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 3 (Conclusion)

When she was ready the three women slipped out of the door, accompanied by their canine companion. Xena broke away from the group, moving stealthily towards the stables to collect Argo. Moments later she returned, leading the golden mare who seemed a lot happier at having been reunited with her mistress. Silently they continued, padding towards the forest. Sophea was almost holding her breath as the anticipation of permanent freedom was finally within her grasp. It seemed to take them hours to clear the range of the last guard tower but finally they were free. Sophea was sure they would be followed, the damaged pride of her sisters at the escaped prisoners driving the Amazon's on. However, her spirit was jubilant as she realised that they had a good headstart and finding comfort in the knowledge that her newfound friends would fight in her defence should they need to.

Suddenly the tall warrior froze, signalling for quiet from her companions. Obediently they conformed, watching as the warrior tilted her head slightly, evidently listening. Xena's features turned grim, "Trouble." The warrior stated succinctly.

"Have they realised we have gone?" Gabrielle asked, knowing that the sounds the warrior had heard could only have come from the Amazon camp.

"Probably," the warrior answered, grimly elaborating, "but I don't think they will care too much, from the sounds of it they are under attack."

There had been a hurried discussion in the forest as Xena had tried to persuade her Amazon companions to remain where they were, keeping Moss with them and waiting until she returned. However, Sophea had explained that although she may have no love lost with her sisters she could not stand by in good conscience, knowing that they were under attack and not doing anything to help. Gabrielle had insisted she went too, her reasons a little more personal although she silently admitted to herself that she did not want to be separated from Xena again, especially knowing that danger that lay ahead be it either in the form of the unknown attackers or their Amazon captors.

Finally, all three women had charged back towards the camp they had so recently left. When they arrived they all stopped dead, stunned by the vision in front of them. Even Xena had been shocked, despite her many years on the battlefield. The peaceful village that they had left so recently now appeared before them as the scene of a great massacre. The grey dawn light combined with the low-lying mist of the surrounding forest gave the scene an eerie feel as the women stood, surveying the carnage in front of them. Female bodies lay scattered around the hard ground in pools of still warm blood. The sleeping Amazons had been caught out by a surprise attack, one that had found them completely of guard. The bodies were in various stages of dress but it was irrelevant now, most lay dead or dying from fatal wounds to the throat.

"What could have done this?" Gabrielle asked quietly, genuinely affected by so many needless deaths.

Xena's voice was hard as she responded, "I don't know, but I think we are about to find out." She answered, drawing her sword. The still shocked Sophea mirrored her action and Gabrielle re-gripped her staff as three pairs of eyes searched the swirling mist.

A large shape began to take form in the mist the on the other side of courtyard. Sophea recognised the shape even before the others had realised what it was. "Be careful Xena," the young Amazon warned. "It is after Gabrielle." "Moss! Hide!"

The large wolf-like creature was as large as a small pony, fresh blood dripping from its cruel jaws. Its evil red eyes shone in delight as the breeze carried the scent of the prey it had been tracking for so long. Prowling forward, the creature eyed its victims, instinctively approaching the bard first. Suddenly it leapt forwards, it's powerful leg muscles propelling it with full momentum towards the bard, frozen in terror.

Xena let out a wild cry; instinctively realising that this was the being of pure evil that Elkton had warned them about. The beast's malicious jaws frothed as it knocked the bard to the ground, already anticipating the tang of her warm blood slipping down its throat. Its ambitions were temporarily halted as another human suddenly landed on it's back, wrapping her strong arms around its neck and pulling the huge head upwards with all of her strength.

Letting out an angered howl the creature vaulted its back legs, throwing the woman off to land in the dirt with a heavy thud. It pounced on her, pinning her to the ground with its great weight. It's jaws snapped, moving closer in cruel delight towards her ripe neck. Suddenly, the creature growled in pain and relinquished its prey, turning its head, the large jaws snapping at the arrows protruding from its rib cage. It recognised the scent of the arrows, it's eyes roaming the mist in search of its familiar but unseen assailant.

Sophea stood rooted to the spot as she saw the creature look directly at her. To her surprise the beast did not approach her, instead rushing back towards the blonde woman it really wanted. Gabrielle raised her staff, only just managing to thrust it into the champing jaws of the beast. Xena rose to her feet, sprinting towards the beast attacking her friend. The animal kept tilting its head form side to side, trying to free itself of the sudden restriction to its mouth. It swiped out a large paw in the direction of the blonde woman, sharp talons ripping through her leathers and deep into the flesh of her chest. The bloodlust shone in the beast's eyes as its nostrils tracked the scent of the fresh blood of the prey it so desperately wanted.

Gabrielle drew back at the sudden pain, loosing her grip on the staff against the beast's superior strength. Sophea fired another arrow towards the beast, this time only reaching the creature's thick coat and falling harmlessly to the ground. Xena was almost upon the creature, angling her sword for a deadly thrust to the beast's neck. The angered animal spun round, sinking its sharp teeth deeply into the warrior's unprotected thigh. Stumbling blindly with the pain, Xena fell backwards towards the hard ground, the beast's teeth ripping long shreds out of her upper leg.

Sophea rushed forward, sword drawn to protect her fallen friends, she managed to reach the beast before it had disengaged its cruel jaws from its human quarry. She plunged her sword deep into the creature's side, hearing the success of her aim as the beast roared in anguish. It spun towards her, red eyes flashing in anger. Hurtling its large form towards the young Amazon, it knocked her to the ground, sinking its teeth into the flesh in front of it and crushing the girls lower ribs with it's muscular jaws. Sophea cried out in pain before blessedly loosing consciousness, her body suddenly as still as the corpses around her.

Gabrielle had recovered her feet, rushing towards the beast to avert the fatal feasting on the young Amazon's unguarded neck. She swung her staff at the beast's hind legs with all of her strength, trying to ignore the searing pain shooting across the gaping wounds in her chest. The staff was slippery with her own blood as the bard re-gripped it, watching the angered creature as it turned slowly towards her, victory already shining in its eyes. Gabrielle shook her head, trying to shake off the sudden light-headedness caused by her own rapidly draining blood.

Xena staggered to her feet, not seeing the mess the creature had made of her leg, only seeing the fallen Sophea and the beast as it confidently stalked her best friend. With immense will-power she dragged her leg over the rough ground that marked the distance between herself and the bard now staring death in the face. With a final surge of effort the beast leapt at the weakened Gabrielle who collapsed from the mixture of terror, shock and blood she had lost.

Summoning up the last of her strength, Xena hurled herself towards the airborne beast, her sword drawn and the knowledge that this would be her only chance to save her friend's life sobering her pain muddled mind. Time slowed to a trickle as the beast soared towards the fallen Gabrielle, eyes intent on the victim it so wanted to taste. The warrior desperately flew through the air on an intercept course that she could not allow to fail. The two titans met, one of darkness, one of light. Blessedly Xena felt the resistance as her sword punctured the beast's thick skin, slipping smoothly between the giant ribs and piercing its evil heart. The creature landed on the ground by Gabrielle's side, its red eyes staring lifelessly into her green ones. It was the last image the bard saw before blackness overwhelmed her.

Xena's body landed hard on the ground, the solid impact knocking the wind out of her battle weary body. Slowly, her blue eyes tracked to the bard and the dead monster lying next to her. As if in slow motion, her eyelids fluttered shut, briefly resting her mind from the bloodied forms of her friends lying completely still on the cold earth. The pain in her leg was almost unbearable as her shredded muscles protruded from the gaping holes in the skin. They had won, she remembered thinking, but at what price?

Xena had blacked out for a few moments, the pain and exertion from the battle briefly overwhelming her battered consciousness. When she had come round she had crawled to Gabrielle's side, relived to find a pulse at all, even though it had been faint and slow. She had summoned the hidden strength that was based in all she felt for the blonde woman and had cradled the unconscious bard, gently raising to a standing position and carrying her into the relative safety of the nearest hut. She had returned to the blood filled courtyard and retraced her steps, this time carrying the fallen Sophea. The warrior's two friends lay silently on the parallel pallets in the hut. Xena called upon her healer's knowledge, pathetically grateful that she could.

The warrior had bound her own leg tightly with a piece of linen she had found in the hut and using Gabrielle's discarded staff as a crutch, searched the village for the healing supplies she needed. Both were temporary measures but ones that allowed her enough mobility to complete the more urgent tasks. When she had equipped the hut with all she needed she began to tend blonde woman first, her wounds being more time sensitive. The warrior had taken long pieces of gut and threaded a sharp needle that she had already held in the flame of a candle for a few moments. She used fresh water and soft cloths to clean the three large gashes that had lacerated her friend's chest. When the wound was totally clean she re-gripped the needle and threat, sewing together the tattered skin with small, neat stitches.

Some time later the bowed head of the warrior rose, knowing that she had done as much as she could for Gabrielle for the time being. Now the injured warrior moved across the dusty floor of the hut to assess Sophea's wounds. Xena's experience on the battlefield was the only thing that stopped her from loosing her stomach as she gazed down at the mess that was the young Amazon's midsection. Puncture marks from the beast's teeth marked the perimeter of the wound. Between the ripped skin, the warrior could see at least three broken ribs, plus extensive damage to the surrounding muscles. She got up again, this time washing her hands thoroughly with soap and water. Returning to the Amazon's side she inserted her fingers into the wound, gradually straightening the disturbed bones, trying to return them to some semblance of their original state. When she had done all she could internally, she repeated the process she had already done on Gabrielle, cleaning the wound and sewing it up with the same neat stitching. She then bound the wound, the tight linen providing a support for the damaged ribcage.

Regarding her two friends, the warrior felt desolate. Both women were pale with the amount of blood they had each lost. Gabrielle's injuries were worse because the positioning of her wound had meant she had lost a lot more blood. The odds were stacked against her, the warrior knew, she would do all she could but the bard had lost at least half of her blood to the stained earth. Sophea should make it, Xena's healer's knowledge told her, as long as the wound did not get infected. She had lost a lot of blood too but enough that her younger body should not be able to replenish given time and rest.

Xena filled a cup with water, gently holding it to the lips of the bard, encouraging the lifeless form to drink. Thanks to the reflexive actions of Gabrielle's throat, the blonde woman managed to take some water. Xena knew that if she had any chance at survival this was crucial. Moving once again to the bucket of water, the warrior refilled the mug, this time adding several of the nearby herbs to the liquid. She repeated the drinking process with Sophea, knowing that the girl may regain consciousness at anytime and unless the pain was reduced she would only drift back into the darkness.

Finally, Xena had done all she could for the two women for the time being. She sat down heavily on the wooden chair next to the table that held her supplies. Grimacing silently she unbound her leg, unsurprised at the bloody mess that met her eyes. Her skin, like her companion's, was ripped, showing the butchered muscle underneath. The beast's teeth had torn through the fibres as though they were as soft as butter. She cleaned the wound out thoroughly with clean water and yet more fresh rags. Once the injury was clean she reached for a canister of herbs, gently sprinkling the powder directly into the wound. The pain of the intrusion almost sent her back into the blackness that had briefly claimed her before. However, she could not ingest the herbs, knowing that the side-effects would make her drowsy. She would not allow herself to be anything other than alert, knowing each of her friends was depending on her skills and awareness if either of them were going to survive.

For the third time, she cleaned and sterilised the needle, rethreading it with yet more gut. She inserted the needle into her own leg, forcing herself to push it through the tattered remnants of her skin, drawing the edges of the wound neatly together. When she had finished she let her hands rest, leaning her head back against the rough wood of the hut. She just concentrated on breathing until she had recovered enough to finish her work. She picked up a long strip of strong linen and bound her leg again. She did it neatly and precisely, knowing that she should not take it off again for two nights so she did not disturb the healing wound.

After forcing herself to drink some of the water by her side she leant her head back against the wall once again, knowing that now all she could do was to wait, hope and be ready should the statuses of either of her patients change.

Xena had spent some time in the courtyard of the village, searching amongst the dead bodies of the Amazon's in the hope of finding survivors. She had seen that though many lay dead, far more were missing and she realised that they had fled the scene of the massacre. Knowing that there was nothing else she needed to do other than tend her two friends she had returned to her impromptu healer's hut.

As she had walked in Sophea had raised bloodshot eyes towards her. Xena limped to her side, resting on the edge of the pallet. "How are you feeling?" The warrior asked her patient.

Sophea's voice was hoarse as she responded, "Don't worry about me, I am tougher than I look." The young girl winced in pain as the effort of talking seemed to drive red-hot daggers into her side. "How is Gabrielle?" She asked.

Xena was silent for a moment, wishing that her answer could be different from the one she had to give. Deep blue eyes tracked to the resting form of her best friend, she turned them back towards the young Amazon as she answered her question. "She is resting at the moment." The warrior had said simply.

Sophea looked into the vivid blue eyes lying hurt and open in front of her. Her mind replayed the image of the panther from her vision and those blue eyes that had held exactly the same expressing as she saw now. "You know don't you?" The Amazon asked.

Xena looked at the girl, seeing the surprising maturity and understanding written in her eyes, it looked out of place housed in such young features. "Know what?" The warrior questioned.

Sophea held her gaze steadily, "That you and Gabrielle share a bond that goes a lot deeper than friendship, deeper than life and death. You are soulmates."

Xena looked at the young girl, unsure of what to say, or think or even how she felt anymore. It was a sudden, totally unexpected conversation and one she had not ever expected to have with anyone, possibly not even Gabrielle. However, the chance to share her thoughts was suddenly an appealing one. "That is an overused word." The warrior stated, honestly continuing, "I do not even know what it means."

Sophea nodded in understanding. "I think, that it means that not only are your hearts and minds in love with each other, but also your souls. It is extremely rare, most people would count themselves lucky if they had both of the first two with the same person."

The warrior's blue eyes searched the age-old ones ahead of her. "How do you know all this, from you visions?" She asked, slightly sceptical.

"The visions I see tell me of situations, a little of feelings maybe. The philosophy is something that I was born with too, to me the answers are as clear as how you would simply know that it would be more effective to try and kill someone with a sword rather than a sponge." The Amazon answered, trusting the warrior with a truth about herself she had hidden from every other human she had encountered.

"What was your quest?" The warrior asked again, knowing that it was relevant to so much.

Sophea smiled at her friend's persistence. "I had a vision," she began, telling the tall warrior the details of the dream, of all she had seen and how she had left the village immediately and had gone in search of a fox and a panther.

Xena smiled sadly at the aptness of the animal alter egos that had been assigned to both herself and her best friend. "So Artemis sent you to help fight our unseen enemy." The warrior concluded, feeling that she was beginning to piece together the parts of the puzzle, she went on to share the details that Elkton had provided them with.

Sophea nodded in understanding, the overall picture gradually beginning to form in her mind too. "So you have been having visions yourself sent by Artemis." She began to summarise, encouraged by Xena's nod. "You discovered that an unknown enemy was trying to kill Gabrielle and that is somehow related to your visions. I was commandeered, sent to help fight that evil."

"From what Elkton said I think the creature lying dead outside is the essence of evil he warned us about." The warrior said, seeking the girl's agreement.

Sophea nodded. "I think you are right," she confirmed, "but it does still leave you with the master."

That was something Xena did not want to think about right now. Together, the three of them had managed to fight off everything the master had sent but it had left them in this dilapidated state, the bard clinging onto the barest threads of life. There were still so many outstanding questions though. Who was the master? Why was he targeting Gabrielle? Why was Xena having her visions? Why were the visions so alien?

Although the conversation between the warrior and the Amazon had answered a lot of other questions Xena felt the frustration rise inside her as she realised she was still left with the original questions, their answers still just out of her reach. Her eyes turned back to the Amazon, hoping that her insight may help her with these puzzles. She bit back the questions though as she saw the pale drawn face of her friend, the pain she was in obvious as she temporarily rested her burning eyes.

Instead, Xena looked over at Gabrielle, her world reeling yet again with the intervention of a cruel fate.

"Have faith."

The voice startled Xena a little, she had been so deep in her musings. The warrior studied her new friend, so full of surprises. The Amazon had slipped back into the darkness again, her body needing the rest to help rebuild her battered body. Xena felt just a little happier, at least one of her friends was going to pull through and her last waking words echoed round the warrior's head, giving her something for her hope to cling on to.

It was dark where she was but there weren't any stars to offer her companionship. She was floating, her body and mind oddly at peace in this strange nothingness. As she looked around, a small pinprick of light appeared in front of her. She seemed able to move towards it simply by thinking herself nearer. The light grew until it provided an opening that she could pass through. She could see figures on the other side, shining and holding out their hands towards her in welcome. She could feel the thoughts they were sending out to her, friendship, greeting, happiness. She smiled.

Something made her turn, allowing her eyes to briefly leave the shining figures. Behind her stood a white deer, large and majestic. Something told her to move towards the deer and for a moment she looked between the light and the deer, trying to decide which she ought to head towards. Giving the light a last, longing look, she turned her body round and willing herself, followed the deer.

Both the deer and the nothingness dropped away, leaving in their place a picture that was unfamiliar but at the same time as comforting as home. She was standing on the smooth sand of a small island, surrounded by a few smiling people in oddly dressed clothes. Opposite her stood Xena. She smiled at her tall friend, unsure of why Xena too was dressed in the odd white clothes but reassured by the constancy of her friend's eyes. Xena was singing she realised, the words directed solely at her, the voice holding a beauty that matched the warrior's features and left the bard enchanted.

It was a poem, the words deep and sung with sincerity. The rest of the island seemed to drop away as Gabrielle looked into the clear blue eyes opposite her, realising belatedly that Xena was singing of her love for her. When the song drew to an end, the warrior gently clasped her hand, smoothly slipping a metal band onto her finger. The blue eyes reached out to the bard's soul, as though extending her hand.

Gabrielle felt her own soul reach out in response, she couldn't have stopped it even if she had wanted to, she realised it was something that had begun long ago in a clearing outside Potedia when she had been just a simple shepherd's daughter.

Xena's hand had reached out, cupping Gabrielle's cheek as she had bowed her head, her soft lips gently meeting the bard's own, the final stage in a bonding that had been nurtured since that first moment, culminating in this moment. A moment that had taken so long to arrive but that now filled every gap and healed every wound. She had travelled so far, only to arrive home.

The cooling night air brushed over the warrior's bare skin, causing small bumps to rise along her tanned forearms. She was standing outside her healer's hut, her back resting against the comfortingly solid wood, her right leg bent slightly as she carried her full weight on her left. Her day had been a challenging one, tending the two women inside and trying to adjust to the constant pain of her own mauled leg.

The other Amazon's in the tribe had not yet returned, their absence being nothing other than a blessing in Xena's eyes. The tall warrior knew that it would not be long before they did return and she realised that there was likely to be hostility towards both her and the two injured women she was unable to move. Grimly she knew that that was something she would just have to face and that for the time being, there were no other options.

It was so quiet, Xena realised, the companionship of her new friends silenced by their current conditions. Suddenly she remembered the missing Moss, recalling that Sophea had sent the dog away as the threat of the beast had appeared. Marvelling at the dog's obedience Xena let out a loud whistle as her eyes scouted the nearby trees. Moments later the black and white form of Moss came bounding towards her, leaving the shrubbery by the large meeting hut quivering in his wake.

Moss stopped by Xena's side, his sensitive nose drawing his attention to the odd smelling linen bound tightly around her right thigh. He raised his brown eyes up at her, seemingly in understanding. The warrior stroked the dog's large head, the repetitive strokes seeming to ease her inner pain, albeit only a little. She moved towards the entrance of the hut, pushing open the door and resting her hand on Moss' broad shoulders to prevent him from leaping onto either of the pallets containing the silent women. The warrior led the dog to the young Amazon's side, watching as he poked his cold, wet nose into her unresponsive hand. The dog's suddenly forlorn eyes rose to meet Xena's.

"She is ok boy," the warrior consoled, "she just needs to rest."

Moss jumped up onto the pallet before Xena had time to stop him. He stretched his neck, his nose now investigating his mistress' wounded side. He did not make contact with the tender skin though, instead settling down on the other side of the bed. He stretched his long body out in parallel to Sophea's, resting his head on her shoulder.

Xena smiled slightly, sometimes animals exhibited far more sense than humans. The warrior realised that the companionship of the dog would soothe the young girl's mind, indirectly aiding the healing process. She knew that she too would have to rest soon, her own body needing to heal just as her patients did. She had wondered where to sleep, knowing there was not enough room on the floor of the hut to lie with her legs outstretched as she needed to. Now the answer was simple. She made her final checks of the night, making sure Argo was comfortable in the stable and that she had enough water and hay. Then the warrior returned to the hut, coaxing a little more water down the blonde woman's throat and leaving a full mug by the side of the young Amazon, within easy reach should she wake up in the night.

Xena splashed cold water on her own face and hands, drying them off on the linen cloth left by the basin for just that purpose. She unclasped the metal fasteners that held her armour in place, removing it from her aching body and placing it on the chair for the morning. She was confident that should the Amazons begin to return, the combination of her own keen senses and the dog sharing their hut would give her enough warning to prepare herself. Right now though, rest was the most important thing. She blew out the single remaining candle and waited for a moment as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. As they did, she softly moved towards the pallet that contained her blonde friend and lay down too, settling comfortably with her long body pressed against the wall, running parallel to Gabrielle's. She folded one muscular arm under her head, forming a natural pillow for herself and wound the other arm gently around the bard's waist.

Xena had been hoping that her unusual sleeping location would somehow help to soothe the battered bard, wrapping her in a feeling of warmth and security. A hint of a smile crossed the warrior's face as she stared into the darkness and realised that it was doing her as mush good as she was hoping it was doing for Gabrielle. The warrior began to relax, her tired body comforted by the bard's warm presence and even breathing. Finally, sleep overtook the alert blue eyes, delivering the warrior to a world of peace.

She was standing on warm, golden sand, her mind soothed by the rhythmic noises of the ocean. Sea gulls circled overhead, their familiar cry penetrating her memory. The sun was bright, gently caressing her skin with warmth. A gentle breeze blew, sending tendrils of her long dark hair chasing around her face.

She smiled at the familiar figure standing opposite her. Gabrielle's odd white clothes seemed almost normal to her now, she had begun to get used to the unusual styles and fabrics. This time, other people were present too, a small group of them stood a little way away from the friends, their vaguely familiar faces smiling and happy. Gabrielle was speaking, she realised suddenly.

The bard's voice was soothing and familiar, her words spoken with meaning and conviction. Xena was mesmerised with her friend's eyes, the nearby ocean set them off perfectly, the joy that danced in them proving infectious to the warrior. Gradually, the words began to penetrate Xena's consciousness and with disbelief she realised that Gabrielle was declaring her love for her tall friend and a commitment to stay by her side for the rest of their lives, whatever the future may bring.

Gabrielle clasped her hand, gently rubbing Xena's down turned palm with the tip of her thumb as she slipped a metal band onto one of the warrior's long fingers. Xena felt as though she was floating, her body held up by the belief and trust in the green eyes gazing into hers. The rest of the scene seemed to drop away as the two friends faced each other, their heart's entwining.

Xena reached out her hand, cupping Gabrielle's cheek and gently caressing it, her fingers a vessel of the love that she felt bursting free inside her body. The expression in her friend's eyes told her that she could finally stop fighting, giving her the freedom to lay down her weapons of pretence and giving in to her heart's desire. She bent her head, closing her eyes as she felt her own lips make contact with Gabrielle's. It was more than she had ever believed possible, the final unity of two souls that had always been destined to walk the same path.

Stark sunlight penetrated the wooden hut, rousing the sleeping Amazon. She felt slightly better today, her side was still very sore but the pain was beginning to even out. It was a relief in comparison to the regular but random shots that had plagued her the day before. Despite her physical predicament she felt happier than she had done in a long time. Her mind tracked to the conversation she had had with Xena the evening before, recalling how she had felt like an honoured guest as she had been allowed close enough to observe the blossoming realisation of Xena's relationship with Gabrielle. Moss was by her side too, lying peacefully on the pallet with his head resting on his large paws.

Sophea gently turned her head to see how her blonde friend was doing, surprised to find to blue eyes gazing back at her. She smiled with genuine pleasure as she recognised the small but momentous step Xena must have taken the night before.

"Morning." Sophea greeted the warrior warmly.

"Morning." Xena returned the Amazon's smile.

"How is she doing?"

Xena looked at Gabrielle's face. It was still totally relaxed as her mind was gripped firmly in its unconscious state. However, the bard seemed to have just a little more colour in her cheeks than the deathly white that had haunted her the day before. "Well," the warrior began, sighing a little, "She made it through the night and that was the first hurdle."

Sophea nodded in agreement, pleased by the news. "How are you Xena?" She asked, her uniquely coloured eyes probing the warrior's.

"My leg seems to be recovering," the warrior assessed practically, "I will not know for sure until I take the strapping off in a day or so."

Again Sophea nodded, her response catching in her throat as Moss raised his head, his ears pricked.

Xena saw the dog's sudden movement and extracted herself from the bed quickly, donning her armour and fastening it rapidly with practiced fingers. She settled the weapons about her person, understanding the grim look she received from the Amazon. The warrior drew herself up to her full height, settling a no-nonsense attitude over her features and poise. She nodded briefly to the young girl before opening the door of the hut and emerging into the sunlight.

By the time she had entered the courtyard the returning Amazons had begun to file back into the camp, their pained features speaking of their inner shock at the sight that met their eyes. For some moments the warrior was all but ignored as the Amazons recognised their slaughtered friends and family members, lying cold in the dust. Xena had deliberately not moved any of the bodies, knowing that the Amazons would return soon and would not have responded well to the intervention of a stranger.

An average looking woman of medium height walked up to the warrior, deliberately stopping well inside Xena's personal zone. "I see you lived then." The woman spoke, the hatred evident in her voice.

Xena recognised the woman's voice although she had not seen her face before. She was the same Amazon that had originally struck Sophea and the one who seemed to assume the power that went with leadership. "I wish to speak to the Queen of this tribe." The warrior stated, her voice firm and resolute.

"Oh would you?" The Amazon scoffed, "Well that is her lying dead, face down in the dirt there." The woman pointed, not even looking but still angered when the warrior did the same.

"Who had the right of caste?" Asked Xena, refusing to rise to the antagonistic attitude the woman was displaying.

"What would you know of our traditions, warrior?" The woman demanded, frustrated by this stranger demanding answers that were none of her business. A number of her Amazon sisters had gathered around her, the animosity towards the tall dark intruder obvious.

"My name is Xena." The warrior stated, her eyes narrowing as she grew tired of the ineffective conversation.

Muttered whispers traversed the crowd as Xena heard her name repeated several times. She ignored them, maintaining steady eye contact with the original Amazon.

"Xena, eh?" The woman eyed her disinterestedly. This warrior seemed a mere shadow to the character the legends painted, a woman whose strength was only equalled by her tactical intelligence. "Well, Xena, I had the right of caste, which means I am the new Queen."

Xena felt her dislike for the woman growing by the second, watching as the woman jutted her chin, her self-importance sickening. However, she carried on to address the business she had with the queen. "I have two injured friends in the hut over there." The warrior stated, "I cannot move them until they begin to heal, I am sure you will understand." Xena concluded, doubting her own words seriously but hoping that maybe things would be straightforward for once.

"I think you will find that that is my decision." The Queen responded, angered by the warrior's insolence but suddenly sensing the perfect opportunity to prove her new position to her tribe. "I will allow them to remain on one condition," the Queen began graciously. "If you can prove your worth in a simple one on one combat." She laughed inwardly, the warrior was obviously a pathetic facsimile compared to the Xena that legends were built on. She was also injured and already the Queen could almost taste the admiration of her new followers as she made Xena, Warrior Princess beg for mercy.

Xena gazed at the new Queen intently, "Agreed." She responded simply, holding out her arm to seal the agreement.

The Queen was barley able to conceal her evident delight. "Choose your weapon." She offered magnanimously.

"Staffs." Xena replied.

It was early afternoon; the Amazon camp was once again bustling with the activity of its natives. The bodies had been cleared away, including the great black form of the beast. Now the women had formed a ring around the centre of the courtyard. Queen and warrior stood facing each other, strong hands gripping smooth staffs. The queen had adorned herself with all of her ritualistic adornments and her over confident smile was already beginning to grate against the warrior's nerves.

The Amazon made the first move, darting into the warrior's attack zone and planting a firm tap on the staff she clutched. "Ready Princess?" The Queen taunted, bouncing on her heels slightly in preparation for the warriors first move.

Xena circled the woman, making efficient defensive responses as the woman attacked repeatedly. As the woman gained in confidence, she began to become careless with her defensive positioning, all the time allowing Xena to gather information about her attack style, preferences, favourite moves and so on.

The queen moved in again, this time using a combination move that to her frustration was blocked with wood on both arcs. "Come on warrior, or do you not really like to fight after all?" Her taunting laugh echoing around the watching crowd.

The queen was starting to become frustrated, at this rate it would be so easy to defeat this stranger that she would earn little respect for it whether the warrior had had a legendary reputation or not.

Xena bade her time, waiting until the Queen's overconfidence and growing frustration presented her with the perfect opportunity. She had decided well before the fight that she would use it as an opportunity to prove a point, hopefully gaining her friends unchallenged shelter for as long as they needed it.

The Amazon moved around energetically, her over-exaggerated moves reflecting the egotistical bravado in her mind.

Suddenly, Xena saw her opening, the queen was unprepared, her staff about to enter into another pointless display of showmanship. The warrior sprung forward, adjusting for the encumbrance of her wounded leg. She sent her own staff flying out forwards, curling it around at the last moment, cracking the Amazon painfully behind the knees. At the same time she brought the top forwards, catching the side of the Queen's head with contained force so as not to kill her.

The Amazon's damaged knees were unable to carry her weight, buckling and dumping her unceremoniously into the dust. Her momentum carried her backwards where she was suddenly pinned by the weight of the warrior towering over her, ice blue eyes boring into her own.

The crowd stopped in stunned silence. A small trickle of blood ran down the Queen's temple, vivid against her suddenly drained features. The Amazon stared up the staff held menacingly at her throat, her mind still trying to catch up with the sudden change in her fate.

Xena was the first to speak, her voice silky smooth. "I presume this guarantees shelter and independence for my friends and I." She pushed the wooden staff into the Queens neck a little, increasing the pressure on her already restricted throat.

The fallen Amazon nodded mutely.

"And the freedom of Sophea from your tribe?" Xena continued, making sure that all demands were made.

The queen's face contorted in anger but she was not in any position to argue. Again, she nodded.

"Thank you." The warrior said simply as she removed the staff and handed it to one of the stunned onlookers. She turned her back and began walking towards her hut, every single one of her senses heightened with anticipation. Sure enough, only a few moments later, she felt a body rapidly approaching her.

At the last moment she whirled around, clasping the outstretched wrist aiming the ceremonial dagger straight for her neck. Her cold eyes narrowed as she twisted her own wrist; the deadly silence of the courtyard was suddenly filled with the sickening cracking noise as the Queen's wrist broke in two places.

The Amazon cried out in pain, dropping the dagger and pulling her released arm towards the protection of her body. Her eyes flashed with fear and hatred in the brief moment before she turned on her heel and ran to the sanctuary of the forest.

The rest of the Amazon tribe gave Xena a wide berth as she crossed the remainder of the courtyard. Once again whispers of her name reached the warrior's sensitive ears before she disappeared into the hut, closing the door firmly behind her.

Xena dipped the sponge once again into the cool clean water, squeezing and then letting the water be reabsorbed. Lifting the sponge above the surface, she squeezed again, not as hard as the first time but just enough to allow the excess liquid to run between her long fingers and back into the bowl. She moved the sponge back to the bard's body, continuing her cleansing of the tanned skin.

The last few days had been fairly uneventful. Sophea had made steady progress, now reaching the point where she would leave the hut to enjoy a short walk in the nearby forest. Moss guarded her faithfully, a permanent shadow by her side, he seemed aware of her disability. Xena's leg had made an astonishing recovery, the first time she had taken off the bandage the skin had already been knitting back together and the strength in her thigh was beginning to return, highlighting the internal progress. Xena realised how lucky she was and had spent a few moments thanking her superhuman healing abilities. She never had understood them but equally she was careful not to take them for granted.

Gabrielle had remained unconscious throughout but there were still signs of improvement that encouraged the anxious warrior's hope. The bard's skin held a lot more colour and Xena had begun to notice the subtle movements of her eyes beneath the closed lids. The blonde woman could not have asked for a more attentive healer though, during the day the warrior gave her water and soup, her patience unending. She also bathed her and spoke to her, telling her of the returned Amazon's, Sophea's progress and reliving old adventures they had shared. At night the warrior supported her with closeness, wrapping a blanket of care and attention around her fallen friend.

The Amazon's had not bothered any of them much. When they had seen Xena around the village they had taken care to avoid her, discussing the tall, dark-haired woman in muted whispered. Xena ignored them though, satisfied with their noncommittal hospitality. Ironically she had been the one to treat the Queen's broken wrist, the resident Amazon healer having been slain by the beast. The woman had sat in front of her, a distrusting look of inevitability engraved in her features. When the wrist had been tended and strapped, Xena hoped that they would be able to reach an uneasy truce. In her heart she thought it unlikely but had still made the effort on her part. The queen had departed the hut in the same silence she had entered in. The warrior knew that Gabrielle would have wanted her to make the effort though and as a lot of other things in her life, she had acted on the bard's beliefs.

Xena rinsed out the sponge again, gently cleaning the bard's upper arms and shoulders. The wound that traversed the blonde woman's chest was showing signs of a healthy recovery, thankfully, all three women had managed to avoid infection of their respective wounds. The gashes had been cruel and deep, one severing a blood vessel fairly near the bard's heart. That had been why Gabrielle had lost so much blood so rapidly, the warrior had realised. However, her friend's active and healthy lifestyle had aided the recovery process, providing her with the strength to survive.

Now, as the warrior studied the familiar features of her fallen friend all she could do was wait to see if the bard could fight off the trauma she had been through. Xena knew, from her experience on the battlefield, that the trauma of a serious wound could affect the patient in more ways than just the physical. She also knew that if the injured person remained unconscious for more than a few days that they might never recover, any amount of care and attention becoming irrelevant. It was crucial that Gabrielle began to come round within the next two days or she may suffer the same fate.

The warrior lay down her sponge, instead taking the bard's still hand in her own. Her vivid blue eyes studied Gabrielle's motionless face, willing her to just open her eyes. Of course, the bard didn't, her eyes remaining shut in their position of rest. It all seemed so unfair to Xena, she had only just got her friend back and then this had happened, taking her away once again. Surely they had had more than their fair share of opposition, of obstacles to overcome. The warrior realised that she should be pleased that they had won against the essence of evil personified in the beast. However, they had not really won, not until the bard was conscious and showing sure signs of recovery.

Sometimes the waiting was too much for the warrior and as she sat in the silent hut, the afternoon sun streaming in the small windows, this was one of those moments.

"Gabrielle, if you can hear me, please, come back." The warrior begged, able to voice her thoughts freely in a room that only contained her and the sleeping bard. "I know that you were hurt badly but I need you to fight it, I need you to come back to me." The warrior paused, her eyes searching for even the faintest hints of recognition. There were none. "We have so many things left to do," she began again, fighting the tight, painful lump rapidly forming in her throat. "There are so many things I want to tell you, things you need to know about…" The warrior's voice trailed off as it somehow seemed wrong to voice these things while the bard was in her current state. "Just come back, come back to me Gabrielle."

Birds were singing, their melodic chirping greeting the first warm rays of the sun that promised a beautiful day ahead. Something was odd, different, the warrior realised. She opened her eyes to scout the hut for anything out of place. Nothing was obvious. Sophea was asleep on her pallet, her blonde hair spread over the pillow and her arm wrapped around the dog snoozing next to her.

Xena shut her eyes again, not really wanting to get up to face yet another day of waiting and hoping. She shuffled a little on the pallet, trying to ease her aching body. Carefully she moved the arm that was wrapped around her waist, allowing her the freedom to move further. Her eyes snapped open again, this time studying the bard lying next to her. Xena's heart rate began to pick up as she realised that she had not put Gabrielle's arm around her waist and that meant that the bard must have done it herself. Had Gabrielle regained consciousness in the night?

The warrior gently put her hand on the side of her friend's face, reassured by the warmth she felt there.

"Gabrielle?" She whispered carefully, her heart hanging in a void as she waited and hoped for a response.

Gradually, the lashes flickered and Gabrielle opened her eyes, revealing the scene her friend had been praying to see for days.

"Hey," The blonde woman greeted her friend. Her voice was hoarse, her throat sore from days of inactivity.

"Hey yourself," Xena responded, gently caressing the blonde tendrils of blond hair spilling over the pillow. Her eyes filled up suddenly with unshed tears, making Gabrielle seem to dance and twirl in the distorted light.

"I hurt." The bard rasped, her mind trying to remember the last thing that had happened.

"I know," the warrior responded, her voice soothing. "You were injured in battle but you are ok now, everything will be fine." She smiled in relief, her words comforting herself just as much as her friend.

Gabrielle smiled at the sheer joy dancing in the deep blue eyes gazing into hers. "I missed you." She stated simply.

Xena could not say anything in response; instead she just clasped her friend's hand to her chest, holding it tightly as though it would stop her ever leaving her again.

"I'm tired," Gabrielle sighed, the truth of her statement evident in her voice.

"Shh," Xena soothed, "it's ok, you rest now." She stroked her friend's blonde head, watching tenderly as the heavy eyelids stopped resisting, giving in to the now healing sleep she so direly needed.

When she was reassured of the bard's slumber, she rested her head back against the bed, bathing in the sudden relief and elation that coursed through her body.

Gabrielle slept for most of the day, only waking briefly in the evening when she greeted the young Amazon that shared her healer's hut. She had been very tired but was more aware of her situation and the events leading up to it. The bard took time to assure herself of the health of both of her friends, also checking on the result of the battle, grimly relieved to find out about the death of the beast. She also asked about the other Amazon's, the noises of the village alerting her to their presence. She had laughed as Sophea had retold the 'battle' between the new queen and Xena.

She had eaten some of the stew that Xena had prepared and drank copious amounts of water. After that she had felt the drowsiness overcome her again, she gave herself up to it, aided by the warrior's gentle encouragement.

Now she slept, curled up on the pallet that had been her home for almost a week. Xena and Sophea had sat up talking in hushed voices, strange shadows crossing their faces as they were painted in the oranges and reds from the comfortingly flickering candles.

"She will be fine now won't she?" Sophea had asked, jerking her chin slightly to the sleeping form of the bard.

Xena nodded, unable to prevent the grin that spread across her tanned features.

Sophea smiled too, the conversation broken by a contented lull. After a few moments the Amazon broke the silence. "After she has rested I guess you guys will be leaving?" She asked.

Again, Xena nodded. "Yes, I think we both need to get away from here as soon as Gabrielle is well enough to travel."

"I understand." The girl confirmed.

"We would still like you to come with us." The warrior stated, comfortable that it was Gabrielle's feelings too and willing to speak for both of them.

Sophea's eyes lit up in reaction, she had thought that now the immediate threat had been dispersed, plus all that the two friends had been through, it was likely she would be expected to remain at the Amazon camp. She still had to decide what she was going to do next, travelling with the older women was not a viable option in the long term. However, she knew that it would take Gabrielle another couple of weeks to recover fully and though the Amazon herself was not in peak condition herself, due to her own injuries, she was sure she would be able to offer some valuable help to the companions. "I would like that." She responded simply, her smile saying more than her words did.

Xena had spent some of her more isolated moments thinking about Sophea and her future. There was no doubting all of the help the young girl had given both Gabrielle and herself and though Sophea obviously did not expect anything in return Xena felt that she wanted to help her. The warrior did have one idea that she thought would be a perfect solution all round but she wanted to discuss it first with Gabrielle before mentioning it to their young friend.

The pair gazed into the flames of the candles, Sophea's fingers idly playing with the rough fur that covered Moss' shoulder blades. "When do you think we will be able to move out?" She asked, eager to begin the journey that marked the rest of her life.

Xena shook her head slightly. "I don't know," she answered honestly. "It all depends on how quickly you and Gabrielle recover." Although the Amazon village was not the most welcoming place to be, it did offer a certain protection and with Gabrielle's enemy still at large Xena did not want to leave the sanctuary of the camp until they were recovered enough to defend themselves from an attack. There was no rush and she did not want to put any of them in unnecessary danger, she had realised in the last couple of days that it would risk more than just their lives.

Sophea agreed with the warrior's logic. Xena seemed to have healed remarkably quickly, now she regularly saw the warrior bearing her weight evenly on both of her legs rather than the awkward limp she had been encumbered with shortly after the battle. She herself was recovering too although it was a more gradual process for her. The skin around the wound was starting to heal nicely, the neat stitching encouraging the skin to knit back together smoothly. Unfortunately her ribs were still very sore. Anything other than lying flat put pressure on them and if she moved at slightly the wrong angle, red-hot shots of pain would leave her momentarily breathless. Gabrielle would need another couple of days rest, she guessed, using the time to sleep and eat, giving her body the fuel it needed to allow her to regain her former strength. Despite herself she yawned, the fairly long walk she had taken in the early afternoon having worn her out far more than it should have done.

"We should rest now." The warrior stated, looking out of the window to see the sky bright with stars. She got up from the wooden chair she had been resting on, methodically blowing out the candles that lit the small hut. She checked that Sophea was ready, smiling slightly as she saw the figure huddled down into the furs that covered her pallet, her eyes already shut. Xena blew out the last candle and moved softly towards the bed that contained the sleeping bard. She did not even think about it, it had become habit now. If she had thought about it, she probably would not have done anything differently, the pretences between both friends were dropping away rapidly, both of them having given up trying to create plausible excuses. As she lay down she felt a small response from Gabrielle as she slid a little closer to the warrior's warm body. Two vivid blue eyes glinted in the darkness, complimented by the barest flash of a grin.

Gabrielle let her aching body slide deeper into the comforting warmth of the surrounding water. She sighed in contentment, the pine scented bathing oil soothing her tired mind. Xena had arranged this as a surprise for her, it had been a very pleasant one although the bard did not dare think about how many heads the warrior would have had to crack to get her own way. The bathing room was deserted apart from her. The biggest bath had been placed next to the fire and filled to the brim with gently steaming water. Xena had located the bard's favourite herbs and minerals, blending them together to form the luxurious concoction she now relaxed in. The warrior had also littered the room with candles and as Gabrielle looked around it was as though she were floating in a sea of warm light.

The blonde woman smiled as her mind replayed the look of childlike hope written across her friend's features when Xena had pushed opened the door to the bathing hut and removed her hand from the bard's eyes. Gabrielle had not disappointed her though, her genuine pleasure both at the facilities and the thought behind them shining through in her green eyes. The warrior had ushered her forwards, closing the door behind them and going to a small mug and pitcher set on the side. She poured her friend a mug of cool wine, watching as Gabrielle took a sip and the fruity, sweet flavour stimulated yet another of her senses. Xena had smiled then and quietly exited the hut, leaving the bard to bathe in isolated splendour.

A bath had been just what she needed, Gabrielle reflected. Over the last couple of days since she had recovered her consciousness, she had slept a lot. The positive side was that she could feel the strength returning to her body and could see the steady improvement in the wounds stretching across her chest. However, her mind was used to her active and challenging lifestyle and it was rapidly running out of patience with the bed-ridden existence she had lived recently. Now the warm bath was cleansing her skin, wiping away the traces of inactivity as much as any dirt. Her mind seemed invigorated with her change in scenery and it suddenly leapt back to a dream she had had fairly recently, feelings prodding the familiarity of the memory rather than clear images.

Gabrielle concentrated, trying to focus her mind on what she had seen. Gradually, snippets of a scene by a beach began to filter into her mind, bringing with them feelings of wonder and of sheer joy. The bard smiled in reflex to the emotions filling her heart, still trying to remain focussed enough to remember exactly what had caused the emotions in the first place. She shut her eyes, allowing her present surroundings to fade out

Familiar vivid blur eyes searching hers, contrasting with tanned skin and long black hair. The eyes were full of hope and trust and of love. This key allowed the full memory of her dream re-enter the bard's mind. She recalled every single minute detail, hugging it close to her and reliving her own reactions. She remembered the few people that had stood with them on the small island, her mind recollecting their strange dress and styles. It had been almost alien. Alien. That was a word she had heard several times recently. After a few moments of probing her brain supplied her with the answer - that was the recurring word Xena used when describing her visions.

Had the strange but beautiful dream not been a dream but a vision instead? Did that mean she too was now being given the same gift that had been bestowed upon her warrior friend? What was the reasoning behind it?

Gabrielle suddenly realised that the bath water was beginning to cool rapidly amidst her distracted musings. She efficiently began her habitual cleaning process, lathering the soap over her feet and taking great care to clean between her toes. She decided that when a quiet moment presented itself she would try and make some subtle inquires to her friend regarding the visions. She did not want to have to explain what her vision had consisted of, it was a sensitive subject that she wanted to consider fully before broaching it.

With a new and interesting puzzle to occupy her previously unchallenged brain, Gabrielle felt even more contented. She began to hum quietly as she continued her bathing rituals.

The blonde woman crossed the active courtyard, fully dressed but with her hair still damp from her recent bath. She knew the Amazon's dotted around the village were watching her, their eyes silently tracking her progress from the bathing room to her temporary home. However, she ignored them, walking on determinedly with her head held high. Although she gave them no outward recognition, internally she was willing the time to arrive sooner when they could leave this place and leave these small-minded and cruel people behind. She sighed a little as she pushed open the door to the hut.

Xena was sitting on her chair, carefully braiding three strips of leather together. She raised her dark head and looked up as the bard entered the room. The warrior's look of concentration changed to a questioning one, her busy fingers resting for a moment.

"How was your bath?" Xena asked hopefully.

Gabrielle smiled indulgently, "It was wonderful," she responded, "exactly what I needed. Thank you." She finished sincerely.

"No problem." Xena smiled, glad that her idea had made her friend feel so much better. The bard actually looked better, her skin freshly scrubbed and her eyes bright. It was a great improvement to the slightly grey pallor her cheeks had held for the last few days.

Gabrielle put her belongings down on the bed, freeing her arms. She picked up the damp piece of linen she had used to dry herself off and folded it in half, spreading it over the horizontal wooden pole at the foot of the bed to air. She ran her fingers through her dark blonde hair, shuffling it a little to help it dry. Walking over to the window she looked out, surveying the women outside and sighing a little. "Where is Sophea?" She asked, unsurprised that Moss was absent too.

"They have gone for a walk in the forest." The warrior answered, her fingers resuming their rapid twining movement.

The bard perched on the edge of the empty pallet, not really sure what to do with herself now the activity of her bath had been completed. It was a very odd situation to adjust to when she was used to permanent, ongoing activity. She began to fiddle with the straps on her boots.

Xena smiled, the movement hidden by the dark hair cascading around her angled head. "Everything alright Gabrielle?" She asked.

The bard paused, fidgeting for a moment. "I guess I am a little fed up with the recuperation thing now." She answered honestly.

Xena looked up at her, nodding. "I understand," she confirmed, knowing only too well how frustrating it could be when you were hampered by physical limitations. "We need to make sure you are fully recovered though, before we leave the relative protection of the village."

Gabrielle could not argue with the warrior's logic but decided to ignore it for the time being. "Yes," she allowed, "but if I stay here much longer I am going to start going out and picking fights just so I have something to do. Now that cannot be safe either…" she argued, her eyes almost pleading the warrior to capitulate.

Xena laughed softly. "You are the best judge," she responded practically, "You are the one who knows whether you are recovered enough to travel and to face the danger that may follow."

The bard hated it when Xena did this, she made her feel responsible, giving her the freedom to make a mature, considered choice. The respect that the warrior gave her made it hard to make a decision that was anything other than mature, however strongly her heart may be saying otherwise. She considered for a moment, was she really up to life on the road or was it just a case of itchy feet? "I think we should prepare to leave." She said finally, deciding that she really did feel better and that the challenges of travelling would encourage her body to recover sooner than the lethargic life of staying with this foreign Amazon tribe.

"Ok." Xena agreed mildly, confident herself that Gabrielle's recovery had progressed enough to let her deal with sleeping rough again. Privately, it was somewhat of a relief to the warrior. She had longed to leave the village, the Amazon's, the scene of a battle that so nearly took her friend's life. "I had an idea I wanted to discuss with you." She continued, changing the subject to a related topic.

Gabrielle was both pleased with and reassured by the warrior's agreement, knowing that she would not have consented had her healer's knowledge said that the bard would have been putting her health at risk. Now though, they could start to get on with things and finally leave this village behind. "Sure, what's up?" She questioned, smiling.

"Sophea. She seems to like the Amazon lifestyle and it certainly suits her…" Xena began.

The bard interrupted. "Perhaps we could talk to Ephiny and ask if she could join them?" She suggested thoughtfully.

Xena grinned, pleased that Gabrielle saw the obvious advantages to the solution. "You are the Queen Gabrielle, what you say goes."

"I know," the bard answered promptly, "but when I am not there all the time it seems only fair to run ideas past Ephiny first."

The warrior nodded. "I don't think she will have any objections though…"

"I wouldn't have thought so," Gabrielle agreed. A movement outside the window caught her attention. "Time to break the good news." She grinned.

Sophea approached the hut with a spring in her stride. The walks were getting easier each day and today she had covered quite a distance. Moss padded along by her side, his pink tongue hanging out of his mouth as he panted. The ache of her ribs was gradually subsiding and although she knew it would still be some time before she recovered fully, today's walk had proven that she was able to return to a more active lifestyle. She pushed open the door of the hut with a smile already playing on her lips.

"Hey," she greeted her two friends.

"Hey," they responded in unison.

"How are you feeling?" Gabrielle asked, knowing that she and Xena would not depart the camp until Sophea was fit enough to travel too, however much they wanted to leave.

"Much better," Sophea grinned, "healing nicely. We covered a good distance today and I still feel good now." She smiled at the dog panting by her side as she put some fresh water in a dish, which she put on the floor for him.

"Great," the bard responded, it looked like they would be able to set out sooner rather than later. "I have an idea for you," she began, watching the young girl's expressions closely.

"Yeah?" The Amazon replied intrigued.

"You know I told you a bit about my native Amazon tribe?" Gabrielle continued, breaking into the subject smoothly.

"Yes, it sounds a great place." Sophea said, a slightly wistful tone underlying her cheerful one.

"How would you like to join it?" The blonde woman suggested simply.

"Really? Me? Wow!" Sophea was not exactly sure what to say, it was as though they had read her mind, found out her dearest wish and just granted it.

"I need to run it past the Reagent first but I don't think she will refuse." Gabrielle could not have been more pleased with the girl's reaction. Her young features animated with excitement and enthusiasm, her face glowing.

"When do we set out?" She asked, barely able to conceal her zeal.

Gabrielle looked at Xena who had been following the exchange in silence. The tall warrior smiled; finally, it all seemed to be coming together. "As soon as we have packed?" She offered, laughing a little at her own enthusiasm.

The afternoon sun spilled through the forest sending dappled light to carpet the mossy ground. The light rain of the day before had retuned the plants to a healthy shade of deep green and the rich smell of damp soil clung to the air. The water had affected the wildlife too, birds splashed in makeshift baths, making the most of the abundant insects. A group travelled along the narrow, twisting forest paths, chattering quietly and looking around themselves interestedly.

The group was lead by a striking warrior, tall and proud, her alert eyes surveying the surrounding trees. She led a beautiful golden warhorse that walked by her mistress' side, only pausing occasionally to sample the rich grass that grew by the side of their path. A shorter blonde woman was next in the line, assisting her confident and determined stride with a solid staff she used as a walking aid. A taller girl followed on, her shorter blonde hair shining in the afternoon sun. She was tanned and showed signs of one totally at home in the forest. By her side walked a large black and white dog who stopped regularly, his nose raised to the air and telling him things humans could only dream of.

It had taken them two weeks of travelling at a steady pace but now the landscape was wonderfully familiar, Ephiny's village only about an hour away. They were already entering the outskirts of the territory on the Eastern side and both warrior and bard knew it would not be long before they were recognised and messengers were sent back to the village to prepare for their arrival.

The departure from the unfriendly Amazon camp had been a blessed relief for all three of them, probably for the Amazon's too, Xena had reflected wryly. However, the last two weeks had been good, they had taken the opportunity to get to know Sophea better, the girl being far less reticent about details in her life now that her 'secrets' had been revealed. They had found her a good travelling companion, her cheerful disposition mixed with her well-developed hunting skills proving an asset. Moss had been great too, his specialist hunting help always useful and his presence reassuring. Both warrior and bard were fully convinced that the young girl and her constant shadow would make good additions to the tribe, each friend ready and willing to vouch positively for Sophea should Ephiny ask.

Xena and Gabrielle had enjoyed spending time together when there were no crises or threats to have to deal with. The bard's mysterious enemy had not sent any more attackers after her and apart from the usual road brigands, who were easily dispersed, they had not had any danger to face. All three women had enjoyed the trip immensely although they were all looking forward to the more civilised facilities on offer at the village they were rapidly approaching. For the first time in a while the party fell silent, each warrior thinking their own thoughts in the relative peace of the last remaining part of their journey.

Xena had not had any more visions since the last one she had had whilst her friend had been unconscious. The warrior had spent a great deal of her time thinking about the visions, of what she had seen and how she felt about the bard. She was considering talking to Gabrielle about the details of what she had seen. As yet she was still undecided about what the best thing to do was, but whilst they had had their extra travelling companions it was not a subject she would have broached anyway. Maybe while they stayed with their Amazon tribe, the warrior thought, at least then Gabrielle would have her friend's around her should it become difficult.

Gabrielle had thought about her vision a lot over the two weeks of therapeutic travelling. She had realised that her feelings for the warrior had not changed but her awareness of them had. She was considering talking to Xena about it but was not sure what the best thing to do was. There was the most important friendship of her life at stake and if Xena did not think of her in that way it could mean the end of their days of travelling together. Gabrielle did not think for one moment that Xena would send her away but so many little things could become awkward that it may be the only option left. She did not want to risk that. Perhaps the best place to mention it was at the village, the bard thought, where they could both be alone should they need time apart to think.

Sophea had had another vision whilst they had been travelling, it concerned her two new friends and the mysterious visions that she knew the warrior had been having. It was something she was planning to mention but had not wanted to raise that sort of subject while they were on the road when any kind of distraction could put them at a disadvantage. She also thought it was something that would be better mentioned when they two friends had the space to be alone together. She had decided that the new Amazon village would be the best opportunity as she knew the friend's planned on staying for a couple of days but then would be returning to the road once again.

Sophea felt a sudden, surge of panic grip her chest as three masked Amazon warriors approached them from the nearby trees. She tried to force it down, reassured by the fact that Moss had surprisingly refrained from growling. Her fears were genuinely appeased though when the warriors slid the masks onto the tops of their heads and dropped to one knee at the sight her of friends.

"Welcome back my queen," the lead Amazon said, addressing Gabrielle.

Sophea was momentarily dumbfounded, her brain rapidly trying to make sense of the greeting. Gabrielle was their Queen?

Gabrielle spoke up, a warm smile playing across her lips, "Hi Solari, good to be back!"

Xena caught the eye of the stunned Amazon walking behind the bard. She could not help but laugh at the expression on the young girl's face. "Gabrielle?" She purred.

Devastatingly innocent green eyes rose to meet hers, "Yes?"

"I think there was a minor point you may have forgotten to mention to Sophea." The warrior explained, her blue eyes dancing in amusement.

Gabrielle turned to look at her young friend, suddenly finding herself having to use all her self-control not to burst out laughing at the shocked look on the Amazon's face. "Oh, yeah." The bard agreed, scratching her jaw a little sheepishly. "Well, lets get to the village, I can explain it all over a cool mug of ale."

The three Amazon scouts had watched the exchange in silence, a little baffled but were encouraged by the idea of cold ale. They dispersed around the group, one in front and two behind, giving the queen her proper escort into the village.

Gabrielle had to feel sympathy for the village cooks. Their small party had arrived in the late afternoon and Ephiny had instructed the cooks to prepare a banquet for the same evening. However, it was great to be back, the bard acknowledged honestly, pleased to see so many familiar faces greeting her with genuine delight. As a matter of priority she had taken Ephiny to one side after the initial greetings and broached the subject of Sophea. She had given a brief outline of the girl's situation, omitting certain specific details that were not hers to tell. She explained all that the young girl had done for her and as expected, Ephiny agreed to make her a member of the tribe, saying that they now had two things to celebrate tonight, both the return of the queen and the welcoming of a new sister.

Xena had watched Sophea carefully as they had entered the camp. She usually tended to take a back seat at the tribe, allowing Gabrielle to commandeer the attention that was rightfully hers. This gave the warrior the freedom to see how her new friend adapted to the village that would become her home. She had shown signs of trepidation at first, understandably, the warrior acknowledged. However, after a little time and exposure to the friendly villagers, Xena watched the girl visibly relax and even begin to enjoy the celebratory atmosphere. Shortly after that, Gabrielle and Ephiny had come to find them.

"Hey." Xena greeted her friends. Raising an eyebrow at the bard.

"Hey." Gabrielle responded smiling and giving the barest hint of a nod that was only noticed by the warrior.

"Hello Xena," Ephiny greeted the tall warrior, pleased to see both her and Gabrielle looking relaxed and happy. "Hello Sophea," she greeted the young Amazon, holding out her hand and clasping the girl's arm as she continued. "Welcome to the tribe." She smiled, reassured by the pleasure and enthusiasm written across the girl's face.

"Hi," Sophea responded, unsure of exactly what to say. "Thank you, it's great here, I love it already!"

Ephiny nodded. "We are a little pushed for space at the moment I am afraid," she explained, "we are planning to build some new huts in the autumn but for the time being you will have to share."

Sophea grinned, she hoped that the situation would give her the opportunity to get to know people better and hopefully her bunkmate would be able to show her the ropes a little too.

Ephiny motioned to a young Amazon crossing the courtyard a little way away from them. The girl obediently came over, smiling equally at the faces she knew and the one she didn't. "Loucia, this is Sophea, she is the newest member of our family and will be sharing a hut with you for a couple of weeks. Will you help her settle in?"

Loucia nodded enthusiastically, grinning at Ephiny. "Sure." She confirmed, turning to address Sophea, "Come on, let's go dump your stuff." They began to move away, their conversation still audible for a short distance. "So is this your dog?" Loucia asked hopefully.

"Yes, his name is Moss…" Sophea had grinned back.

The three older women watched indulgently as the two girls and dog crossed the courtyard, disappearing into one of the further huts.

Ephiny broke the silence, smiling at the two friends. "So how long can you stay for?" She asked.

"A couple of days," Gabrielle responded, "long enough to catch up at least."

"Great," Ephiny was pleased, "Well why don't you guys go and relax for a while," she suggested, "I will go and see how the cooks are doing."

Xena and Gabrielle nodded, both immediately thinking of the good bathing facilities the village offered.

"See you at the banquet then!" The blonde reagent confirmed as she turned on her heel and moved towards the eatery with determined strides.

The dining area was crowded with merry, chattering Amazons celebrating the return of their queen and welcoming their new sister with copious amounts of wine and ale. The meal had been extravagant, the bard reflected from her seat at the head of the table between Ephiny and Xena. All sorts of delicacies had been served, the cooks having done sterling work considering the late notice. Now the celebrations had progressed to the entertainment stage. There were all sorts of acts designed to impress the queen, displays of weaponry, dancing and singing, all the while musicians where playing in the background.

The atmosphere was electric, Gabrielle admitted, enjoying the pleasure of her fellow sisters. However, she could not help wondering, for the nth time, why the celebrations were always on the day of her arrival after a long days travelling. Perhaps she should suggest to Xena that they camped overnight just outside the territory and arrived mid morning. That way she would be fresh enough to enjoy the festivities. Her eyes moved sideways for a moment, watching as the muscles at the corners of Xena's jaw tightened for a moment as she stifled a yawn. Gabrielle smiled to herself, taking pleasure in realising how well she knew her friend.

The moon was high in the sky, surrounded by bright stars. All the bard wanted to do was return to her familiar hut and fall into the comfortable bed. However, she knew that she was the guest of honour and that when she left it tended to mark the end of the festivities. She resolved to stay a little while longer, indulging her celebrating sisters.

Instead, the queen looked down the long table, successfully locating Sophea. Gabrielle knew that Xena had been keeping a close eye on the girl, noting how she settled in. The bard felt a sense of contentment as she saw the young Amazon sitting next to her new friend. They were each a little worse for wear, their youthful exuberance outweighing common sense when it came to alcohol. They were both happy though, laughing and grinning, their heads bent slightly together. Moss was lying under the table at his mistress' feet, he too had enjoyed the evening, having been fed more than his fair share of delicacies by two indulgent pairs of hands that kept channelling the food from their plates towards his waiting tongue.

After two more acts, the entertainment drew to a close leaving only the musicians to continue. Gabrielle could not fight off her drowsiness any longer and decided that now would be a good moment to slip out as discreetly as possible. She leant over and made her apologies quietly to Ephiny, who nodded in understanding. Xena had noticed the movement and was already almost halfway out of her chair by the time the bard turned to her. The pair managed to slip out relatively unseen, Xena only stopping to make eye contact with Sophea and nodding a 'goodnight' to her.

The cool night air was refreshing against the friend's over-heated skin and they both breathed in deeply, glad to be out of the stuffy building. They crossed the courtyard in contented silence, entering into the hut reserved for the queen. Gabrielle bent down immediately, unlacing her boots and kicking them off with a sense of utter relief. She looked over at her tall friend who had been a little quieter than usual since their arrival at the village.

"How are you doing?" She asked the warrior openly.

Xena was a little distracted, the celebrations had given her the freedom to just drift off into her own thoughts, too many of which had been dominated with exactly how good Gabrielle looked in her ceremonial Amazon leathers. "Yeah, good thanks." She responded, knowing she needed to elaborate further. "The meal was great and Sophea seems to be settling in well."

"Yes," Gabrielle agreed, pleased that the solution had worked so well for everyone concerned. Xena seemed a little distant though and she wasn't sure why. "Have you had another vision?" She asked tentatively.

Xena shook her head, "No," she answered honestly. "The last one I had was while you were unconscious."

The cold night air and solitude of the hut had woken Gabrielle up a little and she studied the warrior standing before her, deciding to take a chance. "I had a vision too," she admitted, "while I was unconscious I mean."

Xena looked across at her friend, recognising the slightly hesitant tone in the back of her voice. "What was it about?" She asked simply.

Gabrielle focused on controlling the flush that threatened to give her away. "It was all rather odd, you and I on a beach somewhere." She said, trying to make it sound uneventful.

Xena was shocked but was not prepared to give up now. "Really?" She asked, "Mine was the same," she confirmed.

Now it was Gabrielle's turn to be shocked as she wondered whether the warrior's dream had really been the same as hers or whether the environment was just coincidentally similar. "Oh," she said, her mind desperately grappling to come up with an elaboration to her comment. "I thought it might be similar to your visions," she began, "because there were a few people there that were wearing really odd clothes, I would have described it as alien."

Xena was pleased; this offered her a way to find out if the vision had been the same one or something different. "There were about four or five other people in my vision, and a man who was standing closer to us." She ventured.

This was uncanny, the bard decided, now fully awake. "Were we standing fairly close and facing each other?" She asked.

Xena nodded, her heart in her mouth.

Gabrielle screwed up her courage and prayed it would be ok. "Were there rings?" She asked.

Again Xena nodded as they both realised that they had shared the same vision and had remained silent about it for the past couple of weeks. The warrior recognised the courage that it must have taken the bard to ask the last question and decided that it was her turn. "All of the visions were fairly similar to that," she ventured, "but that last one was special, it has stayed with me ever since."

Gabrielle nodded silently, "Me too," she managed at last.

For a few moments, silence filled the hut as the friends regarded each other, acknowledging the edge of the precipice they were both standing on. They looked into each other's eyes, suddenly recognising the same depth and emotions the visions had showed them. Gabrielle crossed the small distance of the hut that separated them, reaching out for Xena's hand.

Xena clasped the warm hand in hers, the moment seeming so familiar but at the same time so new. She was beyond rational thought now, all pretences had been stripped away. Her brain was no longer in control, her soul had taken over and was reaching out to it's mate that stood so close.

The warrior bend her head a little, tilting her face down to meet Gabrielle's and simultaneously raised her free hand to gently cup the bard's cheek. Their lips were almost touching when a sudden flash of purple light made them draw back quickly and the sound of a slow handclap filled the hut.

"Ares!" The two friends exclaimed simultaneously, his image reconciling to their vision.

The tall, dark god stopped his handclap, his face decorated with his usual smug, self-appreciating smile.

"Well, hello ladies…" He drawled, grinning at them.

"What do you want?" Xena spat, angry at his intrusion on something so personal.

"My, my, that isn't a very nice way to welcome an old friend," he tutted, the smile not fading for a second. "And after I fought so hard for you too. I had to congratulate you in person though." He told Gabrielle, looking at her demeaningly.

"Congratulate me, for what?" Gabrielle asked, confused and irritated by his intrusion.

"What did you fight for Ares?" Xena asked sighing. Perhaps by playing along with his little game he would leave sooner.

"Why you of course," he smile widened as he looked at the warrior. "Do you think I would let the only woman who ever intrigued me just slip through my fingers without a fight?" He shook his head; "You should know me better than that."

Suddenly, the pieces fitted in Xena's mind. "You are the master," she accused, "you are the one who sent all of those attackers after Gabrielle!" Her voice rose in rage.

Ares looked smug. "Well, she is my main competition," he said eyeing the bard belittlingly. "It was quite a complex operation you know," he began, keen for the warrior to see the lengths he had gone to, to win her. "You noticed the vial early on, very impressive," he complimented before continuing. "It was a special brew I invented, it gives warrior's additional speed, strength and focus." He looked immensely proud of himself. "Worked like a dream wouldn't you say?" He puffed his chest out even more, about to explain the crowning glory of his campaign. "I also created my little pet that you met earlier, his veins flowed with the concoction. Only you could have defeated something like that Xena." He finally stopped, realising that his pride had blocked his vision from the steadily growing anger flashing in Xena's eyes.

"You Bastard," the warrior shouted, all of her anger and frustration bubbling toward the surface. "You sent that beast, it nearly killed her." Xena wished that Ares had not been a god, she would have delighted in ripping his body apart piece by piece for all of the pain and suffering he had deliberately caused to both Gabrielle and herself.

"It was you?" The bard asked quietly, part of her angry about the pointlessness of all that had happened but another part relived that his identity had been revealed. "Why?" She asked simply.

For a moment the smile faded, the god's dark eyes flashing. "Because, Blondie, you two were always destined to be together." He informed them, "but since you've been around you have made Xena repress her dark side, walking the path of 'good'." He raised his fingers and gesticulated the last word, spitting it out as though it were poisonous. He continued, slightly calmer, "not only have you taken my woman but you have also robbed me of my chosen warrior. Now, thanks to this," his hand waved around the hut, "I loose her forever."

Xena and Gabrielle were both stunned by his words, rapidly trying to comprehend what he had said.

"You did all of this because of that?" Gabrielle asked incredulously.

"Ares," the warrior's voice purred dangerously. "I am not your warrior or your woman and I never will be. Now get the hell out of my hut and if you raise one finger against Gabrielle again I will track you down and sing children's lullabies to you for the rest of my life."

Ares laughed, the low resonance rolling around the wooden hut. "Till next time then, Xena," his voice echoed as a sudden flash lit the hut, marking his exit.

Sophea looked around the rapidly quieting hall, Xena and Gabrielle had left a little while ago and since then more and more women were returning to their huts and their beds. Her eyes tracked to the young girl sitting next to her. She was pretty, her drunken mind reminded her.

Loucia was a just a little shorter than her with dark brown hair that reached about the middle of her neck. She was fit, as all the Amazon's were due to their active lifestyle. She, like Sophea, had a splattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose, adding a little spice to her healthy tan. The most incredible thing though, Sophea mused, was her deep brown eyes with their long lashes. She had noticed them straightaway and her attention had been drawn back continuously throughout the evening. She was rapidly becoming a good friend, the young Amazon smiled, she should thank Gabrielle and Xena once again for setting her free to come to this wonderful place.

The hall was almost empty but Sophea was still wide-awake and wanting to continue the celebrations. Perhaps her friend's would still be awake, her slightly fuzzy mind suggested, maybe this would be the perfect time to talk to them about the other thing too. She nodded to herself in satisfaction, that was a great idea! She rose to her feet, the room suddenly beginning to spin but calming down again as she took a few deep breaths. It was really quite odd, she reflected, it felt as though she were looking out through someone else's body and there was a slight delay as the details travelled to her own brain.

"I just want to go and say goodnight to Xena and Gabrielle," she informed her new friend.

Lou grinned, her eyes huge with heavily dilated pupils. "Sure," she responded, "see you back at the hut?"

Sophea nodded and the pair left the celebration together, striding off in different directions across the quiet courtyard.

Xena and Gabrielle were sitting side by side on the edge of the large, comfortable pallet that was the queen's bed. Silence filled the room, the friends now fully awake after the surprising events of the evening. They sat contentedly holding the steaming mugs of tea that Gabrielle had prepared, each replaying the conversation they had had with Ares.

Xena was angry; finally, the moment had arrived when she and Gabrielle had drawn naturally closely together, the next few moments inevitable. However, the god had turned up regardless, stopping their long awaited union. Then there was the news that he had been Gabrielle's mystery enemy, for reasons that amounted to little more than his male pride. He had put the bard's life in grave danger for little more reasoning than his own ego. The warrior was incensed at his selfishness and total lack of morality.

Gabrielle was relieved, now she knew who her enemy was she had also found out the reasons behind it. She felt a great weight lifted off her shoulders from the knowledge that she had not caused someone the amount of pain she feared she had. She tried to look at the situation positively, although she felt anger toward Ares she let it go, knowing that there was nothing she could do about it and that keeping it would only make her bitter. Instead she look at the good points of the situation, she and Xena were both still alive and in good health, they had made a new friend and her enemy had even given her an explanation, leaving them in peace and removing the threat that had hung over her heads for weeks now. There was also something that Ares had said that had stayed with her, her mind replaying it time after time. "You were always destined to be together…" No longer was it something that she alone had felt, sharing it only with the warrior on a platonic level, now it was something that the gods were aware of and something that even Ares himself seemed unable to change…

A soft knock on the door to the hut roused each friend from their similar musings. Xena sighed exasperatedly, "What now?" She muttered under her breath.

The door of the hut was opened by Xena, Sophea noticed, she liked Xena, she was the best warrior she had ever met and a really good person too. "Hey," she said, trying not to grin manically at the woman.

Xena relaxed a bit when she saw that it was Sophea at the door, she had a lot of time for the young girl and felt her impatience ebbing away into the cool night air. "Come in." She invited, holding the door open to let both the girl and the accompanying dog pass.

Sophea entered into the hut, relieved that the walls remained steady and reflecting that the cool air had probably helped her concentration. "Hey Gabrielle," she greeted her new queen sitting on the side of her bed.

Gabrielle smiled at the young girl with genuine warmth. "Hello Sophea," she answered, "would you like a mug of tea?"

Suddenly that seemed like a good idea, Sophea nodded mutely, sitting down on the sturdy wooden chair in the corner of the hut, Moss settling down beside her. She watched as Xena sat back down on the side of the bed and monitored Gabrielle's progress as she made her drink. "Thank you," she said, holding out her hands to accept the steaming mug a few moments later.

"What can we do for you?" Gabrielle asked, hoping that the girl had not fallen out with her new hut-mate so soon.

Sophea looked at them, suddenly unsure if she was doing the right thing by coming to talk to them but she realised that she had already got half way there so she ought to continue. "I had another vision." She began simply.

"Oh," Gabrielle responded, aware that she and Xena would be the only people that the girl could talk to about things like this. "What was it about?" She probed.

"You." Sophea answered, watching the slightly shocked looks inhabit the faces of her friends. She continued, hoping that she was doing the right thing. "It was a vision different to all the others I have ever had. This time I was in the forest and the white deer appeared but instead of leading me to see things it stood and spoke to me."

Xena and Gabrielle listened intently, knowing that the white deer was probably a figure assumed by Artemis, the goddess they already knew was responsible for Xena's visions and probably Gabrielle's one too. "What did it say?" Xena asked, keen to get to the point.

"It said that it had been responsible for your visions Xena, and your one too Gabrielle." She looked at her friends in turn.

Gabrielle had not doubted the girl but her statement proved the validity of her vision as the bard had not told another being of her vision until the warrior earlier this evening "Go on," she probed.

"The things that you saw are from your futures." Sophea said, suddenly answering the question of why everything had been so alien. "She wanted to show you that you are soulmates, destined to be together in defiance of the passage of time. The images you saw are several lifetimes into the future but it was important that she showed you what it was like when you shared your lives as a couple."

For the third time in one evening both warrior and bard were left momentarily speechless. A silence filled the hut as Sophea sipped her tea, allowing her friends to adjust to the potentially life-changing information she had just given them. She was, of course, completely unaware that the friends had already begun to realise the situation independently.

Gabrielle broke the silence, "Why?" She asked simply.

"I do not know for sure," she admitted, "However, you are a true Amazon queen Gabrielle," Sophea began, "the truth and goodness in your heart honours Artemis as goddess of the Amazons. Xena may not be an Amazon by birthright but she possesses unrivalled fighting and hunting skills, wherever she goes she raises peoples estimations of women, again honouring the Amazon culture." She paused briefly before continuing. "That would be my guess at least." She laughed softly, "It could be far more simple, she is the goddess of the hunt too, perhaps she thinks that you two have tracked and hunted long enough and it is time to capture your prize." She grinned at them, particularly at Gabrielle who had a faint flush creeping over her cheeks. "I think the important thing is she wanted you to know why you had been shown the things you were, she wanted you to believe in what everyone else can see."

Now Gabrielle's flush was rapidly turning into a deep crimson. Xena decided to come to her friend's rescue, "Thank you Sophea, you have answered a lot of questions for us."

Sophea nodded, draining her mug and placing it on the side. It was time to leave the friends alone to talk between themselves and for her to return to her new home and the new friend that waited there for her. She rose to her feet and motioned to Moss who rose too. Wishing her friends goodnight, they left the hut, the young Amazon crossing the deserted courtyard with a spring in her step and a suddenly soaring heart.

Warrior and bard sat down next to each other once again, this time all of their questions finally answered, the threats removed, leaving them with just one simple truth shining out above all others.

"Echoes of the future." Gabrielle murmured softly.

The warrior nodded, enchanted by the idea of spending so many lifetimes with the bard by her side, realising they were living a gift. "How are you feeling?" She asked her friend tenderly.

Green eyes met blue, full of hope and trust and a dawning realisation. "Lucky," she answered, "lucky that we are both together and well, lucky that I will spend my future with you standing beside me," she paused briefly, taking the warrior's hand in hers. "Lucky that I can finally tell you how much I love you."

Xena smiled at her soulmate through eyes suddenly filled with tears. "Ares said it was always intended to be that way."

Gabrielle nodded, her eyes filling too. "I think it always has been, ever since that first moment in that nondescript clearing not too far from Potadia…"

The warrior laughed softly, "There has always been something hasn't there, something that kept us together through the dark times as well as the light." She looked into the bard's eyes, searching them intently, "I have loved you for as long as I can remember Gabrielle, I may have been afraid to admit it even to myself but it has always been there. It is the force that my strength comes from, the energy to keep fighting in a world besieged with evil and when sometimes you seem like the only good soul. Your light guides me and I cannot begin to describe how happy it makes me to realise that that light will always be there to comfort me."

Silent tears ran down the bard's face as she realised that the intensity of her own feelings were only matched by Xena's. "You are my defender Xena, you are the one who I can always turn to for help and support." She paused momentarily before continuing. "I wrote a poem about that you know…" Gabrielle remembered, able to recite the words engraved on her heart. She spoke clearly, her eyes sparkling with the happiness at finally being able to deliver this to her warrior.

Soul's Blessing

You are so much to me.

In you I find everything that I need to survive,

You are the smile that warms my heart.

Even when the world outside is dark and cold,

Your hand steadies me along my path,

The course of life that is as unpredictable as you are dependable.

I know I have never told you,

How your presence by my side gives me the courage to face anything.

How your trust, given so willingly,

Is the greatest gift I have ever received.

And that when your eyes look into mine,

I am both lost and made complete.

You are my protector and defender.

Your strength shining out into the world,

A beacon of goodness, a warning sign to all evil.

I know I never told you,

But I am proud to be standing by your side,

Honoured to be your friend.

Please forgive me for all that I have never said.

I never told you that you are the root of my strength.

Of my belief that as long as your heart beats,

I will always have a home in the world.

I never told you that you are my hero,

My one solid truth in a fickle world.

I have never told you these things,

One simple reason prevented me.

I am afraid of facing life without you,

Terrified of the darkness that would follow.

Your soul paints my world in colour,

Your thoughts creating the depth.

I look into my heart,

And I can no longer deny.

My feelings for you grow stronger,

With each passing day.

So I stand in front of you,

My heart in my hand.

I would give up everything I had,

Just to walk by your side.

I have as little choice as you,

My love is yours.

It is a gift I no longer own to give,

But, for you, it comes with my soul's blessing.

Xena simply sat, enchanted with the words that were written for her. She felt totally unable to understand what she had done to deserve the love of her best friend but she knew that she would spend the rest of her life in gratitude for it. She smiled at Gabrielle, contented to lose herself for a moment in those mesmerising sea-green orbs.

The bard broke the contented silence, her words thoughtful. "I think that I finally believe the old myth about soulmates."

"The one where all humans were originally born with two heads and eight limbs…" Xena spoke, remembering the fable.

"The gods were angered by something they had done," Gabrielle picked up the story, "and Zeus sent mighty thunderbolts down, splitting each person into two and scattering them around the world. The two halves would spend the rest of their lives searching for each other, living incompletely until they found one another."

The vivid blue eyes gazed into sea-green ones. Xena reflected on the number of times she had heard the tale, but this time, somehow it seemed different. Magical perhaps. She raised her hand to the bard's cheek, gently caressing it with her thumb.

Their two faces leant towards each other once again, the taller warrior bending her head slightly to reach down. Finally, their lips met in a kiss that meant more than just friendship, it signalled the dawn of united souls who had finally found their way home.

The End