Subtext ~ This starts out as subtext then it? well we'll see.

Copyright ~ Lets see, Universal and MCA both own Xena, Gabrielle, Argo, and Darphus. I though own Lux, Gelidus, Augeus, and Cacus. So don't take my characters or story line, I'm very protective of them.

Author's Note ~ This is a brand new series guys. It has nothing to do with my first series, The Binding of the Soulmates of Time. There may be some things similar to that one, otherwise it's a whole new series. I've also tried to make Xena more interesting then what she was in the episodes I'm taking her from. They showed her kinda of a like a little kid with a temper. I think she's better but that's up to you to decided. Enjoy this story and tell me what you think!

Started: April 1st 2000 on Sunday

Series Two-Meeting in the Midst as One Story-One

If anybody has comments about my story please let me know at:

redhope@redhope.net

Part 1

Section 1

~*Part 1*~

"You haven't heard the last of me Hercules!"

Xena's upper lip twitched at that as her own words rung through her mind. How she almost had that demigod. Almost. And almost isn't good enough. No, she'd try again. But at the right time and the right place.

The warlord sighed. She lifted herself off the post of her tent, her arms still crossed against her chest. She walked out of her tent and went into the warm day. She looked around for her second in command. Not finding him, she headed straight to his tent. Xena came in, ducking her head down some. "Darphus?"

Darphus turned around from his bed, his earrings sparkling for a moment. "Yes Xena?"

"I've changed my mind."

The man completely turned his body to face his commander. "What you mean?"

Xena narrowed her eyes. "We're not going to Parathion province." She shifted to the wood table in the center of the tent.

Darphus came up to the table, he looked down to the table. "Then where in Hades are we going?"

The warlord looked up from the map on the table, her eyes still cold. "We're going here." She pointed down to the spot on the map.

The warrior looked down to where Xena pointed, he read the name. "Poteidaia?" He looked up to his commander. "What in Hades is in Poteidaia Xena?"

"Slaves."

Darphus furrowed his eyebrows. "We don't need slaves Xena. They'd only slow us down."

"Listen to me Darphus." Her voice was hard tone, it sent chills down the warrior's back. Xena continued. "I control this army, and we will go to Poteidaia. I want those women and children taken as slaves then sold."

Darphus grinned. "So that's the plan huh? Get more money?"

Xena straightened her back up and crossed her arms against her chest. "It is."

"I'm game then." The man now crossed his arms against her chest.

"Oh goody." Xena then shifted to the tent flap. "Make sure you let the rest know. We leave tomorrow morning." She walked through the tent and went outside.

~*Part 2*~

Xena took a deep breath. She watched as Darphus came galloping out of the gates of a village. She adjusted the reins in her hands. Beside her on another horse is her third in command, Gelidus. She'd never really liked the man. Then again she's never liked anybody. The only reason she kept Gelidus around is because he is scared of her. That's the only she liked about her third in command.

Darphus pulled his horse to halt beside the warlord's mare. "Xena?"

"What'd they say Darphus?"

"They said they refuse to come peacefully. I say we head down there now and kill every living thing."

The warlord kept her eyes down at the small village of Poteidaia. "No." She looked to Darphus. "We wait till tomorrow, give them time."

The second in command leaned to his left closer to Xena. "Don't give them the time Xena. We should-"

"No Darphus." Xena narrowed her eyes. "We fight with honor." She looked back to the small village, she grinned. "Besides, it'll give fear time to seep into their minds." She looked to her second and third in command. "Let's go back to camp."

~*Part 3*~

The warlord pulled back on her reins. It's the second day that they've come to Poteidaia. Behind her, she heard her men stop their horses then the footmen stopped walking behind. Darphus came up to Xena's right, Gelidus to her left. Xena looked to Gelidus. "Go down there, see if they reconsidered."

Gelidus nodded. He kicked his stallion and went cantering towards the village.

"They'll be prepared."

The warlord narrowed her eyes as she looked to Darphus. "It won't change the out come Darphus, only make it more interesting."

The second in command now narrowed his eyes. "Xena we should had taken the element of surprise yesterday."

"Don't tell me Darphus you are scared of villagers now?"

Darphus growled. "No."

"Good, then we wait till Gelidus comes back." She looked back to the village ahead. She spotted Gelidus coming back now.

The third in command came up to Xena's side. "They still refuse Xena and they're prepared."

Xena nodded. "I figured as much." Turning in her saddle she looked back to her men. "Take the women and children as prisons! Spare any man who surrenders!" Turning forward, Xena unsheathed her sword. "Attack!" Her horse was sent into a gallop, her war cry escaped from her lips.

The air filled with the din of men screaming as they ran or rode their horses across the ground towards the village, their swords up. Within less then a candlemark, Xena the Warrior Princess will capture Poteidaia in Greece.

Xena looked from her left to straight ahead, in her right hand was her sword, covered in blood. She reached behind to her cloak, she wiped the blood off. In front of her a ways is a cluster of women and children surrounded by her men. The warlord sheathed her sword. Her eyes narrowed as she watched Darphus.

Darphus grabbed the wrist of one young woman, he jerked her out of the group of women. "Don't ever try that again." He growled it out.

The young woman narrowed her eyes and spit in his face. "Like I'd listen to you."

Darphus wiped the spit off then reached down to his belt and removed a dagger, he lifted it near the girl's face. "Oh you will learn to listen to me." He lifted his arm a little more then began to bring it down quickly, but his arm was stopped. Darphus looked to his left into cold blue eyes.

"Don't even Darphus. We're warrior's not butchers." Xena squeezed Darphus's wrist hard.

The man dropped his dagger. Darphus cursed under his breath and threw the young girl back into the group of women and children. He then left the group.

The warlord watched him go, she then looked back to the huddling women with their children, she grinned. "Well, I have to say today was a good day of fighting." She crossed her arms against her chest. "I will be blunt with you all, each of you will be sold into slavery soon. So don't get comfortable."

"Wait."

Xena looked to her right. The girl Darphus had been harassing earlier was in front again, looking to Xena. The warlord narrowed her eyes. "And why?"

The young girl took a step closer to the warlord. "Don't sell us into slavery."

Xena grinned evilly, she leaned down some to the smaller younger woman. "Then what do you expect me to do? Shower you with happiness?" The warlord heard all her men start to laugh at her joke. She straightened back up.

"No I don't expect you to at all." The young girl took a deep breath, she felt her body shaking. She didn't know which was scarier. The stories she'd heard of the Warrior Princess or her beauty. Either way, she was breathless by both. "There's got to be another way."

Xena laughed sarcastically. "There is no other way girl. There is nothing here that Poteidaia can offer me." She grinned. "Other then slaves."

The young girl held her hands out in front of herself. "No wait, there's got to be another way. Maybe uh? how about a treaty? You know between you and Poteidaia?"

The Warrior Princess narrowed her eyes. "I have no use for Poteidaia. You're wasting my time."

"Think about it, if you have a treaty with Poteidaia then we could offer you food and supplies anytime you come through this area. You can't tell me that is less valuable then the money you'll receive from the slavers. Even more so when the money runs out."

"That wouldn't cut it." Xena then began to move.

The young girl ran her right hand through her hair. "I'll? I'll offer you personally? my? my services." She closed her eyes as she just realized what she said. Her services? What in Tartarus is that? But then again if she can be near Xena, she can get Xena dead. Paybacks, retribution, and death. How gods how these days in age revolved around these sort of things.

Xena turned back around to the girl. "Your services huh?" Xena grinned. "And what services would those be?"

The young woman grinned. "I have many skills."

The warlord arched an eyebrow at that. She felt as if that were a competition. Oh how she loved those. "Deal. I receive a treaty with Poteidaia for supplies and you. In return I will not take the women and children to be sold into slavery."

The young girl nodded. "It's a deal then."

"No!" An older woman pushed her way through the crowd and grasped the younger woman.

The younger woman turned to the older woman. "It's okay Mom."

"No its not, I'm not letting that murdering harlot take my daughter!" She looked up to the Warrior Princess.

Xena grinned. "Sorry, the deal has been made." She turned her head to her left to Gelidus. "Take the girl and free these people."

Gelidus stepped into the group and grasped the young girl by the arms, pulling her from her mom's grasp.

"No don't take my daughter!" The woman struggled to keep her daughter. But she lost her grasp. "No! Gabrielle!" She began to cry.

The young girl looked back to her mother. She didn't know what to say as she was pushed out of the crowd of people. She just kept her eyes locked with her mother's.

Gelidus looked up from his hostage to his commander.

The warlord looked to him. "Take Gabrielle." She looked down to Gabrielle in his arms with an evil smirk. "My slave to my tent."

Gelidus nodded his head and hauled Gabrielle off and out of the village.

Xena ducked her head down as she walked into her tent. As soon as she rose to her full height, she looked to the person in front of her, in the center of her tent. The warlord stood there staring at the young girl. She took in her clothes.

The girl dressed in a brown dress that reached to her ankles, then a regular peasant sky blue shirt and a blue cotton jacket with brown stripes on the arms. Her hair is a brilliant blond her body small and still young. And even from here, Xena could see her crystal green eyes.

Xena walked up to her with no expression. She looked down into those emerald eyes. Xena lowered her head closer to Gabrielle's. The smaller woman began to breathe heavy. The warlord's eyes narrowed and she straightened back up and quickly walked to her left, her cape flowing behind her. Gabrielle sighed in relief.

"Tomorrow, I'll return to your village to take care of the treaty." Xena turned away from her desk to Gabrielle. "I'm giving you the option to tell me if you want anything from your home."

Gabrielle turned to look to the warlord. "There's? nothing I need."

Xena nodded, she walked up to Gabrielle again. "Very well then." She looked down to the other woman again. "You will sleep in the tent with the cooks, they shouldn't bother you. Find the man that brought you here, Gelidus, he'll tell you where the tent is."

"Is that it Xena?"

The warlord's right hand shot out to grasp the smaller woman's left wrist. She raised Gabrielle's arm as she squeezed tightly. "You will respect me. Do you understand me?"

The peasant girl had her teeth clench against the pain. "Yes."

"Good." Then she squeezed a little hardier. "And don't call me Xena." She grinned. "I'm your mistress." Xena then tightened her hold enough to almost break Gabrielle's bones. But she didn't and roughly jerked the young woman's arm away.

Gabrielle stared up into Xena's eyes. "Yes Mistress." It was low and seeped with hatred.

"Now get out." Xena said that in a growl. "I'll call for you when I need your? services."

"Yes my mistress." She still stared up and then walked out of the warlord's tent. When she left the tent to be in the early evening, she let out a breath she'd been holding. She looked down to her left wrist to see it red and starting to swell. Reaching with her right hand, she began to rub at it. Earlier Gabrielle had wanted to rub at it, but didn't want to show any sort of weakness towards the warlord.

Gabrielle sighed and kept walking. She kicked herself mentally for the pit she got herself into. My services? What was I thinking? I'm never going to make it. She then took a deep breath. No, I'm going to get even with that murderer, I don't care what it takes. Sighing, the young girl looked around for the third in command. She spotted the nasty man with a reddish hair and beard.

Night had come soon after Gabrielle went to the cooks' tent. There she'd set herself up a space in the tent. She'd found out there were three cooks total, she hadn't met them yet. But she knew she would later tonight. Right now though, she was walking to the dinner tent. Gabrielle just hoped these cooks could cook well, her stomach was growling.

She walked into the tent a little ways, what she found were filthy all male warriors sitting at benches eating. Her appetite dropped. The peasant girl was about to turn around and leave, but she felt a presence come in behind her.

"You're not leaving."

Gabrielle closed her eyes at the familiar voice. She turned around to look up into sapphire eyes. "Yes Mistress."

Xena looked down. "Get use to it slave, you're here for life." She then looked up. "Follow me." She walked pass the girl and walked to the other side of the tent where there is a long table set up with food. At the far right end was where the wine and port was located with mugs. The warlord looked to her slave. "You're to come up here to get the food for me and drinks." Walking to the opposite end of the table, they came to where stacks of dirty dishes were starting to accumulate. "This is where the dishes go at the end. Got me?"

Gabrielle simply nodded her head.

The Warrior Princess smiled. "Good, now get the food and drinks together. I'll be waiting at one of the benches."

The peasant narrowed her eyes. "Sure." Gabrielle watched her mistress go to a bench and sit down. Turning back around she sighed and walked down to the food table and picked up a plate. This is going to be a long night and she knew it.

Xena dropped her fork onto her empty plate. She looked across her table to Darphus. "I want you to come by my tent later tonight, bring your map. We need to discuss where we're going."

The second in command nodded. "Alright."

The warlord nodded her head. She sat on the end of the bench. To her right on the ground was Gabrielle, sitting.

Xena looked up from her with a grin.

"What you plan to do with her Xena?"

The warlord looked to the second in command. "Whatever I please, she is my slave."

"You can't be serious Xena."

The Warrior Princess narrowed her eyes. "I am Darphus. And don't get any ideas in your thick head to do something to her."

Gabrielle looked up at hearing that, her heart rate picked up. How could she forget how she'd punched Darphus back in Poteidaia? But deep inside she felt this small warmness spark from Xena's defense of her. She rammed that warmness deep down with her hatred for the warlord.

"Trust me Xena."

Xena made a growl response. "I don't Darphus." She stood up from her seat with her plate and fork. Xena went to the other side of the tent to rid herself of her dirty dishes.

Gabrielle was about to spring up, but she saw Darphus looking down at her. She looked to him and he gave her a knocked out tooth smile, his eyes glistening with trouble. The small woman felt a chill ripple through her body. Then to her left she saw Xena coming back.

The warlord held an apple and banana in her right hand, she looked down to Gabrielle. "Come slave." Xena then walked past Gabrielle to the tent flap.

The peasant girl got up and followed behind the Warrior Princess. The warlord reached her tent entrance, she stopped there and turned around the young girl. "Here." She tossed Gabrielle the fruit.

Gabrielle stared down at the fruit for a second a bit surprised. She looked up with cold eyes. "Thank you." It was a bitter thank you.

"Go to your tent till tomorrow." Xena then turned on her heals and walked into her tent.

The peasant stared at the tent flap for a moment, she then headed to the cooks' tent to sleep there for the night.

~*Part 4*~

She felt somebody grasp her right shoulder and shake her. Gabrielle moaned and opened her eyes to see an older man looking down at her. She stiffened up quickly.

"It's okay little one."

The peasant girl took a deep breath and tried to remember where she is, it quickly came to her. It was no dream.

"You need to get up. You're helping me and the other two cooks get the food ready for today." The man stepped back.

"Where's Xena?"

"She went to Poteidaia to conduct the contract with the town."

The peasant nodded her head. Gabrielle swung her feet over the bed and stood up. "What's your name?"

The chef smiled. "My name's Lux. Yours is Gabrielle right?"

The young woman nodded. "Yeah, how'd you know?"

Lux grinned. "You're the talk of the camp."

"Really? Why?"

"Because Xena spared that village for you." He then turned to the tent flap. "Come on little one."

Gabrielle stood there still for a moment. Because Xena spared that village for you. The words repeated in her head. She blinked and shook her head, she followed behind Lux.

She met the other two cooks; Augeus and Cacus.

Augeus was originally a warrior for Xena but ended up getting physically ruined. But Xena had decided to keep him as a chef, Augeus never minded.

Cacus on the other hand was young, Gabrielle's age actually. He stumbled into Xena's camp about a month ago. They'd taken him and decided to make use of him knowing the cooks could use his help. Cacus though had been living on his own, never known who his family is.

But by late morning Xena had returned. She rode back in to the cleared camp with Darphus, and five other men behind her. Once she came into the camp, she dismounted from her mare, her other men doing the samething. The warlord then went about making sure her army was in order.

Gabrielle stood there and studied the warlord. She watched as Xena fought five of her own men for practice, just practice. The peasant would hate to see Xena fight in a regular situation. Thankfully she never saw the warlord kill her father and sister, but she knew it had happened. Gabrielle knew Lila wasn't killed personally by Xena but her father. When she saw her father dying on the ground, she rushed over to him. He'd whispered that the Warrior Princess had stabbed him with her sword without a second thought.

Since then, Gabrielle has never been the same. She's never hated somebody more then now. She hated the warlord yet for some reason she was drawn to Xena. Although she fought the draw, she wouldn't follow through with it. She would just ignore it. Right now, she wanted to get close to the warlord, physically. So then she can kill Xena. Knowing how she was going to do that, she had yet to figure out. But either way she would kill the warlord in revenge for her father and sister.

One thing was for sure, it's going to be Hades hard to kill this warlord. Gabrielle just saw Xena do a back flip and back kick one man, twist around and punched another man. The warlord then just stood there shaking her head. All five men down on the ground, out cold.

She looked up to the crowd of her warriors watching to pick things up from their commander. "That was pathetic. I stopped all five of you with my bare hands. And you call yourselves warriors?" The warlord narrowed her eyes, she walked out of the open space. "Get cleaned up." Xena then walked up to her slave.

Gabrielle held a water skin for the warlord to drink from. The warlord took it and drank from it. She then handed it back to the smaller girl. Xena then looked down with hard eyes. "Go back and help the cooks."

The peasant narrowed her eyes. "Alright." She said it grudgingly.

Xena's teeth clench, she reached to her waist, she removed a dagger. She put it to the young woman's neck and held it tight there. "You will respect me." The dagger was pressed a little hardier.

The slave stared up into the warlord's eyes, she tried to ignore the knife point. "I am doing as you wish."

"Don't play games with me. If you do not stop with this centaur shit, I have no problem going back to your home village." Xena grinned. "It is in our agreement."

Gabrielle closed her eyes then opened them again. "Yes my mistress."

"Good." The warlord removed the dagger.

The peasant then turned around and walked off, she headed through the camp. She had her head down low, not paying attention to anything. Then she felt herself hit somebody. Looking up, she found out whom.

"Nice to see you slave." Darphus reached down with his right hand to Gabrielle's shoulder. "I still owe you for last time." He grinned.

"Don't."

The warrior laughed. "Is this slave telling me what to do?" He pulled her roughly against his body. "I'll show you some manners."

"Darphus?"

The man looked up and soon found a fist in his face. He released the peasant and stepped pack. Darphus looked to see whom punched him. "Xena?"

The warlord grinned, she stood behind Gabrielle. "You got it." She walked past Gabrielle to come near the warrior. "Don't touch my slave."

Darphus reached up to his upper lip, he wiped the blood away. "Very well then." He walked off.

Xena turned around to face Gabrielle. "You're lucky."

Gabrielle glared at the warlord. "About what? I'd rather have been raped by him then saved by you."

Xena grinned. "As you wish." The warlord then walked off.

Gabrielle sighed, she flopped down on her bed and sighed. She was so tired from the long day. But yet she isn't ready to go to sleep. So she stood up and walked out of the tent again, she went to sit down on the ground at the far end of the tent.

She heard boots scuff on the ground, her body tensed. Looking up, she spotted Lux coming towards her.

"Hey little one."

She smiled a little. "Hey Lux."

He stepped up to her and then he slowly sat down. And slowly because of his worn body, his old age. Lux looked to Gabrielle with a smile. "Long day huh?"

The peasant sighed. "To say the least."

Lux nodded then looked a head, he stared down the torch lit camp and towards the woods. "How you been doing little one?"

"Okay."

"Yeah?" He took a deep breath. "I'm old but I know things. And I know you're angry."

"Why shouldn't I be Lux? I'm Xena's slave."

"But if I recall right little one you wanted to be."

Gabrielle sighed. "Yeah well I thought it would be better then having my town enslaved." Not to mention maybe kill her.

"And that is very brave of such a little one like you Gabrielle." He looked to Gabrielle. "But don't stay angry for so long."

"And why?"

"Because you'll be no better then Xena herself."

The young girl stared at Lux for a moment, she then looked away. "Maybe."

"You know it's the truth little one. Beat her at her own game Gabrielle."

Gabrielle looked to the cook with furrowed brows. "And what game is that?"

"Her game of control." He sighed. "You have to understand her little one."

"What's there to understand Lux?" She shook her head. "You can't tell me she's not some murdering bitch?"

"I can't argue with that." Lux locked his hands together and dropped them in his lap. "You see little one, I've known her for awhile, she hasn't always been like this."

"Oooh. What she use to kill every other day instead of every day?" Gabrielle bitterly laughed and looked away. "She'll get hers."

Lux sighed. "Gabrielle, stop the hate. It needs to end sometime and love needs to rule again."

Gabrielle whipped her head to stare at Lux, her eyes welded up with tears. "Are you asking me to forgive that murdering harlot? Forgive the person that has killed my father and sister then enslaved me? Is that what you are asking me?"

"Yes." He kept his eyes locked with Gabrielle's.

"Why?"

"Because this world needs somebody like you Gabrielle. Somebody with so much hope, love and light."

Gabrielle laughed bitterly again, she looked away. A few tears rolled down her cheeks. "Right, I have no hope, love or? light. Xena killed it all."

"Did she really?" Lux stood up from sitting beside Gabrielle. He looked down. "Remember Gabrielle, everything is a theater even Xena is. She's got a backstage." The cook then walked off going into his tent.

The small peasant still sat there, she stared up at the stars. Tears began to roll down her face. She kept thinking about her father and sister who were killed in the battle. That only made her cry more. The pain of losing her father and sister along with her memories of them. Finally though, she's released some of her pain, some of her hatred. But only some.

Gabrielle lifted her head to stare up at the stars. "I'll beat Xena? somehow."

~*Part 5*~

By the next morning, she was awaken by Lux again but way before dawn.

"Look little one. Xena wants us breaking camp early this morning. You need to get up."

Gabrielle nodded. "Alright."

Gabrielle and the three cooks prepared for breaking camp. They had to prepare quick and easy foods to eat on the road. Xena wanted to travel all day to the north. Gabrielle was more then busy, almost tired by the time she was done her chores.

The warlord was getting her own mare ready. She walked around a tent with Argo in tow. She quickly spotted Gelidus and walked up to him. "Are we ready to go?"

The third in command nodded. "We are."

Xena nodded. "Great, where's my slave?"

"I'm here my mistress." Gabrielle walked through some warriors and came up to Xena.

The warlord looked down to her, then she looked up to Gelidus. "Tell the men to get their horses saddle up and we're headed out of here right now."

The man nodded. "It'll be done." He then left to gather the men up.

Xena looked to her slave and then walked to the saddlebags of her mare. She reached in and pulled out a rope. "Come here."

The peasant girl walked over to Xena.

"Hold your wrists up together."

Gabrielle did as she was told and she watched as Xena began to wrap one end of the rope around her wrists. She looked up with cold eyes to the warlord. "Why?"

The Warrior Princess jerked the rope tight making Gabrielle flinch. She then began to tie a knot. "To make sure you don't run off."

"I won't."

Xena looked up to her. "You haven't earned my trust to let me believe that." She took the other end of the rope and turned to her horse. She tied that end of the rope to the saddle horn. Turning back around, she added on to her last statement. "Besides, you don't want to wonder around these men." Then the warlord climbed up onto her warhorse and looked in front to see her men all ready to move.

Gelidus came up to her on his horse. "The men are ready."

Xena nodded. "Good lets go." She turned her mare around and kicked her into a walk. Gabrielle walked beside the horse.

The third in command looked back to the men. "Let's move!" Xena's army started walking behind her.

The long trek north quickly wore on Gabrielle. She was tired by the late morning, she was never expecting to do walking all day to add. Not to mention she never had time to get something to eat. She hadn't eaten properly for a day. It was weighing on her.

Now though as they kept marching, the sun was sinking into the west, it was afternoon. Her legs ached, her body was hot from the sun baking her with no water. Then her wrists ached strongly from the tight bonds. She was about to give up any second.

Xena looked down to her left at the girl. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed how pale the girl looked. The warlord pulled on the left rein to bring Argo off the rode and to the side. She hopped off the mare's back while her men kept walking past.

Gabrielle felt relief in stopping, she looked to her mistress.

The Warrior Princess shifted close to her. "Get up on the horse, I'll help."

The small women didn't move, she just stared in the warlord's eyes. She was amazed by what is happening. She nodded her head and shifted close to the horse, she realized just how high the horse was.

"Put your left foot in that stirrup and grab the saddle horn as best as possible."

Again the peasant girl nodded. She slipped her left foot in the stirrup and grabbed the horn between her bonded hands. She then began to lift herself. She felt warm hands grasp her sides and help push her up. Once she got up into the saddle, she noticed Xena's left hand lingered on her side for a second more then needed.

Xena then reached forward of Gabrielle and gathered the reins. Looking up, she noticed her slave was using her legs mostly to hold herself still in the saddle. She sighed and reached down to her right boot. She retrieved her dagger and looked up to Gabrielle. "Let me see your hands."

Gabrielle looked down and then turned a little to hold her roped hands down. The knife went to her bonds.

"Can I trust you?"

The slave looked down to lock eyes with Xena. "Yes." She thought she'd just lied, but she knew she hadn't.

The warlord nodded and cut the bonds. She removed the rope and noticed how red the girl's wrists were, she didn't know she'd tied them that tight. Turned to her saddlebags she shoved the rope into the bag. Her dagger went back into its home and she started to walk, Argo in tow.

Now they were walking behind the army instead at the front. It was a different scenery then what Xena was use to. She sighed and tightened her hold on the reins some. "Did you get something to eat this morning?"

Gabrielle shook her head. "No."

Xena nodded. "Reach into my right saddlebag, there's some trail bars in there and a water skin."

The slave nodded. "Thank you." It was low but more sincere compared to last night's thank you.

For a while there was silence as Gabrielle ate. The pair listened to the clip clop of the horses' hooves and the warriors' armor clanking from the army.

The peasant girl took one last sip from the water skin and placed it into the saddlebag again. Her wrists still ached while her shoulders hurt from being forward so much. She sighed and shifted in the saddle a little.

"Don't get to comfortable."

Gabrielle looked down. "Why Mistress?"

Xena kept her eyes pinned ahead. "Because you're going to be walking a lot, get used to it."

Gabrielle's upper lip twitched. "Yes Mistress." She looked back ahead. "Where? where we going?"

The warlord looked up. "We're headed north to Cirra."

"Cirra?"

Xena nodded as she looked back ahead. "It's a fair size village. Have an old score to settle with them."

Gabrielle felt her body go cold, she didn't like the sound of it. "What happened Mistress?"

"It's none of your concern slave."

The slave closed her eyes to fight the anger. "Yes Mistress."

The day kept moving, so did the army. Surprisingly, Gabrielle was allowed to still ride Argo till they made camp. The army going off the rode and into a large grass field. There they began to unpack some of the things and camp for the night. Xena wanted to get moving early the next morning, she had plans to make it to Cirra in two more days.

Once though they came to the open grass field, Gabrielle got off the mare. The warlord telling her to go help Lux and the others to prepare for dinner. The peasant girl had nodded at that and went to find them. By night, the chefs and Gabrielle had the dinner prepare.

~*Part 6*~

The following day found Xena and her army traveling again. They'd broke camp early in the morning.

Gabrielle had her hands tied again. She'd walked far behind the warlord's mare, she was walking just in front of a number of warrior's horses. Snickers and low talking filled the air around Gabrielle. She knew they were talking about her.

They weren't just talking about her but also about Xena not enslaving Poteidaia. Xena's warriors thought her weak of this. And when they talk of this, their voices seeped with hatred and anger. That in turn made her grin, she like their anger towards Xena and maybe she could use it. But as they kept talking and Gabrielle heard them getting on the topic of Darphus, she was no longer agreeing. She didn't like Darphus and they all sided with him over Xena.

She actually rather side with Xena over Darphus.

But the day kept moving. By the time Xena decided to stop marching it was late afternoon. Gabrielle's legs ached but the warlord told her to go with Lux again. She was starting to figure out her job at nights, being a slave chef.

Gabrielle though for some reason persuaded Lux about trying a new dinner. Believing it would put Xena and her men in a better mood. And so they had, the slave actually nervous that it wouldn't settle well with the warlord. But she would take full responsibility to it. And if it made her relation with the warlord worse then she wouldn't care.

Gabrielle lifted the plate in one hand, in her other was a mug with a fork and knife. She carried it through the food tent to where Xena sat. She came up to the Warrior Princess and placed the plate of food down then the mug with the utensils.

"Sit down slave."

The peasant girl nodded her head, she sat down on the ground again. Things were the same all over again, she sat on the ground while Xena ate and talked to Darphus.

Darphus slammed is mug down and spoke to Xena in a low but angry tone. "That's stupid Xena."

Immediately the warlord's head went up, her eyes ice cold. "Darphus, the only reason its stupid to you is because you are stupid." Xena then went back to eating her meal. She was actually liking it, honey marinated chicken with broccoli and white rice.

The man snarled. "Xena why do you want to take Cirra over? They'll be waiting for you."

"Because I said so Darphus."

Gabrielle wasn't liking this conversation. She was actually siding with Xena while her anger shifting from Xena to Darphus. She couldn't stand the man nor the sight of him.

"Because you said so? What is that Xena? Cirra has you on their hit list after last time. You think I'm stupid, you're the stupid one for returning."

Xena looked up again, her eyes narrow.

That's when Gabrielle stood up from the ground, she reached forward to Xena's mug. "I'll fill your mug up Mistress." As she began to lift the warlord's mug, she hit Darphus's mug with her arm, rather hard. The half-filled mug fell into Darphus's lap.

"Why you bitch." The second in command reached down into his lap to get the mug.

The slave looked to Xena, the warlord already looking up to her. Xena arched an eyebrow at her in question, Gabrielle just winked back. "I'll be back with your mug my mistress." She walked off with Xena's mug. All the way to the table with the drinks, she could hear Darphus cursing.

She filled the mug and returned to the table, Xena was still eating. She carefully placed the mug down on the table again. Once the base of the mug met the table, Darphus's hand shot out to grasp Gabrielle's wrist. The young woman looked down to him.

"Want to make sure you don't? accidentally spill your mistress's mug. We wouldn't want that would we?" He squeezed tighter.

"Darphus, leave her alone." Xena pinned the man with her eyes.

Darphus looked to his commander, his upper lip twitched. He then released Gabrielle's hand. "I can't quite understand why the rest of the men can't use the slave."

Gabrielle removed her hand as Xena responded to Darphus. "Because she is mine. Get it in your head before I do it for you." She then looked up to her slave. "Go help out Lux with the dishes. Once you're done come by my tent."

The small girl nodded. "Yes Mistress." Gabrielle then quickly left to go help the other cooks. She'd felt a sort of satisfaction in angering Darphus. Though right now she wasn't sure whether siding with Xena was in her best interest or not.

"Mistress?" Gabrielle straightened up from ducking into Xena's tent.

The warlord turned around from her bed. Xena only stood in her armor and leathers, the cape and boots gone. "Come over here."

Slowly the young woman walked over to Xena. She looked up to Xena.

"Sit down."

Gabrielle did as she was told, she sat on the bed and adjust her skirt some then crossed her legs at the ankle.

"Care to explain why you knocked Darphus's mug over?"

The slave shrugged her shoulders. "He was being rude to you."

Xena nodded her head. She walked over to her trunk and opened it. "So that was the only reason?"

The young woman looked to Xena. "Well, I said I'd offer you my services. I guess? well it's part of my services."

The warlord took off her armor now, placing it in the trunk. All she had on was her leather and some jewels in her hair. She walked back to face the other woman. "Interesting." A pause as she studied Gabrielle's eyes. "You do realize you are the first person to ever defend my honor?"

"No Mistress." Gabrielle took a deep breath. "Nobody has ever before?"

Xena's eyes went to slits, she bent her head down close to Gabrielle's. "For a slave, you ask to many things."

The slave kept her head high. "That's just me."

The warlord rose back up. "Mmm." Xena grinned. "Just don't do it too often."

Gabrielle blinked, she was stunned but nodded her head. "Yes mistress."

Xena walked over to the other side to sit down in a chair, she faced Gabrielle. "You got something to eat I assume?"

"Yes I did."

"Good, I don't need you fainting on the road tomorrow."

The peasant narrowed her eyes but just a little. For her anger wasn't as strong now. "I won't."

Xena grinned. "Good."

The young woman calmed back down. She asked a question with hard tone. "Can I ask you something Mistress?"

"Yesss."

"Why do you keep Darphus around?"

Xena nodded a few times. "Keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer."

Gabrielle furrowed her eyebrows. "You mean he's like a friendly enemy?"

"Something like that." Xena then crossed her arms against her chest. "So you cook huh?"

"Yes, how'd you know?"

The warlord grinned. "Because I'm use to having the same old centaur shit for dinner but tonight was different."

The slave crossed her arms against her check. "Bad change?"

"No I liked it, keep at it."

Gabrielle smiled a little at that. The smile seemed to reflect on Xena, because she smiled just the same. The warlord then wiped away the smile quickly, her eyes harden again. That only made the slave drop her smile as well.

There was an awkward silence for awhile then Xena broke it. "You better get to bed. We have a long trek up to Cirra." Xena stood up.

Gabrielle stood up. "Yes Mistress." She padded over to the tent flap.

"Slave?"

The peasant stopped at the tent and turned around to look to the tall warlord. "Yes?"

"Truce between us?"

Gabrielle stared at the other woman. She couldn't believe what she was just asked. Why would this warlord want a truce. Maybe Lux is right? But about which part? The control game or the backstage? The peasant decided to go with it so she could find out this warlord's game. "Truce then." She paused. "But it doesn't mean I like you."

The warlord nodded. "Reasonable."

The slave nodded and turned back around and walked out of the tent, she went to the cooks' tent. She then found herself in bed.

~*Part 7*~

Gabrielle found herself woken up early. She had to help get the camp ready to leave. She'd heard that Xena wanted to get near the outskirts of Cirra by late afternoon. But she hadn't heard what would happen once they got to Cirra. She just assumed that they'd conquered the village.

By late afternoon the army was almost ready to move. Gabrielle stood by the warlord's mare, holding the reins waiting for Xena to return. And she did.

She came up to Gabrielle and took the reins. Xena then locked eyes with Gabrielle. "I'm giving you a chance. I'm trusting you not to run off."

The peasant girl nodded. "I won't Mistress."

Xena nodded. She then hopped up into the saddle on Argo and looked to her men. "Let's move! We have a lot of ground to cover!" The warlord then squeezed Argo's side, the mare started walking.

The entire day the army walked, none stop. Gabrielle walked beside the warlord's horse. She was constantly looking around, never really paying attention to her surroundings. Off to her right she saw Darphus come up to Xena's right flank.

"Xena, we'll be near Cirra soon."

The warlord nodded. "Good."

"Where should we make camp? Close to Cirra?"

"No farther from Cirra."

Darphus narrowed his eyes. "Why? We should be near the village to scare them."

"Um excuse me?"

Xena and the second in command both looked to Gabrielle who walked to the left of Xena's horse.

Gabrielle took a deep breath. "Sorry, but if you camp near Cirra won't that warn them and only make them prepare for the attack? Then you'll lose the element of surprise."

The warlord grinned and looked to Darphus. "You see Darphus, even a slave would know the stupidity of camping near the town." She then went serious. "No I want us to camp far away."

Darphus gritted his teeth. "Yes Xena." He then slowed his horse's walk. He kept his eyes pinned on Gabrielle.

Xena's army trekked for another candlemark. Gabrielle was feeling the wear of it on her legs and feet. She sighed and crossed her arms against her chest.

The warlord looked down to her then back up. She talked low to Gabrielle. "How you feel?"

The small woman looked up to Xena and noticed the warlord wasn't looking to her. She studied the warlord's profile trying to figure out the warlord's purpose by that question. So she looked back ahead and decided to respond. "I feel tired Mistress."

Xena nodded. "That's what I figured." She took a deep breath. "Don't worry, we're almost there."

And the Warrior Princess was right. They came around two bends and off to their right was an open field of grass with quite a view of rolling grass hills. Then a large woods off to the side. Gabrielle stood there just memorized.

Xena got off her warhorse next to the slave.

The peasant looked to the warlord. "That's beautiful." Gabrielle had just let her shell fall.

The older woman grinned. "I know." She then went serious. "Go help."

Gabrielle's walls came flying back up, her eyes hollow. "Yes Mistress."

The night went by fast for Gabrielle. She'd helped make dinner with something that was actually good again. She tried to not antagonize Darphus again like she had the night before. Fortunately she hadn't. Now though she just finished cleaning the dishes from the dinner.

But there was one thing bugging her. Where was Xena? The warlord had not been at dinner. And for some reason it actually made Gabrielle concerned. A warlord without dinner? Oh gods she didn't want to know what that is like.

So she decided to be a true slave. She'd stacked up a plate with tonight's dinner and walked through the camp, she came to the warlords tent and went inside. "Mistress?"

The warlord sat at her desk and turned around. "Yes?" The warlord had the room fairly dark this time only four candles lit and on her desk. She'd turned around in her seat to see Gabrielle. "I'd figured to be going to sleep by now."

The young woman nodded. "I was going to but you weren't at dinner."

Xena nodded her head. "Is that why you're here? Concerned about my diet?"

Gabrielle sighed. Why'd she come anyway? But she came up with a response. "Normally I get rather grouchy without dinner, especially before bed."

The warlord grinned. "Ssso you are concerned about my diet."

The slave narrowed her eyes. "Maybe." She then took a big step with the relation she has with the warlord. "So do you want this food or not?"

The Warrior Princess crossed her arms against her chest, she kept her grin amazingly. "Since you cooked it, yes."

"If I hadn't?"

"I wouldn't want it. The other cooks' food are getting old."

Gabrielle nodded, she walked over to the warlord's desk. She carefully placed the plate of food down. "Anything else?"

"No." Xena looked back to her desk. "And thank you."

The peasant looked away, her hands went to her hips and she looked back to Xena. She couldn't believe she was about to say this. "I'm not just concern about your diet but about something else."

"Really?" Xena turned to look up to Gabrielle. "You're developing a lot of concerns towards me for a slave."

"Yeah well somebody needs to around here." The slave crossed her arms against her chest.

"Interesting." Xena now crossed her arms. "And what is this other? concern of yours?"

"Your men keep talking about Darphus."

Xena looked back to her desk. "You think I haven't heard the rumors slave? I know what goes on."

"He's stirring up the men."

The older woman looked back to the peasant. "And where do you fall into this slave? It is none of your concern."

"No it is."

The warlord narrowed her eyes. "How?"

"Because I'm a part of this army too." Gabrielle took a deep breath and calmed herself. "Look, I'm just telling you what I see and hear. Sorry I bothered to be? concerned." The slave then began to walk to the tent flap.

"Did I say you could leave slave?" The warlord then stood up, her eyes pinned on the other woman.

The peasant stopped and turned around to look at the warlord. "No."

Xena nodded, she walked up to Gabrielle. "So tell me slave since you seem to know everything. Tell me what to do about Darphus."

Gabrielle sighed. "Forget it. Sorry I mentioned anything."

The warlord took another step closer, her body almost pressing against Gabrielle's. She lowered her head to look down into Gabrielle's eyes. "Finish it." Her eyes narrowed.

The slave stared up into ice eyes. She reached deep down inside herself and replied without letting her voice shake. "Stop him."

"There is little I can do."

Gabrielle's eyes widen. "What? Why?"

The warlord smiled to Gabrielle. "Because by my code he has not broken anything. I can not do anything till he's broken one of my codes." She took a step back from Gabrielle.

"Wait? so you're going to wait till he does something then you'll do something?"

"That's about right." Xena walked over to her desk.

"That's crazy."

Xena quickly looked to Gabrielle, her eyes narrowing. "It is my way slave."

She'd crossed a line. "Well? that's not my problem then."

The warlord grinned. "I thought you just said it is?"

Gabrielle narrowed her eyes. "No, my concern not my problem. He wants to kill you and not me."

"If I'm not mistaken slave, you were the one who spit in his face, punched him, spilled his mug then made him look stupid. I'd say he is your problem."

The peasant sighed, she looked down to the floor. "He is." She looked up. "But there is nothing I can do."

"And why?" Xena crossed her arms against her chest.

Now Gabrielle let walls fall, her eyes lifted to Xena. A sort of plead were in them. "Because I can't protect myself."

Xena locked eyes with this younger woman. This younger woman that is a peasant and had just stood up to her all the while defending her honor against Darphus. Now there was this pull she felt, from somewhere from somehow. Xena had no idea though why. And the scary part for her is she can't push it away as she stood here with her eyes locked with this other woman.

The warlord turned around to face her desk. "I protect my army, you're apart of my army."

Gabrielle stared at the older woman's back. She didn't know what to say so she just turned around and grabbed the tent flap.

"Gabrielle?"

The small woman stopped and released the tent flap. Xena hadn't call her that since Poteidaia. Turning around she looked to Xena. "Yes Mistress?"

The warlord turned around to face Gabrielle. "New rules." Xena grinned. "You've earned my respect and trust. For now on you may address me as Xena and question me only in this tent. Understand?"

The slave nodded seriously. "Understood." She began to move again.

"Oh, two more things."

Gabrielle stopped and looked to the warlord.

"I recommend you stay away from Darphus. You've jarred him one to many times."

The young woman snorted. "Not like he didn't deserve it."

Xena grinned. "I won't argue. But his pride has been hurt and by a female slave no less. Be careful."

Gabrielle nodded. "I'll try."

The Warrior Princess smiled some. "Good." She paused. "And thank you Gabrielle."

The peasant girl smiled to Xena, she knew what the warlord meant. "You're welcome? Xena. Goodnight."

The warlord smiled back warmly, her smile bright as a sunrise. "Goodnight."

Gabrielle headed to the cooks' tent. She wasn't pay attention to anything, in her mind all she had locked in her head was the image of Xena's warm smile. It seemed to battle her anger for the woman.

As soon as she came near the tent, she felt a presence come up behind her. The next thing to happen was a hand over her mouth and a knife at her throat.

"Don't move bitch."

Gabrielle closed her eyes at hearing Darphus's voice as she was dragged away.

~*Part 8*~

Gabrielle never went to sleep that night. How could she? By morning she left the cooks' tent. She needed to feel safe. She didn't know where. There are only two people she could possibly think of.

Lux, well he's to old. Nor did she want to get him caught in the middle of something like this. There was only one other place.

Gabrielle crossed her arms against her chest and quickly walked to the warlord's tent. She ducked inside.

Xena had one foot propped up on her bed, tying her last boot when the slave came in. "What you doing here so early?"

The peasant's mind raced to come up with an explanation. "Just? wanted to see if you needed anything this morning."

The warlord narrowed her eyes. It sounded to fake. Besides that the young woman's voice was shaking. "What's wrong?" It was blunt. She dropped her foot the ground and rose to her full height.

Gabrielle shook her head. "Nothing."

Xena studied Gabrielle, it was obvious she hadn't slept. Her eyes told that. Then something on the woman's body jumped out in front of Xena. She took a step closer and reached up to Gabrielle's right shoulder. Her large hands pushed the peasant shirt off her right shoulder. There she found bruises and small marks scabbed over. "Who did this?"

The slave took a step back pulling the shirt back over her shoulder. "Nobody."

The warlord then reached down to grasp Gabrielle's hands, she pushed back the arms of the blue shirt up. There on the small woman's wrists and up the length of her arms were more bruises and cuts. Her eyes narrowed, her word came out in growl. "Darphus." Her anger took control. "I'll kill him."

Gabrielle shook her head. "No don't Xena."

Xena still held the slave's arms lightly. "Why?"

"He'll only kill me Xena."

The older woman shook her head. "He won't, trust me." Her eyes were cold and almost primal.

"No!" The peasant pulled her arms roughly from Xena's grasp. "Don't, I can take care of myself. Leave it alone Xena."

The warlord grasped the other woman by the shoulders. She stared down into Gabrielle's eyes. "Listen to me Gabrielle. He's broken a code of mine and I'll punish him for it."

"Is that what really matters to you Xena? That he broke a code of yours?" The small woman jerked her shoulders away and took a step back. She shook her head. "I knew I was right, you are just a murdering bitch. Gods how stupid I was to think different." Her eyes began to water, a few tears escaping.

Xena was stunned in place, she stared in those green eyes. She could actually see the trust in them. Had this person she'd enslaved and killed part of her family trust her? How could she have been so stupid to break her trust with Gabrielle? And why was she standing here thinking about trust with another? She hadn't for ten years now. The last time she'd trusted somebody she found herself up on a cross.

But this is different. Why? Xena felt a need now to have this woman's trust. She also felt a deep need to protect her. So much so that she took a step towards Gabrielle. Then she did something she thought she'd never do, she pulled the smaller woman in for a hug.

Gabrielle just fell into her arms and started to cry hard, her face burying into Xena's breasts. Her legs then began to weaken from the lack of sleep, physical abuse, and emotions. The warlord in turn had lifted the peasant into her arms and carried her over to her own bed. Carefully Gabrielle was placed in the bed.

"Gabrielle?" The warlord's voice was gently, she reached forward to place her hand gently on the peasant's arm.

Gabrielle opened her eyes, she rolled to her right to face Xena. "Don't Xena."

The Warrior Princess bent down to one knee to be eye level with the smaller woman. "He's not going to hurt you Gabrielle, I promise." She brought hand up to wipe away the tears on Gabrielle's face. "I can't? I can't let him get away with this Gabrielle." She paused. "Not to you." Xena closed her eyes, she just took a huge leap. She had to close her eyes to be able to understand her own words. Her own meaning by that. When she did open her eyes again, she found the other woman smiling just a little.

"Thank you."

Xena nodded. "Have you slept at all?"

Gabrielle shook her head. "I can't, I'm to scared."

The warlord nodded. "Stay in my bed and try to get some sleep."

The small woman nodded. "I'll try."

Xena smiled a little then went serious again. "I want you to stay in my tent till I take care of Darphus. Got me?"

The slave nodded. "Yeah."

Xena smiled a little then left. As soon as she left, Gabrielle heard the warlord yell for two guards. She then heard Xena tell them to keep the tent guarded and nobody but her was allowed in or out. After that, Gabrielle began to cry but only for so long. For soon sleep took her from being exhausted but her dreams soon came to her.

"Gelidus?"

The man looked up as his commander came in his tent with feral blue eyes. "Yes?"

"Where's Darphus?"

"He left with some men about a candlemark ago."

"Where'd he go?"

Gelidus shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea. He didn't say when he'd be back either."

Xena's eyes narrowed. "Hades. Tell me when he gets back."

"I will."

The warlord left quickly then. She went through the camp, talking to her men about Darphus.

Xena sighed as she walked into her tent. None of her men knew where Darphus went or wouldn't tell. As soon as the warlord came into her tent, she found her slave mumbling. Slowly Xena walked up to her to listen to the words.

"Please no Darphus."

The warlord reached to Gabrielle's shoulders. "Come on Gabrielle, wake up."

Immediately the younger woman shot up from the bed. "Oh gods." She closed her eyes as a few tears came down her cheeks.

Xena pulled the other woman into her arms. "Hey it's okay." Gabrielle stayed in her arms till her crying settled down. She then pulled back. "Gabrielle? if you need to talk about what happen. I know? I know what you're going through." She took a deep breath. "I was raped when I was younger."

Gabrielle stared up into this other woman's eyes. Somebody she'd been told that's killed hundreds of people with Ares on her side. For some reason, Gabrielle just couldn't? couldn't see it anymore. For some reason her anger and hatred was gone. "Thanks Xena."

The Warrior Princess smiled. "Sure." She then released Gabrielle and stood up. Xena walked over to her desk and pulled out her chair, she sat down and faced the slave. "Darphus left."

The peasant furrowed her brows and rolled to her right to look to the other woman. "Where?"

"I don't know."

"Nobody knows?"

Xena shook her head. "No." But she knew the truth. All her men knew where Darphus went. It was only a matter of time before he returned to challenge her. She just hoped she could stop him. Stop him for Gabrielle's sake. "It doesn't matter, I'll take care of him when he returns."

Gabrielle nodded. "I know." She ran her right hand through her hair. Looking back to Xena she furrowed her brows. "Xena, why? why are you protecting me?"

The warlord looked away. "Normally I'd lie and tell you you're my property so I have to." She looked back to Gabrielle. "But I can't seem to."

The peasant nodded, she looked away. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

The younger woman bitterly laughed. "I think since I've came I've totally screwed up your system."

Xena nodded. "Well I won't lie and say you haven't." The warlord stood. "It was bound to happen by somebody." She walked over to the bed and sat down on it to face Gabrielle. "But enough of that. So what do you feel like eating?"

Gabrielle arched an eyebrow. "You're kidding right?"

The warlord grinned. "No. I know you're hungry."

"How you know that?"

"I just do Gabrielle." The warlord stood up. "What you want? I can't promise it'll be good."

"Anything I guess."

"You think you can hold it down?"

Gabrielle sighed. "I'll try."

"Good." Xena walked over to the tent flap and left.

Within a quarter of a candlemark, Xena returned. She'd brought a tray of food. The chefs had specially made it for Gabrielle, knowing what she liked. The three cooks had heard one too many times of her favorite foods.

"I'm going to put a limit on how much you're allowed to talk to those cooks."

The small woman chuckled as she munched on a sandwich. "Sorry, its just? I love cooking."

"So I've noticed. My dinners have gone from being okay to excellent."

The peasant smiled. "Really?"

"Really." Xena reached forward and lifted a red apple, she started to eat it. She sat back in her chair.

"Xena?"

"Mmm?"

"What's going to happen to Darphus?"

The warlord took a bite from her apple, chewed it then swallowed. "I told you."

Gabrielle stopped eating for a moment. "You're not going to kill him."

"Well maybe I'll beat him to near death first then kill him."

The small woman stared into Xena's eyes. "Xena-"

"Don't even question me Gabrielle."

Gabrielle dropped her eyes. "I won't." She sighed and tried to continue eating.

"Gabrielle?"

The peasant looked up. "Why you so contended to stop me from killing him anyway?"

"I don't know." Gabrielle looked down to the floor then back up to Xena. "Maybe because I felt as if I deserved it."

Silence.

Xena stood up from her chair at her desk, apple forgotten about. She walked over to Gabrielle and bent down to one knee. She'd heard those some words before but they'd came from her own lips so long ago. "You didn't okay?"

"Xena-"

"No Gabrielle, listen to me alright?" The peasant nodded a little and she went on. "I said the same gods' be damned thing. But I learned quickly that nobody deserves to be raped. Something like that? it destroys people, good people." She paused. "I just pray it doesn't do it to you."

The small female closed her eyes and found herself crying hard. Xena then got up into the bed and pulled the other woman in. She had to protect her for some reason. There is a reason and she'd find out, Xena knew that.

Gabrielle stayed huddled in the warlord's arms, the only place she'd ever felt protected. She cried for numerous reasons. She cried over yes, the rape. She cried about her father's death and her sister's, Lila's death. As the tears escaped so did her anger and bitterness. She had to let go and let love in again. Let love protect her and guide her again. Gabrielle had missed that. The darkness just wasn't her, just didn't satisfy her soul.

She cried over those things but also because she knows she just fell in-love with this warlord. Gabrielle couldn't hate her any longer nor fight the love for this woman. But then she cried more so because she knew that Xena, this warlord, doesn't feel the same. She just figured Xena was protecting her as if the warlord was holding herself responsible for Gabrielle.

But the pair stayed like that, Gabrielle protected in the warlord's embrace for the afternoon. By nightfall they both felt tired from the emotions. Yes, Xena was tired from emotions. Her own past from her rape bubbled to the surface. She'd never confronted it till now and that had made her cry as well. She also thought she felt this young woman's emotions with the rape and cried with her.

The warlord looked down to see the smaller woman asleep. She carefully then placed Gabrielle into the bed and under the covers. Xena moved out of the bed and undressed out of her armor, boots, and jewelry. She stayed in her leathers and placed her weapons near the bed within a quick turn's grasp.

She then crawled into the bed beside Gabrielle. Placing her hands under her head, her eyes stared up at the tent's top. Her thoughts took her to every corner of her mind. As she kept thinking, her thoughts went faster and then it tired her out. She felt asleep next to the smaller woman.

She woke up at feeling the other woman toss and turn beside her. A scream of pain then erupted from Gabrielle's lips. Xena sat up and reached for the other woman's shoulders. "Wake up Gabrielle, it's a dream. Come on."

The small woman woke up and stared up at Xena. She was breathing heavy. "Xena?"

"Yeah."

Gabrielle closed her eyes and tried to calm down. She then began to cry. "I can't even sleep."

The warlord released the peasant's shoulders. Laying back down on the bed, she sighed. She couldn't believe she was about to do this. "Come here." Xena reached to Gabrielle's sides and pulled her in.

The younger woman went with it and snuggled her back into Xena's body. She then felt the warlord wrap her arms around her chest. Gabrielle felt protected and safe again. "Thanks Xena."

"Mmm. Go to sleep." The Warrior Princess's walls back up.

Gabrielle chuckled. "Right." She closed her eyes, they still stung. But she felt safe, which's all she needed. And she quickly found out no nightmares came to her as she went back to sleep in the warlord's arms.

~*Part 9*~

The following morning came. Xena had gotten out of bed first, the smaller woman still slept. The warlord had quickly dressed and was just clipping her sword and sheath on when Gabrielle stirred.

"You leaving?"

The Warrior Princess turned around to look at the other woman. "Yes."

Gabrielle nodded she got up from the bed. "I think I better get up."

Xena nodded. "I want you to stay with me today. You need to be careful alright?"

Gabrielle looked up. "Yeah I know." She then smiled a little. "Thanks for everything Xena."

The warlord snorted. "The least I could do after I got you into this mess."

The peasant dropped her head, she knew she'd been right.

Xena stared at the smaller woman, that's the first she'd ever seen Gabrielle lower her head. She stepped up to Gabrielle. Her right hand went under the smaller female's chin. She lifted Gabrielle's face. "I didn't mean that as it sounded."

Gabrielle closed her eyes as she felt the warm hand come to her cheek. Her eyes opened again. "Thank you."

The older woman smiled warmly. They both have their eyes locked. Gabrielle knew something was about to happen. But what? She wasn't totally sure of that yet.

And well Xena never felt such a stronger pull then ever. Instead of stopping that pull or ignoring it, she followed it. She felt a deep need to follow it. Leaning down, she saw Gabrielle close her eyes and so she finished the distance. Their lips met and a blaze of warmth went shooting through both of the women.

The kiss started light. Xena giving the other woman a chance to pull away but she never did. Gabrielle actually reached up with her right hand to the back of the warlord's head. She forced the kiss to go stronger. They both then slowly pulled away from the kiss and opened their eyes slowly.

Xena just stared at this younger woman for a moment. She shook her head and stepped back.

"Xena?" Gabrielle took a step closer to the warlord.

"Don't Gabrielle. Just don't alright?"

"Xena?"

The warlord straightened her back out. "I'm a warlord and that's all there is to it Gabrielle." She then walked pass the peasant to the tent flap. "Follow me."

Gabrielle closed her eyes. Didn't that feel so right to you Xena? For a second she decided whether to yell or cry. But no, she opened her eyes again and they were deathly cold. She walked up to Xena. "Then move."

The Warrior Princess saw how hollow and cold those emerald eyes are. They weren't even emerald, more like a deep forest green. She just turned around and walked out of the tent and Gabrielle followed.

They walked out into the morning. Gabrielle walked behind and Xena ahead. Oh such a bad positioning.

For Gabrielle felt somebody come up behind her. Before she could react, a sword was at her neck while an arm wrapped around her waist.

"Xena?"

The warlord whirled around with her hands up and her body tense. Her eyes were wide at the scene before her.

"So nice of you to decided to join the army today Xena."

Xena glared at the warrior. "Darphus, so nice of you to return to my army."

Darphus laughed. "Your army?" He grinned and nodded his head. Warriors all came around the corners and circled around Darphus and Xena. Gelidus came up to Darphus side. "This is my army. Yes my army Xena. You're the one who's stepping down, and you'll leave the only way a warrior can Xena."

The warlord narrowed her eyes. "The gauntlet?" She grinned. "Fine."

Darphus smirk. "Glad you agree. And I don't think you'll mind if?" He looked down at Gabrielle. "If she becomes my slave now." He looked back up and laughed.

Xena felt her anger go to height that it hadn't been in years. But she saved it for right time and the right place.

Darphus grinned and looked to his warriors. "Take her."

Five warriors grabbed Xena and took her weapons. They then began to strip the armor off her, then the leathers. The only thing Xena stood in was her black tunic and her arm bracelet on her right arm. The five warriors held her while the rest of Darphus's warriors all lined up into two different lines.

Then there was the sound of drums beating. Xena looked to Darphus and narrowed her eyes.

Darphus laughed. "Good luck, you'll need it."

The warlord smirked. "I make my own luck." Her blue eyes then lower to Gabrielle in his arms.

The peasant looked to Xena with worried eyes. Xena winked and smiled reassuringly to her.

That's when Gabrielle jerked against Darphus, struggling. "No!"

"Don't bitch." Darphus pressed the blade against Gabrielle's neck. "I will kill you."

The young woman stopped struggling and closed her eyes. She opened them again to looked at Xena, her eyes warm.

Gelidus was next to Xena, he pushed her towards the start of the middle of the two lines. Xena took a deep breath and started walking down the between the two lines. No warrior at first shifted. Then she came to the fifth warriors, they struck out on her.

The warlord went down with the blow but she kept moving. Her body felt blow after blow. She gritted her teeth and kept going. She had to, she had a reason to live. Xena then felt a strong blow to her back and she fell to the ground.

Reaching deep inside, she sprung up and fought back. Some warriors went to the ground others back off. She kept moving, her reserves fading. She could see the end, almost there. Xena kept moving as more warriors struck at her. She couldn't fight back and fell to the ground again, her right hand stretched out to the end of the gauntlet path.

A hard blow came down over her head. She sucked in a breath as she closed her eyes. Her head spun as her body went limp. The warriors all began to walk away, mumbling to themselves. But it wasn't finished. Xena opened her eyes again and sucked in a deep breath. She stood up slowly and looked to her left at Darphus and his warriors. "I'm not that easy."

All the warrior's spun around, wide eye.

Darphus growled. "Kill her!"

One warrior called out. "But, she made it through."

Darphus glared at Xena. "Good for her. Now, finish it!"

"She fought by the rules. I won't cross that line." All the warriors nodded in agreement.

Darphus looked to Xena with a grin "Enjoy your exile."

The warlord spit at the ground and looked up to Darphus. "I'll see you soon." She smirked. Then her eyes lowered to Gabrielle. They locked eyes and the warlord tried her hardest to look strong for Gabrielle. She then turned on her heals and began to walk out of the camp.

Darphus laughed as he looked down at Gabrielle.

Xena took another step quietly, she bent down and peered through the brush, her eyes narrowed. Looking into the dark camp, she saw Darphus's tent straight ahead. There were two warriors walking through the camp. She grinned as she saw Darphus come out of his tent and towards two of his warriors. She then heard Darphus talk to them.

"Keep an eye out you two. Xena won't stray too far." Darphus then walked pass his warriors and headed to the dinner hut.

The warlord grinned, she then stood up and carefully went through the woods towards Darphus's tent. She came to the back of her tent, her right hand went up to her breast. "Glad they didn't check everywhere." Xena removed her breast dagger and began to cut the tent open. As soon as she had it cut enough, she bent down and went in.

Gabrielle had heard the sound of somebody cutting the tent. She couldn't see who it was nor ask for that matter. She had her back to the where the sound came from, her mouth gagged and she was bound to the post in the center of the tent. Yet she knew who it was by that special warmth that filled her.

The warlord saw the peasant sitting on the ground, bound and gagged. Her eyes narrowed and she bent down to Gabrielle's hands. She cut the ropes and came around to the front, bending down to one knee.

Gabrielle brought her hands forward to rub her wrists. Xena removed the gag and then smiled. "You okay?"

The small woman nodded. "Yes." She then quickly leaned forward to hug Xena. "Gods."

Xena chuckled. "No, I'm not a god."

The younger woman pulled back and grinned. "Funny." She then heard somebody come near the tent, she tensed.

The warlord had heard it earlier. Xena sprung up to her feet and whirled around.

An old man stepped into the tent and saw what was going on, he raised his hands.

Gabrielle smiled. "Lux." She sprung to her feet and jumped into the cook's arms.

He hugged her back tightly. "Be quiet little one." They released each other and Lux to the warlord. He saw all the cuts and bruises on her body. "I heard what they did Xena."

The peasant took a step back to stand beside Xena. "Why'd you come Lux? If Darphus found you here."

The cook grinned ."Relax little one. Darphus won't be here for awhile, he's eating something that won't? quite agree with his stomach."

Gabrielle chuckled, she then saw Xena moving to Darphus's table. Xena grabbed the map off the table and began to roll it up.

Lux looked to the warlord. "Xena?" She looked up to Lux. "Argo is just outside in the woods. She's saddled up, stock with food and your weapons are on her. I couldn't' get your armor or leathers though."

The warlord smiled. "Thank you Lux."

He nodded. "Anytime." He then looked to Xena and Gabrielle. "You both better get out of here though."

Gabrielle smiled. "Thanks Lux. Be careful."

The cook nodded. "You too little one." He looked up to Xena. "Good luck Xena."

Xena grinned. "No worries." She then looked down to Gabrielle. "We need to go."

Gabrielle looked up and nodded, she looked back to the cook "Bye Lux."

"Bye little one." He stepped back to the tent flap and watched Gabrielle go through the cut in the tent.

Xena then was about to step through, she looked back to Lux. "Thanks again Lux, watch your back." She then left.

Once outside of the tent, Xena looked to Gabrielle. "Stay low and in the dark spots. Most important, stay close to me. Got me?"

Gabrielle nodded. "Right."

The warlord nodded and started to walk through the woods, Gabrielle followed behind. They weaved through the woods away and the warlord soon found her mare close by. The reins were tied to a tree, her sword and chakram hanging off the saddle.

Xena grinned and came up to her mare. "Hey girl."

The horse nickered.

"Its good to see you too." She patted the horse's neck then untied the reins. Looking ahead she spotted a road, she lead Argo up to the road. Gabrielle walked beside.

Xena then lifted her sword and placed it in her saddle along with her map. Her chakram she placed around her saddle horn incase she needed it. She then sprung up into the saddle and looked down the Gabrielle with smile. "Come here." She held her hand down.

Gabrielle took the offer hand and felt herself hauled up into the saddle behind Xena.

"Wrap your arms around my waist."

"Right." The peasant did as she was told, arms tightly wrapped around the warlord.

"But not so tight that I can't breath."

Gabrielle chuckled and loosened her hold. "Sorry."

"It's okay." Xena then kicked her mare in the sides and they began to go at a canter down the road in the early night.

"Xena?"

"Yeah?"

"Where we going?"

Xena grinned. "I need a new outfit and some planning time." She tightened her hands on the reins. "We're only going to ride for a candlemark to get some distance from the army. Then we'll stop."

The smaller woman nodded her head. She held on tight as she dropped her head against the warlord's back.

And they only did ride for a candlemark. Xena had pulled Argo off the rode and into an open area. She hopped off the mare then helped Gabrielle down.

"I'm never riding that horse again." The small female stretched her legs. "That was horrible."

Xena chuckled. "You're just saddle sore."

"To say the least."

The warlord began to untack her mare. "You'll be fine tomorrow." She carried the saddlebags over to a log, propping it up against there. "Stay here. I'm going to get some firewood."

Gabrielle nodded and watched the warlord disappear into the dark woods. Within a minute or two Xena came back with an arm load of wood, she dropped it on the ground and began to make a fire. It came to life quickly. The peasant had watched the entire time, she shifted to sit on the log.

Xena though went to the saddlebags, she began to look through it. She pulled out some food then the map again. Then she took the furs and bedrolls off the saddlebag, she tossed them near the fire. The warlord lifted up the food and handed it to Gabrielle. "You need to eat."

The young woman arched an eyebrow. "Is that an order?"

The warlord looked up with a grin. "Yeah." She then moved to sit down on the log, she still wore only her black tunic. The map was unrolled and Xena looked at it.

Gabrielle lifted up a trail bar to hand to Xena. "You need to eat too."

The warlord looked to the other woman with an arched eyebrow. "Is that a concern?"

"Yeah."

Xena grinned and took the trail bar. She ate it as she studied the map.

"Xena?"

"Mmm?"

"Where are we going anyway?"

The warlord lifted the map and placed it closer to Gabrielle. "Okay we're right about here." Xena pointed to a spot south of Cirra. "We need to get here." Her finger traveled south and stopped in a place in the middle of no where but the closes town is Poteidaia.

"Why are we going near Poteidaia?"

Xena looked up. "There's a cave near there. I keep extra supplies there. I need leathers and armor."

Gabrielle looked up from the spot. "Is that it?"

The warlord nodded. "Pretty much." She sighed. "Look, when we get there I'll take you to Poteidaia."

"No." Gabrielle had her eyes locked with Xena's. "I don't belong there Xena."

"Gabrielle you don't belong with me."

"Hold on." The peasant took a deep breath. "Are you saying I'm free?"

The warlord thought, she then nodded. "Yes."

"Then I can decide for myself where I want to go." Gabrielle stared hard into the warlord's eyes.

"Gabrielle-"

"Don't Xena? I know the speech you're going to give me."

The warlord sighed, she looked away. "You'd rather stay with somebody who killed your father and sister then go home?" She looked back to Gabrielle. She'd hoped those harsh words would jar Gabrielle enough to make her want to leave.

"I'm not staying with the person that killed my father and sister." The peasant paused. "Because you're no longer the same Xena."

Xena narrowed her eyes some. "How can you be sure Gabrielle?"

"Because I wouldn't be here right now." She took a deep breath. "You know I'm right Xena." She looked way then back to the warlord. "Xena? the cycle of hatred has to end and the only way to end it is through love and forgiveness."

Xena closed her eyes and looked away. "I can't do something like that."

"Xena, yes you can. I know you can."

The warlord looked back to Gabrielle quickly. "No because I am darkness Gabrielle."

"Because this world needs somebody like you Gabrielle. Somebody with so much hope, love and light." Lux's words came back to Gabrielle's mind. "If you look at it that way Xena, then I'm your counterpart." Gabrielle took a deep breath as she took a huge step. "I am light and I've just touched you."

Xena stood up quickly, the map rolling up into her hands. She walked to the other side of the fire and stared into the woods.

The peasant stared at the warlord. She sighed and stood up. She need to give Xena space now. Slowly she walked up to Xena, her right hand falling to the taller woman's closes shoulder. "Xena?"

The warlord turned around to face Gabrielle. "Please don't Gabrielle." Her blue eyes showed few walls then normal, her vulnerable side showing.

Gabrielle nodded. "I won't." She paused. "Let me take care of your wounds."

Xena just stared for a moment. Which wounds? Then she realized which one's Gabrielle was referring to. "Yeah."

The small woman smiled. "Thank you." She then walked back over to the log with the older woman.

They both sat down and Gabrielle looked through the saddlebag, she pulled out a medical kit. Gabrielle then looked back up with the salve in one hand. She then began to carefully apply it to the warlord's wounds.

Once she'd done that, the pair decided to go to bed. They'd have to get up early. So Xena rolled the bedrolls out and the furs. Gabrielle crawled into one and Xena went into the other after placing her weapons near herself.

The younger woman looked to the warlord. "Xena?"

"Mmm?"

"Goodnight."

Xena smiled. "Night Gabrielle."

Gabrielle smiled and stayed on her back staring up at the stars. She badly wanted to roll to her right into the other woman's arms. But she knew best not to.

"Gabrielle?"

"Yeah?" She turned her head to look at the warlord.

Xena grinned. "Come here."

Gabrielle smiled warmly. "You're good." She rolled to her right and placed her head under the other woman's chin.

Xena kept her arms tightly wrapped around Gabrielle. "I know, I have many skills." A response to earlier.

The peasant chuckled and lifted her head. "That's my line."

"Not really." The warlord then closed her eyes. "Go to sleep huh?"

"Right, goodnight." Gabrielle dug her head back under Xena's chin and closed her eyes.

"Sleep well Gabrielle."

They both soon found themselves asleep with no nightmares. The next day would come fast with nothing but traveling.