A ROYAL PAIN

PruferBlue@aol.com

©Copyright 1999

DISCLAIMER: Xena: Warrior Princess and the names, titles, and some of the characters are the sole property of Renaissance Pictures and MCA/Universal. No copyright infringement through the writing of this work of fiction is intended. It's just for fun.

This story may not be sold and may be archived only with direct permission of the author. Any archive must carry this entire copyright statement.

VIOLENCE: There are several occurrences of Xena-type violence. There is no intentional sub-text other than similar to what is seen on the TV show, just two strong women who are exceedingly close and loving friends.

Author's note: Reading my previous stories would help to fully understand references in this story, but it is not absolutely necessary to do so.

Again, I am very grateful to my faithful friend, Karen Surtees, for her unselfishly generous and unflagging support. No matter how much I complain, she keeps smiling and nudging until I do it right!

And, finally, thank you to all of you wonderful readers who have been kind enough to send me your comments on my other stories; I deeply appreciate your marvelous encouragement.

Xena sauntered out onto the porch of the Amazon queen's hut and stood at the top of the steps, slowly stretching her almost healed muscles. The sun, waiting impatiently beneath the horizon, sent forth tiny, gleaming rays, pushing to hasten the departure of the night's velvet darkness.

Ahhhhh, it's great to be getting ready for the trail again. The tall, bronzed Warrior Princess raised herself onto her toes three times and, on the third lift, launched her body high into the air, flipping in a somersault off of the porch and onto the ground. Landing in a crouch, she held it for a heartbeat, before forcing her long leg muscles to stand erect. Something still didn't feel quite right. That simple action had sapped some energy.

"The whole village thanks you for not yelling your usual battlecry when you made that move." A smiling young Amazon stepped out of the trees beside the hut and glided over next to the warrior. She was tall enough to greet Xena eye to eye, and looked enough like her to be her sister.

"Hi, Leese." Xena grinned at the newcomer. "Just working out a few kinks. You ready to do some drills?"

"No, she isn't!" A golden-haired woman appeared in the doorway of the queen's hut with a frown on her face that matched her grouchy tones. Fully dressed and yawning, she was running her fingers through her tousled hair.

The young Amazon's hand reached to hide the grin that threatened to break across her lips. She turned swiftly away, just before Xena, bottom lip pushing against upper lip, rapped her on the shoulder with her open palm. Anyone else would have been jarred off her feet, but Elisa felt the movement of the air, as Xena had taught her, and instantly braced herself for the friendly swat.

"By the gods, Xena," Gabrielle admonished her friend, walking further from the doorway onto the porch, "can't you rest even on the morning we are leaving?"

"Uh, I'm outta here, folks. Catch you later," Elisa called over her shoulder as she quickly jogged away, out of the line of fire.

"Wait a minute, Leese. Stay here and help me when I'm under attack!" Xena called after her in pretended alarm. A raised arm and waving hand were the last glimpse of Elisa's departing back as she reentered the trees.

The warrior grimaced wryly then raised her eyebrow at the feisty bard. "You know, Leese helped to save your life. It's not very nice of you to yell at her."

"And YOU know she's not the one I'm yelling at."

Gabrielle shook her head and tried to swallow an incipient grin at the "do-you-mean-me?" look of feigned innocence on her partner's face. "Xena, you're just getting over some severe injuries to your body. I know you have been exercising and drilling to rebuild your strength, but even an iron woman like you should take a rest once in awhile. And we're just about to get traveling again."

Xena smiled wickedly back at her friend. "You're just mad at me for tossing you off your pallet before the sun came up." I envy your ability to sleep so soundly, my bard.

The queen wrinkled her nose at the warrior. "But I'm all dressed and packed. You're the one who said you wanted to get an early start. Do YOU have everything ready to go?" Gabrielle cocked her head and put her hands on her hips, challenging Xena to say yes. She knew the warrior hadn't saddled Argo nor fastened their traveling gear onto the golden warhorse. That was always left till last.

"Weeeeeellllll, any minute now, I will have." Xena's incredible hearing had picked up a familiar sound.

"Sure," the bard laughed out loud, figuring she had Xena trapped into admitting she wasn't ready. "Like you can get Argo saddled from here. I'll bet you my next pastry that even the Warrior Princess can't perform that trick."

Both of Xena's eyebrows shot up. "Oh? Your next pastry, huh? Just watch…" Slowly and theatrically she reached up a long, muscled arm, snapped her fingers above her head and looked further down the Square toward the stables.

It was a tribute to the Warrior Princess' ability to pull off almost any feat, that Gabrielle turned and peered in the same direction Xena was staring. The young queen's jaw fell open as Elisa rode a fully-provisioned Argo out of the stable and up to the porch.

Xena smiled broadly at her nonplussed friend. "You going to get your traveling bag or are you going to stand there gaping all day?"

"No fair, Xena, you put her up to this." Gabrielle looked accusingly from the warrior to the young Amazon, who was looking anywhere but at the bard.

"I swear I didn't, Gabrielle. You know Leese is always two steps ahead of everyone else. It was her own idea." Xena stepped next to Argo and gave Elisa a pat on the knee. "And your timing was perfect," she murmured, with a grin. "I owe you one."

Elisa's grin matched Xena's. "One of the cooks gave me a bag of food for you, earlier. I stuck it in a saddlebag. So, you really are all ready to go." She swung down from the golden palomino. "I just saw Ephiny come out of her hut, and Solari and Eponin are leading a group of women into the Square. They should be in place in a few minutes."

Gabrielle, as queen, would get a royal sendoff from the village with Ephiny, the regent; Eponin, the weapons master; and Solari, the chief scout, in charge of the farewell.

The bard came back out of the queen's hut with her traveling bag looped across her shoulder, her staff in hand. Elisa received the staff and mounted it in its holder alongside Argo's saddle. She kept Argo's reins and the three women walked to the group now assembled in the Village Square.

A loud, thrumming roll sounded from the leather-covered barrels of the village drummers, then softened to a muted background hum. Waiting in front of the crowd, Ephiny, with Eponin and Solari slightly behind her, stepped forward as Gabrielle neared. Queen Gabrielle was a favorite of the whole village and Xena, without a doubt, was the most powerful warrior they knew. So, there was always an underlying sadness to their departure.

When Gabrielle stopped, all the Amazons went to one knee, then rose again as she motioned them up with her upraised palms. She smiled at Ephiny and embraced her. "You take good care of yourself, Ephiny. Give your body a chance to get completely healed before you go trying anything difficult, OK?" The regent was still recuperating from a severe lung wound.

"You know I will, Gabrielle. You be careful, too, and keep an eye on your tall friend."

Gabrielle moved to say goodbye to Eponin and Solari. Ephiny managed to keep her eyes half lowered as she reached her arm to Xena. The Warrior Princess ignored it, stepped forward and grabbed the regent in a firm, but gentle bear hug. "'Bye, Eph. Stay out of trouble. And take good care of that lung." Xena bent her head till her lips were right next to the regent's ear. "No heavy breathing," she chuckled softly. Then she released the now red-faced regent who stepped back several paces. Only then, did Ephiny look up at her.

"'Bye, Xena. YOU stay out of trouble," Ephiny challenged. The two women locked eyes for a moment, then Ephiny had to grin. I'll get even with you one of these day, Xena. The Warrior Princess waggled an eyebrow in farewell and moved to clasp arms with Eponin and Solari.

"Don't stay away too long, Princess, you keep us on our toes when you are here," Eponin said gruffly.

Solari nodded her agreement. "Yeah, we'll miss you both. Things never seem quite the same without you two here."

Xena took each woman's arm in the warrior handshake. "We'll be back… sometime. You can count on it. And it's always good to know that we can depend on you." With Ephiny, these two women formed the cornerstone of the Amazons' strength. Xena thought of them as the Big Three. They were dedicated to their nation and their queen, and were also willing and efficient fighters, traits Xena had called on a few times in the past.

The warrior shifted her attention to Elisa, who still held Argo's reins. Xena threw an arm over the girl's shoulders and gave her a quick hug. "Thanks, Leese, for everything."

Elisa nodded. "Gwynna told me to say goodbye to both of you. She's on perimeter duty and couldn't be here." Then she tightened her lips together to steady them. I hate to see Xena leave. She's had something bothering her for a long time, now. And she doesn't seem to have her usual energy. How can I know whether it might be the last time I will ever see her?

Elisa handed the reins to Xena, who swung up onto Argo. Gabrielle gave Elisa a hug and thanked her, then reached up to Xena, who lifted the bard up behind her. Xena dug her heels into Argo's sides, clucked her tongue, and, waving, the two friends left the Amazon village. The drumming rose to a crescendo, then died away.

"Gabrielle, are you serious? You don't want to go to Poteidaia?" Xena looked down from the saddle at the bard who was walking, as usual, next to Argo. The two friends had been on the trail for two days, heading toward Gabrielle's hometown. This afternoon, for the first time, Gabrielle had let it be known that she was not enthused about going home for a visit.

"What is there for me in Poteidaia, Xena?" The bard's voice sounded heavy and reluctant. "Lila's married and living her own life, now. All that's going to happen is my father will take nasty potshots at you and mother won't be strong enough to contradict him, no matter what she thinks. She'll just feel bad that he is hurting you, because she knows it hurts me; but she can't, or won't, stop him. Then she'll get all weepy and contrite and pour out her whole last 40 years of woes on me. I'd rather not even go."

Emotionally involved in what she was saying, Gabrielle didn't realize Argo had stopped. She walked on for several yards before turning her head and noticing that she was alone. Puzzled, she swung all the way around and saw that, not only had Argo stopped, but Xena had dismounted and was walking slowly toward a felled tree.

The bard stood still and continued to watch as the Warrior Princess turned, sat on the fallen tree trunk and leaned back against the live one it rested next to, closing her eyes. It occurred to Gabrielle that she seldom just watched Xena walk or move when she wasn't fighting. Admiration engulfed her as she observed the fluid, effortless motion of Xena's long, graceful body; the aura of power and strength that surrounded her. She seemed to OWN her body in a way other people never even considered. Maybe that's because her body isn't just a place for "being," as it is for the rest of us. Hers is a fine-tuned weapon, geared to keep her--and me--alive and unharmed.

Xena's cobalt-blue eyes opened and broke Gabrielle from her ruminative trance. The warrior patted the spot on the tree trunk next to herself and raised her hand, curled finger beckoning the bard. The command was softened by the tender look that the warrior reserved for her best friend, coupled with the hint of a lop-sided smile.

"How can I resist that wheedling look on your face?" the golden-haired woman confessed. She strolled over and sat next to her friend, noticing that Xena's eyes weren't quite as vivid as they usually were. "Are you tired?" Gabrielle asked gently. It's strange to see Xena look this weary in the afternoon.

"A little." That admission, coming from Xena, was like others saying they were exhausted. "Don't seem to be bouncing back so quickly this time, but I will be OK. We need to talk." Might help if I could get some damn sleep! Something's turning me into an insomniac again.

"Xena, you've had a couple of very rough weeks. I'm worried about you."

"I don't want to talk about me, I want to talk about you." The curtness of her friend's answer raised the bard's eyebrows. But why should that surprise me? She never wants to admit that anything is wrong with her. I'll just pay close attention to whether she improves or not.

Xena moved her head away from the tree and sat up straighter. She reached down and picked up Gabrielle's right hand from where it rested on the rough bark. The bard had quickly learned to avoid sitting on the warrior's right side, or rather, sword side, when they were on the trail. It made Xena uncomfortable to have access to her weapon hindered even in this small way.

The bard raised their entwined hands and shook them. "Am I in some kind of trouble?" she joked. But the banter bounced off of Xena's seriousness.

"Gabrielle, I WANT you to go to Poteidaia." An underlying current of urgency sounded in the silken tones.

Stray rays of late afternoon sunlight slipped past the leafy treetops and brushed the two confidantes, painting the bard's golden head in glowing fire and tipping the bronzed warrior with copper highlights.

"I can't believe my ears!" Mint-green eyes opened wide and stared into appealing blue. "Why would you want me to go to Poteidaia? Why would you want to subject yourself to my father's anger and rebuke? Why would…" The bard's voice came to a halt as she suddenly realized what was behind Xena's request.

"Xena." Gabrielle untwined their fingers and practically threw Xena's hand back into the warrior's lap. Words came tumbling from her lips like rocks from an avalanche--just as fast and just as deadly. "This is that "vision thing" again, isn't it? You want me to go to Poteidaia so you can leave me there and take off. I thought we had that all settled. I've never known you to go back on your word, before. If you think I am that easy to get rid of…"

The Warrior Princess grabbed the bard's hand again and slid off the tree trunk onto her knees in front of her. She reached her right hand toward Gabrielle and put her long fingers softly but firmly over her lips, cutting off the flow of words. She moved her hand sideways and caressed her friend's cheek, then dropped it to clasp the bard's captured hand in both of hers.

"Gabrielle." Xena's velvet voice dropped low. "I will never leave you. I have already promised you that and you needn't worry that I won't keep my word. I meant for both of us to go to Poteidaia. And, yes, it is the "vision thing," as you call it." Xena's voice became tortured. "If we aren't… somehow… able to stop it from happening… This may be… your last chance… to see your family."

Tears welled in those incredibly blue eyes and one drop overflowed, moving in slow motion down the bronzed cheek. Gabrielle reached up her free hand and softly brushed it away. Seeing the stoic warrior so moved never ceased to wrench the bard's heart, too. She bit her lip to stop it from trembling, then tried to speak. She made several tries before her voice would pass her closed throat.

"Xena, you will stop it… I know you will... You always think of something... I have faith in you."

The look of agonizing doubt on Xena's face made Gabrielle feel as though a nail had already pierced her skin. Xena opened her mouth to reply and, this time, the bard put her fingers over the sculpted lips. "Ssshhhh." Gabrielle slid her hand to Xena's shoulder and pulled her toward her. The golden head moved forward until it met the dark one. The bard spoke with quiet consolation. "We will go to Poteidaia. Together."

I don't know why I thought it would be any different, he still hates Xena for "taking me away." Never mind that I was the one who dogged her footsteps until she almost had to let me go with her. He just can't accept the fact that I was not happy here. And I am happy with Xena.

Hecuba and Herodotus had soundly welcomed their daughter. They seemed genuinely happy to see her. But… not her companion. Hecuba gave Xena a short, tentative smile when she thought Herodotus couldn't see her, then quickly ushered a protesting Gabrielle out of the front room.

Xena and Herodotus faced each other silently. I have to keep remembering he is Gabrielle's father. Without him, she would never have existed. But it is sooooo hard to keep my hands still when I just want to smash his prejudiced face! In his world, women don't become warriors; they only become what their men tell them they can be. Praise the gods not everyone is as closed-minded as he is.

Thoughts jumped through Herodotus' mind, too. Look at her. Standing there like she owns the world. And coming here to throw it in my face that my daughter chose to follow her in her unwomanly ways. A female warrior! Sure, she saved our lives; and she saved our daughters. But that doesn't change what she is--an arrogant, despicable warlord! I may be forced to be civil, but I will never accept her.

Xena stood, apparently relaxed, waiting for Herodotus to make the first move, if any. She was reconciled to standing there for hours, if need be. But she knew most people were unable to stand and stare, or be stared at, without capitulating into speech.

And Herodotus was not an exception. He finally spoke. "I don't like you, you know."

Amusement flickered across the Warrior Princess' beautiful features and lit in her magnetic eyes. "Are you asking my permission?"

"NO!" the man abruptly threw the answer back. "Just letting you know where you stand. Don't expect us to fawn over you just because you have our daughter hypnotized."

"Would you rather I leave?" Xena purposely used her seductive tones to taunt Herodotus. Then watched with silent glee as he fought his natural inclination to say, yes, leave!

His voice came out low and begrudgingly. "You saved us. Out of respect for that, I will permit you to stay under our roof. Just don't expect anything more from us."

Xena nodded but refused to thank the man for permission that was not freely given, but wrested from him.

"Hecuba!" His wife came half-running into the front room. Herodotus tossed his head at the warrior. "She'll be staying here." He walked past Xena, giving her as wide a berth as possible, and went out the door.

Gabrielle had followed her mother into the front room. She rushed to Xena and gave her a quick hug. "You two got along?" Xena tilted her head back and looked stonily at the bard. Gabrielle smiled and frowned at the same time. "Uhhhh… just skip that question. At least there isn't any blood!"

Her mother gasped.

"Mother! I'm only kidding." Gabrielle laughed at the comical expression on her mother's face. "Xena doesn't hurt people just because they don't agree with her."

Hecuba looked up at the warrior who towered over her. Her voice was warm, but shaky. "We made up the bed in the girls' room while you were… talking. I'm sorry there is only one, but we gave Lila hers to take with her. If it's too uncomfortable, the barn is warm."

"Mother, Xena is not sleeping in the barn," the bard said forcefully. "We don't often get a chance at a soft bed. She and I can share it. And, frankly, I'm ready to share it now. It's been a long day." They said goodnight and Gabrielle reached for the warrior's arm and walked with her into the bedroom. "Mother laid out a couple of clean, fresh sleeping shifts for us. And there's fruit and bread and water there on the side table. Do you want anything to eat before we sleep?"

Xena shook her head as, arms crossed, she considered the sleeping arrangements. "Do you really think we will both fit on that bed? I'll sleep on the floor."

"Oh, no, you won't. I often shared that bed with girl friends when their families came to visit overnight. Two fit on it fine."

"Uh… were any of them taller than you?"

Gabrielle looked back and forth from Xena to the bed several times. Then she grinned. "Well, their feet didn't stick out over the bottom, if that's what you mean." Xena pulled in her lips and started to nod.

"But, I can fix that!" Gabrielle ran to the desk that sat in the corner and picked up the chair. She brought it over and sat it at the bottom of the bed. "How's that?"

Xena's head began to move from side to side.

"Look, Xena. If you, as my guest, insist on sleeping on the floor, I will be obliged to sleep on the floor, too. You wouldn't do that to me, would you?"

The Warrior Princess laughed and uncrossed her arms. "OK, OK, I will never hear the end of it. We will share."

The next morning, Gabrielle awoke at dawn, alone. She quickly rolled to the other side of the bed and peered over. Two twinkling blue eyes looked up from the floor into her inquisitive green ones. "You started kicking. I probably have bruises all over my legs. I had to take to the floor in self-preservation."

"C'mon!" Gabrielle snorted.

"Well, it was either that, or kick you back, or shove you out. And since it's your home… I took pity on you."

"Thanks. Sorry about the kicking. I guess I was a little more excited about being home than I expected to be. Let's get up and eat and then go look around the village." Gabrielle rolled back over and jumped out of bed.

"Now, I know you're excited. I didn't have to call you five times to get you up." Xena was pleased that Gabrielle seemed glad to be home. Lying on the blanket on the floor with her hands behind her head, and her thoughts miles away, she suddenly saw impish green eyes reappear over the edge of the bed, quickly followed by an upturned water pitcher.

Xena was fast, but because Gabrielle had surprised her, half the pitcher of water sloshed into her face. The warrior leaped onto the bed and managed to grab both the bard and the pitcher. She pinned Gabrielle to the bed and poured the remaining water into her friend's face. Gabrielle was giggling so hard, she swallowed much of the water and choked on it. Xena flopped her, spluttering, back over the edge of the bed and pounded on her back. Finally, the choking subsided, but the bard continued to giggle. "I gotcha! I actually gotcha! This has got to be a first!"

Xena, laughing, climbed off the bed and grabbed a cloth to dry herself. Finished, she flipped the end of the cloth to Gabrielle and, when she grabbed it, pulled until they were nose to nose. Xena narrowed her eyes and assumed a ferocious expression. "You know what paybacks are, don't you?" she growled. "And I am relentless!" Then she grinned and released the towel, as the bard cringed in mock fear.

Gabrielle began to dry herself as Xena cleaned up the blankets and water from the floor.

"Speaking of paybacks, wait till my father sees what you did to his shift!"

"This is your father's?" Xena was aghast. She looked down at what she was wearing. It was now wet, wrinkled, and a bit dirty, but that was only temporary damage. The rips that had happened when Xena dove across the bed after the bard were more permanent.

"Hades' helmet, Gabrielle, you didn't warn me this was your father's."

"Well, who else in this house is big enough to have one that would fit you? He'll never speak to you again!"

The two women looked at each other as that thought sunk in, then they both collapsed with laughter.

A timid knock came at the door. "Come in." Gabrielle could barely manage to get the words out.

Hecuba opened the door and peeked around its edge. She saw Gabrielle collapsed on the bed and Xena seated on the floor, both holding their sides from laughing. She smiled at the two women and found herself envying their friendship. "I heard you were up, so I fixed some porridge for breakfast. I'll leave it for you. I have to go to the market."

"Thanks, Mother, we're just about ready to eat." Gabrielle and Xena both smiled at Hecuba.

"That's the first I've ever seen you smile, Xena," she said shyly. "You should smile more often. You're quite beautiful, you know." With that, Hecuba closed the door and left.

Gabrielle pointed at a red-faced Xena and grinned. Then she sobered just a little. "I'm glad you insisted we come here, Xena. So far, it has been more fun, than trouble."

"Let's hope it stays that way, Gabrielle. Even your father wasn't too bad. Not so much name-calling this time. Not yet, anyway." A wistful expression touched the warrior's face briefly then was gone.

"Hey, let's go eat and then check out the village!" The bard jumped up and headed for the kitchen with Xena following.

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

Gabrielle and Xena had been strolling through the village for about an hour. Many people they encountered knew and spoke to Gabrielle, welcoming her home. Many also recognized the Warrior Princess, more from reputation than from firsthand contact, and some greeted her. Eyes followed her everywhere.

A group of people had just passed and, as Gabrielle turned to look after them, she found that they had all turned their heads to follow Xena. "Do you ever get tired of being the focus of everyone's attention?" Gabrielle smirked up at her unconcerned friend.

Xena slid her eyes down and sideways toward the bard. "How do you know they are not watching you?"

"Because they are looking at a point about a foot higher than my nose, that's why." Gabrielle raised her hand a foot above her nose to demonstrate. " Hunhh." She grunted a soft laugh.

"What?"

"You're not even doing your infamous warlord swagger. If you did that, the streets would probably clear."

"Do you want me to clear the streets?" Xena suddenly stood straighter and started looking around in her maximum observant mode.

Gabrielle tugged on her arm. "No, Xena, don't you dare. I was only joking."

Xena shrugged off Gabrielle's arm and, to the bard's consternation, grabbed a hooded man who had been about to pass them. Xena manhandled him into an alleyway and, lifting him by the throat, slammed him up against a wall. Gabrielle was speechless with horror.

The Warrior Princess reached up and tore the hood from his head. The tall, slim man's eyebrows wrinkled in pain. Curly, dark hair topped a handsome, mustached face. Between his bottom lip and his chin rested a small tuft of beard.

Gabrielle gasped, "Autolycus!"

Autolycus, the King of Thieves, smiled wretchedly and tried to speak, but Xena still had him by the throat. He waved his eyebrows and pointed rapidly to her grip. At last, the warrior stood him back on the ground and loosened her hold.

The first thing he did was pull the hood back over his head. Then he rubbed his sore neck and smiled weakly at the two women. "Hi, Gabrielle. Who's this wild woman you're hanging around with?"

Xena pretended to reach once more for his throat and he jumped back. "Heh-heh. Hello, Xena. Nice seeing you again, too."

"Autolycus, WHAT are you doing here? And who are all these other hoodlums I see walking around?"

Gabrielle looked at Xena with surprise. She didn't say anything to me about hoodlums being around. Though, come to think of it, there are a lot more people in the village than there usually are. But maybe there's been a population explosion.

Autolycus was twitching his mouth around and around and up and down. He knew Xena would eventually get the truth out of him, but he wasn't eager to tell her.

"Hoodlums? Here? I had no idea. I'm just passing through, myself." Autolycus raised his eyebrows and smiled broadly in an effort to look innocent.

The Warrior Princess crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. A sardonic grin twisted her lips and she continued to look at Autolycus expectantly, ignoring his answer to her questions. A silent minute passed and then an impatient Xena uncrossed her arms, took a step toward the thief and her face turned to a stony mask. The man's name grated from her mouth, in a growl. "Autolycus."

The thief glanced nervously from side to side, then met the warrior's intense gaze. "OK, OK, Xena. Let's go someplace quieter and I'll explain."

The Warrior Princess grabbed a fistful of coarse cloth at his shoulder and hurried him along to the end of the alley. It emptied into a field on the outskirts of the village. She released Autolycus and gave him an extra shove as she came to a halt; he had to stumble to keep his balance.

He turned toward the warrior, shaking his shoulders to resettle the hooded robe. "Testy today, are we?" he ventured.

Xena didn't smile at him as he had hoped. Instead, she looked at him balefully. "I don't appreciate your trying to ply your trade here in Gabrielle's hometown. And since there is little here that should interest the King of Thieves, I want to know what trouble you are intending to stir up, and why. So, talk!!"

Autolycus answered a bit grumpily. "I'm not trying to stir up any trouble, Xena. I heard about a group of soldiers who are said to be bringing a chest full of jewels to King Philomaros. And they're supposed to pass near here on their way to his kingdom. I just thought I would like to get a look at them, that's all." Then a rueful smile broke across his face. "Of course, I'd like them to be in my hands when I'm getting that look at them!"

"I'll just bet you would," came Xena's sarcastic answer. "What about Zirkos and Tullios? They here for the same reason?"

Autolycus scratched his chin in thought. "Ah… well, I haven't spoken with them, but that would be my guess."

Gabrielle looked from one to the other. She was surprised at Xena's rough treatment of Autolycus, she knew the warrior considered him to be a friend. And Autolycus made no secret of the fact that he would like to be more than a friend to Xena. What she didn't understand was why the warrior seemed so disturbed at discovering the thief.

"Autolycus, if this trouble is going to take place anywhere near Poteidaia, I will have no choice. I will have to get involved." Xena put her hands on her hips and frowned, unseeing, out over the empty fields. Just my luck. Gabrielle's parents already think I am too wild and dangerous for their daughter to be associated with. Seems like every time we come here, I reinforce that notion. I was hoping this visit would be quieter.

The Warrior Princess straightened up, removing her hands from her hips, and turned to face Autolycus squarely. "And since I plan to stop the robbery, that means you won't be one of the thieves, right?"

Autolycus' whole demeanor looked crestfallen. "Aw, Xena, why do you have to spoil my fun? Why can't you just sort of hang around and pretend you don't even know what's going on? It's not like I'm trying to rob the little people." He figured his plea would fall on deaf ears and was not surprised when the warrior just looked at him without answering. When Xena's eyebrow slowly raised and one side of her lips started moving up, Autolycus knew his plans were about to be drastically changed.

"No, you won't be robbing the little people. In fact, you might even turn out to be a hero. If we save King Philomaros' jewels, he will surely want to reward us."

Autolycus perked up at the mention of a reward. "Right! I never thought of that!" Then Xena's words sunk in. "Hey, what do you mean, "we"? You said you were going to do it."

"Well, you just volunteered to help… didn't you?" The sultry tones of the Warrior Princess curled right around Autolycus' heart and he gave in with resignation. "All right. All right. What do you want me to do?"

Gabrielle stood aside and listened to the two with amusement. Autolycus knew he would lose the battle; he could refuse the Warrior Princess nothing. But he used these verbal jousts with Xena to keep some of his self-respect intact. And Xena, somehow understanding that, allowed the exchange to occur. Most others who opposed her would either have fled or felt the pinch by now. But Autolycus' good heart, and his help in the past, had made him a trusted friend.

The Warrior Princess was all business, now. "I need you to find out where the jewel carriers are, what trail they are taking and how soon they will be close to us." Autolycus nodded his agreement. "Gabrielle, you stay here and keep an eye on Zirkos and Tullios. I'll find out if they have some henchmen nearby, besides those in the village."

"Xena, who are Zirkos and Tullios? Are they thieves? Or what?" Gabrielle didn't like the idea of hoodlums running unchecked in her hometown.

"They're worse than thieves, Gabrielle, they are murderous outlaws."

Gabrielle sat at the edge of the boardwalk in front of the village inn, weaving straw into a basket. As patrons entered and left the inn's tavern, she would glance sideways to identify them, then continue with her weaving.

Xena moved silently up the alleyway nearest the bard, stopping a few feet from entering the main street. "See anything, Gabrielle?"

"No, Xena. Zirkos and Tullios are still in the tavern. Did you find their friends?"

"Yeah, there's a bunch of them camped out about two miles from here. They look pretty settled in, so I don't think we have to worry about them until these two contact them." Xena leaned back against the side wall of the inn and propped one boot sole against it.

Gabrielle looked up at her. She's still not up to par. How often does Xena ever lean against anything when something's going on? "Autolycus was here about fifteen minutes ago, looking for you."

"Didn't he leave a message?" Impatience threaded the warrior's voice. Suddenly she straightened and melted back into the shadows cast by the inn. Minutes later, horses' hoof beats, wagon wheels, and creaking leather could be heard coming down the main street toward the Village Square.

Four mounted soldiers came into view, followed by a wagon and four more soldiers. From their uniforms, they appeared to be the Royal Guard that Autolycus had mentioned. And that would mean that the treasure chest was in the wagon. As the contingent neared the watching duo, Gabrielle let out a gasp. "Xena, that's my father driving that wagon!" Xena reached from the shadows and gently squeezed the bard's shoulder.

"Relax, Gabrielle, nothing's liable to happen here in the village--too dangerous. When they leave and go back into the forest is a more likely time for an ambush." Xena turned toward the back of the alley. "Here comes Autolycus, now. Maybe he has some information."

A moment later, Autolycus ran up the alley and sidled next to the Warrior Princess. Xena's lips twisted in irony. "Why, hi, there, Autolycus. I'll bet you're going to tell us that the treasure party is coming into Poteidaia, right?"

Autolycus looked exasperated. "I would have told you fifteen minutes ago, if I could have found you! Gabrielle said you were in the woods."

Xena relented. "OK, so you've found me. What can you tell us? Why is Gabrielle's father driving that wagon?"

"That's Gabrielle's father? Well, he's probably driving because it's his horse and wagon."

The Warrior Princess slowly turned her head toward Autolycus and fixed the full power of her intense eyes on him, not saying a word.

"Heh-heh, just a little humor there," the thief offered. When Xena didn't answer, he raised his hands, palm outward, as if to calm her and grinned weakly. "A wheel broke off the wagon the treasure was being transported in, damaging its whole side. The Guard had to hire another wagon to haul the chest for them for the rest of the journey. Then, they decided it was too late in the day to continue on, so they came into Poteidaia to eat and to stay overnight."

Xena favored the man with a slight smile then broke her gaze away from him. "Good work, Autolycus."

The King of Thieves rubbed his hands together and beamed.

"But what took you so long?" Xena, the ghost of the smile still lingering, slanted teasing eyes toward him.

Autolycus gulped and stammered. "Er… I ah… I had to…" Ohhhh, man, I could drown in those eyes. I AM drowning in those eyes…"Ah… What was the question, again?"

"Xena!" Gabrielle called urgently in a low voice. She tossed her head toward the inn. The warrior peeked around the corner and saw Zirkos and Tullios coming through the tavern door onto the boardwalk. She beckoned the bard to join her. Gabrielle rose and sauntered into the alley as Xena pulled her head back and listened.

"Well, look at that, will you? They deliver it right into our hands." The two cohorts laughed.

"Nah," said Zirkos, "we'd best wait till they leave and catch them on the trail. Let's round up the others then get back to camp and decide where to attack." The men turned and went back into the tavern.

"Gabrielle, you go speak to your father. Tell him what's going on and keep him off that wagon tomorrow." Xena automatically took charge of the situation. "I'll go warn the Guard, then scout out the camp in the woods. Maybe I can head them off before they start anything. Autolycus, you wait here till I speak with the Guard, then come with me to the camp."

The Warrior Princess waited until the man who obviously was the captain of the Guard finished supervising the unloading and storing of the chest. The soldiers carried the chest into the inn and the captain approached the owner to arrange their accommodations. At the captain's request that they all stay together, they were given a large room on the second floor.

Xena had followed the group into the inn and was standing off to the side as though awaiting her turn to secure a room. The soldiers weren't worried by her presence, though a few roving eyes admired the view.

When the men had finished moving the chest upstairs, Xena followed them up and knocked at the door. The door was cautiously opened only a crack, but when they saw it was the woman who had been waiting downstairs, they opened it all the way and invited her in. Several soldiers sheathed the swords they had drawn in case of trouble.

Xena's eyes sought the captain and she strode over to him. "I've come to warn you of a robbery." She proceeded to explain about Zirkos and Tullios and the attack being planned. "I'm going to check out their camp, see if I can put a halt to this before it gets started. But you need to be prepared in case I fail to stop them all."

The captain listened carefully to the whole story. "Who are you? And what's your interest in this?"

"My name is Xena. Let's just say I am a concerned citizen."

At her name, the soldiers' alertness perked up and some put their hands on their swords. Xena pulled herself up to her full height. Her eyes narrowed and her lip curled. "I'm here to stop trouble, not to start it."

"Stand down, men." The captain raised his hand to quiet them. "I'm Prince Hamlon, son-in-law of King Philomaros. Word is that the Warrior Princess is on the good side, now, and I've heard reports of your deeds." He then extended his arm to the warrior. "Thanks, Xena. We'll be ready for them. Do you want to take some of my men with you?"

"No, there may be others in the village who would be tempted by a smaller force. I'll be OK." Xena stuck out her arm and clasped Hamlon's. "I'll report back here as soon as I can."

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

Gabrielle's father waited till the soldiers had removed the chest, then shook the reins to take the horse and wagon back toward his barn.

"Father!" He stopped the wagon when he heard Gabrielle's voice and she clambered aboard, seating herself next to him. He had seen Xena follow the soldiers into the inn and wondered where his daughter was. She's practically a shadow to that woman. I still can't see what the fascination is in being a warrior. She'd be safer and happier at home, if she hadn't been tricked into following HER.

"Gabrielle," he smiled at her. "I just got a well-paying job!"

"Father, that's something I have to talk to you about." She told her father what she and Xena had learned from Autolycus and their observations. "So, you see, Father, you will be in danger. You mustn't drive the wagon tomorrow."

Her father sneered. "You think I am going to give up this opportunity because that trouble-loving friend of yours says there might be a robbery? Hmmmph. Wouldn't surprise me if she was the one behind it. Get everybody looking for trouble tomorrow, then sneak in and take the chest tonight."

"And then what?" Gabrielle, indignation in her voice, automatically spoke up in Xena's defense. "Carry it off on her back?"

"Listen to yourself, no respect for your elders. That friend that you say taught you so much… she taught you that, too, I suspect. And living in the wilds. And brawling. And you wonder why I can't stand the sight of her?" Herodotus pulled the horse up at the barn and the two climbed down.

"Father, Xena is the bravest, most courageous, most…" Herodotus shook his head and waved Gabrielle to silence. "I don't want to hear it. Just keep her out of my sight."

Saddened, Gabrielle walked away, back toward the heart of the village. She didn't see the hands that came out and grabbed her father before he even got the horse and wagon into the barn. Oblivious to his predicament, she continued on.

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

Xena hurried out of the inn and turned down the alley alongside it. Autolycus stood there with Argo and his own mount. "Gabrielle told me where Argo was stabled, so I went and picked her up for you."

The Warrior Princess nodded her thanks, leaped into the saddle and headed down the alley toward the forest. Autolycus scrambled to catch up. When they neared the robbers' camp, they dismounted and crept close enough to see that the men were bustling around preparing to leave.

Xena shook her head to clear the cobwebs that seemed to be congregating there and stifled a yawn. I just gotta get more sleep! "They must be going to move their camp closer to the trail south of here. That's good. We can get rid of them more easily when they are on the trail. Just start eliminating them from the back and work our way forward."

She says it like it's about as easy as swatting flies. Hmmmph!

"What are you snorting about?" Xena threw Autolycus a quick glance.

"Nothing! Just so full of good humor that it bursts out of me once in a while. Especially when the two of us are preparing to fight about 40 heavily armed, murderous brutes." Autolycus smiled dazzlingly at his companion. And actually got a small chuckle from her.

"We've done it before," the warrior said dryly.

The two watched the activity in the camp for awhile, then Autolycus broke the silence. "Er… Xena…"

"Yes?" Xena responded, absently. Her mind was occupied with planning her attack.

"I know Zirkos and Tullios and I don't see them anywhere in the camp."

Xena jerked to full alert. Her eyes swiftly swept through the camp dwellers. "Damn!" Autolycus again found himself scrambling to catch up as Xena raced for Argo. With a flying somersault into the saddle, she tore away, and Autolycus diligently followed.

"You know, Tullios, I've been thinking about what you said a minute ago. About them delivering the chest right into our hands." Zirkos' heavy brow was creased in thought. "Maybe we'd be missing a good chance if we don't grab the treasure now. We have 12 men in the village right now and they only have eight. Let's not be too hasty about riding to the camp. I'll send a message for them to get ready for an attack in the morning, but if we could steal it now, we'd look like heroes to the boss. Let's sit for awhile and think this over."

The two sat down with a couple of their men, drinking ale and contriving a rudimentary plan to steal the chest. They would gather their 12 men, walk boldly into the inn and knock on the door to the room where the treasure is being kept. When the door opens, they would rush in, overpower the Guards and steal the gems.

"But how will we get them to open the door? They don't know us and won't let us in without being prepared for an attack," Tullios pointed out.

"Yeah." Zirkos rubbed his stubbly whiskers. "I got it! We'll grab that wagon driver. They know him. Xandor, you go get him and bring him here. Quietly. Don't stir up any trouble. Threaten to kill his family or friends if he doesn't do as we say."

Zirkos sent another man to gather the rest of the band. Just as they all arrived and had been filled in on what was going on, Xandor brought Herodotus in. Gabrielle's father was trying to put up a brave front, but he was quaking inside.

The group rose. Since the tavern was part of the inn, they had only to go through a doorway that opened onto the stairwell. No one was in sight. All fourteen cutthroats crept up the stairs to the hallway, with Zirkos at the front, holding onto the back of Herodotus' shirt. "Listen, man, knock on the door and tell them something on your wagon broke and you will need some money to get it repaired in time for tomorrow."

Herodotus knocked as Zirkos, still holding onto his shirt, stood off to the side, out of sight. The door opened a crack and when the soldier recognized Herodotus and heard his story, he swung the door wide. Zirkos shoved Herodotus violently through the doorway and his band followed him. Caught by surprise, the soldiers gave little resistance and were soon overpowered.

Unfortunately for Herodotus, when thrown through the door, he had fallen on the floor and Tullios had tripped over him, going down heavily. As soon as the soldiers were captured, a raging Tullios jumped up, straddled Herodotus' body and grabbed his hair. He pulled back on the man's head, exposing his throat, and was bringing his sword into position to slit it.

"Yiyiyiyiyiyiyiyi!" The unexpected battlecry froze everyone in the room into a tableau. Xena rocketed into the room, somersaulting through the second-story window and landing next to Tullios. She kicked the sword from his hand and straight-arm punched him at the juncture of his eyes and nose, sending him to the floor. She threw both fists backward alongside her head, taking out two more hoodlums. Jumping in the air, she twirled around, splitting the heads of two more with powerful thrusts of her boots before she hit the boards. Ducking a sword swipe from the side, she squatted down and twirled, leg out, in a semi-circle, dumping three more attackers with such force their heads smashed into the floor, knocking them out.

Autolycus, running up the steps of the inn, had reached the doorway and looked in. He saw the Warrior Princess was in battle frenzy mode and he stepped back, laughing. Those poor devils won't know what hit them.

Prince Hamlon was wise enough to see that, in such close quarters, his men would only get in Xena's way and he held them back, ready to step in, if needed.

But Xena didn't need help. Now the room was clear enough for the Warrior Princess to draw her sword. She flicked it viciously back and forth, swung it into the sides of two more men, swiped one across the neck, then jumped straight up and kicked the next two in their throats, strangling them on their crushed larynges. As Zirkos, the last remaining brigand, raised his sword and lunged at her back, she flipped her sword around, thrust it behind her and impaled him through the chest. Then, she turned, her sword still holding Zirkos' body partially upright. She planted a boot in his chest and pushed him off her blade. Bending down, she wiped the blade across his chest, then sheathed it.

As the warrior's wildly gleaming eyes came up from Zirkos' body, they met the wide-eyed stare of Herodotus who had crawled into a corner to get clear of the action. Her eyes changed from silver-tipped fury back to cobalt-blue as her battle lust died. Well, my girl, now you've REALLY made a great impression, she thought with a tinge of hopelessness. Her energy swiftly dissipated, leaving her feeling wrung out. But for her iron self-discipline, she would have staggered.

Hamlon directed his men to clean up the dead hoodlums and tie up those still alive. One of the soldiers grabbed Herodotus. "C'mere, you traitor," he growled.

Xena struggled to revive her energy, then grabbed the soldier by the shoulder, squeezing a pressure point until he was on his knees. "No!" she spit out. With her eyes still locked on Herodotus, she explained to Hamlon. "This is an honest man. He was forced to help these scum. They probably threatened his family." Then, her heart lurched and she asked, "Are Hecuba and Gabrielle all right?"

"I think so. I haven't seen them." Herodotus spoke slowly, his voice scratchy from stress. Herodotus was astounded at the incredible scene he had just witnessed. I thought I was dead and here comes this amazing woman, somehow flying through an upstairs window, and she saves my life. Me, who has done nothing but be rude and nasty to her. Then she proceeds to single-handedly wipe out a dozen or more hoodlums. Gabrielle tried to tell me she was special and I wouldn't listen. But she is special. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

Autolycus, still standing in the hallway, looked in to let Xena know that he was there. "I'll go check on them, Xena," he offered, then left.

Hamlon reached for Xena's arm. By the time his fingers touched her, she had swung around with a raised fist that flew toward, and stopped just short of, striking him between the eyes. Startled, he dropped his hand.

Xena's whole body jerked with the effort it took to stop her fist from landing. She took a deep breath, then grimaced. "Sorry, but it's not a good idea to touch me without warning me first. Especially right after a fight."

"I'm the one who should apologize. I just wanted to ask you to let go of my soldier's shoulder."

The warrior looked down at the soldier who was kneeling at her feet, teeth clenched against the pain. "Er… yeah." She let go of his shoulder, grabbed his arm and lifted him to his feet. The incredulous man stepped quickly away, rubbing his sore muscles.

She offered a hand to Herodotus, who hesitated but then grasped it and Xena pulled him up. She looked at Hamlon. "You still need his wagon, right?"

"Right. Be here at first light." Herodotus nodded and hurried out, glancing back at Xena, then looking quickly away as his gaze met her disturbing eyes.

Walking over to Tullios, who was tied up and seated on the floor with the rest of his cronies, Xena asked, "Who sent you here, after the gems?" Tullios just sneered. Xena reached down and hit him on both sides of his neck with her fingers. "I have just cut off the flow of blood to your brain. You have 30 seconds to answer me before you die a very painful death. Now, who sent you here?"

With his face screwed up in agony, Tullios forced the words through his teeth. "Draco sent us."

Xena's face didn't show it, but the answer surprised her. "What are you doing working for Draco?"

Panting now, Tullios gasped, "He said this was a big job, big enough for all three of us."

Her mind racing, Xena persisted, "Did Draco kidnap the prince?"

"I don't know the answer to that. Please…" Tullios' eyes started to roll back in his head and Xena stabbed at his neck again, releasing the pinch. She pulled back her fist to punch him, then controlled herself and dropped her arm.

Xena made a move to leave, but Hamlon's voice stopped her. "Xena, I want to ask you a favor. Come sit over here at the table, please."

Exhausted, but curious, Xena followed the prince and sat where he indicated. At a signal from Hamlon, one of the men produced a wine flagon and filled two mugs. Xena took hers gratefully and swallowed the whole draught in one gulp. Hamlon smiled and motioned for a refill. The warrior was so dehydrated from the battle that she tossed the second mug down, too, and got another refill.

"You are an amazing woman, Xena. I've never seen anyone clear a room the way you just did. Or use such a unique method to extract information."

The Warrior Princess smiled wearily. "I have many skills."

Prince Hamlon laughed aloud. "That's the understatement of the year!" Then he sobered. "I can use your skills, Xena. My son, the grandson of King Philomaros, has been kidnapped. Whoever kidnapped him has demanded a huge ransom, which we didn't have on hand in our kingdom. So, King Philomaros sent us to a brother of his, to pick up this chest of gems that we are carrying." The prince took a long drink of wine and Xena joined him.

"If this chest doesn't arrive safely, and get turned over to the kidnappers, my son, Prince Ricondo, dies. If you hadn't come to the rescue today, the gems would have been lost and so would my son." Hamlon looked squarely into Xena's eyes. "I'm asking you, no, I'm begging you, to accompany us, to assure safe passage of the chest to our kingdom. I will pay you handsomely for your protection."

Xena looked down and played with her mug of wine for a moment. Then she looked up. "If I come, my two friends come, too."

Hamlon, delighted, blew the breath he had been holding out between his lips. "You bring anyone you want, I'll pay them, too."

"I'm not interested in the money. I want to help you get your son back."

The prince's jaw dropped. "You are unbelievable. I am a very grateful father. It's a deal, then?"

"It's a deal. We'll meet you in the Village Square at first light." Xena drained her wine mug, reached and clasped the prince's arm, and took her leave.

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

Autolycus and Gabrielle were seated in the same spot at the corner of the boardwalk in front of the inn. The King of Thieves had recounted the whole fight to the bard, who listened with shining eyes to his descriptions of Xena's combat.

"I've been worried that Xena hasn't seemed to recuperate as quickly as she usually does, Autolycus. I'll recount our latest adventures to you when I get the chance. Xena was badly hurt and it still shows. But it doesn't seem to have slowed her down today. That is good news."

Autolycus looked toward the inn's door as he heard it open. "Here she comes, now."

The Warrior Princess plopped down, somewhat ungracefully, next to the bard and bowed her head. Gabrielle wrinkled her nose. "Xena, have you been drinking?"

Swinging her lowered head toward the bard, Xena grunted. "Yeah, I have. I forgot those princes have the really good stuff that can hit you pretty hard. Especially on an empty stomach. And when I'm soooo tired."

That admission halted the retort Gabrielle had been ready to make. She stood up and reached down for her partner's arm. "C'mon, Xena, let's go home and get something to eat. Then it's to bed for you. You've had a tough day." Xena let Gabrielle grab her arm, but the bard couldn't budge her. "Autolycus, give me some help here, will you?"

Autolycus stood up then leaned down and spoke loudly into Xena's ear. "I'm going to grab your arm, Xena. Please don't kill me!" The warrior chuckled and lifted her left arm for Autolycus to grab. She pushed up, as the two friends lifted, and they got her to her feet. Each put one of Xena's arms over their shoulders and walked with her to Gabrielle's home and into the kitchen.

Hecuba, standing beside the fireplace stirring the evening stew, looked up and raised her eyebrows. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing some of your stew won't help, Mother. Would you ladle some out for Xena, please?" The bard and Autolycus sat Xena at the table. Gabrielle indicated that Autolycus should sit down, too. "And this is our friend, Autolycus. He would appreciate some stew, too."

"Gabrielle, you know we don't eat until your father comes to the table."

"Mother! Xena fought a tremendous battle today. One in which she saved Father's life. Now she is exhausted and should be in bed, but she needs something to eat, first. If you won't serve us, I will."

Hecuba shook her head, threw her hands up into the air and stepped away from the pot. The bard got up, secured three bowls from the cupboard and served the stew.

When Hecuba saw that Gabrielle was determined to eat, she relented and cut some bread and cheese to go with the stew. The three friends ate ravenously, though Xena did have a little trouble finding her mouth at first. As she got the stew into her empty stomach, she began to return to her usual self. "This is wonderful," she praised, and Hecuba rewarded her with another bowlful.

When they finished, Gabrielle again enlisted Autolycus' help to get Xena into the bedroom. "I can walk by myself," the warrior protested, but when she tried to stand up, her legs wouldn't cooperate. So, she lifted her arms and "allowed" her two friends to take her in and sit her on the bed. Gabrielle lit a couple of candles in the wall sconces.

"Thanks, Autolycus. We don't have another bedroom, but you are welcome to sleep in the barn, if you wish. Here, I'll give you some blankets." The bard opened a chest and filled Autolycus' arms with bedclothes.

"Thanks, Gabrielle. I'll see you two in the morning. Good luck with the princess!" The King of Thieves chortled as he left. Never saw Xena in such a state. Proves she's only human, after all, I guess. Bet she'll have a bad head in the morning! Omigosh, the Warrior Princess with a hangover… THAT could be nasty!

Hecuba had again laid out clean shifts for the two women. Gabrielle helped Xena into hers, then made some attempt to help her to wash. The warrior finally wrested the cloth from her friend's hand. "Gabrielle, I can do this myself. Just spread some blankets on the floor for me, will you?" Xena laid the wash cloth down and lowered her head into her hands.

"Xena, you are not sleeping on the floor. You need a good rest. I'll sleep on the floor."

The warrior's head snapped up and she growled menacingly, "You are NOT sleeping on the floor. I am. Now stop arguing and spread the damn blankets!"

Flabbergasted, the bard just stood there and stared at her friend. Xena looked and sounded like a stranger.

Gabrielle's stricken face sank into Xena's befuddled brain and sobered her immediately. She reached out her hand and Gabrielle, uncertain, backed away. "Gabrielle." Xena concentrated on putting the intensity of her love for her friend into her spoken name. "Gabrielle. Please, come sit beside me." The bard took a step closer, but didn't open her forgiving heart until the next words came from those sculpted lips. "Help me."

Gabrielle closed the space between them and, sitting on the bed beside Xena, threw her arms around her. Xena returned the hug and as her head rested next to the golden one she loved, Xena murmured. "I'm sorry I yelled at you. Have you noticed that I am having some trouble controlling my emotions? I'm too happy or too sad or too angry. And I am having a terrible time trying to get a full night's sleep."

Gabrielle just nodded, afraid to speak and disrupt Xena's thoughts. "Something's going on, Gabrielle, and I'm not sure what it is, or what's causing it, or why. I just know this is not the real me. I am having a constant battle to act normally and I feel exhausted all the time. I just want to lie down and not get back up again. So, until I get to the bottom of this, forgive me if I hurt your feelings. I sure don't want or mean to. You know you're the last person I ever want to hurt."

"I know that, Xena. You just scared me a little. I thought maybe the drinking caused you to lose control."

"That's another weird thing. I've had lots more than three mugs of wine before, even the best wine, and it never affected me before today. I always stop before I get too much to drink, at least when we're out in public. Last time I drank too much, we were in the Amazon village and I knew I was safe, there. The only one in jeopardy was Ephiny." Xena grinned softly at the memory of the two enemies reestablishing their friendship.

"Well, you are the best person I know at finding answers, so let's hope you find the answer to this before long." Gabrielle turned her head and kissed the bronzed cheek. "Now, let's get you to bed." Maybe the wine will help her sleep. Best not to continue the quarrel about the floor. The bard pulled back from the embrace and smiled sweetly at her friend. "And I don't want any arguments, you are sleeping on the floor and that's final!"

Xena grinned and watched as the bard spread blankets on the floor. Then she let Gabrielle help her slide off the bed and onto the blankets. "By the way, I forgot to tell you, we are going with the Royal Guard tomorrow to help deliver the treasure safely. We're to meet them at first light."

The bard knelt and pulled a covering blanket up to Xena's chin. She shook her head and laughed. "Well, thanks for telling me. Wouldn't want you to wait till the last minute."

"Autolycus, too." Xena's eyes started to lose focus as welcome drowsiness finally overwhelmed her.

Gabrielle leaned down and kissed Xena's head. "Goodnight, Xena. I love you."

"Ummm. Love you, too." The Warrior Princess slept.

Next morning was coming too early for Xena. She was filled with the lethargy she had been experiencing lately and, to make matters worse, her head was killing her. Gritting her teeth to keep from moaning, she rolled over and knelt up.

A rumble sounded outside and Xena recognized that Herodotus had started toward the Village Square with the wagon. Xena reached over and grabbed the bard's foot, tugging on it to wake her. "Yeah, yeah, I'll be there in a minute," Gabrielle mumbled.

Impatiently, Xena grabbed the foot harder and yanked. "Get up when you're called, why don't you!"

The bard practically leaped out of bed, shouting, "Hey, take it easy, you just about broke my foot!"

Covering her ears as she stood up, the Warrior Princess winced.

Grinning wickedly, the bard shouted again, "What's the matter, Xena, your head sore?" Suddenly, she remembered their conversation of the night before and was ready to feel contrite when a long arm grabbed the front of her shift, twisted it around a hand, and lifted her off her feet. Unexpectedly, a shiver of fear coursed through her body, raising goose bumps on her arms. C'mon, this is Xena. She's not going to hurt you. She always protects you.

But Xena's dangerous expression shocked her and Gabrielle's body refused to believe her own placating words. Her face paled, her skin got clammy and she started trembling. Somewhere, deep inside, exists a deadly warlord, her thoughts screamed in defiance.

Xena's mind was screaming as well. Haven't you been listening? Right now I have no PATIENCE! Can't you give me a rest for one minute without PESTERING me?

Gabrielle lowered her voice to a shaky whisper, pretending to make a joke of the situation. "OK, OK, I promise not to speak above a whisper for the rest of the morning if you're going to get so mad about it."

Xena closed her eyes; struggle tautened her jaw line. By the gods, Xena, this is your dearest friend. You going to bash her head in because she tormented you at just the wrong time? Where's that self-discipline you pride yourself on? First, you just about tear her foot off and now look how upset you're making her--over a few loud words!

The Warrior Princess reopened her magnificent eyes and the dangerous expression slowly dissolved into an apologetic one. She set the bard back on her feet and threw her arms around her. "I am so sorry."

I was ready to punch you, my friend, just because my head hurts? I can't believe I did that. She buried her face in Gabrielle's hair and groaned. "This is what I meant about exaggerated reactions. Whatever this is, it's getting worse. But I swear, I will never hurt you again."

Gabrielle reached her arms around the warrior and returned her hug, patting her soothingly on the back. And I will NOT be afraid of you.

Xena felt the change from fear to trust and tears sprung into her eyes. "I need you to help keep me from hurting anyone else."

"I'll help you," the bard pledged.

When Xena released her, Gabrielle saw a fine line of sweat glistening along her upper lip. She touched the warrior's arm in silent promise.

The Warrior Princess patted her hand. "Thanks, Gabrielle, for standing by me."

"Always," the bard affirmed. "Don't ever doubt that, Xena, no matter what."

As they dressed, Gabrielle frowned at her friend's odd behavior. "The more I think about this, the less I like it, Xena. I mean, besides being worried about your health. If you could turn on me, even that little bit, what might you do to a stranger?"

"Yeah, isn't that a pleasant thought?"

"No, frankly I find it a very scary thought. Maybe you should back off from this job. After all, they do have eight soldiers guarding the treasure."

"Yeah, eight soldiers who would be out hunting for that treasure right now. Or maybe dead." Xena quirked a rueful grimace at the bard and finished putting on her armor, scabbard and chakram.

"Xena, remember what you said last night. You're not eating or sleeping right. You're exhausted. And your actions this morning show that you are a bundle of nerves. What if you get out of control? Who's going to be able to stop you?" The more Gabrielle argued, the more she convinced herself that Xena shouldn't undertake this trip. The problem was convincing Xena.

Quickly annoyed again, the Warrior Princess shook her head at the bard and strode a few feet away. Then she turned and came back, stomping right up to her and forcing Gabrielle to crane her neck to look up at her towering partner. "I made a commitment to get this boy back and there isn't ANYONE going to stop me from THAT! I can control this. And you just promised to help, so I'm counting on that. Are you in, or out?"

Gabrielle stared up at her imposing friend, willing her to recognize the danger she could pose for others. I can see more argument, at this stage, is fruitless. Maybe I can have more success, later. The bard shrugged and surrendered. "Whatever you say, Xena. I'm in. I just hope you are right."

"I am." Xena's voice carried a no-more-arguments tone. "Let's get Autolycus and get outta here."

They went through the kitchen, grabbing something to take for breakfast and saying goodbye to Hecuba. Xena went to the barn to wake Autolycus and get the horses while Gabrielle soothed her mother's disappointment at her departure.

Autolycus was sleeping on his back on a pile of straw. Picking up a piece of the straw, Xena tickled his nose, chuckling as his mouth and mustache twisted every which way to stop the irritating sensation. Soon, his eyes popped open. "Aha," he grinned and waggled his eyebrows. "A dream come true. Just the woman I would like to get playful in the straw with."

"Stow it, Autolycus." Xena flicked the piece of straw at his face. "Grab your gear. We're going to join the treasure party."

"Oh, yeah? What's this 'we' stuff?" Uh-oh, Wrong question.

Three expressions fought for control of the Warrior Princess' face: anger, threat, and disdain. She flexed her fingers under his nose, finally closing them into a fist and shaking it up and down in frustration. "You ARE coming."

Alarmed at Xena's reaction, Autolycus jumped up and backed away from her. When she didn't actually hit him, a relieved, but puzzled, look crossed the thief's face. He stammered in his haste to agree with her demand. "Er… uh… yeah… sure… Xena, whatever you say." What's got into her? She usually saves her anger for more important things, not my joking with her. Short fuse, today? But he didn't feel it wise to push her in her present frame of mind. A nasty Warrior Princess was pretty terrifying. He scrambled to get his belongings and saddle his horse, which he'd had the foresight to put in Herodotus' barn.

Xena saddled Argo and swung up on her back. There I go again. First Gabrielle, now Autolycus. Keep this up and I won't be able to look anyone in the eye. She rode out of the barn, stopped to swing Gabrielle up behind her, then headed for the Village Square, with Autolycus following.

Gabrielle's father was surprised to see his daughter and Xena join the group. "Would you rather ride with your father?" Xena asked the bard.

No, I'd rather stay with you and help you fight the demons that are bothering you. But if I told you that, out here in the light of day, you would laugh. "OK, for a little while. It might be more comfortable than riding Argo all day. But come back and get me if you… need me."

Xena turned her head further around until her cobalt-blue eyes met her partner's concerned gaze. "I'll always need you," she murmured softly, followed with a rare, unbelievably sweet smile. "But I guess I can let your father enjoy your company for a little while."

Gabrielle's eyes sparkled back at her partner in appreciation. Now that's the Xena I'm used to. This hot and cold change of temper is tough on us sidekicks.

The Warrior Princess rode over to the wagon and, reaching behind her, swung Gabrielle down onto the seat next to Herodotus. The warrior nodded to the man and got a short nod in return. Herodotus was uncomfortable that the woman he reviled--a woman warrior--had saved his life. He still wouldn't allow himself to even begin to like Xena, but he reluctantly recognized her incredible abilities. At least, I know Gabrielle is not in the danger I thought she was in, while traveling on unsafe trails.

"Let's move out!" Prince Hamlon called, and the soldiers lined up as before, four in front and four behind the wagon. Xena, when she wasn't reconnoitering the area they were crossing, rode alongside Prince Hamlon, while Autolycus rode with the other soldiers.

For the first few days, Gabrielle stayed mostly with her father, telling her captive audience tales of her and Xena's adventures. Herodotus was so pleased to have his daughter's attention that he begrudgingly listened to her praise of her friend.

For a few hours each day, she rode with Xena, knowing that her presence was a calming influence. She knew Xena still wasn't sleeping well and could feel the tension in her body as she rode behind her. The bard was growing more and more concerned.

The Warrior Princess would always leave the group about half an hour before they camped, checking the surrounding area, assuring herself that the campsite was safe. Then she would surprise and delight the campers with fish or rabbit for their meals.

The soldiers were intrigued by the fighting abilities they had witnessed at the inn and Prince Hamlon persuaded Xena to put on an exhibition of her leaps and sword drills.

Autolycus and Gabrielle sat with Herodotus during the exhibition. When Xena was finishing up, Autolycus remarked, "She just keeps getting better." But that was a pretty short exhibition.

"Yeah, she does, doesn't she?" Gabrielle's eyes shone as she saw her friend in action. Xena practiced her drills very early in the morning, so the bard seldom witnessed them. And, during a fight, she hardly had time to watch her. Sitting here watching so many intricate movements, and the speed, grace and agility with which Xena performed them, was a real treat. Plus, the drills seemed to have a calming effect on the Warrior Princess.

The Guard clapped and whistled when Xena finished. She saluted them with her sword, sheathed it and walked over to join Gabrielle, her father and Autolycus. Dropping to the ground next to them, the warrior took several deep breaths. Gabrielle looked at her in concern. "Xena, are you…"

Xena's voice cut sharply across the bard's. "Don't ask." And I told Ephiny to avoid heavy breathing! The Warrior Princess ran her fingers across her forehead and flicked droplets of sweat onto the ground. Well, at least I can still laugh at myself.

"I WILL ask. Look at you! I've never seen drills drain you like this. Don't you think you better start taking it easy? Are you just going to keep on until you drop?" The bard spoke sharply even as concerned green eyes probed her friend's countenance.

Tired as she was, the Warrior Princess jumped up, grabbed Gabrielle's arm and hoisted her up alongside her. With a tight-lipped smile, she said, "Excuse us… please," and hustled the bard further into the trees.

"Xena, let go of me! What do you think you're doing?" Gabrielle fumed.

Letting go and waggling her finger beneath the bard's nose, Xena spit out between clenched teeth. "Now look who's losing her temper."

She's right. One of us better stay cool. Gabrielle fought her anger and it began to dissipate.

But Xena's didn't. "Don't you ever reproach me about anything in front of the people who are in my care. No matter whether you are right or wrong, if you feel a need to criticize me, you will do it privately. I thought you already understood that."

Chagrined, Gabrielle realized that Xena was right again. "I do, Xena, and I apologize. You looked so worn out after that short drill… I'm just so worried about you, I wasn't thinking straight."

Slightly mollified, the Warrior Princess merely nodded. Hades' helmet, it's even tiring to get angry.

"We both know you are not yourself. Maybe you should avoid exhibitions and any unnecessary physical activity until you feel more up to it. That's all I meant. I wasn't trying to embarrass you."

Xena took a deep breath and rested her hand on the bard's shoulder. "It's not a question of embarrassment, Gabrielle. It's a question of respect. If these soldiers see me letting you be critical, then they might think they could get away with it, too. And I would have to hurt anyone who tried. Understand?"

The bard swallowed, shook by this thought. 'I would have to hurt anyone who tried.' "Yeah, I understand. I was wrong and I'll try not to let it happen again."

Then Gabrielle gathered her courage. "But right now, there's no one else around and I have to say something. That's if you promise not to get angry."

The warrior took another deep breath, crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows. "Well?"

"You really should turn back, but you won't. You're just as hardheaded as ever, you know?"

Xena's face twitched, but a corner of her mouth lifted a little. "And you're just as much a pest. Always worrying about me."

Cobalt-blue eyes and mist-green eyes exchanged a tender look that crept past the surface and eased into their hearts. They knew that even angry words couldn't budge their rock-solid love for each other. "Well, somebody has to worry about you. You won't look after yourself." Gabrielle spoke softly. Even now, dead on your feet, you won't slow down, you just keep pushing. The relentless Warrior Princess.

"That's your job, you know." Xena placed her long arm across Gabrielle's shoulders and the two friends walked back into camp.

Herodotus looked up from his conversation with Autolycus. After hearing tales of Xena's exploits, watching the exhibition and, now, observing the obvious friendship between the two women, Herodotus began to get a glimmer of understanding of how close the two were and how much Xena meant to his daughter. Maybe I've been unfair to Gabrielle, demanding that she be what I wanted her to be. Maybe it's time for me to accept that she has a right to make her own choices. Even if I don't agree with them.

Elisa smiled to herself as she replayed the scene in Ephiny's hut a few days ago. She and Gwynna had gone to see the regent to ask a favor. Ephiny, seated at her table with Eponin, Solari, and Claris--the chief healer, had called to the young Amazons when they knocked at her open door. "C'mon in."

The two youngsters entered and bowed to the regent. Elisa was tall, wiry and bronzed, with long black hair and bangs. When she wore her hair loose, as it was today, she looked strikingly like her idol, the Warrior Princess. Her face was slimmer and her cheekbones higher, but her long, gray eyes were nearly as arresting as Xena's blue ones. Elisa wore six throwing knives placed about her body and was an expert in their use. Her high-backed tunic top, unusual for an Amazon, served to mask the four scabbards lying against her shoulder blades, accessible to either hand.

With Xena's tutelage, and her own desire, Elisa had turned herself into an exceptional fighter. She was formidable with sword, staff, or hand-to-hand, and constantly worked to improve her skills.

Gwynna, her almost constant companion, also was tall, but built a bit sturdier and her fair, brown-eyed face was crowned with wheat-blonde hair. Gwynna's forte in fighting was the staff, though she also had become noteworthy with the sword, being tormented by Elisa into being her sparring partner. And she was the best tracker the Amazons had.

"What can I do for you?" Ephiny and the others smiled at the two newcomers. Both were well-liked and had proven their loyalty to their nation and their queen in battle.

Elisa looked at Gwynna, who nodded, and then she spoke. "Gwynna and I would like permission to follow after Queen Gabrielle and Xena."

Surprised, Ephiny raised her eyebrows. "You know your absence would be felt, here, Elisa. It would weaken our strength at a time when we could ill afford it. Is there a special reason for your request?" Elisa wasn't aware that news had just arrived of a warlord laying waste to several villages about a two-week ride from the Amazon nation. It was likely that he would cause them no harm but this unofficial meeting at Ephiny's had just been discussing sending a few Amazons to keep an eye on him.

"Xena's appearance, and some of the problems she was experiencing, lead us to believe she was not fully recovered when she and Queen Gabrielle left. In fact, she seemed like maybe something more was wrong with her." Elisa's voice had a new ring of maturity in it. "I've been thinking about it and worrying about it and finally, I decided I need to follow and find out how she is. A weak Warrior Princess would be dangerous not only for herself, but also for our queen."

"Just what do you know about her condition that worries you?" Ephiny's brow furrowed.

Elisa stood taller and swept all four women with her gaze. "When she was well, Xena always practiced drills with me in the early morning. As she started to recuperate from her wounds, she joined me again for the drills, but she never completed them. Even after a couple weeks, she still couldn't complete the drills. And she would be worn out when she finished what she did."

"That sure doesn't sound like the Princess," Eponin offered.

"Not only that, but when she did her leaping drills, she never went as high as usual. And she would skip some of them, too. When I asked her about it, she said she hadn't been sleeping well and she was a bit tired. I know that for a fact, because, as you may know, I always sleep outside, in the woods behind the queen's hut. I've seen Xena come out at all hours of the night and walk around a bit, then just sit on the porch. Sometimes she would take Argo out for a ride. But she never was real active."

Claris mumbled something and Ephiny turned toward the healer. "You make something of this, Claris?"

"Sounds to me like Xena could be suffering from some sort of fatigue. Can't sleep right, probably can't eat right, tired all the time, no energy, exhausted--and probably irritable. But who knows what could be causing it?"

"So, what would you suggest?" Ephiny asked.

"I don't think it's something Xena can just work her way through, which is probably what she is trying to do. Instead, she would be getting progressively weaker and tireder and having even more difficulty sleeping. It's a vicious circle. I would say that she should be brought back here right away, so we can find out the cause and treat it. The sooner the better."

Eponin exclaimed, "Like who's going to bring the Princess back here if she doesn't want to come, weak or not?"

Gwynna spoke up into the silence this remark caused. "If we can convince Gabrielle that Xena needs attention, maybe Xena will come back to please her."

Ephiny smiled at the blonde Amazon. "I think you are on the right track. Xena pretty much tries to do whatever Gabrielle asks her to, if she's insistent enough. OK, you two go after them and see if you can get Xena back here before either one of them gets hurt."

By now, Elisa and Gwynna had been on the trail for several days. They had been to Poteidaia and found out that Xena and Gabrielle were accompanying a treasure party to King Philomaros' castle. Elisa figured they should be coming upon the party soon. There were plenty of signs, complete with wagon ruts, that a large group had passed this way.

Suddenly, Elisa raised her hand, a sign to Gwynna to halt Nightmare, as Elisa halted Viktor. When Elisa beckoned, Gwynna nudged her ebony mare up next to her friend's palomino stallion. "There's a large party of some kind just ahead of us. You wait here in the trees and I will find out who they are."

Elisa dismounted, handed Viktor's reins to Gwynna, and took off running through the trees. In about 15 minutes she was back. "It wasn't the group we're looking for. This is a band of cutthroats, if I'm not mistaken. Looks like they might be following Xena's party. Let's swing off the trail and around them and warn the treasure party that they will have visitors, soon."

The two young Amazons urged their mounts through the forest, giving the brigands a wide berth. Satisfied that they were well past them, Gwynna suggested that they return to the trail. "Not yet, Gwynna. They might have a scouting party out ahead of them. Let's wait till we are nearer the treasure party."

They rode through the trees for a while longer then Elisa put her hand up again, stopped and dismounted. She stood there for a few moments, then said, softly but clearly, "Xena?"

The Warrior Princess strode from the trees, grinning. Elisa took a good look at her and saw that she was noticeably pale. She had lost weight and her face held a bare hint of fatigue. Even her magnificent eyes had lost a bit of their sparkle. But Xena came forward as though nothing bothered her, threw her arms around the young Amazon and gave her a quick hug. "Leese! What a great surprise!" Stepping away, Xena reached up and clasped the young blonde's arm. "Hi, Gwynna, good to see you. What are you two doing here?"

Not anxious to have that question answered yet, Elisa quickly jumped in. "We heard in Poteidaia that you are guarding a treasure party. What are your plans for the outlaws we just passed?"

"They've been following us since we left Poteidaia. I figure they are waiting to join up with a band that is camped about a day's ride southeast of here. Guess they don't want to take any chances jumping us before then. A group tried that already, but… we changed their minds for them." A feral grin crossed Xena's face and the Amazons had no doubt about who had changed their minds.

"I sent word from Poteidaia to King Philomaros that we would need help from the castle. A messenger just reported that about 50 men are on their way. I think they can take care of the band waiting ahead of us and we can take care of the one behind us."

"So…? When do we start taking them out?" Elisa's eyes lit at the prospect of action.

If you two only knew how glad I am to see you. I can use all the help I can get. Xena looked at Gwynna. "You game to try?"

"I go where Leese goes," Gwynna grinned, repeating a phrase similar to one she had heard from Gabrielle.

"Right. Then let's get started. Leese and I will knock them down and you whack them with your staff if they try to get back up. Then start tying them up with rope, reins, whatever you can find, and gag them. Leese and I will help with that part when we are finished."

The two dark-headed women worked at a steady pace. The outlaws were strung out along the trail, riding far enough apart that Xena and Elisa were able to surreptitiously pick two or three outlaws at the end of the group and, working their way up the line, gradually eliminate them. Their most effective mode of attack was to move into the trees above their target, swing down and kick them in the head or neck, sending them flying off their mounts onto the ground, unconscious. Gwynna tied the first few with her own ropes, then scrounged others from the outlaws' saddlebags to use on the next casualties. She pulled their shirttails out and stuffed them in their mouths as gags.

Moving forward in this fashion, they had eliminated all but fifteen when one of the outlaws ahead spied them and yelled. Those remaining turned their mounts and raced toward the three women standing in the trail.

Xena was first in line and she unhorsed the first three men who tried to race by her. Ducking under the first rider's sword swing, she grabbed his arm and threw him to the ground. Jumping into the air, she kicked the next one in the chest and, flipping off of him, she hit the third one in the side with both boots.

The fourth, fifth and sixth went by as she was taking out these three. Elisa dug her sword into the first as he missed her with his. Gwynna jammed her staff into the stomach of the next one who flew into the air, hit the ground and was trampled by another's horse. Elisa ran up a tree trunk, flipped up into the air and kicked two side-by-side riders under their chins, breaking their necks simultaneously. Gwynna dropped her hands to the bottom of her staff and swung it at the head of one coming in her direction. She saw one of the riders Xena had knocked down attempting to rise, and caught him alongside the head with a loud crack.

Jumping for a low branch and throwing her body sideways, Xena cleared three horses of their riders. Elisa and Gwynna downed them for good with sword thrust and staff.

Xena had hit the ground sideways, hard, and was just beginning to rise as the last four saw her predicament and ran their horses at her, intending to run her down. The Warrior Princess rolled sideways and grabbed the boot of one rider. Thrusting her feet against the ground and reaching high up the rider, she vaulted her body up with one hand, drew her chakram to fend off his sword, then sliced his neck with one jerk of the circular weapon as her body continued into the air. Landing on her feet, she saw that the other three riders were lying on the ground, with Elisa's knives sticking out of their throats.

Elisa removed the knives, wiped them off and replaced them in the scabbards she carried nestled against her back. She looked back at Xena and saw the Warrior Princess walk slowly to a seat on a log. Elisa went over and sat beside her and Gwynna joined them.

Xena breathed heavily for about three minutes, then asked, "How come you two are here, anyway?"

Elisa answered. "We came to ask you something." Then the three sat there. For fifteen minutes. Without a word. All three looking straight ahead. Xena could see the Amazons with her peripheral vision and they both sat stolidly, not moving the whole time.

Finally, Xena spoke. "I guess you two are prepared to sit here all night, if necessary, huh?"

Elisa nodded, then so did Gwynna.

"Without speaking."

They both nodded again.

Xena slapped her hands down on each Amazon's thigh. "Guess I taught you too damn well, Leese, and Gwynna is a fast learner, too. What is it you want to know?"

Elisa still didn't look at the warrior, but she was having a tough time keeping her eyes off of her. Somehow, she thought it would be easier for Xena to talk if no one was looking at her. "What's wrong with you, Xena?"

The Warrior Princess put both hands on her head and leaned forward, propping her elbows on her knees. She took a deep breath and blew it out through loose lips. Might as well tell somebody the whole story. And I am going to need these two. How wonderful it was to hear them coming down the trail. "Truth is, I don't really know. I can't sleep right. I'm not eating right. I'm exhausted. And I want to smash everybody's face in, and I mean everybody's. I'm having a tough time keeping my temper in check."

The warrior lowered her hands, sat up and blew her breath out again. "Today was a nightmare. Expending so much energy is a terrible drain. Right now, it's an effort just to sit upright."

Finally, Elisa turned her cloud-gray eyes toward Xena and frowned. "You were going to get rid of about 40 outlaws all by yourself? How did you expect to accomplish that, in your condition?"

"Verrrrry slowly," Xena admitted and all three women laughed gently. "You don't know how happy I was to hear you coming. I am really glad you are here. And you both did a great job." Xena looked at each of them and smiled. "How long can you stay?"

"We can stay for as long as you need us." We'll stay forever, if you want us to. Elisa wanted to speak to Gabrielle before broaching the subject of Xena's returning to the Amazon village.

"Wonderful. I'm guarding a ransom that is needed to free a child." Xena explained the whole story to them. "I will be glad for your assistance. Now, let's get back to the group."

Elisa jumped up. "I'll get the horses." She dashed down the trail and came back shortly, riding Viktor and leading Nightmare.

Sliding off her palomino, she extended her hand to Xena. The Warrior Princess grabbed the hand and Elisa heaved her up. "Thanks," Xena smiled. "I'd like to keep my problems quiet, if possible. No sense in making the Guards nervous about whether I can protect them. I'll send a couple soldiers back to round up the prisoners and take them to the nearest jail."

"You can ride Viktor; Gwynna and I will double up on Nightmare." Elisa bent down by Viktor's stirrup, intertwining her fingers, and gave the warrior a lift onto Viktor's back. Then she hopped up behind an already mounted Gwynna and the two followed Xena to camp.

The soldiers had stopped for a midday break and Gabrielle was supremely worried. Her father and Autolycus were seated at some distance from the soldiers. Pacing back and forth next to the two men, she marked every step with an angry stab of her staff into the soil. All the while she kept muttering to herself. Where is she? I know she keeps going off into the forest, checking to make sure the way is clear. But this is the longest she has been gone. She said another bunch of outlaws has been trailing us. What if they have caught her? What will they do with her? What will they do TO her?

Argo was tied to the wagon, which meant Xena was afoot. The bard ordinarily wouldn't have been so worried, but she knew that the sickness Xena was struggling with was gradually weakening her. Of all times to commit herself to assuring the safe arrival of this darn treasure. What is she going to do? Xena, where ARE you? And why didn't you take Argo?

Herodotus saw that his daughter was distraught and guessed that she was worked up over the warrior's absence. "I don't know why you are so worried. Your friend seems perfectly capable of taking care of herself."

Gabrielle whirled around. "You know, Father, if Xena only cared about taking care of herself, I wouldn't worry. But she's trying to take care of all of us and a treasure, too. She's the only one standing between us and those 30 or 40 outlaws out there. And besides that, she's sick."

Herodotus frowned as he contemplated the words he had just heard. One sick woman protecting us from that many outlaws? Impossible! Even Xena has her limitations. And what good are eight soldiers going to be against such a force? Herodotus started to be concerned about his daughter and himself.

"Gabrielle," Autolycus spoke up. "You can stop your worrying. Look over there."

The bard whirled around, looking in the direction the King of Thieves had indicated. Thank the gods! Xena… on Argo? Puzzled, Gabrielle's head swept from the mounted Xena to the tied Argo and back. Before her mind could get straight, Nightmare came out of the trees, carrying Elisa and Gwynna.

With a wide, wide grin, Gabrielle breathed, "Praise the gods!" Now Xena will have some help. And so will I.

The riders came to where she stood. Elisa and Gwynna slipped off of Nightmare and knelt on one knee in front of their queen. Gabrielle motioned them up then gave each a fervent hug. "What a welcome sight you two are! I am so happy to see you. What are you doing here?"

Herodotus looked on in surprise. So there really are Amazons that Gabrielle is queen of. I thought it was just an honorary title. Two more women warriors. Hummph. Though these two aren't much more than kids. That dark-haired one looks something like Xena, same arrogant look and all.

"You know Leese. She got restless," Gwynna laughed. "So here we are." They would wait to speak privately with Gabrielle before they revealed the real reason for their arrival.

Xena had dismounted and gone to sit next to Autolycus. "You remember the force of bandits who were following us? They aren't there anymore."

Autolycus turned to the warrior, wide-eyed. He twirled his finger, encompassing Xena and the young Amazons. "You three…?"

"Yep. Those girls are good." A weary smile graced her face.

"Why didn't you get me to help?" he asked.

"Well, I was only going to check on the outlaws, make sure they weren't readying an attack. Then out or nowhere come these two Amazons just rarin' for a fight and I thought, 'Why not?' So we did."

"And I missed all the fun!" Autolycus said with a happy grin.

"Yeeaaahh," the warrior chuckled. "Tell Prince Hamlon to send a couple soldiers to round up what's left of the outlaws and take them to the nearest village jail."

"I'll do that." Autolycus wasn't bothered by the fact that Xena ordered rather than asking. When she was in charge, she seldom asked. And he knew better than to refuse her. In fact, he was more than happy to have her in charge. He trusted no one's abilities more than he trusted Xena's. He had just spent the last hour trying to explain that to Herodotus who, in spite of seeing Xena in action, still had doubts about her. Funny, but I have the distinct feeling that he will get to see more of the Warrior Princess in action before this job is over.

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

Early the next day, the travelers neared the area where the second group of outlaws had camped. Xena, assuming nothing, now rode at the front of the party, next to Prince Hamlon, ever alert. The presence of Elisa and Gwynna allowed Xena to alternate reconnaissance duties, allowing fresh eyes to be constantly on the watch for trouble. The young Amazons had left several hours before dawn to check on the forward area.

Because she had taken the time to dispose of the outlaws preying on the party from the rear, Xena had been unable to meet the force sent out by King Philomaros to deal with the second group ahead of them. Anxious to hear from either Elisa or Gwynna, the Warrior Princess fidgeted with a building restlessness. If someone doesn't show up soon, I'm going out there myself. That's the heart of Draco's army the king's forces are going against; I just hope they haven't underestimated that.

From her vantage point on the wagon seat, Gabrielle could tell Xena was restless. Her partner's head swiveled constantly back and forth and her shoulders stayed tight. Even Argo felt her tension. The golden warhorse flipped her head periodically, reacting to the pressure of Xena's hands unconsciously tightening on the reins.

As the bard watched, she saw Gwynna come rushing full tilt on Nightmare. The blonde Amazon swung her mount around and rode right next to Xena, shouting something to her and Prince Hamlon. Xena turned her head to the rear, yelling, "Autolycus!"

The King of Thieves spurred his horse past the wagon and steered to the other side of the Warrior Princess as the prince moved to make room for him

.

"Autolycus, the king's force is in trouble. Draco's army is beating them. You and Gabrielle stay here and help the Guard with the treasure in case some of those renegades break away and try to attack. And Autolycus..." Intense blue eyes bored into him and sent a clearly demanding message. "Keep an eye on Gabrielle and her father."

"I'll do that, Xena, I promise. And you be careful."

Xena's usual crooked grin pulled up the side of her mouth. "I'm always careful." She and Gwynna bolted off along the trail.

Autolycus snorted. Yeah, she's always careful. Wonder how Gabrielle puts up with watching her go off into danger time after time? That's gotta be heart-thudding for anyone who cares about her. I know it is for me!

"I'll ride next to the wagon," Autolycus told Prince Hamlon, understanding that the bard would be anxious to hear what was going on.

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

Xena eased Argo back just a trifle to let Gwynna come even with her. "You say the king's men are surrounded? Where's Leese?"

"Yeah, Xena. It looks like they were sucked right into a trap. Rivers on two sides, a bluff on the third, and Draco's army advancing on them from the fourth." Gwynna's warm brown eyes crinkled in worry. "Last I saw Leese, she had climbed into the trees and was headed toward the action."

"I hope she has sense enough to wait for us."

"Yeah, me too," Gwynna prayed.

Finally, the two came close enough to hear the sounds of battle. Xena slowed Argo down and walked her carefully forward until she could see movement through the trees. She slipped off of Argo and threw the reins over a bush. Gwynna dismounted and followed her as the warrior crept closer.

Xena threw up her hand and stopped, listening. Other than the battle, Gwynna couldn't discern anything, but a few moments later Elisa dropped from a tree beside them. Gwynna reached out and squeezed her shoulder and was rewarded with a quick smile.

"Glad you waited for reinforcements," Xena drawled.

Elisa grinned as she shook her head. "There's only one Warrior Princess and it's not me."

Xena grinned back. "What did you find out?" The three squatted down and Elisa drew in the dirt with a twig to show the positions of the two forces.

"About fifteen archers on the bluff are showering arrows down on the king's troops. The rest of Draco's army is forcing the soldiers back against the rivers and the bluff and soon they will be in a position to slaughter them." Elisa filled Xena in calmly and thoroughly. "The only way out is down either river and that's pretty chancy because of the surging rapids where the two rivers meet. In a choice between fighting or drowning, I think the king's troops will fight."

"I think you're right, there. Any ideas on how to stop Draco?" Xena liked to give the young Amazons a chance to learn to develop strategy for fighting. They both appreciated her tutelage and gave serious attention to the problem.

"The archers need to be put out of commission." Gwynna voiced the first piece of strategy. Xena pursed her lips and nodded, then raised an eyebrow toward Elisa.

"While one does that, the other two could open a path for the king's men to escape through." Elisa suggested the second piece. Xena waited but nothing more was forthcoming.

She looked from one to the other. They were waiting for her assessment. "You're both right, up to a point. Leese, you take out the archers and Gwynna and I will open a path. But once the path is opened, we need to get the soldiers to turn to the left and right and split Draco's forces in two. Then his army will have to run for their lives or be trapped against the rivers themselves." Xena closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

A quick look of alarm passed between Elisa and Gwynna. The warrior's eyes flew open, catching them, and she snorted. "Stop worrying, we can do this. Get moving, Leese. Gwynna you stick close to me." The Warrior Princess didn't realize the young Amazons weren't concerned about the success of the strategy, they were concerned about her. All three stood up. The two young friends hugged each other and murmured a few parting words, then Elisa climbed into the trees and Gwynna hurried to catch up to Xena.

Spaced about 30 yards apart, the archers concentrated their efforts on felling as many soldiers as possible with barrage after barrage of arrows. The first didn't even hear Elisa sneak up behind him through the treetops. He felt the thud when she dropped to the ground. As he turned around, she slit his throat with one of her razor-sharp throwing knives.

Sheathing the knife, she jumped for a low limb and swung herself back into the trees. Quickly and stealthily she picked them off, one by one. Most didn't even feel her presence, but were dropped without a warning.

Meanwhile, Xena ran back to Argo and leaped aboard the saddle. Gwynna rushed to mount Nightmare and the two women charged through the trees and out toward the fray. Gwynna slid from her horse as the Warrior Princess vaulted from Argo.

Xena's "Yiyiyiyiyiyiyi," battlecry echoed against the bluff and soared through the air. For a split second, all fighting froze. As Xena plunged into a horde of bodies, swinging her sword like a reaper, a man some distance away listened half-admiringly to the sound.

A wide grin split his face. "Xena. Well, Princess, I'm afraid you've got your hands full this time. Today, I'm the winner." Draco's confident bragging drew a grin from his men. But the grins were short-lived. They couldn't pull their eyes from the unbelievable sight of the Warrior Princess cutting a swath through their fellows. And the blonde with her was doing her share, too.

The young Amazon and the warrior fought savagely, side-by-side, eliminating everyone near them. Gwynna preferred fighting with the staff, but they were so vastly outnumbered she knew they could ill afford to fight the same outlaw twice, so she used her sword. Pushed to the limit of her abilities, and beyond, she drew strength from the fact that the legendary Warrior Princess fought at her side.

Thrusting, slashing, head-butting, jumping, kicking, punching, Xena systematically fought her way through the crowd. Knowing that she did not have her usual strength or stamina, the warrior paced herself but still steadily eradicated anyone near her.

Then one swordsman struck a blow to her leg as she parried several others. Blood oozed out and trickled down the bronzed limb, but that was only a minimal effect compared to the reaction it released in the Warrior Princess. Throwing all caution to the winds, Xena stormed into battle fury. All her movements soared into even higher gear. The horde of soldiers began to back away from her furious attack. Slash! Thrust! Hack! Her sword seemed to have a life of its own, spraying death and destruction on all in its path.

Suddenly, Xena's energy gave out and she stumbled. Just as her knee hit the earth, another cry sounded across the battlefield. "EeeeeeeeeeeYahhhhhhh!" Elisa, flipping through the air, landed at Xena's right hand and parried a thrust meant to cut down the warrior. The dark-haired Amazon took over where Xena had left off. What she lacked in Xena's strength and speed, she made up for in ingenuity and agility.

Her timely arrival gave the warrior a much-needed respite. Though short, it provided Xena an essential moment to catch her breath, call on whatever reserve strength she still had and resume the battle, once more pacing herself. The three women, working in concert, opened a path for the surrounded royal soldiers. When they poured forth, Xena directed one group to fall against the enemy on one side while Elisa and Gwynna pointed another group to the other side.

As Xena had planned, Draco's army was divided by this strategy. One contingent, caught between the bluff and a river, fell to the royal onslaught led by the two young Amazons. The second, realizing the sudden switch in the precariousness of their position, hurriedly retreated with their disgruntled leader, Draco.

As he fled the battle, Draco turned and waved his sword threateningly toward the warrior. "We'll meet again, Xena!"

The imposing Warrior Princess drew herself to her full height, thrust up her own sword and shouted back, "You can count on that, Draco! And you better not hurt that boy!"

Draco shook his head in disbelief as he and his men mounted their waiting horses and hurried away. How does she know I have the boy? Or did have him. She'd have a good laugh at the trouble he's caused me!

Xena caught hold of the leader of the king's troops and suggested that he round up his men, wait for the treasure party to reach them and join the party for the rest of the trip.

The three women gathered their horses and headed back. "What did you mean by what you yelled to Draco, Xena?" Elisa looked inquiringly at the warrior. "You think he has the boy?"

The warrior's face was still hardened from battle intensity and her jaw muscles rippled, "Yeah, I do."

"But why would he try to steal the treasure? He could just wait till the ransom was delivered." Gwynna frowned, trying to sort the answer in her own mind.

Elisa's quick mind arrived there first. "If he stole the treasure and no one connected the theft with the kidnapping, he could continue to demand the ransom. He'd get paid twice."

"Exactly. But he's tried twice and both times he has failed. Now, he'll probably settle for the ransom." The Warrior Princess' lip curled up in derision. "But now he knows that I know he kidnapped the boy and he's going to worry that he might not collect the ransom, after all."

"But if you stop the ransom, he might kill the boy," Gwynna argued.

"Do you think I'm that stupid?" Xena snapped. She sensed, rather than saw, Gwynna's startled reaction to her nasty tone. Easy, Xena.

"I won't stop the ransom," Xena assured her. Then her cobalt-blue eyes took on silvery highlights and her voice lowered into a snarl. "I'll just take it back after he returns the boy."

Elisa looked at Gwynna uncomfortably. I doubt even Gabrielle will be able to persuade Xena to return to the Amazon territory until this boy is saved. But can Xena hold herself together long enough to do all that she plans?

The treasure party reached the battle site and joined the king's troops. A halt was called while Xena, Prince Hamlon, and the captain of the troops met to discuss continued guarding of the treasure for the balance of the journey.

Elisa and Gwynna took this opportunity to call Gabrielle aside to discuss the primary reason for their presence. They found a small clearing just out of sight of the others, sat on the ground and filled Gabrielle in on their worry about Xena. Elisa explained what she had told Claris and what the Amazon healer had suggested.

"So, Claris believes Xena should come back as soon as possible?" Gabrielle repeated. She looked at Elisa and frowned. I guess I've been too close to see just how serious Xena's illness is. Sounds like she's being too stoic for her own good. Not only that, but she could have some worse problems if the wrong people notice her weakness. How am I going to get her to listen?

"She said Xena's condition will continue to deteriorate and might even become life-threatening." Elisa spoke with heartfelt concern. She considered the Warrior Princess to be part of her family.

"Yeah, and we need you to convince her of that." Gwynna, too, was concerned. But she also worried about those around Xena. If the warrior's temper was as fractious as it seemed to be earlier, others could be in danger. Including my hardheaded friend who seems so certain that Xena would never hurt her. I wish I had her confidence.

Gabrielle listened thoughtfully to their message. "Xena and I both know she has problems. But admitting them and doing something to resolve them are two different things. She has committed herself to saving this boy and she won't be deterred by anything I say."

"I figured as much," Elisa remarked. "Gwynna thought maybe you could convince her to return right away, but Xena's the most focused person I know. That's probably what keeps her going at the moment. At least our being here might help. Maybe we can take some of the pressure off of her. That might make some small contribution to her well-being."

Gabrielle smiled wryly at the earnest young Amazon. "Her well-being doesn't seem to matter to her."

In annoyance, Gwynna jumped to her feet. "Well, maybe she should think a little more about other people's well-being. She just about took my head off today for a simple remark that I made. Are we all going to have to tiptoe around her constantly? What's she going to do when someone really antagonizes her?"

"You're about to find out!"

The other two women jumped to their feet as the Warrior Princess strode angrily through the trees, headed straight toward the astonished Gwynna.

Elisa stepped in front of her friend. "Don't you touch her, Xena," she said quietly.

"Get outta my way, Leese, you're not the one I want." The warrior swept an arm sideways to knock Elisa away. Instead, the swift Amazon ducked under the sweep, came up and stepped forward, right into Xena's face.

"We came here to help you, Xena, not to fight with you every other hour." Elisa's words were soft, but firm. "I love you like a sister. But if you insist on fighting Gwynna, you'll have to come through me, first. I will not let you, or anyone else, hurt her."

Gwynna's face was awash with mixed emotions. She knew that Elisa stood a better chance of reasoning with the Warrior Princess than she did, and she admired her friend's courage. At the same time, she feared for her safety. Standing solidly behind Elisa, she grasped her shoulder to show her support.

Gabrielle came alongside the agitated warrior. "Xena, please calm down. Don't do anything you will regret later." The bard wrapped her hand around Xena's upper arm. The soothing effect her touch usually had on the Warrior Princess took a bit longer than usual, but eventually had the desired result. No one said a word as Xena's tension gradually ebbed and her angry face cleared.

Still standing eye to eye with her mentor, Elisa witnessed the change in Xena's demeanor and a tremor of relief swept through her body. Gwynna saw the anger die, felt the relief coursing through Elisa, and bent her head in thanksgiving.

The strained voice of the Warrior Princess broke the uncomfortable silence. "Leese, Gwynna, I… Xena's tortured expression revealed better than words the agony she was experiencing. Sweat broke out on her brow, and she shuddered with the difficulty of reining in her anger. The effort drained her already weakened body and she swayed, clutching Elisa's arm to steady herself. Her knees buckled. I can't believe this; I'm falling.

Gabrielle felt Xena sag and reached behind the warrior's back to grab her other arm. Elisa also reacted swiftly, grabbing Xena around the waist. The two women lowered the warrior gently until she sat cross-legged on the ground.

Shocked to see Xena falter, the women were speechless. Even Xena seemed stunned, but she was the first to recover. "First time I ever got knocked on my tail by words," the warrior stated dryly, shaking her head. What is wrong with me? I usually heal a lot faster than this.

Gabrielle knelt down in front of her friend, bringing their eyes level. "Xena, Claris thinks you have some kind of illness and should go back to the Amazon nation so she can treat it. You don't look good. Even your eyes look strange and your skin is losing its color. You're only a shadow of your usual self. And look what just happened. You couldn't even stand by yourself."

Gabrielle's voice half wheedled and half scolded. "And I haven't even touched on your miserable disposition. Several times now, you've been ready to clout the very people who care most about you."

Recognizing the harsh truth of these words, the Warrior Princess lowered her eyes toward the ground. "I wasn't going to clout Gwynna," she muttered, "just scare her." Sure, just keep telling yourself that, maybe you'll finally be convinced.

"Hummmph!" Gabrielle stood up. "The trouble with that thinking, Xena, is that no one knows just what you are about to do, scare them or skin them alive."

The two youngsters listened to this exchange with bated breath. The trepidation on their faces was painfully evident to the warrior as she raised her eyes to theirs. Elisa still stood partially in front of Gwynna, in protective mode.

"You can come out now, Gwynna," Xena said wearily. "I won't hurt you."

"Not this time, Xena, but what about the next time and the time after that?" The bard crossed her arms and paced back and forth in front of the seated warrior. "You NEED to go back to the Amazons and let Claris help you get rid of this… this… thing, that has hold of you." She stopped and met the stubborn blue eyes of her friend. "One minute you're fine and the next you want to take someone's head off. And it scares me."

The few moments of rest from the debilitating tension allowed some of Xena's energy to return. She stood up and the young Amazons backed away. The warrior's lips twisted as irritability also began to return. "It might help my 'miserable disposition' if you would stop nagging me and let me concentrate on getting this treasure to the king."

"There are 40-some men out there now. Let them worry about delivering the gems."

"Maybe it doesn't mean much to you, Gabrielle, but I'll tell you again. I gave my word." The warrior's lips pulled back against her teeth and she spit the words out. The bard reached to touch her arm, but Xena jerked it away and started to leave.

"Your health means more to me than your word to some stranger, Xena."

The Warrior Princess whirled back and spoke harshly. "I'm healthy enough to make sure that the boy gets home safely. Then, maybe I will listen to your arguments… but not before." Xena turned and strode away.

The bard's face was red from suppressed anger. She knew now was not the time to do the yelling she wanted to do. Grrrrrr. Just once I would like to be bigger and stronger than you, Xena!

Gwynna put a hand on her shoulder. "You tried, Gabrielle. But we all knew Xena would be hard to convince."

"Yeah," Elisa chimed in. "Looks like all we can do at this point is hang in here with her and try to help. The sooner this is taken care of, the sooner we can get her cured."

Gabrielle struggled a few moments to get her temper under control. "I sure can use your support and it's obvious that Xena can, too." Gabrielle patted Gwynna's hand and half smiled at Elisa. "Now, let's go deliver this darn treasure." And try to keep the Warrior Princess out of trouble… Right.

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

At last the treasure arrived safely at the castle. Surrounded by a moat and gray stone walls, the three-storied, turreted structure loomed over the enclosed village like a protective eagle.

The drawbridge lowered as soon as the gatekeeper recognized the king's troops. Xena's group was escorted by Prince Hamlon into the castle interior, straight to the king's reception room.

Much to Herodotus' surprise and delight, he, Autolycus and the four women were welcomed into the presence of the king. This, he soon realized, was due to the high esteem in which the king held Xena, the Warrior Princess. The warrior and the king had never met, but apparently King Philomaros knew her well by reputation and offered her the highly prized seat at his right hand.

King Philomaros quickly sent a message to the kidnappers' go-between in the village, and they awaited the messenger's return with instructions for the delivery of the ransom. The king was effusive in his commendation of Xena and her friends for saving the treasure. "I fear my grandson would never have been returned without the ransom. I owe you a debt of gratitude."

"How was your grandson kidnapped?" Gabrielle asked.

"He was in the forest on a hunt with three friends. The outlaws attacked them and Ricondo was fighting them off, but then they overpowered his friends and threatened to kill them unless he threw down his sword. Being the sensible boy that he is, he gave in.

"He is a remarkable swordsman in spite of his young age. I have had him trained by experts since he was a small boy and now he even out duels his teachers." Philomaros' pride in his grandson shone from his face and words. "No one in the kingdom is any better."

Gwynna was not in the king's or Xena's view at the moment. She looked at Elisa, nodded toward Xena, and rolled her eyes. That might have been true before Xena arrived, but not now! A small grin slipped across her friend's face and she wiggled her eyebrows as Gwynna put her hand to her mouth to smother a giggle. Xena swept her eyes toward them and the two immediately sobered.

The four women, Autolycus and Herodotus stayed with the king as Prince Hamlon and the Guard transported the chest to the kidnappers. Gabrielle had persuaded her father, without too much dissent on his part, to let someone else drive his wagon to the rendezvous. Now that Herodotus had seen, firsthand, the dangers of carrying valuables on the open trail, he wanted no parts of it.

Though he would be slow to admit it, Herodotus was becoming increasingly impressed with Xena's ability to take charge of dangerous situations and smother them with a minimum of assistance. So, when a wounded and disheveled Prince Hamlon showed up, reporting that the kidnappers had snatched the treasure from his men without returning his son, Herodotus, along with everyone else in the room, turned his eyes toward the Warrior Princess.

In answer to this summons, Xena rose and her magnificent blue eyes sought her partner's mist-green ones. With an almost apologetic expression on her face, she lifted one eyebrow and half shrugged. Then she turned to the distraught king and his son-in-law, the prince. "We'll find him," she promised and, beckoning the others, she walked outside.

"Gabrielle, you stay here with your father…"

"I will not, Xena. My father doesn't need a babysitter. You've already managed to keep me out of all the other fighting. This time I am going with you." Gabrielle's tone of voice left no room for objections. Xena smiled resignedly, reached a long arm out, and gave her a quick hug and a nod.

But the warrior was surprised at the next protesting voice. "I'm coming, too. You'll not leave me behind at the finish," Herodotus grumbled. "Besides they've got my horse and wagon!"

"He can ride with me, Xena," Autolycus offered.

One corner of Xena's sculpted lips twitched up and she half-nodded to the two men. Well, Herodotus, I knew Gabrielle's courage had to come from somewhere.

They all began to mount their horses. Xena reached down to hoist Gabrielle up behind her and saw Elise move quickly to give Gabrielle a boost. She gave the thoughtful young Amazon a quick smile. "Thanks, Leese!"

The bard settled down behind her friend and threw her arms around her waist. Oh, Xena, I wish I could hold you here, out of danger, forever... How many times has this same thought passed through my mind? Now it's not only an outer danger, it's an inner one, too. Gabrielle's arms tightened in a squeeze.

The Warrior Princess patted her arm and slanted a quick smile back toward her.

"OK, Gwynna, let's go find those tracks."

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

The blonde Amazon quickly found the tracks and they followed them for about an hour. Calling a halt, Xena sent Elisa and Gwynna into the trees. "We're getting pretty close, I can hear the wagon creaking." Elise nodded. She had heard it, too. "They should have a rear guard following the wagon. Bring one of them to me. Alive."

While waiting, they all dismounted to stretch their legs and grab a few dried biscuits and fruit. In about twenty minutes, the Amazons appeared with an outlaw trussed and gagged and brought him to Xena. The man's eyes bugged out when he saw whom he was facing. After the earlier battle, Draco's men knew the Warrior Princess on sight. And had learned the hard way just how formidable she was.

The warrior yanked the gag from his mouth. "Would you care to answer my questions with, or without, a neck pinch?"

"I'll tell you whatever you want to know," the outlaw hastened to assure her.

"Smart. Where is Draco holding the boy he kidnapped?"

"Draco doesn't have him at all." Xena sneered and raised her hands, fingers pointing toward the outlaw's neck.

"Wait! I'm telling you the truth. He did have him. But he was a right arrogant little bastard. Drove Draco crazy daring him to let him show what a terrific swordsman he was." Smiling now, Xena lowered her hands and the outlaw continued. "Said he had been training for years to be Ares' chosen one. Draco got so tired listening to him run off at the mouth that he took him to the Temple of Ares and dedicated him to the God of War."

"Dedicated him to Ares?" Now Xena frowned. Just what I need. Trying to "rescue" someone who doesn't want to be rescued. And from Ares!

"Which temple did Draco take the boy to?"

"It's about an hour's ride that way," the outlaw answered, pointing.

"Thanks." Xena tossed her head and Elisa swung him around and punched him in the jaw, knocking him unconscious. The warrior raised an eyebrow. "I thought you would tie him to a tree, Leese."

Grinning and shrugging, Elisa answered, "Well, this way, he can make his way toward his buddies when he comes to. If I tied him to a tree, he could starve before they found him."

"How thoughtful," Xena commented dryly, and waved the eyebrow. Trying unsuccessfully to swallow her answering grin, the warrior turned to Autolycus.

"Looks like we're going on a little side trip to the Temple of Ares, Autolycus. Why don't you and Herodotus keep on the trail of the treasure? Maybe we can come back for it after we get the boy."

Happy to stay near the chest full of gems, Autolycus smiled and bowed. "Your every wish is my command." He and Herodotus climbed back on their horse and moved on to follow the outlaws.

The women arrived at the Temple of Ares, dismounted and tied their horses to some bushes growing beside the building. Following Xena's lead, they marched up the marble steps, through large, carved double doors and into the temple vestibule.

An acolyte, seated at a table and writing on a parchment, looked up. When he saw that one woman was obviously a warrior and the other three appeared to be Amazons, he rose, smiling, and came forth to greet them. "Welcome! Disciples of Ares are always welcome here!"

"We're not disciples of Ares," Xena informed him curtly. "We're looking for a boy named Ricondo. We were told that he was here."

"Well, yes, he is here. But he's being prepared to be initiated into the priesthood of Ares and isn't allowed to have visitors."

"Your plans for him don't interest us. We want to see him, now." Xena stood taller and her eyes narrowed.

The acolyte pulled himself up taller, too. "He is NOT allowed to ha… " A hand tightened on the man's throat and he was lifted into the air and pinned to the wall.

Xena's lips twitched as Elisa snarled her words into the acolyte's ashen face. "She said we want to see him NOW! Which one of those words didn't you understand?"

"I'll see if I can get him for you," the man's words rushed out. Elisa let go of him and he stumbled away as fast as his legs would carry him.

"Nicely done, Leese." Though she felt terribly weary, Xena's laughter quietly bubbled up. "Thought you said there was only one Warrior Princess."

"Well, if I ever plan to be even half as good as you, I figure I better practice every chance I get." The young Amazon grinned as she basked in Xena's attention. Gabrielle, also smiling, patted Elisa's shoulder, doubling her pleasure.

Good girl, the bard thought. With Xena's tinderbox temper, that poor acolyte might be dead by now.

With each passing day in their presence, Gabrielle became more and more impressed with the two Amazons. Their deep devotion to each other and their unquestioned loyalty to their nation and their queen were endearing traits. But Elisa's obvious love and feeling of protectiveness for Xena gave her a special place in the bard's heart. Too many people saw only the Warrior Princess. Elisa saw her soul.

And Gwynna accepted her friend's love for Xena with understanding and support, just as Gabrielle did. They recognized that Elisa and the warrior were connected in a way that was unique to them. A way that didn't include Gwynna or Gabrielle, but didn't exclude them, either. There was room for all four of them. They were family.

The acolyte returned with the High Priest. He looked over the gathered women and walked up to Xena. "Who are you and what business do you have with Ricondo?" he demanded.

A slight change of stance, a small tilt of her chin, a curl of her lip and the warrior shifted into formidable mode. "My name is Xena. Who in Tartarus are you?"

The priest visibly paled. "Xena? The Warrior Princess? The Destroyer of Nations?"

"Some have called me that."

The priest bowed. "I am Kylos, High Priest of this Temple. I welcome Ares' chosen."

Xena raised both eyebrows and slanted her eyes down toward Gabrielle. The bard raised hers in return and shrugged. Where has this guy been for the last four years? Xena wondered. Maybe I'll get further if I don't disillusion him. "I asked to see Ricondo. Where is he?"

The high priest whispered something to the acolyte and sent him away. "He will be with us shortly. Come into the Hall of Worship. He will meet you there." The priest opened a door into the huge temple room and the women entered. He closed the door behind him.

A life-size statue of Ares stood as the centerpiece of a vast altar whose length covered one wall. Next to the statue stood a marble throne. The priest bowed to the statue and was somewhat uncomfortable that Xena and the others didn't bow.

Ricondo came in from a door on the left. He looked older than the women had expected, probably about seventeen. Taller than Xena, muscular and fair-haired, he had pale, cool-looking blue eyes and sported a small mustache over his thin lips. About ten priests followed him into the room. His eyes swept the room and settled on Xena. With that bearing, obviously the Warrior Princess. And remarkably gorgeous.

"I am Prince Ricondo. And you, I take it, are Xena."

The warrior slightly inclined her head. "I've come to take you back to your grandfather. He paid a huge ransom for your return and he is worried about your safety."

"I'm sorry he has suffered on my account." The young man's eyes flickered for a brief moment. "But I have no plans to return. All my life I have wanted to become Ares' chosen one, and I have worked hard toward that goal." His eyes lit with the passion he felt. "Now I have a chance to grasp it. A chance to conquer the world!"

Xena's eyes narrowed and her voice hardened. "You're looking at someone who's been there and done that, Ricondo. Believe me, it's not all it's cracked up to be."

"You were too weak to hang onto it, Xena, but that won't happen to me." Ricondo spoke with assurance.

Intent on persuading the boy peacefully, the warrior continued her argument. "Weakness didn't change me. Ares owns his chosen, body and soul. He casts a spell on them that leads them to commit horrible, unspeakable crimes against humanity that no decent person would dream of doing on their own. Direction from some special friends helped me to break that spell and reclaim my common sense and common decency."

Ricondo was unimpressed. "I've been trained for this since I was a small child. This is my destiny."

Xena fought her irritability, but her harsh voice betrayed her. "People make their own destiny. It's not forced upon them. It can be changed. Or stopped."

Ricondo's lip curled. "I don't want it changed. And, at this point, there isn't anyone who can stop me."

Xena's teeth clamped together so tightly it took great effort for her to separate them enough to talk. "Your grandfather sent us to take you home, Ricondo. Even if I have to drag you, you're going back." He's just a kid, Xena, don't let him get to you.

The struggle to contain her temper was draining Xena's strength and it worried her. If he's as good as Philomaros says, and he wants to fight, I might have a little problem here. Full strength, I would have no doubts, but I haven't been full strength for weeks. As these thoughts milled in her head, Xena sensed a movement near her side.

Elisa stepped forward. "I can stop you." The challenge was quietly delivered with no bravado, just a statement of a fact. Let me do this, Xena. You are in no shape to take this chance.

The high priest, Kylos, studied the girl, then turned and studied Xena. The warrior had a strange look on her face. She looks like she wants to say yes and no at the same time. And the girl is waiting for her to give her permission. There's some connection between them, I can feel it.

The prince, startled, eyed Elisa carefully. She looks and acts like a warrior, even has a look of Xena about her. She's as tall, but slighter than Xena and doesn't exude power the way the Warrior Princess does.

"Stand aside, girl, my fight is with the Warrior Princess." Ricondo laid his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Wait!" The high priest stepped forward. If there is going to be a fight to settle whether he stays or goes, better to fight the girl than the Warrior Princess. And I like her style. She'd make a great addition to our novices.

"I have a bargain to propose. Ricondo will fight the girl, for now. If he's forced to yield, he goes back to his grandfather, no strings attached. If she yields, she stays and becomes a disciple of Ares, too."

Xena's jaw rippled. Kylos saw it and grinned. Got you, Xena. You really care about this girl. If I get her as one of Ares' chosen, maybe you will come back, too. And wouldn't that look good for me with Ares? "What do you say, Xena? You game to see your friend try?"

"What do YOU say, Leese? You don't have to do this, you know." The Warrior Princess turned her head toward Elisa and engaged the girl's long, silver-gray eyes with her cobalt-blue ones.

"We're bringing this guy back to his family like we promised," Elisa answered. "I'll do it."

The warrior smiled encouragement and nodded agreement. I kinda like that "we" bit. She knows very well that I'm the one who made the promise, but she's ready to pick up the fallen flag and charge into battle in my place. Good girl.

Kylos looked at Ricondo. "Fight the girl. Beat her and settle that you will stay here. You can still fight Xena, later, if you feel a need to."

The boy considered the offer. He's right, I can beat the girl easily and assure my place here. Xena can wait. "All right, I'll fight her."

Kylos strode forward. "Then it's settled, Prince Ricondo will fight the girl. Both of you get ready."

"They're going to fight here, in the temple? Isn't that a desecration of a holy place?" the bard asked.

Kylos chuckled. "You forget whose temple this is. Ares is the God of War. A fight in here is like a prayer to him! Especially one that will gain him another disciple."

As Elisa rose from the bench, Xena reached forth a long arm and took hold of the girl's wrist. "Ricondo's bigger and stronger, Leese, but you are quicker and should have more stamina. Plus, he thinks he has more to prove, so will be more aggressive than is wise, rather than pacing himself. Try to stay on defense as much as you can until he tires. Then go get him. Remember Gabrielle's bout with Mepasa."

Leese nodded. Gwynna, who had stood up with her, gave her a hug. "Good luck, Leese. Beat the stuffing out of him."

Elisa turned back and knelt on one knee in front of Gabrielle. Tears sprung into the bard's eyes that the young woman should be so conscientious about seeking her queen's blessing. "May Artemis be with you," she prayed as she touched her hand to Elisa's bowed head. As she proclaimed the blessing, a seed sprouted in her mind that, in the excitement of the moment, she didn't examine.

Elisa strode out into the open area of the temple and awaited her opponent. Xena grinned as she saw the look of frustration on Kylos' face. The advice he was trying to give the boy was being shrugged off. That overconfidence will be your downfall, she thought. Leese is 10 years older than you in maturity.

Finally, Kylos led Ricondo to the center of the temple, opposite Elisa. "Go to it!" he shouted and stepped back to watch the slaughter.

Both combatants drew their swords. Ricondo swung his sword sideways four times and Elisa parried each swing. Then he tried two thrusts, squatted down and swung at her feet. Elisa pushed the thrusts aside and jumped over the swing. For ten minutes, Ricondo ran several sequences of maneuvers, slashing, thrusting, swinging--high, low and in between. Elisa managed to parry, sidestep, duck or jump over most of his efforts. A number of nicks and small slashes appeared on her body, attesting to the many close calls where her superior agility was the only thing that saved her. He was very good.

Gwynna and Gabrielle sat on the edge of their seats, holding each other's hands. Neither could have told how or when the other's hand had been clutched. The Warrior Princess looked interested but unworried, realizing that a show of doubt on her part could undermine Elisa's confidence in herself.

The boy was beginning to slow down a bit, sweat poured from his face and darkened his clothing. Also, frustration that he couldn't land a solid blow or separate Elisa from her sword clouded his face. He pushed himself even harder.

Xena saw Elisa's face change subtly. She's discovered his rhythm. Look out, Ricondo! Her barely audible, "Yes!" pulled Gabrielle's and Gwynna's intense attention from the fight to her face. When they saw Xena's triumphant expression, they partially relaxed. But not completely; after all, the fight was still going on.

Ricondo raised his arm to begin a down slash. Elisa stepped in close, blocked his descending arm with her left forearm and head butted him in the face. The prince staggered backward for several steps then recovered and charged toward the Amazon. As he was almost upon her, she moved her right foot out to the side, squatted down and swept her left leg against his shins. Ricondo fell flat on his face and skidded across the marble.

Seething, he jumped up, turned back around and charged again. This time he thought he would fool Elisa by stopping short before she could upset him and slashing down on her with his sword. But instead of side stepping, Elisa spun around, raised her leg and kicked sideways against Ricondo's head, taking him off his feet.

The next time, he got up and advanced more carefully. He went through several more maneuvers, with huge expenditure of effort on both their parts but little success. Then he raised his arm again for a down slash. Elisa again stepped in against him. He threw his head back, expecting a head butt. Instead, Elisa brought the hilt of her heavy sword down hard against his exposed jaw, dazing him.

Elisa hesitated a moment, then she turned her back on him. Sensing an opportunity to catch her unawares, the prince shook his head to rid it of its daze and ran at her back. The dark-haired Amazon ran toward a pillar, charged up its side and flipped out over Ricondo, coming down behind him. When he realized he had been tricked, he whirled around, swinging his sword in a blind rage.

Elisa bent to pull her midriff away from the blow. She yanked Ricondo's sword arm and used his momentum to continue his turn until he faced away from her. Grasping the back of his shirt, she slammed his body face-first up against the pillar. He managed to avoid hitting his head on the stone, but his feet were far enough away from it that he couldn't get enough leverage to push himself off and loosen Elisa's hold on him. Virtually helpless, he had an armed Amazon at his back.

"Yield," she growled. Instead of answering, Ricondo struggled to free himself. Elisa kept pressure against his back, pinning his sword arm to the pillar, too.

"Drop your sword, or lose your arm. I'll give you to the count of three. One… two… thr…" The sword clattered to the floor. "Now, yield."

"I… yield." Ricondo dragged the words from his mouth.

Gabrielle turned her head to smile at Gwynna and saw the ten priests rushing at Elisa with drawn swords. "Xena!" she yelled as she stood and ran to intercept them, staff in hand. Gwynna grabbed her staff and leaped into the fight.

Elisa pulled Ricondo off the pillar and marched him over to sit beside Xena who had remained on the bench. She turned to join the fight, but Xena grabbed her arm and shook her head. She and the Warrior Princess watched, smiling, as their blonde friends demolished the group of priests.

Gabrielle had dashed straight at the running men. She bent her knees nearly to the ground and, holding her staff crosswise, hit the first two in their lower legs, tripping them. Gwynna came up just in time to swat one, then the other, into unconsciousness. The bard raised one end of her staff to block a down slash, then brought the other end up and hit the priest in the chin, felling him. Having learned nothing from his friend's fate, the next priest was dispatched with the same maneuver.

Gwynna raised her staff like a pitchfork and stabbed a priest in the chest. As he staggered back into a fellow priest, she swung the end of the staff against his head, forcing it to collide with the other priest's head, getting rid of both of them.

Gabrielle ducked a swipe, then crashed her staff against the priest's face and he went down. Immediately, she swung her staff, point first, behind her and jabbed a priest in the stomach. Gwynna dispatched him with a two-fisted slam against his bent-over form.

Whirling around, Gabrielle pushed her staff against the ground and pivoted into the air, kicking the last two priests in their chins. As they fell, Gwynna made sure that they would stay down with a couple more well-placed slams. The two women looked around. Priests were lying everywhere. Kylos was the only one left and as Gabrielle took a step toward him, he raised his arms and shook his head.

"You'll get no more trouble from us. Take the prince and get out of here." This is one time I'm glad Ares wasn't here. Who would have expected that girl to beat Ricondo? He's a superb swordsman but she made him look foolish. Xena's influence, no doubt.

Gabrielle and Gwynna joined their friends. "Thanks for the help, you two," the bard said sarcastically. Xena and Elisa both raised their eyebrows and turned and looked behind themselves as if looking for the people she was addressing. Gabrielle and Gwynna laughed, amused more by the twin reaction than by the little joke itself.

"Hey," Xena's silky voice answered her. "You two did fine without us."

Gabrielle grinned at Gwynna. "We did, didn't we?" She reached her arm to the young Amazon who clasped it in the warrior handshake.

"Now, we have a treasure to reclaim." Xena swayed a little as she stood, causing a silent Ricondo to look at her curiously. "Do I have to tie you up, prince, or do I have your word that you will come with us without any trouble?"

"I made a deal, and I will stand by it," Ricondo muttered. If a young girl can beat me so badly, maybe I've been fooling myself. She is really good!

The group exited from the temple and moved toward their horses. "Gwynna's gonna double up with me and let the prince ride Nightmare," Elisa informed Xena.

"Thanks, Leese. I don't want to steal a horse from one of Ares' priests, he'd never let me live it down."

The party moved out, looking for Autolycus and Herodotus and the stolen treasure.

Chapter 10

Xena's group caught up with the two men just in time to make camp for the evening. Autolycus told her the outlaws had stopped for the night several miles down the road. He already had a fire built and a couple pots of water heating. The men were introduced to Ricondo and made a place for him next to them.

Gabrielle made sure that Xena sat down on one of the fallen logs that Herodotus had placed near the fire. She noticed that Xena picked the one that was placed against the base of a tree. "Just sit here and relax, will you?" she murmured to her friend. "We'll take care of the meal."

"Oh, Tartarus, and I thought you were going to let me cook," the Warrior Princess joked.

Gabrielle slapped her lightly on the thigh and grinned. "Maybe next time." Xena looked terribly weary, but was obviously making an attempt to stay in a decent mood.

Gwynna and Elisa were just walking over and heard this conversation. "Warn us if that ever happens, Gabrielle, so we're sure not to eat it!" Gwynna couldn't resist the comment, but as soon as the words left her, she threw her hand over her mouth and paled.

Xena looked up at her and smiled wearily. "You've never even tasted my cooking, Gwynna."

"I guess that makes her one of the lucky ones," Gabrielle chuckled, and all of them laughed.

"Leese, maybe you could catch us some fish." Xena rolled her head toward the dark-haired Amazon. "The river runs close by over that way." The warrior nodded toward it. "And, while you're at it, better wash out those cuts you have."

"Sure, Xena." Elisa looked down at herself, surprised to see the number of small slashes in her skin. She shook her head and hurried off, with Gwynna accompanying her. Xena always came fishing with me, before. She must be getting worse. I'm sure glad this job is almost done.

Xena leaned her head back against the tree and closed her eyes. This keeping my temper is almost as big an energy drain as losing it. But at least I'm not scaring anyone. The Warrior Princess willed her body to relax. In a few moments she dozed off.

Gabrielle tiptoed away and gathered some herbs, tubers, and dried vegetables from one of Argo's saddlebags. She threw them into the larger pot and saw that Autolycus had already made tea in the smaller one. She walked over and told him that she had added some food to the larger pot and Elisa would bring some fish for a chowder. Then she moved off deeper into the forest.

Out of earshot of the others, she stopped in a small clearing. "Artemis," she called softly. "I hope you are not too busy to hear my prayer. I am calling to you on behalf of Xena. Some illness is sapping her strength and her condition is worsening. We really could use your help. As Queen of the Amazons, your chosen one, I beseech you to hear my words." Gabrielle bowed her head and waited, hoping she would receive some sort of message that would lead her in a direction to help her friend.

Gabrielle closed her eyes against a sudden burst of light. A stout brown-haired woman, dressed in Amazon leathers, appeared. Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt and patron of the Amazons, had a bow slung over her shoulder, and a glowing aura shimmered from her body. Gabrielle raised her eyes in surprised relief.

The queen sank down on one knee but Artemis motioned her to rise. "Well, Gabrielle, I heard your call." The goddess smiled at her chosen one. "Just what is it you want me to do?" Gabrielle, above and beyond her queenship, was a special favorite. Artemis was pleased that she had chosen a courageous young woman with such a generous heart to lead her Amazons.

Gabrielle's troubled green eyes gazed imploringly into Artemis' questioning brown eyes. "My friend, Xena, is ill. And she won't admit it, or, at least, she won't give in and go for help for it. Claris seems to think it could be life threatening if not treated, and I'm not sure how much leeway that gives Xena. If she keeps pushing herself, as she is doing now, I'm afraid she might get to the point where nothing can be done. Is there anything you can do to help her?"

Artemis frowned. "You're asking me to help Xena, the Destroyer of Nations? The chosen of Ares?"

"You know those titles don't apply to her anymore, Artemis."

"That's true, she has changed her path. But I find it difficult, if not impossible, to overlook the fact that she has killed Amazons. She even killed Cyane, a sister queen of yours." Artemis slowly shook her head. She raised her arm, a signal of departure.

"Wait!" Gabrielle enjoined her. "Please. Let me speak further."

The Huntress lowered her arm and nodded.

"You seem to be overlooking how many times Xena has helped the very people you are patroness of. She saved Ephiny's life, twice. She led the Amazons against a warlord who would have overrun the village and slaughtered everyone, or worse. She made peace between the Amazons and the Centaurs. She got rid of Velasca when no one else could stand against her, preventing her from leading the Amazons back into war. And she stands ready to help again, whenever the Amazons need her."

Gabrielle could see her earnestness was making an impression on the goddess. "Not to mention how many times she has, literally, saved my life, the life of your chosen one. You know she has never asked anything of you in return. And she won't, not for herself. So, I am asking, in her stead. I think you owe her this much."

"You've made some very good points, Gabrielle." The goddess hesitated, though still unconvinced.

The bard stepped toward Artemis, reaching out a hand to touch her, then realized that this woman was a goddess and might consider the touch an affront. She stopped, beseeching arm still outstretched, mist-green eyes brimming with tears she had suppressed for days. Her low-pitched voice reverberated with intense emotion. "I love her, Artemis. If she dies… something inside of me will die, too."

The tortured look on the young queen's face meant more to Artemis than any threat to Xena's well-being could. "I will think about it, my dear. That's all I will promise right now." The Goddess of the Hunt raised her arm and disappeared in another blinding flash of light.

Gabrielle sank to the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks. Please, Artemis. I don't know where else to turn. Save her, please. Please. Please. The words marched, over and over, through her mind and across her heart, leaving painful footprints. Finally, the tears stopped. The bard sat for awhile, composing herself, then rose and returned to the campsite, feeling she had done everything she could for the moment. Now, it was up to Artemis.

She arrived at the site just as a soaking-wet Elisa and Gwynna got back from the river. Elisa held up a large leaf-wrapped package. "I caught three good-sized ones," she declared.

The arrival of the Amazons had awakened the Warrior Princess. "Looks like you caught one really big one, too." Xena's chuckling words floated across the campsite as she sat up and stretched.

The two young Amazons giggled self-consciously as the others laughed. Gwynna tried to explain. "Leese said if she was going to get wet, I was, too. She started splashing, I splashed back, and I guess we got carried away." This provoked even more laughter and Elisa turned red. She elbowed Gwynna in the side. "Shush," she admonished her.

"Why? What did I say?" Gwynna questioned her now grinning friend.

Gabrielle took pity on her and said, "Never mind, Gwynna. You two bring the fish over here and I'll help clean them." The two Amazons had already cleaned, filleted and chopped the fish while at the river. Seeing this, Gabrielle grinned to herself. Guess they really were just splashing in the water. She directed them to throw the chunks of flesh into the chowder pot.

After the meal, everyone settled around the campfire. The sun had set in the western sky and darkness surrounded them. Earlier, Autolycus had made several attempts to engage Ricondo in conversation, trying to find out about the boy's liberation, but he had been unsuccessful. Now, he decided to ask Xena. "So, Xena, how did you rescue the prince? Did you have to fight anyone?"

"Nooooo, as a matter of fact, I didn't." Xena's cobalt-blue eyes bored into the prince's pale blue ones. "Prince Ricondo fought."

"Who did he fight?" Autolycus asked in surprise.

"Leese," Xena answered laconically.

Autolycus looked totally puzzled. "Why would he fight Leese?" Herodotus had perked up at this information, eager to hear the story behind it.

"I think the prince will tell you that." Xena hadn't moved her eyes from his. Now, she aimed her feral smile at the boy. "Won't you?" she murmured in her silken voice.

"We fought because I didn't want to leave," the prince said fretfully. "I wanted to be Ares' chosen one. And this was my great chance."

Astonished, Autolycus gaped at the boy. "You, a prince, actually WANTED to be Ares' chosen? Are you crazy? Have you any idea what that means? Do you know what you would have to give up?"

"I want to conquer the world," the boy said obstinately. "That's more than I could do as a prince."

"Look, prince, you have a woman right here who had all that and gave it up. Maybe you should talk to her. And listen!"

Almost against his will, the boy's curiosity forced him to ask the Warrior Princess. "I've heard that you conquered half of Greece as Ares' chosen. Why did you leave?"

Xena picked up a stick and began to drag it back and forth across the ground, aimlessly. Watching the stick intently, she answered his question with another question. "I've met your father and grandfather. Do you have any other family?"

"No, my mother died when I was five and my grandmother, the queen, died when I was two years old. I don't remember my grandmother at all and I barely remember my mother."

"How do you feel about your father and grandfather? Do you love them? Do they love you?"

"Of course, I love them. And they both love me."

"What do they think about your wanting to be Ares' chosen?"

The boy fidgeted a moment before answering. "They don't know about it. I never told them."

"Oh? Why not?" Xena asked this softly, not as a challenge but rather for the sake of curiosity.

There was no answer. The prince was staring at Xena, his forehead creased in a frown. Xena swept her eyes up slowly, until they met and joined his. Ricondo's face twitched at the intensity of her gaze. Her eyes demanded an answer.

He wet his lips, but couldn't keep the words from being dragged from him. "Because they would have talked me out of it."

The Warrior Princess kept the power of her remarkable eyes trained on his.

He spoke as though a dam had broken. "Because they wouldn't want to let me go. They wanted me to be the next king. Nobody asked what I wanted. It was just taken for granted. Everything I was taught was aimed at someday making me a good king. Do it this way; do it that way. 'No, Ricondo, a king wouldn't do that.' 'Yes, Ricondo, that is how a king would act.' How do they even know if I want the responsibility of being king?"

The edges of Xena's eyelids tightened, giving the suggestion of narrowed eyes. "You don't want the responsibility of being king, yet you want the responsibility of ruling the world?"

"It's not that," the boy answered grumpily, dropping his eyes. "It's the way they've always controlled my life. I'm not allowed to have a mind of my own, everything is always decided for me."

Xena started playing with the stick again. "They gave you the training that turned you into such a good swordsman. Do you regret that?"

"No." The prince admitted. "And I am good! It was a fluke that this girl beat me!"

"I got news for you, prince. You think because you beat all the nobles at court that you are some super-duper swordsman." Xena wearily sighed and looked him in the eye again. "Did it ever occur to you that the grandson of their king would be ALLOWED to beat them? And those nobles weren't fighting for their lives. Almost anybody who has had to fight for his life could beat you. Autolycus could beat you."

Autolycus' eyebrows fought to lift off the top of his forehead and his mouth dropped open. He pointed at his own chest and his head swiveled back and forth so fast, he couldn't get his mouth in gear.

"Relax, Autolycus. He's not going to fight you." Xena could see from the crestfallen look on the young man's face that what she said had hit home. He hung his head.

The Warrior Princess stood up. She hesitated for a few seconds to let the dizziness pass then walked over to the boy. She placed a hand on his shoulder and waited till he looked up at her. "You are a good swordsman. You gave Leese a run for her money and she is no amateur when it comes to sword fighting. You tried to beat her with power and ability. But she used cunning and agility." Xena let go of his shoulder and firmly rapped him twice on the forehead with her knuckles. "She beat you here."

On the verge of collapsing, Xena sat down catercorner from the prince. "It would take you years of combat fighting to get as good as she is and years more to get good enough to conquer the world. So, unless you have a 20-year plan, I would suggest you do yourself and your grandfather and your subjects a favor and concentrate on learning to be the best king you can be."

Lifting a long stick, the bard stirred the fire. Gwynna reached behind her seat for a loose log and laid it on the coals. Flames spurted up and licked around it, throwing even more light on the circle of listeners.

The warrior took a couple long breaths and continued. "And, if you don't heed anything else I say, heed this: Don't swear allegiance to anyone else, and especially not to Ares. If you think your life is bad with your grandfather controlling it, it's a thousand times worse with Ares controlling it."

From his seat beside the boy, Autolycus studied Xena's pale face. The flickering firelight danced across her features, throwing moving shadows under her cheekbones, accentuating the intensity of her expression.

Prince Ricondo was mesmerized by Xena's eyes which, by a trick of the reflected flames, seemed to grow ever larger. "Yes, I was Ares' chosen. My mother hated me, my brother hated me, my village hated me. My lover was killed because of me."

The large, blue orbs closed, extinguishing their fire. That moment of respite only magnified the impact of their reopening and Ricondo's head jerked as he was struck again with their haunting power.

"Half of Greece hated me because I was a conscienceless killer, a monster. I killed people like you, people like your grandfather, people like my friends here, anyone who got in my way. And the other half of Greece was scared to death that I was coming after them next. Power, riches, property? I had more than anyone could ever want and what good did it do me?"

Elisa shifted and leaned forward, placing her elbows on her knees. Her cloud-gray eyes stayed fastened on the Warrior Princess and her head barely moved as the remembrance of her own confrontation with Xena sent a small shiver down her spine. That could have been me if Xena hadn't straightened me out.

The eyes of the Warrior Princess turned somber and seemed to be looking inward. "All those people hated me and I wound up hating myself. And my soul belonged to Ares. With the help of Hercules, I decided to reclaim it and with Gabrielle's help, I am still working on that. It hasn't been an easy battle, but it is the one battle that we all must fight; the battle for our own souls. And I am determined to win." Xena's eyes swept her circle of friends and emotion lowered her voice. "Yes, I left Ares. I have more right here, than I ever had with him."

Xena sat silently. Past atrocities played on the screen of her memory, sending paroxysms of agony across her shadowed face. Tears welled in her eyes and overflowed.

When Gabrielle saw the torment in Xena's face, she rose and quietly walked over to sit beside her and take hold of her hand. She reached up and gently wiped the falling tears from Xena's cheeks.

Herodotus pulled a piece of cloth from his pocket and wiped his eyes, then blew his nose. When Autolycus turned to look at him, he muttered, "Dirt in my eye." Autolycus, his own eyes suspiciously damp, solemnly nodded his head.

Ricondo lowered his head into his hands. The sincerity and stark drama of Xena's story made him take a close look at his recent decision to join the Temple of Ares. And what that decision would mean to his father and his grandfather, his beloved king. He already regretted the look of betrayal he knew would appear on his grandfather's face when he heard the news of his favored grandson's attempt to become a disciple of the God of War. But he vowed to himself to make it up to him.

Gabrielle squeezed Xena's hand, then rose and suggested quietly, "It's late, and we have a treasure to rescue tomorrow. I think it's time to turn in."

She turned to the warrior. "Wait here, Xena, I'll get your bedroll."

"We'll need to share with your father and the prince. Autolycus probably has his own." As tired as she was, Xena still was in charge.

"Right. I'll give them the saddle blankets." Xena rolled her eyes. "OK, OK," Gabrielle acquiesced. "We'll use the saddle blankets. They can have our bedrolls."

Once the bedding arrangements had been settled, everyone slept.

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

With no patients at the moment, Claris sat in the healer's hut, taking her time pulverizing a few herbs to use for various medicines.

Suddenly, there was a blinding flash. Claris shut her eyes. Slowly opening them, she was not surprised to see Artemis standing there. Occasionally, the Goddess of the Hunt stopped by to find out if Claris had found any new herbs or treatments. This time, Artemis had a list in her hand.

Claris got off her stool and knelt down. Artemis waved impatiently. "Get up, get up, Claris. We have a lot of work to do."

Oh, great, just what I needed, a goddess in a mood. And I thought I would have some time to myself today.

"I have a list here of 10 herbs we need. Let's take a look and see what you have." Artemis brought the list to the table and laid it down. She started puttering through Claris' bottles and jars, moving them every which way. As she found one she was looking for she set it out to the side.

Claris took a look at the list. "What's this for?"

Artemis turned toward Claris, while still picking up bottles and holding them in front of her eyes to read the contents. "Would you believe this is a potion to heal the Warrior Princess?" The goddess' voice rose loudly, "Destroyer of Nations? I can't believe I'm doing this."

Claris felt a little bolder with the patroness of the Amazons than she would with a strange goddess. "Why ARE you doing it?"

"Only because your queen begged me to!"

"Gabrielle?" queried Claris.

"Of course, Gabrielle. You don't think I would do this for anyone else, do you?" The goddess looked perturbed. "Tell you the truth, if she weren't such a sweetheart, I wouldn't do it for her, either. A potion for the Destroyer of Nations. Humph! That woman KILLED Amazons."

"But she HAS changed, Artemis."

"So, I hear. But that doesn't bring them back, does it? And you don't have to stick up for her. Gabrielle did a good job of that. That golden-haired beauty could charm the birds out of the trees."

Claris raised an eyebrow. "Don't look at me like that, Claris. I just happen to like the girl. But her partner's another story. I don't relish having to help HER." The goddess pushed her lip out. "Not that I really HAVE to, you understand. But Gabrielle practically begged me to. And she's very hard to refuse."

On the pretense of looking for another bottle, Claris quickly turned away to hide the grin she couldn't seem to keep off of her face.

Artemis pushed some bottles over to the side. "There's six, see if you can find the other four."

"Which four?" Claris inquired. As Artemis read the names to her, she searched among the displaced bottles. Finally, they had all ten.

"Now put these in a pot, cover them with about this much water," Artemis indicated with her hands, "and boil them down to a syrup. I have to go get one more ingredient." The Huntress pulled her bow from her shoulder. "I'll be back." She left in another flash, still muttering, "Destroyer of Nations, I don't believe I'm doing this."

Claris stirred the fire and put the herbs and water to boil. She replaced all the bottles in their usual order. Glad these god types don't come around too often. Just make more work for us mortals. So, Artemis is making a potion for Xena, huh? Guess she really is sick. And our little Queen Gabrielle talked the Huntress into it?

Claris grinned. She had been on the receiving end of Gabrielle's charm, before. We all know our queen has Xena wrapped around her little finger. Now it looks like even Artemis isn't immune. Hmmm. Not a bad combination, the warrior and the huntress--as long as they aren't both in the same village! Claris laughed out loud.

Artemis returned hours later, just as the herbal combination had been reduced to the requisite syrup. She held an evil-smelling vial in her hand. "Mix this into the syrup, then put it all in a flask."

Wrinkling her nose at the smell, Claris did as directed. "Are you taking the flask to Xena?" she asked innocently.

"NO!" Artemis practically exploded. "I wouldn't hand anything helpful to the Destroyer of Nations. Don't even know why I'm doing this!"

Damn, she's still on the same kick. Sorry I asked. A wicked streak in Claris made her say, "I thought you said you were doing it because of Gabrielle."

Artemis sighed loudly. "I am. That girl is such a sweetheart! I just can't resist her. What she sees in that warrior… Ah, well, she asked me to help her and I'm going to help her. The queen, that is, not the warrior!"

Artemis pulled her roving thoughts back to the moment. "Claris, you are going to take the flask to… I can't even bring myself to say her name. But when you see her, tell her she has to drink the whole thing or it won't work." Artemis' voice changed and she quirked an odd smile. "She'll be cured… within a few minutes."

The Huntress pointed her finger at Claris and "whoooosh," Claris disappeared.

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

Xena had been half dozing, going in and out of light sleep when she suddenly got a really strange feeling. Some urge made her get up and stumble into the forest. Dizzy again, she was unsteady on her feet.

Elisa's eyes opened when Xena rose, but the young Amazon just watched as the Warrior Princess tottered into the trees. She would lie there, waiting to be sure that the warrior returned within a decent time interval.

Xena slowly walked some distance into the forest, to a small open space, and stopped. "What's going on?" she called. "Who's here?"

There was a flash of light and a woman appeared, holding a flask in her hand.

Xena squinted her eyes against the flash and reached for her sword, but her hand stopped when she recognized the woman. "Claris?" she inquired. "What are you doing here?" Xena lowered her shaky body to a seat on the ground and looked up incredulously at the Amazon healer.

"By the gods, Xena, you look like Tartarus! No, I take that back, you're not red enough to look like Tartarus. More like curdled cow's cud." Claris frowned at the warrior's condition. She looks even worse than I expected. Looks like I got here not a moment too soon. "And how much weight have you lost?"

"Haven't a clue, Claris. But if my leathers get any looser, I'm gonna have to nail them on." Xena grinned tiredly. "Curdled cow's cud? You've been hanging around Eponin too long. What brings you here and how…?"

Claris held up the flask. "Our patroness, Artemis, told me to give this to you and make sure you drank every drop and, whoooooosh! I was here."

"Artemis?" Xena looked skeptical. "Why would she be doing this for me?"

"Funny you should say that. Those were almost the exact words she kept mumbling off and on as she picked out the herbs: 'Why am I doing this for the Destroyer of Nations?' That sort of alternated with, 'Gabrielle, you sweetheart, you could charm the birds out of the trees.'"

"Ahhhhhh. Gabrielle. I should have guessed." A broad smile slowly spread across Xena's face. "She is a sweetheart, isn't she?"

"That she is," Claris agreed. And I can see why Ephiny gets skittish when she sees that smile of yours, Princess. "You going to drink this stuff or talk all night?"

Xena took the flask and, tilting her head back, took a large swallow. "Arrrggghhh. What IS this stuff?" The Warrior Princess' face was screwed up in distaste.

"I don't think you want to know," Claris chortled. "Of course, the vial Artemis gave me even smelled awful. Said she was adding it for flavor." Xena's eyes glared up at her. "I'm only kidding! But you have to drink all of it. She was particular about that."

Xena sat looking at the flask, her mouth twisting into about ten different expressions, none of them nice.

Claris grinned. "Wait till I tell the other Amazons that the mighty Warrior Princess acted like a little kid who didn't want to take her medicine."

Xena scowled up at her, made another face and upended the flask. She held it up until she drank it all. "I oughtta get some kind of award for this, instead of having to listen to your nagging."

"The goddess said you would feel better in just a few minutes." Claris, still chuckling, watched closely for some sign of the potion's effect.

Suddenly, Xena could feel it. Red-hot blood coursed through her body. And burned! She came to her knees, doubled over and grabbed her stomach. Pain wracked every ounce of her body. Sweat poured from her as she gritted her teeth and groaned.

Claris was flabbergasted. Artemis had given her no clue about how the warrior would react to the potion. The healer felt helpless. Not only didn't she have anything else with her to alleviate the pain, but also she was afraid even to attempt a soothing touch, knowing that Xena might turn on her.

After two long minutes of this agony, the groaning ceased and Xena fell, panting, onto her side in fetal position. Gradually, her breathing evened. She licked her lips and sat up. Then she stood up.

Distressed, Claris had watched the Warrior Princess through the whole time. When Xena stood up, she half-whispered, "How are you?"

Xena shook one leg, then the other; one arm, then the other. She twisted her body back and forth and stretched her arms to the sky. Bending her knees, she vaulted high into the air, somersaulted, and came back to the same spot of earth. Then she threw her head back and laughed out loud. "The Warrior Princess is back!"

She grabbed Claris in a big hug and, lifting her off her feet, danced around the clearing. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Setting a laughing Claris down, Xena looked to the heavens and shouted, "And thank you, too, Artemis!"

Elisa came running into the clearing. "Claris! What are you doing here? What's going on?" Claris turned to greet the young Amazon, but before she could take even one step, whoooosh! The healer disappeared in a flash of light.

Elisa stood there dumbfounded. "Close your mouth, Leese! Haven't you seen anyone disappear before?" Xena laughed again and ran up a tree, flipped and twisted back to the ground.

Elisa's eyes shone. "You're well again! Wonderful!" She strode over to the warrior and grabbed her in a bear hug. Xena hugged her back, then the two started back to the camp, with Xena explaining what had happened.

"Let's wake Gabrielle and tell her you're strong again," Elisa suggested happily.

"Nooooo, I don't think so. I'm never strong enough for that! When the bard's asleep, I let her sleep! At least till sunrise," Xena chuckled. "Besides, do you know how long it's been since I had a full night's sleep? I can't wait to hit that blanket, horse smell and all."

"OK," Elisa agreed, grinning.

Before the warrior climbed into the blanket, she turned to the young Amazon and gently gathered her into her arms. "Thanks for saving my butt at the temple today," she said softly. "Thanks for everything. Don't know what I would have done without you."

Elisa squeezed back. "Anytime, Xena, you know that."

Xena kissed her on the cheek and released her. "Now get to sleep, or Gwynna will be having my hide for keeping you up half the night."

Two dark-haired women fell asleep that night with smiles on their faces and the same thought prompting those smiles. The Warrior Princess is back!

Gabrielle woke the next morning at daybreak. Turning over, she gasped to see that Xena wasn't lying next to her. She sat up quickly, then, looking past the smoldering fire, she noticed with relief that Elisa's bedroll was empty, also. At least she has her shadow with her, wherever she is. Gabrielle relaxed, then mused that she was able to. Leese's being here sure makes a difference.

But, as she rose, her next thought brought the tension back. Xena is going downhill, fast. With a promise to herself to send some more prayers to Artemis after breakfast, the bard stirred up the fire, picked up the two pots and headed for the river.

When she got to the bank of the river, she saw two familiar scabbards, four knives and Xena's chakram lying on the shore. A movement upstream caught her eye. The Warrior Princess and Elisa were standing atop a huge boulder that jutted out into the river. The bard could see Xena gesticulating and Elisa nodding. With that sixth sense that always told her when Gabrielle was near, Xena turned and, seeing her, waved.

Gabrielle, puzzled that Xena would climb onto the boulder in her weakened state, nevertheless smiled and waved back. She drew her breath in sharply as Xena leaped into the air, rolled into a ball, and somersaulted twice. The startled bard watched her partner's long body open up, arms stretched forward in a "V," and cleave the water without so much as a splash.

Xena, what are you trying to prove? You going to keep pushing until you can't move? Irritated at her partner's carelessness, Gabrielle walked thigh-high into the water to meet the furiously swimming Warrior Princess. Xena popped up in front of her, grabbed a startled Gabrielle and swung her around and around.

"Gabrielle! I'm healed!" Xena's ability to swing the bard around in water that most people struggled to walk in dispelled any doubts Gabrielle may have had about the return of the warrior's strength.

At last, Xena stopped. Still holding the bard, she laughed, "I'm OK, Gabrielle!"

Chuckling through her tears of happiness, Gabrielle answered, "I figured. Praise Artemis!" The bard moved her hands to either side of Xena's face as if to assure herself that what she was seeing wasn't a mirage. "You look wonderful!"

Xena's magnificent blue eyes softened into the special look she had for her best friend and her voice lowered. "It was Artemis who cured me, but it was you who persuaded her. Thank you." The Warrior Princess kissed the bard's cheek.

Then, she jerked back her head and wrinkled her nose. "But you smell like a horse!" Quickly moving one arm behind the bard's knees, Xena picked her up in her arms.

"Tell me you are not going to throw me deeper into the river," Gabrielle warned.

'Weeellllll, I might have been persuaded not to, but I recall someone with a pitcher of water dousing me one morning."

"Uh-oh." The bard grabbed her nose and Xena, laughing, threw her further into the water.

Gabrielle came up spitting water and laughing, too. "Well, I can't argue with that. Besides, I do smell like a horse!" She ducked again beneath the water and came up rubbing it onto her skin and clothing in an effort to get rid of the odor.

Xena waded over to her, fishing in a small bag at her belt. "I have something I think might help that." She pulled out a small metal jar. Unscrewing the top, she held it under the bard's nose.

"Xena!" Gabrielle's whole face lit up. "Is this still some of the perfumed crystals from Athens?"

"No, we ran out of those awhile back. I got these in Ellaria, at the Festival. I was going to give them to you there, but… things changed." A cloud passed over the warrior's face, then she shook her head and smiled, burying the memory. She dumped a few crystals in her hand and shook it over Gabrielle's head.

Gabrielle reached up to work the crystals into her hair as Xena closed the jar and returned it to her bag. "Put some on your own hair, too," the bard urged.

The Warrior Princess grimaced. "Flower Garden? I don't think so. But I did wash the horse smell off." Xena looked toward the riverbank and saw Elisa picking up her scabbard and knives. "I think we better get back. We still need to get the treasure. And your father's horse and wagon."

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

While returning to camp, the three women had gathered some nuts and berries. Gabrielle added some hard biscuits from her saddlebag stores and threw some herbs in the small pot for tea. Xena murmured to Elisa, who grabbed some nuts and berries, mounted Viktor, and took off toward the outlaw encampment. While everyone else consumed breakfast, Xena related her encounter with Claris.

Discovering that the Warrior Princess had regained her health cheered everybody. A pall lifted from their spirits.

As they finished breakfast and broke camp, Elisa returned. "There are about 50 of them. They haven't moved, yet. They have four men out as guards, but I don't think they suspect that we are here. And just past where they are camped, the trail enters open fields for a long stretch."

Xena had planned to attack the outlaws while they were on the trail, taking them apart in small sections as she had with the other bunch. Now, since they would be entering a wide, open area, that plan wouldn't work.

"Is Draco with them?"

"I didn't see him anywhere."

"That's too bad," Xena grinned sardonically. "I would kinda enjoy seeing him lose."

Xena's eyes swept the group who were awaiting her instructions.

"Xena." Prince Ricondo stepped forward. "I want to be part of the fight. It's the least I can do to make up to my grandfather for the hurt I have caused him."

"All right, but you'll need a sword."

Autolycus spoke up. "It ah… just so happens that I have an extra sword." He loped over to his horse and pulled a sword from the scabbard hanging there. He brought it back and gave it to the prince.

Prince Ricondo looked at it curiously. "This looks just like one of mine that I left at the castle." He slipped it into the empty scabbard on his back.

Xena glared at Autolycus and twisted her lips. He raised an eyebrow, smiled like an innocent and shrugged.

"Gwynna, you and I will go ahead of the others on Argo and take out the rear guard. Prince Ricondo can ride Nightmare. Gabrielle, you and Elisa double up on Viktor and wait with the prince until we rejoin you. We will spread out and attack at the same time. Keep alert! If someone gets past Gwynna and me and sees you, you could have the whole bunch to fight before we can get back to you." Xena looked at each of them in turn, hesitating a split second as her eyes met Elisa's and the young Amazon nodded her understanding. I will stick to the queen like a burr.

"Autolycus, you and Herodotus are in charge of freeing the horse and wagon and getting the treasure on its way back to the castle. Wait until we attack; that should divert the attention of the guards."

They mounted the horses and moved out. When they neared the enemy camp, Xena called a halt. "You wait here. Gwynna and I will be back to join you." She and the blonde Amazon dismounted and swung up into the trees. In about 20 minutes, they both returned and Xena once more moved the group forward.

When they all could hear the movements of the men in the camp, they stopped. First, Xena had Autolycus give his horse to the prince and Gwynna reclaimed Nightmare. "I think our best bet will be to ride into the camp on horseback, do as much damage as we can, and then dismount and finish them off. We'll form a line about ten feet apart from each other and try to stay reasonably close. That way, we can help each other if needed." She looked at the expectant faces and smiled. "Ready? Let's go."

The small group charged from the trees, spreading out as directed. Xena's battlecry rang out over the camp, "Yiyiyiyiyiyiyi!" They rode swiftly through the surprised outlaws, taking down half of them in one sweep. Reaching the far side of the camp, they swerved their horses and started back.

The outlaws had quickly assembled themselves in some sort of order and dodged the riders on their second sweep. With another cry, "Yiyiyiyiyiyiyi!" Xena slewed Argo to a stop and hurtled off of the warhorse in a flying somersault. The others followed her example, dismounted, and engaged the outlaws hand to hand.

Xena laughed out loud from the sheer enjoyment of fighting. She ducked under a sword swipe, shoved the off-balance outlaw onto the blade of the one behind him and buried her sword to the hilt in the chest of the second man. She crashed an elbow into the face of an outlaw on her left and kicked the chest of one coming at her from the right as she jerked her sword free.

Parrying the thrust of the next man, she head-butted him, then straight-arm punched him in jaw. She jumped in the air to kick the next two and saw Elisa skidding on a pool of gore. As Xena's feet hit the ground, she vaulted her body back up into the air and flipped to where Elisa was going down. An outlaw stood over the girl, his sword raised to strike her. Before Xena struck him, he fell forward, overtop Elisa.

Prince Ricondo stood behind him, sword dripping with the bandit's blood. Xena saluted him with her sword, flipped it over and jammed it backwards into the stomach of a man sneaking up behind her. Whirling on one foot, she took out two more. With her boot, she rolled the fallen outlaw off of Elisa, reached down, grabbed her arm and pulled her up. "Sometimes we burrs have to stick together!" Xena grinned.

"Yeah!" breathed the dark-haired Amazon. She reached behind her shoulder and flipped two knives in blinding succession at two men converging on Ricondo's back while he fought off another.

Meanwhile, Gabrielle and Gwynna were again working as a team, having rediscovered the remarkable efficiency of combining their efforts. Gabrielle would knock a couple down and Gwynna would slam them into unconsciousness. Then Gwynna would attack and the ones still conscious from her blows would be dispatched by Gabrielle.

The one big disadvantage they had was that the outlaws saw they used staffs and not swords, so, instead of attacking the sword fighters, many chose the supposedly lesser danger of fighting the two blondes.

Xena, Elisa and the prince soon laid low the ones they were fighting and joined Gabrielle and Gwynna. The battlecry of the Warrior Princess warned those still left that this awesome woman had arrived in their area, and most of them ran for their lives. The few who stayed were cut down.

As the attack had begun, Autolycus and Herodotus crept near the wagon. As expected, the four guards turned their attention to the battle area. Herodotus had managed to find a hefty piece of wood to use as a club and he sneaked up on the two men at the front of the wagon while Autolycus tiptoed toward the two at the back. When the King of Thieves saw Herodotus pull back the club, he tapped one outlaw on the shoulder. The man turned around and Autolycus punched him out. A loud thud sounded the knell of one of Herodotus' victims. When the first went down, Herodotus used the momentum of the bounce off of his skull to back swing into the second outlaw's head, laying him out next to his companion.

The second outlaw in the back saw Autolycus and drew his sword. The King of Thieves was a decent swordsman and was holding his own. He smiled in gratitude, however, when Herodotus came to his aid and clunked his opponent in the back of the head. "Three for you and one for me," he said, brushing his mustache with the side of his finger. "Good job!"

A beaming Herodotus climbed onto the wagon seat as Autolycus untied the horse and handed him the reins. Autolycus took hold of the horse's bridle and turned him around, then joined Herodotus. The battle still raged, but the men did as Xena had directed and started back toward the castle.

The fighting was finished. The Warrior Princess whistled for Argo and her face literally glowed from her joy at regaining full strength in time for this battle. She had seen Autolycus and Herodotus make off with the treasure wagon and she was doubly joyful at the success of the mission.

Prince Ricondo walked up to the warrior while Elisa and Gwynna rounded up the other horses. "I watched you in battle, Xena, and I see now what you meant about needing 20 years of experience. Even after 20 years, I would never be as good as you are. You are awesome." His earnest face then broke into a self-deprecating grin. "Besides, if I became a warlord, someday I might have to fight against you and I don't even want to think about what that would mean!"

Xena reached out and patted him on the shoulder. "I'm glad to see you have the good sense your grandfather said you had. You fought well, today. You even saved Elisa's life."

"I didn't really save her life; you were there, too."

"You were the one who struck the blow and there was no guarantee that I would make it there in time. You truly did save her life and all of us are very grateful. I mean to tell that to the king."

The boy looked disturbed. "Thank you, Xena. I will need all your good words. My father and grandfather will feel I have betrayed their trust when they find that I wanted to become a disciple of Ares."

"And how will they find that out?" Xena raised her eyebrows and looked at Gabrielle. "Do we have any reason to report that?" Gabrielle smiled at Ricondo and shook her head no. "No one else will have a reason to, either. They will leave that up to me and I seem to have forgotten it already."

"You really are a very special person, Xena. And I want you to know you will always be welcome in my kingdom." The prince reached out and when Xena extended her arm, instead of clasping it, he took her hand and raised it to his lips. "My eternal gratitude," he pledged.

The two Amazons had returned with the horses. Xena vaulted onto Argo, reached down and easily swung Gabrielle up behind her. The bard wrapped her arms tightly around the warrior's waist and, for a moment, laid her head against her. "It's so wonderful to have you back," she whispered.

Xena's acute hearing picked up the whisper, and it entered her mind and warmed her soul.

Xena's group joined the two men with the wagon and accompanied them back to the castle without incident. King Philomaros and Prince Hamlon were ecstatic over Prince Ricondo's return, hugging and pummeling the boy's back in turn.

A luncheon feast was put out for the travelers and they thoroughly enjoyed it. Gabrielle's eyes lit up when she saw a platter full of pastries and realized two of them were raspberry pastries, her favorite. She quickly seized them and set them on her plate. No sooner had she let go of them than Xena reached over and grabbed one.

The Warrior Princess stuck it in her mouth and took a huge bite. "Ummmmm. Raspberry!" She finished the pastry, accentuating each bite with another "ummmmm."

Gabrielle watched this performance, mystified. "What are you doing?" she queried. "You know that's my favorite."

Xena ostentatiously licked her lips. "Seems to me I recall a certain bard betting her next pastry that I wasn't ready to start a trip. I'm just collecting my winnings."

Gabrielle, remembering, had to grin. "I think Leese deserved the pastry. She's the one who saved the bet for you."

Xena looked toward the young Amazon who was sitting on Gabrielle's other side, listening delightedly to this banter. The warrior pointed to her. "OK, Leese, you get the other one!"

Before Gabrielle could move, Leese grabbed the other pastry and went through the same act as Xena had, "ummmmm"-ing with each bite, while everybody, even Gabrielle, laughed.

After lunch, King Philomaros offered Xena and her party their choice of any jewel they wanted from the recovered chest. "No, thanks, we came to save Prince Ricondo and want no reward for that," Xena assured him. "We are just thankful that he has been safely returned to his family."

The Warrior Princess walked over to Ricondo and put her hand on his shoulder. She looked into his eyes, then turned toward the king. "You have a young man here to be proud of," she declared. "He fought well against the outlaws who had kidnapped him and even saved Elisa's life. He showed the bravery and skill you have endeavored to teach him and will someday be a credit to his kingdom."

Turning back to the boy, her cobalt-blue eyes smiled into his. The look he gave back to her showed that the Warrior Princess had won another heart.

"Xena, perhaps you would be interested in accompanying the jewels back to my brother's keeping?" the king suggested.

"No, thank you," Xena protested. "But, I would recommend that you keep secret the time that you send them and perhaps break them into smaller shipments. A large chest being sent to, or from, a king draws all the wrong kind of attention. Am I right, Autolycus?"

"Ah… yes, Xena, you are absolutely right. Perhaps the king would like me to accompany the treasure… " Autolycus' eyes had brightened until a long, bronzed arm grabbed his shirt at the neck. "Er… on second thought, I withdraw my offer. Heh-heh." Xena twisted her mouth to keep from grinning, and let go of the shirt. Even King Philomaros smiled. The king reached into the chest and handed a large jewel to Autolycus. "I would feel better, Autolycus, if at least one person here would accept a small token of my gratitude."

Autolycus quirked an eyebrow at Xena, who pushed her lips together, but smiled and nodded. The happy King of Thieves bowed and accepted the jewel.

"We still have half a day left. I think we will get back on the road," Xena said.

Everyone made their goodbyes to the king and the two princes and left.

Xena's group exited through the gate and crossed the moat. The warrior pulled Argo to a stop and everyone else stopped, too. "Autolycus, would you be good enough to accompany Herodotus back to Poteidaia? Gabrielle and I have business elsewhere."

The two men looked at each other and nodded. "Sure, Xena, I'm going that way, anyhow. I'd be glad to."

The Warrior Princess moved Argo next to Autolycus' mount. She reached an arm toward him. "Thank you, Autolycus, for all your help. If you need me for anything… " Seeing his eyes light up, Xena decided she better reword her offer. "That is, if you need my help, just call." Autolycus pretended to be crestfallen.

The two friends smiled at each other and Autolycus, just as Ricondo had done, took Xena's hand and kissed it. "I'll see you around, Xena."

Gabrielle had ridden out of the village in the wagon with her father and they had said their goodbyes to each other. Now she stepped down from the wagon and waited beside it.

Guiding Argo over to the wagon, Xena reached down and hoisted Gabrielle up behind her. "Xena." Herodotus looked a trifle uncomfortable, but wanted to say something to this imposing woman. "I guess we'll never be good friends, that's just not in the cards. But, I've learned that you are not the monster I thought you were and, from now on, you will always be welcome in my home." He reached a tentative arm toward the Warrior Princess.

Xena reached down and clasped his arm. "Take good care of my daughter," he said gruffly, and, embarrassed, glanced away. He missed the look of pain that flitted across the sculpted face.

"I promise to do my best," Xena vowed.

The men went off and the women watched and waved until they disappeared into the trees.

Xena looked at the two young Amazons. They moved their horses nearer and Elisa addressed their queen. "Before we leave, Gabrielle, would you give us your blessing?"

Elisa and Gwynna dismounted and Gabrielle slid down from Argo as Xena threw her leg over the front of the saddle and jumped down, also.

The two Amazons knelt before their queen for her blessing, then Gabrielle hugged the girls and Xena walked over to them. She reached for Elisa and pulled her close and they embraced. "Goodbye, Leese. You know how glad I've been to have you here." She released the girl and clasped arms with Gwynna. "You, too, Gwynna. You and Gabrielle were quite a team with your staffs."

Elisa pushed her lips together, not trusting herself to talk. Leaving Xena always profoundly affected her. Knowing this, her friend spoke for them both.

"We sure are glad that you are well again, Xena," Gwynna said. "And we're going to miss you and Gabrielle. When do you think you might come back to see us?"

"We're going to Amphipolis; then, who knows, maybe we'll swing back your way again."

Xena climbed back on Argo and lifted the bard up behind her. Elisa managed to grin as she and Gwynna mounted their animals. "Lifted Gabrielle a little easier this time, huh?"

"Yep." The Warrior Princess smiled back. "But my shadow was there when I needed her." A special look of friendship and trust passed between the two. With a little nod, Elisa turned Viktor toward the trail home.

Xena and Gabrielle waved as the Amazons rode away.

Xena guided Argo toward Amphipolis and they moved at a steady pace, occasionally recounting the events of the past several days, but often just riding in silence, rejoicing in the quiet solitude.

Evening came and Xena searched out a cozy clearing by a small stream. They camped there, eating a fish caught by the warrior and cooked by the bard. They washed it down with tea brewed from Gabrielle's hoard of herbs, and found the familiarity of the routine soothing.

Finally, they settled down for the night in their bedrolls.

Xena had just begun to drift off when Gabrielle's voice broke the stillness. "It's cold tonight."

"Ummmmm."

A few moments later, the bard's voice came again. "I'm freezing."

"Well, put another log on the fire," Xena mumbled, trying hard not to wake completely up.

"I don't think that's going to help. It's really, really cold."

The Warrior Princess gave up. "Are you hinting that you want to sleep with me?"

"No, I'm more like… begging." Gabrielle put on her best wheedling tone.

Xena grinned into her blanket. "OK, get over here, but no kicking!"

"I usually walk all day. I guess my legs still think they are walking." Gabrielle started to make excuses ahead of time.

But Xena wasn't going to let her get away with it. "You kick me one time…"

"OK, OK, noooo kicking." Gabrielle would have promised anything at this point. She really was freezing. She scrambled over to Xena's bedroll. The Warrior Princess opened her blanket and let the bard snuggle down against her side and lay her head on the warrior's shoulder. Ummmm. That flower garden does smell pretty good. She pulled the blanket over them both as Gabrielle laid an arm across her waist.

"Migosh, you're warm as Tartarus. Don't you ever get cold?"

Xena gazed down at the golden head tucked into her shoulder. Don't you ever get cold? Those carelessly spoken words climbed all over her heart.

Unconsciously, her arm tightened around Gabrielle and a soft smile turned up the edges of her lips.

Gabrielle tilted her head back and smiled up into her friend's magnificent eyes. Her breath caught, as it always did when she saw that tender look, reserved just for her. She returned the look with her own eyes, her smile broadened, and she dropped her head back into its resting place against Xena's shoulder. I love you, Xena, her heart whispered.

Xena brought her long fingers up along Gabrielle's cheek and kissed the top of her golden hair. "Goodnight, Gabrielle," she murmured. I love you.

The End.

Our Heart

I watched you struggle to regain
The strength that you had lost,
While you denied your battle wounds
Had made you pay that cost.

You focused on your promised word,
Ignored that you were weak;
You'd not admit you risked your life,
When cure you would not seek.

Your weakness so alarmed your friends,
They stepped into the breach;
Your courage set their own afire,
And stretched their normal reach.

When Huntress heard my desperate plea--
And saw how much I cared,
She feared despair would fill my soul
Unless your life was spared.

So Artemis worked on a cure
Though bluntly she confessed,
She would not help you for your past;
I was the one she blessed.

And now she's made you well again,
In answer to my prayer--
She saw your heart's a part of mine,
Two joined as one, for e'er.

Comments are welcome: PruferBlue@aol.com

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