Two disclaimers are needed for this story. Firstly, Xena, Gabrielle and a few other characters (who shall remain nameless so as not to ruin the story,) belong to MCA Universal, and any other parties who have a share in ownership of Xena: Warrior Princess. No copyright infringement is intended.

Secondly, some of the story, (again I won't mention which bits here so as not to ruin the fun,) is directly influenced by the great bard of the Xenaverse, Merwolf.

To both parties I owe a debt of thanks, without their vision and talent I would not have been inspired to write the story below, one that I enjoyed immensely. For more specific details on what belongs to who, please e-mail me using the link below and I will be happy to give you the full details.

Violence:

There are some scenes of violence in the story. If you are reading Xena fan fiction I am sure you will know roughly what to expect. If you are likely to be offended by this perhaps you should look for Teletubby fan fiction instead.

Subtext:

This piece of work was written by an author who believes in soulmates, a wondrous union that is a gift given without thought to gender. If you are likely to be offended by the idea of people of the same sex being in love I suggest that you find something else to read. Equally, if you are looking for some sort of lusty romp then reading this will disappoint you, however there are plenty of other pieces of work that specialise in that.

Finally:

Enough with the disclaimers, I hope you enjoy reading my work as much as I enjoyed creating it. It is my first venture into the world of writing so any comments will be gratefully received and can be sent using the link below. Happy reading!

Lannilvr

Part 2

The young girl watched indulgently as her canine companion rampaged from one side of the track to the other, from in front of her to behind, sniffing at all of the enticing smells he found in the tall grasses. Moss certainly seemed to be enjoying their little jaunt even if they did not know if they were even travelling in the right direction. A flash of black and white whizzed passed her left hand side as the dog chased yet another phantom rabbit. Suddenly he stopped, his muzzle raised in the air and his paw held up off the ground. The young girl's face changed from relaxed to concerned as she watched the small muscle movements around the dog's nose.

"What is it Moss?" She asked as she looked at her travelling companion questioningly. The canine's sense of smell had given her the advantage several times in the past when his advanced warning had told her of oncoming intruders.

Moss walked over to her, his ears were pricked but his tail hung low, a sure sign that it wasn't a friend that was approaching. The young girl cupped her hands either side of the dog's face and she looked him directly in the eyes. "Hide," she commanded, reiterating firmly, "hide." Obediently, her companion ran off into the thick shrubbery to one side of the track and after some brief rustling had disappeared from her senses.

The girl looked around, not knowing how much time the dog's advanced warning had given her. She moved towards a tall tree and with practised ease climbed it, resting on one of the large limbs high off the ground. Her new location gave the girl a better vantage point and she was able to have a bird's eye view of the track below as well as for some way into the distance.

It was not long before her straining eyes were able to locate a rapidly approaching shadow. As the distance between herself and the intruding shape lessened she was able to make out a large wolf like creature approaching. It had a dark shaggy coat and a huge muzzle. The creature paused regularly on it's progression down the track and as it traced the scent it was tracking it began salivating heavily, causing it's lethal white teeth to glisten in the sunlight. As the girl watched, her intrigue of the alien beast turned to fear as it raised it's head slightly and she was able to see a red glint to it's eyes that she had only seen one before.

Thinking quickly the girl accessed her healing kit, taking extra special care not to drop anything due to her unusual location. She located a pouch of darkly coloured leaves, carefully bound and stored well away from her other herbs. Ripping up the leaves the girl took an arrow from the quiver on her back, rubbing the sap from the broken vegetation onto the arrow's sharp tip, all the time watching the progress of the rapidly approaching creature. Roughly estimating the mass of the beast the girl calculated the quantity of the substance she needed, covering the arrowhead until it was nearly dripping. The creature was almost directly below her now, she briefly spared a moment to thank whichever god was watching over her for the fact that the creature seemed unaware of either her or Moss' presence.

Carefully she raised her bow and loaded the arrow, taking care for a precise shot. She held her breath as she drew the arrow back releasing it with an aim that proved true. The creature roared with rage and spun round to try and locate it's mystery attacker. It writhed around, trying to free the arrow that was sticking out of it's right shoulder but was unsuccessful. Still howling the creature retreated into the cover of the shrubbery to one side of the track, the loud trashing of vegetation testament to the distance away from the track it had travelled.

The girl spent a few moments in the sanctuary of her tree whilst she calmed down and was assured the beast was no longer an immediate threat. She excavated herself from the tree with natural finesse, landing on the ground with solid contact. Still hearing no signs of the recently escaped creature she put two fingers to her mouth and let out a loud whistle. What seemed like moments later a black and white creature bounded out of some bushes nearly bowling her over with his exuberance.

The pair continued along the track, this time their pace faster and more deliberate. "Hey boy!" The girl addressed the dog, "did you see that thing? It was just like the bear in that dream I told you about."

Moss looked up at her with intelligent brown eyes.

"That was poison," she responded in answer to his unspoken question. "I doubt it will kill it, that was some big beast, but it should slow it down enough to give us the advantage. I suppose one good thing is at least we know we are going the right way." Pausing for a few moments the girl considered her luckily successful encounter with the beast. She looked down at the dog pacing by her side, a grave expression on her face, "thanks Moss, I owe you one."

The early morning sun was greeted by two figures battling each other with staves. It would have been a spectacular image had any onlookers been present to observe it. The opponents were knee deep in a grassy meadow at the foot of a gently rolling slope that culminated in a small river. The bronzed gold of the sunrise caressed the skin of the two women, highlighting even the most subtle of curves on their bodies. The light danced as the muscles of the fighters shifted, complimenting the rapid yet fluid movements of their weapons.

Eventually the women allowed their staves to rest, their skin glistening with sweat from the healthy challenge. Moving down to the water they stooped to drink, enjoying the clean tang of the cold, fresh water. Briefly, their heads bent together in discussion then they both began to shed their clothing, laying it neatly on the ground by their weapons.

Gabrielle was trying hard not to look at the beautiful naked warrior she knew was standing just to one side of her. Certainly, she was more comfortable with being naked around her tall friend than she would have been with anyone else. After the several years of travelling together, modesty was impractical and neither were shy about their own bodies. Gabrielle smiled inwardly, Xena never had been, probably the result of looking at her body as a tool for her many fighting years. Gabrielle on the other hand had been shy at first, too self-conscious of her gawky adolescent body. After a few months she had decided to just deal with it and after that she had begun to relax. However, even now she had to try hard not to look at her friend whilst she was naked because she knew from embarrassing experience that she would stare. There was just something about her tall friend with her midnight black hair, the contrasting vivid blue eyes, the tanned skin that covered the finely sculpted muscles, which mesmerised the bard and always had done. She decided to concentrate on the water instead, trying to prepare herself for just how cold it was going to be. "I don't know how you talked me into this when there are perfectly adequate, warm bathing facilities at the inn," she lamented.

"You will get used to it," the warrior consoled her, somewhat distracted. She was trying very hard not to look at the naked bard she knew was standing by her side. The warrior was aware that sometimes she wasn't too talented at masking her thoughts and looking at her friend with an appreciative expression written across her features was not particularly subtle. Xena had begun to notice changes in her friend's body over the time they had been travelling together. The bard had of course become fitter, gaining muscle from the physical nature of their lifestyle and loosing any remnants of 'puppy-fat' she may have had to begin with. As she had matured she had gained both womanly curves and the self-confidence that highlighted them perfectly. Instead, the warrior decided to focus on the water, moving towards it and taking a shallow dive.

The bard followed her in, the icy cold impact of the water against her exertion-warmed skin taking her breath away for a few moments. However, soon they were both acclimatised and enjoying the sensation of the cleansing water against their over heated skin as it washed away the sweat and any remnants of sleep still remaining.

She sun was high in the sky before the two women returned to the inn, refreshed and laughing. Their hair was almost totally dry, a testament to the heat of the sun and they were both feeling a healthy pull in their muscles from the challenge of the staff practice. They entered the inn and returned to their room, storing their staves and the spare clothes they had washed in the stream after the combat.

Gabrielle turned to her taller companion. "How about a hearty breakfast before we go and find Elkton?" she suggested.

The warrior grinned at her, "I would have never guessed my favourite bard would be hungry!"

The bard in question flushed slightly at the unforeseen but not unwelcome compliment. "Just for that I will let you off for yet another crack at my appetite. Come on!" She urged, already halfway out of the door.

The pair made their way down into the body of the inn, the lack of patrons emphasising the relatively early hour. They spoke to the innkeeper briefly, Xena requesting an extra large breakfast for her companion and 'just' a large for herself. They seated themselves at a large table near an open window, glad of both the fresh air and light.

Gabrielle broke the momentary silence. "Do you think Elkton will have anything new to tell us this morning?" she asked.

Xena pondered the question. "I think it is unlikely," she said, "I have never known a god to interfere when it would be helpful, plus," she continued, "I haven't done him many favours."

The bard took a moment to realise she was referring to foiling his attempts to take herself as his bride. Still, she hoped that there would be something, otherwise they were back to square one, which was nowhere. Trying to maintain the light-hearted mood she simply responded, "well, we will just have to hurry up with our breakfast and find out!"

As if on queue, two large platters were brought out and set down in front of them. "Extra large?" the server inquired, raising an eyebrow at Xena.

"There please," the warrior smirked at she pointed to Gabrielle's place.

The food was good in both quantity and quality. Gabrielle silently admitted that a large would have sufficed but decided to eat it all on principle. Anyhow, she justified to herself, they never knew when they were going to get a decent meal on the road. The pair ate in contented silence, washing down the bacon, eggs, toast and mushrooms with a light apple cider.

Xena grinned as Gabrielle pushed her knife and fork together on her empty plate with a faintly triumphant look at her companion. "Ready to go?" the warrior asked.

Gabrielle looked thoughtful for a moment before responding, "Well, I was considering seconds," she lied, "but I know you are keen to get this sorted. Come on!"

Xena shook her head slightly as she smiled but followed suit and left the table, heading out into the bright sunlight outside, a few steps behind her friend. They navigated the village efficiently, ignoring the unhidden stares of the natives. Arriving at Elkton's hut Xena gave a short tap at the door which was opened moments later by a smiling Elkton.

"Come in, come in," he ushered, holding open the door and standing to one side to let them pass. "Have a seat, would you like a drink?"

The friend's exchanged amused glances, "No thanks, we have just had breakfast at the inn." Xena answered.

"Of course," the old man smiled.

"So…" Gabrielle, ushered, putting aside her usual diplomacy in deference to her desire for an answer.

"Well," Elkton began, "I still do not have all the answers but Morpheus did hear my prayers and has given you a starting point." He paused before he continued, "seems like you ladies impressed him with your courage and intelligence, he must have remembered you!"

Xena and Gabrielle exchanged surprised looks, although each had different expectations of the success of Elkton's attempt, neither of them had expected to be remembered by a god and certainly never in such a positive light.

"I had a dream," the high priest began, "I saw you, Xena, sleeping whilst a white deer came and stood by your bedside."

Gabrielle's voice was high with excitement, "The Amazon's say that Artemis often takes the form of a majestic white deer!" she exclaimed, thrilled at what was appearing to be a solid clue.

Xena nodded but looked puzzled. "Artemis? Why?" she questioned.

Elkton cleared his throat, "There is more if you would like to hear it."

Gabrielle spoke up, "Please, continue."

The old man took a deep breath. "The white deer was chased away, many times by something I can only describe as evil," his face was grave but he continued. "However, she did keep returning." He looked at each of the women in turn, "I think there is more to this than just your visions Xena."

Gabrielle's excitement trailed away to be replaced with a grave understanding. "Xena, I think those attempts must be linked," she said, giving her friend a dire look.

Xena nodded silently. "Elkton, is there anything you can tell us about this evil force, anything at all?"

The old man shook his head sadly. "I am sorry my friends, all I could see was a shadow without form or colour, it was just the feeling I had when it appeared that let me realise it was evil." He paused for a moment, his eyes raising up slightly as he thought back to his dream. "The essence that I saw," he began, his words slow with consideration, "wasn't there of its own accord, it is a creation of another and though the essence may be evil and cruel, it's creator is slightly more balanced." He looked at the friend's hoping his words may have made some sense to them.

Gabrielle was relieved. "Thank the gods!" she exclaimed, turning to her friend and quietly admitting, "I had wondered if it was Dahok…"

Xena too had considered the prospect and shared Gabrielle's relief. If it had been Dahok, the essence of evil would have been the creator rather than the creation. However, they still faced an unknown enemy and the most likely possibility had been eliminated. She smiled and patted her friend's hand, "Even if it had been him I would have fought for you Gabrielle." For a moment their eyes caught and locked, silently speaking of their mutually painful pasts and their painstakingly rebuilt friendship. The bond that had held them together had never broken though and now, in the sparse sanctuary of Elkton's home, they realised it never would.

A gentle throat clearing interrupted their thoughts. Elkton smiled at them, his weathered face creasing around the corners of his eyes. "I hope that what I have told you will be of some use to you." He said, pausing as an idea struck him. "There is an Amazon village not far from here, a couple of leagues South of that is a large temple dedicated to Artemis, perhaps that should be the next place you visit on this quest."

Xena smiled and rose to her feet, "thank you Elkton, for all you have done for us." She clasped his arm in sincerity.

Gabrielle rose too and the pair bade their farewells to their renewed friend. Elkton watched as the companions strode away from his home and towards the inn to collect their belongings. His eyes twinkled and a genuine smile spread across his face as his instincts confirmed what his life experience had already suggested. He began humming quietly as he closed the door gently and began his daily chores.

Although the friends needed to travel back in the opposite direction they had taken to get to Elkton's village, they had decided to take a different route to try and avoid any other would-be threats to Gabrielle's safety. The new course would take them longer as it consisted more of winding footpaths that traversed the forest floor, many of the paths were overgrown too and painstaking effort had to be used to clear enough space for Argo to move through. However, both women though that any advantage they could get over their unknown enemy was worth a little extra effort.

It was cooler travelling in the sheltered protection that the forest offered. It was more peaceful too, although the dusty track they had used before had been fairly deserted, the forest was an illogical path to take and in the full days journey they had not encountered another soul. All in all it made for a generally relaxing time and both women were in a more positive mood thanks to the information Elkton had been able to give them.

"Were you surprised?" Gabrielle asked her warrior friend.

"What, that you managed to eat that whole extra large breakfast?" Xena responded, her face serious.

The bard laughed and slapped her friend on the arm. "No! About Artemis being the one behind your visions." The bard clarified.

"Ah," the warrior considered for a moment, "I guess so, yes. I had thought that maybe it was Alti somehow trying to drive me insane or something, visions are very much her style. When I found out it was Artemis I just felt confused, 'for what purpose' is the obvious question, especially since I am not even an Amazon."

The blonde had been thinking about that too but sill had not had any plausible ideas. "Well, you may not be an Amazon by birthright but you do have all of the qualities of one of the best Amazons that I know of at least." She returned her friend's smile. "That may well be why she is helping you but it still leaves a lot of unanswered questions."

"We do not know she is helping though," Xena parried, "We do not know her motives so how can we assume her intent?"

Gabrielle sidestepped a large rock in her path. "I think she is helping Xena," she contradicted, "after all the deer kept returning to your side despite the evil presence. It gives me the impression that there is something important to require such persistence."

"Perhaps." The warrior responded simply, leading Argo around a low overhanging branch.

"I suppose we will just have to see if we can find out anymore when we visit the temple." Gabrielle watched as the dubious look returned to her friend's face. "What is the matter?"

Xena shook her head. "Nothing, I just don't think it will be likely that we will find out anymore information at a temple, what is she going to do, appear on the altar in front of my very eyes and tell me every minor detail including the colour underwear I am wearing?!"

Gabrielle couldn't help but smile, "I think that may be a little unlikely but seriously, look at it this way, people have visions to tell them things, important things. From what you have said, all you have seen is a lot of alien shapes and fuzziness, and if you knew what it was all about we wouldn't be travelling through this stupid forest." The bard's voice had risen a little towards the end of the sentence as she had ripped her sleeve and grazed her arm on a patch of projecting brambles.

Xena stopped walking and reached out for her friend's arm, peering at the broken skin. "Just a scratch," she pronounced. "You may be right," she allowed, "but I think I will reserve judgement for the time being."

A loud roll of thunder that sounded as though it came right from overhead interrupted the friend's conversation. Xena looked up at the rapidly darkening sky. "We ought to find shelter before this storm breaks," she announced, "we will probably have to take cover until the morning."

Gabrielle nodded in agreement, slightly surprised by the sudden appearance of the storm clouds, especially given the hot, clear weather they had had over the last few weeks and the lack of the air tension they usually felt before a storm.

The friends travelled a short distance further, halting when they found a shallow cave in a nearby rock face. It was a little too close to the river Xena could just see through the trees but if heavy rains persisted they would just have to move on. In the short term at least it provided a secure shelter for all three of them and their belongings.

Trusting her gut instinct the young woman had left the sandy track they had been travelling along for the majority of their journey, cutting instead into the neighbouring forest. Moss had obligingly followed her and was finding the wildlife of the forest just as intriguing as that on the outskirts of the track. It suited the pair better as it offered richer hunting, a facility much needed due to their dwindling rations.

The girl carried her armed bow at the ready, hoping a little luck may allow an opportune rabbit to cross her path. A small rustling in the bushes ahead of them attracted her attention and she laid a hand on the shoulder of her excited canine friend to steady him. Stealthily she moved forward, carefully placing one foot in front of the other as she raised her bow. She signalled to the well-trained Moss and watched as he moved around to the other side of the bushes, making considerably more noise than she had done. A surprised rabbit hopped out onto the path and was killed instantly by a perfectly aimed arrow to it's chest. The girl smiled, she liked it to be that way, instantaneous, she had no qualms about hunting to feed herself but she tried hard to avoid unnecessary suffering, even if it was only to a rabbit.

Moss skipped out of the shrubbery, his pink tongue hanging sideways out of his mouth as he panted with excitement.

"Well done Moss," the girl patted his large head and smiled at him, "how do you fancy roasted rabbit for supper?"

As the dog wagged his tail enthusiastically the girl stooped to pick up their prey. She paused and looked up as a loud rumble of thunder rolled around above their heads. She groaned inwardly, admitting that the nice weather had made their travelling a lot more bearable than it could have been. Deciding on a plan of action she progressed through the trees, collecting dry would as she passed. If they could get a fire started and the dinner cooking before the storm broke and the rains came, they stood a lot better chance at being able to share a decent meal. Pausing at a small glade she set down her travel pack and removing her sharp dagger, began skinning the rabbit. She diced up the meat placing it in the pan and turned her attention to the fire, building it for more intense heat rather than longevity.

As the meat cooked she searched the surrounding area for edible roots or berries she could use to produce a more filling meal. Luckily she had already collected a selection as she had passed through the forest earlier and with what she now found she soon had enough to provide for both herself and her dog.

The meal was basic but it served its purpose and the girl found it refreshingly sweet knowing that it had been provided by her own skills, independent from other's interference. The storm had become steadily worse throughout the preparation and consumption of the meal and the first splashes of rain began to fall as they were just finishing. She had decided to continue moving for as long as they could as there was no obvious shelter nearby and the activity of the travelling would keep them warmer and dryer than they would be sitting still. Efficiently she packed up her belongings and whistled for Moss as she squared her jaw and set out again in the now heavy rain.

Hours later they had covered a good distance due to their increased pace. The rain was now pelting down, plastering her hair to her face and making visibility difficult. However, she smiled as in the distance she saw the looming shadow of a rock face and as they approached it, the large cave that offered a dry haven to spend the remainder of the night. Moments later she stumbled into the cave, Moss closely behind her as she fished in her travel bag and retrieved a piece of linen which she used to dry off the worst of the water from her hair and body. Utterly exhausted the girl knew it was senseless to look for any firewood as everything would be too wet to light. Instead she made do with curling up in a small ball under her blanket, her back against the tolerant Moss in an effort to share body heat. Her exhaustion alone allowed her to fall into a fitful sleep not long after.

Gabrielle peered out of the entrance of the alcove that had been their home for the night. The rain was sheeting down making it hard for her to see all but the closest trees. She was aware of the approaching presence as Xena moved to her side, surveying the view with a grim look. It was almost midday but neither of them would have known it from looking outside, only their well-adjusted body clocks were able to give them any idea.

"We should leave here soon," the warrior regretfully informed her friend, "we are too close to the river and the rain has been this heavy since just before nightfall last night.

Gabrielle nodded in understanding, she had been half-expecting this problem. "Where will we go?" she asked.

"If we try and head away from the river we may be able to find some shelter that isn't so likely to flood."

In silence the pair began to collect together their belongings, strapping up the bags to keep as much water out as possible. Argo was addled at being surrounded by rock but at the same time was not keen to venture out into the sodden forest. Xena tried to calm the agitated mare, murmuring softly too her as she stroked her neck. When they were ready Xena took the reins loosely in her hands, they had already decided to carry their own gear should Argo suddenly bolt. With a deep breath the three ventured out into the open, bowing their heads slightly against the stinging rain and moving along the soggy path as rapidly as the conditions would allow.

They had not been travelling long before Xena's heart sank and she realised that the path they were following had curved round and had brought them along side the swollen, rushing river. Normally she would have been able to have realised sooner as her bearings were usually very reliable. However, in these conditions she could barely see the sodden bard traipsing along behind Argo let alone enough of the surrounding area to monitor their direction successfully. She cursed violently and paused allowing the bard to draw up along side her.

"What's wrong?" The bard shouted against the torrents of wind and rain battering her from all directions.

Xena pointed to their right, "River," she shouted in response.

Oh dear, Gabrielle thought, we were supposed to be avoiding the river. She peered through the sheeting water and located the river. Xena had been right, it was heavily swollen and the almost black water rushed by with a force and speed that made her shudder.

The warrior was trying to think of which direction to take to get them away from the river but without getting lost when something on the track ahead of them attracted her attention. She tapped her friend's arm and pointed. Two very large figures were heading straight for them in a manner that set everyone of Xena's senses into overdrive. "Trouble!" she shouted at her friend.

Gabrielle nodded in understanding, removing her staff from its resting place by Argo's saddle only moments before the warrior sent her horse fleeing into the forest with a tap to her hindquarters with the flat of her sword. Gabrielle knew that Argo would seek out shelter and remain there until the weather calmed and she would be able to come and find them. Right now though they had a more pressing problem to deal with.

The approaching figures had closed the gap between them with disturbing speed. Both the warrior and the bard stood in total silence as a strong gust of wind cleared the visibility for a brief moment, showing the creatures that approached. Two minotaurs. Xena cursed, she had only ever fought one minotaur before and that had taken every ounce of strength and skill she had had. How was she supposed to defeat two in conditions like these?

The creatures paused briefly as one raised its thick arm and pointed to the bard. The other nodded and they charged towards the friend's, swords raised.

Gabrielle crouched slightly to lower her centre of gravity, she knew she was going to need every advantage she had in this battle and her compact size and manoeuvrability where the obvious assets. Her opponent towered over her, his body mass at least double, if not treble hers. He swung his sword in a wide arc but the bard dodged, returning a solid thrust of her staff to his midsection. He grunted a little but it was as though she had hit a tree, she re-gripped her staff, dodging his attacks while she considered her options.

Xena raised her sword above her head, gripping it with both hands to defend against the downward stroke that crashed into it, sending sparks flying and shockwaves down her arms and into her muscular shoulders. Again he thrust and again she parried, knowing she was going to have to think of another alternative and fast. The creature lunged forward, thrusting his huge sword straight towards her chest. Quickly, she unhooked her chakram from its resting place at her side and placed it in front of the oncoming weapon. The sword cleared the inside hole of the disk and clutching the rim of the loop, Xena used all her strength to pull the sword off its target. At the same time she thrust her own sword deep into the minotaur's hip. The creature screamed with pain as blood mingled with rain in a pool forming at his foot. Xena was pleased she had slowed him down at least and checked quickly to make sure her friend was still defending herself successfully. Her smile faded as she suddenly realised how dangerous a predicament they were in as they were fighting uncomfortably close to the raging river.

Gabrielle was hoping to tire the creature out. Realistically, she had no chance against it because of the sheer strength it obviously possessed. She was dancing around her opponent, lightly dodging his attack moves. She ducked round to one side of him, putting all her strength into a hit to the back of his knees. The blow connected as she heard a loud crack and grimly acknowledged some damage had been done. She returned to her rapid dodge movements, waiting for her next opportunity to present itself.

Xena somersaulted backwards as her opponent lunged at her, pain and anger making him redouble his efforts. He spun to one side a little as he momentarily lost his balance when his thrust never connected. The warrior charged forward to take advantage but her opponent recovered unexpectedly quickly, she was vulnerable, within his attack reach and with her sword at an attacking rather than defensive angle. The creature had raised his own sword in preparation for another downward thrust; one the warrior would not be able to defend against. She just had enough time to shift slightly, hoping the blow would connect with her shoulder rather than her skull. Unexpectedly the creature reared back, growling in sudden pain. It was only then that Xena saw the athletic form of a female archer through the mist of the thick rain. Their eyes met and held for a brief moment before the battle forced Xena's attention back to her opponent. The tall warrior took the advantage, angling a final thrust towards the minotaur's chest. The sword connected, piercing the skin and passing through the thick upper body muscles straight to the creature's heart. The minotaur slumped forward in death, knocking her to the ground, his body pinning her lower body and legs to the sodden earth, trapped.

Gabrielle had managed another couple of successful attack manoeuvres against her opponent. She had been aided by the unexpected arrival of a large black and white dog that hounded the creature, sinking white fangs into the minotaur's shin. Between the two of them the creature had become increasingly agitated and was flailing it's sword wildly in the hope of it connecting with something. Two arrows flew through the air, one piercing his right hand shoulder and the other his neck, spilling blood down his broad chest. With the last of his strength the minotaur gripped his sword with both hands and swung it in a solid arc to his left. Gabrielle dodged but felt her feet slide from under her as the ground she had moved to collapsed under her weight. The earth crumbled away from under her, sending the bard falling head-first into the freezing torrent of the raging river.

"Gabrielle!" Xena screamed through the pelting rain, desperately trying to free herself from the dead weight pinning her to the ground. "GABRIELLE!" There was no response and Xena just managed to see the slim form of the mysterious archer as she dived into the swollen river.

Finally, Xena had managed to free herself. The mysterious black and white dog had pulled at the dead weight of the minotaur's body as she had pulled her own body the other way, eventually releasing her. Accompanied by the dog she had searched the river and its banks for any sign of either the bard or the archer but it was to no avail. She had eventually realised that until the weather abated she had little chance of success and only put herself in danger by continuing to be so close to the river's edge in the present conditions. She was torn by her need to find her friend and her common sense telling her that she would be far more use alive and in one piece. As night fell she reluctantly returned to the alcove where they had spent the night before, a subconscious decision in reaction to her need to stay relatively close to the river.

The dog had remained with her throughout the evening and although he appeared agitated he had followed her back to the small cave. They had found Argo there too, nestling in the shelter the rocks provided.

"Hey girl." Xena greeted the horse sadly, "we have lost Gabrielle, she fell in the river." Argo nickered softly, nudging her warrior gently in consolation. "S'ok girl, we'll find her tomorrow." Xena replied, the verbal reassurance more for her own benefit than the mare's. The warrior sat down on one of the boulders in the alcove. The dog came and sat down by her side, receiving unimpressed whickers from Argo. "This is Dog," Xena informed the horse, "he lost his friend to the river too." Argo seemed to quieten and silence filled the cavern.

Xena got up and collected some of the dry firewood left over from their recent visit. With experienced movements she soon had a healthy fire going, providing them with light and heat at least. She rummaged in her bag and found some cheese and apples. She didn't feel much like eating but knew that it was important she kept her strength up. Sharing her bounty with her two animal friends she sat on the boulder and stared into the mesmerising flickering of the fire.

It had all happened so quickly, the minotaurs had appeared from nowhere, then the battle… Xena spent a moment silently thanking the unknown archer whose allegiance had swung the odds in their favour. But then… one minute Gabrielle had been there and the next she had gone, swallowed up in that heartless river. For a moment Xena could not breath as her chest tightened painfully, what happened if she didn't find Gabrielle? What would she do then? If she thought about a life without Gabrielle only one word seemed applicable. Empty. No one to share things with, no more of those unusual questions the bard so often presented her with, no more laughter. Her direction had been taken away in one fateful moment, the one person who had taken the time to really know her and who had accepted what she had found. The one person she had learnt things worth knowing from. There were so many things she could have already lost she could spend all night trying to list them and still fall short. Only one word could fully describe the loss she was facing, Gabrielle.

The bright light was painful against her sore eyes. She cracked one open and peered around surprised by her surroundings. She was lying in the mud by the side of a river. Moss was nowhere in sight. Her frown cleared as she remembered the events of the day before.

The rain had been sheeting down outside the cave, barely allowing her to see the forest outside. Moss had been sitting at the entrance just watching. Something had disturbed her and as she wondered what it was, the wind brought the sounds of a battle to her ears. She had leapt up, grabbing the travel bag she had used as a pillow and running out of the cave. Moss had followed her, his four legs easily keeping pace with her longer ones. They had sprinted through the trees, ignoring the pelting rain and heading toward the battle she could now clearly hear.

Though she was used to battles, the scene that had met her eyes had surprised even her, two huge beasts were wielding swords, their half man, half bull bodies dwarfing their opponents. It was the women that had caught her attention though, one was fairly short with blond hair. She was using her compact frame and manoeuvrability as an advantage over her opponent, the intelligence behind such tactics obvious. The other woman was tall with long midnight black hair. Her sleek body moved in testament to her great experience and skill as a warrior. She had turned to Moss and said "Looks like we have found our fox and panther!"

She had then thought practically, trying to decide the best way to help. Direct sword fighting would confuse the battle and that was when injuries were more likely to happen. Instead she had slipped unseen through the trees and emerged onto the path a little way behind the backs of the minotaurs. She had crouched next to Moss and pointed to the one on the left hand side, "Attack," she commanded, "attack." The dog had rushed off in the direction of the creature attacking the blonde woman. In the meantime, she armed her bow and sent an arrow into the creature attacking the taller woman. It had landed squarely between his two shoulder blades, embedding itself deep in the flesh. The warrior had looked up then and for a moment she stood entranced at a pair of mesmerisingly vivid blue eyes that she had only seen once before.

Moss had reached the other minotaur and was worrying it, snapping at it's lower legs and prancing around it with a manoeuvrability that matched the blonde woman's. She had re-loaded her bow, this time sending two arrows in quick succession. She had only just had time to see them find their target successfully before she saw the shorter woman begin to loose her footing. A quick glance at the dark haired warrior made her heart sink as she realised she was trapped under the solid weight of the fallen minotaur.

She had watched in horror as the bank had collapsed underneath the blonde woman's feet and was helpless as she saw her fall into the water. The current had brought her towards her own location and she made her split second decision, silently apologising to Moss. She had heard the tall warrior call out but the sound of the rushing water that enveloped her had muffled the voice.

So here she was. She sat up in the mud and looked around her. The weather had cleared at least, the sky was fairly cloudy but the weak sun was fighting through and it looked as though she may be lucky enough to avoid any more rain, for the time being at least. She stood up and moved down to the now calmer river. She leant over slightly and scooped up some water, cleaning the worst of the foul-smelling river-mud off her face, arms and legs. She stood up again and looked around but there was no sign of humanity, in a blonde female form or otherwise. Knowing that the woman may well not have been as lucky as her, a grim expression crossed her young features. She dusted herself off and set off along the riverbank, "Fox!" She called, "Fox!"

She was so comfortable she almost didn't want to open her eyes, as a compromise she cracked one eyelid open just enough to ascertain her location. Surprised, she opened her eyes fully, revealing a place she did not recognise. She was in a large room with many odd items scattered around. There was a persistent humming noise that sounded like some sort of machinery but she did not recognise it. A large bed formed some of the reason why so was so comfortable, it was an odd bed because as she moved slightly a wave movement echoed underneath her. Whatever it was, it was comfortable, she decided.

The other reason for her comfort was the figure wrapped around her. Blonde hair spilled over the pillow and her friend's familiar face was relaxed in sleep. Xena always loved this, such close intimacy with Gabrielle when neither of them were bound by the awkward awareness of their waking time. This time was slightly different though, she gently wrapped her arms around the bard's shoulders and smiled as the blonde moved in even closer. As Xena gazed fondly at her, Gabrielle's eyes opened a little. Even now, having been friends so long, the warrior was still surprised at the depth and beauty of those sea-green orbs.

"Hey," Gabrielle greeted her, her voice slightly hoarse with sleep.

Xena smiled at her, deciding not to ask any of the logical, practical questions about their location and situation but to just enjoy the moment instead. "Hey," she answered.

Instead of moving away the way she normally did, Gabrielle slid her arm around the warrior's waist. "You know the best thing about waking up in the morning?" The blonde woman asked.

Xena raised her eyebrow in question.

"Waking up with you." Gabrielle smiled, creases appearing at the edge of her dancing eyes.

Xena was not sure what to say, she was so completely enchanted with her friend's comment. Instead she reached out her hand and caressed Gabrielle's cheek. She knew the action combined with the look in her eyes was something that she would not normally do but somehow in this strange place it seemed to be ok to stop denying herself, just this once.

The response though, was something she had not bargained for. Gabrielle had smiled softly and leaning forward held placed her lips gently but squarely on Xena's. It was different to anything the warrior had experienced before, the love and desire clear in her friend's eyes. Xena was stunned, she had no idea that Gabrielle felt that way but all of a sudden she felt as though she had just been given the most precious gift in the world.

Xena opened her eyes, a smile still lingering on her lips. Bleakly, she realised that her present situation was very different to the one that she had occupied only moments before. She was sitting on a hard boulder in a damp alcove, staring into the remnants of a fire. Argo and the black and white dog were resting peacefully, and the grey light at the entrance of the cave told her that it would soon be dawn. Water was still falling but she realised it was in the form of drips rather than rain, which meant the weather had cleared overnight. The main thing that was different though, was the absence of her travelling companion, a change that left her chest tight and a hollow emptiness in her soul.

The warrior sighed and poked the embers of the fire with a long stick. Violently, she cursed the visions. It would have been awkward enough to have had that experience and then have had to come back to their familiar friendship but to come back to the knowledge that Gabrielle was not by her side and she did not even know if she was alive anymore, it was just too cruel a contrast. The warrior stood and began to prowl around the inside of the cave, hounded by her thoughts.

It was so frustrating, Xena could still smell the lingering scent of her companion and could also feel the feather light touches on her skin. The visions were so real, is that what it would have been like if Gabrielle had wanted her and if she had ignored her own dilemmas? Morbidly she thrust the stick deep into the heart of the fire, perhaps now she would never be able to find out. She corrected herself sarcastically, she would never have found out anyway. Xena mocked herself, she had so many 'good' reasons why she would never have allowed more than a friendship, most of them based on her own fears and no other reason.

The warrior glared out of the cave entrance, willing the daylight to arrive sooner as it would allow her to resume her search for her missing friend. She stalked back to the edge of the fire, filling a cup with water from her flask and placing the cup into the heart of the embers. Making tea would at least kill some of the time before she could escape the darkness-forced inactivity she was finding so intolerable.

The setting sun hung like a globe of fire just above the distant horizon. It's rays spread across all it encountered, painting trees and grassland in molten gold. The river too was decorated, the deep oranges and reds glinting on the surface of the smooth water. The weather had improved throughout the day, the clouds gradually blowing away to the East allowing the sun to spread it's life-giving warmth to the sodden earth. The winds had dropped too, now only a gentle breeze blew, softly tousling the leaves of the tall, willow trees that grew along the river bank.

Amongst the beauty of the natural world a figure stood out in stark comparison. It was a tall woman, her dishevelled midnight hair highlighting the dark rings under her eyes. Her body was covered in liberal scratches and cuts, dried blood was mixed with the black river-mud that caked the majority of her skin. Her amour was dull and un-kept, her leather garment underneath stained with more of the foul-smelling silt from the river. Her face was pale and pinched, a dark streak of dirt travelling down one cheek and a sadly lost look ingrained on her features. By her side was what looked like it should have been a black and white dog. Instead the creature's fur was stained a dark brown all the way up its legs and patches of mud were splattered over it's face and body. Both his ears and tail were hung low, his gentle brown eyes searching for something they could not see.

Xena once again mounted the tall Argo, unaware of the beauty the horse captured in the dying evening sunset. They had travelled an astonishing distance along the river in the direction of the now gentle current. However, the warrior seemed unaware of any achievements, she knew all she needed to by the fact she was still travelling alone. As she urged the horse forward a glint of colour half covered in mud caught her eye a little ahead of her.

"Gabrielle?" she whispered hoarsely, hardly daring to get any closer, she was not sure which she was more afraid of, that being her friend or not… whatever it was it wasn't moving. She strained her ears, the gentle breeze seemed to caress her hearing with a familiar voice, could it be?

Xena rode the horse as close to the object as she could, dismounting and moving a little closer to it without taking her eyes off it for a moment. She thought she heard the sound again and began to move more quickly, suddenly sinking knee deep into the viscous mud that tried to suck her deeper. She waded further through the mud towards the object, even when her foot caught in a root and she fell, her eyes clung to the object in hope. As she neared the piece of colour, she realised it was only a coloured sack, one that would probably have been washed down from one of the villages up river. She felt this last blow hit her hard and beaten, she slowly waded her way back to dry land. Every inch of her was now covered in the black mud and as she walked along the path small blobs fell onto the sandy earth. Only one part of her was now skin coloured, a thin track from a single tear running from her eye to her jaw line.

The young girl had searched all day and now the sun was setting, she had not eaten since the day before and her heart hurt without the courageous Moss to walk by her side. She looked over at the other side of the bank, searching, when a movement caught her attention. A black figure, accompanied by a black dog and a golden horse were just visible in the distance. Excited by this sudden stroke of luck she whistled and shouted to attract their attention, moving back along the path she had taken, trying to catch up with them. However, fate was cruel, they could not hear her and despite her attempts the figure mounted the horse and began to move away, the black dog trailing behind her. The girl shouted again but the wind just returned her call to her own ears and she watched helplessly until the figures were reduced to mere spots in the distance.

She was torn, part of her wanted to charge after them, at least she would be reunited with her Moss. However, she knew that the blonde woman could have been injured and time was potentially too valuable an asset to waste. Sighing, she turned her back on the dots and resumed her course along the river path.

A little time later, as the sun had almost totally disappeared behind the horizon her efforts were rewarded. A silent figure lay in the mud ahead. "Fox!" the young woman shouted, running towards the body. As she neared she recognised the blonde woman she had seen battling the minotaur only the day before. Squatting by her side the girl felt the woman's neck where a subtle flutter of a pulse made her heart skip with joy. She knelt down, gripping the unconscious woman's arms and throwing her over her shoulders. It took the girl all of her considerable strength to rise to a standing position with their combined weights. However, she had set her mind to what she wanted to achieve and no minor point like physical limitations was going to stand in her way.

Slowly, using her powerful thigh muscles, the girl carried the unconscious woman away from the river, to a small clearing in the nearby woods. She laid the woman down, propping her up against a large boulder. Free of her burden, the girl moved efficiently around the area, clearing some room in the centre where she built a large fire. She spread her blanket out over a nearby branch to dry completely after its sudden drenching in the river. Regularly checking on the condition of her charge, she moved around, collecting lots of wood and stacking it neatly for use through the night. Leaving her belongings with the blonde woman she collected her bow and quiver, disappearing into the forest. A short while later, she returned with two rabbits and a large partridge. She skinned the rabbits and diced the meat, placing it in her cooking pot. She added some water and the root vegetables she had collected on her hunting trip. She placed the pot on the fire, allowing the mixture to cook thoroughly. She plucked and prepared the bird, skewering it with a long sharp stick and resting that over the now bubbling pan. Nodding in satisfaction she turned to the blonde woman.

Fox was covered in mud, her blonde her dishevelled and matted. She had a variety of cuts and grazes, although nothing too serious the girl was pleased to note. The woman's skin was cold though and held a slightly bluish tinge to it. It was probably the amount of time the woman had spent in the icy water the girl calculated. Taking the remaining water from her flask she began to clean the woman's skin off with a soft piece of linen, gently rubbing away the foul-smelling river mud that clung to her. After several trips to the river to refill her flask the job was finally complete.

The young girl surveyed her charge. The woman was still unconscious, although her heartbeat and breathing had remained steady. Her skin was clean and her minor wounds dressed, however, her clothes were still heavily soiled and small pieces of riverweed stuck out at random intervals. Making an executive decision, the girl began stripping her charge, placing the dirty clothes in a heap and collecting her blanket, which had now dried out completely. Carefully, she wrapped the woman in the blanket, finally returning her to her resting place against the boulder. She checked on the food as she left their camp carrying the bundle of dirty clothes.

A short while later the girl returned to the camp, bone weary. She laid out the now clean clothes over the branch she had used to dry her blanket. Checking the food again she collected her bowl and spoon, giving herself a generous helping of the thick, nourishing stew. She removed the cooked poultry, wrapping it in a piece of linen and putting it to one side to cool before she stowed it away in her travel bag. Collecting her stew, she sat down next to the silent Fox, and began to eat contentedly. The sky played host to a carpet of bright stars and as she ate she gazed up at their beauty. She began to wonder about her new companion, who she was and what she did. She didn't even know her name. She was a warrior, that much had been obvious as she had seen the clearly toned muscles whist cleaning her tanned skin. Was she a professional warrior or was that just one of the things that she did?

The girl stood again and returned to the cooking pot to refill her bowl. This time however, she brought it and sat down gently at Fox's side. Painstakingly she began feeding small spoonfuls into the blonde woman's mouth, knowing a good meal was crucial in the healing process. Finally, when all the soup had disappeared from the bowl, the young girl felt her weariness begin to overtake her. She rinsed the bowl out and restocked the fire. Again she moved Fox, dragging her unceremoniously closer to the heat of the fire. She sat down on the ground next to her silent companion, straightening the blanket. The woman's skin was still colder than it should be so the girl lay down beside her, wrapping one arm around the stranger's waist and using the other as a pillow for herself. Gradually, she slipped into the realm of Morpheus, positive about the morning light of tomorrow.

Gabrielle opened her eyes slowly. Her head hurt. She was disorientated. Her vision told her that she was lying by the remains of a fire in a woodland camp. The birds were just beginning to sing and the sky was painted with streaks of pink overtaking the receding stars. An arm was wrapped around her waist and she was curled inside a blanket she didn't recognise. Subtly she moved her head to one side.

The owner of the arm around her waist was a stranger lying on the earth next to her. Suddenly, the events of the battle and the river came surging back to her. That explained the absence of her tall warrior friend the bard thought grimly. Thinking practically, Gabrielle realised that she was clean and her wounds were tended. She peered under the blanket to check for more serious injuries. Her head flopped back against the earth and a slightly bemused look crossed her face.

Ok, I am naked, in a strange camp, Xena is nowhere to be seen and somebody I have never met before is lying with her arm round me. Gabrielle decided that if she had been drinking ale the night before she would be congratulating herself at being in such a position.

Gabrielle studied the stranger lying next to her. She was a young woman, probably eighteen or nineteen. From her clothing the bard guessed she was an Amazon and certainly by the care of both herself and the camp the girl had the right skill set. She had shortish blonde hair, that came down to her ears. Although not beautiful, her face was attractive and a splattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose gave her a slightly mischievous look. The bard was just guessing at what colour her eyes would be when they blinked open. The bard stared in surprise, her left eye was green but the her right was split vertically, the left half was a matching green but the right half was a deep, contrasting blue.

"Aarghh!" the girl shouted in surprise, scrambling backwards rapidly.

"Hey, its ok!" Gabrielle soothed, realising that waking up and having a stranger staring at your eyes would probably be a little unnerving.

The girl sighed, "Sorry," she said rather sheepishly, "you startled me a little."

"A little?" The bard questioned, a slight smile and raised eyebrow conveying the humour of her statement. The girl smiled shyly. "Hi," Gabrielle started again, "I am Gabrielle."

The girl smiled fully in response and held out her hand, "Sophea."

Xena had not slept in two days, her mind permanently distracted and sluggish. She had returned to the alcove, finding the knowledge that her friend had recently been there a great comfort. Now she sat, a couple of hours after dawn, clutching a hot mug of tea and trying to think practically to help decide what she should do next. She had searched as far down the river bank as she thought Gabrielle could possibly have travelled and even a little further to make sure. Obviously, the bard may be dead, that was an option she did not want to think about as she had done so too much already, although it had been involuntary. Gabrielle may have been injured and been found and taken to a nearby village. She may be healthy but unable to find Xena. That was a strong possibility, the warrior considered, especially since she had spent the time since it had happened travelling up and down the river bank rather than staying in once place. If that was the case, where would Gabrielle look for her? Possibly the alcove, the warrior thought, although it depended on where the bard had ended up. An idea suddenly occurred to her, perhaps Gabrielle would have travelled to the temple they were heading for before all this had happened, it was the next destination in their quest after all.

Xena swirled her now rapidly cooling tea around in her mug while she considered the options. Assuming her friend was still alive, the best ideas seemed to be to either make inquiries at the villages down river or to travel to the temple and see if there was any sign of Gabrielle there. The temple was only about one day's travel away, assuming of course that she was able to avoid the Amazons and any other potential hazards on the roads. It would take her many days to travel between the villages down river. Making a decision, Xena decided to travel to the temple to check before she did anything else. She could always leave a message there should Gabrielle arrive after her and she had already been and gone.

Feeling more positive for taking action, Xena considered her current mud covered state. Gabrielle would flip if she saw her like this, a sadly amused smile flittered across the woman's exhausted face. Better have a wash first.

Xena had trekked down to the riverside, finding a bit with a steeper bank which meant less of the mud she was going to endeavour to get rid of. She stripped her armour and leathers off, jumping into the cool water in just her undergarments. The cleansing water felt good against her dirty, itching skin. She washed efficiently, absently noticing how much quicker bath times were when there was no horseplay and no Gabrielle. Climbing back onto the grass she rubbed her skin vigorously with the piece of linen she had set to one side for the purpose. Removing a firm brush from her bag she proceeded to brush off her leathers, removing the dried-on mud and silt that covered them.

Donning the now clean leathers she noticed the dog that had been her companion for the last few days. The poor creature was also caked in mud and looking extremely dejected. "Here boy!" Xena called him, wading back into the river a little. The dog was regarding her, a faintly unimpressed look on his face. "Come on," she urged again, "we are going to go and find our friends and neither of them will be impressed if we turned up looking like this." The dog surprisingly seemed to understand and bravely waded into the river towards her. The warrior began rubbing his filth covered fur down with soap, allowing the cool river water to rinse him off. As she washed behind his ears she noticed for the first time that he was wearing a collar. She felt round the band, her long fingers finding a small wooden disk attached. She angled the disk out of the water and towards the light, reading the carved inscription.

"Hello Moss!" she greeted the dog. His brown eyes seemed to smile and his tail began to wag, showering them both with cold water. "Hey, cut it out!" the warrior exclaimed, deciding the dog was clean enough and moving back onto the dry bank. Moss followed her and she looked them both over approvingly. "Time to get moving." The warrior addressed both horse and hound. Swinging herself up into the saddle she pointed Argo in the direction of the temple and whistled for Moss to follow her.

The pair were sitting by the now small fire, clutching drained mugs of tea. Sophea had given a brief outline of how she had discovered her companion yesterday evening and how she had cleaned and tendered her. The young girl had flushed slightly when she had to explain that she had removed Gabrielle's clothes to wash them but she relaxed when she realised that the older woman was nothing other than grateful for her help.

Gabrielle placed her empty mug on the ground by her side as she sat, still wrapped in the blanket. "Well," she began, " I ought to get moving, I was travelling with a friend before I fell in the river and I know she will be worried about me." The bard was very concerned about what her friend may be thinking and how she was faring alone.

"Yes, the tall warrior with the long dark hair." Sophea agreed.

"You know Xena?" Gabrielle asked the young Amazon, slightly surprised.

"Xena?" Sophea mentally kicked herself, she had heard enough about the heroic female warrior in the tales her Amazon sisters liked to tell around the evening campfire, she should have recognised her. Her eyes tracked back to her inquisitive companion, "Oh, well, not really," she began, not really sure of how much she should say. "I saw you two fighting the minotaurs, Moss was helping you."

"Moss?" Gabrielle queried, raising one eyebrow slightly.

"My dog," the girl explained, "the black and white one."

A smile crossed the bard's face as she recalled the dog that had appeared from nowhere and had become her ally, giving her the advantage over her much stronger opponent. "He was very brave," Gabrielle complimented and she looked around the camp with a slightly puzzled look on her face. "Where is he?" she asked.

Sophea looked a little sad, "With Xena I hope."

The older woman's brow furrowed with confusion, "Why isn't he with you?"

"When your footing slipped," she began, "Xena tried to get to you but she was pinned to the ground by the body of the minotaur she had just fought." She paused for a moment trying to explain clearly events that had happened so quickly that her memory only held a blur. "I was standing a little further down the track, in the direction of the river current."

Gabrielle's mouth went dry as her mind presented her with a possible action of the young Amazon that would make all the loose ends tie up…

"Moss was with Xena and the dead minotaurs," Sophea continued, "Xena struggled to get free but she could not stop you falling, she called after you," Sophea's eyes welled up suddenly, the human anguish in that cry still fresh in her ears. "So, I dived in after you, leaving Moss to help Xena." She concluded simply.

Gabrielle was silent for a moment as she looked at the young girl sitting next to her. She had just been a stranger to her this morning but already she realised that she owed her life to her. Not only had the girl tended her and cared for her, she had also risked her own life to save her. A tight lump formed in the bard's throat as her eyes met the unassuming green ones facing her. "Thank you," she said simply, her sincerity shining in her own eyes.

"Anytime." Sophea smiled, unsure of what she had done to deserve the gratitude her companion was exuding towards her, it was such an alien concept to her. "How about we go and find Xena and Moss?" she suggested.

Gabrielle was still slightly dumbfounded, so she simply nodded mutely.

"I will just go and get some fresh water while you, um…." Sophea nodded to Gabrielle's now dry clothes hanging on the nearby braches.

Another nod from the bard.

Sophea stood, collecting her water flask and moving away from the camp towards the nearby river. When she returned Gabrielle was dressed and had packed most of the equipment away. It felt odd, Sophea reflected, that someone was willingly helping her. Knowing that her companion had made a full recovery and that they were off to find their friends gave the girl a feeling of joyous elation.

"So, do you think we should just head up river for a while till we find them?" she asked.

Gabrielle had been thinking about that while she had been getting dressed. She had been trying to think of what Xena would have done and where they might find her. "Yes," she answered, "lets try that, we can always change our plans if we need to." She watched as the girl nodded in response, settling her belongings on her back and stamping out the remainder of the fire. Then the pair headed back towards the river that had played such a great part in their lives over the last couple of days.

The man's face was shrouded in shadow from the deep hood of the black cloak he wore. A smaller man knelt at his feet, his head hung low.

"I am not happy." The hooded man stated, pronouncing his words with over exaggerated clarity.

"No master." The kneeling man responded, clutching his knee with all of his strength in the hope that it would make the shakes that racked his body less apparent.

The first man turned to a small pond like feature built into the barren stone room with its guttering torches. As he looked, a picture appeared of a smiling blonde bard, as she travelled along the side of a river. "She still lives." He growled. "I have sent raiders, assassins, two minotaurs..." The man laughed mirthlessly, "Even my little pet seems to have got lost…" he banged his fist into a nearby pillar in rage. The stone crumbled beneath the impact, sending small fragments scattering to the ground like rain. The hooded man squatted and reached out a hand to the quivering man in front of him. The frightened man flinched, surprised when the hand lifted his chin slightly, forcing eye contact with his master. "Go, now, before she returns to Xena's protection." He commanded, "Kill her."

The kneeling man nodded, scrambling to his feet and escaping from the room as quickly as he could. The hooded man watched him go then turned his back to the door, returning to his dark, brooding silence.

They had been travelling along the river bank for a couple of hours now but they still had seen no sign of Xena or Moss. Gabrielle reflected that this was strange as Xena rose no later than dawn every day and if she had been searching the river they would surely have run into each other by now. That did suggest that Xena was not searching the banks, she had probably done that fruitlessly over the last couple of days, she reflected sadly. What else was Xena likely to do, she asked herself, knowing that she knew her friend well enough to be able to work it out. Well, she would have sat down and considered what may have happened to her. Gabrielle shuddered as she thought of her friend having to face the option of her being dead. Xena would not have accepted that though, the bard decided, not until she had seen a lifeless body. So what else? There was the possibility that she had been injured, in which case she would most likely have been found by now and have been taken to one of the nearby villages to recover. That was a possibility, the bard admitted, Xena may have ridden downstream to make inquiries. Were there any other options? They had both been heading to the temple of Artemis before the storm had hit, was it possible Xena had ridden on to there in case the bard had done the same thing?

"Sophea?" Gabrielle broke the silence, continuing when the girl looked up. "How far is the temple of Artemis from here?" she asked.

The girl replied quickly, "A little under a day's walk." She answered confidently.

Gabrielle knew that Xena would have known that and that it would have been a much quicker option to try to start with than searching the villages. "Xena will be heading there," she stated positively, "do you know the way?"

"Yes." Sophea responded succinctly, "it is very near my home."

"Are you from that Amazon tribe?" Gabrielle asked.

"Yes. I am… on a quest at the moment." Again, Sophea was not particularly forthcoming with details on the subject.

Gabrielle recognised the reticence in her new friends voice. She decided to gently probe a little further. "I am an Amazon too." She admitted.

"Really?" Sophea asked, genuinely surprised. "What are you doing so far from your tribe?"

Gabrielle considered the question, she did not want to admit that she was actually their queen as she did not know how her younger companion would react to the information. "Well, I do not live with them," she began, "I live on the road with Xena, that is where I belong." She added subconsciously. "I visit the tribe whenever I can though, some of my best friends are there." Gabrielle smiled as she thought of Ephiny and Eponin, wondering what they were doing and suddenly realising that she was long overdue for a visit.

Sophea smiled sadly, privately she wished she could say the same thing about her home but she knew she couldn't. If she was honest with herself she had enjoyed the last few days on her own far more than she had anytime with her Amazon sisters, she was unenthusiastic about going back at all. She did not want to think about that now though, there would be time enough for that later. Instead she thought about what life on the road must be like. "So how long have you and Xena been, you know, um…" she asked, not exactly sure how to put it.

Gabrielle looked blankly at her, "What? Oh, travelling together you mean? About three years now." She replied, slightly surprised as sometimes it felt much longer with all they had been through in that time.

Sophea looked at the blonde woman walking beside her. Her mind was shocked, she has absolutely no idea…how could she not see the bond between them, it was so pronounced, even as a stranger she had been able to see it both in the dream and as she had watched them as they fought side by side. The young girl smiled and shook her head a little as she wondered if Xena had any idea. When they finally met up she would have to find out…

Xena steadied Argo as she led the horse around a low branch that overhung the single track. Moss was running out in front, his nose searching for interesting new scents. The three companions had been travelling since mid morning and now the noises of the local wildlife told the warrior's experienced ears that it was a little before dusk. She had been trying to decide what to do, whether to push on and get to the temple although it would be fully dark for some of the journey, on a path that would lead her through unknown Amazon territory. Alternatively, she could look for a place to make camp sooner rather than later, resting her animal companions and then set out again refreshed in the morning. The latter plan would allow her to arrive at the temple about mid-morning the following day.

As they walked, the warrior's keen hearing picked up the sound of running water. She led the horse and dog in the direction it had come from and as they rounded a dense patch of gorse they found themselves in a small clearing. The ground was mossy and springy and the surrounding trees were tall and full with age, bearing sweeping branches that formed almost a complete canopy overhead. To the back of the clearing a small brook ran, its clear water bubbling and frothing as is swirled over the polished rocks below. The discovery of the clearing made the warrior's decision for her and she relinquished Argo's reigns, watching as the golden mare trotted towards the stream to drink. Moss trotted over too, a little wary of the tall horse that watched him with vigilant eyes.

Xena reached up, removing the travel bags that Argo had been carrying. She had found Gabrielle's bag at the scene of the fight with the minotaurs. It had just been lying, half-hidden in a patch of grass to the side of the track. The bard must have dropped it as the creatures had approached. Although Xena hated to think of her friend without any belongings she had to admit that she found the presence of the bag oddly comforting, as though Gabrielle had just wandered into the nearby trees for a moment, to return at any time.

The warrior moved around the camp efficiently, collecting fuel and setting a small fire going whilst she unpacked the items she would need overnight. She removed Argo's tack, stacking it neatly to one side and returning to groom the golden mare. Xena was trying not to think about her missing friend or the vision she had had in the alcove, both were subjects that she could do little about and they only upset her. Instead she considered the route she would need to take tomorrow, the likelihood of running into any Amazons and what to cook for supper. Bizarrely, any topic she thought of seemed to lead her back to the one subject she was trying to avoid and several times she just shook her head, desperately trying to come up with something else to think about.

Finally, when Argo had been fully groomed she let the mare roam free to graze. Xena looked over at the large dog that was lying fairly near the fire, watching her with alert brown eyes. The warrior was not really in the mood for eating although she knew she ought to. However, Moss would need something more to eat than just grass so she collected her bow and quiver from her travelling pack and moved stealthily into the forest.

The dog had followed her and now the pair were creeping through the undergrowth silently. Xena found the presence of the dog a little off-putting, she was so used to hunting on her own, knowing that any other creature near her was likely to be prey. She was about to send the dog back to camp when a distant rustle ahead of them attracted her attention. Arming the bow she raised it slightly, all of her senses tuned into the small creature she was approaching. Suddenly, Moss veered of the path behind her and moved ahead. Moments later she heard his large body crashing through the vegetation. Just about to curse the dog's intervention she was surprised to see a large brown rabbit hop out from the bush onto the path. Her reactions fired the arrow, capturing the rabbit quickly. Moss re-appeared from the bushes, his brown eyes smiling and his tail wagging.

"Well, you have done that before haven't you boy?" Xena addressed the dog, somewhat amused. The warrior had to admit though, the strategy allowed her a nice clear shot, making the process a lot easier. "Come on, dinner." She said turning on her heel and returning to the camp.

A little while later both warrior and dog had eaten all they had wanted, the cooking utensils all washed and cleared away. It was full dark now and Xena did not feel at all close to sleep, despite the physically active day she had had. Instead she removed her sharpening stone from her leather travelling pack and proceeded to sharpen her sword. The methodical movements lulled her active mind and the repetitive nature of the task allowed her thoughts to roam freely. As she had done before she forced her concentration back to menial matters, trying to avoid the subjects that she knew would only present her with questions she could not answer.

After about the fifth time finding her thoughts wandering, the warrior stood and jabbed at an unseen enemy in frustration. The enemy evaded and returned an attack of his own. She countered, twirling her sword and thrusting at his sword arm. He was good though, dodging out of her way and sending out a sharp kick to her knees. She leaped, avoiding his leg and watching as he staggered slightly, his balance thrown. She landed firmly, sending out a roundhouse kick of her own that connected sharply with his jaw, he grunted a little with the impact but recovered himself, attacking her again with a complex set of sword manoeuvres.

Moss watched the tall woman as she attacked the unseen enemy. Her efforts had speeded up with time and now her sword movements merged into a single blur. Sometimes it looked as though she were fighting with a single ray of light as the moonlight spilt down between the leaves of the forest, turning her polished blade into a pool of light. It was almost like some exotic dance, fluid movements of the warrior's body as it twisted and swirled around the shaft of light in her hand. Even the night creatures of the forest were silent, muted as though mesmerised by the beauty of the scene in this one small clearing.

Eventually, the warrior allowed the blade to rest by her side, her skin glistening with the film of sweat that covered it. Moving down to the edge of the small brook, Xena scooped up handfuls of the cold, crisp water, splashing it liberally across her over-heated skin. She cupped both hands together, lifting the water to her mouth and swallowing, relaxing as she felt the cooling water travel down her dry throat. She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling her rapid heartbeat as it began to steady out to its usual, even rhythm. Now she felt tired, she admitted with satisfaction as she moved back to the fire and lay down on her back on her waiting bedroll.

This time when the thoughts of her friend came to her, she did not push them away. Now it was the night time, the time when every other soul was sleeping soundly, the time when she had always allowed herself to think the more personal thoughts that tried to invade her consciousness during the day. She did not know if she genuinely believed she might find her friend at the temple tomorrow, perhaps it was simply wishful thinking. The only thing she did know for certain was that she could not breath without Gabrielle by her side.

The void she would be left with should the bard have ever left her was something she had been aware of for some time now. The immediate shock of watching helplessly as her friend had fallen into the icy water had ripped a part of her soul out of her body and discarded it into emptiness. The realisation of the full consequences was still occurring to her, the number of times she had looked for the bard and found only shadows. The practicalities of everyday life had fulfilled her for so long but now these thoughts were meaningless against the silence that buffeted her mind. Gabrielle was the one thing that heightened existing into living, the person who painted colours in what she had only know before as a grey, drab world. She was the only person that the warrior had trusted with her innermost thoughts, her beliefs and her feelings. It was dangerous for a warrior to have emotions but Gabrielle had taken them carefully, cradling them gently in her hands and protecting them from all harm.

As Xena lay on her back, her hands folded behind her head, she stared unseeing into the independent flames of the fire. Behind the almost purple, deep blue eyes, she thought of all the times she had simply sat, watching her friend sleep. The bard had always looked so young when her face was relaxed in sleep. She looked as though she should be in a quiet village somewhere, discussing the local boys and the price of cloth. Somehow though, the warrior had been gifted with the young blonde girl's presence and now it had evolved into this. Gabrielle was her compass in life, the person who had shown her the good way and had always helped her along that path, supporting her no matter how many times she had stumbled. Without her friend's gentle, determined spirit how would this old warrior fare in the world? A world that alone, she had only tried to conquer.

Images from her most recent vision had invaded her mind incessantly throughout the day. Xena had known for sometime the importance of her friend's companionship, she also knew that she was physically attracted to the bard. She had always felt that there was a piece missing in the relationship they had, a time when each of them would draw back, where words were left unspoken. It had never occurred to the warrior that she was in love with her friend. She had loved a few people in her life, her family, Hercules, Marcus, but it was a love that only meant caring very deeply for them. Equally, she had had many bed partners over the years, usually for political reasons rather than because she wanted the intimacy. However, in Gabrielle she found the personification of everything she ever needed, she cared strongly for her but the feelings went so much deeper. It was as though she and Gabrielle's spirits had merged, they shared a bond that terrified each of them when it was threatened. She thought back to the difficult times they had faced together, some of the darkest moments in her life when the only thing that had kept her sane was clinging blindly to that bond.

The scene of the vision reappeared in front of her eyes. That kiss had broken down all the barriers, merging the various facets of their relationship into one single truth. Xena reflected on the number of times she had thought about the bard and all she meant to her, somehow there was always something to stop her from thinking one step further. When she had felt the physical attraction she had always pushed the feelings away, not wanting Gabrielle to become another one of her many bed mates, lest it weakened such a special relationship in other ways. Only now could Xena see clearly, realising that the act would consummate something so much greater. The bond that she shared with Gabrielle was something unique, something that had grown from being pushed together by fate, to friendship, to this… Xena only hoped that she would find the bard waiting at the temple, waiting to allow her a second chance at the most important opportunity in her existence.

Gabrielle and Sophea had made good progress through the day, both of them keen to push on and be reunited with their friends. As darkness had fallen they had only been a few hours travel from the temple. However, they had decided to camp overnight, taking sanctuary in the security of the forest. The conversation had flown freely as they had travelled, the young Amazon only being somewhat vague when talking about her home life or the mysterious quest she was on. Gabrielle had still not been able to ascertain why the girl had dived into the dangerously flooded river after her but she was trying to avoid probing questions on subjects that her young companion seemed uncomfortable with, she owed her that much at least.

Now the pair were sitting in silence by the campfire, both looking aimlessly into the resolute flames, their minds tied up in their own independent thoughts. Sophea was thinking about her Amazon tribe. She knew that when she returned she would have to face the consequences of deserting them, even if it had only been briefly. Even now though, she never regretted for a moment the decision to take up the quest. Gabrielle was a good woman, her heart was gentle and kind, her thoughts intelligent and just. She may not realise the bond that she shared with her warrior friend just yet but Sophea trusted that when they were ready the pair would realise.

Talking about Gabrielle's Amazon tribe had made her think though. Sophea liked the Amazon lifestyle; hunting, tracking and all the skills associated with being a warrior. She knew that she would never be happy living in a little farming village somewhere, trapped in a routine and tied to the land. However, she knew she wasn't happy in the tribe that was her home either, the persecution she had received since she was a small child still present, her sisters uncaring and selfish. Usually, she did not like people at all, finding her companionship in animals, mainly Moss of course. Gabrielle was different though and something told her that Xena would be too. She was open-minded and accepting, seeming to see the good in everyone. Wistfully Sophea imagined travelling with Xena and Gabrielle, she knew it would be one person too many but the lifestyle matched hers and she would be free from her closed-minded sisters. Anyway, Sophea resolved, she would have to do something because the last few days had made her realise how unhappy she was and now she knew for sure that there was happiness in the world if you could just have the courage to reach for it.

Gabrielle was staring into the fire and thinking about Xena. If only there was some way she could just let the tall warrior know she was still alive and unharmed. She knew the desolation she had felt when Xena had died, is that the anguish the warrior was alone and facing now? As she looked up at the bright canopy of stars overhead, she found comfort knowing that the same stars were shining down on her friend, wherever she may be. She wondered if the warrior had had anymore of her visions or whether she had been left in peace. The appearance of the minotaurs had suggested that she still had her mysterious enemy, however, that threat had seemed to become only a minor point knowing the possible pain her friend was in.

It had been when Xena had suddenly been taken from her before that she had realised all the things she had meant to tell her but just never seemed to have got round too. It had been before all of the difficulties that they had been through in Britannia and Chin. The dark periods in their history seemed now to have only brought them closer. The bard's mind tracked back to the serenity of Elkton's hut only days ago as she and Xena had shared a non-verbal exchange that had somehow changed everything. They had become too entrenched with the practicalities of travelling and then the sudden storm and everything that had followed, they had never had a chance to talk. Her instincts had been telling her for some time now that there were important undercurrents in their lives but she had never been able to be able to put her finger on it. Had Xena felt it too? Was it about them? All she knew is that she wanted to be by her friend's side, there to comfort her through the pain she felt and any pain that befell her in the future. It was a simple truth that suddenly made so many things make sense. Were her feelings for her friend suddenly deeper than the intense friendship they shared? Or was it just her imagination or something that was not destined to be?

Gabrielle rose, walking a little way into the soothing darkness of the trees that ringed their camp. She felt buffeted, her mind besieged with questions that she had no answer to. She fell to her knees, the rich smell of the damp earth invading her senses, raising her face she looked up to the stars. "Hold on my friend," she consoled, "I will be back by your side soon…" Her head fell back down, heavy and reeling with the bombarding questions. A small sound made her raise her eyes, only to find cold, hard ones staring at her from behind cold steel suddenly held at her throat.

She was trapped. The man had caught her on her knees and defenceless. If she had called for Sophea the man would have still been able to kill her before the young Amazon had had time to draw a weapon. So this was it, her unknown enemy had finally trapped her. The irony was bitter, just as she had begun to realise there was something she had not seen before, a rare gift just waiting to be unwrapped, she was going to lose anyway. Why could it not have been a day before, while she was in blissful ignorance and there were no questions? Silently she prayed that Xena was still as unaware as she had been, so that the warrior would only have to mourn the death of a friend… She raised her jaw slightly in defiance, if she had to die she would make sure it was with courage and dignity, as befitting to a true friend of Xena's.

The man studied the blonde woman kneeling before him. His master would be pleased; he had succeeded where all the others had failed. He watched as the woman raised her jaw, giving him a clear target. He spent a moment just admiring her courage, he decided to make it as quick and painless as possible for her, already feeling the sense of victory, visualising her warm blood as ran over his hand, ensuring his master's pleasure.

Suddenly peaceful, Gabrielle watched as the man drew the weapon back in preparation for the inevitable thrust. "Sorry Xena…" her mind whispered finally as she closed her eyes.

A sudden thump made her open her eyes again suddenly. She was shocked to see the assassin lying dead in front of her, a sword protruding from his back. She looked up and saw the form of her young Amazon friend, a grim look written across her features. Sophea walked towards the kneeling woman, removing the bloodied sword and reaching out her hand.

Gabrielle took the proffered hand, allowing her companion to help her to her feet. They walked back in silence to the camp and took their places by the fire. "Thank you, again." The bard stated, this time totally unable to voice the depth of the gratitude, for this time the girl had not only saved her life but had also given her the opportunity of what may prove to be the most important second chance of her life…

Xena's heart was in her mouth with dreaded anticipation as she approached the large stone structure that was the temple. Argo and Moss were waiting patiently at the edge of the large clearing, watching her movements. She felt as though she was in someone else's body as she distantly began to mount the stone steps that led to the entrance. Slowly, she placed her hand on the heavy wood of the door, barely daring to push it open, afraid to find a silence within. Her courage did not fail her though and the door creaked loudly as it swung open, sending a shaft of bright sunlight flooding into the serene room.

Xena's footsteps were loud as she stepped onto the dusty stone floor of the building. Her stomach lurched as a movement startled her. However, it was only a bird, disturbed in its quiet haven and fleeing out of one of the high windows. The building was deserted, there was no Gabrielle waiting for her. Xena had tried so hard not to hope but her mind had kept presenting her with images of her pushing open the door, only to reveal the blonde form of her best friend waiting for her, her sea-green eyes dancing with pleasure that they were reunited. Xena stumbled to the aged alter, falling to her knees. "Don't let her be dead," she begged. "Please don't make me have to face the future without her, I am not strong enough for that…" As she spoke, large heavy tears splashed onto the dusty floor below her, her body racked with silent sobs.

Some time later, the warrior rose, her face grey and drawn. The poor light of the temple highlighted the dark rings under her eyes, a reflection of the personal hell she had been through in the last few days. Her leathers were beginning to hang on her tall frame, her physical lifestyle not allowing for a few days of little or no eating. She had wondered how she would cope if she hadn't found her friend at the temple. Although she felt beaten she refused to give up on her friend. She decided that she would write a note to leave should the bard arrive here after she had left. Then she would begin to search the villages downstream of the accident, praying that she would find a recovering bard rather than anything more sinister.

Xena pulled open the heavy door of the temple, blinking against the bright sunlight that bombarded her tender eyes. As her eyes began to adjust she saw two figures entering the clearing. Her heart leaped, quick to recover the hope that had been so cruelly ripped away from her. "Gabrielle?" she whispered hoarsely.

The morning's travelling had been mostly silent, the young Amazon unnerved at being so close to her home village. Gabrielle had still been shaken from the surprise attack of the night before. She was also dreading at arriving at the temple and finding no sign of her friend, all she needed in the world right now was to be by the warrior's side. Now all that stood between her and the answer was a few steps as they approached the large clearing that housed the temple.

Gabrielle stopped walking. The large stone temple loomed ahead of her and as she looked, the solid wooden door creaked open allowing a tall figure to emerge into the sunlight. "Xena." She whispered, her heart recognising her friend even before she did. She could not take her eyes off her friend as time seemed to slow to a trickle. She did not see the familiar form of Argo sheltering in the shade of the nearby trees, she did not even see the large black and white dog bounding towards her, knocking her Amazon companion to the ground and determinedly licking every inch of her face. All Gabrielle could see was the gaunt figure before her, the stark sunlight highlighting the dark smudges under her eyes, the hollowed cheeks and the leathers that looked as though they belonged to someone else. The bard's eyes welled up as she saw the physical signs of the pain her warrior had been through in the last few days. "Xena." She whispered again, gently shaking her head subconsciously, her chest tight with guilt for the suffering her friend had faced because of her.

"Xena!" The bard called, sprinting the short distance of ground that marked the end of their separation.

It was her. Xena could hardly believe it but the figure running towards her was her Gabrielle. The pain and sorrow that had haunted her since she had watched her friend fall into the river evaporated suddenly in the bright sunlight of the clearing. "Gabrielle!" she called, moving to intercept her friend.

Sophea watched as the two women recognised each other, both unsure for a moment, but then rushing towards each other. When they met they reached out blindly, clinging to each other's body as a shipwrecked sailor would cling to a piece of wood. For some time both women were completely unaware of their surroundings, their world's consisting simply of each other, united in a common joy.

Xena could not stop herself from grinning as she gazed happily at the blonde woman whose sea-green eyes danced with pleasure at their reunion. For the first time in several moments she looked up, suddenly realising that they were not alone in the clearing. She smiled as her black and white canine companion seemed to grin at her, his pleasure at being reunited with his mistress obvious.

Gabrielle followed the direction of her friend's gaze to the outlying figure of her young Amazon companion. "That is Sophea." She said in answer to the question that was beginning to form on her friend's lips.

Sophea watched as Xena looked up at her, shocked again by the vivid blue eyes that now shone with pleasure. She felt slightly nervous as the tall warrior began to walk towards her. She noticed how gaunt the tall woman looked, such a sudden change from the healthy appearance she had exuded even when battling minotaurs in the pouring rain. Sophea's mind tracked back to her dream and remembered how quickly the panther had seemed to fade after the fox had died.

The three warriors were standing in silence, simply regarding each other. Gabrielle was the first to speak. "Sophea found me unconscious by the river, she tended me." The bard stated simply. "Then last night she saved my life again when I was cornered by another assassin." Gabrielle felt that her words came nowhere close to describing the efforts of the young girl to maintain her health and safety.

Sophea looked at the tall warrior, unsure of what to expect.

Xena reached out her hand, clasping the young girl's arm firmly. "Thank you." She said simply, her minds eye replaying the moment she had watched the girl dive into the deadly water after Gabrielle. "I owe you my life for what you have done for my friend." Xena stated genuinely.

Sophea smiled, unsure of what to do with this sudden gratitude. "Anytime." She responded with a grin, knowing that the debt was one she would never call in, as it would take far more than just the warrior's life.

The three moved over to the patiently waiting Argo where they rested momentarily in the shade, un-stoppering their water flasks. Xena questioned Gabrielle on her well being for about the twentieth time. Gabrielle fussed about the warrior's gaunt figure.

"The first thing we have to do," the bard instructed, "is to find you a decent meal."

Xena smiled slightly sheepishly, muttering something about not having been hungry.

Sophea grinned suddenly, reaching into her travel pack and producing a tightly wrapped bundle. She opened it up to reveal the cooked partridge. "I got this for Moss," she began, "but I am sure he wouldn't mind you sharing it." She concluded handing the bird to Xena.

The warrior grinned as she caught a glimpse of her friend's determined face. "I guess I could eat a little something." She said as she pulled a drumstick off and began munching contentedly, regularly throwing titbits to the eagerly waiting Moss.

In the silence that followed, Sophea reflected that it would soon be time for her to leave her new friends behind and return to the Amazon village that was her home. She was loathed to leave but knew that Xena and Gabrielle had business at the temple. However, she could at least wait until Moss had enjoyed the last of his treat though, she thought, smiling.

A throaty growl shattered the happy scene that the women shared.

A surge of irrational panic thrust into Sophea's stomach. "What is it Moss?" she asked the dog. Her nerves only worsened by the ridge of raised hackles that spread down his back.

Her fears were personified as twelve masked Amazon warriors emerged from the nearby trees. Hoping to keep her new friends out of the potentially difficult situation, Sophea mustered her courage and began to walk towards her sisters.

Xena and Gabrielle watched in silence as the young girl walked towards the warriors. Gabrielle whispered to Xena that they were her sisters, the tall warrior nodding in understanding. The girl drew to a stop in front of the Amazons. They were unable to hear what was said but they saw Sophea answer in response.

The friends were shocked into action as one of the warriors suddenly struck the girl, sending her sprawling to the ground with the impact. The Amazon balled her fist again, preparing for another strike. She was stunned when her fist was caught in mid-air, clamped by an iron strength. She looked up and found herself pinned with two chips of ice. Gabrielle had helped the young girl to her feet and had ushered her behind her, putting herself between Sophea and the Amazon warriors.

"What do you think you are doing?" One mask asked Xena aggressively.

"I could ask you the same question," the warrior purred in response, her voice cutting with dislike.

"Not that it is any of your business," the mask began, "but this is our sister, she has to be punished for desertion."

Gabrielle looked at the masked warrior incredulously, "She was on a quest." The bard explained, confused by the situation.

The mask snorted. "Well, it was no quest of ours," she dismissed. "What business is it of yours anyway, stranger?" The mask challenged.

Gabrielle drew to her full height, incensed by the mindless violence towards her new friend. "My name is Gabrielle," she began. "I am an Amazon sister of the Western forest tribe. It is my business because you just struck my friend."

A brief silence greeted her introduction. Then one of the other masks spoke up. "Spies."

Before either Gabrielle or Xena had a chance to disagree, their weapons were seized and their hands pulled roughly behind their backs where they were tightly bound with rope. Looking at each other, the friends silently agreed to let this happen, both conscious of the well being of their friend.

Sophea was roughly pulled to her feet, a large mottled bruise already beginning to form over the right side of her face. The Amazon warriors moved into position, flanking their new prisoners on each side. One grabbed Argo's reigns, leading her along behind the small party as they exited the clearing.

It was late into the night before the Amazon party and their prisoners arrived at the village. The several hours of walking had been passed mainly in silence. Both Xena and Gabrielle had been worried by the dejected appearance of their new friend. Sophea had been walking up at the front of the party, her head hung low and her shoulders slumped.

Moss had tried to walk by her side but a masked Amazon had swiped at him with her staff. The dog had yelped in pain and surprise and he dropped back slightly. It had taken all of Xena and Gabrielle's considerable will power not to overthrow their guards, bound or not. In an effort to make things as easy as possible for Sophea they had let that slide, although neither of them knew if they had the will power to do it again. Luckily they had no need to because as Moss had approached his mistress' side again she had whispered a command to him. Obediently, the dog had dropped back and trailed them from a safe distance.

Now they entered the Amazon camp, surprisingly similar to Gabrielle's home tribe. Large torches flared in the cool evening breeze, lighting the scene that was Sophea's home. The village was roughly symmetrical with small huts marking the perimeter of the community. All of the huts faced inward to the large courtyard, deserted at this late hour. A large oblong building was set off to the left of the yard, probably the communal eating and meeting place the friends assessed.

The women shifted uncomfortably, their arms in pain from being so tightly bound behind their backs for so long. The original masked warrior approached them. "Did you enjoy your nice walk in the countryside, ladies?" She asked the friends, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"What are you going to do with Sophea?" The bard demanded, her eyes alight with defiance.

"That is none of your concern, stranger." The Amazon spat, "whatever it is won't be till morning though, she isn't worth wasting sleep over." She muttered as an afterthought.

Two more guards approached the friends from behind, roughly pushing them to a small hut on the outskirts of the village. "Get in there!" The first guard instructed, harshly pushing the taller prisoner towards the dark opening. The guard was surprised when the figure did not move at all, not even a slight sway. She looked up and found herself captured by two very blue eyes, narrowed in dislike. Xena paused just long enough to make her point then ducked her head, entering the darkened hut.

The guards followed them in, pushing the prisoners down onto a pallet. They unhooked the strong ropes they carried on their hips and knelt down in front of the women, binding their feet together as tightly as they had done their hands. In turn they tied their bound feet to the sturdy supports of the wooden pallet.

"Wouldn't want you going anywhere now would we?" One of the guards joked as she followed her companion out of the hut and locked it behind her, their work done.

Silence had filled the courtyard outside. The hut that served as the prison was cramped and dirty, the single pallet being the only furnishing. Gabrielle and Xena were seated next to each other, their hands still tightly bound. They knew they could escape but had decided that for the time being they would remain in their prison, fearing that to escape may mean putting Sophea in serious danger.

"I don't understand." The bard stated, "Sophea said that she was on a quest, why are they accusing her of desertion?"

Xena's expression was bleak in the darkened hut. "Perhaps she was on a quest but not one they knew about." The warrior speculated.

"But she always intended to return to the village, she would have known that she was going to be accused of desertion." Gabrielle said, her voice echoing the confusion of her mind. "Why did she leave on the quest if she knew that?"

"It must have been something very important to her." Xena responded. "Something worth risking her life for."

Gabrielle mused the puzzle. "She seems to do that a lot." The bard said, more to herself than her companion.

"What?" Xena asked.

Gabrielle spoke up, "Risking her life." She answered, "Diving into the river after me, saving me from the assassin, all the time knowing that this was waiting for her when she returned."

The pair were silent for a moment as they both considered the girl's motives.

"Why did she return so close to her home before her quest was completed?" Gabrielle asked.

Suddenly, things began to make sense to the tall warrior's keen mind. "Because she had completed her quest." She answered softly.

"What? Why? How do you know that?" Gabrielle challenged, "We do not even know what her mysterious quest was, she clammed up every time I asked her about it."

This last piece of information sealed Xena's conclusion. She turned to the bard by her side. "We were her quest." She stated simply.

Gabrielle was even more confused that ever. "How did you reach that conclusion?" She asked.

"Think about it Gabrielle," Xena urged, "She left on a quest important enough to risk her life for. Because of that, the only thing she would logically risk her life for again would be the quest itself. You said yourself that she put herself in mortal danger a couple of times for you. Also," she continued, "she adores that dog, it would have to be something really important to her to leave him the way she did." The tall warrior paused for a moment, the pieces of the puzzle almost audibly falling into place in her mind. "It was very fortunate for us that she turned up while we were fighting the minotaurs. We were at the disadvantage but then she turns up, in the worst storm I have seen in some time and days from her home. That was no coincidence." The warrior shook her head slightly as she thought about the young girl and her mysterious quest.

Gabrielle raised both of her eyebrows as she could not disagree with her friend's logical evidence. "Ok," she began slowly, "so we were her quest but to what purpose? To rescue me after I fell in that stupid river?" The bard was starting to get frustrated by the numerous unanswered questions presenting themselves to her. "Ok," the bard continued further, "how did she know to be by the river at that moment? She must have travelled for days to get there. Are you saying she knew in advance?"

Xena was just as confused as her friend. "I think she must have done but I have no idea how or why."

Silence filled the hut as the friends thought, their keen minds grappling with this new puzzle.

"Well, there is only one way to find out." Gabrielle stated seriously, "and it does not involve sitting around here."

Having decided to escape the friends realised that it would not be as easy as they had originally thought. Their first plan was to twist away from each other and undo the other one's rope without seeing. However, their tightly bound hands were cramped, not allowing either of them the dexterity they usually possessed. The knots in the ropes were tight too and after a few attempts they realised that the plan was not going to work.

The second plan was find something they could use to cut the ropes, something sharp… They both looked round the hut but there was nothing; even the naturally sharp areas of the surrounding wood had been sanded down for exactly this reason.

Gabrielle leant back against the wall and sighed. "Did they think of everything?" She asked, frustrated. "They even took your all your weapons…"

Xena shifted a little bit, there was one solution but she had been trying to think of something else before she mentioned it. However, there were no other solutions so she said quietly, "Not all of them."

"Sorry?" Gabrielle asked, barely hearing her friend she had spoken so softly.

Xena cleared her throat and repeated herself. "They didn't take all the weapons."

Gabrielle sat up, "Great!" she exclaimed, "which one did they leave, can I reach it?" She asked hopefully.

The warrior was glad of the darkness that covered her deep flush. "Well," she began, "you should be able to reach it…"

"Good," the bard confirmed, "So come on, which one did they leave?" She asked, confused by the warrior's sudden reticence on the matter.

Xena took a deep breath. "My breast dagger." She stated in what she hoped sounded a matter of fact voice.

A sudden silence filled the hut. "Oh," Gabrielle answered in a small voice, realising that to escape the hut she was going to have to go fishing in her friend's cleavage. Unhelpfully, her mind decided now was a great moment to present her with the image of her tall friend as she emerged from a swim, naked and glistening with water. Gee, thanks a lot, she remarked to her brain. Ok, she told herself, just imagine it is someone else. The bard wasn't sure if that made her predicament easier or worse.

Best just to get it over with, she decided. "Ok, bend over," she instructed her friend, twisting so that she had her back to her.

The warrior did as she was bade, trying to imagine that it was someone else other than the bard sitting next to her. She leant as far forward as she could, her bound feet making the twisted angle awkward. Gabrielle raised her hands as high as her restricted arms would let her. It was not particularly high as her limbs were tied behind her back, her shoulders limiting a particularly sharp angle. After a few moments of struggling and each of them turning even deeper shades of red as the bard missed her target, they paused, returning to their forward facing positions next to each other.

After a brief silence the bard spoke up, "that's not going to work," she stated.

"No," Xena agreed.

Both women had come up with the next plan but neither of them wanted to voice it. However, they knew that if they did not escape soon they would loose the cover of darkness, an advantage they sorely needed.

"I could use my mouth." Gabrielle suggested, hoping that Xena could not hear the awkwardness in her voice.

"Yes." Xena agreed.

"Ok," the bard announced, taking a deep breath and wishing it was already over. Xena twisted slightly towards her. She twisted too, bending her head to just above the warrior's breasts.

Xena tried desperately to think about something, anything, other than what was happening right at this moment.

Gabrielle's heart sank as she realised that the dagger was too far down for her to reach with her teeth. She sat up again. "I am going to have to work it upwards before I can grip it with my teeth," she said, wondering if the situation could get any worse.

Xena just nodded silently.

Gabrielle bend her head again, this time extending her tongue between her friend's breasts as she probed for the dagger. Mercifully, she found it, carefully drawing it upwards towards her teeth, at the same time painting a line with her tongue right up her friend's cleavage.

Minotaurs, swords, her chakram, Xena was trying to fill her mind with non-sexual thoughts. Then she felt the bards tongue drawing a course between her breasts. She coughed loudly, trying to stop any other sound involuntarily coming from her throat.

Finally, Gabrielle had the weapon firmly between her teeth and she carefully removed it from its resting place. She leant back dropping the dagger on the pallet between them, easily within both of their reaches.

They sat for a moment, each silently recovering from their unusual escape tactic.

"Let's not mention that again," suggested the bard.

"Agreed," Xena quickly responded.

After another brief pause then Gabrielle turned her back on her friend, picking up the dagger in her bound hands. "Ok," she said, "let's get out of here."

The door of the prison hut opened slowly and silently, allowing just enough room for the blonde head that poked around it. The courtyard was deserted and the blonde emerged fully, beckoning to her tall companion who followed her out into the cool night air. Both women were relieved to feel the rush of the clean, crisp air as it filled their lungs. The blond woman stretched her arms out in front of her, the bright moonlight highlighting the wicked rope burns that ringed both of her wrists, leaving them red raw.

Luckily the prison hut hadn't been guarded, the Amazon's being a complacent tribe, over confident in their own abilities. The only threat the friend's faced were the regular guards that monitored the peace of the camp from their tall guard towers. Xena had made a mental note of the locations of these towers, enabling herself and her friend to walk a hidden path, sheltered from the view of the guards.

The first port of call was the armoury, again unguarded. Gabrielle shook her head slightly; she would never have allowed such lax security at her tribe. Xena unlocked the door, disappearing into the darkness for a few moments and then returning complete with all of her own confiscated weapons. She had also located a staff which she handed to the waiting bard, knowing that Gabrielle's own weapon had been lost in the river after the fight with the minotaurs. The bard took a moment to reflect how much more secure she felt while she carried the heavy wooden pole, then she turned and nodded at the warrior beside her, indicating that she was ready to move on.

The pair looked around for a moment, unsure of which hut belonged to Sophea. However, this new problem was quickly overcome as the warrior had a sudden idea. Xena let out a low whistle, only to an alert ear would it have stood out from the other muffled sounds of the night-time forest. Moments later the sure sound of an approaching creature reached the friend's ears, quickly personified by the familiar form of the approaching Moss.

The dog greeted them warmly, licking their hands and wagging his long tail. Xena bent down and whispered into his ear, "Sophea," she said, "take us to Sophea."

Amiably the dog turned around and confidently led them on a winding course through the darkened huts. Both bard and warrior took great pains to be a silent as possible, aware that even in a sleeping Amazon camp they were more likely to be detected than in a farming village in full daylight.

Eventually the dog stopped, sitting outside the door to a small hut on the outskirts of the village, the door was locked from the outside. The bard shook her head sadly, undoing the lock and gently pushing the door open. The friends filed inside, allowing their eyes a couple of moments to adjust to the dark interior of the hut in comparison to the moonlight flooded courtyard.

Xena had calculated that they had about an hour before the early risers would begin to rouse in the pre-dawn darkness. Both friends knew that if they were going to escape they were going to have to have left the camp before that time.

Gabrielle moved over to the pallet that contained the sleeping form of their new friend. She sat down gently on the side of the bed, her weight causing the straw filled mattress to dip slightly. She reached out her hand, placing it gently on the sleeping girl's upper arm. "Sophea," she whispered.

The girl jumped, drawing backwards away from the touch with a gasp of shock and pain. She winced as the sudden activity sent a jolt of pain through her sore ribs. She pushed the pain aside as she realised that the two figures in her hut were her two friends. She smiled as an excited Moss jumped onto the pallet, rushing towards her face as though he hadn't seen her in years. She put a hand out to steady him and looked at the blond woman perched on the side of her bed. "Xena, Gabrielle, what are you doing here?" She asked, her mind still slightly fuzzy with sleep.

"We came to see how you were doing," the bard answered, the sympathy evident in her voice.

"Don't worry about me," the girl said, "I will be fine, you two ought to go though, escape while you can, they will be so mad when they realise that you got out of the prison hut."

Gabrielle looked at the girl; even in the dim light she could make out the ugly bruise that covered the right-hand side of the young Amazon's face. As the bard looked she realised that the girl's lip had been cut too, a small line of dried blood clearly evident against her suddenly pale features. "We are not going without you." The bard stated simply.

The girl looked from one resolute face to another. She had only met these women for the first time a few days ago but here they were, ready and willing to do so much for her. "I can't go," she said sadly.

"Why?" The bard demanded, determined to change the girl's mind whatever she may say.

Sophea sighed, torn between the words of her head and the feelings of her heart. "I am to face trial tomorrow," she explained, her voice hesitating slightly as she continued, "for desertion."

"What?" Gabrielle exclaimed incredulously. "If you are found guilty you could be condemned to death!"

"Yes, I know." Sophea admitted.

Gabrielle grabbed the girl's shoulder, quickly withdrawing her hand when she heard the sudden intake of air from the young Amazon.

For the first time in several moments Xena moved. The warrior lit the candle that stood by the small pallet and gently removing the cloth that covered the girl's shoulder, she held the light up towards it.

Both Xena and Gabrielle were sickened as they saw the deep cut and the huge bruise that covered Sophea's entire shoulder blade. It was a nasty wound to start with but knowing that it had come from the girl's so called 'sisters' rather than a legitimate battle scenario angered both of them. They were now resolute that they had to take the girl away from this place, at the moment the where or how did not matter.

Gabrielle's green eyes beseeched the young girl, "Please Sophea, come with us, escape while you can."

"No," Sophea answered firmly, without hesitation. "I am a warrior, honour demands that I am held accountable for my crimes."

Xena sat on the pallet next to the bard, her vivid blue eyes searching the young Amazon's in the flickering candlelight. "I understand what you are saying Sophea," she began, "and I respect you for it, but you are not being held accountable for your crimes, there is no need to put you on trial for leaving the camp for a few days. They are trying you for something else, something that we don't even know about. There is no honour in facing something that is borne of anger, only foolishness."

As the warrior had spoken, the bard had seen the subtle changes in the girl's expression. Gabrielle realised that there was more to this than either she or Xena had first realised and the only way to find out more was to invest a little time. Her eyes tracked to the window, they still had a while before they needed to leave. "Sophea, what was your quest?" The bard asked the question directly, not allowing the girl any escape other then pure refusal to answer.

Sophea sighed inwardly. How was she supposed to answer this? "It is complicated…" she began, hoping that would put the bard off.

Xena's eyes fixed the young girl's. "Trust us." She responded simply.

Sophea gave up, she had nothing to loose, she had accepted the fact that she was facing certain death tomorrow, what should the friendship of two strangers matter now, she told herself. "I have visions." She stated simply.

"Go on," Gabrielle urged gently.

Sophea was surprised by the reaction but continued anyway, she found it hard to resist a request that either of her new friend's asked of her. "I have had them since I was just a young girl, that is why the Elder's distrust me, they think I have evil powers."

Gabrielle spoke up, "Is that what they are really trying you for tomorrow?" she asked.

Sophea nodded in response, "I guess they have just been waiting for an excuse."

The bard nodded her head in understanding. "The quest must have been very important to you if you knew that taking it up meant giving them that excuse."

"It was." The girl said, the past tense noticed by both warrior and bard. "I hoped they wouldn't be as mad as they are but I knew deep down that they would be." She looked up at the faces opposite her. "It was worth it though."

A sudden silence filled the hut as the older women digested the information. Sophea was totally unaware that they had any idea what her quest had been about. She was more worried about how the women would respond to her admitting that she had visions. Everyone she had ever told before had always assumed that she was either mad or evil. She couldn't help it though, it was not as though she had asked for it to happen.

"I guess you guys think I am mad too, me saying I have visions and stuff." Sophea remarked sadly, totally misreading their thoughtful silence.

Gabrielle carefully took the young girl's hand in her own. "Not at all," she said. The bard looked at her warrior friend, a subtle question in her eyes. Xena nodded mutely at her and the blonde woman continued. "Xena has been having visions recently," she explained, "that is the quest we are on at the moment."

Sophea suddenly felt like she was as light as air. All of a sudden she was no longer alone, she had never met a more good or sane person than Xena and here she was admitting to having visions too. It was rather a lot to take in, did it change what she ought to do about tomorrow, should she escape while she still could? She did not want to die, she did not think it was fair either. It had just been that all of the feelings of being powerless and irrelevant had flooded back to her as she had returned to the village, she had not had the strength to keep fighting a loosing battle.

Sophea took a deep breath. "Ok, lets get out of here!" She finally decided, pleased by the delighted grins that greeted her decision.

Continued in Part 3...