"It’s their camp," Xena whispered, confirming their suspensions to Gabrielle who was waiting at the base of the ledge. "Come on," she rose to her feet being careful to keep her body in a low crouch, "there’s a better place to see what’s going on over there."

Wordlessly Gabrielle followed Xena; her body bent low as was the warrior’s.

Xena led Gabrielle along the steep rock wall using the numerous boulders and thick ground cover to hide their movements from the armed men in the canyon below. She slipped under a jagged outcropping of rock and settled into the shadows underneath it motioning for Gabrielle to do the same.

From their hidden roost, the women had an unobstructed view of the canyon and could observe the activity taking place on the chasm’s floor without being seen themselves.

"Looks like the raiders King Gregor has been looking for," Xena said as she helped Gabrielle find a comfortable spot to sit on the pebble-strewn ground.

"What do you think they’re doing with the villagers?" Gabrielle eased one hip off the ground, removing an irritating stone from underneath her bottom and tossing it aside.

"Guess we’ll just have to keep an eye on them and find out," Xena leaned back against the rock wall, stretching her long legs out in front of her. "Not exactly how I’d plan to spend our honeymoon," she grumbled.

"We could have said no," Gabrielle gently reminded the warrior, resting her head on Xena’s shoulder.

Draping an arm over Gabrielle’s shoulders, Xena asked, "could we?"

After a long pause, Gabrielle said what both of them knew to be true. "No."

A comfortable silence fell as the women watched the movements in the camp below while thinking back on the events of the previous weeks.

H Y î

Sitting on the steps in front of the regent’s hut, Solari looked up from sharpening her sword. Recognizing the arrivals, she quickly stood calling out to the hut’s other occupant and her bond mate. "You better come out here, Ephiny. And hurry."

Ephiny came out of the hut, briskly rubbing her wet hair with a towel. "What’s so important?"

"That," Solari pointed towards the riders.

"By the gods," Ephiny threw away her towel, rushing to greet her queen, "what are they doing here? Why didn’t Gabrielle let us know they were coming? Is something wrong?"

"Good questions," Solari answered as she hustled after Ephiny, a shrill whistle escaping from her lips. "Why don’t we ask them," she suggested just before coming to an abrupt stop in front of the approaching horses. Her body rigid as she saluted her queen with the customary Amazon salute of right fist sharply punched against the chest above the left breast then thrust outward in the queen’s direction.

"Queen Gabrielle, General Xena," Ephiny greeting the pair as they dismounted, "I’m sorry we aren’t prepared for your arrival but the sentries didn’t send word you were on your way."

"Hi, Eph," Gabrielle smiled as she and Xena slipped off their mounts. She pulled her regent and friend into a warm hug, "I asked them not to."

"Why?"

"This isn’t one of our regular visits," Gabrielle explained to Ephiny as she hugged Solari, even though the Captain of the Royal Guard remained in full attention stance. "I need to talk to you and I didn’t want a big hoopla going on that would interfere with that."

"Must be awfully important," Ephiny clasped forearms with Xena in welcome, then released her so the warrior could greet Solari.

"Relax, Sol," Xena chuckled, reaching out to clasp her friend’s forearm, "you’re stiff enough to break a few bones."

"Thanks," Solari did as she was told, "good to see you again, General."

"Why don’t you and Ephiny go to the hut to talk," Xena urged Gabrielle, "and I’ll take care of the horses."

"Okay," Gabrielle smiled. "Come to the hut when you’re done."

"Will do," Xena smiled warmly at the bard as she reached for the reins to her horse.

"Looks like you could use some help, General," the weapons master, Epinon, stepped up to greet the warrior, her arm outstretched.

"Never been one to turn down help rubbing down sweaty horses," Xena clasped the offered forearm. "Good to see you, Pony."

"Glad to be of service," Pony grinned.

With Solari following, Gabrielle and Ephiny turned to walk to the queen’s hut while Xena and Pony turned in the opposite direction and started for the barn and corrals. The two warriors had not gone far when six fully armed royal guard members ran past them to take up sentry positions around the queen.

"Amazons," Xena muttered as the women rushed by, startling the horses.

"Gotta love ‘em," Pony smirked.

Gabrielle shook her head as she and Ephiny climbed the steps of the queen’s hut and crossed the porch. "I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this queen thing," she muttered as a royal guard scrambled past her to open the hut’s door, then stood aside so the queen and regent could enter.

"You better," Ephiny told her, "it’s the Amazon way and you are the queen. Hopefully for many years to come," she added sincerely even though she was next in line for the Queen’s Mask.

"We’ll see if you still feel that way after I tell you why we’re here," Gabrielle mouthed a silent word of thanks to the guard as she walked into her hut.

H Y î

"Gabrielle asked me to be her bond mate," Xena lifted Argo’s saddle from the mare’s back and placed it on the rail at the side of the stall. "She wants us to go through the joining ceremony."

"Going to be hard to get the council to agree to that," Pony picked up a grooming brush.

"That’s what I said."

"They’re gonna scream like one of Zeus’ lightening bolts hit them in the backside."

"Said that too."

"Couple will probably pass out at the mere thought of the queen bonding with you."

"Yep."

The barn fell silent for a few minutes as the women concentrated on the horses.

"She’ll talk them into it," the weapons master smirked.

"Think so?" Xena hoped her friend was right. Having the nation accept her choice for bond mate meant a lot to Gabrielle.

"If anyone can talk that group of gossipy, tongue-wagging, living in the past, soured-up old women into anything, it will be our queen," Pony chuckled.

"She can talk most into doing just about anything," Xena agreed, her voice full of pride.

"Even a big, bad warrior into marriage, it seems."

Continuing to brush Argo’s coat, Xena winked at Pony, "didn’t take much talking."

"Didn’t figure it would," Pony laughed. She tossed the brush she’d been using into a bucket, "what say we head over to my hut for a mug of ale?"

"I’d say that sounds pretty good." Xena discarded her grooming brush then retrieved both hers and Gabrielle’s saddlebags from their saddles.

Walking out of the barn, Pony clasped Xena on the shoulder, "congratulations."

"Thanks," Xena grinned.

H Y î

"Yes," Gabrielle’s jaw tightened as she dropped onto the bench beside her regent. She had expected opposition to the news but not from her regent and friend.

"The council will never agree."

"Why?"

"For one thing, she’s not an Amazon."

"Come on, Eph. She’s already the Queen’s Champion and General of the Amazon Army, not to mention that she’s also my consort. She’s the nation’s best fighter, best tracker, best rider and best healer. And she knows more about Amazon history and customs then half the women in this village, including me. She’s an Amazon in every way but name."

"But that’s the most important. And whether we like it or not, it’s the council that must decide if she meets the requirements to be adopted into the nation."

"She meets all the requirements," Gabrielle snapped. "A lot more than I ever did."

"Gabrielle," Ephiny placed a hand on her friend’s arm only to have it immediately shrugged off. "Look, I’m on your side."

"Doesn’t sound like it."

"Gabrielle," Ephiny tried again and was glad when her hand was left in place, "I love you as a sister and nothing would make me happier than for the two of you to be bonded. But we have to be realistic about this. If it were up to me, there’d be no question of Xena becoming an Amazon. But you and I both know there are still a lot of bad feelings with some of our nation when it comes to Xena, especially the elders who lost loved ones fighting alongside Cyane."

"That was a long time ago," Gabrielle said softly, wiping at a tear that spilled from her eye. "She will always bear the guilt of what she did that day but she’s not that Xena any more.

"I know but..."

"My mind is made up, Ephiny. I asked Xena to be my bond mate and she accepted. Either we are allowed to be bonded in the Amazon joining ceremony or," Gabrielle paused, shifting so she could look directly into Ephiny’s eyes. "Or I’ll give up the Queen’s Mask."

"You can’t be serious," Ephiny gasped.

"I am."

"The nation needs you."

"I need Xena."

"It won’t be easy," Ephiny groaned.

Gabrielle grinned, "nothing we do ever is."

H Y î

"Took care of the horses then shared a mug of ale with Pony," Xena dropped the saddlebags she carried before crossing the room to wrap her arms around Gabrielle. "Thought I’d give you some time to break the news to Ephiny," she leaned down, capturing the bard’s lips. "How’d it go?" she asked when they broke apart several heartbeats later.

"About what I expected," Gabrielle sighed. She leaned into Xena and was grateful to feel the warrior’s strong arms tightening around her. "She’s afraid the council will turn down my request outright."

"What did you tell her?"

"That if they do, I’ll give up the Queen’s Mask."

"Gabrielle!" Xena, shocked by the declaration, pushed Gabrielle away just enough so she could see her face. "You can’t do that."

"Xe," Gabrielle sighed, reaching up to caress the warrior’s face, "you are the most important thing in my life. If the council can’t accept that, then I can’t be their queen."

"We don’t have to be married here," Xena softly offered.

"I know," Gabrielle smiled sadly at the woman she loved more than anything. "If they won’t agree, we’ll go to Amphipolis and be married. But if I am the Amazon Queen," her resolve stiffened, "then it is my right to choose my bond mate. You are my choice," she laid her head back against Xena’s chest, "if they don’t accept that, then they must not accept me as their queen."

"You can’t give up the mask, Gabrielle," Xena said, pulling the bard close. "What about Artemis? She chose you to lead her nation."

Gabrielle snuggled into Xena’s embrace. "Why is everything so complicated for us, Xe? How many others have to live their lives around what so many mortals and gods want?"

"My guess is we’re the only lucky ones," Xena murmured. She knew there was sorrow behind the bard’s words and a torment she shared with the woman she loved.

"I’m going to the temple this evening, will you come with me?"

"Don’t you think it best to talk to her alone?"

"No," Gabrielle looked up at Xena, "I think we should do it together. Besides, I’d like my champion to be there in case Artemis decides to challenge me for the mask."

"It’ll never happen," Xena growled.

"I know, but I’d still feel better if you came along."

"Alright."

H Y î

"Uh, oh," Gabrielle said, eyeing the elder hurrying towards her.

Instinctively, Xena moved to place herself between Gabrielle and the potential threat.

"It’s okay honey," Gabrielle patted Xena’s back, "I doubt she plans to do anything with you and my royal guard here to defend me." She glanced over her shoulder, not surprised to see Solari and the guard members that had been following them move forward to take up protective positions.

"Let’s hope she’s that stupid," Xena muttered, not at all happy to see the leader of the council members who continually opposed Gabrielle.

"Good evening, Katepos," Gabrielle greeted the woman who marched right up to the queen, stopping mere inches in front of her.

"I know what you’re up to, Gabrielle," the woman accused, shaking a finger at the queen. "But I’m here to tell you, you won’t get away with it."

"You’ll show Queen Gabrielle proper respect," Solari growled at the council member. "Get your finger out of her face and address her properly."

"It’s all right, Captain," Gabrielle said. Even though she didn’t like all the formality she was always careful to follow proper protocol whenever the circumstances called for it. "I’m sure Katepos meant no disrespect," she spoke calmly but her voice held a serious edge that was unmistakable. "I’m sure it’s just because I haven’t been in the village for some time that she has forgotten her place."

"Get that finger out of her face or I’ll break it off and feed it to you," Xena hissed when the elder failed to back down.

One look at Xena and Katepos knew she was in grave danger. She dropped her hand and took a few steps backward. "I’ve called a council meeting for first thing tomorrow morning, Queen Gabrielle. We’ll continue this at that time but be assured many feel as I do."

"Thank you for the warning," Gabrielle smiled. "But as I have not announced the reason for my visit, I cannot possible understand why you would feel there must be something to oppose. However I am willing to wait until the morning to find out. Now if you will excuse us, we are on our way to seek council with Artemis. Surely you do not plan to delay us from that," Gabrielle smiled sweetly at the woman knowing she would now be unable to continue the confrontation.

"Of course not," Katepos turned on her heel, storming away without another word.

"Fool," Solari mumbled as she retook her position behind Gabrielle. "You’d think she’d give it a rest by now. Woman is so full of hate, she can’t see a good thing when it almost bops her on the head."

"Oh, pooters," Gabrielle groaned, realizing their surprise visit to Amazonia wouldn’t be free of contention as she had hoped. She slipped her arm around Xena so she could lean against her. "Amazons," she muttered.

"You gotta love ‘em," Xena laughed, pulling Gabrielle close as they resumed their walk to the temple.

Perturbed by the confrontation with Katepos, Gabrielle wondered if being bonded in the Amazon ceremony was really worth trying to force Xena’s adoption into the nation.

Since accepting the Queen’s mask, visits to the village were always full of disagreements and conflict with Gabrielle’s efforts always facing opposition and hostility from members of the nation’s council. And much of that was because of her unfaltering support of the warrior walking beside her.

Gabrielle had named Xena her permanent champion right after Queen Melosa’s death only to find herself facing an angry council demanding a true Amazon be awarded the honor. With Ephiny’s support, she had refused the demands. Both women pointing out to the council that there was no Amazon more skilled than the warrior to defend any challenges made against the queen.

Wanting to ensure the battle preparedness and fighting skills of the Amazon army, Gabrielle made Xena it’s General and, with the warrior’s guidance, established a new training regimen only to have many of the warriors, at the urging of Katepos, threaten to refuse to cooperate. Pony had come through for her then, convincing the warriors that there was no one better to train them. And if they wanted to be able to defend their nation they should work with Xena instead of against her. It took several moon cycles but eventually the warriors came to respect Xena for her abilities and expertise and now most would unquestioningly follow her into battle.

Even the nation’s healers had come to respect Xena for her knowledge, many traveling from the distant villages to learn what the warrior could teach them.

Yet for all the progress, Gabrielle continually faced opposition in council meetings for her insistence of relying on Xena as an advisor and active participate in Amazon affairs. And now faced with the same open hostility and opposition, even before she had made a formal announcement of her intentions to bond with the warrior, Gabrielle started to think it might just be better to give up the Queen’s mask and ride away from the Amazons for good.

Gabrielle glanced up at the warrior walking beside her to try and judge what Xena was feeling at the moment. She and the warrior had spent the days traveling to Amazonia discussing what might happen when they arrived at the village, with Xena sure the request would be rejected outright. No matter how much Gabrielle had tried to convince the warrior that many Amazons felt no animosity towards her, she had been unable to change the warrior’s mind. In the end, Xena had left the matter in Gabrielle’s hands prepared to follow wherever the bard led.

Sensing Gabrielle’s indecision, Xena smiled at the bard. "Come on, Queen Gabrielle," she smirked, "let’s go break the news to Artemis. Then we can kick some Amazon butt if anyone tries to cause any trouble with your plans."

The tension broken, Gabrielle laughed, "you sure about that?"

"Yeah," Xena grinned. "Nothing would make me happier that seeing Katepos and her group of trouble makers have to address me as Royal Consort. She’ll probably choke on the words every time she has to say it."

"You’re bad."

"Nah, just sick and tired of them and the way they treat you. You’ve done more to help the Nation survive than any of them could and they still treat you like an outsider. I say we show them just how much of an Amazon their queen really is."

"You go girl," one of the royal guards murmured, the others nodding in silent agreement.

"Go on," Solari encouraged Gabrielle when she looked to see who had spoken. "We need you and Xena a lot more than we need Katepos and her cronies."

Gabrielle took a moment to study the face of each of the waiting guards. Seeing the support and hope reflected back at her, Gabrielle turned to face the polished stone steps leading up to the landing in front of the temple’s heavy wood beam doors.

Xena bent slightly to kiss the top of Gabrielle’s head, "I love you. No matter what, that will never change."

Gabrielle’s decision was made. How could she not place her love for Xena ahead of those who would see the warrior banned from Amazonia? What she had told Ephiny was true, if the nation could not support her choice for a bond mate she could not support the nation. And she was now primed to tell Artemis the same.

Fortified by Xena’s love, Gabrielle started up the steps, her fingers tightly entwined with the warrior’s. "Let’s get this over with."

As if by magic, the temple’s massive doors swung open and the women walked into the temple’s antechamber. It was a large circular room with an altar opposite the entry. Unlike the stark foreboding stone exterior of the building, this chamber was welcoming. Warmly lit by hundreds of candles, the room was surrounding by curtained off nooks that offered worshippers seeking an audience with the goddess a secluded place to await the appearance of one of the temple’s priestesses. Those who did not seek such an audience could make their offerings at the altar and leave without disturbing the others.

A door at the side of the chamber opened and a priestess emerged. "Welcome," she greeted the women. "Our Goddess has been expecting you. Please follow me."

"Reading our thoughts again," Xena scornfully whispered as she followed Gabrielle to the doorway.

"I hope not," Gabrielle reddened, realizing that most of her thoughts were full of a certain warrior. A certain naked warrior. A certain naked warrior doing… Well, you get the picture.

Xena chuckled at her companion’s embarrassment, "would serve her right if she was."

They were led down a candle lit corridor, the smooth stone walls occasionally broken by a non-distinct doorway. The corridor approached what appeared to be a dead end, their progress blocked by a seemingly solid wall of rock. The priestess did not hesitate upon reaching the obstacle, leaning against the stone to push it open. She did not enter the room beyond instead she stepped aside beckoning the women to pass through the hidden portal.

Xena and Gabrielle walked into darkness broken only by the vanishing shaft of light coming through the opening now being pulled shut by the priestess. They waited for what they knew would come, this not being their first visit to a god’s private chamber.

As soon as the stone wall became solid again, a brilliant white light filled the room blinding the women and forcing them to cover their eyes to protect them from it’s intensity.

"Why is it you gods can’t just enter a room like every one else?" Xena snarled, pulling Gabrielle against her to shield her from the harsh light.

"Would kinda take the fun out of the god thing, don’t you think," Artemis giggled, waving her hand to diffuse the light. "If we didn’t make a grand entrance, no one would believe we had godly powers."

"Seems to me you could come up with a better way to prove that," Xena glared at the smug goddess. "Like healing the sick or ending hunger or something."

"We could but it wouldn’t be as fun," Artemis shrugged as she took a seat in a large throne-like chair. "So tell me what brings my two favorite mortals for a visit."

"I thought you knew," Gabrielle rubbed her stinging eyes. "The priestess said you were expecting us."

"Unlike what your warrior thinks, I do not waste my time reading your minds," Artemis motioned for the women to sit on a cushioned bench in front of her. "My priestess informed me of your arrival this morning, Gabrielle, and you always come to see me when you’re in the village."

"Oh," Gabrielle let out a very relieved breath as she took a seat on the offered bench. "Wait a minute. Then how did you know that’s what Xena was thinking?"

"Because it’s different in my temples. I have to listen to my worshippers to know if I want to grant their prayers or not."

"Oh," Gabrielle settled on the bench. "I guess I can accept that."

"Thanks," Artemis grunted. "Now while your visit is not unexpected, Gabrielle, your warrior seldom comes to my temple. So I’m more than a little curious as to the reason you are here."

Xena sat beside Gabrielle. Casually she crossed one leg over the other and leaned back, draping an arm over the bard’s shoulders. "I have little time for visiting gods, Artemis," Xena arched an eyebrow. "I’m here because Gabrielle asked me to come."

"I see," Artemis studied the pair. There was something different about them and their interactions. A new familiarity, almost, an intimacy. Artemis smiled. "You have something to ask of me, my chosen?" she addressed Gabrielle.

Gabrielle rubbed her cheek, "can we drop that ‘my chosen’ stuff. It still gives me the willies to think you made a decision at my birth deciding the path that my life would follow. I’m not complaining," she quickly added, more for Xena’s sake than for the goddess, "but it is creepy."

"Humpft," Artemis grumbled. "There is a point for your visit, isn’t there?"

"Um, yes." Gabrielle hoped she hadn’t angered the goddess by her comment, she needed Artemis on her side when she met with the council in the morning. ‘Oh well, too late now to worry about that’, she thought before continuing. "I have asked Xena to be my bond mate and we have come to the village to have our joining ceremony."

An uncomfortable stillness fell over the chamber as the women and goddess looked at one another.

"You have come to ask my blessing?" Artemis finally broke the awkward silence.

"Yes," Gabrielle answered, "and no."

"I don’t understand," the goddess gazed quizzically at her Amazon queen.

"I, we, would very much like to have your blessing for our joining," Gabrielle said. "And we want your endorsement for Xena to be adopted into the nation."

"But?" Artemis asked.

Gabrielle blew out a long breath as she prepared to tell the goddess of her decision. "I love Xena more than anything or anyone, Artemis. If you or the council refuse to agree to our joining and force me to choose between Xena and the Amazons ..."

"Xena wins," Artemis finished the queen’s statement.

"Yes."

"I see." Artemis turned her attention to Xena who had remained quiet up to this point. "You have said little, warrior."

"It is Gabrielle’s wish that we be joined in the Amazon ceremony but I would be happy to marry her anywhere."

"Do you love my queen?" Artemis asked, glaring at the warrior.

"More than life," Xena’s eyes narrowed as she glared right back at the goddess.

"I am pleased with your choice, Gabrielle," Artemis grinned, relaxing back against her throne.

Both Gabrielle and Xena looked surprised by the statement.

"You weren’t expecting that were you?" Artemis smirked.

"Well," Gabrielle looked suspiciously at the goddess, "to be honest, no. Considering Xena’s past history where the Amazons are concerned," she reached over and took the warrior’s hand to assure Xena she wasn’t judging her actions. "I kinda expected some sort of protest. At least, at first."

Artemis chuckled, "as you said, Gabrielle, your path in life was chosen at your birth. As was Xena’s."

"Alright, Artemis," Gabrielle eyes narrowed as she suspiciously studied the goddess, "there’s more to this than that. Xena was Ares’ chosen and if she had stayed with him, our paths would never have crossed. What’s going on? Tell us why you’ve been expecting this."

Xena was extremely interested in having an answer to that question herself. But she remained silent, content for the bard to do the talking. For now.

"Ah, Gabrielle," Artemis settled back into her chair. "Your instincts are, as always, very good. It is one of the reasons I chose you."

"That’s not what I want to hear, Artemis," Gabrielle cut the goddess off.

"Yes, my chosen," Artemis sobered, "there is more. But the events that took place so long ago on Mt. Olympus cannot be revealed to mortals."

"Alright," Gabrielle leaped to her feet and tried to pull Xena up with her. "We’re out of here. I’m not going to sit here and listen to any more centaur dung about how you can’t tell us what the Gods have done to effect our lives. Come on, Xena, we’ll go to Amphipolis and get married."

"Hang on, Gabrielle," Xena gently pulled the irate bard back down to sit beside her. She had seen something in the goddess’ eyes that the ranting queen had not. An emotion Xena had seldom seen expressed by the occupants of Mt. Olympus, regret. "I think she has more to tell us."

Reluctantly, Artemis nodded. "What I’m about to tell you is known to few on Mt. Olympus. But it is a knowledge that will give you more questions than answers," Artemis warned.

Gabrielle reclaimed her seat beside the warrior. "Go on."

"As you know, Gabrielle was chosen at her birth to lead my Amazons. But it was never intended for her to lead them alone, there was to be another chosen. One was to lead with wisdom and one with strength."

"Xena?" Gabrielle whispered.

"Yes. At the time of her birth, Athena chose Xena for her own. You were to follow separate paths until the time came that the Nation needed you. Then your paths would cross and you would join together to save my Amazons."

"What happened?"

"Somehow Ares managed to place his claim for Xena before Zeus first and was given her life cord to do as he wished. Athena and I argued with Zeus but he refused to undo what had already been done."

The bard and warrior sat quietly even though inside they were both seething at how calmly Artemis told of the Gods fighting over them as if they were nothing but a pair of children’s toys. Which in truth was exactly what they were in the Gods’ eyes.

"After my brother chose you, Xena, I consulted the Fates and saw where his control would take you. I was shocked at the consequences of his influence and I again tried to reason with Zeus. But he refused to take away what he had already given. If there had been any way for Athena and me to stop Ares, it would have been done. Even with Aphrodite’s help, our combined powers were unable to overcome his."

Dismayed by what they were being told, Xena and Gabrielle waited for the Goddess to continue.

"Unable to do anything else, Athena and I forced the Fates to show us your life cords. We found the one moment when your paths would cross and knew that was our opportunity to get Xena away from Ares’ control for good. We could not take away the past Ares made you endure but we could give you a different future. Until your paths crossed, Athena struggled to prevent Ares from controlling you completely, Xena. Her success is evident by you being here today."

"Let’s not forget she did it in order to save your Amazons," Xena said, scornful of the goddess’ efforts.

"Yes. But as I said, it was always the intention to use your strength and Gabrielle’s wisdom to save my Amazons. We had an opportunity to take you back from Ares and to save my Nation. And we took it."

"Why do you do that?" Gabrielle shouted, angry at how their lives had been manipulated. "Why do you Gods have to play with us like that? Can’t you see how much Xena has suffered because Athena and Ares had to have a mortal to fight over? Why couldn’t you just let us be?"

"I’m sorry, Gabrielle."

"No," the queen snapped, jumping to her feet to confront Artemis, "don’t even try that on me. You’re not sorry for how much Xena suffered, only that you didn’t get your way back then. Come on, Xena. Let’s go, I can’t listen to any more of this."

"It’s okay," Xena again pulled Gabrielle back down beside her. "I’d like to hear more," she told the enraged bard when she saw the questioning look on her face. "I’ve always wondered why Ares chose me when he could have had any number of warriors riding at the front of his army. Why me?" she asked Artemis.

"That is a question only Ares can answer," Artemis said sadly, as if knowing that her brother had no inclination to ever do so.

"But you know the answer," Xena challenged. "Don’t you?"

"Yes."

Gabrielle had been thinking as the other two women talked. "I want to know something, Artemis. If you always meant for Xena and my paths to cross, does that mean that our love," she stopped, unable to say what she was thinking. If it were to be true, she did not think she could go on living.

"Your love is genuine, Gabrielle," Artemis tenderly assured the distraught woman. "No one on Mt. Olympus has had a hand in it. You paths were to cross for the sake of my Amazons, the depth of any affection was left up to you."

Gabrielle eyed the goddess skeptically until Xena pulled her into a loving embrace. "No one," she whispered, "could ever tell me who to love, sweetheart. Not god or mortal."

"I love you so much, Xe," Gabrielle cried.

"And I love you just as much."

"Well, it’s not exactly the way I had planned for this to happen but I can’t say I’m unhappy with the results," Artemis told the embracing women as she watched Xena wiped the tears from Gabrielle’s cheeks.

"Then you’ll support us before the council?" Gabrielle asked without taking her eyes from the face of the woman she loved.

"I’ll do better than that, I’ll have one of my priestesses perform the joining ceremony," Artemis smiled. "But as you know, every woman asking to be adopted into the Nation must first pass a test of worthiness. The woman must prove her bravery," Artemis continued, "and demonstrate her strength and willingness to sacrifice for the good of the Nation. Women asking to be adopted are usually tested in hunting, tracking and combat. No one can question your skills in these areas, Xena. That is why those are not the tests I will ask of you. You must prove your worth by facing your past. Without that, you will never be fully accepted and the Nation cannot afford to not have both of you leading it into the future. It is a test you must pass."

Xena and Gabrielle sat silently, waiting for Artemis to designate the warrior’s test.

"Xena, you must face my Amazons and the anger and mistrust many feel towards you and you must convince them that you are a different Xena from the one their mothers and grandmothers died at the hands of. You must cleanse yourself of their blood to be adopted into the nation."

"You ask the impossible," Xena told Artemis. She had long ago come to understand that her hands would never be free of the blood of her victims, including the Amazons she had killed on that day so long ago.

"You should have more faith in yourself, Xena," Artemis chided. "Look at Gabrielle, she knows of your past but loves you for who you are today. She knows that you have this inside yourself. You need only let others see in you what she does."

Xena looked at Gabrielle. Gazing back at her, two emerald green eyes reflected more love than she had ever hoped to see shown her. But there was more, much more. There was faith. Gabrielle believed in her, believed that she could accomplish what Artemis was asking of her. "I’ll try," she smiled at the bard.

"I love you," Gabrielle’s eyes sparkled as tears of love flowed.

"Good," Artemis stood, "now that that’s settled. I will have my priestess meet with the council in the morning. A call will be sent out for all members of the Nation to gather to judge Xena’s request for adoption. Then we will have a joining ceremony."

"You sound pretty confident this will go your way," Xena said.

"I’m a god, we’re never wrong," Artemis laughed. With a wave of her hand, she started to fade from sight.

"Wait," Xena called out.

"Yes," a partially visible Artemis paused.

"Because he had no son?" Xena asked.

"Perhaps," Artemis whispered as she disappeared from sight.

As the invisible portal to the room was opened by the priestess who had led them to it earlier, Gabrielle turned to Xena, "but that would mean…"

Fingers placed softly against her lips stopped the bard from continuing.

"Let’s not jump to any conclusions," Xena told Gabrielle. "It could mean anything."

"It would explain an awful lot."

Xena stood, pulling Gabrielle with her. "Wouldn’t explain how he could let his daughter go through the things I did," Xena said quietly as they walked out of the room.

H Y î

Hundreds of Amazons had traveled to the village, some to voice their objection to Xena’s request; others to witness the joining ceremony, and still others for the celebration that would follow. So many had come that there was no place other than the village square big enough to handle the large gathering when it was time to decide on Xena’s adoption into the Nation.

And this is where Xena stood, waiting to face them.

Because of her obvious prejudice in the matter, Gabrielle asked Ephiny to take her place in the proceedings. The regent stood on a dais at the front of the gathering, holding up her arms requesting silence. When the assembled Amazons became quiet, she began.

"My sisters, it is with great joy that I announce Queen Gabrielle has returned to our village."

Cheers rose from the Amazons always happy to have their queen back in their midst. Some felt the young queen should live permanently at the village but most were willing to accept her absences with the knowledge that she would always return when needed.

Ephiny again asked for silence. "It is with even greater happiness that I have the honor to announce Queen Gabrielle has returned for her joining ceremony."

Louder cheers and shouts of approval filled the square.

Ephiny waited for the cheering to die down. "Queen Gabrielle has chosen a brave warrior as her bond mate. A warrior that many of us believe already to be a Amazon in her heart." A few scattered cries of protest were drowned out by louder shouts of agreement. "But a warrior who is not yet a true sister of our Nation. The Goddess Artemis has decided that you, as a Nation, must agree to this warrior’s adoption before Queen Gabrielle can join with her. You must listen to what she has to say and you must decide what is best for our future."

Several more dissenting voices could be heard in the crowd. Ignoring them, Ephiny called out, "Xena of Amphipolis, come forward."

Xena was standing behind the dais with Gabrielle. "A little heavy on the feathers," she teased as she had to brush aside a few offending plumes while bending down to kiss Gabrielle dressed in her full Amazon Queen regalia.

"No matter what happens," Gabrielle whispered, "we’ll be together, one way or another. I love you."

"Hold that thought," Xena said as she stepped up on the dais to join Ephiny.

"Good luck," Ephiny smiled, stepping back to leave Xena to face the crowd alone.

Dressed in scrubbed leathers and with armor and weapons shined until they glimmered, Xena made an impressive figure. She stood tall and proud as she looked out over the sea of faces, some she recognized, many she did not. Some reflected back interest, some support, some hostility. She knew she was about to face her toughest battle and she had to do it without using the weapons she carried and had come to depend on. Today her weapons would be only words and she suddenly had a greater appreciation for her bard’s communication skills.

Xena thought of the woman standing behind the dais. It would be so easy to turn around, step off the platform, grab Gabrielle and ride away from the village never to return. But she knew Gabrielle was counting on her to try. If she failed, they could still leave but she had to at least try.

In a strong voice, Xena addressed the crowd of Amazons.

"I, Xena of Amphipolis, stand before you to ask that you honor me by accepting me as a true sister of the great Amazon Nation. I offer myself to the Nation as a skillful hunter, healer and warrior. But you also know me as someone who has committed horrible acts against this Nation. I do not stand here to ask your forgiveness, for I can never ask that of you. But I stand before you asking that you accept me for the Xena I am today. For the hunter that brought meat to feed you when you were hungry. For the healer that treated your wounds and eased your suffering when you were sick. And for the warrior that fought beside you in battle against your enemies."

"You murdered my grandmother," Katepos cried out. "I’ll never accept you."

"She killed my mother and two aunts," another Amazon shouted. "I’ll see her dead before I accept her."

Gabrielle tensed at the venom directed at Xena. She had to fight every instinct she had not to rush to her lover’s defense.

"Steady," Solari murmured, standing beside the upset queen. "You’ve got to let her do this alone or it won’t work."

"But it’s so unfair," Gabrielle hissed.

"They lost their loved ones," Solari reminded her. "They have a right to their anger. Let them get it out."

"I have a question for the warrior," a woman pushed her way through the crowd.

"Ask," Ephiny told the woman.

"My name is Chillep, do you remember me, warrior?" the woman asked as she stepped up onto the dais.

"No."

"My mother’s name was Deveon, do you remember her?"

"No."

"She died by your sword, warrior. Died defending her queen. Queen Cyane."

Xena remained silent there were no words she could say to ease the woman’s painful memories.

"After killing one queen you now ask that we allow you to join with another. How do we know you won’t kill Queen Gabrielle too?"

"You speak the truth," Xena solemnly answered Chillep. "I killed many that day but I am no longer that person. And it is because of Queen Gabrielle that I can say that. My heart, once rotten with hatred, is now filled with love, my love for Gabrielle. I could never harm her but I have no way to prove that to you."

"Look into my eyes, warrior," Chillep commanded and Xena obeyed. After several moments, the woman smiled, "this is not the Xena that killed my mother. That Xena’s eyes were lifeless, reflecting a maliciousness so vicious I could not look into them. I don’t see that in this Xena’s eyes. I see the pain of a warrior haunted by her past. And I see a love, a genuine love for one that means more than life to this warrior. This is a different Xena. I accept this warrior."

"How can you say that? You know what she did," someone called out.

"Or, have you forgotten?" another Amazon shouted.

"No," Chillep turned to face the crowd. "I will never forget the screams of my mother as Xena’s sword was driven through her body or the cries of the others who died that day. I remember because I was there. I was one of the lucky ones who survived to bury our loved ones, our mothers and aunts and sisters. You, Lanot," she pointed at one of the women who spoke against Xena. "You were only a child of three summers that day, you remember only what you have been told. And you, Katepos," she pointed at the council member, "you and your mother weren’t in the village that day. You had gone to the river to fish and the battle was over by the time you returned. I was there, a young girl of fifteen summers yet old enough to carry a sword and fight beside my mother. Xena could have killed me that day, she looked straight at me and the hate in her eyes chilled the very bones in my body. But she let me live and I have always wondered why. Now I know. I lived so that I could stand here today and pass judgment on her."

"You’re a fool," Katepos shouted. "A crazy, old fool."

"Stop," Ephiny barked. "Everyone can speak their opinion on Xena. But we are not here to attack each other. Are there any others that wish to speak?"

"I do," a young girl of fewer than fourteen summers made her way forward.

In order for her to be seen and heard by those in the crowd, Ephiny helped her up onto the dais. "Speak, Verros."

The girl nervously surveyed the crowd standing before her. When she finally began to speak, her voice was shaky with nervousness, "I have heard the stories of Cyane. But for me they are just that, stories. I don’t know that Xena. I only know the Xena that brought my sister and me to this village six summers ago. Our parents had taken us to market with them and we were returning to our farm when bandits attacked us. Xena appeared out of nowhere and fought the bandits, killing most and chasing off the rest. Our parents had been killed and this warrior saved my sister and me from a life I care not to think about. When she learned we had no other family she brought us here and asked that we be adopted into the Nation. I know nothing of the murderer you describe, only of the woman who cared for us during the days it took to travel here. The caring woman who would hold us while we cried during the long nights. Who told us stories of the brave Amazons and their strong traditions. She made us want to become Amazons. That is the Xena I know and the Xena I will always be thankful for coming to our rescue that day. I accept this warrior," she declared in a strong voice before wrapping her arms around the surprised woman.

"And I accept this warrior," Karan called out as she joined her sister with Xena.

Gabrielle wiped at the tears flowing down her cheeks. She had never heard of Xena’s part in Verros and Karan coming to the Amazon village. It was just another of the good deeds that the strong warrior never spoke about.

"Do any others wish to speak?" Ephiny asked the crowd. No one did. "Then we shall vote. Amazons, those who choose to deny Xena of Amphipolis, raise your arms." Several dozen arms were raised. "Those who choose to accept Xena of Amphipolis, raise your arms." Many more times the number of arms were raised.

Realizing that Xena had been accepted, Gabrielle jumped onto the dais and ran into Xena’s arms to the deafening cheers of the gathered Amazons.

"Tomorrow is a full moon," Ephiny shouted over the cheers. "When the moon rises in the east, Queen Gabrielle will be joined with her chosen, Xena of Amphipolis."

H Y î

"You do realize," Xena said as she rubbed a soapy wash rag over Gabrielle’s back, "that it is Amazon custom for the queen to spend the night before her joining ceremony in seclusion in the temple.

"Don’t remind me," Gabrielle groaned, "Artemis had one of her priestesses tell me the same thing this afternoon. I told her if she thought I was going to go without you for a whole night, we would just head for Amphipolis now."

"I would have loved to hear that conversation," Xena chuckled.

"I think Artemis sent her just to see what I’d say," Gabrielle grumbled. "She probably thought it would be amusing."

"It was, wasn’t it," Xena handed Gabrielle the wash rag and they exchanged positions.

"Not for me," Gabrielle began to wash Xena’s back. "Gods have such a strange sense of humor." She dropped the cloth into the water, soaking it to rinse the soap off the warrior’s skin. "Xe, do you really think Ares is your father?"

"Don’t know. I guess he could be."

"But you’ve always denied that."

"Didn’t seem too smart to let him know that’s what I thought. Who knows what he would have tried to make me do if he did."

"It would explain a lot."

"Such as?"

"Well for one thing, how you seem to heal so quickly," Gabrielle ran her fingers over a scar just below Xena’s shoulder blade. "Your fighting skills and the way you can do those flips and jumps. Ares is the only other one I’ve seen do them."

"Most of that came with lots of hard work," Xena turned back around, pulling Gabrielle against her.

"I know," Gabrielle snuggled close, "but you are able to do so much more that anyone else."

"Yeah," Xena had to agree her abilities did seem to be beyond the capabilities of most mortals.

"Why do you think Athena wanted you to be her chosen?"

"Artemis told you."

"No, Artemis told us what she wanted us to think. Somehow I get the feeling that there’s more to it."

"So what do you think?"

"Maybe Athena wanted to protect you from Ares. Maybe she knew how he would use you."

"It’s strange."

"What?"

"I never really knew my father, I mean the man I thought was my father, he disappeared shortly after Lyceus was born. Mother never spoke much about him and Toris only remembered him as being an angry man. I always thought I had missed so much by not having my father in my life. Looking back, if what I think is true, maybe not having a father around isn’t such a bad thing."

Gabrielle ran her hand up Xena’s arm, gently caressing the long limb. "It’s sad to think a father could do that to his daughter. His own flesh and blood."

"I don’t think Ares ever looks at things that way, sweetheart. He just sees the next battle and twists events to make sure his followers win. I doubt he even notices the lives he destroys along the way."

"Hmm," Gabrielle twisted to examine Xena, her eyes narrowing as she studied the woman holding her. "You may be the daughter of a god but it’s not Ares."

"Uh?"

"You’re not like him."

"Dark hair, darker soul. Sound familiar?"

"No," Gabrielle shook her head. "I don’t mean that. I mean in here," she tapped Xena’s chest above her heart. "You’re not at all like him there."

"But the things I’ve done," Xena said sadly.

"Oh don’t get me wrong," Gabrielle wrapped her arms around the warrior. "I think he made you go bad and he’s to blame for the things you did before we met. But if you were his daughter, he wouldn’t have had to trick and deceive you. He could have just said ‘I’m papa’ and you would have followed him. But he didn’t’. He stole you out from under the protection of Athena."

"And that proves what?"

"That, my love," Gabrielle smiled, "proves that if you are the daughter of a god, Ares isn’t the one."

"So who do you think it is? That is, if it’s true?"

"Not sure," Gabrielle stood, stepping carefully out of the tub and reaching for the towels placed conveniently within reach. Handing one out to Xena who was also exiting the tub, she added, "but my dinars are on Hades."

"Hades?"

"Yep," Gabrielle nodded, wiping her body dry. "Why else do you think you’ve come back from the dead so often."

"Interesting thought," Xena mused, following Gabrielle as she padded to their bed.

H Y î

A shiver shot through Gabrielle at the touch of her lover’s bare skin against her own. As fire spread from Xena’s lips throughout her body, a soft moan escaped from her throat to be caught in the warrior’s mouth.

Seeking permission to enter, Xena’s tongue teased and explored the lips she knew so well and yet never seemed to know at all. Permission granted, her tongue entered and began a slow, sensual exploration of Gabrielle’s mouth and tongue. Soon tongue wrestled with tongue, each seeking and pushing, twisting and turning. Xena won, this time, and she drew Gabrielle’s tongue into her own mouth, wrapping her lips around it. Only the need for air forced the lovers to separate.

"Xena," Gabrielle moaned.

Xena felt heat building between her legs as her lover let her feelings known. She began to lay a trail of tender kisses across the bard’s brow, eyelids, nose, cheeks, chin and moved slowly down Gabrielle’s throat.

Gabrielle buried her hands in Xena’s satin hair and held on.

Looking up to lock eyes with her lover, Xena smiled seductively before moving her lips to Gabrielle’s breasts. Tenderly cupping a hand around Gabrielle’s left breast, she caressed the soft, yet firm, tissue, gently squeezing the hardening nipple. Pressing her palm against the aroused bud, she lightly brushed her tongue over the other nipple.

Gabrielle reacted to the touch, her chest heaving up to meet Xena’s mouth.

Xena waited until Gabrielle relaxed back to her former position, then she resumed her attack on the breasts swelling beneath her. Xena slowly circled a nipple with her lips and tongue. Still caressing the other breast, she sucked the bud into her mouth.

"Xena," Gabrielle cried out as spasms of pleasure shot through her body, her hips rocking upward and she pressed a thigh against Xena’s warm, wet sex.

Xena moaned at the unexpected touch. Keeping her mouth on Gabrielle’s breast, she released the other breast and moved her hand down to Gabrielle’s hip. Gently she pressed Gabrielle away from her. "No, my love," she whispered at Gabrielle’s disappointment, "tonight, I please you".

Xena’s mouth changed to Gabrielle’s other breast and gave it equal treatment. The moans coming from deep within Gabrielle were causing feelings of desire to build within Xena. She fought the temptation to enter Gabrielle immediately and bring her lover the ecstasy she was seeking. With a hand squeezing each breast, Xena’s tongue began a slow trek downward. Reaching Gabrielle’s navel, her hot muscle circled the indentation before driving hard and strong into it.

Gabrielle’s body reacted violently, her back arching and forcing her breasts hard against Xena’s hands. Her thighs flew open in the hope that Xena would take her.

But Xena did not. Instead, the warrior again waited for Gabrielle’s body to return to the soft blankets before her lips sought out each hip, kissing and sucking noisily along the bone line.

"Xena, please," Gabrielle begged, gasping for breath. Her knuckles were white as her hands were wrapped around Xena’s hair. "Please, release me," she moaned in a voice no stronger than a whimper.

"Not yet, love. You’re not ready."

"Xena, please," the whimper repeated.

Xena responded by tracing hot kisses back across Gabrielle’s taunt belly to her navel. This time, her tongue circled the opening but did not enter.

Expecting the thrust, Gabrielle screamed when it didn’t happen, "Xena, take me. PLEASE."

Xena mouth was now moving down further. Down to the source of the sweet, musky scent arising from Gabrielle’s heated center of desire. The warrior’s lips kissed a path through the downy hair guarding the bard’s wet and inviting treasure. Xena buried her face into the warmth of the curly, fawn-colored hair and inhaled deeply, breathing in her lover’s aroma, wanting to fill her own body with the sexy smell.

Gabrielle’s hands, clutched in Xena’s hair, were preventing Xena from sinking lower. She gently reached up and released the fists, placing them at either side of Gabrielle. The blankets took their place in Gabrielle’s strong grasp.

"Oh, Xena. I can’t…."

"Yes, you can and you will." Xena could tell that Gabrielle was almost spent. But the pleasure she was planning for her lover would make the wait worthwhile. "We’re almost there, love."

Free from Gabrielle’s restrictive grasp, Xena lay her body between Gabrielle’s legs. Her strong shoulders pressing smaller thighs apart. She looked up at Gabrielle who had thrown her head back and was moaning for the torture to stop. Xena smiled knowing she had brought her lover to the brink and she was now ready to leap into the abyss with her.

Xena gently pressed open Gabrielle’s warm, wet nether lips to examine the bard’s treasure with her eyes before lowering her mouth onto the moisture soaked skin. Gentle, tender kisses touched every curve and ridge as she explored the woman writhing before her. Gabrielle moaned and Xena felt her own pleasure rising to its peak as her lover’s responded to her touch. A long sweep of her tongue filled Xena’s mouth with Gabrielle’s nectar and she swallowed slowly, enjoying the taste as it slid down her throat.

"Almost there," Xena promised her moaning lover. This time when she lowered her mouth onto Gabrielle, she gently took the hard clit between her teeth. Timing her movements with the experience of one who had brought such pleasure before, Xena thrust her fingers deep into Gabrielle at the exact same instant she pulled up hard on the nub captured in her teeth.

Gabrielle screamed as her climax exploded within her, washing through her in wave after wave of pleasure as Xena continued to drive inside her. Screams flew from her lips as she thrust against her lover’s mouth.

Her lover’s cries and the rush of release flowing from Gabrielle was all Xena needed to push herself over the edge of her own orgasm.

Both bodies heaved and convulsed. Neither woman had any control as the sheer pleasure of their carnal desires being satisfied sent waves of lava heated passion crashing through them. Cries of "Xena" and "Gabrielle" filled the hut and echoed across the village.

After several long minutes, their pleasure began to wane and the women collapsed onto the blankets unable to speak.

Xena’s rapture had driven her long body up and over Gabrielle. She now lay half on and half off of her lover but was unable to move her exhausted limbs and made no effort to so. She could feel Gabrielle gasps as she struggled to regain her breath but because of her position, could not see her. She struggled to speak, but no sound would come.

Gabrielle lay with her arms thrown out to her sides, her eyes staring sightlessly up at the room’s ceiling. In the throes of passion, she had yanked so hard on the blanket that she had literally lifted herself off of the bed’s surface before crumbling back down with the blanket balled under her. She seemed unaware of the discomfort the blanket beneath her and Xena’s body on top of her caused.

Both lovers could think of nothing else to do but give in to the exhaustion that controlled their minds and bodies. So they slept.

Some time later, Gabrielle woke to discover that as she had slept their positions and the blankets had been rearranged and she was now held tightly in Xena’s arms. She twisted just enough to be able to look into Xena’s face. Her lover was still asleep, a sense of peace showing on her face that Gabrielle had never seen before.

Tears started to stream down Gabrielle’s cheeks. "Oh, Xena," she whispered, "how I love you."

H Y î

"Hmm," Gabrielle savored a bite of the nut bread. "I could get use to this breakfast in bed custom."

"Moving to the village on a more permanent basis?" Xena raised an eyebrow as she chewed on a large berry.

"Hadn’t thought of it."

"Only way you’ll get served breakfast in bed, my bard," Xena tapped the end of Gabrielle’s nose leaving a drop of berry juice on it’s tip.

"Oh," Gabrielle wiped at her nose, "I don’t know. At the ceremony tonight, you will swear to defend and serve me."

"Don’t even think about it, Gabrielle," the warrior growled.

"I will be your queen, Xena, and as a true Amazon you will be expected to obey my every command."

"Gabrielle," Xena’s voice was low, tinged with warning.

"And as a warrior of honor, I would expect you to fulfill your oath."

"Gabrielle, I’m warning you," Xena knew Gabrielle was kidding but she wasn’t about to let her get away with it.

"So I think breakfast in bed every morning... Arrggghhhh, Xena," the queen screamed as she found herself abruptly pushed out of the bed by a seemingly irritated warrior. Landing with a thud on the wood floor, Gabrielle lay in a tangle of arms and legs as she pondered if her lover was truly upset by her teasing. Slowly, she sat up just enough to peek over the edge of the bed.

"Plan to stay on the floor all morning," Xena asked with a smirk, "or would you like to come back up here and help me eat the rest of these berries?" She dramatically leaned back onto their pillows, raising her arm high over her head then slowly lowering the berry she held to her waiting mouth.

Gabrielle scrambled back onto the bed, just managing to position herself between the dropping berry and Xena.

The warrior placed the berry against Gabrielle’s lips then stopped its progress. "No more breakfast in bed?" she asked sternly.

Gabrielle shook her head, opening her mouth.

"No more I’m the queen and you’re the obedient Amazon."

Another shake of the head before opening her mouth wider.

"Promise."

This time, Gabrielle eagerly nodded in agreement.

"That’s my bard," Xena chuckled, lowering the berry past the begging lips. "Besides," she grinned, rolling Gabrielle over so she could lie atop her, "the only breakfast in bed I want is you."

"I love you, Xe," Gabrielle placed a hand behind the warrior’s neck and pulled her close. "I’ll love you forever."

"Forever," Xena murmured, pressing her lips against Gabrielle’s.

H Y î

"Eph, I’m not a packhorse," Solari grumbled as she stepped out of their hut, overloaded with bundles of every shape and size.

"Come on," Ephiny grabbed a few of the parcels from the stack and Solari barely managed to retain her grasp on the rest of her haphazard burden. "We have to get this stuff over to the Queen’s hut."

"I know that, Eph," Solari muttered, trying to feel her way down their hut’s steps since she couldn’t see around the pile of items in her arms. "But it’s still early. How do you know they’re ready for this."

"They better be ready," Ephiny reached out, taking hold of her bond mate’s elbow to help guide her off the porch. "I have too much to do to get ready for this evening to wait for the two of them to finally decide to get out of bed. By the noise they were making most of the night, it’s a wonder how they can even be awake at the crack of dawn. But they were, all bright and cheery this morning when I took their breakfast to them."

"Personally, I don’t see how they keep going at it for as long as they do," Solari grumbled. "You’d have to let me sleep for a week if we did it that long."

"So far," Ephiny sniffed, "that hasn’t been a problem."

"What’s that supposed to mean," Solari stopped short.

"Oh, honey," Ephiny realized what she had just said. "I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant. I’m just so stressed by everything that has to be done before the ceremony. I wish Gabrielle had given us some warning about this. It’s too much to try to get done in only a couple of weeks."

Hearing the hysteria rising in her lover’s voice, Solari dropped her bundles to wrap her arms around the distressed Queen’s Regent. "You’ve done a wonderful job getting everything ready, Eph. Look around," she turned her bond mate to view the village, "all the huts have been decorated. The temple steps are beautiful," she said of the decorated area where the ceremony would take place. "The drums are set up and the dancers have been practicing day and night. The cooks haven’t stopped cooking all week for tonight’s feast. All that’s left to do is get Gabrielle to the temple for her cleansing ritual and period of silent meditation with the priestess. If such a thing is even possible," Solari laughed.

"It’s not if you listen to Xena," Ephiny giggled. "I’m sorry, Sol," she leaned into the embrace. "I guess I’ve let things get to me."

"Easy to see why," Solari hugged her mate, "especially with Katepos and her cronies harping on you every day to speak to Artemis about her support of Xena and Gabrielle’s joining. By the gods, that woman is impossible."

"I know, but I think a priestess may have a few words with her before this evening. I doubt Artemis will want anything to happen to ruin the ceremony. And knowing Katepos, she’s probably got something planned to try to stop it."

"I can still chain her in the stables until this over," Solari offered, not for the first time.

"Let’s let Artemis take care of her. We have a queen and warrior to deal with. And that’s more than enough to keep us busy. Come on," Ephiny pulled out of Solari’s arms, bending down to help pick up the bundles scattered around their feet. "I need to get Gabrielle to the temple."

"I wondered how she managed to avoid the night of seclusion," Solari wondered out loud as she knelt beside the regent. "I’m surprised Artemis didn’t insist on it."

"Knowing our queen, I don’t think Artemis had much to say about it."

"Yeah," the Captain of the Queen’s Royal Guard laughed. "I doubt she did at that."

"Can you imagine keeping her in there alone all night? Trying to keep her in the temple until the ceremony is going to be hard enough."

"Not to mention, keeping Xena occupied until then."

"Well you better," Ephiny grunted, struggling to maintain her hold on several bundles as she began walking for the queen’s hut. "If she gets bored and disappears before the ceremony, our queen will have our heads."

"Don’t worry," Solari joined the regent, "Pony and I have a few things planned."

H Y î

"Your costumes for the ceremony," Ephiny explained, dropping her load onto the bed.

"Costumes?" Xena scowled. "Gabrielle," she growled.

"Chill, warrior," Gabrielle patted Xena’s arm. "Not those kind of costumes."

"Bad choices of words, hon," Solari told Ephiny, adding her bundles to the bed. "It’s your clothes and the stuff Gabrielle will need for her time at the temple."

"Oh, pooters," Gabrielle groaned as she dropped onto the bed beside the pile. "I forgot all about that."

"Well start to remember," Ephiny huffed. "You should have been there already."

"Come on, Eph," Gabrielle picked a package up, unwrapping it, "you don’t really expect me to spend the rest of the day locked inside the temple meditating on my life choices, do you?"

"Yes."

"I’m not going to," Gabrielle unwrapped a second package.

"You have to," Ephiny wasn’t too surprised by the queen’s refusal to follow custom. After all, Gabrielle had never been a traditional queen. "Artemis will be expecting you to follow some of the traditions."

"She’ll get over it," Xena said as she pulled a string from around a bundle. "What is all this for anyway?" she asked, holding up what looked to be a sleeping gown but was made from such a sheer material that it appeared to be transparent.

"My gown for the cleansing ritual," Gabrielle said not stopping her own unwrapping activities, "which, I might add, I have no intentions of going to."

"Gabrielle," Ephiny moaned, "you have to do some of this. It’s tradition."

"I’m not taking a bath in front of a dozen priestesses wearing that," the queen pointing to the item in Xena’s hands.

"Well you could take your bath wearing it and I’ll take the place of the priestesses," Xena’s eyebrows waggled.

"Stop it," Gabrielle swatted the warrior. "I’m not doing it," Gabrielle reiterating, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Then you can just do the mediation," Ephiny tried.

"Oh, please," Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "You don’t really expect me to sit in that temple for the next several hours in silent meditation." She reached over and again swatted her snickering lover.

"You have to."

"Eph, I can’t sit still for ten minutes let alone stay silent for hours."

"Are you saying that you don’t plan to follow any of our customs?" Ephiny was starting to get angry with her queen. It was true that Gabrielle had come to wear the queen’s mask in a very unconventional way but that didn't mean she could just thumb her nose at the customs and traditions she didn’t agree with.

"No. What it means is that I’ll go to the temple," Gabrielle smiled when her regent breathed a sigh of relief. "But not to be cleansed and to meditate. I have some things I want to talk to Artemis about and I expect we can spend the time until the ceremony doing that."

Suspicious, Xena eyed the bard, "care to share what you plan to talk about?"

"No," Gabrielle turned to face her lover. "Not now. But I’ll tell you everything after tonight. Okay?"

Xena knew that the bard was asking her to trust to her. Something that had taken way too long for her to do, so long it almost cost them their love. "Okay," she smiled, letting Gabrielle know she did trust her, "you can tell me when you’re ready." She reached across the pile, offering her hand to the bard.

"I will," Gabrielle placed her hand in Xena’s, smiling when the warrior held it tight. "I promise."

"Good, now that that’s settled," Ephiny was unsure what exactly had just transpired between the queen and her champion but the morning was rapidly passing and she still needed to get Gabrielle to the temple. "Let’s get going."

Gabrielle refused to leave the hut until every package and bundle had been opened. She examined each item of clothing and the special adornments, tossing aside the ones she deemed unnecessary. Finally with only a richly beaded tunic made from soft doeskin and matching skirt and with a few feathers and beads she would use for her hair did she agree to accompany Ephiny to the temple. The regent and captain stood outside on the hut’s porch while the queen and warrior said their good-byes.

"Be good," Gabrielle smiled up at Xena as they stood in each other’s arms.

"Always," Xena leaned down to kiss the bard. "I love you."

Gabrielle laughed, "you must to go through all this."

"I must."

"I’ll miss you."

"Me too."

"Until the moon rises then."

"I’ll be on the temple steps. Don’t keep me waiting," Xena held Gabrielle tight.

H Y î

"She deserves to know the truth." Gabrielle was just as frustrated with the goddess as Artemis was with her. "After everything Ares and the rest of you gods have put her through, you should be willing to tell her."

"If it were only up to me," Artemis squirmed in her chair, "I would agree. But."

"I know, I know," Gabrielle waved off the coming protest. "You’re afraid of what Zeus might say or do. I swear you gods are no better than a family of vipers waiting to strike at each other. You claim me as your chosen and Athena tried to claim Xena. Aphrodite claims to be our friend and yet not one of you is willing to level with us and tell us the truth when we ask you." She slumped back into the chair she occupied, "makes me wonder why we should even care about your Amazons."

"Because they have become your Amazons too, Gabrielle."

"And that’s the only reason," the bard glared at the goddess. "I guess I should have just stayed with Xena in the hut. At least, then I wouldn’t feel like I wasted the whole day."

"I’m sorry," Artemis softened her look, "I really wish I could answer your questions. But it isn’t up to me."

"Whatever," Gabrielle grumbled as she stood up, prepared to leave the room. "I better start to get ready. I promised Xena I wouldn’t be late."

"Before you do," Artemis stopped the bard from leaving. "I have a question for you."

"And I’m sure you expect an answer," Gabrielle scoffed.

"I would like one," Artemis smiled.

"I’ll see. What’s the question?"

"Much is changing in the world and I fear for my Amazons," the goddess paused.

"Is that your question?"

Artemis continued, ignoring her queen’s sarcasm, "I was wondering if you planned to start spending more time in the village? It is important that you be here to deal with any threats to the Nation."

Gabrielle didn’t have to think about her answer. "My life is with Xena. If she chooses to stay, we stay. If she doesn’t, we don’t."

"But after your joining, you will be her queen."

Gabrielle smiled, "I’ll still follow her."

"I understand."

"I doubt it," Gabrielle said before pulling open the door to the temple’s inner room. "I need to get dressed."

As the door was pulled shut after Gabrielle’s departure, Aphrodite materialized in the room. "Whoa, sis," she circled around the sparsely decorated room. "Who does your decorating? Massive downer," she shook her head at the drab chamber.

"What are you doing here?"

"Couldn’t let me two favorite girls get hitched without being at the ceremony could I?"

"Hmm."

"You know, they resisted every attempt I made to get them to go bonkos for someone else. Even Cupid’s arrows couldn’t do the trick."

"Why’d you bother?"

"Oh," Aphrodite, not wanting to sit on what was available, zapped her own elaborate chair into existence. "Just to see how strong their love was. Amazing, really."

"What?"

"How deep their bond goes." Aphrodite studied her sister, "you should have told her, you know."

"What makes you think I know?"

"If you don’t, Athena does. And she’d tell you if you asked."

"Doesn’t mean they need to know."

"Gabrielle was right. After all they’ve been through because of us, big Xe has the right to know who her daddy is."

"Then he should tell her."

"As if."

Assigned with keeping the warrior occupied until the joining ceremony that night, the two Amazons had thought a long horseback ride would be best. Not having had as much time to exercise Argo as she would have liked since arriving in the village, Xena agreed to the plan and spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon challenging the pair to races that they knew they had no chance of winning. They were on their way back to the village when they came upon a small lake and decided to enjoy a swim in its cool waters.

"Xena," Solari sputtered as she re-broke the surface of the lake after being pulled underneath it for refusing to race the warrior, "are you trying to drown me?"

"Nope," Xena smirked before disappearing under water only to reappear moments later several feet away. "Don’t think Gabrielle would look too kindly on me drowning the Captain of her Royal Guards the day of her joining ceremony."

"You really should spend more time practicing your swimming, Sol," Pony laughed. "You’ve been bad at it since we were children."

"So if you think you’re such a good swimmer," Solari glared at her companions, "why don’t you race her?"

"I’m better than you," Pony smiled at her friend, "but even I know no one swims better than Xena."

"So," Xena lay on her back, effortlessly floating between the pair, "does this mean neither of you is willing to race me."

"Yeah," Solari dog-paddled up to the warrior. "You can add that to the list of defeats you made us suffer today. I sure hope Gabrielle knows what we put up with today."

"Oh, she knows," Xena chuckled as she let loose a splash attack on the Captain. "She has to put up with it every day."

"And she still wants to bond with you?" Pony teased.

"Seems so," Xena shrugged. "Speaking of that, we better get back to the village. I promised her I’d be waiting on the temple’s steps when she came out."

"Yeah, we better get you back on time," Solari groused as she dog-paddled for shore. "Sure don’t want an angry queen looking for me."

"You’re not afraid of Gabrielle, are you?" Xena snickered, easily swimming past the struggling Amazon.

"No," Solari grumbled, "I’m afraid of Ephiny."

"When the queen is upset, Ephiny gets upset and you get it from both sides," Pony knowingly teased her friend. "Captain of the Royal Guards and bond mate of the Queen’s Regent. You just can’t win, can you?"

"You can say that again," Solari grumbled as sloshed out of the lake.

Xena laughed, walking to where she had left her clothes.

"Damn," Solari mumbled, standing beside the weapons master, "our queen has claimed one beautiful bond mate."

"Yeah," Pony agreed as she gazed at the naked warrior who seemed to be unaware of her admirers. "Wonder what...."

"Don’t even think it, Pony," Solari stopped the thought from being voiced. "For both our sakes, don’t even think it."

"Yeah," Pony took one last look before walking to her own pile of clothes.

Her sharp ears picked up the quiet exchange causing Xena to smile to herself. "Amazons," she chuckled.

Pony silently led Xena through the village and up the temple steps to the terrace where Solari and Ephiny were already waiting in front of the temple’s massive doors. The women nodded to one another then Ephiny stepped forward to address the crowd of Amazons, raising her arms to request silence.

"Sisters, tonight our Queen will take a bond mate," the Queen’s regent waited for the cheers to subside. "Queen Gabrielle has chosen Xena of Amphipolis, Queen’s Champion and General of the Amazon Army to join with her," Ephiny beckoned for Xena to step forward. "But first, you must accept this warrior into our Nation. I ask of you, my sister Amazons, do you accept Xena?"

A deafening roar filled the air as the gathered Amazons shouted their approval for the adoption of the warrior into the Amazon Nation. After several minutes, Ephiny again asked for silence.

"It is the wish of our Goddess Artemis that her priestess perform the adoption ceremony of this warrior."

Another cheer rose in acknowledgment of the special honor being bestowed on Xena.

The crowd grew silent as the doors to the temple began to slowly open. Xena and Ephiny stepped apart yielding to the priestess that emerged from the temple.

Her face hidden by the hood of the simple light brown linen robe that covered her entire body, the priestess walked forward to the middle of the terrace. She turned back to face the temple door then, with a wave of her arm, asked Xena to join her.

"Kneel, warrior," the priestess commanded and Xena dropped to one knee in front of the woman.

"You have asked to join the Amazon Nation and you have been accepted by those who now call you sister," the priestess spoke softly but her words were easily heard by all who listened. "Do you, Xena of Amphipolis, avow to defend the Amazon Nation against all enemies?"

"Yes."

"Do you proclaim your fidelity to Queen Gabrielle?

"Yes."

"Will you sacrifice your life to save hers?"

"Always."

"With my blessing, I accept you into my Nation."

Xena looked up in surprise as the she heard the words spoken. Grinning back at her was the goddess Artemis herself.

"Don’t worry, warrior," the goddess whispered so only Xena could hear. "The others see only my priestess standing here. Only you and Gabrielle can see me for who I am."

Xena smiled at the goddess, she knew what the appearance of the goddess would mean to the bard. "Thank you."

"She’s earned it," Artemis answered as she pulled a small dagger from the sleeve of her robe. "Stand warrior and receive the mark of the Nation," her voice again audible to the others.

Xena stood and presented her right arm to the goddess. Artemis pressed the flat blade of the dagger against the skin of Xena’s forearm and the warrior felt a slight burning sensation. When the dagger was removed, the impression of an arrow had been tattooed on the skin above the wrist.

"Welcome, Amazon," Artemis raised the dagger and the village again vibrated with cheers.

"Queen Gabrielle, come and declare your intentions," Artemis called out, quieting the crowd.

Gabrielle appeared at the temple doorway flanked by two priestesses similarly dressed as Artemis. The trio walked purposely to where Xena and the goddess stood and the warrior was puzzled to see Athena and Aphrodite accompanying Gabrielle.

"Surprise," Gabrielle shrugged when she saw Xena’s questioning look.

"They’re not the only ones," Xena tilted her head in the direction of Artemis.

"You didn’t expect us to miss the joining of our two favorite mortals, did you warrior babe?" Aphrodite questioned.

"Please," Artemis glared at her sister, "I have a ceremony to perform here."

"Speaking of that," Aphrodite smiled, "can you hurry it up a bit. I hear there’s going to be a wild party afterward. No reason to keep all these women waiting too long."

"Hush, Dite," Athena whispered, "this is important to Artemis."

"And the party is important to me," the love goddess pouted.

"Shall we?" Artemis ignored her sister and addressed Gabrielle who nodded in agreement.

"I have chosen Xena of Amphipolis to become my bond mate," Gabrielle announced to the gathering.

"Join hands," Artemis asked.

Gabrielle reached over and gently lifted Xena’s hands, entwining their fingers. Looking up into the warrior’s eyes, she whispered, "I love you."

"I love you, too," Xena gazed lovingly at the bard.

"Isn’t that so sweet," Aphrodite nudged Athena.

Artemis ignored the interruption and continued, "Xena of Amphipolis, you have been chosen by Queen Gabrielle to be her bond mate. Do you accept this honor?"

"With all my heart," Xena said, directly to Gabrielle.

Artemis reached out, placing a hand around the left wrist of each woman. "I accept this joining," she announced. "From this moment forward, Xena of Amphipolis will be known as Royal Consort, to serve and obey as Queen Gabrielle commands."

"Don’t even think it, bard," Xena hissed under her breath while Gabrielle snickered.

Hundreds of Amazon drums began to beat as Artemis raised the women’s hands so all could see the matching tattoos circling their wrists.

"Let the party begin," Aphrodite began to sway with the powerful rhythm.

"That’s not exactly something someone would expect a priestess to be doing," Xena teased the goddess and received a smirk and shoulder shrug in response.

"Thank you," tearfully, Gabrielle expressed her gratitude to Artemis. "You can’t know how much your support means to me."

"You are my Queen," the goddess answered. "Your happiness is important to me even if, at times, it doesn’t seem like it." Artemis motioned to Athena and Aphrodite and the three goddesses turned to return to the temple, although the love goddess needed some encouragement to do so.

Once the trio had disappeared inside the temple, Gabrielle looked at the new tattoo adorning her wrist. "Looks a little like the pattern on your chakram," she told Xena.

Xena studied the marking on her own wrist. "Does, doesn’t it."

"Think that means anything?" Gabrielle asked, wrapping her arms around Xena.

"Probably." Xena hugged the bard close, kissing the top of her head.

"Think we’ll ever know?"

"Probably not."

"Shall we join the party?" Gabrielle eyes scanned the village and the celebrating Amazons.

"Absolutely."

"I wish you were staying longer," Ephiny told her.

"It’s time to go," Gabrielle replied, knowing her restless warrior was anxious to be back on the road. "We need to spend a few days in Amphipolis then Xena says we’re going on a honeymoon."

"Where?"

"She won’t say."

"Well don’t take too long to come back. I want to hear all about it."

"I’ll try."

A birdcall from a scout high in the tree canopy surrounding the village announced the approach of a runner.

"Pooters," Gabrielle grumbled when a second warbling provided the information that the runner carried a message for the queen. "Now what?"

Xena had been talking with Pony and Solari when the warning of the runner’s imminent arrival was sounded. She turned to Gabrielle, "trouble?"

"Let’s hope not," Gabrielle said as the runner entered the village and ran directly for the pair

"Queen Gabrielle," the runner saluted before handed over the parchment she carried. "A messenger from King Gregor left this at the boundary of Amazonia. It is for General Xena."

"Wonder what he wants," Xena mumbled as she nodded for Gabrielle to open the scroll she now held.

Gabrielle unrolled the parchment and held it so both she and Xena could read it at the same time.

"Guess this means we’ll be a little late getting to Amphipolis," the bard said as she looked up at Xena, disappointment clouding her face.

"Guess it does," Xena was just as displeased as the bard at having to postpone their trip to tell her mother of their marriage. Not to mention the honeymoon she had planned to give her new spouse.

"What’s going on?" Ephiny asked.

"King Gregor needs help to find a gang of raiders in the northern part of his kingdom," Gabrielle explained as she wrapped an arm around Xena. "Guess we can send a message to your mom," she offered the warrior.

"No," Xena smiled, "best we tell her in person. As it is, she’s not going to be very happy to know she missed the ceremony. If she finds out we went someplace else instead of going right to Amphipolis, she may come looking for us."

"Let’s get going then," Gabrielle released her hold on Xena and walked to their waiting horses. "I don’t want to waste too much time getting to that secret honeymoon you’ve got planned."

"Why do you think King Gregor’s army can’t find the raiders?" Gabrielle asked as she studied the design on the warrior’s left wrist.

"Hard to say," Xena ran a caressing hand down the bard’s side. "King Gregor’s message didn’t provide much information, just that the raiders keep plundering villages but no one seems to be able to find them or the stolen loot."

"Think it’ll take long to find them?"

"I hope not," Xena slipped her hand into Gabrielle’s, bringing it up to her lips.

"Xe?"

"Hmm," the warrior murmured as she nibbled on the bard’s fingers.

"Why the chakram?"

"Why what?"

"Of all the designs, Artemis could have used, why the chakram?"

"Don’t know," Xena’s lips began to leave a trail of kisses down the bard’s arm.

"Don’t you want to know?"

"What I want," Xena shifted, pulling Gabrielle into her lap, "is to make love to my wife."

"Oh," Gabrielle smiled as Xena’s lips were pressed against her own.

"Let’s see what they can tell us," Xena said from astride Argo.

"What do you want with us?" an old woman asked from behind a pitchfork she held in shaky hands.

"We are not here to threaten you," Xena tried to assure the scared women. "Why are you here unprotected? Where are your men?"

"They were all kidnapped almost a full moon cycle ago," another woman answered.

"By who?" Gabrielle asked, slipping off her horse to stand in front of the women. She immediately felt Xena’s presence behind her as the warrior stood ready to protect her should the old woman decide to use the pitchfork for anything more than a harmless threat.

"Raiders came in the night and took them away, took all our valuables too," the old woman replied. "Soldiers came looking for them and said they’d bring our men home but they haven’t yet."

"How long ago were the soldiers here?" Xena asked.

"Several days," the old woman answered, suspiciously. "Why do you want to know?"

Gabrielle smiled her most charming smile at the skeptical woman. "King Gregor has asked us to help."

"What can two women do that his whole army hasn’t been able to?" a woman carrying an infant asked.

"Sometimes it’s easier to find something when you have fewer people looking for it,’ Gabrielle replied.

A young boy, barely four summers old, ran up to Xena and tugged on the bottom of her leathers.

"Are you goin’ find my poppa?" the boy asked.

Xena smiled down at the lad, before kneeling down on one knee so she could talk to the child. "We’re sure going to try."

"I miss him," the boy started to sniffle.

Xena gently pulled the small child into her arms, lifting him as she stood. Without a word, she shifted the boy into the crook of one arm and draped the other over Gabrielle’s shoulders. "Now, which way did the raiders go when they left the village?" she asked the women.

"They went west, same as the soldiers," the old woman pointed in the direction she named.

"I’ll take Mika," the boy’s mother stepped forward to remove her son from the warrior’s arms. "Please find my husband," she asked as she took possession of the child.

"We’ll be back as soon as we can," Gabrielle assured the women.

"Come on, Gabrielle," Xena was already remounting Argo.

"Right behind you, Xe."

Gabrielle watched Xena drop out of the tree. "Where do you think they’re going?"

"Probably back to their camp," Xena answered before whistling for the horses. "My guess is they’re scouts sent out to check on other villages. Or to see what King Gregor’s army is up to."

"Speaking of them," Gabrielle grabbed the reins of her horse and pulled herself into the saddle. "Why haven’t we seen them. King Gregor’s message said they were out looking for the raiders. And the women in the village said they rode this way but we haven’t seen a single soldier."

"Lots of territory for them to cover," Xena said as she mounted Argo. "We’ll probably run into them sooner or later. In the meantime, let’s see where these guys lead us."

"It’s their camp," Xena whispered, confirming their suspensions to Gabrielle who was waiting at the base of the ledge. "Come on," she rose to her feet being careful to keep her body in a low crouch, "there’s a better place to see what’s going on over there."

Wordlessly Gabrielle followed Xena; her body bent low as was the warrior’s.

Xena led Gabrielle along the steep rock wall using the numerous boulders and thick ground cover to hide their movements from the armed men in the canyon below. She slipped under a jagged outcropping of rock and settled into the shadows underneath it motioning for Gabrielle to do the same.

From their hidden roost, the women had an unobstructed view of the canyon and could observe the activity taking place on the chasm’s floor without being seen themselves.

"Looks like the raiders King Gregor has been looking for," Xena said as she helped Gabrielle find a comfortable spot to sit on the pebble-strewn ground.

"What do you think they’re doing with the villagers?" Gabrielle eased one hip off the ground, removing an irritating stone from underneath her bottom and tossing it aside.

"Guess we’ll just have to keep an eye on them and find out," Xena leaned back against the rock wall, stretching her long legs out in front of her. "Not exactly how I’d plan to spend our honeymoon," she grumbled.

"We could have said no," Gabrielle gently reminded the warrior, resting her head on Xena’s shoulder.

Draping an arm over Gabrielle’s shoulders, Xena asked, "could we?"

After a long pause, Gabrielle said what both of them knew to be true. "No."

After several long moments of silence, Xena turned to Gabrielle, "I’m going to go get our saddlebags. If we’re going to be here all night, we’ll need food and our blankets. You stay here and keep an eye on what’s going on down there."

"Be careful," Gabrielle knew Xena was right about them needed their supplies but she didn’t want to be away from her warrior.

"I won’t be long," Xena leaned in to capture the bard’s lips. "Be sure to stay in the shadows so they can’t see you," she added when they lips parted.

"Xe," Gabrielle reached for the warrior’s hand when she stood, "I love you."

"Love you too," Xena squeezed the bard’s hand, "be good. I’ll be back before you have time to miss me."

"Too late for that," Gabrielle smiled as Xena moved out of the shadows, careful to use the boulders and brush to conceal her movements.

With Xena gone, Gabrielle focused her attention on the activity in the camp on the canyon floor where several armed men were milling about as if waiting for something to happen.

The camp was a jumble of tents and hastily constructed huts spread between the canyon walls that Gabrielle estimated were twenty paces apart. Horses were confined in a corral at one end of the camp and approximately fifty paces away at the other end of the camp sat a few wagons surrounding by discarded barrels and boxes. She took note of the location and number of guards scattered about the camp and canyon. Most occupied posts near the mouth of the canyon but a handful stood watch around the largest tent in the camp. Gabrielle assumed this to be the tent of the raiders’ leader.

The center of the camp was clear of any man-made o