Subtext: For sure! There is love between two couples, women. If this offends you then don't read this story. But there is no sex contained in this story.

Started: August 27, 1999

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

redhope@redhope.netm

Part 3

Section 3

~*Part 6*~

Now you have to come to understand that Xena enjoyed the mornings, unlike her companion, the warrior always being the first to wake normally. The tall female's eyes had drifted open as she stared at the door, she noticed some sun light just touching the top of the wooden door. She figured it to be sunup, Mene would be here soon and they need to move. Xena then felt her soulmate stir in her arms, the bard rolling off her side and onto her back. Blue eyes looked down into sleepy green ones.

"Morning Xena"

"How'd you sleep?"

"Not to bad" Gabrielle rolled onto her right side into Xena's chest and then groaned.

"I really don't want to do this today" An amused smiled played on the warrior's lips.

"Neither do I, but we need to get up before Mene comes" Xena felt the bard nodded her head then she sighed deeply. The bard then rolled onto her back and sat up from the croak of Xena's arm. Then the warrior herself sat up and rubbed Gabrielle's back for a moment. The blond smiled, then felt the weight beside her gone as her soulmate got out of bed. Then she herself rolled out of bed, her mind semi waking up as the cold floor connected with her feet. The bard looked to her soulmate whom was in the washroom, Gabrielle could just make out Xena's muscular back.

"Xena?" The leather-clad female walked out with her cloth from last night, drying her face.

"Hmmm?" Xena dropped her hands, towel in hand as she looked to her partner.

"Make a mental note, that if we ever settle down that we get a home without a cold stone floor" The warrior chuckled as she watched Gabrielle make her way over to the saddle bags beside her, tossing her towel to the chair by her. Xena watched the bard almost finishing lacing her green halter-top, skirt on already. Threading the last bit, Gabrielle turned back to the saddlebag, pulling some salve she'd placed from last night. "Xena?" The warrior nodded as she pulled her leathers off, holding them in her hands dangling in front of her as the bard came to her left side. The bard removed the three wraps from the warrior's body and studied the wounds, as did another set of eyes.

"They look good" Gabrielle looked up and smiled.

"Yeah they do, its amazing how fast you heal" A pause as Gabrielle placed some salve onto the wound on Xena's waist first. "Do you want to leave them unwrapped today, they look like they'll be fine" Xena studied the wound on her waist and hip then lift her left arm up looking to her shoulder.

"Yeah I think they'll be fine" Xena looked to the bard whom had her head down. "What you think?" The bard stopped placing the slave onto the waist and looked up.

"Um yeah, think a little air will only help" The warrior smiled and nodded her head and looked back to the floor as the Amazon Queen went back to putting the balsam on. One last circular rub and the bard moved on to the hip arrow wound, quickly putting slave on it as well. She then stepped back as Xena put her leathers back on and Xena grinned to her, deciding to make things simple and bent down on to her knees. The bard raised an eyebrow as a grin crossed her lips and she rubbed some ointment onto the shoulder injury as well. As soon as she was done, the tall woman rose back up to tower over Gabrielle, the bard making her way back to the saddlebags ridding herself of the salve. Xena then turned to the chair to her right, she reached for her boots on the floor by one of the legs. She slipped them on then propped one foot at a time onto the chair, tying her boots tight. The bard's small hands laced on brown leather boots and then green eyes lifted to see her soulmate working her brass armor on. The small woman moved quickly to assist her warrior with the armor. "Here let me help" Xena nodded as a smile formed on her lips.

"Thanks" Gabrielle looked up and smiled and went back to her task at hand. She was done in a few seconds and watched as her partner walked back to the chair and reached for that well-known breast dagger. She slipped it in between her breasts and let her eyes follow Gabrielle while she went into the wash room, washing her own face now and using the other facilities. She then strolled back out her blond bangs a bit wet as she came up to her warrior. Xena wrapped her arms around the smaller woman and gazed into her sparkling green eyes. She then leaned down kissing her bard deeply, Gabrielle moaning in response. Then that infernal knock came to the door and the bolt being undone. Xena dropped her arms quickly then stopped the kiss as Gabrielle took two steps back. Both their chests went up and down at a rather fast pace, making Mene wonder as he entered both sets of eyes on him.

"Morning ladies. Ready for the first day?" Xena just nodded Gabrielle not doing anything. "Follow me" And so they did, Mene, the two soulmates, and two guards all made their way down to the practice area which happed to be the center of the fortress. The warrior had taken to notice that the armory was now open, she took a gander at it across the grounds. She could see inside the glinting of metals and it looked like it was a long building. Xena began to wonder exactly how big of a problem her and Gabrielle just stumbled into? The warrior sighed to herself and noticed that there were around seventy-five men in the center of the practice area. Mene stopped walking, as he was seven paces from the men, everybody else stopped walking in the group as well. He turned his head to look at the female warrior and bard, Xena interrupted the look and signaled for her partner to follow her.

Now they stood beside Mene, all three are looking at the large number of men. "There are seventy-five men here Xena. Your friend will be training twenty-five today with the staff, you will be training the rest with the sword, hand combat and other basic skills needed to fight efficiently"

"Exactly how many men will I be training all together?" The leather-clad woman wasn't sure she really wanted to know.

"You'll be training exactly five hundred" A pause. "Between a hundred to fifty a day at time" Ice blue eyes just stared at the men, not liking the numbers at all.

"Alright then, lets get started"

Everything started out simple, Gabrielle received a crash course from her lover on how to train people. Pretty much Xena told her to do what her Amazons taught her when she first learned how to use the staff. Then for her to show any basic techniques Xena had showed her as well. The bard had merrily nodded, that worried Xena, she wasn't sure if Gabrielle like this idea or not. Either way she knew her partner would go through with this. The bard could feel strong eyes watching her through the morning as she trained her set of men, Xena's group and Gabrielle's group next to each other.

So now here were the two heroes training their own enemies.

The loud sound of two wooden staffs could be heard as Gabrielle's practice staff met her opponent's staff in the early morning. The bard had immediately regretted using this man for staff example. Some how he just managed to pick up everything all to fast. Another kicker was he was a large strong man that had the worst amount of power in his eyes. Gabrielle had already gone through with the men on how to hold a staff and different positions you could place it around your body. Now she was using this large man to demonstrate to them how if you moved fast and knew the different positions you could fight well. But one thing Gabrielle had unfortunately accidentally forget to show to the twenty-five men was the most important position to hold the staff to protect one's self. The bard smirked to herself inwardly.

Another smackening sound rung through the fortress as the two staffs connected hard this time. Gabrielle gritted her teeth as she realized this man did in fact know how to use the staff. Another large sound crashed through the air as Gabrielle felt the blow take her to her knees, her staff above her head. The man became dirty now and held the staff down using his strength to pressure the bard to stay down. Then he went from dirty to pure nasty as he kicked Gabrielle in the stomach, the blond growled and then felt the pressure gone and the shadow that was over her just got bigger. She looked up to see the man staring back at her at eye level, blood trickling out of his nose. A tall strong dark woman came to the bard's side as the warrior kneeled down and looked to the suffocating man. Gabrielle looked to her soulmate, Xena to the bard.

"He seems to know what he is doing huh?" The bard nodded as she took some deep breaths, her staff rested on the ground in front of her, her hands still on it. Xena looked back to the man, her voice came out cold and deep as she looked to the large man. "Well I think he'll come join my group and let him try to pull some of his moves over on me" A pause as she directed her words more to the man. "Is that okay with you?" The man nodded his head in a yes response. "Yeah you think you're a tough smart guy, we need to fix that" Her two hands quickly shot out and jabbed him in the neck on either side. The man gasped for air as Xena and her soulmate both stood back up, staff in the bard's hand. Gabrielle caught site of Mene walking rapidly towards them, his gate spoke of anger.

"What in Hades happened here? Why is one of my men on the ground, breathing like somebody almost killed him?" Dangerous ice sapphire eyes looked to Mene, the commander stood behind the large man still breathing heavily on the ground.

"He decided to play a little joke and pretend to not know how use the staff, almost hurt my friend. Don't think he's laughing unfortunately for him" Mene's eyes narrowed for a second as he knew to what Xena might have done to the man.

"Well put him in your section" A cold deep voice replied to him.

"He already wisely agreed to that" Mene nodded.

"Alright" He then talked in a louder command voice to all. "Lets break for breakfast…Now!" All the men grumbled and slowly made their way to the mess hall. Mene looked down at his man, he then kick him in the back. "Get up and go get some food" The large man growled then stood up, he looked to Gabrielle his eyes narrowing. Xena stepped up to him, her face right in his, her ice eyes were menacing, darkness center within them. The man's skin crawled and he turned his back to the women and walked off to head to the mess hall as well. Mene looked to the two women, his face serious.

"Follow me" The two females were lead to the opposite side of the fortress from the men. They made their way back into the same dinning hall from last night. They sat at the table again, just Mene, the three of them while two guards stood at the doorway. Then two servant girls came out of platters of food for the three of them. They ate in silence, Xena and the bard sharing words in physical ways. After their breakfast they headed back to the training field where the men waited.

For the rest of the day they all practiced, no more incidence happened. Unless you would like to be reminded of the large man from earlier, that man who lost his smarts that day. He'd ended up on his butt, dirty, hot, and stupid with a dull tip of sword pointing to the tip of his neck. After that he too understood exactly how stupid he was for trying out his joke on the smaller woman. By dusk it wasn't worth practicing any more, nobody feeling up to losing a body part. So they ended the sessions for the day, Gabrielle and Xena being led back to their room to clean up for dinner.

The large wood door slammed behind them, the bolt being set into place. Three torches had been lit in the room in two corners by the fireplace and another by the door, lighting dim almost a romantic air to it. The bard moved to Xena as the warrior closed her arms around the small woman. The Amazon Queen wrapped her own arms around her soulmate and rest the side of her face on the warrior's chest. They closed their eyes as they enjoyed the closeness missing the physical contact all day. Gabrielle took a deep breath and sighed, she spoke to her lover.

"Thanks Xena for today" A dark eyebrow went up while Xena reopened her eyes.

"What you mean?"

"For stopping that guy and I just knew you were watching over me all day" The warrior smiled to herself as she rubbed her hand up and down the smaller woman's back and then stopped.

"Hmmm he was a jerk, I'm always watching over you my bard" Gabrielle smiled to herself.

"I know"

"Well it wasn't like I didn't felt a beautiful set of emerald eyes on me the entire day" The younger woman chuckled some, her eyes going closed again.

"I hate passing up any chance to see you fight"

"That was the only reason?"

"That, and I would have knocked any man there senseless if he tried to pull something over on you" The tall woman laughed some and hugged her bard tightly afterwards. They then released each other and Xena made her way into the washroom with her towel. Gabrielle though plopped down onto the foot of the large bed to rest for a while. When Xena walked out of the washroom, Gabrielle went in to freshen up as well. She came out feeling a bit refreshed, but still tired from the long day. As her sluggish gait brought her out of the washroom, emerald eyes glance to the right at Xena in the wood chair. The blond sheepishly smiled down at her and she threw the towel onto the desk to her left. Gabrielle sat in the warrior's lap, her back snuggling into Xena's chest, large arms wrapping around a small waist. She closed her heavy eyes, her head sinking onto Xena's shoulder, Xena grinned to herself. Within a few minutes sleep over took the young woman, the warrior still wide-awake. The ex-warlord sat and thought about the situation, wondering what Okeanos could be up too. Her mind work, coming up with different ideas. She needed to know how he was managing to get all these men and money considering he was just starting as a warlord.

Gabrielle stirred in her arms and turned so that her small arm wrapped around the back of chair and the side of her face rested on Xena's chest. Xena smiled to herself and kept one arm around the small woman's mid-section the other gently stroking strawberry-blond hair. The tall female stared at the bar window becoming lost into her thoughts. A quarter of a candlemark passed, boots moving on stone could be heard outside as Xena realized Mene was headed for them. She leaned down placing a gently kiss to Gabrielle's forehead. "Xena?"

"Hey I am here…you need to get up love" The Amazon Queen nodded her head and stood up, running her hands through her hair. Xena stood up and looked to her partner. "Feel up to the plan tonight?" Gabrielle nodded, a knock at the door, and Xena walked to the saddlebags and dug out a cloak. Once she turned back around Mene stood inside with them. The tall leather-clad female handed the bard her cloak, the small female slipping it on and walked towards Mene with Xena right behind her.

Sea green eyes stared at the food, her appetite dropping, but she forced herself to eat the squid. Gabrielle hated slimy foods, but she wasn't in the mood to antagonize Okeanos. She restrained herself best as possible from spitting it back up as she took a swallow, blue eyes watched her. The bard's eyes widen for a moment and Gabrielle reached for her glass of wine taking a large gulp. The blond felt a large hand fall onto her leg and squeeze for a instant then move off her leg, Xena winked at her. The warrior turned her eyes off her partner and to the warlord at the head of the table, listening to him. For the entire dinner, the bard drank heavily, but made sure to eat numerous rolls of bread to better absorb the wine. Near the end, the small woman pretends she is drunk playing it off perfectly. She rambled about random things that were incoherent, everybody but really Xena laughing at her. Occasionally the older female chuckled more in the knowledge that her soulmate was faking it all and doing it in perfection.

At the end of dinner everybody had enough of each other and went their separate ways. Xena and the fake drunken bard climbed the stairs, one guard in front another behind. Mene had retired for the night, not escorting them to the room. They neared the open office of Okeanos, Gabrielle began to stumble into the partially lit room and quickly made her way to the desk.

"Come on, Xe lets go tuh thhhe bed, ya know hit thhee haaay"

She smacked into the desk, almost tumbling into it as she searched rapidly for something. The bard spotted a scroll to her right that had that seal from the other night the messenger brought to Okeanos. Gabrielle reached for it pulling it underneath herself as she slumped over the desk.

"Gabrielle?" The warrior came up behind her partner.

"Hey, you two get out there!"

"I'm getting my friend, she's so damn drunk she doesn't know which room is ours" Xena looked down at Gabrielle while she turned back around, holding a scroll in hand, the warrior just nodded. The two guards quickly rushed in and the bard put her hands to her back underneath the cloak. She slipped half of the scroll down her skirt, her cloak hiding it easily. The two guards came in and had their swords drawn as they came to each of the female's sides. One talked in a cold voice.

"Out now! The room is farther down" Xena nodded as she tightly grasped the bard's shoulders, leading her out.

"Gabrielle its farther down" They walked down the causeway with the two guards right behind them.

"Aawwee, Xxxena I thought that" A hiccup. "Ex..excuse me, thought tthat wwwuz our room" The warrior shook her head as the door to their real room was opened.

"Uh huh Gabrielle, you drank way to much" They stepped in, the door was slowly shut and locked, the room still torched self-lit. Both women took a deep breath, Gabrielle straightened her back and turned around to face her warrior with a big grin. The blond reached behind under the cloak and slipped out the scroll to reveal it to her partner and handed it to her. Xena took it and made her way over to the bed, Gabrielle went to the chair propping her one foot at a time as she took off her boots. She bundled up her brown cloak and placed it back in the saddlebag and walked over to her soulmate whom sat on the edge of the bed. Xena had the scroll unrolled and was studying it, Gabrielle hopped up into the bed and moved behind her lover. She brought her arms up onto the strong shoulders and rest them as she placed her chin on top of her arms. Gabrielle glanced down at the scroll Xena held, her brows knitted in a split second. "Xena?"

"I know, I'm trying to read it"

"What language is that?"

"Its Latin"

"Latin…you mean Roman Latin?"

"Yeah" The blond looked at the top where the sender's name was in bold centered, it read:

Senátórés Rómánós

Gabrielle didn't need a philosopher to tell her what that translation meant.

"The Roman Senate?"

"Uh huh"

"Xena…"

"I know, let me read this" The bard dropped her chin back into her arm that rested on the large shoulders. Xena slowly read the Latin scroll, her mind still rusty with her Latin, but it came to her, glad she'd learned it during her warlord days. The bard waited patiently, she knew her soulmate knew multiple languages considering how much the warrior travelled in her past. Xena took a deep breath after awhile and rolled the scroll up, placing it on the bed beside her. The blond lifted her arms off the broad shoulders and moved to sit by Xena, picking up the scroll to place it in her small lap. "We have some large problems"

"Like exactly what?" The warrior stood up and moved to the fireplace, feeling a chill to the room, she threw four logs and padded over to a torch by the fireplace. Reaching up, the ex-warlord grasped the torched and walked back around, throwing it into the fireplace. She turned back around to face her soulmate.

"Seems the Roman Senate is funding Okeanos, that explains why he has so much money. Some of the men are Romans probably sent to help protect the Senate's…investment"

"But why? Why would they spend all this money for a warlord?" The warrior's eyes dropped to the ground, Xena wasn't saying something to Gabrielle. The tall woman walked back to the edge of the bed sitting back beside her lover.

"The Senate needs money"

"What?"

"Well, that's the part you're not going to like Gabrielle" The Amazon Queen arched an eyebrow at her partner.

"Xena?"

"The Senate hired Okeanos to invade the Amazon Nations" A pause, Gabrielle waiting. "From what I know of the slave trade, there is large money in having an Amazon slave, they go for a lot of money" The bard dropped her eyes to the ground. Gabrielle whispered something to herself.

"Especially the Queen" She looked up to her soulmate. "Xena, why would the Senate want that money, I mean they're paying Okeanos in the first place?" The tall warrior shrugged her shoulders.

"The amount of money they would get for the Amazons would pay for it and leave plenty of money left over. Besides, the Roman Empire is looking to invade Greece and take it over. Killing the Amazons off with an insider would be a perfect way to destroy a possible threatening enemy to them, not be suspected of anything and afford a profit off it to boot leaving an inside army" Gabrielle didn't reply right away as she thought, considering all she heard.

"So what are we going to do?" The Warrior Princess stood up from the bed and slowly made her way over to the chair. She sat down in it, her back arched high, elbows on the arms of the chair and her chin resting on top of her lace hands. Gabrielle herself looked to the scroll in her lap, staring at the seal on it, memorizing it for future reference. "Xena?" Cobalt eyes lift to the bard, Gabrielle still staring at the scroll as she talked. "Is Caesar in with the Senate?" The Amazon Queen looked up to her soulmate whom still regarded her.

"Yes" A pause. "He's probably one of the more powerful influences to the Senate to urge them that Rome should conquer Greece" Gabrielle nodded her head, being told the story of Caesar from Xena's past. Without even meeting Caesar, the small woman hated him, hated what he did to her soulmate. But in way Gabrielle was thankful for him, if it hadn't been for the people in her soulmate's past, they would probably have never met. Emerald eyes looked to her partner.

"So we need to get out of here first huh?"

"Yeah, then we need to head to the Amazons"

"Xena, do you think that my Amazons can stop an army of five hundred men?" The tall warrior grinned some.

"They won't need to" Gabrielle looked to the floor and thought her face brightening once she realized what Xena meant by that.

"Lykus?" She looked up. "We can use that" The warrior nodded her head with a smile.

"That will help the odds somewhat" Xena stood up from the chair and began to pace on the floor in front of the fireplace, green eyes watching her the entire time.

"So we use the fight with Lykus to lessen the men" A grin. "And to use it as a diversion to leave?" The tall warrior nodded her head in agreement.

"But we are going to need a little money ourselves before we can disappear" Xena stopped pacing and looked to her soulmate. "And we need to continue training these men" The blond arched an eyebrow.

"That makes a lot of sense" The warrior walked over to her soulmate and kneeled down in front of her, placing her hands on the bard's lap. Xena smiled and Gabrielle mirrored the smile back.

"It does though, that's Okeanos stupid mistake. We train these men, but training them the wrong way give us a small advantage later on" The small woman smirked to her lover.

"Yeah, I sorta forgot to show the soldiers in my group how to defend themselves" Xena's smile turned into a grin.

"Good, we'll keep it that way, defensive fighting is more important then offensive" The Amazon Queen nodded.

"Saved my life a few times"

"Mine too" Xena smiled and straightened back up giving her lover a pat on the leg and made her way to the chair. Gabrielle rose up from the bed and they both shrugged out of their clothes. The bard's muscles were a bit stiff from the day, she grimaced as she brought her arms up letting her soulmate's shift slid on. Xena stood in her leathers as she watched her soulmate's grimace from behind knowing she was sore some. The warrior moved and came up behind the blond and wrapped her strong arms around the younger woman. Gabrielle sighed and dropped her head back into her soulmate's chest. Xena whispered into the blond's ear as she ducked down to the bard's smooth neck. "Nice shift" The small woman smirked to herself.

"Thanks, it makes a great night shift" Gabrielle could feel Xena's lips form into a grin as they nuzzled her neck. The Warrior Princess at that time began to lightly kiss the bard's neck, her breath warm.

"It looks comfortable for you" Two light kisses. "Want a massage?" Gabrielle moaned and places one hand to rest on Xena's hands around her small mid-section.

"Yeah I could go for one" The ex-warlord stopped her attack and the blond groan in reaction then she was lifted up by strong arms and carried to the bed. Xena came to the side of the bed and leaned in, placing her soulmate onto the bed.

"Roll onto your stomach" The bard lazily rolled into her stomach, her shoulder was exposed to her lover and Xena glance at it. A large hand lightly caressed the little remains of the arrow mark. "It looks almost healed" The blond nodded.

"It's the spot that's the most sore" Xena nodded her head and moved on top of the bard. She straddled herself over top of Gabrielle, her knees digging into the soft bed, her body positioned right over the bard's butt. The warrior pressed no weight on to Gabrielle's body but all of it on the bed. The older female leaned forward and her to strong hands went to the bard's neck first. The massage started, Xena made it more relaxing saving her seduction techniques for another time knowing both of them were to tired. As the warrior's hands work the bard's neck Gabrielle let her mind drift.

"In another time, another land" Gabrielle looked up to her soulmate to see a grin. She can't be telling a story? By the gods she is! The bard smiled to her lover and dropped her head back down as she listened, Xena continued. "There was a well known warrior, everybody loved him, respect him, want to become him or kill him. Everybody called him Jasco" Xena took a deep breath her hands moving to Gabrielle's shoulders. "The only thing was, is this warrior was so great and known but he lacked something so vital to life" A pause. "Nobody noticed this one thing about Jasco, but it was his one true weakness" The warrior stopped as her hands moved to Gabrielle's upper back. "He knew of it, but never cared to admit it to himself. So he went on with his life, fighting whom got in his way, helping people or being hired to do so. Then one day he was resting by a lake, thoughts consuming his mind, then something came to mind and he couldn't turn his back on" Xena's hands moved to the bard's mid-back. "He'd come to realize that his life was truly worthless, all he'd ever done with his life is kill and slaughter, either for his own pride or for money. His emotions finally came to life after all those years since his childhood, and emptiness engulfed him and depression surged into his heart once the walls fell" The bard felt her partner's hands go to her lower back as she listened to her lover. "So he didn't care about himself any more, no pride, no happiness, no meaning, nothing. Within a few days he ended up in a village, there was group of raiders attacking them, Jasco decided to try and stop them. He went running in, he fought with all his strength but his heart wasn't in it. Why should he had bother to fight?"

Xena moved her hands to Gabrielle's left arm beginning to massage it. "The raiders were winning, Jasco was becoming more and more bloody with each passing moment. None of the blood being of the raider's, but he didn't care. He was about to give up and let death claim him, but something stopped that. Right when he thought death would bring him peace, a warrior reappeared from no where. The warrior was a female, she fought, protecting Jasco and the villagers from the raiders. As soon as she arrived the raiders were running out of the village in fright from the female warrior" The bard's other arm began to be massaged. "Jasco had been badly injured from the fight and stayed in the healers hut for two days, unconscious. His dreams were consumed with the female warrior that saved him, her beauty, voice, and skills. Once the warrior finally awoke from his concussion he was happy to see that the woman who saved him was there beside him"

The Warrior Princess took a deep breath and moved off the bard's body, Gabrielle still listening. Large hands moved to the Amazon Queen's legs now. "After that they teamed up, enjoying each other's companionship. They learn each other's abilities, weakness, history, what made them happy or sad, a perfect match. In short time Jasco and Sarana became extremely close, couldn't take their eyes off one another. Then one day it happened, their lips had met after a heated battle between them and a warlord. They thought they'd lost each other during the fight, but didn't and were relieved to find each other alive" A pause then Xena's voice softened into a seeming dreamy tone. "Jasco finally found meaning to his life, he'd fight for Sarana, protect her, love her, he couldn't live without her. For once he stopped regretting his past because he knew otherwise he'd never met Sarana. They cherished each other for eternity, their souls inter linked. One of the few small fine tales of two soulmates" The tall female moved her hands from the muscular leg and stood up from the bed. Xena grabbed the one torch from the near the door and walked to the fire place tossing it in and then the last torch from near the fireplace, throwing it in to. The fire crackled and sparked for a moment then went back to normal, the room darker now. The warrior made her way back to the bed and slipped under the covers, Gabrielle having done that after Xena had left the bed. The bard snuggled into her lover's arms.

"Thank You Xena"

"You're welcome love, go to sleep" The smaller woman nodded and closed her eyes.

"Night Xena, I love you" The warrior smiled to herself and pulled her soulmate in tight.

"I love you too my bard" The two soulmates let sleep take them over. Gabrielle's subconscious mind replying that story in her dreams but with different people. Xena playing the exact dream as her bard. They each took on one of the characters as their dream intertwined together.

~*Part 7*~

The next day went on as usual, Mene bringing them down to the practice fields. There the two women trained the men, leaving out certain small but yet important details to fighting an enemy. By the end of the day, the bard was escorted to the room while Xena was sent to see Okeanos. The warrior stepped into the large room her face hard. That's when it hit the tall warrior, there was a very small door in the wall behind Okeanos that hung open at eye level. The female figured it to be where the warlord kept all his money he received from the Roman government. Okeanos looked up as he realized Xena and two guards stood inside with him.

"What do you want Okeanos?" Amber eyes stared up into blue eyes.

"It seems Lykus will be here a little earlier then we planned on"

"That's not my problem"

"On the contrary it is Xena. You and your friend are going to be teaching my men a lot faster and more at a time"

"And how long do we have?"

"Lykus is about two days away, by the third day he'll attack. I suggest you teach my men fast and efficiently" The tall warrior leaned forward towards the sitting warlord some.

"Exactly what will happen after this…fight?"

"Then you will continue to train my men till they're well skilled"

"Then?"

"You'll have to wait till then, don't want to spoil all the surprises now Xena" Cold eyes narrowed at Okeanos his simply reply was a smirk. Xena held back her urge right then to kill the man where he sat, and so she did. "Now then, dinner will be later, I look forward to seeing you and Queen Gabrielle there" The Warrior Princess turned her back on the blond haired warlord and walked out of the office two guards right behind her. Xena entered the room in a huff, her eyes were still cold and her frustration level high. Gabrielle turned from the fire to her soulmate as she stood up from her kneeling position.

"Everything okay Xena?" Cold eyes looked to her, Xena only had one word.

"No" The word came out way to sharp then she wanted to, she moved quickly into the washroom. She leaned over the bowl and splashed her face with chilly water. It felt good, helping to drive away some of her frustration as she relaxed her mind. She dried her face and leaned over the table that held the bowl, her eyes stared into the water. Gabrielle entered into the washroom coming up beside her warrior, a small hand fell onto Xena's shoulder. "Sorry Gabrielle, I shouldn't have snapped at you like that"

"Its okay, I know you're getting frustrated with everything" A small nod and then Xena straightened up and turned to her soulmate. "So what is going on?" The warrior sighed.

"Lykus is going to be here in two days, Okeanos figures he'll attack in three days" Emerald eyes dropped to the ground.

"That means we have to train those men faster"

"Uh huh" Gabrielle looked up, but the bard grinned.

"Guess that gives us a large opportunity to miss a few pointers to give the men" The warrior smiled as she wrapped her arms around her partner, pulling her in.

"That it does" Gabrielle smiled.

"Xena" The warrior looked down with soft eyes.

"Yeah?"

"We'll get out of this" The older woman smiled lovingly and leaned down to kiss the bard on her forehead.

"I know, thanks love" The bard smiled and grasped the warrior's large hands, Gabrielle lead her soulmate to their bed and they settled onto it. They both snuggled for a while till they left for their dinner. Amazingly the dinner was relatively quiet, Xena figured it to be due to the news of Lykus. By the end of that long grueling dinner, the soulmates were back on the bed. The bard had herself sitting up against the head of the bed board, a mug of tea on her nightstand beside her. In her lap rested her diary, occasionally the small female would drop her quill and drink from her mug the go back to her writing. She felt relaxed in her warrior's night shift. On her left leg was the warrior's head, resting. Xena was under the covers, no cloths were on as she let her body relax, eyes closed. The bard's left hand though was playing with Xena's jet-black hair or her hand would snake down ever once in awhile to caress the warrior's chest under the covers. Then her small fingers would just glide over the warrior's breasts and nipples, not starting anything. Even though the touch was light and not meant do anything but being soothing, Xena could still feel jolts of passion shoot through her. It was amazing to her.

"Xena?" Sapphire eyes drifted open to stare at the ceiling.

"Yeah?"

"Why do you think Jasco got into fighting in the first place?" The older woman didn't respond right away as she thought.

"Really I don't know" A pause. "People can just get pulled into it or they want to" Gabrielle nodded as she went back to her diary.

Last night, Xena had told me an interesting story about a warrior named Jasco and how he fell in-love with a female warrior named Sarana. I was surprised that she told me that particular story. But then I know in Xena's quiet way she was relating that story to her and I, to us. Gods, I love that, being able to say us knowing the meaning behind it. But Xena's story, it was something I won't forget. I can tell in a way I believe Xena was telling me thank you for coming into her life, works both ways though.

But our day wasn't too bad, till the end. We found out that Lykus who is after Okeanos for some past history is coming two days earlier. So Xena and I have to train these men real fast, in three days is when Okeanos expects Lykus to attack. If that's the case, then Xena and I are going to need a plan on how to escape the fortress and make our way to the Amazons. After that, I don't know what Xena has in mind, but I can tell she is thinking about it, even now she is.

The other day though Xena revealed something to me that…shocked me out right. She told me that if I wanted to leave here that all I had to do was say the word and she'd get us out of here. Or in any other future fights for that matter. I never imagined she'd do something like that, for me. I realized how much I meant to her, but I never expected her to leave a fight for me. She put me before the greater good, any time. Gods, that makes me feel so warm all over. But I didn't let her slide with just that. I told her myself if she wanted to ever leave a fight to tell me, I'd do the same. I'm in-love with her too much to put the greater good before her. Xena had smiled at that.

Tomorrow will be interesting to see what happens. Especially in three days when this fight happens. Xena wants to see what kind of warlord Okeanos is. She thinks he's to arrogant, have to agree with her. But he seems to know what he's doing for the most part. He did do a few stupid mistakes, for one bringing Xena and I here and then having us train his own men. I thought I was going to laugh when Xena told me why they took us prisoner. But then I figured there had to be more to everything, there defiantly is. Okeanos seems to have been hired by the Roman Senate to capture as many Amazons as possible. Then Rome plans to sell them in the slave trade for money. Neither Xena nor I were too happy about that. We'll see what happens.

The bard closed the book and placed it on the stand with her quill. She reached for her mug of tea taking one last sip and placing it back on the stand. Gabrielle looked down at her soulmate and continued to run her fingers through raven locks. "Ready to go to sleep?" The blond smiled.

"Yeah you tired Xena?"

"Uh huh" The warrior stiffened a yawn.

"Yup you are" Xena chuckled and felt Gabrielle drop herself down onto the bed. Xena straightened her body out on the bed, resting her head on the bard's shoulder and wrapped one arm underneath her small soulmate. The bard rested her one hand on Xena's muscular soft stomach. Her fingers caressed the older woman's stomach in relaxing patterns. "Night Xena"

"Sleep well love" Another stiffened yawn as the bard kept caressing her stomach. Gabrielle soon learned that the gentle touch sent her lover into a deep sleep. The Amazon Queen made a mental note of that for future use. Her heavy emerald eyes stared into the fire as her body relaxed with her mind. The bard was quick to follow her lover as she fell into a deep sleep.

The next day was not that much of to tell. There were no incidents that day for our heroes to confront. All the men that day were excited after hearing the news of Lykus early arrival. They were ready to fight in their minds, but their skills lacked due to Xena and Gabrielle's training techniques. But none knew of this considering Mene was never around to watch nor was Okeanos. This posed a large advantage to the bard and Xena if they were to fight Okeanos in the later part of this adventure. The Warrior Princess for the most part was forming a plan in mind to escape this fortress with her soulmate. She knew it would work, she was going to make it work.

That night to follow in the dinning hall was filled with hustle and bustle of everybody's excitement. Even Okeanos was reeling stories about his possible future win over Lykus. He went on about his past adventures and stories he heard from other warlords that were sure to make everybody laugh. All laughed except for a small woman and her soulmate. Gabrielle despised, as she called, warrior stories. Stories that had no point and spoke nothing but of blood, chopping this guy's head off, or ripping this person's heart out. She thought it was the foulest thing bearing in mind her stomach was tempted to empty itself. Xena on the other hand had other thoughts coursing through her head. She stared at the table, studying the cracks as her mind filled with past images. Images of her slaughtering people in her hatred filled days the days she sought for some release only to find it in one woman she would come to call her soulmate.

The warrior continued to study the cracks of the wooden table intently and tried to block out the gruesome tales Okeanos and the other's told. Then she felt a warm hand fall to her leg, she knows who's it is so she moves one of her hands from the table to drop it to her leg. A large hand clasped a smaller warm one, Xena held tight, Gabrielle squeezing back in equal effort. In just that small hidden contact the dark woman was able to bring herself around, the reassurance. The assurance from her soulmate that she never cares about her past, that she knows of it and accepted every last part of Xena.

By the end of that dinner to two women were exhausted and went into the comfort of their bed as soon as they entered the room. Through the night the crackle of the low fire and warmth protected the pair, but little could protected them of their dreams.

~*Part 8*~

Sea green eyes stared at the destruction, she couldn't believe, wouldn't believe. The bard began to turn in a circle where she stood, taking in her environment.

This wasn't real.

That's all her mind could repeat. She took in the site. The burned wood, torched bodies, the smoke still rising into the dark clouds above. Gabrielle could smell the death in the air. She stopped moving and stared into one direction she recognized all to well, her house. She grew up right over there. The bard could still imagine how her house looked when it was standing with the barn next to it. Gabrielle then screamed.

"Nnoooo!" It was a scream of anger, hatred and pain. It echoed through the lands, being heard far and near. But it didn't settle the pain in the young woman's heart. Then she realized another thing.

She is all alone.

Gabrielle cried.

She fell to the ground.

Gabrielle clutched her body.

She shivered and screamed and sobbed.

Gabrielle's heart only felt the pain and anger.

She had nothing, not her family, not her soulmate, not her home.

Gabrielle knows she is alone.

The torment trembled through her body, consuming her heart. She had tremors rocking through her body as she shivered and cried. Her body became covered in soot, black as death itself. She was beginning to become apart of the scorched village, her home. The bard rolled to one side and into a pool of warm liquid. Immediately Gabrielle sat up on her knees, in the warm liquid. She looked down it was red. The small woman lifted her hands and saw the red liquid covering her hands. She desperately wiped it off onto her skirt only smearing it onto her legs and lap. Gabrielle looked down into the clear red pool, it reflected back an image of her. Her hair was black as night, red streaks going through it and her face was black covered, red smeared on her cheeks with tears still coming down washing away some of the soot. She looked at her hands again and threw her head back. Gabrielle screamed again. Her throat ached, but nothing near her heart. Her emotions surged to the top, threatening to kill her being, destroy her soul. The bard's head fell back into her hands as she rocked back and forth crying. She whispered words to herself.

"Gods, I am alone"

"My village is gone"

"Xena's gone"

"Where are you Xena when I needed you?"

Gabrielle dropped her red hands and looked to the dark clouded sky, searching them.

"Xena I need you!"

"Why aren't you here!?"

"You left me!"

"Xena!"

Alone in the end.

Gabrielle shot up from the bed as she yelled.

"Xena!" Before the bard could do anything or looked around she felt two strong arms pull her in. She became consumed with the feeling of safety and love. She knew who it was.

"It's alright Gabrielle, I'm right here" The bard sobbed in her soulmate's arms, her body shaking. Xena held her tight as they swayed back and forth some. "I am here Gabrielle, I'm not ever leaving you again" The warrior took a shake breath. "You're alright, we're alright" The smaller woman had her head buried into her lover's chest as she cried. Gabrielle took a deep breath and took control of her mind, calming herself and soon to follow her tears. She took one last deep breath and released it with uneasiness. She brought her head up to looked to her tall soulmate. Xena dropped her head and kissed the bard on the forehead. The warrior brought one hand up to brush back some blond hair from Gabrielle's face. "You okay?" Gabrielle nodded her head. "You want to talk about it?" The bard shook her head in a no response, Xena's heart felt a pang of hurt.

She brought her hand up to push the younger woman's head back against her chest. Gabrielle hugged her partner tightly as Xena placed her chin on top of her head. "You know, a wise friend of mine told me a piece of advice" A pause. "She told me that it was always good to tell other's you trust your emotions or what bothers you" A deep breath this time. "She then said it would help you feel better, deal with things better, and take away the alone feeling" A very small smile formed on the bard's lips, Xena could feel that smile on her bare chest, making her smile as well.

"Yeah I know, its true too" Gabrielle brought her head up and looked into blue eyes. "Sometimes I need to take my own advice, better at giving it then taking it huh?" The warrior just smiled to her soulmate. "So which dream would you like to hear about?"

"All of them, but I want you to tell me the one's you feel ready to tell" The bard nodded her head and repositioned herself in her lover's lap to be more comfortable. She then locked her eyes with sapphire one's that sparkled in the dim lit room.

"The one I just had was mostly about Poteidaia" A deep breathe. "I was in the middle of the scorched village and I was looking around then I fell to the ground crying. Then when I sat up I was covered in ashes and blood. I stared up at the sky and just started screaming…yelling at the sky as if you could hear me. Asking why…" The bard dropped her eyes, then she shut them tight, fighting back tears. She didn't want to say, she didn't want to hurt her soulmate yet she figured Xena knew. "I kept asking why you…why you left me" Green eyes opened again and looked back up to pained blue ones.

"It's okay Gabrielle. What else?" Gabrielle closed her eyes then reopened them.

"Others I have had were one's I'd watch my village be burned to the ground. Lila, mother, and father screaming in the background. Or I'd have nightmares of your death. Even a combination of both" A large hand reached out and grasped the Amazon Queen's nearest hand. "The dreams of your death are either based on anger and rage or sadness and emptiness. The dreams I wake up from feeling anger or mad at you make me so sick for feeling that way" The small woman slowly began to let teardrops trickle down her cheeks. "I can't stand them Xena. I don't know what to do about them" Xena's hand tightened even more. The warrior nodded as she thought her eyes unfocused. They refocused on the bard as Xena laced her fingers with the bard's.

"Gabrielle, I am not going to ever leave you, I promise, never. You hear me?" Gabrielle nodded her head as tears continued to fall, her cheeks red.

"Even in death Xena, I won't leave your side, promise" Xena nodded as her own tears began to appear, a lump in her throat. Her heart raced as she felt love control her.

"I'll never leave your side my soulmate" One single word in which Xena breathed hit home in the bard's heart.

Soulmate

Xena pulled Gabrielle back into her arms, they hugged tightly and let the emotions run through them, they didn't want to let go. Too scared if they did the other would disappear from them. Xena took one deep breath as her body relaxes.

"Gabrielle I want you try something for me the next time one of your dreams happens again okay?" The bard simple nodded her head. "Next time think of me, of our love we hold, of us. I'll be there" Gabrielle closed her eyes and tightened her hold even more, Xena doing the same. After a few heartbeats they released each other. Xena looked down into red eyes, she brought one hand up to wipe away any wetness. "You'll try that for me?"

"I'll try Xena" The warrior smiled.

"Let's get some sleep" The small woman nodded her head and Xena laid back down and brought the bard with her. Gabrielle slept on top of her soulmate, feeling Xena's warmth and safety. She couldn't live without this other woman, didn't want to.

Home

Both women closed their eyes as they hugged each other while they slept for the rest of the night in utter peace.

The following day is the finally day of training for the two women. It was a long day, a day they both wanted to get through quickly with. Yet it dragged on and on, a never-ending day. Finally when dusk broke up the training sessions both women were sent to Okeanos for a little chat. The sturdy warlord was at the front of his desk, leaning against it as he read a parchment. He looked up when the warrior and bard entered, he smiled an ugly smile. Okeanos placed the parchment behind him on his desk. Xena walked up to him with Gabrielle directly off to the side of her.

"Okeanos?" A rough smile from the blond haired man.

"Xena" He looked to the bard. "Queen Gabrielle" Okeanos looked back to the warrior. "Lykus will be here early tomorrow from my reports tell me" He kept his small smile and while he watched Xena bring her arms up to cross against her chest. "That's where you come in Xena" The warlord took a deep breath and walked around his desk. "You will be in the fight, Queen Gabrielle though on the other hand will stay in the fortress under guard protection" The blond's eyes were wide for a moment and she spoke with an edge.

"What? I am not going to be guarded with your foul men. I am a better fighter then most of your men" Amber eyes turned on the bard with rage filling them, he walked back around the desk.

"You will stay with my men" His words came out in a low growl, the bard was about to retort but she felt a large hand clasp onto her shoulder, she held her tongue. The warlord was actually surprised that Xena was able to silence the over spoken woman. The female warrior looked to the blond haired man.

"And why am I going to be fighting?" Okeanos smiled once again as he kept his back straight.

"You'll be out in the field with Mene and I, you'll be helping us with fighting tactics" The Warrior Princess simple nodded her head. Gabrielle was stunned by her soulmate's easy agreement to all the terms. That's when she realized the warrior had something in mind.

"Is that all Okeanos?" The man nodded his head and the two women walked out with two guards behind them. Xena never dropped her hand on the bard's shoulder till they entered the room. That's when the questioning started for the warrior once the door was slammed behind them.

"Xena, why…why did you…" The warrior came up to her and placed her hands on each of the bard's arms and gazed into crystal emerald eyes with a smile.

"Gabrielle listen" She took a deep breath. "If you're in the fortress tomorrow I'll know you're safe and I can get to you quickly"

"But Xena I want to be by out there with you"

"Don't worry, in all the fighting I don't think anybody will notice me disappearing. I'll come into the fortress and get you and we'll be out of here" The bard arched an eyebrow at her lover.

"That simple huh?"

"No not that simple, it never works out that simple" The bard chuckled some.

"Okay, I think I can work with that" The warrior nodded her head and bent down to capture her soulmate's warm lips. The kiss was heartfelt and passionate and soon it found them both in bed. Two warm bodies moving against the other and pleasing the other.

Gabrielle looked up to the dark sky and something dropped in her. She then looked across the hill's edge to see smoke rising up into the air, her breath caught. She dropped her staff to the ground and broke out into a run, she went flying down the hillside. Gabrielle almost lost her footing as she went speeding down the hill, but it didn't matter to her. Once Gabrielle reached the bottom she looked to where the smoke had come from, not again. She stopped dead in her tracks as she stared in disbelief at the site.

No not again.

She raked a hand through her hair and slowly walked closer and closer to the charred land. Gabrielle felt like her everything was being squeezed to death, life drawn from her with each step she took. Now she stood at the edge of the burnt town, her eyes were holding back tears, for how long she could last she wasn't sure. The air was thick, lingering of death, everything dark and hit making anybody disgusted. Gabrielle's eyes scanned the destruction, a lump entering her throat, her mind spinning out of control, her breathing ragged, her legs shaky.

Not again.

Tears began to flow down her face, she took a step into the burnt village, a very small one. Charred wood cracked under her weight, she looked down and gasped. Gabrielle stumbled forward and turned around to stare back at where she last stepped. There lay her sister, what little was left of her. The face was recognizable there was no doubt in that. Lila's body was black as her hair once was. Lila's eyes were open, horror still contained with in them, her mouth open as if she was screaming as she died. Gabrielle leaned down, reaching out with one hand as tears quivered her body. She was about to touch her sister's face to make sure it was real, but she pulled back at the last second. Gabrielle trembled as she hugged herself and tears spilled from her red eyes. Gabrielle turned her back on the corpse to look in the direction of where her home once stood. Gabrielle walked over in that direction, making her way through the burnt wood, corpses, blood, and other items. As Gabrielle neared the area where her house once stood she spotted two large poles standing in the air. She neared and saw what hung from those last two standing large wooden poles.

Gabrielle lost whatever contents were in her stomach and turned her back on the poles. Turned her back on the two bodies that hung from the poles that swung back and forth lightly in the air. Lifting her head back up Gabrielle turned back around to look at the bodies, wanting to make sure it was real. It was, her parents swung in the breeze from the taut ropes around their necks, heads leaning forward, mouth gaping open the same look of terror in their eyes like Lila's.

Gabrielle's heart shattered into a million pieces as she screamed. It echoed over and over and rolled and rolled through the world. It never quenched her anger and sadness. Another screamed rung through the area, shattering the world's peace. Yet again Gabrielle fell to her knees, rocking back and forth while she cried.

"Not again"

She shut her eyes tightly against the pain. Gabrielle wanted to end her life, she couldn't take the pain. It devoured her soul and heart leaving only an empty shell of which she was at one time.

Nothing left.

But yet Gabrielle felt something tugging in her heart, hope, which was the answer. She needed something to grasp and that was the only thing she could, Gabrielle let it surround her and become her protector. Gabrielle still ached like there was no satisfaction in life except for death, but this small emotion hope seem to make it alright to keep fighting, that it was worth it. Hope built a wall around her heart and soul, encasing her showing her a small amount of light in all the darkness, Gabrielle stood in it. Gabrielle reopened her eyes and she looked to the sky, her heart's pain calmed but only a small fraction as she looked up.

The sky was not longer black, dark, gray and eerie. It was now clear, and a brilliant shade of sapphire swept across the sky's world. Gabrielle stared at it, the air around her changed. Gabrielle felt safety over this sky's blue, she didn't know why either. Then something came to life in her, it was love, from where she did not of. She clung to it as she looked back to the burnt ground below her body. It felt so familiar that love. Why did it? Gabrielle clung to that unknown love as she wished it to save her. Would it?

She wasn't alone.

Her soul told her she was never alone.

Gabrielle looked up to see a very tall dark form walking in the smoke in her direction. Gabrielle was still on her knees, slight hunched forward with her arms wrapped around her body. That tall dark form grew and made its way to her through all the dark smoke. Redden emerald eyes stared up into an intense blue, Gabrielle felt herself become complete. The tall stranger leaned down and lifted Gabrielle from the ground into strong arms. Gabrielle wrapped her arms around the strong form and cried as she barred her face into the stranger's chest. The stranger carried Gabrielle out of the torched village and onto the hillside. The stranger then sat on the ground and Gabrielle curled up into the stranger's arms as she kept her back to her massacred home. Gabrielle cried long and hard, trying to rid herself of the pain knowing it would never leave. The stranger never loosened their grip on Gabrielle, only holding her tight as she cried. Finally ending her tears, Gabrielle looked up into sapphire. She stared at the stranger and a very small smile broke across Gabrielle's lips.

"Xena?"

"I'm here"

"But…but how?"

"I told you I'd never leave your side, not even in your dreams" Xena leaned forward and placed a kiss to the bard's forehead and quietly whispered to her "I love you" Gabrielle breathed a sigh of relief as she cried again out of happiness and she reached up with her left hand. She caressed Xena's cheek to make sure she was here, it was true. Gabrielle kissed Xena lightly and wrapped her arms around Xena, hugging her tightly while she cried out of joy. She wasn't alone.

Soulmates

Emerald eyes flew open in the dark room.

Emerald is locked with sapphire.

"You were really there weren't you?" Xena smiled at the question.

"Yeah" A few tears trickled down the bard's face as she hugged her soulmate. Gabrielle was comfortably positioned on top of her warrior's bare body.

"How did you get into my dream?" The warrior shrugged her shoulders some.

"Not sure, I knew you needed me so I came" Xena moved one hand from the bard's back to Gabrielle's face, she brushed back a few stray piece of strawberry-blond hair. "I felt an intense amount of pain right here" The warrior's hand dropped to her own chest over her heart and moved her large hand back to Gabrielle's face. "I knew you were in pain. Some how my dream connected with yours and I heard you scream when I first got there" The small woman smiled to Xena and dropped her head onto the warrior's chest and closed her red eyes.

"Thank you" A pause. "I love you" The Warrior Princess smiled and lifted her head some to kiss the bard on the head. She dropped her head back and ran one hand through strawberry-blond locks while the other arm rested around the bard's bare body. The two women fell back into a pleasant sleep for the remaining few candlemarks.

~*Part 9*~

You will remember that this is hopefully the warrior's and bard's day of escaping, even though Xena would have been more then happy to break out earlier with her own means. But as you recall only the bard's refusal stopped that. So now it is a candlemark before dawn and Xena had risen from bed and quietly placed two logs into the fire. She looked back to her sleeping soulmate and smiled.

The warrior had been surprised she was able to make it into her soulmate's dreamscape. Xena had been in her own dream when she heard a loud scream ring through her dream. She immediately recognized the scream and the pain that stood behind it. Something deep in her grew stronger forcing her to close her eyes and it calmed back down so she reopened her eyes to see a seared village with smoke rising from it. Then another scream inflamed through the lands and she moved quickly to its source.

Xena turned back to the fireplace and moved to the saddlebags, she pulled out her leathers and slipped into them. She could feel the tightness of them, enjoying the feel of power she received from them, it reminded her of her warlord days. A very small side of her missed those days, the power and control, but she wouldn't give up her life now for that or anything. She wouldn't give up her soulmate for battle lust, hatred and blood. The warrior turned back around and quietly made her way to the side of the bed, she sat down on the side. Blue eyes stared at the beautiful face she'd come to admire, love and treasure. Xena knows she needs Gabrielle in her life.

Xena reached out with her close hand and lightly stroked the bard's face. Gabrielle didn't open her eyes, but one of her hands came up from under the covers and grasped the warrior's hand. The Amazon Queen moved the warrior's hand to her lips and placed gentle kisses to Xena's hand. The Warrior Princess smiled and watched as green eyes opened with a small sparkle to them. Gabrielle then interlaced her fingers with Xena's and pulled their hands under the bard's chin as she smiled.

"What's up?" Xena grinned as her thumb rubbed the bottom of Gabrielle's wrist.

"You're not" The bard chuckled some.

"Yeah it's too comfortable in this bed"

"True, but we need to get moving. I'm sure Mene will be up here soon" Gabrielle nodded as she took a deep breath and released Xena's hand. Xena stood up from the bed and moved back to the fire as she heard the bard's feet hit the stone floor. The tall female then heard a muffled curse under the blond's breath, Xena chuckled to herself.

"I officially hate cold stone floors" The warrior then felt two small arms wrapped around her leather-clad waist.

"I like them, wake me up" Gabrielle huffed and dropped her head against Xena's back.

"That's just the problem, they wake me up to fast" Xena laughed some as squeezed the bard's hands and felt her small soulmate release her. The bard made her way to where her clothes lay and quickly slipped them on and looked around for her boots. She looked to the taller woman in question and Xena nodded over to the chair by the entrance to the bathroom. Gabrielle quickly spotted her boots by the chair and walked over to them and slipped them on and laced them. The warrior by now was working on her armor with long fingers, her frustration kicking in some. The bard had finished lacing her boots and turned around to stare at her partner with a small grin. Blue eyes regarded her and the bard chuckled and made her way behind Xena. Gabrielle easily then buckled the warrior's armor for her and then she stepped around to face her soulmate. "So is this simple plan going to really work?"

"Don't know, we'll find out huh?"

"Uh huh" Gabrielle agreed in amusement then heard the faint sound of people moving outside, she sighed.

"Xena, what about our weapons?" The tall female grinned.

"I'll take care of it. You just worry about protecting yourself okay?" A brown eyebrow curved up at that.

"How can I when I'll be more worried about you?" Xena smiled.

"I'll be fine, we'll be out of here…one way or another" The end statement was mere truth and it sent a small chill down the bard's back. Then there was a bang at the door, both heads turned to see Mene walk in with two guards. Xena crossed her arms against her chest.

"Queen Gabrielle, you are to follow me" The small woman looked to her partner, icy blue eyes turned to her, Xena simply nodded. Gabrielle nodded back and brought her hand up for a moment to Xena's hand on top of her one arm and squeezed. For a moment the bard could see the warrior's eyes shimmer then go stern again and Gabrielle moved to Mene. Gabrielle disappeared behind the closed door, her gate held pride in it as always making Xena smile inwardly. Once the door was closed Xena moved quickly to pack their things and moved the two saddlebags close to the door along with her small soulmate's scroll satchel.

Within a half of a candlemark Mene returned for Xena this time. The Warrior Princess had been led down to the center of the fortress where around four hundred men stood, getting their gear ready in last of darkness of the night. Their armor and swords glistened and gleamed in the moon light, even the sharp spear heads flashed. The armory had been open with men shifting in and out collecting whatever weapons they pleased of. Mene had disappeared for a moment, but the two guards remained with the female warrior.

Once he returned, he held Xena's handcrafted sword inside the leather sheath, he handed it to the warrior. Xena took it, feeling the familiar weight to it, it sent power coursing through her body. A faint amount of darkness over took her, the side that was of Ares. Her dangerous sapphire eyes twinkled in the early dawn light and then she slipped it onto her back, clipping on with perfection. She turned to look at the men as they began to move out of the fortress in groups and moving to the land surrounding the fortress outside.

"Good morning Xena" Slowly steel eyes turned to look to Okeanos, he had his sardonic smile on. His silver armor was well polished and he sheathed his sword to his right side as he came up to Mene and the Warrior Princess. "Nothing like a fight to start the day off"

"Where is Gabrielle?" His smile dropped for a moment as he regarded the tall woman, then his amber eyes narrowed as he smiled again. He looked to Mene and nodded his head, the second in the command went off in pursuit.

"Your horse will be saddled up and brought out to you when the time is right Xena" The warrior merrily nodded her head and then she looked back to the moving troops.

"So how many are going to be out there fighting?"

"I've decided four hundred out to fight the other hundred to watch over the fortress" Xena mentally cursed herself at the number that would still remain inside of the fortress.

"How many men does Lykus have?" Okeanos shrugged his shoulders as he looked to his men as well.

"Around two hundred, if that, easy fight" Xena then figured Lykus must know Okeanos' men are new, considering Lykus fought with low odds. About two of Okeanos' men per Lykus' single men, two to one. Maybe it would be a good fight after all considering the odds. As Xena continued to gaze at the men slowly making their way out of the fortress she heard the sound of chains rattling in the background. The sound became louder in her direction, so the warrior turned around.

Cobalt eyes instantly narrowed at the site, her jaw tightened and one hand fisted up at her side. Gabrielle was walking in her direction beside Mene and three other guards behind her. She was chained by the legs with shackles on her ankles, her hands tied with ropes in front and around her throat she was led by a metal collar, Mene grasping the end chain of the collar. Rage built up in the warrior's body, she controlled it as best as possible. Mene and the bard neared with the guards stopping three paces away. "Well Queen Gabrielle is here" The Warrior Princess looked to the warlord, her eyes glossed and dark. Okeanos looked from the Amazon Queen to the ex-warlord, his cynical smile still plastered on his lips. "You will have to excuse Queen Gabrielle for being manacled, but we can't let her run off in the middle of this fight. We still need her as well"

Ares' chosen.

In one quickly fluent motion the Warrior Princess had pulled her dagger from between her breasts and had it at Okeanos' throat. Okeanos was frozen in place as he was capture by feral blue eyes, those eyes spoke volumes that only harvested darkness deep in them that are just being controlled.

"Release the bonds from her" Okeanos didn't move at the low voice. "Now!" The warlord shivered at the loud growl.

"I can not"

"Yes you can or you'll be breathing through your neck soon"

"Xena, you're in a middle of a fortress with five hundred men, there is no way you can escape" Blue eyes narrowed.

"Don't tempt me Okeanos" A long stare. "Now remove them"

"I'll remove part of them, deal?" Xena stared hard and long into amber eyes, she knew he had him scared. But she wasn't in the mood to fight five hundred men right now, so she nodded her head. Okeanos looked to three guards.

"Remove the collar and loosely manacle her hands behind her back" Neither guard moved. "If either of you three don't now I'll kill you myself!" One of the guards jumped and reached behind the bard's neck and undid the collar, and attached it to his belt. He then reached forward to cut the bindings around Gabrielle's wrists. Okeanos was still busy with a dagger at his throat. The small woman's arms were pulled ruffle behind her as her wrists were shackled behind her back with cold metal, but not tight. Xena dropped her dagger from the warlord's throat and placed it back between her breasts. "Nice place to keep a dagger" The warrior just smiled to him giving him her own sarcastic smile, a seeming smirk. He then took a fast glance at his troops spotting them all outside, Mene moved and headed outside of the fortress walls to the men. Okeanos turned his gaze back to the tall female and spotted a flaxen mare and a large sable stallion coming up behind her. Xena had already heard the hoof beats from earlier and recognized one set as her war-horse. She turned around and the corner of her mouth almost began to start the form of a smile, but she kept her straight face. The stable man handed Xena the reins then gave the other set to Okeanos, they both mounted. Okeanos looked to Gabrielle's three guards. "Take her away for the fight" The bard had looked up to her soulmate with loving eyes, the warrior's own crystalline eyes softened only to her.

"I'll be back" Gabrielle simple nodded her head, understanding the meaning behind the words. She was light pushed in the direction from where she had come from, small dudgeons. The Warrior Princess turned her head back to the exit of the fortress and Okeanos kick his horse with Xena right behind him. Xena glimpsed around at the fortress as she rode out, making mental notes of where all the men on the walls and on the grounds were.

Her body began to course with the anticipation of the fight, her mind reeled at the knowledge and her dark inner strength came to life deep in her. Her love was forced down for protection reasons, her eyes glossed over while her back was straight and her instincts peaked. Xena's dark hair flowed in the gentle breeze while her icy blue eyes narrowed once she was outside the gates, her posture only conceived power.

This is the warrior.

The warlord and ex-warlord tugged on the reins, the mare and stallion stopping just behind the troops. The second in command came jogging up to Okeanos and Xena, his head down. He looked up as he neared them, stern face.

"Lord Okeanos?" The blond haired warlord looked down at Mene, his own features masked with coldness.

"Report Mene" The second in command took a deep breath and began to regurgitate what he heard from the scouts.

"Lykus is about a quarter of a candle-mark away. He has hundred and seventy-five men on foot the other small twenty-five are on horseback" Okeanos nodded his head.

"Exactly where is Lykus himself?" The second in command grinned some.

"Amazingly in the front leading, they're coming at a fast trot right now" The warlord nodded again.

"Good, report back of any problems, you know how to handle the situation correct?" Mene nodded his head. "Good" Mene turned on his heels and jogged back to the forces. Okeanos watched him leave and then looked back up towards the direction of the woods where the forest was about two hundred thousand paces away.

"I take it Lykus has it in bad for you?" The warlord chuckled as he averted his amber eyes on to the female warrior.

"Yes he does, he was very much in-love with that little boy" Xena's azure eyes narrowed at the information, knowing how Lykus must feel. Knowing how she would react to losing her younger soulmate.

"Well then, I think I can understand Lykus" Okeanos' features went a bit baffled as he tried to make sense of the comment. Then it struck him from a blind side, his eyes widen just slightly as he grasped everything and he quickly moved his eyes some where else. The warrior had caught the small shift in air between her and Okeanos, he knew, but it didn't matter to her now. A small grin formed on her lips as she thought about it. Took the idiot long enough to figure it out. The warrior chuckled inwardly then refocused her mind to the problem at hand. Her eyes focussed on the woods and she listened hard as she bent her head down some.

The sound of metal rattling faintly.

Twigs are being broken.

Stones knocked around on gravel.

The sound of hoofs hitting the ground.

It all stopped in a few seconds, nothing but quietness. At that moment piercing yells were made as steel blue eyes looked up. She spotted a number of men charging towards them and riders directly behind the running warriors. In the middle at the front was a rider, his sword unsheathed and a cape on, Lykus. "And now it starts" Okeanos looked to the tall woman.

"That it does" Both looked to the see Okeanos' men charging into Lykus' men. The sound of metal clashing into metal whisked through the clear day. Warcries and yells of pain were heard as the fight raged on. Okeanos scanned the fight, seeing the Lykus' Calvary trying to break through the mass amount of men, but having little luck. He then located Lykus himself, he was about half way through Okeanos' men astonishingly and still on horseback. Xena then began to count Lykus' footmen, trying to figure if they were all there. She started from left to right, once she reached the end her back stiffened. But it was to late, a large wave of fifty men came flooding from the right of the woods where there is a large opening in Okeanos' line. That's when Mene came rushing back to Okeanos and Xena, breathing hard.

"Lord Okeanos…" The warlord quickly cut him off.

"I see what happened fool, I told you to keep an equal amount of men spread through the lines" He took a deep breath, Mene waiting for him. "The left flank is a bit thick, spread them out, it should tighten up the right wing" Mene nodded his head and ran back to the men and began to order the men around. But unfortunately it wasn't early enough. Lykus' men were pushing through and fast not to mention Lykus himself. Okeanos scanned the fight and saw Lykus pulling his long sword from a man's chest. Lykus looked up to meet eyes with Okeanos. They stared at each other for a long moment, then Mene came running towards Lykus is sword preparing to kill him. Yet he failed, Mene had came head on, to fast and lost his head. Lykus looked back up and kicked his steed hard and was at a gallop towards Okeanos. The blond haired warlord grinned and unsheathed his sword. Xena watches the entire time. Okeanos kicked his own horse and went at Lykus. Before the two swords met, Lykus yelled out.

"Losers ahead!" Okeanos widen his eyes and ducked as Lykus' sword swished past the top of his head. Xena shook her head as she watched the two men come at each other again.

"Boys will play" The Warrior Princess kicked the mare in the side and went at a gallop to the back of the fortress, she rounded it and looked up to see a bar window and grinned. She pulled Argo to a stop and jumped off the mare's back onto the ground. Once she landed a lanky man with a bow and arrow appeared from the woods. Xena looked to the man to see him aiming a poison tipped arrow at her, her eyes narrowed.

"Don't move Warrior Princess" Xena's composure never faltered, she took a step forward. "I said don't move!" She took another step towards him, his hand just began to faintly shake. "Don't move or I'll shoot at you" A dark eyebrow rose up as she smiled evilly.

"Oh I don't believe you can" She'd hit the right button, he let go of the arrow and it came flying through the air at her. Xena shifted her body to the left and brought her right hand up to catch the arrow. She broke it in her hand and dropped it to the ground. Now the young man was fondling to retrieve another arrow from his back. Before he could, the tall woman was right in his face, her eyes cold and dark. He froze in place and stared into those deep blue eyes. "Oh I wouldn't" His eyes widen and he grasped and arrow. Xena brought up her fist and pulled back, then her knuckles connected with the archer's face. He fell to the ground in a one limp motion. "I told him not to" The Warrior Princess shrugged her shoulders and turned to look at the rod window again. She spotted a ledge coming out directly underneath the window, perfect, she then took account the distance from the ground to the ledge, to much. Her jaw tightened as she looked back behind her to the woods. Xena looked up to see a high branch over her, she grinned. Bending down, she sprung back up to soar through the air and landed neatly onto the branch. She looked across to the fortress wall to see the ledge just a little higher up and she ran on the thick arm of the tree. The warrior leapt and flipped in mid-air and straightened her legs out to make contact with the ledge. Xena leaned forward as her hands grasped the stones that stuck out from the wall the most. She looked to her right to see the window, Xena dropped her hands from the stone wall to carefully glide her feet across the ledge. The ledge is only long enough to support her feet from the heel to the tips of her toes. A large hand grasped the middle bar and she pulled hard. Xena closed her eyes as her muscles strained against the bars. The sound of metal grinding against stone could be heard as the bars gave in to their antagonist. They were ripped from their home, the bars came soaring through the air to fall to the ground far below except for one to the far right, but no matter. Xena quickly shifted along the ledge to crawl in through the window.

Boot hit stone floor and the warrior made her way over to the saddlebags and the satchel She hefted one saddlebag into her hands. The tall female then kicked at the door hard producing a loud bang. Quickly the door was opened and a single guard peaked in with a confused look only to receive a saddlebag in the face. He fell back into the ground has his eyes swam then a fist merged with his face, his body going out of commission. Xena dragged the guard into the room with the saddlebag and walked out of the room, closed the door behind and bolted it. She broke into a jog towards Okeanos' office.

The bard listened to the sounds of the battle far above her, she sighed. The three guards stood outside of the jail, two leaning against the bars while the third huge sentry stared at her. Her skin had goosebumps for how long the single guard eyed her, which had been the entire time. The guards never spoke, but this one decided to as he looked to his two comrades.

"You think Lord Okeanos will mind if we have some fun?" Both of the guards looked to the large boned man whom had a smirk on his lips. They then looked to each other and shrugged their shoulders. The one to the right, the leader, which was tall and muscular yet exceptionally dirty, grinned to him.

"Why not?" Gabrielle's green eyes narrowed at the idea itself, she stood up from the bench. Her hands behind her rattled from the movement.

"Oh it seems she's looking forward to it" All three men laughed at the large man's joke as the lead muscular guard began to unlock the gate. The small woman's jaw tighten as she formed a plan in her head and rapidly. Her palms grew sweaty as they entered. Why did this always happen to her? That's right, she was suppose to be the weaker one in distress all the time. The lead muscular guard moved closer to her, right in her breathing space a grin to his lips. The Queen of the Amazons growled and abruptly lashed her head forward to hit the guard's head. He howled and stepped back a few paces as he reached for his head. Gabrielle was then roughly hit in the face as she slammed into the bench and slid down the wall. She looked up to the large guard his eyes cold and narrowed. She tasted blood in her mouth, her hands reached down to the edge of the bench. The bard then instantly lifted her legs to hit the large guard under the chin. His world seemed to splash into a million whirling specks of light as he went reeling into the lead guard behind him. They both smashed into the bars of the prison. That's when the third guard acted and grabbed Gabrielle by the throat and held tight. Green eyes shut tight as her legs began to move. She struggled with her legs to slip through her arms. Her knees tightened up and then her feet slipped through the open circle in the bard's arms. Her hands intertwined as she brought up the double fist to meet with the third guards chin. He released the bard's throat and Gabrielle leaned to her right, her face almost touching the bench. She coughed and gagged, air finally flooding into her lungs while the world around her stopped spinning.

Gabrielle looked up to see all three guards towering over her, her stomach turned into knots at the sight. The larger built guard leaned down towards her face as she sat back up.

"Don't even bother little bitch" The bard's upper lip twitched at the command and her eyes flashed red. Her temper went up and in reaction Gabrielle threw up her hands with the manacles. The chain linking the two manacles fell behind the back of the large man's head. Gabrielle crossed her arms tight, choking the man around the neck. He reached up to the chain to try and removed it but was failing. Then the lead guard punched the bard in the face, her head snapped while blood trickled from her lip and nose. She then kicked the large man in her manacles in the stomach, he tumbled to the ground. Again the lead guard punch Gabrielle but hardier this time, this sent her head bashing against the wall, almost knocking her cold. Her image swam her head falling forward into her hands, her body expecting another blow. Yet it never came to her. Instead she heard somebody being thrown through the air and into the bars hard, falling onto the first large man's unconscious body. Then another man yelled but it went unanswered as his body landed to the ground in a pile. The next thing Gabrielle felt were warm hands on her head, lifting her head up. Unfocused sea green eyes stared into sky ones.

"Gabrielle?"

"Xena?" The warrior smiled.

"Hey, yeah its me. You okay?" The bard sort of smiled at the dumb question.

"Never better"

"Can you stand?" Gabrielle didn't know, so she tried and she almost toppled onto the ground with the exception of strong hands holding her up.

"Guess not" The small woman closed her eyes and felt warm arms lift her up. Xena made her way quickly out of the prison, the gate to the jail being slammed shut and automatically locked. They went outside to the fortress grounds. The tall woman moved to a corner and waited till five men passed by, she then moved in the opposite direction of the five soldiers along the walls to where their room from the nights was located. Gabrielle had her head slumped into Xena's bosom as she kept her eyes shut trying to stop her images from swimming. The warrior looked down at her soulmate, seeing blood still trickling down the lower half of her face. Xena looked back up to see the stairs to the balcony way, she ascended them and jogged down to the room. They entered it being undetected, the guard from earlier tied in the washroom. Xena placed her partner on the edge of the bed. "Feel any better?" Gabrielle shook her head. The warrior nodded and moved to the saddlebags on the chair. She pulled out the medicine kit, bring it to the bed. "Vision swimming?"

"Yeah" The warrior nodded and pulled out a leather bag containing small dried leaves. She handed one to Gabrielle.

"Place it under your tongue, it'll help okay?" The bard nodded and slipped it into her mouth under her tongue. It had a small bitter taste but her mind was already relaxing. Gabrielle closed her eyes as large hands moved to her injuries, placing some jewelweed oil to the cuts, they stung. But the small woman didn't care, her soulmate's touch comfort her. Xena tossed the med. kit back in the saddlebags and walked back to her soulmate. "We've gotta remove these" Large hands grasped the chains of the manacles to the bard's arms and pulled. Gabrielle watched as the warrior strained herself, her eyes closed, jaw tight her muscles stood out in her arms, knuckles pure white. The bard watched in amazement as one of the links in the chain began to rip apart, then it snapped. Then the tall woman's hands went to the chain at her legs, Xena tugged at them breaking them apart as well. She smiled at her gaping soulmate and walked back to the saddlebags.

Then she lifted the two saddlebags and satchel up from the ground, she pulled out a rope from one saddlebag. She tied the rope onto the bags and then the satchel, putting them out the window. Xena lowered them to the ground and then tied the other end to remaining bar. The ex-warlord then made her way back to her partner, Gabrielle looked up. The bard took to notice that her warrior had the chakram on her side along with her sword, she had to grin inwardly. "I want you to stay on my back, I'll gets us down" The bard nodded her head and Xena put her back to the bard and bent down directly in front of her. The Amazon Queen wrapped her legs around the warrior's waist then her arms around Xena's neck. Xena stood back up and padded over to the window, Gabrielle spotted the window.

"Xena, that window won't fit use both at the same time"

"Yes it will, I want you to hug me tightly and keep your head low" Xena turned around and ducked low as she brought her legs out of the window to touch the ledge. Gabrielle lowered her head, just missing the top of the open window, the warrior straightened back up. She grasped the rope and wrapped one leg around the rope. They slowly moved down the rope as Xena moved her legs against the wall her hands holding the rope firmly. Gabrielle looked below to see the saddlebags and her scroll satchel and right by them was her staff, she grinned. She then closed her eyes before the height got to her, dropping her head into Xena's neck. The warrior smiled. "We're almost down Gabrielle"

"I know" A pause. "So while were here, what happened out there?" Xena sucked in a deep breath of her muscle strain.

"Lykus is rather smart"

"Not compared to you" The warrior huffed as she continued down.

"He sent about fifty men at Okeanos' right flank breaking it. And when I left the scene Okeanos and Lykus were to idiots fighting on horse back" The bard grinned at the description and glazed over story. She'd have to work the rest out of her soulmate later. But right now, Xena's feet hit solid ground and Gabrielle dropped her legs and arms and Xena bent down to untie the bags. She whistled and Argo came out of the woods and over to her master. The warrior threw the bags on, tying them and then attaching the scroll satchel. Lastly Xena put the staff into the mare's saddlebags. The tall woman then abruptly lifted her partner up and helped her into the saddle. Gabrielle scooted back and watched as Xena hopped up in front of her. Neither female moved as they listened, the bard wrapping her arms around her lover's leather waist. They both heard the sounds of battle still going on. Then there was a loud yell from the window above. The soulmates looked up to see a guard looking down at them, Xena grinned up at him. The guard grasped the rope and stepped out onto the ledge, another guard reappeared at the window. The Warrior Princess laughed in evil amusement at the site and reached to her side. Her chakram went hurtling through the air at incredible speed, it's edge sliced through the rope and bounced off the fortress wall. It then lowered in angel and came back down at Xena, she plucked it out of mid air once it neared her. In a rapid motion it was back at her side from start. The one guard had crashed to the ground, out cold while the other at the window cursed and ran out of the room.

"Lets get out of here Xena" The Warrior Princess seconded that and pulled the right rein to have Argo face the east woods. She kicked the mare hard in the sides and they vanished into the woods and into the early morning.

Continued in Part 4.