Chapter Five

"I've decided I'm cursed. That's got to be the explanation," Gabrielle said matter-of-factly. Lightning crackled overhead, and wind-swept rain rattled the tent around them with a fresh assault, as if to underscore the bard's words.

Lying naked on her stomach, Xena tried to turn her head to look at her companion, then, wincing, thought better of it. "Gabrielle," Xena sighed, softly, "what in Tartarus is that supposed to mean?"

"Gods, Xena." The bard tried to hide her frustration, but found she wasn't being very successful. Instead she concentrated on smoothing more salve across the warrior's heavily bruised back, then adjusted the bindings around Xena's lower ribs, making sure they were snug but not too tight. "It's just that for, I dunno, I guess half a year now, I've been imagining what our first night together would be like -"

"Funny," Xena broke in, "I thought we'd been together for more than two years…"

"Xena!" Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean!" she blushed, giving the warrior a playful poke.

"Arhrrrgh!" Xena hissed, gritting her teeth.

"Oh gods! Xena I'm sorry!"

"No, no," the warrior couldn't help laughing. "Don't worry about it … just don't do it again, all right?"

Gabrielle reached over and picked up a small wooden bowl. "Here, Xena," she said apologetically, "have a little more - on me." She gave a strained chuckle as she carefully tilted the herb mixture up for the warrior to sip.

"Thank you Gabrielle," Xena said warmly after taking a swallow. "But no more herbs, all right? I do want to wake up in the morning."

The bard set the bowl aside, then found herself staring at it. This stuff should really be hot, but it's pouring rain and we can't even make… She stifled a sob.

"Gabrielle, please, what's wrong?" Xena asked quietly - this time turning to face her companion no matter how it felt.

"Oh, Xena," the bard lay down on her stomach and gently pressed her face into the shoulder of the woman she loved for a moment, then propped her head up on her hand, running the other restlessly through the warrior's hair. "It's just … I pictured a nice big bed in a warm inn somewhere, maybe a still clearing under the stars. We'd have a nice, you know … a romantic little fire going…" The bard groaned. "Gods, Xena, I always pictured a fire." Her whole body shook with disappointment. "I mean, it's not fair! This morning everything seemed so perfect, like anything was possible…"

Xena managed to roll over without wincing, keeping contact with the bard as she did. She wrapped her arms around the smaller woman and pulled her close, cradling the strawberry blonde head against her shoulder, just enjoying the fact that she could. "It's all right, Gabrielle. Everything's all right," she soothed. "Besides, this isn't so bad," the warrior smiled, "I'm here. You're here. We're even warm and dry - well, sort of. Can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be."

"Ah Xena," Gabrielle chuckled, sniffled. "My Warrior Optimist - how'd that happen?"

Xena gathered her bard in an affectionate squeeze. "Well, it's easy, really. You just keep thinking, 'OK so far', and remember that no matter how bad things are, it could always be worse."

It was an offhand comment, just a joke, but Gabrielle shivered. Yeah. Could've been a lot worse. You could be dead.

They had held each other that morning until the sounds from the camp around them made them look up. Giggling and a little embarrassed, Gabrielle gazed up at her warrior. My warrior, she thought, I guess I can really think that now. Like the sound of it. "Guess we should get our stuff ready to go, huh?"

Xena smiled. "Yeah, we've got a Tartarus of a day ahead." She sighed ruefully. "Sorry my timing isn't better. Didn't really plan on things going like that."

"Nah, don't apologize," Gabrielle replied, giving Xena another squeeze. "We can talk later. We've got our whole lives to work this out … We do, right?"

The warrior suddenly felt like she was standing at the edge of a very high cliff. Then in her mind, something fell into place. Never thought about forever before. Then again, I never had a reason to. "Yeah," Xena hugged her partner again. "We do."

Gabrielle shivered with joy hearing this. "So," she said, "if we have to wait a few more days until we're by ourselves again, it's no big deal. Besides, it'll give me some time to think, get things straight in my head. I'm kinda new at this."

You and me both, Xena thought, holding Gabrielle a moment longer. Having finally admitted to herself that she could, the warrior felt oddly reluctant to let go. Finally, she gave her bard one last squeeze and pulled away. "Come on," she grinned. "We've got a camp to protect, bad guys to fight with … all that stuff."

They packed their belongings, which took slightly longer than usual since every time they glanced at each other they couldn't help letting their gaze linger. Gotta get a grip, Xena chided herself, lives depend on me here and I'm acting like a schoolgirl.

Finally, they joined the caravan and resumed the journey west. Gabrielle was beside herself as she jumped up into Lilith's wagon. The Priestess immediately gave her a warm hug. "Congratulations, young one. I am so happy for you."

"Guess it shows, huh?" the bard grinned.

"This is true enough," Lilith smiled back. "Indeed, I was with Morgin watching the sun rise, and even from the rear watch post could I feel it. I confess Morgin seemed very confused when I suddenly felt the need to embrace her. It was, I think, quite a surprise."

Gabrielle blushed. "You're telling me."

At the head of the column, Meleager was droning on. "…so the only dangerous part is the actual crossing." The graying warrior turned in his saddle a bit to face Xena, found her staring down the road with a half smile on her face. "Hey!" he said, then louder, waving, "Yo, Warrior Princess!"

Xena turned to look at him, the same half smile still firmly in place. "What?"

"Have you been listening to a word I said?"

She raised an eyebrow, then faced forward again. "No, and I didn't need to either. We talked about all of this yesterday, remember?"

Meleager grunted, but noted the lack of malice in her voice, and realized she had enough of a point to not be too insulted. As they rode through the morning, he glanced over at her from time to time, but she never lost that half grin and faraway look in her eyes.

Finally he couldn't stand it any more. He waved his hand at her again, getting her attention. "Hey, uh, Xena? Are you, you know, OK?"

"What makes you think something's wrong?" she asked back, still even-toned, still grinning.

Meleager cleared his throat. "Xena, we've been riding together for what, almost a week now? I've seen you ride angry, I've seen you ride cautiously, but I have never, ever seen you ride while grinning from ear to ear. To be perfectly honest, it's kinda frightening."

Xena shrugged. "Guess it's just a nice day."

Meleager gave the sky a dubious glance. "Oh, yeah," he drawled, "I can see that - from the way that storm is building it's bound to be a doozy, but then, crossing the Bosphorus with a score of wagons even in clear weather ranks a nine and a half on the Labors of Hercules scale. Aw, Hades, yeah … that really does cheer me right up. Wow, what a great day!"

She smirked. "Guess it depends on how you look at it." Still smiling, she shook her head and faced forward. "Don't worry Meleager, I'm sober as the Oracle and sane as Aristophanes. Whatever happens, I'm ready for it. In fact, today I feel like I could take on the Titans buck naked with a wooden spoon."

Meleager felt his jaw drop so far he was vaguely surprised it didn't bounce off his saddle horn. He shook it off, tried to collect himself. "Well, I'm, ah, glad you're in … top form."

"You don't know the half of it."

The Hellespont, narrowest point on the Bosphorus strait, was just about a third of a mile across, and Byzantium rose from its western shore. The city had grown rich off the commerce that had to cross the strait and the shipping that had to pass through it, and did both by means of its ferry. The ferry ran on a very long loop of chain that spanned the strait and was kept moving continually by means of two ten-foot-diameter, horizontal drive wheels, one on either shore, turned by teams of sturdy draft horses. This kept one line moving east and one line moving west, all day long and sometimes into the night. The ferry boats weren't wide but were long enough for dozens of passengers, plenty of livestock, or a couple of wagons, and were equipped with a lever for gripping or releasing the chain as it moved, to slow or stop the boat as needed. When a ferry boat reached one shore, it was transferred to the other line and sent back. A dozen or so could be moving at any time - the only limitation was the number of horses that could fit around the drive wheels to handle the weight.

As it crossed the strait, the chain passed over a series of rafts anchored in a line about twenty yards apart, which kept the chain from sinking into the water and putting too much strain on the drive wheels. It also, not coincidentally, blocked ships from passing, which is why a chain was used - any sailor with a blade could snap a rope, a lesson that had been learned the hard way.

For a price, guards stationed on the rafts would use the built-in winch to lower the chain in its grooves far enough under the water for the ship to pass over. The bigger the ship, the more rafts had to be involved to produce the required slack, and the more spectacular the fee.

As a transportation system it wasn't terribly fast but it was unusually reliable, moving goods and people across the strait regardless of wind or tide, and even in mildly rough weather. It also required scores of men to run, constant maintenance, dozens of fresh horses every hour, and made such an awful racket anyone who could possibly afford it lived as far away from the docks as possible.

It also made so much money King Androphus was thinking about building another one.

The skies hadn't started to rain yet by the time the caravan reached the hill overlooking East Byzantium, but the pitch-dark clouds that stretched from horizon to horizon left little doubt it would, and soon. This left them with a difficult decision: Start sending wagons across and risk leaving some stranded on the eastern shore if the weather grew bad enough to close the ferry, or set up camp and wait for the storm to pass, which meant they could all be stuck here for days. Either way, "here" wasn't the ideal place to be stuck.

East Byzantium had grown rapidly after the ferry was built, and in all the wrong ways. If Byzantium was the jewel of the Agean, East Byzantium had become the compost pit. The main street was still decent enough, and for travelers who needed a room to wait for the morning ferry it was pleasant enough.

Beyond that first row of inns however, it went rapidly downhill. The men who worked the ferry did so in shifts: Three days on the west side, three days on the east, with one day off. Most had made their homes on the other side of the Bosphorus, and like anywhere full of working men with steady wages and nothing to do at night - not to mention being safely separated from their wives - East Byzantium was filled with rough taverns, gambling dens, brothels, and businesses that catered to any other vice you could name.

Staying outside East Byzantium would mean doubling the watches. Slavers wouldn't be the problem, given the weather would be bad. But once the locals found out there was a caravan of whores - Sacred though they might be - camped on their doorstep, there would be no end of trouble, regardless of the weather.

"Send the wagons over," Xena said finally. "Save the soldiers for last. That way anyone who's stuck here will be well protected. The ones who make it across can get rooms in Byzantium. Androphus is a greedy bastard and his people aren't crazy about him, but he was one of Alexander's generals. This place may have gone to Tartarus, but he keeps his own city safe enough."

"Makes sense," Meleager agreed. "Better than leaving everyone here." He gave a wicked grin. "This place - ahhh, Xena, I could tell you stories…"

"Could tell you a few myself," Xena chuckled wryly. "All right, priestesses and acolytes first. Morgin, put a couple of Guardians on each boat - you all know each other, can tell if something's wrong. Just have them keep an eye on things when they get to the other side. We'll meet by the city gates."

"This will be done," the guardian nodded.

"Solari, the Amazons go last - if anyone has to be stuck here, you can take care of yourselves."

"No problem," Solari agreed. "Besides," she added, peering down the hill, "it might be kind of fun."

"When will you and I cross?" Gabrielle asked.

Xena thought for a moment. "With the Amazons," she said finally. "I want to spend as little personal time in Byzantium as possible."

"How come?" Gabrielle asked. "If it's safe…"

"Let's just say anyone who rode with Alexander won't like having me around." The warrior grinned, taking hold of Argo's saddle horn and mounting up. "Bloodied their noses once - tarnished that 'invincible' image. Most of 'em still carry a grudge. Come on, let's move."

A light, misting rain had started to fall by the time they reached the ferry station. If the real stuff just holds off for another hour, Xena thought, we'll be over the hump. Although she hadn't thought about it much until now, she realized she was growing eager to get this journey over, to be back on the road - just her and Gabrielle. Have to watch that, she cautioned herself, haste makes mistakes.

Xena let Lilith barter for their passage. They were the Priestess' dinars after all, and the immortal seemed to have an inexhaustible supply - which had proven handy during the almost constant bartering for supplies the caravan was forced to do at every village and town it passed through.

The warrior watched from the corner of her eye as Lilith talked with the ferry master, noting the way she laughed occasionally, then would casually brush the man's arm. The man smiled and nodded, waving expansively at the contraption he was in charge of. Finally he accepted a small bag of coins along with a hug, then dropped the bag into his money chest without even counting it.

"Got a good deal, I suppose?" Xena observed wryly as Meleager boosted Lilith into her wagon.

"A very good deal," Lilith laughed. "He was a most reasonable man." She looked down at the aging warrior. "Dear one, I shall see you on the other side."

"See you soon," he replied. "It'd, ah, be kinda lonely sleeping without you." They kissed lightly, if warmly, then he signaled for the wagon to move aboard.

The wind rose a bit as time passed, but the rain stayed light. Xena found a spot on the platform over the main drive wheel. It took a moment of stern intimidation to be let up there, but it was the only place she could get to that was high enough to keep one eye on the ferries.

The other eye she kept on Gabrielle. They'd passed this way a few times before, but this was the first time the ever-curious bard had a chance to get a really good look. The young woman seemed fascinated by the system. Xena couldn't help smiling as she watched Gabrielle chatting with the workers. Gods she's cute when she's curious - so serious about everything.

Xena sighed and looked out over the Bosphorus. A small trireme had been passed over the chain, and a larger square sail was approaching from the north, moving quickly with the growing southern wind. She turned her attention back to the bard, who had apparently satisfied herself about the ferry for now, and was headed back towards Xena.

"So, what do you think?" the warrior asked with a smile.

"What?" Gabrielle shouted from the foot of the ladder. The guards began to approach the young woman, then looked up as the warrior stamped her foot hard enough to be heard over the rattling chain - which wasn't any small accomplishment.

With another stern glare at the guards from Xena, Gabrielle was waved on. The bard quickly ascended the ladder. "Sorry," Gabrielle half shouted, "what did you say?"

Xena pulled the bard close, then closer still, until she could cover the young woman's ear. "Just wanted to know what you thought … about the ferry," the warrior said.

Gabrielle shivered a little at being held, at having Xena's words blown over her ear. "It's incredible," the bard quickly replied, only as loud as she had to and be sure she was heard over the clanking din. "Do you know how many horses it takes to keep this thing going all day? Marvelous engineering," she said, not quite as matter-of-factly as she tried to.

"I'll bet. Takes a lot of planning to make something this loud," Xena grinned.

"Maybe," Gabrielle crinkled her nose playfully, "but it beats a long, wet walk."

Xena laughed and wrapped an arm around the smaller woman's shoulders. Gods, it feels good to just be able to do that. The warrior smiled to herself, then looked back over the strait. The square sail was close enough now that Xena could just make out the main deck.

The warrior went stiff. Cages. Empty cages. Gods! The men gathered on deck were all heavily armed.

Gabrielle felt her partner go tense. "Xena, what's wrong?"

"Trouble," the warrior hissed. "Real trouble. Find the Amazons. Tell them to keep everyone moving." She pulled away and stood on the edge of the platform.

"What are you going to do?" Gabrielle asked.

"Figure a way out of this! Just go!" To her relief, the bard simply headed for the ladder and hopped down.

Xena scanned around, searching for some way to intercept the rapidly approaching square sail, finding nothing. Swimming against the current would take too long, and with the steady cross wind no boat could make it in time either - even if she could find one to commandeer.

She clenched her teeth in angry frustration. Only a few hundred yards separated her from where she needed to be - a distance she could've run in half a minute. A long wet run, she mentally snorted.

Her head snapped up. The thought was crazy. Don't think. Move.

Xena flipped down off the platform, landing in front of the ferry master. She lifted the stocky man by the front of his shirt and glared into his eyes. "Keep that chain moving," she hissed. "Keep it moving no matter what, or I swear I'll come back and rip your spine out! Got it?" She got a wide-eyed nod in return.

Xena dropped him and ran full-tilt down the loading dock, then put everything she had into a spinning leap off the end. "CHEEE-YAHH!"

The added height of the dock let her get almost as far as the first support raft. She came down with both feet on the moving chain and bounced off it, fighting for balance. She came down again, steadier, and ran along it for the three steps it took to reach the raft. The moving chain was as thick as her arm but covered in grease and partly submerged in the water - her boots could barely find purchase. Don't think. Move.

Another leap and she was halfway to the next raft and running along the chain. As long as she kept moving her momentum carried her through minor slips and she could use the brief second crossing each raft to get her balance back.

Xena ignored the incredulous men stationed on the rafts, ignored the shouts coming from the ferries she passed, ignored the sounds of battle coming from the square sail, which had just reached the ferry line. She ignored everything but the bouncing, rattling chain under her and the rhythm of the water.

Xena was nearly there when she heard the arrows coming. She caught one and dodged the rest but the unexpected movement upset her tenuous balance and she skidded off into the water. She managed to grab the chain with one hand and her head broke the surface just as the pull of the chain slammed her into the side of the next raft.

Unprepared for the impact, she was momentarily off guard as the chain caught on her armored shoulder and she was dragged out of the water onto the raft. The shoulder pulled free a second later but that left her trapped in the guide groove, the heavy chain rattling over her chest.

"Nhaauurrgg!" It was like being pounded by a hundred hammers all at once. One arm was pinned beneath her and there was no way to get enough leverage to lift the chain off. She raised her head, howling with anger, searching for anything that might help, her jarring vision barely making out the winch that raised and lowered the guide. In a rage she kicked at it.

That knocked loose the release and instantly she was pulled underwater. The added buoyancy was enough to let her free herself, and she twisted out from under the chain, rolling on top of it and grabbing hold, pulling herself hand-over-hand back to the surface.

Her body was screaming at her. Her armor had taken the bulk of the punishment but she had no doubt she was injured. How bad she couldn't tell, and couldn't take time to care. Don't think. Move.

She broke the surface and pulled hard on the chain, launching herself out of the water and landing on the final raft. She took a quick glance at the ferry. Next to the far wagon Morgin and Dulith were fighting a pitched battle against eight men. They fought well, but the narrow boat left them little room to move.

Around the nearest wagon, six other slavers were trying to shackle a group of priestesses - with varying degrees of success. The white-robed women took every opportunity to kick and gouge their would-be captors, and seemed to know just where it would hurt the most.

"Good girls," Xena muttered. She took a deep breath and launched herself into the ferry, screaming her battle cry.

She landed with a loud thump and gave a nasty grin she didn't really feel. "This a private cruise or can anyone jump in?"

Two men came at her and she sidestepped one, backfisting him and sending him over the side. She spun and kicked the second in the gut, then landed a vicious chop across his throat that put him straight down on the deck. She drew her sword and leaped at the other four, making efficient work of it, not even trying to be subtle. She couldn't afford to - the pain in her chest made her feel like throwing up.

More men started to hop down into the ferry from the deck of the square sail. Gotta get this thing moving, get it away from here. The drive lever was near the front of the boat. Xena hurled her chakram at the side of the far wagon. It rebounded off the planking, shredded the throat of Morgin's nearest opponent, tripped the lever, and bounced solidly off the helmet of the last man to jump from the square sail.

Xena flipped sideways as she caught it, making sure she was in mid-air when the lever grabbed the chain and the ferry took a sudden lurch forward. This made her the only one who kept any semblance of balance and she took full advantage of it, laughing in spite of her pain as she landed among the momentarily helpless men who were fighting the Guardians, kicking, spinning and slashing, sword in her right hand, chakram in her left.

Morgin quickly got to her feet and thrust her wooden sword hard into the midsection of her remaining enemy, then spun and cracked him equally hard across the side of the head. She grinned at Xena, saluted her silently, and leaped towards the last few slavers.

The guardian had help, as at that moment Meleager vaulted up onto the deck and immediately joined in. Xena raised an eyebrow but decided she could ask about it later. She grabbed Dulith as the smaller blonde rushed towards the fight. "Dulith, wait. I think they can handle it. Go check everyone else - see if anyone's injured."

Then Xena had a thought, scanning around. "And where's Lilith?"

Dulith furrowed her brows. "I'm not … Goddess!" she cried. "I believe she climbed aboard the slave ship!"

Xena shut her eyes tight. Curse you Priestess - what'd you go and do a damn fool thing like that for? She took a deep breath, not liking the way it felt. "All right Dulith, stay here and help." The warrior gave her a smile and a quick wink. "I'll be right back."

Xena jogged around the small battle, checking to make sure Morgin and Meleager had things well in hand, then flipped off the stern. She covered the growing distance to the raft easily, but the landing sent a jolt through her upper body. Ignoring it, she jumped up and caught hold of the rail of the square sail, then hauled herself over.

She expected trouble. She got a shock.

The deck of the ship was strewn with bodies. Twenty or thirty. Slavers, sailors. Some in armor, some not. Soft, pained groans came from everywhere, and there were weak attempts at movement in places.

Otherwise, it was still and quiet.

Lilith sat in the middle of it all, turned partly away and leaning back against the mast, her arms clasped tight around one drawn up knee. She turned her head slowly and gave the warrior a smile, but her eyes were so dead they seemed almost black.

Warrior and immortal looked at each other for a time, the wind whistling in the rigging, flapping in the lowered sail.

"Hello Xena," Lilith said finally, a disturbing, quietly manic edge in her voice. "I am sorry you have - how do you say it? 'Missed the party'?" She laughed.

It wasn't a pretty sound.

The warrior cautiously moved towards the Priestess, stepping over the unconscious forms around her. "Lilith," Xena said softly, "are you -"

"Injured?" The immortal laughed again.

Xena liked the sound even less than the last one.

"I was going to ask if you were all right - and I didn't mean injured." She took a step closer.

Lilith regarded the warrior for a moment, then leaned her head back, closing her eyes. The rain had picked up, and the Priestess let it fall on her face.

"I am fine, Xena," she said wearily. The mania seemed to have passed. "I am fine." She sighed.

After a moment Lilith opened her eyes and looked around. Her voice was slow, quiet, and infinitely sad. "I am fine, Xena. It is … this world that is not fine. It is these selfish, unthinking sons of Adam, who know only how to take, and who will not listen to the Earth around them … can listen only to violence, and hate, and pain. That is what is not fine."

Lilith gazed up at the taller woman, bitterly swallowing a sob as she hugged herself. "I grow weary of it, Xena. I am so very, very tired … I do everything I can … I must believe it will help … yet every day I fear that it will never, ever be enough."

"I know, Lilith," the warrior said gently. "I know. I haven't even lived for one millennia, and I feel it too." She chuckled mirthlessly. "Especially since I started out just making things worse."

The Priestess gave a rueful smile. "That would make two of us."

Xena held out her hand. "Come on. There's a lot of people here depending on you to show them a better way." Then the warrior added, smirking, "And if it's all the same to you, I'm hurt, and tired, and I really want to get out of this rain."

Lilith laughed again, and it sounded much warmer this time. "Ah, Xena," she said, a twinkle in her eye as she took the warrior's hand and let herself be hauled to her feet, "Gabrielle is very lucky to have found you first."

"Hades!" came a shout from behind them. "What in the name of the Goddess happened here?"

Meleager stood at the bow, looking over the deck, his mouth open, eyes wide.

The two women looked at each other and chuckled. "A party, Meleager," Xena replied. "One Tartarus of a party. Glad you could make it."

"Dear one…" Lilith crooned, nimbly crossing the littered deck and wrapping her arms around him.

"Heyyy…" Meleager mumbled softly, holding her close.

Xena winced, and not just from the throbbing in her chest and back. She looked out over the water. Gabrielle was probably still on land and wouldn't be along for a while. Probably worried sick … No, that's no good … Admit it - you want to feel her arms around you, let her words soothe you, feel her warmth. Gods Xena, you just admitted you loved her this morning. I can't believe I need her this much.

Crossing the deck was more painful than Xena hoped. She did a quick mental inventory. Ribs … several are definitely cracked. She twisted experimentally, took another breath. Yeah, one broken … low … lungs are fine though. Head feels all right - that's good. She prodded her abdomen gently. Little early to tell if there's anything internal, but I don't think so. Damn - nasty bruise on the back of my thigh … riding's gonna be fun for a few days…

With a stout kick Xena dropped the anchor line and they used it to clamber down to the raft, then hailed the next ferry. His arm around Lilith, Meleager glanced at the warrior, taking in the slight gray tinge on her face. "Sorry I couldn't get here faster, Xena." He chuckled self-consciously. "I uh, couldn't quite manage that 'running over the chain' thing - had to settle for pulling myself hand-over-hand…"

"It's all right, Meleager," Xena gave him a tight grin. "Better late than never."

They rode on to Byzantium in relative silence. After sitting down for only a few minutes Xena began to feel herself stiffen up, so she chose instead to pace the cramped deck, her mind never straying far from thoughts of her bard's loving embrace. As they landed, Meleager and Lilith climbed into one of the wagons, Meleager giving a loud groan as he settled back, the Priestess hovering over him.

Xena thought about climbing in after them, then figured it was better to keep her body moving until she could get the healing kit from Argo's saddlebags. And Gabrielle will be along soon. "See you two by the gate," she announced. "I'll find Morgin and make sure the scouts are away." As the wagon trundled off, the warrior rolled her head around, noting how her neck was going sore as well. Great. Well, I guess it could always be worse.

Then it got worse.

"Xena, the Warrior Princess," came a deep voice from the crowd. "I should've guessed you'd be behind all this trouble."

"Androphus," Xena sighed. She put on her best sarcastic smile and turned to face the tall, imposing figure, noting the dozen guards around him. "Long time no see. How's the leg?"

"Better," he said, eyes narrowing. "The last few years it only hurts on rainy days." As if on cue, thunder rolled overhead.

"I'm in no mood to spar with you Androphus," she replied, putting an edge of menace behind it. "I'm just passing through. See you around." She turned to leave.

"You're not going anywhere," Androphus casually raised his voice. "You're under arrest for interfering with the ferry. That's a hanging offense in Byzantium, I'm happy to say."

Xena laughed, turning back to him. "If I'd wanted to interfere with your precious ferry it'd be in a million pieces by now. I was attacked while riding it. I defended myself. End of story."

"That will be for the judge to decide - too bad I'm the judge. Guards, arrest this woman and take her to a very deep dungeon…"

"You'll do no such thing!" A familiar voice shouted. "What manner of ungrateful, flea-bitten, wharf rat would stoop to arresting the one who just pulled his fat out of the fire?"

Androphus went red with anger as he spun to watch the crowd part for one very indignant bard. He snarled, "Who dares insult me like that in my own city? I am King Androphus of Byzantium and you will address me as royalty you snotty bitch, or I'll have you flogged!"

Before the words were even out of his mouth some thirty heavily armed women broke through the crowd as well, falling into rank and file behind the diminutive strawberry blonde who purposefully strode to within a couple of feet of the tall king, defiantly crossing her arms as she glared him straight in the eye. "I am Gabrielle, Queen of the Amazons by Terreis' Right of Caste, and I will address you as I see fit. This woman is an ally of the Amazon nation and I will not see her insulted as a common criminal!"

Xena didn't know whether to be angry at Gabrielle, frightened for her, or simply burst out laughing. Instead, she just folded her arms and watched. All right, my bard, let's see you get us out of this one.

Androphus was proud, but he was no fool - he was outnumbered at the moment and he knew it. "State your case," he grumbled.

Gabrielle turned to face the crowd. "Citizens of Byzantium, hear me!" she began. "I, Queen Gabrielle and my caravan have traveled here from the Amazon nation because we heard the fabled Byzantium ferry was the safest passage across the Hellespont."

Nice one - hit him right in his pride. Xena smiled to herself.

"Imagine our shock when we were brazenly attacked by pirates within earshot of this very place. And did the great King Androphus lift a finger to help? To his shame he did not!"

"My harbor patrols are the finest in Greece," the King said loudly, quite calm.

"Is that so?" Gabrielle shot back. "Then look, great King - the pirates' ship is even now still anchored by the line. Your toll takers at that raft - citizens of Byzantium, need I add - are missing. Where is your harbor patrol? Hiding from the rain?"

There was some laughter from the crowd, mixed in with a growing murmur of discontent.

"There was no need to dispatch them," Androphus replied. "We have the pirate right here!" he said smugly, pointing at Xena.

"Androphus, you're a fool," Gabrielle shot back, her voice dripping with condescension. "This woman is my general. It was she who fought off the pirates, and was forced to do so all but single-handed because you failed to help!"

"Are you out of your mind?" Androphus asked, still smug. "This is Xena, Warrior Princess, Destroyer of Nations! Who else would launch such a 'brazen' attack?" This got a few words of agreement from the mob.

"Androphus, I say again - you are a fool. That's the pathetic response of a wounded pride," Gabrielle folded her arms, speaking as if talking to a small child. "If she were the leader of those pirates, why is she here, calmly walking on the shore? Certainly, she could have easily sailed away by now - you have no ships on the water to stop her."

This got another big laugh, but Gabrielle wasn't finished. "I should also point out, Androphus, that by insisting on her guilt in the face of my testimony you're coming perilously close to calling the Queen of the Amazons a liar, and our vengeance for this kind of insult is well known. I'm willing to forego what you've said so far because you're obviously a little slow, but judging by the so-called 'security' I've seen here, I suggest you don't push my anger any further. Now, go back to your palace and count your coins."

Androphus turned purple with rage, but the cheering crowd was clearly against him, and he had too few guards to make an issue out of it otherwise. "Very well," he spat. "Take your 'general' and go. You have one half hour to get out of my city or I'll come back in force and arrest every last one of you for … something!" He spun and limped angrily back in the direction of the palace gates, his men hustling to follow.

Trying to maintain her regal bearing, Gabrielle quickly walked to where Xena stood, but once she was near the warrior all pretense dissolved. "Gods Xena!" she gasped, running her hands down the other woman's arms. "Are you OK? I saw you get run over by the chain … I was so scared…"

Xena couldn't have wiped the grin off her face if she tried. She gripped Gabrielle's shoulders just tight enough to know she was really there and said softly, "Yeah. I'm all right now … boss." She laughed, trying not to wince. "So when did I become your general?"

Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "Best I could come up with - I figured 'this woman is my girlfriend' wouldn't have exactly the um, authoritative ring to it I was looking for."

"Fair enough," Xena chuckled. She pushed a wet lock of hair back behind the bard's ear. "Thank you Gabrielle. That could've gotten ugly. You did good."

The smaller woman looked down, blushing. "Any time," she mumbled, then looked back up with an impish grin. "Besides, in the 'get us out of tough spots' category, I think you're still ahead by roughly a thousand."

Xena smiled and gave her bard's shoulder an affectionate squeeze. "C'mon, we'd better get out of here. Where's Argo?"

"Just over there, by the docks," Gabrielle replied, pulling away, looking out over the strait. "So where in Tartarus are those harbor patrols anyway?"

Xena shook her head as she walked towards the mare, hiding the effort it took to simply put one foot in front of the other. "Paid off if they're lucky. Dead if they aren't. Maybe they really were just scared of the rain," she smiled. "Who knows? Doesn't matter. We've crossed. Come on."

They met up with the rest of the caravan by the gates. The original plan had been to camp just outside the city walls, but in light of Androphus' mood it was decided to push on. However, within an hour the rain had become a torrential downpour and it was clear they had to stop. Xena supervised the set-up from astride Argo - the warrior's body hurt all over and she didn't trust her ability to stand.

When the warrior had finished her duties as best she was able, she trotted back to the center of the camp and saw Gabrielle waving at her from one of the tents. "Xena, here!" the bard shouted. "This one's ours!"

Xena nodded wearily and stopped Argo in the nominal shelter at the side of the square tent. Bracing herself, she slid out of the saddle. The bard chose that moment to hurry around to help out, and found her warrior hanging heavily on the saddle horn to keep from collapsing.

"Merciful Artemis!" Gabrielle gasped. "Xena you're hurt! C'mon, lean on me here .. lean on me … Here we go …"

She got the warrior inside and laid back on the bedrolls. "Oh gods, Xena! How bad is it?"

Xena caught the bard's wrist and smiled affectionately. "It's not that bad Gabrielle - really. A few cracked ribs … maybe one broken … some other lumps and bumps. Mostly I'm just stiff and a little cold." She held the smaller woman's hand in her own, rubbing it affectionately. "Go get the saddlebags and healing kit. A good night's sleep and a warm blanket and I'll be fine."

Gabrielle ran her hand slowly over the Warrior's breastplate, seeing how battered it was for the first time. "Gods Xena," she said quietly, "look at your armor … you could have been torn in half…"

Xena smiled and covered the bard's hands again. "That's why I wear it, Gabrielle." She idly caressed the smaller woman's thigh. "Go on. Get the kit. I promise I'll be here when you get back … boss." She chuckled.

Gabrielle sniffled and nodded, then hurried outside. By the time she reached Argo she couldn't hold back the tears anymore. She stood in the rain for a long minute, pressing her face against the cold, wet leather of the saddle, sobbing uncontrollably.

Finally she forced herself under control and slipped off the saddlebags, then thought a moment and removed Argo's saddle as well, grunting with the effort of lifting and setting it over a nearby tree branch. Picking up the saddlebags, she spent a few seconds wiping off her face before she pulled back the tent flap and ducked inside.

"Gabrielle? Are you all right?" Xena shook her slightly. The bard had been staring off into space for minutes. "C'mon bard - I'm the one who just swallowed half a bag of pain herbs."

Gabrielle started. "Yeah … I'm OK. It's just been a … Well, it's been a really long day. You're right though - it could be worse."

Xena settled back a bit. "Ah … Gabrielle," she sighed, pulling her bard closer, until they were lying side by side, looking into each other's eyes. She sketched a finger lightly over Gabrielle's forehead, her nose, her cheeks. "Tell you what," she whispered, shuffling closer, "lie back a little…"

Gabrielle gathered herself with more sudden determination than she ever imagined she could muster. "No, Xena…" She pulled away. "Come on - you're hurt. This isn't right…" The bard propped herself up. "Please, don't make this … any harder than it is." She reached out to stroke her warrior's raven hair. "We've waited this long, we can wait a little longer, OK?"

Xena took a breath, then smiled. "Yeah," she said simply. "Always looking out for me, huh?"

Gabrielle rolled her eyes, then nodded seriously. "Yeah. Always."

Xena relaxed onto her back again, pulling the smaller woman close. "Well, I'm sorry tonight couldn't have been more … special."

Gabrielle smiled and pressed her cheek against Xena's warm shoulder, kissing it lightly, noting the uncomfortably close, soft swell of Xena's breast. "It's … OK. You're right - we're together, that's what matters. It wasn't like you planned on getting hurt. Did I ever tell you how much of a hero you are?"

"I think you've worked it in a few times." Xena gave a dreamy smile, the herbs obviously taking effect. She held Gabrielle tight for a moment, kissed her forehead lightly, then let her go. "Come on then - I'm drifting off as it is. Let's get some sleep."

The bard rose somewhat reluctantly, then fumbled around in their bags until she uncovered a shift. Xena chuckled. "Don't bother," the warrior said gently, settling back and closing her eyes, "It's a luxury I'd have to move too much to put on."

The smaller woman nodded and covered the warrior with a blanket. Earlier, the bard had slipped out of her own wet clothes and into a shift, but in her haste to tend to Xena she hadn't bothered to dry off first and now it was damp and clammy. She sighed and pulled it over her head, then carefully toweled herself with the last dry square of linen they had left. When she was finished Gabrielle suddenly realized she didn't have another shift to put on. I could slip into Xena's… She glanced over her partner for a thoughtful second. The warrior seemed fast asleep already.

Still naked, Gabrielle got her own blanket and lay down beside the other woman, deliberately not looking at her as she blew out the small lamp. "Good night, Xena," she said softly, settling onto her side, facing away from the warrior.

After a moment, she heard Xena's dreamy-quiet voice. "Gabrielle?"

"Hmm?"

"Come closer."

The bard rolled over. Shifted a little.

"C'mon," Xena said softly, her words slurring a little. "Under the blanket with me. It'll be … warmer." She chuckled softly.

"Xena, you're hurt…"

Another soft laugh. "Didn't mean climb on top of me. I just want to … know you're really there."

Gabrielle slid under the other blanket, felt the warrior's strong arm go around her and gently pull her closer until she lay with her head pillowed on Xena's shoulder. "Is this OK?" the bard asked, feeling a little breathless.

"Perfect." The warrior sleepily kissed the top of her head, then settled back. "'Night, Gabrielle."

"Good night, Xena."

The bard just lay there for … well, she couldn't tell how long, listening to Xena's slow, steady breathing. Very little of their bodies were actually touching, but Gabrielle could feel every single inch, burning warm against her skin. She tried to relax, just drift off. Couldn't. Suddenly she trembled.

"Hmm?" The warrior stirred. "Y'all right?"

"Sorry Xena," the bard sniffed. "I just … can't sleep."

Xena stroked her hair. "Ahh … Gabrielle," she said softly. The warrior spoke from a half conscious doze. "Jus' try and relax … listen to my voice … let yourself go … breathe … easy … one breath at a time … we're warm, dry … together … hear the rain on the roof? … it's slowed now … the wind is calm … gentle … just a little patter … hardly even a sound … soothing…"

Her voice went on for a little while longer, saying anything and nothing. Within minutes, they were comfortably warm and asleep in each other's arms.