared on Xena’s face. "Now that’s an interesting idea."

"Yeah?" Gabrielle grinned back. "I thought so… just sort of get back to basics, that kind of thing." She paused, watching the sparkle grow in her partner’s eyes. "Maybe even get into some trouble."

One brow elevated "With you, that’s afoff…"

"Ah ah." Gabrielle scolded her. "Don’t you start that, Ms. I never cause trouble Warrior Princess."

Xena eased up on an elbow and stretched her body out, uncoiling herself from Gabrielle’s embrace then curling up around her again. She wrapped her arms around the bard’s shoulders and rolled over, pulling Gabrielle with her as the bard started giggling. "Grrrrrrrr….."

Gabrielle was delighted with the playfulness. She tickled the skin within her reach, as she was rocked back and forth in a tangle of arms and legs and bare skin sliding over bare skin. "Oo.. I’m going to get you… "

"You wish." Xena trapped her arms and legs, holding her wriggling body still. "Hey, Gab?"

The bard rested her chin on her partner’s collarbone, and gently licked her pulse point. "Yum?"

"Thanks."

Gabrielle crawled forward and looked down at her. "For what?"

Xena smiled. "Just thanks."

Their eyes searched each other. "You're not going to tell me what I did?" Gabrielle asked, lightly. "I'd like to do it again."

Another smile.

Gabrielle sighed. "Okay… c'mon. Let's go find some breakfast.. I'm starving."

Xena chuckled. "Now that sounds like old times."

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

Continued in Part 3

A Matter of Pride

Part 3

It wasn't long into the day when Gabrielle found herself wishing it would rain again. She blinked in the glare of the sun, and wiped her forehead with a bit of linen she'd tucked into her saddle. "Wow.. it's roasting." Iolaus and Argo were walking side by side, as they traveled down a long and very dusty road without a decent tree or other shade in site.

"Mm." Xena agreed, gazing stolidly ahead. Dressed as she was in dark leathers and armor, the sun's heat was twice as bad for her as it was for Gabrielle in her light, cotton belted tunic.

The bard had seriously debated trading her fawn colored garment for her old traveling clothes, but their joint shortage of aloe convinced her that getting that sunburned over that much of her body probably wasn't the best idea.

Xena, of course, would retain her leathers even if the fires of Tartarus were licking at her boots, regardless of the discomfort. She'd often envied Gabrielle her scant clothing, when they'd suffered through a long day's traveling in the hot sun, but pride kept her from admitting that, and, she discovered to her chagrin, still did.

They had at least another couple hours riding before any chance of shelter. Xena uncapped her waterskin and took a long swallow, then passed it over to the bard. "Here… don't get.."

"Dry." Gabrielle finished for her, taking the water and drinking obediently. "You can survive for a week without food, Gabrielle, but not more than a day without water."

The warrior looked at her, muffling amusement at the excellent mimicry of her own deep tones.

Gabrielle snickered at her, and got a long finger shaken in her direction. They both laughed, as she handed the waterskin back. "Hey, at least I listened and remembered. Did you know I used to write stuff like that down in my diary?"

"Yeah?" Xena relaxed into Argo's rhythmic walk, putting the heat and discomfort out of her mind.

"Oh, yeah." The bard related. "Xena's words of wisdom, the weather, stuff I saw, stuff I didn't want to see.. .I go back and read some of the early parts of that thing, and I gotta wonder… who on earth wrote all that?"

Xena's brow contracted a little.

"I mean, I know I wrote it." Gabrielle lifted a hand. "I just… I try to remember what it was like to be that young and that clueless, and it's so hard."

Blue eyes shifted and studied her. "Good."

Gabrielle was caught in the middle of drawing a breath to continue, and she turned her head, a startled look on her face, as the word penetrated.

Now it was Xena's turn to snicker, and get a finger wagged at her.

"Wench." Gabrielle nudged Iolaus closer, aiming for a tickle spot.

"Oh no." Xena kneed Argo, and the mare ambled off, taking her rider out of reach. Gabrielle trotted after her, and the next thing she knew, they were cantering down the road in an impromptu chase. "Hey!"

"Hey nothing." Gabrielle managed to maneuver Iolaus close enough for her to grab hold of Xena's leathers. "Ahaa! Gotcha!"

The warrior glanced back and took one look at her soulmate's unbalanced position before she clamped down tight on Argo's sides and kept the mare running close. "You got me. Now what are you gonna do with me? Gabrielle, you're gonna fall of that horse."

"No I’m not.. I’m.. yahhh!" It was just a tad too far, and Iolaus dodged around a hole in the road just as the bard lost her balance. She grabbed frantically for a hold, but missed her grip and toppled forward.

Xena swiveled in her saddle and managed to haul the bard over onto Argo's back, pulling her across her thighs as the mare slowed.

"Whoa!" Gabrielle held on, as the world spun around her. They came to a halt, and she found herself half sprawled over Xena's lap, hanging on to Argo's saddlehorn for all she was worth. "Whoops… sorry about that."

"Uh huh." Xena had to chuckle, as she helped Gabrielle sit up, then slide down Argo's shoulder. "I told you not to do that."

"Yeah, yeah." The bard dusted herself off, then went after Iolaus, who had stopped not far down the road, and was now looking quizzically at her as though trying to figure out where she'd gone.

It really was too hot to be playing these kind of games, she acknowledged, as she kicked up dust with her boots along the road. The pale surface gave off it's own heat, and she felt sweat running freely down her body under her tunic. She ran her forearm over her face as she reached Iolaus's side, and gathered his reins up. The stallions skin, too, was darkened with sweat, and she could feel the heat rising off his body as well as her own.

With a grunt, she hauled herself up into the saddle, and settled her knees, then turned Iolaus' head and glanced back, only to find Xena quietly watching her. The warrior was drenched with her own coating of perspiration, and as Gabrielle moved closer, she reached up and tied her dark hair back and exposed her neck to the scant breeze. "Are you half as uncomfortable as I feel?"

One dark brow lifted. "Half?" Xena remarked. "C'mon.. let's get moving. Maybe we'll get lucky and my memory of this area's wrong. Find some trees, or something."

They started off again, but had only gotten several leagues when they heard a soft, pattering thunder behind them. Gabrielle glanced up at the cloudless blue sky, then at Xena in puzzlement. "What on earth…"

Xena turned into the wind and listened intently, tilting her head to catch the vibrations she could more feel than hear. "Something's coming." She guided Argo off the road and reached out to pull Iolaus's bridle along with the. "C'mon.. I can't tell what it is, but it's big, and it's coming fast."

Gabrielle joined her willingly, and they stood well of the road, listening to the sound become louder and louder. The horses grew restless, and Argo stamped, shaking her head as the roar slowly devolved into the rattle of wagon wheels, and the thunder of horses' hooves.

Now they could see a cloud approaching them quickly, with a dark, restless center that for just a moment brought back one of the most hideous memories of Gabrielle's life. She glanced down, feeling her heart skip and her breathing catch, remembering Dahok's formless darkness that had surrounded her, taking from her light, and innocence, and almost, the essence of her soul.

"Gab?"

How much she'd lost, in that one moment.

"Hey." Xena cupped her face, and looked intently at her. "Gabrielle." Her voice dropped almost a full octave.

"Sorry." The bard met her eyes. "Just some old memories."

The touch gentled. "We can talk about them later if you want."

Gabrielle gave her head a little shake no, then glanced past Xena's body down the road. "It's a wagon." She pointed. "Xena, look.. I think it's… gods, it's a runaway!"

Xena's head snapped around, and she stared, her eyes narrowing. "Son of a bacchae… " She shifted her legs, seeing the figure on the front of the wagon frantically trying to halt it. "C'mon. "

It was easy to forget about the heat, when you had a job to do. Gabrielle got her seat firmly in place before she guided Iolaus out after Argo, and urged him into a canter. They thundered towards the oncoming wagon, now able to see the horse's frothing mouths as they strained at the tracing. Six huge animals, sweat blowing off them, the heavy wagon behind them careening back and forth and losing bits and pieces of itself along the way.

"Help!" A woman's voice cried out. "Help! Help us!!!"

Xena's pace picked up. "Try to head them off near that fork!" She yelled back to Gabrielle. "Get ahead of them!!!"

"What are you doing!" The bard yelled back, turning slightly to obey. "Xena!"

"Someone's gotta steer that thing or it's gonna go right into those rocks!" The warrior called, pointing to the fork. She settled down in her saddle and urged the mare into a full gallop, racing towards the wagon at top speed.

"Oh ..gods." Gabrielle realized what her partner intended, and had to force herself to hold up her end of the plan. She gritted her teeth and headed towards the fork, running at an angle to the wildly racing team. "Yah!" She waved an arm at them, but she was, as yet, too far for them to care.

Xena was busy figuring angles. She drove Argo towards the onrushing wagon, which was rocking ominously from side to side. The figure on the front was now recognizably a woman, and she was more just hanging on than attempting to control the horses.

They galloped forward, turning as the they neared the road to race alongside the wagon. Xena freed her left boot from her stirrup, glancing up at the front of the wagon. The woman stared back at her in terror, a thin scream emitting from her throat.

No help there. The warrior counted under her breath, timing Argo's strides, and urging the mare up near the front horse. The animals swerved away from her and she cursed under her breath, then dropped back to the second horse, bringing Argo as close as she dared.

One. Two. Three… Xena released the reins and vaulted upwards, standing up on Argo's back for a bare instant before she threw herself sideways, reaching out for the second near horses' neck. The terrified animal screamed and tried to evade her, but he was trapped in his traces, and forced forwards by the rest of the team and she landed sprawled over his back, her hands grabbing for a hold in the harness.

In front of her, she could see the rocks approaching, and to one side, Gabrielle's headlong flight which was now close to intersecting theirs. Xena watched as the bard tried to steer the lead animal over, but the horse ignored her, churning towards the sharp granite as though bound on self destruction.

Xena made her decision and quickly pulled herself up on her horses neck, getting her feet under her and standing up on his back. Gabrielle saw them move and swerved herself, not wanting to scare the lead horse into disaster. "Careful!" She yelled at her soulmate.

"Me?" Gabrielle yelled back.

Xena smiled at the comment, then crouched, and as the horses came within bare wagon lengths of the fork leaped out into space, hurling herself forward and landing on the lead horse's back. She quickly got her legs around his barrel and clamped down, reaching forward to grab the bridle piece.

He screamed and bucked, almost sending them all to Hades as he felt her touch, but that slowed them, and now Gabrielle got closer, urging them off to one side. The lead horse fought her, but Xena had a good grip on the bridle now, and she pulled back with all her strength, forcing his head up and slowing him further.

They thundered through the fork, just barely missing the rocks. Branches scraped against Gabrielle's body, but the bard kept her head down, and kept pushing to her right, forcing the horses down the right hand side path as Xena fought to bring them to a halt.

Finally, the exhausted animals obeyed, and they came to a standstill in the middle of the road, chests heaving, foam escaping from their mouths.

Xena gave the lead horse a pat before she turned and glanced at the wagon. The woman was still huddled on the seat, eyes closed. "Hey." The warrior called out "You can get up now. It's over." She slid off the horses back and walked towards the woman, leaving Gabrielle to hang on to the harness and prevent a repeat.

Behind the seat was a door that opened as Xena approached, revealing a well appointed interior. A broad shouldered man came out, obviously drunk. He stared at Xena for a moment, then before the warrior could react, he backhanded the woman right off the wagon with a snarl.

"Bitch! I to'l ya not t'stop fore we get t'Athens!"

Xena's eyes narrowed.

Gabrielle merely covered hers, and waited for the crunch.

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

"You can't just leave him tied up there."

Xena looked up from her task, and finished giving the rope a tug. "Sure I can."

Gabrielle walked over and stood next to her partner, folding her arms across her chest and regarding the unconscious man. He had blood all over his face, and bruises, and she suspected a broken arm. "Xena, you can't just leave him here. He'll die."

"So?" The warrior frowned. "He deserves it, the bastard. Did you see the marks on that kid's body?" She pointed at the wagon, where the young woman was huddled watching them.

The bard put a hand on Xena's arm. "Honey, I know. I know better than most people what that feels like, remember?"

Xena stared at her in silence.

"But you wouldn't have left my father lying here, would you?" Gabrielle said, moving a little closer as she felt a sudden surge of upset coming from the warrior. "Xe?"

A breath. "No." Xena admitted, as she straightened up. "But that's different. I don't know this guy."

The bard scratched her ear. "Xena, let me just go at this a different way. You're the chief military leader of Amphipolis."

A dark brow edged up. "And?"

"And we have laws." Gabrielle told her gently. "You should uphold them, not make your own." She rubbed her thumb against Xena's skin as she saw the storm clouds gathering in her eyes. "Xena, I know you're used to being your own law… that worked for us before, because there was no other choice. We have a choice now."

The warrior stood in silence for a few moments, then exhaled. "All right." She gave her victim a dour look. "I guess we can take him to the next town, and hand him over to the law there." She gazed at the man in speculation.

Gabrielle wondered if that speculation was that it might have been better if she'd killed the man outright. Then she felt ashamed at the thought, and glanced down, studying her boots with absorbed attention.

"He can lay there until we're ready to move on." Xena decided. "I don't wanna have to lift his chunky butt until then." She glanced at the wagon. "C'mon, let's find out why they were headed to Athens at that pace."

Gabrielle nodded, then tucked a hand inside Xena's elbow as they walked back over to where the wagon stood, it's horses now merely stamping in the heat instead of exhausted and lathering. "Hi." She greeted the young girl quietly. "Are you okay?"

Wide, dark brown eyes watched them fearfully. "Who are you?" The girl whispered, flinching a little as Xena moved closer, leaning a bracered arm on the wagon.

"Well." Gabrielle consciously modulated her voice. "My name is Gabrielle, and this is Xena. We live down in Amphipolis, and we're on our way to Athens."

The girls eyes became fixed on Xena, and her jaw dropped a little. Xena gazed patiently back at her, trying to appear as unthreatening as a six foot tall armored warrior with blood streaks all over her could possible be.

"Oh." The girl whispered.

"What's your name?" Gabrielle attempted a distraction.

The eyes darted to hers. "M.. my name?"

"Well, yeah. We sort of like to know what people's names are, so we don't go around calling them 'hey you.' Or 'buster' or stuff like that." The bard smiled at her. "So yeah, what's your name?"

Gabrielle, Xena mused, could charm a snail out of it's shell if she put her mind to it. Despite the girls' obvious terror, she responded to the bard's warmth and the gentle smile, and she visibly relaxed and ignored Xena for the moment.

"Leesha." Came the soft response.

"I’m gonna get our passenger into the wagon." Xena interrupted, laying a hand on Gabrielle's shoulder. "Be right back."

Gabrielle suppressed a smile as her partner ducked out of sight, and concentrated on her new little friend. "Leesha? I like that. It's a nice name"

Leesha relaxed a little, and moved closer to Gabrielle, sliding down the wood of the bench. "Your that famous bard, aren't you?"

Me? Famous? Ew. Gabrielle grinned. "I'm not sure about that, but I am a bard, yes." She replied. "And I guess there are folks around here who've heard of me." She added. "So, where were you headed?"

Leesha scooted over a little. "We're going to Athens, too." She said. "Aleki… " The girl paused awkwardly, and glanced back to where Xena was getting ready to hoist the man on the wagon. "He's my father… he's sponsoring one of the entrants in the Games. We were supposed to be there a fortnight ago… but we were late.. there was a storm.. now he's in a terrible rush to get there."

"The games?" Gabrielle's brow creased. "What games?"

Leesha peered at her curiously. "The great games.. the athletic games in Athens. Surely you've heard of them?"

She had, in a far off kind of way. "Oh.. right." Gabrielle nodded. "I've heard of them, sure - I didn't know they were going on right now." The wagon moved suddenly, and they both turned, to see Xena returning from the rear of the wagon, dusting her hands off. The bard noted that she'd taken a moment to clean the blood off her body, and was looking a little less wild and scary. "All set?"

Leesha glanced at Xena with apprehension

"He'll be fine." Xena spoke more for the girl's benefit. "Arm's not broken, just sprained." She glanced at the girl. "He hit you often?"

She shrank back, obviously intimidated.

"It's okay." Gabrielle reassured her. "We're going to turn him over to the authorities in the next town. You'll be okay."

"Turn him… oh, no." Leesha looked horrified. "You can't do that.. what will I do? Please - just leave us alone!"

"Wait.." Gabrielle held up a hand. "He hurt you!"

"NO." The girl shook her head vigorously. "He didn't mean it. It was just the drink, and the heat.. he loves me." She seemed very sure. "He'll apologize when he wakes up. Just please, go and leave us alone."

Blue and green eyes met. "Tell you what." Xena said, with quiet decisiveness. "You two go in back, and I'll lead the horses. We can sort this out when we get to town." She pinned the girl with a glance. "He's gonna need a healer anyway."

Leesha hesitated, staring at the warrior with a mixture of fear and distaste. Finally she nodded shortly. "All right." She said, reluctantly. "But I can drive. He taught me."

"Sure." Gabrielle agreed. "But it's really hot out here.. I sure could use a break in the shade. Why don't you come inside and we can talk, while Xena gets us started? You can take back over later."

Here, little snail. Xena almost smiled, as the girl found it impossible to deny that gently reasonable argument. Having been a victim of Gabrielle's negotiating tactics herself, she felt a certain sympathy.

Not that much though, because the girl was still looking at her like she was an uncaged tiger ready for lunch, and Xena really didn't think she'd done much to warrant that. Especially since the bastard was beating up on the kid. She watched the girl step over the edge of the wagon and enter the rear portion, which was covered in canvas behind the wooden partition that held the flimsy door.

Gabrielle sighed, and put her hands on the wood to lift herself up. She smiled, though, when a grip circled her waist and heaved her upward, and she bounced into place on the seat before turning to face her partner. "Thanks."

A mildly ironic smile answered her. "Good luck." Xena indicated the now hidden girl.

The bard reached out and touched Xena's hair, finding it warm with the sun, and sticky with sweat. "You sure you don't want to ride up here?" She indicated the seat, "There's a little cover.. the sun's blocked by the wagon sort of."

It was tempting. The sun was sucking all the energy out of her, and they had a long way to go yet. "Yeah, maybe." Xena decided. "G'wan inside, and I'll hitch Argo and Iolaus up to the back."

"Right." Gabrielle patted her cheek, then let her hand lie there. "You all right?" She asked, seeing a hint of.. something.. in the pale eyes watching her.

Damn. Xena pushed the doubts back down, and mustered a smile for the bard. "Nah, I'm fine. It's just too damn hot." She told her. "I'll be glad to make town.. I'll take a horse trough if they got it just to cool off."

Gabrielle grinned in relief, and nodded. "Me too." She got up and stepped over the partition, pushing the door open cautiously and going inside.

Xena stood there for a few moments, then pushed away from the wagon and whistled for Argo and Iolaus, who were grazing not far away. The horses trotted up to her and she tied them to the back of the wagon, then trudged around to the front and vaulted up onto the seat, the wooden surface shifting under her weight.

Well. She sat down and gathered the reins, reacquainting herself with the feel of driving a team this size. She sorted through the leather strips, setting them between her fingers, then drew a breath and clicked her tongue lightly, slapping the backs of the animals with only the slightest emphasis.

They shifted their legs and snorted, but started off at a slow walk. Xena winced as the wagon jerked into motion, then eased into a more comfortable position and let the rhythm settle into her bones.

Behind her, she could hear the soft voices murmuring together. Damn. Xena released a breath, resting her elbows on her knees as she tried to analyze just why her guts were in knots, and the kids reaction to her had bothered her so much, and…

Drop it, Xena. Maybe you're about to cycle. She wryly told herself, shaking off the unsettling thoughts, and returning her attention to the road.

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

Leesha was bending over her father when Gabrielle entered, untying the ropes Xena had left around him. She glanced over her shoulder, her face distressed and angry. "Look what she did to him!"

Gabrielle stepped around the unkempt belongings and crouched next to her, touching a finger to the dark bruise across the girl's face. "Look what he did to you." She gazed evenly at her. "That's why Xena did what she did."

"He didn't mean it." Leesha went back to her untying. "You don’t understand."

The wagon lurched into motion, and they both swayed. Gabrielle held out a hand to steady the girl, then took her other hand and forced Leesha too look at her. "You're wrong." She told her, edging sideways and seating herself on a bale of cloth. "I do understand.. I know exactly what you're going through, Leesha."

Leesha gazed uncertainly at her. Gabrielle suddenly felt far older than her years, looking at that innocent young face, with those haunted eyes that carried a few shadows she was wearily familiar with. "How old are you?" She asked quietly.

"Seventeen. Almost." The girl replied, lifting her chin a little. "I'm not a child." She sat down, glancing at the still unconscious man on the floor. "He depends on me, now."

Seventeen. Gabrielle smiled briefly. "You know, I was your age when I met Xena." She said. "I was pretty sure I was grown up, too. Ready to handle anything."

The girl watched her in silence.

Gabrielle met her eyes. "And I figured.. after having my father do to me what yours does to you… what could I find out here that would be worse?"

"Your f.. " Leesha glanced at her, then at the closed door. "Oh.. I thought you meant…" She fell silent, thinking. "So you ran away."

Did I? Gabrielle tilted her head a trifle. "Yeah, I did in a way." She agreed. "I wanted to find a better life for myself… one where I didn't have to be afraid all the time."

Leesha blinked at her. "So you went to live with a wild woman like that in the woods?" She sounded skeptical. "Oh, that was a good choice."

The bard chuckled a little. "I guess you could look at it that way, but Xena's not a wild woman and we don't live in the woods." She said. "But yes, it turned out to be a very good choice, as a matter of fact."

"Not for me." Leesha replied, with surprising fierceness. "That's all you people ever say. You think you're the first?" She got up and swayed with the wagon's motion. "You're like all the rest of them.. you don't understand. You can't understand… I’m not going to run away from him because he needs me." She turned, straightening. "He's not a bad person."

Kind, green eyes looked back. "Neither was my father. Just a hurting one." Gabrielle said softly. "You know, you could…"

"No." Leesha turned her head. "Just don't. Leave me alone. I'm tired of hearing strangers give me advice." She knelt, then sat at her father's side. "I know I must sound ungrateful.. and… " Her eyes lifted, and studied Gabrielle. "Thank you.. for saving us. I'm sure we would have crashed otherwise, but… " Her fingers straightened a bit of cloth. "I'm where I want to be, okay?"

Gabrielle sighed, and regarded her folded hands.

"See? You don't understand." The girl said. "You ran. I won't." She picked up a cloth and uncapped a nearby waterskin, wetting the cloth and daubing the man's blood covered skin. "You'll see. When he wakes up, he'll feel so sorry… it's so terrible what your… friend… did to him."

This subject wasn't going anywhere, Gabrielle realized, feeling the heat around them slowly increasing. Sweat rolled down her neck, and she found herself wishing she was outside, sun be darned. "Well." She chose her words with care. "That's.. just something Xena does, when she sees someone being hit.. for no reason. She doesn't like that.. and, actually, neither do I."

Leesha glanced at her. "You wouldn't have done this." She stated confidently. "You're not a warrior."

Gabrielle looked at the prone man. "That's not true." She said. "I'm not Xena, but I could do that, and I would, if I saw someone being abused."

The girl went quite still, only her eyes moving, studying the woman who sat quietly across from her, hands clasped, face set in a fiercely mature determination. The silence lengthened, then Leesha shrugged, and went back to her work. "That's not what this is. So you keep your hands off him, and tell your friend the same thing."

"All right." Gabrielle got up, finding her body almost twitching with a need to move, to pace, to relieve the frustration she felt in her failure to get through to Leesha. It was too hot inside, suddenly, and she went to the door and opened it, unsurprised at the lack of surprise in the figure seated just outside.

Xena turned her head and read the very vivid and familiar to her eyes signals of one very wound up bard. "Hi." She patted the rough seat next to her. "Join me?"

It was cooler out here, despite the sun, and Gabrielle sat down with a sigh of relief as she dangled her boots over the front of the wagon. "Xena… "

"Mm?" The warrior tucked all six sets of reins in one hand and leaned back, extending her arm across the back of the seat and coincidentally across Gabrielle's shoulders. "No good, huh? Stubborn kid?"

A nod.

"Maybe you should let me have a try." The warrior suggested.

Gabrielle's blond eyebrows lifted as she gazed at her partner. "Xena, I love you, but that's one pig headed, stubborn, love blinded kid in there."

Xena's eyes took on a hint of a twinkle. "Really?"

"What makes you think she'd listen to you?" The bard asked, with a touch of exasperation.

"You did." Xena replied. "Eventually."

"Oo." Gabrielle narrowed her eyes. "Xena, I'm being serious, and this is not the same thing."

The warrior smiled. "I know….but I also know that kid reminds you of you, Gabrielle, and you want to do what you think will help her."

A sigh.

"But she isn't you." The warrior went on, seriously. "Maybe what was right for you, isn't for her."

Gabrielle turned her head, and studied her partner. "Xena, being beaten up isn't good for anyone. Don't tell me it is." She remarked with asperity. "She's just rationalizing it.. like I used to. Telling herself it's anyone's fault, hers, the wine… just not his."

Xena's jaw muscles bunched, and moved, sending tiny shadows across the surface of her skin.

"There is no justification for that, and we both know it." Gabrielle went on, sighing and rubbing her temples with one hand. "Don't we?"

The warrior blinked slowly, remembering a long moment of horror waking up in a cave, with Gabrielle holding onto her, covered in her own blood that Xena knew she'd drawn. "No, you're right. There is no justification for that, Gabrielle." She murmured.

Gabrielle felt the change immediately, an echo of gray sadness that trickled through their connection that pushed the problem in the wagon out of her immediate concern. Instinctively, she laced her fingers with the longer ones hanging over her shoulder and squeezed, getting no response. "Xena, what's going on with you?"

The warrior shrugged. "Nothing.. why?"

"That's the second time you lied to me today."

The blue eyes sharpened, and drilled into her suddenly, bright and vivid, open and filled momentarily with hurt.

"Well, it is." Gabrielle gentled her tone, reaching up and touching Xena's cheek tenderly. "C'mon, sweetheart… you know that doesn't work with us, not anymore." She said. "You're in knots, and I feel it."

Sometimes, Xena sighed inwardly, she did forget. "Honestly, I think it's the heat." She glanced up. "It's getting on my nerves… and.. I don't know.. maybe that kid's reaction.. haven't seen that in a while."

Gabrielle leaned over and kissed the warrior's shoulder, giving her a one armed, but comforting hug. "Thought so." She told her. "I felt like giving her a good pinch when I saw that… she's just young, and very confused, Xe. I can imagine how I'd feel if someone just came along like that and bapped you one."

Xena's eyebrows rose immediately.

"Not that they would, or that you'd stand for it, or they'd survive the bapping." Gabrielle corrected herself hastily. "But you know what I mean."

The warrior sighed. "Yeah, I do." She relaxed a little, and stretched her legs out, then glanced at the bard. Gabrielle's skin was flushed, and as she watched, her partner ran her fingers through her hair, which was drenched with sweat. She unhooked the waterskin she'd left by her left boot and handed it over, waiting as Gabrielle unstoppered it.

Then she gave the bag a squeeze, as the water rushed out and fairly gushed over the bard's head with a splash.

"Yeow!" Gabrielle yelped, jumping in her seat and grabbing blindly for the bag. "Xena!!!" She pulled the skin out of her partner's long fingers and wrapped her arms around it, blinking the water out of her eyes and giving her partner a dire look.

Xena grinned at her. "You looked like you needed that."

Gabrielle blew a droplet of water off her nose, then grinned back. "You're right, I did." She shook a finger at her partner. "That's twice today, Warrior Princess. You'd better watch out tonight."

"Oh yeah?" Xena responded to the challenge.

"Yeah."

The damp lips were just too tempting. Xena gave into the temptation and despite the heat, enjoyed the closeness as Gabrielle responded, chasing away the discomfort for a long string of heartbeats.

They parted, and rested forehead to forehead for a moment, before the both straightened and faced the road, which stretched on endlessly to the horizon. It was quiet, but Xena's sensitive ears caught the faint creak of footsteps behind them, moving away.

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

They reached the town just as the sun was setting, as the breeze finally lost it's lung searing heat and the air was just about bearable. Xena skillfully drove the horses over to an outdoor paddock, correctly analyzing the barn space and deciding it wasn’t' sufficient.

The stableman, though, knew a profit when he saw one, and came trotting over, regarding Xena with a look of wary enthusiasm. "Evening, folks.. be needing some space, will you?"

Xena launched herself off the wagon seat and landed on the ground, stretching her muscles out as she walked over to the man. "Yeah. I've only got the two." She pointed at Iolaus and Argo. "Inside if you have it. I'll take care of them. " The looked over her shoulder, to where the wagon entrance was now open, and Leesha was helping her father walk unsteadily out. "The rest of them are his."

The man studied the scene, then glanced at Xena. "Fair enough, warrior. Two dinars for your pair, with bedding and tucker." His eyes turned admiring. "Nice stock, them."

Xena knew when she was being stroked, but didn't mind in this case. "Thanks." She gave him a half smile. "Mother and son."

"Thought so." The stableman chuckled, then moved past Xena to approach the wagon. "Evening there, sir."

Xena turned to watch them, as Gabrielle came from around the other side of the wagon and joined her. The bard looked wrung out like a dish towel, and Xena felt herself wince in sympathy as she heard her partner's soft grunt of pain as she eased a knot in her back. "Glad to be standing still?"

"Ugh." Gabrielle exhaled wearily. "I asked the sentry over there to get a healer for him." She indicated the tall man, who was now sitting grumpily on the bench, holding his arm. "He was mouthing off about calling the law on you."

Xena looked at her, startled.

"I shut him up by saying I'd call the law on him, regardless of what his daughter said." The bard went on, her jaw bunching a little.

The tall man glared over the herdsman’s head, finding Xena and scowling.

"You’re welcome." The warrior drawled, returning a sardonic smile, before she dismissed him from her thoughts and turned her partner. "Bath and something cool to drink appeal to you?"

Gabrielle was watching Leesha and her father, and after a moment, she sighed and looked up. "Yeah." She agreed. "That sounds great…" The stableman swung the big gates open and started to unhitch the team, as Leesha and her father walked away, the man with an arm possessively wrapped around the girl as they headed off. "Xena…"

"Yes?" The warrior looped Argo and Iolaus’s reins over her arm and started walking towards the barn, already sure of what the bard would say. "Let me guess.. .you’ve got a bad feeling about those two."

Gabrielle watched them go a moment more, then turned and trotted after Xena, settling down next to her as they paced together. "Don’t you?"

Xena chewed the inside of her lip a bit, then glanced back over her shoulder, watching the two disappear around the corner of the inn. "Hard to say." She paused, as Gabrielle pushed open the barn door to let them in, then led the horses inside. "I think he’s outta control, yeah. That kid could be in a lot of danger."

Gabrielle walked ahead and pushed the door to a double stall open, then she started pulling hay from a bale and stocking the ragged net already hanging inside. The dry stalks felt rough and sharp against her hands, and she flexed them a little as she worked.

They went through the familiar tasks in comfortable silence, as Xena stripped the tack off the two horses and slung it over the divider wall while Gabrielle took their stuff, and carried back buckets of water she tipped into the calked wooden trough inside. Argo immediately nudged her out of the way and started slurping, and Iolaus joined her, trapping the bard between them. "Hey." She put her hands on her hips. "Is that nice?"

Argo lifted her head and pushed her muzzle into Gabrielle’s chest, dribbling water down her front with evil abandon. "Heey!!!!" The bard squealed.

Xena chuckled. "That’s my girl." She gave Argo an affectionate pat. "Tell me that didn’t feel good?"

Gabrielle took advantage of her height and scooted under Argo’s belly, giving Xena’s leg a slap as she emerged on the other side. She straightened and joined her partner as they cleaned off the animals, brushing their coats and straightening the tangles out of their manes and tails.

They could, Gabrielle acknowledged, pay someone to do this for them. They had more than enough dinars, after all. But she could see the taut lines of Xena’s frame relaxing as she went through the familiar motions, and she knew the soothing effect of the chores were worth more than anything she could have paid to have them done.

Besides, she’d learned to enjoy it too. Gabrielle stroked Iolaus’ shoulder with the brush. It was something of Xena’s love for horses she could share, and she knew taking personal care of the animals was something Xena felt very strongly about. "What a day, huh?"

"Mm." Xena knelt and examined a hoof. "Got a couple more days of this, then we’ll hit forested areas. That’ll be better."

"Yeah… " Gabrielle untangled a bit of mane. "You think those guys are headed the same way?"

The warrior stood up and juggled the brush. "Maybe." She acknowledged. "I don’t think they want company, though, Gabrielle." She said.

"No, probably not." The bard finished up, and put her tools away, slinging her saddlebag over her shoulder. "Well, I think I hear a bathtub calling me… hope they’ve got a room available, Xena, or you’re finding the nearest pond." She warned. "I just want to get clean, and curl up in a corner somewhere."

"I’d go for that myself." Xena held the door to the inn open. "You want to.. "

"Sure." The bard riffled her fingers through her hair to give it some kind of order, then stepped around her partner’s taller form and approached the innkeeper, an older woman with a wary, tense face. "Hi." She set her bags down and tugged out the small pouch she kept her coins in.

"What yer want?" The woman asked, gruffly.

Gabrielle gazed at her, cocking her head in question. "A room?" She ventured, seeing the look of suspicion remain. She held the pouch up. "I can pay for it."

That only helped a little. The woman grunted, then studied the wall for a moment, surprising the bard when her eyes darted back to her sharply. "Where you from?"

Gabrielle felt a presence at her back, but not too close, and she realized Xena had stopped to listen, hearing the woman’s tone. "Amphipolis."

Another grunt, but Gabrielle, who had years of practice interpreting grunts of all kinds, relaxed a little at the sound of this one.

"Got two. One’s a bitty thing, two racks, no bath. T’other’s a double, but it’ll cost yer."

Warm green eyes twinkled. "How much?"

"Ten dinars."

The bard almost laughed. "I wouldn’t pay that in Athens." She shook her head. "Nope.. sorry. .how much is the other one?"

"Gots a big tub in t’other one." The innkeeper countered, with a sly grin.

"For ten dinars, you’d have to fill it with cold cider for it to be worth it." Gabrielle bantered back. "And have silk towels."

"C’mon.. now, pretty girl like you don’t want to be sleeping in no straw pallet.." The woman

"I’ve slept worse." Gabrielle replied. "Five dinars, and that’s dinner and breakfast too."

"Pah!"

The bard shrugged. "Okay, what’s the other one? I don’t have all day here.. I’ve got places to go, and a partner to feed… " She heard the soft snorting chuckle from behind her and muffled a grin, as an idea occurred to her, one she didn’t usually invoke. "You wont’ mind sleeping on a pallet, will you, Xena?" She tossed back over her shoulder.

Then slid her gaze around and just caught the wide eyed, slack jawed reaction before the innkeeper covered up and coughed. "Now, what was it?" She inquired.

Furtively, the woman peeked past Gabrielle’s shoulder, then back at her. "Seven, no food."

Seven? Good grief. But the bath was tempting, and she knew Xena would probably end up on the floor rather than the short pallets, which tended to be too confining for her length. "Seven and food, and if you ask nicely, I’ll spin a few tales for the crowd in there after dinner." She held the woman’s eyes and smiled, and saw by the look in them that she’d achieved her goal.

"Robber." But the innkeeper held out a hand. "Taking advantage of an old woman like me.. you aughta be shamed, girl."

Gabrielle counted out the seven dinars and handed them over, as she felt Xena approach her from behind. The warrior laid a hand on her shoulder, and regarded the innkeeper with cool, blue eyes. "Considering you’ll make ten times that on her in there tonight, you should quit your griping." She said. "C’mon, Gabrielle. Let’s go make use of that seven dinar bathtub you just bargained for." She draped an arm over the bard’s shoulders and steered her towards the back of the inn.

The innkeeper watched them go, then turned as an older man entered, and came to her side, peering after the departing forms. "More travelers?"

The innkeeper hefted the coins in her hand, and chuckled. "Thems more than travelers, Sonje. We got us some real live ones, we do, Important folks. Listen, go over to the mill, tell that blabbermouth miller we got us a storyteller, what’s gonna be here at the inn t’night."

"Yeah?" The man wasn’t impressed. "That’s no big deal. We got them all the time."

"Not this kind." The woman shook her head. "Just go on.. tell em they don’t’ want to miss this." She gave him a shove, and got up, pocketing the coins and wiping her hands off. "And tell Stev to go tap another keg… the gods willing, we’ll need it."

Scratching his head, the man left.

The innkeepers eyes narrowed, and she laughed softly.

"So." Xena dumped another bucket into the tub. "Is this worth seven dinars?"

The bard leaned against the wood, and rested her head on Xena’s arm. "You’re more than worth it." She said with quiet honestly. "I wanted you to be comfortable, and I knew you wouldn’t in that other room, so yeah. It’s worth it."

Xena leaned her arms on the tub’s edge. "What about you?" She asked, dipping a hand in and finding the water’s temperature tolerable. "Don’t tell me you didn’t want this tub or that bed." She pointed over her shoulder to a large, fluffy piece of furniture almost as nice as the one they had at home.

Gabrielle gazed at the water, then grinned. "I sure did." In a quick motion, she shrugged out of her tunic, and already barefoot, grabbed the edge of the tub and hoisted herself over and into the water with a splash.

Xena wiped the residue off her face. "Thanks." She tossed the bucket down and unhooked her leathers, stripping out of them and letting them fall to the floor with a thud. Then she joined Gabrielle in the bath, enjoying the wonderful feel of the water cooling her skin as she submerged.

They both ducked under, then surfaced, and looked at each other. "Boy." Gabrielle gave her a frank grin. "I am so not used to being grubby anymore." She grabbed their soap and started scrubbing her arms, direly glad to get the sweat and dirt off her skin. The cool water felt wonderful, and she felt muscles sore from their long ride slowly start to relax.

"Here." Xena slid over and took the soap. "Let me do that." She tugged Gabrielle through the water until she was settled between the warrior's long legs, and started to work, rubbing the soap across the bard's shoulderblades and down her spine.

"Mm." Gabrielle slowly leaned back as the warrior's arms encircled her, and the soap traveled around her waistline and up her belly. "Hey, Xena?"

"Yes?" Xena's reply rumbled softly in her ear from very close range.

"Do you think I’m a coward?"

The warrior actually stopped washing her and peered around her shoulder, making eye contact. "What?" She wrapped her arms around Gabrielle's body and rested her chin on the bard's shoulder. "What kind of question is that?"

It was a wonderfully secure feeling, Gabrielle thought, and she allowed herself to float in that for a moment before she answered. "An honest one." She murmured. "Something Leesha said… about me running away from home." Her eyes flicked to Xena's. "Was I a coward to run away from my problems like that?"

Xena's near brow lifted, tickling the side of the bard's face. "Gabrielle, are you familiar with the term 'out of the frying pan, and into the fire'?"

"Yeah." The bard drew the word out slowly.

"If you were a coward, you'd have gone running back home in less than a moon." The warrior stated evenly. "How can you even question that, after all we've been through together? How could you even think it?"

Gabrielle folded her arms over her soulmate's. "You're right." She chuckled a little. "I know I'm not.. I know I've done brave things, and faced a lot worse than my father. I was just… " She paused to consider her words. "That stung, I guess."

Yeah, it would. Xena leaned back, pulling Gabrielle with her and started a gentle light massage of the sturdy body nestled against hers. "Having them look at me like a road brigand stung too." She commented. "I think we're getting too sensitive in our old age."

Gabrielle looked at her, then started chuckling softly. "Yeah, maybe." She ran a finger along the inside of the warrior's conveniently accessible thigh, and watching the well shaped nostrils flare in response. "You're definitely sensitive."

Xena slid her hands lazily up the bard's body and traced circles around her breasts. "Wonder which one of us is more so?"

A slow smile crossed Gabrielle's face. "How about we go find out?" She felt the troubling questions fade, and the tensions of the day ease past her, and she found herself glad to simply be clean, and with Xena, and looking forward to the night.

Everything else could wait.

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

Xena leaned back against the wall, leaning her elbows on the worn wood arms of her chair, and sipping slowly from the mug of cool, very fragrant ale she clasped between her hands.

The room was packed, and she was glad her shoulders were braced against an open window that allowed a moderately bearable breeze into the inn. All the tables were full, and chairs had been brought in from outside, creating a bustling, overcrowded atmosphere.

The only free space, in fact, was the two chairs on either side of Xena, and the small area in the very center of the room that was currently inhabited by a fair haired, sturdily built figure who was accepting a cup from a smiling waiter as there was a break in the storytelling.

Xena smiled behind her own mug, as she watched her partner play to the crowd, capturing them effortlessly with her steadily maturing bardic skills. She could remember what it was like when Gabrielle was just starting out, and the difference between that eager, but unsure young girl, and this confident woman was striking to her eyes.

Gabrielle had chosen to wear a light, sleeveless linen tunic in rich green, that had a pattern embroidered in red and yellow across it. It was belted at her waist, and fell to her mid thigh, exposing her tanned arms and legs and contrasting with her pale hair, cut short a month or so back after the weather turned hot.

Even Gabrielle's voice had changed, Xena mused, from an adolescent warble, to the deeper, more rounded tones of adulthood. But the mischievous sparkle in those green eyes never had altered, and she still told stories with a smile playing around her lips, enjoying herself, enjoying the reactions of the crowd, telling stories as well known to her as her own name as though it were the very first time.

Of course, Xena was very aware of the attention of the crowd when it drifted to her, as Gabrielle rambled through one of their mutual adventures. Though she had shed her leathers for cloth, and was unarmed, she was who she was, and she knew they all knew it.

So she leaned back, and took a swallow of the very good ale, and quietly digested an excellent plate of beans and mutton, in portions large enough to satisfy her partner, and make Xena herself feel a little sleepy.

Or maybe it was the very long day in the heat. The warrior propped her boot up against the next chair, and let her head rest against the wall. It was nice, she decided, to be out on the road again. She'd missed being in a different place every few days, seeing new people, and having new adventures. Even if the adventures were uncomfortable, and she ended up sleeping under a bush, it still filled a quietly barren spot inside her and she couldn't deny that to herself.

"And then, Xena killed the giant."

Eyes turned her way, and Xena lifted her mug in answer, giving the crowd a gracious nod. Their eyes widened, and she grinned, silently enjoying the reaction.

"In doing that, she saved the village, and took payment for the life of Goliath, her old friend."

Yes, I did. Xena nodded a little in satisfaction. A motion caught her eye and she shifted slightly, focusing her peripheral vision while apparently keeping her attention on her partner. Leesha and her father had entered earlier, and were seated at a table near the front of the inn, keeping a slight distance between themselves and the rest of the people nearby.

Aleki was watching her, Xena realized, his dark eyes hooded and angry as he guzzled the contents of a big wooden mug. Leesha sat quietly next to him, her hands folded, outwardly disinterested, but she couldn't prevent her gaze from being drawn over and over again to the fair haired bard in the middle of the room.

Gabrielle had launched into another story, and was describing a battle. Her voice lifted and strengthened, and she used her hands to good effect as she described the scene, and Leesha's gaze became fixed and interested on her.

Until Aleki spoke sharply to her, and she dropped her eyes to the table, her thin fingers plucking at the wood of it.

Xena slowly turned her head, and waited for Aleki to look back over at her. When he did, she captured his eyes and bored her gaze into them, putting all the menace she could muster into a long, dire glare.

He jerked his head around, and looked elsewhere, a red flush spreading up his neck.

The warrior returned her attention to her partner, with a satisfied smirk on her face. Bastard. She released a long suffering sigh, then allowed Gabrielle's words to snare her in, as the bard's eyes found hers, and her face lit from within with a look of simple, but profound love.

It was the look that had always gotten to her, even from the very start, from that very first time she'd looked up from sorting dried herbs by the side of a small campfire one night to find Gabrielle gazing back at her, a forgotten quill in her hand, with just that same expression on her face.

A moment that, she knew, had changed her life, and altered her view of Gabrielle forever from being one of her life's many challenges to one of it's most precious gifts.

A soft scraping sound broke her thoughts, and she tensed a little, keeping her eyes on Gabrielle but focusing her sensitive hearing to her right. Given the crowded room, the noise would not have been unusual, but to Xena's ears, there was a furtiveness about it that immediately pricked her senses.

The sound stopped, then started again. Xena realized it was outside, and behind her, and coming closer.

Okay. So maybe a kid wanted to peek in the window.

Another sound, and now Xena's whole body shifted, her boots coming down square on the floor and her thighs tensing as she perceived the approaching figure to be larger than any child, and the soft whisper of steel against leather trickled to her ears.

Outwardly, she remained relaxed, her arms folded over her chest, leaning back against the wall. She felt the breeze stir the hair on the back of neck, sending a chill down her spine as she detected the slow, even breathing of someone not a bodylength from her, hidden from view next to the window.

Her heartbeat sped up, a rush of blood warmed her muscles, and Xena felt her breathing change from it's normal rhythm to slower, deeper breaths as her internal pulses synchronized.

Waiting.

She could hear the soft rasp as a palm was wiped on linen trousers, heard the deep, steadying breath.

Heard the light touch of fingertips against the windowsill just behind her shoulder.

Felt the pressure change, as the body behind her shifted, and tensed, the arm bearing the knife drawing back.

She could smell the tang of the steel, and a leather tunic stained with sweat.

Gabrielle finished her story. The crowd erupted in applause.

Xena whirled and struck, on hand smashing aside the knife streaking towards her back, the other, curled into a fist, slamming into the face that had appeared, ghostlike, behind her.

A crack. Blood spattered against the wall, and the attacker gasped, dropping the knife and bolting, his heavy footsteps ringing against the wood. Xena considered chasing him, then exhaled as he leaped on a waiting horses back, and thundered off.

Xena turned and resumed her seat, dusting her hands off against her knee and refolding her arms. Not even her closest neighbors had noticed her sudden move, they were too busy cheering on the now blushing Gabrielle.

The bard made her way through the crowd, returning compliments, and answering a few questions until she arrived at Xena's side, and slid into the chair next to her. "Whew."

"Good job." Xena nudged her mug over. "Thirsty?"

"Oh yeah." Gabrielle took a grateful sip. "Mm.. pretty good."

"Very." Xena agreed, glancing around at the excited, happy crowd. "I think you're a hit."

The bard grinned, then slid closer to her partner, leaning on the table next to her and lowering her voice. "What was that at the end?"

"What?" Xena asked, then produced a wry smile when Gabrielle just looked at her. "The jerk who tried to knife me, you mean?" She directed a thumb over her shoulder. "Didn't think anyone noticed, with that performance you were giving."

Gabrielle felt very unsettled. "They were all looking at me." She noted. "However, I was looking at you, and I almost bit my tongue off when you jumped like that." She laid one hand over the warrior's, running gentle fingers over the scrapes on Xena's knuckles. "Who was it?"

Xena picked up the mug and sipped from it. "I don't know. He rode off.. not anyone I recognized." Her nape hairs prickled, and she let her eyes slid to the right, unsurprised to find Aleki watching her, his expression dark and unreadable. "But I think I may have made a new enemy."

Gabrielle followed her gaze, while she continued her exploration of Xena's hand. "Xena, you saved his life."

"I shamed him in front of his kid." The warrior took another swallow of ale, nodding when the young server offered to refill her mug. "He wasn't there when I stopped the damn horses, Gabrielle, but he was there when I dumped him on his butt and broke his nose. Which would you remember?"

Gabrielle pulled the hand she was stroking over and kissed it, completely ignoring the looks of the patrons around them. "I would remember the good things." She glanced at the mug. "Mind if I take a sip of that?"

"No." Xena handed it over. "I got it filled for you. I"ve had enough." She said. "And we better take a different route to Athens than that bastard is.. I don't want to spend the next two weeks kicking would be assassins out of my bedroll."

The bard stuck her nose in her mug and half drained it in a series of serious gulps. Then she set the cup down, and exhaled. "Well." She propped her chin on her fist. "You don't have to worry about that, tiger."

"No, huh?" Xena smiled.

"No." Gabrielle shook her head. "Because to get in your bedroll, they'd have to get past me first, and let me tell you, I don't tolerate nasty, grungy men with daggers anywhere near my furs."

Xena leaned on her arm right next to her. "The other night I was nasty and grungy, and chock full of daggers, and you let me near your mfofg." Blue eyes twinkled over the hand that covered her mouth.

Gabrielle leaned very close. "You don't count." She let her eyes rove over the bustling, and stuffy room. "Think we did our work here? My back's killing me for some reason." She released Xena's lips, and winced. "I think it was riding in that wagon."

"Yep." Xena stood up, towering over their nearest neighbors and attracting a number of covert and not so covert stares. She held a hand out to Gabrielle. "Let's get some rest. We've got a long day traveling tomorrow."

They threaded their way through the crowd, very aware of the curious, interested eyes following them until they cleared the entrance and headed down the darkened corridor beyond.

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

Xena woke from a vague, but very pleasant dream just a little before sunrise. She blinked her eyes open, taking in the gray, pale light that entered the window. It outlined the room, and spilled across the bed, outlining Gabrielle's bare shoulders where the light cover had slipped down a little.

The warrior spent a quiet moment studying her partner's body, wrapped around hers in a characteristic embrace. Now, it was the most normal thing in the world for her, not like the first time she'd woken up this way.

It had been a very, very cold morning, after a freezing, rain filled night that had forced them into the same sleeping furs in order to get any sleep at all. Xena had woken up with very atypical slowness, climbing up from deep, yet formless dreams and opening her eyes, to a sense of dire confusion.

It had been full daylight, for one thing, which had been shocking enough, but to find someone lying on top of her…

She'd tensed up, not really sure what was going on, half ready to leap out of the furs before her mind thawed out and she realized that warm, relaxed weight draped over her was Gabrielle.

Her young friend, who, in her sleep, had wrapped herself around Xena and was holding her in a close embrace, something that her body was rapidly starting to appreciate now that she'd cleared her mind a little.

That had shamed her, a little. Gabrielle was just a kid, after all, and she felt uncomfortable with the growing attraction she'd found herself developing for her traveling companion.

Especially since Gabrielle had shown interest in every good looking boy they'd encountered since they started off from Potadeia. Xena had known where the kid's interests were, and they certainly weren't a half crazy female ex warlord, that had seemed very sure.

Gabrielle had snuggled closer then, still asleep, and Xena'd only just kept her body still, and her hands at rest, putting a savage hold on instincts she usually allowed free rein to.

Had it been anyone else… she would have taken what she desired.

Xena had looked down at the innocent face nestled against her shoulder. But not Gabrielle. Not this feckless kid who trusted her, and believed in her.

Whose friendship had meant more to Xena than she was willing to admit to anyone, least of all herself.

No, soon enough, Gabrielle would wake up, and…

A soft sound had startled Xena and she'd looked down as Gabrielle stirred, waking in as much confusion as she had been not that long before, the happy, relaxed smile that had been on her face disappearing as she came to her senses.

"Bu.. wh.." Gabrielle had shifted her hold, then frozen in place, realizing where she was. Xena had felt her heartbeat start racing where their bodies were pressed together, then the girl had very slowly lifted her gaze, meeting Xena's eyes with a mixture of mortification and…

Xena had felt the flush even before she saw it color Gabrielle's face a deep crimson.

"I'm… I.. s..sorry.. I.." Gabrielle had whispered, quickly removing her arm from around Xena's waist and pushing herself away. "I…"

"Hey." Xena had felt compelled to interrupt the stammering. "Relax, wouldja? You're making it sound like you woke up with a hedgehog."

Still under the furs, Gabrielle had gone very still again, then allowed her gaze to creep up until their eyes met. "I… I d..didn't m.. mean to do that." She'd murmured softly, the flush still very evident on her face.

"Gabrielle." Xena had been aware of a curious mixture of feelings. "All you were doing was sleeping."

"Yeah, I know." The girl had replied. "But I know how much you hate.. being touched and I…"

Xena had heard her tone gentle. "Gabrielle.. that's not really how it is."

Innocent green eyes gazed at her. "It's not?"

"No." The warrior had shaken her head a little. "I don't hate being touched. It's just that usually anyone wanting to get that close to me wants to put a sword in my gut." She'd told the kid.

Gabrielle had thought about that, a tiny pucker forming on her forehead. "I'd never do that." She'd finally said.

"I know you wouldn't." Xena had replied. "Or I woulda left you out to become an icicle last night."

Gabrielle had relaxed a little, laying back down again, not touching Xena, but very close to her. "Thanks." She had said, hesitatingly. "You know, I.. this is weird, but..I think that was the most in one night since I left home.. I know you think it's silly but I wake up all the time because of all the noises and the.. " The girl had stopped speaking for a moment, then sighed, just a little. "Anyway. Nevermind.. just thanks." She'd looked up at Xena and smiled. "Time to get moving, huh?"

Time? Xena had glanced at the glowering sky. It had been well past time, as a matter of fact, and she'd had to admit, at least to herself…

That it had been the best damn night's sleep she'd had in years.

Ah well, she'd thought at the time. No harm done. Not like it'll ever happen again.

Yeah. Right. Xena bemusedly studied the body wrapped firmly around hers, and had to smile. Which one of them had been deluding themselves more? As she watched, Gabrielle took a deeper breath, then her eyes drifted open and tracked upward, no trace of confusion in them in this time at all.

"Time to get moving, huh?" The bard drawled softly.

"Yep." They had a long day's travel ahead of them, the road stretching through mostly wild barrens before the next stretch of civilization appeared, in fact, Xena wasn’t sure they'd cover it, and suspected they'd spend the night out in the rough.

Gabrielle nuzzled the bare surface she was sprawled over, giving Xena a little kiss just below her collarbone. "Y'know what?"

Things certainly had changed. Xena chuckled silently. "No, what?"

"I… " Gabrielle's hands explored, sliding down Xena's body and tracing a light circle around her navel. "Am having the best time on this trip."

Xena's eyebrows lifted. "Even after getting caught in the rain, sleeping under a bush in the mud, getting sick, baking to death on the road and having to spend seven dinars for this damn bed?"

The bard wrapped her arms and legs around the warrior and gave her a fierce hug. "Yep." She sighed happily. "I just love living life with you."

Aw. Xena grinned. "Likewise." She ruffled Gabrielle's hair, then scratched the back of her neck and felt her partner almost purr with pleasure. "Why don't you go wrangle some breakfast out of our friend downstairs, and I'll get us packed up."

"Okay." The bard agreed. "I'll see if I can find out which route Aleki and Leesha are taking while I'm at it." She gave Xena one last nip, then squirmed out from under the covers and headed for their saddlebags. "You really think he was the one who sent that guy after you?"

Xena slid out of bed and stretched, before she gathered their furs up and folded them. "No one else here had any reason to." She said. "That I know of."

Gabrielle glanced over her shoulder. "That you know of?"

The warrior shrugged a shoulder. "There's a lot of people out there with old grudges, Gabrielle." She reasoned. "Long memories.. coulda been someone who just saw me, and figured it was a good time to settle an old score." She put on her light undergarment, then slipped her leathers on over it, the armor having been scrubbed thoroughly the day before. "Guess we'll find out."

Gabrielle finished buckling the carved leather belt of her old traveling clothes. "You mean, if they try it again?" She sat down on the bed to tug her boots on.

Xena nodded, as she picked up her own boots and sat down next to the bard. "Guess we'll have to keep our eyes peeled."

The bard nodded, and stood, stamping her feet to settle the leather in place. "Could be dangerous."

"Could be." The warrior agreed, tugging on a lace.

"Just like old times." Gabrielle put her hands on her hips and smiled. "And I am going to be cool today." She told her soulmate. "Meet you downstairs?"

"You got it." Xena glanced up and watched her leave, then shook her head and chuckled as she continued her task.

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

The innkeeper's attitude was leagues different this morning, Gabrielle noticed. She was greeted before she could even clear the hallway, and she returned the enthusiastic wave with one of her own. "Morning."

"Well, g'morning t'you too." The woman smiled. "Some night we had last night, eh?"

Well mine was great. Gabrielle walked over and let her hand rest on one of the wooden support poles. "It turned out to be a lot of fun. I’m glad everyone enjoyed it." She replied courteously. "Well worth your discount, I think."

The woman laughed. "Too true!" She admitted. "Ye're well worth your reputation, y'know."

Gabrielle grinned. "Thanks. I try to be."

The outer door opened, and a tall, weatherbeaten man entered, with grizzled gray hair and a close trimmed beard. He approached them, and appraised Gabrielle with a pair of pale, gray eyes. "You'd be the great bard, then."

Well. Gabrielle gave a tiny, self deprecating shrug. "I'm Gabrielle." She held out a hand to him.

"Ector." He took her arm and clasped it. "I’m the village reeve." His eyes flicked around the room. "May I be having a word with ye? "

"Sure." Gabrielle followed him into the inn, almost completely empty at this hour, and settled down at the first table while he sat across from her. "What can I do for you?"

He seemed a little uncomfortable, and laced his hands together on the table, twisting his fingers. "It's like this. That pair o'folks you came in with yesterday, they aren't happy."

Gabrielle folded her own hands on the table, very deliberately, and called up the part of her that was the chief arbiter of Amphipolis. "What seems to be their problem?" She had, of course, a very good idea already, but it was always best to let the other person lay their case out how they saw it first.

"Seems like, the older gentleman.. " Ector paused slightly. "Been wanting to lodge a complaint against your friend."

"Xena." Gabrielle nodded. "For hitting him."

"It's true then?"

"Absolutely." The bard stated. "He started beating on his daughter after we saved both of them from a runaway wagon and Xena took exception to that. " She said. "I did too, but she was closer, and she's much better at that sort of thing than I am, so she stopped him." A pause. "Forcefully."

The reeve sat back, absorbing the news. "Well then." He snorted a little. "He didn't bother to be telling me that part of it.. not that I was giving him a sympathetic ear to start with, mind, the man's a pig, and thinks because he's got the dinars he can trample folks down like chaff, but…"

"Well, no." Gabrielle's lips tensed into a smile. "People usually don't tell you things against their own best interests." She considered a moment. "You weren't really going to arrest Xena, were you?"

"Psht!" Ector slapped the table. "Surely not."

Gabrielle exhaled. "Good, because we've really got to get to Athens."

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about." Ector leaned closer. "That bugger's from there, and from what he tells, throws some weight. He can't do jack nobbin out here in this territory to the likes of her, but there? Have a care, Gabrielle. He's a snake, and don't I know it."

Good point. "I know." The bard nodded grimly. "But we have to go, and I hope by the time we get there, he'll just have gotten over it. Xena didn't hurt him that badly."

"No, his pride more like." The reeve commented cannily.

"Mm." Gabrielle smiled at him in agreement. "Thanks for the warning."

His weathered face creased into a smile. "Least I could do - you've brightened us all up with your storytelling last night.. folks'll be talking about that all season." He paused, and went on a little more soberly. "And I had a lot of good friends who died from Andreas' lunacy.. in fact, you won't remember me, but I used to know your folks way back when, in Potadiea."

The bard's green eyes grew quiet, and thoughtful, remembering her hometown's destruction. "Ah."

His look was compassionate. "You were just a little tyke back then. I lost touch after I moved out here, but I was sorry to hear what happened. Sorry about your pa."

Gabrielle nodded slowly. "Me too."

"Pity he wasn't here to see you last night.. woulda been proud, I do think." Ector said. "Apple of his eye, you were."

Gabrielle smiled through the ache in her chest. Back then, that might even have been true, at least for a little while. She still didn't really know how to reconcile her feelings about her father, the conflicting emotions of love and hate never really allowing her to put to rest the painful memories of her father's abuse. "They rebuilt the village earlier this year." She changed the subject quietly.

"We heard that… good to know." Ector replied. "Lotta things going good this year, thanks to Xena. Don't think folks don’t' know it."

The bard smiled more easily, glad to switch focus to her soulmate. "I know. We'll be careful… and thanks again for the warning." She glanced over her shoulder. "I've got to go grab some breakfast, so we can get on the road… be well, Ector."

He reached over and touched her hand. "And you, Gabrielle."

Gabrielle got up and headed back towards where she'd left the innkeeper, rounding the corner of the entrance and nearly plowing right into Xena, who was headed in the opposite direction. "Whoa!" She put a hand out and grabbed the warrior's arm, steadying herself as she jerked to a halt. "Sorry.. I was about to grab some…Xena?"

"You okay?" Xena asked, glancing around as though expecting bandits to jump out of the walls.

"Yeah.. yeah, I'm fine." Gabrielle ran her fingers through her hair. "I was just getting some information on our friends… that's all. We ready to go? Let me grab some bread or something."

Minutes later, they were outside, where Iolaus and Argo were already packed up and waiting. Gabrielle toyed with the idea of asking her partner to start off on foot, then dismissed it for later, and hauled herself up into Iolaus' saddle, settling her boots firmly in the stirrups and arranging herself comfortably.

She'd gotten used to riding in the past year, having developed a fondness for the sometimes saucy Iolaus, and she'd even gone out with Xena on her ranging patrols around the boundaries of Amphipolis. "C'mon, boy, let's get going." She guided the animal after Argo as the started off down the road, quickly catching up so that she and Xena were side by side.

She wasn't the rider Xena was, of course. Gabrielle glanced at her soulmate, who was as relaxed in the saddle as if she was sitting in the rocking chair on their porch. The sun was already beating down on them though, and as she watched, the warrior tugged a leather clip from her pouch and put her hair back, getting it off her neck.

"The reeve was telling me about Aleki." Gabrielle commented, enjoying the slight breeze against her bare skin. She didn't wear her Amazon style garb much at home anymore, and she'd forgotten just how comfortable it could really be, especially in weather like this. "He thinks he might be trouble for us when we get to Athens."

Xena gazed thoughtfully out between Argo's ears. "Could be." She agreed. "I’m not gonna worry about it, though." She studied the ground ahead of them. "Let's cut cross country… I want to bypass the road and take a short cut."

"A short cut." Gabrielle had to smile. "Sweetheart, do you remember what happened the last time you tried a shortcut?"

'It wasn't that bad." Xena urged Argo off the road and down a small slope, towards a stretch of sun bleached fields. "We made it, didn't we?"

"Xena, we almost drowned in that swamp."

The warrior arched an eyebrow at her. "There aren't any swamps around here, so relax."

"You'll find something."

"Gabrielle…."

The long, bleached grass closed behind them as they left the road, and the town behind, and disappeared into the wilderness.

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

A week later, they sat on a ridge overlooking a forested plain, where a white ribbon of road once again intersected their path.

"See?" Xena said, smugly. "Told you it was a shortcut."

Gabrielle had one leg hooked up over her saddlehorn, and was resting her chin on her fist. "How short?" She inquired.

"Two, three days." The warrior said. "Long enough to get a head start on anyone else going the same way." She pointed. "We'll follow the river down to Athens… be easier from now on."

"Great." Gabrielle straightened, and put her boot back in her stirrup. It had been a tough week, as they'd traveled through trackless wilderness, only Xena's innate skill at navigation keeping them on the right path. It had been hot, and dry, and they hadn't seen anyone other than themselves the entire time. Food had been whatever Xena could scrounge from the scrub, and the trail rations they carried with them.

But it hadn't been all bad, the bard reasoned. Aside from the annoyance of sunburn, her body had adjusted to traveling again, raising her energy level as she became reoccustomed to being on the move all day and having to build a campsite at night.

She was tired of the heat, though, and the sand they'd been traveling through, and the thorny brush Xena's short cut had lead them into. Traveling by the river under the trees sounded absolutlely great. "Oo.. does that mean we get something other than berries and roasted grubs for dinner?"

Xena spared her a wryly affectionate look. "I'm about ready for something else myself." She admitted. "I forgot how much I hate the taste of grubs." Her hands shifted on the reins, and a light press of her calf started Argo down the slope.

"Well, we survived." Gabrielle told her diplomatically. "It could have been worse.. remember when we had to eat that snake?" She wrinkled her nose. "Ugh."

"Yeah." Xena agreed. "Though, I don't know, I think the beetles…"

"Xena." Gabrielle interrupted. "We agreed never to discuss the beetles, remember?"

"Mm." The warrior guided Argo around a dip in the ground and settled back in her saddle as she reviewed the path ahead of them. The sun was already angling to the horizon as they gained the road, and she figured they had about another hour or so's good traveling light before darkness covered them.

There were several towns along this road, she knew, and they'd be running into more of them as they came closer to Athens. This might be their last night out rough, in fact. Xena half smiled to herself as she acknowledged her mixed feelings about that, though the past week had been tough, it had also held it's share of sweet moments.

The forest slowly grew up around them, and Xena took a deep breath of the pine scented air, detecting the sharp smell of water and wildlife around them. With the sun heading towards the west, a breeze was rising, and it blew across her skin, bringing a delicious sense of relief. "Feel that?"

"Mmmm.." Gabrielle had her eyes blissfully closed. "Do I ever."

Xena glanced at her, noting that the painful sunburn had faded to a burnished gold on the bard's exposed skin. "You up for some sparring tonight?"

Gabrielle opened her eyes and blinked, in mild surprise. "Um.. yeah." She agreed, with a look of pleasure on her face. "I am.. I was thinking about that last night, but after those thorn hedges.."

Xena winced in reflex, remembering the long period of having the thorns removed from her leg after Argo had stumbled in a crab hole and almost fallen. "All right… " She stopped, hearing something coming behind them. With a frown, she turned. "Aw, Hades. Not again."

Gabrielle turned also. A cloud of dust was advancing on them. "Sheesh. Got any more shortcuts we can try?" She sighed, and moved Iolaus off the road. "At least this time they're going in a straight line on a straight road."

Xena stood a little in her stirrups, and shaded her eyes. "Waitaminute.. it's not them." She took in the unfamiliar outline. "Different kind of wagon." They stood by and waited, as a handsome team of four matched bay horses cantered proudly towards them, pulling a freshly painted wagon of a much higher quality than Aleki's.

The driver was a man in fine, white robes, with gold trim that shone in the sunlight, and as he drew closer, he slowed the horses down to a walk, and then a halt as he drew even with the two of them. "You there!" He addressed them shortly.

Xena and Gabrielle exchanged glances. "Hi." The bard replied politely.

"Have you seen another traveler on the road today?" The man asked. "With horses, like these?"

"No." Gabrielle shook her head. "We just hit this road, and you're the first person we've seen in days."

"Very well." The man turned as the door to the wagon opened. "All is well, Demitri."

A tall, very muscular, extremely good looking, barechested man eased partway out, and observed them. "What are you doing talking to peasants? Get moving. I must have time to prepare before the games." He turned and slammed the hatch behind him.

The driver spared them another glance, then lifted the reins and slapped the horses backs smartly, making them snort as they jerked into motion and the wagon moved past, leaving them in a cloud of choking dust.

"Well." Gabrielle wiped the grime off her face and grimaced. "It's so nice to get back to civilization, huh?"

"Oh, yeah." Xena snarled softly. "If that's what we've got to look forward too, it's gonna be a long trip."

The bard frowned, then turned and studied her partner. The warrior was covered in trail dust, sure, but… "Xena, what the heck was he talking about, anyway.. you don't look like a peasant."

"Thanks." The warrior glanced down at herself. "I didn't think so, unless peasants in his part of the world are a lot more aggressive than they are in ours." She shrugged. "No sense in worrying about it.. c'mon. Let's get moving."

They started off back down the road, trailing the steadily outpacing wagon that faded off into the distance. "How obnoxious." Gabrielle said, suddenly. "I bet he thinks he's the gods gift to everyone, huh?"

"Certainly seemed to." Xena remarked.

They paced on a few more moments in silence. "You think he was cute?" The bard asked.

"Who?" Xena gave her a look. "Him?"

"Yeah."

"Nah."

"Oh, c'mon, Xena."

"He was all right. Reminded me of Hercules, a little." The warrior conceded.

"Hm." Gabrielle fell silent.

Xena let the silence lengthen for a while, then she turned her head. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you ask me that?" The warrior said, already suspecting the answer.

Gabrielle dipped one shoulder in an offhand shrug. "Oh, you know." She said. "He seemed like your type."

An eyebrow lifted over one slightly widened blue eye. "My type? Gabrielle, get out of here.. he was not."

One hand lifted and ticked off fingers. "Hercules, Ulysses, Rafe, Palimon…"

"PALIMON?" Xena burst out laughing. "Give me a break."

Gabrielle just looked at her.

The warrior sighed. "All right." She gazed down and studied her hands a moment. "You want to see an image of what 'my type' looks like?" Her voice went quiet and serious. "I can show you."

Gabrielle felt an uneasy tickle in her guts, having the distinct feeling she pushed the joke a little too far this time. "Um.. " She hesitated. "Okay." She watched Xena fish inside her saddlebag and tug out a small pouch, which she then handed over, not looking at the bard.

A disquieting wave of insecurity almost swamped her. "I asked, didn't I?" She murmured, as she curled the reins in one hand and opened the bag with the other, feeling something slim and roughly square inside. For a moment, she paused, then resolutely drew the item out, turning it over and peering at it.

Quite surprised to find herself peering back, from a silvered surface of a small hand mirror. A snort of guiltily relieved laughter escaped, as she turned her head and peeked at her partner.

Xena smirked at her.

"You're such a fink." The bard handed her the mirror back in it's bag. "You would have thought I'd learned by now."

Xena snorted. "Besides, you're one to talk." She remarked. "I can remember the days when I could tell, in the first five seconds, if it was going to be another one of those.. 'oh.. he's so cute!' scenes with you."

Gabrielle struggled to maintain a dignified expression. "Hey, I was young."

A round blue eye rolled in her direction. "Hey granny, pass the waterskin."

The bard stuck her tongue out, then uncapped the waterskin and squirted it's contents in her partner's direction. "Anything you say, tiger." She had impeccable aim, and was so close there was no way for Xena to evade the stream unless she was willing to dive off Argo's back. It hit the warrior in the side of the head and drenched her, until she whipped out a hand and snatched the bag from Gabrielle's grasp. "Ooh…. I"ll get you for that, bard."

"Promises, promises." Gabrielle grinned, enjoying the banter.

"Yeah? You just wait." Xena threatened. "Tonight.. when it's dark and you least expect it…." In a flickering motion, she reached out across the space between them and tickled Gabrielle's ribs, despite the bard's attempt at evading her. "I'll get you."

"Yeah?" The bard muffled a giggle.

Xena nudged Argo closer and reached out again, but this time Gabrielle grabbed her hand, and their fingers twined together. Xena pulled her closer and nibbled the back of the bard's hand "Yeah."

Gabrielle could feel a curious energy building between them familiar, and yet.. Her body tingled inside, and she found herself wanting the ride to be over, and it to be that dark night.

She looked over at Xena, and saw the warrior looking back at her, a faint smile pulling at her lips. Their eyes met, and she knew that Xena was feeling what she was feeling and that tonight….

Yeah.

It was going to be great

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

A hawk soared lazily over the edge of the water, it's sharp eyes searching for telltale ripples that would expose dinner he could dive on and snatch. Usually, this close to twilight, he was alone, the smaller animals tucked in the burrows asleep, and the larger resting before a long night's hunting.

This sunset, however, he had competition, two odd, bipedal creatures far too large for him to either attack, or scare off. Miffed, he soared on downriver, to less cluttered waters.

"Teach me." Gabrielle was waist deep in the current, her legs braced to keep her in place as she watched her partner fishing. "C’mon, Xena. I really think I can learn it this time."

The warrior straightened, one hand clamped around a silvery, struggling form she’d just drawn out of the river. "You do, huh??" She broke the fish's neck and threw it onshore, then held a hand out. "All right, c’mere." It would not be the first time she'd tried teaching Gabrielle this particular skill. The bard was willing, but there were just some things…. Ah well. Xena waited patiently. It never hurt to keep trying.

Gabrielle made her way out carefully into the current and took the proffered grip, coming to stand right next to Xena as the last few rays of warm sun brushed over both of them. "It’s beautiful here." She remarked, glancing around. The river narrowed into swift moving rapids where they’d chosen to stop, and was surrounded by a thick growth of pine trees. The ground was covered in springy needles, and they’d rounded up a good pile of them to put their furs on top of, clearing the earth for the fire already crackling nearby.

It was quiet, and it smelled wonderful, and now there was going to be fish for dinner. Gabrielle exhaled a little as she pressed her cheek against Xena’s damp shoulder. What more could you ask for, really? "Okay, so now what?"

"Okay." Xena crouched. "First, you get closer to the water. That should be easier for you than for me."

"Hah hah." Gabrielle bent over, and leaned her elbows on her thighs. "Okay."

"All right. Now listen."

Obediently, the bard cocked her head, then waited for several long beats. "What am I listening for?" She whispered.

"Just listen." Xena replied. "You hear the crickets?"

"Yeah."

"Forget about them." The warrior said. "You hear the wind?"

"Yeah."

"Forget about that too. You hear the water?"

"C’mon, Xena.. how could you not hear the water? It’s deafening."

"All right. Just listen to the water. Concentrate on it." Xena instructed patiently. This was the part Gabrielle never got past, as the bard was unable to hold on tightly enough on what Xena was trying to show her.

It was hard. Gabrielle could only hear a formless roar, and her brow puckered as she focused on it. It was just noise.. she wanted to say, but she knew if Xena had asked her to listen, there was good reason behind it, and after all, she was the one who started this. "I hear waves."

"Right." Xena slipped an arm around her back, the skin on skin touch warm and reassuring. "They have a rhythm, don’t they? Whoosh… roar.. whoosh.. roar… "

No…what rhythm.. oh.. wait. Gabrielle drew in a breath. "Yeah, they do." She lifted a hand off her knee and rocked it a little. "Back and forth.. back and forth…. Yeah." The water’s pattern infused her hearing, and now that she discerned it, it seemed so obvious.

"Okay." The warrior agreed, pleasantly surprised. "Now, focus down tighter and tighter, until all you can hear is the rhythm right here, right around you. Let the rest of it fade out." This was, she realized, further than Gabrielle had ever gotten in the lesson. Maybe it was just that they hadn't tried it in… Gods. Xena exhaled. Had it been that long? "Concentrate."

That was even harder. But now that she had an idea of what she was listening for, Gabrielle found she could, with a strong effort, do what Xena was asking her to. She let the further away sounds drift off, and concentrated on the ones very close to her.

It was like vision, in a way. You could look up, look straight ahead, and not focus on anything. You could see a wide range, but nothing really made an impact. Then you could focus on something nearby, and if you did, everything around it would fuzz out a little, and become unimportant. This was like that. Gabrielle nodded once or twice, and stared at the water, hearing now trickles and small surges instead of the far off roar. "O… kay." She murmured. "I hear just the little stuff.. .like.. " She squinted as though that would help. "Like pebbles moving around near our feet."

A grin. "Very good." Xena praised her. "Exactly. Now." She lowered her voice. "You feel the water against your legs?"

"Sure."

"It has a rhythm too."

Surge, whoosh. Surge, whoosh. "Yes, it does." The bard nodded solemnly. "I can feel it against my skin, like a pattern."

Gods.. I can't believe it… "Fish change that." Xena whispered, right into her ear. "They block the current, and you can feel it, then they move the pebbles and things with their fins, and you can hear it." C'mon, sweetheart.. feel it.. I know you can do it.

Gabrielle went very, very still for a long moment, her face blank, her eyes flickering back and forth across the surface as she fought to train her senses to do something new and very alien to them.

She felt the current against her, very regular. Then, suddenly, the pressure lessened against her right knee, and her eyes widened, as she heard a swift tinkle of rocks at the same time. "There’s.. " She hissed. "There’s a fish there.. near my leg.. right?"

So concentrated was she, that she completely missed the look of jubilant pride Xena visited on her. "Yeeahhh… there sure is." She bit her lip as the bard's eyes narrowed in fierce focus.

Gabrielle crouched lower, focusing on the feeling of the water against her skin. She felt a light brush, then the flow was blocked again, and before she could convince herself not to, she grabbed quickly at the spot, her fingers touching something smooth and hard then clamping down with frantic strength.

With a gasp, she jerked upright, bringing her arms out of the water and staring at them in total disbelief, barely hanging on to the large trout struggling fiercely in her hands. "Oh… .my…. gods…." Her eyes widened incredulously. "Xena.. Xena look!"

A soft chuckle. "I see." Xena replied. "Good job, Gabrielle."

"I did it." The bard turned and looked at her in total amazement. "Xena, I did it!"

The warrior started laughing. "Yeah, you sure did.. now let’s get outta here before you lose your grip on him, okay?" She caught Gabrielle around the waist and started leading her out of the water, while the bard maintained her death grip on the still struggling trout. "Nice size, too." She complimented her partner.

Gabrielle was still dumbfounded, trusting her partner to guide her out of the water while she stared at her catch. "Xena, I caught a fish in my hands."

Xena kissed the back of her neck. "Yes, you did." She said. "And boy, am I ever proud of you for it."

The bard stopped walking and turned her head, all the wonder of the moment still in her eyes. "I can't believe I did this." She said. "Do you know how long I've wanted to be able to do this, Xena? Ever since I saw you do it the very first time. I said.. wow…that is so cool."

Xena just smiled at her.

A tiny shake of Gabrielle's head. "But why now? I don't get it.. we've tried this dozens of times."

The warrior lifted a hand and touched her cheek, cupping it gently. "Maybe it was just time." She said. "Maybe you were just ready now."

Gabrielle inhaled, then exhaled, shaking her head a little and smiling. "Maybe." She laughed. "But that was so cool… thanks, Xe."

"It was pretty amazing for me too." Xena admitted, inclining her head and kissing the bard's lips gently. "You're the first person I've been able to teach that to, y'know."

Gabrielle blinked. "Really?"

Xena slid a bare arm around her shoulders and they continued walking towards the fire. She bent down and retrieved their other fish, then exhaled. "Really. Not that.. " She shrugged a little. "Wasn't something I tried to teach a lot.. but the couple times I did.. never worked out."

Gabrielle gazed at the trout. "Until now." She murmured, reliving the moment in her mind. "Wow." A pause, then she turned her head. "You have to eat this one."

Xena chuckled.

"I'm not kidding.. I used to.. oh, gods, this is so embarrassing, but I used to have daydreams about being able to just come up to you one day, and hand you a fish for dinner." The bard told her. "So this one's yours, okay?"

"Okay." Xena agreed. "Tell you what, let me clean these, and you dry off."

Somewhat reluctantly, Gabrielle handed the fish over, then walked to her saddlebag and removed a piece of linen she quickly ran over her body. She threw a shift on, then grabbed her diary and sat down on a rock, removing a quill and her pot of ink and flipping the bound volume open to a new page.

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

Xena set the fish down on a flat rock and took a moment to dry her own body off and don a nightshirt before she removed her knives from her kit and set to work. After a moment, she looked up, to find Gabrielle looking back at her through the flames, with an indescribable expression on her face. "What?"

Gabrielle's face relaxed into a dazzling smile. "Nothing." She put her diary away and walked over, seating herself on a rock behind where the warrior was kneeling. As Xena started in again on the fish, she laid her hands on her back, and began a light massage, feeling the strong muscles shift under her touch. "Know what I think I'll do?"

"What?" Xena let her eyes close, her hands moving by rote as she submitted to her partner's knowing touch.

"Wrap those suckers up and slow bake them." Gabrielle worked her way slowly up Xena's spine, spreading her fingers out and working out the tension she could feel under them. "I've got those spicy herbs you like."

"Yeah?" Xena finished her task and looked back over her shoulder as she put her tools away. "Let them cook while we spar?"

Gabrielle nodded, removing one hand from her rubbing to trace a gentle line across the warrior's cheekbone. "After that fish, I’m feeling pretty invincible.. maybe I"ll luck out and beat you tonight."

Xena's eyebrow lifted with devastating impact, making Gabrielle simply grin in response. The warrior turned and rose, dusting her hands off. "Put em up, while I get the staves. That challenge I just can't pass up." She tweaked Gabrielle's nose before she stepped past her, heading for their gear.

Gabrielle chuckled to herself as she picked up the fish and carried them to the fire, then pulled her cooking kit over. She removed two pieces of tattered parchment she'd saved for just this purpose and laid the fish on top of them, then dusted them very liberally with the herbs she knew her partner enjoyed.

Satisified, she then took a handful of wild grain and tucked it inside each fish before she folded them closed, and wrapped each in the parchment. Once that was done, she edged closer to the fire and carefully dug into the earth almost beneath it, putting the fish inside and covering it over The heat would be, she judged, more than enough to cook the fish through and soak the grains with their juices, making a tasty dinner for the two of them after they finished their bout.

Now. Gabrielle leaned back on her heels and looked around, spotting Xena nearby in a clear space, one of their staves in hand. The warrior was casually warming up her body, sliding the staff across her shoulders and twisting her long frame to loosen up her muscles. Put your dinars where your mouth is, bard, and go to it.

She got up and dusted her hands off against her thighs, walking over to where her own staff was lying in the grass and retrieving it. The wood felt warm, and balanced in her grip, and she, too, took the time to warm up as she walked in a slow circle around her partner.

They watched each other in comfortable silence, letting the setting sun paint lurid stripes across the ground and their bodies as they moved around each other. As if on a signal, they both stopped, and came to balanced stances facing each other. Gabrielle drew in a breath, and released it, moving that part of her mind into the place it had to be for her to wield a weapon, especially against this particular opponent.

Xena, of course, had no such need. She simply waited, watching, her hands lightly clasped around her staff, eyes flickering over the bard's body in anticipation of her slightest move.

Gabrielle waited a moment for her balance to settle, then she went into motion, closing with Xena in a blur of moving wood and quick footwork.

The rattle of their staves meeting sounded sharp and fierce, and the bard whirled and ducked under the end of Xena's weapon as she spun in the opposite direction, catching Xena on the shoulder but not before she felt a tap on the back of her leg. She didn't even pause, but went into another attack, using her speed and the shorter arc of her swing to keep Xena offbalance while she worked out how to get around the warrior's superior reflexes and greater strength.

A year had made such a difference. Gabrielle knew that now she could claim without hubris her own mastery of the quarterstaff, and in fact, the Amazons readily bowed to her and begged at regular intervals for lessons. A year of intensive, one on one bouts like this with Xena, who had honed Gabrielle's skills to a point where even the warrior had trouble winning against her.

She was fast, and she was strong, and with Xena, she could pull out all the stops and go full out, her hands moving so fast they were a blur even to her own eyes. Fiercely, she concentrated on the rhythm she knew worked best for her, short motions that gave her the advantage as Xena's counterstrikes opened up areas on her partner's long torso for her to attack that simply did not exist on Gabrielle's more compact frame.

"Ah hah!" She chortled, digging in and throwing her weight abruptly in the other direction, almost… gods, almost getting the damn staff out of Xena's hands. She took advantage of the warrior's swift recovery by slamming her staff against the back end of Xena's, then, as Xena recoiled, she set herself and whipped around in a roundhouse kick, this time feeling very sweet success as she saw the warrior's staff go flying.

Anyone else… they'd be toast. Gabrielle scrambled to follow up her advantage but she was moments too late as Xena simply uncoiled into a leap that regained the staff in mid air, then tumbled into a flip in mid air. The next moment she was sliding back in a defense as Xena slapped her staff back from mid air, turning and twisting and presenting an impossible target as the warrior landed, and leaped again and…

Gods! Gabrielle dove under the attack, rolling and coming back up and managing not to trip on her staff as she brought it around just in time to counter a series of cross strokes that backed her up several paces before she could bear down, and let the force roll off the top of the staff, and regain her balance. She ducked under a stroke, then turned and whipped her staff upward, meeting Xena's downward strike as she fell to a knee and the warrior leaned over her.

Wild, glinting blue eyes bored into hers, and a mischievous grin appeared.

Gabrielle felt the thrill of the challenge hit her right in the gut, a fire that called up her competitive spirit, and sent a yell from her throat as she surged up off the ground and incredibly… shoved Xena back just enough for her to escape under the warrior's right arm and spin, whirling her staff towards Xena's and loving the smack as their weapons met again, and again and again, powerful strokes that sent shocks down her forearms and into her shoulders.

Xena was stalking her now, her nostrils flared and sweat starting to rise on her skin. She countered a tricky double sweep and dodged to one side as the bard circled her again, trying to get behind her.

They paced around each other like two jungle cats, Xena all smooth motion and power, Gabrielle all bounce and grunting effort. Staves met again, and again, as they traded blows, and the bard threw in a combination Xena wasn't expecting, allowing her to get inside the warrior's guard. She took advantage of every moment, forcing the warrior back until she finallly got a serious advantage, having Xena offbalance and her staff out of position.

It didn't happen often. She could count on the fingers of one hand how many times she'd gotten the better of her soulmate in the entire year they'd been home, and they sparred almost daily. But it was always sweet when she did, and Xena had finally thumped her out of the habit of refusing to take advantage of it when it did happen.

So now she did. She stopped in mid motion and reversed her swing, and took the staff right out of Xena's hands, then spun around and sent the other end of her staff right at the warrior's head.

Only to have her motion arrested in mid swing, stopping her as though the staff had impacted against the tree Xena was standing in front of. It threw her off balance and she tried to stop her motion, twisting her body around painfully as her staff was ripped out of her hands and tossed in the opposite direction.

Centaur farts. Gabrielle gathered herself and met the grappling hands she knew would come next, as her body collided with Xenas and they struggled to get hold of each other. Their feet entangled, and they tumbled to the ground, fighting for a decent grip.

Here, Gabrielle knew she was at a disadvantage, because strong as she was, she was no match for Xena and she knew it. The only hope was to escape, and escape she did, wrenching loose and rolling away in a ball, only to leap to her feet and whirl, as Xena pounced.

She dodged, and spun, but Xena anticipated her every move and before she could set herself, she was engulfed by long arms and was falling again, landing with a thump with the warrior firmly on top of her.

Struggle? Gabrielle could feel the increased heartrate against her fingers where her hands were pressed against Xena's chest, and felt her own heart pounding in her ears. She opened her eyes and found herself nose to nose with Xena's sweaty visage, and decided she'd had enough for one night. Instead of pushing her back, she took handfuls of Xena' s shirt and pulled her closer, lifting her head and brushing her lips against the ones so invitingly nearby.

She felt Xena's breath, warm and sweet, trickle between hers, and the soft chuckle as the warrior returned the kiss with a firmer pressure. When they broke off, she gazed up into Xena's face, drinking in the strong planes with loving eyes. "Give up?" She asked, cheekily.

"Give up?" Xena drawled softly, lowering her body to press lightly against the bard's "Or?"

"Or I'll have to get rough with you." Gabrielle warned, then took a breath and heaved with all her strength, twisting her body and pushing sideways, giving it everything she had as she somehow managed to flip them both over and she ended up sprawled on top of the warrior. "See?" She gasped, quickly collecting herself and pinning Xena's shoulders down with her weight on both hands. "You're mine, tonight."

A tiny hint of a smirk tugged at Xena's lips, and Gabrielle could see the mind behind the baby blues sorting over her options and deciding whether or not to go along with the bard's claim.

And, of course, Gabrielle knew it was the warrior's choice. Knew that even though she was perched here, ostensibly the victor of their little tussle, she'd won because the warrior had allowed it. At one time, that knowledge would have burned in her guts, making her angry and frustrated.

Now, she just accepted it for the truth, and waited to see what Xena was going to do.

The blue eyes softened. "I'm yours." Xena agreed quietly. "You won, fair and square."

Fraud. Gabrielle leaned over and kissed her, enjoying the sensation of being in control nevertheless. She slipped the warrior's shirt up and concentrated on the sensitive spots on her partner's body she knew as well as she did her own.

It was a heady sensation, always, to feel Xena's breathing go ragged under her touch, and hear the soft, almost subvocal sounds her attentions wrested from the warrior's throat. She put her fishing lessons to good use and focused down, allowing the surrounding tall grass to fade out, and the sounds of twilight to vanish.

All she could see was the expanse of tanned skin as she allowed herself to feel, all the way down, the incredible depth of their love, pulling it up and centering her awareness on that, as she touched, and nibbled, and teased a groan from her partner's guts.

The intensity centered, and built and she let it spill out through the connection they had with each other, pouring out all the emotion, and all the wonder she had in her as Xena''s hold on her tightened and she felt the warrior tense, a rush of sensation coming back at her through their link in a dizzying flow as she let her knowledge of her partner's body loose.

It was like riding down a waterfall, and as Gabrielle slid upward, and their lips met again, she felt like she was going to explode. Then Xena's touch claimed her, almost making her pass out as a wave of intensity surprised her with it's suddenness.

Then she was collapsing against Xena's chest, shaking a little, as the warrior wrapped arms and legs around her as they lay still in the sweet river grass, letting their tingling bodies relax, and their hearts slow down.

"Whoa." Gabrielle blinked.

"Mm." Xena grunted. "Damn, I'm gonna have to let you win more often."

The bard chuckled weakly. "Fink ." She felt the rumble as Xena laughed with her, and they both sighed deeply at the same time. "Xe?"

"Hm?" Xena's hands were now rubbing Gabrielle's skin gently.

"Thanks." The bard hugged her. "You made it a darn near perfect day."

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

Continued in Part 4

A Matter of Pride

Part 4

The road widened slowly as they rode along it, not an obvious thing, but a gradual creep as the cleared surface ate up more space to either side of them. The horses ambled forward together side by side, heads bobbling lightly; close enough so that their rider’s calves almost brushed each other.

It was midday, and the sun arced directly overhead in a cloudless sky, pouring down a drying heat on everything. Xena spared it a glance, then cocked her head to listen to Gabrielle’s latest version of one of their tales. "How many?" She interrupted the recitation.

Green eyes flicked briefly towards her. "Five hundred."

"Gabrielle." The warrior gave her a dire look. "There were not five hundred people in that army."

"Sure there were." The bard objected. "Besides, it’s a nice round number." She went on. "So there Xena was, holding the gates of the city against the army of five hundred crack mercenaries, aided only by a few loyal soldiers."

"And a herd of cows." Xena interjected.

The bard cleared her throat.

"And you." The warrior added. "There I was, holding the gates by myself like an idiot when my backside was saved by Gabrielle the battling bard of Potadeia, and a herd of cattle."

A sigh.

"C’mon, that’s how it happened and you know it." Xena chuckled.

"Xena, have I ever discussed dramatic license with you?" Gabrielle sighed.

"Ah. that’s where you lie to make me look better, right?" Her partner kidded her, giving the bard’s knee a poke.

"Hey, they’re not lies." Gabrielle protested. "They’re just... enhancements of the truth, that’s all. You know, a story isn’t always just about the events that’s in it. It can have a broader meaning.. like, the meaning of this story is really how you can find a hero in the unlikeliest places."

Xena blinked.

"So, if you get that message across, the details aren’t really that critical." Gabrielle concluded. "Though I do try to stick to the facts."

Xena’s eyebrows both arched up to her hairline.

"C’mon now, you know I do." Gabrielle said. "I only change little things, to make sure people understand the point of the story." She reached over and tugged on a strip of Xena's leather skirting. "You don’t really require much embellishment, tiger."

Xena crossed her wrists and let her arms rest on her saddlebow. "I think you make me more heroic than I am." She remarked.

"No I don't." Gabrielle disagreed amiably, responding to a very familiar argument. "You just never think of the things you do as heroic, that's all. "

The warrior mock sighed, and shook her head. "I dunno, Gabrielle…I just think of Dori hearing some of this stuff twenty years from now and wondering who in Hades they're talking about."

Gabrielle rolled her head to one side, and peered at her soulmate, an expression of amused exasperation on her face. "Xena."

"Yeeesss?" The warrior drawled. "Gabrrrielle."

"I wouldn't worry about it. By then, she'll be telling her own stories about you, and I bet my very last dinar they're gonna be so much more outrageous than mine are." The bard said. "Wonder what she's up to, speaking of. Think she's still mad at us?"

"Mm." Xena leaned on her elbows. "I’m sure mom's gotten her out of her funk by now... probably fed her half a barrel of cookies."

"Probably." Gabrielle wryly agreed, as she pulled her diary out of her saddlebag and balanced it on her saddlebow, drawing out a quill with it. "You think we'll hit Athens tomorrow?"

"If we keep moving, yeah." Xena spotted a sizable town approaching. They'd been seeing more and more of them, the closer they got to Athens, and the bustle and traffic had been increasing as well. "I think I can smell it already."

"Oh, you can not." Gabrielle bent over the page, then stopped, and peered at her. "Can you?"

Xena simply chuckled.

Today we crossed the border into what Xena calls the lived in area of Greece. I know the towns have been getting bigger, and we've seen more of them. Now, instead of long stretches of just nothing, the towns sort of reach out towards each other so that you go from one to the other with just a little gap in between.

I'm starting to remember the first time we came here, when I decided to apply for the Academy of Bards. Athens seemed so huge to me, and I'm wondering if it will look the same way now that I've seen so much of the world. Will it still impress me, or will it be like what Potadeia looked like when I went home after seeing all those cities overseas? Like Chin?

Everything was so beautiful there. I remember that now, but then, I think I all remember is the tension, and the misery of waiting for Xena to show up. I think I remember a lot of silk, and gorgeous tapestries, and so much color...so different than anything I'd seen before.

But I think of Xena in that dungeon, and no matter how beautiful Ming Tien's palace was, I always remember the smell, and the stench of that part of it, and how I came down those stairs and saw Xena.

Even now, I can feel tears forming, and my chest hurts, thinking about it. How horrible it was walking through that water and facing her, and how small I felt standing there knowing all I could do was apologize.

And I think about what a blessed gift it was, looking up at her and seeing forgiveness there. How unexpected. Xena told me later, a lot later after we'd gone through all the horrible times, and were friends again, that it was such an easy decision for her to make. I thought that was really incredible, because betrayal has always been such a pivotal thing in her life.

What would I have done? If I had done something, and she had prevented me from doing it, and gotten me tossed in a dungeon by one of my worst enemies and faced death like that.. would I have been that forgiving?

I hope so.

So here we are, heading to Athens again. I wonder if the Academy will still be the same? I wonder if anyone there will remember me. That's a funny thing to wonder about, isn't it? I mean, I know my stories are out there, and I know Xena had them added to the archives in Athens, but it's one thing for people around Amphipolis to know about them, and something else entirely in the capital.

Even the Amazons still, in their hearts, think of me as a bumpkin. I can just imagine how all those starched togas in Athens will feel.

I know that's a stupid thing to worry about. We're here to solve a problem for Amphipolis, and whether or not people know about my stories doesn't really matter, does it?

"Hey, Xena?" Gabrielle nibbled on the edge of her quill. "What are our real chances getting those taxes reduced, you think?"

Xena had, in fact, been pondering just that very question herself. She was saved from answering it by a commotion just ahead of them, at the gates of the town they were about to ride through. She glanced at Gabrielle as the bard quickly tucked her diary away, and urged Argo a little faster towards the now growing crowd.

As they rode closer, they could see sticks and staves raised, and hear the angry voices, as the townsfolk clustered around something, pressing in towards the side of a small building.

Xena stood in her stirrups, looking over the heads of the crowd to see what their target was. For a moment, there were too many people too close together, but then they all shifted a little as though pushed back, and she caught sight of a tall, unkempt woman with shaggy copper colored hair in the center of the mob.

Two of the men closest had grips on her clothing, which was partially ripped, and one shook a pitchfork in her face as he yelled. A woman behind him threw a rock at the hapless captive, and the crowd shouted, pressing in.

Xena reacted on pure instinct, as she kneed Argo forward into a canter, and approached the crowd, raising her body up and letting out a yell to attract the mob's attention. Gabrielle stuck at her side, one hand dropping down to loosen the fastenings holding her staff to Iolaus' saddle.

The outer ring of townsfolk turned at the sudden noise, and started pushing and shoving, but the inner group was too intent on their victim, who started struggling to get free. Xena dropped her reins and vaulted from the saddle, flipping over the heads of the crowd twisting in mid air to land next to the scruffy woman. "Get back!"

One man made the mistake of ignoring the call, and swung on her. She caught his arm and swung him into two others, then ducked a pike and slugged the bigger man nearest to her who still had a grip on the copper haired woman.

"Hey! You've got no right to interfere!" A middle aged woman screamed at her. "This is our business!"

Rocks were raised. Xena squared her shoulders and drew her sword, the steel making an audible sound as it cleared her scabbard. As she put herself between the crowd and the victim, Gabrielle appeared as though by magic on the other side of the woman, her staff held cross her body in a ready position.

"Okay." The bard broke the sudden tableau. "Let's just all calm down before someone really gets hurt."

Yelling went up, and Gabrielle rapped her staff against the wall sharply. "The someone's not going to be me or Xena, if you catch my drift!" She raised her voice. "So let's settle down."

They really didn't want to. Gabrielle could see it, in their angry bodies and shifting motion. But the reality of the armored warrior with a naked blade in their midst cooled even the most hot headed and they broke apart a bit and moved back.

"Elle's right." The nearest man, a grizzled elder with furious eyes said. "This ain't your business. "

"Suppose you let me be the judge of that." Xena slid her sword home, and glanced at the scruffy woman, who still had her back firmly pressed against the wall, and was staring at Xena guardedly. "What's this all about?"

The crowd pressed forward at that angrily, but stopped when a solid, wooden pole blocked their way. "Ah ah." Gabrielle gave them a gentle push backwards. "You'll get your chance."

Xena spared them a look, then returned her attention to their victim. "Well?"

The woman had interesting pale hazel eyes, almost golden in color. They flicked to the crowd, then fastened back on the warrior's face. "I did not do anything." She rasped, in a deep, slightly accented voice. "I am just looking to work for food."

"Liar!" The older woman yelled. "You're nothing but a thief! You stole three apples from my yard!"

"They were on the ground rotten. You were doing nothing with them!" The woman answered.

"They were mine!" Elle jabbed a thumb at her chest. "And you took them. Thief!!"

The crowd started yelling again. Xena and Gabrielle looked at each other. Gabrielle lifted both eyebrows. Xena shrugged one shoulder. "Okay." The bard cut off the yelling. "So, how much are they worth?"

"What?" Elle stared at her.

"How much are they worth?" Gabrielle repeated patiently. "If you steal something, by definition, that something has to have worth, right? So, what were the apples, which were on the ground and rotten, worth to you?"

"Weren't worth a damn thing!"

"Okay..so then you must have wanted to do something with them, that would have been worth something, right?"

"Rotten apples? No!" Elle told her.

"Hm." Gabrielle nodded sagely. "So they weren't worth anything, and you weren't going to use them, but you are furious about a hungry person eating them because… " Here she paused and lifted her eyebrows, waiting.

"Cause they were mine! Whaddaya think!" The woman snapped back.

"I think you're very selfish." The bard responded. "And I hope you never go hungry and are in desperate need of food."

A mutter rose up, and several people gave Gabrielle distinctly unfriendly looks. "That's not all." A man spoke up suddenly. "She tried to steal my horse!"

Xena glanced at their rescuee in question.

"I was just patting it." The woman scoffed. "What would I be doing with a great ugly beast like that at any part?"

The man turned red.

"Hm. She's as diplomatic as you are, sweetie." Gabrielle muttered under her breath. "All right, look." Her voice got louder. "Back off. There' s no reason to attack this woman, she's just looking to get by."

"Reason enough!" Elle insisted obstinately. "She's got a witches tongue on her!"

Xena got fed up, and straightened, pinning everyone in her immediate vicinity with an icy glare as she allowed her hands to curl into fists. "Clear out!" She yelled. "Or I'll clear you out of here." A shocked pause. "Move!!!"

It was a chancy thing, for a moment. There were a lot of them there, at least two score, and they felt their weight of numbers. But they were lightly armed, and Xena's tall form was starkly imposing, and after a moment of wavering, the back ranks gave way and the crowd started to disperse.

Not without angry looks, and vicious whispering, and glares at bard, warrior, and their erstwhile victim.

"You'd better get out of here!" Elle turned suddenly, and pointed. "We'll be back!"

Xena waited for most of them to straggle off, before she turned and regarded the tall woman behind her, whose head almost came even with the warrior's own. "So what really happened?" She drawled.

Now that the immediate danger was over, the stranger leaned back against the wall of the building and exhaled, rubbing her fingers through her curly russet hair. "Didn’t buy me story, ay?" She remarked, with the tiniest hint of a smile as she looked up at them.

Gabrielle scratched her jaw. "Well, it's sorta hard to believe they'd get that worked up over a couple of wormy apples and you touching a horse." She said. "You're not from these parts, are you.. what's your name?"

The woman seemed to relax a little, and folded her arms over her chest. She was tough and very muscular, with a liberal scattering of freckles across her skin and face. "Not from around here.. so it shows, does it? I'd say the same about yourselves." She remarked. "But in fact, I'm not, and my name is Bran." Her eyes flicked back and forth between her two rescuers. "And who might you two be?"

Gabrielle shifted her staff to one hand and held out the other. "I'm Gabrielle, and this is Xena." She returned the woman's wary arm clasp, then released it as Xena extended a bracered arm as well. "Now, what about that story?" She hinted, as the warrior stepped back.

"Ah, the story." Bran glanced around. "Suppose I tell you while we stroll our way along, eh? I think this cot's bad for me health." She pushed away from the wall as they headed to where Argo and Iolaus were stolidly standing. "Now that's a nice pair of ponies…"

What, Gabrielle wondered to herself, have we gotten ourselves into this time?

"Don’t suppose you’ve got an apple yourself going begging have you?" Bran asked her hopefully.

The bard tried not to hear Xena snickering.

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

They left the town rapidly behind them, aware of the hostile eyes on their backs as they gained a bend in the road and escaped from view. As a courtesy to their new acquaintance, both Xena and Gabrielle were walking, leading Argo and Iolaus along behind them.

"So." Gabrielle had surrendered, not an apple but one of their trail bars, and allowed Bran two chews. "What happened?"

"Ah." Bran sighed around a mouthful. "Wasn't much really.. no sense of humor those lot had, that's all."

"Uh huh." The bard nodded. "Did you insult their looks, their cattle, or the ale in the inn?" She asked, with perfect seriousness. "We could probably have gotten round the first two, but if it's the last one, you're toast."

Bran stopped in mid swallow and looked at her, not sure if the bard was joking.

"Of course, if it was the innkeeper's daughter you insulted, better start running." Gabrielle concluded. "They're a vicious breed in these parts."

"Hey." Xena objected mildly. "Watch it, shepherd."

The copper haired woman was caught offguard, and she chuckled a little. "Uh.. right. Well, it was like this." She went on. "I came into the town, not looking for trouble, mind you, just taking a bit of water from the trough and seeing if they could use a pair o hands round the place." Bran held out her hands, which were large and very strong looking, with square palms and long fingers. "Went to the inn, I did, and there outside was a pair of cows, and a pair of women, and for the life of me, tweren't half a difference between em."

"Uh oh." Gabrielle shook her head sadly. "Let me guess here… the little short woman with the bad attitude is the innkeeper?"

"I hardly know…" Bran protested. "I just asked for some work, and she asked me to muck the place out, and I just wanted to know for two or for four, is all." She lifted her hands. "Had to set me price, didn't I?"

Gentle green eyes regarded her. "That wasn't nice. I don't blame them for being mad."

Bran scowled. "It was just a joke… as I said, they'd lost their sense of humor, they did."

"Well." Xena spoke up for the first time. She'd been strolling along next to them, her eyes searching the surroundings with automatic alertness. "If I was trying to get food out of someone, that wouldn't be the way I do it." She glanced at Bran. "What else did you do?"

The hazel eyes opened wide in innocence. "Not a thing,." Bran assured her. "Blameless as a babe, I am.."

Bard and warrior exchanged looks, but neither said anything. They continued to walk along.

Bran fidgeted. "So.. where are you lot headed, then?" She finally asked.

"Athens." Gabrielle replied promptly, surprised when that caused Bran to stop dead in her tracks, turn and begin walking back the way they came. "Hey!"

"Been nice to meet you.. have a grand trip.. me thanks for giving a hand back there." Bran waved at them cheerfully, now walking backwards.

"Wait a minute!" Gabrielle called, in exasperation. "You can't go back that way.. those people will bury you in that manure you were going to muck!"

"I'll take me chances… never fear. Ta ta!"

Xena had turned and now put her hands on her hips. "They'll toss you in jail for swindling them." She let her voice rise. "And you'll end up pulling those damn cow's plow."

The tall woman stopped, and her expression changed, becoming serious. She stalked back over and planted herself in front of Xena. "Who are you calling a thief, you hot bag of wind in cow's leather?"

Only Gabrielle recognized the twinkle of both triumph and amusement in her partner's otherwise stone cold expression. She leaned on her staff, content to watch for a moment, seeing in Xena's body language that their rude new friend wasn't in any immediate danger.

"If it smells like manure… " The warrior left the thought hanging, a grin briefly appearing.

"You'd better be taking that back." Bran warned. "Or I'll be forced to be defending my honor, right here, in this roadway."

Xena looked her over. "And?" She drawled. "What are you going to do, sweat on me?"

Bran dropped back into a pugilists's stand, and brought her fists up. "That'll be enough outta you. Put them up or be apologizing."

Gabrielle saw the hint of devilment starting to show and she sighed, shifting her weight off her staff and stepping between them. "You really don’t' want to do that." She told Bran, kindly. "Honest."

"Ah.. you let the little lady fight your battles as well, do you?" Bran taunted Xena over Gabrielle's head. "C'mere, ye coward… I'll take you on!"

Xena merely shook her head. "Let's go, Gabrielle." She tapped her soulmate on the back and turned. "I've heard enough empty air for one day." She took Argo's bridle and started walking off, with Iolaus trailing along behind them.

Bran went to dodge around Gabrielle, but found herself trapped in place by the bard's staff as Gabrielle slid to one side to block her path. "Out of the way, little lass.. I've got me a bone to pick with your big, ugly friend." She dodged around the bard and pelted after Xena.

Gabrielle turned and trotted after her. "Bran.. Bran.. you don't.."

Too late. The tall woman had reached the slowly ambling warrior, and with a wild yell, leaped on her back.

Or, what she thought should be Xena's back, if Xena had been standing where she was supposed to have been standing, that is. The warrior ducked out of the way and allowed Bran to plow headfirst into the road, tumbling over and landing on her ear.

She bounced up and put her fists in front of her face again. "All right. Now we're at it.. Put them up! " Bran challenged. "I bet you can't fight.. all that's just window dressing then, isn't it?"

"Bet?" Xena dropped Argo's reins and grinned. "How much?"

"Ten coins against that whacker you got no use for." Bran pointed at Xena's sword. "You on?"

Gabrielle opened her mouth to interject, then subsided after a moment's thought.

"All right." Xena stepped clear of Argo and approached Bran, her motion altering from it's former casualness to a smooth, catlike grace as she circled the other woman. "You're on."

"You've got no idea what you've just let yourself in for friend." Bran stated, then launched into a determined attack. She was powerful, and after the first motion, it became apparent that she was an extremely skilled boxer, with balanced moves and a fighter's instincts totally at odds with her previous attitude.

Xena took the first few hits, absorbing them against her leathers with relative ease as she formulated a strategy and moved in. She got inside the tall woman's reach and made her come up short, then delivered a body blow that sent a visible shock through Bran's frame. Then she ducked out and slid to one side, waiting.

Bran winced, and rubbed her ribs, then came on , and they traded punches. Bran got in a solid hit to Xena's midsection, but paid for it as the warrior slammed an elbow into her jaw, knocking her head back and causing her to stagger a bit to one side.

She battled back, though, with a rapidfire round of swift, agile punches, and surprise kick that almost caught Xena on the side, her face tensing in fierce effort as she realized her opponent was a bit more than she was used to.

Xena proved the point by lashing out with a kick herself, that caught Bran right in the gut and threw her back at least a bodylength. Then the warrior bounded forward, ducking Bran's counterattack and scoring with a two handed combination that rocked the copper haired woman back and set her offbalance.

She recovered, though, and whipped a roundhouse right across Xena's defenses, targeting the warrior's head with unerring aim.

With a lazy swipe of her arm, though, Xena merely caught the fist and held it, stopping Bran in mid motion. She paused to let the other woman absorb the fact, then she whirled and slammed her body against Bran's, grabbing hold of her and lifting her up over her head before dumping her back onto the road in a cloud of white dust.

"Tell ya what." Xena stood over her, hands lightly clenching and unclenchng. "It's too damn hot for this. Stay down, or I’m gonna have to put you down and you wont' like what it's gonna feel like when you wake up."

Bran looked up at her, the freckled face tensing into a scowl as her eyes narrowed and she let Xena wait to see what she was going to do. Then her shoulders relaxed and she held both hands up, palms outward. "Grabbed a creature by the tail I wasn't expecting, methinks." She admitted, with grudging cheerfulness. "Though I could be making a point about that armor."

Xena extended a hand to her. "Don’t bother. And after you almost got brained for wagering those dinars out of that town, you might as well keep em."

Bran slowly took the grip and allowed herself to be hauled to her feet. "Figured me out then, did you?" Now she did grin, a touch ruefully. "Did a better job than I did, for sure. I figured you two for traveling buskers and all that metal just props, and tricking the locals for your dinner as was I."

"Buskers?" Gabrielle walked over and handed Xena their waterskin. "Is that why you're running from Athens? Did you do the same thing there?"

"No." Bran wiped her face. "I'd be running from that place because that's where I was tossed, bound like a pig off the slaver ship that raided my homeland." Now her face was grim, and thoughtful. "Me and the rest of the lot meant as fodder for the prize ring, that would be, brought here to give you lot a bit of a show as we get pounded."

Xena regarded her in silence, for a moment. "For the games." She eventually stated flatly, as Gabrielle came to stand at her side, facing Bran.

"You're a clever one." Bran replied. "That would be right. A shipload of us dumped in a pit, it was, but I got out and didn't look back."

"Xena, that's wrong." Gabrielle said at once. "How could they do that? I thought the games were just to win prizes.. why would they need slaves?"

"Good question." The warrior replied. "Guess we'll find out once we get there." Her eyes locked with the bard's.

Bran watched them, as she dusted the last of the road off her already tattered and filthy clothing. "Aren't you going to watch the fun, then?"

Gabrielle gathered up Iolaus' reins as they got ready to move off. "No, we're going to complain about our taxes." She explained. "And find an old friend of mine who's missing." The bard added after a moment, as her eyes tracked up to Xena's face. "And now, I guess, we're going to free some slaves."

Xena muffled a smile.

"Don't you start with me, Xena. This is NOT my fault." Gabrielle told her sternly. Then she looked up at Bran. "I’m sorry that happened to you. I hope you get back home soon." She put a hand on Xena's shoulder as the warrior turned, and they started off, leaving Bran standing there in the middle of the road.

For a few moments, they walked alone in silence, only their own footsteps and those of the horses breaking the windless calm of the road. Then they heard rapid bootsteps behind them.

"Hold up. Hold up… " Bran puffed. "Did you just say you were going to go and get the rest of our lot out of there?"

Xena and Gabrielle kept walking. "Sure." The bard glanced over her shoulder.

"What.. just the two of you?" The woman's voice rose incredulously.

"Mmhm." Gabrielle nodded, rubbing the back of her neck a little to ease a budding headache.

"You're crackers, the both of you."

Well, they'd been thought worse. Gabrielle smiled to herself, and wiggled her fingers a little, thinking that fishing and what she was doing had definite things in common. "Oh, not really." She replied, with a shrug. "We just have a lot of confidence in ourselves and the things we can accomplish when we really put our minds to it. Right Xena?"

"Right." The warrior agreed.

"I mean, there was the time you saved most of Greece from the Persians by defeating their army." The bard went on. "That was pretty much by yourself.. but then we managed to defeat Bacchus… "

"After you got bitten by one of his Bacchae." Xena interjected. "And became a Bacchae yourself.

"Well, then you let me bite you, and you became one too." Gabrielle went on, unperturbed. "Good thing that worked out."

"Mm."

"Anyway." Gabrielle turned her head, enjoying the slack jawed expression on Bran's face. "I think we can handle it. You'd better get going on back down the road.. I think if you wait until dark, you can get past that town and move on." She waggled her fingers. "Bye."

At that, Xena pulled herself up on Argo, and Gabrielle joined her on Iolaus' back. They urged the horses into a trot, and left Bran in the dust, keeping up the pace until they'd reached the next bend in the road and were out of site.

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

Twilight found them in a spare, if moderately comfortable campsite just short of the outer fringes of Athens. They'd passed through a bustling market town not long before, and had decided on smelling the stench of sewage and rotten food in the summer heat that the forest was a far better place to spend the night.

Here, still, an occasional puff of wind brought the smell of civilization to them, but it was remote and really only discernible to Xena's very sensitive nose. The warrior was sprawled on top of their furs, dressed in only her leathers with one bare foot propped up on a nearby rock. She had her eyes closed, and she was listening to Gabrielle hum as she put up a pot of simple soup for them, using some supplies they'd picked up in their hasty path through the last town.

No hunting tonight, since they were so close to civilization, most of the animals were long gone, and Xena was leery of the river heading downstream from the city. She'd gone up into the hinterlands above their campsite, in fact, to find a small spring to fill their waterskins with and Gabrielle's soup pot as well.

So now her sword was sharpened, her armor was cleaned, and she could spend the darkening moments in idle peace, already detecting the rich scent of the vegetable soup the bard was making, a favorite of hers that they both enjoyed. After a moment, she heard the bard's soft footsteps coming closer, and opened her eyes as Gabrielle curled up on the furs at her side, relaxing and stifling a yawn. "What a day."

"Yeah." Xena folded her hands over her stomach. A motion caught her eye though, and she turned her head to watch Gabrielle rub the back of her neck and wince. "Headache?"

A nod. "Yeah…I think it's the darn heat." Gabrielle admitted. "That or the riding.. gods, I don't know what my problem is, but my back's just driving me nuts this trip."

Xena rolled over onto her side and studied the bard. "Lay on your stomach." She instructed. "Put your hands up over your head."

Gabrielle willingly complied, exhaling as she felt Xena's healer's touch on her back. The warrior eased her half shirt up, then ran her hands down Gabrielle's skin, probing very gently on either side of her spine. Despite the care, Gabrielle tensed and let out a soft sound as she hit the lower part of her back, where the ache had been bothering her since almost the day they left Amphipolis.

"Roll onto your side, and pull your leg up." Xena asked quietly.

Gabrielle did so, wrapping her arm around her knee and sighing a little as the pain eased. "That feels better."

"Mm." The warrior replied. "Hang on."

Gabrielle put her head down, and waited, feeling the motion as Xena's hands shifted her hips a little, then twisted. She felt a soft pop, which sent a spike of sensation up her spine, then a gentle easing of the pan as she let out a long breath. "Ohh."

"Better?"

"Much, thank you." Gabrielle whispered.

"Don’t thank me just yet." Xena replied. "You must have twisted something in there, because two of the bones right here.. " She wiggled her fingertips against Gabrielle's back. "Are out of place and they were pressing together."

"Yeah?" Gabrielle absorbed this information. "Well, okay, but you fixed it right?" She looked back over her shoulder at her soulmate. "No?"

"No." Xena confirmed. "Time might, but you've got to keep them straightened out, and that means… " She paused, and sighed.

Gabrielle grinned wholeheartedly. "No riding?" She rolled over onto her back and slapped Xena's leg playfully. "Aw… darn." A finger wagged. "I told you it was the riding.. I walked from one end of Greece to the other and didn't have problem, until you put me up in that saddle."

Xena gazed at her in wry affection, reaching down and giving her exposed belly a tickle. "So we'll end up getting to Athens tomorrow night instead of tomorrow morning… I guess we'll live." She commented. "It's going to take us forever to get home, though."

"Let it." The words came out before she could think about them. They were true, though, so she just kept quiet and watched Xena's face, outlined in the light from the fire as the warrior knelt over her. After a moment, the angular planes shifted into a slight smile, and Xena nodded just a tiny bit.

"I’m glad you understand that completely selfish statement." Gabrielle returned the smile.

"I do." Xena said. "I was thinking that today, when we were going past those big trees and you started reciting your poem to me… about how much I've loved being out here, doing this again."

Gabrielle felt a thrill of delight at the unexpected admission. "Even more than running the army back home?"

The warrior nodded. "We're just missing one thing."

"Yeah." Gabrielle smiled as she thought of her daughter. "You know, Xena.. I think she'd love it out here too." She lifted a hand and traced the beadwork on her partner's leathers with an idle finger. "It sounds insane, doesn't it?"

"Yes." The warrior agreed, easing down and stretching out along side Gabrielle, propping her head up on one hand. "But we can talk about it after we get back."

"After we fix our taxes, find Homer, free the slaves, and generally set Athens on it's ear."

"Right."

Gabrielle reached over and brushed Xena's lips with her fingers. "All right. We'll talk about it." She found herself smiling broadly, and seeing the reflection of that in the blue eyes watching her and she was struck once again with a sense of just how deep their connection ran now.

She stretched her body out, and was relieved to feel only the smallest ache around her lower back as she wriggled into a more comfortable position and looked straight up. The sky above them was deepening to black and a scattering of stars appeared, winking in and out from behind the layer of clouds drifting past. Now, with the sun down, the breeze held a touch of coolness at last and she took a deep breath of it. "Mm." There was jasmine on the wind, and the scent of wheat fields ripening nearby that mixed with the smell of her soup cooking and she let herself feel the utter perfectness of the moment.

"Hey Xe?" She opened her eyes after a pause and looked at her partner, who had put her chin down on her forearm and was just resting there next to her, eyes half closed in contentment. "This walking thing's going to circumvent your shortcut, isn't it?"

Xena shrugged one shoulder. "It might. We'll worry about that if it happens." She lifted her head and scanned the surroundings, listening intently. After a moment, she put her head back down and exhaled.

Gabrielle, however, had caught the motion and she studied the warrior's face curiously. 'What's up?" She murmured. "Something out there?"

Xena's lips quirked. "Maybe." She'd thought she'd detected just the faintest bit of sound out of the natural rhythm, and briefly wished again that they'd brought Ares with them. They'd left the wolf behind because of their destination, where surely a wolf would not have been welcome but she found she missed his keen senses to back up hers on the road.

"Think it's our red haired friend?"

"Mm… " Xena considered the question. Bran hadn't seemed a stealthy type to her, she'd have figured on the woman coming right up to their campfire if she'd followed them. Whatever and whoever was out there seemed to be content to hide and watch. "Let's wait a few minutes and find out."

"She was interesting." Gabrielle commented. "I think I liked her, except when she was insulting you."

The warrior chuckled. "Nice scam.. she walks into town, finds a likely young kid all ready to defend his town's honor and gets a good wager in."

"Yeah, she was pretty good." Gabrielle mused. "But so out of her league against you, the poor thing."

"You flattering me, bard?" Xena inquired, tracing the edge of Gabrielle's ear with a curious fingertip.

"No, not particularly." Gabrielle yawned, and rubbed the back of her hand across her forehead. "Boy, I'm wiped.. let me go get that soup before I fall asleep here." She rolled onto her side then got up and walked to the campfire, retrieving their bowls as she did so. The soup was bubbling nicely, and smelled great as she ladled two portions out, chock full of diced vegetables floating in clear broth that smelled of spices and lemon.

It was a perfect thing, at the end of a long day of unending heat and throat clogging dust, and Gabrielle settled back down on the furs cross legged to enjoy it as she handed Xena her bowl. They had some fresh fruit to follow it, since she'd managed to scarf a couple of ripe pears and a handful of black grapes at the market along with the vegetables she'd used for the soup.

Very different from the fare they usually had in Amphipolis, unless she deliberately circumvented Cyrene's kitchen and made them meals in their cabin. Not that she was complaining - not at all, since her mother in law was a great cook, and the inn was noted for it's food.

But her body seemed to like this type of food better, Gabrielle had noticed. Despite the hardships of the road, she felt more energetic and more in balance with herself after the past two weeks. She took a sip of the broth, and savored the spices, then spooned up some of the vegetables and chewed them. "Our friend still out there?"

"Yep." Xena was drinking right from the edge of her bowl, cradled in the fingers of one hand. "Moved over to that large clump of underbrush while you were getting dinner."

"Hm. You going to flush her out?"

"Not going to have to." Xena replied placidly. "It's a sumac bush."

Gabrielle stopped in mid gulp and looked at her. "Oh, no." She winced. "Xena, that's not nice."

Innocent blue eyes looked at her. "Gabrielle, I didn't tell her to go hide in them. It's not my fault." She chuckled a little. "I still remember the time.."

"Shh." Gabrielle threatened her with her spoon. "I keep trying to forget that little incident. It took me a week to stop itching."

Another chuckle. "Watched where you sat after that, though, didn't you?" Xena drained her bowl, then got up. "More?"

"Sure." Gabrielle handed over her bowl and watched as the warrior went first to her saddlebags, rooting through them for a moment before she angled her steps to the fire and retrieved two more portions of soup. Xena reached up to put her hair back behind her ear before she picked up the dipper, and the firelight displayed the smooth ripple of muscle across her shoulder, catching Gabrielle's eye as the light also revealed the circular tattoo just visible above the edge of her leathers.

She was struck again at just how beautiful Xena really was, even dressed as she was, here in the bush around a rough campfire. There was something just so perfectly balanced about her, about the way she moved, and the way her body was put together so that even the most ordinary motion was poetic and effortless.

"Gabrielle?"

The bard jerked in reaction, pulled out of her thoughts to find a bowl near her eyes. "Oh. Sorry." She took it and set it in her lap as Xena resumed her place next to her.

"Do I want to know what you were just thinking about?" The warrior teased.

"You." Gabrielle leaned back against Iolaus' saddle, and extended her bare legs, crossing them at the ankles. "Do you think we can do a little shopping before we beard the Athenian council in it's chambers, Xe?"

A little confused, the warrior's brow creased as she apparently tried to reconcile the first statement with the second question. "What are we shopping for?" She hazarded cautiously.

"Clothes." Gabrielle replied. "Don't get me wrong, I love you in those leathers, honey.. but I think we should also have something nice to barge into the Atheneum in." She glanced down. "Not to mention, I think I'd make a better impression if I wasn't dressed like an Amazon. Don't you?"

"Mm." Xena considered the question. "Better impression on who? I like that outfit." She said. "But, yeah, that's not a bad idea." She stuck her nose in her bowl and swallowed a few mouthfuls, then used her spoon to retrieve the solid items left in the bottom.

They each had a third bowl of soup, and shared the fruit Gabrielle had gotten between them, then Xena readied the campsite and bedded the fire down. She listened at the edge of the darkness for a little while, then shrugged and joined the already drowsy Gabrielle under the light cloth cover they used when it was too warm for furs.

Gabrielle snuggled up against her, and Xena allowed her body to slowly relax completely, readying herself for long hours of the half sleep, half wakefulness their relatively exposed position required of her. She was also curious about their silent watcher, having not heard a single peep out of them for a least two candlemarks. Could they have crept away, without her hearing it?

Xena listened to the softly muted crackle of the fire, and acknowledged they could have, while she and Gabrielle were talking. She knew she was just a little less careful these days, just a little less on the edge, a legacy of the long year spent at home where that kind of alertness just wasn't needed, and something it would take more time out here to regain.

At one time in her life, in fact, at one time in her life with Gabrielle, this would have sent her nearly over the edge from both anger and guilt. So wrapped up in protecting herself and Gabrielle had she been that any hint of letting down even just a small amount had driven her into hours of drills and almost obsessive honing of her instincts.

Almost obsessive? Xena felt Gabrielle tuck her head a little further up against her collarbone and release a sleepy sigh. Somewhere along the line this past year she'd come to terms with the changes her life was going through and it was as though she'd finally crossed one last line between what she'd been before, and what she was now.

Or, as Gabrielle had put it, she'd finally learned to chill out. At least about some things. Xena gazed into the red heart of the fire, aware of the night sounds descending on them, flooding her senses with information she had to sort and interpret before deciding to ignore it or not.

Well, at least she had plenty of time to think, at any rate. Think about what they'd find in Athens, and if she still had any enemies there, and just how much trouble they might get into.

Hm. And if that got too boring, she could always spend some time trying to figure out how she fathered Dori, so they could do it again.

There. That was enough to keep anyone busy until sunrise.

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

It was cloudy the next morning, with a low, muttering rumble of thunder in the distance that meant to Xena’s ears at least, nothing good. However, even the hot, sticky weather couldn’t dampen the cheerful mood Gabrielle was in, the bard was even whistling a little as she strolled along in front of Iolaus.

"You’re in good spirits." Xena commented, having decided to walk alongside her, despite the fact that she’d blithely ridden while the bard walked for years during their partnership. "Don’t tell me not being on that horse’s back made that much difference."

Gabrielle turned and walked backwards for a few steps. "Well, I like walking, so yeah, a little, but I just woke up happy this morning, I guess." She grinned sheepishly, unable to really explain or articulate the bubbly, wonderful sensation in her guts. "Something wrong with that?"

"Nope." Xena shook her head. ‘Try to keep a little of it for later, though, when we’re drenched, okay?"

The bard tipped her head back, and stuck her tongue out at the clouds, then turned and kept walking while her eyes took in the surrounding countryside. It wasn’t as though she never got to see anything, or that Iolaus moved so fast she missed something. They usually rode at a walk, sometimes a canter. But somehow, it was just so different when you were doing it yourself, putting your boots down on the stone filled road, or feeling the grass crunch under your footsteps.

They’d been walking for several candlemarks already, and she could feel a little strain in muscles she hadn’t used that much in the past year. It felt good, and familiar, and she was actually looking forward to the moment when they stopped that night when she could sit down and extend her legs and know she’d used them to good purpose the whole day.

Her back also felt a lot better, and that helped her mood too. The ache was mostly gone, and she didn’t have the little pains going down the backs of her thighs anymore.

So what if it rained? Gabrielle turned her head and watched a squirrel race across the leafy ground to their right, scampering out of sight quickly on their approach. Behind her, she could hear Argo’s footfalls, and the soft crunch and scrape that was Xena’s steady stride, less frequent than her own due to the warrior’s longer legs. If she turned, she knew she’d see a familiar look of introspection on her partner’s face, and the rhythmic motion of her head as her body fell into a slightly rolling gait. Part of that was just how Xena walked in armor, because she had to carry the weight of it and part of that was because she was so much a horsewoman and her legs were just built up a little differently than Gabrielle’s were.

It was cute, that little strut, but the bard knew better than to comment on it, remembering her own reaction to being compared with a badger. What would she imagine Xena as? Gabrielle peeked over her shoulder and watched the warrior unobserved for a few moments. A bear, maybe? She peeked again. No, not really, because a bear walking on it’s hind legs always looked a little unbalanced, and Xena never looked even slightly unbalanced. Hm. The bard thought about all the animals she’d seen. Something regal, something furry….something…ah. She had it. Gabrielle looked over her shoulder one more time. She’d only see one a single time, in a tawdry zoo she and Xena had come upon not long after they’d come back from Chin.

Seeing the animals in cages had done something to the both of them, and despite the distance between them and how horrible things still were, they’d acted as a team almost without thought and certainly without discussing what they were going to do.

Swooping down with weapons drawn, driving off the scrubby looking men and breaking open the cages as the beasts inside them went frantic with excitement.

Watching them go, standing side by side in a moment so bittersweet Gabrielle could almost taste it again on the back of her tongue, and feel again the ache as a hand pressed so briefly on the bare skin of her shoulder she almost thought she’d imagined it.

She remembered crying so long that night she’d just run out of tears.

But the last animal out, the last one Xena had freed hadn’t run like the others. He’d just paced out of his cage and looked at them, wild and unafraid, before he turned his back and stalked off into the underbrush with powerful, unhurried strides.

Just like Xena’s. "Hey, Xe?" Gabrielle slowed her steps until she was side by side with her partner. "Remember that zoo we let go, a while back?"

Xena didn’t answer for a moment, she just inhaled, then let the breath slowly out, as her head nodded once or twice. "Yeah. I remember."

"That last animal, that big one, with the shaggy head. Remember that one?"

Xena stared off into the distance then glanced over at her. "Sure." She paused. "Why?"

"What was that?" Gabrielle asked. "I meant to ask, but…"

Blue eyes regarded her quietly. "But we weren’t really talking then." The warrior supplied. They exhanged looks. "It was a lion." She went on. "It’s from Africa."

"A lion." Gabrielle shaped her lips around the word, rolling it over on her tongue. "Lion. That’s an interesting name."

"They live in groups… families." Xena supplied. "One or two males, and a bunch of females, the males think they’re in charge, but the females really run things."

"Ah." Gabrielle smiled. "Like humans, a little."

That got a smile from the warrior. "A little." She conceded. "What makes you ask now?"

The corner’s of the bard’s eyes crinkled up a little as she held back a smirk. "Oh.. no reason, really.. I was just comparing things, and I thought I remembered something being like something else that I’d seen before, and it was that animal, and I just thought I’d ask you what it was called."

One dark eyebrow lifted. "Uh huh."

"So." Gabrielle flexed her hands, then lifted them a little, an old habit to keep the blood flowing. "What do you want to play? What am I?"

Another advantage to walking. She got to be a lot closer to Xena, and they could talk much more easily. The horses put a necessary distance between them just because of their size, and they often had to raise their voices over the sound of eight hooves hitting the ground.

"Okay." Xena agreed. "You start."

"I knew you were going to say that." Gabrielle bumped her with a hip. "Okay… give me a second… " She chewed her lip. "Okay, I’m ready."

"All right. Are you animal, plant, or thing?" Xena asked, falling into their old game easily. A louder rumble of thunder rolled over head, and she glanced up. "No cheating. It’s my turn to ask." She addressed the sky.

"Animal." Gabrielle replied, with a satisfied sigh. "You’ll never guess this one, Xena."

"Uh huh. Four legs or two."

"Four."

"Fur or feathers."

"Fur." A pause. "Hair." Another pause. "Whatever."

Xena looked at her. "It’s not a lion, is it?"

Green eyes rolled. "Xena. C’mon, would I be that obvious?"

"Hooves or feet?"

The bard thought about that. "Um.. a little of both."

"Camel."

"No."

Xena paced on a few more steps in silence. "Does it have horns?"

"No."

"A tail?"

"Um.." Gabrielle thought about that. "Yes."

"Big or little?"

"Sort of little." A raindrop hit Gabrielle on the back of the neck, and she flinched. "Uh oh, that was a big one."

Xena reached up and unbuckled her saddlebag without looking, her mind busy pondering the puzzle Gabrielle had set her onto. She pulled out the bard’s cloak, and handed it to her as a fitful spattering of drops made surprisingly dark splotches in the road ahead of them. The rich, musty smell of rain descended, tickling the warrior’s nose as she took her own cloak out and shook it’s folds open. "Does it have teeth?"

"I… " Gabrielle finished fastening the clasp around her neck. "Yes, I’m sure it does."

"Eats grass?" The warrior asked immediately.

"Yes." Gabrielle held back a smile. "Among other things."

"Gabrielle, if it has half hooves, fur, eats grass, and has four legs, it has to be camel." Xena told her.

"Nope." The bard smirked. "Give up?"

Xena only snorted. The rain started coming down, and Argo snorted also, as if in mimicry. "Long ears?"

"Um.. not really.. not particularly."

"They stand up?"

"Yes."

It started really pouring. Gabrielle moved a little closer to Xena, and they got between the two horses. She tugged the hood over her face and was glad it was, at least, a warm rain. Though, the summer after Dori had been born, that hadn’t helped her any. She’d gotten caught out in a long spring rain when they’d been on their way back from helping her mother and Lila move back to Potadeia.

And she’d insisted on helping, of course. They’d returned, and Xena had headed out to pick up traps she’d left out, and while the warrior had been gone, the little cold she’d picked up turned very ugly very fast.

Poor Xena. Gabrielle felt a warm weight land on her shoulders, and she was glad of the protection as the wind and rain lashed at them.

Xena kept silent, though, and the bard worked hard to hold back a giggle. It was very seldom that she stumped her partner for this long, and she wasn’t above enjoying it a little. She’d picked a good one this time, an animal she’d seen once on her way to Chin.

They reached a bend in the road and started through it, then paused as it dipped down and they could see ahead of them. The roadway broadened and broadened as it spilled forward, terminating in the huge, marbled sprawl in the distance that was Athens.

They both stared at it for a moment. "Wow.’ Gabrielle finally said. "I think I forgot how big it was."

The city spread out from horizon to horizon, it seemed, with clusters of smaller buildings spreading out from it’s walls on all sides. Even from here, a good distance away and in the rain, they could see a blur of motion as the five or six roads leading in from all directions came together. The roads were full of travelers, and everyone, it seemed, was heading in the same direction they were save that they were coming from more populated areas, where Xena and Gabrielle were heading in from relatively sparse country.

"Yeah." Xena murmured, almost sure she could hear the rumble of carts and animals, and smell the stench of too much humanity in close quarters already. Ahead of them, a straggle of travelers were moving in a slow procession, slogging through the rain and churning the road into a mire of mud and rocks. "Well, let’s get going."

Gabrielle pulled her cloak a little tighter, and squared her shoulders as they topped the rise and started on the long, sloping path down. "Xena, what are we going to do if they don’t listen to us?" She asked suddenly, turning to look up at the warrior pacing steadily at her side. "Will we have to pay all that money? How are we going to do it?"

A hint of a wicked smile appeared on Xena’s face, visible despite the dark, wet hair plastered down from the rain. "We’ll find a way, Gabrielle." She hugged the bard a little closer. "You and me."

Good enough. Gabrielle exhaled, and twitched her cloak a little. "You’re right." She stated. "There’s nothing you and I can’t do."

A bolt of lightning flashed, cracking into a nearby tree and setting it on fire. Both warrior and bard, along with the horses jumped, and ducked, hurrying by the sparking hulk. Gabrielle turned and looked at it, then shook her head and strode determinedly on.

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

The mud deepened, as they made their way down onto the main road, and followed the slowly growing straggle of fellow travelers. Gabrielle found herself having to work a bit to pull her boots up out of the stuff, which was fine and tended to suck at her feet.

Oh well. She leaned forward a little and let her thighs do most of the work. Won’t hurt me any. Her sparring with Xena, and the sessions of staff class had kept her in pretty good shape, but the two weeks of traveling had reminded her forcefully that she’d been spending the balance of her time in the council chamber lately and there was no way around the fact that she’d let herself get softer than she had been in a long time.

She took a deep breath and ruefully acknowledged the burn in her legs and her stomach as she fought her way through the sticky stuff. Suck it up, Gabrielle. You wanted to walk, right? Just keep moving. The rain pelted her hard, and she kept one hand at the neck of her cloak, snugging the fabric closer around her and keeping the hood firmly around her head. The horses plodded to either side of them, their hooves splashing up little jets of mud that coated her from the knees down in a gray sludge, and as they got further, it became apparent the road wasn’t getting any better. "Hey."

Xena turned her head, dark hair plastered down almost in her eyes and peered at her. "You okay?"

"What’s going to happen when we get in over my head?" The bard pointed at the road, into which she was now sinking almost to her ankles.

"You can swim." Xena remarked dryly, having her own problems to deal with since she was heavier than her partner, and therefore sank deeper into the mud on each stride. "I hear mud’s great for your skin."

"Ah." Gabrielle nodded. "That explains your flawless complexion, I guess."

The warrior chuckled. "Once we get past this section we can move off the road." She pointed ahead, where the row of thick hedges that bounded the road broke off into fields on either side. "You doing all right?" She asked again, cocking her head to one side and laying a hand on the bard’s back.

Gabrielle steadfastly ignored her increasing heartbeat and breathing, and just nodded.

The sounds of people and animals started to drift down the road, men cursing and the creak of wooden wheels protesting the mud as much as her boots were dominating. She glanced ahead, studying the group ahead of them to take her mind off her muscles. It was a family, she thought. A wagon filled to the very edges with stock, with canvas strapped tightly over them pulled by four large oxen. A medium sized man was driving, while a woman, and two children struggled along side, holding on to the edge of the wagon to help them walk. Gabrielle wondered why they were going to Athens. To sell their wares, maybe? The games would be attracting vendors of all sorts looking to make a few dinars off the attendees. As she watched the man reached back and retrieved a long, thin whip and lashed at the animals, who lowed in protest. "Oh, that’s helpful." She snorted softly.

Xena sighed. "Not as bad as that one." She lifted her arm and pointed to the source of a tie up further up the road. A wagon had overturned, and now traffic was starting to back up.

"Great." Gabrielle blew out a breath and squinted, raising a hand to wipe the hair out of her eyes. She could hear the shouts starting already, and the screams of nervous horses. "What happened?"

"Tried to take that fork too fast." Xena muttered. "Must have gotten the wheels stuck.. would you look at these idiots? What in Hades do they think yelling is going to do to fix that mess?" She tugged her cloak tighter and increased her pace. "C’mon."

"Easy for you to say." Gabrielle answered subvocally, forcing herself to keep up. The burning was getting to be almost painful, and she leaned forward a little more, letting the long muscles in her back and torso get into the effort. They passed a few single travelers with irritated looking mules, and after a little while, the bard felt her body adjust as she caught her second wind and the discomfort subsided a bit. She followed Xena as the warrior led Argo up onto the road’s embankment just past the hedges, relieved to feel reasonably solid ground under her boots as they detoured around a string of backed up wagons and approached the fork in the road. The rain and mud obscured both rank and gender of the people they passed, and she realized she and Xena were probably just as anonymous. She did note eyes glancing at Argo and Iolaus, though, the two golden horses were undeniably well bred and she saw speculative looks in their direction as well. Thunder rolled loudly overhead as they reached the fork, and she had a good view of the accident that was blocking the way.

It was a mess. The wagon that had overturned had been carrying many heavy boxes, and now the contents of the overturned vehicle were blocking the road just as much as the cart itself was. In addition, the traces had tangled around the bodies of the two horses drawing the cart, and they were down in the mud, struggling frantically every few moments to free themselves.

The carter, a young man with a very muscular build and thick, dark beard that matched his hair, was hauling on the traces, yelling at the animals at the top of his lungs. Xena handed Argo’s reins to Gabrielle and patted her back. "Stay here and catch your breath. I’ll see what I can do with this guy."

"B.." Gabrielle didn’t get to finish the word before the warrior had hopped off the embankment and into the mud, plowing her way through it towards the trapped horses. "I can breathe just fine, thanks!" She yelled after her soulmate, who lifted a hand in acknowledgment and waved it. Gabrielle sighed, and leaned against Iolaus’ shoulder, a touch annoyed at herself but shamefully glad they were standing still for the moment.

Xena let her cloak ease open as she reached the side of the wagon, evading the carter’s wild gestures as she studied the problem. "Hey!" She reached forward and grabbed the man’s arm, holding it still. He turned, giving her a furious look. "Want some help?" She asked.

"What the Hades do ya think?" The man hollered. "Got half the world back there screaming their fool heads off at me!"

Xena glanced at the crowd gathering. "So I noticed." She cautiously approached the horses, careful to stay clear of their huge, flailing hooves that could easily break something they hit her. "Easy… "

"You there! Out of our way!" A man’s stentorian tones shattered the scene, louder than the rest of the crowd, and louder than the persistent thunder. Xena looked quickly over her shoulder, as a huge, ornate wagon shoved it’s way to the front of the crowd. It was drawn by six absolutely gorgeous, explicitly well bred horses that even covered in mud sent a jolt of appreciation up her spine. The wagon itself was fine, carved wood with beautiful detail and gilded edging, and it’s driver was a man who would have easily topped Xena by a head dressed in fine silks covered with an embroidered cape of very good quality. He had a finely shaped, very arrogant face, closely shaven, with pale, fine hair cropped close to his skull.

He pointed at Xena. "Move that thing."

Xena idly wondered what he would do if she chucked the chakram at him and removed his cape the hard way. Die, probably. She sighed, and shook her head, then returned her attention to the horses. "Only one way this is going to happen." She told the carter, who was now looking nervously at the noble behind them. "Sorry about the tack." She drew her dagger from her boot and approached the horses carefully. "Easy… " She caught the eye of the nearest animal, who stared at her fearfully. "Easy, boy." Xena kept her voice low and reassuring as she came within the reach of it’s legs. "I’m not gonna hurt cha."

The animal stirred, and she paused, holding her free hand out to it’s nose, and hiding the blade with her other hand. "Just relax."

The big nostrils flared, covered in foam and mud, and caught her scent. A soft snort emerged. "That’s it, big boy." Xena injected a certain warmth into her tone. "Just take it easy.. we’ll get you out of here." She was close to the animal now, almost close enough to reach the harness cutting into the horses’ skin.

Gabrielle pushed her hood back, ignoring the rain as she watched Xena’s cautious approach, keeping one eye on her soulmate and one on the crowd now pressing closer. After a moment, she freed her staff from it’s holders and hopped down the embankment, easing her boots through the mud to avoid the loud sucking noises that might startle the animals.

"All right… I’m just gonna cut you loose here.. " Xena extended her hand slowly towards the beast’s neck.

Gabrielle saw the motion, and whirled, lunging forward but the mud had trapped her and made her just miss her blow.

"I said move!" The man driving the ornate cart had pulled out a huge bullwhip and with a powerful moment of his arm snapped the end viciously forward, lashing the whip over Xena’s head and striking the horse on the neck.

With a scream, the horse convulsed, plunging frantically in the mud and flailing it’s huge legs. Xena dodged with almost ethereal speed, but the mud fouled her just as surely and she was unable to free her left leg in time to avoid being slammed in the knee with a powerful kick.

"Xena!" Gabrielle pulled herself free and swung her staff, whacking the man in the hand with a loud crack and making him drop the whip. She turned as she heard a hollow, horrible crunching sound, and saw the warrior’s whole body jerk and almost go down. For a second she froze, then she turned her head towards the now screaming driver. "You centaur’s butt hair!" She bellowed at the top of her voice, as the man grabbed his hand. "Jerk!" Then she bolted towards the downed wagon, churning through the mud and shoving boxes out of her way as she reached Xena’s side.

The pain was incredible. It was like someone had shoved a fire hot poker right through her leg, and Xena had all she could do just to remain standing. She shifted her weight to her other leg and reached out to grab hold of the wagon, hoping the horse would just settle down and not kick her again. Her ears picked up the cracking sound she immediately recognized as a staff hit, then she heard her partner cursing, and seconds later a hand gripped her upper arm, the touch not triggering even her most rudimentary reflexes. "Borrow your staff?" Xena managed to say, through very gritted teeth.

"Here." Gabrielle curled her hand around it, getting a supporting arm around her as the warrior used the staff to take her remaining weight off her injured leg. "Son of a bacchae."

"Yeah." Xena agreed shortly. "Okay.. give me a minute here, and I"ll get that damn horse loose." She steeled herself and flexed her leg, then stopped that immediately when she felt the blood drain out of her face as the pain almost made her pass out. "Okay, bad idea."

The carter approached her timidly. "I… I’m sorry… "

"Not your fault." Xena drew in a breath, then turned her head as she heard someone approaching. Sure enough, it was the whip handler, who was heading towards Gabrielle with a furious look on his face. "I’ll have the law on you… I’ll have you arrested you little…!"

"Me?" Gabrielle shot back. "You’re the idiot with the whip, remember? I should have you arrested for being that stupid!"

"Why you…"

Xena’s eyes narrowed, and she shifted the staff to her left hand, unclasping her cape with her right hand and letting it fall open as the man approached. She reached over her head and drew her sword out as he came within reach, and she swung the weapon, turning it flat on just at the last moment and smacking him across the face with it.

He stumbled backwards, and now all the noise seemed to stop except for the ceaseless patter of the rain and the rumble of thunder.

The wind blew Xena’s hood and cape back in a flutter of fabric and exposed her armor, and the chisled, angry features. "Shut up." She told the man, in a low, raspy voice. "Or I’ll cut your tongue out and force the issue."

Gabrielle took a breath, recognizing a note seldom heard recently in her partner’s tone. She put a hand on the warrior’s arm, feeling the muscles like iron bands under her touch.

The man stared at her, one hand going up to his face in reflex, where a huge red welt was rising on his shaven cheek.

"Now." Xena went on. "You’re gonna go back to that wagon of yours and sit there, and wait for me to finish getting these damn horses out of the damn mud, so we can all get the Hades out of here. Is that understood?"

"I have to get to Athens." The man muttered.

"We all have to get to Athens." Gabrielle said, calmly. "But we can’t until we get this out of the way. You’re just making it take longer."

Xena slowly sheathed her sword and turned back towards the horses. She glanced at Gabrielle, then handed her the staff. "Here. Anyone gets close, clobber them."

"Don’t you.. " The bard watched as her partner walked towards the horse, all outward signs of injury well hidden. "I guess you don’t." She turned and faced the crowd. "Okay. When Xena finishes with the horses, we’re going to have to move these boxes. Why don’t we start doing that, so we can move as soon as the wagon’s out of the way?"

Sullen faces looked back at her, and she briefly wished she were just about anywhere else. "Now?" She looked right at the closest man, who threw up his hands, but trudged over to the stack of boxes and took the first one, walking to the side of the road and throwing it up onto the embankment.

"Hey!" The carter rushed forward anxiously. "Be careful!"

Pain was relative. Xena steadfastly pushed the agony out of her mind as she slowly lowered herself into the mud next to the now exhausted horses, and started cutting the leather holding them in place. She swallowed a few times, as her stomach threatened to convulse in reaction to her injury, but kept cutting, until all the traces fell free of the animals. Then she shifted her weight to her good leg and straightened it, holding on to the wagon as she let her bad leg extend and the resulting pain brought tears to her eyes.

Oh gods. She drew in a breath, then released it. This was a bad one.

The pain steadied after a moment, and she moved slowly back out of the horses’ way. "Okay, boy. C’mon now." She coaxed, ignoring the activity she could feel at her back. "Get on up there."

The horse lifted his head from where it was resting in the mud and whickered a little, then rolled over, apparently realizing he was no longer tied in place. He staggered up first on his forelegs, then hind legs, and stumbled forward through the mud, away from the wagon. His trace mate followed after a moment, clearing the road halfway. Xena glanced at the overturned wagon, then she whistled softly, reaching up a hand as Argo plunged through the mud to her side. "Hey girl."

Argo whickered anxiously, and nuzzled her.

"Yeah, I’m not doing too good." Xena shifted her grip from the wagon to the mare’s saddle, then she gathered her strength and, taking a deep breath, pulled herself up and into the saddle, swinging her good leg over Argo’s back and almost passing out from sheer relief as she took her weight off her injured knee.

Gabrielle had organized the unwilling crowd and most of the boxes were moved, some of the smaller carts already ignoring the pleas for aid and moving around the workers, forcing their way through the gap. Gabrielle broke off what she was doing and came quickly to Argo’s side, laying a very gentle hand on her leg and peering up at her anxiously. "Good job." Xena indicated the boxes.

"Can we get out of here?" Gabrielle asked softly. "Let them sort the rest of this out, Xena. We need to get you to a healer."

The warrior could feel her leg swelling under her armor, and had to reluctantly agree. "Yeah." She nodded. "Good idea.. I don’t think I’ve got the stuff to handle this one."

Gabrielle turned pale at the words, and whistled for Iolaus, who came to her side after threading his impatient way through the rudely pushing stream of travelers. Without a sound, the bard hauled herself up into the stallion’s saddle and they joined the trickle heading through the gap they made.

"Wait! We can’t get through there!" The outraged driver of the big wagon yelled.

"That’s your problem." Gabrielle yelled back. "Jerk!" She felt her temper very close to snapping, as she followed Xena’s tense form, seeing the warrior’s knuckles whiten as she gripped the saddlebow ahead of her.

It started to rain even harder.

They got past the narrow point and the crowd spread out. Xena edged Argo over to one side of the road and Gabrielle stayed close by her, her mind so wrapped up in worry she didn’t even see the cloaked figure that fell in behind them and settled in at the same pace.

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

The road was getting more and more crowded, and Gabrielle was spending most of her time making sure she was between Xena and the rest of the people jostling their way into the city of Athens. Given a choice, she’d have gotten off the road all together, but a long history of attacks had driven the Athenians to build fortifications up around the road as it approached the gates, forcing anyone wanting to enter the city to travel down it.

It also made for an excellent route for rain to travel, and the mud was now up to the horses knees. Gabrielle was in some discomfort from the pain in her back, but it wasn’t nearly the discomfort she’d be in if she was trying to pull her boots out of the muck at every step.

Up here, she could keep an eye on Xena, at any rate. Gabrielle uncapped the waterskin at her knee and sucked on it, then she slowly leaned over and offered it to her partner, being careful not to move too fast and startle the obviously suffering warrior. "Hey, sweetie?"

Xena glanced at her, and straightened up, then reached out and took the bag, taking a sip from the water silently.

Gabrielle hurt just looking at her. Xena’s face was stark white under her tan, and her eyes blinked frequently, scattering the raindrops accumulating and dripping down from her hair. The bard could see her partner’s jaw muscles clenching repeatedly, and she hadn’t said more than a word or two since they’d started moving.

The rain didn’t help. The animals and carts surrounding them, filling the air with various stenches didn’t help. The yelling people certainly didn’t help. If she’d had a choice and the sheer physical ability, Gabrielle would have lifted them both up and over the wall they were traveling next to, and escaped out over the green grass to somewhere quiet, where Xena could lie down, and she could do her best to take care her.

Gabrielle glanced around, then she reached out and put a hand on Xena’s side, feeling the tension under her fingers as the warrior shifted slightly. "I think we’ve got some of those herbs left, Xe. The ones you gave me when I had that stomachache the other day… why don’t you take some?"

Xena drew a breath with obvious effort. "Not until we stop." She replied hoarsely. "Stuff knocks me out."

"So?" Gabrielle cautiously edged closer, very careful not to jostle her soulmate’s injured leg. "I’ll get up behind you and hang on to you, Xena. Gods know how long it’s going to take us to get up to those gates.. we’re hardly moving here."

For a moment, she thought Xena was considering it, and that scared her. Then the warrior straightened and pushed her hood back, exposing her head to the rain and scrubbing her fingers through her disheveled hair. "Nah. I’ll be all right." She handed Gabrielle back the waterskin.

Gabrielle nodded, and her lips tensed very briefly into a smile. "You want me to try and get the armor off at least? Must be killing you."

"Mmph." Xena glanced down at her leg, covered by a fold of her cloak. "I’m afraid to look, but yeah, maybe that’s not a bad idea." They had stopped dead for the moment, and she slowly eased her boot out of the stirrup, regretting it a moment later as a white hot dagger of pure agony lanced through her body and right up into her spine.

She uttered only the softest of grunts, and closed her eyes tightly, as Gabrielle maneuvered closer and slid off Iolaus, cradling her leg in one arm and easing it gently back into the stirrup. "Okay.. okay.. bad idea." The bard murmured, feeling a little sick to her stomach. "Sorry, honey."

Ow. "Yeah, me too." Xena said, as the pain slowly subsided, leaving red streaks on the backs of her eyeballs. She pulled her cloak to one side and studied her leg, the knee joint already swollen so badly the straps of her armor were cutting into her skin. "Nice."

Gabrielle swallowed, seeing the purpling bruise and the dried blood. "Let me cut those, okay?" She drew out the small dagger she carried at her waist, and carefully eased it under the strap, cutting in tiny motions so as not to jar Xena more than she had to. About halfway through the process, she felt a gentle touch against her head, and looked up, peering through a curtain of rain and her own tears, to see a face tense with pain looking back at her. "I’m trying to be careful."

"I know." Xena managed a smile. "Traffic’s moving again… just leave it."

Gabrielle looked behind her, then back at her task. "Just a few more seconds, Xe. I know it’ll make you feel better not to have this on there." She went back to her careful sawing, easing the very sharp blade through the worn leather until she felt it part beneath her fingers and come free. "There." She eased the knee armor back, and froze, as she saw the destruction underneath. "Oh… Xena."

The warrior stared bleakly at the injury. "Explains why it hurts so damn much." She remarked. There were bits of shattered bone extending through her skin, which was purple and black around the entire front of her knee.

"Wh.. what can I do?" Gabrielle whispered.

"Nothing, for now." The warrior sighed, a little at a loss. The pain was almost overwhelming, even the raindrops hitting her skin hurt. She felt like throwing up from it, and just the thought of what she’d have to go through to clean the injury and bind her own leg….

"Xe." Gabrielle grabbed her and held her upright. "Easy." She glanced around, glad they were in at least a tiny alcove, out of the main flow of the traffic. It moved by them obliviously, everyone intent on getting into the city before the sun set.

"Sorry." The warrior shook her head to clear it, then focused down tight and drove the knowledge of the pain out of her mind for the moment. "Let’s just get moving. We can’t stop here, and if I.. " She paused, as a jolt of pain worked it’s way up her leg. "Stop to take care of this, I’m not gonna make it."

Gabrielle turned and vaulted up onto Iolaus’ back, edging him into the traffic flow as Xena followed. "Okay." She agreed reluctantly. "But when we get someplace safe, you’re going to lie down and let me take care of that, whatever it is you need me to do."

That might help. Xena cautiously eased the edge of her cloak back over her leg, glad at least that the throbbing from the tightly strapped armor had dissipated. She couldn’t move the limb at all, though, and it worried her. She’d never had an injury to either of her knees, and she’d taken care to protect them because of how critical the joints were to a fighter.

Wouldn’t it just figure, she mused in disgust, that it wouldn’t be some hack warlord after all, but a damn horse that got her there? One she was trying to help?

Damn.

How long would it take to heal?

Xena gazed out between Argo’s ears.

What if it didn’t? The warrior scowled at herself. C’mon, Xena. Cut that crap out and just suck it in and keep moving, willya? She looked up as a hand appeared in her peripheral vision, holding something curled in it’s fingers. Instinctively, she reached out her own hand, palm up, and found a small, golden orb dropped into it. Her eyes lifted to see mist green ones looking back at her through the rain, and she popped the honey candy into her mouth and smiled. "Wher’d you get that?"

Gabrielle smiled back. "My secret." She slowed Iolaus down so they were side by side again. "I've had to learn to hide them from Dori."

Xena sucked on the honey ball, it's familiar, sweet taste comforting all out of proportion to what it was. It didn't take any of the pain away, nor did it make it stop raining, but it did waken in her a memory of home, and Dori's childish squeals that put a smile on her face anyway.

For a moment. Then Argo lurched as she tried to free her hooves from the exhausting mud, and Xena had all she could do to remain in the saddle as her legs clamped down in unconscious reaction and she almost passed out from the pain.

Gabrielle grasped her elbow, and looked ahead of them, at the sea of slow moving carts and irritated people. "Gods." She exhaled, "Is this ever going to end?"

But it did, finally, and she was leading Argo up through the gates of Athens, where guards watched alertly and two of them crossed in front of them, holding up a hand in officious arrogance.

Gabrielle pushed her hood back and edged Iolaus forward, more than ready to do the talking. "Yes?"

"Your business here?"

The bard gazed at him. "What would you like my business to be here?" She asked, fishing out her pouch full of seals. "I can be a visiting Queen of the Amazons, the Chief Arbiter of Amphipolis, or a traveling bard whose scrolls are being archived in the Academy. Pick one."

The soldier blinked at her. Then his eyes went to the silent, dark figure at her side.

"That's Xena." Gabrielle stated simply.

The guard captain walked over. "Xena of Amphipolis?" He sounded mildly surprised.

"That's me." Xena agreed, gazing at him with quiet impassiveness, her hands resting on her saddlebow.

The two men backed up and got out of their way, in a very satisfying manner. Gabrielle counted her blessings and moved through the gates, glad when the guards attention was turned to the large, noisy wagon rolling in right behind them. "Okay. Now where." She glanced around. The city was…

Loud. Noise assailed her ears from all sides, and the streets seemed overly full of people and animals. Buildings rose to either side, stretching off into the distance. They passed a square, filled with market stalls and the sounds and smells that came with that, almost overwhelming Gabrielle with the pungency. "Whoa." She rubbed her nose. "I don't think I’m used to this."

"Mm." Xena leaned forward, taking her weight onto her shoulders for a few moments. "Too crowded. We probably need to go down hill." She indicated the lower section of town, with it's shabbier buildings and narrower streets.

Gabrielle scowled a little. "They should put you in the best room in that stupid palace up there." She stated.

Xena's eyes closed. "I'd settle for a haybale right now." She admitted. "Whatever you can get, Gabrielle. It doesn't matter."

Down the hill it was then, as they got through the bustling crowd, busy about the market despite the rain. Even the more obscure inns, Gabrielle discovered, were full to the rafters for the games, and it was only sheer luck and the fact that she found a woman with a soft spot for cute, desperate young blond girls that got them any space at all.

The inn was a very old one, it's walls well patched and shabby. Gabrielle dismounted and stretched her back out, then captured Argo's bridle as they came to a halt in the tiny yard outside the even tinier stable. She watched Xena glance down at her hands for a few moments, visibly gathering herself, then she slid her legs out of the stirrups and swung her body down off Argo's back, landing with her weight on her good leg. A grubby looking boy came out and looked at them curiously.

"Do you work here?" Gabrielle asked, one hand resting on Xena's back as the warrior simply stood there, hanging on to Argo's saddle. "We've got two horses here who really need to be cleaned and fed."

The boy nodded, and came to take the reins of the two animals. Gabrielle detached both of their saddlebags and slung them over her shoulders, then turned, offering Xena her staff. "Want to use this?"

A short nod.

Gabrielle led the way inside, one arm wrapped around her partner's waist, and they found the dusty, moth eaten room thankfully on the ground floor. She kicked the door shut behind them as she felt Xena start to collapse, then got her shoulder under the warrior's and helped her over to one of the two small pallets. "Here… sit down."

She eased her partner down onto the pallet, then very gently pushed her onto her back and carefully lifted the injured leg up onto the bed's surface. Xena wasn't resisting at all, and Gabrielle felt herself getting a little nervous, knowing the only time Xena accepted this kind of manhandling, or bardhandling as it were without question was when she was very sick, or badly hurt. "Easy, tiger." She murmured. "Just relax, and let me get this wet stuff off you."

It felt incredibly good just to be lying down flat. Xena felt an uncomfortable buzzing in her ears, and it felt much better just to close her eyes and let Gabrielle do whatever she wanted. She trusted the bard completely, of course, and besides, she could feel her wet, muddy clothing being stripped off her body, trading damp clamminess for a dusty warmth as the air in the room brushed against her bare skin.

Gabrielle managed to get Xena's heavy cloak off, then worked quickly to remove her metal armor, and the leather bracers that protected her upper and forearms. Then she knelt and untied the laces on her boots and slid them off, trying not to look at the horror of the injury now shockingly evident against her partner's skin.

She took a piece of linen from her pack and dried the rain off Xena's skin, watching the chest still inside the heavy leathers moving steadily under her touch. "Okay, tiger." She picked up one slack hand and kissed the back of it. "You need to tell me what to do now. Should I go get a healer? I don’t' think I’m really qualified to mess with this, Xe."

The dark head rolled towards her, and pain wracked, weary, bloodshot blue eyes appeared.

"I know it hurts." Gabrielle stroked her cheek with gentle fingers. "Do you want me to get you a healer?"

Xena gazed at her in silence for a few moments, then shook her head. "No." The warrior said. "Won't get one easily with that crowd… need to get this taken care of before it gets bad." She lifted her body up a little and propped herself up on one elbow. "Get water… my kit." A pause. "You'll need some sticks… bandages"

Gabrielle got Xena's kit, and put it in her hand, then took their largest waterskin and went out of the room and into the main area of the inn, searching for water. The patrons glanced at her muddy visiage, then looked away uninterested, which was more than fine with Gabrielle. She found the well just outside the door and sniffed the dipper, pouring the water into the palm of her hand and tasting it cautiously.

Yeah, it was Athens, but it never paid to take chances. The water tasted all right, so she filled the big skin with it, and made her way back to their room. Inside, she stripped off her cloak and left it in a sodden heap, then she ran her hand through her wet hair to get it out of her eyes and crossed to where Xena was waiting. "Okay." She studied the still, quiet figure on the pallet and knelt, putting her hand on the warrior's blood and mud stained ankle.

With an effort, Xena rolled onto her side, so that the injured knee extended over the edge of the pallet. "Wash it out good." She said calmly, curling her hands around the edge of the bed. "Especially where that bone's sticking out."

She knew it was going to hurt. She set her jaw firmly as Gabrielle uncapped the water skin and did as she asked, the cold water hitting her skin and entering the wound with a shock of pain so intense it almost broke her.

Breathe. Xena concentrated on not passing out. "Make sure all the dirt's out." She managed to say. "It's really im.. important."

"I know." Gabrielle answered softly. "I will, Xena, "

It was like someone was driving a dagger into her again, and again and again. Xena just held onto the bed and felt her muscles contract in agony. Iron will, however, kept her jaw clamped shut and her face impassive as she waited out the long, and excruciating process.

She felt an odd touch of warmth against the chill water and she forced her eyes open, worried that she'd started bleeding again.

Only to find warm tears falling instead, as Gabrielle's slightly shaking hands finished their work. The bard sniffled a little, and let out a breath, then turned her head and their eyes met.

"Sorry." Gabrielle whispered.

"It's all right." Xena could hear the strain in her voice, and knew the bard could too. "Now comes the hard part."

A breath. "I don't think I… "

"You can." Xena steeled herself and slowly straightened her injured leg, enduring the incredible pain that scraped along every bone in her body and made her want to scream. "Put that bone back in place." She held Gabrielle's eyes, knowing there were tears in her own. It was part of her kneecap, cracked and protruding from the gash in her skin. "Go on, sweetheart. It's all right."

Gabrielle forced herself to focus on the injury, pretending as hard as she could that the leg in front of her wasn't Xena's. Pretending she couldn’t feel what Xena was feeling, this close to her. Finally, she just took a deep breath and did it, fitting her fingers around the slippery, hard surface and acting on pure instinct, set it into place beneath the ragged skin that was seeping blood all over her hands. She could feel the faintest click when it fit, then she looked up, feeling her heart almost rip in two at the expression on her soulmate's face. "I.. it's done."

Xena collapsed back onto the pallet, her eyes shut tight, and her hands clenching and unclenching in helpless reaction. Gabrielle dropped what she had in her hands and reached for her, a tiny whimper emerging from her throat as she grabbed the warrior's shoulders and pulled her close, hugging her in an attempt at comfort.

It took a long time before the pain subsided enough for Xena to breathe normally, and she lay cradled in Gabrielle's arms, her eyes closed as her heartbeat settled down and she started the weary process of dealing with that level of damage to her body.

It had been a while. More than a year since she'd really had more than a scratch, and she'd gotten into the habit of not having to deal with pain like this. Her cheek was nestled against Gabrielle's stomach, and she could feel the still uneven jerkiness of the bard's breathing as her hands gently stroked Xena's hair. "Thanks." She murmured.

"Gods, Xena." The bard sniffled, hugging her a little closer.

"S'okay." The warrior said. "Jus put some herbs on it… cover it… take care of the rest later."

"All right." Gabrielle sounded very, very glad of that. "Okay, I can do that.. what else?"

Xena felt the pain rolling over her, and knew she had to surrender to it, at least for a while. She tangled her fingers in Gabrielle's skirt and nuzzled her a little. "Be here."

"Don't you worry about that." Gabrielle's voice filled her. "I'll be here."

Xena nodded a little, and relaxed, slumping into unconsciousness with only the tiniest of sighs.

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

Gabrielle sat there quietly for a few minutes, stroking Xena’s hair with shaking fingers. Then she eased the warrior down onto the pallet and sat down on the wooden floor, resting her elbows on her knees and her head on her forearm.

When you’re cut, I bleed.

She almost started crying again. But there was too much to do, so she put that off until later, and lifted her head, thinking about what supplies she’d need and what to do next.

"Well." She glanced down at herself. "Dry clothes probably would be a good idea." With a sigh, she got up, wincing at the soreness in her legs, and crossed to their bags, removing a clean, dry tunic from hers and stripping out of her traveling gear. She sat down on the unevenly legged chair and pulled her boots off, tossing them over with Xena’s for later cleaning. What else did Xena tell her to do? Oh.. right. She dug in their gear and found a bundle of arrow shafts Xena had been working on. She took them, and two long strips of cloth and went back to her soulmate’s side, sitting down on the ground next to her and studying the ugly wound in her leg. "I’m glad you’re out, honey." She murmured, then very gently eased the warrior’s leg straight.

It wasn’t easy. Xena had very muscular legs, and years of riding tended to turn them slightly outward. But Gabrielle persevered, placing one of the arrow shafts on either side of the joint and securing them with the strips of cloth to keep the limb in place.

Once she was satisfied, she then took more water and cleaned the wound again, making painfully sure she got out every speck of dirt she could see before she got out her needle and the thin gut she’d learned to dislike and stitched the ragged skin over the shattered bone beneath it.

Not all the way, though. Xena had taught her that last time. She left a small space open and dusted everything with the powdered herb from the warrior’s kit.

There. Gabrielle felt better once that was done, and she put the kit away. Then she studied Xena’s pale face, and noted the mud smudging her skin everywhere. She took the remaining water and some clean clothes, and knelt beside the bed again, this time to clean as much of her partner as she could reach without moving her. She started by wiping around her face and ears, then unhooked the shoulder straps on Xena’s leathers and rinsed the gray mud off her collarbone. "And you always yell at me for getting dirty behind the ears, huh?" She murmured softly. "Look at you, Xena. Covered in gunk."

She loosened the laces that held the leathers closed, but knew she couldn’t get them off without lifting Xena, or cutting them. So she wiped the long arms, then switched to a different piece of cloth to work on the even longer legs, which were coated in gray, dried muck.

Xena would, Gabrielle acknowledged, probably be upset at her for taking the time to do this. Cleaning the wound, yes, that was necessary. But Gabrielle was sure her partner would have rathered she made herself comfortable and got something to eat, and relaxed instead of spending all this time on her knees cleaning her off.

Gabrielle examined her handiwork. Serve her right for getting hurt. She decided, much happier with her now mostly clean, relatively comfortable looking patient. She got to her feet and put the soiled clothes by the other wet stuff. Now she just had to start a fire in the small firepit, boil some water for infusions, and.. Gabrielle grabbed for the back of the chair as a wave of dizziness swept over her unexpectedly. She held on until the world stopped spinning, then sat down in the chair and reached for her bag. "And eat something, you jerk." She rummaged out one of their trail bars and bit into it, resting her head on a hand propped against her knee as she chewed. Ever since she’d been pregnant with Dori, she’d been more prone to these spells, usually held at bay by her regular meals and schedule.

Today had been anything but regular, though, and she should have expected this. She swallowed and glanced at the still figure on the pallet. Xena would have reminded me. She realized wryly. She always remembers.

Almost as though she’d heard the thought, Xena stirred, her eyes fluttering open and blinking in confusion. Gabrielle scrambled over to the pallet and put a hand on her arm quickly

"Easy, tiger."

"Wh.. " The warrior lifted a hand to her head and rubbed her eyes. "Damn… did I pass out?"

"Yeah." Gabrielle rubbed the edge of her thumb over the Xena’s skin. "I’m sort of glad."

Pale blue eyes flicked to her face, then down the length of the bed, studying the splint. "Ah." Xena put her head back down and exhaled. "Good work."

"Feel any better?"

Xena hesitated.

"C’mon, sweetheart. You don’t need to do the warrior princess routine with me, remember?" Gabrielle gently moved a bit of dark hair out of Xena’s eyes. "I’m going to make some soup for us, how does that sound?"

"Not hungry." Xena uttered.

"Ah ah ah." Gabrielle leaned on her elbows. "Would you let me get away with that?"

Xena’s lips twitched a little.

Gabrielle leaned over and kissed her on the shoulder. "I love you." She stated simply. "You know how much I hate when you’re hurting."

A hand traveled up and captured hers, and their fingers twined. "Yeah, I know." The warrior told her. "I’d love some soup."

With an amused twinkle, Gabrielle brushed her lips across the fingers clasping hers, and got up to retrieve her cooking things, aware of the eyes following her.

Xena shifted a little, then slumped back onto the pallet, tentatively taking stock of her condition. The pain, thank the gods, had subsided from truly horrific to something she could almost bear. There was a sharp ache in the joint itself, and trails of pain extended up and down her leg, but she realized that part of that was from the stitching Gabrielle had done, and the swelling constrained in the splint.

She lifted her head and studied it again, then cocked her head as she gazed down at her own bootless feet. "You cleaned me up."

"Mmhm." Gabrielle was busy at the fire.

"You didn’t have to do that, Gabrielle."

"Uh huh."

Xena rolled her head to one side to watch the bard. "Did you get something to eat?"

The smile was very evident. "Yeeesss."

"Before or after it was too late?"

Gabrielle turned and looked over her shoulder, a wry grin on her face. "It was a long day."

"Uh huh."

"I had a lot on my mind. You, for instance."

"Uh huh."

The bard stuck her tongue out, then turned back to her task.

Xena closed her eyes, wishing at least the pounding headache she had would ease. She tried to keep her mind off it by figuring out how their plan had to change now, tossing in this unexpected complication. Well, she considered. This really needed a good talker, and Gabrielle was better than she was at that anyway. Maybe the bard could handle this without her, and they could just hang around Athens until her damn leg healed enough to travel.

And how long was that going to take? Xena tried flexing her leg muscles, and immediately regretted it. Damn. What the Hades did I think I was doing anyway? Mucking around like that.. my damn mind is slipping along with everything else..

A hand cupped her cheek, and Xena opened her eyes. "That was fast."

Gabrielle sat on the edge of the pallet, and swirled a cup she held in her hand. "Soup’s not ready yet, but I think you’re ready for some help."

"Gabrielle, I’m not a child." Xena frowned. "I can handle this."

"I can’t." The bard looked her right in the eye. "And you’re making my guts ache, Xena. Please." She held out the cup, then got an arm around Xena to help her sit up when she took it. Gabrielle let her chin rest on the warrior’s shoulder as she drank the draught down, waiting for her to finish.

"There." Xena handed her back the cup and eased back down on the pallet. "Satisfied?"

Gabrielle laid the back of her hand against the warrior’s cheek, gazing at her compassionately. After a moment, Xena’s eyes flicked up to hers. "Sorry."

"And here I thought I’d have at least one day before you started going nuts." Gabrielle replied, with a smile to take any edge off the words.

She got a grudging smile back. "Getting impatient in my old age." Xena said.

The bard leaned over and kissed her on the nose. "Xena." She gazed into her eyes. "You were impatient as a toddler." She got up and went to stir the soup, which was sending wisps of nice smelling steam into the air. A ladle portioned some into a bowl, and she took a spoon with her as she returned to the pallet, to find her recalcitrant patient attempting to sit up. "Xena."

"Pouring soup over my head isn’t very effective." The warrior gritted her teeth. "Gotta sit up."

Stubborn. Gods help me if Dori inherited this in full measure. Gabrielle put the bowl down on the floor, then she slid in behind her suffering partner and settled back against the wall, pulling the warrior back down to rest against her. "C’mere."

"Gabrielle!" Xena protested, but between the pain and the herbs, it was just too much. She gave in and allowed the bard to cradle her, then relaxed as she realized just how much better that made her feel. She wasn’t sure whether it was just the angle, or the warmth of Gabrielle’s body, or… She let her head rest back against Gabrielle’s chest and accepted a spoonful of soup.

Why am I fighting this? The question occurred to her, as she swallowed the soup and felt the herbs starting to kick in and take the edge off the pain. "Gabrielle?"

"Mm?" The bard’s soft response was almost right in her ear.

"Thanks."

"For what?" Gabrielle offered her another spoonful.

And Xena really had no answer for that. Thanking her partner for caring about her seemed so… obvious. Of course Gabrielle cared about her, and if their positions were reversed, she’d be doing exactly what the bard was doing.

So what was her problem, exactly?

Xena swallowed another tasty mouthful. Just a matter of her pride, that was all. She acknowledged wryly. Exactly where that damn horse had kicked her.

A wave of sleepiness hit her. The pain was fading fast now, as the world seemed to get farther away. She was vaguely aware of Gabrielle shifting, and the sound of the bowl being put in the floor. Past that, she could hear the thunder of rain on the roof, a soothing sound now that they were inside, and dry. Her eyes closed.

Guess I’ll worry about that damn pride thing later. She muzzily considered, feeling her body succumb to the herbs and relax completely.

Gabrielle waited until she sensed Xena’s breathing deepen, and even out. Then she settled herself more comfortably, letting her cheek rest against Xena’s hair.

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

It was very dark, when Gabrielle opened her eyes back up and blinked, a little disoriented at first. Gradually, her vision adjusted, and she shifted a little, turning her head to look out the small window.

It was still raining. She could see the sheets of water falling past, and a roll of thunder shivered the floor briefly.

The fire was burning low in the firepit, giving off a hint of smoky comfort into the room and a pinch of light for her to see by. Xena was sound asleep, slumped against her, and she could feel the slow, even breathing that indicated she was likely to stay that way.

Good. Gabrielle felt a sense of relief. Even the strongest herbs wouldn’t have kept her asleep if the pain had been bad enough, and the bard was hoping to give her partner’s body a chance to start healing.

It wasn’t exactly comfortable for her, of course. Xena was a good deal larger and heavier than she was, and she suspected her legs would be painfully asleep before morning.

But that was okay. Gabrielle pulled the dark head a little closer, and kissed it, feeling the slightest hitch as Xena’s breathing caught, then went on. "Did you feel that, honey?" She whispered. "Can you feel how much I love you, even when you’re sleeping so deep?"

The warrior moved a little, then reached out instinctively, curling a hand around the arm Gabrielle had clasped around her. "You can, can’t you?" The bard murmured, charmed, remembering a time much earlier in their partnership, when things had been so different….

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

It had been the first time, really, that she’d been consciously aware of herself as growing up. Growing past that little kid stage where she was willing to accept Xena’s lead in everything, and she’d started to question the warrior insistently, wanting to share in the choices the older woman made for them.

It had all started with a fork in the road, and they’d been arguing over the path Xena had chosen for two days. She’d noticed that the warrior seemed to be getting shorter and shorter tempered, but by this time Gabrielle had traveling with her long enough to have lost her fear of that, and she’d just pressed her point until Xena had simply stopped responding at all.

Which, of course, had been even more aggravating.

They’d stopped in a sandy dell surrounded by pine trees, by a tiny spring that gave her enough water to put up a pot of soup, and wash the grime off her face while she marshaled her arguments for her next attempt. She’d decided on a plan, then stood up and brushed her hands off, looking around for her target. Xena had seated herself against a tree a little ways off, and that made her frown, thinking the warrior was really trying to avoid her this time.

Had she gone too far?

Gabrielle had wrestled with her conscience for a few moments, then decided she wasn’t going to let Xena win this round. "Okay." She held up her hands. "Now look, I realize you’ve got a lot more experience than I do, Xena, but we’ve been at this for a couple years now, and it’s not like I’m still this wet behind the ears kid anymore, okay?"

No response. There had just been a cool, remote look on the warrior’s face, and that ticked her off even further. She started to walk towards her. "Xena? Do you even listen to me anymore? Do you have any idea what I’m saying to you? Do you care?"

Nothing.

Several body lengths away, Gabrielle had just had it. She stopped and put her hands on her hips and glared. "Xena!" That, at least, had got a response, as the pale eyes tracked to her face. "You want to just tell me what little infraction of the warrior princess code I broke this time, so I can write it down?"

"Gabrielle." Xena had finally answered, in a hesitant, slightly husky tone. "Please stop yelling at me." She’d asked the stunned bard. "My head hurts."

Gabrielle never remembered crossing those last few steps and dropping to her knees among the pine needles. She’d put a hand out and touched Xena’s forehead, only then, only that close seeing the glazed look in her eyes, and the gray pallor under her outdoor tan. "Gods, Xena." She’d whispered. "You’re burning up.. why didn’t you say something?"

"I don’t get sick."

Gabrielle had gently pushed the dark hair back off her forehead, meeting no resistance to her touch and realized just how long this had probably been going on.

But she’d been too busy arguing to notice. For a moment, Gabrielle had only looked down at the sand, then she exhaled and gave Xena’s arm a squeeze. "Wait here. I’ll be right back." She’d gotten Xena’s cloak from her pack, and shook it open, then walked back over and tucked it around the already shivering woman with careful hands. "Is there something I can get you, some herbs, that you can take to make you feel better, Xena?"

She’d gotten a completely unexpected answer.

"Feel a lot better if you’d get under here with me." Xena had murmured, her eyes fluttering closed.

Gabrielle had frozen absolutely still for a long moment, just staring at her, unable to believe what she’d heard. It was the fever talking, she immediately dismissed the thought. Xena had no idea what she was saying.

Right?

Cautiously, she put a hand out and touched Xena’s face, as though she were checking for fever, and felt the warrior lean into the touch, and sigh.

Dear gods.

Gabrielle had sat back a little, trying to figure out what to do. She’d realized a few things in the last few minutes, one of the most important of which was that she was making the decisions at the moment, and Xena was trusting her to do the right things.

The other most important thing was that Xena might just have entrusted something she hadn’t really intended to the bard, with her normal emotional barriers down like they were. So Gabrielle had two choices, really. Pretend she hadn’t heard, or remember she had.

With a quiet sense of unreality, she’d gotten up and gone to the campfire, spreading out their bedrolls together. Then she went back to the tree, and gently helped Xena stand up and walk back over.

She’d sat down, and settled Xena against her, and put hesitant arms around her, feeling a quiet thrill as the warrior not only accepted her touch, but nestled closer, seeking comfort in a way Gabrielle had never, ever expected to see, much less have the opportunity to respond to.

"It’s okay." She murmured softly to her sick friend. "I’ve got you, Xena. I’ll take care of you, I promise." She felt the warmth of Xena’s breath as she exhaled, and tucked the edge of her cloak more closely around her shivering shoulders.

They’d stayed like that for a while, until she felt the chills stop, and Xena seemed to fall asleep.

In her arms.

Gabrielle allowed herself a few simple moments of wistful, sweet peace as she stroked the dark hair spilling over her chest. Xena’s head was nestled against her shoulder, so close, she could, if she wanted, lay her cheek down on it.

Would she ever have this chance again? Gabrielle slowly lowered her head, and felt the silky texture of Xena’s hair against her skin. She let out a held breath very slowly, and closed her eyes. "I’m sorry I yelled at you, Xena." The bard murmured. "I don’t know why we always do that. Fight all the time, I mean." She’d stayed quiet for a few moments. "You were saying yesterday the reason you don’t listen to me all the time is because I don’t think about things enough. I don’t see enough about what’s going on to make the right choices." A sigh. "Well, I guess you were right, weren’t you? I was so busy fighting with you over that I didn’t even notice you were sick."

Xena had started shivering again, and Gabrielle had hugged her closer, giving her whatever warmth she could. "You’re not going to remember any of this, are you?" The bard said. "That’s really too bad, Xena.. it would make me feel good to know you knew you could count on me." She managed a tiny smile. "And that I’m not really a little kid anymore."

Held in her fever, Xena let out an almost subvocal moan, and several words, which Gabrielle could not decipher.

"I know." She sighed. "You’re probably saying shut up, Gabrielle, right?" Gabrielle put her head back down against her friends. "Well, at least you’ll know that someone cares… that I care about you." Pause. "A lot." Another pause. "Even if we fight all the time, don’t forget that, Xena, okay?"

An owl hooted overhead, and the fire crackled, sending a spark up towards the stars.

"I do care." Gabrielle had repeated, letting herself feel the intensity of the emotion Xena had been stirring in her lately, nameless and powerful.

At least, it had been nameless.

Gabrielle gazed into the flames, her thoughts wrapped in a poetry she knew she’d never write. "I love you." She’d whispered, very, very softly, into all that night silence.

Fingers curling around hers sent a jolt all the way through her, and she lifted her head to peer at Xena. Her eyes were closed, her breathing hoarse, but even, she seemed deeply asleep.

And yet. Gabrielle's eyes went to her hand, now enveloped in Xena's, and pulled close to Xena's heart.

Had she heard?

It was a moment of timeless magic, even if it was the only one ever, and she owned it.

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

Gabrielle put her head back against the wall, letting the sound of the rain outside lull her back into a drowsy state. She was really glad they were inside, that was for sure. Around her, she could hear the soft creaks of the building, and realized it was very late by the absence of other sounds such as talking, or the clink of serving from the hall.

She closed her eyes. Sounds got louder as her other senses compensated, and she found herself listening to one particular set of creaks.

Just like the others, except these were softer. More persistent.

Coming towards them.

Gabrielle cocked her head and concentrated. Was she imagining it? The noises stopped, and she held her breath, waiting. Then she heard a very soft scuffing sound, just outside the door, and was in a dilemma. Should she wake Xena up, or just slip out and handle this? She could probably handle just about anything that was creeping outside her door this late a night in an inn in Athens, but…

A pressure on her wrist interrupted her thoughts, and she leaned forward a little. "Xe?" She uttered, in a bare whisper.

"I hear it." The softly burring answer came back. "Thief, maybe. He’s listening, deciding whether or not to come in."

Gabrielle cast a wry look at the ceiling. "What color are his boots?" She murmured into the warrior’s ear.

Xena’s frame moved slightly under her arms, as a chuckle silently shook her.

"Let me go check it out." Gabrielle carefully slid out from under Xena’s body and settled her down on the pallet, then she picked up her staff and, barefoot, walked in total silence to the door.

It was, she later remembered, the oddest of feelings, being the one to face danger, knowing Xena was watching her. She gripped her staff and paused next to the door, listening intently.

Was that breathing? Gabrielle’s brows creased.

Another creak. She slipped to one side of the door and raised her staff, waiting, her eyes on the edge of the wood. Her body tensed, fingers curling around the leather wrappings as she came over her center of balance, ready for anything.

She waited. Nothing happened. After a few moments, she tore her eyes from the door and glanced over her shoulder, to where Xena was lying, the warrior's eyes just the barest glints in the firelight. She knew Xena could see her, though, so she shrugged in question.

A soft grunt answered her. Gabrielle turned her head and exhaled, leaning closer and trying to focus her hearing as she'd been taught. She thought she still could hear breathing outside, but the other noises had stopped completely. Then a soft scuff alerted her and she stiffened, her jaw muscles clenching and her heart picking up in anticipation.

Creaks. Now moving away. The bard's brow creased again, but there was no denying it. The sounds got softer and softer, and eventually faded off into nothing. "Hmph." Gabrielle straightened up and curled a hand around her staff, feeling vaguely disappointed. "Well, Hades."

A soft chuckle came from the pallet.

Gabrielle sighed and turned around, making her way back over to the other side of the room. She rummaged in their pack and removed two candles with their holders and lit them, then stirred the fire a little to provide a bit more light. She left one candle on the table and brought the other back with her to the pallet. "What was that all about, I wonder?"

Xena had pushed herself upright, and was raking her fingers through her hair. "Ugh." She sighed. "Probably decided on an easier target. This room's at the end of the corridor.. easier to get trapped."

"Mm." Gabrielle gave the warrior's leathers a tug. "If you sit up a little more, I can get these off you."

"Got a better idea." Xena slowly eased her injured leg off the pallet, then swiveled, and got her good leg under her. Gabrielle realized what her intent was and got a shoulder under her arm as she stood shakily up. "Wh… hold on.. where the Hades do you think you're going?"

Xena grasped the bard's staff, and managed to remain upright as the pain of the blood rushing down to her leg hit her. "Nowhere." She gasped. "Just want you to throw the furs on that thing… straw's driving me nuts."

The bard quickly did so, spreading not only Xena's but her own sleeping furs on the pallet. Then she tugged the laces free on Xena's armor and eased it up over her head, careful not to upset her balance. "Hang on." She grabbed a clean shift and got it over her partner's head, it's soft folds releasing the familiar scent of home to both of them. "There." She helped Xena sit back down on the pallet, the warrior's face dead white, and her jaw rigidly set. "Okay… lie down, and … yeah." She eased the splinted limb back up onto the bed and knelt down.

Xena had her arm thrown over her eyes, and her fingers were flexing. Gabrielle knew better than to distract her when she was attempting to get control over herself, so she just took the warrior's other hand in hers and held it, remembering an echo of her earlier daydream and letting a faint smile cross her face.

A moment later, she felt her arm move, and looked up to see Xena pulling their joined hands upward, to rest gently against her chest right above her heart. Surprised, her eyes lifted and met weary blue ones looking back at her.

Xena managed a smile. "I love you, too."

A flash of lightning lit the room, sealing the scene in Gabrielle's mind's eye in silver and shadows, as a moment in her life beyond words and full of that same magic.

There would be a poem in it. Tomorrow.

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

The crowds were out early. Gabrielle slipped through them, glad at least that the rain had stopped, at least for the moment. Gray clouds were still lurking moodily overhead, but the weather had cleared enough to bring everyone out from under crowded roofs.

She paused in a crossroads, trying to stir her memories of being here years past. The city had certainly changed, had grown and spread out to twice the size it had been on her last visit. It was also a lot more full of people, most of whom seemed to be there to enjoy the games and whatever other entertainment they could find themselves.

That included drinking a lot, even this early, and looking for amorous adventures with the nearest good looking or sometimes not so good looking neighbor in the streets. Gabrielle evaded a couple of outstretched hands, though second looks in her direction tended to make the reaching fingers back off.

Gabrielle only hoped it was her businesslike air and Amazon war staff that caused the reaction. She ducked past a rolling delivery wagon and headed down a side street, following her ears towards the sound of the marketplace. She had a list of things she wanted to get, and by the looks of things it was a good thing she'd gotten out early. Some of the herbs Xena had asked her for were on the rare side, and she was hoping to get to the market stalls before either the weather or the crowd emptied them.

The one bright spot of the morning had been the reassuringly healthy look of the wound on Xena's leg. Though the swelling was still horrific, and the warrior was in very obvious pain, there was no reddening of the skin around the break, and the edges where she'd stitched were closed and already starting to heal.

Of course, there was a down side to that. Gabrielle exited the side street she'd taken and arrived in the market square. The large space was full of trader's booths, and there were already a number of people browsing among them. Not too many, though, the bard was glad to see. She started down the first row. The down side to Xena's injury was that the more quickly it started to heal, the faster the warrior wanted to have it be over and done with. The broken bone needed time to knit, but Gabrielle knew how restless her partner got when she was confined to bedrest, especially since they were in a strange place.

At home, maybe, she'd have a chance to keep Xena still for a few days. In Athens? In a ratty old inn with nothing really to keep her attention occupied?

Forget it. Gabrielle paused as she spotted a herbal stall, and changed direction towards it. The wizened woman inside it studied her as she approached, her thin hands sorting among the herbs idly. "Good day to you, citizen." She greeted Gabrielle politely.

"Morning." The bard replied, with a smile. "I've got a list here… "She named off six herbs, and got a raised eyebrow in return. "Do you have them?"

The woman chewed her lip. "Are you a healer?" She asked.

"Why?" Gabrielle asked, leaning on her staff. "Do you need to be to buy herbs here?"

"Most healers won't buy from the market." The woman explained. "So I wondered.. not that I won't sell to you, m'dear, but if it's your fortune you're looking to make here, best not be seen buying in the common stalls."

Gabrielle laughed in pure reflex, the sound drawing curious looks from the stall's neighbors. "Gods, no." She shook her head. "That's the least of my worries."

She dickered with the woman for a few moments, then paid her dinars, and tucked the precious herbs in her carrybag with a sense of relief. There, now her most important errand was done, and she could relax a little and maybe find some fresh fruit, and something to keep her soulmate busy for a day or two.

A hand touched her arm, and Gabrielle whirled, her staff shifting automatically into a defensive position. She found herself looking at a young man with curly brown hair and a snub nose, who was studying her with puzzled, fascinated eyes. Something about him struck a chord of memory, and she studied him in return for a long moment.

"Gabrielle?" He hazarded. "It is you, isn't it?"

A moment of blankness, then she exhaled. "Euripides?"

He smiled. "Yes."

One of the young friends she'd made during her very brief stay at the Academy, who had struggled with her through the bard's competition. Euripides had stayed on after she'd left, to learn the bard's trade. "Wow. It's been a long time." She murmured. He was dressed in a thick, very good quality white toga, with golden braids, and he'd grown a little over the years.

"It sure has." He agreed softly. "I almost didn't recognize you… but I’m glad I did, because we were all talking about you the other day, and we wondered… "

Gabrielle gently pulled him out of the flow of traffic as a cart almost ran them over without regard. "I wondered a lot about you guys too." She said. "I was going to drop by the Academy while I was here…. See if any of you were still around. I guess so, huh?"

"We're still here." Euripides seemed fascinated by her, his eyes studying her over and over again. "I can't believe you're here.. you've changed so much."

Gabrielle felt a little self conscious. "Have I?" She shrugged slightly. "Well, it's been a while.. you look pretty different yourself."

Euripides abruptly realized he was making her uncomfortable. "Gods, I am sorry, Gabrielle. You must think me a complete boor for standing her staring like a rank neo." He glanced down the row. "Can I buy you a cup of wine? I'd love to hear what you've been doing.. I mean.. " He laughed a little. "We all know what you've been doing, with your scrolls and, all but…"

Gabrielle hesitated, then recalled their second mission in the city, and judged she could spare a few moments to catch up and maybe get some information. Euripides at least seemed to know what was going on in the city. "Sure." She shifted her staff to her other hand, and joined him as they walked down the narrow way. "City sure looks different."

"Oh, yeah." Her old friend nodded. "It's growing like anything. We've got so much new building going on.. the new theatre, and all that." He looked pensively at the ground, unaware of the sharp, green eyes studying his profile. "It's great."

"It's strange to come back here, after all this time." The bard commented. "I remember how I felt coming here way back when, and how incredible I thought it all was." She paused, seeing something in a stall. "Hold on a minute.. I need those." She crossed the path and entered a small tent, it's roof a glorious patchwork of every old cloth it's owner apparently had ever come across.

Scattered over the uneven, old wooden table were eclectic piles of carved items, in varying shades of wood. Gabrielle picked up three intricately interlocked puzzle balls and gave the man behind the table a look." How much?"

"Ah.. them's just the thing for the little ones, eh?" The man cackled, and rubbed his hands. "Keep em busy round the clock, those will."

Gabrielle held back a grin. "Oh, I hope so." She agreed.

Eurpides stepped closer. "Did you.. I mean, you've got kids?" He sounded a little surprised.

Gabrielle paid the vendor for his puzzles, and tucked them in her bag before she took her friend's arm and led him back out onto the path. "I have a daughter. Her name is Doriana."

"Oh." He ran a hand through his brown curls. "So.. who's the lucky guy?"

The bard's eyes twinkled. "Xena." She kept walking.

He didn't.

Gabrielle continued along the row, knowing he'd eventually catch up to her. She got all the way to the first fruit and vegetable stall before he finally did, slowing his pace and approaching her uncertainly as she browsed amongst the summer melons.

"G.. gabrielle, I don't… um… I'm kind of trying to…"

"Don’t." Gabrielle replied, selecting some gorgeous pears. "C'mon, help me carry these, and I'll try to explain."

They moved off to the next cluster.

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

The sound of a goat's bell came clearly in the window, along with a humid breeze that stirred the dark hair on Xena's head as she lay quietly on the room's pallet. Her eyes were closed, but she wasn't sleeping. The pain had taken to coming and going, and it was in it's coming phase, the ache building to a sharp lancing that traveled up her leg and into her groin.

She took a deep breath, trying to will it away, suspecting that the swelling around the joint was what was causing her the most agony.

"Ow." Xena muttered. "Stupid son of a bacchae." After a few minutes of crescendo, the pain started to lessen and she let her eyes open, gazing listlessly across the room, indulging in a childish wish that Gabrielle would get back and at least help take her mind off the damn thing.

An idea struck her then, and she eyed their saddlebags across the room, weighing the effort she knew it would take to get to them against the mind numbing boredom she was suffering under, even though the bard had only been gone for less than two candlemarks. She decided it was worth it, and slowly eased her leg off the pallet, letting it rest on the floor while she swung herself upright and got her good leg under her.

Getting up was a little tough, but she managed it, using her innate sense of balance to shift her weight. Carefully, she planned her route, reaching out first to the chair Gabrielle had left nearby and using it to steady her progress as she hopped over to the bags.

Gods, it hurt. Xena felt her aggravation rising. But she had the bag now, and she turned slowly and started to make her way back to the pallet. She found herself sweating bullets as she reached it, dropping down on the narrow surface and leaning back against the wall for a moment to let the waves of pain fade.

Damn it. She gazed in disgust at her leg. Of all the stupid, idiotic ways to get hurt. Xena plucked at the sturdy bandage holding the splint in place. It had been a long time since she'd broken anything like this, and she'd forgotten just how much it handicapped her.

Pain wasn't something that generally bothered Xena. She was used to it, after a lifetime of fighting, she'd had her share, and more than her share of injuries of all types. Cuts, bruises, the odd cracked rib here and there, arrows in the gut.. she'd seen it all, and carried on doing what she had to do despite dripping blood over everything.

It was one thing to ignore the pain of a four inch gash in her side, but an injury like this, where the limb would not bear her weight was something else, and she knew until the swelling went down and the joint started to heal, walking was going to be a problem.

So. Xena folded her arms over her stomach. She'd need a crutch. For a crutch, she'd need sticks. For sticks… Her eyes wandered over the room, to where the window let in gray light. Ah. Outside the window there was an olive tree. She dug their wood ax from her pack and hauled herself up again, hopping over to the window and almost crashing headlong into the wall.

The sill was at her shoulder level, and she put the ax on the sill before she curled her hands around the wood and pulled herself up, laying on the sill on her belly and peering out at the tree. She studied the branches with a critical eye, then reached out and grabbed one, picking up the ax with her other hand after looping the thick gut cord tied to it's haft around her wrist. Trusting her balance, she swung the ax, chopping through the springy wood with the muscular power of her upper body without the benefit of leverage.

The branch suddenly cracked, and she tensed, shifting her body weight back and pulling the branch back with her. Another cut and it was free. She jerked it inside and dropped it, then scanned the tree for her next victim. The best choice was just out of her grasp, though, and she frowned at it for a moment.

Then she loosened her grasp on the ax and swung it around her wrist, leaning forward and aiming carefully. The ax whirled over the branch and fell on the other side of it. She drew it back and it caught it's edge on the wood, pulling the branch back towards her. She grabbed it with her other hand, and, with a smirk, set about chopping it's base.

This one broke unexpectedly under the strain, and Xena had to slam her good knee up against the wall under the window sill to keep herself from toppling out, but she succeeded in keeping her balance and pulled herself back inside the room, lowering herself gingerly to the ground with her prize.

Her body was not happy with her. The throbbing in her bad knee was now sending intense jolts of pain straight up her spine, and her ribs hurt from the contact with the sill. Ignoring this, Xena grabbed the other branch and hopped back to the bed, collapsing on it with a heartfelt groan she'd never have let pass her lips had anyone else been present.

Not even Gabrielle.

Xena eased back against the wall and got her leg propped up, wincing at the now seeping blood rolling down from the gap the bard had left. She took a piece of linen from her kit and held it over the gash, then she picked up the cup of herbs Gabrielle had left at her bedside and swirled them around before she put it to her lips and took a healthy swallow.

They left a bitter taste in the back of her mouth, but she welcomed the taste, willing the painkillers to start working on her mostly empty stomach. She closed her eyes and waited, breathing slowly and evenly until the waves of agony began to subside.

She put the cup down, and shifted, getting as comfortable as she could, then resolutely pushed the rest of the pain out of her mind and started working on her branches. The scent of bruised leaves filled the small room as she trimmed the wood carefully, littering herself and the pallet with smaller branches, leaves, and curls of bark.

When Xena was done, she had two long branches of even length. She studied them intently, then laid the end of both on the edge of the pallet and chopped at them with pinpoint accuracy, shaping the bottoms into slanted points. After she had them how she wanted them, she fitted the ends to each other and lashed them together with a piece of tough gut from her armor repair kit.

Then she had to stop and rub her eyes, as the herbs took a stronger hold on her, putting a hazy layer between her and the room. She let the joined sticks rest across her hips and fished in her saddlebag, finding a pear and a piece of dried venison inside. She set the pear on her stomach and chewed the venison, her eyes half closed as she listened idly to the sounds outside.

She heard angry voices, and the sound of a door slamming, then a series of loud whacks as though a filled sack was being hit.

Then a child's scream.

Xena's eyes popped wide open and she was on her feet before she had time to think about it, heading for the window in a series of powerful hops. She grabbed the sill again and hauled herself up, her head snapping one way then the other as she searched for the source of the noises.

A wagon stood outside, with two muddy mules hitched to it. The back was loaded high with anonymous boxes and as she watched, a man came from around the back of it, dragging a young boy by the arm. The boy was crying, and even from where she was, Xena could see a red welt on the side of his face from being struck. The man threw the boy up into the front of the wagon, then grabbed the lead mule's cheekpiece and cuffed the animal in the face, causing it to start and plunge ahead, pulling the wagon after it.

The warrior's eyes narrowed., and her jaw clenched, but she faced reality and realized that now that the scene was over, there wasn't much she could do about it. Then she paused, and her sense of humor lifted it's head. "Oh, and what were you going to do before that, Xena? Jump out the window and fall on the bastard?" She slid back down inside the room and hopped back to the bed.

At least the excitement had offset the somnolence of the herbs, she reasoned, as she sat back down and picked up her crutch, raiding her supply of arrow shafts to finish it. She whittled out notches in the two sides and fit three bound shafts into them to form a place for her hand, then she lashed another three across the top to support her under her arm.

When she was finished, she regarded her handiwork critically. "Well, it's crude.. but it'll work." Xena finished off the crutch by wrapping the top in a bit of leather and attaching a piece of old copper plate from her armor over the tip so it wouldn't splinter, securing it with a few of Argo's extra nails tapped in with the back of her ax.

Then she sat back and glanced around the room. "Now what?" Her eyes fell on her pear, which had rolled off her and bumped against the far wall. With a grunt, she hauled herself up once again, and fitted her crutch under her arm, easing her weight onto it as she tried a step.

It was awkward, but she'd judged right and made the support tall enough to keep her injured leg off the floor as she hobbled carefully across the room to retrieve her errant fruit. She made her way back and bit into the pear, holding it in her teeth while she shook out the top sleeping fur, sending leaves and twigs scattering all over the floor. Then she laid down and relaxed, glad the herbs had the pain under control, and she'd done something useful with her morning.

She dug in her bag again, and this time fished out a small, leather bound volume, opening it to a page at random and studying the words inside it.

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

The sun felt very warm on Gabrielle's back, and she briefly wished she'd forgone her sedate, rust colored knee length tunic for her Amazon style garb. She and Euripedes were seated just off the plaza in a small courtyard, nibbling on a tray of fruit and cheese and sharing a flagon of chilled wine.

"I know it seems pretty strange… ." Gabrielle sipped her wine. "But it's true. We really have settled down in Amphipolis. That's why I'm here, to talk to the council about our taxes."

Euripedes fiddled with a grape. "But… what about your stories?" He glanced at her, then away. "I thought you told us that's where your destiny was.. out there on the road, doing things.. helping people…"

It stung a little. "We still help people." Gabrielle retorted. "What do you call defeating Andreas and his army? We certainly saved your Athenian butts."

Her old friend looked abashed. "Oh, you know what I mean, Gabrielle." His tone was concilatory. "After all, YOU were the one who said all that stuff. So what happened?"

What happened. Gabrielle sighed. "What didn't happen?" Her lips tensed into a slight smile. "I grew up, for one thing." She lifted her eyes to meet his. "And I learned a lot of hard lessons."

He blinked.

"I'm not the kid who faked her way into the Academy anymore." Gabrielle went on. "I haven't been for a while… but I still have a lot of stories left to tell, Eurpides. She paused, eyeing him with quiet speculation. "What about you?"

"Me?"

Gabrielle nodded. "What have you been doing? What's going on at the Academy… you know, that kind of thing. How's everyone else?"

"Oh." Unaccountably, he looked at his hands. "Well, things are great, you know?" He said. "We've all done pretty good… getting our stories read at the theatre.. and hey, one of mine's being done as a play."

The bard smiled. "Congratulations."

"Yeah." Euripedes murmured. "Then, of course, there's the big competition.. but you know all about that I guess.. matter of fact, I sort of thought maybe you'd come to Athens to join in."

Gabrielle's pale head inclined towards him. "Competition? No, I hadn't heard about it. What's it for?"

"Well, for everything… whoever wins will be the Great Bard of Athens… they'll get to administer the new theater, get the council stipend, you know, the works." He leaned forward. "They're set for life… the council decided to have the competition during the games, that way they're guaranteed the best audience."

"Uh huh." Gabrielle bit into a slice of pear thoughtfully. "Competition must be pretty fierce."

"Oh yeah." Her friend looked vaguely unhappy. "It's kind of put us all against each other… I mean, I know that's natural, but we'd…." He searched her face. "It's been a long time since we all stuck together for you, that's for sure."

"I guess we've all changed, then." Gabrielle said, watching his face thoughtfully. "How's Homer doing?"

Euripedes frowned immediately. "He finally gave up." He shook his head. "Picked up his scrolls and left.. a few sevendays ago. Can't say I blame him much."

Could it be really that simple? "Wow."

A scuffed step made them both look up, only to find a pair of shapely hands appear on the table, attached to a beautiful woman now leaning over them. "Well, well, Euro. Who's your friend?" The woman asked, in a low, throaty voice. She was tall, and had intricately braided chestnut hair that framed an oval shaped face with deepset dark brown eyes.

Gabrielle noted several things at once. One, the woman's presence made her old friend tense and wary. Two, that he was afraid of her. And three, that she was being studied hungrily like a bug under review by crow.

Her nape hairs prickled in pure reflex, and she resisted the urge to stand up and move out of the looming woman's shadow.

Euripedes looked at Gabrielle and spoke quickly, almost stumbling over his words. "Oh, she's just a friend, Celesta. From the provinces. Up to see the games, you know." He put a hand on Gabrielle's arm and squeezed almost imperceptibly. "You're out early."

The bard's eyebrows lifted, but she remained silent.

Celesta settled a hip on the edge of the table. "Not to see the plays? You're not importing ringers to vote for you now, are you, Euro?"

"No, sorry." Gabrielle cut in smoothly. "I didn't even know you were having a competition… are you in it, too?" She kept her tone politely interested and her expression friendly.

Celesta chuckled, a very melodic sound. "In a manner of speaking, yes." She agreed, focusing almost completely on Gabrielle now. "Maybe you could come and see a rehearsal.. I’m sure it's something you don't get to see a lot of out in the .. provinces."

"Very true." Gabrielle smiled. "Thanks for the invitation."

"Anytime." The woman stood up, and returned the smile meaningfully. "Noon, at the theatre. Be there." She sauntered off, the soft, drapy white fabric of her toga outlining a slim, but muscular form with just a hint of a swagger to it.

Gabrielle watched her go, then turned and pinned Euripides with direct, intense eyes. "Okay." Her voice took on a sterner note. "What the Hades is going on here?"

Her old friend hesitated.

"You didn't tell her who I was for a reason." Gabrielle went on. "So what was it? Who is that?"

He looked around, then leaned closer to her and lowered his voice. "That's Celesta."

"Thanks, I'd gotten that far myself."

"She's a native of Athens… her family's one of the richest, most important ones in the city." He continued on.

"What a surprise."

Euripides blinked at her. "You've gotten a lot more cynical."

"I've lived a lot more." Gabrielle said. "Go on."

He fiddled with his cup, then nodded. "She came to the Academy about a year ago.. her father bought her a spot there." Euripedes said. "She's sort of …" He paused. "I mean, she's come up with some okay stories, but…" Another pause. "What she actually does is kinda… well, she just runs over anyone who tries to compete with her."

The bard rested her chin on her fist. "Uh huh."

"So, she's going all out to win the Bard of Athen's title." He sighed. "She probably will, too."

"But not because she has the best stories." Gabrielle guessed. "Is that why Homer left?"

He shrugged. "I guess… he didn't talk to anyone before he took off. He was the one we'd all figured to win before that though - some of his stuff is so good, Gabrielle. " Euripides gave her an unhappy look. "She just got too much for him, I think. She stole all the best players because she could pay them, and had the best rehearsal times.. she bought great costumes… he just couldn't compete with that."

"Uh huh." The bard murmured.

"So, I figured telling her who you were wasn't a good idea." He said. "She'd figure you were here to mess her up, and you probably don't want that kind of trouble, right?" His eyes traveled over her face, which had gone still and thoughtful. "I mean, it's bad enough she noticed you.. and she did notice you, Gabrielle. She's got a thing for..um.. "

"Hicks from the provinces?" Gabrielle asked wryly.

"Good looking blonds." Euripides answered, with an apologetic grin. "She's got quite a reputation."

Gabrielle acknowledged the compliment with a smile.

"Well… speaking of, I'd better get back." He sighed. "It's almost time for my rehearsal." They both stood up, and Gabrielle shouldered her carrybag, now full of purchases. "Listen, Gabrielle…"

"I'll stop by." The bard interrupted him. "But um… I think it should be a surprise, don't you?" Her green eyes twinkled a little.

He grinned back. "Absolutely." Euripedes put a hand on her shoulder. "See you later, okay?"

"Okay." Gabrielle watched him walk off. Then she cast a speculative eye around the square, mulling over her options before she nodded, and took a determined path back the way she originally had come.

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

A warm wind blew into the room, stirring numerous half curled leaves on the floor before it reached the still figure lying on the pallet. Xena's eyes were closed, and her hands folded over the small volume she'd been reading. Her breathing was slow, and very even.

Across the room, the door inched open cautiously. Eyes peered in, watching for a long moment, before the door opened wider and slim figure slipped in, dressed in dark, nondescript clothing. The figure's gaze roamed over the room, and settled finally on the saddlebag next to the pallet.

A smile creased the thin face, and the figure crept silently across the floor, placing each sandalled foot with sure caution, not making even the slightest sound. Halfway there, the intruder stopped and waited, studying the sleeping figure on the bed intently. Reassured, they continued forward, until the bag was within reach.

The figure knelt and reached a hand out, touching the worn leather and slipping fingers along it until they curled around the strap, gathering in the slack with expert skill. Then they straightened up, lifting the bag without the slightest scuff, and turned, starting towards the door with a look of triumph.

Until they found themselves held in place by an iron grip around the ankle.

The thief glanced back, to see sparkling blue eyes and a ferocious grin, and panicked. He lunged forward despearately, pulling with all his strength against the hold on his leg.

"Oh no." Xena growled, launching herself out of bed and grappling with him. Her weight threw him off balance, and they both crashed to the floor, knocking over the table in the room and sending the pitcher of water and the bowl on it flying in separate directions to shatter against the wood.

"Leggo!" He yelped. "Help!" He threw the bag he'd taken away and now just struggled for his life, kicking out and striking at the long arms that pinned him in place.

Xena rolled to one side and pulled him with her, then she grabbed his tunic and yanked him right over her body and onto the floor on the other side of her, almost knocking him senseless. He squealed and fought off her hands frantically, finally ripping himself loose of her by untying his tunic and wriggling out of it.

Then he scrambled to his feet and bolted out the door, leaving it open behind him.

Xena gazed a the tattered fabric in her hands, then tossed it into the corner and rolled up to a sitting position, wincing at the jolts of pain in her leg from the abuse of it hitting the floor. "Son of a bacchae." She grumbled. "Shoulda just chakramed him."

Footsteps sounded again, and this time her head jerked up and tilted, as she recognized the distinctive pattern. With a grunt, she pushed herself to her feet and hopped back to bed, lying down quickly and picking her bound scrolls back up and opening them as the footsteps reached the door and stopped.

For a moment it was silent.

"Xena?" Gabrielle's voice entered the room.

Xena peeked over the top of her book. "Hi."

"What on earth have you been doing?"

Innocent blue eyes widened as Xena put the scrolls down and pointed at her own chest. "Me?" She asked. "Nothing.. why?"

Gabrielle stood in the open doorway and surveyed the room. The wooden floor was almost obscured by leaves, branches, and bits of bark. The table was overturned. Shards of pottery were scattered across a bodylength size water stain, and the chair was upside down and missing a leg.

She looked at Xena. Then she just shook her head and closed the door behind her as she carefully stepped around all the debris and took a seat on the edge of Xena's pallet. "Xena, a naked screaming man just came out of this room." She remarked conversationally. "Are you sure you didn't have anything to do with that?"

One dark eyebrow lifted. "Just what are you suggesting here, Gabrielle?" Xena drawled. "He definitely wasn't my type."

A snort.

Xena chuckled. "Our thief decided to have a second try." She admitted. "That's all."

"Uh huh." Gabrielle scooped up a handful of leaves. "What about these?"

Xena held up her crutch. "Thought I'd probably need this."

The bard examined it. "Oh." She touched the neatly made tip with a respectful finger. "Wow.. that's great, Xena. But I th.. " She looked at the crutch, then glanced out the window, then looked her soulmate.

Xena shrugged modestly.

Gabrielle just decided not to ask. Instead, she set her bag down and took Xena's hand in hers. "How are you feeling?" Her eyes flicked to the cup of herbs, which was now very empty. "Need more of that?"

"I’m okay for now." The warrior replied. "How'd the shopping go? Get everything you needed?"

"Got more than I bargained for." The bard told her, wryly. "That Homer thing is going to be more complicated than we thought."

"Gee." Xena poked inside her bag and fished out the lamb pocket sandwich her nose had already identified. "What a surprise." She took a bite and winked.

Gabrielle stuck her tongue out in response.

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

Continued in Part 5

A Matter of Pride

Part 5

Gabrielle gazed idly across the small room, acknowledging the late afternoon somnolence as the warm air drifted over them, and the sunlight gilded the floor creeping past her feet. She was sprawled on Xena’s pallet with the warrior’s head pillowed in her lap, and very content to merely let the moments pass while Xena slept.

They’d discussed what she learned that morning, and decided on a plan of action. Xena wasn’t terribly happy with the plan, since it didn’t have nearly enough action for her, but until her leg mended, they both agreed that a full out frontal assault on the Athenian Council probably wasn’t the best idea. So they’d decided to keep a low profile for a few days and spend their time finding out all the information they could.

Xena had wanted to start tonight, by venturing out and prowling the poorer sections of the city. But Gabrielle had seen the swelling growing around her knee, and the pain crease Xena's forehead, and she convinced her to wait until the morning. With a sigh, she shifted the arm she had laid across Xena's shoulders and cast an eye down towards the warrior's leg.

She had propped it up on some folded blankets, but even from where she was, she could see the worsened bruising. Good sense would dictate that Xena simply stay off the darn thing for a few days, but the warrior seemed incapable of staying still for that long unless Gabrielle dosed her with painkilling herbs and that held it's own dangers.

Xena hated using them. It took extraordinary pain for her to even think about it, and she had explained to Gabrielle once that it sometimes became too easy to rely on them, and that was dangerous and bad.

Well. Gabrielle smoothed the hair back off Xena's forehead. That might be true, but she considered the risk worth it in this case because the more the warrior insisted on moving around, the less chance her leg had to rest and heal. She studied the angular face. Maybe if she stayed with Xena and kept her company, it would be different.

Gabrielle nodded a little to herself as she closed her eyes and leaned back. Yeah, that's what she'd do. She'd stay right here, and tell Xena some of her favorite stories… maybe make up some new poems…or maybe they'd just talk. Or maybe they'd….

She wasn't even conscious of falling asleep.

"Gab?"

Her eyes opened back up, and she blinked, her brow furrowing as she tried to reconcile the change in the room's light, and her body's stiffness. "Uh...." Gabrielle looked down, to see Xena peacefully looking back up at her, the warrior's hands folded over her stomach. "Wh…"

"Good morning."

Gabrielle stared at the window, then back down at the warrior, acknowledging the stiffness in her back, and the numb feeling in her legs. "Did I… did we sleep all night?" She asked, incredulous. "Ow." She bit her lip as she moved. "Son of a… "

Xena rolled onto her side, and let the bard stand up and stretch. "We sure did." She stifled a yawn. "Pretty damn disgraceful, huh?"

The bard rubbed her face, feeling very dazed. "Uh... yeah." She walked over to the replacement water basin she'd coaxed out of the innkeeper the day before and splashed handfuls of water over her head. "Wow." She turned to find Xena sitting up in bed, having eased her splinted leg off the pallet and onto the floor. "How's it feel?"

Xena examined the limb, touching the bruised skin with a cautious finger. "Swelling's down a little." She said. "Doesn't hurt as much."

"That's good." Gabrielle wiped her face off and walked back over. "Ugh." She sat down next to Xena on the pallet and rested her head in her hands. "How can I feel like a wagon rolled over me after sleeping that long?"

Xena eyed her knee thoughtfully, then turned her head and regarded her partner. "Probably the way you were sleeping." She said. "Sitting up, I mean." One long hand patted the bard's thigh. "Thanks for the pillow, though."

Gabrielle smiled. "Anytime." She leaned against Xena's shoulder. "Gods know, you've been mine often enough." Her voice was warm with affection. "Well, let me go get some fresh water, and I'll make us some tea." With a sigh, she got to her feet and retrieved the larger of their two waterskins on the way to the door.

Xena waited for it to close. Then she retrieved her crutch from under the pallet and hoisted herself to her feet, fitting the device under her arm and trying a few tentative steps. Ah. It hurt, but unlike the day before, it was a manageable hurt that she could handle. She maneuvered over to the window and looked out, watching the early dawn light spill it's way down the tiny, crooked street the inn was located on.

She could already hear the city around them stirring, and the smell of humanity and beasts in close quarters was almost overwhelming. Xena leaned her arm on the sill and let her eyes follow a woodsman's cart, the small pony drawing it struggling to pull the heavy vehicle up the street in the humid air. It stopped in front of the inn and the animal stood, it's sides heaving, as the carter jumped down and strode towards the inn's door, his heavy boots booming on the wooden planks outside.

The pony's head turned and it's solemn brown eyes met Xena's for a brief instant.

Xena turned and moved away from the window, going to her pack and opening the outside flap of it. She let her fingers curl around the contents of the pouch and drew it out, then she hobbled back. A moment for a her eyes to judge angles, then, with a flick of her wrist, she released the chakram into the air.

With a keeining whir, it sliced through one side of the pony's traces, making the animal snort in alarm, then bounced off an iron bound barrel of water standing nearby and riccocheted back over the pony's back, cutting the other side. Feeling the light sting against it's skin, the pony bolted, almost stumbling in shock when the wagon didn't follow him.

Xena caught the chakram as it returned, and watched contentedly as the pony ran off down the road, trailing it's reins behind it. A brief grin crossed her face as she let the chakram rest on the sill, it's inset jewels winking at her in the early morning light. She heard the door open behind her, but her ears had identified the intruder long before they entered and she remained where she was, enjoying the light breeze.

"Anything interesting out there?" Gabrielle's voice drifted across the room, over the faint clanks as she set their small waterpot on the tiny firepit and restarted the fire. "Xena, is it just me... " The bard went on, not waiting for her to answer. "Or are people in big cities just more obnoxious?"

Xena turned and regarded her. "More self centered, maybe. Why?"

Gabrielle riffled her fingers through her hair and leaned against the table. "There was the biggest jerk in the hall just now. What a mouth on him... just nasty and cursing… just because the innkeeper was taking her time about counting out the firewood fee."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Did you know they're not allowed to cut their own wood?" Gabrielle went on, wandering over to join her at the window. "They have to buy it from this guy."

"Maybe that explains his attitude. " Xena remarked. "Doesn't have to compete." She turned and they both glanced out the window as a bellow of rage was heard. "That him?"

"Sure is." Gabrielle lifted herself up a little and peered out. "Oh... what happened?"

"Looks like his horse escaped."

The man held the traces in his hands, and was shaking them at the innkeeper in rage, their cut ends very obvious. Gabrielle looked at them for a moment, then looked at the chakram on the sill. A grin appeared as she regarded Xena. "You are such a troublemaker."

A finely arched dark eyebrow lifted. "Got a problem with that?"

Gabrielle rubbed her cheek along the skin of Xena's upper arm, then placed a kiss there. "No." She replied. "That's one of my favorite things about you."

They both turned and watched the carter storm off down the road, leaving his cart of wood behind him. After a moment, the innkeeper's boy poked his head out, then scampered over and helped himself to several cords of wood, ducking back into the inn with them as a soft laugh traveled back to their spot at the window.

Xena chuckled and turned, making her way back across the room to put the chakram back in it's pouch. The crutch was becoming easier for her to use, as her body adjusted to the restriction, and she experimented with it, edging around the walls while Gabrielle pulled out clean clothes for them.

Gabrielle was, she knew, itching to tell her to sit down and get off her leg. Xena appreciated the fact that the bard held the sentiments in, though, as Xena herself had done while Gabrielle was pregnant.

Well, sort of. The warrior admitted wryly to herself. "Feels pretty good." She announced.

The bard's lips twitched, but she kept silent, mixing the herbs in their cups as she waited for the water to heat.

"Not good enough to wander around the city though." Xena continued. "How about you go chase down your friends at the academy, and I'll find a spot inside the main room here, and see what I can find out about the slaves."

Gabrielle stirred the tea, and added a drizzle of honey to it. She handed Xena hers as the warrior took a seat by the repaired table, and sat down across from her. "What makes you think you can find that out here?" She asked curiously, taking a sip.

"Stands to reason. This place draws fighters." Xena replied.

"Why?"

"It's a... um… " Xena muffled a smile. "House of fellowship." She watched the pale brows knit. "Companions for hire?"

"What… this?" Gabrielle spluttered. "Xena, are you telling me we're staying in a… "

"House of ill repute, yes." The warrior's eyes twinkled. "No wonder they liked your face." She remarked dryly. "Good thing you stayed out of the common room."

Gabrielle slapped her head and groaned. "Okay… I’m finding someplace else for us to stay." She sighed. "Before we get into real trouble."

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

There were many people on the road to Athens. They were all shapes, all sizes, and represented villages and towns across the entire territory. They'd been traveling in some cases for days, and were covered in dust and mostly overheated.

They all turned, however, and watched as a small group trooped past, leading a wagon pulled by four sturdy roan horses.

In the wagon rode a group of elders, with stern faces, dressed in good, sturdy cloth and leather. Driving the wagon was a bearded man and a dark haired older woman.

But none of that really attracted attention. What did attract it was the group of six Amazon warriors marching along in front of the horses, and the wolf trotting along behind them.

Ephiny wiped her brow, and gave her nearest neighbor a wry look. "Tell me again why we're doing this?"

Eponin had been counting rocks in the road. Now she looked over at her friend and lover, and scowled. "You made me lose count." She grumbled. "We're doing it to help out Xena and Gabrielle."

"Uh huh." Ephiny glanced behind her. "Just so I'm clear on all this, Athens levied a tax on Amphipolis. Our queen, and the rocking, socking Warrior Princess decided it was a touch on the heavy side, so they came here to gripe about it."

"Right."

Ephiny moved closer. "And since when did either of them need our help in kicking ass or taking names?"

The Amazon weapons master sighed. "Look, Eph... you know as well as I do they'd want us to come along to guard their family." She peered over at the youngest Amazon member, the slim, blond Cait who currently had a familiar backpack strapped to her, with a living cargo. "Especially since Dori's here."

The Amazon regent eyed their bright eyed, dark haired charge, who was busy unraveling Cait's neat braids. Ephiny had been a day late coming down from the mountains, and had caught up with them on the road. She'd been wondering how much ale her friends and relations had consumed before this particular plan had been put together ever since. "Oh. Yeah. Right."

Eponin looked furtively at her. "Well, we couldn't leave her, Eph... c'mon, now."

Ephiny eyed her.

"Okay." Her lover sighed. "It was a choice, either we took her with us, or stayed there and took care of her."

Hazel eyes widened.

"We made the right choice, huh?"

Ephiny felt a shiver of just escaped danger travel down her back. Naturally, she loved her friends little daughter who was, after all, an Amazon princess. But she also loved all her body parts and her personal dignity, and both tended to end up in tatters every time she had to assume responsibility for Dori even for the shortest amount of time. "Uh… yeah."

Eponin exhaled, and went back to counting. "Gimme the heat, gimme the rocks, gimme the crowds of Athens… " She hummed. "Just save me from dangerous Dori…"

"Bck." Dori spoke up, having heard her name. "Poopoo! Come!"

Eponin winced.

Cait reached up and caught the baby's hand. "Did you run out of things to play with then, Dori?"

Distracted, Dori bounced up and down a little, making Cait's slim form waver noticeably. "Go Boo!"

"Yes." Cait replied. "We're going there ever so fast, so take it easy." She glanced at the tall, glum looking Amazon walking next to her. "Here, Pally... want to carry her for a bit?"

Paladia stared at her. "No. You cracked? Or do you think I am?" She edged away from the baby's grasping hands. "That kid's more trouble than a handful of skunks."

"Nonsense." Cait objected. "She's a lovely little girl. You're just mad at her because she tricked you last night and stole your cakes." She glanced at Dori. "Isn't that right, Dori?"

"Yes." Dori agreed seriously. "Cat go find Boo. Find Mama."

"One track mind." Paladia rolled her eyes. "You two must be related."

"Oh, hush." Cait squared her shoulders and kept marching. "She just wants her family, you can't hardly blame her for that, can you?"

Paladia kept her eyes on the road, kicking debris out of her way in morose silence. After a moment, Cait moved closer and bumped her with an elbow. "Sorry."

The taller woman shrugged. "You ain't got none either." She remarked. "Except them." Paladia indicated the Amazons.

"That's not true." Cait replied. "I've got you, don't I?"

Paladia fell silent for a totally different reason, her skin taking on a deeper tone under the sunburn that covered most of her exposed body.

Cait exhaled, enjoying the silence. They'd been traveling for a week, and it had been quite horrid at times. The elders from Amphipolis were ever so quarrelsome, and the Amazons they'd brought with them bickered all the time at each other. Really, it would have been so much better if she'd just snuck out with Pally, Dori, and Cyrene, but no one listened to you when you were a junior.

And besides, they were all quite upset with Xena and Gabrielle for leaving the way they did. Not that Cait blamed them. Certainly not, and after a week her opinion of her personal heroes had jumped up quite some notches for doing just exactly that.

Clever, they were. Cait cast a look over her shoulder, to where Cyrene was admonishing two of the loudest complainers. But once Cyrene had decided to come along, and Johan, that meant Dori had to come along as well, and she wasn't about to let anything happen to her.

She simply wasn't. It was just too important to both her idols. Even if Dori did tend to get into frightful messes, and did tug one about. Cait looked up at the sky, finding herself relieved to see the sun arcing down towards the horizon.

Ephiny shaded her eyes against the slanting sun, then she slowed up and waited for the wagon to roll up next to her. "Cyrene?"

The innkeeper turned in her seat and glanced down. "Sorry, what?"

The Amazon regent shifted her sword sheath on her back a little and exhaled. "Listen, we've done pretty good today. You think it's time to give it a rest?"

Cyrene looked behind her, where Joscylyn was arguing with his wife. "Oh yeah." Xena's mother agreed grimly. "You got a town in mind, or are we going to have to settle for camping under some tree again?"

Ah. "There's a nice spot near here." Ephiny skirted the question. "It's got a cave… nice little waterfall, too."

Cyrene sighed. "I’m too damn old for this." She groused. "All right. Fine." She turned. "We're stopping off the side of the road for the night."

"What?" Joscylyn half stood. "Come on, Cy! We've got plenty of good time to travel left! At this rate we'll never get there!"

"That's right!" His wife agreed. "Let's wait till we get to the next town! I don't want to sleep outside again!"

The other elders stoutly chimed in, comfortably seated in the padded wagon seats while the rest of them marched in the sun. Ephiny and Cyrene exchanged looks, and the regent made a mental note to bow at Gabrielle's feet for dealing with this and not becoming a homicidal maniac. "You know what?" Ephiny leaned over the edge of the cart. "We're stopping. If you want to go ahead and risk having bandits rob you blind, have at it." She waved a hand at the Amazons. "Hold up! Make for the caves."

Joscyln snorted. "What cheek!"

Cyrene glared at him. "Well, I’m going with them, so if you want to drive this thing, get your ass up here." She got down from the wagon and grabbed her large bag, which contained Dori's things. "I told you to stay in Amphipolis, you old goat." She stormed off after the Amazons.

Johan offered the reins to the reeve.

"Fine." Josc threw up his hands. "We'll stop. "

"Smart move." Johan got down and started to lead the horses off the road.

"I hope you don't mean for us to wash in that cold water again." Josc' wife complained. "Why can't those Amazons ever find a hot spring, if they're so clever?"

Johan just shook his head and kept moving. It was shaping up to be a very long night.

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

Xena entered the common room of the inn quietly, edging around the periphery of the room and taking a seat near the back window. She leaned her elbows on the chair arms and let her eyes slowly track around the space, taking in the occupants with a flickering glance.

It was a good sized room, used for more than just eating. On one side there was a fireplace with low, comfortable chairs around it. The perimeter of the room had tables, but there was a cleared area in the center whose worn wood planking suggested the space was used for activity of some kind.

Dancing, Xena suspected, as she watched some of the servers enter. They were all either young, or a little older than you'd expect, marking the tavern as one whose patrons could not afford the best and choicest of the paid flesh of Athens.

Still, there were willowy boys, and carefully dressed, comely girls who quickly spread out across the room, greeting the scattering of patrons with ready smiles and warm looks. Xena found herself the target of one of them and she looked her stalker over as the boy approached.

"Hi." He was slim and fair, and had beautiful gray eyes. "Can I get you something?" He leaned casually on the table, exposing a tan, shapely hip through the slit in his toga.

A diaper? Xena managed to keep the quip to herself. "Sure." She purred. "What do you have to offer?"

That got her an immediate, interested look. "Well, about anything you could ask for. " The boy smiled at her. "But we could start with some cold cider, and some of the fresh bread I can smell baking."

"Sounds good." Xena's eyes twinkled. "What's your name?"

"Mikah." He drew a finger down the surface of the table. "I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere." He got up and headed for the small kitchen in the rear, with a gentle swagger that was both deliberate and eye catching.

Xena rested her elbow on the table and her chin on her fist, and chuckled softly to herself. Not a bad start. She let her eyes slowly move around the room again, sizing up her fellow patrons. Three or four were merchants, dressed in rugged broadcloth, and two of those were sitting together, their heads bent close.

Making a deal, she mused. At a table behind the merchants, two men in half armor sat, nursing cups of ale despite the early hour. They had the look of hired mercenaries, and Xena's experience noted their well kept weapons which were never far from their hands.

On the other side of them, a large, round table held a group of four men and two women, all six wearing remnants of the harness she'd last seen in the gladatorial arena. They seemed to know each other, and were having an animated discussion about the previous day's fights. All six were young, and in very good condition, and their talk was loud and cocky.

The mercenaries, Xena noticed, weren't impressed.

"Here you go." Mikah had returned, and set down a cup of cider, and a trencher with a round, slightly steaming loaf balanced on it's very center., with a lump of butter perched to one side of it. "Want me to slice it for you?"

"Sure." Xena nudged the chair next to her with her good foot. "Siddown."

Mikah looked quite pleased at being asked, and Xena had a feeling the pleasure was genuine. She waited for him to start to work on the loaf, then took a sip of the cider. "You from around here?"

He glanced quickly up at her, meeting her eyes for a brief second. "No."

"Didn't think so." Xena chuckled. "Thrace?"

Another quick, almost shy look. "How'd you know? You from there?"

"Amphipolis."

He stopped cutting and cocked his head, looking at her full on now with a curious, intrigued expression. "Really?"

Xena nodded slowly.

"Well, hi, neighbor." Mikah grinned. "What brings you up to the big city?"

"Business." Xena shrugged slightly. "What about you?"

Mikah put the carving knife down, and picked up the spreader, carefully spreading the sweet herb butter on the slice of bread he'd cut off. "Well… I could tell you a sob story about how I was an orphan abandoned after my parents were killed by raiders and I was sold by my fellow villagers into slavery for a couple of dinars."

"But?" Xena found herself intrigued by the boy.

His eyes met hers again. "But the truth is, I didn't want to be shepherd, so I ran away and ended up here." He handed her the bread. "It's not so bad. The money's pretty good, and you get to meet some interesting people sometimes." Mikah smiled at her. "Like right now, for example."

Xena watched him, as she took a bite of the bread and chewed it. "Yeah?" She said. "What made you pick me… I’m just a traveler from the backwoods with a bum leg."

His smile went from shy to dazzling. "Well… since you asked." He replied. "Two reasons. One, you're beautiful. Not many people who come in this place are."

One dark eyebrow lifted slightly.

"And two, there's something about you that's dangerous." Mikah added. "I like that."

Xena's other eyebrow lifted. "You do, huh?" She mused, wondering what to do with this precocious youth, who probably didn't realize just exactly how dangerous his attempted conquest was.

The boy smiled at her, and licked his fingers.

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

Gabrielle dodged to one side to avoid crashing into two men coming the other direction, neither of whom seemed to see her or cared if they hit her or not. Both men were dressed in fine togas, one a light blue, and the other a buttery yellow, with gold trimmed hems and finely cured leather sandals.

"You’re excused." The bard muttered, as she turned and headed up a wider street, up towards the broader avenues she remembered the Academy being built on. The weather had cleared up nicely, and the sun was shining again, and she was glad she’d picked her lightest colored sleeveless tunic to wear. It was close to the togas the men had been sporting in style, and she didn’t feel too out of place as she joined the stream of bodies moving up the broad thoroughfare.

As she walked, she listened to snippets of conversation going on around her. Everyone seemed to be excited about the games, and there was a lot of betting going on. Gabrielle paused for a moment, stopping at a stand selling fruit and buying two apples, then continuing on her way, munching as she walked.

Athens had definitely grown. The buildings on either side of the street seemed higher, some as much as three stories with staggered marble steps leading down to the road. On either side of the lane ran muck channels, taking waste off down the hill to where, she assumed, it spilled into the river.

Surprisingly, the smell wasn’t too bad, but Gabrielle wondered if that was because it really wasn’t, or if she was just getting used to it. Even Amphipolis made her nose wrinkle after they’d first come in from the road, and it had taken time for her to adjust back to the smells of humanity after all that time with just her and Xena.

Not, she admitted, stepping over a channel and continuing on. That they didn’t have their own smells, the two of them, not to mention Argo, all creatures did after all, and some were better than others, but Xena had taught her from the very start of their travels how to be as neat and clean in her personal matters as possible.

It kept you from getting sick, for one thing, the warrior had told her, and Gabrielle had seen that to be the truth when they’d gone through towns who didn’t keep to the same standards. Besides, she knew just how sharp her companion’s sense of smell was, and the last thing she’d wanted to do, even from the first, is give Xena excuses to get rid of her.

A woman passed her, and the bard held her breath as a wave of perfume almost made her eyes water. She continued on, climbing up the sloping street towards the white buildings beyond. She let herself make casual eye contact, giving brief smiles in return when she got them, and absorbing the many different kinds of people there were packing the city.

Finally, she reached the top of the slope and glanced around, then turned to her left and walked across the wide boulevard, edging between the carriages that moved ceaselessly along it. The Academy was on the right hand side, and she slowed as she approached the steps, pondering on the best course of attack.

There were several young people sitting on the stone stairs, studying scrolls and laughing. Gabrielle doubted any of them would either recognize her or know who she was, so she felt comfortable in approaching them, cocking her ears to listen as their discussions traveled towards her.

"Did you see the toga he was wearing? It was so short, if he leaned over you could see his… " The girl speaking glanced up as Gabrielle's shadow fell over her, then returned to her conversation. "Whole rear end!"

"Ew!" Her companion giggled. "How gross! Did you hear what Celesta said about him the other day? She's so wicked!"

"Excuse me." Gabrielle interrupted their chatter. "Could you tell me where I could find Euripedes?"

The girls glanced at each other, then the older one looked coyly up at her. "Who's asking?"

"A friend." Gabrielle replied, with a smile. "He invited me to watch his rehearsal."

"Oh." The girl cleared her throat, then she carefully got up, arranging her robes with elegant flicks of her hands. "Okay, well, first you go inside, then you take a left, go down the long corridor, then take a right, and you'll be in the main hall. I'm sure he's probably in there, like he usually is, doing… " She paused delicately. "Research."

"Thanks." Gabrielle replied cordially, stepping around her and heading up the stairs. Not fast enough to escape the whispers, however.

"Oo... that's a new one!"

"Yeah... not his usual at all" A snicker. "This one's got a backbone… and did you see those legs?"

"Hmmmmmfmfmfmmmmmm" Gabrielle hummed to herself, blocking out the comments as she escaped into the building. "Okay… now let's hope I remember… ah." She ignored the girl's direction and took the first right hand turn, down a winding corridor that smelled of marble dust and age. It was very quiet inside the building, and she didn't see anyone as she paced over the stone floor, ducking past two open doorways before she reached the end of the corridor and a heavy, wooden door.

She put a hand on the latch and pushed inward, feeling the weight of the door giving way only grudgingly against her strength. As it opened, a gust of air puffed out, bringing with it the scent of parchment with it. She entered, and closed the door behind her, then leaned on it.

The library of scrolls.

Gabrielle knew she had a mission to accomplish, but she'd promised herself that she'd take just a moment when she got here just to satisfy a purely personal, very egotistical need.

She took a breath, then she walked slowly down the towering wooden shelves, all of them packed from top to bottom with heavy, bound scrolls, carefully labeled and ordered in a neat, precise hand.

Off in the rear, she could hear movement, and she knew she wasn't alone, but she kept on walking, until she found the spot she was looking for, and stopped, facing the shelves square on, and tilting her head back just a little, to read the lettering bounding a shelf full of newer scrolls.

Hers.

She read the card with her name on it over and over again, not even noticing the fact that the handles of the scrolls were well worn, or that a number of them were missing, neatly lettered cards in their places.

"Well, there, my good lady."

A quiet, sweet voice almost made her jump. Gabrielle turned, hastily wiping the back of her hand over her eyes. "Sorry… you startled me."

A stocky, bearded man in a sky blue robe was standing there, his hands clasped over a substantial middle. "Athena's grace, I didn't mean to. Would you like to check one of those out? I can help you."

Gabrielle glanced over her shoulder. "Um... no... no, that's okay. I know those." She murmured softly. "By heart."

"As do so many others." The man nodded, and smiled. "Read them a number of times, have you?"

The bard was silent for a moment, then she met his gaze squarely. "No, I wrote them." She paused, as he blinked at her in evident shock. "I always knew they were here, I just… " She looked at the shelf. 'Wanted to see it."

He took a step forward, almost unconsciously. "You… are Gabrielle?"

Gabrielle nodded.

His eyes went to the scrolls, then to her face. "Great gods." He breathed. "Do the masters know you're here?"

The bard cocked her head. "No... I don't think anyone does." She replied. "Why?"

His face creased into a totally unexpected smile. "Would you do me the honor of accompanying me, Bard Gabrielle?" He asked, courteously. "There are several introductions I would love to make of you." He offered his arm. "And, by the way, it's a great honor to meet you myself. My name is Rudalf. I am the master archivist here."

Gabrielle felt a little offbalance, but in a nice way. She took the offered arm, and smiled. "Lead on, Rudalf." She wondered, briefly, if this wasn't going to stir up a lot of trouble.

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

The attentive Mikah had vanished briefly to the kitchen. Xena relaxed back in her chair and noted the room filling up. Most of the patrons were lower class, merchants and city workers looking for a plate of the inn's food and some companionship out of the hot sun.

She'd learned a bit, though. Mikah had told her a little about the underbelly of the Athens society he moved through. He was a bound servant, having given over his freedom to the innkeeper in return for his keep, and a percentage of the dinars he eared for his companionship. As such, he was on the top level of slaves, since his indenture was for a finite term, and he could buy himself free if he wished.

He'd seen no reason to want to yet, though, he'd said. The inn, while it was one of the dingier ones down the hill, lacked the sometimes cruel tastes of the more fashionable ones and so far, he'd had a relatively easy time of it. A number of the other boys and girls here were in the same status, but others were true slaves, and the older types all were, fallen into a place where this provided at least a bed and food to eat.

She'd casually asked about the slave market in the city. Mikah had readily answered her, giving her names, and places where she could bid on the newly arrived, but also hinting that his contract might be for sale if she was really interested.

Xena indulged herself for just a few minutes in imagining Gabrielle's reaction to her bringing home Mikah. She almost snorted cider out of her nose when an image of the look on her partner's face materialized in her minds eye, and she hastily put her cup down and wiped her lips as she continued to chuckle. "Look , hon… a babysitter. Think Dori'll like him?"

She could just imagine the reaction.

The outer door opened at that moment, and she glanced up when it slammed against the wall. For a moment, a tall, broad outline showed against the bright sunlight outside, then the door was closed and her vision adjusted, taking in the newcomer.

Ah. One of their friends from the road. Xena's nostrils flared in reflex. The man who'd called her a peasant, as a matter of fact. Up close, he had an arrogant face that went with the attitude, as his eyes roamed around the room, then settled on the table next to hers.

Damn Xena sighed. Figures. She watched him cross the room, pushing people out of the way until he reached the table and sat down, his eyes flicking over her, then away in dismissal. He had a tunic on this time, at least, but he settled his arms and flexed his muscles under it like an eagle preening it's feathers.

Now what... Xena mused. Was a purported participant of the games doing in here? Her attention was distracted briefly by several musicians, who settled down on one side of the fire, and started softly tuning their instruments, and by the time she turned back, the newcomer had claimed one of the servants, and had her sitting on his lap. As she watched, he fondled her openly, then pulled her down to him and kissed her.

Amateur. The warrior rolled her eyes, and shifted a little, so that she was facing the cleared space in the center of the room where, it appeared, there was going to be some kind of a show. Sitting still so long, however, was starting to make her body a little antsy, and she decided to wander down to the slave traders stalls after whatever the entertainment was finished.

The music started up just as Mikah returned, sliding a plate of sliced meats and fruit in front of her, then settling down at her feet to watch.

The first performer to enter the cleared area was a young girl, swathed in linen cloth. She started to dance to the music, revealing a sinuous grace and definite skill. After she worked her way around the square, she started peeling off the layers of cloth, keeping her motions slow and seductive.

Hm. Xena rested her head against the chair back. The musical performers were better than she'd expected, and she felt herself relaxing a little as the music and the dancing melded.

The dancer wasn't bad either. As she continued, she revealed a lithe, slender body with a pale golden tan, and a jewel set right inside her navel. Xena was surprised, in fact, at the sophistication of it all, not what she expected in a joint like this.

The girl made eye contact with her, and smiled. Xena lifted an eyebrow and smiled back.

Maybe she could get Gabrielle to join her for the evening performance. The warrior mused, as the dancer removed the last of her covering, and changed her movements, sliding from sinuous to outright seductive as she started playing to the interested crowd.

A young boy in a loincloth joined her, running his hands over her body as she bent over his knee, grabbing the edge of his loincloth in her teeth.

On second thought. Xena scratched her ear, a faint chuckle working it's way out of her chest. Gabrielle might find it a little too much… um…

The girl moaned.

Yeah.

It certainly was making the audience enthusiastic. Xena could hear the sounds of mingling bodyparts behind her, and as she glanced around the room, the reason for the dancing was immediately apparent. The boys and girls were now doing a brisk business.

Mikah got up and perched on the arm of the chair she was sitting in, hitching his tunic up with a frankly unapologetic grin. "Like the dancing?"

Oh boy. Xena folded her hands over her stomach and exhaled. "Very pretty." She drawled, as a second woman, slightly older and far more exotic joined the duo on the floor. The newcomer was very tall, and had cinnamon colored skin that seemed to collect the light and burnish it with fire. She also had an animal like grace, and the three of them started an intricate dance, which had hands going everywhere and showed off the boy's flexibility to a startling degree.

It was almost impossible not to react. Xena knew herself to be a very sensual person, and she appreciated the beauty and raw sexual energy of the dancers. In her younger years, she'd been no stranger to places like this, and those memories were stirring inside her, reminding her of a different time.

A different place.

Mikah leaned casually closer, very gently brushing his leg against her arm.

When she was a different person. Xena glanced down, acknowledging the fact that there hadn't been many times since she'd become intimate with Gabrielle that she'd even been tempted by anyone or anything else. Emotionally, she wasn't tempted now, but her body was definitely alive to the energy rolling around the room, and she knew she'd better either do something about it, or get the Hades out of the place.

Fortunately, her decision was made for her.

"You little bitch!" Her neighbor roared suddenly, breaking the spell of the dance, and causing the musicians to falter.

Xena turned to see the man backhand the young girl, sending her sprawling over the next table. Her body tensed, and she only just kept herself from intervening, reminding herself she was unarmed, and had a splinted leg to contend with. "Hey!" Nothing was wrong with her throat, though. "What's the problem? Couldn’t keep it up long enough?"

The man jerked around to stare at her, as the nearby patrons erupted into laughter. The music petered down as one of the girls ran over to help their fallen comrade up.

"They say the bigger they are, the easier they fall." Xena went on, in a taunting voice. "Guess it's true." She felt Mikah laughing, his body shaking slightly though he wasn't making any sound.

"Shut up!" The man snarled. "You have no idea who you're talking to!"

"Likewise." Xena purred back, keeping her pose relaxed, and her hands folded over her stomach.

The innkeeper hurried over, washing his hands nervously as he approached the big man. "What's wrong? Did she not please you, m'lord? Let me get someone else… please... sit down… "

"Get out of my way." The man shoved the innkeeper to the floor and stormed out of the inn, throwing a table to one side and slamming the door open.

"Hey!" Xena called after him. "Better buckle your tunic. You're exposing your weak points."

The crowd laughed again, the two mercenaries nearest her giving Xena a grin, and a knowing nod. They each had a girl on their laps, and half their armor undone."

The innkeeper turned, and glared at her. "I didn't need you to cause trouble for me." He lowered his voice. "That's Jason the Bull. He's a very powerful man!"

Mikah shifted a little forward. "Jonas… " He spoke softly, causing the man to lean closer. "This is Xena of Amphipolis. If half the stories I've heard are half true, Jason is lucky he left with his parts intact."

Hm. Xena was impressed. So the kid had known what fire he was playing with. Her estimation of him went up a few notches.

The innkeeper stared at him, then looked at her. "Is that true?" He hissed, mindful of the interested crowd now paying close attention to them.

Xena nodded.

The man studied her for a long instant. Then he shook his head and turned towards the dancers. "What are you staring at? I pay you to dance! Start the music!" He waited for the sound to resume, then gave Xena one last look before he scurried off towards the back of the room.

Well. Xena now found herself the subject of quite a bit of attention. She sighed and leaned back. "Teach me to try and stay low key." She glanced up at Mikah. "Thanks for the intro. Didn't know I had my name tattooed on my neck."

Mikah grinned. "You don't." He admitted. "I guessed."

Xena's eyebrows rose.

"You're a fighter." He cheekily picked up one of Xena's hands and examined it, turning it over and running a finger across her callusd palm. "You wield a sword… and you have for a long time." He paused. "You're tall, and you have dark hair and beautiful blue eyes, and an attitude right from Hades."

Xena chuckled.

"So I took a chance." Mikah's voice took on a reflective tone. "And I was right. I’m glad you told off that brainless ox. He's been in here before, and he... " The boy paused. "He's never satisfied, and he doesn't care if he hurts people."

Xena studied his profile, his cheeks covered in soft down, not even long enough to shave yet. "You one of those people? " She asked quietly.

He didn't answer for a moment, then he shrugged, and gave her a smile. "Occupational hazard. I’m used to it."

They regarded each other in silence, then Xena looked across the room. "I need to move around a little." She stated, drawing her crutch out from under the table. "Nice day for a walk."

He got to his feet as she did. "Would you like someone to walk with you?" Mikah asked. "To open doors if you need it?"

Xena's lips twitched. "Sure." She nodded towards the exit. "Lead on." She followed him through the crowd, aware of the eyes fastened on her as they left the music behind them, and entered the bustle of Athens outside.

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

Gabrielle looked from one weathered face to another, in the semicircle seated around her. "You want me to what?" She asked, in a slightly incredulous tone. "I didn't come here to compete in your contest."

"We know that." The oldest of the women held up a hand. "Believe me, I can imagine this is a shock to you."

The bard got up from her chair and paced around it, then leaned her hands on it's back and studied the elders. "Let me see if I understand this." She said. "You decided to hold this competition to raise money for the academy, because you figured you'd get a great turnout because of the games."

"Right." The woman nodded.

"Then Celesta showed up, and bullied her way in."

Another nod.

"Now, if she wins, she'll take over the academy and throw you all out, is that it?"

"Er... something like that yes." An older man agreed. "We were not… how shall I say it… very complimentary to her initial efforts here."

Mist green eyes regarded him. "You told her she wasn't any good?"

"Not exactly." The woman stood also. "We just… we suggested ways for her to make her works better."

"Ah." Gabrielle put her boot up on the chair and leaned on her knee. "So... if she's not that good, why are you worried? Won't the audience just not vote for her?"

"It's not that simple." The woman said. "Celesta is very intelligent, and very well connected here in the city." She paced as she spoke, waving her hands. "Her family is very rich… and she's spared no expense in buying the best talent... the best musicians… and " Here, the woman frowned. "It's not like we have our usual audience here in Athens. Many of the visitors are from the provinces, and they will be tremendously impressed by all the grandeur she has planned."

"Uh huh." Gabrielle murmured. "So, even if her show isn't the best, you think she'll win because it'll be big and loud?"

"Exactly." The woman agreed. "It's not a matter of… "She hesitated. "Of sophistication or quality, you see."

"So, you have a rich kid from the city who's pouring dinars galore into this production, so she can impress the country bumpkins and win your contest, so she can take over the Academy and turn it into her own private playhouse and control all the art in Athens?" Gabrielle concluded. "Is that it?"

"Exactly." The woman let out a sigh, and the men all nodded and muttered. "Very good summation, Gabrielle."

The bard waited a beat for them to settle. "So you're coming to an itinerant shepherd's kid from the provinces to get you out of this mess?" She had to smile. "Pretty wild, don't you think?"

They all looked at each other, then the older man scratched his beard. "Irony is one of the muses, no?" He murmured.

"Look." Gabrielle sighed. "I’m flattered to be asked… honest. But these people have been preparing for moons… I talked to Euripides yesterday.... he's been rehearsing half a year for this."

One of the men, a tall man with a beautiful white beard crossed over to her, his weathered face quiet and very serious. "My name is Eleneus. I am the senior bard here." Gabrielle straightened as he approached and he reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. "Gabrielle… let me tell you something." He paused, then went on. "I am an old man."

Gabrielle's lips twitched, but she remained silent, fascinated by the deep resonance in his tone.

"I've seen it all. Especially, I've seen it all here." The man went on, with a faint smile. "Every year the plays get bigger and bigger, everyone tries to outdo the other, with music.... with dancing.... with exploding firepots… good Zeus, last year we had someone actually construct a Trojan Horse and had it dragged onstage."

The bard chuckled a little in response. "Must have been quite a sight."

"Damn thing collapsed and nearly took out half the stage and a quarter of the audience." The man shook his head in bemusement, the looked up into her eyes. "But all that means so little. There is no heart to it, you see. Only spectacle." He put his other hand on her shoulder. "Your stories need none of that, Gabrielle. They reach out and touch the soul."

Gabrielle had no idea of what she should say to that. She studied his face with quiet intensity. "What if your audience really wants all the frills?"

Elanus shrugged a little. "Then it will be so. At least they will have a choice."

Would it hurt? Gabrielle felt a little incredulous thrill at the thought of getting up in front of all those people. But what would Xena think about the request? The bard thought about that for a moment. Xena would... Gabrielle took a breath. Smirk. That's what Xena would do, she knew it. Her partner would like the idea of watching her up there, in spite of the complication it would add to their already complex mission.

However.

"All right." Gabrielle quietly replied. "I'll do it."

The man smiled broadly at her.

"But I have two conditions." The bard went on. "One, that you keep this under wraps until it's time for me to go up there. I've got stuff I have to do, and I can't have this getting in the way of that."

"Surely."

"And… if I do win… " Gabrielle smiled slightly. "I'm not going to stay here and keep your title."

If anything, they all only looked profoundly relieved on hearing that,and Gabrielle realized that the competition had been, for them, only a sham. They'd expected to be able to control the winner, who would have become, she could see, a figurehead.

And they'd gotten hoisted on their own mast.

"Excellent... we're all completely in agreement." Eleneus sighed. "Thank you, Gabrielle." He glanced around as the other elders approached, with warm words of thanks. "It's time for some refreshment... Gabrielle, please join us."

"Sure." Gabrielle went along with the guiding hands, as they headed down a long, polished corridor towards the brightness of an internal solarium. "Actually, I was coming here looking for a friend. Maybe you could help me find him."

"If we can, surely." Eleneus smiled. "What is his name?"

"Homer." Gabrielle watched for the reactions, and got them, ranging from startled to embarrassed "I heard he left here… can you tell me what happened?"

There was an awkward silence as they kept walking, then Eleneus sighed. "Let's get some wine first." He guided her through a cut stone door into a glorious open space. "The story is a long one."

Well, Gabrielle reasoned. At least her visit was going to be productive. She found herself settled onto some soft pillows, as servants scurried around, pouring out a rich, fruity wine that tickled her nostrils. She only hoped Xena's day was going as well as hers was.

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

It just felt good to get outside. Xena paused briefly on the corner, and let the light breeze blow over her, giving her body a chance to settle before she decided what direction to head off in. It wasn't comfortable to walk, really, but she figured if she took it slow, and tried to avoid climbing tall hills, she should be okay.

And, conveniently, the harbor was downslope from where they were. Xena planned her route, then started on her way, her body adjusting to the awkward strain of the crutch with rather more grace and ease than she'd expected.

"So." Mikah paced alongside her. "How did you hurt your leg? Some great adventure?"

Xena repressed a smile. "Nope. I got kicked by a horse." She edged around a big hole in the walk

"Really?"

"Yep." The warrior was glad to trade the heated tension of the inn for the sweat of her current struggle. "Tried to help some jackass get a wagon out of the mud. " She sighed. "Teach me to get between a horse and his better instincts."

Mikah was quiet for a few steps. "That must have hurt a lot."

Xena shrugged. "Not really." She said. "Just annoying."

They joined a small stream of people heading down the road. Xena found her neighbors to be roughly clad working men and women, and some stragglers that dragged along belongings, or limped as she did. Her dress didn't stand out, but she was aware of the eyes on her nonetheless.

Feeling her nape hairs prickle, she steered over to a small, rude wine stand and dug into her belt pouch, letting the crowd flow by her. Mikah edged to one side, his expression a little puzzled. "I don't.."

Xena braced herself, and put a hand on his shoulder, pushing him towards the stand and out of the crowd's reach. She felt a jostling against her back, but didn't budge, even when the pressure increased, and she could feel hands reaching around her with feather lightness.

She grabbed a set of fingers and closed her fist, clamping down with all the strength in her hand.

A soft, shocked gasp reached her ears, along with the faint sound of crunching and the sensation of cracking bone under her fingers. She released her grip and turned her head, seeing a small form go stumbling off, slipping through the crowd without looking back. Xena watched the space for a moment, then turned her head back around and tossed a coin at the merchant. "Two cups." She growled.

Mikah licked his lips a little. "Pick pocket?"

Cool, blue eyes regarded him. "Friend of yours?"

Mikah paused in shock, staring at her. "N.. no." He shook his head. "I just figured… " Some of his confident verneer had worn off, as though out here, outside his familiar world of the inn, he was more the youth his looks proclaimed him.

Xena relented, and handed him the second cup she'd purchased. She backed away from the stall and leaned against the tree trunk the stand was perched near, sipping the pungent, fruity liquid as she watched the now thinning crowd move past. "Let's go." She said, as she drained the cup and left it on the stand.

Mikah hurriedly did the same and joined her. "At your service, mistress." He replied softly, missing the wry, raised eyebrowed stare directed at him. "Are you sure you want to go down to the docks? Maybe a cart would be easier."

A cart would definitely be easier. Xena plugged stubbornly on, ignoring the ache in her shoulders from the awkward motion. She'd never been one to let physical handicaps get the best of her, and she wasn't going to pick now to start. The streets were getting narrower, and more crooked, and the fitful breeze that puffed by her brought a very strong, almost acrid scent of the river to her nose.

She heard the sounds of a ship, nearby as well, and she headed in that direction, letting the creaks and soft clanks of rigging guide her. The path downward was getting steeper, and she knew the return journey wouldn’t be comfortable, but her instincts were driving her forward and she followed them without question.

"Mistress."

"Xena." The warrior replied. "Since you know my name, use it."

Mikah moved up next to her. "A ship has just come in.. I saw the guards running down towards it. It's not a good time to be down there."

"Why?" Xena eyed him.

"Things happen." Mikah stated, matter of factly. "It's just not a good time."

Xena considered the information. "They don't like witnesses?" She hazarded.

Mikah shrugged.

"All the more reason." The warrior edged around a cart left upturned in the road, it's broken shafts blocking the way.

Mikah jumped over the cart and caught up to her. "Do you always just travel around looking for trouble?"

"No." Xena replied. "I usually bring it with me, but Gabrielle's busy today so I'll have to just see what I can find." She glanced down a side street, spotting several rough looking men lounging against the wall, chains draped over their shoulders. "Slavery's legal. What's the problem?"

Mikah had been staring at her. Now he just exhaled, and shook his head a little. "Sure, it's legal." He replied quietly. "But you know how it is up on the hill." He indicated back the way they came. "All noble and all that. I guess the big shots in the white robes don't like to think about what actually makes Athens run."

That made sense. Xena rounded a corner at the end of the street and paused, as the breeze coming off the water blew her hair back and dried the sweat coating her skin.

Before her, the waterfront spread in both directions, the gray-green water stretching out from the harbor to the far seen horizon. The docks were crawling with activity, centered around the dock area just south of where she was standing. A large three masted ship was being pulled in, men scrambling around the docks and shouting as the large vessel neared the wharf.

Ropes creaked, and the ship's tarred timbers rasped against the stone, it's loose sails flapping in the freshening wind that brought a stench of old fish, and unwashed humanity with it.

Xena edged into a small alcove in front of an empty hut where a short wall provided a perch for her to settle on. She was mostly in the shadows here, far enough from the docks to avoid attention, yet close enough for her to absorb every detail of what was going on.

As the ship was secured with thick, woven ropes, men started to gather around it, some pulling hand carts, some obviously dockside workers, some just idly standing by. The group of men with chains sauntered over, leaning against one of the thick upright pilons and trading crude jokes whose subject was obvious to Xena's ears even at this distance.

It felt good to get off her leg, Xena had to admit, as she exhaled, and felt the ache slowly ease from her shoulders. She let her chin rest on the crosspiece of her crutch and allowed her eyes to wander over the scene, aware of Mikah settling at her back, as far into the shadows as he could press himself.

The ship was finally lashed into place, and the landing planks put down. The first man up onto the planks was a tall, bearded fellow in a richly colored sash and high black boots, his bare chest glistening in the hot sun. The captain, Xena reasoned, sparing a brief moment of nostalgia when she herself had mastered a ship not too different from this one.

"Odd bunch, sailors." Mikah commented softly. "They look so much to the gods."

She hadn't. Xena reflected. Maybe that's why none of her voyages had ever done her any good. "Dangerous way of life." She said. "A lot of things can go wrong out there, and it's just you and that water. No place to hide."

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

It had been a stormy night at sea, on the long voyage back from Britannia. Xena had gone topside, and helped the crew batten the ship down for the storm, then returned to the small chamber they'd been assigned to.

A chamber suddenly far, far too small, to hold the gulf that had opened between her, and Gabrielle. The bard had been silent, and very withdrawn since they'd left the island, spending most of her time gazing out over the water, looking back the way they'd come.

Wrapped in her own silent thoughts.

As she was when Xena reentered their cabin, finding her near the porthole, leaning against the wooden ships wall and gazing out into the darkness.

Or perhaps gazing in at it.

There had been so very few times in her life when Xena had felt so completely helpless as she had in that moment. She'd had no power to change the recent past, no power to comfort her friend, no power to make what Gabrielle was now carrying any better, any lighter.

All she could do was hurt for her. For Gabrielle, and for herself, and for what they'd lost.

So she'd taken a spot as far away from the bard as she could get, settling against the inside wall of the cabin and wrapping her arms around her upraised knee, listening to the lash of the rain against the boat, and the low, close rumble of thunder.

She'd rested her chin against her arm, and watched Gabrielle out of the corner of her peripheral vision. In the reflection from the porthole, she could see the lines of exhaustion on the bard's face, and the dark circles under her eyes, and wondered when the last time Gabrielle had slept had been.

Not any of the nights in recent memory, she realized, having sensed the bard tossing and turning ceaselessly, refusing her comfort with quiet, whispered finality.

Oh gods, that had hurt. Xena had felt the storm of emotion rising in her, at the magnitude of the loss.

How had she let this all go so wrong?

But. With a sigh, the warrior had straightened, turning her head as Gabrielle shifted and started to stand up, freezing in mid motion and biting her lip to hold back a cry. "Gabrielle?" Xena had asked, the concern bubbling up out of her from a deep reflex nothing but death could have stifled.

A breath. "Yeah?" Gabrielle had straightened slowly and turned to face her, obviously in some pain.

"You're hurting."

The look Gabrielle had given her had been one of such dark irony, it had made Xena flinch. But she'd pushed that all down and gotten up, walking over to Gabrielle and peering closely at her. "I've got something that might help."

Gabrielle hadn't even looked at her. She'd just shaken her head faintly. "I don' t think anything will."

"Might help you sleep, at least." Xena had replied very quietly. "Worth a try, isn't it?"

For a moment, she'd thought Gabrielle was going to refuse. Then the bard had finally lifted her head and met Xena's eyes, and nodded in silent agreement.

Xena had gone to her bags, and taken out her healer's kit, removing the herbs she'd needed and mixing them into a cup she filled with wine. She'd slowly mixed the contents, then brought it to Gabrielle, and put it into her hands. "There."

Very slowly, Gabrielle had lifted the cup and drank from it, swallowing in steady gulps until it was drained dry. Then she handed it back, curling her hands very briefly around Xena's as the warrior took the metal goblet.

Then her eyelashes had fluttered, and she'd stumbled a little, as the drugs took hold faster than Xena had anticipated. The warrior had reached out and steadied her, but Gabrielle's knees had buckled, and she would have fallen if the warrior hadn't simply tossed the cup to one side and caught her, cradling her gently as she eased them both over to the rude bunk the room afforded.

By the time Xena had settled to her knees on the pallet, Gabrielle's hands were twined in the loose shirt the warrior was wearing, and her head was resting against Xena's chest.

It had been just so much easier to simply leave things as they were.

Xena had collapsed back against the inner wall, and pulled Gabrielle to her, letting the bard's body slump against hers as the herbs took her out completely.

She never dreamed it would hurt as much as it did, feeling that old, once familiar warmth cuddled against her and knowing if Gabrielle was awake, and aware, the bard would push her away.

It broke her, and she put her arms around Gabrielle and hugged her, feeling the tears well up helplessly as she sat there in the semi darkness, as the storm ranged around them.

In that one moment, she realized all she'd lost.

"I'm sorry." She'd whispered. "I'm sorry, Gabrielle. I'm sorry for everything. " Tears had rolled down her face. "Sorry we met. Sorry I let you follow me. Sorry I didn't take you back home and leave you in a safe place." She'd put her cheek down on the fair head, knowing she'd probably never get a chance again to do it. "Gods, I wish I were dead.. I would rather have died a thousand times than to have had this happen to us."

Darkness had settled over her. "I guess I deserved it." She'd whispered, in quiet despair. "But you didn’t'." Her shoulders had slumped, and she'd just given in to her grief, just wishing for an end to the pain gripping her heart.

She'd woken with the pale, wan light of a new day pouring through the porthole, spilling across the weathered boards of the cabin and across her splayed legs and Gabrielle's still cuddling body.

And she'd opened her eyes, only to look down and find Gabrielle looking gravely back at her.

To have Gabrielle lift a hand, and touch her cheek.

To find an old friend behind those green eyes, despite the shadows and the pain etched across them.

"Thanks." Gabrielle had whispered, hoarsely. "Hang in there, Xena. We'll make it."

If there had been any tears left in her, she would have shed them then.

As it was, she could only be grateful that the darkness had lifted an inch, and that was enough.

For the moment.

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

"Xena?"

The warrior turned her head. "Yes?"

Mikah drew his hand back. "Are you all right? You looked a bit out of it."

"I'm fine." Xena told him. "I was just… reviewing some information." She turned her head back to watch the ship, which was now being unloaded. She had a sudden urge to get up and head off, to go find Gabrielle, but she managed to stifle it, and concentrated on watching the groups of slave wranglers now standing around the gangplank, chains at the ready.

First things first.

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

"So you see, Gabrielle… " Elenus paused, as the woman across from him seemed to freeze, pausing in her motion and gazing off into the distance. "Gabrielle?"

A shiver passed through the bard's slim form, but the green eyes lifted and met his. "Sorry." Gabrielle murmured, taking a deep breath. The sudden jolt of… something had hit her in the guts, and she wasn't sure if it was just the very sweet wine, or… The bard felt sweat start to break out on her skin, under her tunic, and she put her cup down. It was a very odd, almost tickly sensation, not quite unpleasant. "I'm not used to strong drink."

"Ah." Elenus smiled at her. "Of course… Beles, cut our guest's wine with some water, will you ?"

A very young man stepped lightly around the circle and knelt at Gabrielle's side, taking her cup and gracefully pouring crystal clear water into it's depths, then taking a slim stirrer and mixing it. He handed it back to the bard with a sweet smile.

"Thanks." Gabrielle took a sip, finding the drink easier to swallow. It didn't seem to help her body's sudden tingling, however. "So, you're telling me that Homer came to you, and told you he had proof that Celesta was intimidating the other bards, and you… "

"Well.. " The older woman had the grace to look embarrassed. "It would not be an unreasonable thing for a competitor to claim, you see?" She said. "Homer was Celesta's biggest rival.. they fought constantly."

"But… " Gabrielle took a breath, as another wave of tingling crept along her skin, lifting the soft, fine hairs on her arms and making her wish… She blinked. Making her wish Xena was there, or more precisely, making her wish that she and the warrior were together somewhere there weren't an entire roomful of watching Athenian bards.

That was very odd. It wasn't that she didn't often think of Xena, and get… um.. . Gabrielle nibbled the inside of her lip. But not usually when she was sitting in important meetings. With a frown, she forced herself to concentrate. "Didn't you think Homer might have a point? You seem like you don't think too highly of Celesta."

"Oh, we discussed it." Elenus sighed. "The thing is, Homer was always seeing unfairness.. and he was never shy about threatening to leave us over it. You remember, Gabrielle.. don’t' you?"

"Hm." Gabrielle had to admit she did remember exactly that. "I know he was very sensitive.. but I thought it was mostly his father's pressure that caused that. He didn't want to fail in front of him."

"True." The older woman sighed. "At any rate, we tried to play down his suspicions, and he accused us of being purchased by Celesta's money and power. Then he left." She shrugged. "It's very sad, that's true, but it's not out of the realm of what we expected from him."

That bothered Gabrielle. Not only because she remembered Homer fondly, but because she suspected he might have turned out to be a very good bard. She also held, close to her heart, a sense of kinship to Homer and to think he simply walked out in a fit of pique and left the Academy just didn't sit well with her. "Did you try to change his mind?"

"He left before we could." Elenus broke in smoothly. "We sent word to his home, but the messengers won't be back yet for several days."

Uh huh. Gabrielle remembered Atrius' words. "His family didn't contact you?"

"No." Elenus shook his head gravely.

Gabrielle caught his gaze, and looked at him, judging the words. She decided he, at least, believed what he was saying. Now, the older woman… Gabrielle noted her shifting eyes, and the long, elegant fingers plucking at her robe hem. The older woman knew something. "Selena… didn't you think it was odd that Homer would just walk out like that? I know he was upset, but unless he changed a lot, I’m sure he still believed in his work."

Selena steepled her fingers, and rested them against her lips. "Strange you should ask that, Gabrielle."

Strange. I bet. Gabrielle merely waited, relieved that the itchy, heated feeling seemed to be abating a little.

The older woman got up and went to the sideboard, bypassing the attentive slaves and pouring a cup of water for herself. "I spoke with Homer just before he left." She said. "He was upset, yes. That's very true." Her eyes darted to Elenus' back, then drifted to Gabrielle's face. "But he told me something very interesting, and it had to do with you."

"Me?" Gabrielle asked, in a surprised tone.

"Yes." Selena walked back over and sat down on the soft cushions. "He told me that he was fed up with the politics of the Academy, and the only reason he was sticking it out was because of something he'd read in one of your scrolls." She turned the cup in her hands, studying the surface of the water as though trying to divine something from it. "Something about how the sweetness of the journey's end was in direct proportion to the bitterness of the road you take to earn it."

A smile appeared on Gabrielle's face. "In my life, that's been very true." She replied quietly. "It's like climbing a mountain - when you're doing it, it seems like the hardest thing in the world, but once you get to the top, and see the view, it's worth the work."

They didn't really understand, Gabrielle knew. Though Elenus was nodding, she knew these people facing her hadn't gone through a quarter of the trials she had in her short lifetime.

"Well, yes." Selena agreed. "I suppose that's what he meant.. so that's why I was surprised to find him gone the next day. It would seem he changed his mind very quickly."

"You know how flighty he'd been lately." Another man interjected. "Doesn't mean anything, Selena. I told you that after it happened."

"And we all know how much you disliked him, Aanas." Selena sniped. "So naturally you thought that."

"Now, Selena…" Elenus held up a hand. "I know you liked the boy…"

Okay. Gabrielle got gracefully to her feet and set her cup down. That's enough of this. "Well, I've got a lot of things to do today… thanks for the information, and the refreshments." It occurred to her suddenly that she'd become less tolerant of that kind of thing lately, and she wondered if her often tempestuous partner wasn't rubbing off on her just a little. "I'll be back in touch when we've got our tax situation straightened out."

They hastily got to their feet to tender their farewells to her. "Remember, the competition will come soon, Gabrielle." Elenus reminded her anxiously. "The winner will be selected on the feast day of Aphrodite.. mid way through the games."

"Don't worry." Gabrielle smiled at him. "I'll be there." She took his proffered arm and gripped it, then stepped neatly around the piles of pillows and left the room, cocking an ear to catch the rising buzz of speech behind her as she left. With a tiny shake of her head, she found her way out towards the street, and had almost gained her objective when a large body suddenly blocked her way.

Instinct took over, and she fell back a step, her boots moving out to shoulder width and her hands coming up in an automatic defensive posture as her body came over her center of balance.

"Well well." Celesta's low drawl sounded. "What have we here? If it isn't Euripide's friend." She studied Gabrielle with lazy, intent eyes. "Jumpy little thing, aren't you?"

Feeling a touch embarrassed, Gabrielle straightened up and let her hands fall to her sides. "Sorry.. you startled me." She explained, returning the steady stare with one of her own. "How's your rehearsal coming along?"

The tall woman leaned against the doorway, blocking it casually. "Why don't you come see for yourself?" Celesta asked. "I seem to recall inviting you.. not many people stand me up."

Ah. Gabrielle nibbled the inside of her lip. "That's right, you did, didn't you." She said. "Well, you looked pretty busy yesterday… I didn't think you meant right that moment."

"I guess you judged me wrong then." Celesta smiled. "I’m very much an instant gratification kind of gal. So why don't you join me now… ah.. you know, Euri never did say what your name was, now did he, before you dashed off and abandoned us."

Gabrielle forced her body posture to relax. "I had a friend to look after." She said, then had to grab for the door sill as a sudden wave of grief washed over her.

Celesta's eyebrows lifted. "Don't get all dramatic on me now." She slid over and reached for Gabrielle. "C'mere…"

Gabrielle stepped back, feeling her heart racing in a chest that had a sudden, tight band around it. "No.. I’m… fine." She drew a breath. "Excuse me.. I've got something I need to go take care of." She started past Celesta.

"Whoa now, hold on." Celesta grabbed her. "Not so fast, country cousin… hey!"

Gabrielle swiveled, and clamped her hands down on the grip holding her, shoving the bigger woman back and tearing herself free. "Excuse me." She repeated, ducking past and gaining the door, then trotting down the steps into the bright sunlight. She paused at the bottom of them, glancing up and down the street, then picked a direction and broke into a run, driven by the churning in her guts.

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

Bugs were fun. Dori crawled underneath some thick leaves, hot in pursuit of a pretty bug, a red one with dots. She clambered over a big root and tumbled down the other side, then slapped a hand over the frantically crawling bug and secured it. "Gotcha." She lifted her hand closer to her face and peered cautiously between her fingers.

She heard someone calling her name. But it wasn't Boo or Mama, so it didn't count. She put the bug down, and watched it crawl, the picked it back up again.

She didn't put it into her mouth. Legs tickled, and she didn't like that. She heard a noise, and that made her put the bug down and crawl off to investigate. It was too low for her to walk, but crawling was good too, especially since it was mud. Mud gooshed. She liked that.

Mama didn't like that, but Boo did, Dori knew. Boo made believe she didn't, but Dori knew better. She wished Boo and Mama were here now. Grandma was okay, but she missed Mama's voice, and the nice way Boo smelled.

She missed flying.

Dori scowled, and looked for the noise. She saw a green rope moving away, and climbed after it, reaching out a hand and grabbing the end of the rope as it disappeared.

It moved. Dori's eyes widened, and she pulled back, feeling the rope squiggle and squirm inside her fingers. "Bck!" She yanked her hand back, and the rope came all the way loose, dropping on top of her legs.

Someone called her name again, but it still wasn't Boo or Mama, so it still didn't count.

The rope was now squiggling around on top of her, and she let it go, then grabbed the front end, with the eyes, pulling it closer for her to look at. "Aminal."

The rope's mouth opened up, and it stuck it's tongue out at her, like Mama did. Dori stuck her tongue out back. Mama always laughed when she did that, but the rope didn't. It writhed and wrapped around her hand.

Dori scowled at it. Then she heard another noise, and looked around, surprised to see another something looking back at her. "Aminal!" She pointed at it.

It had a small, nasty face, and a skinny body, and it growled at her.

Dori growled back. Guff never liked that. "Go!" She pointed again, imperiously.

The aminal got mad at her, and showed it's teeth. That wasn't good. Dori didn't like that, because when Guff did that, he was going to bite.

Guff never bit her, but Guff bit other things, and Dori knew what he looked like when he did it. The aminal came closer, showing it's teeth again.

Dori wondered what to do. She could get up and run away. She could stay. She could fight with the aminal.

The aminal growled, and came closer.

What would Boo do?

Dori got to her feet and ran at the aminal, yelling at the top of her voice, waving the rope in her other hand.

The aminal squeaked and ran, dashing off into the bushes and disappearing real fast. That was good. Dori giggled. She wished Boo were here, because she knew Boo would hug her.

"Dori!"

Dori turned around. Poopoo was there. "There was aminal!" She told her. "It was mad!"

"I’m mad, you little…" Poopoo was wet, and covered in mud, so Dori didn't understand what her problem was. "Get over here! Give me that.. what do you have in your ha… yeeeeloooowww!!!!!!"

Dori watched Poopoo fall over, making funny faces and throwing the rope around with her hands. It was funny. She giggled, then she looked around, to see what else she could find.

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

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Mikah whispered, as he crept along behind Xena, who was sidling behind the wagon rumbling off away from the boat.

"No." Xena concentrated on staying relatively unseen. She'd watched them unload thirty or forty adult slaves, who were put in chains and shoved down a back street away from the docks and had almost decided to follow, when they'd thrown the next load of cargo off the vessel.

Children. Xena had watched in horror as twelve or thirteen young boys and girls stumbled out into the sunlight, shading their eyes from the brightness as though they'd been held under the decks the entire voyage. They were dressed in filthy rags, and were covered in bruises and it had been all Xena could do to sit still while they were tossed into a rough wagon and driven away.

She didn't want to watch. She wanted, she fully acknowledged, to have her sword in her hand, and to ride down those bastards and break the wagon into tiny pieces of kindling. However, she was unarmed, and unhorsed, and crippled, so there had to be, in this case, a plan B.

Plan B was to follow the wagon and see where it went, so that's what they were doing now. The horses pulled the cart slowly enough, and the driver didn't really seem to care if he were noticed or not, so she kept to the shadows and limped after it until it turned into a gated courtyard.

Two guards opened the gates and let the wagon in, then closed them again and stood with their backs to the wood, hands folded, and knowing eyes scanning the area.

Xena waited behind a terra cotta alcove, just watching.

"Well, guess that's the end of that." Mikah murmured. "Can't do much for them if they're in there, right?"

Pale blue eyes studied the buildings, then Xena pushed off from the wall and started up the sloping street, right past the guarded gates. Uphill was tough on her leg, but she kept on, letting her eyes fall briefly on the guards, and seeing the looks of amused pity on their faces.

That alone almost got them in serious trouble. But the warrior held her temper and struggled on, turning the corner at the top of the street and pausing to rest. Then she angled down the side street, which was bordered by a high, whitewashed wall of stone.

"Perhaps a cart now?" Mikah asked, with gentle sympathy.

Xena stopped again, and leaned against the wall. "All right." She exhaled. "We can get a cart."

"Good." The boy smiled at her, then turned to head off and summon one.

Xena hauled him back. "Just one thing first." She held out the crutch. "Hang on to this for a minute."

Puzzled, Mikah took the crutch from her. "Of course.. b…" He stared at her.

Xena had turned, and was studying the wall. She flexed her hands, then crouched slightly on her good leg, before she surged upward, her body uncoiling like a big cat's as she sprang up over her own height, catching the top of the wall with both hands.

"Great Zeus." Mikah whispered.

Xena waited for her body to settle, then she pulled her body upward using sheer strength alone and gained the top of the wall, balancing on her stomach as she peered over.

Her eyes took in a sight that sickened even her hardened senses. The courtyard inside was ringed with mean cages, each one containing one or two children. As she watched, the wagon was unloaded, and the newcomers were herded into a small, pit like area. Then a few roughly dressed men took buckets of water and dumped them over the frightened waifs, yelling at them and pushing them to the floor, as they tore the rags off their bodies.

Xena felt her body coil. Every muscle tensed as she fought down her instincts, and it occurred to her that she was having to do that more and more often here.

She decided she didn't like it.

"Xena!" Mikah hissed. "Someone's coming!"

The warrior scanned the courtyard, memorizing details. "Fast or slow?"

Mikah peered down the street. "Fast."

"They see us?"

"Yeah." Mikah glanced up, anxiously. "I think you'd better get down.. they're going to be here really soon"

"Blond?"

Mikah blinked. "Um.. yes."

"Woman? Good looking? Runs like a badger?"

Another blink. "How did you know that?"

"I have many skills." Xena replied, noticing a small grate near the bottom of the wall on the other side.

"What should I do?" Mikah asked, in a hoarse whisper.

"Get out of her way." Xena replied blithely. "If she runs into you, it's gonna hurt." She lifted herself up off the wall and pushed away, twisting in mid air and only just remembering to land on one leg just as Gabrielle skidded to a halt, scattering shale chips all over both of them. She put out a hand to stop the bard, who was unable to stop sliding, and slammed into her.

Xena's shoulders hit the wall with a thump and she grunted as the air was forced out of her lungs. She looked down at the sweaty, out of breath Amazon Queen in her arms. "Tough day at the Academy?"

A shout interrupted them, and they turned, to see a body of Athenian guards rushing towards them, swords drawn.

"Uh oh." Gabrielle exhaled. "I think we're in trouble."

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

"Now, just hold on." Xena put herself between the angry guard captain and her soulmate. "What's this all about?" They were alone, since she'd sent Mikah off running as the soldiers approached, figuring it lessened the complications.

"Ma'am, I'll ask you once to move out of the way, and let me take this woman into custody." The captain stated. "What this is about is none of your business."

"He's right.. let me.."

Xena just turned her head and pinned the bard with a glare. "He's right? You're none of my business?"

Prudently, Gabrielle shut up, folding her arms over her chest and wrinkling her nose a little.

"That's what I thought." Xena turned back to the captain. "What'd she do?"

The guard captain had watched this, and his attitude moderated from annoyed to warily thoughtful. "She belong to you?"

"Yes." Xena didn't dare turn around, especially since her sense of hearing easily picked up the sound of steam curling out of her partner's adorable pink ears. "Now, you gonna tell me what happened, or do I have to go lodge a complaint with your boss?" She limped forward and got into the guard's face, making the most of her nearly handspan height advantage.

"Then you're the one we'll be taking in." The man replied cooly. "Cause your slave broke up six market stalls and make the city prelate's cart overturn and dumped him into the midden channel."

Xena turned and looked at Gabrielle, her eyebrows climbing to her hairline.

"I was in a hurry.' Gabrielle told her, through gritted teeth.

"Now, will you be coming with us, ma'am, or will I have to have your bound?" The guard captain inquired.

"Niether." Xena leaned on her crutch. "for one thing, there aren't enough of you to even start the process, and for another, we both know it's all a matter of dinars, so how many is it going to take to get you to walk back down that road and let me get on with my business?"

The guard captain cocked his head and regarded her. Xena returned his look with quiet confidence. Then the man turned to face his waiting troops.

Xena tensed, suspecting her bluff was about to be called.

"Bring the cart." He turned back to her. "You will come with us, or I will have them shoot you. Choose quickly."

Xena felt rather than saw Gabrielle stiffen behind her, and suspected the next thing she'd see was the bard's back as she got in front of her. "All right." She made the decision quickly. "We'll go with you." She held out a hand to block Gabrielle's advance, and found her arm circled with very warm fingers.

"Good choice." The guard captain said. "Bethas, your crossbow, please. Guard them until the cart comes."

"Xena." Gabrielle hissed. "What in Hades are you doing?"

The warrior glanced at her. "Relax." She murmured. "We can straighten this out once we get to the prefects office." She looked up as a covered cart rumbled closer, pulled by two large, gray geldings. "Besides… " Her eyes flicked up the hill. "I wasn't looking forward to getting back up that thing."

"Gods." Gabrielle exhaled, leaning her head against the warrior's shoulder briefly. "You scared the poop out of me Xena.. what happened?" She asked. "I felt like my insides were coming out my ears."

Xena was saved from answering by the guard directing them into the cart. She climbed awkwardly up after Gabrielle and settled in the straw as the door was slammed behind them, leaving them in dark, heated mustiness. The cart started up with a creak, and she let her body relax against the boards, glad to be off her feet at least. The long morning's walk had taken more out of her than she'd figured.

"Xe?" Gabrielle's voice came hesitantly out of the gloom, as the bard's fingers curled around her hand.

"Mm?" Xena turned her head and regarded her partner, finding a look of pained curiousity facing her. "Oh." She drank in the familiar contours. "I didn't… it wasn't anything that happened, Gabrielle… I was just remembering something that wasn't very pleasant."

Gabrielle gazed steadily at her. "You were hurting." She said. "I felt it."

The irony stung, and Xena had to let her eyes drop. "It's in the past.. no sense in bringing it up again." She said.

The bard stayed silent, the lack of sound making a larger statement than any words could have.

Xena felt sweat roll down her temple, and she sighed, knowing her choices in this were so limited as to be nonexistent. They'd learned the hard way that truth between them was the only way, despite the pain it often caused, and she knew refusing to answer would do more damage then just saying what the problem was. "I was down by the docks." She finally murmured. "And I was thinking about the trip back from Britannia."

Gabrielle leaned her head against the warrior's shoulder and circled her biceps with her free hand, nestling closer despite the heat. "Why?"

A shrug. "Just the sight of the sea, maybe. The ships." Xena replied. "I don’t know."

The wagon creaked along, shaking both of them in it's rhythm. "You know." Gabrielle said. "I remember waking up that one night… in the storm."

Xena exhaled.

"With you… holding me." The bard went on, over a slight hitch in her voice. "And I remember looking up, and seeing your face… seeing how you'd been crying ." A long pause. "And I realized that there was still love for me somewhere in your heart."

There was no answer, but Gabrielle could feel the shudder that went through her soulmate's breathing. "What a lifeline that was for me." There was a slight pressure against her head, a warmth that trickled through to her scalp as Xena leaned her cheek against her. "But you're right.. that is in the past, Xena." She lifted the warrior's hand to her lips and kissed the knuckles. "We made it through that, you and I."

"Mm." The low murmur rumbled softly. "We did."

They rested in each other's arms for a bit, listening to the loud sounds of the city penetrate their dark prison. "So." Gabrielle went on, in a more normal tone of voice. "Mistress." Definitely a note of very wry humor now. "How are you and I gonna get through THIS little problem?"

Xena released a relieved, though weary chuckle. "I dunno. I'll figure it out when we get there." She said. "So what'd you find out at the Academy?"

"What didn't I find out? " The bard sighed. "Let's see… the bardic council is a bunch of schemers with more political motivation than a Hestian virgin during the feast of Bacchus, it looks like Homer was involved in something really convoluted, and I agreed to enter the Great Bard of Athens competition."

Xena felt a distinct shock go through her at the words. "I thought… " She began, then halted, not sure what to say next. "I didn't think you were interested in that." She finally went on, in a low mutter.

"Well, I mean.. I’m not." Gabrielle frowned, sensing the change in mood. "They asked me to do it."

"Who did?"

"The bardic council." The bard explained. "They think I've got a chance at beating out Celesta, so they asked me to enter so she won't win and take them over."

The dark head cocked to one side, visible even in the darkness. "So.. they want you to take them over?"

"No." Gabrielle felt the cart lurch, and she grabbed Xena in reflex. "They don't want anyone to take them over, and they figure I"ll just take off after that." She said.

"Oh." Xena grimaced, as the cart bounced again, jarring her leg unpleasantly. "Why don't they just call off the competition?" Another bounce and this time, a hot jolt of pain, the first all day, lanced up her spine. "Erf."

Gabrielle quickly squirmed closer, and slid one of her thighs under her partner's injured leg, cushioning it against the hard bottom of the wagon. She stroked the tense skin of Xena's calf, unable in the darkness to see the bandage, or the wound under it. "Easy, tiger." She murmured. "Let's get this over with, and get you somewhere you can rest."

Xena half sighed, half growled. "I’m fine."

"Uh huh."

The cart jerked to a halt, almost throwing both of them hard against the side. Then they heard boots approaching, and the back of the wagon opened, letting in a brilliant bolt of light, and a welcome draft of fresh air. "Out." The guard captain ordered. "Quickly."

Gabrielle scrambled gladly out of the cart and turned, knowing better than to try and help Xena down, but watching anxiously all the same as the warrior took her time in emerging, pausing in the entrance to survey the surroundings, before she lowered herself to the ground and removed her crutch from the cart.

They were inside a walled courtyard, with all the trappings of a guard house around them. Fighters stood around, or worked in pairs with weapons nearby, most watching them with idle interest.

"Come with me." The guard captain ordered. "The jail is this way."

Xena reached out and grabbed the back of his tunic, yanking him to a halt "Hold it."

The man turned and grabbed the nearest guards crossbow and turned it on her. "I've lost my patience with you."

Xena reacted instinctively, swiveling her body and using the crutch as a staff, sweeping it around and taking the bow out of his hands in a single, rapid motion. It flew over his head and landed on the cobbles, discharging and nearly hitting a nearby soldier.

The man jerked towards her. Xena lifted the crutch and glared at him meaningfully. "Shoot her!" He ordered.

A guard raised his crossbow and aimed. Gabrielle surged into motion, only to be brought up short by Xena's hollering of her name, in a tone that cut through her conscious mind and struck solid chords deep inside her. She obeyed it from pure instinct, stumbling to a halt as the guard raised his arms and fired.

The crossbow mechanism twanged, it's quarrel releasing into the air with an audible buzz, straight towards Xena's unarmored and unprotected body. With an almost lazy motion, though, the warrior swiped the arrow out of midair, catching it before it had a chance to even graze her tunic.

Everything stopped. Even the sparring soldiers froze in motion, all eyes focused on the tall, confident figure standing in their midst.

"Wanna try another one?" Xena asked, in a calm voice, as she tossed the arrow up and caught it, twirling it negligently in her fingers. "Or would you rather try something more interesting?" She dropped the quarrel and flicked her crutch out, snaking it past the guard captains' defenses and hooking it's end on his sword hilt. A twist of her wrist pulled the sword from it's sheath and sent it flying towards her, and she caught it, twirling it with neat skill over her arm before she let the blade rest on her shoulder. "Choose." A grin. "And make it quick."

"Great Zeus." A tall, bearded soldier spoke, his body half hidden behind a storage barrel. "Mithras, what in the name of Olympus do you mean by dragging Xena in her in that wagon?" He emerged and walked towards her. "You could have gotten the entire squad killed that way."

Xena allowed a smile to cross her face. "That's all right." She indicated the crutch. "I needed a lift." She extended a hand. "Long time, Jens."

The tall man took her arm and gripped it. "Too long, Xena. " He turned his head. "Gabrielle, it's good to see you as well." Now his eyes went to the captain. "What's this all about?"

Gabrielle relaxed, recognizing the man as one of the outpost soldiers she and Xena had rescued a lifetime ago from a dangerous, though misunderstood enemy.

Things were looking up. For the moment, anyway.

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

Jen's quarters were roomy and comfortable. Gabrielle sat back in the leather hide chair and glanced around with interest, half listening to the discussion of battles and war going on right next to her.

It wasn't that she wasn't interested, but she knew the details Xena was relating in painful detail, and she wasn't frankly in the mood for reliving them. The fight with Andreas had given her nightmares for months, even with Xena's relatively constant presence, and she'd pushed that bit of their recent past as far out of her conscious thoughts as possible.

Which was bad, she readily acknowledged. It meant she just wasn't dealing with it. But she'd found over the years that sometimes putting those kinds of things away for a while let you take them back out after some time had passed, and look at them in a different, less painful way.

It was what Xena did, in a way. Though Gabrielle suspected there wasn't much later reflection on her partner's behalf. If there was something bothering her she couldn’t do anything about, couldn’t change, then Xena just dismissed it, and went on.

Which was why Gabrielle was a little concerned over the deep sense of grief she'd sensed coming from her partner earlier in the day, especially when she discovered what had caused it. Idly, she turned her head and regarded Xena's profile, now intent and active as the warrior described the tactics and strategy that had beaten Andrea's army.

The year just past had eased a number the lines of strain that had started to characterize her face, and Gabrielle had thought she'd gained a sense of inner peace, reflected in a certain warmth in her eyes, and the ease of her smile. But every once in a while, the scars would show, and the deep, unhealed places that the bard was beginning to fear would never really disappear.

It saddened her. She so wanted Xena to be whole, and to see life with the joy she herself had rediscovered. What hurt the worst was knowing that she was one of the touchstones of those scars and the cause of much of her beloved partner's pain.

Only the knowledge that she was also one of Xena's greatest sources of joy let her accept that. In blind instinct, Gabrielle reached out across the space between her and the warrior, and curled her hand around Xena's wrist, just wanting the contact. She heard the barely perceptible break in Xena's speech, then felt a returning warmth her hand was covered and held.

"We had heard rumors." Jens stated, leaning back in his seat and steepling his fingers. "Refugees coming into the city.. with what we considered wild stories."

"I only wish they were." Xena remarked grimly. "A lot of people died.. two of the villages closest to here said they'd sent for help, but no one ever answered."

Jens looked uncomfortable. His eyes shifted to the window, then back to Xena’s face, then dropped to his hands. "The city council decided against sending an expeditionary force." He finally said. "They thought it was just another warlord of the moon story."

Xena’s eyebrows rose. "With that kind of destruction? What are they burning in the Athenaum these days?"

He shrugged. "I can’t answer that. I’m a soldier, and I do what I’m told."

Xena snorted, the sound alone conveying more emotion than any words could.

"What if we hadn’t stopped him?" Gabrielle spoke up. "What would you have done if his army ended up on your doorstep… and it was the surrounding villages around Athens that got burned to the ground?"

"Well, obviously…" Jens started.
"Obviously it didn’t matter because it was just us provincials out in the wilderness, right?" The bard’s voice deepened in anger.

"Gabrielle…" He held a hand up. "It wasn’t my choice."

"And now those bastards want us to pay them?" Gabrielle snapped back. "And send our people to be in YOUR army?"

Jens got up and paced back and forth behind his desk. "I agree.. it doesn’t seem fair." He said. "But you have to remember.. it’s the good of the entire area that counts.. not just parts… "

"Out in the sticks." The bard finished. "You people are nuts."

Jens looked plaintively at Xena, who lifted one shoulder in a very eloquent shrug. "She’s right." The warrior stated. "Agreed, we have to have a common defense, but it can’t be a one way street, Jens. Right now, from where I’m sitting, it’s Athens takes, and everyone else gives." Xena shook her head. "That’s why we’re here.. to make that point with the council."

He stared at her. "Then you’ve got a problem."

Gabrielle stood and faced him, the bard’s attitude bristling. "You think they won’t listen to us?" She challenged him.

"I think they can’t listen to you." He replied simply. "They’re not in session. They adjourned two days ago, for the duration of the Games, and the Summer Festival."

Xena and Gabrielle exchanged looks. "They left Athens?" The warrior asked incredulously.

"No." Jens shook his head. "But the council only attends council business when they’re in session. They don’t hear pleas, or arguments otherwise."

"But that means they won’t be in session until after the new moon." Gabrielle said. "Xena, that’s after the deadline they gave us."

"Mm." The warrior nodded slowly. "Convenient." She glanced up at Jens. "We’re not paying those taxes, and we’re not sending conscripts."

The soldier frowned. "Xena, I don’t think you know what you’re saying here. This isn’t some backwater wanna be prince you’re dealing with.. I mean, I know what your experience is, but.. they’re serious about this. They’ll send the army after you."

"Let em." Xena replied, with a distinct touch of insolence. "A lot of guys out there wondered what would have happened if I’d gone for Athens way back when."

An uncomfortable silence fell over them. Jens blinked at her, and hesitated, clearly at a loss for words. Finally he sat back down. "Xena, y ou’re not making sense. No provincial militia can face our army. We both know that."

"Maybe." Xena let a slow smile appear. "Maybe not."

"Xena."

"You want to take the chance?" The warrior cut him off. "Does Athens?"

Gabrielle watched both of them in fascination. On the surface, she knew Jens was right, and what Xena had said was crazy, but as she studied the man’s face, she could see the doubt form in furrows over his brow as his military instincts clashed with…

Xena chuckled, low, and deep.

Clashed with his knowledge of who and what Xena was. Still was, Gabrielle acknowledged, as she watched her partner’s body language shift into the mode she used when sparring with a not so tough opponent. All sexy grin and lightly bared claws.

"Well." Jens backed off meekly. "At any rate, it’s a moot point, Xena. The council’s not going to listen to you, so what choices to do you really have? Do you really want to cause a war?"

"There has to be a way to talk to them." Gabrielle interjected. "They can make an exception."

Jens shook his head. "They don’t. Trust me… we’ve been through this a dozen times. This council especially – they’re… " He looked around and lowered his voice. "They’re mostly patricians… all they think about his getting more money, and more power. This whole Games thing, in fact. They put out a notice to all the surrounding provinces that if they sent atheletes to the games, and one turned out to be the overall winner, they’d recind the levies for that province."

Blue and green eyes met.
"But they know it’s all a sham." Jens went on. "The best athletes are already here in Athens – it’s just to give them fodder to compete against, and bring more people into the city to spend money. "

"How come the tax men didn’t tell us that?" Xena asked quietly. "About the games?"

Jens stared puzzedly at her. "They didn’t? Oh, I guess because it took them so long to get out there, they figured you’d never… I mean.. there wouldn’t be time for you to… "

"They didn’t want Xena to come and compete." Gabrielle remarked, placidly. "What a bunch of Centaur’s butt holes."

Jens sighed, and indicated the warrior’s splinted leg. "Well, it’s of no consequence now, I guess." He said. "I don’t know what to tell you, Xena. I understand what you’re saying… but I don’t think there’s any way you can get around this. Why not just pay the levy, and talk to the council afterward?"

Xena’s face was a study in silent, rapid thought, the tiny muscles on either side of her eyes twitching. "Yeah. " She stated. "Maybe you’re right." She turned and met Gabrielle’s eyes, silencing the emerging protest with a flicker of a wink. "Well, Jens.. I think we need to get going.. unless you want to really charge Gabrielle here with something."

Jens relaxed in his chair. "No." He said, in obvious relief. "If we put her in our jail, we’d end up with far more trouble than it would be worth, if I remember you as well as I think I do, Gabrielle."

The bard looked outraged. "Me?" She put her hands on her hips. "I am not a troublemaker."

Jens and Xena both looked at her.

"I’m not." Gabrielle insisted. "It’s not my fault those wagons got in my way.. I was walking. Doesn’t that mean I had right of way over them?"

Jens considered that. "Legally, yes." He agreed solemnly. "But not many citizens have the guts to try enforcing that law."

"There." The bard said. "So I didn’t do anything, and it’s not my fault."

The soldier sighed.

"We’ll see what we can do about making it up to them." Xena promised, as she hoisted herself to her feet and paused a moment to catch her balance before she fit her crutch in place. "Nice talking to you, Jens."

"And you, Xena." The man held out a hand, in a much better mood now. "I’m glad you agree with me. Can we give you a lift somewhere? In something better than a jail wagon?"

"No."

"Yes." Gabrielle answered at the same time, seeing the blood drain out of her soulmate’s face as the warrior put pressure on her bad leg. "That would be very nice of you.. I know I sure could use a ride." She took hold of Xena’s upper arm and ignored the baleful glare she was getting. "It’s been a long morning."

They walked out of the barracks and into the hot sunlight, which bounced off the white chalk walls and surrounded them.

Xena scowled as it hit the back of her head and intensified the headache she’d slowly developed, and decided to let the bard win this miniature battle. The arguments she’d mustered to avoid accepting Jens’ offer dissapated, and by the time they brought a light, open cart around she was glad enough to vault into it, and hope the ride down to the inn didn’t upset her stomach more than it was.

Besides, it gave her time to think about their newly changed predicament, and decide on another plan. Trouble was, there weren’t many options left to plan for, and the ones she had…

Xena sighed, and rested her chin on the crosspiece of the crutch. "How many days until the Games start?" She asked the young soldier sitting next to her.

"Two." He replied, with a shy smile. "It’s going to be exciting, don’t you think?"

The blue eyes glinted softly. "Oh yeah." Xena replied, in a mutter. "You can bet on it."

Back at the inn, they had more problems. The innkeeper was waiting for them and held up a hand as they went to enter. "Stop!"

"I’m not in the mood for this." Xena growled.
"Shh. Let me take care of it." Gabrielle stepped to one side and faced the woman. "What’s wrong?"

"That one." She pointed at Xena. "Caused me to lose my best customer this morning, and she stole a boy."

"Excuse me?" Gabrielle replied.

"You heard me." The innkeeper griped. "Stole my best boy, and knocked one of the nibbiest of his nibs into a snit and he said he wont’ be back here." She put her hands on ample hips. "Be gone, both of you."

"Now look." Gabirelle replied, calmly. "I’m sure this is just a misunderstanding. Xena didn’t take anyone.. and if she said something to some guy.. I’m sure there was a good reason for it."

"I don’t care. I want you out!" The innkeeper shouted. "You’re trouble! Nothing but trouble!"

Xena had to smile, despite everything. "C’mon, Gabrielle." She inclined her head. "We can find a better place to say than some fourth rate broken down whorehouse with lousy food."

"And what’s wrong with my food!" The woman objected.

Xena snorted. "Don’t worry, I’ll be glad to tell everyone I see here just how bad it is." She turned and started for the stable. "Stale bread, bad ale… disgusting."

"Hey! I’ll not have you saying that about my place, you….you… " The innkeeper yelled after her.

"Yeah, you’re right, Xena." Gabrielle played along. "Even the water was bad. I think we’d better warn all the people we know coming up for the games.. stay away from here, that’s for sure." She strolled after Xena.

There was silence for a moment, then the innkeeper rushed after them. "All right.. all right.. forget I said it… just forget about it, okay? "

"Nope, nope.. you want us out, we’releaving. "Gabrielle threw a hand up. "I’ll stop by the Academy of Bards and make sure they all know about this place though, that’s for sure."

The woman’s eyes almost popped out. "The b… ah, no.. wait… wait.. hold on.. not those chatterboxes! They’ll have it all over the city… wait…. Uhh… listen. I’m sorry.. I was just… I was upset about… "

Xena turned, and came face to face with her, all pretense dropped, totally serious. "The bastard I yelled at was abusing one of your people. One of your valuable people. You let people like him get away with that, eventually you won’t have any one working for you. That what you want?"

The innkeeper blinked. "Uh… no."

"Then you should be thanking me, right?"

"Uh… yes."

"You’re welcome." Xena turned and limped off. Gabrielle smiled kindly, patted the innkeeper on the arm, and followed.

They made it back to the room, and Xena let Gabrielle enter before her, then she closed the door and leaned against it, closing her eyes as a jolt of pain shot up her spine from the now angrily throbbing knee she could no longer even put the slightest pressure on.

"Easy." Gabrielle’s hands were on her in an instant, a gentle, almost hesitant stroking along her upper arm. "Let me help you over to the bed."

It hurt too much to argue. Xena accepted the support, letting the bard slid an arm around her, and support her weight across her shoulders until they reached the pallet, and she could drop onto it and simply lean back and let Gabrielle lift her injured leg up. "Damn."

"I need to change this bandage, Xe." Gabrielle stated.

"Go ahead." Xena kept her eyes closed, and willed the sharp agony to fade. She could feel the careful pressure and warmth of the bard’s fingers against the skin of her leg and she concentrated on Gabrielle’s nearness to distract her.

With her eyes closed, her other senses surged forward, and she could hear the faintest whisper as Gabrielle shifted, and the cloth covering her moved along her skin. She could hear the rasp of the bard’s souls against the floor, and the soft inhales and exhales of her breathing.

The scent of sun heated skin came to her, along with a hint of the soap they used for their clothes, and the worn leather of Gabrielle’s boots. Underlying that was the distinct smell of Gabrielle herself, as familiar to Xena as the lines on the palm of her hand, and she let the combination of sensations lull her into a quiet state of numbness. "Gab?"
"Hm?" The bard’s vibrant, tones answered.

"Sorry about the whole slave thing." Xena said. "I just said the first thing that crossed my mind." She could feel the bandages holding her splint on loosen, and debated on opening her eyes.

"Hang on." Gabrielle’s voice moved, and shifted as the bard stood up and walked across the room. She busied herself for a moment, then returned, and Xena now heard the distinct sloshing of water, and the soft tinkle as the bard wrung something out. A moment later, she felt a cool touch against her knee, and the harsh sting as the liquid flowed over the wound Gabrielle had sewn up.

"It’s all swollen." Gabrielle murmured. "I need to restitch this, sweetheart."

Xena sighed audibly.

"Well, you know… "

"I know." Xena grumbled. "If I’d stay the Hades off it, it’d heal faster." She opened one eye a crack, and peeked over at Gabrielle, expecting and getting a look of tolerant understanding from her. "Damn thing messed up our whole plan, didn’t it?"

"With the council?" Gabrielle carefully cut the stitches she’d put in and washed away the blood that emerged from the wound. "Yeah, I guess." She winced in reflex as she felt the muscles under Xena’s skin tighten in reaction to the pain she knew she was causing. "What are we going to do now? I don’t think just not paying the tax is a good idea, Xena. As much as I respect our militia, I’d rather not have to use them again."

"Mm."

"On the other hand… " The bard went on, knowing her speech was at least taking Xena’s mind off what she was doing. "I can’t stand the thought of giving them what they asked for without a fight."

"Hm."

"But what choices do we really have?" Gabrielle said. "If the council won’t listen to us, and we can’t extend the deadline… what else is there?" She didn’t really expect Xena to answer, so she was surprised when the low voice spoke up.

"We enter the Games."

Gabrielle stopped in mid motion, one hand holding the ragged skin in place, the other about to put a stitch in to hold it closed. "What?"

Xena shrugged one shoulder. "Winner gets to have their taxes excused, right?"

"But…"

"So we’ll have to win them."

Gabrielle put her needle and gut thread down and leaned forward, reaching up to lift one of her partner’s eyelids and exposing a clear blue eye, which she peered into intently. "Xena, you’re pulling my leg, right?"

A slight shake of the warrior’s head.

"Xena." The bard rubbed her temples. "You know I love you.. and you know there is no one in the world who believes more in you than I do, right?"

A faint, charmed smile appeared.

"But, honey, even I’d have to doubt you could win all those games with a broken leg." Gabrielle said.

‘That’s true." Xena surprisingly agreed, tilting her head and regarding her soulmate. "Footraces would be tough, and some of the hand to hand."

"Right. Exactly." Gabrielle nodded. "It’s just really bad timing… if this hadn’t happened, then…"

"That’s where you come in." The warrior interrupted her.

Mist green eyes stared at her. "Me?"

"Sure." Xena said.

"Xena, I can’t compete against those… " Gabrielle spluttered.

"Why not?" The warrior asked.

"Well, I mean.. " The bard searched for words. "They’ve been practicing.. that’s all they do around here, and they… Xena, for Artemis’ sake, I’m not an athelete!"

"Neither am I."

"Oh, stop that. It’s different for you, and you know it." Gabrielle replied crossly. She frowned, and went back to her task, visibly upset.

Xena regarded her thoughtfully. "What’s bothering you?" She asked.

For a while, the bard didn’t answer, using the excuse of her meticulous stitching to allow her to gather her thoughts. She was conscious of Xena’s eyes on her, but knew the warrior would wait patiently for her answer until she’d finished what she was doing.

She concentrated on the skin under her fingers, focusing on the tiny wrinkles in it, and avoiding the worst of the angry, red areas as she carefully put the pieces back together. How could Xena even be thinking about entering a competition herself, with this injury? Her mind knew the answer, though – because Xena would do whatever she had to do to achieve her objective. If that meant brutalizing her own body, then she’d do it, if she thought the goal was important enough.

Was it?

Gabrielle didn’t think the taxes were. That was only coinage, and it wasn’t worth, in her opinion, putting her beloved partner through any kind of agony. The levies were more troubling, though.

But really, what kind of chance did they have anyway? The people she had seen so far who were competing seemed to be well trained, and well conditioned… would entering even be worth it?

Gabrielle heard a soft exhale, and she glanced to her left, to see a look of unguarded, weary pain cross her partner’s face for just an instant. She closed her own eyes, and let her hands rest on Xena’s leg, and acknowledged the feeling of quiet shame that twisted her guts. If Xena thought it was important enough to put herself through the pain she knew she’d have to, then what the Hades was she, Gabrielle, doing griping about helping her?

She gently put the bandage back on Xena’s leg, tightening the bindings to hold the limb straight and arranging the furs to make her partner a little more comfortable. Then she set her things aside and sat down on the ground next to the pallet, resting her elbows on top of it and taking Xena’s hand in her own. She looked at their linked fingers, then lifted her head and met Xena’s patiently waiting gaze.

They looked at each other, in soul to soul understanding. "What is bothering me?" Gabrielle asked.

"The thought of failing." Xena answered, with quiet certainty.

Gabrielle’s lips pursed, and a tiny smile appeared. "You’ve taught me to win, Xena. I don’t like losing anymore." She admitted. "Yeah. I don’t want to go out there and make a jerk of myself."

"You won’t." The warrior replied. "I might, on the other hand." She remarked, glancing wryly at her leg. "But I think we’ve gotta try it at least."

A sigh. "We’re nuts."

"Probably." Xena smiled at her and put a hand on the bard’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "We’ll just give it our best shot."

Gabrielle traced a fingertip over the swollen skin she’d just stitched. "Xena, no one is more aware of your ability to go forward even when you shouldn’t be able to than I am, but is there any real… advantage to you risking your health like this?"

Now it was Xena’s turn to fall into silent reflection.

"I know it could mean us having to pay, and maybe we’d have to work something out about the levies.. but you know something, partner?" Gabrielle went on. "I think I’d rather deal with that, then know you were hurting yourself worse." She paused, her brow creasing a little. "Maybe I’m just getting selfish in my old age."

Xena snorted in laughter, chuckles emerging by pure reflex. "Tell you what." The warrior said. "Let’s sign up for the damn things, and when it’s time, if I think the only thing I’ll be gaining by entering is a permanent limp, I’ll back out."

Gabrielle just looked at her.

"I will." Xena stated. "Honestly."

The mist green eyes kept up their steady stare.

"I promise." Xena’s voice dropped a little, and gentled.

Gabrielle scowled a little, but lifted their hands and kissed Xena’s fingers. She knew in her heart that her partner’s competitive spirit wouldn’t allow her to back down, not in this lifetime or any other, but arguing about it seemed to have no real point.

The heat seemed to get to her then, and she felt suddenly very tired. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against Xena’s side, feeling the warrior shift and slide a hand around the back of her neck to scratch it gently. "Ungh." Gabrielle murmured. "Know what I hate the worst about this room?"

"No, what?" Xena replied.

"Bed’s too small."

Xena eyed the pale head nestled against her hip, then reviewed the problem. With a slight frown, she shifted, and rolled over, letting her body lean against the cool surface of the wall. Then she tugged on a lock of the bard’s hair and indicated the small, but almost adequate space by her side.

Gabrielle opened her mouth to protest, then decided a little nap wasn’t a bad idea. She crawled up onto the pallet and settled against Xena’s body, winding her limbs carefully around her soulmates and letting out a long, heartfelt sigh. It was very warm, and they were both sweaty, but the comfort of the touch was worth it.

At the edges of her hearing, she thought she heard voices, and yelling, but when she concentrated on it, it faded in and out. "You hear anything?"

"Yeah." Xena mumbled. "Market fight, probably."

"Yeah. Nothing to do with us for a change."

"Yeah."

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

Xena forced her eyes open what seemed like the hundreth time, refusing to let sleep take her over. As much as her body wanted her to, the uncertainty of their situation kept her awake, as her senses tried to keep track of their surroundings.

The noises outside had settled down, and the heat had intensified. Xena could feel sweat dripping off her brow, and the discomfort of her leg, combined with that was giving her an upset stomach. She gave the soundly napping Gabrielle an envious look, then tilted her head back and let her eyes close again as she tried to will away the ache.

Maybe she was crazy. Xena had to acknowledge the possibility, given her current condition. Did she really think she could ignore the damage to her body enough to compete, much less win in any of the games? The warrior opened her eyes, and regarded the smoke stained ceiling thoughtfully. In the javelin and discus, she had a chance, though getting off a good throw this off balance was going to be tough. She also hadn’t done anything like it in years, not since her old days when she’d first started her army, when they’d played the games to toughen up and keep fit between attacks.

Archery, she was more sure of. She’d done that recently, and knew herself to be more than a decent shot. The races were out though, that she’d have to leave to Gabrielle.

Xena’s eyes shifted to study the form curled tightly against hers. The bard had been more than active enough over the last year to keep her slim figure, but the security of being off the road had softened her, bringing a touch of youthful roundness back to her face, and a layer of flesh to cover bone and muscle. She reminded Xena more of the young girl who had started traveling with her in the first place, and seeing that change had brought home just how hard Gabrielle had been pushing herself during the dark years since.

It was beautiful. Xena rested her cheek against the blond head tucked into her shoulder. It was like being given a second chance where the first had gone so badly wrong in one of the darkest times of her life, this erasing of some of the marks of time from her soulmate’s body, and she didn’t regret it.

Even if it meant Gabrielle would have to really work to have even a chance at placing in the games. Xena rubbed her thumb against the bard’s shoulder. And that only, really, in the sprints which Gabrielle excelled at, her short, powerful stride flinging her ahead quickly, more so even than Xena herself. The marathons, on the other hand, were more suited to her own style of running, and her habit of conditioning her body to expend low amounts of energy over the long haul.

However. Xena sighed. Even she couldn’t manage a marathon with a broken kneecap, no matter how she tried, so it was up to Gabrielle to do the best she could.

Quarterstaff, Gabrielle could and would hold her own at, no question there. Wrestling? The warrior scowled. The bard was too small, really, to have a chance against the hulking brutes she’d probably be facing, no matter how good her technique. That Xena would have to manage, somehow.

Somehow.

And the boxing.

Gods. The warrior chewed her lip. She really was nuts. There was no way they could do this. She was crazy to even think about it.

They’d just have to find another way.. maybe she could contact some of the council. Maybe Jens would tell her where they lived, and she could…

You could what, Xena? Her conscience mocked her. Go visit them and then what? Put them up against the wall if they won’t listen? Threaten them, and get tossed in jail? The feeling of relative helplessness was galling. She felt her pulse pick up as her body sensed a threat, and wanted to deal with it, and her fingers flexed slightly as though wanting her sword hilt inside them.

"Honey?" Gabrielle mumbled softly, her breath warm against Xena’s already warm skin.

"Hm?" Xena grunted.

"What’s wrong?"

A sigh. "I was just thinking."

"About how crazy this all is?"

"Yeah."

"Does that mean we’re not going to try it?"

Xena gazed at the ceiling in silence, until she felt Gabrielle shift, and lift her head. Then she tilted her chin and looked down into the sleepy, mist green eyes, about to answer when a wave of nausea struck her. She grimaced, and clamped her jaw down tight in reflex, surprised at the suddenness of the attack and it’s severity.

"Xe?" Gabrielle woke up fast, recognizing the symptoms and the greenish tinge to her partner’s face. "Hang on.. let me… wait, do you still have some of… " She rolled off the pallet, still a little uncoordinated from sleep and stumbled over to their bags, pawing inside Xena’s as she raked the disheveled hair out of her eyes. "Gods.. where’s… ah." She pulled the healer’s kit out and shook the herb pouch loose, searching it’s contents. "I don’t think you’re.. "

She turned at the slight groan, to see the warrior clutching the edge of the bed, her knuckles white with tension. Their eyes met, and Gabrielle dropped the pouch, grabbing the now empty water basin and reaching the bedside just in time as Xena lost her battle with her stomach and retched violently. "Easy.. " Gabrielle gripped her shoulders until she’d finished, worried about the ferocity of the illness, and the stark paleness of Xena’s skin.

Her head was pounding so hard, she could see flashes behind her closed eyelids. Xena took a cautious breath, then let it out, profoundly relieved when her insides didn’t convulse again. "Wow." She whispered. "Where in Hades did that come from?"

"Mm." Gabrielle retrieved the still damp cloth near the bed and wiped Xena’s forehead, and then her face with it. "Haven’t seen you like this since I was pregnant with Dori."

Xena glanced at her in mild apprehension.

"Just had my cycles, hon." The bard smiled. "Remember?"

Xena nodded, giving her a weary smile in return. "Yeah… that’s right." She cautiously let herself back down onto the pillow, stretching out her body with care. "Herbs yesterday, maybe." She muttered. "Or whatever I had for lunch."

Gabrielle got up and dumped the contents of the basin in the middens channel, then rinsed it out with the pitcher nearby. Having children, she’d discovered, made you almost immune to grossing out over bodily functions of any kind, and she had to smile, remembering the first time she’d ever been sick this way after joining Xena.

The swirl of the marketplace, usually so enticing to her, seemed to brush against her nerves, making her stomach churn as the strong smells and the laughter buffeted her senses. Gabrielle had swallowed, and made her way through the crowd following Xena’s tall form as they headed through the town on their way down the road to Thessaly.

It had been a rough week for the both of them. Too many fights, too many bad choices, too many… Gabrielle rubbed the back of her aching neck, stiff from their nights sleep on a pile of granite slip. A landslide had woken them, put Xena in a rotten mood, and the day had just gone downhill from there.

"Want some lunch?" Xena had asked, tossing the casual question over her shoulder, clearly not expecting an answer to such an obvious, to her, question.

"Um.. " The thought of eating suddenly was extremely distasteful. "Not right now, thanks." Gabrielle had answered, continuing to walk and ending up plowing right into Xena’s back, bumping her nose on the warrior’s sword sheath. "Oh!" She’d bounced back, and almost lost her footing.

Xena had turned, and peered down at her, one dark eyebrow lifted skyward in an expression of extreme disbelief. "What?"

Gabrielle had laid a hand over her bare stomach. "Just not hungry, I guess.. maybe it’s that spice they’re using over there… smells weird, doesn’t it?"

Xena hadn’t looked convinced, but she’d just shrugged, and they’d gone on, moving through the small town and out the other side, traveling side by side down the dirt path that lead through a stand of tall, thickly leaved trees whose leaves chuckled lightly in the wind.

"Thanks for asking." The bard muttered, knowing from the stiffening of Xena’s back that she’d heard her. She shook her head and followed along, scuffing her boots against the road’s loose surface as they walked along in silence. They’d been more than usually prickly with each other lately, and Gabrielle had found herself caught between annoyance at her grumpy companion, and a growing, confusing fascination with her. She’d also begun to notice a feeling of odd shyness whenever Xena looked at her, or was near her, or… The bard grimaced, as her stomach churned in upset.

Gabrielle had hoped the fresh air would help. Instead, she’d started feeling worse and worse, until chills were running down her back, and she realized she was shivering. She’d reached out one hand to steady herself against Argo’s side, just for a moment, intending to catch her breath and keep going, but Xena’s eyes had caught the motion and the warrior had turned to look at her.

"Gabrielle." The warrior’s voice had sharpened, and she’d stopped, waiting for bard and horse to catch her up. "What’s wrong?"

"N.. nothing." Gabrielle had stubbornly shaken her head. "I’m… I’m fine. It’s okay. I just need a drink of water." She’d taken the waterskin from Argo’s back and uncapped it, lifting it to her lips and taking a sip of the sun warmed liquid.

Oh. Bad mistake. Very bad mistake. She’d only just swallowed it when she felt her insides twist, and she barely got the cover back on the wineskin before she was dropping to her knees, spewing helplessly.

Xena had grabbed her as she fell in pure reflex, and been on the receiving end of the contents of the bard’s stomach. Gabrielle had sagged in her arms, aware mostly of being sickeningly nauseous, and so embarrassed she could hardly breathe. "S…sorr.. oh gods.. " She’d apologized weakly. "Lemme.. towel.."

"Gabrielle.."

"No.. wait.. " Mortified, Gabrielle had tried to get her bag off Argo’s back, but her knees had buckled, and she’d suddenly found the world spinning around her, the vertigo causing her suffering body to rebel with startling violence as she clutched her middle in reaction.

"Gabrielle!" Xena’s bark made her freeze. "Wouldja hold still!!!"

She was a mess. Xena was a mess. Gabrielle couldn’t even bear to look up at the warrior, she could only grimace at the smell of sickness and wish fervently to be anywhere else but where she was.

The next thing she’d known, was being thrown up on Argo’s back, with Xena climbing up behind her, and taking hold of her as she urged the mare forward.

Things had gotten fuzzy after that. The fever that had made her shiver took over, and she’d thought she remembered stopping, and water, but little else until she’d opened her eyes an unknown time later to see darkness above her.

The friendly crackle of the fire nearby.

The smell of clean, sun dried cotton draped around her.

Nearby, Argo stood, her tack removed and lying over a low, tree branch. Alongside it, were her clothes, and Xena’s leathers, visibly damp and moving gently in the breeze. A soft clanking had alerted her, and she’d turned her head, towards a low, sloping green to see Xena climb up it, dressed in a light shift, carrying her newly washed armor.

Oh gods. Gabrielle remembered thinking. Now I’ve done it. Look at all the trouble I put her through.. the mess.. I threw up on her.. I did worse..ugh. Her face had reddened. Next stop, Potadeia. She’d let her eyes close, and exhaled, releasing a soft, disappointed breath.

Slowly, footsteps approached. She’d heard the soft clank as Xena dropped her armor, then the rustle of boots against pine needles as the warrior approached, and knelt down next to her.

She couldn’t open her eyes. Couldn’t face Xena, who hadn’t asked her to tag along, and have someone she had to take care of for… Gabrielle had stopped, as the thought penetrated. For a year.

And then, a hand had touched her face, and her eyes had fluttered open in pure surprise, to see Xena gravely gazing back at her. "I’m.. I’m sorry." The bard had stammered, softly, looking over Xena’s shoulders to the laundry. "So.. so much trou.. let me.. I.. " She’d tried to get up, forcing her aching body to move, but found herself stopped in mid motion, and pressed back down.

"Hey." Xena had kept a hand on her shoulder, until she was sure the bard would stay still. "Stop that. You’ll just get sick again. Lay down"

"But.. " Stubborn to the core, Gabrielle had tried to get up, pushing against the hand lying firmly on her shoulder. "I’m okay.. really."

"Gabrielle." Xena’s voice had unexpectedly gentled and softened. "You’ve been sick and out of your mind all day.. wouldja just lay down?"

All day? Gabrielle had gazed in confusion at the sky, remembering it had been lunchtime just… All day? She’d put her head back down. "Sorry."

"For what?" Xena had asked, pushing her hair back out of her eyes. "You didn’t get sick on purpose, didja?"

The touch almost made her forget how bad she felt. She’d gazed dumbly back at Xena, as those long fingers traced along her skin, wondering if it was the fever causing the chills chasing up and down her spine.

"Didja?" Xena asked again, quiet affection coloring her voice, as she’d let her hand drop down to rub the bard’s belly, under it’s covering of light cloth.

"No." Gabrielle had answered, hardly able to control her breathing. "But I got you all messed up." She reached out daringly, and fingered the fabric laying across Xena’s thigh, entertaining the bizarre thought that maybe being sick once in a while was sort of worth it, if it got her this kind of attention.

Then she was embarrassed about thinking that.

It was so confusing, but Xena’s touch felt so.. She felt an unexpected tear roll down her face, as the emotions welled up inside her.

"Hey."

A fingertip wiped the tear off, then she’d felt Xena’s hand cup her cheek again, and she drew in a shaky breath, daring to open her eyes and look up. "Thanks for taking care of me." She’d whispered, not understanding why it was suddenly so important to her that Xena had.

Shadowed in the firelight behind them, still, Xena’s smile was visible. "You can always count on me to do that, Gabrielle." The warrior had said, very simply. "Who else is there for me to take care of?"

She had no idea why she started crying. The tears just came out of her, rolling down her face as her chest caught in a sob and her hands reached for the warrior, needing something… craving it so badly she…

Ah. Xena’s arms had closed around her, and pulled her into a hug, filling the need with a sense of completeness she only comprehended much, much later.

Her fevered mind had simply accepted in that moment what her heart and soul were telling her.

That she’d come home, in the strangest of times, and the oddest of places.

Had Xena known? Gabrielle had no idea, and no way to find out, as she was rocked back to sleep with a shepherds lullaby in her ears, accepting this moment of unlooked for peace in the most chaotic of worlds.

"Sorry" Xena apologized, as she returned with a cold cloth to lay over the warrior’s head.

"For what?" Gabrielle smiled in memory. "You didn’t get sick on purpose, didja?"

Xena’s head cocked to one side, and she lifted her lip in a half grin. "No." She shook her head, as the bard wiped her face with the cloth, and stroked her cheek tenderly. "Thanks for taking care of me."

Big smile. "You can always count on me to do that, Xena." Gabrielle told her. "Who else is there for me to take care of?"

A little puzzled, Xena thought a moment. "Dori." She said.

"You take a lot more taking care of than she does." The bard leaned over and kissed her on the nose. "And I love you very much." She put her arms around Xena and hugged her.

Xena returned the hug, still a little confused, but not unhappy. "I love you too, sweetheart." She murmured, as the breeze brought her a faint laugh she could feel coming out of Gabrielle’s chest. "Let’s decide about the games tomorrow. Maybe we’ll get lucky, and something will happen."

"Okay." Gabrielle agreed. Maybe something would happen. She felt the strong body shift in her arms. But they were already very lucky.

****

After a moment, she released Xena, then settled her back down on the pallet, and perched on the edge of it. "Tell you what." She smoothed the warrior’s damp hair back, feeling as disheveled and sticky as Xena looked. "Why don’t’ you get some rest. I’ll go grab us some juice, and something nice and bland, okay?" She dropped her hand to her partner’s belly, and rubbed it gently as Xena regarded her with bloodshot eyes.

"You’re such a good mom." Xena remarked unexpectedly.

It hit an unexpected spot, and Gabrielle had to drop her eyes, finding a lace on Xena’s shift to focus on. "So are you." She murmured, blinking a tear out before she lifted her head again. "But then, I knew that."

Xena had tangled her fingers around the bard’s. "Yeah." She responded, with a touch of sadness. "I knew you were, too."

They studied each other for a bit, acknowledging the ghosts between them, that at some level would always be there. Gabrielle reached out and brushed the backs of her fingers across Xena’s cheek in silent comfort, and felt strong fingers clasp her knee in return. "Boy." She consciously tried to lighten the atmosphere. "We’re maudlin today, huh?"

Xena smiled in response. "Yeah. Maybe it’s the heat." A sigh. "Gods, I feel lousy." She went on, grimacing a little as her stomach twisted again. "I don’t know what the Hades is going on with me."

Gabrielle laid a hand on her forehead, and winced. "Ah." She could feel the warmth, far more than even the warm air of the room could account for.

Xena groaned, seeing her expression. A curse escaped from her lips, and she felt a wave of frustration, at herself, at the heat, at the weakness of her body, at the pain in her leg… "Son of a Bacchae." She growled loudly.

Gabrielle sighed. It wasn’t’ turning out to be a nice trip for her soulmate, was it? If there was one thing Xena hated worse than being hurt, it was being sick, especially a stomach sickness. "Take it easy, Xena." She rubbed the warrior’s belly again, cautiously. "What can I give you? I remember that crushed mint infusion you gave me the last time I was sick… you want that? I’ll have to run out and get some fresh leaves."

The warrior glowered grumpily at her. "Damn city." She complained. "Every time we hit a big one.. one of us gets sick from all the garbage."

True. "Mmhm."

"Too many people, too much trash… "

"Uh huh." Gabrielle kept up the gentle rubbing, seeing the minute shifts of the muscles across Xena’s shoulders as she relaxed. "I know."

A pout. "You’re humoring me."
"Of course I am." Gabrielle set her thoughts in order. "You think I want you to feel even worse than you do? Just try to rest, honey. I’ll be right back." She got up and retrieved a mug, filling it with cool water, and setting it beside the bed. "In case you feel like trying to keep that down."

"Grumph."

"Yeah, I know." Gabrielle patted her cheek. "Hang in there, tiger." She turned and picked up her smaller shoulder bag, then made her way out of the room closing the door carefully behind her. Her mind was churning over the newest complication as she walked down the narrow hallway, stopping short as she almost crashed into a slim, blond form that darted out of the kitchen. "Oh." She held a hand up. "Mikah?"

He stopped, facing away from her. "Yes?"

Her head cocked slightly, catching an odd tone in his voice. "Are you busy? Can I talk to you a minute? I’d like to ask you a favor."

"Of course. What is it?" He didn’t turn. "I’m glad you’re back safely.. I was… concerned."

"Mm.. well, Xena worked things out like she usually does." Gabrielle said. "Um… " She edged past him, and put a hand on his shoulder. "Is.. everything all right?"

Slowly he turned towards her, and her eyes widened as her body straighted in pure reflex. A huge, mottled bruise covered half his face, and his lower lip was split in two places, and swollen. "Good gods, what happened to you?"

Pale eyes met hers. "I fell." Mikah said softly. "An accident. In the marketplace."

Gabrielle searched his face, feeling the lie in the words. "Yeah." She murmured. "I used to fall a lot too."

His head lifted a little and he gazed warily at her, perhaps sensing the double meaning. "What did you want to ask me?"

Guessing she wasn’t going to get much out of him, Gabrielle pursed her lips. "Thanks for helping Xena out today. I really appreciate it." She altered her tack a little.

He relaxed a tad. "It was my great pleasure." Mikah answered. "She’s a very special person."

Gabrielle gave him a big, very pleased smile on hearing that. "I certainly think so." She agreed. "I’m glad you do too."

He smiled back, as best he could with the damage to his face. "Did she get back all right too?"

Ah. "Not exactly." Gabrielle sighed. "She’s not in really good shape at the moment."

"I beg to honorably disagree with m’lady." Mikah rasped, with rakish courtesy.

The bard’s eyes twinkled. "That’s not what I meant, unfortunately.. she’s not feeling well.. some kind of bug she picked up."

"Ah." He nodded. "Is there anything I can do for her?"

"Do you have any broth?" Gabrielle asked. "Just something very plain. I’m going to run out to the marketplace and pick up some herbs."

"Yes, we do." Mikah nodded. "I’ll get some.. I’m working kitchen duty tonight because I… " His hand drifted towards his face, as he glanced towards the big room. "Anyway, I’ll bring it to her." He hesitated, then cleared his throat a touch. "You’re Gabrielle the bard, aren’t you?"

They hadn’t been introduced earlier, she realized. "Yes, I am." Gabrielle agreed, gravely, watching his eyes study her. "Why?"

"I just wondered." Mikah said. "You're a lot younger than I thought you'd be."

The bard wasn't sure if that was a compliment or not but she decided to take it as one. "Thank you." She grinned at him. "I'll be right back." She turned to go, then paused. "Oh, and Mikah?"

"Yes?"

"Before you go in the room, knock." Gabrielle said, in a serious tone. "She's really not feeling well, and when she's sick, sometimes she reacts first, and asks questions later."

"Okay." He frowned. "But…"

"Trust me." Gabrielle put a friendly hand on his arm and leaned closer, lowering her voice. "And if she asks you what happened to your face, don’t lie."

Mikah stood, staring after the slim, blond figure now moving away from him down the hall towards the outer door. He reached up and touched the side of his head, then exhaled, and disappeared into the kitchen.

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

Xena gazed mournfully at the ceiling, trying not to think about how miserable she was. Despite the heat, she felt chilled, so she'd drawn one of the furs over her and wondered if this wasn't her body's way of enforcing it's own healing.

It made sense, in a perverse way. Given her own inclination, she'd never lie still long enough for her leg to knit properly and she knew it, so maybe this was fate's way of making it happen despite her. Her throat felt dry, but she didn't want to chance the water, wanting her pounding head to settle down before she tempted her stomach back to open revolt.

It wasn't far from it anyway. She could feel the churning, and the nausea, and indulged herself in a childish wish that Gabrielle was back at her side. Not that the bard could cure her, though the herbs she was going after might help a little, it just…

Xena sighed, and fingered the edge of the furs. She just felt better with the bard around, that was all. A chill snuck over her, and she shivered, startled at the sudden onset of the illness and wondering what in Hades it was. She pulled the furs more closely around her, and tried to get a little more comfortable.

It didn't help. The warrior gave up and just rolled her head to one side, watching the changing pattern of the light coming in the high window, listening to the sounds from the world outside.

She could hear carts rolling by, and the sudden, angry shout of a driver, as someone got in his way. Xena hoped fervently it wasn't Gabrielle as she heard the shift and scrape of something being hit, and she only just kept herself from scrambling out of bed to go see.

Her stomach rose, and she clamped her jaw down, swallowing the bile with intense concentration. One hand reached out to grip the side of the bed, squeezing down hard until she felt the wood dent under her fingers. Thankfully, the spasm passed, and she went limp against the furs, closing her eyes and taking a careful breath.

And then she heard footsteps outside. Light, but not Gabrielle's, missing the distinctive rhythm of the bard's pace. These had a male sound, perceptible to her very sensitive ears, a slight hitch and motion men had that women didn't, due to their bodily differences.

Xena willed them to move on, though she knew their corner room didn't pass much traffic. With how she felt, any intruder was either very bad trouble, or in very bad trouble, depending on how much she thought she could control the chakram Gabrielle had left nestled next to her hand.

The steps paused outside the door and fell silent, and Xena cursed in sibilant, whispered tones. She curled her fingers around her weapon and waited, swallowing hard again to settle her rebellious insides.

A soft knock broke the quiet. Xena glared evilly at the door, and wondered what would happen if she sunk her chakram into it, the sharp weapon more than capable of protruding it's edge through the other side. Would it prevent another knock? She hefted the metal circle and plotted an angle.

Another knock. Xena eased herself up onto her elbow and cocked her arm, whipping it forward and releasing the chakram with a snap of her wrist. The weapon whirled through the air and hit the door with a very loud bang, sinking half it's width into the wood and quivering.

There was deathly silence outside the door, then a tremendous crash, and the sound of running feet. Xena settled back onto her sweat drenched furs with a contented grunt and folded her hands over her stomach, letting her eyes half close as another round of shivers passed over her body.

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

Continued in Part 6

A Matter of Pride

Part 6

The town loomed on the horizon, and Ephiny found herself grateful in the extreme to see it. She wiped the sweat off her brow, and stretched her arms out, working a kink out of her back and reflecting that she certainly wasn’t getting any younger. They'd been traveling the road all day, working their way through the gradually increasing crowds, and everyone, it seemed, was more than ready to stop and rest.

"Decent looking place." Eponin gestured ahead of them. "Think they've got an inn?"

"Ungh." Ephiny grunted.

"Hope they got rooms."

Ephiny glanced behind them, to where the wagon was rumbling in their wake. Far from being argumentative today, the elders had seemed to succumb to the heat, and the dust of the road, and were sitting in morose silence with arms shading their heads from the sun. Cyrene was in her place on the driver's seat, and she had Dori cradled in her arms, the baby taking a blessedly long nap for a change. "Me too." The Amazon sighed. "Though to be honest, I'd be happy to drop this lot off in town, and find myself a nice, quiet tree to sleep in."

"Mm." Eponin's turn to grunt. "I dunno. Eph.. remember what happened to Gabrielle last time SHE slept up in a tree."

Ephiny blinked, then glanced at her. "She had help."

Eponin looked back innocently.

"You volunteering to figure out how they did that?" Ephiny asked, jokingly. "I’m sure if you ask tall, dark and dangerous she'd be glad to give you pointers."

The older amazon peered at her uncertainly, not sure if she were joking or not.

"I'm kidding." Ephiny slapped her shoulder. "I’m reconciled to doing it the old fashioned way." She sighed, and looked ahead, where the first outbuildings of the town were now almost even with them. Kids were a touchy subject between them at the moment, since half a moon prior, when Ephiny had lamented once too often how much she missed Xenon, and wished he could stay with them.

"So," Eponin had said. "Let's have one."

One what, Ephiny had wondered, for a few seconds, then realized what her partner was suggesting She'd paused a moment, trying to compose a suitible negative response, and by the time she'd opened her mouth, what actually had come out was "Okay."

Okay. Ephiny drew in breath of the hot, dusty air. Wasn't unusual, after all. Amazons did it all the time, trading a night's pleasure with some carefully selected man for an addition to the tribe, hopefully a little girl. That was how they grew, after all, and had done so for generations.

She understood that, being the Regent, and in fact, she'd been chastised by the elders not a moon before for not giving her own contribution to the tribe's future.

Xenon didn't count, of course. Ephiny scowled a little, and kicked a rock that skittered down the road in front of her. How many Amazons still looked askance of her, even now, because of that?

As many as looked askance at Gabrielle, she acknowledged bitterly, for choosing Xena, and bringing the warrior into the tribe as her consort.

Well, the heck with them. Ephiny straightened her shoulders. They were gonna do it. She snuck a glance at Pony, who was strolling along, her hands clasped behind her back, eyes watching the surroundings with casual alertness. The only thing left to decide, of course, was which one of them was.. er… gonna do it.

"Ephiny?"

The regent looked to her right to see Cait at her side. "Yes?"

"Do you see those men watching us?"

Ephiny's eyes flicked up the, back to Cait's face. "Yeah."

"I don't much like them." Cait said, seriously. "Do you?"

The group had been standing next to what appeared to be a communal barn, leaning against it's surface and idly talking to each other. They appeared, to Ephiny's eyes, just a regular group of townies, dressed in rough, worn tunics and boots, unremarkable in any way she could tell. "Maybe they're just not used to seeing Amazons." She told Cait. "Not many tribes in these parts, remember. We're probably a little exotic to them."

A little? Ephiny dusted off some trail dirt off her copper wristlets, and smoothed back a feather hanging from her bodice. They were all dripping with weapons and Amazon rank badges, and she was very well aware of the spectacle they presented. In addition, Paladia's towering height, and Cait's blade slim, and pale haired striking looks also guaranteed them notice as they traveled.

"That's so." Cait agreed, reluctantly. "I still get an itch about them, though. I think we should keep an eye on that lot."

"You do that." Ephiny gave the young girl a tolerant grin. "More trouble we sure don’t need on this trip."

"You can certainly say that again." Cait nodded fervently. "Gosh, but I didn't think Dori could quite take off on that horse, did you?"

Ephiny gave Eponin a glare. "We never would have known if someone hadn't had the bright idea to put her on it's back, now would we, Poopoo."

'Hey!" Eponin scowled. "Don't call me that! Wasn't my fault! You said to get her up out of the mud, didncha?"

Ephiny cut off her response as they entered the town, and headed through a small marketplace towards a two story inn she could see behind it. They passed by the watching group, and she kept an eye on them from the corner of her peripheral vision, but they seemed to ignore them after they'd passed, and she dismissed the scruffy bunch, concentrating on reaching their objective.

The inn courtyard wasn't as busy as she feared, and Ephiny felt a sense of relief come over her as she lead the party forward, reaching out to hold the cheekpiece of the lead horse as the wagon slowed to a halt. Cyrene got down, and walked stiffly forward, pausing beside her.

"Here." The innkeeper handed Dori over. "I'll go get us some rooms."

Ephiny found her arms full of slightly squirming toddler. "Um… " Dori's eyes opened and peered up at her, and the small brow puckered in displeasure. "Hey, kiddo… how are ya?" She rocked the toddler a little as Cyrene disappeared into the inn.

Dori turned her head and peered around. "Mama?" Her voice called out, plaintively.

Ephiny winced, a little. "No, honey.. mama's not here. We're going to go find her, remember?"

A pout. "W..want mama." Dori complained. "Want Boo!" She wriggled unhappily. "Mama!!!!"

The Amazon flinched at the volume, which nearly blew the feathers off her leathers. "Shh… shh.. take it easy, Dori.. we're going after Mama, honest. Fast as we can." She attempted to soothe the angry child. "Just a couple more days, I promise, okay?" She struggled to hold on to the actively moving body, which was strong out of proportion to it's size, and completely in character with it's parentage. "C'mon, sweetie…be nice to old Auntie Ephiny, huh?"

"Bck." Dori stopped struggling, and scowled. "Want mama.. no good mama go bye, take Boo."

Eponin snickered, covering her mouth with her hand, which earned her a dour look from her lover. "Sorry." The weapons master cleared her throat. "She talks like that, and when I realize she's talking about Xena, I just have to crack up."

Dori sighed unhappily. "Want Boo." She repeated, in a softer voice. "Love Boo."

Ephiny felt a pang in her chest at the words. "I know you do, little one." She cradled Dori. "Boo loves you too, so don't you fret, okay? We're gonna find Boo and Mama real soon now."

Clear, green eyes peered up at her for a moment, then Dori smiled, her snub nose wrinkling up in an expression so in Gabrielle's image, it charmed Ephiny to the core, and made her return an equally warm smile. "What a cutie you are." She told the toddler. "Just like your mama."

"Mama." Dori stuck her thumb in her mouth and sucked on it, satisfied for the moment apparently. Ephiny sighed in relief, as the rest of the Amphipolis elders climbed out of the wagon and moved towards the inn. "Pony, see if you can get stabling for the horses." She jerked her chin towards the barn. "Doesn’t' look too busy here, maybe we'll get lucky and they'll have enough rooms."

Cyrene slipped out of the door at that moment, and held it so the elders could move past her. "All set." She announced briskly. "They've got six rooms, I took all of them." She dusted her hands off on her traveling tunic, then walked over to where Ephiny was. "Not the best, not the worst, but I think the food won't kill any of us." She tickled Dori's foot. "And by the gods, they've got a bathing room."

"Thank you." Ephiny imagined the touch of warmed water, and soap, after the last four days of cold streams and earthen beds. She handed Dori back to her grandmother as Eponin led the horses off. "I could use something cold to drink.. care to join me?"

"Let me go change her." Cyrene sighed, hefting the toddler in her arms. "Great gods, she's getting big, isn't she? Look at her." She held out one of Dori's long legs.

"Well.." Ephiny smiled at Cyrene.

"I know. I know." The innkeeper turned and walked towards the inn. "I've only myself to blame, is that it? "

Ephiny chuckled, and followed her, with Cait and Paladia right behind her. "I think I'll keep my own council about that one, thanks." She held the door open, and glanced back over her shoulder, where Pony was making her way towards the barn, with Johan's stocky form next to her. The sun was going down, and a somber, smoky peace was settling over the village.

Looks like we're heading for a peaceful night for a change. Ephiny thought, with satisfaction. "Just what we needed."

She followed Cait inside the inn and let the door close behind her.

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

Gabrielle pushed through the crowd this time, trading politeness for expediency as she hunted out the herbalist's booth again. She was worried about Xena now, knowing the warrior's mental spirits would be sinking to an all time low, and she cast her mind around, trying to think of something she could bring back that might cheer her soulmate up.

Passing a colorful stall, she stopped short, and cocked her head. On the shelves before here were spread a myriad of wooden games and puzzles. "Ah hah." Gabrielle smiled, as she picked among them. One was a tilted board with a maze and a weighted, round wood pellet to guide along it's path, and another was an intricately interlocking latticework to be taken apart. "I'll take these." She handed them to the young woman behind the table. "Do you have any more like… "

"We've got this." The girl had been watching her intently, and now she brought out a beautiful, mahogany ball ."There's a treasure inside, if you know how to find it."

Gabrielle touched the surface, it's warmth gathering in the light and almost glowing. She could barely see any lines of joining on it, and the whorls and natural shadings of the wood obscured even those. It would probably be a bear to figure out.

Xena would love it. "I'll take this too." Gabrielle said, quietly. "It's gorgeous."

"Thanks." The girl's eyes twinkled with pride. "I make them."

The bard blinked in surprise, since the young face across from her seemed barely more than a child. Well, isn't that hypocritical of you? Her conscience mocked her. "Wow." She grinned at the merchant. "Great work!" She extended a hand. "What's your name?"

"Elise." The girl took Gabrielle's arm and clasped it. "What's yours, and where are you from?"

"Gabrielle." The bard answered. "And I’m from Amphipolis."

The girl's face froze into a wide eyed look, then she carefully studied Gabrielle up and down before she leaned forward, and lowered her voice. "Are you 'the' Gabrielle from Amphipolis? The bard?"

Gabrielle also leaned forward, and lowered her own tones. "Yeah." She whispered. "Weird, huh?"

Elise giggled. "Can I have your autograph?"

Gabrielle blinked. "My what?"

"You know, can you sign your name for me on something, so I can show all my friends?" The girl asked, with a charming, somewhat sheepish grin. "They won't believe it, otherwise."

"Um." Gabrielle was almost dumbstruck. "Sure, I guess.. but… " She started laughing a little.

The girl turned, and started rummaging around in one of her boxes. "I guess you're here for the bard's competition, right? That's so cool. I can't wait to tell my friends… some of the stuff they've been doing this year is so.. like, dry, you know?" She pulled out a scroll, and a quill and ink from under her counter. "This is one of yours.. it's my favorite. Hey.. " She stopped in mid motion, as a thought struck her. "Does that mean Xena's here too?"

"Um… yes. " Gabrielle took the quill from her and examined it. "That's who the puzzles are for, as a matter of fact.. but I …"

"No? Yeah?" Elise's voice rose into a squeak. "For real?"

"Yeah." Gabrielle started laughing helplessly, totally unsure of how to react to the sight of the girl's dance of joy. "Um… Elise?"

"That is SOO COOL." She handed Gabrielle the scroll. "Oh, man.. you have no idea."

"I think you're right." Gabrielle scratched her ear, then shook her head as she signed her sigil on the bottom of the scroll. "So you don't like the plays they've been doing?"

Elise rolled her eyes. "Oh, please." She fanned herself with a bit of cloth. "They're like, for my mother, you know?" She pranced around, now attracting the attention of the nearby stall minders. "All "Oh, Mighty Athena, bring your glory down on us and save the wheat!" She turned and regarded Gabrielle. "And the armies. They all have armies this year, with all these big, hunky guys who all smell bad, stomping around on stage and farting. I ask you. Is that cool?"

The bard snorted, and covered her mouth hastily, as a laugh bubbled up. "No, that's not cool." She gasped out. "But they can't all be that bad.. c'mon. They've got some talented people doing this stuff."

Eliese sighed. "No, yeah, that's true, I guess. It's just that all we've been hearing for like.. half of forever is this stupid bard's contest, and who's going to be in it, and what they're doing… it's so boring!" She lowered her voice again. "So.. how come we didn't hear you were going to be here? For sure, like, everyone would have been talking about that.. my girlfirend Janie is a student up at the Academy, and she'd have said, like right off."

Ah. "Well… " Gabrielle considered her answer. "I didn’t know about it, for one thing. We live pretty far from here." She drew a breath to continue.

"And for another, she wasn't asked." A loud voice cut through her thoughts, grating on her nerves. Gabrielle turned, to see Celesta standing there, an unmistakably vicious look on her face.

"So that’s who you are, huh, country cousin?" The taller woman rasped. "Well, well."

Gabrielle felt her nape hairs prickle, and she straightened up, tilting her chin up and squaring her shoulders. "That's who I am, yes." She answered, giving Celesta a direct stare. "And I was asked." She added quietly, aware of the sudden silence around them.

"Were you?" Celesta asked, sauntering closer. "And if you're smart, you'll have said no."

Gabrielle held her ground. "Why would I say no? " She countered. "Being from the provinces… " A touch of a drawl entered her tone. "Why wouldn't I look forward to performing here in the capital."

"Because you'll look like an idiot." Celesta told her bluntly.

"I have before." Gabrielle smiled. "But I guess we'll find out, won't we?"

The taller woman closed in on her, and it was all Gabrielle could do not to shove her back as Celesta invaded her personal space to an extent she didn't allow anyone else except her family. Deliberately, though, she slowed her breathing, and chanted her Xena mantra in her head to maintain her calm facade

"Now, you listen, my provincial friend." Celesta purred. "I don't care who you are, or what you've done, or how many of your little stories are floating around the commoner 's taverns. Keep out of my way, and stay out of that contest, or you'll really, really regret it."

Gabrielle took a breath. "Is that a threat?"

"Yes." Celesta told her evenly. "And I will make good on it." She stared right into the bard's eyes. "Believe me."

Back down? Hit her? Gabrielle leaned closer, surprising Celesta. "If I were you." She remarked, in an almost conversational tone. "I would think very carefully about that."

Celesta laughed. "Oh, you think your great reputation frightens me? That I should be scared off by your 'bardic' talent?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

"No." Gabrielle replied, then blurred into motion, releasing her screaming instincts and reaching up to grab Celesta by the neck of her robe, turning and spinning them both and pulling the taller woman down over her knee. She twisted her fists in the fabric, holding the Athenian bard still as she bent over her. "My storytelling reputation never scared anyone. On the other hand… She tightened her fists "My title of Queen of the Amazons should make you think twice before you try something really stupid."

Celesta struggled fiercly, her arms straining against Gabrielle's grip. "Let me go." She growled.

But the bard merely smiled gently at her, and didn't budge an inch. Finally, Celesta stopped fighting her, and let go of the Gabrielle's powerful wrists. Only then, did Gabrielle stand in a fluid motion, pulling them both up , and release her. "Aren't you late for your rehearsal?" She remarked pointedly, giving Celesta a direct stare.

"You will so regret that." Celesta said, before she turned and strode off, her robes flapping in the hot wind.

Gabrielle felt her legs start to shake as her body released itself from the impending threat of battle, and she leaned against a nearby stall pole as her heartbeat slowed and steadied. She was well aware of the crowd around her, and the eyes that almost went through her with their intensity. Slowly, she gathered her composure around her before she lifted her eyes, and returned Elise' s gaze from across the counter.

The girl's expression was…

Indescribable. Gabrielle shivered a little in it's wondering adoration, and resisted the urge to look behind her to see what the girl was looking at. "So anyway." She managed to get out in a normal tone. "How much did you want for these?" She pointed at the puzzles.

Without a word, Elise put the puzzles in a soft, cloth bag and handed them to her, closing her fists and shaking her head when Gabrielle went for her belt pouch.

"No, I can't do that." Gabrielle disagreed. "They're your work, and I know they must have taken you a long time." She took out some coins. "How much?"

"Man…. " The young man in the next stall finally spoke " You are the real thing, aren't you?"

Gabrielle glanced at him in puzzlement, then patted her self. "Sure, I'm real." She replied. "What's your point?"

The man shook his head. "That's why your stuff is so good." He said. "Cause you don’t' just write about it. You do it." A low murmuring whisper went up in the crowd, as they started to move on, eyes remaining on Gabrielle as they slowly dispersed.

The bard felt a little unsettled. "Well, yeah, I guess." She murmured.

"That bitch is bad news." Elise told her, finally breaking her silence.

Gabrielle nodded slowly. "That's probably very true." She agreed.

"Aren't you.. like, at all scared?" Elise asked, in a wistful , but awed tone.

"No." Gabrielle had to chuckle a little. "She may be bad news, but I live with worse." A breath. "Now, how much?" She felt her equilibrium returning, and had to give herself a little pat on the back on dealing with Celesta.

At least she wouldn't have to go watch her darn rehearsal now.

But it did add another layer of difficulty to their problems. Gabrielle sighed. At the rate she was going, maybe it would be easier to set the city on fire and just run.

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

Xena had just managed to doze off again when she heard another set of footsteps approaching. Wearily, she let her eyes flutter open, but a moment later her ears recognized the sound and it brought a faint grin to her face. She spent a moment imagining Gabrielle's approach, and the look on her face when she spotted the edge of the chakram poking out of the door's surface.

Sure enough, the bootsteps stopped short just outside the door with a rasp of leather soles against the wood floor, then a very faint sound between a snort and a cough came faintly to her ears. A soft tinkle of broken pottery and a slight scuff meant Gabrielle had to clear whatever it was that broke out of her way, then the door latch worked and the door opened, creaking slightly on it's hide hinges as Gabrielle poked her head inside. "Hi."

"Hi." Xena answered.

The door opened all the way and Gabrielle entered, a sack slung over her shoulder in addition to her carry bag. She paced across the room, stopping to put the bag on the table, then continued on to the bed and crouched next to it. "How are you feeling?"

Icky. Xena shrugged one shoulder in answer.

The bard laid a hand over her forehead, and grimaced a little. "Not too good, honey. " She glanced over her shoulder. "Wasn't the doorknob enough for you?"

"Someone was bothering me." Xena said, with a touch of petulance.

A sigh. "No, sweetheart, that was Mikah bringing you soup." She advised her soulmate. "You probably scared him out of six seasons of growth."

The dark brows knit. "Oh." Xena managed a sheepish expression without moving a muscle. "Sorry." She added. "Wasn't expecting visitors."

"Well, at least he knocked first." Gabrielle sighed. "That could have been catastrophic, and we don't need any more issues, if you know what I mean."

Xena's eyebrows lifted. "Now what?" She asked. "You didn't knock over more carts, did you?" She joked, laying a hand on the bard's thigh and running the edge of her thumb over the muscles she could feel just under the fabric. "Gabrielle, the Terror of Potadeia."

Gabrielle chuckled in reflex. "No." She sighed. "I didn't, but I did run into Celesta, and my identity got blown."

A shrug.

"Yeah, that's how I felt about it. I went over to the games master too, since I was near there, and signed us up." Gabrielle went on. "For two really good reasons."

Xena lifted an eyebrow at her.

"One, because the deadline was sundown." Gabrielle told her wryly. "And two, because when you do that, you get issued a bed in the games compound."

The eyebrow twitched higher. "What, don't you like our fancy accommodations here?' The warrior inquired.

"Mm.. no comment, but you'll like the ones there a lot better." The bard patted her arm. "Trust me." She spared a thought for the cool stone building she'd examined, finding her way through a maze of hallways to where the games participants were quartered, spread over and around a wide, breezy courtyard.

It wasn't luxury, exactly. The yard had been full of sweaty, grunting bodies and she'd been jostled more than once by uncaring, oblivious people as she'd searched for the glyph matching the one on the scrap of parchment they'd given her, but she'd finally found it, and peeked inside the door.

Heh. "So, let's get packed up, and move on over there, partner." Gabrielle advised her. "Maybe we can get settled while the rest of that…bunch… is having dinner."

The thought of getting up and moving didn't agree with her. Xena exhaled wearily and tried to gather up a few reserves. Maybe it would be better if they waited.

"Look." Gabrielle interpreted her reactions with startling accuracy. "I know you don't feel like going right now, but let me get you some mint tea, and we'll make it over there. Honestly, Xe, I think you'll feel a lot better. This place…" She looked around her as the sweat dripped into her eyes. "I think it's making you sicker."

Was it? Xena rolled her head to one side, and juggled the relative miseries involved. "Yeah." She finally said. "Maybe you're right."

"Good." Gabrielle smiled in obvious relief, moving a bit of the warrior's sweat soaked hair out of her eyes. "I'm uncomfortable in here, so I can't even imagine how miserable you must be." Her fingertips ran over the lines of strain at Xena's temples. "Know what I wish?"

Strange, how the discomfort she’d been griping about just a few minutes earlier seemed to have faded. Xena was conscious of her entire body relaxing, and she wondered how much of that was just coincidence, and how much of it was due to Gabrielle’s presence. She’d started to notice recently almost automatic reactions her body had to the bard’s nearness, and while that didn’t entirely surprise her in some cases, in others it was a little curious.

Not that she was complaining. "No, what do you wish?" Xena asked. "That it was winter?"

"Eh." A wrinkle nosed grin appeared. "Sort of. I wish we were home." Gabrielle said. "Out on the mountain, overlooking the river basin, under your tree." A pause. "Or in our spring, that would work too."

Would it ever. Xena shifted a little. "Yeah, well.. sooner we get this over with, sooner we can get out of here. " She started to push herself up off the furs, moving slowly enough not to outrage her already queasy insides.

Gabrielle put an arm around her shoulders. "You’re drenched." She helped her partner sit up, and carefully eased the warrior’s injured leg off the pallet and rested it on the floor. "Let me get you a fresh shirt."

"Hm." Xena leaned back against the wall, the surface cool against her damp skin. It felt good. She watched Gabrielle rummage in their packs, then set a neatly folded piece of cloth down as she opened the bag she’d returned with and drew out some leaves. Xena’s nose twitched, smelling the mint already and hoping it would settle her stomach. "Whatcha got there?" She asked, seeing the larger of the two bags the bard brought out and set aside.

Mist green eyes peeked over one shoulder at her. "Where?"

Mm. Presents. Xena felt a grin pull at her lips. "In the bag." She kept her tone dry.

"What bag?"

"Don’t’ make me get up and find out."

"Hah. Like you could at the moment." Gabrielle turned, and put a hand on her hip, giving her partner a mock insolent look. "It’s a surprise." She came over and handed Xena the cup, which now smelled not only of mint but of honey, and a light, fruity wine. "Here, sip on this, while I get us packed up."

Xena took the cup readily, and eased a sip of it past her lips. She held it in her mouth for a moment, enjoying the taste, then cautiously swallowed.

For a second, she thought it was going to come right back up. Then her stomach reluctantly accepted the tonic and settled down, grumbling audibly. "Did you put.. "

"Feveroot in there? Yes." Gabrielle was busy stuffing their things away. "If you think you can sit up after you finish that, I’ll clean you up a bit."

Xena snorted.

"What?" Gabrielle looked at her. "It’s just like taking care of Dori, y’know. " Her eyes twinkled. "Well, a little size difference, but that’s all."

"Just keep talking, bard.. I’ll remember this." Xena threatened. "Just you wait." She gave Gabrielle a narrow eyed look.

"Ooo.. I’m so scared." Gabrielle had the temerity to giggle.

The warrior released an aggrieved sigh, then stuck her face in the cup and took another swallow of the bard’s tasty, and well considered tisane. After a quiet moment, she looked up, to see Gabrielle looking back at her, with that cute little grin on her face, and she had to grin back.

Damn it felt nice. Xena mused wistfully, considering the unexpected gift of their friendship restored after everything else they’d gone through. Not only the love, which at some level had always been there, somehow, but the liking of each other, that sweet, relaxed companionship she never thought she’d see again. "Hey."

One of Gabrielle’s pale eyebrows lifted. "Hm?"

Xena lifted her cup. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." The bard left off packing and came over, taking a seat next to Xena on the pallet and leaning back, her shoulder pressing against the warrior's. "I wonder how things are going at home." She wondered. "What Dori's up to… how mom's handling her… "

"What parts of Amphipolis have fallen to her rambunctiousness…" Xena finished, with a soft chuckle. "Damn, I miss her."

"Me too." The bard admitted, leaning her head against Xena's shoulder. "I keep thinking we should have brought her with us."

"Gabrielle." Her partner eyed her. "I love our daughter, but doncha think we've got enough troubles?" Xena finished her cup, and cradled it in her hands, feeling a little better for it. The fever was still giving her chills though, and she found herself very unwilling to move.

"I dunno, tiger." Gabrielle patted her arm. "I think she'd have a better chance in those games than we would."

"Mm." Xena rested her head against Gabrielle's. They sat like that in silence for a bit, as a fly buzzed around them "Especially in the discus." The warrior suddenly said. "Did you see her whip mom's meat platter across the kitchen a couple weeks back?"

Gabrielle laughed. "Yeah.. I did… she's really something."

"Yeah." Xena agreed, with a sigh. "I'm sure she's fine… probably out chasing the roosters with Ares about now."

"Mm." The bard nodded. "Or getting into the well."

"Or letting the horses out."

They looked at each other. Gabrielle just covered her eyes.

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

It was full dark by the time they left the inn, and headed across to the small barn where Argo and Iolaus were being kept. Xena had her light cloak on, despite the still lingering warmth in the air and she concentrated mainly on keeping upright as she navigated over the hoof rutted ground.

She was glad when she reached the door to the barn, and Gabrielle swung it open so they could enter. Inside, it was strong with the smell of animals and leather, and the dust from the straw drifted up and tickled her nose. "Hey girl." She greeted Argo, who was looking at her over the side of a roped off stall.

Argo snorted, and tossed her head.

"Yeah, I'm not that thrilled either." Xena replied, with a wan grin as she limped over to the mare and laid an arm over her back. She eased her pack off her shoulder and turned, only to find Gabrielle already there, lifting Argo's saddle up. "Give me that." She balanced carefully and took the heavy leather from the bard's fingers, hoisting it over Argo's height and settling it in place.

"You saying I’m too short to saddle her?" Gabrielle inquired.

Xena was about to answer, when the barn door opened, and Mikah slipped in, freezing when he saw both of them. "Hey, listen.." The warrior started to speak. "Sorry about the… " Then her eyes registered the damage to the boy's face, and she stopped speaking, her eyes widening in reaction.

Gabrielle had turned towards the door. She heard the catch in Xena's voice, and glanced back, taking in the warrior's expression. "He had a little accident in the market." She spoke quickly, guessing the thoughts racing through her partner's mind. Their eyes met, and she saw Xena's shoulders relax a bit.

"Oh." Mikah seemed stunned. "Are you leaving? It wasn't that bad, was it?" He closed the door behind him and walked across the straw littered floor. "I'm sorry about the old… um.. I don't think she really meant for you to leave."

"Probably not." Gabrielle gave him a reassuring smile. "No, it's not… " Her natural impulse to tell the truth warred with her kindly nature for a moment. "I just… we entered into the games, and they gave us space there… I wanted to get Xena into someplace a little cooler." She explained.

Mikah's brow creased. "You entered the games?" He looked from Gabrielle to Xena and back. "Oh, you did, you mean."

"No." The bard replied. "We both did."

Mikah glanced at Xena. "Oh." He thought about that. "Isn't it going to be a little hard for you to compete with a broken knee?"

"Who, Xena?" Gabrielle answered for her. "Nah.. just think of it as a fairness handicap. That way everyone else might, if they try really hard, have a chance."

"Gabrielle." Xena rumbled.

"Of coming in second." The bard went on, blithely ignoring her.

"Really?" Mikah smiled at her.

"Absolutely." Gabrielle stated, sensing the warmth as Xena moved closer and loomed over her. She tilted her head back and regarded the warrior's angular face. "What?"

Xena just shook her head, then looked over at Mikah. "Now you know how all those damn stories get started." She stated. "Sorry about the soup.. didn't mean to scare you like that."

"It's all right." Mikah answered shyly. "I was hoping I'd get a chance to apologize for being so.. um.. " His eyes flicked to Gabrielle, then went back to Xena's face. "During the dancing."

Ah. Xena managed a smile for him, as her stomach seemed to have settled for the moment. "Don't worry about it." She told him. "It's part of the job, isn't it?"

A blush colored his skin, visible even with the bruising. His eyes dropped. "Not always."

Uh oh. Xena felt mist green eyes on her, and if she looked down, she knew she'd see Gabrielle's eyebrows lifting sharply upward. "I'm flattered." She replied. "And thanks for helping me out.. seeing that I was in that room under false pretenses."

Mikah glanced at her, uncertainly.

"I was looking for information." Xena clarified.

"Oh." He said, simply.

Gabrielle reached out with one hand and caught the clue that had been buzzing around them, and a wry twinkle entered her eyes. "Don't feel bad. " She relaxed, and walked over to Mikah, putting a friendly arm around his shoulders. "Xena has that effect on a lot of people."

"Really?"

"Really." The bard said. "Now, you want to tell us what really happened to you?"

Trapped, he jerked a bit, blinking at Gabrielle in startlement. "Oh…" Now he glanced around, then shrugged. "It was that jerk from the inn.. the one you told off." This he directed to Xena. "He recognized me when I was coming back through the market.. I guess he didn't feel brave enough to come after you, so…"

Gabrielle happened to be looking at Xena as the boy spoke, and she held her breath, as she watched the shadows of a darker time slide down and settle on her partner's planed features. The pale blue eyes went cold and remote, and her entire visiage hardened, all without so much as the twitch of a muscle. Sick or no, hurt or no, the Warrior Princess had just appeared in the barn, and she knew Mikah had seen it, from the stiffening of the shoulders under the arm she had thrown over them.

"Well." The bard said quietly. "Seems like Athens is just full of jerks these days." She considered, then regarded Mikah thoughtfully. "Think we can engage your services for a few days?"

He looked at her, eyebrows shooting straight up.

Xena's did too.

"I’m sure we could use some help… " Gabrielle went on, then realized how her words must have sounded. "Um.. no, that's… ah…" She removed her arm. "Not what I …" She stopped and took a breath, very aware of the sudden blush making the warmth of the barn worse. "Centaur farts."

Xena chuckled. "You can take the girl out of Potadeia…." She let the thought trail off suggestively.

"Yeah, yeah." Gabrielle sighed, collecting herself, and facing the now shyly smiling Mikah. "Listen, we've got a lot of things going on, and it's really complicated.." She gave the snickering Xena a dour look. "So we could really use just some logistical help while we're here. You interested?"

"Sure." Mikah agreed easily. "I'll just go tell the old b… " He hesitated. "I mean, I'll be right back." He turned and left, moving quickly through the door and closing it behind him.

Gabrielle put her hands on her hips and regarded her partner, who was now leaning on Argo's back and resting her chin on the mare's neck. "He's cute."

A shrug.

Gabrielle wandered over and leaned on Argo’s other side. "So." She traced a whorl of golden hairs. "Tell me about this dancing."

"It was just dancing." Xena replied. "Couple of women, some guys, you know."

The bard gazed up at her. "Actually, no I don’t." She remarked. "What was it like?"

"Well." Xena shifted her weight a little. "It was.. um…. " Her hands moved on Argo’s back, describing a circular motion. "First, one girl sort of…started, then she brought in a guy, and then… " Pale blue eyes blinked. "It was…um.. interesting."

"Interesting." Gabrielle rested her chin along Argo’s backbone, and watched her partner through her pale lashes. "I was wondering what you were finding so… " Her lips quirked. "Interesting. I could feel that, you know."

Xena’s nostrils flared, and her eyes widened a bit. "Yeah?"

"Mm." Gabrielle nodded. "Did you like it?"

"It was all right." Xena responded cautiously. "You.. felt something?"

There was a definite twinkle now. "Sure. And now I know you did."

One of Xena’s brows lifted expressively. "How?"

"You’re blushing." The bard snickered.

"I am not." Xena said, immediately. "I have a fever."

"Uh huh."

"I do."

"Oh, yeah." Gabrielle teased. "It’s making the tips of your ears red, too."

On pure human instinct, Xena lifted a hand and covered one ear, feeling the heat against her fingertips. She scowled at her partner, not entirely sure if she was being kidded, or not. "It wasn’t like that."

"Uh huh." The bard grinned.

"Gabrielle." Xena’s voice dropped a notch.

Ah. A little too much teasing. "Yes?" The bard replied, in a sultry tone. "Now I wish I’d stuck around."

Xena sniffed a little. "You’d have hid your eyes and squealed." She muttered.

"Probably." Gabrielle admitted, with a smile. "It just was weird." She pushed away from Argo and circled her, ending up next to Xena. "I don’t often feel like that when I’m not with you."

The warrior eyed her thoughtfully. "Me, either." She said, then paused a moment. "You didn’t think I… " Her eyes flicked to the door, and back.

"Weeeeell… " Gabrielle pondered that. "He is cute, and blond."

Xena merely looked at her.

"No." The bard laughed. "C’mon, Xe.. he’s just a kid."

"Ah.. so you’re saying I’m getting old, is that it?" The warrior countered.

"Xena." Gabrielle poked her very gently. "Don’t be so sensitive. I’m just teasing you."

Yeah. Xena mentally slapped herself. Get a grip, already. "I’m sick." She complained by way of an excuse. "Be nice."

Gabrielle slid an arm around the warrior carefully, and gave her a hug. It was dicey for a moment, then she felt Xena’s body relax, and lean against her. "Why don’t we walk Argo outside, and let you sit down?"

For an answer, Xena merely reached up and gripped the mare’s saddle, then pulled herself up into it, settling her splinted leg carefully. It was a relief, she had to admit, to get off the damn thing. "There." She leaned over and ruffled Gabrielle’s hair. "Let that rope down."

The bard did so, and watched Xena guide the mare over to the door, ducking her head with consummate grace as they went through it and out into the muggy twilight air. Gabrielle left her to her own devices as she packed up the rest of their gear on Iolaus’ back and fastened his leading halter, not intending on riding the stallion through the streets of Athens.

She stroked Io's soft neck, then started out of the barn, getting two steps outside before she looked over the horse' s back and let her eyes find Xena's mounted form. The warrior was sitting quietly in the dim, purple light, the shadows from the inn's front torchlight flickering over her dark hair and paler than normal skin. She had her sword strapped under her knee, and as the bard watched, she fingered the hilt with an idle touch, tracing it's worn, brass pommel as she waited.

Be nice. Gabrielle led Iolaus over and paused, tilting her head up to regard her partner. "Okay, Xe.. let's go"

"Mm?" Eyes almost purple in the gloom looked down at her. "We said we'd wait… ah." The warrior spotted Mikah coming out of the inn, quickly shutting the door behind him and slinging a small bag over his shoulder. He looked excited, and a little scared. "Ready?"

Mikah nodded, and fell shyly in beside Gabrielle as they started off, into a gathering night that offered up snatches of music, sounds of laughter, and the flicker of smoky torchlight crossing their path.

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

Dori was bored. Everyone was just sitting around, not doing anything.

She was hot. A fly had bitten her.

Things were icky. Dori looked around, then tried to stand up, to get closer to the horsies. Something stopped her. She tugged. A rope was holding her down. She sat down and studied it, looking at the round spot where the rope went around the stick on the seat.

Rope was fun. Dori got hold of one of the round pieces, and pulled on it. It squeaked. She giggled, and pulled more. It made a hole for her hand, and she liked that. She put her fingers in the hole and made it bigger. The rope fell down then, and Dori scowled. That was bad.

She tried to stand up again, and found out that she could. That was good. She turned her back on the rope and leaned forward, to where the horsie was. She grabbed his tail, and he moved it. His foot stamped. Dori giggled. "Back!" She said, pulling on the tail.

The horsie came. Dori liked that. The horsie was close enough now for her to get on top of him, so she did. It was warm, and a little prickly. She crawled forward and got hold of the straps.

Boo knew how to make the straps go. Dori loved watching Boo make the horsies do things. Boo always talked to her when she did that, and she liked listening to Boo's voice. It tickled her ears sometimes. That was fun.

Dori pulled against the straps, and made herself go near the horsies neck. She liked it there, because she could sit, and hold on. She thumped her legs. The horsie felt good, all solid.

Like Boo. Dori looked around, wishing Mama and Boo were there. They wouldn't be just sitting around. They would be doing something fun, like swimming, or playing catch me. Everybody else was boring. "Guff!" Dori spotted her friend, and pointed at him. Guff was under a tree, sticking his tongue out, and he didn't come over. "Guff!!" She made a louder noise.

Guff didn't come over. That was bad. Dori didn't like that. Maybe she could go over to him. She climbed off the horsie's neck, and stood on the strips. They bounced. Dori liked that. She bounced. The horsie made a noise. She got closer to the other horsie, and grabbed his tail so she would not fall down.

He didn't like that. The front horsie stamped his foot, but Dori didn't let that stop her. She remembered what Boo did when the horsie's weren't nice. "Bah." Dori slapped the front horsie on the back. "No good!"

The horsie stamped his foot again, and shook his head. Dori climbed up the straps and got on top of him.

He really didn't like that, but Dori did, because he moved and she liked that. She sat on top of the horsie's and hopped up and down. "Go fly!"

The horsie hopped up and down too. Dori liked that. The straps jingled. This was fun. "Bah!" She ordered, tugging on the horses hair. "Go!"

The horsie listened! Dori grabbed hard as the horsie moved, and there was lots of noise. The air went against her, and it wasn't so hot. That was good. The horsie went faster, and she got excited. "Yes!!" She hopped up and down. The horsie hopped up and down and went even faster.

Everyone yelled. Dori didn’t pay any attention to that. This was fun. They were going real fast. She forgot about Guff. This was better, because now they would get to Boo and Mama faster. Not just sit around. "Go! Go!" She told the horsie's.

So they did.

This was more like it.

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

"Ugh." Cyrene sighed, wiping her brow. "One more day, and we'll be in Athens. I can't believe it."

"Me either." Ephiny agreed, from her perch on a fallen log nearby. They'd decided to stop for the night between the last town, and the start of civilization they could see looming on the far horizon. "I can't believe I’m saying this, but boy, I"ll be glad to see the city."

Cyrene eyed her wryly. "I know it's been tough.. thanks for hanging in there." She lowered her voice, glancing at the circle of tired elders under a nearby tree. "You know, I can't believe my daughters do this all the time."

"Mm." Ephiny nodded. "I know.. and what's worse, they like it." She confided. "Don't get me wrong, I can handle a night or two camping as well as any Amazon, but you listen to Gabrielle talk about this, and you'd think she was on a holiday."

It was true. Cyrene had to agree.

"I guess it's all what you get used to." Johan came over and took a seat next to the Amazon. "Not to mention, she's a little younger than we are." He gave Cyrene a wry look.

"Mm." The innkeeper sighed. "So very true." She shook her head and went back to her task, giving the small pot of stew she was warming up a little stir. "But you know, it's also part of Gabrielle's outlook. She makes the best of things."

The three of them were quiet for a moment. "Yeah." Ephiny finally said. "I want to say she's learned to do that over the years, given everything that's happened to them, but you know.. she was always like that." The Amazon let a tiny smile cross her face. "Artemis, I remember the first time I saw her... what a baby."

"Oh yes." Cyrene said. "She's changed so, and yet... sometimes I look up, and that child is right there again, looking back at me." Her eyes went to Johan's. "Especially lately... they've been so lucky this past year."

"Hope it stays that way." Ephiny said, with a smile. "They've earned it." She reflected over recent memories of her two friends. "But as much as it's been peaceful, you know, I think the both of them miss being out here." The Amazon waved a hand around her. "Roughing it, having adventures..."

"Getting into trouble." Johan remarked.

"That too." Ephiny agreed.

"Well." Cyrene exhaled. "I wouldn't want to see them live the lives of vagabonds again. I know they did good things, and I know.. " Her brow creased. "For Xena, I think it was such an important time in her life. But this is important too. Living." She said. "Loving each other. Having a family." Now she gestured towards the wagon, where they'd securely fastened Dori for the moment.

They all looked that way.

And blinked.

"Is that... good grief, is she on that ho... how.. "Ephiny spluttered and got up. "Hey! Dori!" She started towards the wagon as she heard the child call out gleefully, then bolted into a run as the wagon started moving. "Hey!!!"

"Oh... my.... Gods.. "Cyrene dropped her spoon and looked around. "Cait! Eponin!"

Ephiny saw the wagon gather up speed and she redoubled her own, pelting over the rocky ground as she chased it. "Son of a bacchae... " She cursed as she watched the lead horse bolt into a canter at the urging of the small urchin clinging to his back, and the rest of the team jojned him, sending up a cloud of dust behind them that made her cough as she tried to catch up. "Son of a.. no, daughter of a bacchae and Cerebus, that's what you are you..."

She heard footsteps coming from her right, and turned to see Cait and Pony barreling towards the wagon from an angle, trying to cut it off. They were closer than she was, and she only hoped they caught the damn thing before...

Oh, Hades in a handbasket. Ephiny yelled out in frustration as she saw the approaching river. The wagon was hurtling towards it at a frightening pace, coming at the banks square on as though the horses were convinced they could run right across the surface.

No bridge. No ford. "Dori!!!!!" Ephiny redoubled her pace, gaining ground a little on the runaways. "Dori stop!!!!"

Not that she thought it would work. The damn child had Xena's aggressive personality mixed with Gabrielle's stubborn determination, and nothing short of the end of the world could put a stop to that combination, but it never hurt to try. "Doriii!!!!"

Everyone was yelling. Dori could hear them, but it didn't matter because they were not Boo or Mama, and she knew she wouldn't get in trouble. The horsies were going real fast now, and she held on, like Boo had taught her.

She loved riding with Boo, because Boo always went good places. Like in the water with the horsie. That was fun. The horsies liked water, and Gogo always blew water at her and made her wet.

Her horsie wanted to do that too, Dori thought, because water was coming, and the horsie went faster.

That was bad. Boo never went fast near the water. Dori frowned, and gave the hair she was holding a tug. "No!" She commanded. "No go!"

The horsie didn't listen. Dori didn't like that. The horsies always listened to Boo. "No!" She pulled harder. Now there was a lot of yelling, but Dori didn't pay attention to that. She got a good hold on the hair, and on the straps and pulled real hard, because the water was coming real fast, and that was bad.

Boo would be mad if she was here. Dori didn't like when Boo got mad. "NO!!!" Dori decided she should get mad and she slapped the horsie hard, making it hop. "No go!!!"

The water was almost here. It smelled like green, and fishies. Fishies were good. Maybe she should let the horsie go, even if it was too fast. Dori was hungry, and she knew fishies were good, but fast was bad, and Boo would be mad.

Mad was bad. "NONONONONONONO!!!!" Dori screamed at the top of her lungs, pulling on the hair as hard as she could.

She scared the horsie. The horsie screamed back at her, but he did what she wanted him to do. That was good. The horsie stood right up, and she bounced real hard, but she hung on like Boo taught her, because otherwise Boo would b real, real mad.

The horsie stepped in the water, but not too far. Dori got wet. She liked that. Poopoo and Cat got wet too. Dori watched them fly by, right into the water! It was funny.

Maybe they wanted to play with the fishies, like Boo did. Dori laughed at them, because they were yelling and waving their arms, having a lot of fun.

"You little... " Eponin surfaced and spluttered, the strong scent of the river rising around her. "I'm gonna.."

She jumped as Cait also surfaced, her blond hair plastered down around her head. "Son of a.. "

"Gosh." Cait wiped the hair out of her eyes and tried to catch her breath. "That was quite exciting."

"Exciting?" Eponin growled, and sloshed forward, starting towards the bank they'd both hurtled off of, unable to stop in time when the wagon abruptly did. "I swear, that kid's..." She eyed the laughing child. "Don't you laugh, you... you.... "

Cait swam to the shore with quick, efficient strokes and pulled herself up out of the water just in time to meet Ephiny's out of breath form at the bank. "Good job, your majesty. We should have thought of that, reqlly. Just have her stop them."

Ephiny leaned against the lead horse, who was now cropping the river grass, seemingly uncomcerned. Dori was balanced on his back, kicking her heels up and giggling. "Son of a Bacchae." She gasped. "I thought she was gonna go right in."

"Exactly so." Cait agreed. "Terrible luck for the wagon. Dori can swim, at least."

They both looked at the toddler. "You're just a walking, talking package of trouble, arencha?" Ephiny sighed.

Dori stuck her thumb in her mouth and giggled, batting her dark eyelashed at them. "Poopoo make wet." Dori observed. "Go fishies!"

Eponin had joined them, her leathers wringing wet and her chestnut hair hanging down across her face in damp straggles. "I'm gonna go fishie you, ya... " Her voice trailed off as Dori grinned at her happily. "You... "

The green eyes twinkled.

"Oh, gods be damned it, Eph." The weapons master swore in frustration. "She's got that same damn... "

"Look, yeah Just like Gabrielle." Ephiny reached over and smoothed Dori's windblown hair back, getting a bit of 'that look' herself. "Well, that look charmed the leather skirt off one of the crankiest, most hard assed warriors I've ever known, so I guess we shouldn't feel bad."

"Go fast." Dori stated, pointing to the road. "Go mama. Find Boo"

"Same one track mind, too." Eponin acknowledged, dryly.

Cait wrung her hair out, then took Dori off the horses back. "Come on then, Dori."

"Hungry." Dori stated. "Get fishies."

"How about one of grandma's cookies instead?" Cait suggested, giving the river a wary look. "I don't' think you'd like the fishies from there."

"Cookie." Dori agreed, putting her arms around Cait's neck, and giving her a squeeze. "Good Cat."

"Right." Cait ambled off in the direction of the campfire. Eponin and Ephiny exchanged looks.

"You think we're gonna survive this trip?" Pony asked, plaintively.

"One more day, old friend. "Ephiny put an arm around her, and they started to walk back down the road, leading the team behind them. "Just keep t hinking - one more day."

"Yeah." Pony grumbled, watching the water drip off her leathers. "I wonder of Athens knows what it's in for."

*******

"Wow." Gabrielle paused, as they entered the courtyard where the games competitors were living. The space was ringed with high burning torches, and there were tables of food and drink everywhere. Men and women in white togas clustered around them, and in one corner, a harpist was producing light, tinkling music that was very pleasant on the ears.

She felt.. Gabrielle's eyes lifted to the tall, cloaked figure sitting quietly on Argo's back right next to her. Out

She felt out of place, to be honest. Everyone in the square looked pristine, and in her grubby traveling clothes she'd worn all day, the bard had to resist the temptation to surreptitiously brush herself off.

"C'mon." Xena pointed towards a side arch, where she could see a fenced area obviously meant for horses. She was glad she'd decided to ride Argo over - the distance wasn't that great from the inn up here, but it was mostly uphill, and in crowds, and being on horseback when you had a broken kneecap leant a definite advantage in both cases.

They did attract attention, however. Xena could sense eyes turning to them, watching in wary speculation as they crossed the courtyard, having to pass through several smaller groups to get to the archway that lead to the barn. She twitched at her cloak, and returned a few gazes with her own. Beside her, Gabrielle visibly straightened and moved a bit closer, reaching out and putting her hand on Xena's good knee in unconcious possession.

There were, the warrior acknowledged, comments after they passed, but she decided not to hear them and just kept on going. As they got to the barn, a slim, red haired girl came out, studying them with a knowing eye before she approached. "Hi."

"Hi." Gabrielle responded immediately. "Got a couple of horses here that could use a place to stay." She edged ahead of Xena with Io.

"This place is for the folks who've entered the games." The girl responded politely.

"That's right." Gabrielle agreed. "We have." She offered up Io's reins. "So I guess we're in the right spot.

"You have?" Now there was definite bemusement in the girl's tone.

"Yep." Gabrielle dug the two icons she'd been given earlier in the day out, and presented them. They were examined by a pair of curious amber eyes, then accepted.

"Okay." The girl reached out and took Io's reins. "I'll take this one inside... you want your gear?"

Gabrielle reached up to unstrap their bags, as Xena dismounted. She watched the warrior out of the corner of her eye, noting the smooth, even grace despite the injury and the fever. The cloak Xena was wearing covered the splint on her leg, and there was only the slightest pause in her motion as she walked slowly around Argo, shouldering her own bag and giving the girl only the briefest nod as she motioned Mikah to follow her.

What that must be costing. Gabrielle reluctantly tendered a nod to her partner's stubborn pride, as she paused near the horse tender. "Both of these horses are trained for fighting." She told her quietly. "They don't take to rough handling."

The girl flat out stared at her. "Fighting." She repeated. "Are you sure you're in the right place?"

Good question. "Just be careful with them, okay?" Gabrielle said. "I don't want anyone to get hurt." She reached up and unfastened her staff, letting it drop into her hand and swinging it to a position tucked her arm. Then she gave Argo a pat, and headed for the path towards the building, where Xena's tall form was just visible. She caught up to the warrior as they reached the entrance and slid an arm around her waist, taking part of the weight off her bad side without even thinking of asking permission.

An arm draped over her shoulder instantly, and Xena didn't utter a word of protest. She could feel the tension in the warrior's body, and the warmth of the fever, and she crossed her fingers that they could just get inside, and get to their area without something major happening to make things even worse.

So, of course, as they went around the next corner, they almost crashed right into one of the jerks from the road. He stopped short and stared at them.

"By the gods, what are you doing here!" He roared, pointing at Mikah. "You little... "

"Hey." Xena had swept her hood down. "Still not keeping it up, tough guy?"

Oh oh. Gabrielle put two and two together and got her staff out and into her hand.

"Oh, it's you, smart mouth.. " He advanced on the warrior. "Come to spew your filth in here, have you... you vagabond, what are you... erf. "

"Xena." Gabrielle kept her voice low, and steady, seeing the look in the warrior's eyes just before she grabbed the man's toga and threw him against the wall, then hit two pressure points in rapid succession.

"You were saying?" Xena ignored her, and put a hand on either side of the man's head, as he leaned frozen against the wall. "Hmm? I didn't hear you."

"Cgh." Drool started leaking from his mouth as he stared at her in terror.

"Now, you listen." Xena leaned closer, her dark leanness in stark contrast to his robustly golden body. "You ever touch any of my friends ever again, and I'm going to make sure it's the last thing you ever do. Got me?"

"Urgh." His chest heaved, as he tried to breathe.

"Got me?" Xena repeated softly. "You can nod yes, or you can die. Your choice."

"Xena." Gabrielle said again, her eyes darting around the corridors.

The man stared at her, then he nodded frantically. With a flickering motion, Xena hit the points again and released him. He slid down the wall and collapsed into a huddled ball, one arm covering his head. The warrior gazed at him in disgust, then eased around his splayed limbs and continued down the hall. "Good choice." She remarked.

Gabrielle licked her lips nervously, and followed, catching up to her partner then leading her down one crooked corridor, to a small cul de sac that was obviously not much used. "In there." She indicated a door.

"Ah. We're in the snooty part of town." Xena said, as she pushed the door open, now limping heavily. "Stupid bastard." She added, as they walked into a mostly darkened room, and let the door close behind them. Gabrielle dropped her pack and went to the one lonely torch, taking it from it's sconce and circling the room to light the others. "I still don't know if this was the b... " Her voice stopped as the room was revealed, and the bard returned the torch to it's holder, facing her with a knowing look. "Okay, yes it was." The warrior said.

"Thought you'd think so." Gabrielle smiled tensely. "Please sit down."

Xena turned in a circle first, surveying their new quarters. Three times the size of the old ones, and due to the building's stone walls, blessedly cool inside. One side of the room was taken up by a large, ornately cut stone bathtub, with an incongrous stone cat crouched at it's head, it's mouth obviously meant to issue water. On the other side of the room, a large, though very plain bed was pressed against the wall, it's surface draped in white linen. The rest of the room featured two wooden chests, and racks meant obviously to hold either weapons or other games items. There was a pile of worn stones in the corner, apparently to serve as warm up devices, and a stout table whose worn top bore marks of weapons and tools worked on top of it.

It was plain, but to Xena's senses, blessedly clean and spartan in it's functionality. She gave Gabrielle a look of complete relief and limped to the armchair between the two chests, dropping into it with a mostly stifled little groan.

There was a tiny silence, then they all took a breath at once. "Xena, I .. "

"Sorry about that.." Xena said at the same time.

"That was amazing." Mikah also chimed in.

Another small silence. "Thank you.. for stopping him." Mikah finally said. "Listen, there is a chamber outside. I'll put my things there, then see if I can find some water, and look around."

"Be careful." Gabrielle told him, but he was already gone, closing the door behind him. She regarded the panel for a beat, then turned and walked over to Xena's still cloaked form. "Honey."

"I know." Xena leaned an elbow on the chair arm, and rested her chin on her fist. "But it was the fastest way to get past the big ox." She exhaled. "I wasn't in any mood for a fistfight."

Gabrielle weighed the value of continuing the discussion, then merely reached over and scratched the back of her partner's neck, pulling her head closer and kissing the top of it.

"Mmph." Xena made a small noise, deep in her throat, and rested her head against Gabrielle's hip. Her stomach was doing flip flops, and everything hurt, stressed by both her ride, her determination not to use her crutch walking in here, and her confrontation with the walking fertilizer pile. "I think I'd better lie down."

"I think so too." Gabrielle rubbed her back gently. "Let's get this cloak off, and get you in bed, then I'll get our spare furs out and make you a nice, snuggly nest, okay?"

One blue eyeball appeared, and rotated up to regard her. It's brow lifted.

"C'mon." Gabrielle held a hand out. "Let's get you tucked in. Bedtime for warriors."

"Gabrielle." Xena sighed, as she hoisted herself to her feet. "In case you haven't noticed the difference, I'm not Dori."

"Eh." Gabrielle returned the bantering as she helped Xena over to the bed, and stripped off her cloak. "Like I said, just a little size difference." She patted the warrior's belly. "Lay down."

Half amused, half outraged, Xena did as she was asked, easing her body down on the clean cloth and letting her body go limp. It felt very good not to be lying on a straw and leather pallet, that was for sure. It also felt good to have Gabrielle removing her outer clothes, fevered though she was, and pulling her boots off carefully.

She felt very tired, a combination of the heat, the pain, and the sickness, she suspected, and the utter relief of simply lying down, being cool, and having Gabrielle's hands all over her definitely made things look up. "Hey, Gab?" She murmured, her thoughts a touch muzzy from the fever.

"Mm?" Gabrielle answered, as she shook out their spare furs, sending a waft of home spreading through the austere room. She laid the furs over Xena, and tucked the sides in as she knelt down next to her. "Yes, honey?"

"Those dancers?" The warrior said.

"Yeah?" Gabrielle brushed her fingertips over one of her partner's flushed cheeks.

"Weren't a patch on you."

Gabrielle almost swallowed her tongue. "Excuse me? Weren't a patch on me for what?"

"Making me burn." Xena watched her through half closed eyes, seeing the blush even in the relatively low light. She managed a small chuckle. "Now your ears are red."

"I bet they are." Gabrielle muttered, scrubbing her heated skin. "But thanks." She added, huskily, as she leaned over and kissed the warrior's forehead. "Try to get some rest, sweetheart, okay?"

"Okay." Xena let her eyes close. "You too." She tugged lightly on Gabrielle's tunic.

"I will." Gabrielle waited for the warrior's breathing to slow, and her body to relax into sleep before she gently untwined their hands. But not before she lifted Xena's fingers to her lips and pressed them against the knuckles, hoping that sleep, and time, and Xena's own magic would start to make things better.

*********

With the warrior comfortably asleep, Gabrielle now took the time to arrange their things, and sort out the possessions she'd merely stuffed into their bags in haste at the inn. The familiar activity also let her nerves settle, after the encounter in the hallway and gave her time to rearrange her thoughts regarding their coming here.

What would the big doofus do? It was hard to tell with that type, Gabrielle frowned as she removed Xena's well used healer's kit, and spread out it's contents, mentally making a note of the herbs they needed to replenish. Either he would skulk off and they'd never see him again, or…

Or he would be stupid, and want to recoup his ego by getting back at Xena. One thing in their favor, she considered, was that there were no witnesses other than the four of them.

If Xena had done what she'd done in the middle of the courtyard, the bard was sure it would mean big trouble. But since they'd been alone, and no one else had seen…

She sighed, as she removed a clean shift and set it down. She didn't blame Xena for doing what she did. The jerk had obviously been about to start something ugly, and Xena had ended the threat in the quickest manner she could think of.

So.

Gabrielle dug out their soap, and some linen towels, and set them near the bathtub. It happened, and it was over. If something came of it, they'd deal with whatever that was. Having decided that, she sat on the edge of the tub and examined the big cat. It had a cleverly carved marble bird in it's mouth, and she reach out to fit her hand around, then turned it gently and pulled.

Sure enough, with a faint grinding click, the bird came loose, and released a flow of water into the tub.

Heh. Gabrielle liked that. She stuck her finger into the flow, and found it pleasantly warm to the touch, but not hot. She reached down and moved the stop stone into place, and watched in satisfaction as the tub filled up with water. Her skin had been itching all day, from the heat and the dust of the city, and the thought of being completely clean was just too enticing to pass up.

With a sigh, she reached down and unlaced her boots, tugging them and the socks under them off with a sense of relief. The stone floor felt wonderful against her bare feet, and she got up and dropped the leather footware near Xena's , then stripped off her tunic and added that fabric to the two pairs of socks she'd need to wash later on.

A soft breeze blew in the window, and over her bare skin, and she rubbed her upper arms a little as she stepped over to the bathtub and climbed inside, settling down into the burbling water with a genuine, heartfelt sigh.

The tub was huge, big enough for the two of them, really, or some of the hulking giants she'd seen in the courtyard outside. Gabrielle gazed down her length, and wiggled her toes, taking the soap and raising a lather with it before she started scrubbing her skin. The smell of the home made cake from Cyrene's secret recipe made her smile, as it brought warm, happy memories of home to her; bathtimes for both the two of them, and for Dori where laughter, and splashing fun was never absent.

Gabrielle washed her arms as she mused. She missed her daughter, she realized suddenly. She missed Dori's squeals of joy and her determined, inventive nature.

She missed the way Dori made Xena smile, and the way the warrior would play with the toddler, rolling around on the floor with her in wild games of catch, and hide and seek.

Dori had made such a difference in their lives. Gabrielle sometimes wondered where they would be now if…

If. She washed her kneecap. If Dori hadn't happened.

It had been a short fortnight after they'd gotten home, after their reunion. Gabrielle had noticed a number of new, sad things about Xena since her return from the lava pit, chiefly the warrior's half hidden bouts of depression that worried her, and a reluctance to talk about the past, especially the recent past with anyone.

The bard had realized, as she dropped off to sleep one night, that one thing Xena hadn't asked her about, in fact, was the baby. Not a word. It was as though Xena were afraid that asking the question would bring on an answer she didn't want to hear.

So why hadn't Gabrielle just told her? The bard had gazed out the starlit window of their home, aware of the gentle breathing just behind her and wondered about that.

Had Xena changed her mind? Maybe she didn't want a child, now. It hurt to think that, but Gabrielle knew her partner had been through an awful trial, had been in so much pain… that it was possible she didn't want that risk.

Didn't want to open herself up to yet another potential knife thrust to her heart.

Well. Gabrielle had grimly faced facts. They were going to have to deal with it, regardless of how Xena felt. It made her sad, though, because her memories of their joint happiness when she realized she was pregnant were sharply vivid. To find out that wasn't something Xena wanted any longer…

She hoped that wasn't true. Gabrielle had finally given up the thought, exhausted after a long day of working around Amphipolis, and drifted off to sleep.

Waking at just past dawn, with the warm, golden light of a new day spilling over both of them. Gabrielle had turned and looked up, to see Xena just watching her quietly, a smile tugging at her lips as their eyes met. "Morning."

Xena's smile intensified, then she exhaled, and circled the bard with both arms, hugging her in silence.

But Gabrielle could feel, through the link between them, the melancholy ache that countered that smile and something in her demanded that she do something to ease it. She took a deep breath, as Xena released her, then rolled over to face the warrior. "Hey." Truth was the first step.

"Hey." Xena had quietly replied, blinking eyes outlined still with dark shadows.

How do I start this? Gabrielle had frantically fished for a way, then just said the first thing she could think of. "Um…We need to go shopping."

Xena had cocked her head, a slightly puzzled look on her face. "O..kay." She responded. "Any particular reason you woke up with that on your mind?" She asked. "Something you need?"

"Clothes." Gabrielle said, having seen her way through this.

The finely arched, dark brows knit together. "Something wrong with the ones you have?" The warrior asked, mildly. "I mean.. if you want to get more, sure, but…"

"They're starting not to fit." The bard interrupted her gently, watching the angular face with intent eyes. Not entirely true, really, just a slowly growing snugness around her belt she'd started to notice lately, but…

For a moment, she didn't think Xena was going to get it. The warrior's expression had shifted to one of bemusement, and Gabrielle could almost see the wry remark about to form on her partner's lips, surely a knowing jibe about her appetite.

And then, as she watched, Xena's face stilled, and her eyes narrowed just a bit, only her blinking eyelids breaking a sudden, very tense silence. Gabrielle had found her gaze caught, and held, by a look of such heartbreaking uncertainty it almost brought tears to her eyes.

And so, she forced herself to shrug, and smile, as though her answer didn't mean anything at all. "Well, c'mon, Xe.. I had to start showing sometime, didn't I?" She'd kept her voice light, and watched Xena's reaction, willing it not to be what she feared.

"Sh.." Xena had stopped, her voice trailing off as her eyes widened in realization. She'd stared at the bard for a long moment, then exhaled, her lashes fluttering closed for several heartbeats as her head bowed.

Gabrielle's heart had started to pound. "Hey… d…don't get all mad at … me. " She'd heard the stammer in her voice, as she tried to shove aside the sudden wash of fear. "Xena?"

And then Xena's head had lifted, and the blue eyes had opened, and she'd seen the tears. Huge, silent ones that drenched the warrior's cheeks and caught sparkles of sunlight as they fell. She'd reached out and pulled Gabrielle to her, holding her tightly in faintly shaking arms, rocking them both mindlessly for a very long time.

Finally, Xena had taken a deep breath, and loosened her grip, just a little, enough for Gabrielle to squirm around and look up at her. "It was such a miracle getting you back.. " The warrior whispered. "I didn't think… " She'd just stopped speaking then, and shaken her head.

Gabrielle had lifted a hand and wiped the tears off her face. "Sweetheart, I’m sorry." Shed' said. "We should have talked about this before now." She'd hesitated. "I just didn't know if you…I mean, I know it's been hard.. how much you went through I.." She'd felt the arms tighten around her again in silent emotion.

"Noo." Xena's voice had been ragged. "I just.. didn't have the guts to ask."

It was all right. Gabrielle had felt almost dizzy with relief. "Well." She sighed. "I held my breath after I woke up.. when I knew my cycles were due." Alone in that hospice. Counting the days.

Hoping.

They'd lain like that in silent comfort until the sun inched i's way up the headboard, and the sounds of the stirring village came in the window. Finally, Xena stirred, sniffing a little and clearing her throat. "New clothes, huh?"

Gabrielle had her head buried in the covers over Xena's chest. "Mm.. unless you want me to steal yours."

Xena had chuckled, as she'd slid a hand under those same covers and gently explored the subtly changing contours of Gabrielle's body. "Just barely there." She'd commented, giving the bard's not quite flat stomach a tickle.

Gabrielle had relaxed, in that happy wash of sunlight, basking in a sense of almost ethereal relief. "Look outside, Xena… what a gorgeous day."

"It sure is." The warrior had agreed softly, her breath warming the edge of the bard's ear. "Now."

Ah well. Gabrielle smiled at the memory. They were certainly well past that, and Dori had turned out to be all they'd dreamed of. The bard ducked under the surface of the water, and scrubbed her hair, then emerged, rinsing the suds off.

Okay, more than they'd ever expected. She amended, with a silent giggle, as she put the stopper into the cat's mouth to cut off the flow of the water, then moved the stopper stone, and let the bath begin to drain out. A quick glance towards the bed reassured her that Xena was still soundly asleep, and she kept her eyes on the warrior as she got up and climbed out of the tub, picking up the piece of linen she'd laid by and drying herself off.

She'd just gotten the towel tucked around her body when a soft knock came at the door, surprising her and making her jump a little. After a second's hesitation, she padded across the floor and opened the door a little, standing behind it, ready if it burst inward as Xena had taught her all those years ago.

"Oh." She recognized Mikah's face. "Hi.. c'mon in, but be really, really quiet." She murmured softly, opening the door wider to admit the boy. "What do… oh, wow. That looks great."

'That' was a large platter of fresh fruits, and a half loaf of bread with a round of goats cheese next to it. Mikah was also carrying a flagon, and he brought both in and set them down carefully on the wide table, sneaking a glanced towards the bed before he straightened and walked back over to her. "You really caused a stir." He said, in a low voice. "Someone recognized you."

"Me?" Gabrielle was surprised.

"Both of you, yeah." The boy agreed. "Some women from the west, high class women, who said they'd seen you years back, and knew you from some war or fight you'd been involved with."

"Hm." Gabrielle scratched her jaw. "That doesn't narrow things down much." She said. "Was a time we were fighting just about every day, for a while there."

Mikah blinked, then shook his head a little, averting his eyes modestly from her barely covered form. "I didn't hear more than that.. just that everyone's talking about you out there." He told her. "Some of them aren't happy, and others are…ah.. "

"Rude?" Gabrielle hazarded a guess.

"Sort of, yes." Mikah admitted. "Saying things about how you shouldn't have been allowed to enter the games."

"Why?" Gabrielle leaned against the wall casually, and crossed her ankles.

"Well, they've all been training for so long, and it's so late, I guess." The boy responded. "One of them said they hoped you didn't expect any favors from the judges, just because of who you are."

Just because of who I am. Gabrielle puzzled over that one. Just because of who we are? "I don't get it. We're just going to go out there and do the best we can, that's all. If anything.. we're at a big disadvantage, because they've all had time to practice, and all that stuff."

Mikah nodded. "I think you're right." He said. "I've seen them, for months. They do nothing, really, but exercise, and practice the games, and provide entertainment for the citizens. Maybe that's why they are so upset, because you and Xena.. you're not… you're real, if you understand me."

Real. "I think I know what you mean." Gabrielle said. "It's a pride thing."

"Mm." He nodded. "Yeah, they've all got lots of that."

A smile tugged at Gabrielle's lips. "All of them put together can't come close to touching the amount of pride someone I know has." Her eyes flicked to the bed, then back at him. "It's a heavy weight sometimes."

He gazed somberly at her. "Because she has to win, right?"

"Right." The bard said.

"Not because of your town."

"No." Gabrielle exhaled, a little surprised at the true depth of his understanding.

Mikah nibbled the inside of his lip, and gave his short tunic a little tug. "But… she's hurt." He finally said. "I don’t understand how…. "Then he stopped, and looked at Gabrielle, with a wry little smile. "I guess that's why you have so many stories to tell, isn't it?"

"Yeah." The bard had to chuckle a little. "That does have something to do with it." She paused. "They're not giving you a hard time because of all this here, are they?"

A faint shrug. "A little.. but it's okay. I know what to do for that." He replied confidently. "I'm going to go do the good servant thing, and see what else I can hear." He seemed a little more settled now.

"Good job." Gabrielle complimented him. "And thanks for the platter.. you made great choices."

Mikah was visibly pleased with the remark. "You're welcome." He slipped out the door and closed it silently behind him, leaving Gabrielle to regard it's surface with a faint bemusement.

"Interesting person." She remarked to the thin air, before she walked back over to the table, twisting a grape free and popping it into her mouth, chewing it as she traded her towel for the clean shift she'd taken out earlier. Through the stone walls, she could hear only the faintest buzz of the courtyard, very different from the inn's noisy bustle, and she found herself stifling a yawn as she contemplated her next course of action.

She could update her diary. One hand dropped to rest on the worn surface of the bound parchment. Or she could wash their things, and put more of their stuff away.

Either action would be useful and both made good sense. But Gabrielle was finding her attention being drawn almost irresistibly to the bed, and she gave in to that, leaving her writing behind and crossing the floor to where her partner was now half curled on her side, one long fingered hand draped over the top of the furs and the other tucked under her head.

Almost without thought, Gabrielle climbed onto the bed''s acceptably soft surface, and crawled under the furs. It was warm, but not uncomfortable, and as she eased closer to Xena, the warrior reacted to her presence even in sleep, reaching out for her and gathering her into a cuddle.

Xena's skin still felt warm, but the warrior seemed to be resting comfortably, her muscles almost relaxed under the bard's gentle touch.

Almost. Gabrielle nestled closer, aware of that almost imperceptible sense of presence that was Xena's warning system, maintaining the faintest layer of tension under her skin, and creating the minute twitches in the smooth surface just before her ears and around her nostrils.

Xena could have asked for the painkilling herbs, she knew. But in this strange place, Xena would fight to the very end not to have those senses blurred in any way, afraid of letting her guard down and risking the safety of herself, and of Gabrielle.

It had, Gabrielle had to admit, a perverse nobility to it, despite her frustration at her partner's stubbornness. It wasn't as though Gabrielle were helpless, after all. Not anymore.

And yet. The bard felt her eyes growing heavy, and as she pressed a hand lightly against Xena's chest, found her heartbeat slowing to match the sleeper's as her breathing already had. She let her eyelids droop shut and laid her arm across Xena's body, figuring on a few candlemarks of sleep to refresh her before she got up to finish her chores.

Xena made a low, pleased growling noise deep in her throat, and snuggled closer, releasing a satisfied sigh.

Gabrielle smiled sleepily. So they recognized us, huh? A little bit of her ego preened at that. Well, let them worry. She nuzzled the skin just above Xena's collarbone. Let them think they're not ready to handle us.

Let them loose sleep over it.

A moment later, she certainly wasn't.

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

It was an utter relief to wake up the next morning, and not feel like she'd fallen off a cliff. Xena kept her eyes closed and simply absorbed her surroundings through other senses, aware only of a dull ache in her leg to remind her of her injury. Her fever had faded, and her stomach seemed to have settled down, and as she took a breath of the cool, pre dawn air she was aware of being relatively comfortable for the first time in days.

Nice.

Xena slowly arched her body, flexing all her muscles including the ones around her injured knee. With the exception of a slight stiffness in her shoulders, everything else seemed to be in good working order, and she resettled her arms around Gabrielle's body with a definitely satisfied sigh.

So. What was her plan for the day? Xena let her eyes close again as she pondered that. She could, she knew, persist in her quest after the child slaves, and spend another day hobbling around the city. She'd pegged that Athenian townhouse where they'd taken the kids as a place she intended to know a lot more about, cause…

Because what, Xena? Her better sense asked her. What are you going to do? Those kids were bought and sold legally, remember? There's no law against bringing in slaves, so the best you could do is wreck the one place, set a few kids free, and then what?

Get arrested and tossed in the Athenian jail, that's what. And the next shipment will just go to a different townhouse.

Xena chewed the inside of her lip. There had to be a way to not only get those kids free, but keep more from being shipped in. The question was, could she find it? The puzzle immediately occupied her mind, and she worked over it, letting the darkness outside slowly shift to a dull, dark gray. A rumble of thunder heralded the dawn weather, and a wash of damp, cooler air blew in the window, bringing with it a strong hint of rain.

Glad we're inside. Xena idly considered, having sorted out her options as she laid the groundwork of a plan. Her eyes roamed around the now visible interior of the room, falling on the platter Gabrielle had left on the table. Ah. Fruit. She cautiously introduced the idea of swallowing some to her recalcitrant belly, and was relieved at the lack of queasiness at the thought. Now, if she could just…

Gabrielle stirred, drawing in a deep breath and stretching, letting her touch slide over Xena's skin before she ended the motion by hugging her. "Mm." Half closed green eyes peered up at her. "I just had the nicest dream." The bard murmured, her voice still husky with sleep. "You were in it."

Xena gazed fondly at her. "I was, huh?"

"Yeah… "Gabrielle nodded, closing her eyes and nuzzling Xena's skin with her lips. "You let me take all your clothes off, and cover you in honey for my birthday."

"What?"

"Oh, yeah.. and then I licked.. "

"Gabrielle!" Pale blue eyes snapped wide open, as Xena reached down to take a firm hold on her partner's chin to tilt it upward.

Gabrielle started giggling, her entire body shaking with it. "Just kidding." She snorted, resisting the tug on her chin. "It was a great dream, though. You and I were on a boat, out on the water somewhere.. it was sunny, cool… I think we were going somewhere nice." She finally looked up, to see the twinkle in Xena's eyes. "You were singing to me."

A dark eyebrow edged up. "Oh, I dunno.. that honey was sounding pretty nice… "Xena drawled. 'I can tell you I'd have been singing ithf…" She chuckled soundlessly as Gabrielle reached up to cover her mouth.

After a moment, the bard removed her fingers, and rolled onto her back, stifling a yawn. "You feeling any better?" She asked. "You look better.. not so pale." She touched Xena's cheek. "No fever."

"Yeah, things are pretty good." The warrior agreed. "Just needed some rest, I guess." A flash of lightning lit the room, and they both glanced towards the window. "And get out of that damned piece of Hades inn… thanks, partner. Moving here was a great idea."

Oo. Gabrielle acknowledged the little squiggle of delight those words could still produce in her. Then she remembered Mikah's visit the night before. "Might want to put a hold on the congrats, Xe. Apparently we were recognized coming in here." She told the warrior. "And there are some unhappy folks out there."

"Ahhh… is that so?" Xena absorbed the news. "Don’t' want the competition, eh?"

Gabrielle solemnly shook her head.

Hm. Xena revised her baseline plan. Going out and exposing her weakness to her potential opponents might be a bad idea. That could work for her, or against her - for her, in that they might underestimate her capabilities, against her in the fact that anyone worth his salt as a fighter would go right for the injury to her leg to take her out.

Gabrielle watched the blue eyes flicker, almost able to see the rapid thoughts crossing the warrior's planed face. "Probably a good thing you pulled that too tough for my leathers act last night, huh?" She hazarded a guess at what Xena was thinking.

"Mm." Xena nodded. "Probably a good idea just to hole up here today and let my leg heal as much as it's going to." She pronounced. "Stay off it as long as I can."

The bard put her hand on Xena's forehead. "All right. " She said. "Who are you, and what have you done with Xena?" She almost laughed at the half insulted, half amused look she got. "Let me see.. didn't I hear myself suggesting that yesterday.. or maybe it was the day before…"

"Yeah, yeah yeah.. I know." Xena rolled her eyes. "So, I’m a stubborn, impatient, intolerant pain in the ass." She sighed. "And don't I know it."

Awww. Xena was so charming when she did that. Gabrielle allowed herself to be charmed willingly, and she laid her head down on the warrior's shoulder as she gave Xena's belly a comforting rub. "I wouldn't have you any other way, sweetie." She said. "It's when you stop acting like that, when I get very scared."

A long, loud roll of thunder made the walls vibrate, and they could hear sheets of rain hitting the stone outside. The sill of the window, too, was now damp as the wind brought the weather just a little bit inside, despite the overhanging shelter of the roof.

"Well." Gabrielle glanced around. "At least it’s big enough in here for me to get in some staff practice." Her hands flexed slightly. "Can’t do much about those races, though.. unless you can just give me some pointers."

"Hmm." Xena laced her fingers together and put her hands behind her head. "Give you a strategy, you mean?"

The bard nodded. "Yeah."

An eyebrow cocked in thought. "You could take advantage of the traditional rules. " Xena said. "That might work."

"Traditional rules?"

"Mm.. yeah. Dress code. " The warrior responded. "Rules say everyone competes naked."

Gabrielle went very still. After a frozen moment, her eyes very slowly tracked up Xena’s body, until they met the warrior’s. "You’re joking with me."

Solemnly, Xena shook her head from side to side.

The bard crawled up and poised over her partner’s body, getting nose to nose with her and making her eyes almost cross. "Are you seriously telling me you expect me to go out in front of all those people with no clothes on?"

Xena stared in fascination at the incredible roundness of Gabrielle’s eyes, and the gentle flare of her nostrils as she took long, slow breaths. "Sure." She said, casually. "You’ll knock em out.. what’s the problem?"

Gabrielle’s jaw dropped, just a little.

Though she’d spent years as a warlord, and prided herself in keeping her composure under the worst of circumstances, it was too much for Xena. She felt her lips twitch, and a chuckle forced it’s way out of her chest. "Gotcha."

The green eyes narrowed dangerously. "You little…. "

"Ah ah ah.. let’s not get into size comparisons." Xena teased, grinning as she let her hands slide over her partner’s contours.

"Oooo.. you are so toasted." Gabrielle growled, lowering herself until their foreheads touched. "I almost believed you."

"I know." Xena licked the bard’s nose.

"Augh." Gabrielle immediately dropped her head and rubbed her face in Xena's shirt. "That tickles."

"No." Xena wrapped her arms around her and twisted her body, trapping the bard in a solid hold. She then proceeded to lift her shift up and attack her vulnerable ribs with long, agile fingers. "But I bet this does."

"Eerrrrrgghhhh!!!" Gabrielle let out a squeal, twisting to try and get away from her tormentor. "XEEEEENNNAAA!!!!!"

Both hands were occupied, or else the warrior would have surely clapped them over her sensitive ears. In any case, she gave the impression of pinning them back like a distressed filly as the squeal reached the fingernails on slate range.

Finally, she couldn't take it any longer and she tensed her stomach muscles, pulling herself up and surprising the bard with a kiss that stopped her in mid caterwaul.

Of course, that also slowed her tickling down to something less itchy and more sensual as Gabrielle stopped struggling and responded, dropping to lean on her elbows as she returned the kiss. Then she reached around and bit Xena's ear, escaping as the warrior squawked in outrage and rolling out of the bed out of the reach of vengeful fingers. "Haha."

Xena rolled over and reached for the edge of the bed, obviously intent on following her.

"Uh uh!" Gabrielle held a hand up. "You promised you'd stay right there." She warned.

"Now wait a minute, I did not.."

"Yes you did! You promised you'd stay in bed." The bard accused. "All day, remember?"

"Gabrielle!" Xena spluttered indignantly. "That isn't what I meant… I meant I wasn't… I.."

The blond merely stood there, tapping one bare foot, with her hands planted firmly on her hips.

After a moment, Xena exhaled, growling a little as she settled back onto the pillows and tugged the blankets up around her. She gave the bard a grumpy scowl, and folded her arms over her chest. "Fine."

Gabrielle waited a moment, to make sure she'd actually won, then she smiled. "That's better." She turned and headed for the fruit platter. "If you stop making that face, I'll bring you some breakfast."

Xena stuck her tongue out at the cloth covered back. "I’m not hungry."

"Uh huh." Gabrielle busied herself at the table, slicing off a bit of the thick, nutty bread and spreading some cheese on it, then selecting a few pieces of fruit. "My mistake.. I must have confused the thunder with the rumbling I heard from your stomach."

"That's right." Xena closed her eyes resolutely.

"Too bad." The bard commented casually. "Guess these peaches will just go to waste."

A blue eye appeared. "Peaches?"

"Mm." Gabrielle nodded. "Nice, ripe ones." She added. "Know what I think, Xena?"

"I think if you don't bring those peaches over here, I’m going to rope you with these covers and make it a moot point." The warrior stated. "That's what I think."

Gabrielle muffled a grin, and capitulated, stopping to pull a bag from her kit before she walked back over and settled on the edge of the bed, delivering the bread and fruit to her adorable curmudgeon of a partner. "Well, since you put it so nicely." She watched Xena bite contentedly into a peach, which she'd split in half and unpitted, loosing a dribble of juice which made it's way down her chin.

"Sloppy." Gabrielle leaned over and licked it off, then stole another kiss. "So, will you really stay in bed all day?"

"Mmph." The fruit was perfect, not too tart, and gentle on her stomach. "For a while, yeah." Xena admitted. "It'd be senseless to go out in this weather, and I’m not crazy about letting the rest of that crew out there get the idea I've got something to worry about." She nibbled on the bread, finding the cheese, too, very mild. "Not bad."

"No." Gabrielle was chewing on her own piece. "Well, here." She nudged the bag closer. "I got these for you.. just keep your mind busy for a little bit."

Xena glanced at her in mild surprise, then she unknotted the bag's top with one hand, and opened it, then shook out the contents. Her eyes widened a little as the sleek, gorgeously carved wood came into view, and she lifted the first of the puzzles, gazing at it admiringly. "Wow."

A smile appeared on Gabrielle's face.

"Thanks." Xena put her bread down and reached out to touch the bard's cheek. "They're beautiful."

Gabrielle stretched out on the bed and laid her head against the warrior's shoulder, as Xena fingered the puzzle, turning it over in the pale light and admiring the fine grain of the wood. "Yeah, they are." She agreed softly. "I found this stall, in the market.. they had these, and I found out the seller actually was the one who made them. It was really nice."

Xena was already peering at the puzzle, examining it from all angles as her mind went over it's possible solutions. She glanced absently at the bard as a piece of fruit was put to her lips, then took it and bit down. "I love these things."

"I know." Gabrielle was very pleased with her gift. "Tell you what… you start on that, and I’m going to get my diary. I’m days behind… you can help me remember the trip up here, while we finish off our breakfast."

Thunder crashed outside. "Sounds good to me." Xena glanced at the window. "Glad we're not on the road."

"Mm. . I feel sorry for anyone who is." Gabrielle agreed.

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

Eponin stared morosely at the growing puddle, whose edges threatened the soles of her boots. "Centaur butt hairs."

"Sh." Ephiny arranged the tarp they'd spread over the wagon in an attempt to keep everyone dry. "Not in front of the baby."

Pony gave her a look. "I bet that kid c'n curse fiercer than I do." She glanced pointedly at Dori, who was seated contentedly on a box under the wagon, playing with her favorite toy. "Cause I bet she hears a lot of that stuff going on when she's around."

"Pon." The Amazon regent warned. "C'mon. She's just a kid." Ephiny waggled her fingers at Dori, who grinned at her. "Right, cutie?"

"Boom boom!" Dori waved her hands, one of which held a stuffed dragon. The sky answered with a roll of serious thunder, and a redoubling of the rain.

"Stop that." Eponin growled. "It's bad enough, thanks."

Ephiny chuckled. "She doesn't control the weather."

"How do you know?"

Ephiny chewed her lip on that one, then shrugged one shoulder. It had been raining for hours, and they'd pulled off the road, afraid that the wash of water coming down it, already knee deep, was reaching flash flood stage. They'd climbed up onto the embankment and unharness the team, then rigged up a shelter as best they could in the open range. It wasn't perfect, but it kept most of the water off them, and the elders could huddle in the wagon in relative comfort while the storm raged.

Well, no sense in watching it. Ephiny turned and crawled under the wagon, where Cait and Paladia had also taken refuge. Cait was carefully wrapping a leather strip around one of her daggers, while her friend crouched next to her, head brushing the bottom of the wagon as she sketched in the dirt with a twig.

Ephiny took a seat next to Dori, and watched the baby play with her toy. Dori seemed to be absorbed in a world of her own, as she patted her hand on the box, and moved Flameball along, making him gallop. "What's up, Dori?"

Round, mist green eyes blinked at her. "Go horsies." Dori explained earnestly. "Baba go fast, swim like a fishie.. come up, go down over there." She moved the dragon, making it's somewhat tattered wings flap.

"Yeah?" Ephiny plucked a blade of grass, and chewed it. "You know what you're doing, Dori?"

Dori imitated her, pulling up some grass and tossing it. "Make mess!" She giggled. "Get mama!"

The Amazon chuckled. "You're making stories." She touched the baby's bare foot. "Just like your mama does."

"Mama." Dori repeated.

"She is, isn't she?" Cait commented. "She's quite clever."

"Too smart for her own good." Ephiny sighed. "I keep saying that, and then I realize something very, very scary." She glanced at the two younger Amazons. "Someday, this little Hades on hooves is going to carry Gabrielle's right of caste."

"Mama." Dori looked up at her, recognizing the name. "Mama good."

Ephiny's lips quirked. "Well, she gets a point for character judgement. " She said. "How about Xena, Dori. Is Xena good?"

A small silence fell, as everyone turned an interested ear towards the child. Dori regarded her with a small frown. "Boo?"

"Um hm.. Boo. Is Boo good?"

"Yes." Dori pronounced. "Love Boo."

'There." Cait grinned triumphantly. "See? I've always said so."

Ephiny plucked another piece of grass. Pony came over and settled beside her, taking a drink from her waterskin before passing it to her partner. "What d'you think she's gonna think when she grows up and hears about all the stuff Xena did?"

Everyone looked at Pony.

"What?" The weapons master said. "You know she's gonna… it's not like she lives in a freaking temple of Hestia."

There was an uncomfortable silence. Dori glanced around at all of them, and frowned.

"It shan't matter." Cait finally said, in a decisive tone. "She's Gabrielle's daughter, after all."

Good point. Ephiny had to agree. Gabrielle, who not only knew the worst of the stories, she'd lived in them. "Yeah, you're right." She said. "If she's half as protective as Gab is, we're all in trouble."

"Tubble." Dori slapped Flameball on the ground. "No good make play. Too loud!" She scowled at them.

"Now what?" Pony snorted. "What's her problem??" She turned to Ephiny, who shook her head.

"She's yelling at you." Paladia spoke up for the first time. "Telling you to shut up and let her think." The big Amazon poked the ground with her twig.

Eponin snorted. Ephiny rubbed her face. Cait prudently went back to her knife. The rain continued.

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

Continued in Part 7

A Matter of Pride

Part 7

She knew it couldn't last forever. Gabrielle sucked on the end of a quill, aware of the slow movement of Xena's hand over her thigh. The warrior had figured out one of her new puzzles, had some breakfast, taken a short nap - all while Gabrielle had worked on her diary.

Now, Xena was awake and the bard could almost feel the restlessness coming from her. Not a lot, just yet, but definite, distinctive shifts of the warrior's long body, which was curled around Gabrielle's as the bard sat there writing.

Dori was the same way, Gabrielle acknowledged in amused silence. The baby would allow things to occupy her for only so long, before her attention would wander and she would be off to find something more interesting to do.

It was funny, in a way. Usually she didn't think too much about Dori's unusual parentage. But at times like this, when she saw Xena so clearly in her daughter, it brought the miracle of it home to her all over again. She leaned back, enjoying the comfortable warmth of her living backrest and draped an arm over Xena's hip. One of the warrior's long legs was hitched forward, the other was extended due to its splint. "Want me to change that bandage, hon?"

"Mm." Xena had her head propped up on one fist. "Yeah." Her body shifted slightly. "I was thinking of going over there and working things out a little."

Uh huh. Gabrielle supressed a grin. "Over where.. near the wall there?"

Xena nodded. "Yeah. Just warm up my body a bit. I'm... "

"Bored."

"No."

Gabrielle chuckled. "Okay, restless."

"Mmph. Maybe it's the weather."

"Uh huh." Gabrielle closed her diary and set the quill down. "C'mere, Let me look at you... .eek." The bard found herself unexpectedly turned up side down, her limbs tangling with Xenas, ending up with the both of them nose to nose and wrapped in linen. "Ah."

"So." Xena nibbled the soft skin just under Gabrielle's jaw. "Here I am." She caught the bard's earlobe between her teeth. "How do I look?"

Well. Gabrielle pulled a lace free and peeled back the linen covering the warrior's shoulder. It was one way to keep her in bed. "Gorgeous." She breathed, sending eager fingers under the shift to explore the warm skin beneath it. Her body, rested and relaxed, now woke up in a hurry, responding to the jolt of desire Xena's lips were igniting inside her.

Somehow, her shift dissappeared. The cool, moist air coming in the window felt good against her heated skin, and she felt goosebumps raise all up and down her back as Xena rolled her over and leaned on both arms above her for a moment, gazing down at her with a seductive, predatory look.

"I think I'm in trouble." Gabrielle murmured, as the long body sank to brush against hers.

"Yes, you are." Xena purred in one ear.

The bard gave her hands permission to wander, and pressed her fingers lightly against the warrior's frame before she stroked gently downward. Xena's ribs expanded towards her, and she felt the chill breath of the air tickle her bare belly just before the heat of the warrior's skin banished it explosively.

Soft growls distracted her, and she left her hands to continue their wandering as she concentrated on the lips that were moving down her collarbone in a series of licks and gentle kisses, pausing to pay special attention to her most sensitive places and wringing an inarticulate sound from her throat.

Xena chuckled, her breath warming the skin under her and continued her efforts, rewarded with a lower, deeper sound, and the sudden clenching of Gabrielle's fingers against her side. "Like that, huh?"

"Oh yeah." The bard answered, on a very uneven breath. "Do it again."

Another laugh, this one rich with affection. "Whatever you say, my queen." Xena did as she was asked, feeling Gabrielle's body lift and arch against hers as the bard gripped her and pulled her closer.

The warrior nipped a little harder, and was glad, for Gabrielle's sake, that the walls were very thick stone.

She only wished, for a moment, that her ears weren't quite so close or so
sensitive.
***
Xena lifted her head at the soft knock on the door, resenting the need for her to stir from the lazily tumbled nest she and Gabrielle had burrowed into after they'd tired each other out. She really didn't feel like moving – her body was sated and very comfortable. The restlessness that had started to make her itchy was completely gone, replaced by a sleepy sensuality that made her want to just close her eyes again, and put her head back down on
Gabrielle's belly while her fingers traced slow, lazy patterns across the bard's soft inner thigh.

Another knock. Xena glared at the door, and took in a breath. "What?" She projected a dangerous growl towards the door, sounding echoes of a certain warlord in days not that long past. "Better be worth your life if you knock again." She added for good measure.

Silence.

Xena waited, then grinned as she heard footsteps retreating into muffled obscurity. With a contented sigh, she resumed her spot. Her eyes closed as she felt Gabrielle's fingers touch her neck, scratching it and kneading the muscles at the top of her spine. "Mm."

"That could have been someone with something important to tell us, y'know." The bard murmured.

"Don't care." Xena responded. "Whatever it is, can wait."

Gabrielle only wished she could stir up the energy to continue the protest. Instead, she started tracing the powerful ridge than ran down either side of her partner's spine. It wasn't often in their busy lives that they took a day out like this, and indulged each other. In Amphipolis, certainly, it would be fairly impossible given their responsibilities.

And, while a games compound in Athens wasn't exactly the most relaxed, romantic place she could imagine, still, it was raining, and it was quiet. Mostly. They had an acceptably comfortable bed, and each other. What more, really could she ask for? Gabrielle benignly eyed the still driving rain outside. "Hey. Maybe it'll keep raining, and they'll have to postpone the games."

A pale blue eye appeared as Xena turned her head and peered up over the curve of the bard's breasts. "You want to stay in Athens longer?" The warrior asked, in an incredulous tone.

"No." Gabrielle riffled her fingers through the warrior's bangs. "But I do want to see you go out there and kick the attitudes off some of those.... of those... " She paused.

"Walking fertilizer piles?"

"No. Fertilizer is useful." Gabrielle frowned. "I'll think of something later."

Xena seemed satisfied with that. Her eye closed again, though she squirmed around so she was now facing the bard. "Split nostrils?"

"What?" Gabrielle said.

"That animal you were describing. Split nostrils?"

"What animal?" The bard asked, then almost slapped her head in memory. "Oh... that animal." She truly had forgotten the game for a minute. "Split nostrils? Xena, I have no idea. I never got that close to it."

"Ah." The eye appeared again, sparkling with mischief. "So it's something you personally have seen."

Rats. "Yes."

"Before or after?"

"Where would I have seen something like that in Potadeia, Xena?" Gabrielle admitted, acknowledging the fact that giving that up meant she'd told Xena that Xena had, in all probability, seen the thing too.

"Ah." Xena wiggled her fingers, coincidentally tickling Gabrielle's belly.
"Was it cute?"

"In whose opinion?"

"Yours."

"Yes."

"Damn. That opens up the possibilities."

Gabrielle started laughing.

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

“We’ve got to find real shelter.” Ephiny yelled, keeping her grip on the lead horse’s headstall with difficulty. The animal was afraid, plowing through muddy, racing water up to his knees, and only the fact that he, and his partner in harness had an Amazon latched onto either side of them was keeping them from bolting.

“I know. But where?” Pony yelled back, wrestling with the other horse. “Eph, we’re losing ground here.”

They’d been caught by a rush of water, a flash flood that came down the road leading up to Athens, overrunning the edges of the stone lined way as the walls started to slope upwards forcing people to keep to it.

It was chaos. They’d already been struck by debris washing down from further up the road, and seen bodies floating by. The wagon was half adrift already, despite the weight of the frightened elders, and their supplies. Ephiny was seriously afraid now that they’d lose it all – and she knew if they lost their footing, no one’s safety was guaranteed.

Cyrene was perched over the driver’s seat, Dori lashed to her back, a grim, desperate look on her face as she balanced with difficulty, trying to keep the other villagers calm. Johan had joined them by the horses, his sturdy form just in back of Cait’s stubborn lightness, keeping the girl from tearing loose in the flood.

“Can we back down the road? Follow the flow?” Pony asked.

Ephiny looked back that way. The road had disappeared, replaced by a churning, brown nightmare full of anonymous, tumbling debris. They were huddled by one of the sloping banks where the flow was less, and she was afraid moving out into the current would be a disaster.

Staying where they were, being battered by everything that came at them was a disaster.

Moving forward was damn near impossible.

Ephiny freed a hand to swipe her drenched, curly hair out of her eyes. Being in charge really sucked sometimes. “All right.” She yelled. “Let’s see if we can turn the team around.” She pointed. “And Cait – get the Hades up into that wagon!”

Cait was already losing the battle with the water. “Bother that!” She glared at the flow, which was lifting her off her feet. “It’s not fair.”

Paladia edged around in back of her and grabbed her around the waist. “Wouldja get up there? You’re gonna float your butt away and end up getting your head cracked.”

“Hah.” Cait squirmed around. “Rather close on your getting yours cracked for grabbing at me without warning first.”

Paladia rolled her eyes.

“Oh, all right.” Cait grabbed the harness lying across the second horse on the driver’s side, and pulled herself up, slinging one leg over the animal’s back and taking a tight hold. “There. Now go do something useful, won’t you?” She gave Paladia sudden shove. “Jump!”

“What? Ow!” Paladia yelped, as an uprooted trunk slammed into her legs. “Sonofa…”

“Bother.” Cait gave her an exasperated look. “You never do listen.”

“C’mon.” Ephiny and Eponin turned into the current, side by side. They both moved cautiously, feeling for the road’s surface as they pulled the unwilling horses around and edged cautiously into the flood.

Ephiny felt her boot slip, and she cursed, then found her arm being gripped and her balance steadied. “Thanks.” She gave Pony a grateful look. The weapons master had slipped between the two front horses, along with Johan. Paladia was hanging grimly on to the other front horse, her height and weight denying the water and allowing her to gain headway against the flow.

The horses didn’t want to cooperate. The water frightened them, and the roaring sound was making them shy repeatedly, pulling against the Amazons and Johan and becoming almost uncontrollable. Ephiny hung grimly on to the cheekpiece and pulled with all her strength, using her weight to turn the animal’s head, and force him around. “Cmon, you..”

The horse reared, taking her up with it. She felt her feet leave the ground, and she wrenched herself in mid air, throwing her body towards the middle of the road and slamming into the horses neck. With a scream, the animal dropped back down and lunged into the middle of the road, taking his partner with him.

Ephiny lost her footing and hung on, feeling debris slam painfully against her legs. One hand slipped free of it’s grip and she took a deep breath, judging her chances in the now increasing flood. The rain obscured the wagon, and she thought she heard a yell, then a high pitched noise, then suddenly the back of her leathers was grabbed and she was pulled sharply against the horses side.

Ow. It knocked the breath out of her, but she got a chance to regain her grip and by a sheer force of will, shoved her boots down and found footing. Only then did she turn her head to find Cait leaning over the lead horses neck, still gripping her tightly. “Good catch.” She complimented the young Amazon.

“Rather.” Cait replied calmly. “Can’t be losing you, your majesty. I’d hate to have to explain that to the Queen.”

Ephiny almost laughed. Then she shook her head and inched back through the quickening water, and started leading the horse forward again. “C’mon, you blockhead.. you can’t stay here!”

Slowly, they moved forward, feeling the frightening sway as the wagon was dragged into the deepest part of the water, and almost lifted up. The horses struggled, slipping and lunging sideways, and for a moment Ephiny thought they’d lost.

Then the wagon turned all the way, and they were facing downstream, feeling the shove against their backs as the water surged around them.

Then they heard a scream. Ephiny whipped her head around and looked back, over the shuddering wagon. Through the driving rain she could just see something very large heading right for them.

She barely had enough time to yell. “HANG ON!!!!”

The impact struck them. Ephiny heard a splintering, and felt a huge jolt as her grip was torn loose and she was sent flying, aware of the overwhelming scent of earth just before her body crashed into the slope.

She reached out blindly and grabbed hold of the first thing she felt, sharp branches cutting into her palms as the water swept her past it. The branch held, and she pulled her head up, shaking her hair out of her eyes as she stared down the road, seeing nothing but a tangle of wreckage and flailing limbs moving slowly away from her.

With a curse, she flung herself into the water and plunged after them, fighting to keep her balance against the current. The rain lashed against her scraped and battered body, but that meant nothing to her as she focused on the dimly seen bodies bobbing downstream.

Just then, the overturned wagon caught in a narrow point in the road and stuck – the roar of the water redoubled as it raged against the blockade, but it gave Ephiny precious time to reach the wreck.

She pulled herself up on top of it, crouching as she leaped to the front and stood crouching in the rain, shading her eyes from the worst of it. “Pony!!!!”

“Here!” A very welcome yell came back. “Ware left!”

Ephiny glanced behind her, to see the water rapidly backing up behind the wagon. She jumped to the right side of the cart and leaped down, stumbling through the now only ankle high flow to where a huddle of bodies were.

Pony was standing spraddle legged over two of the elders, apparently either winded or injured. Johan had pulled Cyrene up onto the slim embankment, and was holding her there in safety, both of them pale and shaken. The rest of the elders were huddled next to them.

There was no sign of Cait or Paladia. Or the team of horses.

Ephiny’s heart sank. “Lost a couple.” She exhaled, her eyes going briefly to Cyrene’s backpouch, where Dori’s head was visible, the baby seemingly oblivious to the rain. “Dori okay?”

“She’s fine.” Cyrene said. “I saw Cait and Paladia go with the horses.” She hesitated. “I’m sure they’re okay.”

The Amazon regent felt the rain redouble, pelting her back with stinging force. She put a hand out against the wagon to steady herself as she took stock of the situation. The dam woudn’t hold forever, that was one thing.

Her eyes met Pony’s. They had injured people now to tend to, that was another.

They had no wagon, no supplies, no horses, had two missing Amazons, injured elders, and it was still raining. Ephiny rubbed her temples with one hand. “You know what?” She commented to the driving rain. “I wish Gabrielle were here. Then I’d at least have someone to blame this all on.”

“What was that?” Pony yelled. “Can’t hear you, Eph!”

A sigh. “I said, let’s take advantage of this damn wagon being stuck, and get everyone off the road and up onto the embankment. We’ll assess the injured, then make some shelter.” She saw grim understanding in her partner’s eyes. “Then we’ll look for Cait and Paladia.”

Pony frowned.

“C’mon.” Ephiny ordered, with quiet inflexibility. “This wagon’s going to give, and we’ve got to get these people clear.” She dropped to her knees next to the injured elder, drawing in a breath when she realized it was Josclyn.

A piece of debris had run him through his right shoulder, and as she turned him over, his blood splashed over her legs, turning the muddied water dirty crimson.

She had only time to meet his eyes, before they fluttered closed, and the body in her hands went limp, slumping against her with a weary finality that shocked even her experienced mind.

Into the utter, shocked silence around her, Ephiny released a quiet, shaky sigh, her fingers merely confirming what her instincts already had told her. “He’s dead.” She stated. “Eponin, help me pull his body clear.”

Pony knelt in instant obedience and they lifted the old man’s body up together, starting for the embankment trailing drops of darkened blood behind them.

It was dark outside, and still raining.

Gabrielle had lit the candles inside the room, and they provided a warm, golden light that turned the stone walls cream toned and gave her enough illumination for her current task.

Xena was lying on her back with her eyes closed and her hands folded over her stomach allowing the bard to fuss over her injured knee. The warrior’s breathing was slow and even, and if Gabrielle didn’t know better, she’d almost think Xena asleep.

Carefully, the bard cut loose the linen bandages holding the splint in place, and removed the three arrow shafts, setting them aside for reuse. Then she unwrapped the limb, which was propped up in her lap so she could reach around it. “Mm.” Gabrielle murmured in a pleased tone, as she uncovered the ugly gash on the top of her partner’s knee and found it well on the way to healing.

The skin was closed, and knit together, with no sign of infection or redness. Also, the swelling around the joint had gone down drastically, returning the warrior’s leg to a more customary profile. Gabrielle could see the lines of bone and muscle now under skin no longer so puffed and bruised and it appeared to her that the broken cap seemed to be still in place and healing.

Xena’s magic. Gabrielle traced the skin with gentle fingers, as she glanced up the length of her partner’s body. No, Gabrielle. Her conscience corrected her quietly. Call it what it is. The blood of the gods that runs in her. The immortal touch that lets her do the impossible things she does, and keeps her whole, and allows her to bend the rules of the mortal world for herself, and for you.

Not too much, she acknowledged. Not enough to turn away pain, or keep her blood from shedding. Not enough to hold back the years, or prevent the tiny lines from lining the tanned skin of her face.

Just enough to put her back together, to let her continue the long fight, that let her keep hold of life beyond the grip of the rest of humanity.

Just enough to give them Dori.

“Well?” Xena’s voice interrupted her musing. “Is it about to fall off or something?”

Gabrielle chuckled softly. “Not hardly.” She squeezed the extra water out of the piece of linen in her right hand, then started washing off the dried blood. “It actually looks like your leg now, not like something from Dedre’s butcher shop back home.”

“Ah.” Xena smiled, keeping her eyes closed. “Yeah, it feels a lot better.” She flexed the leg a bit, the muscles bunching and rolling under the skin. “Good.”

“Yeah.” Gabrielle wiped the skin clean, removing the old herbs and dried salve. “How about I finish up and have Mikah scrounge us up some dinner?”

“Good idea.” Xena replied promptly. “He’s been out there all day, should have a wagonload of news and gossip for us.”

“Assuming he hasn’t run for the hills when you yelled before.” Gabrielle countered.

Xena snorted softly.

“Big bad Xena.”

A pink tongue appeared, pointed in the bard’s direction.

“Meanie.”

“Oh yeah, remind me of that the next time Dori’s jumping all over me.” Xena reminded her. “I’ve had my reputation torn to such tatters…. “ A melodramatic sigh. “It’s Xena, Warrior Creampuff now.”

Gabrielle rolled her eyes and snorted. “Tell me another one, you poor old thing.” She drawled. “Wait… is this where I get to hear how it used to be back in the days where you had to milk cows one teat at a time?”

“Listen, lambchop…” Xena growled. “Watch it, or I’ll show you what we used to do with cow’s…mmph.” She suddenly found the light blocked out and Gabrielle’s slim form looming over her as the bard leaned forward to kiss her.

“Who’re you calling lambchop?” Gabrielle asked lazily, rubbing noses with the warrior as they paused for breath. “You making fun of me being a shepherd’s kid?”

“Naaaaa.” Xena baa’ed softly. “Would I do that?”

“Uh huh.” The bard grinned at her. “I still remember that ‘short enough to milk a sheep’ joke you told last time.”

Xena started laughing in pure reflex.

“I’ll have you know I was the best sheep milker in Potadeia, as a matter of fact.” Gabrielle went on, enjoying the expression of simple happiness on her partner’s face. “The trick is, you turn them over.”

Xena just laughed harder.

“Then you hop up and down on them.” Gabrielle hopped, just a little. The effect was, given her position, structurally hilarious. Parts of her anatomy bounced off Xena’s, and nearly made the warrior choke. “The tough part…” She leaned closer to Xena’s ear. “Is putting the buckets in just the right places.”

“Gods.” Xena covered her eyes with one hand, her entire body shaking. “Stop it… you’re making my stomach hurt from laughing.”

Gabrielle chuckled a little herself, then exhaled, and let her forehead rest against Xena’s. “Xe?”

Her laughter winding down, the warrior released a breath, and opened her eyes. “Yeah?”

“Y’know something?”

“I do now. How to milk a sheep.” Xena joked, making them both chuckle again. “No, what?” She added, after a minute.

Gabrielle gazed down into her eyes, seeing past the god’s blood, and the ultimate warrior, and the merciless killer down through to the simple innkeeper’s daughter who was her partner, her soulmate, and her best friend. “I love you.”

Xena’s expression softened. “I love you, too.” She replied, with a tiny, charmed smile. “What brought that on?”

“Nothing.” Gabrielle leaned over and kissed her. “Everything.” She added, with a satisfied sigh. “Life rocks.”

Xena studied the look of contented joy on Gabrielle’s face, and found herself smiling in reaction to it, knowing she’d played a large part in putting it there. She thought about the statement for a moment, then surprised herself by finding she was in complete agreement with it, at least for the moment. “Yeah. It does.”

The candles flickered contentedly, burning low over a sweetly peaceful scene.

“Well.” Cait wrung her hair out, giving the muddy bank they’d climbed up a dirty look. “That certainly wasn’t a terribly wonderful way to spend that bit of time.”

“No.” Paladia was sitting on the ground, examining a long, ragged gash in her leg. “It sucked.” She looked back over her shoulder to where the road swept up around a bend, out of their sight. “Figures the rest of em are taking their time.”

Cait sighed, and climbed up onto a nearby boulder, shading her eyes and peering off into the distance. Then she cocked her head and listened intently. “Rats.” She finally muttered. “Pally, I don’t think they’re coming.”

“No?” Paladia scrambled awkwardly to her feet and limped over to lean on the rock. “Hey. Great.”

“Great?” The blond girl frowned. “Whatever do you mean by that? It’s not in the slightest bit great. They’re probably stuck back in that water somewhere, waiting for us to rescue them. “ Cait said. “So, come on then, let’s get at it.” She hopped off the rock and picked her way across the stony embankment towards the water.

Paladia gazed plaintively at the sky, then shook her head. “Yo! Dipwad!” She sat down on the rock. “You can’t go back that way.”

Cait paused, about to enter the water. She turned and put her hands on her narrow hips. “Whyever not?”

Paladia pointed. “That water was knocking you on your ass up there with four horses and a scad of people hanging onto you.” She snorted. “You’re just gonna get blasted right back here.”

Cait reviewed the rushing water, whose force seemed to have lessened, but which was still formidable. “You could go first.”

“Why should I?” The taller Amazon protested. “So the damn rocks can crack me in the head? No thanks.”

Cait turned around and made her way back, ending up right next to her friend. “Now, you look here.” She stated firmly. “Stop being such a sissy at once, or I shall have to thump you.”

Paladia sighed. It was goofy. Here she was, three times Cait’s size, and that little brat thought she could just run right over her like a runaway mule. She glowered up at her, as the blond girl folded her slim, but muscular arms across her chest. Problem was Cait could probably drag her butt down into the water size or no size, and they both knew it. Goofy. “Why not go up there?” Paladia pointed towards the ridge. “Unless you gotta do everything the hard way.”

Cait turned her head and reviewed the suggested alternate seriously. “All right.” She nodded. “Splendid idea. Let’s go.” She tangled one hand in Paladia’s leathers and started off, giving the taller woman a choice of following her or remaining seated in perfect nakedness.

She hated that. With a groan, Paladia got up and trudged after her smaller companion, trying not to limp, or bleed too much. “Allright.. cut it out. I’m coming.”

“Right.” Cait slowed her pace, and found a relatively smooth path up onto the ridge. “Is that leg of yours awful?”

“No.”

“Right.” Cait turned around and gave her a push, landing Paladia neatly on the short, tufted grass of the embankment. “Give it here.” She flopped down on the turf with little ceremony, yanking the bigger woman’s calf towards her.

“Hey!” Paladia objected, pulling her foot back. “Cut that out! I said it was fine!”

“Yes, but you lie all the time.” Cait ignored her protest and trapped the limb between her ankles, holding it down. “Now, be still or I’ll cut the silly thing right off.”

Paladia leaned back on her elbows and tried to ignore the driving rain pelting her from all sides. It washed the mud off at least, and it even sort of got Cait’s hair back to it’s normal color, more or less like Paladia’s own.

They had little things like that in common. Their eyes were sort of the same color too.

“I’ll have to stitch this.”

Paladia groaned. “Not those frigging square knots again, okay?” She had a rather odd looking scar on one arm from Cait’s experimentation with needles.

“It’s not my fault you can’t keep out of the way of things.” Cait stated placidly, as she drew out her needle and a bit of gut. “I get bored doing just those straight ones all the time.”

“You’re so weird.”

“I am certainly not.”

“Yes you are.”

“No, I’m not. Now be quiet, or I’ll stitch my name across your kneecap.”

Paladia laid down on the slope and closed her eyes, glad of a chance to rest at least. The day had totally sucked so far, and if she had to put up with Cait jamming a sharp needle into her leg at least she could relax during it. Besides, there were worse people she could have doing it, like Eponin. “Hey.”

“I said…”

“Yeah, yeah.” The big Amazon waved a hand. “I know, but listen… you figure those guys got out of this stupid flood and took cover?”

Cait bent her head, keeping the rain off the skin she was working on. “How on earth should I know?” She answered, taking careful, small stitches in the handsbreadth long gash leaking tendrils of her friend’s blood over both of them.

“Yeah, like they have the sense to get out of the rain.” Paladia muttered.

“Hello, Lady Kettle? Seen what’s pouring on your head lately?” Cait snickered. “Good gosh, Pally. What’s put you in such a bother today?”

It’s raining. My leg’s hurt. You’re jabbing me with a needle. We’re lying in mud. It’s lightning. The idiots we’re with are probably inside a cave with a fire already. “I’m thirsty.” Paladia answered dourly, then yelped when a finger hooked itself between her teeth and yanked her mouth open. Rain immediately entered it.

“There.” Cait went back to her task. “Anything else, then?”

Paladia swallowed her mouthful of water and considered the question. “A dry bed?” She felt a single, last, sharp pinch against her skin, then felt the pressure as Cait sprawled on the wet grass next to her. She hazarded a peek, to see those strange, often cold eyes watching her. “What?”

“You know, I’ve quite decided having all those elders with us is a bother.” Cait said. “Puts a damper on things.”

Paladia smirked a little. “Yeah.. don’t want to shock the old goats, though. Might send those Amphlifishies into a tiz.”

A twinkle entered Cait’s eyes. “Actually.” She drawled softly. “I was talking about the regent and Eponin.” She gave the edge of Paladia’s leathers a tug. “Do you know they’ve never tried having fun in a tree?”

A sigh. “Most normal people haven’t, doofball.” The big Amazon snorted, visibly pleased nonetheless. “They’re like, not into breaking their necks.”

“Or taking unnecessary risks.” Cait added, leaning over and biting a fold of her friend’s skin. “I can’t imagine why not.” She looked up from under very blond lashes. “I’m glad you’re not normal.”

Paladia’s nostrils flared. “Thanks.” She remarked. “Glad being nutty as a fruitcake gets points.”

Cait chuckled, then pushed herself off the grass and held a hand out to her. “C”mon then. Let’s go find those slackards.” She hauled her friend up and they started up the slope again. The rain beat against them, but it’s force wasn’t nearly that of the raging water below, and they made good time across the ridge.

“Where in Hades did you get the idea of trees anyway?” Paladia suddenly asked.

“Where do you think?” Cait replied, smugly.

Rolled eyes. “Figures.”

“Never catch them being boring, what?” Cait giggled. “After all, that’s how they managed Dori.” She kept walking a few steps, then turned as she realized Paladia was no longer at her side. “Do get on, Pally. What are you standing there for?”

“A tree caused that?” Paladia had her hands on her hips. “A freaking tree, and we’ve been.. “ She spluttered to a halt. “Are you nuts? You want to end up preggers?”

“Me?” Cait pointed at her own chest. “Goodness no.”

Paladia walked up to her. “ Damn good thing.”

“I figured you’d’ be much better at that sort of thing.” Cait replied calmly, giving her a prod in the belly. “You’ve got quite a lot more room, for starts.” She turned and ambled off, leaving the taller Amazon rooted in place, staring after her slack jawed.

“Why you little bacchae.” Paladia managed to get out. “Don’t you even… hey! Hey!” Ignoring the ache in her leg, she broke into a run after Cait. “Hey! Get back here you… you…. “

A mischievous chuckle floated back to her.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was shelter. Ephiny rose up from a crouch near the half unhinged door and looked around her. The old shrine was so weatherbeaten and worn, it was impossible to tell which god it had once honored. The roof was sound, though, and the walls kept out most of the rain, and the building was on a rise above the road.

It was the best they could have hoped for.

In one corner, a long unused firepit had been brought back to life by Cyrene, who was kneeling next to it. Ephiny could see the strain the long journey was taking on the older woman, but true to form Cyrene plugged on in silence, pushing the silver streaked dark hair back from her eyes.

Near the entrance, covered in one of the tarps Eponin had been carrying in her pack lay Josclyn’s still form. Ephiny felt a quiet sense of guilt every time she looked at him, even though she hadn’t had any say in the planning of the trip, or in accepting responsibility for the members of the party.

She knew Xena and Gabrielle wouldn’t blame her for this. Ephiny wiped the mud off her hands with a studied, deliberate motion. But nothing could keep her from blaming herself, since like it or not, being in charge came with the regent of the Amazon’s necklace, and the rank badges she wore proudly depending from her shoulder.

A hand touched her back, and she looked up to find Pony there, her honey colored eyes glinting with quiet compassion set in a mud bespattered face. With a grunt, the weapons master knelt beside her. “Good luck finding that old wood in here.”

“Mm.” Ephiny agreed.

“Want me to get those cuts on your back?”

Ephiny realized she hadn’t even known she had any. “Nah. I’m fine.” She murmured. “How are they doing?” She jerked her chin towards the elders, who were seated against the opposite wall in an exhausted huddle.

Eponin shrugged one shoulder. “Not good.” She replied. “Just that one broken arm, but they’re all..” She hesitated. “And Josc’s wife’s pretty shattered.”

Ephiny slowly sat down on the hard stone floor, sitting cross legged with her elbows braced on her thighs. A flash of memory invaded her tired mind, of a forest in Thessaly. Yells of rage. Arrows.

Phantes desperately standing between a war, and her, and dying.

“Yeah.” She exhaled. “It’s hard, when it happens so fast.” She stared sightlessly across the ruined temple. “The change is so sudden… you go from being one of a pair to alone, and it just shocks you.”

Eponin eyed her uncertainly, then set her pack down and removed a square of linen and some cleaner, and went to work on the regent’s scraped back. She moved Ephiny’s curls out of the way and saw her head drop forward just a little. “I remember when Gabrielle came to us, that time.” She said quietly.

“First time or second?” Ephiny murmured.

“First.” Her partner responded. “After she decided to take the mask, I went to go find her.. to bring her over to the ceremonial hut for her gear.”

“Mm.”

“I found her in the hut we’d put the sarcophagus in, you know?”

Ephiny nodded. “I know.”

“I thought I’d… you know, just to try and.. I don’t know. I just wanted to make her feel better about something. Anything.” Pony stumbled through the words. “So I… I told her I knew it was tough, you know, but that it’d be okay eventually, and she’d be happy again.”

Ephiny turned her head, and smiled a little. “That was sweet, Pon.”

The weapon’s master shook her head. “She told me.. that I was half right.” Eponin said. “She said, yeah, it would be okay eventually.”

Ephiny closed her eyes. “I felt for that poor kid.” She whispered. “Phantes and I… we had time together. Josc and his wife…. Decades.” She said. “Gabrielle, then, had lost the greatest love of her life, and she didn’t even know it yet.”

“Think that’s why Xena came back?”

“Absolutely.” The regent smiled sadly. “You don’t know how much I envied Gabrielle that day.”

Pony didn’t answer. She just kept cleaning the jagged scrapes.

“But I was a lot luckier than she is, you know? I realized that later on.” Ephiny continued, softly. “You would have been all the way right if you’d said that to me.”

Eponin gazed at her back with wide, round eyes full of unexpected wonder for a long moment. Then she circled her partner’s shoulders with both arms, and gave her a quick, careful hug. “Don’t blame yourself for what happened, Eph.” She whispered. “You couldn’t have stopped it… and you couldn’t have made these stubborn mule heads stay in Amphipolis, even if you had been there at the start.”

Ephiny let her head rest against Pony’s. “Yeah, I know.” She sighed. “Doesn’t help. C’mon, let’s go see if we can give Cyrene a hand. She looks wiped.” She shoved herself to her feet. “Thanks for the first aid.”

“Anytime.” Pony shoved her supplies away and followed her partner over to the fledgling fire. Cyrene was sitting next to it, with Dori cradled in her arms, the toddler happily suckling on a piece of dried fruit. “I think we need a plan b.”

Cyrene glanced up at them. “So do I.” She replied. “Sit down. Let’s talk.”

“Bck.” Dori added, spitting a piece of fruit at them.

Who was in charge? Ephiny wryly mused, as she held her water wrinkled hands to the fire, and hoped this meant the worst was over.

It was still raining. Xena burrowed out from under the covers and rested her chin on her forearm, regarding the sheeted silver passing by the window. Gabrielle had gotten dressed and gone out exploring, with the goal of getting them some dinner and seeing what was going on in mind.

Xena considered her options. She could remain where she was, adhereing to her promise to Gabrielle of staying in bed and relaxing, or she could get up and work off some of the energy that was starting to once again make her twitch.

Well. With a sigh, the warrior rolled over and shed her fur covering, then sat up and rested her feet on the floor. She’d been good, after all, almost all day. Gabrielle would forgive her, right? With a soft grunt, she pushed herself up onto her good leg and waited for her balance to settle, then leaned against the wall with one hand as she very cautiously rested her bad leg on the ground.

Hm. So far so good. She tensed her thigh muscles and slowly, carefully let a bit of weight down.

Ow. She paused and waited. After a moment, the pain subsided and she continued her experiment, until the ache jacked up again and steadied.

Hm. The warrior frowned. Not good, but not entirely bad either. If she did the sensible thing and kept off her feet for another night, it might be all right. On the other hand, ignoring the restlessness for much longer wasn’t going to be easy. Xena chewed her lower lip and regarded the room.

Ah. She limped over to where the rocks and slabs were, and studied them. There was one waist high piece, obviously meant to practice vaulting over. She sat on it and looked right and left. There were two more posts on either side, markers for warming up to pitch either spears or discus. The top of the posts was curved, mean to fit… Xena’s eyes flicked to the ground. Ah hah. She got up and limped over to the long, very heavy looking stone post lying on the ground.

Her fingers drummed on her thigh. Kneeling to pick the thing up properly wasn’t an option, with her splint. Xena frowned. She could wait for Gabrielle to get back to help her but..

But.

With a sigh, the warrior leaned over and got her hands around the post, then straightened, feeling the fierce strain in her back as she lifted the heavy stone, just barely balancing it as she turned and dropped it into place on the supports with a heartfelt groan.

Xena, Warrior Imbecile. She eased between the post and the vaulting block and sat down again, bracing her upper thighs under the heavy stone. Hm. “That might work.” She very slowly and carefully leaned back, letting the post counterweight her body.

She could feel the pull against her stomach muscles, and she spread her arms out to either side, intensifying the exertion. She extended all the way back until she was almost parallel with the floor, then paused, holding the position.

There was no strain on her lower legs at all, just on her thighs, and her body. With a grunt, she reversed the motion and pulled herself upright. “All right.” Xena thought for a moment, then decided on a routine. She repeated the lean she’d just done, then rolled her body around in a slow circle, warming her muscles up and stretching out areas she hadn’t had to use in a while.

Once she’d done that to her satisfaction, she leaned over and scooped up one of the stones and repeated her exercise with that, using the extra weight to get a little more stretch out of her body.

It was awkward, certainly. Using just her upper body was tough, and it put a lot of strain on the long muscles on either side of her back and torso. She was used to being able to leverage with the powerful muscles in her legs, and she found herself quickly getting a little sore across her back and midriff from the exercise.

With a faint scowl, she pulled herself upright and regarded the far wall, tossing the stone up and down in her hands. Then she let it drop to the ground and eased out from under the post, regarding the red, angry marks across the tops of her thighs dourly.

Then she spotted the stack of discus, half hidden in an alcove near the window. She hopped over to them and retrieved a couple, then went back to her stone seat. “Might as well get a little practice in.” Xena fit her fingers around the edge of one of the disks and hefted it, then studied the wall across from her.

With a twist of her body, she wound up, then lashed her arm in reverse, sending the disc flying from her to smash against the wall with a very satisfying crunch. “Hm.” Xena studied the mark on the stone, then picked up another disc. “Where’d you get that aim, huh? Broad side of a barn? Bet you couldn’t hit the broad side of Argo standing right next to ya.”

Another disc spun, smacking into the wall at a higher angle. A chunk of rock trickled out in it’s wake. “Gotta do better than that.” Her sense of competition woke up, as she saw marks much higher up, and deeper in the wall’s surface. It wasn’t easy. The length of the room was a challenge, and she couldn’t use her entire body weight to get behind her throws. In fact, matching the upper marks might be darn near impossible.

Xena grinned, and flexed her hands. At least she had something to keep herself busy with until Gabrielle got back.

The toga felt odd, draped over her body. Gabrielle twitched at it for the nth time, as she meandered around the long, echoing corridors in search of Mikah, in search of food and drink, in search of…

Gabrielle rounded a corner and found herself entering a large, stuffy room full of muscular men and women exercising. Mostly nude. Eyes immediately fell on her.

In search of trouble, apparently, and as usual she’d found it. “Hi.” Gabrielle gave the nearest man a polite smile. He was lifting two huge sacks, one on each shoulder, squatting down with them and standing up again in grunting rhythm.

He glared at her and turned his head, pointedly ignoring her presence. Sweat dripped off his face and onto the straw covered floor.

“Nice.” Gabrielle exhaled, then squared her shoulders and decided on a path through the sycophants. She could see a large, arched doorway on the far side of the enclosure, and brief flickers of dim forms in serving clothes indicated it probably was at least one of her goals.

She started through the room, edging past men wrestling, women wrestling, a pit where several bodies clashed with swords, and many individuals concentrating in silence, practicing jumping, leaping, throwing…

It was exhausting just watching them. Gabrielle eyed the exquisitely chisled young bodies and had to seriously wonder about their chances. Everyone she saw looked well trained and athletic, and certainly skilled at whatever it was they were doing.

“Hey.”

Gabrielle stopped, as a tall, sleekly muscled woman stepped in front of her, a challenging expression on her face. “Yes?” She replied mildly. “Can I help you?”

The woman was dressed in an off the shoulder, sweat covered tunic, belted, with a well made quiver strapped across her back. She carried a longbow competently gripped in one hand, and now she rested it’s end on the straw as she regarded Gabrielle. “So you’re one of the ringers, huh?”

Ringer? Gabrielle frowned. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” She replied honestly, aware of the small group gathering around them. “I’m just here for the same reason you are.” She said. “To compete for my home town.”

A few people laughed. “Yeah?” The woman eyed her. “Well, don’t think you being famous cuts any slack with any of us.” A murmur of agreement rose up.

“Okay.” Gabrielle agreed amiably. “I didn’t really expect it to, so that’s no great loss.” She edged to her right a little, clearing some space. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Mikah peeking around the archway, then saw him disappear quickly.

“Then why wait until the last minute?” The woman countered. “Sneaking in like that?”

“Yeah.” Gabrielle’s sack lifting friend had joined them.

‘Well you know… “ The bard deliberately found a barrel and perched on it. “We didn’t actually come to Athens for the games. We just came to talk to the council about our taxes, only..”

“Council’s out of session.” The man stated.

“Right.” Gabrielle agreed. “So, we heard maybe the games were one way to do something about our assessments, so.. “ A shrug. “We entered.”

The woman laughed. “So you just showed up, and figured you’d have a chance? Do you know how long most of us have been getting ready for this?”

Gabrielle could well imagine. “Guess you’ve got no problem then, right?” She smiled, folding her hands in her lap.

“My problem is, I’ve been working my butt off to get here, practicing all day long for a year, and only barely qualifying. Then you show up.” The woman stated. “And they just let you right in.”

The bard stood and walked over to her. “Well, you know… I’ve spent the last year rebuilding my birthplace, which was totally destroyed.” She paused. “And helping hundreds of refugees find new homes.. and the year before that, I spent fighting for survival and watching my friends and family murdered.” Pause. “Want to trade?”

The woman took a breath, then stepped back a little.

Gabrielle followed her, tilting her head up and meeting the woman’s gaze. “Get over yourself.” She suggested, before she simply pushed by her, and continued on her way, ignoring the silence and the watching eyes.

Mikah was waiting for her when she reached the exit, his still bruised face tense as she rounded the corner. “Mistress!”

“There you are.” The bard greeted him. “Okay, listen..”

“Shh.” Mikah pulled her arm anxiously. “Over here, quickly.” He took her into a darkened corner, eyeing the passing servants. “Celesta’s looking for you.”

Gabrielle cocked her head. “So?”

“She’s put the word out… she’s personally challenging you.” The boy said. “She said you’re a fraud, and those stories in the library either are stolen, or copied from somewhere.”

Gabrielle stared at him for a moment, then burst into laughter. “Oh gods..” She covered her eyes with one hand. “I only wish some of those stories were about someone else.” Her body sagged back against the cool, stone wall. “What a clueless dipwad.”

Mikah leaned against the wall next to her. “She’s lying, huh?”

The bard was quiet for a moment, then she looked at him. “You believed her?”

His eyes studied her face intently. “I hardly know you.” He said, after a moment. “And I wondered.. because you’re so… “

A blond eyebrow lifted.

“Young.” Mikah said, with a smile. “Odd, coming from a kid like me, I guess.” He stared at his boots for a moment. “But, no – I didn’t believe her.”

Gabrielle gazed quietly off into the distance, trying to decide whether she should feel amused, or insulted, or just disgusted. “Well… tomorrow I guess we’ll…”

A loud banging cut off her speech, and she turned, to see four men entering the large room, and mounting a small dias she hadn’t noticed towards the front of it. The oldest of them beat a long, capped staff on the ground and waited for everyone to turn and look at him. Gabrielle pulled Mikah with her as they slipped into the exercise room and pressed against the wall.

“My dear atheletes!” The man boomed. He was large, and had salt and pepper hair with a long, almost silver beard. “The gods have played us a trick, it seems.” He cleared his throat importantly. “Due to the weather, we will have to postpone the opening of the Games. Our soothsayer.. “ He turned and indicated a slim, almost bald man behind him. “Tells me the weather should clear by sundown on the morrow, hence, we will begin the games at dawn the next.”

A low murmur rose up. “What of the tax deadline?” Gabrielle’s erstwhile challenger spoke up. “That will bring the end of the games past it!”

The bearded man held up a hand. “Fear not. I’m sure we can work out something with the city council.. I have sent word to the prefect.”

Gabrielle took note of the low comments around her. “Okay.. well, that helps.” She murmured to Mikah. “Xena needs all the time she can get… listen, do they have sandwiches or something I can grab?”

Mikah lead her back into the servants area. “I was going to bring you both something.” He told her. “I tried before but.. .um.. “

“Xena scared you off.” Gabrielle suppressed a grin. “Yeah, she was ah.. practicing some moves.”

“Oh.” He picked up a basket from a small alcove. “Well, I’m glad she’s not like the rest of these people. I’ve had to listen to them all day long. What a bunch of egotists.”

Hm. Gabrielle led the way back through the big room, which now held clumps of people gathered together, evidently teams discussing the news. They all gave her quick, suspicious looks as they passed, and one or two snide comments about Mikah reached her ears.

She glanced at the boy, whose eyes were on the ground, but the reddened tips of his ears indicated that he’d heard them. “Sorry.”

He glanced at her quickly. “Why? They’re saying I’m your hired bedmate… it’s what I do. You owe me no apology, rather, I owe one to you for making them think so.” He took a torch from a wall sconce and lead the way through the halls.

Gabrielle thought about that as she followed him. “Well, I’ve had worse things thought about me.” She commented.

“Have you?” Mikah gave her a curious look.

Gabrielle merely nodded silently. “Anyway.” She exhaled, raking her hair back out of her eyes. “At least this gives us another day.”

They turned the corner and started down the winding back passage where their rooms were. “Is she feeling better?” The boy asked.

“Yeah… but that leg’s worrying me.” Gabrielle shook her head. “I’m glad she’s resting, giving it a chance to heal.”

“Mistress, it’s a broken bone.” Mikah stated. “It will take far longer than the one day.” He paused outside their door. “When they started saying there was some trick.. I thought maybe she was entering the games to find out t… you don’t mean to say she’s really.. that you are going to truly enter the contests, are you?”

Gabrielle smiled briefly. “C’mon inside. I know Xena wanted to talk to you.” She turned and pushed the door open. “Be quiet, though, she might have gone back to sleep and I..” The bard was facing him as he entered, and she saw his face as they cleared the door. His jaw dropped and his eyes widened, and somehow, Gabrielle figured out that whatever her beloved soulmate was doing, it probably wasn’t involving sleep.

She turned.

And sighed. “Fishturds.”

In the practice area, outlined in the torches fluttering glare, her partner was standing.

Completely naked. Drenched in sweat. Her hands cupped around the hilt of her sword as she went through the advanced drills that blurred the silver blade around her so quickly the eye couldn’t follow it.

It was magnetic. It was hypnotic, and Gabrielle found herself caught up in the swiftly moving image, her eyes captured by the burnished skin, and the wildly flying dark hair and that feral grin flashing towards them.

A final twist, and leap, and then Xena was turning, moving towards them with her sword resting on her shoulder, a limp barely evident despite her bandaged leg. Completely oblivious to Mikah’s goggle eyed stare. “Hey.” The warrior drawled. “What took you so long?”

Gabrielle licked her lips, and managed to tear her eyes from her partner’s glistening body. “Um… Xe?”

“Yeah?” The warrior walked over to the table and picked up her sheath, sliding the sword home with a snick. The torchlight fluttered shadows over her back, outlining the move and shift of her muscles.

“Mikah, would you.. “

“I’ll be outside.” The boy said at the same time, shoving the basket into Gabrielle’s hands and escaping quickly out the door.

Xena turned as it slammed behind him. “Damn. Wanted to talk to him.” She frowned. “What’s going on?”

Gabrielle forced herself to merely reach out one fingertip and remove a droplet of sweat from between her soulmate’s breasts. “Honey?”

“Mm?” Xena leaned closer and sniffed. “Hungry?”

“Yeah. I’m starving.” Gabrielle put the basket down and moved in. “C’mere.”

Xena gazed in bemusement at her partner’s flushed skin. She’d figured Gabrielle would be upset at her for catching her at her drills, and she was pleased, if a little surprised, to find just the opposite. “Want to see what’s in the basket?” She asked.

“No.” Gabrielle lazily reached over and pulled the stopper from the bath. “Not until I get you all nice and clean.”

“Yeah?” Xena allowed herself to be led over to the tub.

“Yeah.” Gabrielle pulled her head down and kissed her, unable to resist any longer.

“Did you find out what’s going on?”

“Later.”

“But Gabrie… “

“Shh. Later.”

“Okay” Xena chewed and swallowed, then peered down at the naked blond woman curled up in her arms. “Are we ready to talk about what the Hades is going on now?”

“Mm.” Gabrielle gave her another cube of lamb. “Don’t’ look at me like that. It’s your fault.”

“My fault?”

“Xena, now really.” Gabrielle gave her a severe look. “You can’t honestly expect to be doing what you were doing how you were doing it when I came in here, and have me just think about stupid political piggy wonks.”

Xena snickered a little. “You sure aren’t as shy and innocent as you used to be, you know that?”

Mist green eyes peered up at her uncertainly from under blond lashes. “Is that good or bad?” The bard asked softly. “I didn’t think you… “ She stopped, a little confused, and a little stung by the warrior’s offhand comment. She shifted a bit, moving away from Xena’s embrace. “Sorry.”

“Ah ah ah.” Xena recaptured her and tugged her back closer, despite the resistance. “Get back here.” She waited for the stiffness she could feel in the bard’s body to relax. “I’m flattered I cause that kind of response, Gabrielle. There’s nothing wrong with it, so take it easy, willya?”

Gabrielle remained huddled against her in silence.

“Gab?” Xena repeated softly, gazing down and tipping the bard’s chin up just a little. “Hey?”

She was very surprised to see tears. “Gabrielle.” Xena’s voice dropped lower and she cupped the bard’s cheek with one hand. “Sweetheart, c’mon now.”

Gabrielle sniffled, and shook her head a little. “Sorry.” She exhaled. “I don’t know where that came from. I know you didn’t mean anything by that, I just…” There was an awkward pause. Xena just remained still, one hand gently stroking the bard’s cheek. “I miss that innocent, feckless kid sometimes, and I wonder if you ever do.”

Unseen, Xena’s eyes closed, in a moment of quiet pain. She slowly released a breath, and gathered her thoughts. “Gabrielle.. I didn’t mean to.. “

“I know.” Gabrielle sagged against her and rested one hand on the warrior’s bare belly. “I must sound like a total doofball.”

“No.” Relieved, the warrior cuddled her closer. “I just meant that you’re a lot more… um.. aggressive.. about making love than you were when we first became lovers, and I like that.”

Another shy look. “You do?”

“Yeah.” Xena reassured her. “It makes me feel good.” She gently traced a circle across the bard’s breastbone. “I was always so afraid I’d.. I mean, I never wanted to scare you.”

“Mmph. You never scared me.”

“I know.. but I was afraid I would if I… “ Xena stopped. “Anyway, I’m glad you think I’m worth going to bed with.”

Now it was Gabrielle’s turn to shift and turn and study the angular face above her. “Worth going to bed with?” She asked, incredulously. “Xena, you’re not going to sit here and seriously say to me that you don’t know just how attractive you are.”

The warrior accepted the compliment with a smile. “It’s not that.” She gently moved a bit of Gabrielle’s bangs back away from her eyes. “I know I am.” She said. “It’s just that I’ve seen so much… done so much… before I met you, making love meant so little to me.”

Gabrielle gazed at her in trusting silence.

“I never wanted you to become jaded, like I was.” Xena said.

“Is that what you think, that I…” The bard hesitated. “That I’m getting like that?” She watched Xena’s face intently. “Or that I take you for granted?”

“I hope not.” The warrior replied softly. “Being with you is very special for me. .and I hope it’s always that way for you, too.”

Gabrielle nodded slightly. “Every moment I spend with you is special, Xena.” She rested her cheek against the soft skin over the warrior’s breast. “So no, I don’t’ take this for granted.”

They were both very quiet for a few minutes, then Xena released a breath. “So. What brought all that on?”

“I dunno.” Gabrielle admitted. “Could it be the pickled ducks eggs?” She held one up. “I’m sorry.. I have no clue why I just went south on you there, honey bear.”

Xena’s blue eyes twinkled with wry amusement. She ducked her head and spent a few leisurely moments exploring the bard’s lips. “You will…” She said, as they broke off. “Always be that innocent, feckless kid to me, my love.”

“Always?” Gabrielle had to smile. “Even when I’m old and gray?”

“Always.” Xena told her. “Even when you throw me into a bathtub and scrub me within an inch of my life, before you drag me into bed and ravish me.”

Gabrielle turned a shade of crimson usually reserved for cherries.

“See?” Xena chucked her on the chin.

“Urmf.” The bard gave up and buried her face into Xena’s shoulder.

“So.” After a quiet moment, Xena reviewed the information Gabrielle had given her. “We get another day’s reprieve, which might cause it’s own problems, and you’ve got some half witted ham out there who thinks you’re not the real deal, right?”

“Mhm.” Gabrielle nodded.

“Tell ya what.” Xena decided. “How about you circulate around the place tomorrow and tell a few stories so these lunkheads get intmidated by my reputation, and I’ll go find your ham and make a sandwich out of her.”

Gabrielle found herself grinning at the very thought. “Sounds good to me.” With a turn of her head, she inspected Xena’s injured knee, which was propped comfortably up across her thigh. She thought about what Mikah had said, then shook her head a little as her eyes followed the thin, already fading scar. She was so used to Xena’s healing abilities, she sometimes forgot people who didn’t know here might find them unusual. “How are you feeling?” She asked curiously, touching the smooth skin.

“Not bad.” Xena offered her a slice of fruit, then bit into one of her own. “I was trying to see what kind of handicap this damn leg’s going to be in the fighting competitions.”

“And?”

Xena was silent for a moment. “I can work around it.” It hadn’t been easy, but after she’d adjusted to the difference in balance, and figured out how to compensate for her lack of mobility, she’d been satisfied with the results. “Not going to be pretty, though.”

“Huh.” Gabrielle nibbled another piece of fruit. “I don’t know, Xe. Most of those guys look really..um… prepared. I don’t know what good I can do in my events.” She went on before Xena could protest. “Don’t get me wrong, I’ll go in there and do my best, but I have to tell you I think the whole things going to be resting on your shoulders.”

“Don’t sell yourself short.” Xena had to grin at the last word, which she got a poke for. “You’ll do fine. Just don’t let them intimidate you, okay?”

“Okay.” Gabrielle settled back and opened a walnut with a tensing of her strong fingers. She picked out the meat and offered half of it to Xena. “Can I tell them you’ll kick their butts?”

“Absolutely.”

“I’m set, then.” Gabrielle said. “Now, if you’d like to throw a toga on, I’ll go see if I can coax Mikah back into the room.” She got up, shrugging together her own clothing as she moved towards the door. She turned as she got to it and looked back over her shoulder, to see her partner impudently reclining on the bed, making not a single move to get dressed. “Xena.”

“Yeeessssss, Gabrielle?”

The bard shook her head, going to their bags and pulling out a tunic, then tossing it in a ball towards the bed.

Xena swiped it out of mid air with a chuckle.

Dori was bored, again. Everything was icky. It was wet, and people were mad, and Cat was gone, and she couldn’t find Guff. Even Gramma was mad. Something bad had happened, she knew, because some of the olders were crying, and she knew crying was bad.

She didn’t like it when Mama cried. Mama got mad sometimes, and mama started crying, and Dori didn’t like that at all, except she knew soon Boo would come and make it better.

She liked that. Mama would be mad, and then Boo would come, real soon, and make mama feel better, and bring Dori cookies.

She really liked that. Boo always had cookies. Boo gave good hugs, and Boo was the only one who could fly.

Boo was good.

Dori looked around, wishing Boo were there right now. And Mama. Even if things were icky, it would be okay because Mama would tell her stories, and Boo would make her fly. Then she spotted a pair of familiar ears poking up near the door. “Guff!” Dori scrambled to her feet and bolted for the opening. Someone called her name, but she was near her goal and kept going, flinging her arms around the very wet and muddy wolf as he escaped from the rain outside.

“Guff!” Dori was glad to see her friend. Guff was fun, and she liked to play with him. He had lots of things for her to hold onto, and she liked the way his fur felt when she sat on him.

“Whine.”

“Good… Guff here, now play.” Dori hugged the wolf. But Guff cried, so Dori let him go. Her hand were red. That was bad. “Gramma!!!!”

“Shh..”

Poopoo was there. Poopoo took Guff away. Dori didn’t like that. Gramma came and got her, though, so that was okay. Gramma usually had cookies, too. “Gramma, get Guff!”

“In a minute, sweetie.” Gramma said. “He’s got an owie. Let them take care of him, okay?”

Dori frowned. “Bad.”

“I know. C’mon, sweetie. Let’s go over there and sit down, okay? Gramma’s tired.”

Dori didn’t want to. But Gramma gave her some cookies, so she decided to sit down next to Gramma for a while. “Get Cat.”

“Cait’s gone away for a while, honey.”

“Bad.” Dori decided things were getting ickier. She didn’t like that. Gramma cleaned her hands off, so they weren’t red anymore. That was good, because they smelled bad and she didn’t like it. “Gramma?”

“Yes, honey?”

“Go bad. No like.”

Gramma picked her up. “I know, sweetie. Just be good for one more day, okay? Then we’ll be with your mama and Xena.”

“Boo!” Dori got excited. “Mama!”

“One more day, okay? We just have to wait for it to stop raining, and then you and me, and Ephiny and Eponin are going to go and find them.” Gramma told her. “We’ll take Ares, too.”

“Guff.” Dori liked that. “Go find Mama.. want mama now.”

“Me too, Dori.” Gramma sounded sad. “But I have some bad news to tell your mama, and she’s not going to like it.”

“Bad?”

“Very bad.”

Dori ate her cookie. Gramma was sad. Guff came over. Guff had a hat. Dori thought it was funny.

Everyone was mad. The man who yelled was sleeping. He had been sleeping for a long time. Dori was glad he wasn’t yelling anymore. She wondered how long he would sleep for.

Eponin sat down next to Cyrene, and wiped her hands off. “Just a cut.” She indicated the bandaged wolf. “He got lucky.”

“I know.” Cyrene sorted out Dori’s disheveled hair while the toddler munched on her cookies. “It’s funny. Here we are, coming all this way to try and help, and we’re going to end up giving them more problems.”

“Yeah.” Eponin agreed softly. “Listen, now that everyone’s settled down, me and Eph are gonna go out and see if we can find Cait and Paladia.”

“You think you can, in this weather?” Cyrene asked, noting Dori’s interested eyes watching them. “Gods, I hope they’re all right.”

Eponin shifted a bit. “I’m sure they are… both of em are tougher than three day old smoked beef.. I’m sure we’ll find em ot there, and bring em in.” She said. “Leave em here to watch the elders while we go on to Athens. Good plan.”

Cyrene wasn’t so sure. Yes, trying to force her fellow villagers to make the last, hard day’s march into the city would be close to impossible, but… Her eyes went to the still, silent figure wrapped in sacking near the entrance. The god’s willing, it would stop raining soon and they could give Josc a pyre.

Bring his ashes home. There would be no bringing his body back in this weather.

“Cyrene?”

“Mm?” She looked up to find Ephiny kneeling next to her. “I know, you’re going out to hunt for the kids.” She studied the Amazon, noting the dark circles under her eyes. “Why not take a break until the rain lets up.. if they’re out there, chances are they’re holed up waiting for the same thing.”

Hazel eyes went to the door way. “Maybe.” Ephiny agreed. “But maybe they’re lying somewhere downstream. I need to find out.” She pushed herself to her feet. “You’ll be safe here until we get back.”

Cyrene watched Dori squiggle over to hug Ares, and give him part of her cookie. “We’ll be fine, yeah.”

“She’s being pretty good.” Ephiny remarked mildly. “It’s almost like she knows something’s not right.”

They watched the toddler snuggle up to her furry buddy and start to talk to him, rambling into his ear while the wolf put his head down on his paws. “She knows.” Cyrene stated quietly. “She’s a very smart little girl.”

“Yeah. Too smart.” Eponin grunted. “Took apart my crossbow.”

Ephiny chuckled softly. “C’mon, Pon… let’s go find those kids.” She held a hand out and waited for Eponin to grab it, then pulled her friend to her feet. They both settled their cloaks over their shoulders and headed for the doorway.

Cyrene watched them leave, then she exhaled and sorted among the few provisions they managed to salvage. A few of their packs, thankfully Dori’s among them, and some dried foods. A few blankets, which were drenched and drying, thrown over the old, long unused altar.

“What a dump, huh?”

Cyrene jumped and turned at the voice, which had come out of apparently nowhere. She blinked hard, as wisp of what appeared to be fog suddenly solidified and morphed into a blond woman of medium height, with curly hair and a diaphanous, completely unpractical gown. She quickly looked across to the elders, who showed no sign of seeing anything unusual. “Ah.”

“Relax.” The woman took a seat next to her, fluffing out o her draping, and crossing elegantly strapped ankles. “They can’t see me.”

Cyrene seriously wondered if the strain had just gotten a bit too much for her. Then she realized that Dori had sat up, and was watching their visitor with interested eyes. “She can, so I’m probably not hallucinating.”

The woman laughed, a light, happy sound. “Well, you hang out in a place like this, like, you can expect to see one of us once in a while. I used to like this joint.” The woman sighed. “Bad news they trashed it.”

Cyrene eyed her. “You’re a god.”

“Dess.” The woman shook a finger at her. “No chest hair, got it?” She opened her gown.

Cyrene cleared her throat, and glanced elsewhere. “Let me guess, Aphrodite?”

“What clued you?” The goddess laughed.

“Little details.” The innkeeper answered. “I’m sorry, was this one of your temples? We didn’t mean to intrude.”

Aphrodite fluffed her gown. “Me?Here? You must be, like seriously joking, right?” She looked around. “I mean, look at this place. It’s… boring.”

Cyrene glanced up. “It’s dry.” She exhaled. “That’s all we really cared about.”

Dori got up and toddled over, putting an arm around Cyrene’s knee to steady herself while she examined their visitor.

“Yeah, bummer about the flood.” Aphrodite looked down at Dori. “Hi there, you cute little thing you!” She extended a hand, which Dori grabbed immediately and tugged. “Whoo… you’re strong, huh? C’mere.” She picked Dori up and sat her on her lap. “Hi there.”

Dori gave her a cute little smile.

“Oo.. baby. Are you gonna be a hottie when you grow up.” Aphrodite told her. “You’re not afraid of me at all, are you?”

Dori studied her. “Good.” She pointed at Aphrodite’s chest. “Make nice.”

“Smart, too.” The goddess said, her voice taking on a softer, more gentle tone. “Just like your moms.”

Cyrene looked at her. “You know?”

The Goddess of Love gave her a look. “Duh.”

“Did you do it?” The innkeeper asked suddenly. “Did you give them this gift?”

For a long moment, Aphrodite didn’t answer. She played with Dori’s hands, and bounced her on one knee, as the baby giggled. Finally, she looked at Cyrene, with a shrewed, honest expression. “I woulda, y’know?” She said. “If the little one had asked me. I’da done it in a snap.” She snapped her fingers.

“But you didn’t?”

A faint shake of the goddesses head. “Oh, well, like, I can claim a few dinars, cause if you think about it, Love did it, and I am… “ Another snap. “The Goddess of Love.” She let Dori capture her hand and explore it. “And that’s all this kid’s about.”

Dori looked up at her, big green eyes wide and interested.

“I wanted to meet you, kiddo.” Aphrodite told her. “Your mom’s are friends of mine, didja know that?”

“Mama.” Dori’s expression lit up. “Go get mama, get Boo!”

The goddess glanced at Cyrene. “Boo?”

“Xena.” Cyrene couldn’t help but smile.

“Oh.. that’s wicked.” Aphrodite giggled. “I bet she wigged!”

“No.” The innkeeper ruffled Dori’s hair lightly. “This little girl’s got her wrapped around her fingers, that’s a fact.”

“Awwww… “ The goddess grinned. “This I gotta see. Where are the dangerous duo, anyway? Thought they’d be here with ya.”

Cyrene glanced around again. The elders were still huddled together, sleeping. Johan had gone outside to collect wood and herbs for her, and the Amazons were still out hunting for their friends. No one seemed to be able to see the goddess except for her and Dori, but she could only imagine what the scene might look like to anyone coming in the abandoned temple. “They’re in Athens. We’re on our way there to join them.. but it’s been a very tough road.”

Aphrodite studied the room. “Ew. Yeah… what a bummer! You guys are like, dumpsville! Here.” She snapped her fingers, and with a flash of light, a pile of supplies appeared in the center of the floor. “That’ll help ya…hey, wait.” She stopped, and looked at Cyrene. “They’re not gonna be in the Games, are they?”

Cyrene frowned. “No, I don’t think so.. we’re going to speak to them about our taxes…”

“Oh man… “ Aphrodite cut her off. “This could really rock things up! I bet I could.. “ Her voice trailed off. “Oh, this is just too sweet. Listen, I gotta go… “ She handed Dori back to Cyrene. “I’ll be back… hang tight, you dig?”

A poof, a flash of light, and the scent of roses.

Cyrene drew in a breath. “So.” She addressed Dori. “THAT’s the Goddess of Love?” A slight snort. “Does that ever explain a few things.”

********

“Any sign of them?” Paladia managed to stick her head under a set of leaves, and stay out of the worst of the rain.

“Not a jot.” Cait sighed, peering over the edge of the embankment. Below her, the road was once more raging with water, pieces of debris washing past them with churning rapidity. “Pally, we can’t even see a bit of a track in this blasted weather.”

“No, really?” Paladia muttered. “Didn’t I say that all the way back.. ouch!” She rubbed the back of her head. “So now what? Can we find a place to duck out of this rain?”

Cait glanced up, and saw no impending break in the clouds. “Bother.” Her instincts were egging her on, driving her to find the rest of their party. But there was no way to cross the flood at this point, and she could see the embankment on their side as far as the horizon was empty of any living thing. She was about to give in and go hunting for a hiding spot, when she heard a horse’s scream. “Hello!” Cait popped her head up and peered into the mists. “Look, there! The horses!” She scrambled to her feet and bolted along the slope, spotting the mud covered heads as they emerged from the water. “Gosh!”

“Hey!” Paladia stumbled after her.

Cait took two strides then reached the edge of the embankment and leaped off, heading feet first towards the raging flood below.

“Son of a.. “ Paladia let out a heartfelt groan. “You stupid piece of Amazon makes no… “ With a frustrated yell, she reached the top of the rise and jumped off herself, hoping she landed in the water and not on a pile of rocks. “DIPWAD!!!!”

She plummeted through the rain and hit hard, lunging forward into the water and almost landing on her face before she put her hands out quickly to stop her fall. The waters surge was strong, but not strong enough to move her back and she looked around to see where the Hades that damn kid had…

Oh, crap. “Cait!”

A horse was plunging through the water, with a determined, muddy pair of arms clutched around it’s neck. “Stupid git…” Paladia lunged towards the animal, which tried to escape her, but the water pushing it was too strong. She grabbed it, and by extention got an arm around Cait as well, then yelped as the flood swept her, Cait, and the horse off their feet and sent them tumbling downstream again.

Damn it. Paladia grimly hung on, and tried to keep her head up out of the water. “We just freakin walked all that way back! What the Hades d’ya think y’’re doing!!!!”

“Saving these lovely horses!” Cait yelled back. “Xena thinks quite highly of…yaaa!!!!”

“Xena can kiss my… “ Paladia managed, by a feat of pure strength, to get aboard the horses back, and grab hold of Cait’s mostly submerged body. “Git up here!” She hauled Cait up over the horses shoulders.

A lightning strike hit the rocks to their right, and shattered them, sending shards of razor sharp granite directly into their path. The horse screamed as it felt the sting, and Paladia ducked her head, feeling tips lance into her back and shoulders. “Bastard!”

“Oh gosh, Pally look!”

Paladia shook the hair out of her eyes with a fierce snarl, then looked. Behind them, wooden wreckage was sweeping through the water, taking up the entire width of the road.

Moving faster than they were. “Shit.”

“Quick! Let’s go there!” Cait had managed to get a hand on the horses bridal, and she wrenched the animal’s head around and pointed it towards a small crook in the walls.

“We’re not gonna make it!” Paladia leaned forward and took hold of Cait, and the horses neck. “Just hang on!!!!!”

A roaring sound overtook them.

Gabrielle paused in front of the small mirror and adjusted her toga again. The fabric was soft, and draped gently over her body, but she had the oddest feeling it was almost on the verge of falling off.

Wasn’t the image she was looking to project. With a sigh, the bard fluffed her hair and straightened the silver necklace around her neck. It was early, but they’d wakened at dawn and Xena was already out, roaming the city in search of trouble.

No. Gabrielle met her own eyes in the mirror, noting the wry sparkle in them. Really, Xena was trying to put a stop to Celesta’s plans, while she herself spent the day infiltrating the games contestants, and told a few stories. “So. Do I look like a famous bard?” She asked her reflection.

“Heck yeah!”

Gabrielle’s eyes widened, then she caught the second reflection in the mirror and whirled, blinking at the visitor. “Aphrodite!”

The goddess sashayed over, a warm, genuine smile on her face. “Hey there, little one. How are ya?”

Gabrielle leaned back against the storage table, caught by surprise, and not really sure what to say. “Wow… I’m great. How are you? It’s been a long time.” She murmured. “How’s your family?”

“That’s what I’ve always liked about you, Gabrielle.” Aphrodite hitched up her lacy fringes and perched on the table next to the bard. “You really are just like, not intimidated by that whole god thing.”

“Well.” Gabrielle folded her arms across her chest. “We’ve known you guys for a while now.” She explained, giving the goddess a smile. “Some of you are more intimidating than others, if you know what I mean.”

“You bet.” Aphrodite cocked her curly, blond head. “You look great. Love the threads.” She plucked the light cotton of the toga. “Definitely a cute change from all that Amazonian pig hide.”

“Hey.” Gabrielle chided her “It’s comfortable, and practical for the work I do. What’s wrong with that?”

Aphrodite picked up a bit of her pink lacy fabric and glanced at herself, then gave Gabrielle a smug look. “We need to get you a different job, babycakes. Spruce up your wardrobe a little.”

“I like what I do.” Gabrielle disagreed. “Besides, you forget I have to walk everywhere, I can’t just snap my fingers like you can.”

“I know. What a drag.” Aprhodite grinned, then looked around. “Where’s old grumpy puss?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “I just saw your bambino… what a little sweetpea!”

Gabrielle straightened. “Dori?” She moved a bit closer. “Were you in Amphipolis? How is she?” The bard asked. “She’s not causing trouble, is she?”

The goddess laughed. “Oo… you know your kiddo, huh? No, babe, I didn’t visit the sticks..” She gave Gabrielle an apologetic look. “Sorry, but you know how I feel about rustic.”

“Then..”

“She’s about a day from here, hanging with Xena’s mom and a bunch of other guys. They’re headed here.”

“Here?” Gabrielle exhaled, sinking back against the dresser. “Oh.. fishturds.” She muttered. “By themselves? Have they lost the.. and in this weather?”

Aphrodite smiled at her, and ruffled her hair. “You’re like.. such a cool mom.” She chuckled. “Look at you, all concerned over the little cutie.”

Green eyes flicked to her. “I’m not worried about Dori. I’m worried about Cyrene and Johan.. they’re getting up there. Did they take an escort at least?”

“Relax.” Aphrodite reassured her. “They’ve got a couple of those feather wearers of yours hanging with them, and I gave em some, like, extra stuff. They’ll be fine.” She put an arm around Gabrielle’s shoulders. “So. Like.. what’s the scoop here, babycakes? What’s your scam?”

“Scam?” Gabrielle’s mind was still focused on her family. The rain outside that had given her and Xena such a peaceful, much needed day of rest now presented another face to her. “What scam?”

The goddess leaned closer. “You’re in the games, right?”

“Sure.” The bard replied absently.

“Yess!” Aphrodite chortled. “I knew it! This is going to be sooo wicked.” She gave Gabrielle a kiss on the head, then popped out, making the bard jump in reaction.

“What in Hades was that all about?” Gabrielle asked the now empty room. A soft knock on the door distracted her. “Yes?”

It slowly opened, and Mikah very carefully eased his head in, his eyes firmly closed.

“It’s okay.” Gabrielle told him.

The boy’s eyes cautiously opened, and he looked around. “Oh.” He straightened and entered, closing the door behind him. “I heard you speaking with someone. I thought Xena was still here.”

“Uh.” Gabrielle scrubbed her eyes with the back of one hand. “No..no.. I was..um.. rehearsing.” She told him. “A story. You know, for the competition.”

“Oh.” Mikah peered at her uncertainly. “Well, I found out the information you wanted.” He walked over and showed her a piece of parchment. “The contestants for the races practice here.. in the stadium itself. That’s closed because of the weather.”

“Uh huh.”

“The quarterstaff place is around the corner from here. It’s a pretty high room, and it’s usually pretty crowded. Did you want to see what that’s like? I’m not sure I..”

“I’m competing in the quarterstaff.” Gabrielle murmured absently, as she reviewed the rest of the information. “What’s this here?” She pointed. After a moment’s silence, she looked up to see Mikah gazing at her with wide eyes. “Mikah? What is this?”

“Oh..sorry.” He shook his head, then bent it to the parchment. “That’s the fighter’s pit. The gladiators.” A flick of his eyes. “You’re not competing in that, are you?”

The bard chuckled softly. “No.” She walked over to the corner, and lightly booted her staff up to her hand, hefting it before she headed towards the door. “C’mon.. .let’s see what trouble we can stir up.”

Mikah followed her meekly out the door. “Now I know what she meant.”

“Who?” Gabrielle asked, glancing back at him over her shoulder.

“Xena.” The boy closed the door and joined her as they walked down the corridor. “About her, and trouble.”

Xena pulled her cloak around her and paused, casting a quiet eye around the streets before she started forward again. She walked slowly, testing the new brace she’d put on after she’d gotten up that morning. It was strapped tightly above and below her knee, and took most of the strain off the joint as she walked.

It felt pretty good. The warrior carefully tried a slightly faster pace. It still hurt a little, but the support allowed her to walk normally so long as she didn’t try to do anything fancy. With a little grunt of approval, she started down the broad avenue heading towards the Bard’s Academy.

The streets were much emptier today, she noticed. Most of the city’s residents had retreated inside, to escape the rain and the increasingly flooded and muddy roads. If she glanced down the hills towards the river, she could see the water rising, and she was glad they’d decided to move uptown. The markets had mostly closed, only a few stalls were still manned by miserable looking vendors, desperate for the least dinar.

Xena, on the other hand, found her spirits rising. She took her time walking, studying the city she hadn’t seen in years and noting the changes in it. It wasn’t long before she was in front of the Academy, though, and she paused a moment on the steps before she approached the huge, ornate door.

Remembering the day she had almost felt like burning it to the ground.

Angry because it had, she’d thought, stolen something very unexpectedly precious from her. Part of her still remembered, if very dimly, the sting of watching Gabrielle walk away from her, turning her back on their sometimes uncertain friendship as she moved towards a different life.

Xena leaned an arm on the white statue in front of the door. She’d been ashamed of feeling that, ashamed of herself for even entertaining a thought of stopping Gabrielle from something that meant so much to her. Bewildered at how unhappy the girl’s leaving had made her.

She wondered, sometimes, what she would have done if Gabrielle had continued on her path, gone to the Academy, and stayed there. Would she have continued on her path to redemption?

With a tiny, bitter smile of self knowledge, Xena pushed off from the statue and climbed the remaining stairs, laying a hand against the warm, damp wood of the door and pushing it inward.

It was dark inside. She let the door close and allowed her eyes to adjust before she continued forward, extending her senses past the immediate circle of torch light. It was quiet; Xena pushed the hood off her head and riffled her hair loose from it, then turned right and paced down the rush covered floor.

In the distance, she could hear speaking, and if she concentrated, wisps of song. Her eyes flicked curiously to the doors as she passed, reading the glyphs in this world so very strange to her.

One caught her, though, and she paused, then turned and pushed the door inward and entered.

Several pairs of eyes turned towards her curiously, but she ignored them, studying the tall racks in front of her instead. She turned as footsteps approached, to see a short, round man coming towards her.

“Ah… may I help you… madame?”

Madame? Xena’s eyebrows lifted and she straightened to her full height, which just plain towered over the little man. “I don’t need any help.” She growled.

His eyes widened. “All righty then. I’ll just be on my way.” He backed off, leaving her to prowl the aisles in peace.

Y’know, Xena.. She sighed to herself, as she started hunting, having figured out the indexing order of the names. She counted the shelves, then cut across two aisles and made a left turn, arriving in front of a cabinet and tipping her head back.

A quiet smile crossed her face.

Gabrielle’s choice, she understood now, had been the right one, no matter how hard their lives had been in the interim between the kid she’d been then, and where they were now. Living the stories had been the better path for Gabrielle.

And for you. Her conscience quietly reminded her. With a tiny sigh, she lifted a hand and lifted one of the few scrolls on the shelf, bringing it down and half unrolling it, reading the first few lines with a sense of honest satisfaction.

Her little friend was back. Xena heard him scuttling with what he thought was utter silence into the aisle beyond her, and she took her time in rolling up the scroll and putting it back before she turned to look directly at him.

He stared right back at her. “You’re Xena.” He said, in a tone of utter sureness.

“Yes, I am.” The warrior said quietly. “Who are you?”

“Radulf.” The man answered simply. “I am the Archivist.”

Xena nodded a bit. “Did you need something, or did you just want to stare at me?”

Radulf released an embarrassed laugh, and dropped his eyes, rubbing his temples with one hand. “I beg your pardon.” He said. “I’ve read so much of you in Gabrielle’s scrolls, it’s a very strange experience to actually meet you.”

Xena supposed that was so, given her beloved partner’s penchant for exaggeration. Guy probably thought she was twelve feet tall and glowed before now.

Or worse.

“You were the one who had her scrolls sent here, weren’t you? The letter that came with them was signed by your name.”

Xena nodded again.

“I suppose you wanted to make sure your side of things was recorded, eh?” Radulf ventured. “Makes sense.”

The warrior glanced at the scrolls, and then back at him. “No.” Xena almost laughed at the thought. “I don’t give a damn what people think about my side of anything. It meant something to Gabrielle to have them here.” She turned and faced him squarely. “Anything else you want to ask?”

He seemed about to say something, then shook his head. “No.” He backed off and out of her way.

Xena moved past him and headed for the door. She was aware of furtive glances in her direction, but she ignored them as she left the library, and continued her trek further inside the Academy.

At a cross corridor, she paused and cocked her head, listening. Beyond the thunder of rain on the roof, and the sound of far off china rattling, she detected human voices. One in particular, a piercing, higher range female voice stuck out and she could tell by the tone the speaker was angry.

Sounded like a good place to start as any. Xena turned and moved towards the sound, passing a few isolated residents in the halls, most of whom gave her curious looks, but didn’t stop her. As she traveled further and further inward, though, the looks became more speculative, and twice, she thought the older, more richly dressed men were going to block her path.

But they didn’t. Maybe it was her no nonsense air, Xena reasoned, as she rounded a last corner and the speech she’d been following started to become audible and recognizable to her. She paused outside a carved, ornate archway and listened.

Celesta faced the assembled group and put her hands on her hips. “I won’t have it.” She stated simply. “You will not denegrate the entire Academy by allowing some… some rank little provincial imposter to compete against any of us.”

“Celesta.”

“Don’t reproach me, Eleneus.” Celesta cut him off. “I’m right, and you all know it. How can you sit there and allow.. nay, promote a stain like this on the Academy?” Her voice dripped with incredularity. “It’s things like this that merely support what I’ve been saying all along. “

“She’s not an im..”

“Nonsense!” The flamboyant bard shouted. “You know it’s all a fallacy! You’ve been fawning over this little fake for years, and I’m sick of it. She has no talent, she has no skill, no panache… she’s just a little taleteller from the backwoods who’s made a name for herself telling lies about a figment of the provinces collective imagination!!!”

There was utter silence after this prounouncment. Celesta allowed the echoes of her voice to die away, pleased with the resonance. She noticed the looks of fear, and astonishment on the councils faces, and reveled in them.

Until she realized they weren’t precisely looking at her. Their eyes were fixed behind her, in fact.

Frowning, she turned, and only barely kept herself from leaping back. Not a arms length from her stood a tall, cloaked figure, whose outline seemed to gather in the light from the room and concentrate it in sharp, fierce reflection from a pair of the coldest, palest eyes she’d ever seen.

Ice chips set in a planed, angular face, surrounded by disheveled hair the color of the night sky, topping a form that topped hers by a handspan and by it’s very stillness, advertised a danger even she could feel.

“W.. who are you?” Celesta managed to ask.

The thin, well shaped lips twitched. “Call me Figment.” Xena growled, stalking towards the woman with evident, feral intent. “Cause all that’s going to be left of you is fragments, when I finish showing you just how MUCH” Xena’s voice rose. “I hate when do nothing bags of hot air say mean things about my PARTNER.” The last word was a punctuated shout, short and harsh, and it rang off the walls with almost deafening volume.

Celesta backed hurriedly away, holding her hands out before her to ward the warrior off. When she got far enough away to where she felt safe, she paused. “My mistake.” She said, in a shaky, but silken tone.

“Better hope it’s your last.” Xena rasped. “Because if you ever say anything like that again and I hear about it, I”ll cut your tongue out and beat you to death with it.”

To her credit, Celesta didn’t break. She merely inclined her head in a regal fashion, then turned and left, not making eye contact with anyone else in the room.

But that was all right. Their eyes weren’t on her anyway. They were too busy looking at the legend turned very irritated flesh in their midst, who now brushed back her cloak off one shoulder and put a hand on her hip to regard them right back.

Eleneus pulled his beard, just a little. “Xena, I presume?” He asked, in a wry, mild voice.

The warrior smiled faintly. “Sorry about the noise.”

“Actually, it was a marvelous performance.” An older woman got to her feet and warily approached. “I am Selena.” She held a brave hand out, which Xena gripped after a moment. “Celesta has retreated for now, but she’ll be back. “

“Not if she knows what’s good for her.” Xena replied calmly. “I wasn’t joking.”

Eleneus got stiffly to his feet and also came over to her. “Anyone familiar with Gabrielle’s scrolls would know that.” He said. “But I fear Celesta is not.” He paused. “It is good for her to know not everyone can be intimidated by her.”

Xena snorted.

“Unlike yourself, of course.” Selena murmured.

Eleneus rubbed his chin. “We’re very.. grateful to Gabrielle for agreeing to participate in our little contest.” He gave Xena his most charming smile.

Xena turned and gazed at him intently. “One thing I want to get straight before she does that.” The warrior said.

“And that is?” Eleneus asked. “You will have front row seats, of course.”

“Of course.” Selena added quickly. “As our honored guest… “ The other Academy council members murmured and nodded. “If there’s anything else we can…”

The warrior nailed them with a fierce glance. “You don’t’ get to keep her after she wins.”

They blinked at her in silence.

Xena pointed at her own chest. “Mine.” She stated flatly. “So don’t get any ideas.”

And then she turned and stalked out of the room, leaving a stunned gaggle of white clad bards staring after her.

Xena stopped outside and let the heavy door close behind her. She leaned against the stone wall for a moment, under the thick overhang that protected her from the rain, collecting her thoughts and wondering a little at the streak of savage anger she’d felt inside.

Well, the damn bitch had been saying nasty things about Gabrielle, after all, so she had a right to be pissed off, didn’t she?

She let her head rest against the wall, thinking about that. Then she released a sigh as one hand lifted and rubbed her temple. The place rubbed her raw, she privately acknowledged. No matter how much she rationalized it to herself, and no matter how she knew, in her heart, that Gabrielle’s choices were willing, and honestly not regretted, still…

Still.

It had been a quiet night, under a wide open blanket of stars. Xena had taken her time bathing in the lake, floating for long moments on the surface as she took in the quiet, soft sounds from around the campfire.

Normal sounds, to her now. The sounds of companionship.

Of friendship.

The light scrape of a wooden spoon as Gabrielle stirred something. The rustle of the girl’s long, often travel stained skirt. The low, almost melodious humming that still held a note of childhood in it.

Such a contrast to the night before, which had been dark, and silent, and brought her utter aloneness in the world crashing down on Xena’s shoulders with a weight she hadn’t expected. With a frown, Xena had tossed off this thought, and waded ashore, slinging her leathers over her shoulder as she climbed up the small rise to where they’d set up camp.

There, in the darkness that ringed the small campfire, she paused, resting her hand against the bark of a tree as she’d watched Gabrielle, unseen by her young companion.

The girl had been kneeling next to the fire, stirring a pot of soup with one hand, as the other had lifted to push a lock of burnished hair back behind one ear. She’d had a relaxed, cheerful expression on her face, and watching Gabrielle’s lips curve up into a smile had brought a similar response to Xena’s mouth.

What a cute kid. Xena had allowed the affection she’d developed for Gabrielle to surface, warming her from the inside out and chasing off the night chill. She’d thought about how much she’d found herself missing the girl’s presence, and how, despite Gabrielle’s annoying persistence and penchant for getting into trouble that charming smile and those warm green eyes had wormed themselves right into Xena’s heart.

Not good. The warrior had sighed. Don’t get attached to her, fool. You just saw what could happen.. the little squirt could up and take off at any time. Her good mood had vanished, and she’d pushed away from the tree, heading up towards the camp.

“Oh, hi.” Gabrielle’s clear voice had greeted her. “Hey, listen.. I got this really great basket of herbs and those round gourd things you like.. I made soup. Doesn’t it smell great?”

Xena had almost, almost ignored that familiar chatter. Then the silence of the preceding night blossomed into her memory, and she turned her head as she knelt by her bags. “Sure does.”

Her eyes had met Gabrielle’s, and she’d had to acknowledge the visible brightening of the girl’s face at the comment. It occurred to her, in that moment, that she’d given Gabrielle damn little reason to stick around, and the fact that the kid had decided to take off shouldn’t have surprised her at all.

So she should just keep doing that, right? Eventually she’d just drive the kid off, and that would be the best thing for both of them, wouldn’t it?

“I knew you’d like it.” Gabrielle had grinned suddenly. “Nobody knows you like I do.”

Xena wondered if the kid knew just how true that statement really was.

She’d put her gamebeson back into her pack and slipped on a rough woven shirt instead, laying her newly cleaned leathers out to dry before she walked over and joined Gabrielle at the fire. She’d sat down crossed legged right next to the girl, conscious of the muted delight her action caused. “So.” Xena had fiddled with a bit of grass, ripping it up and tossing it into the flames, which gobbled it greedily and sent it up in sparks. “What that you’re writing?”

Gabrielle had abruptly sat down, half falling, surprised at the question and scrabbling for her parchment and quills with uncertain hands. “Me? You mean here?” She’d drawn the stiff surface over. “Oh.. I was.. it’s nothing, Xena, I was.. it was just some… “ Her voice had trailed off, then she’d lifted her eyes again, this time with a gentle shyness that reached out and captured Xena with surprising strength. “It’s a poem.”

A poem Xena hated poetry. She had little use for words with hidden meanings and flowery trappings. “Well.” She’d heard herself saying. “What’s it say?”

The sound of the flames was abruptly loud, as Gabrielle had sat there staring at her in patent wonder. “You.. “ The girl had started, then looked down at the page. “You want to hear it?” Her eyes had crept up slowly. “Really?”

No. Xena had shrugged. “Sure.” After all, it was only a page long. How bad could it be?

“It’s not really good.”

Xena had raised an eyebrow at her, and waited.

And so Gabrielle had slowly lowered her gaze to the parchment, straightening it on her knees as she visibly squared her shoulders and took a deep breath.

There had always been a chasm between them. Xena had known their travels had grudgingly built a bridge over it, but she’d always stood firmly on her side, demanding that Gabrielle make the entire journey across. Now, she felt herself for the first time putting a boot on that shaky surface, going out over that gap and moving just a bit closer to this grubby little fair haired kid whose trembling voice now broke the silence.

I had a dream.

Of tall buildings, and upturned faces.

Of cheering crowds and parchments.

Finding others like me, tellers of tales and brothers of my heart.

Who welcomed me with open arms.

Yesterday, I found my dream.

A place I belonged, people who cared.

It had my tall buildings, it had upturned faces.

They welcomed my stories, my brothers embraced me.

My journey had ended

But in that ending I’d found a new dream.

Of wide open spaces, of long dusty roads.

No cheering crowds, no rustling parchments.

Just quiet nights and a canopy of stars,

Lighting my heart anew.

It hadn’t even rhymed. Xena had found herself staring at Gabrielle after the girl had finished, her mind rolling the words around and tasting their meaning with wary interest. Surprised that she’d understood it.

More surprised at something else. “I like it.”

Gabrielle’s eyes had grown round as an owl’s, and the look of amazed delight on her face would have been comical, if she hadn’t been the one to have caused it. “Really?” The girl had blurted. “I mean, you’re not just saying that? Did you really like it?”

And Xena had deliberately stepped forward on that bridge, ignoring the sway of it, and looked Gabrielle right in the eye as she’d answered. “Yeah, I really did. Good work.”

For a long string of heartbeats, Gabrielle had simply looked at her, then she dropped the parchment and impulsively launched herself across the short distance between them, throwing her arms around Xena and hugging her exuberantly. “Thanks, Xena!” She’d warbled in the startled warrior’s ear. “You’re the best!”

She’d had her doubts. But the real affection in those young arms now squeezing her had brushed them off for another day, and another time, and made the night once again a friendly place. For now.

Tomorrow would be another day.

Xena pushed off the wall and started down the steps to the street. Now that her task was completed, she took her time walking back through the city, finding her steps leading her once again down towards the river.

The few citizens she passed along the way changed character as she went, going from harried merchants to ragged urchins, then to darkly cloaked figures like she herself was, whose eyes followed her with less than benign intent.

The steep slope was tough on her leg, but she made it down to the docks, and walked along them, pausing to study the large galleons tied to the ports, their empty holds making them ride light in the water. The smell of the water was very strong, despite the offshore wind and Xena winced a little as she ran her hand along a thick, knotted tie rope securing the ship she’d seen offloaded the other day.

As she reached the first gangplank, a hatch slammed on board the vessel, and heavy boots sounded on the wooden deck. She glanced up to see a stocky figure leap to the top of the gangplank and start down, and her breath caught in her chest as a spark of recognition flashed before her.

He stopped halfway, seeing her there, and their eyes met.

“Well, well.” A thousand images of her past entered her mind. “Never knew you to like the sea, Draco.”

The muscular, dark skinned man seemed frozen for a breath, then he gathered himself and continued his saunter down the plank until he was even with Xena. “Hello, Xena.” He said. “Didn’t expect to see you here. I thought Athens would be poison for you.”

The warrior studied her onetime friend, and then enemy. He’d grown a beard, she noted, and gained the rounded belly of a man who spent all his time cooped up on board a vessel, but otherwise he hadn’t changed that much, to her surprise. “Not anymore.” She replied. “Traded raping towns for selling slaves?”

Draco glanced past her, then shrugged. “Money’s good. Decent crew, three squares a day.. what more could you ask for?” His sharp eyes darted back to her face. ‘Sure beats being a broke vagabond like you.” A pause. “But what the Hades, I can afford it – let’s go have a drink for old time’s sake. What do you say, Xena? Let bygones be bygones?”

Xena let him wait for her decision, then she inclined her head. “Sure.” She stepped back from the gangplank, allowing him to walk off it. “Why not?” A long arm extended. “After you.”

Draco gave her a wary look, then moved past her and headed down the docks. After a moment, Xena joined him and they walked together in silence.

Mikah followed Gabrielle’s slim form through the crowd, his eyes nervously moving between the hulking men and lithe, graceful women as they eased their way past the battling sword wielders through a narrow hallway.

He watched them watch her, not meeting her eyes, yet turning to study her as she walked away from them, her simple toga draped over a body far slighter than most others in the room, and yet holding a confidence that almost shone as she threaded her way through.

He wasn’t really sure about Gabrielle. Not the way he was about Xena. Xena was just…

Wow. Mikah honestly acknowledged himself to be in serious lust with Xena. She was gorgeous, and sexy and just being around her made him overheat. Her magnetic personality affected him into almost speechlessness, and seeing her naked the day before…

Whew. He wiped his brow in pure reaction. He’d seen naked people by the hundreds, and with the games participants in town, plenty of good looking bodies – but Xena was something else entirely. She was all primal power and he knew, practice as they might – the fighters in this room had no chance at all against her.

But Gabrielle now.. He hastened around a column, and caught up to the bard. She was different. “Are you sure… “ His voice was cut off by a sudden thunder of sound, rapidfire clacks that spilled out of the alcove they were just outside of.

“Ah.” Gabrielle poked her head around the entryway and regarded the scene. Perhaps a dozen men and women were going at each other with quarterstaves, while a ring of onlookers watched and waited their turn. Around them, servants puttered, wiping a brow here, adjusting a loincloth there. Gabrielle realized she was, in fact, grossly overdressed for the activity.

The men were in brief loin covers, and the women in something less than what the Amazons usually wore. Both sexes had their hair tied back by thin, linen bands, and everyone was very serious – grunts of effort and cries of anger interspersed with the sound of the wooden staves hitting each other.

“Well.” Gabrielle exhaled. “Gotta start somewhere.” She slid into the room and walked along the wall, joining the watching crowd as Mikah settled to the ground behind her. The bard curled her arm around her staff and leaned on it, studying the fighters with a knowledgeable eye.

They were good. Gabrielle could see that. She watched the nearest pair closely, two men of medium height and very muscular build who were trading cross strokes so quickly their staves almost blurred.

After a quarter candlemark, a loud bell clanged, and the fighters slowed, then stopped, chests heaving and bodies covered in sweat from the exertion. They broke apart and moved away from the fighting ground, where each was attended by a solicitous servant.

“Hey.” An overly loud voice jarred her. “Look, it’s the ringer.”

Gabrielle slowly turned, to find a tall, rakishly handsome man standing there, holding a staff loosely in one hand. He had dark hair, and hazel eyes, and a hook to his nose as though it had once been broken. “I’m not a ringer.” She replied, with a gentle smile.

“Let’s find out.”

Far from being upset with this, Gabrielle welcomed it. The man was about her soulmate’s size, and she could tell from the way he held the staff, knew what to do with it. However. “I’m not here to make trouble.” She demurred. “I’ll wait my turn.”

“Please. Take mine.” One of the women, one she recognized from the previous day, handed her a chit.

Gabrielle accepted the copper token and examined it, aware she was the center of quite a bit of not very nice attention. After a moment, she shrugged and tucked it into her belt, then met the man’s eyes with gentle honestly. “All right. If you really want… let’s go.”

The crowd parted as she followed her opponent’s lithe form onto the practice ground. Here, an area had been cleared and filled with fine sand covered in straw to give a solid footing and prevent scrapes and bruises from falling on bare stone. Gabrielle found the surface pleasant, it had a faint springiness reminding her of the outdoors, and she flexed her feet inside her boots as she bounced a little in place. She pinned her opponent with a sharp glance. “What’s your name?”

It surprised him. “Telen.” He answered, almost before he thought about it.

Gabrielle nodded, as she stretched her arms out across the staff she’d swung up over her shoulders. “I’m Gabrielle.”

The crowd snickered. “No, really?” Telen sniped at her.

“Really.” The bard answered, with perfect seriousness. She finished stretching her body out and brought her staff down to rest it’s end by her left boot.

“We all know that.” Telen finished his own warm up, then approached her, shifting his staff in his hands.

It was such an odd feeling. Gabrielle could feel a deep, almost sensual tickling in her guts as she anticipated his attack. She’d developed over the years a well hidden.. not love, but appreciation of Xena’s intensely competitive nature. It was quite a surprise to find a little kernal of that inside herself, though, and while she didn’t often let that surface, in this case she knew it was and she welcomed it.

She’d learned to love winning, she’d told Xena, and that had been true. She’d also learned to understand her own skills and had found a deep seated and to her surprising pride in them. Gabrielle took a breath, and centered her balance, feeling the energy rising inside her in anticipation. She would never approach Xena’s warrior talents, but…

“Gabrielle the famous bard.” Telen taunted her. “Gabrielle the storyteller.”

“That would be me, yes.” The bard agreed amiably.

He surged towards her and moved his staff in a combination attack. Gabrielle deflected it and slid past him, forcing him to turn and follow her motion. “There’s no place here for bards.”

“You’re right.” Gabrielle released her almost trembling body and launched her own attack, ducking past his defenses and catching his staff on hers with a sharp crack. He quickly parried her, but it moved his weapon out of perfect position and she took savage advantage of that, powering in and slamming him back, then shifting her grip on her staff to a close one and rotating the weapon in the complete opposite direction.

The motion caught him by surprise and he scrambled to compensate, but her short, digging strokes were took quick, too powerful, and he started to backpeddle as Gabrielle drove him towards the edge of the grounds.

She watched him intently, catching his weapon out of position now again, and again, and slapping out of the way, the end of her own staff ringing in to clip his knees, his arms, his shoulder. Never stopping, she sped up her pace, feeling a wild surge of energy as she executed a perfect reverse, slipping to a knee as she swept backwards with all the power of her compact torso.

He missed the parry. Xena would have merely leaped over the staff. But she felt the impact as it hit his knees, and she powered through it, taking his feet out from under him and dumping him on his butt in the sand.

She followed up immediately, rising and getting a boot on the end of his staff as she settled the end of hers just to one side of his neck with a sharp thump, the wood resting against the skin of his neck with ominous intent.

“This is no place for bards.” Gabrielle spoke quietly, into a silence she could almost feel beating against her skin. “But then, I’m not here to tell stories.”

Telen stared up at her in honest, blank surprise. He released his staff and turned his hands upmost in surrender, blinking at the bard in amazement. “By the gods.” He spluttered.

Gabrielle relaxed, and curled a hand over her staff as she moved it away from his head. She extended her other hand to him with a friendly grin. “Okay. Glad that’s over with.”

He took her hand and allowed her to pull him up. “Me too.” All his arrogant pretense had dropped, and he rested his hands on his hips as he regarded her. “My ego isn’t, but it’s to my own fault then, isn’t it?”

The bard could feel the atmosphere around her altering, the whispers shifting and changing from angry to speculative and the eyes of the crowd taking on a more moderate tone. Funny. She’d always yelled at Xena for using her fists before words, and the warrior had tried to tell her over and over again that sometimes, it was just easier to prove yourself, than to convince stubborn minds.

Damn it. She hated when Xena turned out right.

Not always. Talking was still a better course in a lot of situations. But she had come to understand that sometimes the warrior did have a point.

“It’s okay.” Gabrielle reassured him. “I can see how coming in here at the last minute would have ticked you all off. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause such a stir.” This she addressed to the watchers, letting her eyes roam over the crowd with honest regret. “I didn’t plan it this way.”

And then, sometimes, words did work better. The crowd gentled and relaxed as the heard her quiet speech. The woman who had given her the chit eased forward, her expression now curious rather than antagonistic. “Where did you study? You have such a different technique.”

Low murmurs of agreement, as the crowd closed in a little.

Gotcha. “Xena taught me.” Gabrielle allowed a touch of pride to enter her voice “And the technique was honed from a lot of time spent trying not to be killed.” A pause. “It puts an edge on it, if you know what I mean.”

Laughter.

“Show me that reverse move?” The woman asked.

Gotcha. Gabrielle grinned, and briefly wished Xena were there watching her. She could almost see the look of quiet pride in the warrior’s eyes, craving that still even after all these years.

Continued in Part 8

A Matter of Pride

Part 8

It was a mariner’s bar, close to the water and smelling of old fish and bad beer. Xena half expected her boots to stick to the floor, and as she followed Draco’s stocky form through the early lunch crowd she was already regretting coming inside.

Draco found a table near the back, and started to circle it, but Xena neatly circumvented him and settled into the furthest chair, her back to the wall and her legs sprawled out comfortably. Her old comrade paused in mid step, then gave her a twisted smile as he took the chair across from her. “You never did answer me, Xena.” He drawled. “What are you doing here?”

The warrior settled back in her chair, glad to get off her leg for a while. The inn was stuffy, but they were in the shadow of the wall and it was still bearable inside. She was debating how much to tell him when a female server came over, resting a half plank against one slim hip and fixing them with a bored, tired stare.

It distracted Draco. “Gimme a tank, a loaf and a bowl.” He ordered. “And make it fast.”

The woman deliberately ignored him and lifted an eyebrow at Xena.

“Surprise me.” Xena gave her a rakish half grin, getting just the barest twinkle of tired amusement in return The woman turned and left, and Xena steepled her fingers together and rested her lips against them. “I’m taking care of some business.” She told Draco.

“Oh?” He leaned forward a little. “Anything profitable? I knew you couldn’t stay on that hokey path of redemption stuff for long.”

True. Xena’s lips twitched in wry acknowledgement. “You haven’t been around these parts for a while, have you, Draco?” She countered “When did you start raiding so far for slaves?”

He looked a little unsettled at that. “What’s it to you?”

Xena waited patiently. The inn was filling with dockworkers, and they were getting appraising looks from the men who shuffled in, crowding the room.

“I go where the demand is.” He finally answered. “You get a bonus for exotic merchandise, Xena. You should know that.” Draco studied her. “Yeah, I’ve been overseas for a couple years.. just started trading here again. Didn’t realize how much I could get for some of the kids I found.. it’s a goldmine.” He paused again. “Want in?” Now Draco gave her a rakish grin. “I could use a decent first mate.”

Xena knew better than to preach morality to someone who knew her as well as Draco once had. “No thanks.” She said. “I’ve already got a job.” She leaned back a little. “Why’s the market so big? I thought there were plenty of live bodies around who just want a spot on the floor and a meal.”

Draco shrugged, as their server came back and delivered up two cups and a platter. “Beats me.” He ripped off a piece of bread and scooped up some stew, then shoved it into his mouth. “Maybe those sandal wearers up on the hill got bored with the locals… they’re the ones who paid a bundle for my cargo.”

Xena took a sip of the mug she’d been given, which smelled strongly of barley. “Yeah? The council you mean?”

“Yeah.” A snort. “Oh, yeah, they sent down two guys who pretended to be slave brokers, but what a couple of fakes. Saw right through em. Not a merchant’s bone in their bodies, just a couple of lackeys.”

The courtyard of the townhouse flickered into Xena’s mind, and she wondered. Slaves were a commodity in the city. All the upper class citizens had them, and the services that drove the place were run by them. Why would the city council need a special supply? Especially foreign ones, that would have to be trained from the ground up and taught to speak the language?

Something didn’t make sense.

Sounds at the doorway caught her attention, and she glanced up, very surprised to see familiar faces entering. Four men had just come in, dressed in serviceable seaman’s gear. The foremost turned and caught her eye, and tapped his companions. They made their way across the room directly for her.

Draco looked up and saw them, then glanced at Xena. “Collecting trouble as usual, Xena?”

The lead man reached the table, and with a clumsy grace dropped to a knee and ducked his head. “G’day, Genr’l. Didn’t spect to see you here.” He rested a muscular arm on the table, and the light caught the hawk’s head tattoo prominent on his shoulder.

“Hello, Breston.” Xena replied quietly. “Same here.. you just get in?”

“Aye.” The Amphipolitan trader agreed. “Had Hades’ own time weathering the storms, but we picked up a nice cargo coming on past Thrace.” He glanced at the slack jawed Draco, then returned his attention to Xena. “We’ll be unloading… anything you be needing?”

“Nah.” Xena smiled. “Make em pay your price, though. Weather stopped most of the supply trains up here, thing’sll be short pretty soon.”

Breston grinned with unrestrained glee. “We were hoping.” He stood, and casually saluted her, touching a fist to his chest, and nudging his companions to move on to a free table nearby. “A good day to you, Genr’l.”

Xena waited a long beat before she turned her eyes from the retreating men and met Draco’s gaze.

He snorted. “I should have known… leopards never do change their spots. So you gathered a new army, huh? Figures.” He took a gulp of ale. “So. You in the market for some willing bodies? I remember you used to pay a premium for the nice looking ones.”

Xena almost backhanded him. Her shoulder jerked, in fact, and Draco caught the faint motion, his glance becoming alert as he moved back slightly.

It was the truth, though, and she knew it. No fault to Draco for remembering. Xena forced her temper to settle, and curled her fingers around her cup instead. “What would the militia commander of Amphipolis need with exotic slaves, Draco?” She replied, catching his eyes.

Caught flat footed, her old lieutenant stared at her in confusion. “What?”

“You were wrong.” The warrior told him matter of factly. “I went home.” With a sudden motion, she stood, tossing a couple of dinars on the table. Then she walked out, and never looked back once.

******

Paladia became groggily conscious of a couple things all at once. One, it stunk. Two, she hurt like Hades all over, and three, she was buried under more crap than she could imagine. Slowly, she felt around her, fingers sinking into a thick, black mud as she sorted out the bits of debris.

A sensation of warmth suddenly flooded her lower body, and she had a moment of earthy worry that she'd lost it and soiled herself. Then the warmth receded, and she realized it was just that damn stupid water. With a muttered curse, she started throwing bits of junk off her, squirming in the mud as she got out from under branches and shattered wood that shed off her shoulders as she dragged herself up into the hazy, gray light.

Finally free, she rolled over and wiped the gunk out of her eyes. "Crap." She sat up and looked around, and immediately wished she hadn't. She was surrounded by debris and mud covered lumps that might, or might not have been once living things, but none of them were either big enough or small enough to be either Cait or the damn horse.

Worse, try as she might, she couldn't seem to remember what had happened, except she did recall a loud noise, and a scream.

Paladia considered her situation. "This sucks." She muttered "This just totally sucks." With a groan, she shoved herself upright and got her feet underneath her, making pained hissing noises as she felt cuts and scrapes all along her body. Then she plodded off in the direction the water was running, yanking her boots free of the clinging, stinking mud with each step.

Of course, the only way she really had to go in was uphill. With a sigh, she started up the slope, attempting to shake the clumps of mud off her as she walked. She got to the top of the rise and paused, looking around to figure out where to go next.

Her eyes took in the waterlogged downslope in front of her, then she blinked. Sprawled motionless near the edge of the water was the horse, it's lifeless body trapping a slim, struggling form. But that wasn't what pissed her off. Standing over Cait was a stranger, apparently trying to steal the pack strapped across the young Amazons back.

Paladia dropped the wad of mud she'd been scraping off her arm. "Hey!" She bellowed, starting down the slope at a clumsy run that nevertheless covered the ground effectively.

The thief looked up in surprise and spotted her.

The reaction wasn't what Paladia had expected.

A piercing yell of alarm came out of the intruder's mouth. Cait's bag was dropped, and the thief took off running, apparently in a state of utter panic. Paladia chased after her and with surprising luck and the fact that the thief got trapped in a patch of thick mud, slammed into the struggling figure without any attempt to slow down.

They both went down into the mud, and Paladia took great glee in bouncing on top of her target, driving the squirming figure deep into the mud. "Take that, you stinking rat!" She pounded the sodden figure with her fists. "Stupid son of a bacchae!"

"Pally!" Cait's voice, laced with urgency caught her attention.

Paladia turned her head and looked at her. "You okay?"

"Not quite." Cait grabbed an upthrust root and pulled herself forward. "Look, I know you're having a lovely time but this does hurt awfully."

Oh crap. Paladia immediately jumped off her foe and headed over. Cait admitting to being in pain meant her leg had probably been ripped clean off or something. She got to her friend's side and grabbed a dead horse limb, hauling at the carcass with stolid strength. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the thief scrambling up and running off. "Chicken!" She yelled after the retreating form, as she successfully heaved the horse's body over and rolled it off Cait.

"Gosh." Cait exhaled, pulling herself free and slithering through the mud away from the animal. "Thanks ever so much, Pally. That was awful."

Huh. With a frown, the taller Amazon hopped over a log and went to Cait's side, dropping down into the mud on one knee and putting a cautious hand on the younger girl's shoulder. Cait's face was white as a sheet, not that you could see much of it under the mud, and she didn't look too hot. "You okay?"

Cait was fairly covered in mud and worse. “I.. was quite under that horse.” She stated softly. “And it was pushing me into this awful muck and I..”

Paladia watched her closely. “Why are your teeth chattering? It ain’t cold.”

The younger Amazon lowered her head and didn’t answer.

Paladia frowned, trying to figure out what was going on and what she should do next. She realized Cait was still half underneath the dead horse’s legs, so she decided on a practical course of action and sat down in the muck, taking hold of Cait by her arms and pulling her forward, half into her own lap.

Cait took hold of her leathers and helped, curling up in her friend’s embrace and burying her face in Paladia’s chest, much to the taller Amazon’s confusion. Not knowing what else to do, she wrapped her arms around Cait and hugged her. “W.. who the hell was that creep?” She asked, more to distract Cait than anything else.

“B..bother. I don’t care.” Cait answered. “Good job scaring her off.”

“Guess my yelling musta done it.” Paladia muttered.

Cait was silent for a moment, then she lifted her head and peeked up at Paladia’s face. “Not hardly.” She said. “You look quite like Hades worst monster spawn let loose.”

“Oh.” Paladia scowled. “Well, so do you.”

They regarded each other.

Then they heard the yells.

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

It was close to dinnertime when Gabrielle finally left the practice ground. Several of the other games participants trailed after her, chatting easily about the bouts and the stories she’d told. Mikah followed them silently, bemused at how the blond woman had changed so many attitudes as quickly and easily as she had.

He’d been very surprised to see her fight, and as amazed as the rest of the watchers not only at her skill, but at the intense ferocity she displayed when she wielded her chosen weapon. It was as though the gentle, friendly bard had completely vanished, replaced by this grim, intent warrior whose focus and drive simply overwhelmed her opposition.

Weird.

During the first break, then, Gabrielle had sat down in the courtyard and told a story. It was about Xena, and also about her, and everyone had gathered around to listen. Some people had been curious, some openly skeptical, but none of them had walked away once she’d started. Mikah had found himself pulled into the story, and he’d clapped like everyone else did after she finished, but he also thought about how Xena and Gabrielle’s partnership really did seem to work.

“So.” Gabrielle’s voice made him jump a little. “Any idea what they’ve got planned for dinner?”

Mikah cleared his throat a little. “They were roasting an ox when I went past the kitchen earlier.” He said. “Is that all right with Xena? I could go out to the market and get something else if not.”

“No, that’s fine.” The bard said. “We want to go into the big room tonight… but now that you mention it, I wonder… ah.” Gabrielle felt a smile take over her face as she spotted the tall, cloaked figure ducking inside the door. Xena straightened and her eyes swept the crowd, finding Gabrielle’s at once.

A gentle twinkle appeared in those blue eyes, though the warrior’s dour mask didn’t slip. The bard immediately changed her direction and headed towards her partner, easing past the slower athletes and chattering servants. “Hey.”

“Hey.” Xena replied, cocking her head a bit and regarding her. Around, them, people were stopping and staring, apparently deducing who Xena was by her company. “How’d things go?”

“Good.” Gabrielle gave a small, assertive nod. “You?”

“Eh.”

Their eyes met. Without a further word, they turned and walked together through the arch, angling towards the hallway that lead to the quarters they’d been assigned. Mikah trailed behind them a little uncertainly.

Gabrielle kept an unobtrusive eye on her soulmate, noting the faint hint of a limp Xena couldn’t quite disguise. She could also see the minute signals that the day’s activities had tired the warrior out – a tiny furrow in her brow, and the shift of muscle along her jawline. She waited for them to clear most of the crowd, before she tucked a casual hand around Xena’s elbow and eased a bit closer.

“You’ll never guess who I got a visit from today.”

Xena pondered for a bit. “Celesta?”

“Nope. Cold.”

“Athenian council?”

“Nope, even colder.”

Xena frowned. “Gabrielle…” She sighed, testily.

Oo. Definitely short tempered. “Aphrodite.” Gabrielle replied in a low tone. She reached out and pushed the door open, letting Xena precede her and following the warrior inside. Mikah slipped past to his own little niche as the door closed behind them.

“Aphrodite?” Xena repeated. “What’s she up to?”

“Good question.” Gabrielle casually steered her partner to one of the chairs and waited for her to settle into it. “What’s more important is that mom, and a party from Amphipolis is on their way here… and they’ll be here tomorrow.”

Xena grunted, and rubbed her temples. “Great.”

“Dori’s with them.”

Blue eyes lifted in surprise. “Damn.” The warrior said. “What was my mother thinking, bringing her here?” She sounded annoyed. “What was she thinking bringing anyone here… I thought we’d agreed they’d let us handle this?”

Gabrielle settled on the chair arm and slipped an arm around Xena’s shoulders. “Well, if she was coming, I can see why she’d bring Dori, rather than leave her with someone, but.. yeah.” She shook her head. “I don’t get it.. after all this time, they don’t trust us?”

Xena scowled. “They’d better have a damn good reason for this. “ She stated, leaning back a little and letting her head rest against Gabrielle’s side.

“What happened?” The bard murmured.

A brief smile. “Bumped into someone I.. knew.. down on the docks.”

“What were you doing down there, again?” Gabrielle asked curiously. “I thought you were going to go to the Academy.”

“I did.” Xena said, one hand idly curling itself around Gabrielle’s calf. “I found your friend and told her what she was going to die of if she didn’t leave you alone, kicked around the Academy a little, then took a walk down the hill.”

“Yeah?” Gabrielle watched the tall body relax, slumping against her slightly. “And? Who’d you meet?”

“Draco.”

Gabrielle was honestly shocked. It was the last name she’d expected to hear, a name from the very beginning of their joint past together, and one that went far beyond that for Xena. “Wow.”

“Mm.”

They were both quiet, watching the twilight gather in the window, staining the stone bluish gray and bringing a breath of cool, still damp air to waft across them. It had stopped raining outside, but the clouds still covered the sky.

“He’s running a slave ship.” Xena finally said. “Bringing in young kids.. mostly from overseas. He claims the Athenian council is interested in all the product he can bring in.”

Gabrielle’s brow furrowed. “Do you think that’s true?” She sounded skeptical.

Xena shrugged. “He does.’ She shifted closer, extending her boots out onto the stone floor. “Doesn’t make sense to me though.”

“Me either.” Gabrielle twined her fingers in Xena’s hair. “I’d like to meet up with Draco, though.” She said. “I have to thank him.”

The warrior reacted, straightening and turning to look up at her. “What? Thank him? Gabrielle, he never did anything for you except send a couple thugs to kidnap girls from your village.”

Gabrielle smiled. “Yes, he did.” She touched Xena’s forehead with a fingertip. “And those thugs caught your eye, and you came to rescue us.” Her gaze softened. “So, in a way, it’s his fault we met.”

Xena blinked, then her thoughts went inward for several heartbeats. “Gods, what a silver lining that cloud had.” She muttered, with a soft snort of laughter.

Gabrielle chuckled as well, and resumed her position draped over Xena’s shoulders. “Yeah.” She felt Xena take a breath, the motion lifting her entire body and a sudden tension made itself known through the link they had. She frowned and drew breath herself to question her partner, but Xena’s speech cut her off.

“Gabrielle?”

“Yeah?”

Long pause. “Do you ever regret that day?”

The question stunned her into utter silence. After a few breathless moments, Gabrielle sucked in a lungful of air and blinked. “You mean… meeting you.. leaving home?

“Mm. Would you change what happened?” Xena’s voice was quiet and speculative, almost resigned in tone. “Even a little?”

Gabrielle gave the question the consideration it truly deserved. She rested her chin on Xena’s head, and cleared her throat a bit. “If I could go back, to that moment, knowing what I know right now, do you know what I’d say to you, Xena?”

The warrior hesitated, one hand flexing gently on her knee. “What?”

The bard slid to one side, so that her lips were right up against Xena’s ear. “Take me with you.”

She couldn’t see Xena’s face, but she felt the muscles move the ear she was whispering into as the warrior smiled. A wave of warmth and affection swept over her and she found herself smiling back even before Xena spoke.

“And, I would.” The warrior turned her head and their eyes met. A sly twinkle appeared, removing the graven seriousness of the moment. “Except I’da made you take that skirt off first.”

“Wench.” Gabrielle leaned forward and bit her on the nose. “I’d have gotten something better to sleep on than a horse blanket out of you that first night, in that case.”

They both laughed, with a touch of giddiness. Xena sighed, and shook her head. “So, Dori’s coming, huh?”

“Mm”

“We’re in trouble.”

“Mmhm.:” Gabrielle agreed. “We sure are.”

It was full dark outside, and the room lit only by fragrant candles and a glow from the firepit as Gabrielle fiddled with the knotted fabric on her shoulder. Behind her, she could hear Xena moving around, the soft scrape of the warrior’s bare feet against the stone, and the rustle of cloth.

She could smell the spicy scent of their soap, and the smell got stronger as Xena approached her from behind and laid two warm hands on her shoulders. With a faint smile, she looked up into the mirror and met pale blue eyes looking back at her.

They were both dressed in white, the classic, understated togas that most of the other athletes wore when they weren’t at practice. The fabric of these, slightly more formal, fell below their knees and were knotted across one shoulder only, exposing the other along with most of their necks.

“Don’t we look festive.” Xena drawled. “C’mon, let’s go run the gauntlet.”

“Ah ah. I did that already today.” The bard protested, shifting slightly. “And my shoulders can attest to that.”

“Mm.” Xena’s hands probed gently. “You didn’t have to beat up all of them, y’know.”

Gabrielle let her head drop forward, abandoning herself to Xena’s expert touch. “Oh, like you would have just stopped at one?” She muttered. “I did four practice bouts.. I can just imagine what those poor people would have gone through if you’d been there.”

Xena’s voice tickled her ear. “Didja win em all?”

“Oh, c’mon now, Xena. It wasn’t about winning and losing.. you know that. I was just.. “ Gabrielle inhaled sharply as teeth clamped lightly down on her earlobe.

“Well?” The warrior’s deep tone tickled.

“Well what?” Gabrielle wondered for a moment. “Oh.. um.. well, yeah.” She admitted. “I did.”

“Good.”

“I don’t know about that.” The bard disagreed. “I think it’ll just make them all come after me.”

Xena rested her chin on the bard’s shoulder. “Not after tonight.” She winked, then straightened and dusted a non existent speck o dust off Gabrielle’s cheek. “Let’s go. With my luck today, they’ll be serving groats for dinner.”

Gabrielle was about to answer, when she felt Xena stiffen. She turned, to see the warrior alert, her nostrils twitching and her eyes narrowed. “Xe?”

“What do you want?” Xena growled loudly.

The bard’s eyebrows lifted before she realized her partner wasn’t talking to her. A bright blue flash lit the room, and revealed a tall, muscular form when it faded. “Ah.” She faced the newcomer. “Speaking of groats. “

Instinctively, Xena turned and placed her body between the bard and the tall, bearded man now swaggering towards her. “Whatever it is, we’re not interested, Ares.”

The God of War stopped, and regarded her, putting his hands on his leather clad hips. “What? No hello? No.. hey, it’s good to see you, Ares? No, how’s the family? What’s happened to your manners, Xena?” He taunted her. “Oh, that’s right, I forgot. You were brought up in a stable.” He waggled his fingers at Gabrielle. “Hey, blondie.”

“What do you want?” Xena refused to let the intimidating figure intimidate her.

“What do I want?” Ares came closer, and flicked a bit of her toga. “Do I have to want something, Xena? Can’t I just stop by and say hello?”

“No.” The warrior stated flatly. “Spill it, or get lost.”

All traces of lazy humor vanished from the God of War’s handsome face. “You know, Xena, you seem to forget who you’re talking to.”

Xena’s pale blue eyes, a match to his own, didn’t flicker. “Ares, you ran from the field of battle. If I ever had any respect for you, that erased it. “ She told him. “You’re a gutless coward. Talk or leave.”

Gabrielle almost held her breath, feeling the steely tension in her partner’s back. What Xena said may have been true, but Ares was, after all, still a god. Though, she had her own bone to pick with him, after he’d abandoned Xena in the fight against Andreas.

“You know, I could.. “ Ares lifted a hand.

“Do it.” Xena shot right back, actually taking a step closer. Her eyes bored right into Ares, almost on a level with his own. “Gwan, Ares. Prove you have at least half a man’s parts.”

It was a standoff of wills.

Ares flexed his fingers, and there was a crackle of potent power, sending an acrid scent into the room.

“You do it.” Gabrielle found herself speaking. “And I’ll make sure you lose that half.”

The God of War was still for a moment. Then he turned his head and regarded her. “Did you just say what I think you just said?” He asked, incredulous.

Gabrielle nodded. “You sold her out, you skunk..”

Ares waved both hands, and stepped back. “Whoa, whoa. Hold it. Let’s just get something straight here.” He pointed at his chest. “God.” He pointed at them. “Mortals.” Eye brows lifted. “Are we understanding me?”

The blond woman edged forward, much to Xena’s bemusement. Gabrielle pointed at Ares. “God, in need of followers.” She pointed at her own chest. “Bard, in Athens, who can spend the next fortnight telling everyone how you ran from a fight with your tail between your legs.” A pause. “Are we understanding me?”

Xena came very close to doubling over in delighted laughter at the look on Ares face. It was so much more effective than even her own threats would have been, it was hard to believe. The god’s jaw had dropped, and he was staring at her partner with such a dumbfounded look that the warrior was very, very close to losing her composure.

“You little… “ Ares spluttered. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Gabrielle gave a derisive snort in response.

After a moment of evident frustration, Ares typically changed direction and sailed on, dismissing the recent past. “Okay.” He held up his hands, this time benignly. “I can see sweet talking isn’t gonna work. So let me just lay it on the line here.”

“That’s a first.” Xena muttered.

Ares glared at her. “I don’t know what your game is here, Xena, but whatever it is, just cough it up. I’ll take care of it.”

It wasn’t what she’d expected to hear. “What?” The warrior asked.

“You heard me. I know you’re in this for something. You, Athens, laurel leaves… not in this lifetime, Xena. So whatever it is, just tell me. You lose your bankroll gambling again?” Ares said. “Or, no, let me guess.. you entered as a good… “ Rolled eyes. “Deed for someone.”

“Neither.” Xena replied, cautiously.

“Well?” He asked. “What is it? I’m telling you, Xena. I’ll give it to you. Call it… oh, old times sake, if you want, or.. “ A shrug of powerful, leather clad shoulders. “If you want to consider it an um.. “ He waved his hands.

“Apology?” Gabrielle suggested.

Ares glared at her.

“We’re trying to get our taxes relieved.” Xena stated. “For Amphipolis. You saying you can fix that?”

Ares bearded lips parted in a grin. “No sweat.” He snapped his fingers. “Taxes? You’ve really come down in the world, Xena.”

“So, if we back out of the games, you’ll take care of that, huh?” Xena persisted, trying to ignore Gabrielle’s startled look.

“Sure.” The god agreed instantly. “I knew you’d come around. So, it’s a done deal, right? You’re out?”

“Xena..” The bard broke in.

“Hush, blondie. We got a deal, right Xena baby?” Ares shushed her.

“No.” Xena replied.

“No?” Ares repeated. “What do you mean, no? I told you I’d take care of it, Xena. What do you want, a gold statue as collateral?” His voice rose in annoyance.

“No.” Xena said again. “We’re in the games.”

The God of War put his hands on his hips. “Why would you do that???”

“Because you don’t want me to.” The warrior replied. “And I’m having fun frustrating you and whatever little plot you’re up to now.” Xena smiled viciously. “So unless you want to stand here talking to the bathtub, take off.”

For a moment, Ares face froze into a mask of anger. Then just as quickly, he relaxed, a most customary look of insolent arrogance taking over. “You’ll regret this, Xena.” He said. “I thought I’d offer you an easy way out. If you’d rather suffer disgrace in front of all of Athens, so be it.”

And with a flash, he was gone.

The silence was finally broken by Xena’s releasing a breath, and draping an arm over Gabrielle’s shoulders.

“He’s mad.” Gabrielle commented.

“Oh yeah.” The warrior agreed ruefully.

“I got him good, though, didn’t I?”

Xena chuckled ,low and deep in her throat. “You sure did.” She kissed the bard’s head with gentle exuberance. “C’mon, let’s go.”

They walked together out the door, leaving the candles fluttering anxiously behind them.

Cyrene looked up as she heard footsteps outside, and exhaled in relief as the door filled to overflowing with damp Amazons. It was almost dark, and she’d been toying with the idea of stepping outside into the grudgingly clearing weather. “Thank the gods.”

“Hm.” Ephiny swung her cloak off, and riffled her fingers through her curly hair. She stepped aside to let the rest of her group enter, and only then did Cyrene see they’d picked up an extra person. “Not sure the gods were really in with us this time.” She gave the newcomer a shove towards the wall. “Siddown.”

“Here, now. No need to push.” The figure, barely recognizable as a scruffily dressed woman of considerable height and weight. “What a temper you’ve got.”

Cyrene regarded her warily, then studied the rest of the Amazons. Cait and Paladia looked a lot the worse for wear, and they circled the fire in silence, stripping off muck covered clothing as they went. “What happened?” Dori was napping in her folding cradle, but as the women entered, the toddler woke up and peered over the edge of her bed with interest.

“What didn’t?” Ephiny sighed, glancing over to the other wall, where the rest of the elders were huddled and asleep. “Cait, you sure you’re all right?”

“Quite.” The girl muttered, in a subdued tone.

“Cat.” Dori burbled, pointing.

“Hello, Dori.” Cait scrubbed at her face with a bit of cloth as Paladia thumped down next to her, picking at the drenched laces holding her boots on. “Glad you ended up all right.”

Eponin shouldered past Ephiny, shrugging off her own cloak and exposing torn leathers and a set of lurid bruises. "Like the rain's not bad enough, we had to find slime bugs crawling around in it." She gave the stranger by the wall a dour glare.

"Hey!" The woman protested. "Here I was thinking we'd fixed all that. I was just helping the little wee one to get free, I was."

"Yeah" Ephiny turned mildly disgusted eyes on her. "By cutting her pack loose and taking it. Nice."

Cyrene frowned at the woman, then faced Ephiny. "Why bring her back here?"

The Amazon regent took a seat next to her, evidently exhausted. "Better a rat where you can watch it." She said bluntly.

"Hey!" The woman protested.

"Shut up." Eponin growled. "Or I'll introduce you to that wall the hard way."

"Bit of a snit, aren't you then?" The woman shot back. "T'wast my fault you were in the wrong place at just the wrong time."

"Y'mean to get in the way of you running away in terror?" Pony said. "Yeah. I shoulda ducked." She gave the distinct impression of spitting, though she didn't actually. "Scumbucket."

"That'd be Bran Scumbucket, you ugly heathen." The response was almost cocky.

Dori decided this was just too much excitement for her to miss. She crawled over the top of her cradle and landed on the floor, then got up and ambled over to examine their captive. "Bck." Her brow wrinkled in displeasure.

"And who asked you, little runt." The woman growled. "Get over here and say that, won't you?"

"Like to threaten everyone smaller than you, I guess." Ephiny commented dryly. "Well, be careful with that one. She could end up more than you can handle."

The woman snorted.

Cyrene kept one eye on Dori, and gave the pot of mixed odds and ends she'd been working at a stir. "Well, I’m glad you're all back. Thank the gods the weather's clearing."

"Yeah." Ephiny sighed. "We picked up some useful stuff from the wreck. I left it just outside to dry. Blankets." She examined a cut on her arm. "Clothes, other things."

Cait came over and sat down next to Cyrene. "We gave a try at saving the horses." She said, very seriously. "But we didn't. I’m terribly sorry."

The innkeeper put an arm around her shoulders. "That's all right, Cait." She told her, knowing why the girl was upset. "I’m glad you're okay. That's what matters."

Cait sighed unhappily. "What a rotten day."

Cyrene had to agree with her. Between the rain, the flood, losing all their things, and losing a good friend, she was well and truly ready for the damn day to be long over with. They had a long night on cold, hard ground to look forward to on top of it, and Cyrene found herself fervently wishing she'd just stayed home. "You know what? I’m too damn old for this."

"Me too." Ephiny grunted.

Cait looked from one to the other. "I suppose I would get quite thumped if I said me too, wouldn't I?"

"Yes." They both answered at once.

"Right" The youngest Amazon exhaled. "Well, then I could do with less excitement right about now and more dry bedding."

Ephiny studied her. It wasn't like Cait to complain. "You sure you're all right." She asked in a low voice.

Cait was silent for a moment. "Yes."

"You're not just pulling a Xena on me are you?" The regent prodded gently.

That got the tiniest smile from Cait. "I might be, a bit." She admitted. "I don’t feel quite right. I think I"ll go have a bit of a rest over by Pally."

"I'll give you some soup for the both of you." Cyrene wrestled one of the old, wooden bowls they'd salvaged out. "Here.." She ladled out the soup while Ephiny half turned to watch their toddling charge.

Dori studied her victim a moment. "Bad." She pronounced. "Ugg."

"Yeah? C'mere, you .." The woman lunged towards her, and reached a hand out, only to recoil violently as a hideous growl erupted. “Yahh!"

Ares rushed forward, ;putting his furry body between her and Dori, ruff raised, and teeth bared.

With a frown, Cait got up and walked over, stepping past the furious wolf. "Now look here." She said sternly. "You really are quite an idiot."

Bran glared at her, but backed towards the wall. "It's you lot who're nuts in the head." She muttered. "Wasn't going to hurt the tyke."

"You had better not." Cait told her. "The last person who tried that had their heart pulled right out of their chest." She paused for effect. "While it was till thumping."

"Oh. Right." Bran snorted. "I'd be believing that right after you're showing me a cow jumping over the moon… hey!" She yelped, as a handful of muck hit her in the face. "Why you.."

"Bad!" Dori insisted stoutly. "Uggy."

"Great judge of character." Eponin snorted. "Gets that from her mom."

"Wouldn’t be you, then." Bran taunted her.

Cait picked Dori up and bounced her a bit. "C'mon, then Dori. Let's go over there and I'll tell you a bit of a story, all right?"

"Story!" The child recognized the word with a squeal of delight. "Go get mama!"

"No." Cait gave her a wry look. "I’m certainly not in Gabrielle's league, Dori. But we'll see what we can do." She walked over to where Paladia had settled, and was giving her a dour look, and took a seat next to her with Dori in her lap. "What would you like to hear?"

"Boo." Dori said immediately. "Boo and Mama."

Cait grinned. "Her favorite." She gave Paladia a look as the other Amazon groaned. "Mine too." She leaned back against the wall and settled Dori more comfortably. "Right. Let's here about how Xena saved Gabrielle in the Centaur village, okay?"

"Otay."

Paladia moaned, and stuffed bits of cloth in her ears. Everyone else chuckled tiredly. Ephiny accepted a small bowl of soup from Cyrene and took a sip from it’s edge before passing it to Eponin. “Share?”

The weapons master took it gladly, taking a mouthful of soup and tasting it as she listened to Cait’s young voice start the tale. After a few moments, her eyes flicked instinctively around the stone room, finally settling on their unwelcome guest.

A crafty look had settled on the woman’s features, as she listened.

It sent prickles up and down Eponin’s spine. She nudged Eph’s leg and tilted her jaw in Bran’s direction. Ephiny’s hazel eyes met hers, then went the indicated direction for a long moment before returning to latch onto hers again. “Shoulda killed her.” Pony muttered under her breath.

Ephiny’s brow creased sharply as she thought. “Can’t leave her here.. with them. “ She uttered subvocally, indicating the elders. “Have to take her with us.”

Eponin rolled her eyes very expressively.

“Yeah.” The regent grunted sympathetically. “Like we needed more problems.” She leaned against Pony’s shoulder. “Y’know what I think?”

“Uh?”

“Maybe it’s not Gabrielle.” A pause. “Maybe it’s us.”

Eponin squeaked.

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

The dining room was different than Gabrielle had expected. It was already busy, full of their fellow competitors, but she'd been anticipating a large, square open area and found something very much else. The space was large, but it was full of many levels of platforms and vine covered columns, making pockets of seating areas separated by half steps and tinkling fountains.

"Mm." Xena regarded the room, one eyebrow lifting. "Nice." She held an arm out, her lips quirking into a smile as the bard accepted the offer. "Let's find us a nice table."

Gabrielle followed her lead willingly, trusting Xena to make sure she didn't trip and fall as she let her eyes wander over the room in frank curiosity. The fountains seemed to be lightly scented - the mist that coated her face as she passed them held the tang of lime and the soft brush of jasmine.

It was cool in the room, despite the crowd. Servers clad in only loincloths brushed by them, with trays that left enticing smells in their wake and Gabrielle was forcibly reminded of the fact that she'd passed up lunch in the excitement of the day.

"Here." Xena's voice caught her attention, and she glanced past the warrior to see a comfortable looking enclave, several levels up and against one of the walls. The seating area was sunken around a stone table, with an oil lamp fluttering in it's center, large fluffy pillows plumped invitingly around the edges.

There was space enough for perhaps eight people, but they were the first ones to have found the spot, and Gabrielle gladly settled down in the crook of one corner with Xena, as they waited to see who would join them. On the table a flagon rested, and the bard nodded as Xena lifted it and poured them both cupfuls of it's contents. She sniffed it then took a sip, rolling the rich, fruity wine around in her mouth before she swallowed it. "Mm.. not bad."

Xena leaned back and tasted the wine, then turned her head to study Gabrielle's profile. "Reminds me of that little seaside town in the west." She said. "Remember that? Some kind of festival, wasn't it?"

"Of Dionysus, yes." Gabrielle smiled a little in remembrance. "I discovered your unexpected romantic streak there." She replied. "It felt like such a dream."

Xena chuckled, then leaned over and offered the bard her cup. Gabrielle set her lips on the edge and allowed a mouthful to be tipped in, while she extended her own arm towards her partner. Xena took a mouthful from her glass, then they closed with each other, and kissed, mingling the wine with a gentle teasing of tongues.

Gabrielle sat back when they parted, enjoying the sweet tingle on her lips. She reached over impulsively and laced her fingers with the warrior's as they sipped in silence, just looking into each other's eyes until the scuff of boots against the stone made them look up to see who was entering.

But it was just a server, who brought over to the table a tray filled to overflowing with edibles. He gave them a quick, abashed bow and knelt, setting bowls of fruit, and platters of steaming flatbread down on the table, along with crocks of thick, spicy smelling cheese. Then he stood. "M'ladies." He had a low, husky voice, and charming brown eyes. "We have roast lamb tonight, and codfish. I will bring them shortly." Then he turned and left.

Gabrielle sat up and reached for the bread, ripping off a chunk and dipping it into the cheese. She also snagged a handful of grapes and returned to her spot, nibbling on the bread hungrily. "Here." She worked loose a grape and offered it to Xena.

"Thanks." Xena accepted the grape, biting down lightly on Gabrielle's fingertips before she started chewing it. "So." She got herself a hunk of bread and some cheese and sat back, leaning on her shoulder so she could face the bard. "What do you figure the game is?"

Gabrielle knew exactly what she was talking about. She licked a finger reflectively and cleared her throat. "Well, it's pretty obvious, right? He's got someone in the games he's wagering on." She nibbled a grape. "So he's trying to talk you out of competing because he figures it messes up his odds."

Xena nodded. "That's about what I figured." She agreed, extending one hand idly and tracing the edge of the bard's ear. "We're going to have to watch out."

"Don’t we always?" Gabrielle asked wryly.

Another scuff of boots, and they looked up, but this time two tall men and three women entered, pausing as they were spotted, then continuing into the alcove. "Gabrielle.. hello again." The first man said, with a mildy shy look in Xena's direction.
Ah. Her erstwhile opponent in the lists. "Hi." Gabrielle gestured to the pillows. "Join us." She swallowed hastily and sat up a little. "Um.. let's see. Telen, Aleiandra… I don't know your friends, but.. um.. this is Xena." She said. "My partner."

Funny. Gabrielle took just a bare moment to acknowledge how it still thrilled her to say that.

"Hello." Telen took a seat prudently far enough from the lazily watching warrior. "Nice to meet you."

Xena cocked an eyebrow at him. "Same here." She drawled.

"So, you're Xena." The other man stated, in a deep, bass voice. He was almost a giant, a head taller than Xena herself, with shoulders that looked like a wagon could rest on them. "I've heard a lot about you."

Blue and green eyes met. Gabrielle fixed him with a warm smile. "Really? From who?"

The man took a seat directly across from them, and spread huge, muscular legs out as he picked up the wine flagon and poured himself a cup. "Just talk on the streets." He replied. "Wild stories."

"Must be yours." Xena replied, giving Gabrielle's hair a little tweak.

The burly man regarded them. "Xena and her famous bard. Who'd a figured I'd be having dinner with such notorious people." He laughed, with a tinge of unpleasantness. "I hear we're competitors tomorrow."

Xena lifted an eyebrow. "You're an archer?"

"I'm everything." The man boasted. "I won the last five Athens regional matches in every thing I entered." He gazed at Xena. "Including archery. What about you?"

The warrior stretched an arm casually out across the pillows, circling Gabrielle's shoulders unobtrusively. "Well.. last time I did any real shooting.. " She thought back. "I killed every one I shot at." The blue eyes narrowed slightly as Xena smiled. "I didn't get any ribbons for it, though."

Xena, Intimidation Princess. Gabrielle rubbed her jaw as she hid a smile, recognizing the half playful, half dangerous tone in her partner's voice. She wondered if someone this doltish and obvious was Ares champion, then reviewed that thought and figured it was good odds he was.

"Well, maybe you won't tomorrow, either." The man rallied. "Not with Sampson in the lists."

"Would that be you?" Gabrielle gently inquired. "Just so I know who to go watch."

Sampson smiled at her broadly, his teeth showing white and even inside his dark beard. "That it would." He replied. "You've heard of me, of course."

"No." Gabrielle answered mildly. "Sorry, I don't get to Athens much." She glanced at her partner. "You?"

Xena shook her head solemnly. "Nope."

Their server returned, putting a pause in the action as he set down platters full of steaming meats and fish on the table. He added cruets of spices and sauce, then bowed deeply. "M'lords.. m'ladies… is there anything else you desire?"

"Ale." Sampson cuffed him. "And bring me the biggest pitcher you have… I'll drink these lightweights under the table."

Gabrielle leaned over and lowered her voice. "This is like having dinner with your mother's pig." She felt the shudder as Xena laughed silently. "Except the pig has better manners, and he's cuter."

The server left, but his place was taken by two husky youths, stripped to the waist with oiled skin that caught the light from the table torch. They carried two swords each, and they crossed them neatly over their chests as they bowed to the table.

"I suppose hoping for a harpist as entertainment for this crowd was asking too much, huh?" Gabrielle groused good naturedly.

"Hey.. now this in my kind of a show." Xena whispered back, as the two faced off. They were barefoot, and their hair was held tightly back by a thin band of colored fabric. Both made a tiny show of flipping their double swords in their hands as they circled each other, then sprang into combat.

Gabrielle sighed, and leaned forward to grab herself some meats and bread, fitting them together and taking a bite before she handed half to Xena. The room rang with the sounds of clashing steel, and the soft hiss of breaths as the boys fought, their bare feet scuffling and slapping against the hard stone floor. Far off past the room, she could hear the sounds of music, pipes and a low clash of percussion. Her nose wrinkled slightly, too, as she detected strange scents on the air, thick, cloyingly spicy notes that tickled the back of her throat.

Xena glanced up at the ceiling, then down at her. "Incense." She murmured.

"Yeah." Gabrielle rubbed her nose. "Feels weird."

"Don't breath too deeply." The warrior cautioned.

"I won't." Gabrielle went back to nibbling her bread and meat, enjoying the earthy taste of the lamb. She'd always felt a little ambivalent about liking the meat, knowing from a young age that the tiny animals she'd grown up with.. played with… would come to her on a plate like this someday.

She remembered the first time she'd seen one slaughtered, one that she'd raised, and cared for, and how much that had hurt.

But she'd gotten over that, as she'd grown older, and she understood that dying was a part of life. That some animals died so she could live, and eat them, and grow up and grow stronger. It had been tough, though. Lambs were such cute animals.

Gabrielle bit into a mouthful and chewed. Until they bit you the first time, that is.

The two boys locked in a hold for a moment, chests heaving, sweat rolling down their bodies. Then they shoved off and circled again, the swords whirling and striking each other in the music of steel that she had little appreciation for.

Xena, on the other hand. Gabrielle watched her partner out of the corner of her eye, feeling the subtle shifts of bone and muscle next to her as the warrior absorbed the fight and her body reacted unconsciously to it. The hand draped over her shoulder twitched, and Xena's fingers curled into a light fist, seeking a sword hilt she didn't have with her. "They're pretty good." The bard hazarded an opinion.

"Yeah." Xena murmured. "A little on the green side.. but did you see that underhanded combination? You do that wrong, you lose a thumb."

"Mm." The bard agreed solemnly.

"Look at that twist…you see that? The over the wrist move? It's a cheat." Xena went on, her voice taking on a tinge of intimate interest. "It's meant to distract the other guy's left hand sword, but if he really did take a hit there, he'd break a bone."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Child's play!" Sampson boomed out. "Why must I watch these little puppies.. why I could brush them off with just a wave of my hand!" He leaped up from his seat in the pit and swiped the nearest boy's swords from his hands, shoving him out to the way and going after his partner. "Here, let me show you!"

Gabrielle felt Xena's hand flexing for a completely different reason, though it was still searching for a hilt. She curled her fingers around the warrior's hand and lifted it to her lips, kissing fingers still lightly scented from their bath.

Sampson was brutal. He went after the confused, and outside his normal fighting style inexperienced boy with quick, savage cuts that had him stumbling backwards within minutes. The bigger man was skilled, and amazingly graceful given his size, and he handled the weapons with consummate grace. That didn't excuse the arrogant savageness of his attack though. With a quick two handed swipe he disarmed the boy, and rather than stopping, let his strokes continue to slice through the bare skin of his chest, sending a fine spray of blood out in a sickening arc.

The boy cried out in pain and fear.

Gabrielle slid to one side, gracefully clearing a path for the sudden movement she felt the genesis of as Xena got up and flowed past her, anger shimmering from every motion.

Sampson flipped the swords, not seeing Xena's approach, and went back for more. He was surprised to find his forward motion halted, and half turned as Xena jerked him backwards, giving him a shove that sent him stumbling slightly to one side. "Ah!" His voice boomed out, not a bit upset. "Proper sword fodder, I'm thinking!" He laughed and stepped back, twirling the swords and waiting.

Xena cocked her head at the bleeding young man and held her hands out. He dropped his swords into them with stunning speed, a look of pathetic gratitude in his eyes. "G'wan, siddown." Xena jerked her jaw towards the table, as she stalked past where he'd been standing and paused, flexing her hands around the sword hilts.

They were lighter than her usual weapon, and she hefted them, getting used to the feel. It had been a while since she'd done double blades, but she ran through the basics in her mind as she fixed her eyes on Sampson, flipping the swords over and curling her index finger at him. "C'mere, straw for brains."

He came forward without hesitation, flexing his arms as he circled her. "A fool, am I? We'll see who the bigger fool is."

Now, Gabrielle's attention was rivited to the fight. She watched her partner anxiously, knowing the warrior's leg was still chancy, and very sore. You couldn't tell, though, in Xena's movement as she responded to Sampson's attack, her eyes fastened on his body, her defenses shifting and ducking under his attack with fluid grace.

He was good. Xena acknowledged that, testing both his reflexes and her own with a few quicksilver moves. She felt her body settling into the rhythm that double swords required, a coordination of mind and body that would let her accept Sampson's skillful slices.

He attacked her with full force. The blades spun towards her head and she parried them by instinct, angling the blades to deflect his greater weight and size. She carried both blades down along hers and let them slide off, then quickly slashed upwards, catching him as he was getting his weapons back into position and sending both of his arms outward as he tried to contain the blow.

It opened his breast up, and with a target that large, Xena took her shot, the razor tips of the blades slicing through the fabric he wore. He threw himself back wards, and angrily shook his hair out of his eyes, glancing down at the neat cuts.

An X, of course. Xena grinned at him.

Now he was serious. All appearances of lazy joking disappeared, and he attacked her in earnest, his swords blurring as he fought to force her backwards with sheer weight. Xena let him, for a few steps, then she ducked under his sweeping thrusts and made him turn to follow her, even with her leg still much faster than he was. She feinted to one side, then, as he savagely slashed where she should have been, the warrior changed direction and crouching, leaped into the air and threw a two handed combination at him, confusing him completely at the odd direction and scope of her attack.

She landed neatly and started forward, swinging the blades in a solid circular rhythm that he tried to parry. He fought her off for a few moments, but Xena's skill and the power behind her attack was like nothing else he'd ever had to deal with and bit by bit, step by step, he started to retreat.

She backed him off the cleared area and towards the table, advancing relentlessly with quick, short strokes that his larger reach couldn't parry. He fended her off, but kept retreating, his face changing expression from determined, to disbelief, and then to fear.

She didn't let up. She didn't say a word, her eyes pinning him mercilessly as she took first one sword, then the other out of his hands with a crash of steel, then, in one blinding motion, she kicked him in the chest, sending him sprawling back onto the seats. One booted foot braced on the table as she leaned forward and pressed the blade against his throat, while the other, seemingly unsupervised, flicked out and severed the top flower on the bouquet that rested on the table. With a flick, the blade turned flat on and batted the flower, sending it in a lazy arc to land in Gabrielle's lap just as Xena leaned forward and pricked Sampson's throat with the edge of the other.

For a moment, the only sound was the harshness of Sampson's breathing. He was frozen in place, staring at the feral warrior crouched over him, finding death so close it was kneeling on his chest.

"I.. " Xena finally spoke, her voice low and potent. "Am everything." She poked him. "You, are a bagful of hot air with no class, and less sense."

With a faint snort, she straightened, flipping the blades around then tossing them lightly towards the archway, sending them across the stone floor with a clatter. Then she turned her back on her adversary and sauntered back around the table, taking her seat next to Gabrielle and putting a possessive arm back around the bard.

Gabrielle merely lifted her flower, and sniffed it appreciatively. "I've got the cushiest job as a bard there is." She remarked. "All I have to do is write the truth." She reached up and tucked the flower behind Xena's ear, then settled into the crook of her arm with a contented grunt. "Piece of cake."

It was very quiet after that.

At least until the belly dancers came in.

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

It was late, and the oil lamps had burned very low by the time the last dancer had squiggled on up the stairs and the final thumping of the drum skins was heard. Gabrielle found herself strolling through the emptying dining hall alongside Xena’s tall form, glad of the warm arm draped over her shoulders providing a bit of support.

She wasn’t drunk, but she did feel a little muzzy, and she was aware of a gentle dislocation in her senses that put a distance between her and her surroundings. “Know what?” She leaned against her partner.

“What?”

“Shouldn’t have had that last cup.” Gabrielle admitted, stifling a hiccup.

Xena bestowed a knowingly affectionate grin on her. “You’re such a lightweight.” She kidded her partner.

“In that crowd? I sure was.” Gabrielle snickered a little. “At least I didn’t end up in the fountain like whatserface.”

“Nah.” Xena let her eyes roam across the room as they followed several stragglers out through the wide archway. It was dark in the hallways beyond, just a scattering of wall torches lighting isolated pools, and Xena felt her warning senses come alert as she passed from the relatively well lit dining hall into the darker areas beyond. “I wouldn’t have let you get wet.”

Gabrielle giggled.

“What?” Xena’s brows contracted.

The bard just giggled harder, leaning against her partner and clutching her arm to keep from falling. “Good thing you didn’t take over the bellydancing then.”

Both of the warrior’s eyebrows lifted almost to her hairline. “Gabrielle.” She tsked. “You did have one cup to many, didn’tcha.”

Gabrielle hid her face in Xena’s toga covered shoulder, laughing helplessly.

Finding it difficult to walk with a bard hanging off her, Xena glanced around in amusement, then steeled herself for the effort and picked Gabrielle up, cradling her and pausing a moment to catch her somewhat uneven balance. She looked down at the bard just as Gabrielle unburied her face and looked up. “What am I gonna do with you?” Xena asked, with a smile.

“Anything ya want.” Gabrielle cheerfully told her. “I’m all yours.” She gazed adoringly up at Xena for a moment. ‘But ya better put me down. Don’t want to strain your leg.”

“Hm.. you going to be able to walk?” Xena teased, but complied, setting the bard neatly onto her feet but keeping hold of her just in case. She knew she probably could have carried Gabrielle back to their quarters, but it was late, and her leg was killing her. No sense in tempting fate. “C’mon.” She left an arm draped over the bard’s shoulders as they started back down the hallway.

Gabrielle wound a hold around the warrior’s waist. She was silent for a little while, concentrating on putting her boots down in the correct order and not knocking Xena offstride. “Think that big old dufus was Ares’ boy?”

“Nah.”

“Really? Seemed like he was the old God of War’s type.” Gabrielle stated. “Tiny brain, huge ego.”

Xena snorted softly, and shook her head. “Boy, I’d hate to see what you say about me when you’re drunk.”

Gabrielle considered the question seriously. “To you, ya mean?” She mused, as Xena pushed the door open and she walked inside their simple quarters.

“About me.” Xena kissed the back of her neck, then slipped in behind her, heading for their packs tucked neatly against a wall.

The bard wandered over and sat down on a chair, letting her interlaced hands rest between splayed legs. She regarded Xena’s moving form with almost painful studiousness for a few minutes. “I’d say… ‘boy, that Xena’s one hot number.’” She finally pronounced. “An.. I’d say… ‘I dunno what she sees in that dumb blond chick.”

Pale blue eyes peered over Xena’s shoulder. “ You better be joking, or I’m gonna pick your butt up and spank it.”

A reluctant, twitching grin took over Gabrielle’s face. “Promise?”

Xena straightened and walked over, then dropped to a crouch next to the bard’s chair. She rested an elbow on Gabrielle’s thigh and peered into her eyes. “I see my soulmate.” She paused a little, to let the words sink into the space between them. Then she smiled. “Who’s a little too drunk, and who’s going to swallow this and not give me a hard time.” She handed over a cup. “Right?”

Gabrielle obediently lifted the cup up to her lips and sipped it, enjoying the sight of Xena’s face so close to her.

“Besides.” The warrior leaned closer and tickled her. “How dumb could you be if you’ve kept me damned stumped on a blasted animal for two weeks?”

“Heh.” Gabrielle chuckled softly. “Give up?”

“Never.” Xena replied immediately.

Gabrielle gazed at her again. “What would you say about me?” She asked suddenly.

Xena’s brow creased, then relaxed. “You mean, if I was drunk?”

The bard nodded mutely, sipping on her drink.

The warrior made a point of considering the question, gazing off into the distance for a bit before she focused her eyes back on Gabrielle’s face. “I’d say…”

A loud bang brought Xena whirling to her feet, already in motion as the door slammed open and two dark figures rushed in, bringing a cloud of incense with them. One headed directly for Xena, a sheer whisper cutting the gloom as he drew a long, curved sword out and aimed a slash at the warrior’s midsection.

Xena ignored him. She grabbed the second chair in the room and turned, exposing her back to her attacker with shocking deliberation as she threw all her energy into slamming the wood into the second man, catching him across the face with a leg and sending a startling explosion of blood to spatter all over her.

She felt the steel at her back. Too close.

Xena drew in a lungful of air and let it out as a yell, the sound freezing her attacker for a split second, more than enough time for her to set and turn, dropping to knee and ducking her head to one side as the blade whistled over her, slicing a lock of dark hair loose and setting it free to float on the thick air. Xena reached up as his fist past her and grabbed it, then stood and turned, twisting his arm under her as she brought the sword around in one powerful sweep.

Burying the blade in his gut, the blow punctuated by another savage yell.

The man dropped to the floor in a sodden heap of black cloth, hiding a spreading crimson stain that quietly soaked the clean stone.

Xena straightened, and glanced at the chair. Gabrielle hadn’t moved an inch in the few heartbeats it had taken her to handle their attackers. The bard was seated, quite calmly, her cup cradled in both hands. “Thanks.” Xena sighed, shaking one hand to rid it of it’s coating of blood.

One blond eyebrow quirked at her. “I knew better than to try anything, the way I feel right now.”

Xena grinned. “That’s what I meant.” She went to the second man and rolled his unconscious body over, kneeling stiffly to perform a rapid if thorough search. The sound of running footsteps, however, made her look up just as the doorway was filled with uniformed soldiers. “Nice timing.”

“Halt!” The man in the lead drew his sword. “You’re under arrest!”

“For what?” Xena laughed, standing up and brushing her hands off. “Getting the floor dirty?”

“Attacking your fellow citizens.” The man advanced on her with a purposeful look. “That man is dead!” He pointed at the floor, then pulled up short as he found his way impeded by a compact body and a pair of soft, green eyes. “Are you a witness?”

“Yes.” Gabrielle put a hand on his chest. “I certainly am. But first, you might want to find out a few things.” She said reasonably, mindful of the six men at his back. “Like, whose room this is?”

“Well..”

“And if the person you’re trying to arrest is armed, unlike the two guys on the floor?”

“That’s not…”

Gabrielle leaned closer and lowered her voice. “And why innocent citizens are running around the building with masks on.”

The soldier looked at her, then over at Xena. “We were told an assassin was in this room.” He glanced behind him at his squad. “The slave boy told us!”

Xena pointed at the two bodies meaningfully.

“They are not women.” The soldier said, flatly.

Xena shrugged. “I’m not an assassin.” She replied. “Unless you force me to be.” The warrior added. “They came in here and attacked me. I just defended myself, and my partner.”

The guard slowly sheathed his sword. “Take them.” He indicated the two bodies on the floor. “My captain will decide what to do with you.” He informed Xena. “Don’t leave this room.” He watched the men pick up the two attackers, then followed them out, slamming the door behind him.

Gabrielle regarded the now stained floor, and her blood covered soulmate. She put her hands on her hips and sighed heavily. “What in the Hades was that?”

Xena shook her head. Then she walked over and put a fingertip on Gabrielle’s chin, tilting her head up and gracefully bending to kiss her. They parted, and she looked deeply into the bard’s eyes, studying the soft golden flecks that were just darker shadows in the candelight’s amber tinge.

She leaned closer, until they were breathing the same air, noses almost brushing. There was a soft sound as Gabrielle swallowed, then her lips parted slightly, the tip of her pink tongue emerging.

Xena spoke first, into all that charged stillness. “Llama.”

The bard’s nose twitched, and she blinked as her mental wagon went off the trail and rolled down a nearby hill. “W… what?”

“Llama.” Her beloved soulmate repeated, a look of smug pleasure on her face. “The animal was a llama.”

A hand lifted and covered Gabrielle’s eyes as she rubbed them, and a startled giggle emerged. “Gods, Xena… that was NOT what I was expecting to hear.” She complained, removing her hand and peeking up at her partner.

Xena put a fingertip on her nose. “I’m right, though.”

With a look of mild chagrin, Gabrielle nodded. “Yeah.” Then she scowled a little. “Can I ask you what triggered that memory?”

“Something I saw.”

Both of Gabrielle’s pale eyebrows shot up. “You were looking at me.” She replied sharply. “Xena, you better not be insinuating that I look like a llama.”

“Why? They’re kinda cute.” The warrior teased.

“Xena.”

“The guard captain had a flat, split nose. Reminded me of one I saw once.” Xena soothed her, seeing the growing storm clouds in the bard’s eyes. “Then I just realized it fit your description.”

“Oh.” Gabrielle took Xena’s hand and examined it, then turned and towed the warrior over to the wash basin. She poured water into it and dunked the blood stained skin, scrubbing it with a bit of soap she’d picked up. “You took a big chance before.” She said quietly. “You turned your back on that first guy.”

“The second one was going for you.” Xena replied, draping both arms over the bard’s shoulders so she could get at all the blood spots. She rested her chin on Gabrielle’s head, and pressed her body against her. “I didn’t want you to have to spill your herbs.”

She felt Gabrielle’s body jerk a little as she chuckled It felt good to just stand there, with the room warmed water coursing over her skin and the scent of their soap rising to her nose. The fight had put a final stress on her leg, and the ache was starting to build again. A residual of battle tension was still in her though – the muscles in her torso and thighs were slowly flexing and the dark energy her instincts had called up was still flooding through her.

The smell of blood came strongly to her, from the mess on the floor and the crimson stains on her own clothing and she closed her eyes, exhaling slowly against the back of Gabrielle’s head. She could pretend that she wasn’t feeling what she was, but that would mean deliberately ignoring a truth she’d come to understand.

She was a bad girl. Xena sucked in a breath full of Gabrielle’s scent. She wasn’t ever going to be anything else but a bad girl, and she was going to be a killer in all the word’s gory glory until the day she died. Even Gabrielle knew that. The bard had told her, once, something that she’d only later realized was the going to have to be the truth she led her life by.

Being bad was all right, as long as you were bad in a good cause.

“Xe?”

“Mm?” Xena grunted, not wanting to budge.

“Who were those guys after, you… or me?”

Xena opened her eyes and peered across the candlelit room for a long instant. “Good question.” She answered at last, disturbed that she had no, real, answer.

Gabrielle stood at the window, leaning her chin on it and gazing out at the pre-dawn gloom. The air was warm, but not as moist as it had been, and on it she could already hear the sounds of the city stirring around her.

She was already dressed, wearing the simple, brief bindings the athletes all wore and a light cape over them. The clothing felt a bit strange, but not too different from her Amazon gear and she only felt a little self conscious wearing it.

One hand lifted, and she curled her fingers around the warm handle of her mug, bringing it to her lips and sipping a mouthful of minty tea laced liberally with honey. She felt good, despite the previous late night and outside a stray flutter or two of nerves was looking forward to the day.

For more than the games. Gabrielle savored the taste of the tea. Her family would be here today and she was looking forward to seeing them and being reunited with her daughter.

A light tap came on the door. Gabrielle turned and walked over, cautiously unlatching the wooden panel and pulling it back. “Morning.” She greeted Mikah, who stood there bearing a laden tray.

“Morning.” Mikah smiled at her, and edged past as she backed out of the way. “You made my talents as a listener unneeded. The whole place talks of nothing but you and Xena this day.” He set the tray down on the table and glanced around, detecting the warrior’s absence.

“Xena’s in the wardroom, talking to the guard captain.” Gabrielle said. “We had a little problem last night.”

“Not to hear the servants speak of it.” Mikah advised her, as he broke open a roll and neatly buttered it before handing it politely to Gabrielle.

“Thanks.” The bard took a seat and fiddled with the edible. “What are they saying?”

The boy busied himself preparing two plates from the selection of fruits, cheeses, and breads. “That a score of Xena’s old enemies broke in here, and attacked you.”

“A score.” Gabrielle bit into the roll and chewed it. “Xena’s enemies, huh?”

“That’s right.” Mikah nodded. “And she fought all of them off with her bare hands.”

“Close.” The bard agreed solemnly. “This is good. Story’s already got a good head start, and it wasn’t even my fault.” She plucked a grape and popped it into her mouth. “All I need to do is add a three headed dog and princess, and I’m all set. I can use it for the bardic competition.”

Mikah peeked at her in silence for a few seconds.

Gabrielle gave him a charming grin. “Yes, I’m kidding.” She said. “There were only two guys, and we didn’t know them.”

“Ah.”

“And Xena wasn’t exactly bare handed.” Gabrielle pointed to the pieces of chair she’d neatly stacked in the corner. “But then, she never is. She could make a weapon out of anything.”

Mikah picked up an apple and examined it. “Even one of these?” He held the apple out to the bard.

Gabrielle accepted it. “Especially one of these.” She said. “You’d be amazed at what Xena can achieve with an apple.” Her lips twitched into a private smile. “But anyway.. I’ve got a favor to ask you.”

“Favor?” Mikah said. “I’m your servant. You don’t have to ask me favors, you just have to tell me what you want of me.”

Gabrielle sighed. “Mikah, I’m from Potadeia. We don’t do servants really well, okay? So you’ll have to put up with me asking for favors.” She stood. “My family’s coming into the city by the main road sometime today.. I’d like you to wait for them, and bring them here.”

“Okay.” Mikah replied. “How will I know them?”

The bard went to her bags, dropping to crouch next to them and rummage through the smallest. She removed her diary and got up. “Well, for one thing, you’ll probably notice the Amazons.”

“Amazons!”

“Mm.” Gabrielle riffled her fingers through her hair absently as she set the diary on the table. “Two or three of them, probably.” She removed a piece of folded parchment and opened it. “They’ll have an older woman with them, Cyrene, and she’ll have this little girl with her.”

Mikah took the parchment and studied it. On the surface was drawn the picture of a small child sitting down with a stuffed toy of some kind. “She’s cute.” He remarked, the baby’s snub nosed grin making him smile. “What pretty eyes.”

“Thanks.” Gabrielle gave him an approving look as she studied the picture also. “That’s my daughter, Doriana.”

Mikah’s gaze shifted from the picture, to Gabrielle’s face, paused there a moment, then shifted back. “Um…”

Gabrielle turned her head as she felt a familiar presence approaching. “Ah, that would be Xena.” She nodded as the door opened and her soulmate slipped in. “Hey. How’d it go?” She’d debated a little when Xena had asked her to stay behind, but after all they were soldiers she was talking to and Xena could, when she needed to – be quite a persuasive diplomat.

“I had to kick them around a little, but we worked it out.” The warrior muttered, walking over to her and peering over her shoulder. “What’s up here?”

Uh oh. Gabrielle sensed a problem, from the stormy look in Xena’s eyes, and the twitchy tension she could feel as she came up behind her. “I asked Mikah to wait for mom and the gang.” She explained. “I was showing him a picture of Dori.”

“Hmph.” Xena sniffed, as she spotted the picture. “Hey, when did you get that?” She held a hand out and took the drawing as Mikah handed it over. “That’s new.”

“Paladia did it just before we left.” Gabrielle agreed. “She’s growing so fast I wanted a new one.” She studied the picture fondly. “She needs a haircut, though. Look at that mop.” Dori’s shaggy, dark hair was thick and straight, just like Xena’s, and framed a round baby face that still held hints of the angular structure she’d grow into. “I miss her.”

Xena handed the drawing back. “Me too.” She stated briefly. “C’mon. They’re starting to get everyone together for the first events.” The warrior walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it, drawing aside the light cloak she’d donned to expose her bandaged knee. She started adjusting the bandage with impatient fingers.

Gabrielle gave Mikah an apologetic look as she passed the drawing over to him. “Thanks for doing this. I’d hate to have them have to search all over the city for us.” She said. “Especially with all the commotion going on.”

“My pleasure.” Mikah folded the parchment and tucked it into his belt. “Good luck today.” He said.

Gabrielle watched him leave, and saw the surreptitious glance towards her partner before he ducked out the door. She waited a moment, then strolled over and sat down next to Xena on the bed, kicking her bare feet a little as she watched the warrior fuss over her injury.

Xena paused after a moment and looked at her. “What?” She asked, shortly.

Gabrielle bumped her gently with one shoulder, but remained silent.

“Don’t you have something to do?”

“Nope.” Gabrielle drawled. “I’m all ready to fall flat on my face and make a fool out of myself.” She said. “I read the announcement they posted outside in the hallway, figures I get to be in the very first event.”

Xena grunted, and went back to her task.

“Want me to do that?”

“No.”

“Want to tell me what crawled up your tunic and bit you?”

“No.”

Gabrielle sighed, and rested her elbows on her knees. “Okay.” She subsided into quiet pensiveness, simply waiting for the warrior to finish what she was doing so they could leave. After a few seconds, she felt a light brush against her shoulder, and looked over. Xena was still concentrating on what she was doing, wrapping her leg with steady skill, but her body posture had changed just a trifle, enough to bring her into physical contact with Gabrielle.

Unconsciously? Gabrielle smiled to herself and felt the contact increase, pressing their shoulders together in warm comfort. She watched Xena’s neck relax a little, and the clenched jaw muscles release. After a moment more, she let her cheek rest against Xena’s shoulder, finding a sense of peace for herself in doing it.

“I found out who Ares’ stooge is.” Xena finally spoke.

Gabrielle merely listened quietly.

“He’s a Spartan slave.” The warrior went on. “He’s fighting for Athens… he’s their champion.”

The bard absorbed this news. “He’s good, huh?”

“Very.” Xena replied. “But that’s not the problem.” She finally finished her task and glanced at the bard. “His life depends on him winning. If he loses, they’ll kill him.”

Pieces started falling into place. “So Athens stacked the deck.”

Xena nodded.

“And that’s why they’re buying up foreign slaves.” The bard exhaled. “All for this? Don’t tell me this is just for the city’s pride, Xena. I can’t believe it.”

“Of course not.” Xena said. “It’s the wagering.” She let her arms rest on her knees. “They put out the word that they’ll forgive taxes to draw in competition from everywhere across the region. Everyone sends competitors – it’s unthinkable not to – and they come in droves to watch. “ She exhaled. “And bet on their people. Athens cleans up every way around. They make tons off the games, they rig the lists so an Athenian not only has best chance, but the most pressing reason to win, and they collect all the wagers because they’re buying up the best slaves they can find and training them.”

“Xena, that sucks.” Gabrielle looked annoyed. “You found all this out in a half candlemark?”

“No.” Xena plucked at her cape. “I’ve been figuring it out – I just got the final piece of the puzzle when the guard captain told me about the Spartan.” She paused. “After he tried to pay me off to back out of the games.”

Gabrielle turned her head and studied Xena’s profile. “The guard captain?”

“Acting for the council.” Xena looked like she had a bad taste in her mouth. “And that was after he tried to blackmail me with legal charges.” She said. “Which they say they’ll press if we happen to win.”

“For last night?” Gabrielle spluttered. “Oh, c’mon, Xena!”

“No.” Xena replied quietly. “For a lot older things than that.”

They both regarded each other in silence. “Xena..” Gabrielle finally whispered. “Let’s stop this. We’ll find a way around the taxes and..” She stopped as the warrior put a gentle fingertip against her lips.

“The taxes, the conscripts, and the games are for a reason, Gabrielle.” Xena said. “Athens is going to war.”

Gabrielle’s eyes widened in reaction.

“They’re invading Sparta. That’s what all this is for.”

“And why Ares is involved.” The bard let out a disgusted breath.

“Exactly.”

“Son of a bacchae.” Gabrielle stared at the floor in consternation. “Xena, what the Hades are we going to do?”

Xena propped her elbows on her knees and gazed ahead for a moment, then blew out a breath, puffing her dark hair out a bit. Then she turned her head and met Gabrielle’s eyes, a tiny hint of a smile pulling at her lips. “First things’s first. Let’s go out there and see what happens.” She replied. “We have to stop them if we can, Gabrielle.”

A sigh. “I know.” The bard said. “But then what?”

Xena stood and held a hand out to her, waiting for her to take it before the warrior pulled her to her feet. “Worry about then when it’s time.” She said. “Let’s go.”

They walked out of the room hand in hand, and joined a trickle of similarly clad competitors heading for the courtyard. “Xena?” Gabrielle murmured. “How did a trip to the city to talk about taxes end up with the fate of Greece on our shoulders?”

Xena gave her hand a squeeze, but didn’t answer.

“It’s not my fault.”

The warrior chuckled wryly.

“It’s NOT.

The halls were getting crowded as they walked closer to the grand entrance. Ahead of her, Gabrielle could see the archway, with pearl gray dawn light outlining it. A puff of morning air brushed by her, and brought the scent of earth, stone and masses of humanity with it.

No one was talking much, she noticed, as she followed Xena’s lead and they ended up against one of the corridor walls as the crowd gathered in around and behind them. Everyone was dressed like they were, and she could already smell sweat and the distinct, sharp scent of nervous fear around her. The bard took a breath, and released it, closing her eyes briefly as she collected her wits and settled them firmly into place. If it was tough on her, by default the close, tense space must be agonizing to Xena, and though the warrior was standing quietly next to her, to all outward appearances mildly bored – Gabrielle could feel the unconscious tightening of Xena’s fingers around hers and see the faster than normal rise and fall of her breathing.

“You know… “ Gabrielle commented. “I always wondered what the sheep felt like, waiting to be sheared.”

Xena snorted softly.

“Now I know.” The bard said. “Xena…” She looked up as her partner’s head tilted towards her. “I’m.. ah, not very confident about this race.” She tugged her short cloak around her shoulders. “Especially not dressed like this. I feel like I’m wearing a set of Dori’s diapers.”

That brought a smile to Xena’s face, and caused a chuckle to emerge. “Just relax.” The warrior turned and faced her, laying a hand on one of the bard’s shoulders. “Do your best, and don’t worry about it.”

“After what you said in there, how can you say that?” Gabrielle persisted, lowering her voice. “What if..” She had to stop, since warm fingers were now covering her lips.

“Just do your best.” Xena repeated softly. “If the Fates mean for this to happen, it will, Gabrielle, and if it doesn’t, then we just go to plan b.” She removed her hand. “Okay?”

The bard studied her intently. “Okay.” She agreed, then paused for a moment. “Is this where I’m supposed to ask what plan b is?”

“Not yet.” Xena muttered, turning her around and straightening as the crowd shifted.

“That’s what I thought.” Gabrielle exhaled nervously. They started to move forward, towards the now brightening opening that led into the stadium. She’d poked her head in here the day before and studied the large open space, ringed with stone seating, and she wondered if it would look just as scary as it had then.

They cleared the arch, and she had her answer. The entire stadium was filled with spectators, despite the early hour, and they erupted in cheers as the participants emerged. Gabrielle felt like the sound was beating against her skin, and she only just kept herself from huddling against her soulmate. Everyone around her raised their arms to acknowledge the cheers, and Xena used that excuse to let hers fall down around Gabrielle’s shoulders once they started moving again.

It was wonderful. It was horrible. It was color and chaos and Gabrielle was hard put to figure out where to look next. There was a cleared area in the center of the stadium, inside where all the events were going to take place. Circling the edge of the seating area was the running track, and inside that were the pits for the spear toss, the discus, an area set aside for archery, a stone ring for wrestling, hand to hand combat, and quarterstaff, and the large sunken square that would hold the fierce no holds barred gladiator matches. All around in the audience were colorful streams of cloth, evidently indicating the different towns that had athletes competing. Gabrielle felt a little sad knowing there was none out there for Amphipolis, and she briefly wished their friends and family would arrive to give them at least a few friendly faces in the crowd.

It was warm, and by the stuffy feel of the air, would only get warmer as the day went on. The bard predicted she’d be glad of their scant clothing before the sun touched it’s midpoint, and wished she’d remembered to get more aloe from the market. “Xe?”

Xena had been scanning the crowd intently, as they moved with the block of athletes. “Hm?” She answered, but didn’t look down.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

“I know.” Xena replied gently. “So do I.” She edged Gabrielle to the right a little, and indicated something with a faint twitch of her chin.

The bard’s eyes lifted and focused on a draped platform above the audience. Ostensibly, it was to shade the aristocratic rich who lounged under it, but seated grandly atop it were several well know, to her at least, figures. “Ah. Can everyone see them?”

“I doubt it.” The warrior said. “Or they’d be running and screaming.” Her eyes were fixed on the tall, leather clad figure sprawled in a chair nearest them. The arrogant head turned and met her gaze, without a hint of friendliness. “Gang’s all here, I guess. Ares, Aphrodite, Athena.. is that Artemis back there?”

Gabrielle squinted, then rubbed her eyes. The gods seemed a little fuzzy to her, as though a haze obscured them. “I can’t tell.. it’s blurry.”

“They’re blocking everyone else from seeing them.” Xena stated.

Gabrielle gazed thoughtfully at the huge back of the man in front of them for a long instant. “So why can we?” She asked suddenly.

Xena didn’t answer, because they were being shuffled into lines by purple toga’d officials who held scrolls and were asking questions.

What answer did she really have for Gabrielle anyway? Why did they see the gods? Who knew? Because they knew them, maybe? Xena dismissed the issue and concentrated on the small, wizened man in front of her. “Yes?”

“City?” The man asked briskly.

“Amphipolis.” Xena replied.

“Amphipolis? No city here by that name.” The man said.

“Look again.”

He looked up sharply, to find icy blue eyes looking back at him. “Name?”

“Xena.”

He stared at her for a long instant, then ruffled through his parchments, finally coming upon the very last one in the pile. With a grunt, he scratched a note on it. “All right, fine. Where is the rest of your entrants?”

“Right here.” Xena rested an elbow on Gabrielle’s shoulder.

He looked from one to the other. “You have entries in every contest.”

Xena nodded.

“And this is it, just you two?”

Xena nodded again.

The man shook his head and made another note. “Idiots.” He walked away muttering.

Xena and Gabrielle exchanged glances. “What was that all about?” Gabrielle wondered. “Surely not everyone sent a dozen people to this thing, did they?”

Xena looked around her, and judged the different strips of color tied to the contestants arms which indicated their home towns. Only she, and Gabrielle didn’t have any. “I don’t know about that.” She had to grin. “But we never did anything the easy way, why start now?”

Their little friend abruptly came back, towing a young man with strips of cloth draped over his arm. “All the popular colors are taken. You’ll have to make do with what is left since you’re so late in entering.” He stated, coming squarely to a halt next to them and pointing. “Pick.”

Gabrielle cocked her head at the strips. “Would you call those colors brown, brown, gray, or mud?”

Xena selected one strip that was a dirty mustard color, and another in solid black. She handed a similar set to Gabrielle. “There. Matches your tattoo.”

The official handed them two slips of parchment. “These are the events, that’s when they start, this is where you have to be. If you are late, you forfeit. If you are not properly equipped, you forfeit. If you break the rules, you forfeit. If you…”

“I get the idea.” Xena accepted the parchment.

“Go to the center of the stadium, and wait. The master of the games will open the competition in a short while. After that, you will be responsible for making sure you follow the schedule. Understand?” The man tapped his quill on his parchment, giving Xena a severe stare.

“Oh, yeah.” The warrior drawled.

“Good.” The official turned and moved on to the next set of athletes, who gathered around him anxiously.

Xena shook her head and threw the bands of fabric over her shoulder, taking Gabrielle’s from her fingers and fastening them around the bard’s well defined biceps. All around them, people milled, an air of anticipation becoming almost palpable. “C’mon.” She handed her own strips to the bard and waited as Gabrielle tied them on her, then led the way towards the center of the stadium.

There were already other competitors grouped there, and Gabrielle felt hostile eyes fasten on them as they approached. She watched as the two nearest, stocky men with dark beards so similar they probably were brothers, lean towards each other and whisper, one of them pointing at Xena.

She felt dwarfed as they entered the holding area, and were surrounded by the others. She was used to Xena’s height, but most of the people around them were not only just as tall or taller than her partner, but were perhaps double the warrior’s weight.

Xena, of course, merely planted her boots on the ground and folded her arms in a confident stance, ignoring the looks and exuding an air of bored indifference. The scant wind puffed through, stirring the black and gold bands around her arm, but otherwise the warrior remained still, only her eyes flicking over everything.

Searching Evaluating. Those watchers who met that gaze turned their heads almost immediately, and in a sea of closely packed bodies there was a distinct body length space between any of them, and the dark menace in their midst.

Intimidation central. Gabrielle exhaled, and resisted the urge to hide behind Xena’s tall body. Instead, she braced her legs shoulder width apart, and put her hands behind her back, looking around her with determined interest. She met the dark looks with a smile, and wished like Hades they were done with this, and done with the race that was making her stomach knot, and out of the damned sun.

She wished Dori were here, and Cyrene, and her Amazons. With a sigh, she turned her head and glanced upward, blinking she found Aphrodite looking back at her. As she watched, the beautiful goddess smiled, and winked, then gave her a thumbs up.

Now what, Gabrielle wondered bewilderedly, was that supposed to mean?

A horn blew, it’s strident tones almost deafening them. As it’s note faded, the tall, white haired man she’d seen inside the night before mounted a pedestal, with the help of several lightly clad, hunky boys. The man held his arms up and faced first the crowd, then the athletes.

“My fellow citizens! We welcome you to Athens!”

A huge cheer rose, making Gabrielle’s head vibrate. It wasn’t a comfortable feeling. The athletes stomped and yelled, only making it worse. Xena remained still beside her, only the savage working of the warrior’s jaw muscles betraying the state of her nerves.

“Welcome to our Games!” The man shouted on. “Here, the flower of our youths will put forth their best spirits, and let us say, there can be no losers here at these games, for all who participate are the best!”

Another huge yell.

“I can’t decide if the noise or the hypocrisy is giving me the bigger headache.” Gabrielle muttered.

“For the glory of Athens, and in the service of the gods of Olympus, let the games begin!” The man’s voice rose to a roar, and on the last word, chaos erupted. The crowd watching stood and cheered, and threw bits of colorful debris into the air. A thunder of wings crackled overhead, as a flock of doves were released from somewhere nearby. Horns blared.

The sun rose over the edge of the stadium, bathing the scene in golden light.

Soft, white feathers floated down, drifting among the athletes. Gabrielle caught one by reflex, cupping it’s creamy lightness in the palm of her hand. The down tickled her skin as the sun reached her as well, sending a gilded strip across her arm.

She heard the scream of a hawk. Instinctively, she looked up in time to see a streaking, powerful form angle down out of the sun and strike a laggard dove, driving claws deeply into the bird’s body as the hawk unfolded it’s wings and veered off with it’s prize, struggling faintly in it’s grip.

Gabrielle looked at the hawk on her own arm, then she turned her head and found Xena watching her somberly. “Overly obvious omen?” She joked weakly.

A dark brow arched wryly.

“Sprint entrants, to the lists!” A loud voice interrupted them. “Form to the front of the track, please!”

Gabrielle tucked her feather into a fold of her clothing and squared her shoulders. There was no more time to think or worry now. “Wish me luck.” She asked her soulmate.

Xena leaned over and kissed her, then patted her cheek. “You’ll do fine, Gabrielle. I know it.” She gazed into the bard’s eyes. “Go beat em.”

And with that confidence draped over her like the finest of silk cloaks, Gabrielle turned and walked towards the starting point, keeping her head up as she found her place near the stone line, fixing her eyes on the finish and the woman who waited there for her.

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

Xena found her way through the milling crowd towards the end of the racing area, finding it easier as the athletes separated and headed towards the areas they would have to compete in. Those not participating in anything immediate seated themselves under light canopies in a space set to one side where servants circulated with cups and flagons of water.

It was too loud, too hot, and too chaotic for her tastes, and she cast a dour glare around as she staked a place out near the finish line and folded her arms. She could hear the voices all around her, placing petty bets on the race and commenting on the racers who now were lining up in preparation fro the start.

Most of the racers were women, as she’d expected, spread out across the short stretch they had to cover. The sprints would happen in two sets, of ten runners each and Gabrielle was in the first set. Xena watched as the bard’s competition strutted into their places, shaking arms and legs and tucking bits of hair and clothing into order.

Gabrielle stood quietly in their midst, watching them curiously as they prepared for the race. Some paced up and down, some squatted and did odd stretching exercises, and Xena could see the mildly perplexed look on her partner’s face as she apparently wondered if she shouldn’t be doing something like that as well.

Gabrielle was one of the smaller of the competitors, though two of the other women were not much taller, and she looked slight in comparison to the longer limbed and more muscular sprinters to either side of her. The brief linen wraps left little to the imagination, but while the others seemed self conscious of the crowd’s eyes, the bard stood relaxed, her arms at her sides, accustomed to having most of her body exposed from her years of traveling in Amazon style garb.

But now the man running the race was yelling a warning, and lifting his hand, which held a brightly colored yellow flag in it and the racers got ready. The sound of the crowd increased as the runners all lined up and stood poised, waiting in an agony of anticipation.

Then the man’s arm dropped, and ten bodies launched forward. Xena locked her eyes on her partner’s form and watched the race, seeing the serious, determined look on Gabrielle’s face even from where she stood.

They were all good, all very fast, almost even, the two women on either side of Gabrielle pulled ahead quickly, throwing all their effort into a tremendous spurt that got them ahead of the crowd.

There was a thunderous roar that vibrated through Xena’s sensitive ears, and she grimaced, her teeth clenching as her body sent sympathetic energy towards her oncoming partner, whose shorter but more powerful strides were keeping her just behind the two leaders. “C’mon, sweetheart.” The warrior muttered under her breath.

Had the race gone on a little longer, Xena calculated, Gabrielle’s steady outpouring of energy would have caught the two leaders, but she could tell the bard wasn’t going to have time unless something happened.

Then the woman in front, a dark haired powerhouse that reminded her of Eponin grinned in triumph as she bore down on the finish, already looking up towards the crowd to accept her accolades.

Bad mistake. Her boot caught on an irregularity in the rock and she stumbled, then lurched sideways across Gabrielle’s path.

Only the bard’s reflexes saved a disaster, as she ducked to one side, missing the woman by a hair’s breadth, her eyes wide in alarm as the dark haired runner’s body sprawled into the dust, her outstretched hand catching the heel of the other front runner.

The crowd noise was so intense, and the bard so concerned about what was going on around her, she didn’t even realize she crossed the finish first a moment later, the rest of the field at her shoulder in an ending so close it could really have been any of them. Xena ducked quickly around the surging crowd and got to her partner’s side first, creating a living barrier against the milling confusion.

“Wh..” Gabrielle sensed her presence and turned, her breathing coming in gasps. “Wh.. I..” Sweat was pouring liberally off her body, and her chest was heaving. “Xe?”

“Easy.” Xena got between her and the now upright frontrunner, who was complaining loudly to the officials. “Good race.”

“But I lost. They were just too fast, I…” Gabrielle stammered out, one hand clutching Xena’s arm. “What.. happened? I saw something coming at me an..”

“Shh.” The warrior rubbed her back gently. “Catch your breath first. You did fine, Gabrielle.” She reassured her, feeling the racing heartbeat already slowing as her partner’s breathing also slowed, and steadied. “That one over there… “ She indicated the dark haired girl.

“She won.. or.. she should have.” Gabrielle drew in a deep breath, and released it, then flexed her shoulders as some of the tension dissipated. “She tripped.”

“No.” Xena told her. “Well, yeah, she tripped, but what she did was lose focus.” The warrior put a finger on the bard’s nose. “You didn’t.”

The official lifted his hand, and made a chopping gesture towards the dark haired woman. “There was no foul.” He stated firmly. “That is my decision.” And with that, he pushed his way through the crowd towards the remaining runners, sorting through small pieces of parchment as a buzz of comment lifted around him. He finally stopped in front of Gabrielle, glanced at her armbands, nodded, then pinned a spring of laurel with three branches onto her wrap. “Well done.” He gave her a brief nod, then moved on, pinning first one runner, then another with springs of two, and one branches respectively.

Gabrielle’s brow creased, and she looked down at herself, then up at Xena. “What’s this?” She became aware, suddenly, of a ring of envious eyes around them.

“You won.” Xena told her.

“No I didn’t.” The bard protested immediately. “I can’t have, Xena. Those women were ahead of me, they should have won this. It’s not their fault there was a crack in the rocks.”

“I know. But you crossed the line first.” The warrior lowered her voice. “That’s what counts.”

Predictably, Gabrielle’s innate sense of fairness objected. “That’s not right, Xena. They should have won.” She frowned. “Can’t we just do it over?”

“No.” Xena steered her away from the muttering crowd. “Come on. Let’s watch the second race.” They found a spot to one side, near the pavilions. A water bearer trotted over and offered Gabrielle a cup.

“Thanks.” The bard took it gratefully, giving him a smile.

The boy smiled back. “Congratulations.. that was a great race.” He said shyly. “And I won five dinars on it.” He held up a coin, then disappeared into the crowd, leaving a very bemused bard behind him.

Gabrielle just finally sighed, and took a drink of water, grateful for it’s cool, sweet taste as it worked it’s way down into her belly. She glanced up after a moment to see Xena watching her, with a proud little twinkle in her eye. “It’s not right.”

“Yes, it is.” Her partner told her. “Gabrielle, you know better than most of the people in that race that it’s how you deal with the unexpected that makes the difference.” She said. “In battle, does fairness count?”

The bard thought about that. “No, not always.” She admitted. “You have to take advantage of the other guy’s mistakes. But this isn’t the same thing.”

“Isn’t it?” The warrior remarked, watching the second ten runners line up. “The three winners from your race will have to race the three from this one. So give your conscience a break, okay? Save your energy for the final run.”

Perversely, Gabrielle felt a little better about that. It wasn’t that she objected to winning, and she understood Xena’s point about the other people making mistakes, and paying for them. She’d learned the hard way about focus, and suffered her share of painful knocks and bruises when she’d lost her own in the middle of a fight.

She thought about her race, and how she’d kept up with the other two runners. It had been an exhilarating feeling, and that had surprised her. The challenge appealed to her newly developed sense of competition and the more she thought about it, the more she realized that it was her own skill, and her ability to retain that focus that had allowed her to react so quickly to the accident and still win anyway.

“Huh.” She sipped her water slowly as she watched the starter raise his hand. “I guess I did okay.”

Xena cast a fondly amused look at her. “Toldja.”

Gabrielle bumped her with a hip. “When’s your first thing.. it’s the spear throw, right?”

“Next.” Xena acknowledged, casting a wary eye over her shoulder towards the raised platform. “We don’t have to win everything, y’know.” She commented. “Just enough to make it a majority.”

“Oh, so you can slack off on some things, right?” Gabrielle remarked dryly.

Xena just looked at her.

Gabrielle smirked, and shook her head, then leaned forward and watched as the race was started. She was startled at how fast it looked. “Wow… these guys are a lot faster than we were.” She murmured. “Look at them go!”

Xena appeared to be counting under her breath, and she nodded as a tall, very well built girl with fiery red hair crossed the line first, raising her arms in triumph as the crowd now cheered with greater enthusiasm than at the first race. “Guess the favorite won.” She commented casually.

“Yeah.” Gabrielle exhaled. “No way I can top that.” She said, giving Xena’s cloak a tug. “Onward to the spears? “

Xena nodded, and turned to start the short walk to the cleared area she could see nearby.

Gabrielle accompanied her, ducking past a group of wrestlers headed in the other direction. “How’s your leg?” She asked, in a very low voice. “Will it bother you in this?”

Xena imagined the solid plant she’d have to do in order to properly throw the spear and winced. “A little.” She admitted, then paused as she spotted a familiar figure making it’s way through the crowd towards them. “Taking a break from the docks?” She asked as Draco arrived.

“The city’s closed down today.” The ex warlord said, his eyes running over Gabrielle briefly, then focusing on her. “Hey.. it’s the kid! The little blond kid! You lived to grow up!”

Gabrielle put her hands on her hips and regarded him wryly.

“Never woulda bet on that.” Draco laughed. “I like a sure thing.”

A thoughtful expression crossed Xena’s face, unseen by the other two. “Yeah, I remember that.” The warrior remarked. “Everyone knows Draco goes for the sure thing.”

“You got that right.” Draco agreed readily. “So, what are you doing out here, Xena? Don’t tell me you’re a part of this whole set up?” He eyed her outfit. “You gotta be kidding.. aren’t you a little too old for this stuff?”

If looks could kill, Draco would, Gabrielle was convinced, have simply exploded into little bits and showered them all with gore in an instant. “Wow.’ She said. “You actually survived all these years being that stupid?”

Draco glanced at her in startlement.

“I never would have bet on that.” The bard said. “C’mon, Xena.”

The warrior put a hand on her arm to stop her. “Wait.” She fixed Draco with a cool stare. “You here to make money?”

A shrug. “Sure. Why else? Plenty of provincials all fatted for the slaughter, so to speak, ready to take any odds I want to give them.”

Gabrielle glared at him in disgust.

“Good.” Xena wrapped a hand in the leather vest he was wearing and turned, starting off towards the spear pit and dragging him with her. “Let’s go. I’ve got an offer for you.”

“Hey!” Draco grabbed her hand, and tried to free himself. “Let go, you… Xena, I’m not your second anymore, and you can’t just… Xena!!!” He growled in exasperation. “What kind of an offer are we talking about here!”

“One you can’t refuse.” Xena smiled grimly.

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

“Let me get this straight.” Draco held up one hand. “You want me to wager a lot of dinars.”

Xena nodded, as she peeked at her competitors in the spear throw.

“On you.” Draco’s voice was incredulous. “Xena, you’ve gone over the edge. No way.”

The warrior gave him a dour look, then shook her head. “Wait here. We’ll finish this argument when I get back.” She unclasped her light cloak and stripped it off, draping it over Gabrielle’s courteously waiting arm, then stalked off towards where the rest of the athletes were assembling.

“Forget it, Xena, I won’t be here when you.. “ Draco started to yell after her, then he paused, blinking.

Gabrielle folded her partner’s cloak over her arm as she watched Xena make her way through the crowd, the way parting before her as though by magic. Even in this cluster of big, strong bodies her partner still stood out-not by her size, but by the almost indefinable air that surrounded her.

The sunlight flowed over her, marking the distinct contrast between Xena’s tanned skin and dark hair and the white garment that barely covered her. She’d taken off the bandage on her knee, and now stood easily by the spear rack, one hand resting on the stone pylon.

“Damn.” Draco finally recovered his speech.

“Something wrong?” Gabrielle glanced at him curiously.

“Nah, nothing.” The ex warlord muttered.

Gabrielle shrugged and turned to watch the competition. Xena had removed a spear from the bin and laid it across her shoulders, using it’s length to stretch her muscles out as she twisted from side to side. Around her, the other participants were doing the same, waiting for the games official to come over and stealing furtive looks at each other.

Xena felt the sun beating down on her back, and she let the butt of the spear she’d picked up rest on the ground as she leaned her weight on it. Her competition looked impressive, eight powerfully built men and two women, in this event that not every city would enter. Running, anyone could do, but using the tools of war was something else entirely.

Xena accepted her marker, which placed her fourth in line to throw. “Thanks.” She said, stepping back out of the way as the first man got himself ready. It was an easy event on the surface. You grabbed hold of the spear at its balance point or just behind it depending on how strong you were, aimed, and threw.

Simple.

Except that Xena knew that the heat, and the winds, and the moisture in the air all had a factor to play in the result. She watched carefully as the first man wound up, and taking three long steps before reaching the prominent marker on the stone, released the spear. It launched up quickly, propelled by the man’s powerful arm and arced towards the sun, traveling a long, long distance across the stone to land point first in a sand pit designed to catch the spears.

It was a very good throw, and the man knew it. It had passed all but two of the fabric markers, and the cheers of the crowd increased accordingly. He lifted a hand in acknowledgement, and sauntered back over to the rest of the waiting group, a look of proud satisfaction on his face. They would each have three casts, and so far, it was starting out a tough contest.

“She’ll never beat that.” Draco stated, with a snort.

Gabrielle merely leaned against a convenient stone pedestal and watched as the second thrower approached the line. This was a tall, muscular woman with sandy hair and a very no nonsense expression, and she released the spear with an audible grunt. It was a good throw, but not nearly as long as the first. The woman wiped her hands and stepped back, shaking her head and frowning. “Oh, I don’t know.’ The bard finally said. “Xena’s pretty competitive.”

Draco stepped up next to her. “Yeah, but that guy’s the best. He’s who I’ve got my money on.” He pointed at the first man. “That’s Selenus. He’s been training for these games for years. He’s a captain in the Athenian army.”

Gabrielle nodded, as the third entrant had a go. The stocky young man was overanxious, though, and his throw was far off course, and very short. “Oh.. that’s too bad.”

Draco snorted. “He knows he doesn’t have a chance. They all know it.”

“Except Xena.” Gabrielle interjected gently.

“C’mon, get real.” He answered. “I have no idea what she thinks she’s doing, but she’s so out of her legion here it’s pathetic.” Draco folded his arms across his chest. “See? Watch.”

They both did, as Xena hefted her spear and approached the throwing line, her casual attitude very much at odds with the rest of the participants. The warrior paused and regarded the sand pit at the other end of the area, then she flowed into motion, taking two steps forward and launching the spear overhand, with enough force to cause her body to lift a bit off the ground.

The trajectory was flatter than the rest, Gabrielle noticed, but the spear seemed to be traveling faster, and it lacked the tiny wobble she’d detected in the last three casts. The point came to rest in the sand just short of Selenus’, and dead center in the middle of the pit.

Rather than a roar, a buzz of voices rose around them. Gabrielle glanced at Draco. “Sorry, what was that you were saying?”

The dark skinned man looked quickly at her. “Lucky throw.”

A twinkle of mischievous amusement entered Gabrielle’s eyes. “Are you willing to put your dinars where your mouth is on that?” She asked. “Say, a hundred dinars?”

Draco’s jaw dropped. “Are you crazy?”

“I thought you said this guy can’t be beat.”

Draco looked at her, then at Selenus, who was giving Xena the once over. “He can’t.. he’s a lock.”

“Well then?” The bard drawled softly. “It’s a sure thing, right?”

He grabbed her arm and swung her around “Kid, you’re nuts.” Draco stated. “But there’s no law against taking money from looneys, so sure. I’m in. I’ll take that bet.”

“Great.” Gabrielle said. “Now, let go of me before you end up with a spear between your ears.”

“Huh?”

Gabrielle was facing away from the field, but she pointed back over her shoulder with absolute certainty.

Draco’s dark eyes lifted, then he released her and backed off, snorting slightly. “Oh yeah. How could I forget that possessive streak.” He studied her for a moment. “Shoulda figured there was a reason you stuck around her this long. Can’t be the conversation.”

A shimmering of memory crossed Gabrielle’s vision, the tragedy and joy of the last six years of her life. “No.” She exhaled quietly. “It wasn’t the conversation.” She turned her back on him and leaned on the pylon, not surprised to find Xena watching her with unsmiling alertness.

Gabrielle winked at her.

Xena relaxed visibly, and turned her attention to the competition, where the seventh person was just getting up to the line. She was pleased with her first throw, and suspected she could better it, though getting the distance wasn’t going to be easy without putting more pressure on her leg.

She folded her arms and wished they were out of the sun. It was beating down on her back, and she was caught between being glad she had almost no clothing on, and the knowledge that despite her tan she’d be feeling the sun after the long day ended.

The seventh man achieved a very good toss, off to the left but long enough to place him third. He acknowledged the yells of the crowd and surrendered the platform to the last competitor, turning and moving away. His eyes were still on the crowd, though, and he bumped into Selenus, who shoved him roughly away and cursed at him.

“Stupid bastard.. watch your step.”

The smaller man held a hand up in apology. “Sorry, friend. My fault.”

“Damn right!” Selenus shoved past him again and went to the spear rack, pawing inside it and turning his back on the rest of them.

“Oo.. a little tense, aren’t we?” He wiped his hands on his breechclout and settled himself next to Xena as the last man started his wind up. “Oh. Bad luck.” He winced, as the spear went off at right angles, almost endangering the judges. The man had misstepped, and his leg had twisted under him after he released the spear, and he’d fallen to the ground. “Bummer.”

Xena eyed him. He was compact and exuded energy, and reminded her almost irresistibly of the human Iolaus.

He seemed to sense her interest, because he turned and held a hand out. “You’re Xena, right? I’m Hari.”

The warrior clasped his forearm and released it. “Nice throw.” She complimented him.

“Not nice enough.” Hari agreed cheerfully. “But I’ve got two shots left to be you and his royal monstrosity over there.” He ignored the glower from Selenus. “You’ve got an interesting technique.. where’d you learn it? Overseas? In the South?”

“Having to hit a soldier between the eyes at two hundred lengths.” Xena replied. “In battle.”

Hari scratched the side of his bearded jaw. “Shoulda seen that one coming, huh?”

Xena found herself liking the little scamp. “Yeah.”

Selenus moved up to the line again, and readied himself, flexing his huge shoulders and rocking a little bit in place. Then he wound up and surged into motion, whipping his arm forward and sending the spear into another incredible arc.

“He’s such a pig.” Hari sighed. “Farts every time he lets it go. D’ja hear him?”

Xena couldn’t’ quite suppress a chuckle at that.

Selenus gave his throw an approving nod, and walked away from the line. The spear had gone at least a length beyond his first one.

Xena had, she realized, her work cut out for her.

“Hey babycakes!”

Gabrielle almost jumped, before her mind recognized the voice and she forced herself not to react. Mindful of Draco’s watching presence, she eased her head to the right and found Aphrodite materializing right next to her, the goddess bringing a scent of roses and honey with her that made the bard’s nose twitch. “Hi.” She murmured under her breath.

“Congrats!” Aphrodite complimented her. “I always said you’ve got a great pair of legs.”

The bard blushed a little and glanced away for a second, focusing on Xena as she went to take her turn. “Thanks.” She said. “I know we’re not the most popular people with some of your family right now.”

The Goddess of Love laughed, her musical voice rising above the crowd and the noise. ‘Baby, you are rocking my world, didja know that? I am like, so loving the both of you right now.”

Gabrielle had no idea of what to say about that, so she remained silent, her eyes glued on her partner’s tall from as she paused for a moment, then took two quick strides, planted her legs, and let loose. Gabrielle winced in reaction, seeing the jerk go up Xena’s spine as she pulled back, taking the weight off her bad leg, but the spear flew straight and true, seeming to skim over the air forever until it fell to earth at last, it’s point burying itself the length of Gabrielle’s outstretched arms past Selenus’.

She could sense shock in the watchers, but it went right past her as she ducked under the barrier around the spear pit and headed for Xena’s side, barely aware of Aphrodite floating along with her. The official glanced at her and started to say something, but spotted the laurel leaves pinned to her top and subsided, turning instead to another man who showed him a scrap of parchment.

“Xe?” Gabrielle reached the warrior’s side and put a hand on her arm as Xena leaned back against the spear bin.

“Yes.” Xena enunciated the word precisely, giving the hovering Aphrodite a cursory look.

Everyone was looking at them, Gabrielle realized. Not only the crowd, but the other participants, and the officials, and one look at Xena’s expression told her there was no way that warrior façade was going to crack even an inch anytime soon. “Want some water?” She changed her plan in mid word and handed over the waterskin she’d picked up. “Nice throw! I think you’re winning.”

“Heck yeah. Nice toss, oh tall, dark and diabolical one.” Aphro flicked Xena in the head with a bit of her chiffon. “You rock”

“Tell your brother that.” Xena muttered, taking a sip of the water.

“Oh yeah, he’s pissed.” The Goddess agreed. “He’s up there chewing the laces off his vest. It’s awesome.” She smiled at Xena. ‘I love it.”

Xena just looked at her.

“Listen, like, I love talking to you guys, but I’ve gotta get back for the celestial wine serving… I just wanted to tell you to watch out.” Aphrodite told them. “Bro’s really ticked, and there’s this bet.. well, let’s just say losing’s not an option for him, m’kay?”

“What do you mean?” Gabrielle asked. “I thought this was all about us going to war.”

“Oh yeah, that.” The goddess waved a hand. “No, this is really important stuff. He bet daddy he could control this whole big old mess, and if he loses, he, like, really loses if you catch my drift.”

Xena and Gabrielle exchanged glances. “I couldn’t catch your drift with a fathom wide fishing net.” Xena snapped edgily. “What in Hades can he lose, those tight leather pants?”

“Duh.” Aphrodite rolled her eyes. “Mortals… gotta love em. No, danger chick, he’ll lose his sword. Daddy’s going to make him the ex God of War.” She poked Xena in the shoulder. “So, like, watch your back, huh? “ She snapped her fingers, and disappeared, leaving behind a soft tinkling sound that faded slowly.

Xena exhaled, rubbing her temple with one hand. “Gabrielle, if this gets any more complicated I’m gonna lose it.”

The bard prudently remained silent for a few moments, as they watched the next couple of throws fall far short of the leader’s. “How’s your leg?”

“Lousy.” Xena stated shortly. “I may have to give this last one a miss… need some herbs.”

Gabrielle let out a long, heartfelt sigh. “I bet Draco a hundred dinars you’d win.” She almost felt the silence beating against her before she reluctantly turned her head and looked up, meeting those ice blue eyes unflinchingly. “I’ll go forfeit.. I can make it up to him somehow.”

The warrior just looked at her.

“Did it again, didn’t I?”

Xena flexed her leg, and handed the waterskin back. “What would I do without you?” She ruffled Gabrielle’s hair affectionately. “I’ll see what I can do about making sure you don’t’ lose your skirt. “ She put a finger on Gabrielle’s chin and smiled, just a little. “But you are going to owe me big time tonight.”

The bard tried to pretend she didn’t see all the smirks in her direction. “Body, heart and soul – it’s all yours.” She replied.

“Last round!” The official yelled nearby. “Make ready!”

Xena squeezed the bard’s shoulder in silence, then turned and lifted her spear, going to join the group now lining up.

Gabrielle walked back over to where Draco was still standing and joined him in watching as Selenus uncorked a huge one, sending his spear almost to the end of the pit. Draco chuckled in triumph, and gave her a poke

“Pay up, kid. She can’t beat that.”

Gabrielle merely watched, hearing the crowd’s yelling getting louder and louder as each entrant fell short, until it came up to Xena’s turn again. This time, she could see the focus in every line of her partner’s body, and the hairs n the back of her own neck prickled as she tensed in sympathy, willing Xena all the energy she could muster.

She could almost feel the intensity, see the fire in Xena’s eyes, and feel the power as the warrior surged towards the line, picked her target and let fly.

And with a sound like a thundercrack, the spear overshot the pit and slammed into a stone bust on the other side, knocking it off it’s pedestal and sending it to shatter in chunks on the ground.

For a moment, there was only shocked silence. Then Xena walked over to the official, plucked the laurel cluster from his hand, and kept going.

“Xena never loses. You should know that, Draco.” Gabrielle said, watching her approach. “So, are you going to bet with us, or against us?”

The ex warlord put his hands on his hips, and snorted. “What choice do I have? He asked, as his eyes met Xena’s. “I have to bet with you, just to break even now.” With a shake of his head, he turned and stalked off, leaving Xena and Gabrielle in a small empty space in all that chaos.

Xena draped an arm over the bard’s shoulders and handed her the laurel leaves. “You’re skirt’s safe.” She announced dryly.

“Thanks.” Gabrielle replied softly. “We’ve got a break now, until after noon. Want to go find some shade?”

“Lead on.” Xena sucked in a breath and let the ache go past her as she started walking again. She had the feeling it was going to be a very, very long day.

*****

Continued in Part 9

A Matter of Pride

Part 9

Xena sat with her back firmly pressed against a low wall, a gaily striped canopy over her head which blocked the sun directly above them. All around her athletes sprawled, some with servants fanning them, others sucking down pitchers of cool water to fend off the heat.

It was smart, she recognized, to give everyone a break in the worst of the day’s sweltering. It was getting muggy again, and even Xena, who was more immune to the weather than most of the surrounding crowd, felt the heat sucking the energy out of her.

She leaned back against the stone surface, drawing a knee up and resting her forearm against it. There was a small, but distinct space around her, despite the intense crowding, and she was aware of being the subject of numerous furtive glances from the men and women nearby.

That wasn’t unusual. Xena reasoned. She was used to being stared at, and wondered about.

Her eyes flicked around quickly.

And feared.

Out of the corner of her eye, she sensed a motion and she focused her peripheral vision on it, not moving her head. Across the pavilion, a tall man was coming in her direction. He was dressed in an athlete’s garb, and had a lithe, sinuous grace to his walk. As he came closer, Xena slowly turned her head and looked at him, taking in the hunter’s air and the sense of cold danger the man exuded.

He crossed the empty space around her and stopped with his boots just short of touching her leg. “You are the one they call Xena.” His voice held a hint of foreign shores.

Xena regarded him coolly, noting that the nearby conversation had ceased, and all eyes were on her strange visitor. “That’s right.”

“I would speak with you.”

Xena looked right, then left. “I don’t see anyone stopping you.” She answered. “Siddown.”

He let her wait for a moment, then in a single, graceful motion seated himself next to her, sitting crosslegged at her side and studying her intently. He was handsome, unbearded and with hair the color of Gabrielle’s that curled tightly against his well shaped head. His eyes were a dark gray, and held a wily intelligence that Xena readily recognized as a kindred to her own.

“My name is Denus.” He told her. “And I am going to kill you.”

If Denus expected this to shock Xena, he was sadly disappointed. The warrior grinned frankly back at him, her eyes twinkling with cold amusement. “Nice to finally meet someone in this place with guts and the sense to tell the truth.” She responded.

One of his fair eyebrows lifted a trifle. “I will kill you.” He repeated.

“You’ll give it a try.” Xena said.

“But you don’t think I will succeed?” Denus countered.

“I don’t kill easily.” The warrior told him. “Ares should have told you that.”

He didn’t answer that one, instead, he propped both elbows on his knees and steepled his fingers, peering past them at her face. “He has told me much of you.” Denus allowed. “Enough so that I have hopes that reason might win out between us, rather than bloodshed.”

Xena sensed a familiar presence approaching, at the fringes of her awareness. “That why you started out with the ‘I’ll kill you’ line?” She smirked a little.

Denus shrugged one shoulder deprecatingly. “It has a certain impact to it.” He stated. “Xena, I know not what your stake is in this contest, but let me tell you what mine is.” He gazed steadily at her. “I was born a Spartan.”

“I’ve fought against them. “ Xena replied quietly. “And for them.” That surprised him a little, she could see it in the slight widening of his eyes.

“I was captured before I became a man, and brought here to Athens as a slave.” He went on. “Four seasons ago, I was selected to be trained for the games, and become the champion of Athens.”

“Ironic.” Xena commented.

His lips tensed briefly. “I saw my chance, and I took it. I mastered all comers, and came to these games with my prize within reach.”

“A laurel wreath?” Xena asked, dryly.

“Freedom.” Denus replied, in a soft voice. “I want to go home.”

Xena felt the weight of that statement, understanding it far more deeply than he’d ever guessed. She was given breathing space to answer, however, when the soft scuff of boots against stone made them both look up.

Green eyes met Xena’s briefly, then moved to Denus with polite interest. Gabrielle was carrying a small basket, which she set down next to where Xena was sprawled, and joined them. “Hi.” She tucked her boots under her as she sat, and held a hand out to him. “I’m Gabrielle.”

Denus clasped her arm, and let it go. “Denus.” He replied courteously. “I am..”

“The champion of Athens, yes, I know.” The bard interrupted him. “And you’re here to try and convince Xena to get out of the Games and let you win.”

“Let me?” His ego stood up and snorted in indignation.

“Yeah.” Gabrielle maintained eye contact with him. “Because otherwise you wouldn’t be here.. you’d just wait for the competition if you were so sure of yourself.” She opened the basket and pulled out a piece of waybread, wrapped around a huge chunk of lamb. “Lunch.” She passed it to her partner, along with a softly gurgling wineskin.

“Thanks.” Xena accepted them, and gave Denus a reserved look. “You were telling me why you need to win this thing.” She took a bite of the lamb and chewed it. It was a little on the salty side, and stronger tasting than she liked it, but she’d had worse.

Denus turned his attention from Gabrielle and focused on her again. “They have promised me my freedom if I triumph here.. and free passage back to Sparta.” He said. “I must win.”

Xena sipped from the wineskin, pleasantly surprised at the rich, fruity taste. “That’s what Athens promised you.” She said, wiping her mouth. “What about Ares?”

He didn’t answer.

“He doesn’t care about your freedom.” The warrior leaned forward, locking eyes with him. “So what is it?”

“Nothing.” Denus said. “He has given me the knowledge I need to achieve my goals, and has asked for nothing in return.”

Gabrielle sighed, and shook her head. “How old are you?” She asked, in a kind voice.

“Twenty four summers.” Denus answered. “Why?”

“You’ve got a lot to learn, kid.” The bard told him. “Ares never does anything for free.”

Xena gave her twenty three season old partner a very droll look. “Her ancient Amazon majesty here is right. He’s gonna ask you to pay up sometime. You sure it’s worth it?”

Denus leaned forward, his face very serious. “My freedom is worth everything to me.” He said. “And I will win it… no matter what it takes.” His hand reached out, almost touching her. “You won’t stand in my way.. nothing will. Do you understand me? I care not about the tales or your claims – you will not defeat me.”

The warrior took another sip of wine, and studied him for a moment, idly entertaining the possibility that this young, very well conditioned fighter might, in fact, make good on his claims. After all, he was good, and determined. He was tough.

He had Ares as a mentor.

Her darker side grinned and licked its lips in anticipation.

“Denus.” Xena said. “A lot of people will die if you win. My friends.. people I care about will be put in danger, and I can’t let that happen.” She met his gaze with cold finality. ‘This is bigger than just you.”

“Ares was right.” Denus exhaled. “But I had to try.” His face hardened, and an icy cast slid down over his eyes. Without a further word, he stood and walked off, sliding gracefully through the crowd and disappearing from view.

“Well.” Gabrielle scooted back and leaned against the wall next to her partner. “That’s too bad.. he was sort of nice, in an arrogant, too tough for his sandals kind of way.” She put a hand on Xena’s nearby leg, squeezing the muscles under the skin lightly. “How’re you doing?”

Xena was sucking on her wineskin. “Not bad.” She remarked. “Where’s your lunch?”

“Right here.” Gabrielle had pulled out a sandwich, and it was lying on her thigh.

“You going to keep looking at it, or do something useful with it?” Xena teased her, nudging her with an elbow.

A sigh. “I’m not hungry.” The bard admitted. “It’s too hot…” She put a hand on her stomach. “I feel kinda queasy.”

Xena put the back of her hand against her partner’s cheek, frowning at the clamminess of her skin, and the paleness of her face. “When did you start feeling bad?” She asked, putting down the wineskin and paying full attention to the bard. Gabrielle’s breathing was little faster, and more labored than usual.

“Just a while ago.” Gabrielle gave in and closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the cool stone. “It’s just the weather, I think, Xe… overheated, maybe.”

The warrior picked up the waterskin lying nearby and uncapped it, then held it to Gabrielle’s lips. “Here.. drink.”

Gabrielle suckled obediently. “No fair. I’m supposed to be coddling you.”

“You can do that later.” Xena promised. “By the time I finish the wrestling bout tonight, you’ll probably have to haul my butt out of this place in a donkey cart.”

The bard rolled her head to one side and half opened her eyes. “You hurt yourself on that last throw. I felt it.”

Xena gazed at her, a touch puzzled. “Felt it?”

A nod. “Yeah.” Gabrielle’s face tensed. “Not like.. I mean, my leg didn’t hurt, but I.. “ She lifted a hand, it’s fingers shaping something indeterminate in the air. “I could just feel it – like a shock – like I got drenched in cold water or something.”

“Yeah?” Xena was curious. “That’s never happened before.”

“No.” The bard exhaled. “It was weird.”

“Hmph.” Xena’s brows contracted into a furrow.

“I think I felt it the first time, too, out on the road.” Gabrielle went on, thoughtfully. “But there was so much stuff going on, it didn’t really register.”

Another frown.

“Well, I haven’t had to worry about that for a while.” The bard said. “Maybe it’s just how that connection thing develops over time.. and we just didn’t know it.” She stroked the skin above Xena’s injured knee with careful finger. “And frankly, honey, I don’t want to get to know that bit any better, if you catch my drift.”

“Mm.” Xena worked a bit of her waybread off and offered it to the bard. “Chew.”

Gabrielle made a face.

“C’mon, if you don’t get something in you, it’ll just get worse.”

With a sigh, the bard complied, taking the bit from Xena’s fingers and eating it. It was small enough to pass into her grumbling stomach without too much trouble, and bland enough not to trigger a reaction. “I feel bad for that guy.”

“Denus?”

“Yeah.” Gabrielle accepted another bit of bread. “I mean, he’s so focused on gaining his freedom. He didn’t even talk about what would happen to him if he lost.” She chewed in silence for a moment, as they both sat there, listening to the buzz of the crowd around them. A horsefly entered her vision, exploring the tip of her boot curiously. ‘Xena..”

“I’m thinking about it.” The warrior said.

“Good.” Gabrielle took a cautious sip of water to wash the bread down. “We’re all set then.”

Xena swallowed a mouthful of lamb. “I haven’t figured it out yet.”

“You will.” The bard replied. “You always do.”

Talk about living up to expectations. Xena mused to herself. She could already sense the unhappiness in the crowd, who had seen favorites bested in two contests already. Amphipolis was a relatively unknown, backwoods province to most of the watchers, though she suspected once her name, and Gabrielle’s became known the attitude would change a little.

Would winning really be the answer though? Xena considered that. It would piss off the city, piss off the gods, probably get her in legal trouble, be painful, potentially very difficult, and would endanger the slaves the Athenian council had conscripted in to compete for them. Not good.

On the other hand, it would save Amphipolis from both their taxes, and the military conscription, and screw up Athens plan to go to war, both financially and more importantly, by destroying the over the top morale defeating all comers would give them. The council was counting on that to give them the support from the citizens they’d need to prosecute a war. If the city lost, and the citizens got hit in the pocketbook for it…

Xena sighed, and swigged from her wineskin. Then a thought occurred to her. “Gabrielle, where did..”

“Outside, in the market. Why do you think it took me so long?” The bard answered. “I figure unless we’re in the common room, eating anything from official sources would be dangerous.” She unwrapped her own sandwich and started picking at it. “You were right about the bread. I feel better now.” Gabrielle glanced up when she didn’t get an answer, to find her soulmate gazing fondly at her. “What?”

Maybe their partnership was growing. Xena found that thought intriguing, and surprisingly to her, very appealing. Gabrielle’s personality had been developing over the past few years, her experiences bringing out different facets and moderating her youthful impulsiveness with a more mature self confidence.

She’d loved Gabrielle for a long time, but now, the warrior mused, she was coming to like her more and more each day. “Y’know what? We make a pretty damn good team.” Xena remarked casually. “I think I’ll keep you.”

Gabrielle stopped in mid chew, only her mist green eyes moving as her lashes blinked over them. After a somewhat startled moment, she swallowed. “Was… that in question?” She asked, hesitatingly.

Xena felt the pang, a faint echo of insecurity that had plagued her partner since their initial meeting, and which, though almost totally faded, still lurked there, deep down apparently. “No.” She regretted the words. “I just thought I’d say it. We seem to be finishing each other’s sentences lately.”

A certain unconscious tension relaxed in Gabrielle’s shoulders, and she shifted slightly, pressing a little closer to Xena. ‘Yeah, I noticed that.” She went back to eating her sandwich.

Xena studied her profile for a moment, then draped an arm over her shoulder, pulling her over and giving her a kiss on the top of her head along with the squeeze.

Gabrielle peeked up at her. “Showed, huh?”

“That little ‘gimme a hug’ look? Yeah.” Xena chuckled.

The bard wiggled her booted feet in contentment, and pulled the basket closer, tugging out a pair of apples and plunking one into Xena’s lap. They both leaned back in silence and watched the crowd around them, knowing themselves to be an island in a very unfriendly sea.

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

Eponin paused to wipe her brow, and regarded the slowly growing city walls they were approaching. “Damn.” She sighed. “Never thought I’d be glad to see this place.”

“Mm.” Cyrene agreed. “Doesn’t’ look as crowded as I expected.. at least the road’s pretty empty.” She glanced behind her, where the group of elders was resting. Despite all efforts, they’d been unable to convince them to stay behind, and after that morning’s funeral pyre for Josc, they’d started off at a very slow pace.

Perhaps it was for the best, the innkeeper signed inwardly. Leaving them all there, despite the Amazon guard, had been making her almost as uneasy as taking them on to Athens. At least if something happened now, she’d know about it.

Gods only knew what Xena would say, though.

They were traveling up on the embankment above the road, now, struggling through the brush and uneven ground rather than chance the mired mud of the road itself. Along the way, they’d seen things trapped in the brown muck that once could have been human or animal, and the stench from it was almost overwhelming.

But they were almost there. It was late afternoon, and the heat was beginning to dissipate. After a few more moments rest, they pushed on. “I just had a disgusting thought.” Ephiny spoke up, from her place on the other side of Cyrene.

“Don’t share.” Eponin begged. “Please?”

Cyrene gazed at them in weary amusement. “What’s that, Ephiny?”

“Place is going to be packed. What if we can’t find sleeping space?”

Eponin groaned. Cait and Paladia exchanged glances, but continued trudging along behind them.

But Cyrene didn’t flinch. “Ah. Well.” The innkeeper cleared her throat. “That, at least. I’ve got covered.” She said. “I have an old friend who keeps one of the best inns in Athens. We may end up in the back of the stable, but she’ll find us space.”

“A stable?” One of the elders protested.

“Xena and Gabrielle slept in the stable in Amphipolis for ever so long.” Cait interjected smoothly. “I’m sure it will be just super.”

“Won’t catch me sleeping in no stable.” Bran snorted, jerking away from Eponin’s hold on the rope that bound her hands.

“No, you’ll sleep in the lockhouse.” Pony told her. “With the rest of the scum.”

“Bastard.” Bran cursed, and struggled.

“Blind scum.” Pony amended. “Stop that, or I’ll knock your head off.”

Cait whipped out a chobo and whacked Bran on the back of the leg, causing their captive to yelp. “Stop it, at once.”

“Bck.” Dori, strapped to Cait’s back, watched with interest. She was sucking her thumb, apparently oblivious to the heat and the stress of the journey. “Cat make bad go ow.” She stated approvingly. “Bad. Cow!” She pointed at Bran.

“Aw, hush ya little.. Yow!!”

Cait drew back her hand again. “Once more, and I’ll go a bit higher next time.” She warned.

Bran snorted. “Need a ladder to reach me head.. YOW!”

“Do not.” Cait settled back to the ground with a satisfied grunt, and a giggle from Dori. “Did you like that, Dori?”

“Go fly!” Dori squealed.

Cait glanced over her shoulder. “Sorry.” She apologized to the toddler. “I can only just manage a hop. You’ll have to wait till we get to the city, where Xena is for that.”

“Boo!” Dori started bouncing up and down. “Go Booboboboboboboboboboboboooooo.”

“Ow.. Dori, please.” Cait covered her ear. “I’m sure we’ll all be ever so glad to see Xena.”

Ephiny rubbed the back of her sunburned neck, and privately admitted the utter truth of that. For one thing, she held the belief that only Xena and Gabrielle could really keep control over Dori. The rest of them had to be on their toes and very alert every moment, lest the child get into something dangerous, because Dori simply refused to listen to anyone else, save perhaps occasionally Cyrene.

Headstrong didn’t even come close to describing the toddler. Dori was more like a tiny tornado, touching down and carving her own path across the landscape without regard to the life and limb of anyone else around her. She’d gotten loose last night, and after two candlemarks of frantic searching, they’d finally found her playing contentedly inside a half collapsed stone storage bin in the back of the abandoned temple.

Ephiny knew she must have heard them calling her. There was nothing wrong with Dori’s hearing. The child had just decided she was going to do what she wanted, and that was all there was to that.

So she would be glad to turn Dori back over to her mothers, who had a mutual adoration society going on with the kid and maybe then they could all get some sleep.

Who would have guessed? Ephiny spared a smile, and moment of memory for the first time she’d seen her friend’s little heir, only days after her birth.

It had been a cool morning in spring, when she’d started up the long, sloping road from the river up to the gates of Amphipolis. She’d been traveling for days, and she’d been very glad to see the familiar lines of the village rising up on the horizon, looking forward to the welcome of her friends and the Amazon sisters who lived there.

She’d woken before dawn, and she’d been looking forward to a seat at Cyrene’s table, among other things when she’d cleared the gates of the village and stopped to decide on which direction to go first. Early though it was, there was already activity going on near the inn, and she decided to take a detour down the left hand path towards a small cabin behind it.

She’d been glad she had, when she’d past the first set of trees and spotted a familiar, fair haired figure already seated on the porch enjoying the morning sun. “Gabrielle!’

The bard had looked up, and a big grin had crossed her face. Even from where Ephiny was, she could see the intense sparkle of Gabrielle’s green eyes and the pride on her face as she glanced down at the small bundle cradled in her arms.

Ephiny had been shocked. Gabrielle hadn’t been due for another month, and she’d figured on arriving in time for the birth of Granella’s twins, then being there for her friend for the last, hardest fortnights of her confinement.

Not that Gabrielle had suffered a difficult pregnancy, or that Ephiny didn’t think she’d be well cared for here, in her chosen home. But there were things in her friend’s recent past that the Amazon regent had found herself unable to forget.

Or forgive.

And as their eyes had met, she’d felt the weight of their shared history, and the knowledge of just how much a child, this child, meant to her young friend. “Well well.” She’d mounted the stairs and walked over. “What do we have here? Couldn’t wait, huh?”

“Nope.” Gabrielle had proudly straightened the soft covering. “C’mere and meet Doriana.”

Ephiny had, sitting down in the chair next to the bard. “A little girl.. a new little Amazon princess, I’m thinking.” She’d held her arms out. “Can I?”

“Sure.” Gabrielle had handed the child over, watching her as she cradled the baby. “She’s cute, huh?”

Ephiny had examine the newborn, finding a well grown baby with a cap of silky, dark hair and sturdy arms and legs in her clutches. “She’s beautiful, Gabrielle.” She’d said, delighted with the baby’s obvious health. “What a handful! You’d never guess she’s early.”

The moment of silence had made her look up, to find Gabrielle gazing back at her, with the most unfathomable expression on her face.

She hadn’t understood it at the time. “No offense meant.” She’d laughed, thinking she’d insulted her friend. “And how are you feeling?”

“Wonderful.” Gabrielle had replied. “It was all over so fast… Xena made sure everything went perfectly.”

Another shadow of the past was reflected clearly, silently between them. Ephiny had smiled in understanding, and then looked down as the baby gurgled.

Seeing bluish eyes gazing up at her in wonder, and a small hand reaching for her boar’s tooth necklace in infant curiosity. “Absolutely gorgeous.. what a head of hair on her already… and look at those fingers.” She’d watched as the child clutched on the smooth surface. “She’s going to be a strong one.” Ephiny had looked up at Gabrielle, “Like her mom.”

A smile had appeared on the bard’s face, crinkling her nose and sparking a sudden, brilliant warmth in her eyes. “Sure looks like it.” She’d agreed, leaning on the arm of her chair. “It’s hard to believe.. I keep looking at her, and just… It’s like a birthday present every minute.”

Ephiny had carefully handed the baby back to her mother, and enjoyed the sight of Gabrielle cuddling her, basking in a glow of new motherhood that had fairly made her heart ache. Her happiness had been so evident, and so deserved. “How’d Xena react?”

And Gabrielle had laughed, her voice lifting out across the cool morning.

Now, of course, Ephiny understood that laugh, though she really didn’t understand the how, and the why of Dori’s birth. She just knew that Gabrielle was happy, and that really was what mattered, in the long run. Though her first sight of Xena cradling Dori in her arms had been, in all truth, bittersweet, she’d had no doubt whatsoever of the warrior’s love for the child. Xena had fairly glowed with it.

“BooBoboboboboboboboo!!!” Dori squealed.

And boy, that kid loved Xena. Ephiny rubbed her ear. “Yeah, we’re going, Dori. Trust me.” She told the child. “Gonna go find your mama, and your Boo.”

“Mama.” Dori grinned happily. “Get mama, go get fishies, Boo go fly.”

“Well then. She’s got her day planned.” Ephiny had to laugh, along with the rest of them. They were now within easy sight of the city walls, and could see the intercuts made in the embankments to allow travelers to descend down to the city gates.

They made their way carefully down and approached the guards, who barely gave them a second glance after having seen so many travelers in the same condition for so many days. One of the younger guards came over, picking carefully around the planks that had been set on the mud. “Halt.” He sighed.

Ephiny held a hand up, and everyone did, the elders patently glad to as they leaned on one another. “Greetings.” She spoke to the guard politely, as Johan came up to join her.

“Purpose?” The man barely looked at her.

“Just visiting?” The Amazon regent hazarded.

An older guard, with rank marks on his surcoat came over, studying them curiously. “Amazons?” He inquired.

Gee. What clued you? Ephiny folded her arms over her chest. “That’s right. My name is Ephiny.. I’m the regent of the west mountain Amazon tribe.” She said. “These are my sisters… we are escorting these people, who have come from Amphipolis.”

The captain stiffened. “Amphipolis?” He asked, loudly. The rest of the guards quickly gathered around them, muttering. “The Hades you say!”

“Uh oh.” Eponin sighed. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.” She glanced around them nervously, seeing a limited number of escape options. Her hand closed over the hilt of her sword, though, and she watched Cait and Paladia shift and edge out, sensing danger.

“That’s right.” Cyrene stepped forward. “I’m the innkeeper there. What’s this all about?”

“That name’s not very welcome here at the moment.” The captain told her, tersely. “But I’ve not been given instructions to bar you… though I’d watch my back very closely were I you if you pass these gates.”

“Oh. Great.” Pony sighed. “Can’t we EVER go someplace and NOT be in trouble?”

“With your face? I’d think not.” Bran taunted her.

Pony glared at her, then turned to the guards. “Hey… you guys are the law, right?”

Distracted, the captain eyed her. “Of course.”

“Good.” Eponin handed him the rope, much to Bran’s horror. “Found this vagabond robbing citizens on the road… can you lock it up?”

“Hey!” Bran jerked the rope back, and started running, only to get trapped in the mud as she went off the planking. “Sonofa… “

“Get her.” The captain ordered. “I think… bloody great shield of Zeus, it is.. it’s that damned escaped slave!” He yelled. “Take her!” He turned to the group. “Move along… we’ll take care of this… and I thank you for bringing her in.” A pause. “Even if you are from Amphipolis.”

“Hey! Hey! You can’t leave me with these guys! Hey!” Bran yelled frantically, as the guards descended on her. “Hey!”

Ephiny watched them for a moment, then nodded towards the gates. “Let’s go.” She put her hand on Cyrene’s back. “Let’s go see if we can figure out what’s going on.”

They all shuffled past the gates, and into the city of Athens, pausing in silence at the grand vista that spread before them. A broad boulevard climbed steadily uphill, flanked with buildings and full of color, sound, and smell. Far off, they heard the strident roar of what sounded like a mob.

“Are we quite sure we WANT to know what’s going on?” Cait’s voice piped up.

Ephiny sighed.

“Bck.” Dori added, peering over Cait’s shoulder.

They all knew who she was now. Gabrielle walked quietly to her assigned spot, very aware of the palpable hostility directed towards her both from her fellow competitors and the crowd. Her throat felt suddenly dry, and she wished she had some water, as the officials readied themselves and the other runners got into place.

“Don’t think you’ll get lucky again.” The tall, red haired winner of the second race told her. “This is my day, not yours.” She took a spot right next to Gabrielle and stood easily, shaking her hands and flexing them.

“All right.” Gabrielle exhaled, glancing to the other side of her and seeing a pair of dark eyes, in a dark skinned face glaring back at her.

“Don’t even think about any tricks.” The dark skinned woman said. “You try anything with me, and I’ll make sure you wipe your face on that stone track.”

Gabrielle blinked at her. “Tricks? What kind of tricks could there be in a simple footrace?”

“Don’t act so innocent.” Red Hair snapped from the other side. “Just a coincidence the two best runners in the first race get tripped.. right near you.”

“What are you saying?” The bard asked. “I didn’t have..”

“Liar.” Dark skin hissed. “But you’ll get what’s coming to you in this race. There won’t be any laurel leaves for you.”

Gabrielle felt sick. She tried to do what Xena did, and simply let the words slide off her, but her nature was essentially different from her soulmate’s, and the hostility pressed down on her, making her stomach twist.

“Loser.” Red hair snorted. “Go back to the sticks where you belong.”

At that moment, Gabrielle acknowledged sadly, she’d have given about anything to have done just that. She closed her eyes briefly in an attempt to concentrate, then opened them and stared forward.

Ahead of her, the track stretched, and as she looked down it – seemed to narrow almost oppressively. The crowd’s roar got louder, and the strident tone started to get on her nerves as she wished silently that it was just all over with.

To her right, the official lifted his hand, and she leaned forward, feeling sadly unsure, and inadequate, and suddenly quite, quite certain that she was about to make a fool of herself in losing.

She started to shake, and felt a sense of panic rise, and desperately she searched inside herself for the balance that was deftly eluding her.

Then her darting eyes found, at last, a focus point as she saw Xena step out from the crowd and stand firmly at the end of the track. Never had the warrior’s tall, sturdy form seem a more welcome sight.

“Be ready!”

In that moment, all Gabrielle wanted, she decided, was to be at the end of that track, in the arms of the person who meant more than life did to her.

To Hades with the race. Let them win, let them have their nasty laurel leaves, and their stinking attitudes.

She had Xena.

The official’s arm swept down, and she just took off and ran. She didn’t look right or left, or care in the slightest what position she was in. She was aware, in a far off sort of way, of her heart pounding in her chest, and a loud noise around her, but seconds later her objective was obtained and she was hurling herself at full speed right into Xena’s waiting arms.

She heard the air come out of her soulmate’s lungs with a grunt, as they both hit the low wall behind the track, then she just hung on the tall body as her own tried to sort itself out. “S…sorry.. “

“Easy, champ.” Xena murmured, rubbing the bard’s back gently, aware of the direly fast heartbeat racing against her fingertips. “Take it easy, okay?”

“How bad’d I do?” Gabrielle gasped, blinking sweat out of her eyes. “I tried… I didn’t.. gods, Xena they were being so..” She sucked in a ragged breath. “Just too much.. try to make it up, Xe.. I.. was I last?”

“No, you won, sweetheart.” Xena told her quietly. “Fair and square. You came out first and never looked back, and they never had a chance.”

Gabrielle simply stood there, in stunned silence for a moment, as her breathing steadied. I won? She turned her head and looked around in bewilderment, seeing the other runners gathering around. The dark skinned favorite was leaned over, her hands on her knees, her whole body shaking with heaving breaths. Red Hair was sitting on the ground, a ball of frustration. The others were staring at her. At them, with resentful respect.

Very confused, the bard tipped her chin up and found Xena looking back at her with a quiet, proud smile. “How?” She whispered. “I didn’t think I…”

“I know.” Xena agreed, smoothing her sweat dampened hair back. “But I did.”

Gabrielle leaned her head against the warrior’s shoulder, taking a steadying breath before she straightened up and turned to face the crowd. With Xena’s stalwart presence behind her, she suddenly felt twice her height and found it easy, now to meet the eyes of her erstwhile competitors.

I know. But I did. Gabrielle’s mind replayed the words over, and over, and over again. It felt so incredible to hear that, and she savored it, wrapping it around her soul like the softest lamb’s wool. She felt her face creasing into a smile, and all the dour looks in the world couldn’t even make a dent in that as the officials walked towards her.

“A good race, citizen.” The older of the two greeted her politely. “You have a fine pace on you.”

“Thanks.” Gabrielle replied quietly, as they tacked a full sprig of laurel on her, a half circle of leaves tied with a bit of golden thread. “I guess I just had the right motivation.” She said. “And someone who believed in me more than I did myself.”

The official didn’t understand. He merely gave her a nod, and walked on to the second and third place runners, the two women who had been harassing Gabrielle at the start of the race. One of the other runners, a young woman about Gabrielle’s height and general build approached her, and the bard steeled herself for more of the same treatment.

Then she felt Xena drape her arms casually over her shoulders, and felt the pressure of the warrior’s cheek against the side of her head, and figured if the woman was that stupid, bring her on. The thought made her chuckle inwardly though, at herself. Gabrielle, bard of Potadeia, with her living cloak of intimidation, huh? She put her hands on her hips and waited, meeting the woman’s gaze with a proud one of her own.

“Congratulations.” The woman held a hand out.

Gabrielle exchanged clasps with her. “Thanks.”

“I like your training aid.” The woman pointed at Xena. “Know where I could get one like that?”

Oh. Well, that was better. Gabrielle grinned at her frankly. “There is only one like this.” She told her. “Sorry.”

The woman shook her head, then laughed and moved on. Gabrielle released a breath and turned around. “Where to next?” She asked. “Wrestling pit?”

Xena nodded.

A wince. “I saw those guys practicing yesterday, Xena.”

“Tough?” The warrior asked, as they started walking.

“Smelly.”

“Ah. Great.” Xena made a face. “Well, I don’t think my leg’s up to any extended contests.. better make it fast then.”

“You could hold a rose between your teeth.. that might help.”

“Not if I get a thorn up my nose.”

“Hm… how about a gardenia then?”

“Nah. I’ll just think of something worse.”

“Than smelly, grunting guys? Like what?”

“Dori’s diapers.”

Long pause. “Ew.”

“Mm.”

“Cyrene, you don’t know what you’re asking for.” The elderly innkeeper sighed, wiping her hands on her apron. “Do you know what’s going on here?”

“What, the games?” Cyrene waved a hand. “We heard, sure. C’mon, Sala, there has to be some space. You’re far enough from the city center.”

“That’s not the problem.” Her friend told her, lowering her voice. “It’s where you’re from.”

“Me?” Cyrene snorted. “Since when is Amphipolis the left front yard of Hades?”

“You haven’t heard?” Sala covered her eyes. “Great Hera, Cyrene, where have you been? The entire city’s afire with it! They’re saying Amphipolis has sent here to Athens to conquer it!”

Cyrene clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh. “My town?” She gasped. “Oh, c’mon, now, Sala. We haven’t sent anyone here late… well, just my daughter and her partner but..”

“Your daughter.” Sala repeated, leaning closer. “Xena.”

Cyrene nodded.

“Who has already won a laurel, and the other one with her a second, and is well on her way to upsetting the entire Games?” Sala said. “That daughter?”

It rocked Cyrene, and she took a step back, trying to absorb the news. “Hold up.” She murmured. “Xena and Gabrielle entered the games? Why?”

Sala shrugged. “Didn’t they come for that?”

“No.. they came to talk about our taxes.”

The Athenian innkeeper put her hands on her hips and shook her head. “By the gods, Cyrene. You must be joking.. the whole city is up in arms!”

“I don’t understand.” Cyrene replied, with a sigh. “But Xena’s got a mind of her own.. we’d better find her and figure out what’s going on.” She glanced at her old friend. “I’m sorry, Sala.. if I’d know what my child was up to, I would never have come here. I mean no harm to your inn.”

The older innkeeper’s expression softened. “You never did have ken over that girl, Cyrene, and we both know it.” Sela said. “I have space, and you’re welcome here, you and your neighbors.” She put an arm around Cyrene’s shoulders and walked with her into the outer room. “Who knows? Maybe the notoriety will bring me in some night business.”

“We’re not looking to be part of the entertainment.” Cyrene released a breath. “It’s been a tough trip. We lost a life in that flood.”

Sela grimaced. “We heard it was bad.” She said. “By the way, who were the half naked savages with you?”

“Amazons.” Cyrene murmured. “They’re not savages.”

“Amazons?” Her old friend snorted. “How did you get mixed up with the likes of THEM?”

“Long story.” A sigh. “Very long story.”

Ephiny sat on the edge of the low, but acceptable pallet, and rested her chin in her hands. “Boy.” She groaned wearily. “Feels good to sit down on something dry.”

“Too right.” Cait was across the room, on one of the second set of pallets. They’d been allocated three rooms, each with between four and six pallets, and though the surroundings were plain, they were clean and blessedly free of bugs, rain, and cranky elders.

Ephiny felt bad about thinking that, but she’d been about on her last nerve when they’d gotten to the city and to be here, alone with her Amazons was a profound relief.

“Bck.”

Well, almost alone. “What’s the matter, Dori?” Ephiny watched the toddler, who was seated on the rush covered floor at Cait’s feet, clutching one of her favorite toys. The stuffed dragon was much the worse for wear, but Dori hugged it to her like it was a precious artifact.

“No go, bad.” Dori looked unhappy, putting one hand up to cover her ear. “Ow.”

“Huh?” Eponin sat up on her elbows. “What’s that all about?”

“I think it’s too noisy.” Cait explained. “She’s got quite sensitive hearing.”

“Gee.” Pony laid back down. “Wonder where she got THAT from.”

Ephiny sighed. “Well, we should go find our little friend’s parents, and see if we can arrange a reunion. Would you like that, Dori? Want to go find your mama, and Xena?”

Dori’s eyes opened wide. “Mama?” She looked around quickly, then back at Ephiny in evident disappointment. “Boo?”

The Amazon regent heaved herself to her feet and walked over. “C’mon, kiddo. I can’t take that sad face anymore. Let’s go find your family.” She scooped the toddler up. “Boof… you’re getting big, or I’m getting old, Dori.”

“Go fly!”

“Oh no.” Ephiny settled her in the crook of an arm. “Not this featherhead, kiddo.” She glanced at Pony, who had gotten up to join her. “I wonder what it would be like growing up with Xena as your personal play toy?”

Pony shrugged. “Ask Gabrielle.”

“Tch.” The regent poked her with an elbow. “I seriously doubt she gives Gab piggy back rides or plays hide and… “ Ephiny’s voice trailed off as their eyes met, then startlingly, the blond Amazon blushed. Pony snickered. “Okay, let’s go.” Ephiny grabbed her partner by a set of feathers and started off, pulling the still chuckling weapons master with her.

“I say, Ephiny…” Cait spoke up.

“No, you two stay here.” Ephiny told her. “Keep an eye on things, all right? We don’t want any trouble.”

Cait watched the door close and sighed, as she settled back onto the pallet. “Rats.”

“Yes!” Paladia was flat on her back and she pumped a fist in the air. “Lucked out!”

“We did not.” Cait protested. “I wanted to go see what’s happening too!”

“Nu uh.” Her friend wagged a finger in the air. “You wanted to go find Xena.” Paladia teased her. “I figured you to start yelling ‘bobobobobobbbbooboboo’ right along with the pipsqueak.”

“Pally, stop that at once, or I will have to thump you.” Cait warned. “And besides, I would never call Xena that.” She added. “You better not either.”

Paladia wriggled into a more comfortable position. “No sweat.” She closed her eyes.

“Well, come on, let’s go.” Cait grabbed a convenient part of Paladia’s anatomy and moved towards the door, pulling her friend with her.

“Heyehehehey!” Paladia protested, holding onto the pallet to prevent being pulled of it. “No way! Hey! They said to stay here!”

Cait put her hands on her hips. “And since when do you ever listen to what they say?” She asked. “Get up at once, Pally, or I shall truly be upset with you.”

“Why?” Paladia moaned. “Can’t we just do what they tell us to do, just this once? Huh?” After a moment of silence, she looked up, to find Cait gazing thoughtfully back at her. “Well?”

Cait’s eyes dropped, and she walked quietly back over and sat down, resting her elbows on her knees. “All right.”

Paladia’s eyebrows met above her eyes as she frowned, confused by her friend’s unexpected reaction. Curious, she levered herself up and swung her feet off her pallet, sitting up just across from Cait. “Hey.”

“Hm?”

“Are you sick or something?” The big Amazon asked. “You’ve been acting really weird, even for you.”

“No.” Cait replied firmly. “There is nothing wrong with me.”

“Yeah, well I don’t think..”

“Pally, shut up.”

“But..”

“Please.”

“You bitch!”

Xena held her breath and bore down, using every ounce of her weight to pin her opponent to the ground.

“You stinking, piece of dung bitch!”

The warrior got her leg behind the man’s calf and twisted, nearly removing his joint from it’s socket. With a low growl, she tensed her muscles, feeling the strain across her back as she fought to bend the man’s body into submission.

“Augguh!” The man finally coughed, as one last violent struggle failed to move his persistent and deadly powerful opponent. “I submit!”

The official slapped the nearby post with a bamboo stick, making a loud crack that could be heard about the jeering crowd. “Hold!”

Xena released him and rolled well clear, forcing herself to her feet and straightening to her full height. It had been three very tough matches, and this one was the worst. The man she’d bested topped her by a full head, and outweighed her by half, and it had seemed to Xena like she was wrestling her mother’s prize bull back home in Amphipolis.

Except the bull smelled better.

Being surrounded by hatred didn’t help either. Xena drew in a breath and felt her instincts react as a hand lifted to deflect a throw bit of garbage that narrowly missed her head. She batted it away and watched it in disgust as it landed near her beaten foe, who was just now struggling to his feet.

They were in a pit formed by four solid walls, which surrounded the wrestling circle. Entrance was gained by a sloping ramp through a gate, and she was stuck here until they opened the gate. Above her, she could sense Gabrielle’s presence, almost feeling the mixture of pride and anger the bard must be experiencing at the sight of the rowdy crowd.

She, on the other hand, was just disgusted, and even the knowledge that she’d won the lists didn’t make it any easier to bear. As she watched, her opponent looked her way, then spat on the ground and made a rude gesture.

Xena wondered if it was worth the energy expenditure to remove his ability to use that appendage for the next, say, six moons.

Another piece of garbage winged her way, and she merely moved aside to let it pass, cocking her head as she was sure she heard Gabrielle’s teeth grinding together.

After a few moments conference, the wrestling judge reluctantly approached her, holding the laurel bunch in his hand. Instead of pinning it, he just handed it to her, then turned and walked off, leaving her there to the crowd’s displeasure.

The garbage came faster. Xena realized they had no intention of opening the gates.

She turned in a slow circle, planning her exit. The wall was high, but she knew she could reach it with an effort, but she wondered if she was going to have to fight her way through the crowd once she topped the wall.

A disturbance caught her eye, and she turned to see Gabrielle fight her way to the top of the wall, leaning a hand on it and extending her other one towards her. The bard looked….

Adorably furious. Her green eyes were spitting sparks, and if Xena looked closely, she could almost see the steam rising from her beloved soulmate’s ears. “Xena!” The bard yelled. “C’mon!”

Well, it was as good a spot as any. With a disgusted look of her own at the judges, who were studiously ignoring her on the other side of the pit, she started towards the wall, readying her body for the leap, and whatever came after it.

Halfway into the crouch that would send her springing upward, a sound rang out that stopped her in mid motion, though, as a familiar squeal cut through the jeers and yelling of the crowd.

“Boo!”

Xena hopped like a bunny rabbit, then whirled, her eyes searching the wall rapidly. It only took a moment, before she spotted the commotion in the crowd, and the sight of Ephiny’s distinctive form shoving her way through the unruly mob. She started moving towards the spot, ignoring the now veritable hailstorm of debris that was hitting her, her attention focused on a bit of wall right in front of Ephiny where…

“Son of a bacchae!” Xena bolted forward as a small form topped the wall, spotted her, then flung itself into space as fearlessly…

As fearlessly as she would have, damn it. “Dori!” She leaped the last bodylength and grabbed the falling toddler out of mid air, swinging her around and landing them both with a distinct thump.

“Boo!!!!” Dori squealed in utter joy, scrambling around in her arms and flinging her small arms around the warrior’s sweaty neck. “Bobobobobobobboboobooo!!!!!”

Xena covered the toddler’s body with both arms, and pressed her back flat against the wall, her eyes flicking around the pit, searching out dangerous missiles. “Hey, Dori.. glad to see ya.” She murmured to her daughter, as she suddenly spotted a very dangerous missile vault over the wall and land sprawling in the dust. “Look. There’s mama.”

“Mama!”

She heard a sword clear it’s scabbard over her head and looked up to see Ephiny and Eponin braced above her, Amazon feathers abristle as they cleared the part of the wall over her head.

“Throw that, and I’ll cut your damn hand off!” Eponin bellowed. “You Athenian piece of centaur dung!”

Xena felt a pair of warm arms circle her, as Gabrielle arrived, greeting her daughter with a hug and a kiss. “I think the cavalry just came up over the hill, honey.” The bard gasped. “Son of a.. I was going to start hurting those people.”

“Mama… go fishie!” Dori burbled, giving her mother a sloppy kiss on the cheek. “Go good now. Love you.” She returned her attention to the taller woman holding her. “Love Boo. Want Boo now.”

Despite everything, it brought a smile to Xena’s face, and she blocked the still screaming crowd out of her mind as she looked down at Dori. “Yeah? Who told you to come flying off that wall, huh? You could have gotten a real owie, shortie.”

Dori grinned at her, wrinkling up her snub little nose. “Fun.”

Yeah, fun. Xena looked up at the judge, and pinned him with the most severe look she could dredge up. “Either you open that gate, or I’m going to pull your arm off and use it as a key. Got me, buddy?” She rasped.

He was staring at her with the weirdest look on his face. “Open.” He turned and rapped on the gate, standing back as it creaked into life. “Clear the arena!” He ordered sternly, pointing to the guards. “This event is over!”

Xena looked up. “Thanks.” She spared a wry smile for their friends.

Ephiny leaned over the wall towards her. “Xena, I love you, but do me a favor, okay?”

“Sure.” The warrior chuckled a little. “What is it?”

“Let me get drunk before you tell me what’s going on.”

Xena and Gabrielle exchanged glances, as Dori started untying Xena’s chest covering. “Might make more sense then.” The bard murmured.

It might at that. Xena exhaled wearily.

It just might.

Ephiny slouched in one of the chairs, propping one booted foot up across her knee as she watched the twilight slowly creep across the floor. Pony sat next to her, listening as Gabrielle related everything they’d found out.

As promised, they each had nice, big mugs of cool ale, and the bard took her own cup as she sat down across from them. Xena was scrubbing the sweat off in the nearby bathtub, and Dori was ‘helping’ her much larger parent wash. A smile crossed Gabrielle’s face as she heard both Xena’s low laugh, and the baby’s delighted burbling amidst the splashing. It vanished, however, as she faced her two friends.

“So, that’s the story.” Gabrielle exhaled tiredly, the long day’s efforts coming home to her with a vengeance. “Now, you want to tell me what you guys are doing here?”

Ephiny took a long sip of ale, giving her a moment to collect her thoughts and decide how to proceed. “Well...” She paused as Xena stepped past her, a light linen shift covering her body and a very happy, albeit damp toddler cradled in her arms. “What happened?” She asked, distracted by the warrior’s significant limp.

Xena seated herself on the low padded couch next to Gabrielle and exhaled, as Dori crawled off her lap and made a beeline for her mother. “Had an accident on the road in here.” She admitted. “Tried to help some damn carter out and got kicked in the knee for my efforts.” The warrior regarded her injured leg, which was noticibly swollen, critically. “Not making it any easier, let me tell you.”

“Ouch.” Eponin winced in sympathy.

Xena merely shrugged.

Interesting segue. Ephiny leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees. “It was a dangerous road.” She murmured. “We hit some very bad flooding.”

“All the more reason for never leaving Amphipolis.” Xena stated. “What did they hope to achieve? I’m gonna assume you just went along for the ride.”

The regent inclined her head in agreement. “Pretty much. I got to town two days after they started out.. so I just followed.” She glanced at Pony. “As to why… I’d better leave that to Cyrene to explain. I’m not sure I understand it myself.”

“What was Josc thinking?” Gabrielle shook her head. “I know he’s got a thing for being in control but…”

Ephiny exchanged a glance with her partner and chewed the inside of her lip.

“What happened?” Xena asked quietly, watching their faces.

It was easiest just to use the plain truth, Ephiny had long ago decided. “Our wagon got washed away in the flood. We lost just about all our supplies and provisions, but everyone got through it all right except for Joscyln.” She paused, not looking at Gabrielle’s suddenly comprehending face. “He died in the water. We gave him a pyre yesterday morning.”

Gabrielle was stunned. It wasn’t what she expected to hear, though having lived the life she had, death wasn’t the shock to her that it might have been to someone else. “Gods, I’m sorry to hear that.” She whispered, her arms tightening around Dori’s active form instinctively.

“Damn.” Xena exhaled.

‘Yeah.” Eponin fiddled with her cup. “We all felt bad – I mean…” She hesitated awkwardly.

“Must have been a tough trip for all of you.” Gabrielle spoke up quietly. “I know the elders aren’t easy to deal with in the best of times.” She seemed deep in thought. “Josc and I didn’t see eye to eye a lot of times.. but I liked him.”

Everyone remained silent.

“I’ll never forget the day we were joined… at home.” Gabrielle went on. “And how he accepted Xena.”

“Mm.” The warrior nodded pensively. “He was a good man.” She added, seeming at a loss for further words.

Finally, Gabrielle let out a breath, and shook her head. “Why?” She asked, gazing at the two Amazons seated across from her. “I don’t understand, Eph. Why risk this? A trip at this time of year, as old as they all were.. and then…” She smoothed Dori’s hair, as the baby looked up curiously at her. “Why? It could have been any of them.. or mom, or..” Her eyes fell on her child.

“Dunno.” Pony spoke up, seeing Ephiny unsure of what to say. “Near as I could figure, they just wanted to go to the big city, and be known.” She said. “Don’t think they didn’t think you guys could handle it, but..”

“Yeah.” Ephiny nodded. “I think they wanted to do it themselves.”

Xena could feel the upset clearly in her partner, and she slid an arm around her, rubbing her thumb lightly against the tense muscles she could feel just under Gabrielle’s skin. “That doesn’t explain my mother.”

“Well.” Ephiny gave Xena a wry look. “She is your mother.”

Even Gabrielle smiled, just a little, at that.

“I think she felt responsible for those guys.” Pony added. “She kinda took charge.. came into the inn and said they were going, didn’t give us a chance to have much say about it.” The weapons master considered. “Didn’t ask us to go, matter of fact.”

“I’m very glad you did.” Gabrielle finally spoke up. “Thank you, Pony.”

Eponin blinked, but looked pleased at the words. “I’m bucking for Elysia.” She commented unexpectedly. “Figured a trip like this protecting your heir might about do it.” She tried not to look at Ephiny, who had covered her face hastily with one hand.

“Bck.” Dori was curled up on her mother’s lap, peacefully sucking her thumb. “Poopoo good.”

Gabrielle had to smile at that, too. “Were you a good girl for Auntie Poopoo, Dori?” She asked her child, who giggled in response. “Ah. I see. No, huh?” She hugged the child to her, and rested her chin on Dori’s head. “Thanks for keeping her safe.” The bard’s lips twitched a little. “I know it wasn’t easy.”

Both Amazons produced tiny grins. “Listen.” Ephiny studied the two of them. “We’d better get back, find out what’s going on with the rest of the bunch. We’re staying over at a friend of your mother’s place – want to come down and join us for dinner?”

Gabrielle cocked her head. “Mikah didn’t find you then, I guess.” She murmured. “Must have been busy at the gate.”

“Mm.” Xena frowned.

“Mikah?” Pony asked, curiously.

Gabrielle cleared her throat. “Someone who’s..um.. working with us.” She said. “We asked him to watch out for you guys.. he’s probably still up there.” Her eyes went to Xena’s face. “Tell you what.. why don’t we meet up with you guys in the morning. Give everyone a chance to relax over there before we figure out what to do next.”

Ephiny nodded. “Okay.” She eyed Dori. “You sure you are going to get a chance to relax? You guys must be exhausted.”

“Sure.” Gabrielle gave her daughter a hug. “We’ll be fine.” She said. “Go on, go get some rest.”

The two Amazons got up and drained their cups, then left, closing the door softly behind them.

There was quiet in the room for several heartbeats, as the sounds of the city filtered into the window along with a gust of evening air. Finally Gabrielle let out a soft groan, and slumped back, closing her eyes in utter defeat. “Oh, good gods, Xena. What the Hades did we get ourselves into?”

Xena didn’t answer for a minute. She reached out and played with Dori’s fingers, watching the toddler grasp her hand. “Shame what happened to Josc.” She murmured. “I wish they’d stayed home.”

“Mm.” Gabrielle agreed. “I’m glad we made up before I left. We didn’t agree on a lot, but I know he meant to do what was right for the town.”

“You realize this means you’re acting reeve, don’t you?”

The bard exhaled wearily. “Yeah.” She admitted. “One more mantle I never wanted. I’d give you a thousand dinars right now if I could just go back to being an itinerant traveling bard, Xena.” She turned her head and regarded her partner. “Those people today… I was so mad at them. I wanted my staff, Xena. I wanted to just start…” Gabrielle rubbed her face with one hand. “I don’t know if I can handle this. I definitely don’t know how I can get up on a stage tomorrow and face those little b..”

Xena pulled both the bard and her daughter over and wrapped her arms around them. “Don’t think about it right now.” She advised her partner. ‘Thanks for getting rid of them, by the way.”

Gabrielle felt her thoughts change direction as if by magic, and she focused her attention on Xena. “Your leg must be killing you.”

Just a brief nod in answer.

“I figured, when you actually had to limp in front of Pony.” Gabrielle said. “I brought back enough stuff when I went out during lunch for us to have a decent dinner here.” She interlaced her fingers with Xena’s. “Here I am bitching about having to go tell stories when you were the one out there getting pelted by garbage.. sorry, Xe.”

“S’allright.” Xena watched Dori mouth the crystal around Gabrielle’s neck, a favorite non snack of hers. “Hey, shortie. You glad to see us?”

Dori gazed up at her, then dropped the crystal and reached for Xena’s face, clutching the edge of her chin with her small fingers. “Go bad.” She scolded her beloved playmate. “No fun.”

“Ah ah.. don’t you yell at your Boo.” Gabrielle told her daughter. “She’s had a very tough day. Be nice.” She tilted her own head back and gently kissed her soulmate on the lips. “Thanks for being there for me today.” Easing out of Xena’s embrace, she got to her feet and handed Dori to her. “Dori, give Boo a hug while I go get us some goodies.”

Her daughter’s eyes lit up. “Cookie?”

“Oh, I don’t know…” Gabrielle made her way over to the basket. “I don’t think we have any cookies in here, Dori.” She glanced over her shoulder to see not one, but two disappointed faces. “Xena.” She chuckled. “Stop with the puppy eyes, willya?”

Xena pouted, then slowly eased into a recumbent position on the couch, stifling a curse as she brought her injured leg up and leaned back, with Dori perched on her stomach. Her knee had stiffened and the joint was now very swollen and tight again, sending bursts of fitful pain up into her groin.

Between that, and the pounding headache from the day spent in the hot sun – just lying still in the company of her family was becoming more and more appealing every second. Now that Dori was here, the anxiety she’d felt knowing her daughter was on the road and in potential danger was fading. Xena had, she acknowledged to herself, her two most important things on earth here with her, and everything else…

Eh. It would work out, somehow. It always did.

“Boo.”

Xena opened her eyes and studied the toddler sitting on her stomach. “Yeeess?” She rumbled, in her lowest voice.

Dori giggled.

It was nice having at least one creature on earth whom she didn’t intimidate in the slightest. Xena admired the baby’s round face, which held her partner’s character in it so strongly, and yet, already showed a lengthening whose planes were reflected in the mirror to her every morning. She reached a finger out, and Dori clutched it, tugging it back towards her with impressive, if infantile strength. Xena grinned as the child stuck the tip of her tongue out in concentration. “What’s the matter, shortie?”

“Boo come!” Dori tugged harder.

“Where are we going?” Xena bantered back. “You’re already sitting on me, y’know.” She flexed her abdominal muscles, bouncing the baby a little, making her squeal in delight.

“Boobooboobooboobooboo!” Dori chanted. “Boo, make hossies go fast, go see fishes. Poo poo go see fishies.”

Xena puzzled that one out. “You made the horsies go fast?” She asked.

“Go Go Go Go… “ Dori kicked her heels up, thumping her parent in the ribs. “Go fast!”

“Uh oh.” Gabrielle seated herself on the arm of the low couch. “They didn’t let her ride the wagon horses, did they?”

“Let her?” Xena tensed her muscles and lifted her upper body up, allowing the bard to slip underneath her. She settled back down with her head in Gabrielle’s lap, hard pressed not to release a sigh of contentment as her partner’s strong hands started a gentle massage of her temples.

“Did you ride the horses, Dori?” Gabrielle asked.

“Hossies go fast.” Dori stated positively. “Go see fishies.”

“Okay, so… you made the horses go towards the water.” The bard interpreted. “Then what?”

“Hossies bad.”

“Did you yell at them?”

“Yes.”

“Good girl. Then what?”

“Hossies got mad. Hossies hop hop hop.” Dori bounced on Xena’s stomach.

“So, they tried to buck you off, but you stopped them, is that it?” Gabrielle removed a chunk of smoked meat from the basket she’d set by the couch and ripped it into several pieces, one of which she presented to her soulmate.

“Gabrielle, you’re making this up.” Xena laughed, around the mouthful of meat.

“Hey.” Gabrielle shook a finger at her. “I’m a bard. It’s what I do, remember? Now, Dori, after you stopped the horsies, and they tried to buck you off, what happened?”

Dori sucked on a finger, then crawled forward, reaching imperiously up for some booty. “Mm!”

“Okay, here.” Gabrielle gave her, not the meat, but a bit of waybread spread with some softened goats cheese. “What happened to the horses, Dori?”

Dori sat down and pulled a bit of the bread loose, then stuffed it into her mouth. “Num.” She smacked her lips appreciatively. “Good!”

“One track mind.” Xena drawled knowingly.

“Don’t you start that.” Gabrielle tweaked her nose lightly. “C’mon, Dori – tell me about the horses.”

“Hossies hop.” Dori burbled, her words mumbled around bread. “No see fishies, Poo poo see fishies. Cat see fishies.”

“So.. they must have been chasing after her, and when she stopped the wagon, they went flying past and into the water.” Gabrielle decided. “Gods, that must have been funny.”

Xena had her eyes closed again. “Oh, I’m sure they found it hysterical.” She remarked dryly.

Gabrielle cast a fond look down at the familiar profile. She smoothed the dark hair back off Xena’s forehead, admiring the clean planes and beautiful features. “Open wide.” She considered the obediently opened lips, and resisted the temptation to put a bit of root in them. Instead, she settled a fragrant piece of honeycake there, and watched Xena’s eyebrows lift as she chewed.

“Mmm.” A blue eye appeared.

“Mama!” Dori scrambled closer, having finished her bread. “Cookie!”

“Oh no, you haven’t had dinner yet.” Gabrielle protested.

“Neither have I.” Xena reminded her with a lazy grin. “Be fair, mama.”

The bard rolled her eyes. “Okay, fine.” She handed over a small chunk of the pastry to her daughter.

Dori grabbed it and stuffed it into her mouth with a look of diabolical glee that made both her parents laugh. Crumbs dropped all over Xena’s shift and the warrior started picking them up and eating them.

“Boo!” Dori protested, grabbing for Xena’s hand with it’s captured booty. She sprawled over the warrior’s chest, capturing her fingers as she popped them into her mouth and tugging fiercely. ‘Mine!”

“Ah ah!” Gabrielle scolded her. “I told you to be nice to Boo, Dori. Remember?”

“Mine.” Dori protested. “Mama!!!”

Xena stuck her tongue out at the baby, who lunged forward and grabbed it with both fists, making the warrior break out in helpless laughter.

“Dori!” Gabrielle gasped.

“Mine!”

“Let go of that… it’s not yours!” The bard made a grab for her daughter’s hands. “Dori! That’s bad!” She freed her soulmate, who was still laughing. “And you stop laughing! That’s not funny, Xe!”

“Sure it is.” Xena reached a hand up and grabbed the bard’s tongue, and tugged it. “See?”

“Thstop dat!” Gabrielle bit down on the offending fingers. “Grrrrrr…”

“Grrrr.” Dori was delighted. She crawled up the front of Gabrielle’s body and pulled on the bard’s lip. “Cookie!”

“Ahguggh!!!” Gabrielle started laughing at the absurdity of it all. “Forgh!” She tossed pieces of cake at both dark haired pirates.

Dori released her and pounced on a piece, sitting down with a thump on Xena’s belly. “Mmm.” She grinned at her mother. “Good!”

“Mmhm.” Xena nodded, busy with her own mouthful. “Tastes almost as good as you do.”

“Gods.” Gabrielle just covered her eyes, and abandoned herself to the joy of the moment.

Then she realized what Xena had said. “XE!”

“Yeeeesss?”

“You’re toast.”

“How about honeybread?”

“Gods.”

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

Gabrielle laid a piece of linen over her shoulder before she picked up the small basin of water and walked over to the bed. She set it down on the table alongside, and sat on the edge of the bed. “What are you doing, Dori?”

“Make good.” Dori was busy tying knots in the rope belt Xena had used to keep her toga secured with. She was seated in the circle of Xena’s right arm as the warrior laid there quietly, her breathing even and her eyes half closed.

“Yeah? Are you making something pretty for Xena?” Gabrielle soaked the cloth in the cool water, then wrung it out and laid it over her soulmate’s injured knee.

“Good.” Dori repeated, scowling a little in concentration. “Mama, go story.”

Gabrielle glanced over her shoulder at her daughter. “Say please, and I might do that.”

Dori gave her a puzzled look. “Mama?”

“Say please.” The bard told her again.

“No.”

Gabrielle felt the bed move a little as its other occupant silently chuckled. ‘It’s not funny, Xena. I’m trying to teach her manners.”

“Gabrielle, she’s two.” Xena mumbled. “I didn’t have manners when I was two, and I bet you didn’t either.” One eye opened all the way and focused on her. “Don’t say it.”

“Me?” Gabrielle rinsed the cloth out again, and replaced it. “What did you think I was going to say?”

“That I still don’t have manners.”

“Tch tch. That’s not true.” The bard clucked at her. “You certainly do have manners, sweetheart.”

Xena grunted contentedly.

“Granted, sometimes they’re really bad manners, but..” Gabrielle teased her, getting a poke in the ribs. “Hey! Stop that.” She squirmed, then yelped as the poke turned into a tickle as Xena’s fingers slipped under the loose shirt she was wearing. “Eeee…”

Dori giggled. “Mama! Good!” She waved her rope at her mother, then abruptly discarded it to one side and crawled over to lie down next to Xena, hiccupping absently. Xena curled her arm around her and pulled her closer, and the toddler put her head down and got comfortable. “Booboobooo...”

“That’s me.” Xena rocked her a little. “You tired, shortie?”

“Yes.” Dori closed her eyes. “Good now.”

Xena and Gabrielle exchanged glances. The bard reached over her partner’s body and smoothed the cloth over Dori’s body, tugging a tiny sleeve into place before she ordered the thick, dark hair that curled around her baby’s head. “I missed her. I’m glad she’s here as much as she is, I think.”

“Mm.” Xena just watched her face, absorbing the warmth and love that lit it from within as Gabrielle studied their daughter. Of course, having Dori here complicated everything to an almost impossible degree, since they now had to keep their rambunctious offspring under supervision while they also achieved their growing number of objectives, but what the Hades, right? “I am too.” The warrior agreed. “Maybe she can help me out in some of the events.. what d’you think?”

Gabrielle chuckled a little. “In the adding insult to injury department?” She asked wryly. “Are you kidding? I don’t dare let her watch with me when you’re fighting.. good grief, Xena, she’ll be in the pit in a second attacking those monster’s ankles.”

Xena smiled, gazing affectionately at Dori. “She’s got a great spirit, that’s for sure.” She agreed, rubbing her thumb across Dori’s calf. “Fiesty.. fearless…”

“Just like you.” They both spoke together, eyes meeting.

Xena produced one of her most charming smiles, the full one that extended across her face and made her look almost adolescent. It was the one Gabrielle was incapable of resisting, and she responded with one of her own before she leaned over to rub noses with her soulmate.

“Aw, that’s so cute.”

Xena sighed. Gabrielle turned and peeked over her shoulder, to see Aphrodite perched on the table. “Hi.” She greeted the Goddess of Love. ‘You never got into that knocking thing, huh?”

“Like, on what?” Aprhodite asked, reasonably, using both hands to shape some invisible air. “I don’t do doors, remember?”

“Do you just pop into Ares bedroom like this?” Gabrielle pressed her.

The goddesses beautiful face crinkled into an expression of dubious horror. “Oh, babe, like.. ew.” She covered her eyes. “Just… ew. Ugh, the whips.. the chains.. the water bowls for the dog..”

“Bowls?”

“Three heads, dig?”

“Ah.” Gabrielle rubbed her jaw. “Okay, more information than I really needed, but.. did you need something from us, or were you just visiting again?” She glanced furtively at Xena, who seemed content to allow her to direct the discussion. Gabrielle suspected the pain was wearing on her partner, seeing the furrow in her brow, and the little, restless motion of her fingers. With a sigh, she rinsed and replaced the linen as Aphrodite got up and drifted over. “So what can we do for you?”

“Is that supposed to be that color?” The goddess inquired curiously, looking at Xena’s leg. “Boy, that’s ugly.”

Xena merely kept her eyes closed.

“No.” Gabrielle sighed. “It’s not. We had a little accident on the road here.”

“Oh.” Aphrodite seemed a little at a loss. “You mortals are so freaking fragile, arentcha?” She poked Xena’s toe experimentally. One blue eye opened and glared murderously at her. “Oo.”

“Stop that.” Gabrielle slapped at her hand. The sound got Dori’s attention, and the toddler squirmed around, pulling herself up with handfuls of Xena’s shift and peering at their visitor. “Now look what you did.”

Aphrodite perched on the edge of the bed, and waggled her fingers at Dori. “Hey, cutie!”

Dori gave the goddess a suspicious look, then put her head down on Xena’s shoulder and stuck her thumb in her mouth.

The goddess sighed. “Okay, enough fun for now. Listen.” She shifted and leaned forward a little. “Things are getting, like really icky.”

Xena gave the impression of rolling her eyes in disgust without moving a muscle. “You and your stupid games.”

“Hey.” Aphrodite gave her a look. “I’m one of the good guys, so knock it off, willya?”

Xena opened her eyes and glanced at her. “I’m in a bad mood.” She growled. “I had to spend the whole day getting garbage tossed at me because of some lousy bet going on up on Olympus, so you knock it off.”

“Xena.” Gabrielle put a hand on her thigh, and rubbed the soft skin lightly. “Aphrodite’s trying to help.”

The goddess sprawled on her side on the bed. “Gabrielle, you’re lucky I like you.” She stated. “Because otherwise.. “ She flicked her fingers at Xena’s supine form.

Gabrielle sighed. “Well, you know, the problem is she’s right.” She said. “All this is so Ares can have himself a war and win a bet, and frankly, that sucks.”

A shrug. “It’s what he does.” Aphrodite replied. “So anyway, listen up. This whole gig’s not worth all this hassle, you know? I mean, here you are, cooped up in this wack joint, with, like, truly hideous injuries and all that so..”

“So?” Xena asked, her blue eyes now alert.

“So why don’t you let me cut you a deal.” Aphrodite said. “My sister said she’d take care of that .. tax thing or whatever you guys were here for, and we’ll make sure you guys all get home in a jiff. How about it?” She watched the two faces across from her. “Oo.. I don’t like that look. Hey, we don’t want Ares to get in a bind, huh? He’s really a great guy.. nice to look at, fab at parties..”

“Aphrodite.” Gabrielle objected. “We’re trying to keep Athens from going to war. A lot of people will die, or get hurt. Don’t you think that’s important to us?”

Another shrug. “Mortals fight all the time. So what’s the big deal?” The goddess inquired seriously. “Hey, don’t get me wrong.. all that war stuff is like, so not my gig, but it goes on all the time. No biggie.”

“It’s a big deal to us.” Xena stated quietly. “So if I can stop this stupidity, I will.”

Aphrodite sighed.

“Besides.. “ the warrior went on suddenly, in a peeved voice. “I’m lying here with a halfway broken leg, and having to face a field full of kids, half of them trained by Ares. What makes you so damn sure I’m going to win?”

Aphrodite rolled her eyes. “Oh, Xena, c’mon. You’re like Mount Vesuvius with heartburn, you know? How many mortals do you think we actually bother with? I mean, like.. hello? Warrior Princess? Anyone home?”

Xena remained silent, regarding the ceiling with quiet eyes. Her leg was killing her, and the thought of being blinked home, intact and untaxed, with all her family and friends was overwhelmingly tempting. Aphrodite did, in fact, have a point in that wars did happen, and men did kill each other all the time.

Was it worth her pain and effort? The slaves would live, she’d go home, Amphipolis would be relieved.

Ares would get what he wanted. Xena thought about that. Was she doing this just to spite him? To pit her ego against his, and mess him up just because she could? The warrior took a deep breath. “Tell you what.” She finally answered. “Ask me again in the morning.”

It was hard to tell who was more surprised, Aphrodite or Gabrielle. They were both looking at her like she’d grown a second head.

“Really?” The goddess asked.

“Yeah.”

Aphrodite got up and twitched her diaphanous gown into place. “Well.” Her face brightened considerably. “All righty then!” She floated up over the bed. “Catch you lovebirds in the morning!” With a flourish, she popped out, leaving a fine mist of golden dust that covered the bed and it’s occupants.

Dori sneezed.

Gabrielle gazed quietly at her soulmate, as the faint sparkles came down between them.

Xena met her eyes calmly. “If my leg feels like it does now in the morning, I don’t think I can go any further, Gabrielle. We might as well get something out of this mess.”

The bard thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. “You’re right.” She replied. “It just really surprised me to hear you say that.” She admitted. “But I’m glad you did.”

Xena gave her a satisfied look, and patted the bed surface next to her. “C’mon.” She invited. “At the very least, we’ll get a quiet night out of it.”

Gabrielle set the small oil lamp carefully to one side, then put the basin and her rag away and slipped onto the bed next to her partner. She reached up, smiling, to brush the golden dust Aphrodite had left behind off Xena’s eyebrows, letting her touch linger as she allowed herself to get lost in the deep blue pools gazing back at her. “Whatever you decide, I’m with you.”

“Go Boo.” Dori added sleepily, one hand tugging on Xena’s shift.

Xena exhaled in satisfaction as Gabrielle snuggled up next to her, winding an arm around her stomach while the bard settled her head down on the warrior’s shoulder. She felt a gust of warm breath against her collarbone, as she allowed her body to relax.

The pain faded a little. She’d refused the cup of herbs Gabrielle had offered her, knowing she didn’t dare put that kind of barrier between her senses and their surroundings. Now, she closed her eyes, and hugged the bard and their daughter close, content to let the morning bring what it would.

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

Gabrielle watched the sun rise, it’s first rays stealing through the window to paint the bed in rose tones. She lay quietly, listening to the waking sounds of the city around them, her body still curled around Xena’s.

The warrior was still deeply asleep, and so was their daughter, her small form still tucked up against Xena’s other side.

A minor miracle. Gabrielle took a deep, peaceful breath, and released it. She was content to remain where she was until her partner, or more likely, Dori, woke up, glad of the moments of peace the wait afforded her.

She’d slept well, and only just woken at the dawn, feeling rested and refreshed. The lingering stiffness she’d felt last night was gone, and she felt energized, almost anticipating the coming day.

Under her ear, she felt Xena’s steady heartbeat slowly pick up, and for a moment, she closed her eyes and just listened to it, memorizing the preciousness of the sound. The fingers of her left hand gently stroked the bare skin just below Xena’s ribcage, sensitive fingertips tracing the few, faded scars that interrupted the smooth surface.

She felt it the moment Xena woke up. It was like.. Gabrielle paused, having nothing really to compare it to. She just knew if she turned and looked up, the warrior would be looking back at her.

Gabrielle turned her head and looked up.

Xena smiled sleepily, and gave the bard’s back a friendly scratch.

“You’re feeling better.” Gabrielle commented.

“Yeah.”

Hearing voices, Dori stirred and woke up, wriggling around from her position on her stomach and looking up. Her eyes widened in delight as she spotted her parents and she gurgled, grabbing handfuls of Xena’s anatomy and pulling herself upright.

“Urgh.” The warrior grabbed the small hands and disengaged them. “Gotta start sewing straps on these damn shirts.”

Gabrielle just snickered. She reached over and took possession of her daughter, rolling over and getting up out of bed in a smooth motion. “C’mon, Dori, let’s get you changed.”

Xena put her hands behind her head and stretched her body out, arching her back and flexing the powerful muscles in her thighs. Experimentally, she lifted her injured leg, and allowed the knee to bend, delighted at the mild, residual ache that seemed to be the only thing remaining.

With a satisfied grunt, she tossed the light cover back and got up out of bed, walking over to the window to test the leg out. It ached a little, yes, but she didn’t’ really need to limp, and as she looked down, she noticed the swelling had disappeared and the redness had faded.

Great. The warrior walked over to the washing table and settled her chin on Gabrielle’s shoulder, watching her soulmate change their wriggling child’s diaper. Dori didn’t have a lot of patience about getting changed, and she always tried to flip herself over and squiggle away while the ends of the new fabric were being fastened.

“Hey… stop that.” Gabrielle grabbed a moving leg. “Dori, be still.”

“Mama, go slow!”

“Well, pardon me!” The bard snorted. “Tell you what, how about we get you potty trained, and I won’t have to do this!” She tweaked a small toe.

“Guff.” Dori scowled. “Want Guff, bad no fishies.”

“Never satisfied.” Xena remarked humorously. “You always want something, doncha shortie?” She reached past Gabrielle and tickled the baby’s belly. Dori grabbed for her hand and occupied herself with that long enough for the diapering process to be completed.

“And what is this sudden fascination with fish?” Gabrielle wondered aloud. “Or does she not really mean fish, she means just something to eat?”

“Maybe she just remembers me catching the fish, and us eating them?” Xena suggested. “I don’t think I ever showed her how I get the rest of our meals.”

Gabrielle made a face. “I remember the first time I saw you hunt.”

“Me too. You screamed.” The warrior recalled. “Almost scared me to death.”

“I did not.”

“Yes, you did.”

“Xena!”

“Gabrielle, you did!” Xena protested. “Not that I blame you – that boar I shot squealed even louder.” It had been a truly comical scene, the warrior now admitted.

“Mm.” The bard grumbled. “It was a really ugly boar.”

“You made it taste great, though.” Xena complimented her, as she picked Dori up and swung her around a little. “Hey, do you still have..”

“The tusk? Yes.” Gabrielle smiled sheepishly. “Listen, I’m going to go grab some fresh bread out in the market, okay? I’ll be right back.”

Xena cradled Dori in one arm and put her other hand on Gabrielle’s shoulder. “We’ve got time.” She said. “I’ll grab us some fruit in here – why don’t you go see how the elders are doing.”

Gabrielle paused in mid motion as she was drawing some clothing out. “Yeah, I should.” She admitted. “I think part of my brain was trying to block that out.” With a slight nod, she looked up. “You’re right. I’ll go, and bring back some real breakfast on the way back. Will you two be all right?” A teasing grin took all hint of seriousness from her words.

“We’ll be just fine.” Xena bounced her charge a little. “Right, Dori?”

“Yes.” Dori appeared supremely contented with her elevated position “Boo get cookies.”

Gabrielle snickered. “You’re in trouble now. You’d better come up with something till I get back.” She gave her soulmate a little slap on the leg, then walked over to the wash basin to splash some water on her face before she got dressed.

“Am I in trouble?” Xena asked her daughter. “What makes you think I have cookies?”

“Cookies.” Dori started searching, pulling bits of Xena’s clothing around.

“No cookies down there.”

Dori grabbed Xena’s shirt collar and tugged it. “Gimme!” She scowled sternly at the warrior. “Be good!”

“Uh huh.” Xena carried her back over to where their bags were. “Where didja pick that up from, your Mama, right?”

“Mama be good.” Dori agreed.

“Always.” Xena said, sitting down and digging into the bag, searching for booty. After a moment, Dori commenced helping.

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

Gabrielle settled her staff firmly in hand, and headed off towards the inn their family was staying at. She had her old carry bag slung over her shoulder for her breakfast purchases, and she felt obscurely more comfortable now that she was back in her usual traveling garb.

As for the games, her staff competition wasn’t until late in the afternoon. Xena had a discus event midmorning, and an archery thing later on. Neither posed much danger for the warrior, that being reserved for the last day, tomorrow, when she’d have to face off against Denus in the fighting pit, while Gabrielle herself would have to suffer through the marathon.

Now that, the bard readily acknowledged, she had no chance at. She would do her best to finish, but long distance running had never been a skill of hers, and she and Xena both knew it. She’d halfway considered withdrawing from the contest, in fact, to give herself time to prepare for the Bard’s Challenge, but hadn’ broached the idea to Xena yet.

When she got back, she would, Gabrielle decided. She headed through the already active streets, her Amazon garb attracting some attention, but probably not near the attention she’d have gotten if the crowd recognized her from the games.

The air was a little cooler this morning, and she sucked it in with a sense of relief, wishing the fall wasn’t so far away. She was looking forward to the harvest this year, and the big festival they were planning. The little, snug theatre would be featuring one of her stories made into a play, and they had commitments from merchants as far away as Cirron to come to market.

It would be different, though, without Josc. Gabrielle pursed her lips. She’d known he was sick, and in a way, in her own mind, she’d started thinking about what might, or would happen when he went to his rest at last. But she hadn’t expected it to happen like this.

No. The bard regarded the stone buildings wistfully. You never did expect it, that’s what the problem was, wasn’t it? She never had, even with as much death as she’d seen, and it still hurt sometimes to think of the things she’d never gotten to say to people before they’d gone to Hades kingdom.

Like her father, for instance.

Gabrielle quietly put that thought aside, and picked up her stride, ducking down a side street as she followed the directions Ephiny had given her. She sensed a dangerous presence only seconds before two large figures blocked her path, but it gave her enough time to set herself and bring her staff up to a guard position.

“Hold it.” Celesta ordered “I just want to talk to you.”

“Do you always bring stinky thugs with you to friendly discussions?” Gabrielle asked, sparing a glance for the tall man in leather standing next to the beautiful woman. “Must put a crimp on your social life.”

“Athens can be a dangerous city.” Celesta replied. “I don’t like taking chances.” She looked over her shoulder, then pointed. “Let’s sit down over there and have a cup of something.”

Gabrielle considered the request, making her adversary wait before she finally nodded in agreement. “All right.” She followed Celesta over to the small outdoor café and settled in a seat across from her, resting her staff against her shoulder and curling one arm around it.

“All right.” Celesta leaned forward, her attitude all business and very unlike what it had been previously. “I’m not going to beat around the bush with you.”

“Oh, that’s good.” Gabrielle murmured. “My bush is taken.”

The other woman paused and regarded her, with a slight frown, then shook her head and continued. “You’re a very strange person.”

“Thanks.” The bard smiled at her, ignoring the thug who was standing with his hands clasped nearby.

“Tonight is the Bard’s Challenge.” Celesta said. “I want you to withdraw from it.”

Gabrielle regarded her for a moment. “You call me strange?” She inquired. “Why would I do that? I was looking forward to it, as a matter of fact.”

“Because if you don’t, I’ll have my friend there break every bone in Homer’s body.” Celesta replied, with a smile. “I know he’s an old friend of yours, and I know you don’t want to be responsible for that, you being such an upstanding young woman and all that.”

The bard had not been expecting that at all. She took a few moments to order her thoughts, as a server approached and offered a tray of mugs. “Thanks.” She took one and sipped it, trying to figure out what to do.

What would Xena do? Gabrielle exhaled, and gave a slight shake of her head. Xena would meet violence with violence, she knew – not her first choice of responses. “You kidnapped him?” She asked. “Was this contest that important?”

“I made sure he would not interfere with me.” Celesta replied. “And, yes it was. Bear that in mind. I will not be denied this. Anything I have to do to achieve my goals, I will do.”

“Is Homer safe?”

“Pathetically so.” The woman said. “Whether he remains that way is up to you.” She laced her fingers, a patently not nice expression on her face. “So. What will it be?”

“Let me talk to him.”

“To who?”

“Homer.” Gabrielle replied. “I want to see him – to see that he’s safe.”

Celesta’s eyebrow rose. “You don’t trust me?” She asked, in a snide tone of voice. ‘Why, Gabrielle. I’m mortally wounded.”

“Really? That would solve a lot of problems.” The bard commented mildly. “Let me talk to Homer, or the conversation’s over.” She continued, folding her hand over her staff and resting her chin against it.

Long, tapered fingernails clicked against the table’s tile surface. “If I take you to him, what makes you think you’ll ever leave again?”

Gabrielle smiled. “Because you’re not a stupid person.” She replied.

“Oh, is this where we get another threat from the famous Amazon?” Celesta leaned back, toying with her adversary. “I’m so scared.”

Gabrielle got up. “Time’s up.” She shifted her staff, rolling it behind her back and into her other hand. “So, what will it be?”

For a long moment, the auburn haired woman merely looked at her. Then she stood up and faced the bard squarely, her face hardening into a fierce intentness. “I’ll have him brought to a place. You show up, and you can talk to him, from a distance. If you try anything, I’ll have a crossbowman ready to spit him like a dog.”

“Okay.” Gabrielle agreed. “I’ll show up.” She said. “But if you try anything, all the crossbowmen in the world won’t help you.” She waited, as Celesta looked her up and down skeptically. Okay, so, she’s not as bright as I thought. “My partner will be there to ensure my safety.”

Celesta’s expression changed noticeably. It became wary, and very thoughtful. “Xena.” She murmured. ‘Of course.” She seemed to consider that for a moment. “When I’m ready, I’ll send for you. Be ready.” She stepped backwards until she was well out of Gabrielle’s range, then she slowly turned and walked off, her minion ambling behind her, never looking back once.

Gabrielle exhaled, and shook her head. “Damned if that wasn’t weirder than a bucket of sheep’s tails.”

“Madame?” The server inclined his head towards her curiously. “Was the cider sour?”

“No.” Gabrielle picked up her mug and sipped it. It was cold, and fragrant, in fact. “Give me a flask of it, would you? “

“Certainly.”

Xena liked cider. The bard drained her mug. And she’d need it, to swallow the latest complication Gabrielle was bringing back. A sigh. Maybe some cookies were a good idea too.

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

“Boo?”

“Yeah, shortie?” Xena was sprawled on her side on the floor, sharing a handful of tidbits with her daughter.

“You go bad.” Dori picked up a piece of walnut, and looked at it before stuffing it into her mouth.

Xena reached over and took hold of Dori’s foot, not tickling it, just holding it in her hand. “I know you don’t like us to leave, but sometimes we have to, Dori.”

Dori scowled. “Bad.” She clambered to her feet and toddled over to where Xena was lying, plopping down next to her. “Boo go, no fun.” She complained. “Mama go, all shh.”

Xena combed her fingers through the toddler’s disheveled hair. “Lemme guess. No one will play with you, and no one talks to you, huh?”

A pout.

“Dori, you scare the feathers off the bunch of them.” Xena told her daughter, with a rueful smile. “They’re afraid to hurt you, or that you’ll get hurt.”

“Play Boo. Play Guff.” Dori fastened her fingers on her favored playmate’s hand and tugged it. “Guff gots hat.”

Hat? “Did you put something on Ares?” Xena asked.

“Gots hat.” Dori put her hands on her head, covering her ears. “Guff no like.”

Why would they put a hat on the wolf? Xena wondered.

“Guff got owie.”

Ah! “Ares got hurt? What happened?” The warrior asked. “Did you hurt him?”

Dori shook her head gravely. “Guff go fishes, get owie.” She picked up a slice of fruit and held it, biting off the end with such a look of serious concentration it almost cracked Xena up. “Gramma got mad.”

“Yeah?” Xena mused. “I bet Gramma got really mad, huh?”

“Yes.”

“Were you scared during the flood, Dori?”

Dori looked up, with a puzzled expression.

Xena thought about how to rephrase the question. “When all the water came, was that bad?”

The toddler thought about it for a minute, then grinned. “Fun!”

The warrior sighed. “You’re not scared of anything yet, are ya?”

Dori spread her arms out and waggled them. “Gush! Gush! Go fast!”

Xena chuckled softly and shook her head. “Dori, Dori, Dori.” She straightened a bit of Dori’s jumper. “I can’t really say much, because there’s not a lot f things I’m scared of either.” She told her daughter. “Matter of fact, there’s only one thing – you know what that is?”

Dori bit off part of her apple chunk and peered at it, then offered the other half to her buddy. “Good?”

Xena leaned closer and accepted the tidbit, taking it from the baby’s fingers and chewing it. “Thank you, Dori.” She smiled. “Good girl.”

Dori giggled happily, and crawled over even closer, snuggling up against Xena’s belly. “Booboobooboo.”

Xena put an arm around her daughter and hugged her. “Hey Dori?” The round, green eyes looked up trustingly at her. “I love you.”

“Love you.” Dori echoed, throwing her arms around as much of Xena as she could in an enthusiastic hug.

Sometimes, Xena acknowledged, as she sat up and cradled Dori in her arms, Sometimes life wasn’t fair, because if it was, she wouldn’t have any of this.

But? That’s just how things worked out sometimes.

A sound came out of place, and Xena went quite still, extending her senses.

“Boo?”

“Shh.” Xena whispered, closing her fingers very gently across Dori’s lips. “C’mon.” Silently, she got to her feet and walked over to her bags, kneeling with Dori cradled in one arm to rummage in them with the other hand. She found what she was looking for by feel and pulled it out, hearing the baby’s gurgle of happiness as she recognized the object. “Let’s get you tucked in here, sweetheart, okay?” She murmured, slipping the carrysack around Dori’s body.

“Go fly!” Dori chortled.

“Not… exactly.” Xena got the straps fastened around her body and turned, rising and leaping across the room to get her fingers on her sword hilt just as the door burst inward, and chaos entered. “Hang on!” She yelled, as she met the first attacker, levering his sword out of his hand in one powerful upsweep.

There were a dozen, at least, armored, armed, and deadly serious. Xena got her back to the wall as quickly as she could and held her ground, forcing them to come at her in groups of twos and threes.

Idiots. The room was too small for that kind of mass assault. Xena ducked under one wild swing and slammed her elbow into the man’s jaw, snapping it backwards with a crunch. Then she whirled and nailed a charging man with a roundhouse kick, connecting with the side of his head and sending him sprawling into the wall.

They massed in front of her. “Morons.” Xena took two steps then launched into the air, flipping over their heads and landing, whirling in one smooth motion and kicking two of them in the rumps. They lunged forward and hit their heads on the wall, slumping down into an unconscious heap on the floor.

An attacker from the side. Xena met his blade with her own, her blood coursing now and the dark part of her rising fast, bringing a wicked chuckle from her throat as she easily outclassed her opponent, driving him backwards with short, powerful strokes that ended when she simply hooked his sword hilt with hers and kicked him the face, throwing him backwards over the table to crash on the floor.

“Boo Boo Boo!” Dori yelled unexpectedly, almost making her jump. She turned to see if the baby was in danger, and saw a mace coming at her. She ducked under it and closed with it’s wielder – too close to use her sword, so instead she flipped it in her hand and smashed him in the face with the hilts, spattering the stone floor with blood from his broken nose.

“Bitch!” A roar from near the door, and Xena turned, and leaped sideways, flipping once and landing to meet a savage bladed attack. Steel crashed against steel as they traded blows, and Xena felt a grin stretching her lips as she gained the upper hand, letting out a wild yell as she started shoving him backwards, his sword swinging desperately to meet hers, only barely deflecting it.

Two more bore in from the side, though and she found herself fighting all three at once. Her body moved in a semi circle, blade cutting the air so fast the individual strokes were impossible to see. Her body sensed and reacted with a solid, tempered strength, and as Xena kept them back, she could see in their eyes the beginnings of disbelief.

Of doubt.

She let out another yell, this one ringing against the stone in triumph, and watched the doubt turn to terror.

One missed a stroke, and went down, and she had a clear shot at beheading him. She set her shoulders and swung.

Felt a tug on her hair.

Her heart lurched.

As the blade touched his neck, her wrists twisted slightly, and the flat of her blade slammed into the side of his head instead, knocking him senseless to the ground.

She reversed her blade and punched the next one. The third got a kick to the groin so powerful she lifted his body up a foot and dropped him, screaming, to the stone floor.

The noise stopped. Xena stood in the middle of the room, her chest heaving, the only one still standing. Men were curled up on the floor, crawling towards the entrance, half had run already, abandoning their compatriots.

Feeling sick, Xena pounced on the nearest conscious one and pulled him upright. She grabbed him by the leather surcoat and laid her sword right up against his neck. “Who sent you.” She rasped, staring him right in the eye. “Five seconds.”

He was young, and had pale eyes almost the same color as hers. He was sweating profusely, and she could feel him shaking in her grasp.

“Three seconds.”

“D…denus.”

Xena released him, and stepped back, but maintained eye contact. “Tell him…” She smiled wickedly. “Thanks for the practice.” One arm extended, with the sword in it – rock steady as it pointed at the door. “Out.”

They ran, carrying their fallen comrades with them. Xena stalked to the door after them and slammed it shut, pausing and staring at it for a long moment. Then she exhaled in disgust.

“Boo?”

Xena was silent for a few heartbeats before she answered. “Yeah?”

“Mans bad.”

The warrior peered over her shoulder, to find Dori peeking back at her, the baby’s disheveled hair mixing with her own, identical in color. “Eyah.. they were bad. Bad fighters, bad smelling, bad looking.. they were bad, Dori.”

Dori pulled on Xena’s ear. “Boo good.” She pronounced positively. “Bad mens come, Boo bam bam bam, all go.” She said. “Good.”

“Think so, huh?” Xena murmured, thinking of the last minute change that had spared a life. She hadn’t wanted Dori to see that. To see her kill someone like that.

“Hop hop.” Dori hopped in her sack, thumping against Xena’s back. “Fun.”

Fun. The warrior felt a sense of relief. Dori was too young, yet, to understand, really. “Yeah, it can be fun sometimes.” She admitted, as she crossed the room and resheathed her sword. “But that’s not something you’re gonna ever know about, Dori.” Her hands unbuckled the straps and she brought the toddler around to face her. “You’re gonna be just like your mama, I promise you that.”

“Boom boom!” Dori wriggled. “Go more fly?”

With a soft laugh, Xena brought her close and hugged her. “Let me get dressed, then we’ll go fly and find mama, how’s that? I’m sure she’s managed to find some trouble by now.”

“Trouble.” Dori repeated. “Go mama!”

That about said it all. Xena sighed.

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

The inside of the inn was busy, as patrons enjoyed breakfast before they started off for the second day of the games. There were some furtive looks towards the corner table, which the Amazons had staked out, but there apparently enough strange visitors in Athens to make them a curiousity rather than an outright spectacle.

Ephiny leaned back against the wallrom and pushed her trencher away, propping a booted foot up against the trestle leg as she took a drink of her morning ale. Pony was sitting next to her, still munching, and Cait and Paladia were seated side by side across from them, also eating.

The door opened, and Ephiny spotted a familiar figure entering. She lifted a hand and waved, catching Gabrielle’s attention, and the bard immediately headed their way, easing her way through the crowded room and taking care not to bap anyone with her staff.

Ephiny was a little surprised that her friend wasn’t wearing the white robes of the games entrants, but had to admit the cool, forest tones of the Amazon garb suited her better.

In Ephiny’s very humble opinion, of course. Gabrielle herself seemed more comfortable in the thigh length wrap skirt and snug fitting top, which covered a little more of her lithe body.

“Morning.” The regent greeted the bard, as she approached. Eponin glanced up and waved a fork in greeting, her mouth full.

“Hi.” Gabrielle took a seat at the end of the table, between Cait and Pony. ‘Hey, you two.” She grinned at the two younger Amazons. “Thanks for keeping an eye on Dori.”

Cait put her bit of bread down. “It was absolutely lovely.” She told the bard firmly. “She must be awfully glad to be with you, though.”

“I think so.” The bard replied. “She’s got her favorite playtoy back. Which reminds me.. “ Gabrielle glanced at Ephiny. “Got any of her stuff with you?”

“Cyrene has it.” Ephiny pointed down the hall. “Second door, right hand side.”

“Thanks.” Gabrielle smiled, then got up and headed towards the corridor. “I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll order a plate for you.” The regent called after her. “No cereal, right?”

A pair of mist green eyes peered back over Gabrielle’s shoulder, and she shook her staff at her friend, before she disappeared into the darkness.

“Ah.” Ephiny exhaled. “Whenever I see her in that outfit, it brings back such memories.” One in particular, during the time Gabrielle had spent with them after Xena’s death, when the decision had finally come to her to exchange her travel garb for the full leathers and rank markings of an Amazon Queen.

Ephiny had seen the two dressers leave the Queen’s quarters, and she’d paused in the entrance, clearing her throat in lieu of knocking, her eyes fastened on the slight, fair haired woman within. “Gabrielle?”

Gabrielle had turned to face her. “Yes?”

“You look great.” Ephiny had entered the room, giving her friend an encouraging smile. Dark russet Amazon leathers graced Gabrielle’s body, carefully fitted around her slim hips and the newly muscled shoulders. They’d put her hair up, and added the finely carved badges of her rank, and the eyes that had looked back at her held recognition of how different the outfit made her look.

“Feels.. a little strange.” Gabrielle had admitted quietly. “But I guess I’ll get used to it.” She’d looked down at herself and frowned, tugging a bit of the ornate binding down.

“Here.” Ephiny adjusted one of the linked descenders that wrapped loosely around her biceps. She watched Gabrielle’s eyes fasten on her hands as she did it, the bard seeming pensive and far more docile than usual. “How are you doing?”

Gabrielle turned, and moved away, walking over to the table where her traveling bag rested. Next to it, folded neatly, lay her traveling clothes. She put a hand on the bundle, her thumb rubbing the fabric absently.

Ephiny had followed her, and reached out to take the clothes. “Here. Let me have them put this away for you. I..” She’d stopped, as Gabrielle’s fingers closed on the bundle, tendons suddenly standing out under her tanned skin.

“No.” She’d whispered. “D.. don’t’ take them.”

There had been a moment of awkward silence between them, before Gabrielle had spoken again. “If I put them away, it’s like saying goodbye, and I’m not ready to do that yet.” Her lips had tightened, and a blink had dropped a few tears down her cheeks. “Not yet.”

Ephiny had felt, just a tiny bit of impatience with her friend, she remembered. After all, she’d seen so much death in her life at that time, and had learned the hard lesson of moving on, and taking care of the living. “Gabrielle..” She’d moved closer, and laid a hand on the younger woman’s shoulder. “Listen, I know this is hard, but..”

“It is hard.” Gabrielle whispered. “I keep thinking I’ll turn around and she’ll be there.” She’d picked up the carved leather belt and looked at it. “She made this for me.”

That had surprised Ephiny almost to the point of speechlessness. “Gabrielle…”

“Sounds idiotic, I know.” Gabrielle had admitted to her. “But I can’t help it, Ephiny. I need some time.” She’d picked up the skirt, and the top and opened her bag, putting them inside to join the rest of her belongings and those few things Xena had left behind. Something had dropped out and rolled onto the table.

A rock.

“Ah. Now I know why those bags are so heavy.” Ephiny had teased her gently.

And with a lost, achingly grief stricken expression, Gabrielle had picked the rock up and looked at it. “Xena gave this to me.” Gabrielle had replied. “She said it was from a.. s..secret place in the south.. near the sea.” Her fingers had turned the smooth stone. “We were going to go there n.. “

Shockingly then, she’d stopped, and with a soft oath, taken the stone and whipped it from her, sending it flying against the wall with a sharp crack, shattering the rock into pieces which danced to the floor.

Ephiny had not known what to say to her. She’d sensed the feelings running through the blond haired woman were so strong, they were dangerous, and she’d wondered if asking her friend to take the Queen’s mask at this moment in her life was truly a wise thing for her to do.

“Come on.” Gabrielle had wiped the back of her hand across her eyes, removing the tears. “Let’s get this over with.”

Full of doubt, Ephiny had followed her outside, no longer sure she was doing the right thing for any of them.

‘Hey.” Pony poked her. “Did you fall asleep?”

Ephiny gave her lover a droll look. “I was just thinking.” She replied. “But if I was sleeping, it’s your fault. You kept me up last night.”

Pony’s honey colored eyes widened and she glanced quickly across the table the watching junior Amazons.

Paladia smirked. Cait merely chewed her bread, a look of polite interest on her face.

***********

“Come in.” Cyrene looked up from her place seated on the edge of the bed. “Ah! Morning, cutie.”

Gabrielle smiled, and entered, closing the door behind her. “Hi mom, hi dad.” She greeted her in laws. “how are you?”

Johan was lying in bed, his hands folded over his stomach. “Tired and glad to be in a dry spot, Gabrielle.” He told her. “I hear you had a tough trip up here yourself.”

“A little.” The bard admitted. “Eph told me about Josc.”

Cyrene got up and walked over, circling the bard and giving her a hug. “It was an accident.” She said. “The water just came down too fast, took the horses’ feet out, and swept us in front of it. He got caught under a tree.”

Gabrielle sighed, returning the hug. “For no purpose.” She replied, backing off to look Cyrene in the eye. “Mom, why?”

The innkeeper gazed unhappily at her. “I don’t know if I have a good answer for that, Gabrielle.” She motioned for the bard to sit down, then reseated herself with a wince on the bed. “Eponin said Xena got hurt?”

Distraction. Gabrielle recognized it when she saw it, having used it often enough herself. “She got kicked by a horse.” She said. “She’s all right, thought. What made the elders decide to come to Athens?”

“Well..”

“Arrogance.” Johan said, shortly. “Got an idea they was important people, and they were coming here to prove it.”

Cyrene eyed her husband. “Jo..”

“S’truth, and we both know it.” The ex merchant stated firmly. “I argued with those fools for half a day, and got told to never mind.” He turned and sat half up, leaning on one elbow. “They shoulda stayed home, and we should have too.”

Cyrene sighed.

“Josc was a sick man. He had no business going on the road, and I told him that.” Johan went on. “Damn fool was just too damn stubborn.”

Gabrielle just sat, listening quietly as she clasped her hands around her staff and leaned against it. “There have been times these past few days when I wish *we’d* stayed home.” She told them. “There’s just so much going on.. and then we heard you were coming and..”

“You heard?” Cyrene interrupted her.

“Aphrodite told us.” The bard explained. “There’s a whole big thing going on with bets, and the gods, and… “ She exhaled. “It’s just too complicated. Anyway, to make a very long story short, Xena and I are trying to win the games so the town’s taxes will be forgiven.”

“Ah.” Johan nodded. “Better plan than we had.”

“Didn’t speaking to them help?” Cyrene asked.

“The council’s not in session. We got here too late, and by then.. “ A shrug. “Anyway, besides that, I entered the Athen’s Bard Challenge, which is tonight, so if you’re not doing anything, I could use some friendly faces there.”

Johan and Cyrene exchanged glances. “But.. why would you do that?” Cyrene spluttered.

“To keep this really nasty woman from taking over the Bard’s Academy, but..”

“The Bard’s Academy?” Johan asked.

“Yeah, but the nasty bard actually kidnapped an old friend of mine, and she’s threatening to beat him up if I don’t’ withdraw, so I kind of have to get back to the games arena so I can find Xena and..”

“Gabrielle?” Cyrene held her hand up.

“Yes?”

“Is it always like this when you two travel?”

The bard scratched her chin. “Pretty much, yeah.” She finally agreed, a touch sheepishly.

“Well.” Johan laid back down.

Cyrene gazed at her daughter in law. “Honey, I’m sorry we made things worse for you.” She said quietly. “I’ll come back with you and get Dori, if you two are so involved in everything here, she’s going to be impossible to keep track of.”

Gabrielle thought about that. “Let me talk to Xena first.” She said. “I mean, I know you’re right, but with all the stuff that’s going on, she might feel better to have Dori with us.” A tickling suddenly erupted in her gut, accompanied by the oddest shiver that started at the back of her neck and went right down her spine. She sucked in a breath in pure reaction and got up. “Got something I need to go check out.. did you..”

Cyrene pointed. “Dori’s bag’s there.”

“Thanks.” Gabrielle grabbed the sack and headed for the door, surprised by tingling in her body and the eager flex of her fingers around her staff.

It was almost as if she were looking forward to battle. Gabrielle almost stopped short as the realization registered, almost overcome with a sense of confusion and dismay. She tried to dismiss the thought, but it was impossible to ignore the pumping of her heart, and the darkling chills that on one level were almost sensual in their intensity.

In the darkness of the hallway, she stumbled to a halt, leaning against the wall with her eyes closed, and her hands shaking.

“Gabrielle!” Ephiny’s voice was sharp.

She heard footsteps, and then felt the warmth of her friend’s hand as she took hold of her arm. “Eph..”

“Come over here and sit down.” The Amazon urged her. “Artemis’ handbasket, you’re white as a piece of new parchment.”

“No…” The sensation was slowly fading, and Gabrielle was able to straighten up, the chills subsiding and her heartbeat slowing and steadying. “I’m okay.” She felt her shoulders relax. “I just need a bite to eat.” She told her friend. “Got an apple or something?”

“Get over here.” Ephiny scolded her. “I’ve got a whole damn plate of the blasted things.”

Gabrielle felt the last traces of urgency leave her, and acknowledged that Xena probably handled whatever it was that had caused the jolt. “Okay.” She allowed Ephiny to lead her over to the table.

But she couldn’t dismiss what she’d felt.

Or where it had come from.

Or that it hadn’t been entirely unpleasant.

Gabrielle nibbled a fig, thinking about that.

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

Xena twitched her light cape straight, and made for the door, Dori securely strapped to her back in her carrysack. She wasn’t expecting to need her weapons today, but she had her sword strapped to her back anyway, and her chakram was seated on her hip, underneath the linen cape. “Dori, remember now, leave the sword alone, okay?”

“Bbbbbooo.” Dori tugged on her hair contentedly, apparently tying it into knots. “Go have fun!”

Xena chuckled and put her hand on the doorlatch, only to pause when she sensed the presence of an unseen watcher behind her. She stopped, and turned, and only had a second or so to wait before Aphrodite materialized in front of her, stark naked. “Whoa, hold it right there, Leatherbabe.”

Xena’s eyebrows lifted sharply. “You forget something?” She asked.

Aphrodite rolled her eyes. “Okay. Ms. Leatherbabe. Or is it, Warrior Princess Leatherbabe?”

“No, wait..”

“I swear, you sword jockeys are all alike. All ego and bluster.. I swear, I just have to wonder, like, what Gabrielle sees in you, because I…”

“HEY!” Xena had sucked in a lungful of air and used it to good purpose.

“Yes?”

“Put some damn clothes on before my kid goes blind!” The warrior barked.

The goddess looked down, then back up. “Oh.” She snapped her fingers. “Like, why didn’t you just say so?” A waft of pink fabric now draped her body as it floated in mid air. “Happy now?”

Xena put her hands on her hips. “Yeah. But you won’t be in a second.” She remarked, aware of Dori’s fascinated eyes peering over her left shoulder. “Your brother couldn’t resist, he had his thug send a bunch of goons after me this morning.”

Aphrodite regarded her. “Mondo el Stupido.” She shook her head. “So, let me guess. You’re gonna have to live up to your reputation and stay in the games, right?”

Xena nodded.

The goddess threw up her hands. “I give up. I told that goofy hunky machobrain I had this taken care of. What does he do?” She gave Xena a severe look. “You know? I bet he did it on purpose just because he gets off when you fight.”

“Shh.” Xena covered Dori’s ear with one hand. “C’mon.”

A snort. “Like, she lives with you two and she doesn’t know what nookie is?” Aphrodite snickered. “Please. Don’t even.”

Xena was shocked to find herself blushing.

“Yes, you do, don’t you, cutie?” Aphrodite address Dori, who was peering at her with interest. “Don’t you know what that is?”

“Bck.” Dori pointed at her, then wrapped her arms around Xena’s neck and put her head down on the warrior’s shoulder. “Booobbboooobobobbooo.” She warbled softly.

The goddess of love repressed a smile. “Hey, that kid actually likes you, doesn’t she?”

“You sound surprised.” Xena remarked.

“I am.” Aphrodite replied frankly.

A little stung, Xena turned her head and looked at Dori, who gazed adoringly back at her. “What about it, Dori? You like me?”

“Love Boo.” The toddler answered, reaching up and clutching at Xena’s jaw.

Xena smirked at the watching goddess. “What about her?” She pointed at Aphrodite. “She’s mean, huh? We don’t like her.”

Dori scowled. “Bck.”

“Hey!” Aphrodite protested. “I am so not mean. I’m the goddess of Love, remember?”

“Selective, apparently.” Xena looked at her, pinning her with a cool glance.

“Lighten up!” The goddess floated over, frowning. “I was just jazzing you, Xena.” She held out a hand to the now glaring Dori. “C’mon, sweetie.. don’t listen to her.”

“Don’t you tell my child that.” Xena stepped back, her verbal hackles raising higher.

Aphrodite paused, and studied her curiously. “You didn’t used to be this touchy, did you?” She asked, seriously.

Did I? Xena stared steadily back at her. “You come in here and tell me you’re surprised my daughter likes me, and you think my objecting to that makes me touchy? Olympus needs new dictionaries.”

The goddess exhaled, then reversed her position and floated to the ground, putting her feet on the stone floor and adjusting her diaphanous gown. “Okay.” She held both hands up. “Bzzt. Snap the fingers, reverse the whole scene we’ve just had here. We are so, like not communicating.”

Xena silently acknowledged her own prickliness and decided she must be close to one of her irregular cycles. She perched on a corner of the table and rummaged in Gabrielle’s usual carrybag, removing a trail bar and taking a bite of it as she waited for the goddess to continue. Her peripheral vision caught a small fist extending itself by her jaw, and she broke off a tiny piece of the bar and handed it over. “Hungry, shortie?”

“Cookie!” Dori mouthed the offering with approval. “Good!”

Aphrodite’s expression softened. “So you’re gonna go open a crock of whup out there, huh?”

Xena shared another bite of her snack before she answered. “I’m not going to stand by and watch two cities go to war for no good reason if I can do something about it.” She said. “So yeah, I’ll give it the best I’ve got, and so will Gabrielle, and if an entire city of pampered, trained, well fed, well oiled athletes can’t beat us.. it’s because we wanted it more and ours was the better cause.”

The goddess sighed theatrically, and propped her chin on her fist. “You’re starting to sound like my brother.”

“Ares?” Xena’s voice rose sharply.

“Hercules.” Aphrodite replied. “And isn’t that a kicker?”

Xena frowned.

Rolling her eyes, the goddess lifted her fingers to snap them. “Mortals.” She paused a moment, her eyes tracking up and down Xena’s body. The edge of Aphrodite’s lip twitched a little. “Well, mostly.” There was a sound like a soap bubble popping, and she was gone, leaving behind a scent of roses, and a tall figure standing so still it almost seemed carved in the very stone.

Minutes passed.

Dori finally got restless, and she bounced against Xena’s back. “Boo?”

Slowly, the dark head turned and pale blue eyes regarded her. “Yeah?”

“Go fly?”

“Yeah. In a minute.” Xena walked over to the bed and sat down on it, resting her elbows on her knees and studying her folded hands between them.

It wasn’t as though she hadn’t considered it. Wasn’t as though she and Gabrielle hadn’t discussed it. She wasn’t stupid enough to think some of the things she did fell within the normal scope of mortal possibility. But she’d never had any confirmation one way or the other before, and now, just hearing it was surprisingly shocking to her.

Shocking, and annoying. Xena regarded her forearms with a scowl, acknowledging the fact that she wanted to believe everything she accomplished was due to her own will, and a lot of hard work. She didn’t want any help, didn’t want there to be a reason other than her own skills for what she did.

She coveted her mortality.

At least, Xena considered, the ‘mostly’ was in a bizarre way comforting in it’s insignificance. If it had to be true, then let it be just the barest of touches, hardly anything, really.

“Boo?” Dori pulled on her ear. “More?”

Just enough for this. Xena reached over her shoulder and tickled her daughter. “Hold on to your diaper, shortie.” She got back up and gathered her composure, then headed for the door.

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

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Ephiny asked, for the tenth time, as she studied the woman seated next to her.

“Getting in some extra practice for this motherhood thing?” Gabrielle retorted. “Ephiny, would you relax? Please? You’re worse than Xena.”

“Xena.” The regent nodded thoughtfully “Good idea. I’ll go find her and tell her you almost passed out.”

“Ephiny.”

“She’s a healer.” Ephiny continued, as if she hasn’t heard. “I bet she’s got lots of herbs she could give you for that.”

“Ephiny.” Gabrielle’s voice dropped several notes as she drew the name out. “I’m fine. Cut it out.”

Hazel eyes evaluated her. The bard’s color had returned to it’s normal golden health, and she seemed to be acting normally, having eaten several slabs of bread and cheese along with a piece of fruit. There was, however, just the faintest hint of edginess around her, and Ephiny hadn’t missed the slow, repetitive motion of Gabrielle’s fingers against her staff that was very close to being a fidget.

“Cait.” Gabrielle turned to address the younger Amazon. “Would you do a favor for me?”

“Absolutely.” Cait responded immediately, leaning closer. “Anything.”

Now that, Ephiny noticed, got a familiar, relaxed grin from her friend.

“We had a young man working with us called Mikah. He was supposed to go up to the gate and watch for all of you, but we haven’t heard from him since yesterday. Do you think you could look around, and see if you could find him?”

“Certainly.” Cait agreed. “What does he look like? Pally and I will find him, straight off.”

Paladia glanced up, then rolled her eyes, shook her head, and returned her attention to her plate.

“Well… “ Gabrielle considered. “A little like you, really.. he’s about my height, he has straight, pale blond hair like you do, and he’s wearing a servant’s toga.”

“Right.” Cait nodded. “Up by the walls then, is it?”

“Yes. He’s also.. “ The bard paused. “He’s wearing a necklace that has a small flower in the center, and a little gold bull hanging down from it.” She said. “I’m a little worried about him – he should have come back to the games house last night.”

“We’ll find him.” Cait got up, carefully wrapping her last bit of bread around a piece of smoked lamb before she took hold of the back of Paladia’s leathers and simply started walking off. “Let’s go, Pally.”

“Hey!” The bigger woman yelped, being pulled backwards off her chair. “Hey! Hey! You nutball! Cut that.. ow!” With a thump, Paladia went over backwards, then scrambled to her feet and pulled herself free from Cait’s implacable grip. “You’re such a.. “

“Ah ah.!” Cait gave her a look. “We’ve got a job to do.”

Paladia turned and gave Gabrielle a look over her shoulder, sighing when the bard just grinned, and waggled her fingers.

Ephiny watched them leave, then chuckled. “Those two.” She shook her head. “Who’d have ever thought they’d turn out the way they did?”

“I did.” Gabrielle remarked. “I told Xe they would, and she accused me of having excessively romantic notions.”

“Hm.” Ephiny chuckled. “I remember the first time I made a crack about the two of you being involved.” She rolled her eyes. “Boy, did I get laughed at.”

One of Gabrielle fair eyebrows arched sharply.

Ephiny put a hand on her friend’s arm. “It was after you stopped our war with the Centaurs.” She explained. “Don’t get radical on me.”

“Oh.” The bard picked up a grape and fingered it. “Yeah, I guess the hero worship was showing pretty badly about then, huh?” She spared a smile for her younger self. “I remember looking across the campfire at Xena that night, and seeing the marks Melosa had put on her, and just being so overwhelmed at knowing she’d done that on my behalf.” A pause. “My champion.” Gabrielle exhaled, and shook her head a little. “Even now, I say that and it gives me chills.”

It had been a very dark night, a new moon in fact, only the stars overhead giving any glimmer of light outside their campfire. Gabrielle had sat quietly on her side of the blaze, her new staff resting across her lap as she studied it’s contours and tried to get used to the feel of it.

On the firestone, a pot bubbled softly, releasing the scent of rabbit stew into the air, and Gabrielle had leaned forward to give it a stir as she snuck a glance at her quiet companion nearby.

Xena was leaning back against Argo’s saddle, with one knee raised and both of her hands clasped loosely around it. In the orange glow, Gabrielle could see the bruises and cuts she’d gotten in the fight with Melosa, though the warrior seemed herself oblivious to them.

It wasn’t as though she’d never seen Xena hurt before, Gabrielle had told herself, but this time…

It was different.

Gabrielle put her staff down, and picked up the bigger of their two bowls. She carefully ladled it full of stew, then picked up one of the loaves of bread she’d gotten from the village they’d past just before sundown and carried it over to her friend.

Xena had looked up as she approached, and their eyes had met as Gabrielle knelt down next to her, offering the bowl to her in respectful silence.

“Thanks.” Xena had taken the dish from her. “Are we being formal for a reason?” She’d half joked.

Gabrielle had sat down then, borrowing a tiny corner of Xena’s furs, and hugged her knees to her chest, feeling nervous, grateful, and just a little overwhelmed. “I was just thinking about what happened.”

“With the Amazons?”

“Yeah.”

“It worked out.” Xena stated.

“I know, I just..” Gabrielle struggled with an emotion she could hardly even put a name to. “You.. fought Melosa… f.. for me.”

Xena’s dark head cocked to one side, a faintly puzzled look appearing on her face. “Of course I did, Gabrielle. She’da beaten you to a pulp. “ The warrior said.

“But you got hurt.” Gabrielle studied the very visible bruises.

“Nah.” Xena shrugged.

“Yes, you did, Xena. I can see that.” The bard had argued. “Can I get you.. some salve, or some.. or.. “

“Gabrielle.” Xena put a hand out and held the bard’s wrist.

The bard had swallowed hard, and met those pale blue eyes timidly. “Y..yes?”

“It’s all right.” The warrior’s voice had gentled unexpectedly. “They’re just a few cuts.”

Driven by something deep inside her, Gabrielle covered Xena’s hand with her own, squeezing the long fingers as she looked intently into her friend’s eyes. “It’s just… “ She’d had to pause. “I’ve never had a champion before… and.. it’s a really nice feeling.” Her voice cracked on the last words, and she had to drop her gaze, as her throat tightened and a lump formed.

She felt so strange, almost like she was a different person, this half naked kid with a stick she’d more likely trip over than hurt anyone with pretending to be not only grown up but an Amazon to boot. She felt Xena loosen her grip on her hand, and flushed with embarrassment.

Until she felt the warmth of Xena’s palm on her cheek and she’d lifted her head in surprise.

“I’ve never been anyone’s champion before.” The warrior had said, simply. “You’re right. It is a nice feeling.” Xena had hesitated a moment. “And I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather fight for.”

Under those stars, on that dark night, by that small fire, Gabrielle suddenly felt ten feet tall, and more special than she’d ever thought she could feel in all her life. “Does that mean you’ll always be my champion?” She’d given the warrior a big grin.

Xena had smiled back, with a quiet, wistful look in her eyes that Gabrielle had not understood until much later. “Always.”

Ephiny watched her curiously. “What does it feel like knowing you could do it yourself now?” She asked, her train of previous thought derailed. “You can, you know.”

The bard’s jaw shifted slightly, then she looked up and met Ephiny’s gaze, those light green eyes once so open now layered with quiet shadows and shades of experience. “I wouldn’t.” Gabrielle answered softly. “Not as long as she can.”

Ephiny absorbed that. “Is that how she wants it?”

“That’s how I want it.” The bard answered.

“All right by me.” The Amazon regent agreed quietly. “So. Now tell me about this… what is it, Bardic challenge? Gabrielle, how do you get involved in all of this stuff in less than a week?”

“Don’t ask.” Gabrielle propped her chin up on her fist and gave her friend a humorous look, glad of the change of subject. “I didn’t mean to. I just stopped by the Academy to look up an old friend, and bam – next thing I know they’re asking me to help out to keep this other bard from taking over.”

“Really.”

“Yeah.”

“We did that once.”

Gabrielle frowned, then let out a tiny laugh. “Yeah, I guess you did, didn’t you?”

“Well, we’ll be there cheering.” Ephiny assured her. “One pocket of friendliness in a sea of citified centaur butts with bad attitudes.” She indicated the bag Gabrielle had slung over her shoulder. “Going shopping? Mind some company?”

Ephiny liked shopping as much as Xena did, and Gabrielle knew that. “Sure.” She agreed, getting to her feet and stretching. “I’d love some company.”

“Great. C’mon, Pon. Let’s go shopping.” Ephiny grabbed her partner and hauled her upright. “You need some new boots.”

“No I don’t.” Pony looked down.

“Sure you do.” Ephiny bumped her towards the door. “What about that new knife you wanted?”

“What knife?

“See? Toldja you needed one.”

Gabrielle chuckled, as she led her Amazon guard out the door and towards the market.

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

A Matter of Pride

Part 10

Xena strode through the marketplace with quiet confidence, evading the slower shoppers and ignoring the looks she was getting from those who recognized her. She edged around several small groups of citizens, everyone spending some time browsing before heading to the games stadia to watch the day’s events.

“Boo! Cookie!” An imperious warble made her turn her head, to see where Dori was pointing. Sure enough, a small stall nearby was selling fresh rolls and small honey cakes, along with cups of sweet wine to an eager crowd.

“Boo!”

“Sh.” Xena reached up and clasped the baby’s hand. “I see em. Just relax, wouldja?” She made her way through the crowd and waited behind a rotund, sweating man in a stained toga. He was arguing with the stall’s owner, much to the surrounding crowd’s annoyance.

“C’mon, get on with it, already.” A woman next to Xena muttered, then glanced up.

Xena returned her gaze stolidly.

“How adorable!” The woman beamed at her. “Stanis, isn’t she just precious?”

Xena sincerely hoped they were talking about Dori. She followed the small man’s eyes, and exhaled in relief as they fastened on the small head peering over her right shoulder.

“What a beautiful child.” The man commented. “Yours, surely. She’s your image.” He waggled his fingers at Dori, who grinned back at him. “What a sweetheart.”

Xena’s head tilted a little in bemusement, having never had this particular experience before. She was used to being with Dori, of course, but in Amphipolis and it’s surrounding areas, both she and the child were well known, and little commented on. She glanced back at her daughter and smiled at the baby’s bright eyed, intelligent look. “Yeah, she’s mine.” She said without really thinking about it. “Thanks.”

“Thieves! The lot of you!” The man in front of Xena finally cursed in exasperation, and slapped a coin on the boards. He was given his order and edged away, leaving Xena to face the vendor.

“Gimme two of those.” She pointed at the cakes.

“Cookie!” Dori gurgled approvingly, as those watching chuckled.

“Ah, the young lady knows what she likes, I see.” The stall owner laughed. “Excellent taste, I may say.” He selected two of the larger specimens and handed them over. “There you go, my dear.”

“You know what you like?” Xena broke one of the cakes in half and handed it over. “Let’s see if you’re right.”

Dori immediately ripped part of the outside of the cake off and mouthed it, a serious expression on her face. “Mm.” She looked up at Xena. “Goof!”

Xena had to laugh, both at the baby’s expression, and the forest of crumbs now trickling down her shoulder. “All right. C’mon.” She collected the rest of the cakes and paid the vendor, peripherally aware that the attitudes of the people surrounding her were definitely more friendly than she’d experienced the day prior. She edged out of the crowd and continued through the market, munching on her own cake as her eyes traveled idly over the stalls.

“Boo! More!” Dori reached a grubby fist past her jawbone.

“Ah ah… “ Xena scolded her. “What do you say?”

“Boo!”

“Nope.”

“Booooooo!”

“Nu uh.”

Dori pulled a bit of Xena’s hair. The warrior stopped walking and gave the baby a stern look, raising an eyebrow at her. Dori giggled, putting a sticky finger in her mouth. “Dori.” Xena waited for her hair to be released, then continued on. “What do you say?”

Dori grunted and squiggled around. “Feeze.”

“Good girl.” Xena handed over the rest of the cake. “Trust me, shortie – you’ll get a lot more a lot easier if you learn about that word now.” She reached out a hand and lightly touched a colorful, softly draping bit of fabric, hearing Dori gurgle in reaction. “No, you’d tear this right up, Dori. But I can think of someone else who’d really look good in it.” She grinned to herself. “Your mama.”

“Mama.” Dori agreed.

Xena smiled and continued on, cutting through the lower end of the marketplace on her way towards where the rest of their family was staying. Halfway across, she felt her instincts prickle and her defenses come up, validated immediately when two large men stepped into her path. Their attitude was more officious than threatening, but it was obvious they expected compliance with whatever it was they wanted.

Xena stopped, giving herself plenty of space to react without hurting any bystanders. There weren’t many, though – she noticed they all moved away when her two big friends showed up. “Yeah?” She eyed them sourly.

“The council wishes to speak with you.”

About damn time. “I thought they weren’t in session.” Xena replied.

“You will come with us.” The bigger of the two men responded. “With no arguments.”

Xena put her hands on her hips. “I’ll go talk to the council.” She said. “But let’s just get something very straight first. I’ve got my kid with me, and if anyone looks at me the wrong way I’m going to start cutting limbs off. Understand?”

The man’s eyes flicked to Dori’s innocent little face, then back to Xena’s

“That’s not a threat.” The warrior said mildly. “It’s just a fact. Her safety is worth a lot more to me than your lives are.”

The two looked at each other. “Understood.” The bigger man said. “Follow us.”

Xena amiably nodded, and strolled after them, aware of the furtive glances she was getting from the people they passed. They traveled through the market and up a long, sloping side street, arriving on a long, broad avenue that was noticibly sparse in population. Here, the white stone building facades were hidden behind portcullises thick with trained ivy and shaded by trees, and the smell of the city was much reduced. A quick look between buildings showed her the reason – stone aqueducts trickled water down the hill, taking human and other refuse to the lower levels. Xena’s lips twitched into a sardonic expression, but she kept her opinions to herself as she turned to follow her two guides up a set of broad, finely chiseled steps to a set of hammered bronze covered doors. A guard reviewed them expressionlessly, then opened the portal and allowed them inside.

Incense tickled Xena’s nose as she crossed the threshold. Dori sneezed abruptly, causing the warrior to smile a moment later. “You like that?” She murmured to the child.

“Bck.”

“Me, either.” Now the warrior could smell the distinctive scent of wool, and the sharp tang of brass as they moved along a corridor. Her guides stopped before an arched doorway, and motioned her inside. She stepped neatly around them and entered, pausing just inside the door and looking around. It was a large room, the walls draped in beautiful woven rugs, with a softly tinkling fountain in the center of it. In the rear was a dias, and on the dias were six men dressed in silk so rich Xena could smell it from where she was. They were all impeccably groomed and more or less of the same age.

Xena made a point of studying them as they were studying her, before she glided towards them, very aware of the picture she made in her brief athlete’s outfit. She felt Dori rest her chin on her shoulder as she peered around with interest, and knew by the sudden exchanged glances that her little passenger was definitely an unexpected complication in their plans.

Xena grinned. Good. “What can I do for you… gentlemen?” She drawled, pausing before the dias and putting one booted foot on it.

There was a moment’s awkward silence, then the men all looked at the tall man in the center of the dias. He cleared his throat. “I thought it was time we talked.” He said. “My name is Minyos, and I lead the council here.”

Xena continued up the steps and sat down in the one remaining chair, leaning on one arm of it and regarding him. “And?” She extended her long legs out and crossed them at the ankles.

Another awkward silence. Minyos leaned forward. “Why are you here?”

“Me?” Xena pointed at her chest, her eyes widening in mock surprise.

“Yes. We have had these games planned for the better part of a year, and now you come here, and upset everything. Why?”

Xena had to wonder if the heat hadn’t gotten to him. “You sent your tax collector to my neck of the woods and threatened to send the army down if we didn’t give up most of what we earned for the year, for no good reason I could see. “ She stated. “That’s why I’m here.”

Two of the council members leaned over and whispered to Minyos. He spoke under his breath to them, and they spread their hands out.

“Well.” Minyos said. “Everyone must pay taxes.”

“Why?” Xena asked.

“Because it’s the law.”

The warrior shrugged. “Fine. Then I’m obeying the law and using my rights under it to attempt to relieve us of these taxes. So what’s your problem?” She asked, then grinned. “Other than the fact that we’re winning.”

Minyos got up and paced around behind the stone table on the dias. “Do you realize how much money you’re costing us?” He asked finally.

“I couldn’t care less.” Xena said. “You couldn’t care less how your taxes are raping Amphipolis, why should I care if Athens gets the same treatment?”

They all stared at her.
”Good!” Dori burbled in approval. “Bad mens go to fishes!”

Xena chuckled. “No, we’ll save that fun for later, shortie.”

Minyos sighed. “All right. What deal do you want?” He asked at last. “Name your price.”

Xena wiggled a booted foot at him. “I don’t want a deal. You’ve got nothing I want. I figure me and Gabrielle’ll win this thing, get our taxes relieved, stop you from going to war with Sparta, spread some wealth out to the provinces who’ve caught a clue and started betting on us, then we can go home and leave you to clean up the mess this damn thing’s gonna leave.”

“You are that confident?” Minyos asked.

“Yes.” Xena replied quietly. “You can’t stop me. No one can.” She let a little of the darkness into her eyes and felt the prickle of energy lift the fine hairs on her arms.

“There are legal options…” The man replied, meaningfully. “They could have… severe.. consequences to you.”

Xena shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe. If you can prove anything.” A chill settled in her belly despite her casual speech. She’d been wracking her memory to find anything major that Athens could have against her, but the receding details of time were eluding her.

“You’re going against the god’s wishes.” Another man spoke up. “We won’t have to do anything, Minyos. The avatar said…”

“Hush!” The senior council member glared at him. Then he returned his attention to Xena. “There must be some agreement we can come to. If winning this means nothing to you but your taxes, we can negotiate, surely.”

Talking. Xena didn’t like talking. However, she knew someone who did. “You never know.” She said, watching their ears perk up. “But that’s not my arena. I could ask our chief negotiator to meet with you.”

Minyos squared his shoulders, obviously relieved. “Excellent. Yes, that would be for the best. I’m sure we can work this out.” His eyes went to Dori’s face. “We don’t want anyone getting hurt, after all.”

“Bad.” Dori pointed at him, with a scowl. “Boo, go to fishes!”

“Yeah.” Xena agreed musingly. “All right. After the archery, I’ll be back. We can talk.”

Minyos smiled. “I knew we could come to an.. understanding.”

Xena got up and dusted herself off. Then she turned and walked out, her mind turning over the options now presenting themselves to her.

On the one hand, she didn’t think Athens had anything capital against her, so she doubted her life was in danger from any legal action. However, spending time in Athens notorious prisons wasn’t her idea of any kind of good thing.

“Boo?”

Leaving her family wasn’t any kind of good thing, either. “Yes?”

“Bad mens.”

“Yeah.” Xena agreed, as they emerged into the warming day outside. “Bad mens, bad city, bad smells… wish we could just go home.”

“Go fishes!”

For herself, Xena was always ready to accept responsibility for her past actions. But.. She reached up and let Dori grab one of her fingers. She wasn’t ready to sacrifice the happiness of her family, and leaving them would do that and more.

Would it come down to a choice between their greater good and Athens?

Xena pursed her lips in a gently rueful expression.

Gabrielle heard the raised voices as she trotted down a side street on her way back to their quarters. She had Dori’s bag slung over one shoulder, and her own bag stuffed full of goodies for her usually voracious family. The yells, however, had a strident tone to them that caught her attention, and she altered her path towards the sound.

As she emerged from the narrow alleyway, she caught sight of a crowd of people, clustered around a wagon. A tall, heavily built man was standing on the back of it, pointing and making the noises she’d heard. He had a whip in one hand, and Gabrielle suddenly recognized the firewood drover from down the hill. He’d gotten a new pony, she saw, as she eased through the crowd, this one even more hapless looking than the last.

“You lazy bastard! Move!” The drover yelled, uncoiling his whip with a sinuous motion and sending it forward, to smack against something with a wicked crack.

Gabrielle managed to duck between two women and get a view of his target. Her whole body jerked in recognition as her eyes tracked to the victim’s face. “Mikah!” She pushed forward more aggressively. “Hey! Cut that out!” The bard directed her voice towards the drover. “What do you think you’re doing?”

The man turned, and with a savage motion, flicked the whip backwards and caught Gabrielle right across the face with it. “Shut up, scumbag.”

The pain was intense, but Gabrielle reacted from long years of training, dropping the bags she was carrying and swinging her staff around to block the second lash. She could feel blood running down her face, but the shock was wearing off and as the man took a step towards her, she drew in a breath and squared her balance, bringing her weapon down and around at a much faster pace to crack against his knees with enough force to jar her arms.

The man yelped in pain, and stumbled backwards. Gabrielle pursued him, jabbing at his groin with the end of her staff and forcing him back, until he reached the back end of the wagon. She let out a yell and did a reverse, whacking him on the side with the end of her weapon and sending him over the side to fall heavily on the floor.

She was aware of the low grumbling around her, but she ignored it as she hopped over the fallen wood and went to Mikah’s side. He was lying on the ground, lash marks painfully visible on his body. “What on earth are you doing here?” The bard asked, as she knelt.

“I got sold.” Mikah explained simply. “I didn’t think they could do that, but.. “ He glanced around. “You shouldn’t have interfered. It was his right .”

Gabrielle looked up and around, to find very hostile faces surrounding her. “It was his right to beat you?” She asked. Two of the others were helping her antagonist up.

“Who asked yer to interfere?” One man shouted. “Little busybody.. “

“Hey! It’s that one from Amphipolis.”

“Yeah! Lost me two months wages!”

Gabrielle felt a chill settle down her back. Slowly, she stood up and braced her legs, bringing her staff up as she protected Mikah’s prone form.

The crowd closed in. “Let’s get two fer one, then.” One man laughed. “C’mon, lads. We’ll have some fun.”

“Gabrielle, get out of here.”

“Little too late for that.” The bard told him quietly, as she crouched a little, her eyes flicking across the oncoming crowd. Her staff wasn’t the best weapon in this kind of mass melee, since it tended to get grabbed.

And there were a lot of them grabbing.

And they were all bigger than she was.

Gabrielle closed her eyes for a brief instant, and let out a mental yell for help, then she met the first man with a stick, determined to stay on her feet as long as she could. She knocked the wood out of the man’s hand and knocked him to one side with her staff, then brought the weapon back across her body and took out a second.

They kept coming. She used short, savage cutting blows, keeping her staff close to her body and making it move faster than they could grab.

“Son of a bacchae!”

A stick bounced off her body, and Gabrielle ducked, as a box followed. The crowd was wild now, yelling and surging, afraid to come within the reach of her staff, but determined to take her down. Two rushed her, and she turned her staff flat and met them, catching them just below the shoulder and shoving forwards with all her strength, enough to off balance them and send them sprawling.

Another box came her way and she only just turned in time, letting it hit her back. A jolt of pain followed, sending a numb shock down her arms and she stumbled forward. Another stick hit her. She brought her staff up as she shook the stars out of her eyes, but three of them came at her at once and she only got two of them. The third crashed into her, and they both went to the ground.

Gabrielle felt her staff ripped out of her hands, and a suffocating weight of humanity drop on her. Then something hit the back of her head very hard, and it all just went dark.

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

“She will have to wait and be tried.” The officer stated, for the third time. “It’s the law. The council must judge her.”

Xena tried very hard to keep the lid on her temper. The urge to simply rip the man’s arms off and use them as levers to get inside the formidable prison was almost too great.

She’d arrived minutes after the fight had ended, just after the Athenian guard had taken Gabrielle into their custody, having had warrants sworn by all the men there that she’d attacked them for no cause. One look at the smug, self satisfied faces had come very close to triggering her temper, and maybe her expression had shown it.

“That’ll end their messing with us.”

She’d heard the muttering, as she’d left the square and headed for the prison. It was probably, she granted, very true, but the significance of that put against the fact that her soulmate was locked inside those horrible stone walls was exactly nothing.

Athens could rot in war and be slaughtered to a man for all she cared. “She’s innocent.”

The officer rolled his eyes, having heard it all before.

“She was protecting an innocent man.” Xena tried another tack.

“She was interfering with the discipline of a slave.” The man replied, bored. “That is also against the law.”

Xena paced, aware of the superior, amused looks on the guards around her.

“The law is the law.” The officer stated blandly.

The warrior stopped, and reflected on that. “All right.” She turned, moving forward and resting her fists on his desk, leaning on them and fixing him with an icy stare. “He obtained that slave illegally.”

“Impossible.” The man pushed piece of parchment over. “Here is the contract.”

“The slave was under contract to me.” Xena overrode the speech. “And I didn’t release him.”

The officer considered that, rubbing his jaw with one hand. The men around the room shifted a little. “She still attacked our citizens.”

“Gabrielle has never attacked anyone in her life unless she was defending herself.” Xena objected. “Who says they didn’t start it?”

“They said they did not.”

“What did Gabrielle say?” Xena asked.

The man shrugged. “We couldn’t ask her.”

The situation suddenly changed. “Why?”

“She was unconscious. We took statements of those around, and they assured us she’d started the fight, they were just urk!”

Xena had reached across his desk and grabbed him by the throat, pulling him upright and jerking his body clear across the table. “An entire crowd of men with sticks, and one, little, unconscious woman, and you think it was all her fault?”

The man shrugged uncomfortably.

“You’re going to open that door and let me in there.” Xena stated.

“The law says she must be held for the council.”

“I don’t care about the law.” The warrior told him. “Either you open that door, or I’ll start cutting body parts off every stupid son of a bacchae in this room and leave you with mortal legal problems you won’t be able to sort out unless Hades helps you.”

Dori chose that moment to hiccup, her eyes wide as she watched everything.

The man stared at the baby, then at Xena’s set, feral, furious face. “Brantus, open the door.”

Xena released him, watching him slide to the floor. Then she stepped around him and walked to the huge, metal strapped wooden door and waited while the nearest guard opened it. “I’m going to be knocking on this to come out. If you’re smart, you’ll open it up again.”

The guard gazed impassivly at her for a moment, then his eyes dropped and he stepped back, opening the door and letting her go past.

“Bck.” Dori was sucking her thumb, one hand clutching Xena’s neck.

They passed through the entrance and into a nightmare.

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

Gabrielle was chiefly aware of everything pretty much hurting, as she slowly crawled her way back towards consciousness. She felt bruised from head to foot, and several places had sharper pains, including her head, her belly, and her face, where the whip had struck her.

It was dark where she was, and it stank horribly. Under her fingers, she could feel greasy straw and hard stone, and she had to stifle a groan as she forced her head to lift away from it.

“Gabrielle!”

The voice was vaguely familiar. The bard’s brow creased, and she rolled over, squinting in the gloomy darkness towards the sound. “Yes?”

“Blessed be the gods, it is you!” The voice gasped. “”I had but the one glimpse as they opened your cell.. it’s me, it’s Homer!”

Ah. “Homer? What’r you doin here?” Gabrielle could feel her words slurring as the pain made her short of breath.

“Oh, you wouldn’t believe it.” Her old friend groaned.

“Bet I would.” Gabrielle let her eyes close. “Lemme guess.. some nasty old wanna be bard wench got you tossed in here because you were gonna mess up her plans to take over the Academy.”

There was utter, absolute silence for a very long time.

“Did I leave somethin out?” Gabrielle mumbled.

“Great Athena. You truly are an oracle.” Homer responded, in a hushed tone.

Gabrielle just snorted faintly.

“Are you hurt?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s wrong?”

Gabrielle took a silent inventory. “Everything.” She admitted weakly. Even breathing hurt, though she was pretty sure she hadn’t broken anything. Her head hurt the worst, a deep throbbing that made it hard to think and upset her stomach. Carefully, she lifted a hand and touched the welt from the whip, which cross her face from just above her right eye to her jawline. “Ow.”

“I wish I could help you.” Homer fretted. “These damn cells.. I’ve been around and around every inch for the last two moons and they’re tighter than one of Athena’s drums.”

“Ugh.” Gabrielle put her head down on her outstretched arm, then sucked in a breath as she heard a rustling nearby, and soft squeaking. It made her struggle upright, pushing her head away from the source of the noise and the gods only knew what else that lay in the straw under her.

Just the thought made her itch. She got to a sitting position and pulled her legs in, crossing them under her and letting her head rest against her hands.

It was hard to think. Every time she tried, her focus went on how much she was hurting, and the struggle to control her twisting stomach. “W.. “ Her voice broke, and she waited for her guts to settle. “Where’s the door?”

“Up there.”

Dumbly, Gabrielle lifted her head and looked up. Barely seen in the shadows, there was a darker square in the ceiling, so far over her head she wondered if even her soulmate could reach it with one of her leaps. “B… “ She rubbed her face. “How do you get out?”

“You don’t.” Homer told her, grimly. “I haven’t left this cell since they dropped me in it. I’ve seen.. “ He hesitated. “Some find other ways out.” He finished, awkwardly.

Gabrielle thought about that. “They killed themselves, you mean?”

“Yes.”

“Mmph.” The bard closed her eyes again. Now she’d wished she’d taken Ephiny up on her offer to accompany her back to the games quarters. She’d brushed the regent’s concern off lightly, convinced she was more than capable of taking care of herself.

Yeah, right. Gabrielle sighed heavily. Now what? She couldn’t depend on anyone coming in here to get her out, could she? Her brow creased and she clamped her jaw shut on a wave of nausea. Oh, yeah, like Xena wouldn’t, right?

“Just like the old days.” Gabrielle muttered under her breath. “I get myself into trouble, she has to come haul my butt out of it.”

“What was that, Gabrielle? Did you say something?” Homer asked.

“Nothing important.” The bard said.

“Did that she-whore get you too?” Her old friend asked. “Is that why you’re here?”

“No.” Gabrielle winced, as the pain started to build, making it hard to breathe. “I got into a fight.”

“A fight? You? I thought you always talked your way out of things!”

Gabrielle considered that in quiet reflection. Could she have talked her way out of this? Had she even thought about doing that?

No. She’d just reacted to him hitting her. She felt a sense of disappointment in herself that only intensified the pain.

At least, she considered miserably, there was no way for it to get any worse than this.

A loud rumble broke the eerie silence, sounds of wood cracking, and steel scraping against stone. Gabrielle lifted her head and peered up, seeing the barest shadows over her head. There was a huge bang, then the sound of a rope being parted, then all of a sudden the trap in the top of her cell swung down far too quickly, banging against the top of the stone roof and sending a shower of things she really didn’t want to think about all around her.

Most of them scurried off.

Then the light was blocked by two falling bodies intertwined, and they hit with a crack of breaking bone. One figure bounced up and lifted a sword, but the other didn’t move, and after a moment, the heavily breathing survivor turned her way.

Even in the darkness, she knew that body’s profile, and a soft cry of relief escaped her.

“You all right?” Xena asked.

Gabrielle realized she was crying. “No.” She managed to get out, lifting a hand as a moment later Xena’s presence surrounded her and she was cradled in gentle arms.

“Mama!”

The bard inhaled. “Dori! WH.. Xe, how.. “

“I couldn’t check her at the door. Lay down, here against me.”

“B.. “ Gabrielle tried to calm her rapid breathing. “Xe, we’re.. “

“I know. Lay still, sweetheart. Please.” Xena lifted her and cuddled her against her chest. “Easy now.”

“Hurts.”
”Yeah, I know.” Xena’s voice was worried. “Just try to relax.”

“Hold me.” The bard whispered. “Don’t leave me.”

“Never.” Xena reassured her gently. “We’ll get out of this, I promise you.”

Gabrielle’s eyes fluttered closed, and her body slumped against Xena’s.

“Boo? Mama owie.” Dori warbled.

“Yeah, I know, sweetie. Just be quiet, okay?” Xena exhaled. “I gotta figure out a way to get us out of here.”

Homer cleared his throat gently. “Um.. .when you do.. mind taking me, too?”

The warrior glared at the latticework separating them from the next cell. “Who are you?” She asked sharply.

“Homer.”

Xena rolled her eyes invisibly. “Figures.”

There was an awkward silence, as the warrior shifted a little, and tried to make Gabrielle a little more comfortable.

“You’re Xena.”

“How’d you guess?”

“That’s what Gabrielle was calling you.” Homer murmured. “Is that really a baby you have with you?”

“Yes.” The warrior answered, in a clipped tone.

“Yours?”

“Ours.”

Homer digested this. “Wow.” He muttered. “Bet that would make a good story.”

Xena ignored him, concentrating on gently feeling the pulse fluttering at Gabrielle’s throat, and listening to her slightly labored breathing. “Me leave you?” She whispered softly into the bard’s ear. “You don’t even think about leaving me, okay?”

A rat scuttled by them. “Boo.” Dori pointed. “Guff!”

“No.” Xena kicked the rat across the cell. “Bad.” She tipped her head back and looked up, where the portal gate they’d fought over swung slightly, it’s hinges creaking in the gloom. “Very bad.”

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

Xena sat back for a moment and took stock of her situation. It wasn’t good. She hadn’t expected things to be this bad, or Gabrielle to be so severely injured. In fact.. The warrior focused her vision in the gloom, and studied the still face. She could see a red welt across her partner’s cheek, and she brushed her fingers over it tenderly, knowing how much it must have hurt her.

Anger warred with anxiety in her chest, making her heartbeat erratic. Xena felt her hands shake in reaction, and she had to pause, forcing herself to take deep breaths to regain control over raging emotions that were making muscles inside her twitch and seize.

She wanted to kill whoever had done this. Whoever had hurt her gentle soulmate, who had only been defending the life of an innocent, with the honest courage that was as much a part of her as her green eyes, and sunny smile.

Above her, she heard sounds approaching, though, and realized she was running out of time. She needed to get Gabrielle out of this stinking pit for starters, and then find a way out of the prison. With a soft sigh, she stood, lifting Gabrielle in her arms as she moved across the floor and gazed up at the still swinging trap.

“Hurry up!” A man’s voice floated down. “Get that hook over here! Close the door!”

The warrior’s eyes widened as she realized the intent. With a soft oath, she knelt and set the bard down, reaching around and grabbing Dori’s sack and unstrapping it.

“Boo? Go Mama!” Dori wriggled in her hands.

“No.” The warrior carefully rebuckled the straps, this time around her neck so the baby was just under her chin. “Dori, just be still. Please.”

“Bbboooo.. “

The sound of footsteps approaching got louder, and several male voices cursed. A loud bang made Xena look up, to see a hook extending down to grab the latticed trap cover. Her heartbeat surged, as she turned and carefully picked Gabrielle up.

She stood, and looked up, then surged into motion, lifting the bard’s slumped form up and settling her across her broad shoulders before she bounded over and underneath the trap.

“Hey!” Homer yelled. “What about me?”

Xena crouched. “You couldn’t follow me anyway.” She told him.

The hook found it’s purchase, with a scrape of metal against wood. “Hurry up! Pull! Quick now!”

“Sure I can!” Homer argued desperately, as a torch flared, and the cells were lit with eerie light from above.

“Sorry!” Xena gathered all her strength, deepened her crouch, then shoved away from the ground with all the force of her powerful legs. She soared upward, her hands brushing, then taking hold of the rope dangling form the trap. The hook pulled backwards, and she was jerked in mid air as her arms and shoulders took not only her weight, but Gabrielle’s as well.

For a second, her hands slipped on the rope.

Then she clamped down, gritting her teeth as her body swung through the air and put almost unbearable strain on her shoulders.

“Throw it! Knock her down!” The voice above her shouted.

“Better hope you do.” Xena growled back, as she inched her way up the rope. “Cause if I get up there, you’re dead men.” She sensed something coming at her, and she ducked in pure instinct, feeling heat as a torch just missed her, plunging down into the cell and clattering on the floor. She heard the crackle of the flame eagerly feeding on the filthy straw, and cursed. “Idiot!”

The swinging door was making it hard to keep her grip. She could feel them trying to tug the wood up, and throw her off, and she looked up, getting a glimpse of ugly, scarred faces and angry eyes. Another missile came down, this one smacking her on the side of the head. She butted it away, and heard it fall, as she reached the top of the rope.

Now, the hard part. She had to let go of the rope and grab the lattice, while it was moving, while she was under attack, while she had Gabrielle on her shoulders and Dori hanging from her neck.

She sucked in a deep breath, and pulled her legs up, getting a hold with both boots on the very end of the rope. With a surge of effort, she released the rope with her hands and threw herself upward, reaching out with both hands extended towards the wooden gridwork of the trap door.

A stick slammed into one wrist, numbing it.

Xena felt splinters against her palms, and she clamped her hands down tight, her weight sending the trap swinging wildly and pulling the metal hook right out of the hands of the men holding it. She held on for dear life, praying to the gods that her strength would hold.

“Bbbbooo… fun.” Dori burbled, completely unconcerned. “Good! Go fly!”

Xena bit the inside of her lip, then made a decision and let her weight swing the trap back, gaining momentum as she swung. Now a pole smashed against her shoulder, but she ignored it, waiting for the door to swing it’s furthest extent, to give her every bit of momentum, so that when she released her hands…

And kicked outwards against the door’s surface…

And willed herself upwards, through the roughly square opening and into the angry crowd above her.

“Get her!”

“Throw her back down!”

“Hurry!”

Xena grabbed the edge of the opening as she cleared it and pressed herself up and over it’s lip, getting her boots under her and leaping up over the heads of the four men closing in on a now empty space. She half flipped over, her hands securing Gabrielle’s still slumped body, and landed on the other side of them.

Whirling, she roundhouse kicked the first two and sent them tumbling down into the now firelit cell. They screamed in reaction, as the flames licked at them, but she was busy taking care of the other two with additional well placed kicks.

Running footsteps.

Yellling.

A half dozen others charged her from a corridor, as the firelight threw shadows everywhere from below. Freeing her sword was out of the question. Xena quickly scanned the area and decided, bolting for a nearby dark hallway and turning as she reached it, skidding to a halt and catching the first of her pursuers in the chest. She shoved him backwards, sending him piling into the rest of the guards and knocking them down. Then she whirled and took off, scraping a shoulder on the wall as she ducked down the first side corridor and headed for a door at the far end.

Xena heard the sound of pursuit as she reached the door, and she pulled the latch up, throwing herself against it only to find it locked. With a savage oath, she stepped back, feeling the vibration of feet running behind her. Something came at her back and she ducked instinctively, as an ax whirled over her head and hit the door.

Out of time again. She faced the door and took two steps forward, launching her body into space and slamming the surface with both feet. With a crack, the door gave way and she stumbled inside, turning and slamming it closed as a volley of crossbow bolts hit the other side.

It was quieter inside, and lit with four torches. The straw in this room was clean, and boxes were piled everywhere.

Storeroom. Xena got behind a stack of heavy looking wooden crates and shoved against them, digging her boots into the floor and straining her entire body as they creaked into motion. With a heavy scrape of wood against stone, they slid laboriously against the door just as bodies piled into it from the other side.

Xena paused, with her hands against the boxes, until she heard frustrated banging on the other side. Then she exhaled in relief and turned, dropping to her knees in the straw and carefully lifting Gabrielle’s body off her aching shoulders.

She set the bard down as she heard a soft moan from her. “Hey.”

Pale green eyes fluttered open, dazedly tracking to her face. “Ufm.”

Xena stripped Dori’s bag off her and set the toddler down. “Dori, stay here.”

Dori crawled over to where her mother was and sat down, patting the bard’s leg with a small hand. “Mama?”

“Um.” Gabrielle rolled her head to one side. “Hey, honey.” She rasped hoarsely. “You okay?”

“Mama.. Boo go fly!”

“I know, sweetie. Mama’s seasick from it.” Gabrielle joked wanly, one hand reaching out for her soulmate’s. “Are we okay now?”

Xena looked up from her task of checking her partner’s injuries, and reviewed their situation. “Not really.” She admitted. “We’re in a dead end. But at least it’s clean, light, and dry here.” She gently unbuckled the bard’s tooled leather belt, and winced at the dark bruise that extended down to her groin.

“What are we going to do?”

“I don’t know yet.”

Gabrielle gazed up at the profile gilded in torch light, seeing the deep worry in the warrior’s furrowed brow, and feeling the faint trembling in her hands. “Xe?”

“Hm?” After a moment, the pale blue eyes lifted and met hers.

“Thanks for comin after me.” Gabrielle whispered.

Xena’s lips twitched a little. “Wish I’d been just a little sooner.” She carefully smoothed the bard’s pale hair back off her forehead. “Gabrielle…”

“I’m hurt pretty bad, huh?”

Xena studied her in unhappy silence.

“It hurts a lot.” The bard uttered. “And my vision keeps going all blurry.” Her fingers tightened on Xena’s. “And it’s kind of hard to breathe.”

“Mama?” Dori inched closer. “Mama owie.”

“Yes, sweetie.” Gabrielle turned her head to watch her daughter. “I sure am.”

“Bad.”

“C’mere.” Gabrielle held her free hand out, and guided the toddler into the circle of her arm. “Let me hug you.. maybe that’ll make me feel better, okay?”

Xena felt an iron hand clench around her heart as she gazed at them, seeing the glitter of unshed tears in Gabrielle’s eyes as Dori cuddled with her. “You’re going to be fine.” She stated firmly. “Let me see if they’ve got anything useful in here.” She stood up and started her search, pulling aside boxes roughly and dumping their contents in the straw.

Gabrielle watched her with quiet compassion and a bone deep understanding of the emotions that rippled across her partner’s tall form and robbed her of composure. “If you’ve got anything to say about it, I know I will be.” She murmured, then tilted her head as the sound of pounding slacked off from the door. “Maybe they gave up?”

Xena had turned, and was listening, swiping a grubby hand across her eyes impatiently as she did so. “Doubt it, after all, this… “ Her words trailed off as she heard another sound behind the wood.

Flames. Her nose twitched, as the first hint of smoke reached her.

Her eyes went to the door, then to the four corners of the room. Then they dropped and met Gabrielle’s.

Her soulmate lifted a hand towards her, and she walked over and sat down, taking it. They studied each other seriously for a long stretch of heartbeats before Xena spoke. “Think we’ve got a real problem here.”

Gabrielle nodded. “Looks like it, partner.” She agreed hoarsely.

They searched each other’s eyes for a while longer, then a faint smile pulled at the bard’s lips. “Y’know.. I think I’d feel a lot better if you hugged me.”

“Think so, huh?” The warrior replied softly.

Gabrielle nodded, and got her wish as Xena gently lifted her up and slid under her back, cradling her against her chest and circling Dori with her other arm. Gabrielle laid her head against her partner’s collarbone and spent a moment simply loving her. She felt the light brush of Xena’s lips against her head, then the pressure as the warrior rested her cheek in the same spot.

“Xe?”

“Mm?”

“Are we going to make it out of here?”

Xena was silent for a long while. “I’m going to do my best to get us out of here.” She finally stated.

“You could…”

“All or nothing.” The warrior stated flatly.

“Dori’s just a baby.” Gabrielle whispered. “You could get her out of here.”

“I am not leaving you.” Xena replied.

“B..”

“Do you think I could ever look her in the eye again, if I left her mother in here?”

Gabrielle fell silent, having no answer for that except the truth they both knew. She laced her fingers with Xena’s and lifted their linked hands up, pressing her lips against the scraped knuckles and closing her eyes in silent wishing.

Xena listened to the flames outside the door, a growing roar that had already started sending tendrils of smoke past the crates blocking it. There was no way out that way, no matter how fast she could run. Her eyes roamed over the storeroom from corner to corner, seeing the solid stone joinings that sealed them in as effectively as a tomb.

As a tomb. Xena glanced down, to find Dori watching her with bright, interested eyes. Her jaw muscles bunched and she squared her shoulders. Not if I have anything to say about it.

Not if.

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

Gabrielle lay quietly, Dori encircled in her arms as she watched Xena work. The pain inside her had reached a leveling point, and she was able to simply concentrate on breathing, knowing she couldn’t help her soulmate any other way.

It had started to get very warm inside the room, and if she looked up, her muzzy vision showed her a film of smoke near the roof, wisps already starting to lower towards Xena’s dark head as the warrior moved around the room.

It was hard to concentrate her thoughts on what Xena was doing. The warrior had scraped all the straw to one side of the room, hard against the wall, and, breaking open barrels shoved against the other side of the room had disclosed vegetables packed in brine.

Xena had taken the brine and doused everything with it. The smell was odd, but not completely unpleasant, more like a breathless day at the seaside than anything else. She’d also found a bale of linen blankets, and set those aside near where Gabrielle was lying.

“Mama?”

“Hm?” Gabrielle regarded her daughter, who was being unusually quiet.

“Don’t like.” Dori complained. “No good here.”

“I know, honey.” She answered.

“Go fly. Boo go find fishes, go out.”

“I wish we were outside, too.” Gabrielle told her. “I wish we were by our lake, at home, and you and I were swimming.”

“Go fishies!” Dori agreed.

“I wish we could watch the rocks, and see Boo jump off them.”

“Fun!” The toddler pulled a bit of straw up and regarded it. “We go now? Go home. Go fly.” She looked around. “No fun.”

Far off, Gabrielle heard a crash, and a dull roar. The smoke seemed to get denser, filled the ceiling faster, and she quietly faced the knowledge that none of might be going home.

Was she ready to die? Gabrielle hugged her daughter a little closer, and exhaled. How could anyone ever be ready, really? You never thought it was the right time. “Honey, you just stay quiet for a while, okay? We’ll go somewhere soon, I promise.” She was aware of Xena’s back stiffening in reaction. “It’ll be some place nice, I promise. There’ll be grass there, and cool ponds, and pretty flowers.”

Dori seemed agreeable to this. “We go.” She said.

“All of us, yes.” Gabrielle managed to get out. “You, and me, and Xena. We’ll all go together, okay?”

“Good.”

The bard couldn’t look up, couldn’t meet the blue eyes she knew were looking back at her. “Then we can play games, and I’ll tell you stories, how about that?”

“Mama tell good stories.” Dori informed her seriously. “Go now?”

“Not yet, sweetie.” Gabrielle stroked the baby’s hair gently. Her eyes finally lifted and met her soulmate’s. “Soon.”

“Boo go too.”

“Absolutely.” Gabrielle pronounced the word carefully, her gaze locked with Xena’s. “We don’t go anywhere without Boo, right?”

“Yes.” Dori put her arms around Gabrielle’s neck and gave her a sloppy kiss. “Love Boo. Love Mama.”

Xena turned and walked to the bundle of blankets, trying not to let her entire body shiver. She picked them up and opened the ties, then removed several and dropped them in the last barrel of brine, soaking them. It was a marginal plan at best, and she knew it. Dousing everything with the water would hopefully keep it from igniting when the firestorm consumed the door, and wrapping themselves in the soaked blankets might give them a few moments, but then what?

Then you’re going to die, Xena. Her mind confirmed quietly. You, and Gabrielle, and Dori. She swallowed hard, trying to get the lump to go down in her throat. It wasn’t the fear of dying that bothered her – after all, she’d lived with that her entire life.

Nor did the idea of all of them being in danger of that scare her. She knew she’d do what she could, then put her partner, and their child out when the end was overtaking them, and the gods knew, it would probably be over quickly.

It was after that happened that was scaring her senseless, making her knees shake and her heart thunder in her ears even as she worked in silence at what was probably a futile task.

She remembered Tartarus. Remembered the pain, and the unending agony.

Remembered being so starkly alone in a place where hatred and her own past’s horrors surrounded her.

With a shaky breath, she pulled the blankets from the barrel and let them drip a moment, then she returned to her partner’s side and knelt next to her. Squaring her shoulders slightly, she put the wet fabric down, then reached over and put a hand on Gabrielle’s shoulder, steeling herself for what she had to say next. “Gabrielle… “

“All or nothing.” The bard met her gaze steadfastly. ‘We all go together.”

Xena’s eyes shifted to Dori. “You promised her flowers and sweet grass.”

“You think I could ever look her in the eyes if I let you go alone to someplace worse?” Gabrielle managed a tiny smile, as their hands clasped. “Hoisted on your own petard, Warrior Princess.”

Xena merely shook her head a little, but returned the smile with a small one of her own.

“We’re going to be all right, Xena.” Gabrielle whispered. “As long as we’re together.” A breath. “And we will be.”

The warrior cupped her cheek gently, then brushed her fingers over Dori’s hair. “All right.” She murmured. “We get under these blankets, and let the first rush of fire go over us.”

Gabrielle nodded.

“Then we take it from there.” Xena said. “If the fire runs out of things to burn, I’ll get you both out down the corridor, same way we came in.”

“All right.” Gabrielle drew in a breath. “We’re in your hands”

Xena leaned gracefully over and kissed her, allowing herself a long, lingering moment of quiet passion, before she lifted her head and looked Gabrielle right in the eye. “If it doesn’t work, I’m in yours.”

Tears silently appeared, and trickled down the bard’s cheeks, as she nodded mutely. Then she pulled Dori towards her as Xena spread the wet blankets out, and laid them down over their bodies, fitting herself over both of them in a slight crouch.

A low, muted crackling grew.

Suddenly, in the straw around Gabrielle’s body a rustling startled them, then the bard yelped as a small body raced across her leg and out from under the blanket.

“Guff!” Dori squirmed out of her grasp and took off after it.

“Dori!” Xena cursed, then threw the blankets off and lunged after her daughter, who had caught up to the rat just as it reached some boxes shoved up against the far wall. “Get back here!”

“Guff!” Dori grabbed a disappearing tail and hung on, tugging backwards. “Guff! Come!”

Xena hastily freed the animal from Dori’s clutches, then picked her up. “Bad girl.” She started to scold her, then paused, cocking her head at the boxes. The rat had disappeared, but where had it gone?

“Xe?” Gabrielle cast an anxious eye at the door, which was beginning to crumble.

“Hang on.” Xena put Dori down and started tugging at the boxes, jerking them to one side. The bottom one refused to move and she frowned, then grabbed the edge of it and hauled backwards with all her strength, throwing her weight into the pull.

With a sudden crack, the box moved, then tumbled backwards almost causing the warrior to fall. She regained her balance, however, and peered over it, her nose twitching as s damp, musty scent filtered to it. “Son of a Bacchae… “

“What?” Gabrielle struggled to roll over and sit up. “What is it?”

“A tunnel.” Xena found herself grinning. “A way out of here.” She watched the rat scamper down the tunnel, then turned and raced over to her soulmate, gathering blankets as she went.

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

Xena got the blankets, and her family into the tunnel, and fastened the end of a wrapped piece of linen around the crosspiece of the big crate she’d pulled aside. Her fingers fumbled in haste as she felt the rumble in the walls from the fire, very aware of Dori’s head tucked under her chin. She backed up as she felt a blast of heat and pulled, straining her shoulders as she tugged the crate over the end of the tunnel. It creaked, resisting her strength for a second.

“Bck.” Dori took hold of the end of the linen and pulled on it, as the warrior redoubled her efforts, bracing her feet against the sides of the tunnel and arching her back as she hauled.

After a breathless moment, a sharp crack sounded, and the crate moved, slamming closed over the tunnel opening. Xena fell back onto the floor of it, with Dori on her chest, as total darkness descended on them. “Whoa.” The warrior grunted.

“She helped you pull it, huh Xe?” Gabrielle murmured weakly, from where she was lying on a hastily constructed litter made from a crate side and two spears.

“Sure did.” Xena flipped over and scrambled past her soulmate, the tight confines of the tunnel already pressing on her nerves. She wriggled by where Gabrielle was slumped, sucking in her breath in surprise as she felt warm fingers touch her belly. She stopped in mid motion and reached out, stroking the bard’s arm gently. “You okay?”

“Mm.” Gabrielle continued the contact. “Just wanted to touch you.”

Xena sat down in the tunnel, setting Dori down next to her as she folded her long legs awkwardly up. “All right. Here’s the plan.” She spoke into the darkness. “I’m gonna tie off the end of those spears around my waist. I’ll crawl down the tunnel, and just pull you after me.”

“Gods, you poor thing.” Gabrielle’s voice, though weak, held a hint of wry humor in it. “Bet you’re glad I got to walk off some of the weight I put on this last year before we got here.”

“Remind me of that tomorrow when I wake up stiff as a board.” Xena chuckled softly. “You’re gonna owe me one Hades of a backrub.”

“You’re on.” The bard replied. “Give you the best one ever, I promise.”

Xena put a gentle hand on her partner’s head, feeling Gabrielle shift a little under her fingers. “Sore?”

“Yeah.” The brief answer held it’s own warning.

Xena leaned closer. “I’m going to hold you to that promise. “ She said. “So you just relax, and let your warrior pony do her job, okay?” She eased ahead of where Gabrielle was lying and used what little faint light there was, coming around the edges of the crate, to get Dori into her backpack and tie the rope from Gabrielle’s litter around her waist.

“Boo, go hossie!” Dori was delighted, and completely unfazed by the darkness around them.

Xena wrapped a thick piece of blanket around both of her knees, then started forward, feeling her way carefully with one hand. She got to the end of the rope and leaned against it, hearing a soft scrape as the litter started moving after her. “Let me know if it gets too bumpy back there.”

“Okay.” Gabrielle closed her eyes and wrapped her hand around one of the spears, glad of the remaining blankets cushioning her aching body from the hard crate wood. She’d set her mind earlier to deal with the utter crisis of what they’d been going through, but now that the crisis had modified her injuries were starting to overwhelm her again.

Her head hurt badly. It was throbbing, and sending jolts that were causing eerily pulsing red flashes across her vision. The pain in her guts had also intensified, and she was beginning to feel chilled, despite the warmth of the walls around her.

It was hard to bear. But she knew she had a responsibility, to work through it and live, because Xena was giving everything she had to make it possible for all of them. From getting her out of the cell, to getting them out of that storeroom, the warrior was doing what she always did, never sparing herself for an instant in pursuit of her all important goal.

She would be sore, Gabrielle smiled faintly to herself. After it was all over, and her body remembered that she’d spent all this time going beyond her own limits and the bumps and scrapes and the overextension of her tough muscles.

She’d never complain. But Gabrielle had come to know the little signs and signals, the furrowed brow and hesitant, yet restless movements. Over the years she’d learned what to do to ease her partner’s aches and pains. Xena had slowly accepted, then come to appreciate that, until now she’d even occasionally ask for it.

The cold wind battered Gabrielle’s body as she pulled her cloak around her and headed across the courtyard. It was damp, and the storm that had threatened Amphipolis since the dawn had now hit, spreading at first sleet, and now snow across the ground.

Dori was playing with her cousins, and Gabrielle had decided to leave the warm security of the inn to search out Xena. The warrior had returned from a hunting trip just before lunch, and Gabrielle was carrying a pot of thick venison soup she suspected her partner would appreciate after the long, cold trek.

The militia quarters had been empty. So had their cabin. Gabrielle moved towards the one place she hadn’t checked yet, and as she pushed open the door to the barn her senses told her she’d found what she was looking for. She entered the barn and shoved the door closed on the wind, pausing inside to shake the snow off her cloak while she looked around.

She half expected to find Xena tending the horses, or working on one of her many projects, or practicing with her sword. But instead of all that, she spotted a cloaked figure curled up in the hayloft, blue eyes peeking guiltily down at her as she looked up in surprise.

“Hey.” Gabrielle set the pot down by the brazier, the small iron stove that squatted in a cleared space, wood crackling softly inside it. She climbed up the ladder into the loft and perched on the edge, studying it’s unusual occupant. Xena had a familiar, small bound volume tucked in her hand, and she stirred around in the straw as the bard seated herself.

“No, stay there.” She put a hand on Xena’s shoulder.

Xena cleared her throat. “I was, um…”

“Lazing around in the hayloft reading.” Gabrielle supplied, with a teasing grin. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.” She ruffled Xena’s hair with quiet affection, then bent a little closer. There was a tension to Xena’s body that she’d learned over the years to recognize, and her thumb rubbed lightly over the furrow she found in the center of her partner’s forehead. “So, what’s bothering you?”

For a long time after they met, she wouldn’t have dared ask. For a longer time Xena wouldn’t have deigned to answer. Now, the warrior visibly put aside her natural impulse to brush the question off and released a sigh instead, along with a resigned shrug.

“Cold got to me a little out there.” Xena admitted. “Thought I’d come in here and get away from it for a while.”

The damp cold, Gabrielle realized, which played havoc with the warrior’s joints after a lifetime of fighting, and the toll that took on her otherwise sturdy form. If Xena was saying it was bothering her, Gabrielle could only imagine how bad it was. “Let me see if I can do something for that.” She said, ruffling Xena’s hair once more before she climbed down and walked to the wooden trunk near the back of the stable.

Opening the top, she removed a stack of neatly folded cloth, and a small tin, then returned to the loft. “Roll over.” The warrior did, rustling around in the straw. Gabrielle gently pulled aside the edge of Xena’s heavy cloak, then unlaced the thick leggings underneath it. She spread some of the herbal liniment on her hands and carefully worked it around the warrior’s powerful knees, wrapping each one up neatly in warm flannel when she was done, before she snugged the leggings back around them.

“Mm. That feels great.” Xena murmured.

Yeah, it does. Gabrielle found herself silently agreeing, as she moved up to uncover Xena’s shoulders, completely enjoying this total acceptance of her solicitous attention. “Well, when I’m done with this, I’ve got some nice, hot stew to warm you up from the inside.” She informed her patient. “How does that sound?”

“Sounds like I’m in the best of hands.” Xena sighed in relief as the liniment, and the warm cloth took effect. “Thanks.”

Gabrielle gazed fondly at her. “You know what I think?”

“What?”

“I think you could have done this yourself, but you really just love me coddling you.”

For a moment, Xena didn’t react, then an eyebrow quirked, and a very mischievous grin appeared “You could be right.” She drawled softly. “Is that a problem?”

Gabrielle tenderly laced up the front of Xena’s shirt, then leaned over and kissed her on the lips. “Anything but.”

She would need Gabrielle’s touch this time. The bard kept her eyes closed. That meant Gabrielle had to be up for it, right? Right. How often had she told Xena she did things just because she thought she could? Well, now it’s your turn, shepherd. You will survive this and you will be there for her, and that’s all there is to that story.

Curiously, the decision made her feel a little better. She convinced herself that her headache was easing, and she concentrated on relaxing her body, taking long, slow breaths that seemed to ease the pain in her guts.

The forward motion had steadied to an even vibration, as the warrior crawled forward, and she could hear Dori burbling as she rode along on Xena’s back. Her child’s amazing resilience provided something else for her to focus on, and she marveled silently at Dori’s cheerful fearlessness, the entire crisis seeming like just a big adventure to her toddler’s sensibilities.

Her trust in her parents was, naturally, absolute.

“Mama?”

“Right here, honey.” Gabrielle whispered.

“Boo is good hossie!”

“She is, huh?” The bard smiled in the darkness.

“Nneeigghh.” Xena made a whickering sound.

Gabrielle snorted in soft laughter.

“First pony in the history of the world with lethal combat skills.” The warrior muttered.

“Hey.. I could make stories about that.” The bard murmured. “Fangtooth, Warrior Pony. Out making the world safe for cart horses everywhere.”

Now it was Xena’s turn to snicker.

“Mama, story?” Dori apparently found this interesting.

It was going to be a long, slow crawl, Gabrielle realized. “Sure, honey. Which one do you want to hear?” She shifted a little, finding a slightly more comfortable position.

“Gabrielle..”

“No, I’m okay.” The bard correctly interpreted that deepening in tone. “You want to hear one about Boo, Dori?”

“Yes.”

“You have good taste. Okay… “ Gabrielle considered. “How about I tell you how Boo beat a giant. You want to hear that?”

“Boom!” Dori wriggled around in her backpack. “Go go go!”

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Gabrielle composed herself, then started in on the tale.

Xena smiled, as she plowed stolidly on down the tunnel, glad beyond measure for the familiar comfort of her partner’s voice surrounding her and distracting her from the close, stone walls. The tunnel was about the size of a regular building block, which meant it was just broad enough to clear Xena’s shoulders, and high enough for her to crouch upright, giving enough room for Dori to ride on her back.

She noticed a number of things about the tunnel. One, it wasn’t that dusty, nor was it filled with debris, which indicated to her that it was fairly regularly used. That was a good thing because, to her mind, it meant it lead somewhere useful. She could feel the walls warming slightly on either side of her, and she figured she was getting close to where the fire was raging inside. If she listened, she could hear the creak of stone moving, and far off, timbers collapsing in another part of the prison.

If enough timbers came down, it could pull the walls with it, but she tried not to think about that because it meant tons of rock coming down on top of them, and Xena firmly believed once for that experience was way more than enough for a lifetime.

Crawling forward wasn’t too uncomfortable, and the smooth stone allowed Gabrielle’s pallet to slide relatively easily. Things could be worse. Xena started constructing a mental map of the prison, based on her rapid entry, as she tried to figure out where the tunnel might lead them.

So far, it paralleled the cells, she roughly figured, inside the wall just opposite…

Curiously, Xena lifted her left hand up and felt along the wall to the side. The stone was solid for several feet, then she felt a crack in it.

“Hey, Xe?” Gabrielle interrupted her tale. “Those cells are down far enough to be okay, right?” She asked. “I mean, Homer is going to be okay, isn’t he? We can come back and get him once we’re out of here?”

Hm. The cells had been mostly stone walls, with small wooden lattices between them. The fire had started in Gabrielle’s, and spread upward. “I don’t know.” She answered honestly, then waited, hearing volumes in the utter silence from her soulmate.

Gabrielle knew what Xena’s priorities were.

Mentally, Xena counted, and used her excellent sense of structure to pinpoint her location within the large stone building. “See what I can do.” She finally said, crawling a little faster, towards the faint lessening in the darkness she could detect far ahead.

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

It was now getting a lot warmer. Xena could feel the heat against her palms, and she’d broken out in a sweat, her eyes blinked droplets of it that stung as they hit. Through the stone, she could hear the crackling roar of the flames.

Ahead of her, she could see a metal grill in the side of the tunnel, through which firelight was flickering, sending shadows down the inside and across the floor. As she watched, licks of fire itself emerged between the grill, tasting the air in the tunnel and bringing with it a sharp, harsh scent.

“Gonna get warm.” Xena warned Gabrielle.

“I know.” The bard replied, drawing in an audibly shaky breath. She shifted on the pallet, and painfully rolled over onto her other side, putting as much space between her and the fire as possible.

Xena paused, feeling the heat increase rapidly. She eyed the floor of the tunnel, and realized it was darkening from the fire already around the grate. “Hang on.” She called back over her shoulder. “Need to speed up here.. it’s too hot.”

“Faster the better.” Gabrielle gripped the two poles resolutely, and closed her eyes. Old nightmares surfaced, and she shunted aside the conviction that she could hear, still, Dahok’s laughter in the raging fire.Stop it. Just forget that.

The flames leaped up through the grate, blocking their path.

“Never easy.” The warrior sighed under her breath. She turned and pulled up the hood on Dori’s backpack, much to the toddler’s displeasure. “Dori, stop that.” She evaded the tiny hands that resisted her actions. “Dori!”

“No!” Dori wailed. “Mama!”

“Do what Boo says, Dori.” Gabrielle gritted her teeth. “Don’t argue with her.” She could hear the flames getting closer, the roar filling the tunnel. Chills chased up and down her spine, and she clamped her jaws shut to keep her teeth from chattering.

“Y’know..”

“Don’t say it.” The bard growled. “Just get us out of here, okay?” Her temper spilled over. “Fast.”

Xena glanced behind her, then she rose up off her knees into a crouch, and lunged forward, propelling herself with a shove of her boots against the ground, and reaching out with both hands. She impacted the hot stone and felt the jolt of pain, but it was only momentary as she got her boots under her and shot forward again, straight for the flames. She steeled herself and hit the grate just before the flames with her palms, then leaped again, plunging straight through the fire.

It flowed over her body with a sensation of almost pain, her motion too fast for it to catch her clothing on fire. She drew her knees up quickly as she landed past the grate, and shot forward as fast as she could, pulling Gabrielle’s pallet behind her. For a split second, the light vanished as the crate bottom covered the grate, then it flared up again as they flashed past and on down the tunnel.

Xena kept moving, until the surface under her had cooled again, before she paused and sat down to catch her breath. “Damn.”

“Go go go!” Dori wriggled. “Boo, too hot!” She started to tug her flap loose.

“Shh.. in a minute.” The warrior told her. “You all right, Gabrielle?”

The bard was clutching the spears on either side, her eyes tightly shut.

“Gab?” Xena put a hand on her shoulder, her voice deepening in concern. She felt the shivering under her touch and scrambled closer, taking hold of her and pulling her over. “Hey!”

Gabrielle’s hands captured hers, and slowly, the mist green eyes opened, reflecting the firelight just past. “I’m all right.” She got out hoarsely. “I just… “ She took a steadying breath. “The fire, I just don’t… um.. ”

The fire? The warrior frowned in confusion, then realization hit her, and Xena simply gathered Gabrielle up into her arms and hugged her silently, pulling her body off the pallet and into her lap.

“Mama?” Dori got the flap off her head and peered over Xena’s shoulder.

“Sshh.” Xena touched the baby’s head with her own. “Mama’s okay. I got her.”

Maybe it was all the bare skin. Gabrielle felt her body relax as her limbs tangled with her partners, and she was surrounded by Xena’s distinctive presence. Under her fingers, her partner’s ribs expanded strongly, and she burrowed into the embrace with a sense of utter relief.

Safe. As long as she was in Xena’s arms, nothing could hurt her.

Nothing.

“I got you.” Xena whispered again, stroking her cheek with her thumb. “It’s okay.”

Gabrielle rested there until her heartbeat slowed, then she sniffled a little and released a long breath. “Sorry.” She started to push away. “We have to get going.. I didn’t’ mean to…”

“Hey.” Xena refused to release her. “You’re starting to sound like me. Stop it.”

The bard fell back against Xena’s chest, wishing she could just stay there. She waited for the chills to subside, and she felt her composure steady again after a few minutes. “Thanks.” She tilted her head up. “I’m all right.”

Grave blue eyes studied her. “Sure?”

Gabrielle shrugged one shoulder, and bestowed a tiny, wry smile on her partner. “Considering everything, yeah.” She said. “Are you okay?”

Xena examined the edge of her skimpy wrap, now sadly soiled and singed. “A little toasty, but other than that, I think I’m fine.” She peered over her shoulder. “You okay, shortie?”

“Want cookies.” Dori frowned. “Too hot, bad smell.”

“Anything else?” The warrior inquired.

“Bck.”

“I think that means get moving.” Gabrielle let her eyes fall to the dimly seen tattoo just above Xena’s heart. The sight of the symbol made her smile and she lifted a finger to trace it. “Xena, would you do something for me when we get out of here?”

“Sure.” The warrior gazed down at the hand moving over her skin. “What?”

“I want you to put a tattoo on me.” The bard said, dreamily. “I want a little bird, like you and Dori have. On my back.”

Xena studied her in concern, seeing the glazed look to her partner’s eyes. “Sure.” She agreed slowly. “If you want me to.”

“I do.”

“Okay.” Xena gently helped her back onto her pallet, wincing at the tenderness in the palms of her hands from the hot stone. “Just lay down, and we’ll be out of here before you know it.”

Gabrielle settled down on the blankets, and let her eyes close as she felt Xena tuck the edges of the fabric around her. She was exhausted after the racking fear, and it was hard to think straight. Easier just to lay quietly, and get some rest. The sounds around her faded out a little, though did not disappear entirely, and she was vaguely aware of motion starting again, pulling her further from the heat and the sound of the flames and closer to safety.

The next grate Xena could see was dark, and her nose already detected a foul smell from it. She came even to it and peered through, seeing the tops of cells extending before her. As she watched, several guards ran through the dungeon, their voices strained as they shouted orders about the fire. Two of them carried buckets, the third a sack of sand, and all three were soot covered. Xena leaned over and checked the dozing Gabrielle, putting her fingers over the bard’s pulse point as she watched the rise and fall of her chest.

The bard’s skin was heated, and her heart was beating a little faster than normal. Xena chewed her lip, then untied the rope around her belly and faced the grid. She examined the edges, then set her boots against it and with a double kick, knocked it halfway out of the wall.

A rattle of broken stone from the edge fell on the other side, followed by a huge clang as a second kick knocked the grate completely out. Xena slipped out of the tunnel and stood, sparing a bare instant to stretch her long frame out from it’s cramping before she raced over to the last cell in the room, dropping to her knees to peer inside. “Homer!”

She heard a gasp. “Listen.. you’ve got one chance here, so don’t foul it up.” With that, Xena stood and unhooked the big trap door, letting it swing inside. Then she lifted the roughly made ladder hung on wooden pegs nearby and lowered it inside, until it hit bottom. “Get moving.”

She waited to feel the vibration of someone climbing up, then she turned and raced back towards the tunnel.

“Hey! You there! If you’re letting a body loose, how about us then?”

Xena paused, recognizing the voice. She peered down through the nearest trap door to see their friend from the road looking up at her. “Only one ladder.” She unhooked the trap. “But maybe you’ll get lucky. She let the door swing open, then continued on, slipping halfway back into the tunnel and pulling Gabrielle’s pallet over.

Would it be faster to stay inside, or try her luck breaking out through the guards? She put a hand on Gabrielle’s head, and decided she’d had enough crawling. “Okay, Dori. You get to ride in front now.” She shifted the toddler around to rest below her chin, then she carefully lifted Gabrielle up and settled her across her shoulders again.

That, at least, freed her sword arm. Xena drew her weapon and started towards the door with determined purpose. . She put her free hand on the latch and set her boot next to the door, ready to pit her strength against the lock.

To her surprise, though, when she worked the mechanism the door opened willingly, with a creak of it’s hinges. “Don’t look that gift centaur in the ass.” She muttered under her breath, as she left the dungeon room and started up the stone steps two at a time despite her burden. All the bard’s joking aside, Xena found it easy to handle her weight, and always had despite the fact that Gabrielle’s compactly muscular form was definitely heavier than it looked.

She got to the top of the stairs and glanced around, surprised to find the upper guardroom empty. When she’d plowed through here the first time, it had been full of armed men, most of whom had leaped to their feet in an attempt to stop her.

She hadn’t let them.

But now it was empty, chairs overturned and tables in scattered disarray, and what seemed strangest to Xena – weapons left lying by bunks and on the floor. Her brow creasing, she made her way through the room and out the open front door, where a wide corridor lead to the large, guarded entryway she’d first come in by.

Here was where she expected the most trouble. Xena shifted her grip on her sword, and curled an arm over Gabrielle’s limp body, gathering both her strength and her ferociousness, intent on powering her way through whatever opposition she found at the end of the hall.

She made her way along the corridor, then cocked her head as she heard a roar of sound, bits and pieces of which resolved into curses and oaths, along with the sound of metal striking wood.

The door at the end of the corridor was, again, open, and she warily peeked through it, ready to repulse any attack. There were ten wide steps that lead up to the entry, and she made her way silently up them, her fingers flexing on the leather wrapped sword hilt as her head topped the rise and she could see into the room.

She stopped, dumbfounded.

The room was in total chaos – all of the guards were on the far end, beating fruitlessly against the huge, outer doors with anything they could find. Frustration fairly oozed from them, and the atmosphere in the room was seething with anger.

Xena climbed into the room and started across it. She was halfway there before one of the men spotted her, and turned, pointing a spear right at her head.

“There she is! There’s the bastard! Let’s kill her and throw her out the window!”

Xena stopped short. Her eyes flicked over the room, counting her adversaries. There were a round two dozen men, and as her presence registered, they all broke off their attack on the door and headed in her direction.

Xena knew she didn’t have a chance carrying her family. She had to make a choice of putting them down, putting them both at the mercy of the soldiers, or doing something that came very unnaturally to her.

The first man reached her, and she twirled her sword in her hand, then she met his furious thrust with a neat parry, and kicked him backwards, right into a half dozen of his peers. “All right. Hold it!” She let out a fierce bellow. “Unless you’re all looking to die here.”

A ring of faces, red and angry surrounded her. “Gonna do that anyway, thanks t’you!” A tall, red haired man said. “So what’s the difference!” He rushed at her, lifting a mace and swinging it at her head.

Xena eased to one side in a fluid motion, then got him with a backswing as he passed, slamming him in the back of the head with her sword flat. He lunged forward and went headlong into the wall, which he slid down limply. “You’ll die sooner if I do it.” She turned and caught the next closest man to her with a short, chopping jab, her fist wrapped around her hilt and lending her blow weight enough to snap his head back and drop him in his tracks.

Then she attacked them. She danced closer, using only her sword and her sense of balance to engage the closest ring of faces, disarming three of their weapons in one moment, and whirling to roundhouse kick two more back over into their mates. “You ready to listen now?” She taunted them. “Or should I keep going?”

It was a close thing. They were all still angry, but the oldest one, a man in the uniform of an Athenian officer stepped forward and held his hand up. He had close cropped dark hair, with a light silvering of gray, and a neatly trimmed beard that outlined an intelligent, rugged face. “Hold.” He spoke firmly. “By the gods, we’ve got enough troubles.”

Xena remained alert, her sword held slightly out from her body and her stance balanced. The ring rustled for a moment, then shoulders dropped and the men turned, muttering in disgust as they faced the door again. “What happened?” The warrior asked the older man, who’d remained facing her.

“We’re locked in here, and the damn place is on fire.” The man told her in clipped tones. “All of us sacrificed to make sure you never came out.”

Xena stared at the door, then at him. “Locked?”
“From the outside, and blockaded, probably with a loaded wagon.” The man agreed grimly. “We can’t get water to put the fire out, can’t get supplies, can’t get out of here. We’re dead already.” He told her. “And so are you.”

Xena slowly released a breath, aware of footsteps behind her. She half turned to see Homer and some of the other prisoners piling up the stairs, then turned back to the guard captain. “Tell you what.” She said. “Let’s work together, and maybe none of us has to die.”

The man’s dark brown eyes studied her for a long instant. Then he nodded briefly. “These youngsters only know what they’ve seen of you here, Xena.” He said. “But I was in Thessaly, during the civil war.” A faint, if grudging smile crossed his lips. “And I know a bit different.”

Xena let her lips tense in return. “All right.” She exhaled. “Homer, c’mere.”

The bard limped over to her, his ragged, filthy clothing in tatters. “Thanks for getting us out.” His eyes flicked to the door. “I think.”

Xena led him over to the side of the room, and knelt, easing Gabrielle off her shoulders and onto a padding of straw near the wall. “Watch her.” She said, simply. “I don’t’ know how badly she’s hurt.”

“I will.” Homer winced as he got a good look at the welt across the bard’s face. “Can you get us out of here?”

Xena let her knuckles lightly brush her soulmate’s cheek. “She needs to get out of here. I’ll find a way.” She said, then stood and walked away, shifting Dori’s backpack once again.

Homer watched her go, the warrior’s tall, half naked form covered in cuts and bruises and yet noble in it’s classic lines. “So that’s Xena.” He mused.

“Cute, huh?” Gabrielle’s muzzy voice drifted up. “C’n I pick em, or what?”

Homer glanced down, to see half open green eyes regarding him. “She’s incredible.” He said. “Just like you are.” He reached over and took the bard’s hand in his own. “It’s been a long time, and not near the way I’d hoped to meet you again, old friend.”

“Don’t worry.” Gabrielle whispered. “It’s all gonna be fine.”

Homer glanced behind them, where the first wisps of smoke were spiraling up the steps. Then he looked at the firmly barred door, built to withstand the fiercest of attacks. Then his eyes dropped to Gabrielle’s face, which was half turned, and the pale eyes that had found Xena and were watching the warrior with utter belief. “I bet we are.” He replied, with a sigh of wonder. “And what a tale it will make.”

********

Xena paced over to the door and examined it. It opened outward, she noticed, and the inside surfaced was already chipped and battered by the trapped guards. They gave her glowering looks, but she ignored them as she studied first the stone archway the door was set in, then turned and regarded the rest of the chamber.

It was tall, and windowless. She tilted her head back. Guttering torches sent spirals of rich, black smoke up to the ceiling, which was stained black with it. Heavy wooden timbers stretched across overhead and she studied these, putting her hands on her hips as she thought about what to do.

After a moment, she nodded. “Right.” She muttered, before she did a half turn and faced the crowd of angry guards. “Want to get out of here?” She asked loudly, her voice lifting over the cursing.

“What do you think, ya…” One of the nearest men yelled back, his bearded face roiling in frustration.

“Be still, Egar.” The captain faced Xena. “You have an idea?”

“Yeah.” Xena said. “We’ll need all the chains and ropes you can get, as long as you can find them.”

The captain’s brow creased, but he turned to his men. “You heard the lady. Go to the stores, you can still get in them, and bring the shackles.”

They stared at him.

“MOVE!” He roared.

With muttered curses, they left off beating on the door and jostled each other as they headed for a small room just off the entryway. The captain stepped next to Xena and folded his arms. “Mind sharing your plan?”

“Bck.” Dori scrabbled at Xena’s shoulder, trying to get a better look at what was going on. “Boo, want cookies!”

Xena gave her daughter a wry look. “I don’t have any cookies, shortie.” She told her. “You’re gonna have to wait.”

A tiny scowl. “No!”

The guard captain chuckled softly. “She certainly wrecks your image.” He commented.

Xena snorted.

“She’s adorable, though.” He added. “What’s her name?”

“Doriana.” Xena said, briefly. “She thinks this is just one big party arranged for her benefit, doncha, Dori?”

“Fun.” Dori agreed. “Want cookies!”

The first men emerged from the storeroom, dragging armfuls of chains with them, and carrying coils of rope. Xena took a big coil of thick hemp from one of them, and slung it over her shoulder, then she walked over to one of the stately columns that bisected the room. There were six of them, and she picked the last one on the left hand side, aware of the men clustering behind her. “Dori?”

“Boo?”

“Hang on, okay?”

“Boo?”

“We’re gonna fly.”

“Eeeeee!!!!!!!”

“Thought you’d like that.” Xena took two steps towards the column, then leaped upward, catching hold of it with both hands and wrapping her legs around it.

“Gogogogogogogo…” Dori wriggled, bouncing against her back.

With an unseen grin, Xena climbed upwards, releasing her hold then surging upwards for another hold, pulling her body up with sinuous ease. She got to the top of the column in short order, and, locking her legs around the stone to hold her in place, she looped the rope around the column, and secured it carefully.

Then she turned, seeing the eyes on her. “Think we should climb down?” She asked Dori.

“Fly!” Dori grabbed a fistful of her hair and tugged. “Boo, fly!”

Xena took hold of the column, then released her legs, and braced them against the surface. “Okay, hold on.” She warned her daughter, before she simply kicked free and soared outward in a backwards arc, twisting in mid air, then rolling forward into a somersault as she flew towards the ground, scattering the crowd in frantic haste.

Another half twist, and she was landing lightly, legs half bent, body straightening into a little hop.

“Gogoggogoggoogoooooooooo!” Dori squealed in utter delight.

But there was a job to do. Xena took hold of the rope and motioned the men closer. “Everyone grab on, and pull.” She indicated an arc. “Pull the column down, , that way.”

“For what?” The man standing next to her asked. “You’re nuts!”

Xena turned and in the same motion, brought her right hand over and slugged him in the jaw. He dropped without a further sound. “Better move. It’s getting hot in here.” She told the rest of them. “C’mon! We don’t have time!”

Sidestepping the downed guard, they took hold of the rope, even the captain, and started to pull.

*******

“What’s she doing?” Homer asked, in a low voice. His eyes kept flicking to the oncoming smoke, which was now drifting visibly into the room from the stairs.

Good question. Gabrielle watched her soulmate climb up the column, muzzily admiring the shift of Xena’s powerful muscles which were very much on display. She realized what the warrior was doing at the moment, tying the rope to the top of the stone column, but as to why?

“Great Hera!” Homer yelped, as Xena leaped off into mid air.

“Show off.” Gabrielle chuckled wanly. “Would you look at her?” Her eyes traced her partner’s graceful body as she flipped and turned, landing with a muscular bounce and a little, cocky strut. Despite the ragged, mud covered, stained little outfit, and the bruised, scraped skin, there was a primal nobility to her, a self awareness, a confidence that rendered dirt and tattered clothing irrelevant.

She watched as the warrior took charge.

Winced as Xena’s fist took out the guard.

Wondered, as the men grabbed the rope and started pulling, booted feet skidding on the stone floor, voices raising in confusion. Xena grabbed the rope also, and lent her weight to it, yelling out a rhythm for them to pull with.

Gabrielle watched with a sense of dislocation, as the top of the pillar slowly, grudgingly, started to rock a little.

“They’re pulling the pillar down?” Homer asked, in a whisper.

“Yeah.” The bard murmured fuzzily. “That’s my Xena. Always getting in there, and taking the house down around her.”

“Why?”

“Why?” Gabrielle knew she wasn’t thinking straight, and suspected the fever was responsible. “Cause she can.” She said. “Gotta have the pillar come down, cause that’s the plan, see?”

“Uh? What plan?”

“Xena’s plan. Xena always has a plan.” Gabrielle explained earnestly. “Even when you think there’s noooo way she could have a plan, she does. And it works. Her plans always work.”

“They do?”

“Yep.”

They both watched as the pillar creaked, bits of it’s edge crumbling off the top as it scraped out from under the wooden support.

“Pull!” Xena’s voice echoed strongly. “When I say jump, JUMP!”

“See? A plan.” Gabrielle watched in contentment.

With a thundering rattle, the column tottered, then started down.

“JUMP!” Xena yelled, leaping out of the way herself. The men scattered like ants, and the stone pillar crashed to the floor, cracking into two big pieces, and throwing smaller ones all around in sharp chunks.

“See? It worked.” The bard said, smugly.

“Okay.” Homer leaned on an elbow next to her, his scruffy, bearded face haggard. “ It’s now a broken pillar. Now what?”

Gabrielle regarded it. “I dunno.” She admitted. “But I’m sure it’s a good plan.”

Homer eyed her skeptically.

******

“Perfect.” Xena pronounced, as she studied the results. “Get me a crossbow.” She ignored the resentful looks, and waited until one of them men reluctantly handed her the weapon she requested. Then she peered up, measuring angles. “Damn.” The ceiling was tall, but short enough for her to be reasonably sure a fired bolt would stick in the wood. That wasn’t what she wanted. She handed the weapon back and walked over to the now loosened rope, untangling it from the rubble and coiling it in her hands.

It would be tough. She walked over to the pile of chains and found a loose link, picking it up and tying it off on the end of the rope as she moved back over to the center of the room. Slowly, she let out the rope and started swinging it in a circle.

A sudden rumble made them all look. The rubble on the floor jumped and rattled, then a booming roar sounded, and a ball of fire and smoke exploded up the stairs and into the room. The force of it knocked everyone off their feet, even Xena, who landed on her side near the pilons. “Gabrielle!”

“I’m fine!” The bard yelled back, from her relatively protected space. “You? Dori?”

“Fine!” The warrior leaped to her feet and started swinging the link, urgency now making her motions rapid. She took aim and let the rope loose, watching it fly up and wrap itself around the biggest of the support beams. A shake, and the weighted end dropped down.

Xena laced the other end of the rope through the link and pulled it back up, leaving the rope dangling from the timber. She raced over to the pile of chains and pawed through them, finding the two longest ones and pulling them out.

“Wh.. “ The guard captain staggered to his feet and came to her side. “What are you doing? Xena, we don’t have..”

“Out of my way.” Xena slung the chains over her shoulder, careful not to hit Dori with them. She went to the rope and leaped for it, climbing hand over hand up it’s surface.

“Gogogogoggogo..” Dori burbled happily. “Boo, we fly again now?”

“Soon.” The warrior grunted, as she reached the top, pulling herself up onto the timber hastily. The air was fouling up here, and she assembled her chains as fast as she could, draping them over the timber before her, and behind her. Then she dropped off the timber and back onto the rope, sliding down it with a stifled wince as the hemp rubbed against her skin.

“All right.” She yelled, above the roar of the approaching fire. “Roll that piece over here. Move it!!” She pointed. “We need to get it up into these chains, fast!”

A moment’s frozen silence, then the captain exhaled sharply. “A battering ram!” He bellowed. “It’ll take the door down.. quickly!” He raced over to the pilon, and shoved men into place, and they bent their backs to it, all resistance dissolved.

The pillar piece rolled reluctantly over the ground, crushing bits of itself into dust as the ten men pushed against it, cursing and sweating. They got it under the timber, then stopped. “Ho’wn the Hades do we lift it?” One asked, with a groan. “Didn’t think of that, didja?”

“Wait.” The captain studied the pillar. “Get me the shackle poles.” A man ran to get them, and handed one over. He took one end of it and slid it under the chunk of stone, then levered upward. The pillar shifted, but rolled back in the other direction. “Hades.”

“Hold on.” Xena got behind the pillar and knelt, picking up a chunk of shattered rock and wedging it into place. “Now try.”

Again, he levered upward, the iron bar bending in his grip as he strained. Two men joined him, until, with a lurch, the pillar lifted up. Two others grabbed one of the chains and slipped it quickly underneath. Xena snatched the end and pulled it up, taking the hook at the end. “Lift higher!” She ordered.

The three men threw their weight on the bar, and the end of the pillar lifted, as flames started licking up at the roof. Xena hooked the end into one of the links, then backed off, as the captain grabbed the other chain and slid it under the half propped pillar.

Several of the men grabbed the stone, and, with serious grunts, got their hands under the edge and lifted, allowing him to slide it far enough under for Xena to grab it. She pulled the other end up. “Get under there, all of you, and lift!”

The rest of the guard did so, and the end lifted slowly, until she could hook that end too. She stepped back, and nodded. The pillar was suspended by the chains from the timbers, it’s end only a bodylength or so from the door’s surface.

“We can take it from here.” The guard captain stated. “C’mon, boys, make her swing.” They all put hands on the stone, and started pushing, the tallest of them starting a low chant.

Xena backed off, as the pillar started moving, back, and then forward, hitting the door with a solid, booming thump. She watched the edges of the door frame shiver, and nodded, then turned and raced over to where Gabrielle was lying. “Should be outta here in a minute.”

“See?” Gabrielle slurred softly. “Tolja it was a good plan. She’s the best.” She could hardly keep her eyes open, though the pain seemed to have subsided for a while. It was getting hard to breathe though, and she wished they were out in the fresh air. “That’s m’Xena.”

The warrior took a worried breath, laying a hand on her partner’s fevered cheek. “Hang in there, love. It’ll be better soon, I promise.”

Gabrielle latched on to the hand, and pressed it to her lips. “Trust you.” She murmured. “With e’vrything.”

Xena carefully gathered her up in her arms, and stood. “C’mon.” She told Homer. “We don’t have much time.”

Homer followed her as they moved towards the door.

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

The captain had the battering ram swinging, and with each hit of it against the wood more stone crumbled around the doorway. The door itself was becoming bowed as well, and Xena let out a tiny, concerned breath as she watched it, very aware of the flames now licking at the roof timbers behind her.

If the fire burnt through the support timber before they broke the door down…. Resolutely, the warrior put that out of her mind, and edged a little closer to the entrance. She felt Gabrielle shift in her arms and looked down, as the bard reached up and wrapped her arms around her neck. “You don’t have to do that.” Xena told her gently.

“I know.” Gabrielle peeked behind Xena, where Dori had now latched onto her arm and was mouthing her wrist. “But I want to.” She rested her cheek against Xena’s breastbone. “Always made me feel so good to hug you.”

Xena watched a section of the door crack. “Yeah.” She murmured in reply. “How damn long it was that I told myself I let you do it just for you.”

Gabrielle smiled faintly.

“Hurry, men!” The captain yelled, urgently. The flames had reached the ceiling behind them, and now the roar was almost a force against their skins. Xena could feel the heat building and she pressed against the stone, blinking as a shower tiny rocks rained over her.

“Mama!” Dori yelled, unhappily.

“It’s okay, honey.” Gabrielle released one arm and circled the child with it.

“Now! Now!”

The pillar swung back, shoved by two dozen sooty hands, and then forward, with several of the men hanging onto it, lending their weight to it’s force. It struck the doors dead center, and with a splintering crack, they parted.

“Yeahh!!!!!” Voices rose excitedly. “One more!”

Another swing, this time the ram hit the left hand side door, and it burst from it’s jam, and hurled itself outward, revealing a flash of bright sun, and startling blue sky.

Then it was bedlam, as everyone scrambled for the opening. The fire sucked eagerly at this new source of fresh air and surged forward, licking at their heels. Xena bolted from her spot near the wall and ducked as the pillar swung crazily around, knocking several men off balance. The crowd jammed the opening, pushing and shoving, and glancing behind her, she knew she didn’t’ have much time to clear the jam.

Her hands twitched, and she almost released Gabrielle so that she could grab her sword and just start cutting their way out.

Then the other door was abruptly yanked outwards, it’s smouldering surface already starting to catch embers from the fire behind them. The warrior raced for the opening as they all poured outside, and down the long, stone steps towards the street.

“Xena!” A familiar voice made the warrior pull up, to see Ephiny and Eponin releasing the rope they’d tied to the other door to yank it open.

“Glad to see you two.” Xena yelled. “Get moving.. I think…. “

A low, rumbling roar cut her words off, and the warrior shoved the two Amazons down the steps and around the low wall that separated the jail from the street. Just as they turned the corner, a ball of fire exploded from the jail, filling the doorway with hot orange light, and obliterating the place they’d stood just moments before.

Xena paused and looked behind her, taking in the wall of flames. “Close.”

“Too close.” Ephiny latched onto her arm. “Great Athena, what happened to the two of you? Are you all right?” This she directed to the groggy Gabrielle.

“Been better.” The bard admitted. “Long story.”

“Let’s get out of here.” Eponin urged. “C’mon, this place is nuts!” She glanced around. “When we found out they had you guys in there…”

“Found out?” Xena asked. “How?”

Ephiny and Pony exchanged looks. “Long story.” The Amazon regent said. “We’re closer to our inn, let’s get you over there.”

Sounded like a great idea. “Good.” Xena shifted her burden a little. “I need to take care of Gabrielle.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I think Dori’s fine. You okay, shortie?”

Dori tugged on her hair. “Cookie!”

“Hey.. “ Homer ducked around the corner just at that moment, and almost crashed into them. “Take me with you. I don’t know how they’re feeling about escaped prisoners around here, and I don’t want to find out.”

“Who.. “

“S’okay.” Gabrielle gave Homer a wan smile. “He’s a friend.”

“Right.” Ephiny pointed. “That way.”

********

Cyrene was standing outside the inn, talking to her old friend the innkeeper when they heard footsteps approaching. “Now what.” The innkeeper muttered. “Fire, flood, what’s next, famine? Not good news for the likes of me.”

“Maybe it’s.. “ Cyrene stopped in mid word as a small cluster of people entered the small, walled courtyard of the inn. “Gods of Olympus.. “She stared in shock at her daughter, whose tanned body was almost completely bare, and covered in cuts, burns and bruises. Xena’s dark hair was wild and disheveled, and her pale eyes were stark and intent. In her arms she carried an obviously injured Gabrielle, who clung to her with weary strength.

Cyrene dropped the handful of thatch she’d been looking at and ran hastily to meet them. “Xena!”

“Mother.” Xena looked grim. “Can you take Dori?” She half turned, and ducked down so her mother could unstrap the baby’s carrysack and remove her off her back. “She hasn’t been fed or.. “

“I can tell.” Cyrene interrupted. “I’ll take care of her.. you two get inside.” She put a hand on Gabrielle’s arm. “By the gods..”

“Hi, mom.” Gabrielle grimaced. “Kind of a bad day, y’know?” She hung onto Xena as they made their way inside the inn, with the innkeeper fluttering after them in agitation. Now that it was over, or almost, Gabrielle wanted nothing more than to be still and quiet.

“We need an empty room.” Cyrene’s voice carried.

“But, the law!”

“A plague on the law.” Xena’s mother snapped. “Just open it, or by the gods I’ll knock that door down myself.”

A clink. A creaking. Then Gabrielle was aware of being carried into a room that smelled of apples, clean linen and sunlight. She felt the fever start making her shiver as she was let down onto the bed gently, her body achingly able to relax at last.

She kept her eyes closed. The sounds faded in and out, but she focused on Xena’s low voice very near by, and the warrior’s touch as she examined her wounds. A gentle thumb brushed her cheek near the whip welt, and she heard Xena sigh heavily, the end of the sound descending into almost a growl.

She heard water tinkling nearby, then the sensation of coolness as a cloth wiped her skin, leaving behind a stark chill that made her shiver.

“Easy.” Xena’s hands continued their touch.

“Cold.” Gabrielle protested faintly.

“I know. I need to get you cleaned off, though. Hang in there.”

Hang in there. Gabrielle thought about that. Her head seemed to hurt less, and so did her guts, but the fever was making her muscles clench painfully as she fought against the chills and her mouth felt totally parched inside. “Water?”

“You bet.”

She felt Xena’s hand curl behind her neck and very gently lift her up a little, enough for her to suck weakly at the spout of a waterskin. The taste of the water inside almost brought tears to her eyes, and she wished, at that moment, that she was home in Amphipolis, in their cabin. “Dori?”

“She’s fine. Mom has her. She’s getting her cookies.”

‘She getting you some cookies?” Gabrielle murmured. “You didn’t get breakfast either.”

“Don’t worry about me.”

“I have to worry about you. It’s m’job.” The bard protested. “Y’re not gonna take it away from me, are ya?”

“Never.” Xena replied softly.

“Good.” Gabrielle felt things slipping away from her. “Gotta do a good job.. don’t want you to just leave me someplace, huh?” She was aware of a sort of silence around her, kind of weird, like everyone as holding their breaths and not moving. But that would be stupid. Right?

“Gabrielle?”

Xena’s voice was very warm, rich with the affection Gabrielle remembered gobbling up greedily every time she heard it. A hand touched her face, and she sensed Xena leaning closer to her.

“Gabrielle, look at me.”

Ooo.. easy request. The bard pried one eyelid open and was surprised, a little, at the serious intensity of her partner’s expression. “Mm?” She opened the other eye for good measure.

Xena cupped her face with one hand. “Listen to me.”

“Uh huh?”

Xena got closer, until her eyes filled the bard’s field of vision. “I will never leave you.” The warrior pronounced the words very carefully. “Never.” She waited a beat, then backed off a little, watching the fevered expression looking back at her. After a moment’s utter stillness, Gabrielle’s head tilted, just a bit, to one side, and a subtle, but to Xena profound ‘something’ changed, deep in the golden flecked green eyes.

Gabrielle blinked slowly, then her gaze drifted off, taking in the room before it returned to Xena’s face. After a few moments, a tiny grin appeared.

Xena patted her cheek gently, then shook out a soft, quilted blanket and settled it over her partner’s battered frame. “You need to get some rest.” She told her. “You’re gonna be fine, sweetheart, but it’s going to take a while.”

“Mm.” Gabrielle finally allowed her eyes to close, as a blanket of peace drifted over her. She reached out and captured Xena’s hand, twining their fingers together, then relaxed completely.

The warrior watched her for a few heartbeats, then her own shoulders slumped and she glanced around, taking in the solemn, watching eyes. She felt a little embarrassed, unused to having to display this private a side of herself in so very public a place. In front of her mother, well… or the Amazons, she’d given up trying to..

Oh, Hades. Forget it. Xena just picked up the wet cloth an wrung it out, then set the small bowl of water aside. She was aware of Ephiny coming to kneel next to her, and Pony showing up on the other side. “She’ll be all right.” The warrior said. “Bruises look bad, but she’s smart. She covered up. That bump on her head is what I’m most worried about.”

A touch on her shoulder made her turn her head sharply, to find Eponin cleaning her skin. Their eyes met, and Xena’s eyebrows hiked up.

“You’re bleeding all over the floor.” The weapons master commented, unruffled. “And you look like you went through a rabid wild centaur stampede.”

“Yeah.” Ephiny was laying out a bit of thread and a bone needle. “I don’t think the Queen would approve if we let you drip all over her. So humor us.”

“Let’s go see if we can get some dinner together.” Cyrene hoisted a now contented Dori up. She motioned her friend to leave before her, then paused and regarded Homer. “You too.” She pointed towards the door. They all trouped out, leaving the four of them in peace.

Xena rocked back a little on her heels, and let her hands rest on her thighs as she accepted the Amazon’s aid in silence. The worst cuts, she knew, were on her back and relatively inconvenient for her to try and take care of herself.

“So.” Ephiny had started to work on the worst one, a long gash that started just below Xena’s shoulderblade. “What.. um.. happened in there?”

A dozen images flashed through Xena’s memory. “Not that much.” She replied. “I went in, found Gabrielle, got out.”

Pony started chuckling.

“Well.” Ephiny took a careful stitch. “After Cait and Paladia broke your friend Mikah out of his little slave prison, and brought him back here, we heard you two were inside that prison.”

Xena’s eyebrow lifted. “Broke him out?”

“Gabrielle asked Cait to make sure he was okay.” Ephiny told her. “Cait followed her instructions.. to the glyph.”

“Wayoverfollowed.” Pony muttered, as she rinsed out her cloth. “Pick your arm up.”

Xena did, resting her elbow on Eponin’s head. The Amazon gave her a dire look.

“According to Mikah, you were set up.”

Xena turned and looked at Ephiny. “Set up?”

The regent nodded. “He said he overheard the owner of the bordello you were staying at making a deal with the guy he got sold to. A lot of dinars were involved.”

“Bordello?” Pony peeked up at Xena, with a smirk.

Xena ignored her, turning her gaze on Gabrielle’s still form. “They knew she’d defend him.”

“Yeah.” Ephiny agreed, softly. “They didn’t know they didn’t have to go to so much damn trouble to put that kid in there. She’d have defended anyone.”

The warrior let out a long breath. “Yeah.” She reached forward and brushed her knuckles against the bard’s cheek. “But she wasn’t the real target.” Xena said. “They knew I’d come after her.”

“Thus proving their stupidity.” Ephiny remarked matter-of-factly. She put another stitch in the tan skin under her fingers, feeling only the barest twitch of the muscles underneath it as the needle punctured.

Xena remained silent, her face still and unemotional. “They hurt her, put my daughter at risk, and almost killed a dozen of their own citizens. For what?” She asked, in a flat voice. “For the glory of War?”

Pony snorted. “For the glory of their own purses, too.” The Amazon winced, at the long burn across Xena’s shoulder. “Bastards.” She cursed. “To Hades with all of them. Let em kill each other.”

Ephiny leaned close and tied the last stitch off, cutting the thread with her teeth. Then she glanced up at Xena. “Hate to say it, but Pony’s right. These people aren’t worth your suffering, Xena. Or hers.” The regent gazed at the bard. “They’ll be to busy to worry about the levy from Amphipolis – let’s just get the Hades out of here, and go home.” She examined a cut on the warrior’s arm. “Bunch of useless stuck up jerkwads.”

Xena regarded the dried blood on her skin. “Did you say Cait knew where the guy who was keeping Mikah was?” She asked softly.

“Yeah.” Pony dabbed some thick, creamy salve on the burns that were liberally scattered all over Xena’s back. “Damn, champ. What did you do, just walk through the flames?”

“I did what I had to do.” Xena answered, in a distant voice.

Ephiny studied her, a frown of concern crossing her face. “Why don’t you sit down for a while, Xena. We’ll go grab something edible and bring it back here.”

Pony picked up the bowl and the linen and moved away. “Yeah.”

Xena thoughtfully sat down on the floor next to the bed and leaned back against the wall. “Not a bad idea.” She agreed. “It’s been a long day.” Her eyes went to the window, which showed a late afternoon’s golden light. “Guess everyone won their bets today, huh?”

Ephiny felt a deep sense of worry erupt in her guts as she noted the quiet, resolute, far off look to Xena’s eyes. “Yeah.” She said. “We got worried about you guys when you didn’t show for the first event, and we beat it out of the arena and started looking for you.”

Xena nodded. “Thanks.” She said. “Getting that door open made a difference.” She rested her elbow on the bed, and reached over to take Gabrielle’s hand, folding it into her own.

“Damn frustrating.” Pony groused. “Jerks outside were more worried about escaping prisoners than the damn place being on fire.. blocking that door what that damn cart. What were they thinking?”

“They were thinking if that fire happened to kill us, it’d be a good thing.” Xena replied calmly. “Maybe they’d even get a reward for it.” She chafed the bard’s fingers gently.

“Right.” Ephiny got up, the unease growing. “Well, we’ll be right back.” She attempted a smile. “Don’t go anywhere, okay?”

A tiny shake of Xena’s head was all the answer she got. Worried, she ducked out the door with Pony following her, her mind swarming with warning signals.

“Getting outta here’s a great idea.” Pony exhaled, shaking her head.

“Yeah.” Ephiny ran her hand through her curly blond hair. “The sooner the better.”

“Glad this is over.”

An echo of those words played mockingly inside Ephiny’s conscience. “That would be the simple answer.” She told her lover. “And we both know with our Queen, and her consort – life is never simple.”

**

At last, it was quiet. Xena let her thoughts settle for a few moments, while she simply watched Gabrielle sleep, studying the faint flare of her nostrils as her eyes traced the whip mark over and over again.

Of course, it wasn’t the first time Gabrielle had been hurt by someone trying to get at her. Xena sighed, resting her chin on her arm. It probably wasn’t the last time either, but even though they’d both accepted the risk, it never got any easier when it happened.

Now that the danger, for the moment, was over, the energy from her battle nerves was fading, allowing her to feel the damage she’d done to herself over the course of the day. Her hands hurt from the burns, and the cuts the Amazons had sewn up smarted annoyingly. She moved a little, and her shoulders reminded her sharply of the abuse she’d put them through, the ache causing her to clench her jaw.

With a soft curse, she closed her eyes and concentrated, letting the pain go past her. There was really just no time for her to sit here and baby herself, there was too much to be done for Gabrielle.

“Xena.”

She lifted her head and turned, to see her mother in the doorway. “Yeah? Dori okay?”

Cyrene had what Xena recognized as her personal kit bag in her hand, and she walked over to set it down next to the warrior before she answered. “She’s fine.” The innkeeper said, putting a gentle hand on Xena’s arm. “How are you?”

“Fine.” Xena replied, shortly.

“Xena.” Cyrene looked at her with wry affection. “That didn’t work with me when you were six, and it doesn’t work now. I’m your mother, remember?”

First the Amazons, now this. Xena grumbled soundlessly.

“Would you like a little cold wine?” Cyrene asked. “I had some meat stew left over, I brought it with me.” She nudged a covered pot near her foot towards Xena. “How about I leave this, and you take some if you want it.” She put a skin down next to the pot, then leaned over and kissed Xena on the top of the head before she turned and left.

Xena waited for the footsteps to fade before she lifted the top off the stew pot and sniffed it appreciatively, her body reminding her sharply that she hadn’t put anything in it other than some honeycake all day. She eased her limbs into a crosslegged position and set the still warm pot into her lap, working one handed since the other was caught firmly in Gabrielle’s grip.

She considered the wineskin for a moment, then uncorked it and sucked down several mouthfuls of the rich, spiced red wine, the chill of the liquid rapidly turning into a potent warmth as it hit her empty stomach. She waited a moment, then exhaled as she felt her tense muscles relax, easing the ache somewhat.

Better. She set the skin down and drew out her smaller bootknife, spearing a chunk of meat out of the stew and putting it into her mouth. She chewed it slowly, savoring the unexpected taste of home. It helped, in a way, giving her something to focus on and the real, tangible benefit of giving her body the energy it needed to deal with the damage she’d taken.

She finished the stew, setting the pot aside and shifting a little to make herself a more comfortable. She extended her legs out and leaned back against the wall, laying her sword across her lap. A few more sips of the wine washed the stew down and she settled herself to keep watch, her hand still clasped within the bard’s.

Gabrielle was aware, in a far off sort of way, that she was dreaming. It didn’t really trouble her, though, because it was such a wonderful, peaceful kind of dream, so much so that she had the feeling she was loitering lazily in sleepdom, just watching the fluffy white clouds drift by.

She was in a field of rich, green river grass, lying down with her feet crossed and her hands folded over her stomach. Across her, a sweet, cool breeze blew, ruffling her hair and bringing to her nose the scent of sunlight and growing things.

Her head was pillowed on a soft, gently moving surface – and she could feel Xena’s hearbeat thrumming gently against the back of her neck.

They had nothing to do, and no where they had to be. Ahead of her, she knew she had a walk, and dinner, and a night of counting stars to look forward to.

Her life, at this moment, was perfect.

A butterfly entered her field of vision and she watched it, the wings painted in a riot of rich reds and yellows blurring by as it danced from stalk to stalk, in search of some dinner of it’s own. Gabrielle wondered if the butterfly was as happy as she was. She lifted a hand towards it, and it flew over, landing on her fingers with tickling little feet.

It seemed like it had been such a long time since she’d felt a peace of the spirit like this. She brought the butterfly closer and watched it’s antenna waggle at her. Then she lowered her hand to rest on the arm Xena had draped over her, and watched the butterfly climb down onto it. The wings slowly stopped their motion. The butterfly seemed content to rest on Xena’s tanned knuckles.

Gabrielle smiled at it, understanding it’s perspective completely.

She closed her eyes, and let the dream slowly fade out, as the reality of her surroundings faded back in. It wasn’t nearly as nice, of course. For one thing, she hurt.

A lot. Her head ached, and her body felt like she’d fallen off a roof. She knew it would be a lot more pleasant if she just went back to sleep, but the discomfort was making it hard to find a place for herself. She exhaled, and concentrated on absorbing her surroundings instead, having a vague memory of being carried into a room but not much more than that.

It smelled clean, and it was quiet in the room, but she knew if she turned her head and opened her eyes, Xena would be there. Seeing her soulmate seemed an appealing idea, so she did just that – turned her head and let her eyes drift open, blinking them a little to clear the fuzziness of sleep from them.

She was rewarded with an excellent view of Xena’s profile, very close to her as the warrior sat next to the bed, her back resting against the wall and her eyes closed in light sleep.

Gabrielle wondered why the doofy thing hadn’t just gotten into bed, then glanced down to see the burnished sword resting across Xena’s lap, it’s hilt hidden inside the curl of the warrior’s hand.

My protector. The bard felt a surge of affection for her soulmate. She was still wearing the burned and tattered remains of the athletic costume, revealing most of her skin. Gabrielle could see the burn marks on her arms and legs, one long angry mark crossing her muscular thigh from hip almost to knee.

Under all that, though, still she was beautiful in Gabrielle’s eyes.

The room was empty otherwise, save a covered tray on the table nearby, and a pile of stuff in the corner Gabrielle recognized as theirs. Very late afternoon sunlight was peeking through the shuttered windows, and she realized she’d been asleep for quite some time.

Back to Xena’s profile. The bard studied it idly, admiring the clean lines, and the way Xena’s dark lashes and brows framed her expressive eyes. With a faint smirk, Gabrielle pursed her lips up and gently blew a stream of air at the warrior’s ear, which twitched lightly, a motion that translated to her entire face as Xena woke up and straightened, muscles surging under her skin in alarm.

A very quick look around the room, then the blue eyes were turning to meet hers. A vaguely sheepish look crossed Xena’s face, as she relaxed back against the wall. “You caught me.”

Gabrielle nodded a little.

“Thirsty?” Xena asked.

Another nod.

The warrior set her sword aside and got to her knees, lifting the waterskin and reaching over to help Gabrielle to sit up a little. “C’mon.”

Gabrielle nestled against her partner’s chest and sucked at the waterskin, swallowing steadfastly until the skin was emptied. Then she nuzzled Xena’s skin and exhaled, reveling in the skin on skin contact. “Mmm.”

“Good girl.” Xena told her. “How are you feeling?”

Gabrielle kissed the surface she was resting her cheek against. “Lucky.”

Wasn’t quite the response Xena had been expecting. She ran her fingers through the bard’s hair, it’s strands holding a strong hint of smoke from the fire. “I meant physically.”

“Ugh.” Gabrielle shifted a little, wincing. “Stiff.”

“Ah.” The warrior gently let her down, then started a light massage along her neck and shoulders. “Fever’s down.”

“Funny.” Gabrielle had her eyes closed, as the knowledgeable hands worked their way down her chest. “I still have chills.” Her lips quirked into a rakish grin.

“Really.” Xena drawled wryly, as she kneaded the muscles at the bard’s waistline, leaning forward a little and reaching around to work on her lower back.

“Yeah.” Gabrielle stretched her body out cautiously. Xena’s hands were leaving behind a wonderful warmth, and though the pain remained, her body relaxed and lost it’s aching stiffness. She took a deep breath as the warrior finished, then let her eyes drift open as Xena leaned on the bed with both elbows, studying her intently. “I do feel better.” Gabrielle said. “Things aren’t as fuzzy up here.” She touched her head.

Xena observed the returning clarity to her partner’s gaze, and felt a sense of relief flow through her. In truth, the bump on her head was what had scared the warrior the most. Gabrielle’s growing confusion, and her wavering consciousness had indicated pressure inside her head, and that kind of injury was something she could do very little about, except hope. With a sigh, she touched the whip mark, which had come very close to Gabrielle’s eye. “Glad to hear it.” She murmured. “But I don’t think you’re going to make it to the Bard’s Challenge tonight, sweetheart.”

Gabrielle thought about that. “No.” She admitted, then fell silent.

Xena watched her for a moment. “Disappointed?” She hazarded a guess.

Green eyes flicked up to meet hers. “A little.” The bard smiled sheepishly. “Is that bad? My ego was kinda looking forward to it.” Her fingers tangled themselves idly in Xena’s hair. “But I guess everything is pretty much a moot point now, isn’t it?”

“Mm.” Xena grunted softly, her eyes focused on the lurid bruise covering most of Gabrielle’s abdomen.

The bard studied her partner’s face, watching the tension ripple across it in tiny motions that wrinkled the skin on the sides of her eyes, and furrowed her brow. Losing wasn’t something Xena did easily, especially losing in this way, to these kind of people. “Stings, huh?” She stroked the warrior’s cheek in sympathy. “But you know what, Xe? I’m just glad the three of us made it through the end of the day in one piece today.”

Xena sighed. “Yeah, I know.” She ran a fingertip over Gabrielle’s ribcage. “But I’m not sure I can forget so easily, or forgive them this.”

“This?” Gabrielle indicated her torso.

“This.” Xena flicked her hand in a vague circle, taking in their surroundings, and by inference, the city around them. “But that, too.” She amended softly, touching a burn on the bard’s arm. “Because those people were waiting for you, Gabrielle.”

Gabrielle felt a faint sense of shock. “Waiting for me?” She repeated. “You mean it was a trap?”

A nod.

“For you.”

Another nod.

The breath came out of Gabrielle’s chest with a soft snort. “Bastards.”

Xena’s eyes lifted curiously. Her partner’s expression had taken on an internal fire, adding a fierceness totally at odds with her rakishly disheveled hair, and smoke stained skin. Gabrielle was, she’d once privately admitted, a little too cute to really pull off a true warrior attitude, but she came close sometimes. This was one of those times.

They looked at each other, two souls in synergy.

“Xena.”

“Yeees.”

“Can you be my warrior pony and get me to that challenge?” The bard asked. “Because, by the gods, I’ve got a story to tell them.”

“I can do that.” Xena agreed, with a nod of her head. “If you don’t mind watching me wreak havoc at those damn games tomorrow.”

“Will that help?”

“If I win them all.”

Gabrielle held a hand up, and Xena laced their fingers together. “Then let’s take this town.” She said. “Partner.”

A rakish grin appeared on the warrior’s face. She drew their joined hands over and kissed Gabrielle’s knuckles. “Deal.”

The bard rubbed the side of her index finger over Xena’s lips and returned the grin. “Hey.” She studied Xena’s face. “We made it out of there, didn’t we?”

Xena nodded slightly.

“You owe me a tattoo.” Gabrielle reminded her. “A little bird.”

Xena had wondered if the bard would remember asking. “All right.” She agreed. “You want it now, or when the rest of you stops hurting?” Her eyes twinkled just a little. “Good and bad either way.”

Gabrielle considered. “Later.” She decided, her touch tracing the lines of Xena’s face as the warrior’s eyes followed them. “When we’re out of Athens, and in some pretty meadow all by ourselves.”

“Ah… where I can put you over my knee, and have my way with you?”

“Yeah.” The bard smiled. “Speaking of having your way… did you get taken care of? I see those cuts.”

Xena glanced down at her battered body. “Your Amazons made sure I got sewn up, yeah, but I think I need a bath.” She glanced up at Gabrielle, not missing the hopeful look on her face. “Wanna join me?”

“Ooooo.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

“OOOOoooooo….”

**

The room now seemed very crowded. Gabrielle folded her hands over her stomach and let her eyes drift closed, listening to the various arguments going on around her. She was feeling a bit better now, having had a nice Warrior Princess provided bath and hair washing, more water, and a little snack from the tray on the table.

She also had her daughter curled up next to her, blissfully asleep with her thumb in her mouth and the bard’s hand caught in her grip. Dori hadn’t gotten so much as a scrape in the entire adventure, unlike her two parents, in fact the toddler seemed to think it had been just one big playtime. Gabrielle only hoped she wasn’t expecting frequent repeats of the experience.

The sun was setting outside, and she knew she didn’t have that much time left to prepare before the Bard’s Challenge. There were a few butterflies starting to rustle around in her stomach, but before she’d have to face the crowd, she’d have to face…

“It’s no problem. We can just carry the pallet in. There’s four of us, right?” Pony was arguing. “We put in every blasted weapon we’ve got and take the head off anyone who gets within a spear length!”

“Pony, that’s just gonna get you in jail.” Ephiny sighed.

“No it won’t.” Her lover disagreed. “Xena burned the jail down.”

“Good point.” Xena was near the window, pulling things out of their bags. “I think it’s a good idea.”

Gabrielle groaned, softly.

“See?” Pony threw up her hands.

“Gabrielle? What do you think?” Ephiny appealed to her Queen.

“What do I think?” Gabrielle opened an eye and regarded them. “I think I’ve got two choices, since I don’t think I can make it up on stage myself. I can either let you guys.. gods.. carry me on that darn pallet, or I can let Xena carry me up there.”

She’d tried standing, while Xena had cleaned her off. It hadn’t been a good idea, and she’d doubled over from the pain in her guts and almost collapsed before the warrior had grabbed her. She was wondering, in fact, if she was actually capable of even sitting on the stage.

“Now, which would be more impressive?” Pony asked. “I mean, four Amazons in full duds, or..” She glanced at Xena, whose eyebrows were touching her hairline. “Okay, scratch that question. Listen…”

“Okay..okay!” Ephiny raised both hands, and laughed. “Consider me overruled. I was just thinking about how Athens is going to react to a horde of Amazons in it’s midst.”

“We’re a horde?” Pony seemed bemused. “Whoa. Never been a horde before.”

“And frankly, I didn’t think Gabrielle would let us do it.” Ephiny continued, glancing at the supine figure on the bed. “But if we’re going to, then let’s do it right.” She said. “Go collect Cait and Paladia, and I’ll get a properly decorated royal pallet started.”

Pony grinned, and trooped out after her lover, giving Gabrielle an approving thumbs up as she closed the door.

“Gods.” Gabrielle pulled the covers up over her head.

Xena chuckled. “Well, I don’t know. I think you being carried by four loyal Amazon warriors kinda..”

“Xeeeena.”

“You can lay down on the pallet, wave at the crowd..”

“Xeeeeeeeeeennnnnnaaa.”

The warrior took pity on her and relented, as she pulled her leathers out of their kit bags and shook them out. “Time to get dressed.” She remarked, shedding the remnants of her tattered white linen number and slipping into the well crafted body armor. It felt good to resume it’s protection, despite the sting as the leather rubbed against her burns and scrapes. She snugged the laces tighter and settled the armor, wishing she’d been wearing it inside the jail. “Ah.”

“Feel better now?” Gabrielle remarked, watching her with a fond smile.

“Yeah.”

“Me too.” The bard said. “There was way too much of you showing before.”

Xena paused and looked up at her in mild bemusement. One dark brow lifted up in eloquent question.

“Mine.” Gabrielle stuck her tongue out at her partner.

The warrior’s other eyebrow hiked up, but she grinned, before walking over to the bed and sitting down on the edge of it. “You ready to go through with this?”

“No.” The bard admitted. “But I’ll manage, somehow.” She eased herself upright. “Want to help me get dressed?”

“As an Amazon?” Xena teased. “Talk about me letting skin show.”

Gabrielle gave her a wry look. “Not.” She sighed, as the pain made her pause. “Just thinking about getting into all that leather and metal is making my eyes cross. No, I figured I’d just wear something nice and simple.”

Xena got an arm behind her and helped her sit up. “I just saw that sleeveless blue tunic in your bag.. how about that?”

Gabrielle considered. “I like that one.”

“Me too. You look really good in it.” Xena complimented her quietly.

A pleased grin crossed Gabrielle’s face. “Okay – that’ll work. It’ll be comfortable at least.” She agreed. “That and my boots, and I’m all set.”

Xena peeled the covers back off her and got an arm under her knees, standing up as she cradled the bard. She walked over to the sturdy table near the window and set her down gently on it. “Don’t go away.”

“Ha ha.” Gabrielle joked weakly, enjoying the light breeze coming in the slatted surface behind her. She turned her head and looked outside, then blinked, and reached over to pull the shutter open to get a better view. “Hey.. uh.. Xe?”

“Mm?” Xena was shaking out the blue tunic, and brushing off a few specks of traveling dust. “What?”

“C’mere.”

Xena laid the shirt over her arm and complied, leaning against the table to see what the bard was looking at. Her jaw dropped slightly. Outside the inn were soldiers. Lots of soldiers, with very visible weapons. They were surrounding the inn, and by their stern faces, and sturdy stances, they meant business.

They all had matching, well cared for body half armor, metal links and leather scales, and laying over that, identical leather overtunics.

One man half turned, and the setting sun splashed over his chest, bringing out the design on the front in bold relief.

Gabrielle glanced in reflex at her own shoulder, which bore the same design. Then she looked up at Xena’s face. “You didn’t know about this.” She stated, seeing the startled disbelief.

“Son of a… “ Xena blurted. “No, I didn’t. What are they doing here?” Seeing a cluster of her own militia standing outside was about the last thing she’d expected.

“Guarding us, apparently.” Gabrielle put an arm around Xena’s neck and pulled her closer, kissing her on the cheek. “Making sure no one messes with their Genr’l.”

Xena snorted softly. “Oh, that’s gonna go over real well.” She exhaled, but found herself smiling anyway. Those were her troops outside, and to pretend that didn’t feel good was just lying to herself. She tipped the window closed again and returned her attention to her soulmate, carefully easing the light shift she was wearing off over her head, leaving her in just her brief underwraps.

“You know…” Gabrielle paused, as the blue garment was put over her head, and gently fitted to her body. “I can’t remember the last time someone dressed me.”

Xena straightened the collar of the tunic. The vibrant fabric really contrasted well with Gabrielle’s golden skin, and her fair hair, and brought out the green in her eyes. Despite the lurid whip mark across her face, and the red rimmed tiredness evident in those eyes, her internal beauty shone through like very few people Xena had ever known.

“Something wrong?” The bard poked her.

“No.”

“What are you staring at then, did I grow a horn while I was sleeping?”

Xena leaned over and kissed her, exploring her lips with gentle licks and nibbles, tasting a hint of mint and apple from the tea she’d just had. She felt Gabrielle draw in an unsteady breath, then a gentle tug on her leathers pulled her closer. Willingly, she complied, easing between the bard’s knees and sliding both hands up her thighs.

Gabrielle’s hands circled her neck and she let out a soft murmur. “If Eph and Pony come back in here, we’ll never hear the end of it.”

“Good.” Xena nibbled the tip of her nose. “Hope they get all the details right.” She captured the bard’s lips again, as Gabrielle’s palm cupped her jawline, stroking her skin gently. The warmth felt good, and the reaction of her body served to remind her all over again of the mutual attraction they both felt for each other. She took a final nibble, then eased back a little, watching Gabrielle’s face as the bard’s hands continued to explore her skin.

“You know…” Gabrielle traced Xena’s dark eyebrows. “We could have all died in there.”

Xena had consciously decided not to think about that. “But we didn’t.” She shrugged.

The fair head cocked to one side a little. “Can you kiss people in the Elysian Fields, Xena?”

Xena frowned. “Damn poor excuse for Elysia if you can’t, don’t you think?” She leaned forward and touched her forehead to Gabrielle’s.

“You better be able to.” Gabrielle brushed her partner’s lips with her thumb. “Or we’re outta there.” She tilted her head and went in for one more kiss. “Know what I realized, while you were down there pulling us out?”

“What?” Xena asked.

Gabrielle looked up and met her eyes. “You’re my Elysia.” She said, cupping Xena’s cheek again when as she absorbed the stunned look in those very blue orbs. “I don’t need the Fields as long as I have you.”

Xena drew in a breath, and felt a smile pulling at the muscles in her face. She really had no answer for that, so she just pulled Gabrielle into a hug and welcomed the bard’s arms around her. They stayed that way, in happy silence as the last of the sun disappeared, and twilight sent purple light to peek through the shutters at them.

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

A Matter of Pride

Part 11

“Mama, Gramma gots good cookies.” Dori informed her mother seriously. “Big.”

“Oh, really?” Gabrielle replied, stroking the toddler’s hair. She was lying in bed, ostensibly relaxing while Xena checked on the progress of the pallet and greeted her troops. It was full dark out, but as Xena had reminded her – she’d have time to wait while the other bards were performing.

Staying where she was, quietly resting, was a very appealing idea to Gabrielle. “How come you didn’t bring me one, huh?” She asked her daughter, who was dressed in a little red outfit that looked adorable on her, a nice contrast to her dark hair. Dori had Bittyboo encircled by one arm, the tattered doll resting mutely next to her.

“Howcome?” Dori warbled. “Mama gets cookies.”

“Not unless you get them for me. Mama can’t get up and get any.” Gabrielle explained. “Should we call Gramma?”

“Yes.”

“You think she’ll bring cookies?”

“Yes!”

A soft knock came at the door. Gabrielle glanced around, then exhaled as she remembered she no longer had her staff. Her eyes searched for a substitute, then better sense intervened and reminded her that bad guys probably would not be politely knocking. “Yes?”

The door cracked open, and Mikah slowly poked his head inside.

“Hey.” Gabrielle greeted him. “C’mon in. We don’t bite.” She glanced at her daughter. “Well, most of us don’t.”

Mikah slid inside, then came over and knelt at the bedside. His face bore bruises, the old one, and newer, but he seemed relatively unharmed otherwise. “I came to thank you.” He said. “And to say how sorry I am that you got hurt, and I couldn’t warn you.”

Gabrielle put a hand on his arm. “It’s okay.” She told him. “I wish they hadn’t decided to get you involved in this… you were only trying to help us.”

Mikah bowed his head a moment. “I know.” He said. “But the shame of it is..” He looked at her. “I was too frightened to defy them.”

Gabrielle gazed at him compassionately. “Would it have made a difference if you’d tried?” She asked. Dori mouthed her stuffed toy, watching in curious silence.

Mikah paused, then half shrugged. “I don’t know.” He answered in a low voice. “I never will know. I watched them beat you, and I should have tried to do something.”

A flash of memory suddenly flooded Gabrielle’s mind’s eye, of a much younger self having the same second thoughts.

“Xena!” Gabrielle ran towards the ledge, where she’d last seen her friend. A band of thugs had overtaken them on the road and Xena had pushed her down behind a bush before she’d met their attack.

She’d watched, helpless, as they’d overwhelmed the furiously fighting warrior and borne her to the ground, only to be tossed off as Xena’s body arched and rolled.

They had come right back, though, and the dust had risen, hiding the fighting from Gabrielle’s eyes until it disappeared – along with the men, and Xena, over a ledged embankment she didn’t know the bottom of.

“Xena!” Gabrielle yelled desperately, as she reached the edge and fell to her knees, peering fearfully over and hoping her friend was all right. Below her, she couldn’t see anything, except for a fast moving brown river and a lot of broken branches where bodies had fallen through.

“Xe…” Gabrielle looked downstream, standing up and shading her eyes. She could see bobbing figures moving away from her, and panic struck her. “Xena!!!!!” With her heart pumping, she started to run down the bank.

“Hey!”

The voice brought her up sharply, and she stopped, whirling around and looking for the source. “Xena?”

“Down here.”

Gabrielle ran back to the embankment and flopped down onto her belly, inching over to peer over the edge. She jumped when a muddy face popped up in front of hers and yelled in pure reaction. “Yahhh!!”

“Hush!” Xena glared at her, as she hauled herself up over the ledge and slumped down next to Gabrielle, her drenched body covered in cuts and scratches. “Bastards.”

“You’re hurt.” Gabrielle dabbed at a bleeding cut on Xena’s leg with a bit of her skirt.

“Leave it alone. I’m fine.”

“No you’re not, you’re dripping blood all over the place, Xena!” Gabrielle protested. “I’ll go get some bandages, or your herbs, or..”

“Gabrielle.”

Gabrielle had, for once, ignored the warning and pressed her hands down over the cut, stopping the blood with wads of fabric. “You could hold this here, but it’s attached to me.. maybe you could cut off a piece.”

“Gabrielle.”

“Xena! You can’t pretend you’re not gushing blood! It’s all over me!”

“Shh.” Xena had put a hand over her mouth. “I am, okay? Thanks for stopping it. Now wouldja just relax?”

Gabrielle lowered her head, and bit the inside of her lip. “It’s the least I could do.” She said. “It’s not like I can do anything else, but hang around like a bump on a log.”

“Yeah, well, I fight, you talk remember?” Xena said.

“Xena, that’s not…” Gabrielle kept her hands pressed against the cut. “I should do more to help you. It’s not fair. Maybe I could learn to throw rocks or something.”

A hand had fallen unexpectedly on her shoulder. “Gabrielle, you don’t need to do that.” Xena said. “The minute you pick up a weapon, you become a target. You don’t want that to happen, do you?”

Gabrielle sighed heavily. “I don’t know.” She admitted. “I hate not being able to do anything.”

“Well, I don’t want that to happen.” Xena said. “So you let me do the fighting.”

Gabrielle had looked at her, unsure if she was willing to keep to their arrangement. She found unexpected compassion in Xena’s eyes, as the warrior wiped a bit of mud with the back of her hand, and removed a water plant hanging on her shoulder.

“Trust me.” Xena said, in a quiet, knowing voice. “You don’t want to be a fighter, Gabrielle. It only gets you hurt.”

Gabrielle lifted her hands carefully, making sure the cut had stopped bleeding. “I guess.” She had to admit, seeing the bruises on her friend’s skin. “Want me to go get Argo?”

Xena drew in a breath and started to speak, then paused. “N…Yeah.” She said. “That’d be great.”

“Okay.” Gabrielle had gotten to her knees. “Where are we going next?”

“Up into the mountains.”

“The villagers said there were Amazons there. Is that true?”

“There used to be.”

“Do you think we’ll see them?” Gabrielle had been sidetracked. “I’ve heard so many stories about them, I’d love to meet some!”

“They avoid strangers, Gabrielle. Don’t get your hopes up.”

Gabrielle got to her feet, and brushed her now bloodstained skirt off. “Okay.” She pushed down her disappointment. “Will you tell me everything you know about them then? It’d be the next best thing.”

“We’ll see.”

A wistful, faint smile appeared on Gabrielle’s face. Xena had, of course, been right about taking up arms, and the consequences of that.

And wrong, as it happened, about them meeting Amazons.

But she wouldn’t have had it any other way.

“Not everyone’s cut out for this kind of thing, Mikah.” She told the boy. “If you did try to stop them, they might have hurt you, or even killed you, and I still would have gotten beat up.”

Mikah exhaled. “I know.” He looked at her. “Xena would have stopped them.”

“Oh yes.” Gabrielle agreed readily. “In a heartbeat.”

“Boo?” Dori heard a favorite name. “Mama, get Boo, come back, get cookies, go fly.” The toddler demanded. “Go now!”

“Oh, you’re such a little tyrant.” The bard chuckled. “Listen to you giving me orders. Who do you think you are, huh?”

Dori grinned, and stuck a finger in her mouth, then pointed at her mother. “Mama!”

That surprised a laugh out of Gabrielle, brief due to the pain in her gut. “I do not sound like that!” She scolded her child, then glanced at Mikah. He was watching Dori with a curious expression.

“She’s adorable.” He offered.

“She thinks so.” Gabrielle put a finger on Dori’s nose, and watched the toddler swipe at it with both hands. “Don’t you?”

“Mama.” Dori crawled over and snuggled up against Gabrielle’s side, kicking her feet out against the covers to make a comfortable spot for herself.

Gabrielle curled an arm around her and hugged her, giving her a kiss on the top of her head. “I thought she’d be knocked out after what she went through today, but she’s had her nap, and now she’s raring to go again.”

“She’s yours?”

Gabrielle looked up, a trifle puzzled. “Sure.”

Mikah blinked, and studied the child. “She… ah.. looks a bit like Xena.”

“Yeah.” Gabrielle smiled, completely declining to elaborate. “She sure does.” Time for a change of subject. “So, tell me about what happened to you? I hear you got rescued by two friends of ours?”

Mikah tore his eyes from Dori and scrubbed his face with one hand. “Um, yes. The Amazons.” He hesitated. “Are they all like that?”

Oh boy. “Um.. some are, some aren’t.” Gabrielle temporized. “What’d they do?”

Might as well know the worst, right?

Right.

“You are my Elysia.”

Xena tucked the words inside her and savored them. Guess it pays to have a poet as a partner, huh? She let her thoughts float for a bit, reasoning she was due a little mental rest after the day they’d had.

Already, as most of her adventures did, the details were fading a little, losing the vibrant emotional impact she’d felt while they were trapped and replacing it with a deep sense of relief that the ordeal was past, and they were safe. It was behind them, after all, and they still had a long road to walk before they could leave Athens behind and head back home.

It had made her think about something she’d consciously blocked out of her mind for a while, though. The year at home had allowed her to let thoughts of death, hers or Gabrielle’s, fade, and coming into the marketplace and knowing the bard had been taken….

Had brought that fear home with a vengeance.

When they’d been trapped in the storage room, though, Xena had found herself facing the death of all of them with a cross between fear at what would come next, and an almost shameful sense of relief. Relief that neither she, nor the bard would have to face the loss, and the empty loneliness of living without half of their souls. Relief that Dori wouldn’t be left an orphan, though she knew her family would take care of the child, to wonder always why her parents had gone without her.

Death was something that came to everyone. Xena knew that. It was part of what made them all human, and she knew that someday she’d have to face the death of everyone close to her, unless she died first.

The warrior exhaled. She was glad they’d escaped fate this time. But if they hadn’t, she acknowledged silently, it might have been the best of the worst of possibilities.

“You are my Elysia.”

Xena smiled, and shook her head. “You’ve always been mine.” She spoke silently to her partner. “And who knows? Maybe between the two of us we’ll end up creating an afterlife for ourselves that matches what we have in this one?”

She knew she was crossing a line.

She didn’t care.

It was time to start looking forward again.

“Xena?”

The warrior had been leaning against a tree in the courtyard, arms crossed over her chest, her angular face outlined in the fluttering torchlight they were working by, and she hadn’t heard anyone approach.

“XENA?” Pony waved a hand in front of the unusually inattentive blue eyes. “Hello? Athens to the Royal Consort? Anyone in the hut?”

With a tiny shake of her head, Xena straightened, and turned her gaze on Eponin. “Yeah?”

“What’s up with you?” Pony asked, conversationally. She walked over and leaned against the tree next to the warrior. “You’ve been acting like a goat in heat since you came out here.”

“I was thinking.” Xena gave her an evil look.

“About what, the next festival of Dionysus? You were grinning like a cat.” Pony snorted.

“Just something Gabrielle and I were talking about, all right?” Xena gazed over her head. “Aren’t you done with that damn thing yet?”

Pony turned to regard the project. “Almost.” She said. “Gotta make sure it looks good.”

Xena’s eyebrow lifted. “What are those things hanging off it?”

“Snails.”

“Snails?”

“Yeah.” Pony handed her one. “We found them in the market. Eph figured, since we didn’t have our usual stuff, these’d look nice, and make lots of good noise.”

Xena examined the snail, which was large, and brightly colored. “Nice.” She peered inside it.

“We took the snail out.” Pony gave her a look. “Give us a break.”

“Yeah? Where’d you put them all?”

The Amazon weapons master eyed her warily. “In that pail over there, why?”

Xena started walking towards the spot. “I’ll give em to Gabrielle.”

Pony stood rooted in one spot for a moment, then hurried to catch up to Xena’s longer strides. “What the Hades is she going to do with them?”

The warrior picked up the bucket and examined the contents. “Snail stew.” Xena said, briskly. “Now, did I see grubs for sale in that little cart…” She rubbed her jaw thoughtfully. “Or were those dried bees?”

Pony’s jaw dropped.

“Wanna come by our room for dinner after the show?” The warrior asked. “I’m sure there’ll be enough.”

“B..” Pony flushed as her voice broke. “You…. Eat…. Those?”

“Sure.” Xena plucked one from the bucket and popped it into her mouth, giving it a couple of chews and swallowing. “Yum.” She watched the Amazons’ face, intrigued by the shade of green it was turning. “Want one?”

Pony’s eyes went big and very round. “Uuugghhh!!!” She couldn’t prevent her face from twisting into a grimace of horror.

Xena held her politely interested look for a moment, more, then let her face relax into a wicked grin, as she held up the not quite dead snail she’d palmed in her hand. “Gotcha.”

A blink. “You son of a…” Pony snatched the bucket from her and went to dump it’s contents all over the warrior’s leather covered chest. “I’ll give you a snail, you…”

Xena leaped nimbly out of the way, and laughed, as Pony almost overbalanced in her efforts to dump the unhappy animals on her.

“Arrrghh.” Pony bumped into a tree and bounced off, then just started laughing as well. “Damn it, Xena.. what got into you?” She complained, tossing the bucket down and putting her hands on her hips as the warrior reached up and grasped an overhead branch, hanging from it and swinging just a little.

“I dunno.” Xena watched the other Amazons finish their work on her partner’s royal couch. “Just glad everything turned out all right today, I guess.” She admitted, giving Pony a sideways look. “We were in a pretty tight place a few times in there.” She had no real idea why she was confiding this to Pony, except that she harbored a liking for the tough, blunt Amazon and the words seemed to want to escape from her.

Pony blinked a little, seeming a bit startled, then she leaned back against the tree and considered. “How tight?” She asked, cautiously.

Xena exhaled. “We were stuck in a dead end corridor. In a storage room we found after I got Gabrielle out of her cell. The fire came down the hall, we couldn’t get out.”

“Ungh.” Eponin pursed her lips. “Boy, that sucks. I hate when that happens.”

“Mm.” Xena nodded. “Sure does. Burning to death’s never been a favorite of mine.”

They were both silent for a few moments. “What’d Gab say about it?” Pony ventured. “Did she know what was going on?”

“Yeah. She knew.” Xena found herself smiling again. “She said as long as we were together, it didn’t matter to her.”

The sound of torches fluttering in the wind was very loud in the silence. They both watched the other Amazons lift the pallet, apparently satisfied with their work, and carry it over to the front of the inn.

Finally the Amazon stirred, releasing a breath. “What does it feel like?” Pony turned and looked curiously at her. “Having someone believe in you that much?”

“Again.” Xena answered softly, after a pause. Her eyes gazed off into the distance, seeing something far outside an inn courtyard in Athens. She shook her head a little. “It’s…” The words came slowly, and with difficulty. “Incredible.” She stopped there, finding nothing else to say about it.

The Amazon reached up and put a hand on Xena’s shoulder. “Xena.” Her face was quiet and serious. “I know lousy stuff’s happened, but you guys came out on top of it.”

Xena’s eyes twinkled gently, and she nodded in agreement.

“Couldn’t have happened to two better people.” Pony finished, blushing a little at the sentimentality of it.

“Thanks.” Xena replied. “I’m glad things worked out for you and Eph, too.”

Pony rolled her eyes. “With the help of her majesty’s ever so gentle poke in the butt, yeah.” She muttered.

They exchanged looks, and very quick, almost embarrassed grins.

“Hey!” Ephiny wiped the sweat off her brow. “Are you two just gonna stand there lazing around, or can we get some help here?”

“Uh oh.” Pony pushed off from the tree. “Here comes trouble.”

Xena released her branch and dusted her hands off. “Nah, Gabrielle’s still inside. I’ll go get her.”

They both chuckled, as they walked towards the inn.

“Did you say thank you to Gramma, for bringing cookies?” Gabrielle asked her daughter.

“Mmm… mama!” Dori reached for the cake. “Gimme!”

“Ah ah.. what do you say?” The bard held it just out of her reach.

“Mama.” Dori seemed frustrated, perhaps tired from her long, active day. “No good!”

“Say please.” Gabrielle gently insisted. “C’mon.”

“Pweease.” Dori lolled against her mother’s side and begged. “Want cake!”

“Good girl.” Gabrielle handed her a chunk. “Now say thank you to gramma.”

Dori stuffed the cake into her mouth and gave her grandmother a round eyed look. “Fmffp!” She pointed at Cyrene.

Cyrene chuckled wearily, and took a seat on the edge of the bed. “How are you feeling, cutie pie?” She asked the bard, who was dividing the edible booty between her self and her child. “You look a little ragged round the edges.”

Gabrielle watched Dori launch into a piece of fragrant spice cake, before she glanced up at the innkeeper. “I am.” She admitted, with a wry smile, breaking off a piece of cake for herself and tasting it. “Xena won’t give me anything for the pain because of my head bump.”

“Smart girl.” Cyrene nodded briskly. “You do what she says.”

“Don’t I always?” Gabrielle asked innocently, taking another bite of cake.

Cyrene’s eyebrows lifted. “Do you? Where was I when this happened?” She teased. “I must have missed it.”

Gabrielle grinned, then she tucked a slice of cold lamb onto a piece of the bread Cyrene had provided and nibbled it. Her head still ached, and her body had stiffened up to the point that even breathing wasn’t entirely comfortable, but she was determined to make the best of it. “You make me sound like such a renegade, mom.”

“It’s a family tradition, dear.” Xena’s mother smiled at her warmly. “You’re just carrying it on in grand style.”

“Mama, want Oogy.” Dori squiggled closer. “Want Guff. Make Guff come.”

Gabrielle reached over and scratched the toddler’s back. “We’ll find Guff when we leave to go home, honey. He doesn’t like big cities.” She said. “And we didn’t bring Oogy with us, but if you ask Gramma, she might get you Flameball.”

Dori sat up and scowled. Then she squirmed out of her mother’s grasp and crawled to the edge of the bed.

“Hey! Dori!” Gabrielle started to go after her, then doubled over as her sorely abused body protested. “Ugh.”

“Stay there.” Cyrene put a hand on her knee, then got up as Dori reached the edge of the bed and climbed off it, holding onto the covers as she slid to the ground. “Dori, get back here. Where are you… Dori!”

“It’s… okay.” Gabrielle rolled back upright, swallowing down the jolts of pain and trying to catch her breath. “I think she just wants a toy.”

Torn between chasing her grandchild, and worrying about Gabrielle, Cyrene finally compromised by sitting down in a chair between the two of them, and keeping an eye on Dori. “Are you sure you want to do this tonight, Gabrielle?”

Gabrielle closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them. “I’m sure.” She replied quietly, her eyes on Dori.

Determinedly, the toddler ambled over the wooden floor, eluding her grandmother’s hands as she headed for the pile of saddlebags in the corner. She reached the nearest one and took hold of it, tugging it towards her and spilling the contents. “Gogogogoggogogogogogo….” She sat down in the pile and started to root through it, getting tangled in one of Xena’s shirts which distracted her for a moment. “Booboboooobobboooo…”

Cyrene rested her chin on her fist. “She knows that’s Xena’s?”

Gabrielle nodded. “Yeah. She can tell. Maybe it’s the scent or something.” They watched the baby disappear inside the volume of fabric, tumbling over onto her back and kicking out inside the shirt. The bard chuckled in reflex. “She’s so funny.”

Cyrene smiled, as much at the doting fondness in Gabrielle’s voice as at the baby’s antics. “She seems to have taken everything in stride.” She commented. “Your horrible time today, I mean.”

“Gods, yes.” Gabrielle willingly let herself be distracted. “I was scared, Xena was scared, but her? No way. She had the time of her life, riding on Xena’s back, getting to go into long, dark tunnels, flying through the air…” The bard gazed at her daughter. “Just one big adventure for her.”

“Go bad!” Dori’s head popped through the neck opening in Xena’s shirt and she blinked at them in surprise. “Mama!” She got up and waggled her arms, still inside the shirt, then tripped in the long fabric and tumbled back onto the floor. “Mamammma!!!!”

“Hush.. .Dori.” Cyrene got up, but only got a step towards the child when the door opened and Xena’s dark head appeared, followed by her leather-clad body.

“What’s going on here?” The warrior demanded.

“Boo!” Dori scrabbled around on the floor and attempted crawling towards her. “Mama no get Guff, no get Oogy, go bad. Got Boo!”

Xena crossed over to her and picked her up. “Oh yeah? What’s this? Are you taking up after your mama already, wearing my shirts?” She asked the toddler. “I’m not gonna have any clothes left at this rate.”

Dori giggled. “Boo, go fly!” She tugged at a bit of Xena’s leathers. “Go fly, get Oogy, get Guff, have cookies, go now!”

“Hey! You just had cookies!” Gabrielle tried not to laugh, because it hurt, but it was hard because not only was Dori being impossibly cute, Xena had a whole hearted grin on her face that made her want to laugh in sheer delight. “You spoiled rotten baby, you.”

“She’s not spoiled.” Xena cradled her daughter, tossing her up and catching her. “And where are my cookies, huh?” She gave her mother and her partner a speculative glare.

“Was I talking about her?” Gabrielle teased. “Get over here if you want cookies, Moocher Princess. I’m not bringing them over there.”

Xena walked over and eased onto the bed, laying down on her side and extended her long legs out. She plopped Dori next to her mother, still wrapped in the shirt, and propped her head up on one hand. “All right. Here I am.” She winked at Cyrene. “Thanks for bringing in a snack, mother.”

The innkeeper resumed her seat, and leaned both hands on her knees. “No trouble, honey. I needed a break. My poor friend was having a nervous breakdown before your troops showed up. Now she’s hiding under the kitchen workbench, chanting prayers to Hera.” She gave her daughter a wry look. “I can’t believe those men took their militia uniforms to sea with them.”

“I can.” Gabrielle spoke up before Xena could, mostly because she’d stuffed the warrior’s mouth with a piece of spice cake. “They’re very proud of those uniforms.” She popped a bit of the cake into Dori’s mouth as well, before the toddler could demand it.

“Yes they are.” Cyrene agreed quietly, watching Xena’s face. The warrior had snuggled up to Gabrielle’s shoulder and seemed content to lay there, accepting tidbits. There was a sense of peace about her daughter that Cyrene hadn’t seen for a long time – since before the dark times that had befallen the two of them in the recent years past. She wondered if it was simply relief at Gabrielle’s recovery, and the escape from the day’s dangers, or something deeper. “Xena?”

“Mm?” The warrior looked over at her, a dark brow lifting in question. “Tell your friend we’ll be long gone in a day or so, mother. The militia won’t break anything, I promise.”

Cyrene smiled. “I’m sure they won’t, honey. They’re all good boys.” She said. “Have you decided what you’re going to do tomorrow? I heard some of the people in the inn wondering.”

“Sure.” Xena lifted a hand and felt Gabrielle’s forehead, then ruffled her hair. “Hate to disappoint them, but I’m gonna take all their damn laurel branches home with me and

make Dori a treehouse.”

Cyrene looked thoughtful. “I had a feeling you’d say that.” She stood up and dusted her hands off. “Though I’m not sure they’ll all be disappointed, exactly.” She added. “Let me go talk to them.” The older woman exited and shut the door behind her.

Gabrielle and Xena exchanged glances. “What apples have you shaken down from THAT tree, hm?” The bard wondered bemusedly.

Dori looked up. “Tree?” She recognized the name of a favored climbing surface.

“Yeah.” Xena poked her tongue out a little at the baby. “Wouldja like a treehouse, shortie?”

“Yes.” The response was very positive. “Go now?”

Gabrielle handed her a piece of cheese. “Soon, sweetie.” She promised. “You have to let me and Boo take care of all these nasty, stuck up people, then we’ll go home, okay?”

Dori studied the piece of cheese with a very serious expression, then she pulled it into two pieces, ate one, and threw the other one at Gabrielle. It bounced off the bard’s chest and settled on her stomach. Xena leaned over and captured it in her teeth. “You ready to go?” She asked Gabrielle, chewing the mouthful and swallowing it.

Gabrielle exhaled, then nodded. “I’m as ready as I’m gonna be today, so let’s do it.” She decided. “Are they ready outside?”

“Heh. Yeah.” Xena grinned wickedly.

One blond eyebrow lifted as Gabrielle regarded her warily. “Uh oh. What’s that supposed to mean?” She asked. “What trouble have you gotten me into, Xena?”

“Me?” Big, round, woundedly innocent eyes faced her. “Get you into trouble? Would I do that?” Xena watched her partner’s eyes narrow in mock suspicion. “Nah – relax. Just make sure you give the Amazons a pat on the back for creativity, wouldja?”

“Creativity.” Gabrielle put the remains of their snack away, and dusted her shirt front off. “Oh boy.” She sighed, then attempted to remove the shirt from around Dori’s body. “C’mere, sweetie, let me get this off you.”

“No!” Dori clutched the fabric. “Mine!”

“Dori! C’mon, now.” Gabrielle scolded her. “That’s not yours.” She frowned. “Stop laughing, Xena, it’s not funny.”

Xena snickered softly.

“Mine!” Dori protested fiercely, pulling the sleeve in Gabrielle’s grasp with both hands. “Mama, give!”

“Dori!”

Xena took hold of the baby’s hands and freed them from the fabric. “Dori, stop it.” She lowered her voice meaningfully. “Be nice to your mama. She doesn’t feel good.” The warrior had recognized the note of masked frustration in her soulmate’s tone.

“Boo! Mine!” Dori turned her protests to this new venue.

“Oh yeah? What are you gonna do with it?” Xena asked. “Huh?”

Wide, green eyes studied her in perplexity. “Mine.”

“For what?” The warrior persisted. “You can’t wear it, it’s too big.” She held up the sleeve. “How about I keep it for you till you get older, okay?”

Dori pouted.

Gabrielle let out a soft laugh, shaking her head.

“What are you laughing at?” Xena asked. “Your royal majesty, who has an entire press full of my stolen shirts at home?” She pulled the garment off Dori and slung it over her shoulder. “Hmm?”

Gabrielle mustered a look of martyred dignity. “I do it for a completely different reason.” She stated loftily.

Xena got up and headed for her armor, turning and giving the bard a raised eyebrow, meaningful look as she did so. “Oh really?”

“Yes.” Gabrielle smoothed Dori’s disheveled hair down with one hand, and watched the child capture her arm and start exploring it. “I do it because I love you so much sometimes I just want to wrap myself up in any piece of you I can get.”

“Mama loves Boo.” Dori stated, tugging on a thumb.

“That’s right, I sure do.” Gabrielle agreed. “And so do you, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good girl.” The bard smiled at her, then glanced up, watching Xena settle her armor over her shoulders and strap it down. As she turned her head, the candelight in the room caught on the faint glisten of tears on her cheek. The bard felt a surge of warmth through their connection, seeming uncannily like the gentlest of hugs.

Xena remained quiet, however, simply working on lacing up her bracers, her face still and unemotional. She picked up her leg armor and walked over to the bed, sitting down on the edge of it to buckle the heavy metal on over her knees and strap it firmly around her boots. Her fingers worked the well worn leather into brass buckles shiny from long use and after she finished, she flexed her hands around the part protecting her knee, and slapped it. “Sure wish I’d been wearing this on the road here.”

Gabrielle gazed affectionately at her profile. “Xena, I wish I’d been wearing that getup yesterday.” She admitted. “Instead of just jumping headlong into a major fight with just a big stick. Which I lost.”

The warrior got up and shook herself to settle the armor. “I promise I’ll make you another one on the way home.” She walked over and picked up her sword in it’s sheath, attaching it to the catches in her armor before she turned and faced her partner. “Ready?”

A sigh. “No.” Gabrielle slowly pulled herself upright. “But we’re going, I guess.” She looked at Dori. “You want to come hear me tell a story, honey?”

Dori’s eyes lit up. “Mama go story yes!” She burbled enthusiastically “Tell Cow!”

Gabrielle winced as she leaned over, but worked to straighten out the child’s bright crimson jumper. “Not tonight, Dori. I’ll tell you a new story tonight, okay?”

A frown.

“It’s a good story. You’re in the story. Don’t you want to hear a story about you?”

Dori eyed her doubtfully.

“You know, Xena, she looks just like you when she does that.” Gabrielle commented, as her partner walked over and knelt next to the bed, pulling the covers back.

“Feels the same way as I do, I guess.” Xena demurred. “She’s saying ‘you want to tell a story about ME? What’s up with that?” She slipped her arms under Gabrielle’s knees, and around her shoulders, and stood, lifting the bard easily. “Dori, stay right here. I’ll be right back for you.”

“Boo!” Dori squealed in outrage, as the warrior started to walk towards the door. She rustled out of the covers and tumbled off the edge of the bed to the floor, getting up and toddling after her two mothers. “Booboobobobobbobboooooo”

“Never listens.” Xena sighed, glancing at Gabrielle’s face, which was nestled against her shoulder. One green eye rolled up and looked at her as the baby crashed into her legs from behind, grabbing on to her armor and tugging on it.

“I guess she’s my kid, eh?” There was a definite twinkle in that eye.

“Our kid.” Xena replied, with a smile. She nudged the door open and walked out, with Dori pattering happily after her. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

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

The Amphitheatre was a study in darkling elegance. The stage was lit by a ring of torches, and there were oil pots stretching up the ramped stone seats that outlined the richly dressed patrons in the lower, closer places and the more tightly packed ordinary citizens in the rear.

The night breeze brought some relief from the heat, but faces were shiny with sweat and even the sweetest perfumes couldn’t entire mask the scent of too much humanity and too much warmth in close proximity

On the stage, a half dozen players were emoting, to the strains of loud music being played by a band of musicians. Two huge, muscular men stood on either end of the stage, with swords in both hands, twirling them in unison in a very impressive display of skill, the flashing blades capturing the attention of the crowd, some of whom were nodding and tapping to the music.

Celesta stepped forward, dressed in robes of shimmering gold. Her hair picked up the light of the torches and seemed to ignite, suffusing her with glittering sparkles as she forcefully orated a peon to the glory of Athena, speaking of the founding of the great city of Athens. Her voice was full and rounded, and very melodious. Behind her, a group of dark clad, masked, almost animalistic men clad in furs crept up behind her, raising weapons in over emphasized threat.

The crowd gasped.

“Peh.” Cyrene whispered to Johan. “Nothing but hot air and godish smarming.”

Johan stifled a yawn, glancing around at the crowd. “Folks seem to like it.” He muttered back.

“Some folks.” His wife noted cannily. “Not so much the ones from out of town.”

“Mm.”

The play built to it’s finale, another dozen players rushing onstage in full armor, with weapons drawn. The music took on a martial tone, and the warriors attacked the fur clad men furiously. A thunder of hooves was heard, and suddenly, through the crowd, a man on horseback appeared, riding up the stairs and clattering across the stage. He raced between the fighting warriors and reached Celesta, scooping her up behind him and galloping away, leaping off the stage and almost landing on several rows of watchers. He let Celesta down onto the shoulders of two burly, waiting men and turned around.

Gasps and screams followed him, as the battle on stage escalated. The man on horseback jumped the stallion back onto the platform and drew his sword, brandishing it grandly and leading the soldiers forward against the dark clad rabble.

Horns blared, torches flared, the stallion screamed as the music built to a crescendo The leader of the fur clad men attacked the man on horseback and they took center stage, battling back and forth bellowing loudly. Then the fur clad leader tripped up the warrior and stood above him, ready to spit him with a particularily huge spear.

The music stopped, everyone on stage froze. Celesta let out a pure, clear note that would have shattered glass if there had been any in the place.

The fur clad man was stricken. He grasped his breast. The warrior jumped up and tackled him, then the music took up, and the torches were doused, and everything rose to a triumphant final, very loud ending.

Then the torches were relit, and the audience saw the fur clad men collapsed on the stage, and the warriors triumphant. They marched over to where Celesta was and lifted her up on their shoulders, parading around with her as the audience cheered and clapped.

Celesta lifted her arms and accepted the accolades her smug smile apparent even from the back of the amphitheatre. Roses and other flowers rained towards her, as the patrons in the front stood and clapped furiously.

Johan rubbed his ear. “Hard to top that loud bit of mess.” He murmured to Cyrene. “I’d hate to have the little one be disappointed in the crowd, her being hurt and all. Maybe it’s best if they let it be?”

Cyrene nibbled her lower lip. “I don’t know.” She finally said, then stopped as the older Bard who had been introducing the contestants stepped to the small podium stone to the right. The applause tapered off, and the actors trooped off the stage, clustering in a small area just to the left of it. The older Bard lifted his hands, and waited until the crowd settled down.

“You can just give me the badge now, Eleneus.” Celesta called over, with a rich chuckle. The crowd around her laughed. “No one topped my show.”

“That’s as may be, Lady Celesta.” The Bard acknowledged her with a graceful bow of his head. “Surely it was magnificent.”

She accepted the compliment with a smirk.

“Be that as it may be, we have yet one further entrant.” The elder Bard said.

“What?” Celesta seemed very surprised. “Surely, you’re jesting. I was the last.”

“No.” Eleneus folded his hands before him. “You only thought you were.” He gazed out over the crowd, which was a touch restless, looking around curiously and wondering what was going on. A soft buzz started. “Be at rest, my friends. Take your seats.” A pause. “Open your minds, and your hearts, for this bard is not like the others you’ve seen here tonight.” With that, he simply stepped down, and walked to one side, cocking his head patiently and waiting.

The crowd settled down, to expectant whispers and interested eyes.

A drum started. It was soft, with a distinct rhythm of knowledgeable fingertips against tightly pulled skin. The sound floated out over the crowd, quieting them just as it took hold of the imagination.

From between two pillars, there was motion. Heads turned.

Two women emerged, dressed in Amazon leathers in dark russet and gold, baring muscular bodies dripping in colorful feathers and serviceable weapons. On their shoulders rested poles, and between the poles was a woven platform. It was stained in rich earth tones, and as they walked, brightly colored dangling shells clashed softly against each other as they swung from the bottom of the platform.

Behind them, two other Amazons held up the rear of the platform, one smaller, one much larger, both with serious, expressionless faces.

“Who’s playing the drum?” Johan whispered curiously to Cyrene.

“Xena.” Cyrene answered, with a smile.

“Got quite the talent there.” Johan grunted, as the intricate beat wound it’s way through the air, a little daunting, a little seductive.

On the platform, seated quietly crosslegged, was Gabrielle. In startling contrast to her fiercely wild looking escort, the bard seemed plain and almost unremarkable. Though dressed in a well fitted tunic, in a color that brought out her fair good looks, Gabrielle presented the appearance of a young rustic.

Until you looked closely, and saw the strength and maturity in the set of her face, and the depth of experience in her mist green eyes.

The torchlight outlined her form, displaying both the whip mark on her face and the softly glowing tattoo on her bare, muscular shoulder, along with the laurel branches pinned neatly on the left side of her tunic.

A definite, excited buzz rose. Everyone’s attention was focused on the approaching platform and it’s occupant. Several murmurs of “Amphipolis” went up, but Cyrene got the sense that they really weren’t entire sure of who Gabrielle was.

They knew she was the upstart from the games, and where she was from, but…

“It’s the girl from the provinces!” A man next to Cyrene blurted in surprise. “The one who won the running yesterday!”

“It is!” His companion replied. “Surely she’s no bard, as well?”

The Amazons walked up onto the stage and slowly knelt, letting the platform come to rest on it’s four sturdy legs, stolen from an inn table and fastened securely by Xena’s careful hands. As the drum continued, the Amazons settled to the ground to sit cross legged, watching the crowd with alert eyes. The drum rolled, then fell into silence.

Gabrielle straightened a little, and let her gaze wander over the audience, as the buzz settled and attention focused on her. She was aware of Celesta’s surprised, unhappy, and hostile face off to her left, but she put the woman out of her mind and gathered her focus, bearing down and concentrating like she’d been taught.

She let the silence go on a minute, the anticipation building as the crowd waited. “Thank you for welcoming me here.” Her voice was low, and as projected as she could manage given her injuries. “My name is Gabrielle and I’m an itinerant bard from a small town named Potadeia.”

It was like a cold water shock had gone through the crowd. Gabrielle could feel it, the sudden surge of energy as the people recognized her name and responded.

Interesting. The bard exhaled. She wished she felt better, so she could enjoy it more. “I don’t have any fancy musicians or costumes.” Gabrielle went on. “But I do have a story I’d like to tell you, one I don’t think you’ve heard before.”

There was no restlessness now, just an intent concentration on her, and Gabrielle ordered her thoughts, gathered her own energy and put herself in that place she went to when she was exposing the vision of her dream eye to others.

“I’ll tell you a story of Athens.” The bard began, her voice lifting over the crowd with gentle power. “And of a little town called Amphipolis.”

A curious whisper traveled over the crowd, drifting off into the starlit sky. “And what brought a bard, and a warrior from there, to here and why.”

Xena leaned against the rough surface of a stone pillar and listened, the Amazon drum clasped lightly in one hand and the other resting on Dori’s foot. The toddler was sitting on her shoulders with an excellent view of the stage and a sometimes painful grip on the warrior’s ears.

“Mama.” Dori burbled. “Dere’s Mama!”

“That’s your mama, all right. Now ssh… listen to the story.” Xena whispered. Her eyes roamed across the crowd as they listened, watching everything and everyone, taking no chances despite the four Amazon warriors surrounding her soulmate.

Her gaze drifted up over the higher levels, stopping when she recognized a face.

The firewood seller.

Xena’s nostrils flared gently, as though she could scent him. She could see the whip coiled at his waist, and watched as he pointed at Gabrielle, then said something to a neighbor, as he smirked.

“Boo?”

The warrior’s hands flexed.

“Booooo?”

Xena took a breath, and released it. Time enough to deal with him later. “Hm?” She tweaked Dori’s foot.

“Good story!”

Hm? Xena wrenched her thoughts back to the stage, and concentrated on Gabrielle’s words, which were now shaping their journey in colorful terms. “Yeah, it sure is.” She was aware of the crowd leaning forward a little, to catch the bard’s voice, and also aware of Celesta’s set, angry face.

The other bard had one of the elders by the toga, arguing with him. The man just kept shrugging and lifting his hands.

Xena watched Celesta’s expression twist into an ugly hatred.

Her own lips edged into a smile.

********

Gabrielle felt the sweat gather under her tunic and she forced herself to focus all the more tightly. It was hard, especially when she had to raise her voice and use her hands to describe their adventures in Athens, and her injuries protested harshly.

She was making the wealthy patrons in the front uncomfortable, and she knew it. With a steady voice she described what they’d seen, and how they’d seen it, the child slaves in the stone yards and the way they’d been treated both on the road and in the city.

Behind the rich, well dressed faces, though, she could see the masses, whose eyes met hers as she gazed out at them, who knew what she knew, and connected with her as she spoke. She could see heads nodding as she described the docks and the market – smiles as she pointed out the dark side of the long streets and the squalor and filth of the bottom of the hills.

Celesta was standing to her right. Gabrielle caught a glimpse of her as she turned her head, seeing the sneer on her face as the woman watched her. Her players were gathering around her, also staring at the bard, doing their best to be intimidating. They whispered among themselves, and pointed, and laughed behind their hands, trying to rattle her as they caught her eye.

It might have worked, Gabrielle reflected, since she was hurting and tired, and it had been a damn long day. She was not immune to her own self doubts, after all, and Celesta’s show had been well done and really kinda entertaining.

It had been calculated to appeal to the rich men and women in the front rows, and impress the provincials in the back. Gabrielle had thought it had done both, and knew what she had to offer would have no beautiful costumes or striking music.

All she had was the truth, and sometimes that just wasn’t nearly enough. Gabrielle sucked in a breath and tried to muster some energy, feeling the sarcastic eyes boring through her. From the corner of her vision she spotted the motion as her adversary took hold of one of the players, whispered, then shoved him off towards the exit. With an unpleasant smile, he went.

Now what? Gabrielle wondered. She shot a glance to her right, and her eyes met Celesta’s. The other bard stared at her, no, through her.

Then behind Celesta and her group, a tall figure stepped out slid silently into view. Hidden from most of the audience by a stone pillar but very visible to Gabrielle, seeming larger than life yet familiar to her as her own heart. The bard found herself smiling, and she straightened up a little as she got ready to draw her audience in to the next part of her story.

“And so, on this hot morning, I walked through the marketplace and found not peace, but anger.” Gabrielle steeled herself and slowly stood up, hoping her legs would hold her. “Instead of good merchants free to sell their wares, the center of the market was blocked. “ A breath. “Blocked by a man with hatred in his heart, and trouble in his hand who was beating a lad hardly more than a child, there in that marketplace before my very eyes.”

“A slave!” A voice rang out anonymously and unexpected.

“A boy.” Gabrielle’s voice rose and took on more strength. “Who had done nothing to be beaten for, and lay there unresisting as people looked on, or walked by.” She spread her arms out. “So should I have done the same?”

There was an awkward silence.

“Would you have done the same?” Gabrielle’s tone dropped a bit, floating out across the stillness.

“Our laws are clear. You broke them!” The same voice interjected. The bard realized it was coming from, unsurprisingly, Celesta’s corner.

“Laws are meant to protect us, not enslave us.” Gabrielle replied. “And if the laws of Athens, the great capital Athens, say that boys can be beaten for no cause, then those laws are unjust, and it was my priveledge to break them.”

Xena smiled visibly.

“In my life, I have seen so much unjustness.” The bard went on. “So many times when what was law, and what was right diverged, and made me choose to either follow the law or follow my heart.” Her eyes roamed the crowd, sensing the tendrils of contact between her, and them as her words caught their consciences and tightened their focus on her. “I learned to follow my heart, even when doing that broke it sometimes.”

She felt the jolt of her words through her link with Xena.

“But I never regretted it.” Gabrielle spoke into the now charged silence. “So I don’t regret putting myself between that boy, and the bully whipping him.” She took a slow step forward, not feigning the effort.

Xena’s fingers twitched, curling in towards her palms as she just barely kept herself from going to her soulmates’ side. She could see what the performance was costing Gabrielle and it occurred to her more than once that the rows of stuck up snitwads weren’t nearly worth it.

“Should have just killed her.” Celesta whispered, not two bodylengths in front of her. “I can’t believe they’re sucking this up! Look at them!”

Soundlessly, Xena moved, gliding a few steps closer, glad she’d left Dori in her mother’s arms.

“Well… it is sorta interesting.” The young man, one of the sword wielders said.

Celesta backhanded him. “Moron.”

“But then the crowd decided to take out their frustration, and there was all of them, and only one of me.” Gabrielle’s voice drifted over. “All I remember from that is a lot of hard fists, and heavy sticks, and how much it hurt.”

The crowd shifted a little, uncomfortable.

“And then it got dark.”

“Gullible fools.” Celesta hissed, unaware of the shadow now just behind her.

“I woke up in a horrible place.” Gabrielle told them. “There was no light, just the sound of suffering all around me, and the smell of death.” The bard was visibly trembling, and she slowly sat down on the pallet. “Bugs were everywhere. I could hear rats coming closer.”

“Ugh.” One of the players winced. “That sounds gross.”

“Shut up!” Celesta snarled at him. “She’s lying, you fool. It never happened.”

“I knew if I passed out again, maybe they’d think I was dead.” Gabrielle said. “Maybe I’d be dinner.”

The crowd cringed visibly, but seemed wholly absorbed.

“But then, someone called out to me.” The bard went on. “It was amazing, hearing the voice of a friend in that dark place, and I called back to my friend Homer, who was in the cell right next to mine.”

Celesta stiffened.

A whisper went over the front of the crowd, Homer’s name being traded back and forth.

“I was glad to hear him.” Gabrielle spoke quietly. “Though, I did wonder just why a bard like Homer was in an awful place like that.” She let the question penetrate for a moment. “Does anyone here know why?”

Silence.

“Bitch.” The Athenian bard spoke almost under her breath.

“Poor Homer.” Gabrielle said. “He’d been there so long, in that horrible cell. I felt bad about being there, but I felt worse for him because I knew that even though I was in the darkest, deepest cell in the lowest, most horrible prison.. “ She took a breath and let the anticipation build, watching the bodies facing her lean forward slightly. “Someone was coming for me.”

The bridge of Xena’s nose wrinkled a little.

“And I knew there was no prison tough enough, no bars thick enough, no army bold enough to stop that someone.” The bard smiled gently. “They would find me.”

The crowd’s attention was now completely focused on Gabrielle, waiting for next bit of story.

“Sheep.” Celesta muttered.

Gabrielle rested her elbows on her knees, and leaned forward. “And they did.” She said. “Out of the darkness, I heard the sound of fighting far over our heads. Clashes of steel, and the noise of bodies hitting stone, and wood, and each other.” Her hands shaped themselves around a sword hilt. “I heard a swordfight, loud and fierce, and the yells of people as they battled each other, and their boots making scuffing noises on the floor as they kicked stuff down through the trap door over my head.”

Xena blinked, barely remembering that fight herself as she’d plowed through the defenders almost without pausing.

“There were so many guards.”

A dozen at least, though in the dark it had been hard to tell. She’d just kept punching and kicking and pulling limbs and throwing bodies and…

“And only one hero, but that hero was my hero, and before I knew it the top of my cell was open and two bodies were falling inside it, all the way to the stone floor not very far from where I was lying.”

“Hero? Give me a break.” Celesta said. “Murdering whore.”

Long fingers twitched again, closing into fists.

“Two fell, but only one got up.” Gabrielle said, glancing to her right and meeting Xena’s eyes. “And I knew I was safe.” She shifted her attention back to the audience. “Now we just had to find a way out of a deep cell, in a dark prison, with lots of angry guards in it.” A snap of her fingers, a reflection of smiles from the crowd. “Piece of cake.”

“What’s the damn fascination?” Celesta said in a disgusted whisper.

Truth? Xena almost said it aloud.

“There was a little complication.” Gabrielle went on. “In the fight, a fire got started.” She inhaled. “So now we had an enemy that was worse than the guards, and lots more dangerous.”

“Edgas, get around in back there, and start up a loud argument with Belea.” Celesta ordered. “Distract the crowd.”

“But…”

“We’ve got to stir this up. Break their concentration. They’re getting too involved in this dreck and I don’t want any of them to even think this is worth of being in this challenge, understand me?” The woman gave him a shove.

“Celesta, you can’t just…”

Celesta tangled her hands in the throat of his toga, pulling him upwards a little and snarling into his face. “Do it, or I”ll make sure the next job you have is on the docks where you came from, you little maggot!” She released him, and gave him another push.

The man hesitated.

A very low voice cut through their argument. “Do it, and I’ll make sure the next job you have is taking tokens for Charon on a River Styx boat ride.”

Celesta whirled.

Gabrielle’s voice rose a little “So, there was a rope hanging from the cell trap, and Xena leaped up and caught it, with me on her back, and…” A soft gasp came from the crowd. “They tried to throw us back down into the fire, but… “

Xena leaned against the pillar and crossed her arms over her chest.

“You have no right to interfere.” Celesta hissed. “I’ll call the guards!”

“No, you won’t.” The warrior said. “Unless you want them to hear about your abduction and imprisonment of Homer.” Xena’s eyes frosted over. “You little piece of scum.”

“Just as we got clear, the fire flared up and we had no where to go but a little store room, so we got inside there, but there was no way out.”

A gasp.

“So we were trapped, the three of us.”

“Three?” A woman in the front uttered.

“Xena, and me, and our little daughter, Dori.” The bard gently explained. “She’s just two. She was with Xena when I was attacked and beaten, and taken to jail.”

“Mama!” A piping voice suddenly rang out. Everyone’s head turned, then swiveled back to Gabrielle. A ripple of sound settled to silence as everyone waited.

“I thought we were going to die there, all of us.” Gabrielle said. “The smoke was coming in, and it was getting so hot.” She gazed quietly at her clasped hands. “You know, I’ve been in dangerous places many times in my life, and I’m no stranger to death.”

You could hardly hear a breath, as the bard paused, and the sounds of the streets outside the ampitheatre floated gently in on the warm breeze.

“But it was hard to look at my little girl, and know she would never grow up.” A pause. “Hard to think of all the friends I’d be leaving behind.” Now Gabrielle glanced to her right, and left, where Ephiny and Eponin were sitting like stone images on either side of her. “And all for what? A few bets?” Gabrielle lifted her head and looked across the crowd. “A contest?” A slight shake of her fair head. “Someone’s pride?”

There was a soft rustle of motion as Gabrielle slowly stood up again, and straightened painfully. “It seemed so little to die for.” She said. “But I was with those I love most in the world, and so many people die alone so I was, at least, glad that my last moments would be filled with more love than most people know in all their lives.” She gazed out at them with quiet honesty, seeing the glint of torchlight on tear stained cheeks.

Celesta stared at Xena, who stared stonily back at her. The players watched them uneasily for a moment, then turned their attention back to the stage, irresistibly drawn to Gabrielle’s tale.

“I’m not going to let some two bit provincial from the sticks take what’s mine.” The Athenian bard said, in a low voice. “I don’t care what it takes, and I don’t care who or what you think you are. You don’t frighten me.”

“But you know… “ Now a touch of faint, amused self deprecation entered Gabrielle’s voice, gathering in the crowd effortlessly. “The Fates can surprise you sometimes.” She cupped her hands. “As we took our last, faint chances on that hard floor, covered with a wet blanket, one of the rats I had been fearing not so long before ran over my leg, and away.”

A faint, surprised chuckle floated from the audience.

“It’s not me you need to worry about.” Xena smiled unpleasantly. “All I can do is break every bone in your body.” The warrior indicated her partner with a jerk of her chin. “She can steal every heart out there and you can’t do anything about it.”

Celesta ripped her gaze from the warrior’s face, and turned to look at the crowd.

“My daughter thought it was a toy.” Gabrielle lifted her hands a little. “So she went after it, and Xena went after her, and they chased the rat through the straw and over the stone and behind a big crate… and I heard the Fates laugh as they chased that rat right into a hidden tunnel.”

Now a louder chuckle, surprised and mutedly delighted.

“The fire was coming, the smoke was filling the room, we could hear the walls collapsing around us, but Xena got us all inside the tunnel and blocked the end back up. We knew it wouldn’t hold the fire off forever, but that’s how life is sometimes. You’re a tiny step ahead of disaster and you learn to just keep walking.”

Another laugh. Gabrielle visibly relaxed a little. She could sense interest, admiration, and intense curiosity from her audience now, and she knew she had them in her hands. The stars overhead twinkled brightly, and a cool breeze ruffled the torches around the perimeter, and all eyes were fastened on the stage.

They were hers for the taking. “Now the hard part started.” She drew in a breath, and pushed the discomfort aside, spreading her arms out to gather them in. “We could hear the roar of the fire through the walls, and in front of us, through a grate, flames appeared…. “

Xena stood quietly to one side, now visible to the crowd, allowing the bard’s words to paint her in a brilliant wash of heroism. The breeze stirred her dark hair and made shadows dance from the torches light across her brass armor, and standing there against the white stone she seemed, indeed, the larger than life figure shaped from Gabrielle’s imagination.

It was a night they’d all remember, of that, she was damn sure.

“And there we were, all in that room. The fire behind us, and a locked door in front of us.” Gabrielle drew in a breath. “We’d just been keeping one step ahead of the flames, and now we were in one last dead end, with the guards and the other prisoners.”

She took a step forward. “The guards were angry.” The bard’s voice dropped a little. “They were angry at us, at Xena, because the people outside had locked them in.”

“Why?” A woman in the front row asked, followed by others. “Senseless!”

“Why?” Gabrielle paused, seeming to reflect on the question. “Because they wanted to make sure we didn’t get out, to join the games.” She let the words drop into the sudden quiet. “They didn’t realize about the fire.” A pause. “I hope they didn’t realize.”

A low murmur rose.

“But I wasn’t worried, because I knew Xena wouldn’t let all those people get hurt.” The bard went on. “First, though, she had to convince the guards to listen to her, and that wasn’t easy. They were very angry, and like angry people do, sometimes, they weren’t thinking of what was best for them, they were thinking about relieving the hurt they felt inside.” A pause. “So that’s what they did.”

Xena felt eyes track to her.

“Xena knew we didn’t have time for that though, and she convinced them to stop, and to look, and to listen to the fire that was coming up from the depths of the prison after us. We had to find a way out of there, or the flames would fill the hall, and we’d all die there.”

The crowd sucked in a group breath.

“The door was wood, and very stout. All the beating we could do on it would never even crack it. The guards had been trying, but they hadn’t made a dent.” Gabrielle told them. “Wood clubs were useless, hands even more so, but there was, in that hall, something Xena knew that she could use.”

“Columns of stone.” The bard looked up, as though seeing them. “Big enough, and heavy enough to knock those doors right down. The trick was, how do you use it?”

Xena found herself experiencing a wholly guilty, though completely enjoyable sense of pleasure as she listened to her partner describe her cleverness in getting all of them out of the prison trap. After all, the solution had not only been effective, it had been visually striking and she’d accomplished her part in… well, in quite a bit of style.

They’d been in grave danger, sure, but that backward flip off the column hadn’t been in the cause of efficiency, now had it? She half turned as someone stepped up behind her, then relaxed as she recognized Homer. The bard had gotten cleaned up and shorn, and was dressed in a simple toga not unlike many of the other Bards from the Academy who were now clustering all around the stage listening to Gabrielle.

Celesta was sitting in a wooden chair placed nearby for her by her servants, her face stony and cold. Xena reflected that watching the obnoxious woman get beaten mercilessly by Gabrielle’s raw talent was almost as satisfying as slugging her in the mouth would be.

Almost.

“You know.” Homer’s voice caused her to turn and regard him. “Gabrielle once told me that as a bard, she had the easiest place on earth.” He said. “Stories just fell into her lap.”

“Yeah.” Xena replied quietly. “But the downside is, she also has to live through them.”

Homer considered that in silence for a moment, then nodded. “Having lived through one myself now, I have a new appreciation of that.” He studied Gabrielle’s visibly battered form. “Of her.” His eyes lifted to Xena’s face. “And of you.”

“And with everyone helping, the stone column started to swing.” Gabrielle was saying. “It hit the door with an incredible sound, and parts of the wood started to come off.” She told them, then turned and looked behind herself. “But the fire was coming up the stairs and filling the room behind us.” She faced them again. “It was so loud, I almost couldn’t hear the ram hitting the door, and it was a horrible, hungry sound.”

Xena felt the hairs on her arms lift, at the memories the words evoked.

“How awful would it have been, to have come this far, and done so much, only to fail at the end?” Gabrielle asked them, lifting her hands slightly. “I could feel it getting a lot hotter, and parts of the roof over us started to fall down as they got burnt, and now we wondered if the wood the stone was hanging from would collapse before we could get the door open.”

The bard let her eyes roam over the crowd, meeting their gaze unflinchingly. “I almost felt like everything was against us, wanted us to be trapped there, wanted to destroy all of us.” She lifted her hands and curled them into fists. “And just when I thought that, the stone hit that door one last time, boomed one last time, and while the wood support was cracking it broke the door open in front of us.”

Everyone let out a breath, as though they’d been holding it in while she spoke. Maybe they had.

“The fire wanted that air as much as we did, though, and it rushed after us as we ran outside.” Gabrielle said. “I almost felt like it was angry, because it lost us.” A smile. “But it did, and the feeling of the wind on my face was the sweetest thing on earth.” The bard slowly walked forward, coming to the very edge of the platform. “Life won. Death lost, and in losing, has to gnash it’s teeth and listen to me tell of it’s defeat.” She looked out at the crowed. “Can you hear Death’s frustration? It’s out there. Among you.”

There was a dead silence for a moment.

“The world holds still when you realize someone has placed a value on your life.” Gabrielle whispered into it. “Because it’s then that you realize what value you place on it.”

She held her position for a few heartbeats, then stepped back, and indicated the end of the tale with a simple duck of her head.

A few more heartbeats of peace were left to her, before she felt the change in air pressure as a thunder of sound blasted her senses. Gabrielle’s mind recognized the sound as applause, but the volume was like nothing else she’d ever heard and she lifted her eyes to gaze in startled surprise at the mass of people clapping and cheering as they stood.

It was nice.

But the pain she’d held at bay during her tale started catching up with her, and she turned and went back to her pallet on shaking legs, sitting down on it and resting her elbows on her knees.

“You okay?” Ephiny whispered anxiously. “Gab?”

‘Yeah.” The bard “I just… “ She lifted her head and looked back out at the still cheering crowd. “Guess I did okay, huh?” Gabrielle felt the sweat drench her body, and drip into her eyes. She blinked, and rubbed the back of her hand over them.

A small, snorting laugh escaped the Amazon regent.

The crowd surged forward, along with a thick cluster of the other bards she’d seen gathering near the edge of the stage. But before they could reach her, Gabrielle felt a welcome presence at her back and she turned her head as Xena’s hands fell on her shoulders. “Hi.”

“That was gorgeous.” Xena told her, reaching over to push a bit of sweat dampened hair out of her eyes. “I loved every minute of it.” She unhooked a waterskin at her belt and offered it to her partner. “Here.”

Gabrielle’s eyes brightened perceptibly, and a grin appeared. She sucked at the waterskin thirstily as she watched Xena regard their surroundings.

“Think you won it?” Eponin asked idly, eyeing the oncoming crowd with a bemused expression.

“Couldn’t care less.” Gabrielle responded. “Said what I had to, that’s what mattered.” She let the skin drop, and leaned back against Xena’s body, drained and hurting. An arm circled her waist and she let her eyes close, holding the memory of the night tightly to her as one of the special times of her life.

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

Xena strode through the softly candle lit hallway, shifting the strap of her carrybag as she evaded two excitedly whispering bards and ducked into the room in the Bard’s Academy they’d urged her to take Gabrielle to after the show.

She’d been caught in a mild dilemma, wanting to get her partner to someplace quiet so she could tend to her, and the knowledge that Gabrielle surely must want to savor the praise and adulation that surrounded her.

So, they’d compromised. Xena threaded her way through the cluster of elder Bards and into the cool, curtained off area she’d left Gabrielle in, it’s entrance guarded by a somber looking Cait and a bemusedly interested Paladia.

“Hello, Xena?” Cait hissed, as she went by. “Is Gabrielle going to be all right?”

The warrior paused, with a hand on the curtain. “I’m working on it.” She told her young friend. “I think she needs rest more than anything.”

“Not a great lot of that here.” Cait commented, giving the bards in the outer room a skeptical look.

Xena nodded in agreement, before she went through the curtain and into the alcove. Inside there was a padded, comfortable looking couch, and the stone floor was covered in a thick woolen rug. Three separate fountains graced the walls, and the water’s gentle tinkle was pervasively relaxing.

It immediately got on Xena’s nerves. She walked over to the couch and set her bag down, then knelt and put a gentle hand on the wrist of it’s occupant.

Bloodshot green eyes flickered into view. “You’re back.” Gabrielle commented in a whisper.

“Yep.” The warrior agreed. “How are you doing?”

“Cruddy.”

Xena patted her arm. “Hang in there. I’ve got something that’ll make you feel better.”

Gabrielle rolled her head slightly to one side and attempted a grin. “You are something that makes me feel better.” She glanced around the room. “This is nice, isn’t it?”

“Mm.” Xena had seated herself on the floor and was arranging the herbs she’d taken out of her bag. “You’re not gonna make me put one of those things in our cabin, are ya?” She indicated a fountain.

“Are you kidding? Dori would live in it.” Gabrielle reached out and tangled her fingers in the warrior’s dark hair. “I’d never get her out of there, and we’d end up taking a dozen showers a day every time we walked by.”

Xena chuckled softly. “You got a point there.” She carefully combined three different herbs in the bottom of one of their traveling cups, then took a slim, glass bottle from the bag and uncorked it.

“Uh oh.” Gabrielle joked faintly. “How bad are they?”

With a slight smile, Xena removed two glasses from the bag, and set the cup of herbs down, filling the glasses with amber liquid and handing Gabrielle one. “They’re not bad at all, but I won’t ruin the honey mead on them. Here.”

Gabrielle hitched herself up a little and took the glass, sipping it hesitantly. “Oh.” She licked her lips. “Wow. That’s good.”  She took a bigger mouthful and let it permeate her senses, before she swallowed it. “Mmm.”

Xena waited for her to swallow, as she swirled the wine in her own glass. Then she lifted it and touched it to Gabrielle’s. “Here’s to the greatest bard in Athens.”

Gabrielle went very still, only her eyelashes blinking as she stared at Xena. A blush worked it’s way up her neck and colored her cheeks. “T… thank you.” She finally stuttered softly. “Did you… “

“Heard them talking outside.” Xena said, taking a sip of the mead. “They just finished taking the votes.”  She’d hoarded the news to herself, and hoped she’d gotten back in time to be the one to tell Gabrielle, wanting to see the look in her partner’s eyes when she did.

After a moment of shock, a grin appeared on the bard’s face as she contemplated the golden liquid in her glass.  She tipped it forward and clinked it against Xena’s, then took another sip, a look of delight suffusing her face and lighting up her eyes.

Xena stretched her legs out and crossed them, leaning an elbow on the couch as she finished off her mead. “C’mon, you can’t be that surprised.” She eventually kidded her younger partner. “You heard that crowd when you finished.”  Her free hand was busy, pouring water into the cup of herbs and stirring it.

Gabrielle rolled a little onto her side, and settled her head closer to Xena. “Well…” She thought about the question a little bit. “It’s not that, it’s just…” The bard went silent for a bit. “You’re the greatest warrior on earth.”

Both of Xena’s eyebrows jerked up almost to her hairline. “Gabrielle..”

“Oh, shut up, Xena. You know you are, so knock it off.” The bard forestalled her.

“Okay, fine, I am then. But what does that have to do with…”

“Oo.” Gabrielle tugged the dark locks. “Got you to admit it. Cool.”

Xena looked at her. “Just for that, here. Drink this.” She handed over the cup of herbs, which Gabrielle accepted, then resolutely drained.

“Ugh.” The bard winced, as she handed the cup back and took a last sip of the mead to wash the taste down. “Anyway, what I meant before was…”

“You’re not used to being the greatest at something.” Xena put the cup down, then leaned over and gave her soulmate a kiss on the lips. “Right?”

Gabrielle absorbed the tingle, which traveled down into her gut and loosened the aching tightness in her muscles. She leaned back and gazed at the warrior. “What was the question?”

Xena merely shook her head, and laughed under her breath. “Feeling better?”

Gabrielle stretched cautiously, feeling the herbs start to kick in along with the bellyful of strong mead. The ache was subsiding and it was easier to breathe, though exactly which of the warrior’s varied remedies was contributing to all that was hard to say at this point. Maybe all of them were, she decided. “Yeah.” She exhaled. “I think I could use a good night’s sleep, though.”

Xena spared a moment’s wish that they were leagues away from Athens. “Soon. I think… “ She looked up as footsteps approached outside, and the curtain moved, revealing Eleneus and the rest of the elders. “Look surprised.” She muttered under her breath, getting a tweak on her hair from the bard.

“Bard Gabrielle.” Eleneus came forward, his bearded face barely suppressing a triumphant smile. “May we enter and speak with you?”

Gabrielle glanced at the curtain, then at him, and one eyebrow lifted slightly. “Sure.” She rested her hand on Xena’s shoulder, watching her partner strike her sexy intimidation pose out of the corner of her eye.

The elder bards entered and gathered behind Eleneus. Gabrielle examined their faces as they got settled, seeing a mixture of relief, elation, a touch of amazement, and best of all, respect as they looked back at her.

Suddenly, she wished her other family, her birth family were here to see this.

“The citizen’s votes have been counted.” The senior bard told her. “And they have chosen you.”

The elders all applauded, while Gabrielle didn’t quite repress a blush.

“Even though she pretty much told them their city stinks and they’ve got crooks running it?” Xena put in a wry question.

Eleneus lifted his shoulders slightly in an urbane shrug. “Given a brilliant enough presentation, one could be coaxed into swallowing a pebble and thinking it delicious.” He replied, with an easy smile. “And, Gabrielle, that was indeed brilliantly done. You truly do understand what it is to be a bard, which is so much more than merely to entertain.”

“Thanks.” Gabrielle answered softly. Her fingers curled around Xena’s upper arm, in an almost unconscious gesture. “So what happens now?”

The older man walked over to a low settee near the bed and sat down on it, clasping his hands together as he regarded her. “Right now? I think right now all of us, at least are going to have a flagon of wine, and take to our beds. It’s been a long day.”  He shifted. “Tomorrow night, after the games are finished, we will bring you up, and present you to the city.”

Gabrielle bit the inside of her lip to restrain a sarcastic comment.

“Then, you will, of  course, present the prize to the overall winner of the games.”

Hm. “All right.” The bard nodded thoughtfully, glancing sidelong at Xena. “How’s Celesta taking it?”

Eleneus winced, and rubbed his chin. The other bards shifted uncomfortably. “It was not.. the most pleasant of scenes.” He admitted. “I’m glad you weren’t there to hear it.”

“She should be glad I wasn’t there to hear it.” Xena broke in, her voice low and growly. “I’ve had about enough of her.”

“Yes, well.. “

“She had Homer put in jail.” Gabrielle broke in unexpectedly. “Aren’t you going to do something about that?”

There was a momentary silence. “Homer said he couldn’t prove…”

“She tried to force me to withdraw by threatening to have him beaten.” The bard overrode his speech. “I was supposed to meet her at noontime, because I said I wouldn’t deal unless I knew he was okay.”

Xena turned her head fully and stared at her partner.

“Sorry, honey. We’ve been a little busy.” The bard apologized. “I forgot to tell you about that.” She wrinkled her nose at the outraged blue eyes. “I was on my way to get you when I bumped into those creeps in the market.”

Xena sighed, and shook her head.

“Anyway, that should be enough for you to do something about her, right?” Gabrielle returned her attention to the senior bards, who were exchanging looks of consternation. “Right?”

Eleneus covered his eyes. “We need to retire, and discuss this.” He told the rest of them. “It’s an unexpected complication.”  His eyes flicked to Gabrielle. “Have a good evening’s rest, Bard Gabrielle. We’ll talk again in the morning.”

Gabrielle watched them leave, the curtain falling into place behind them before she turned and met Xena’s eyes. “Can we go home now?”

“You mean you’ve caused enough trouble, now?” Xena rested her arm on the couch and her chin on her arm.

“Xena…”

“Just kidding.” The warrior could sense the frayed edges of Gabrielle’s temper, unusual since it was normally her who objected to extended teasing. “How about I carry  you back to the inn? I’ve got some more mead there, and a couple of other treats.”

“Treats?” Gabrielle hated being grumpy, and hated even more the knowledge that Xena was humoring her about it after the day they’d been through. She knew her partner must, at the least, be almost as sore as she was and she had a long, tough trial to go through tomorrow before the whole thing was over. “I think I owe you some treats.”  She touched Xena’s nose with one fingertip, tracing the bridge of it. “But I’d settle for a snuggle.”

The herbs, she realized, were really hitting her, putting  a layer of vagueness between her and the discomfort and making the thought of sleep almost irresistible. “Let’s go.”

Xena gathered her up and stood, slinging her bag over her shoulder as she headed for the door and the still chaotic streets outside.

It was very late that night before the noise receded, and allowed some kind of peace into the inn’s small room.  Xena was lying on her back in the bed, with Gabrielle sprawled bonelessly over her, so deeply asleep the warrior doubted an entire carnival outside the window would have stirred her at all.

Xena, of course, wasn’t so lucky. Ordinary night noises triggered her senses, and though she had the ability to focus her concentration through almost anything, horns outside the window defeated even her best efforts.

But that was alright. She needed some time alone to just sit and think, to absorb the day’s trials and order her thoughts for what was coming in the morning. She reached out with one hand and captured a mug on the small stool next to her, taking a sip of the herb infused wine and letting it slide down her throat. The aches of the day were starting to catch up, and she hoped, by relaxing her body as much as possible, she could stave off the worst consequences of her actions.

Her shoulders ached the worst, having taken the strain of both of them on their climb to freedom. They bothered her more than her knee, in fact, which seemed to have held up pretty well and was only throbbing dully, hardly more than it had been the day before. She wished she were home, where a long soak in the spring would have been her choice of therapy, but she did the best she could with the herbs, and the knowledge that her room was well and truly guarded by both Amphipolitans and Amazons and she could sleep if she wanted to.

A prickle of her arm hairs alerted her, but she remained still as Aphrodite popped into the room, dressed in a long, white, flowing toga that complimented her curly blond hair.  The goddess floated over and held up both thumbs. “That so rocked.” Aphrodite chortled. “She is just so the babe.”

Xena regarded the fair head tucked against her shoulder. “Do you know how pissed off I am that she had to go through what she had to today because of your lousy brother?”

“Oo.” Aphrodite relaxed in mid air, laying down on her side and crossing her golden strapped ankles. “Hey, listen. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” Her face was uncharacteristically serious. “It got way out of hand, like you know? It was only supposed to lock you guys in there for a little while.”

Xena stared at her. “We almost died.” Her voice was low, and almost calm.

The goddess shrugged. “Well, yeah, but you didn’t, so no biggie, right?”  She sat up cross legged, arranging her toga. “After all, you guys almost die, like all the time, you know?”

“Not recently.” Xena said flatly. “And I have a problem with you bastards putting us in that position for a damn bet.”

“Hey!” Aphrodite frowned. “Watch the language, okay? I’m not the bad guy here.”

“Aren’t you?” The warrior glowered at her. “Looks like you’re ready to do anything to save precious little Ares ego.”

“You know, you can really piss me off.” The goddess responded. “And that is so uncool, specially since I nearly singed my buns pulling her out of that lava pit.” She pointed at Gabrielle’s sleeping form.

There was total silence as they both stared at each other.

“Oh, peach pits.” Aphrodite made a disgusted face. “I was so never going to tell you that.” She lifted her hand to snap out. “Forget this scene, I’m outta here.”

Xena found her voice a split second later. “Wait.” She managed to get out hoarsely.

For a moment, she thought Aphrodite was going to pop out just from pique. Then the goddess slowly lowered her hand, and floated there, waiting. “You?”

“C’mon, you didn’t think it was Ares, didja?” The Goddess of Love asked.

Xena slowly shook her head, trying to absorb the thought. “He’d have called in that favor already.” She murmured, then looked up, searching the goddesses face, her mind calling up all unbidden that nightmarish time in her life.

Her eyes closed as she felt that ache all over again, and in doing that, she missed the sudden shift in Aphrodite’s expression, as the goddess watched her. 

“Listen.” Aphrodite said, in a gentle voice. “I know you’ve been messed with a lot, but it’s not like we all, like, hate you, Xena.”

Xena blinked her eyes open and gazed past the floating goddess with a faraway look.

“We had a big blowout after I did it.” The goddess continued. “We’re talking, serious pissed off parental city, and me and Ares got totally grounded after that for messing with both of you so much, so we had to sit up there and watch.. that was kinda tough.”  Aphrodite considered a moment. “We were so bitching with each other. We really lucked out when that braindrain Alti messed up big time and spilled that Gab was still alive.”

Xena nodded slowly, in silence. Then she lifted her eyes to meet Aphrodite’s. “Thank you.” Her voice was husky with held emotion.

The goddess didn’t seem to know how to really react to that. She scowled engagingly for a bit. “Hey, I mean – let’s face it. You love her enough to have given her that little bambino. I had to do it, you know? I had my rep to think of.”

The warrior took a little tighter hold on her soulmate, her composure still way off balance in trying to deal with this new information. If there was one of the Olympians she’d accept owing a favor to, she realized, Aphrodite would be the one, no question about it. “Thanks.” She said again, gazing gratefully at the floating woman. “From all of us.”

“Ew. Don’t get all emotional on me, okay? I can’t deal, Xena.” Aphrodite complained. “Its like when Ares gets all mopey. I just can’t handle it.”  She regarded the two mortals. “I’m sorry it got so radical for you guys today, and that the little one got hurt.”

Xena stroked Gabrielle’s hair with a protective hand. “Me too.”

Aphrodite mulled this over. “You going to go for it tomorrow?”

Xena nodded.

“Can’t talk you out of it?”

The warrior shook her head.

The goddess sighed. “Okay. You take care, all right?”  She lifted her hand and snapped her fingers, popping out in the blink of an eye.

Xena tucked the light blanket around Gabrielle’s shoulders, and relaxed, as she let her mind loose to ponder.

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

Gabrielle woke up the next morning pretty much in the same position she’d fallen asleep in the night before.  Since that involved using Xena as a body pillow, there was nothing really wrong with that, and in fact she had no real desire to budge now that she was awake.

It was still dark and quiet outside, and mostly dark inside the room save a dim glow from the oil lamp set by the bed. Xena’s arms were wrapped around her, and the warrior was sound asleep, her breathing slow and even and her heart beating with even regularity beneath Gabrielle’s ear.

It was a really nice feeling. Gabrielle had always thought so, from the very first time she’d experienced it, all those years ago on that very cold night. Then, it had been a treasured, thought to be one time happening. Now?

Gabrielle drew in a contented breath full of Xena’s scent and reveled in the security of the powerful body wrapped around hers. Now it was hers.  All hers. She’d decided a while back that she really enjoyed being in love, and more, she really enjoyed being in love with Xena.  Sure, it meant getting into scrapes sometimes, but so what?

It was worth it. Gabrielle cautiously stretched her body out, feeling stiff, but not nearly as bad as she had the night before. Her head no longer hurt, and she felt rested and her thoughts were clear.

She blinked her eyes a few times, gazing past Xena’s shoulder at the flickering lamp, as her mind went over the night prior, reliving the bard’s contest all over again.

I did it.  She remembered the crowd, and the flickering torchlight, and the incredible rush at the reaction when she’d finished. More precious to her, though, was Xena’s heartfelt praise, and that shared bottle of mead in the private moment before she’d found out officially.

Wow, that had felt so wonderful.  Gabrielle felt a warm surge of joy spill over her, and her face creased into a happy grin.  Under her ear, she was abruptly aware of Xena’s heart rhythm picking up and the warrior shifted position, tightening her hug. Agreeably, Gabrielle returned the pressure, circling Xena’s belly with her arm and squeezing.  She felt Xena’s hand move, giving her back a light scratch and she tilted her head up, to see her grin reflected in Xena’s pale eyes. “Morning.”

“Morning.” Xena agreed, her voice slightly husky with sleep. “Feeling better?”

For an answer, Gabrielle squeezed her again, wrapping her legs around her partner’s and getting her whole body into the effort. “Erguh.”

Xena chuckled softly, rubbing her hands up and down over Gabrielle’s back in light massage.

The bard squiggled in pleasure. “Yeah, I feel better.” She said, with a satisfied sigh. After a moment’s reflection, she shifted a little. “A lot better, as a matter of fact.”

“Good.” Xena riffled her fingers through the bard’s light hair. “Hey.” She tilted Gabrielle’s head up a little. “C’mere.”

“Hm?” Gabrielle squirmed around and got up on an elbow, as Xena reached over for the lamp and brought it closer. “What?”  She remained still as her partner’s long fingers touched her face, watching her faint reflection in Xena’s eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“That whip mark.” Xena murmured, her brow creasing.

Gabrielle frowned. “Did it turn purple overnight or something? What is it?”

“It’s gone.”

In reflex, Gabrielle reached up and touched her face. “Really?” She asked, incredulously. “That’s so weird. It was really sore last night.” Her fingers felt nothing but smooth skin, though, and pressure against it’s surface brought no pain. “Wow.”

“Yeah.” Xena agreed softly.

Gabrielle shrugged. “Well, I knew it was just a matter of time.” She said, matter-of-factly.

“Matter of time for what?” Xena asked, setting the oil lamp down.

“For me to catch your magic.” The bard answered, settling back down into her favorite spot. She fitted herself to Xena’s body and relaxed, draping her arm back over the warrior’s belly.  She felt the surface lift as Xena took a deep breath, then sink as she exhaled. “No wonder I feel so much better.”

“You really think you got it from me?”  Xena pondered curiously.

“Well, honeybear, you’re kinda the obvious source, y’know?” Gabrielle mumbled. “It’s not like they sell that, even in this city’s marketplace.”  She gave Xena’s ribs a friendly scratch.

“Mm.” Xena curled herself around her partner again and closed her eyes, holding both Gabrielle and the thought of the gift close to her heart.

She’d been dreaming, one of her rare, remembered fun dreams of her childhood. Before Cortese, before the army, before even the time when she’d become aware of herself as an individual.

Just a dream of a sunny day, just after harvest, when she and Ly and Toris had raced through the stubbled wheat fields, chasing butterflies with wild abandon. They’d been barefoot and without a single care, a suddenly remembered innocence that Xena had long since thought buried in her memories forever.

She called back that fragment of a dream and remembered… remembered what it was like to be that child for the first time since Lyceus died. She could almost feel the laughter erupting from her stomach as she outraced Toris and got that big red one…

“Xe?”

“Hm?”

“What are you doing?”

“Just thinking.” Xena replied. “Remembering something I did as a kid. Why?”

“Just wondering.” Gabrielle savored the sense of well being coming to her from their bond. “Was it fun?”

“Yeah.” The warrior murmured thoughtfully. “Just kid stuff… chasing around in the fields, that kind of thing. Me and my brothers.”

Brothers. Gabrielle pondered that. “Wish I’d gotten to meet both of them.”

Xena was silent for a few breaths, then she chuckled soundlessly. “I’m glad you didn’t.”

Now, that was unexpected. Gabrielle lifted her head up and shifted, rolling over onto her side so she could gaze up at Xena’s shadowed profile. “Huh?”

The warrior turned her head, and the faint light reflected off her open eyes in the barest glints. “Remember when I told you about the Fates? How they showed me what my life would have been like if I hadn’t become… what I did?”

“Yeah.” Gabrielle whispered.

“Lyceus was still alive. You two met.”

It was very weird, hearing something like that and knowing Xena remembered it so clearly when she didn’t. “We did?”

“Mm. He fell for you like a rock off a cliff.” Xena remarked mildly.

“Oh.” Gabrielle said, after a moment’s thought.

“Yeah.”

“That could have gotten icky.” The bard mused.

“Oh yeah.”

“Did I feel the same way he did?”

“Um… “ Xena scratched the bridge of her nose. “I don’t think so, no.”

“Head over heels for you, huh?”

The warrior smiled into the darkness. “Something like that, yeah. We were definitely attracted to each other.”

Gabrielle digested that. “Did you know you were the first person I was sexually attracted to?”  She glanced up to see those barely seen blue eyes widen in something like astonished bemusement. “I won’t embarrass myself totally by telling you how long it took me to figure out just what it was I was feeling.”  She rolled back over and put her head down, exhaling in satisfaction.

They were both very quiet for a few minutes. Then Xena drew in a breath to speak.

“Don’t even think about asking me that.” Gabrielle lifted a hand and covered the warrior’s mouth. “Oo.” She felt a nibble on her palm, and the memories of a few very confused and perplexing nights by the fire came flooding back to her unexpectedly, causing an abrupt giggle.

“What’s so funny?” Xena evaded her fingers and half sat up, cupping Gabrielle’s chin in one hand as she kissed her.

“Mm.” Gabrielle enjoyed the barrage of sensation. One thing was for sure – the reality was a Hades of a lot better than anything she’d fantasized about. She slid her hands under Xena’s shift and touched the silky skin underneath, tracing a line up from her indented navel. Her fingertips brushed over a faint scar, then across the arched, steadily moving ribs.

Xena’s powerful thigh slid between hers, and her nape hairs prickled as the warrior’s hand fitted itself around her hip. The lips that had been exploring hers shifted, moving across her jawline around to her ear, where Xena’s breath warmed her skin.

“Hey.” The warrior purred softly. “Wanna hear a secret?”

“Sure.” Gabrielle continued her touch, circling Xena’s breast as she felt the warrior shift a little, rolling her onto her back and sliding their bodies together.  Xena suckled her earlobe, biting down softly on it and sending jolts up and down her spine.

“It didn’t take me any time at all to figure out what I was feeling.” Xena uttered, right into her ear, just before she nibbled the interior. “Those were some very long nights.”

Gabrielle chuckled softly under her breath as she felt her shirt eased off her body, exposing her skin to the light breeze from the window. She had no time to be chilled, though, because Xena engulfed her in a wash of insistent sensuality as their bodies fit together and their lips met again.

The intensity built slowly, matching the very slow lightening of the sky outside as dawn approached.  Gabrielle opened all her senses to the experience, absorbing the surge of pleasure coming through their connection and reflecting it back, adding the pure joy she was feeling as she did so.

They ended up tangled together in the rose light of dawn, blissfully satiated and full of drowsy peace.  Gabrielle watched a mote of dust float through the soft light burnishing Xena’s bare skin, her half open eyes tracking it’s progress dreamily.

So far, at least, it was starting out to be a pretty damn good day.

“Here you go, Dori.” Gabrielle took a bite of bread, and handed a piece to her daughter. Dori was seated on the table, accompanied by a muddy looking Flameball whom she was attempting to share her breakfast with. “No, sweetie, I don’t think he likes that.”

“Guff.” Dori smashed a handful of crumbs into the stuffed toy’s mouth. “Mama, Guff likes.”

“I know. Ares will eat anything.” Gabrielle brushed a few crumbs off her bare shoulders, tucking the end of the linen her body was wrapped in a little more firmly into place. She’d just gotten out of her bath, and her hair was still damp.  So was Dori’s, in fact, as the toddler had joined her in the water while the city around them woke up and prepared to head off to the Games. “But I don’t think Flameball likes bread.”

Dori studied her toy. “No.” She picked up the dragon and tossed him off the table. “Bad.” Then she looked around for a new source of amusement. “Mama, go Boo.”

“Boo will be back in a minute.” The bard told her. “She’s getting us some fruit and eggs. You like that, right?”

“Good.” Dori agreed happily. She was in a blue jumper today, a new one Cyrene had made for her on the trip up from Amphipolis so the arms and legs actually fit her. It was stoutly sewn, and had dark blue cuffs and buttons. She also had on tiny boots, a first, made from leather Gabrielle recognized as cast off scraps from Xena’s latest set of armor.

“What do you think of these, Dori?” Gabrielle touched the boot, wiggling the foot inside it. “Do you like your boots? They’re just like Boo’s.”

Dori studied her appendages seriously. “Good.” She finally decided . “No owie.”

“Oh, that’s right. I bet the floors around here hurt your toes, huh?” Gabrielle sympathized. “Not like home.”

Speaking of boots. The bard tilted her head, catching Xena’s very distinctive footsteps on the wood of the hallway outside. The door latch worked, then was pushed open by the warrior’s shoulder as she ducked inside.

“Boo!” Dori started to scramble down off the table, only to be caught by her mother. “No!”

“Ah ah.” Gabrielle plunked her back down. “You stay right there. Boo’s coming over.”

The warrior did just that, setting down a basket and ruffling Dori’s hair. “Hey, shortie. You’re not giving your mama a hard time, are ya?”

“Yes.” Dori stood up, balancing carefully and holding onto Xena’s leathers. She toddled over to the basket and investigated it’s contents.

“Well, she’s honest.” Gabrielle chuckled, pulling on the baby’s jumper and capturing her. “Get over here, you little sneaky kid.” She picked Dori up and cradled her in her arms, rocking her gently. “What kind of trouble do you think you’re going to get into?”

“Hmmmhmm…” Xena snickered, as she unpacked the basket, setting an apple, a fragrant slice of cheese, and a thick, dark loaf of bread down near Gabrielle’s elbow.  “Soon as we finish this, we’d better head over. They’re getting ready to start the first event.”  She pulled out a skin that gurgled softly.

“You going to change?” Gabrielle picked up a piece of the cheese and shared it with Dori.

“No.” Xena sliced off a piece of the dark bread and took a bite. “They’ll have to live with it.” She was wearing her leathers, though she hadn’t put on her metal armor. “Eponin and Ephiny went out there to check the place out where you’re going to be sitting.”

“Erf.” Gabrielle choked on her mouthful, then swallowed it hastily. “What?”

“They’re your honor guard.” Xena went on blithely.

“My what?” Gabrielle covered her eyes. “Good grief, wasn’t last night enough?”

“I won’t be there, I told them to make sure you were safe.” The warrior plowed through a mouthful stolidly.

“Xena, I can… “

One dark eyebrow lifted, as Xena peered at her.

“I can take care of myself. We both know that.” The bard insisted, a little nettled. “I don’t need people marching around waving knives around me.”

“Gabrielle..”

“Damn it, Xena, no.” Gabrielle cut her off. “I put up with it last night because I didn’t have a choice. Now I do.”

“Gabrielle…”

“No.”

The warrior sighed.

“No.” Dori mimicked her mother, throwing a piece of cheese at her. “Nononononononno!”

Xena folded her arms over her chest, and regarded her contrary family somberly.

Gabrielle removed the cheese bits from her cleavage and juggled them, then peeked up at her partner. She evaluated the warrior’s expression, judging whether this spurt of protectiveness was an overreaction, or something Xena really wanted.

It would be a big crowd, and she’d be sitting with the rest of the bards, and knew she’d probably be safe. After all, she did, in fact, know how to take care of herself and staff or no staff, she could competently handle herself in most scraps if she had to.

Xena exhaled silently, the faintest of unconscious furrows wrinkling her brow.

However. Gabrielle drummed the fingers of one hand on the table, then lifted the hand and pointed at the waiting warrior. “Only because I’m going to have Dori with me.”

An eyebrow quirked, along with the corner of Xena’s expressive mouth.

“And only because I know it’ll make you feel better.”

Xena bestowed a dazzling smile on her. “I love you.”

Erf. Gabrielle knew herself to be defeated with that. She had absolutely no defense against that smile, that sentiment, or the genuine, though amused warmth in Xena’s eyes. “Piggy wonks.” She muttered, giving Dori a hug. “Your Boo takes shameless advantage of me, Dori. Did you know that?”

“Good.” Dori started tugging at the linen wrapping her mother’s body.

Xena chuckled. “That’s my girl.”

“I’m being ganged up on.” Gabrielle attempted divesting herself of Dori’s exploring fingers. “It’s so unfair.”

Xena eased around the table and started tugging at the wrapping herself.

“Hey!”

Dori giggled and pulled harder. “Mama! Funny!”

“Stop it!!! Auggh!!!” Gabrielle tried to bat both sets of hands and still keep hold of her covering. “Ahhh!! Xena! Stop it!!!!” She squirmed, as the exploratory fingers turned to tickling her exposed skin. “Eeee!!!!”

“Wheee!!! Go mama!” Dori found this delightful. She wriggled around and clapped her hands. 

“Aaaaa!!!!” Gabrielle let out a wild yell, then turned and grabbed her partner’s hand in her teeth, biting down lightly on the skin, just enough for Xena to know she meant business. The warrior cheerfully stopped her attack, but leaned over and caught the bard’s ear in her own teeth, using the same amount of pressure.

There was a moment of stillness, as even Dori stopped moving.

“Ofkay. Nowf whaf?” Gabrielle mumbled.

“Wifh any fufk, my mufer’ll walk inf.” Xena replied.

The bard started giggling, and released her, laughter shaking her body helplessly.  Xena also let go, then gave her a kiss on the cheek before she straightened up and riffled the bard’s drying hair.

“Guff.” Dori took advantage of this and wriggled loose from Gabrielle’s hold, pulling herself up onto the table and heading for the basket.

“Hey..” Xena made a grab for her, but the toddler scrambled forward and clutched the basket, which slid on the table surface and headed off the other end. “Hey!” The warrior yelled, as Gabrielle slid out of her chair and bolted for the other side of the table.

No time. Xena crouched and leaped, somersaulting with a half twist in mid air to land on the other side of the table, just in time to catch Dori’s body as she rambled off the table after the basket.

Gabrielle pulled up, but not quite in time and she piled into her partner, knocking her off balance and tangling their legs together. “Whoooaaaa!!!” She yelped, as her linen unwrapped.

Thump. Gabrielle landed on top of Xena who landed on her back, her arms holding Dori up out of the way.  Dori wiggled her arms and legs in ecstasy. “Boo! Go fly!”

“Not with your mama sitting on me, Shortie.” Xena grunted, regarding the pretty much naked bard sprawled on top of her.

Gabrielle looked up at her from under very disheveled blond hair and blew a lock of it out of her eyes. She met Xena’s gaze with a wry, helplessly plaintive expression.

They both started laughing again.

Xena lowered Dori down and hugged her, then hugged Gabrielle, still laughing.

“Gods.” The bard groaned, rolling off her and standing up, tugging up the shreds of her linen and dignity and pathetically grateful that no one had taken it into their head to just come waltzing in the room.  She gazed down at her soulmate, who was lying comfortably, playing with Dori’s hands as the baby sat on her stomach. “Good. Keep her occupied while I get dressed.”

“You should go like that.” Xena commented.

Gabrielle threw a look at her over one shoulder. “I will if you will.. oh, wait, scratch that. You would.”

Xena stuck her tongue out. Gabrielle responded in kind.  Dori reached out and grabbed at this invitingly pink object.  Laughter erupted again, and Xena rocked up into a sitting position, then rose to her feet in one smooth motion with Dori in her arms.  “We’re on the silly side today.” She set Dori down on the chair, and handed her Flameball.

“Mm.” Gabrielle pulled out a clean outfit. “Yeah, we are, huh?”  She studied the fabric. “I feel sort of gid… aho!” Her voice cracked as Xena nibbled the back of her neck. “Xe, you start that up again and we can forget those Games.”

“Hmm..” The warrior sounded like she was seriously considering it.  

Gabrielle looked back over her shoulder as the warrior rested her chin on it, making their noses almost brush. Before she knew what was happening, they were kissing, and she was turning to slip her arms around Xena’s tall frame as the warrior’s hands slid down her still mostly bare body.

They both heard footsteps approaching outside, and after a rebellious moment, they broke off, and Gabrielle stepped back, trying to control her ragged breathing. “Wow.” She pulled her fresh tunic over her head and smoothed the fabric down, then ran her hands through her hair. “What’s up with us today?”

“I don’t know.” Xena answered quietly, reaching out to brush her fingertips across the bard’s cheek. “But I like it.”

It was almost too much. Gabrielle stepped forward, leaning into the warrior’s touch and only just barely keeping her hands still at her sides.

A light knock came at the door. “Gabrielle” Ephiny’s voice penetrated the wood. “You ready?”

“Oh yeah.” The bard whispered, her gaze still locked with Xena’s. After a moment she cleared her throat and deliberately looked aside. “Just about.” She called out, in a louder tone.

Xena reached out and captured her hand, simply lacing their fingers together. “C’mon.” She said. “I’ll walk you over to your spot, then get moving over to the marathon.”  She adjusted Gabrielle’s clothing with her other hand, then ruffled her shortened hair into a semblance of order.

“Okay.” Gabrielle just didn’t want to let her go. She ran a comb through her hair and glanced in the silvered metal mirror in the room, brushing her now unmarked cheek. Then she had to release the warrior so she could sit down and put her boots on, tugging the leather up and fastening the laces around her calves.

Xena collected Dori, settling her in her backpack and adjusting the straps over her shoulders. “Ready?”

Gabrielle stood up and brushed herself off, then held her hand out again. Xena took it, and they walked together to the door. “Xe?” The bard asked, suddenly, as they reached it.

“Mm?” Xena paused with her hand on the latch.

“No matter what happens today, I’ll be proud of you.”

Xena gazed affectionately at her. “Thanks.” She said. “But no matter what happens today, I’ll be the one you’re putting that laurel crown on tonight.” She winked at her soulmate. “Promise.”  With that, she leaned over and gave her one last kiss.

“Love you.” The bard whispered, as they parted.

“I know.” Xena replied, touching her nose to her partner’s. “That’s why.”

Gabrielle preceded her through the door, lifting her head as she found her Amazon escort waiting for them. “Let’s go.” She led Xena down the hall, hearing them fall into step behind her. 

Part 12

Gabrielle paused, as they reached the edge of the stadium, just to gaze at the huge crowd now gathered. The place had been full the previous day she’d been there, but this time, every inch of space seemed taken by both toga’d citizens and visitors to the city, and there was an air of excitement that seemed much greater than what had been before. “Wow.”

“Mm.” Xena agreed. “C’mon.”

They walked up the steps to where the Bard’s council was seated, in a space set off a bit by small stone walls much like that the rich patrons were using just below them. Gabrielle was aware of attention fastening itself on her, and she lifted her chin a little, very conscious of the dark leather clad warrior pacing quietly along at her side. She tightened her fingers, and felt Xena do the same, and they exchanged quick, amused looks.

As they approached, the Bards stood, obviously paying respect to their newly chosen star.  Gabrielle felt a blush rising across her skin, and she heard Xena chuckle, but she managed to keep a half grin on her face as they walked the last few steps up to the seating area. “Hi.” She greeted the Athenian bards. “Great weather, huh?”

Eleneus seemed to appreciate the humor. He stepped forward and gestured for her to enter, pointing out a seat in the center of their area already set with silken pillows. “Bard Gabrielle, I’m glad you joined us. You are feeling well, I take it?”

“Much better, thanks.” Gabrielle agreed, giving Xena’s hand one last squeeze. “Okay, hand her over, and go give them Hades, partner.”

“Your majesty’s wish is my command.” Xena replied, with a teasing note in her tone. She unstrapped Dori and gave her to her mother, then stepped back and let the Amazons trailing them enter and stake out guard corners. “Take care of her.” She told Eponin.

“You bet your boots, Champ.” Pony said under her breath, giving the warrior a light backslap in the midriff as she passed. “You take care too, huh?”

“No problem.” Xena lifted her hand in a slight salute, then turned and started back down the steps, gliding around latecomers struggling up them to find a spot.

Gabrielle watched her until the warrior disappeared around the corner of the stone tunnel where the athletes were standing, then she sat back and looked around the stadium. She realized she was being stared at curiously, and pondered a moment as to what reaction she should give to that. None? A gracious nod of the head? A wave? Sticking out her tongue?  The bard sighed, and arranged Dori so that she was seated on her lap. The toddler was watching everything with brightly alert eyes, her head turning back and forth as though she was studying the crowd just at they were studying the two of them.

Eleneus had taken a seat next to her, and now he cleared his throat a bit. “You do appear to be feeling much better this morning.”

Hm. “A little good sleep does wonders.” Gabrielle replied, mindful of his eyes on her face. “And Xena’s really great at knowing what to do for me.”

The other bard’s eyebrows lifted.

“When I’m sick, or hurt.” Gabrielle amended hastily. “You know, like with herbs, and things.”

“Of course.”  Eleneus agreed. “That is your daughter, I take it? How old is she?”

Glad of the subject change, Gabrielle smoothed Dori’s jumper down with one hand. “It sure is. Her name’s Doriana, and she’s two years old.”

“Two.” Dori turned her head and looked up at her mother.

Gabrielle wrapped her arms around the toddler’s middle and hugged her . “That’s right, sweetie. You’re two, right?”

“Yes.” Dori squiggled in place, then relaxed, seemingly content to be in her mother’s embrace.

Eleneus leaned closer, and regarded the child. “She’s delightfully well favored.”  He remarked. “I believe she has your eyes, does she not?”

Gabrielle grinned. “Yep, she does.” She agreed. “And my talent..”

“For storytelling?” Eleneus’ eyes twinkled. “So young?”

The bard cleared her throat. “For getting into trouble.” She amended dryly. “According to all my friends.” She heard Ephiny snicker softly, and watched the regent fiddle with a feather. 

“Mama, Boo!” Dori pointed suddenly, as a group of moving forms cleared the tunnel entrance. “Go Boo!”

“Not right now, Dori.” Gabrielle said, her eyes drinking in the sight of her soulmate’s graceful stride.

“Boo?” Eleneus inquired curiously.

The bard sighed. “That’s what Dori calls Xena.” She explained. “We’re not really sure why.”

“Ah.” The older man nodded sagely. “That does seem to make sense.” He patted Gabrielle on the knee and stood, circling the seats and moving to the back of the enclosure to speak to some of the other bards.

Gabrielle leaned back on her pillows and watched Xena arrive at the starting place, standing at ease with her hands just brushing her thighs. The rest of the runners were moving around nervously, their white, brief outfits in stark contrast to Xena’s leathers just as their thin, wiry bodies were so different than her partner’s heavier, more muscular form.

The warrior seemed to acknowledge that, her eyes flicking to her opponents, then down her long body, as a faint self deprecating grin appeared. She reached up and twisted her hair back into a knot, then tensed her muscles and relaxed them, flexing her hands into loose fists several times.

Given that, however, Xena was the very picture of self confidence. Gabrielle couldn’t help but contrast how her soulmate looked with how she would have felt in her place. She’d have been smaller by at least a half head than anyone else out there, and though she was lighter than Xena, her body shape had, she’d realized lately, much of the same general composition as her partners.

Oh, her legs were shorter, sure, and she was more compact, but they had the same sturdy, rounded shoulders and muscular trunks, a legacy of years of traveling and fighting out on the road together.

Really different from the other women in Amphipolis. Different even from the Amazons.

“Should I feel guilty, Dori?” The bard mused. “That should have been me out there, not her. That was the plan.”

“Bck.” Dori kicked her booted feet out a little.

“She’s got a much better chance at winning than I would have, though.” Gabrielle admitted. “Remember the story I told you about Boo running and running and running up the mountain to save me?”

“Good!”

“That’s right.” The bard smiled. “It was the best story ever, Dori, because after your Boo climbed up over mountains, and beat nasty Amazons, and ran all the way from Amphipolis, you know what I did to her?”

Dori’s green eyes were fastened on her. “Doh.”

Gabrielle leaned over and whispered. “I kissed her.”

Dori giggled, and reached up a hand to rub at her ear. “Mama… itch!”

“Ah.” Ephiny turned, and paced over, dropping to a knee next to her queen. “You know, with everything else, I forgot to tell you something.”

Gabrielle cocked her head inquisitively. “What’s that?”

“You’re a grandmother.”

Of all the statements the regent could have made, this was possibly the very last one Gabrielle had expected.  Both of the bard’s eyebrows lifted up almost to her hairline, and she blinked at her friend disbelievingly. “Excuse me?”

“Gramma.” Dori stuck her thumb into her mouth and rocked a little.

“You’re a grandmother.” Ephiny repeated. “You have six grandchildren.”

Gabrielle disentangled one hand from Dori’s clutches and reached out to lay her palm against Ephiny’s forehead. “What on earth did you have for breakfast?”

“Smoked venison and porridge.” Ephiny deadpanned. “And herbal tea. Why?”

Gabrielle stared at her as though Ephiny had grown a third eye right in the middle of her forehead.

Ephiny chuckled. “Relax. Ares became a daddy right after you left.” She said. “That scruffy little stable dog that lives behind Cyrene’s shed gave birth – all little black things with pointy ears.”

“OH.” Gabrielle rubbed her eyes with one hand. “You have no idea what I just thought…” She let the thought trail off.  “Anyway.”

Ephiny nibbled her lower lip, watching the shadows chase themselves across her queen’s expressive face. “Sorry.”  She murmured. “I didn’t think…” She paused awkwardly. “I guess I didn’t think.” The regent amended, remembering far too late Gabrielle’s trial with a son of her first daughter, Hope.

“It’s okay.” Gabrielle dismissed the old history, and produced a grin. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Mama?” Dori found a nice piece of hair to pull very hard.

“Ow.” The bard untangled the small fingers. “How do you like that, Dori? You’ll have some puppies to play with at home. You’ll like that, huh? Ares’ puppies?”

“Guff?” Dori asked.

“Little ones.” Gabrielle explained. “Bittyboos.”  She glanced up at Ephiny. “I didn’t even know…”

“It’s okay.” Ephiny put a hand on her knee. “Apparently no one did – one of the stablehands found the litter inside Argo’s feed bin. They were all in there looking at them when I got there.” She reflected. “Cute little suckers. Noisy though.”

“I bet.” Gabrielle relaxed again, hugging Dori towards her. “New friends for you, sweetie.”

“Hey, you can keep them all.” Eponin drawled. “Dori’s little Horde.”

Gabrielle gave her a look.

“Puppy Posse.” Ephiny agreed.

“Can’t you just picture it, Dori surrounded by all those wagging tails listening to Gab telling stories?” Pony added.

“Little brothers.”

“And sisters.”

“Ahem.” Gabrielle cleared her throat.

“All of em sleeping all over Xena..”

“AHEM.”

Twinkling, if penitent Amazon eyes regarded her.  Then the starter called out, as they prepared to set the racers off.  Gabrielle resolutely turned her eyes to the track and tried not to think about all those little wagging tails or dwell on the image of her soulmate draped in snoozing puppies.

Xena gazed ahead , ignoring the fussing runners on either side of her. She studied the track, which wound through the stadium then out the far arch towards the center of the city.

The race would take them all the way through Athens, out the front gates of the city, around the perimeter, and back in the sea gates, ending back in the stadium. The warrior regarded the sky, then exhaled. It was hot, and promised to get hotter, and she was very conscious of the fact that in order for her to take the games, she had to start by winning this race.

Could she?  The starter waved his arm importantly, and she leaned forward, shoving aside the self doubts she really didn’t have time for. She took in a deep breath, then released it, triggering an automatic response in her body as her senses picked up the challenge she was facing.

The other runners lined up next to her, their thin, lithe bodies twitching and flexing. Eyes glanced uneasily at her, with attitudes ranging from fascination to outright fear.

Xena reveled in both of them. She kept her gaze confidently forward, save one quick flick of her eyes up the staggered stone terraces full of people. She could just see Gabrielle’s smile, and Dori’s waving fists before she focused her attention on the dusty ground before her.

The starter’s arm dropped, and she left the starting line, glad of the wind against her face as she fixed her eyes on the far arch and made for it, wanting more than anything to be out of that stadium and out from under the eyes of everyone inside it.

She cleared the arch first, passing out into streets where bright ribbons of fabric lined the race way.  Her boots scuffed lightly against the cobbled stones and she headed off down the lane, aware of the light thunder of footsteps behind her.  The crowd lining the beginning of the route spotted her and cheered unexpectedly, despite the fact that Xena was fairly sure she’d been recognized.

Hm.

Strategy. Should she fall back, and let someone else set the pace, or keep going as long as she could? Her body felt comfortable, her breathing low and deep, and she was already falling into a powerful rhythm without a twinge from her knee.  The sun was hot, but the speed she was going was keeping a nice breeze in her face and for the moment she decided to just keep going and not look back.

So she did. The road wound it’s way down the hill and she followed it, leaving the trailing bunch of runners far behind her.  Another large clump of watchers was at the crossroads, and as she came even with them, she spotted several of her own militia among them. A grin and a wave met their hearty cheers, but Xena was surprised when the people around them tossed flowers at her.

Flowers? Curiously, she caught one from mid air and examined it. It was one of the bright yellow flowers that commonly grew around Athens, with black seeds clustered in the center.  Interesting, Xena mused, twirling the flower’s stem between her fingers idly.

She’d never been much for flowers, naturally. So the first time Gabrielle had given them to her, with an intention other than just childish good nature had been a shock.

“Damn stupid piece of…” Xena spat out a mouthful of blood, having incautiously bitten her own tongue during the fight. She wiped the sweat off her forehead with a grimy forearm and continued her climb up the slope. “Gabrielle!”

“Here!” The bard circled a tree and waved, already at the summit of the small hill they were camping on.  She started to run down, but stopped when Xena waved her back. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” The warrior answered disgustedly. “Bastards.” She plodded the last few steps, feeling the exhaustion of a very long day catching up with her.  The sundown fight had taken the last of her strength, and she found a spot near a log, not far from their fire to simply drop down into.  She unstrapped her sword and set it down, then started to unclasp her armor.

Surprised to find it already being done, by a pair of gentle hands that undid the buckles and lifted the breastplate clear.

It was a little disorienting. She’d been self sufficient for so long her instincts were to bat Gabrielle’s fingers away, despite the steadily growing relationship between them. But she was tired, and hurting, and she decided letting someone else drag the heavy armor off her wasn’t really a bad thing at all. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Gabrielle replied, laying a hand on her shoulder and giving it a squeeze.

Xena rested her elbows on her knees and regarded her dirt and blood covered skin dourly.  They’d fought in river mud, and the stench of it rose to her nostrils. She felt grubby, disgusting and disgusted with herself for the nagging lack of energy she’d suffered from ever since her brief sojourn with death not that long ago.

With a groan, she started to straighten up, intending on changing out of her less than fragrant leathers and washing the mud off.  As she lifted her head, she found herself watching Gabrielle as the bard knelt beside her, hands behind her back, mist green eyes softened and gentled with a heartfelt emotion that held her spellbound.  “Uh…”

Gabrielle removed her hands from behind her back and brought them forward, holding them out towards her. Held in her fingers was a collection of fragrant color, wildflowers from the surrounding grass whose golden pollen lightly dusted the bard’s tanned skin.

Xena stared at them uncomprehendingly.  Maybe it was just too long a day. “What are those?”

“Flowers.” Gabrielle told her.

“What are they for?”

“You.”

Numbly, Xena reached a hand out and took the green stalks, their fresh, spicy scent making her blink as she brought the bunch closer, and the sweet smell of the blooms themselves rose.  “Me?”

Gabrielle sat down next to her, and wrapped her arms around her knees. “Well, yeah.” She said. “Argo hates the taste of them, so I figured I’d give them to you instead.”

Rarely in her life had she ever felt so off balance.  Xena studied the blooms clutched in her grimy hand as she pondered what to do with them. She’d never in her life been given flowers, so despite her jaded history, she had no idea what the right response should be.

In fact, the last time she’d held a bouquet was the one Gabrielle had tossed her at the bard’s wedding to Perdicus.  Xena resisted the urge to chuck the handful and folded her fingers around the stalks instead. “Thanks.”  She snuck a look at Gabrielle, catching a sheepishly embarrassed expression on her face.

“That was dumb, huh?” The bard guessed.

“Um.. no.”

“Yes it was.” Gabrielle sighed. “Here you are, covered in muck, hungry, tired, and I give you a handful of flowers.” She laced her fingers together and rested her chin on them, letting out a brief little sigh. “I think a cup of hot tea would have been a lot more useful.”

“Maybe.” Xena sniffed her surprising gift appreciatively. “But I’ve had a thousand mugs of tea in my life, and only one handful of flowers, so don’t worry about it.”

She glanced at Gabrielle. Gabrielle glanced at her. They both looked away, and Xena was surprised to feel herself blushing.

Flowers.  The scent tickled her nostrils, and more, erasing her fatigue and filling her with a sense of wondering confusion.  What would Gabrielle think of next? Silk wraps? Honey bars? Those little stuffed things she loved…

“How about a bath?” The bard interrupted her reverie. “You look like a wagon rolled over you.”

Well. Xena set her flowers down and started to unlace her muddy boots. I guess romance takes practice like anything else, right?

Right.

With a slight grin, Xena tucked the flower into the strap on her leathers and picked her pace up, traveling now out of the more crowded area into lower streets whose blank windows observed the streets with anonymous coolness, hidden behind porticoed courtyards.

Her senses prickled as she passed a cross street, and without looking, Xena knew suddenly she was being watched by something more than an idle citizen. A quick glance around showed nothing but empty pavement around her, but as she passed the largest residence on the street, she could almost feel the eyes on her back.

She kept going, expecting every moment to hear the ratcheting sound of a crossbow cocking.  But the silence around her persisted, and she passed through the area without incident, turning the next marked corner and continuing on her way.

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

“Now what?” Eponin folded her arms. “What do we do, just hang out here in the sun until they get back?”

Gabrielle noticed a vendor coming up the stairs, selling cold cider, and now others were making their way through the crowd taking advantage of the lack of anything to look at to sell various edible items.   “Well, we could…” She paused, spotting a bit of a disturbance at the edge of the bard’s area. “Hang on.” The bard got up and handed Dori to the startled Amazon before she jumped lightly up onto the stone benches and headed for the trouble.

“Hey!” Eponin turned to watch her. “That’s not how this works, Gabrielle! You’re supposed to stay here, and I’m supposed to go take care of problems!” She called plaintively after her.

A brief grin, and a flash of mist green eyes answered her before the bard threaded her way past the clustered bards towards the entrance.

“Damn it.” Pony let out an aggravated sigh, giving a snickering Ephiny a dour glare. “Is she ever going to act like a proper Amazon queen?”

“No.” Ephiny leaned back on her hands, and regarded the swirl of color as a dancing group entered the stadium. “She’s going to be Gabrielle forever, Pony. Get used to it.”

“Great.” Pony sat down and put Dori on her lap. “What a thing to look forward to.”

“No.” Her lover said again, casting a mischevious look at her. “That’s nothing. Just wait until it’s time for Gabrielle to bestow her right of caste.” Her eyes dropped to the dark haired toddler exploring Eponin’s feathers. “And you have to keep up with HER.”

Eponin whined, attracting Dori’s curious attention. “Eph, I can’t keep up with her NOW.”  She leaned back a little as Dori stood up and reached for her necklace. “Hey.. cut that out. That’s sharp.”

“Yes.” Dori agreed, grabbing the boar’s tooth. “Go get Guff!” She waved it. “Guff make good bite!”

“Guff, Boo.. can’t she ever just want to sit down and relax?” Eponin sighed.

“Boo.” Dori looked around, then scrambled off Pony’s lap and ambled off down the stone seating. “Go get Boo. Get Boo NOW!”

“Dori!” Cait spotted her coming and moved to intercept her. “Shall we play a game?”

“Boo!” Dori shook her head. “Boobooboobooboobooboobobooooo….”  She climbed off the seat and headed for the steps, with two Amazons chasing her.

“Hold it.” Gabrielle approached the two guards at the entrance to the bard’s area. “What’s going on here?”

The two men glanced around, startled at the quiet authority in her voice. “Ah, Bard Gabrielle.. we just found this slave, and he’s..”

“It’s all right.” Gabrielle smiled at Mikah, who was being held by one arm in a meaty fist. “He’s with me.”  She extended a hand to their young friend. “Let him go.”

They gazed doubtfully at her, then the larger of the two released Mikah and stepped back as the boy edged around him and joined Gabrielle.  The bard slipped an arm over his shoulders as she turned to head back, pulling up in amused silence as she watched Cait and Eponin chasing her daughter back and forth between the stone rows of seats. “Would you look at those guys?”

Mikah dutifully did so. “Your daughter is very active.” He remarked diplomatically. “Thank you for letting me up here. I did the errand you asked of me.”

“Good.” Gabrielle nodded. “Watch this.” She put two fingers between her teeth and whistled. “Dori!”

The dark head whipped around just like Xena’s would have, and the toddler’s eyes lit up as she spotted her mother. With a gurgle she abandoned her Amazon playmates and bolted for the spot Gabrielle was standing on, evading sets of hands and hastily raised boots with equal skill. “Mama!”

“C”mere!” Gabrielle held her arms out, as the toddler crawled up onto the nearest bench and ran for her, leaping off the end and into Gabrielle’s grasp with a shriek of delight. “At’s my girl.” She cuddled the child, hugging her tightly. “Are you causing trouble?”

“Yes.” Dori burbled. “Mama, Cat and Poopoo too slow!”

Gabrielle bit her lip, spotting outraged looks turned in her direction as she walked back to her seat. “Sorry, guys.” She apologized, sitting down and motioning Mikah to take a seat next to her. “I’ll try to keep her occupied for a while.”

The crowd around them was watching her with ill-isguised interest, and Gabrielle could see the looks of speculation as Mikah sat down next to her. One woman nearby whispered to her neighbor behind a hand, and they both smiled knowingly at them.

Mikah straightened his brief tunic with quiet dignity, smoothing the fabric over the tops of his thighs. “Perhaps I’d better… “

“Relax.” Gabrielle fixed a strap on Dori’s jumper. “Let them think what they want to. It doesn’t bother me.”

“Would it bother Xena?” Mikah countered. “To have them think what they’re thinking?”

A brief smile crossed the bard’s face. “Xena…. Well… “

“Let me guess.. she doesn’t get jealous, right?” The boy managed a half grin.

“Oh, she does.” Gabrielle countered. “She does.” She put her arms around Dori as memories stirred, bringing back to her that first moment when she’d seen that dark emotion stirred…

On her behalf.

*********

Small town, smaller inn. Gabrielle wandered across the dusty ground and found herself a seat on the outside porch of the building, where a light breeze promised a more comfortable place to be than the stuffiness inside.

She stretched, propping a leather boot up against the table strut as she watched the sunlight slowly dim, glancing up when she heard unfamiliar footsteps approaching.

“Hi.” A young man, perhaps a year or so older than she was sauntered up. He was tall, broad shouldered and good looking, and he settled himself opposite her with an easy, friendly air.

“Hi.” Gabrielle returned the greeting amiably.  Sometimes in small places like this, she and Xena were greeted with suspicion and it was nice to find the opposite for a change. “What’s your name?” She asked out of habit.

“Zev.” The man extended a an arm, which she clasped, then released. “Haven’t seen you around here before.”

“That’s because I just got here.” Gabrielle said. “Do you live here?”

“Sure do.” Zev told her. “My dad owns the inn. You staying there?”

‘Yes.” The bard replied.

“Great.” The man smiled at her. “Can I buy you a drink?”

It only occurred to her then, much to her mortification much later, that she was being flirted with.  “Oh, well, I.. “

“We’ve got great ale. Or do you prefer wine?” Zev leaned on the table, giving her a sexy, inviting grin. “I bet a beautiful girl like you likes a nice, white wine, right?” He reached over and patted her hand.

“Um…” Gabrielle hesitated.

“Tell you what, you can try both. I’ll be right back.” Her new friend got up and circled the table, pulling up short as he almost crashed headlong into a tall, silent figure just behind them. “Whoa… scuse me.”

“No excuse for you.” Xena growled. “So beat it.”

“Hey, relax, willya? I said I was sorry.”

“I already knew that. Get out of my way.” The warrior took a step forward, her entire attitude highly menacing.

“No problem.” Zev held up both hands. “C’mon, sweetie, let’s go inside. The air’s getting smelly out here.” He glanced at Gabrielle.

The bard managed to get her jaw closed from it’s dropped position at Xena’s inexplicable foul mood. “I’m.. fine out here, thanks.” She murmured. “Thanks anyway.”

The man stared at her, then shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He muttered, giving Xena a wary look as he stepped out of her way and walked towards the inn. “Weirdos.”

Xena glared dourly at his back before she circled the table and dropped into a seat across from Gabrielle, resting her elbows on the wood surface and keeping her eyes on her laced fingers. After a moment, she looked up. “Was I interrupting something?”

Gabrielle blinked, not really sure of what was going on. “Yeah.” She admitted. “I think so.”

The look in the pale blue eyes across from her was… indescribable. Somewhere between anger, uncertainty, and hurt, and wholly foreign to Gabrielle’s memory.  “Thanks. He was creepy.” She added.

Xena’s face relaxed a little, and she twiddled her thumbs. “Yeah.”

Gabrielle felt awkward. “Um… you okay?” She asked.

“I’m fine.” A pause. “Why?”

“You just seemed really…um… did the stable smell or something? To cause your bad mood, I mean.”

Xena’s nostrils flared a little, and she licked her lips, a flash of light pink against her tan skin. “There’s nothing wrong with my mood.” She answered testily. “I just saw that guy messing with you and I…”

“Got jealous?” Gabrielle blurted the words out without thinking.

Xena didn’t answer. She just studied her hands in pensive silence while Gabrielle watched her, not missing the faintly audible sound as the warrior swallowed a few times.  Finally, the dark head lifted, and their eyes met.  “Yeah.” Xena said. “I guess I did.”  Her brow creased, though, and she lifted a hand to rub her temple, a touch of confusion in her attitude.

It was so strange. Gabrielle thought about everything for a few seconds. All so complicated and awkward as their emotions started coming from totally new directions. Would she have reacted the same way? Recent memory stung her, and she had to smile wryly. Oh yeah.  “Wow.” She finally said. “I’m flattered.” 

Xena’s lips quirked into a faint grin.

“Can I buy you a drink?” Gabrielle asked, gazing at her. “I bet a beautiful girl like you would like a cup of nice cold ale.” She paused, as the grin widened. “And a  roast joint, and a berry pie.”

“Share?” Xena held a hand out, and their fingers interlaced.

“Always.”

****

“Will she be mad?” Mikah asked, a trifle anxiously.

“No.” Gabrielle shook her head, and chuckled. “She knows me better than that. Right Dori?”

“Yes.” Dori had her thumb in her mouth, and she was peering over her mother’s shoulder, searching for something to hold her interest. “Mama!” She pointed. “Bad!”

Gabrielle turned her head,  to see Celesta headed their way, her eyes fixed on the bard’s face. “Nailed that one, sweetheart.” She murmured. “Eleneus? I think we’ve got a problem.”

“Athena’s beautiful bottom.” The elder bard sighed. “So we do.”

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

Xena felt herself settling into her pace, her heartbeat slowing as her body adjusted to the effort and resigned itself to the long outlay of energy.  Now that she was some distance from the stadium, the watchers were much fewer, just a couple of citizens every few lengths leaning against the low, stone walls of nearby houses, or seated on steps a little higher up.

They waved. Xena waved amiably back. The sun was now slanting down on her back, and there was a slight breeze coming up from the docks.  She dismissed her feeling of danger as just that – figuring that there were plenty of people in the city who had reason to be mad at her and she’d probably just passed a houseful of them.

The road angled slightly down, and to the right and she followed it, heading around the corner that had a high walled courtyard on her right hand side.

She just cleared the wall, and her senses barely had time to warn her before a dozen men leaped from the other side on top of her, burying her in a pile of half armored weight.

Two things saved her life. One was her reflexes, which responded far more quickly than her thoughts could direct them, and made her tuck her limbs up and go limp. The other was the fact that there were so damn many of them, they started hitting each other before they got to her.

Xena waited for the worst of the weight on her to shift, then she shoved up from the ground with both arms and legs, throwing off two of her attackers and launching herself far enough off the ground to twist and land on one side of the pile.

They were recovering from their mistakes, though, and they attacked her at once, with short swords and maces that were clearly not interested in capturing her.

Killing her was the object.

Xena caught the first one by the throat, reaching past his mace with her longer grip. Her fingers tensed, cracking his windpipe, and she ripped his weapon from his hands as he started to choke. A kick, and he was on the ground behind her as she was whirling to meet the next two, using the mace with a smooth expertise they weren’t expecting.

Long days of teaching her army close quarter fighting paid off as she deflected a sword slash, and whipped the mace backhand to crack against the wielder’s face, obliterating his cheek and eye in an explosion of blood and bone. She ducked under his flailing arms and kicked back into the other man’s gut as he surged forward, stopping him in his tracks and sending him flying backwards.

Part of her was aware of the other runners going by, quickly, faces averted.

Rage built. A low, gutteral roar burst from her throat and she let loose, no longer defending herself.  With an arch of her back, she became the predator, and she picked up a fallen sword as she charged the rest of them, sinking it’s length into the nearest body and ripping it out again.

The remainder circled her, wary now. She twirled the sword, tossed the mace, feeling the dark energy rise inside her. Intently, she stalked forward, fastening her eyes on the biggest of them, a hulking giant with a broadsword almost as long as she was. Her gaze met his, behind his leather helmet, and she grinned. “C”mon.” She rasped. “I’m not done killing yet.”

A blink, and she saw it. The intent cruelty in his eyes evaporated, and she saw the fear. “What’s the matter? Not what you bargained for?” She purred. “Figured I’d be an easy target?”  She twirled the weapons again and headed for them. Four men lay behind her, three of them dead. “Who’s next?”

One man gathered his courage and rushed her. She kicked his sword from his hand then smashed the mace right across his left ear, ripping it from his head along with most of the flesh under it. His helmet flew off and he stumbled past her. She raised her other arm and swung, cutting his head off with a single, almost offhanded swipe.

Then she looked at the six fighters left and licked her lips, letting a grin emerge.

It was too much for them. They turned and ran. Xena watched them for a moment, then dropped her two borrowed weapons and wiped her hands on her thighs, then dusted them against each other. “Gonna come out of hiding,  you little pissant coward?” She raised her voice, letting the disgust she felt color her tone.

Very slowly, a figured emerged from behind the wall, watching her very warily.

“Five dead men. Was it worth it, Draco?” Xena’s lip curled.

“They came cheap.” The ex warlord replied. “And to make you lose this thing, and me win my bets, yeah, it was worth it.”

“Bastard.”

“You screwed me yesterday.” Draco shot back. “I just need to get mine back, and my dinars sure aren’t on you this time.”

“Wasn’t on purpose.”

“You think that matters?” Draco said. “I’ve got six Athenian moneylenders out after my skin. I don’t give a damn why you did it, I just know what I need to do to make sure you don’t do it again.”

Xena gazed at him, then she smiled. “See you at the finish line.” She turned and headed off, leaping over the still bodies in the road.

“Give it up, Xena! You can’t win it.” Draco called after her.

“You never did learn, didja!” Xena muttered to herself, as she considered her options. The runners were, now, far ahead of her, and she’d have to expend a huge amount of energy to catch  up to them.

Her eyes studied the course. If she stayed on the ground, that is. With a slight nod, she veered towards the nearest building and lengthened her stride, leaping as she reached the wall and pulling herself up onto the roof of it. From her perch, she could see the course winding it’s way through the city, and after a moment to catch her balance, she started off at right angles to it.

The Amazons moved towards the oncoming Athenian, their faces grim.  Eleneus motioned to the guards, and whispered to the woman next to him. 

“Ah ah.” Gabrielle held her hand up. “Pony, Eph, let me handle this.”

“Gabrielle!” Ephiny protested in a low voice. “That woman is dangerous.”

“Shh.” The bard shooed them away.  “Sit down.”  She added, as she headed towards the entrance.

“Damn it.” Ephiny covered her eyes briefly. “I’m going to retire and become a camp cook.”

“Do that, and I’ll retire and become a centaur.” Pony shot back, as they backed off.

“Hi.” Gabrielle slid quickly between Celesta and the rest of the Elder Bards as she shoved the guards aside and entered their seating area. “I’m glad you’re here. We should talk.”

She caught Celesta with her mouth open, and the other bard could do little except snap it shut with an audible click as Gabrielle’s unexpected words penetrated. “What?”

“C’mon over here.” Gabrielle offered her a seat on her pillows. “Would you like some cider?”

Mikah prudently edged away from them and towards Cait. “Is that really a smart thing  to do?”  He whispered to the Amazon.

“Certainly not.” Cait answered placidly. “Gabrielle will have her head over tail in quite short order.”

“What are you up to?” Celesta asked, giving Gabrielle a sharp, wary look as she sat down.

“Me?” Gabrielle settled herself next to the woman, and cradled Dori in her arms, rocking the toddler a little. “Nothing much. Just watching the games, playing with my kid, you know.”  She gave her adversary an open, interested look. “So, what brings you here?”

“What… “ Celesta paused. “What brings me here? You just don’t get it, do you?”

“Sure I do.” Gabrielle let Dori tangle her fingers in her shirt. “You hate my guts and are trying to find a way to either get me arrested or get me killed, or get me tossed out of Athens disgraced so you can get your way.”  She gave Celesta a gentle smile. “I think you just don’t get it.”

“I don’t get it.” Celesta repeated, in a flat tone. Nearby, the elders listened without appearing to.

“No.” The bard said. “You don’t get it that I don’t want what you want. I have no intentions of staying in Athens.”

“You don’t?”

Gabrielle shook her head. “Nope.”  She replied. “This is the last place on earth I want to be.”

Celesta looked around, then stared at Gabrielle. “ You’re insane. That’s your trick, isn’t it?” She asked. “You’ve made my job easy. I can get you sent right to the madhouse.”

“No.” Gabrielle shook her head and chuckled a bit. “I’m not crazy.”

“Then what are you?” Celesta asked. “Why did you enter the contest if you had no intention of staying? What kind of a lie is that?”

“It’s not.” Gabrielle adjusted the sleeve on Dori’s jumper. “I entered because the bard’s council asked me to. They didn’t want you to win.” She looked up and gave her adversary a direct stare. “They figured if anyone had a chance to keep that from happening, it was me.”

Celesta gazed at her with half hooded eyes. “How much did they pay you?”

“Nothing.”

The Athenian bard got up and paced forward, then turned and looked at Gabrielle. “You’re lying.”

A mild twinkle entered the mist green eyes facing her. “Nope.”

Celesta came back over, her motions sharp and borderline seductive now. She sat back down, this time much closer to Gabrielle. “Then what’s your game? Why do it? If they’re not paying you, I can. I can give you anything you want.”

“I’ve already got everything I could ever need.”  Gabrielle answered quietly. “I did it for two reasons. One, I like a challenge.” She smiled, with a touch of self deprecation. “And two, you really, really ticked me off.”   As she took a breath to continue, a wash of dark energy almost swamped her, and she had to stop speaking lest a soft growl emerge instead.

“Oh, and that should scare me?” Celesta snorted.

Gabrielle slowly lifted her head, her skin prickling. As her eyes met Celesta’s the other woman pulled back in pure instinct, straightening and lifting a hand in a warding off gesture.

It was such a strange sensation. Gabrielle waded through the layers of fierce fury and intense joy, almost  tasting blood in her mouth as she reacted to the flow coming through her link with Xena.

“Mama?” Dori patted her face anxiously.

And that, like dipping her head in a cold pond, settled her nerves and pushed the scary sensations just under her awareness.  Gabrielle took a deep breath and released it, then felt the flow lessen and moderate, as whatever stirred her partner’s fighting passion ended. “Let me tell you something.” She told Celesta. “All you people here are just playing stupid games.”

“Wait..”

“And because of those stupid games, Xena got hurt, and I got hurt. That wasn’t fair.” Gabrielle overrode her. “So if you think us coming in here and doing what we’re doing isn’t fair, that’s just too damn bad.”

Celesta shut up.

“You’re messing with something that you don’t understand, and let me tell you if you don’t cut it out and just take your lumps, you will get hurt.” The bard stated flatly. “Because not only is Xena capable of hurting you, those Amazons are capable of hurting you, and last, but not least, I am very capable of hurting you. So back off, go home, and just keep your mouth shut until we leave. Then you can go back to playing your stupid games and taking over Athens if that’s what floats your canoe.”

Celesta got up and started to leave, then she turned, and faced Gabrielle. “They picked you last night.” She said. “You can never change that.”

Gabrielle watched her go, winding her arms around Dori and hugging her as her mind turned from her erstwhile adversary to her partner. “Cait?”

“Right here.” Cait seemed to ooze up from right under her knees. “Gosh, that was quite wonderful, scaring off that nasty bit of goods.”

“Thanks. Do you know the route of the race Xena’s in?” The bard asked, in a soft voice.

“Absolutely.”

“Could you..”

“Right you are.” Cait stood and grabbed Paladia’s leather straps, hauling her up after her. “Cmon then, Pally. Off we go.”

“Hey!” The hapless Amazon grabbed at her top. “Hey! You loon! Cut that out!”

“Mama.. go Cat!” Dori wriggled to get loose, seeing an opportunity for fun. “Let go!”

“No, honey. You stay here with me. Cat doesn’t need your help” Gabrielle struggled to hold on to her rambunctious offspring. “Yet.”

“Trouble?” Ephiny sat down next to her.

“No. Just a precaution.” The bard answered, shortly.

“That woman’s some piece of work.” The Amazon regent stated quietly. “You really handled her.”

Gabrielle gazed out at the dancers now filling the stadium. “Thanks.” She answered. “I just hope I picked the right handle.”

It was interesting, Xena mused, what people would keep on their rooftops. Even the ritziest of the Athenian houses used the space for odd storage, and she’d already leaped over several items that raised even her experienced eyebrows.

Old furniture, sure, but animal skeletons? Xena eyed the pile of bones she’d just circled on her way to the next building.  The rounded skull caught her eye and she realized then it wasn’t an animal.

Ah.

She was moving across the race route, picking up the time she’d lost during the fight. As she leaped across a small lane, she spotted the main body of runners, and changed course slightly to intercept them.

In front of her was a smaller building, with a flat rooftop, and she jumped confidently to it, only to lunge forward a moment later as she felt the surface start to bend under her weight. She landed on her hands on the edge of the wall and pushed off, tucking her body into a neat somersault as she spun towards the ground, hitting the dirt not a length from the road as the startled runners jumped aside on seeing her.

Xena hopped once, then broke into a run, catching up to the leading bunch of her competitors and falling into an easy pace behind them.  She could go past, but she figured it would be less attractive for any other attackers to come after her if she was in a group and after all, she had plenty of time.

She came even with a tall, tanned young man with tightly curled dark hair. He glanced warily at her, edging away a little.  “Relax.” Xena advised him dryly. “You’re safe unless you trip in front of me and I can’t stop in time.”

The man blinked a little, startled, then glanced around to see if the rest of the runners were watching.  They were. “You cheated.” He ventured. “You ran over the buildings. That’s not fair.”

Xena gauged the glances she was getting. “All of you running by me being attacked pretending it wasn’t happing wasn’t very fair either.” She remarked mildly. “Guess we’re even.”

“That had nothing to do with us.” A girl on her other side spoke up. She had tightly pulled back blond hair and reminded Xena a little of Cait. “We’re just here to compete.”

“Great. Then if you’re not intending on shooting me, we’ll get along just fine.” Xena told her.

They all ran along for a minute in silence. “Is someone trying to shoot at you?” The girl asked, hesitantly. “Like, right now?”

Xena shrugged. “Maybe.” 

“But… what about us? They could hit one of us, instead!” The curly haired man blurted.

“Yep, they sure could.” Xena agreed.

It shook them all up. “W.. what are we going to do? How … w can’t…”

“If you’re nice to me, and we get shot at, I’ll catch the arrows.” Xena reassured them.

“Catch them!”

“Yeah. So be nice.” The warrior grinned. She edged up between two other runners, men who looked so much alike she suspected they were twins.  One of them, surprisingly, moved a little closer to her.  Given that she outweighed the man by half she didn’t figure she was in much danger, but you never knew. She put her senses on alert just in case.

“Can you really? Like Gabrielle says? Catch arrows, I mean.” He asked her, surprisingly.

“Yes, I can.” Xena said.

“Is it weird to have someone tell stories about you like that? The other twin asked her. “Having everyone know everything about you?”

Xena considered the question briefly. The other runners closed in a little, moving easily. She let a few lengths pass before she answered, more to let them all settle down than because she really needed the time to think. “Took me a while to get used to.” 

The girl who’d spoken earlier came up on her heels. “Are all her stories true?”

Weell…..  “Yes.” Xena found herself answering. “She sometimes leaves out some of the parts she plays in them, but yeah, it all happened.”

“Wow.” The girl murmured, falling back a little.

“Do you run a lot?” One twin recaptured the conversation. “You don’t look like a distance runner.”

“What do I look like?” Xena countered, with a faintest of grins.

“A pit fighter.” The other twin blurted.

“A wrestler.”  The girl chimed in.

“A prison guard.”

Xena looked at the other twin, who’d spoken last. One of her eyebrows lifted.

“They wear that leather stuff.” The man explained.

“Well, I’ve done almost all of those things.” Xena said. “I’ve been a fighter almost all my life, and that includes hand to hand and all kinds of weapons.” She mulled that over. “But I like running. I do a lot of it.”

They looked doubtfully. “What’s the longest you ever ran?” The bolder twin challenged her.

“I never measured.” The warrior replied.

“How fast can you run?”

“As fast as I have to.”

There was a pensive silence after that.

Dori was getting a little bored. She was glad she was with Mama, but it was hot. A fly was bothering her again, and Guff wasn’t there.

Boo wasn’t there either. That was bad. Mama had made Cat and Bobo go away. Dori didn’t like that. It meant she only had Eff and Poopoo to play with, and they were busy and not paying attention to her.

Maybe Mama would tell her a story soon. She was sitting in Mama’s lap, and she liked that. Mama was hugging her, and she really liked that because it felt all warm and good when Mama did it.

Not like when Boo hugged her. That was different. She didn’t know why it was different, but it was. When Mama did it, it made her want to be all happy. “Mama!”

“Hm?”

Mama’s voice was all tickly on Dori’s head. She liked that. “You make story?”

“Don’t you want to watch the pretty people out there?”

Mama pointed. Dori looked. There were lots of people looking really small. They were doing funny things, but they were not as much fun as Mama’s stories. “No. You make story good!”

Mama hugged her extra long. Dori liked that a lot. 

“What story do you want to hear, sweetie?”

“Boo gets the arrow!” Dori liked that story. It had Boo in it, which was always good, and Mama’s voice always got all warm and nice and happy when she said it.

“Ah… my favorite story.”

Good. Mama sounded very happy. Dori liked that. Other people came over. They always did that when Mama told stories, because they made them happy too. Dori didn’t mind sharing Mama like that so long as she got to pick the story, and sit in Mama’s lap.

Nobody else got to sit in Mama’s lap. Nobody else got to sit in Boo’s lap either, except for Mama, sometimes.  Sometimes Dori and Mama sat on Boo, and Boo would hug them a lot. Dori liked that. Mama liked that too, she thought. Everyone was happy. That was good.

“Okay, you ready? You know this story. Where do I start?”

“Eff! Eff!” Dori knew.

“That’s right. The first thing is we met auntie Ephiny, right?”

“Turtle.” Dori remembered something. “Mama get turtle!”

Mama laughed. “Forgot I told her about that.”

“Turtle! Turtle!”

Everybody thought that was funny.

“I don’t know if Boo wants me to tell everyone about the turtle, Dori.” Mama whispered in her ear, making it itch.

“Turtle!”

“Oh, okay.” Mama laughed again.  “One day, Xena and I…”

“Boo!”

Someone asked about Boo. Dori thought they were silly. Everyone knew about Boo. Mama told them anyway.   Dori wished they would all go away so she could hear the story.  She wanted to hear about the turtle, because Mama’s voice always went all funny during that.

It was special. Dori wanted a turtle. She had asked Boo for one, but Boo said she would have to find a special one for her. She had gotten a lizard, but it squeaked, and Boo said she had to let it go. That was all right, because it had bitten her on the finger, and she didn’t like that.

She really wanted Guff. Mama said Guff would come when they went home. Dori wanted to go home now.

Maybe after Mama finished the story they could go home. But they would wait for Boo, first. 

Dori hoped she came back soon.

*******

“Pally, let’s go.” Cait bolted down a side street.

“Wait a minute, you boofhead – that’s the wrong way!” Paladia managed, somehow, to get a handful of Cait’s leathers and by the sheer expedient of being twice her friend’s size, she stopped her.

“It certainly is not. Let me go.” Cait argued.

“Yes, it is.” Paladia said, stubbornly. “Look, I checked it out. They’re going that way.” She pointed towards the waterfront.

“Exactly. This is a short cut.” Cait wreasted her leathers loose. “Now come on. We’ve got to catch up.” She started down her chosen route, pulling Paladia behind her. “Hurry, can’t you?”

Paladia followed, because she really didn’t have much of a choice. “You remember the last time we used one of your shortcuts?”

“Hush.”

“What’s the point anyway?”

“Gabrielle wants us to make sure Xena’s safe.” Cait explained, ducking under a hanging basket and almost clocking her much taller companion as she pulled her along.

Paladia snorted. “Oh, right.” She muttered. “Like if she’s in big time centaur dung you and I can do anything about it that she can’t.”

“Hush.”

“Like, what are we going to do, hold her sheath for her? You want me to just draw pictures? We gonna sell…mpf.”  Paladia found a pomegranate in her mouth.

“Now, shut up before I simply clock you and leave you here.” Cait told her sternly. “We’re going to find Xena, and make sure she’s all right.”

Paladia whipped her head around, searching for the source of her gag. She expected to see a basket of the damn things somewhere within Cait’s reach, but there was nothing on either side of them but walls. She spat the fruit out and jogged after her friend. “Hey! Hey! Where’d you get this damn thing!”

“Had it in my pocket.” Cait answered, distractedly. “Let’s see.. ah, right then. Down that way.” She darted off in another direction.

“In your pocket?” The taller Amazon said, puzzledly. “You nutcase.. you don’t have any pockets.”

“Hush.”

“You DON”T.”

“I’ve got a pouch, haven’t I?” Cait answered crossly.

“That’s not a pocket.”

“Look, Pally, don’t make me thump you.” Cait rounded a corner, only to stop abruptly and cause Paladia to crash into her. “Whoa!”

Paladia reacted, for once, in the right way and grabbed Cait, pulling her back behind the corner as a pack of half armored men thundered past them at high speed, raising a cloud of dust behind them.

“Good job!” Cait commented.

As though they’d heard her, the men rambled to a halt, breathing hard and sweating. They spotted the two Amazons in the side passage and stared at them.

“Well then. What’s chasing you lot?” Cait asked, boldly. “Run away donkey, maybe?”

Paladia let out all her breath in a combination groan and sigh. “You are so dumb.”

The men stared at them, then the nearest one let out a yell, and they brandished their weapons, and headed for the two Amazons.

“Ah. Great. A fight.” Cait grinned.

“I thought we were supposed to be rescuing Xena.” Paladia hissed. “So, c’mon, before they cream us!”

Cait hesitated, as the nearest men lifted their swords, snarling with rage. “Rats.” She regretted her own lack of substantial weaponry. “Very well.” She allowed Paladia to start hauling her off, and they broke into a run as the squad of armored men chased them. “Pally, you know I hate being chased.”

“Keep running.” The bigger woman said. “Cause I hate being pounded on worse than you hate being chased.”

They ran faster, keeping just ahead of the yelling men. Cait led the way down a side alley, threading her way past crates that Paladia bounced off of due to her larger size. “Hurry!” She told her friend, as she leaped onto a box and hauled her body up onto the top of the nearby wall, scrambling over and dropping on the other side.

“Son of a…” Paladia glanced behind her, then wished she hadn’t. Breathing down her neck was a really big ugly guy, with a big iron club. He swung it at her, and she ducked, then she dug her heels in and stopped short, letting him fly past her.

His club hit the wall, and took a chunk out of it, then he turned and came at her again. “Hey. Good job. Foothold.” Paladia muttered, as she shoved her hand into his face and pushed him back, then grabbed the wall and used the hole to stick her boot in as she tried to follow Cait.

Someone grabbed her leg. She threw her weight on the top of the wall and kicked out vigorously. “Let me go you rat!” He pulled harder and she yanked back. “Leggo!”

“Get back here, you bitch!” The man took a better hold on her boot and pulled furiously.

“Son of a..” Paladia quickly drew her dagger as the rest of the men crowded up to the wall, reaching for her. She reached down and slashed, and heard the yell as the leathers holding her boot on parted.  “Yeyahoo!”  The man fell backwards, but Paladia did also, as the tension on her leg released. She tumbled off the wall and fell into the next alleyway, where Cait was already pulling at her. “Hey!”

“Would you hurry! What were you hanging about over there for?” Cait asked. “And where’s your boot?”

A loud growl forestalled Paladia’s answer. They looked up to see the armed men climbing over the wall, and she scrambled to her feet and limped after Cait as they ran off ahead of them.

Cait picked up a wooden bucket as she ran, and half turned, taking aim and throwing the bucket at the nearest of their pursuers. The bucket bounced off his armor and hit the next man in the shins, tripping him up.  It didn’t slow the group down that much, though – and they started gaining ground on the two Amazons again as they pelted through the narrow roadway.

“You sure you know where we’re going?!” Paladia yelled, as they seemed to be coming to a dead end. “Cait!?? Hey!!!”

“Yes! C’mon!” Cait yanked her forward and shoved her between the wall they came up against and the one at right angles to it, where there was a tiny space. “Quickly!!”

“I can’t fit through that you loon!!!”

“You’ve got to! Now move!!!!”

Paladia heard the men closing in on them and she glared at the wall, then at the smaller, mud slicked one right angles to it. With a yell, she shoved against the weaker one, and with a creak it collapsed, giving her plenty of space to get through. She hurdled it, and kept going, aware of Cait and the men coming along behind her. “Now what!!”

“Just keep going!” Cait caught up with her and bolted ahead. “Over there!”

“There?” Paladia pointed, out of breath. “That’s a damn main street! They’ll catch us!!!”

“Just go!”

“You’re nuts!”

The men were getting closer. Paladia felt them behind her, and a hand reached out to pluck her leathers as they reached the street and turned the corner, emerging into broad avenue.

Right into the path of a huge bunch of people, filling the road from one side to the other.

“Oh, crap.” Paladia skidded to a halt.

“Right. Told you I knew what I was about.”

“What?” Paladia whirled, lifting her hands to defend herself against the closing me. “Guess you’re getting your fight!”

The men rounded the corner and looked past them, then at the two Amazons. They stumbled to a halt, then slowly, with wide eyes, started backing up.

Armor rattled. Weapons were dropped. The men turned and bolted, running away from them with frantic haste.

Paladia slowly dropped her hands, and stared at Cait. “What the furk?”

“Well, gosh.” Cait wiped her brow. “I guess we scared them off after all.” She paused. “Didn’t we?”

“Ya think?” Paladia put her hands on her hips and turned.

And froze. “Uh oh.”

Cait also turned. “Ah.” She murmured. “I suppose not.”

Xena stayed in the middle of the first clump of runners, keeping a comfortable pace The other runners had decided to leave her alone for now, so she was left in peace to order her thoughts as she ran along.

The path they were on would take them down past the docks, then back up through the city and out the gate. Outside, the road wound up and up the fairly steep hill the city was built on, and around to the gate she originally entered through, where they’d travel through the other end of the city before they ended back up at the stadium.

So far, her body seemed to be adapting to it’s unusual task pretty well. She was used to running, often long distances in her early morning jaunts with Dori. But those were different, because she could pick her path and pace, and with her daughter along it was more of a game than anything else.

Then, she’d trade off running with flipping, or sometimes climbing a tree, or swimming – all the things Dori loved doing that she loved doing with her.  It was sometimes almost a guilty feeling, like she was revisiting a far off and ill remembered childhood, but Xena found herself reveling in it, up there on her mountain ridges away from Amphipolis where it was usually just her, Dori, the sky, and fields of sweet, green grass.

“Boo!” Dori looked around. “Boo! Go here!”

Xena locked her knees into place and lowered her body upside down from the tree she’d climbed, waggling her fingers at her daughter. “Hey, shortie! Over here!”

Dori’s eyes had gotten so big. “Boo!” She pointed, then ran over, clutching at her playtime buddy’s extended arms. “Go updown!”

Xena picked her up, then flexed her torso and pulled both of them up into the tree. “Now we’re up, right?”

“Good!” Dori giggled in delight. “More!”

“More!” Xena mock frowned at her. “Whadda ya think I am, some kind of fair ride?”

“Yes.” Dori bounced against her, then flung her arms as far around her as she could and squeezed.  “Boo, you so good.”

“Think so, huh?” Xena cradled the child in her arms. “Do you really think that, Dori? That I’m good?”

Big green eyes looked up at her with perfect trust. “Yes.” Dori was positive. “Boo good. Mama good. Love you.”

Xena kissed her on the forehead. “Thanks.” She hugged the child. “I’ll do my best to make sure you always think that, okay?”

“Otay.”

“Just for that, you know what you’re gonna get?”

Dori squiggled. “Fly?”

Xena slipped off the branch and they dropped to the ground together. “You ready?” She put Dori on her shoulders, and held on to the child’s legs. “Hang on!”

Dori clutched her head. “Gogogogogogogogogogogogogogogogo!!!!”

And, Xena went. She launched herself forward and reached top speed in just a few strides, powering over the grass and causing the breeze to blow her hair back and wrap it around Dori’s legs. 

She headed up the long slope to the top of the ridge, racing between the trees as Dori giggled in delight, then she threw herself into a forward flip, landed, then into a backflip without even so much as a pause.

“Wheeeeee!” Dori was loving every minute of it.

Xena took off again, this time heading up across the ridge towards the spring. “You want to get wet, Dori?”

“Fishies!!!!!!”

Xena made her way towards the water, diving into flips and half turns, until she reached the rocks above the spring and leaped up them, reaching the very top rock and launching herself off it without pause.

They flew through the sweet, summer air for what seemed like forever, as she lazily turned and twisted her body, before she, and Dori plunged into the cool water sparkling brightly under them.

“Whoo!” Xena exploded through the surface, after pushing off from the bottom. She felt Dori scramble up, and let the child stand on her shoulders. “Dive!”

Dori leaped off her shoulders and splashed into the water, giggling furiously and decimating the water with her arms and legs.  “Boo! Look! Like a fishie!”

Xena opened her arms. “C’mere, fishie.” She caught the child’s hands and pulled her through the water with powerful strokes of her own legs. “Do you know what your mama would say if she saw us in here in our clothes?”

“She’d wonder what she was going to do with the both of you.” The answer came from the rocks above.

“Mama!” Dori squealed

Xena looked up, to see Gabrielle seated on the rock, swinging her legs, grinning at her. “It was a spur of the moment plan.”

“Tch.” Gabrielle shook her head.

“Boo.” Dori climbed up on Xena’s shoulder. “Make mama like a fishie!” She burbled in the warrior’s ear.

Pale blue eyes regarded her, then Xena grinned mischieviously. “Yeah?”

“Yes!”

Xena ducked under the water, swimming over to the bottom of the rocks, under where her soulmate was sitting. Then she tucked both legs under her, putting her boots firmly on the spring floor.  With a huge surge, she kicked away from the bottom and flew out of the water, startling Gabrielle who yelped in surprise.

Then yelped again as Xena grabbed her, pulled her off the rocks, and carried her downward into the spring, tunic and all.

“YaaaaahhhhhH!!!!!!!!” Gabrielle shook the pale hair out of her eyes as they surfaced. “You… you…”

“Mama! Like a fishie!” Dori squealed in delight, splashing over and making sure Gabrielle was very thoroughly wetted. “Boo makes you like a fishie!”

“Yeah? Did you tell her to do that?” Gabrielle held onto Xena with one arm, and her daughter with the other.

“Yes!”

Gabrielle looked at Xena. Xena grinned, and shook her head. “You know what?” The bard said, unexpectedly.

“What?”

“I hope she grows up to be just like you.”

Xena felt like an entire pot of happiness had been dumped over her head, warming her from head to foot despite the chill of the spring. “Right back atcha, partner. Right back atcha.”

“What’s that yelling?” The girl next to her suddenly asked. “It’s coming from over there.. is  it those people wanting to attack you?”

Xena glanced to the side, then edged her way through the crowd of runners, who parted before her quickly. She headed towards the noise, almost slowing when she recognized the two figures in the lead. “What the…” She sped up again as she saw them turn to meet whatever the oncoming threat was.

Then a pile of large, angry men came around the corner after them.

Then they saw her. Xena recognized them, and snarled, grunting in satisfaction when they stopped, dropped their weapons, and ran.

“Wow.” The taller twin caught up to her. “That was impressive. But who are they?” He pointed at the two Amazons.

Xena sighed. “Trouble. And I thought I had enough of that.”

 **

Gabrielle spotted them first, the faint suggestion of motion through the archway that lead out of the stadium. With a deep sigh of relief, she stood up, hoisting Dori to her shoulder. “Guess who’s coming, Dori?”

Dori removed her thumb from her mouth. She’d settled down after Gabrielle had finished her story, despite the growing discomfort of the heat. “Mama?”

“No, I’m here.” Gabrielle craned her neck. “C’mon… c’mon…”

The patrons nearest the entrance now stood, pointing to the archway, and the crowd surged to it’s feet.

“Darn it.” Gabrielle frowned, then glanced behind her before she hopped up onto her seat so she could see again. “Sometimes being short is such a pain.”

“Mama! Boo!” Dori  squealed at full volume, flinging her hand out and pointed.

“Ow. Thanks honey,  I see her.” Gabrielle winced, resisting the urge to cover her ear. She watched the dark figure now coming through the entry resolve itself through the sunshine and dust, emerging into the stadium.

She held her breath, and steeled herself for the reaction, her eyes already picking a route through the packed stadium that would put her at trackside, to support her partner if it got ugly.

A cheer rose, surprising her. She peered down the track to see Xena approaching, lengths ahead of her nearest competitor, her long legs moving her over the ground with truly impressive speed and power.

The long, dark hair whipped back in the wind, and as the crowd’s enthusiastic response reached her, Gabrielle saw the angular face tilt and look up in startlement.

It really wasn’t the reaction either of them had expected. Gabrielle watched in mild disbelief as flowers rained down on her soulmate, watching the faint twitches in her broad shoulders as she kept herself from deflecting the colorful items with automatic reflexes. The rest of the runners were struggling to speed up and catch her, but it was obvious in Xena’s easy strides that she was going to win.

Gabrielle found herself grinning as she watched the warrior tuck her hands into fists and head for the ending mark, her pace increasing effortlessly as she outdistanced her competition. “Yeah!” She let her voice rise in a shout, and lifted a hand. 

Xena whipped past the end and slowed, the sweat coating her body now evident as it shed off her body and caught sparkles of sunlight.

“Mama, go get Boo!” Dori pulled on a lock of Gabrielle’s hair. “Go go go!”

“Gabrielle, maybe you…” Ephiny started to say, reaching out a hand as the bard hopped off her seat and slipped past her. With a sigh, the regent let her hand drop. “Don’t mind me, I’m just the nappy carrier.” She followed Gabrielle as she eased through the crowd, watching the bard’s shoulderblades as she wiggled her way through the mass of people until she reached the track.

Xena had slowed to a walk, and the rest of the runners were now crossing the finish line, two of them stumbling in exhaustion and a third collapsing into the dust.  The warrior walked back up through them, extending a hand to her fallen competitor.

The man, one of the twins, looked up, staring at her for a moment before reluctantly taking the offered help. He was pulled to his feet, and he murmured his thanks. Xena released him and gave him a pat on the shoulder before she turned and looked up at the crowd, letting her eyes run over the happy, cheering throngs.

It made no sense.  Xena shook her head, then turned her attention to the sturdy figure climbing over the edge of the seating area and dropping to the track. She walked gladly over as Gabrielle trotted to meet her, Dori perched on her shoulders.  “Hey.”

“Hey.” Gabrielle gave her a hug, despite the sweat, or, perhaps because of it. “Great job!”

“Yeah.” Xena fended off a veritable blizzard of flowers. She gave Ephiny, who had jumped over the edge of the stands behind Gabrielle a dour look. “Now they’re happy?”

“Now they bet on you.” Ephiny informed her. “Because you guys took off yesterday, the moneylenders figured to make a killing and took any bet on you they could. They’re hurting.” She glanced towards a mass of citizens surrounding several men. “Big time.”

Xena sighed. “I win, they bitch. I lose, they bitch. I win again, they cheer. This city’s nuts.”  She glanced around, raising her hand as the race judge waved at her. Across the field, where the city council was, however, she found dark anger facing her. Her shoulders shifted and she instinctively put herself between the cluster of men and her family.

“How much did you make?” Gabrielle asked her regent, missing the motion.

Ephiny cleared her throat modestly, and rocked up and down on her heels.

The judge called out, and Xena put a hand on her partner’s shoulder. “Be right back.” She turned and threaded her way through the milling runners, the heat baking them and bringing a strong scent of hot skin and humans to her. 

She’d only gotten three steps, though, when she heard a familiar pattering behind her, accompanied by Gabrielle’s calling their daughter’s name.  She turned just as Dori reached her, and grabbed a knee. “Hey, shortie!” She picked the child up and cradled her against one shoulder as she continued towards the judge.

“Boo, you make go fast.” Dori told her. “You make go fast, all good.”

The judge eyed her as she came to a halt beside him. “Twas a good race, I hear.”  He said, politely, motioning her towards a small cleared area along with the second and third place runner.  The young girl who’d been questioning had come in just after Xena had, and the other twin had come in third. 

Xena felt the sweat trickling down her skin, and wished it was all over. “It was all right.” She said, glancing at the other two, wondering if they were going to lodge a protest.  For a moment, she thought the girl was, then she merely dropped her eyes, and studied the dusty stone ground.

The judge nodded, then stepped forward and lifted his hands to pin the laurel leaves to Xena’s leathers. Dori forestalled him by grabbing the cluster, looking at them for a brief second before she tried to eat them. “Hey!” The warrior snatched the bundle, leaving a single leaf in Dori’s mouth. “Bad girl.”

“Bck.”

Then the brief ceremony was over, and she was free to return to her partner. She had to get through the boxing now, and the discus, and then the final event – the pit fight.  Already they were setting up the cleared area for the boxing, and the warrior knew she only had a little while before she had to go over there.

Gabrielle met her. “One down.” The bard glanced at her. “Sure you don’t want me to try the next one? I can box.” She tucked a hand inside Xena’s elbow and guided her off a little to the side, out of the stream of athletes and citizens milling around.

Xena gazed fondly at her.

“Well, I can.” Gabrielle held her fists up. “C’mon, I feel fine, and you look tired.”

Xena’s eyebrow lifted. “I’m not.”

“Xena, you most cer…” Gabrielle covered her eyes, and mock sighed. “After all these years, you’d have though I’d learned by now, huh?” She lamented.

Xena chuckled wryly. “I could use a bucket of water over my head, and a drink.” She admitted. “Any chance of getting out of the sun for a few minutes?”

“C’mon.” Gabrielle urged her towards a small entryway, that lead into the athlete’s housing.  “Hey, did you see Cait and Paladia?” She asked, as they passed out of the sun and into the cooler hallway.

“Uh huh.” Xena let out a breath of relief. “Damn, it’s hot out there.”

Gabrielle gave her soulmate a quick, half worried look. Xena’s skin was just a little paler looking than normal, and the sweat had drenched her body, soaking her dark hair and plastering it over her shoulders. “Let’s duck into our room quick, and you can cool down… I think we’ve got  a quarter candlemark.”

Xena allowed herself to be led into the stone room. She crossed to the water basin, setting Dori down as she did so. “Tough race.”

Gabrielle took out a simple tunic, and walked over to her. “Want to change into this now? It’ll be cooler.” She offered the garment. “The end didn’t look tough.”

“No.” Xena scooped up a double handful of water and splashed it over her face. “Didn’t start well, though. Ran into Draco and a goon squad who wanted to make sure I didn’t finish.”

“Ah.” Gabrielle watched Dori sitting quietly on the floor, playing with the laurel leaves. “I was kinda wondering what was up. That’s why I sent Cait out after you.”

Xena glanced over her shoulder, one brow lifting in question. “You knew I was fighting?” She asked, a little puzzled.

The bard nodded slowly. “I felt it.” She stated softly. “The… um…” She stopped, not really sure how to say the words. The sounds of splashing had ceased, and she looked at Xena, who had turned and was watching her intently.

“What did you feel?” The warrior asked.

Gabrielle sensed the upset, even before she moved closer. “It was just… you know, Xena. You get all kinda…” She took a breath. “ You were fighting. I could just tell.”

Gently, Xena touched her chin, and tilted her head up, their eyes meeting. “When I fight…” She spoke softly. “I revel in it. You felt that?”

The bard suddenly couldn’t meet her gaze. She blinked, and fiddled with the linen tunic. A hand cupped her cheek, and she found a smile somewhere. “It’s okay.” She reached up instinctively and covered Xena’s hand with her own.

She heard a soft exhale, and put her other hand flat against the warrior’s belly.  

“I can’t change that.” Xena said, after a moment.

“I know.” Gabrielle looked up at last, accepting the knowledge fully. “Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. It’s not that bad. It just sort of startled me the first time until I figured out what it was.”

They pondered each other somberly.

“Boo, bad taste. No good. Gimme hoballs!” Dori got up and toddled over, yanking on Xenas’ leathers. She had the now tattered laurel leaves hanging from her other hand.

Gabrielle unhooked Xena’s leathers. “C’mon, Dori. Come over here, and I’ll give you some treats, okay? Let Boo get washed.”

Xena threaded her fingers through the bard’s pale hair and gently drew her head forward, kissing the top of it. “We’ll talk about this later.” She murmured.

Gabrielle tilted her head up and returned the kiss, only on her partner’s lips. “I’ll always be there for us to talk, Xe. Go on, wash up, and cool off a little.” She gave the warrior a tiny shove towards the bath, then she draped the clean tunic over the chair and went to retrieve the honey balls Dori loved from their gear.

Xena studied her for a long moment, then she picked up the big water basin and stepped into the tub with it, lifting it up and dumping it over her head.

“You could have taken those off first.” Gabrielle observed, with a wry grin.

“Had to wash em anyway.” Xena pulled the stopper out and filled the basin again, rinsing the sweat off her body. Then she slipped out of the now sodden leathers and laid them over the edge of the tub before she went back for more water. It was just cool enough to be refreshing, and it felt incredibly good as it scoured her skin.

A hand touched her side. Xena blinked her eyes open, as Gabrielle leaned over and gave her a kiss on the navel, the mist green eyes glinting with hints of seductive darkening. She felt her body relax from a tension she hardly had been aware of, her mind shoving the startling shock of Gabrielle’s revelation somewhere behind her. “You still trying to convince me to let you box?” She teased gently.

Gabrielle balled her fists up again, and stepped into the tub, bumping her knuckles against her partner’s bare body before she slid her arms around Xena, and reveled in the expanse of bare skin she had access to. “I love you.” She said, simply. “Let’s get this damn thing over with, Xena. I want out of here.”

“Do my best.” Xena leaned over and kissed her. “One more day, and we’re gone.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

Gabrielle waited until Xena stepped out of the tub, before she walked over with a spare piece of their linen and, without speaking, began to dry the warrior off.  She circled her slowly, and after a startled moment, Xena held her arms out and let her have her way.  Dori was taking a nap on the bed, and they had a few moments to spend on just themselves.

“You’ve got a cut back here.” The bard commented softly.

Xena had her eyes closed. “Piece of a guy’s armor plate.” She shifted one shoulderblade. “It’s okay.”

Gabrielle leaned forward and kissed it, then rubbed her cheek against the water cooled skin, while she finished her task. “You know what I like the best about this trip so far?” She put the linen down, and handed Xena the light tunic.

“What?” Xena slipped the fabric down over her head and wiggled a little, settling the folds across her muscular form.

Gabrielle snugged the belt tight, and fastened it. “Us.” She gently steered Xena to the chair and pushed her down into it, handing her a nice sized apple before she picked up their brush and started brushing out the warrior’s dark, wet hair.

“Us?” Xena leaned back, enjoying the attention. She took a bite of the apple and chewed it, glad of the sharp tang.

“Yeah.” Gabrielle ran the comb through, gently untangling a snarl. “You want your hair pulled back? It’s pretty hot out there.”

“Sure.”

Gabrielle went to their bags and dug out a leather clasp, then went back to Xena’s side and continued her work. Once she’d straightened out her partner’s dark locks she pulled them through her fingers, gathering them at the nape of Xena’s neck. Then she fastened the clasp in place.

“Us?” Xena tilted her head back once she sensed the task was complete.

The bard rested her forearms on Xena’s shoulders and leaned close, so they were almost nose to nose. “Us.” She confirmed. “Ever since we left, I’ve sort of felt like we were two vines, just curling closer and closer around each other.”

Xena blinked.

“I like that.” Gabrielle nuzzled her a little. “Despite everything we’ve been through, it just makes me feel wonderful.”

Xena reviewed the past few weeks, her gaze turning inward for a beat. She realized that Gabrielle was right – and maybe that had been the distracting, almost mesmerizing feeling she’d been having for a while now.

If Gabrielle was picking up her fighting lust, then what was she getting from the bard in return?  A little of Gabrielle’s spirit? Her joy in life?

Was it a fair trade?

“Yeah.” Xena finally said, letting out a tiny breath. She took another bite of her apple and held it between her teeth, raising her eyebrows invitingly.  She felt the gentle puff of Gabrielle’s laughter against her lips as the bard accepted it, biting off part of the piece, then taking the apple inside her mouth and pausing to take a kiss as well.  “I like that too.” Xena said, as they parted.

Gabrielle grinned in reaction, and chewed her bite of apple, swallowing it and licking her lips.

**

They walked outside together, Xena with Dori on her shoulders as they rejoined the other athletes and patrons still milling in the entrance.

“Did Draco say why he was attacking you?” Gabrielle asked, in a low voice. “That doesn’t make sense, Xena.”

“Sure it does.” The warrior replied, returning wary greetings with a slight smile. “He lost his bankroll yesterday and needs to get it back.” She glanced around deliberately. “Can’t say I blame him – after all, we talked him into putting dinars on us.”

“Mm.” Gabrielle frowned. “Well, yeah – but is that a reason for him to try killing you?”

“He knows it’s the only way to stop me.” Xena said, in a mild tone. “Either that, or cut my leg off and he’d have to get close to me to do that.”

“Xena, that’s not funny.”

“Was that a joke?” Her partner teased gently.  She draped a long arm over Gabrielle’s shoulders as they walked. The cold bath had made her feel better, but after the trials of the last few days, her body was not exactly thrilled with her over the prospect of continued strife. “Over there.” She indicated the pit where they boxing would take place.

“I still think you should let me do it.” Gabrielle said, organizing her arguments and laying them mentally out. “I mean, c’mon, Xena. I learned from the best. What good was it for you to spend all that time teaching me if I can’t use it when I have to?”

“Are you flattering me?” Xena deflected the request skillfully.

“Xena.” Gabrielle’s voice dropped several notes. “I mean it.”

Xena sighed. “Look.” She gave the bard’s shoulders a little hug. “I’m not saying you’re not a good enough fighter to do this.”

“Yes you are.” Gabrielle nudged her with one hip.

“No I’m not.”

“Sure you are – you’re saying you can do it better than I can.”

A dark eyebrow lifted. “Well, Gabrielle…”

A sigh. “I know. You can.” The bard leaned against her. “But I feel like such a wuss, Xena. C’mon, I would never try the discus, or that pit thing but I can do this.”

They’d  reached the edge of the pit, and paused, gazing down at the cluster of boxers already inside, with several more climbing down the rough hewn ladders placed against the side.

Gabrielle blinked. “Good grief.” She spluttered. “Are those men, or cows?”

Xena chuckled softly. “As I was saying, it’s not that you’re not good enough, Red, you’re just…”

“Too short.” The bard exhaled aggrievedly. “And way too skinny. I’d have to take a running leap and kick one of those guys just to get his attention.” She regarded the beefy men, and shook her head at their size and very solid dimensions. “Fishturds, Xe – you might have to do that yourself.”

“Hm.” Xena lifted Dori off her shoulders, much to the toddler’s displeasure, and handed her to her mother. “Well, lemme go find that out.”  She walked to the edge of the pit and paused, waiting for an unobtrusive moment until the men in the pit had noticed her and their attention was fixed.

Then she stepped off the edge of the pit, disdaining the ladder, and let her body roll in to a lazy flip before she landed neatly in an empty spot between two of the larger ones. She dusted her hands off and walked past them as though they weren’t there, stepping onto the boxing circle and examining it instead.

“What a brat.” Gabrielle clucked her tongue, glancing back over her shoulder as Ephiny and Eponin joined her. “Did you see her?”

“Who?” Pony peered into the pit. “Xena? How can you see anything in that herd?”

The bard rolled her eyes. “No kidding. I tried to talk Xena into letting me fight, but no way, not with those guys.”

Pony chuckled. “You?”  She patted Gabrielle’s back. “I don’t think that’s your style, your Maj.”

A blond eyebrow lifted.

“Uh oh.” Ephiny sighed under her breath.

“What exactly do you mean by that?” Gabrielle asked, cradling the now wriggling Dori.

The Amazon weapons master grinned. “Hand to hand with fists is a lot different than staff work.” She told Gabrielle, in a confident tone.

“Oh, really?” The bard said.

“Sure.” Pony replied. “Takes a while to master.”

Ephiny covered her eyes.

“Hm. Have you?” Gabrielle asked mildly. “Mastered it?”

“Sure.”

“Great.” The bard handed Dori off to Ephiny. “There’s a nice quiet spot over there.. show me.”

Pony cocked her head. “Huh?” Then she felt herself being pulled along, and had to start walking or lose her leathers. “Hey! Uh… hey, Gabrielle? Gab? Your majesty…”

Dori sucked her thumb and stared at Ephiny, who gazed down at her in wry amusement. “Honey, every time I decide which one of them I want you take after – they just keep changing my mind.”

“Effy.” Dori grinned at her. “Go Boo?” She pointed.

Ephiny glanced down at the pit, then peered over her shoulder at her hapless lover. “Go Boo.” She answered, and headed for the steps. “Cause that’s just gonna be ugly.”

****

Xena flexed her hands, testing the tightness of the leather wraps around her knuckles.  She was standing with a group of the other boxers, all save herself and one other being male.  Xena eyed the other female athlete and reflected silently that it wasn’t often she stood in a crowd and felt dwarfed.

Even in the wrestling event, the wrestlers had relied on speed, and that meant smaller, lither bodies, closer to her own in general build.

But not this crowd. Most of them were her height or greater, and outweighed her by double. They were all about power, and the huge trunks and massive, muscular arms promised that she’d have a tough time getting to the top of this particular heap.

However. Xena rocked up and down on her heels, watching the first pair of fighters warm up.  She wasn’t worried. If it was one thing she had confidence in, it was her own skills. The trick was going to be getting through the match without expending too much precious energy she was going to need for the end of the day.

“Hey, you’re Xena.”

Ah. The brainy one of the bunch. Xena glanced to her right. “Yeah. And?”

The other woman boxer sidled over. She was a strapping young woman, with straight, chestnut hair pulled back into a neat braid and a sprinkling of freckles across her face. Her eyes, like Gabrielle’s were a soft green. “We’ve got a bit to go yet, you up for a bit of a roll? There’s a rest area back there.” She pointed behind them.

Xena studied the woman as though she’d just manifested a third eye in the middle of her forehead. “What?”

“C’mon.” The woman was cheerful, and very friendly. “It’s been a great week. I’ve slept with all these guys, you’re the only one  left.” She pointed again. “C’mon!”

Xena wasn’t really sure if she should be insulted or pissed off. “You slept with all of them?” She indicated the men with a pointed finger.

“You bet. We’ve had a big old party.” The woman agreed, with a grin. “Not as wild as I heard the javvies got, but we tore down a few rooms, right Hector?”

Big, bearded Hector grinned. He was missing a tooth right in front. “You bet.”

“Hey, let’s go. It’ll take Jojo over there at least a half candlemark to get past Boots.” The woman took hold of Xena’s arm and started tugging her towards the back. “I bet you know lots of …whoa.” She jerked to a halt when the object she had hold of didn’t move an inch. “What’s wrong?”

“Not interested. Sorry.” Xena removed the woman’s hand from her arm.

Instead of being offended, the woman studied her curiously. “Why not?” She asked, in a reasonable tone. “Don’t you like sex?”

“That’s not the point.” Xena gave her a touch of one of her more dangerous looks.

There was a soft sigh as it went right over the woman’s head. “Then you don’t?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Then you do!” The woman said. “Well, c’mon. Time’s a wasting.” She took hold of Xena’s arm again, much to the amusement of the other boxers.

Xena decided words were useless. She grabbed the woman’s wrist and hauled, yanking her body up and over onto her shoulders and then onto the ground. The woman landed with a distinct thump on the clay floor, and a thin cloud of dust puffed up into the air. “Like I said…”

“Oo.. so you like to start with some rough stuff? Awesome!” The woman bounced to her feet. “You’re definitely my kinda good time!”

“No, I’m not.” Xena ducked past her goodnatured lunge gracefully.

“Oh, so you don’t like sex after all!”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then what’s the Hades begotten problem??” The woman put her hands on her hips.

“Fighters, your attention, please!” The judge interrupted, holding his hands up. “First two into the clay.”

“Get your fun later, Linzah.” The bearded man slapped the female boxer on the butt and ambled over to the clay circle, adjusting his loincloth with an important twitch to the center.  He faced off against a blond man with almost no body hair, and they both raised their fists and started to edge around each other.

“So.” Linzah sidled up to Xena, completely ignoring the warrior’s dour glare. “What’s the deal? You a virgin or something?”

Xena’s left eyebrow lifted sharply.

“You’re a little old for that, aren’tcha?” Linzah queried. “How long ya been one?”

“Boo!”

Xena dropped her imminent plans of divesting Linzah of what few senses she seemed to have and turned as a small body hit her in the kneecaps. “Dori.. what are you doing here?” She hoisted the toddler up into her arms. “Where’s….”

“Awwwww….” Linzah chucked Dori under the chin. “Now I get it. You aint a virgin, you’re just married. Hey there, little thing.”

“Bck.” Dori scowled.

“Is she your mama, huh, pipsqueak?” Linzah persisted. “Is she your mama?”

“No.” Xena caught her eye, giving her a level stare. “I’m her father.”  Then she spotted Ephiny headed her way, and turned to meet the harried looking Amazon, without looking back or wondering how many flies the idiotic boxer was going to catch in her open mouth before she got back.

**

They found a relatively quiet spot. Most of the crowd was now circling the boxing pit, the rich patrons in their beautifully carved chairs set right around the edge, and the rest of the watchers getting any perch they could to get a good view.

That left the runner’s warm up areas empty, and nearby there were several of the discus athletes practicing, and two of the gladiators facing off with swords, so Gabrielle doubted the crowd would notice a couple of smallish Amazons sparring.

She hardly even knew why she was doing this, except that there was an edgy energy coiled in her guts and she wanted rid of it.

Or did she still resent the fact that Xena had talked her out of doing the boxing, no matter what the size of the competitors? Gabrielle watched Pony adjust to the situation and stretch out a little. Was she getting to be as competitive as her partner was? “Okay.”

“Okay.” Pony settled herself into a balanced stance, different than what you’d use with a staff, or an edged weapon. “The big difference is, you ain’t got reach.” She said. “So c’mon in here closer.”

Gabrielle did so, remembering clearly, suddenly that first time Eponin had ever taught her anything, had shown her the Amazon war staff, demonstrated it’s uses.

Pitied her, since Gabrielle was so very unsuited to doing anything useful with it.  The bard remembered that half amused, half disgusted look, and wondered very briefly what Eponin saw now when she faced her.

The kid?

The Queen?

Something in between that seemed to her less threatening than Xena, and yet respectfully competent in her own right? “Eponin?”

“Yeah?” Pony answered guardedly. “Listen, I didn’t mean to make it sound like this is that big of a deal, y’know.”

Gabrielle tilted her head a little. “Do you really think I don’t know how to do this?”

The weapons master gazed at her, then sighed a little. Shrugged her shoulders a little. “Do ya?” She asked. “I mean, I know Xena taught you like crackers how to use that staff, and all that, but… “

“The staff.” Gabrielle agreed quietly. “Yeah, she taught me that.” Slowly she circled the other Amazon, brining her hands up, and feeling her body slip into a familiar stance. “But she also taught me what to do when someone took it away from me.” A hand flicked out, startling Eponin as it brushed a hanging feather near her shoulder. “So, c’mon. Let’s box.”

Pony recovered quickly, and stepped back, lifting her own hands and watching her opponent intently for an opening.

Gabrielle was, she fast discovered, a tough read. Her compact body stayed resolutely over her center of balance – which, being lower than Eponin’s limited her target range.  Her shoulders were squared, but her right one advanced just slightly ahead of her left, attesting to her dominant hand.

Experimentally, Eponin threw a combination, not really surprised when it was blocked. Gabrielle was waiting for her to make a move, and reacting to it – something the weapons master had noticed when she fought with her staff as well. It wasn’t a lack of courage or aggression, she knew – it was just that Gabrielle was used to fighting people who were trying to kill her and had the sense to let them make the mistakes.

You did expose yourself a lot more when you attacked, then when you defended. Pony sighed, and just went for it, launching a carefully thought out and rapid attack. She was crouching just slightly, to get her hits in to Gabrielle’s body.

Something occurred to her. “Hey!”

“What?” Gabrielle paused in mid motion, stilling her hands.

“Xena’s not going to come flying out of that pit if she sees us, is she?”

Gabrielle considered the question. “I don’t know.” She resumed her circling. “But if she does, I’m sure I can stop her from whacking you in time.”

“Great.” Pony groaned. “I better make this a fast lesson.”  She threw another combination, heartened when they both hit, elicting tiny grunts from her Queen.

“Hey.” Gabrielle suddenly said. “Want to make this a little more interesting?”

“It’s not?” Pony asked, puzzled.

“How about we bet.” The bard offered. “If you win, I’ll grant you a request of your choice, and you can do the same for me.”

Didn’t sound too dangerous. “Okay.” Pony agreed. “You’re on.”

A little too late, she spotted the suddenly look of reckless glee in the green eyes across from her, just as Gabrielle switched from a defensive to an offensive posture, and came after her. “Whoa!”

She ducked the bard’s uppercut, but wasn’t quite ready for the body jab that went with it, and took it in the ribs, feeling the breath come out of her at the impact. It had Gabrielle’s weight behind it, and though the bard was smaller than she was, Eponin knew from experience she was solid  and letting her get a few more of those through would put her in a bad place.

She settled down to business and used her experience well, fending off a roundhouse and ducking under Gabrielle’s outstretched arm. Seeing an opening, she nailed her in the side as she turned, then saw stars as the bard continued the motion and turned it into a smoothly delivered kick that nailed her in the side of the head.

Ow. “Xena didn’t teach you that.” Eponin muttered.

“No.” Gabrielle agreed. “And I don’t use it on her because she just grabs my boot and dumps me on my butt.” She feinted with an elbow, then reversed her body direction and slugged Eponin in the jaw, at the last minute realizing she needed to pull the blow.

That knocked her offbalance, and Eponin got in a good one, a gut punch that made her knees shiver a little. Her body reacted instinctively, bringing her hands up and launching a from the shoulder left that caught Pony right on the nose, sending a spray of blood unexpectedly skyward.

They both stopped. “Oh, sheep poop.” Gabrielle winced. “Sorry.”

“It’s nothing.” Pony wiped the red off on a forearm. “Just warming me up.” She told the bard, gamely. “Happens all the time.”

“Ah. Right.” Gabrielle found herself back on the defensive, as her opponent threw new energy into her attack. “You sure you don’t want to stop?”

“No way!”

Gabrielle ducked a very competent attack and traded one of her own. Well, if she won, she reasoned, it would be worth it.  She blocked a punch and whipped her leg up in a side kick that caught Pony in the ribcage, moving her over a step.

She only hoped Pony would forgive her for it, someday.

****