Disclaimers:

This is my very first attempt at writing period. The only warning I give is you may fall asleep while reading, so it may be used over and over again by insomniacs. If there is any subtext it was not intentional. This story is set years after the series has run it's course and the only reference made is to the episode "Beware of Greeks Baring Gifts." I hope you liked it and if you didn't, I would like to know either way, just be a little tactful with the criticism, I have a weak heart.

All eyes were on her as she entered the tavern, how could they not, for she was no one who could enter a room discreetly. She was tall and slender, her hair dark as the night itself and her eyes a piercing blue as the ocean sea. Yet she gave no inclination that she was being watched.

She strolled directly to a table far against the back wall. For her every move she made was strategic. Always keep the enemy where you can see them. She studied the room before her and met the eyes of all who saw her. Her brow narrowed motioning them all to turn away if they valued their lives at all. Quickly they obeyed. Soon she melded among them and no longer stood out.

Patiently she waited for the tavern keeper to make his appearance. Hesitantly he stood before her. Without looking up she made her request.

"A mug of your best wine" she demanded. As he was about to leave, her words caused him to pause. "Water it down and your a dead man". He did not turn to look at her but he quickly nodded and left.

Her attention returned to the front door. The only entrance to the tavern. Her mind began to wander back to the first time she had entered this place, not too long ago. Only then she had not been alone. She closed her eyes, not wanting to remember. What good would it do, all it ever did was bring back the pain she so desperately tried to push away.

The mug placed in front of her broke her from her revere. She took the mug and drank. The tavern keeper waited for any compliment of his best wine, but all he received was a gentle nod. Disappointed he turned to leave, but a hand gently tugged at his sleeve. He looked up to meet her, and there before him was a simple smile. She tossed him a couple of dinars and turned her attention once more towards the door. For some reason the tavern keeper felt elated by her smile and left clutching the dinars in his hands.

From behind the bar he studied her. At this distance any one could see she was a true warrior. Her movements, her stature, it all said that she was not one to be reckoned with. But when she turned to smile at him. Well, he almost did not want to accept payment for the wine.

He too began to recollect a visit from her another time, only then she had been accompanied by a young women. One who appeared to be the complete opposite of her. She was small and petite. Her hair was strawberry blond and her eyes reflected what was truly in her heart, that only love could make the world right. She had spoken stories of their journeys together and made everyone wish they could travel along with them and when they left, all who were engaged in her story telling discovered she had stolen their hearts.

As he turned to look at the warrior who now sat alone, he could not help but wonder why that young companion was not with her. The warrior turned to him and for the briefest of moments, they both appeared to miss the same person. He felt sad for her, even though he knew not why. After all her being alone did not mean that something terrible had happened to her friend. Perhaps they had simply parted company for a time. May she had finally found someone to stem roots with or she was visiting family for a while. Yes all these were plausible reasons and better than thinking the worse.

She studied him and saw the pensive thoughts expressed accross his face. She wondered if he knew what it was she felt. Suddenly she became all too revealing and desperately wanted to leave. She took another long drink of her wine and savored the taste, it really was good wine. Just as she was about to get up to leave, she noticed her mug being filled once again.

"I did not request another dr." she was interrupted mid sentenced.

The tavern keeper filled the mug to the rim. "Please, it is at no charge and I would be insulted if you did stay to enjoy another, after all it is my best wine." He himself noticed his confident demeanor and wondered where it came from. He knew she wanted to leave yet for some reason he could not let her go.

"Well, I wouldn't want to insult you, after all it is free wine, just don't think I'm that easy." Her face displayed a slight grin. He noticed and smiled as well. "A warrior is never easy." He said in hopes that she would take it well.

"At least not this one." She answered back. She kicked a chair out to him, motioning him to sit. Surprised, he hesitated for a moment, his insecurities attempting to return. "Please." Her voice was soft and almost pleading. "I could use the company."

He sat down and poured himself a little wine as well, hoping it would help him to engage in conversation. "So do you have a name?" she asked. Her attention was once again drawn to the door. "Palemon" he said. The name brought familiarity to another who carried the same name, a time so long ago. " Nice name. " she said "Do I have to say mine or is it already common knowledge." She motioned to every one around them.

"Yes we know who you are" he paused for a moment, staring intently into his mug of wine. Without looking away from it he added, "We also remember you visiting here once before, only then you traveled with a young women, a bard she called herself and by her stories, she truly was one."

" You people must not have many travelers come through these parts if you remember all who visit here." Her voice sounded some what cold and angry.

"No, but bards of any caliber are not common and one as exceptional as her is even more." He looked up at her and saw how tensed she had become and still her eyes did not draw away from the front door. Cautiously he asked what he could not hold back no more. " Does she no longer travel with you?" There was no response and for a moment he wondered if she had heard the question. He tried once again. " I would guessed she found some place where her talents are truly valued, she must have become a village historian or perhaps the Athens Academy have acquired her services."

He continued to contemplate out loud all the possibilities and became engrossed in his own ramblings. He did not notice the warrior now had her eyes closed and her fists were clenched tight. She began to shiver as she tried to control the anguish that had begun to succumb her. In an instant her shivering stopped as she felt a strong hand grip her shoulder. Sheepishly she opened an eye and saw that it was he who was trying to console her.

"Don't you know it's dangerous to touch a warrior, you could have been killed." He smiled as he let go of her. "I'm sorry, next time I'll know better." She cleared her throat and tried to regain her serious composure. "I'm sorry if I said something wrong, I didn't mean to." She put her hand up to stop him from continuing.

"It's not your fault." She paused and for the second time she looked straight into his eyes. "I just don't usually talk to strangers." She wanted to say more, but she never could before, so why start now.

"You still haven't told me about your friend." If curiosity indeed kill the cat then for sure he was a dead man, but at least his curiosity would be satisfied, he hoped anyway. "I only ask, because it would be great if she could tell some stories, if she's planning stop through here and by the way your looking at the door I could only assume that perhaps you may be expecting her." There he said it, he tensed not sure what to expect next.

She took another drink of her wine. This time she demonstrated no emotion. Gently she placed it down on the table and look toward the door. It was now dark out. "No I'm not expecting her." Her voice was strong and held no emotion. 'I haven't been expecting her for a long time.' She thought to herself.

Confused more than ever he tried again. "Is she in the Academy then? I'm sure her talents would be very well utilized there."

She had to smile at his spoken words, after all he was paying a compliment to her friend. "I'm sure her talents are being used as we speak." She offered no further explanation. Frustrated he began to leave. She placed her hand upon his before he left. "Thank you for the kind words about my friend, I'm sure she would appreciate them very much." He smiled at her and as he saw the sadness in her eyes, he was told the answer he was looking for.

Tears began to well up, but he fought them back. Why he felt so much for someone he knew so little, he could not explain. All he knew was that two people who deserved to be together were now apart and only the coldest of hearts would not be saddened by this.

"I'm sure she is complimented often. Some one like her is never forgotten." As he turned to leave he made an offer he knew would not be accepted. "There is a spare room available. Yours if want it?"

"Thank you, but I must be going." She got up to leave. He didn't want her to go, but he knew he could not stop her.

"Perhaps another mug of wine?" He hoped she would accept, but the look on her face told him no.

"It definitely was the best in the house." she said "You obviously know what's good when you see it." She smiled to him once more and descended out the door she so intently watched through out her brief stay.

He watched her leave out into the dark night and wondered if he would ever see her again. He took a deep breath and shook his head as if trying to clear the sadness from within. As he cleared the table of where she sat, he caught hold of a conversation from another table beside him.

"Yes that was the Warrior Princess. Although not much of a warrior anymore, not since her little friend died." Palemon turned to the table that spoke these words. The conversation continued. "Some say she just gave up and just wanders the roads to nowhere, while others say she's just a washed up old warrior with nothing left in her."

Palemon, ever the one to question could not help but ask. "And what do you say?" The man who carried the conversation was surprised by the question and pondered for a moment before he answered. "I think she's just keeping a promise she once made to an old friend."

Palemon looked out the door where the warrior princess had left. 'I think your right.' He said to himself.

'And may the God's help her keep that promise.'

The End.