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 4

Section 4

~*Part 10*~

Now as we recall Xena's soulmate and herself had escaped Okeanos and the fortress, and currently they are at a speeding gallop through the woods in the direction of the Amazons. The pair rode for about a half of a candlemark, then the warrior began to feel her soulmate's head falling onto her back. There would be a jounce of Argo and Gabrielle would lift her head once more, only to have it falling back to Xena's back within a few heartbeats. So Xena slowed down, and pulled on Argo's reins, the bard straightened up immediately wondering what was going on.

"Why are we stopping Xena?" The warrior slipped her feet out of the stirrups and swung her left leg over to one side to sit sidesaddle. Then she placed her right leg where her left leg was originally, so basically she now sat backwards in the saddle. Xena smiled at her bard's curious expression as she rested her large hands on her own thighs.

"Wanted to check on you, that's why" The bard arched one eyebrow. "How's your head feel?"

"My vision still swimming but not as much as earlier"

"Does the leaf still have a bitter taste to it?" A shake of the head. "Let me see it" Gabrielle removed the tiny leaf from under her tongue and handed it to her lover. Xena held the end and placed the very tip if it into her mouth. She chewed on the tip of it for a moment and instantly her mouth was invaded with a tart taste, her teeth almost curling. The warrior removed it from her mouth, handing it back to the bard. "Just go ahead and eat it " The bard's emerald eyes widen in surprise. "It'll help rid of your shaky sight"

"If you say so" The small woman placed the leaf in her mouth as Xena leaned into the bard with her right hand reaching out. She grasped a water skin from the side of the saddlebag and sat back in the saddle to watch her soulmate. Once the bard began to chew on the petal, her face squinted together, emerald eyes closed as she shook her head briefly then swallowed. "Wow that was strong stuff" Xena chuckled and handed her partner the water skin, Gabrielle briskly took a long drink to wash down the strong taste. She then corked the skin again and turned in the saddle to place the skin back onto the saddlebag. When she turned back around, a large hand went up to her face to touch the cut on the right of her lower lip.

"How does that feel?" The Amazon Queen smiled and felt Xena's thumb move across her lips in a gentle touch.

"Its fine" A pause. "Thank you for getting there when you did" The older woman nodded her head as she dropped her hand to Gabrielle's hands.

"I'll always be there for you" Gabrielle's eyes softened another degree at those words. Xena looked down at the bard's wrists that still had the shackles.

"I can wait till later to remove them" Blue eyes looked up and the warrior nodded her head in understanding.

"If we get moving now and go for the rest of the day and take a break some where in there, we could make it to the Amazons by nightfall. Or go non stop and make it there by late afternoon" Gabrielle's eyes went shadowy for a moment as she thought, then she looked to her tall partner again.

"I'd defiantly would need a respite some where in there" The tall woman chuckled at the bard's words and then leaned in to tenderly kiss the young woman. Xena's mouth was tainted with the taste of tart blood, that was something she'd never experienced before. The warrior then repositioned herself in the saddle, facing forward once more.

"Tired?"

"Yeah"

"Try to get some sleep love, there'll be a road up here soon, make the ride more smooth" Gabrielle smiled as she wrapped her arms tightly around the warrior and dropped her head against the muscular back. Within a quarter of a candle mark the small woman was dozing soundlessly on Xena's back as they rode on at a canter.

Green eyes opened again as she felt Argo slow down, Gabrielle lifted her head from Xena's back. The warrior steered the mare into a small open clearing off the rode. Pulling on the reins again, the horse stopped and threw her head up and down, Xena patted the mare on the neck.

"Good girl" Xena's boots came out of the stirrups and she landed to the ground, her knees bending then straightening back up. Next to follow was the bard herself, her bonds rattling as she landed on the soft green ground. "Why don't you go sit down, I'll be right there to get the shackles off" Gabrielle nodded her head and moved to the center of the clearing and sat on the ground. Xena unbuckled a saddlebag and carried it over to where her soulmate sat. She sat down in front of the bard to face her while she dropped the bag to ground next to her. Xena sifted through the leather bag, finding a long dagger and then some fruit. She pulled out an apple and tossed it to her soulmate. The bard caught it in mid-air and began to munch on it and the warrior's hands went to the bond on the bard's right leg. Xena placed the tip of the dagger into the open keyhole and began to move it around. She listened to the workings inside react to the dagger's movement as she twisted and turned the knife. Gabrielle took a few bites from the red apple.

"Xena, what are we going to do if Okeanos survived that fight?" Blue eyes looked up for a moment then went back to the shackle.

"We'll take care of him"

"Xena we don't have enough Amazon to stop the men" A pop and the shackle fell to the ground. The bard grinned and took a few more bites from the apple as large hand worked on the other leg shackle.

"The Amazons won't have to fight them alone" Xena grinned as she saw her soulmate bring up a brown eyebrow in wonderment.

"What are you planning?" The warrior chuckled as she turned the dagger left then right then a hard left. A ping was heard as the second shackle fell to the ground.

"Let me see your right wrist" The small woman held her hand out, but it contained the apple as well. Gabrielle offered her a bite, Xena gratefully taking a few then the other small hand held the apple. The tall female held the bard's wrist as the dagger probed the keyhole. "The Amazons are going to hire some mercenaries. I figure Okeanos will be receiving more warriors and experience ones at that" The blond swallowed from an apple bit.

"Xena, the Amazons can't afford a group of mercenaries, we both now that" Xena grinned up her lover as the wrist manacle gave in and unlatched from the small wrist hitting the ground. The ex-warlord moving to the last bond on the bard's body.

"Well as of now, the Amazons' treasury increased" Gabrielle took another chew from the apple as she thought. Her mind raced at where Xena could have gotten that idea. Her mind centered on the treaty, Okeanos was being paid, the saddlebags looked a little heavier then normal. She turned her head to glance at the one on Argo and looked back to her smirking soulmate.

"Xena you didn't?" The older woman chuckled some, then she pressed down hard with the dagger, and the manacle lost the battle and slipped off the bard's wrist. Gabrielle took a last bite from the crisp apple and then she tossed it into the woods and watched as Xena retrieved her own red apple.

"I stole enough money for two mercenaries technically, so the Amazon Nation has extra money now" The bard shook her head as she smiled to her soulmate. Gabrielle rubbed her wrist.

"Let me guess, you also know a mercenary from your past that's an old friend that'll help out" Xena grinned at her friend as she munched on the apple.

"Actually, he and I didn't have a great friendship per to say, but I think it'll still work out" The warrior glanced at her lover's wrists as she rubbed them, she was happy to see no rashes, yet. Gabrielle then crossed her legs and picked up the four shackles and looked at them.

"What you want to do with these?" The tall warrior took a huge chomp from the apple and didn't respond till she swallowed the juicy tidbit.

"Amazons can use them" Gabrielle raised and eyebrow and stood up still glancing down at her partner.

"In what way is what I'd like to know" The bard caught site of her friend's mouth hanging open right before she turned her back to the older woman and made her way over to Argo. She slipped the shackles into the saddle bag and then turned back around crossing her arms against her chest. "So you and this old mercenary friend have a history together I assume" A simple nodded and a bite into the apple one last time and tossing the remains into the woods where Gabrielle had. Xena then picked up the leather saddlebag beside her and stood.

"We do, haven't seen him in years though" The tall female padded over to Argo to stand next to the bard. The saddlebag she carried was effortlessly buckled back onto the mare's rump. Gabrielle now stared into beautiful sky splashed eyes, she became lost in them for a few heartbeats. Her mind refocused while she grinned up at her soulmate.

"So were you both lovers?" The warrior's heart missed a beat at the unexpected question that came smacking into her from no where.

"No we weren't" The bard kept her grin, surprising the warrior some as she wondered why her partner was grinning over something rather serious. "What are you smirking about?" Gabrielle chuckled as she dropped her head for a second then looked back up.

"Its cute to watch you get under pressure" A dark eyebrow rose up.

"Cute huh?" Xena's face went extremely serious, Gabrielle quickly noticed as she dropped her grin. "Why you so calm about that topic?" The bard still had her arms crossed against her chest, but she loosened her hold some as she relaxed.

"Well I will admit whatever past lovers you had does start a hint of jealousy" A pause as Gabrielle thought, her eyes staring at the ground while her words came out in thought. "But I stop myself, knowing it isn't worth the jealousy or fair to you" She looked up to lock eyes. "In the end it doesn't matter to me Xena because I know…" Xena cut her off, finishing the sentence for her.

"You're my soulmate" Gabrielle smiled up to her and nodded her head. One of the warrior's rare warm smiles over took her lips as she bent down to capture the smaller woman's lips. Once the sweet kiss was broken Xena kept her head low.

"Thank you love. That means a lot to me" A pause as Xena organized her feelings and thoughts. "Makes me feel more comfortable to talk to you about my past relationships…just my past in general" Gabrielle kept her smiled as she uncrossed her arms to rest a hand on Xena's upper arm.

"Xena, I love you, you are all that matters in this world to me" They both fell into soul searching kiss, but the heroes had to leave the small clearing. The Greater Good beckon them to bring a small amount of order and safety to this world. So they climbed onto the war-horse and rode on at a full gallop. For once Gabrielle tried to enjoy the ride, she did. She let her body take on the sensation that she was flying, she thought she was. The bard thought she could get use to this feeling which actually shocked her. Then she wandered if the only reason she was slowly beginning to enjoy riding was because her soulmate was sitting in front of her? Or was it because a part of her that is her soulmate was coming more to life as each day passed?

As each day brought their souls closer and closer until one day they would become one once again.

They rode for the rest of the day, making good time towards the Amazons. Once they reached the Amazon Mountains did they dismount and begin to walk through them. Unfortunately it was becoming late afternoon and the sun glared at an angle into their eyes. It made the trip conflicting more then anything. Especially for the bard who loved the mountains, the beauty of them. Yet they still moved through the mountains, estimating to walk into the forest on the other side within a candle mark or so. The bard had removed her staff earlier from the saddlebags. She was getting rather bored. To entertain herself the small woman began to spin the staff in her hands, forming a circle in front of her with the staff. Blue eyes watched intently.

"Trying spinning faster" Gabrielle shifted her eyes back to the warrior behind her.

A challenge.

The small woman sucked in a deep breath and looked a head, her eyes slits from the sun's rays. She saw nothing in her path ahead to conflict with her as she followed the path. It wouldn't matter any way, the bard knew inside, her soulmate would watch over her. Hence she began to spin the staff rapidly in front of her as she walked. The wooden staff began to turn into a bit of blur as she tried to go faster with the twirl. Xena watched tenaciously to see exactly how fast her lover could get the staff to spin, rather a valuable technique to show power and prestige. Taking a risk the bard closed her eyes as she walked, hoping nothing was in her walking path. She concentrated more and more on the movement of her arms. A dark eyebrow extends up as the staff rapidly picked up speed to become nothing but a brown blur. Xena grinned at the demonstration, she was more then satisfied. The next thing to happen was the staff coming to a sudden stop and the end of it meeting the rocky ground in triumph. Green eyes were flashing when Gabrielle looked back to her soulmate with a grin.

"How was that?" The warrior grinned.

"Not bad" The Amazon Queen rolled her eyes at the older woman and then averted her eyes back ahead of herself.

"Not bad means good huh?" Xena's grin shifted more into a smile.

"It wasn't good either, it was perfect" A surprised face looked back at the warrior, Xena held her smile towards the bard.

"Thanks" Gabrielle knew her soulmate never handed out compliments lightly or all the time. They were one of the small things the bard held onto.

The small things in life truly matter.

That was one thing Gabrielle had learned in her time with the warrior. It was the small things and the people she loves that she'll never let go of. Those were the entities that she held within her heart to never let go. Then the warrior tossed a question at her soulmate that broke her thoughts.

"How you feeling?" The bard slowed up her walk to now be beside her soulmate, matching her broad gate.

"Better"

"Must be if your spinning your staff around" A grin was passed to the warrior from the bard.

"Yes well, I figured a little exercise would be nice considering how talkative we are right now" Xena chuckled at the explanation.

"As soon as we make our way into the Nation, there will be plenty of talk then" The bard sighed, knowing exactly what kind of talk that would be.

"That's not the sort of things I was thinking of chattering about"

"Not in the mood to gossip with Ephiny?" Gabrielle stared down her partner with a look and then she grinned some.

"Xena, I am not the one to gossip"

"Really?"

"Xena!" The warrior eyed the bard as she shrugged her shoulders and looked back ahead with a more then wry face. "Okay okay, I'll admit I gossip some" An arched eyebrow. "Maybe more then some" Two arched dark eyebrows now. "I gossip, happy?" A cough from the warrior. "Fine! I gossip often are you satisfied now?" Xena's head bobbed up and down twice.

"You gossip my bard" Gabrielle gave a small snort at that.

"Come on now Xena, give me some slack, I only talk to Ephiny about…" The bard searched for the right word. "…Things" The tall woman looked to her soulmate with a grin.

"Yup, you only talk to Eph so far. I am waiting for Solari to become part of the fan club and then maybe Eponin" The young woman rolled her eyes.

"Epinion, you've gotta be kidding me Xena? Epinion we both know is to much into that warrior ego"

"Oh warrior ego huh?" Gabrielle mentally slapped herself over the use of her words as she hastily tried to come up with an explanation or something, anything.

"Not that a warrior ego is bad or anything" A moment. "Just well…" She is stuck in a rut. "You know Xena, warriors are hard to talk to" Another mental slap. "Not saying you are or anything, just in a general aspect that is"

"Uh huh" Oh boy, she bit her lower lip and her mind worked. A small hand reached up to rest on her tall lover's shoulder.

"Xena, you've changed a lot compared to then. You're more open, give more chance, try to talk more" Xena smiled to her partner and grasped the small hand with her reins-free hand. Their fingers interlaced together as their arms dropped to their sides again.

"Its okay Gabrielle, I knew what you meant" The bard smiled some.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah" A deep breath. "Just a rare warrior" Gabrielle's face brightened.

"Hey, I never thought of it that way" They both chuckled some at the little joke, the small woman actually liking the description. It was her soulmate in a nutshell.

Within a quarter of a candle mark to follow that conversation did the two soulmates make their way down the mountainside into the Amazon Nation forestry. Once they were decently into the forest did Xena pick up on the sound of branches being jolt and jarred. Then three masked women fell from the trees, all three in front of the pair. In response the two travelers raised their arms above their heads, the three other females lifted their masks off with a smile.

"Queen Gabrielle" The bard dropped her arms at the same time as Xena did. The blond smiled to the three Amazons.

"Solari" The Amazon took a few steps towards the bard, as did Gabrielle to the second in command. They both hugged tightly.

"Its good to see you safe, we heard from Joxer what happened" Gabrielle sighed dramatically and held her hand low on her staff.

"Unfortunately things aren't settled quite yet Solari" The second in command chuckled as she smiled to the bard.

"That's what I figured Que…"The brown haired Amazon stopped herself as she received a little glare, Solari coughed for a second. "Gabrielle" The bard now smiles to her. The bard then looked to the other woman on either side of Solari. Epinion to the right and Lysia was on the left. Gabrielle smiled to Epinion.

"How are you Epinion?" The weapons master smiled and clasped arms with the bard.

"I'm good…Gabrielle, yourself?" The bard kept her smile.

"I'll be great as soon as I get something to eat" The entire group laughed while the warrior in the background kept her grin to herself. The small blond then looked to Lysia and clasped her arm as well. "Its good to see you again Lysia" The Amazon bowed her head momentarily as she smiled to the smaller woman.

"Glad you've returned Gabrielle" Somebody got her title right for once, a brilliant smile now. Gabrielle had turned around to face her soulmate to see the tall warrior chatting with Solari. Xena chuckled for a moment and the bard grinned to herself. Blue eyes lifted from the Amazon to meet emerald eyes, they locked. The second in command caught what was happening and began to move back to her three comrades. Xena moved closely beside her lover with Argo directly behind the tall form. The bard broke the contact and looked to the second in command.

"We have to get back on duty Gabrielle, unless you'd like us to escort you to the village?" The bard shook her head and smiled to Solari.

"Thank Solari, but I think we'll be fine" Solari bowed her head with a smile and looked back to the bard.

"As you wish Queen Gabrielle" The small blond shook her head as she watched the three women disappear among the trees again. The two females left on the ground continued on their journey to the village. The sun was just kissing the horizon of the world. Within in a quarter of a candle mark they arrived at the entrance to the Amazon Village, they were spotted by many on the go Amazons. "Wouldn't have been as much fun" The bard shook her head and walked in with her soulmate directly behind her. Xena dropped the saddlebags onto the table relatively close to the bed.

"Go find Ephiny, Xena?" The Warrior Princess turned around from the wooden table to see her best friend at the foot of the bed, her satchel on the bed.

"Yeah" Gabrielle nodded her head and strolled over to the door with Xena following her. The two women briskly walked to the regent's hut and knocked on the door. In return they received an angered response, they entered.

"What's wrong now?" The regent had her back to the two women, sitting at her desk reading something or another.

"Just a warlord headed this way, nothing much" Ephiny whirled around in her seat with wide eyes, surprised look constructed on her features.

"Gabrielle!" The Amazon hopped out of her seat the marched over to her friend, giving her a tight hug. Then she looked to the tall warrior with a smile and didn't wait, she just hugged the warrior. Amber eyes looked back to the bard. "Warlord? What warlord?"

"Okeanos"

"Never heard of him"

"Well you have now Eph" The curly blond shook her head and looked to the taller soulmate.

"You've heard of him?" She got a hard toned response in return.

"No I haven't, he's rather new to the game of warfare" The regent nodded her head and looked back to her desk then back to the two women.

"Come on sit down" And that's exactly what they did. Ephiny had pulled up two more chairs by her desk for them to sit in, Gabrielle placing her staff against the wall. Amber eyes gazed at them while sapphire and emerald stared back. "I heard about how you were kidnap" Her words going to the bard. "Joxer is still here as a matter of fact, we wouldn't let him leave since Xena requested him to stay here till either or both of you returned" The bard looked to her soulmate and raised an eyebrow at her.

"What?"

"Keep Joxer here Xena? Amazons, all women" A shrug of the shoulders.

"Want to make sure he was safe, besides it is good for him to be around some mentally and physically strong women" The bard chuckled. Then Eph cut in.

"So tell me the story" Xena looked to her lover with a grin, Gabrielle interrupted the look immediately and looked to her Amazon friend.

"Well…" And that's when the story began that we've ventured through, so far. Our bard retold the entire story to the Amazon, Ephiny absorbing it in and Xena nodding once in a few to confirm the bard's words. Gossip. Or was it just a story? It didn't matter in the end. "…and as you know Xena and I just got here" The tall warrior took a quick gander out of the window to see the stars twinkling in the sky, it'd been a little more then a quarter of a candle mark since they'd arrive. The regent leaned back in her chair and thought for a moment, she looked to a grinning warrior and knew something was up.

"So what's the plan now? I can tell there is one" The Amazon Queen smirked to her regent and crossed her arms against her chest.

"Well Xena has a mercenary friend she knows will help us fight Okeanos" Ephiny's amber eyes widen for a moment then she spoke in a hasten voice.

"Gabrielle, we don't have enough…" She was cut off by the warrior, almost same repeated words from earlier in the day.

"The Amazon's treasury increased as of today" The bard looked up to her partner with a grin then shook her head as she looked back to the baffled regent.

"Xena…burrowed some money from Okeanos. We have plenty of money to hire a group of mercenaries" Xena piped in.

"Ephiny you're going to need the help" The curly-blond's eyes shift up to the dark leather clad woman and studied her for a moment, then nodded.

"You're right, we'll need to bring the council together to get their approval first" Gabrielle nodded her head in agreement. "We'll do that early tomorrow morning" Two nods now. Quick to follow was a rumble of somebody's stomach, amber and amused blue eyes looked to Gabrielle. The small woman lips formed into a sheepish smile. "But first lets get something to eat" All three females laughed at the regent's suggestion along with the bard's stomach's words. They all stood up, the Amazon Queen retrieving her staff and they made their way to the food hut.

Gabrielle stumbled into the hut, glad of the room being lit by candles on the table. Her stomach was pleasingly full. She and Xena had met up with Joxer and told him he was free to go when he wished. Surprisingly he wanted to leave, he'd thank Gabrielle, Xena and Ephiny then bid good night. He planned to leave early tomorrow morning.

"Joxer sure seemed to want to leave in hurry huh?" The bard heard a deep chuckle in return as the warrior moved to the saddlebags, the bard leaving her staff by the table. Both prepared to change for the night, Xena removing two of her shifts from the bags. She slipped into one once she removed all her armor, leathers and boots tossing them aside. Her white clean shift slipped on and she turned to face her soulmate, Gabrielle just removing her last article of clothing, her skirt. The tall female came up behind the smaller woman, wrapping her free hand around the bard's waist. Xena pulled her in tight and lowered her head. She nibbled on the soft neck below, the bard dropping her head back into Xena's neck, her eyes closed. Gabrielle's sleepy feeling long disappearing since her lover first turned around to face her from behind, she had felt the desire from her soulmate. The warrior could feel the heat of the other woman's body, smell the honey scent that always is of her. She then shifted her nibbling to the other side of Gabrielle's neck, the bard moaning in response to the sensual feel. A large hand began to snake up to the bard's soft breasts. That's when the second night shift went flying landing into one of the chairs.

Gabrielle lifted her head and turned in her partner's arms to face her, fire was in Xena's dark eyes. The bard grinned some.

"I guess going to sleep early has been tossed right along with my night shift" The ex-warlord grinned and brought her lips down close to Gabrielle's.

"Hmm we can always go to bed early at least" Gabrielle's smile turned more sexual as she finished the distance and locked lips with Xena. Large warm hands glided across the small woman's soft but well defined stomach, her breasts and neck. Every where and anywhere. They soon found themselves early in bed as they both planned, but sleep on the other hand was another story in itself to tell.

By the time the sun had crept through the east window, the light began to crawl up the lovers' waists and up to the couple's faces only a few candle marks after they began to sleep. Both sets of eyes fluttered open to the light warming their faces. The bard rolled to her right to face her warrior, her back to the sun now, as she blocked the sun from Xena. Sleepy blue eyes gazed at her then Xena formed a smile.

"Morning" The tall female leaned in to kiss the bard on the forehead then pulled back and replied.

"Sleep well?" Gabrielle chuckled as she burrowed her head into Xena's neck.

"Of what little sleep I got yeah" The warrior grinned to herself, hot breath tickling her throat. She ducked down to capture soft warm lips, a searing kiss. They both pulled back, their lips almost feeling burnt from the consuming touch.

"Xena, we better get moving or we'll be here all day" Gabrielle grinned at her soulmate.

"That wouldn't be a bad thing"

"Being here all day with you wouldn't but when Ephiny comes in here it will be"

"Oh gods" A dramatic sigh and the bard pulled the bed sheets over her head. "I swear she acts like our mother sometimes" Xena laughed at that and slowly her hands began to creep down. All of a sudden the smaller woman yelped and began to squirm in bed while large hands tickled her bare sides. "Xena…Xe" She was having enormous fits of giggles as she tried to get away from her attacker with no success. Finally the warrior stopped her attack and pulled Gabrielle in with a tight embrace, the bard breathing hard. Gabrielle hugged her partner back then ending with Xena releasing her and rolling out of bed, the younger woman being quick to follow. They both decided to move at a rapid pace, knowing the regent would show soon and didn't want to get caught being late by the Amazon. Right as Gabrielle finish with the last buckle of the warrior's armor, there was a rap at the door.

"Come in" Both soulmates laughed for a second since they both yelled in unison. They looked to the door to see a curly-haired blond step into the hut a raised eyebrow. Ephiny looked to the soulmates, Gabrielle standing behind the warrior then the bard moved next to Xena.

"Glad to see you both up and ready to go" The two partners looked to each other, reading each other's looks. Ephiny knew something was passed between the women, but she had no idea what. Gabrielle looked back to her Amazon friend.

"When are we meeting with the council?" The regent smiled.

"Right after breakfast" The bard's face brightens at the word that had relations to food.

"Great, let's go then" Gabrielle whirled around behind herself to grab her staff against the hut wall and turned back around on her heals and stepped up to Ephiny. The regent had a big grin on her lips, the bard just smirked back. That's when Xena moved quickly and came up next to the regent's side and placed a hand on Ephiny's shoulder.

"Thanks for coming to get us…Mom" Ephiny's mouth hung open and Xena laughed dropping her hand then heading out of the hut. The Amazon closed her mouth, angered features coming to life on her face as she looked back to Gabrielle for an explanation with an arched eyebrow. Gabrielle for her part was a hint red, a large smirk. She saw the question written all over the regent's face and just shrugged to her. The bard patted Ephiny on the shoulder and quickly moved out of the hut after her soulmate.

Xena heard her soulmate coming after her, felt her. The warrior walked with a fast gait but slowed up for her partner, her lips still in a grin. The bard came up to her side and Xena wrapped an arm around the small woman's shoulders pulling her in, Gabrielle slipping an arm around Xena's waist. Ephiny was right behind them but decided to stay a few paces behind them, watching the small exchange.

"Xena I can't believe you said that" The warrior chuckled at the regent's reaction from earlier. "It was funny though, she won't let us get away with that you know" Xena looked down to her soulmate.

"I'm counting on it" The small woman groaned and looked back briefly to her Amazon friend to see Solari coming to her, the bard grinned.

"Cute couple huh?" Blue eyes glanced back to Solari and Ephiny, she caught sight of the regent's amber eyes, and they were glowing. Xena looked back to her bard.

"They are"

"I think we should…help their relationship along" A dark eyebrow went up. "Come on Xena it would be fun" The warrior chuckled as they neared the food hut.

~*Part 11*~

Gabrielle looked from the regent to an older Amazon, the bard's face was constructed in sheer seriousness and began to show a lack of patience. She took a deep breath and knew this meeting would be done with soon.

"So explain to me again why we would need the help of mercenaries?" The small blond looked to her right at the almost white haired Amazon, she had only a few black streaks left in her hair. Her face dramatically aged over time that spoke of experience. The Amazon Queen finally responded

"The Amazons are going to need the extra help" The older Amazon Council Member huffed.

"The Amazons can handle a warlord in our territory" The bard groaned and looked to her soulmate who was leaning against the wall, arms crossed against her chest. The warrior was feeling Gabrielle's frustration, creating frustration with in Xena. Before the small woman could even respond to the earlier statement she was thrown a question.

"Even so if we need extra support why not get another Amazon tribe's help?" Green eyes turned to the head Amazon Council member and retorted her answer.

"Because we do not have the time to get help from another tribe, the closes one is within three days travel not to mention the time it will take for them to be ready. Okeanos will probably be here sooner then that and his forces strength from the Roman Senate" That's when Ephiny spoke up from where she sat, at the opposite end of the large wooden table.

"Queen Gabrielle is right, we don't have the time to send a messenger to another tribe, but we have efficient time and money to have a group of mercenaries" A few of the twelve council members nodded in agreement, but not all, some still not siding yet. Then a deep voice cut through the paused silence.

"Okeanos won't be expecting mercenaries in the fight, he's not an experience warlord" All sets of eyes with the exceptions of the bard's looked up to the Warrior Princess, now more people nodded in agreement. But Gabrielle still didn't have the head member's acceptance, she couldn't figure out why either. That's when the head council member looked to Gabrielle with serious eyes.

"What I'd like to know Queen Gabrielle, is how you expect us to trust these mercenaries? Even more so expect us to trust the Warrior Princess's suggestion to hire them, she is not one of us?"

Gabrielle snapped.

Xena straightened up but Gabrielle stood up from her seat, making Xena stop from saying anything. The Queen of the Amazons placed her hands on the table and leaned forward. Her dark emerald eyes locked tightly with the Head Amazon Council Member, her eyes flashing.

"Expect you to trust Xena's word? Is that what you ask of me?" Her words came out in a low growl. The Amazon felt her palms go sweaty at this younger woman's temper and hidden strength. Gabrielle leaned forward. "Please care to explain why then the entire Amazon Nation trusts their Queen with Xena of Amphipolis yet they can not trust Xena to select a mercenary group? Now that is a question that is beyond me and I'd like for you to explain that to me" The Head Amazon was frozen in spot by the feral green eyes. The older Amazon dropped her eyes and Gabrielle felt she proved her point and sat back down in her seat, her breath a bit shake by her own reaction and forcefulness. So she took a deep breath and looked to the Amazon again, her face still very much serious. The Head Member looked back up.

"I apologize Queen Gabrielle for my rudeness and ignorance. I did not thinking straight. The Amazon Nation does trust our Queen with the Warrior Princess and the Warrior Princess's choice. My apologies again" A bow of the head and a small smile slipped onto the bard's lips.

"Thank you and I apologize for over reacting" The Head Amazon nodded her head and looked to the eleven other members to see all nods of their heads, the older Amazon looked back to the Queen.

"Then it is agreed that the Amazon Nation will hire a group of mercenaries for the fight against the warlord Okeanos" And that was that, all the members smiled to Gabrielle with a nodded and left the room, leaving the regent, warrior and Queen behind. Ephiny stood from her seat and walked down to Gabrielle's end, Xena moving to sit down beside Gabrielle. The small woman took a breath and looked to her soulmate and friend.

"I'm ready to do that again" The regent chuckled while Xena grinned.

"You did a good job Gabrielle" The bard looked up to sky blue eyes. Gabrielle felt pride swell in her and not because she was happy with her temper, but because Xena was feeling pride.

"Yes you handled that perfectly" The bard rolled her eyes and looked to the regent.

"I could have not blown up like that" Ephiny shrugged her shoulders.

"No, you had a right to Gabrielle, that trust shouldn't have been questioned" Gabrielle nodded her head in response and the regent patted her friend on the shoulder and smiled.

"I'll see you both at dinner later" Ephiny began to leave the room and called back. "By the way, the sparring field is free if you two want to brush up on your practicing" Xena grinned and Gabrielle yell back.

"Maybe we'll use them. Thanks Mom" The two soulmates heard a growl then a snort then the sounds of the Amazon's boots were distant. Gabrielle looked to her soulmate. "So what did you think really?"

"I think you're a great Queen" A snort from the bard herself. "Gabrielle?" The bard looked to her partner with serious eyes. "Not many Amazon Queens can handle the councils well, you did a beautiful job okay?" Gabrielle smiled and nodded her head then stood up, Xena also doing the same. "So are you up for some sparring?"

"Yeah, haven't practice in awhile huh?" The warrior nodded her head, the pair making their way out of the hut, Gabrielle's staff making pounding sounds on the dirt ground.

"We haven't practice together in while" The bard's eyebrows furrowed together as she thought about the warrior's words.

"We haven't have we Xena?" A shake of a dark head. "So after this a bath?" A nod of a dark head. "Sex after the bath?" Another nod. "Then I'll have sex with Ephiny?" A third nod. Then Xena's eyes widen the look of utter shock and outrage and Xena stopped walking to stare at her bard.

"What?!" Gabrielle broke out into a fit of giggles at her lover's expression and clutched her stomach. A few small tears rolled down her cheeks and Gabrielle took a deep breath and slowly let it out. She looked back to her tall lover.

"Xena your looks, oh gods" The bard laughed a few more time then smiled to her soulmate. "I was just testing you to make sure you were still with me" A corked grin from Xena and the warrior started to walk again.

"Come on bard" The younger woman nodded her head and grinned to herself, walking close to her soulmate.

"Gabrielle a hard thrust" A groan. "That's it, don't you feel it working your upper muscles?"

"Yes" A low growl. "Xena, stop moving" A laugh from the warrior.

"Gabrielle" The name rolled of the warrior's tongue in a low seduction tone. "That's the whole point" A loud smack as metal and wood met. Gabrielle took a step back, a grin on her lips. Xena showed her own grin. They both loved this for some reason. The bard always enjoyed sparring with Xena, but even more so now that they are lovers, all the moves and looks heighten. Gabrielle was able to pay attention better, figuring out Xena's moves faster and with better anticipation. The bard drove forward with her staff, Xena redirecting the thrust at the last minute.

"You know I've been coming up with this new move Xena" A laugh and then Xena's sword was stopped by the end of Gabrielle's staff at the side. Xena then spun around to try the opposite side to only have her sword stopped again. The warrior then brought her sword up to come down on the bard, Xena pressing her body in close to Gabrielle's.

"A new move huh?" A nod, Xena leaning her head in more, their weapons both above their heads in a test of strength. "I'd like to see it" The Amazon Queen gave a seductive smile throwing Xena off for a moment as Gabrielle took the opening to push against Xena. The warrior was pushed back by the drive from the bard's strength. The Warrior Princess spun the sword in her hand.

"It's a move especially made for you" Xena chuckled, then she came at the bard again this time low at her legs, Gabrielle jumping as the blade swiped under her feet in mid air. She landed to the ground and brought the end of her stuff around to Xena's waist, connecting with the leather clad side. The warrior just winced in reaction and brought her blade down at an angle on the bard, Gabrielle just stopping it as she leaned in this time to Xena.

"For me huh? Gonna show me?" The smaller woman grinned and pressed hard into Xena, the warrior easily holding her ground. Their weapons between their bodies at an angle, the bard pressed hard into Xena, now their bodies touch between the weapons. Then without warning Gabrielle leaned up at the bent head to capture warm lips. The kiss was light for a few moments then the bard forced it on, it became burning and deep, tongues being sucked on. Xena's one free hand came up to push the bard's weapon out of the way, the bard easily agreeing. The tall woman then wrapped her one hand around Gabrielle's back as the kiss continued. Once it did end they were both breathless. "Nice move" The younger woman grinned. "And I hope it's only for me" Gabrielle's body prickled all over as her body was tightly pressed against the warrior's.

"Oh it certainly is" Dark blue eyes peered down at the small woman as the warrior grinned.

"Hmm I have a few techniques meant for you I'd like to show you" Then Gabrielle's free hand snaked up to Xena's breast armor. Her small fingers began to trace along the swirling brass armor on Xena's breasts.

"Mmmm I have a few others I'd like to show you" Xena leaned down to kiss her soulmate deeply.

"Lets go then" Gabrielle chuckled deeply and the two lovers quickly made their way back to the Queen's hut for a bath and as some might call play.

A tall sleek body rose up, water trickled down her nude body and into the water below her. Large hands reached behind to squeeze the water from her dark hair. Then beside her was a smaller woman who appeared and grinned up at her. Xena turned some and bent down to kiss her soulmate lightly then stepped out of the bathtub and next was the bard. The tall figure padded out of the washroom and into the main part of the hut to the table on the opposite side. Xena picked up two towels and turned back around, throwing one towel across the room. Gabrielle neatly caught it in mid air and the pair pressed time to ready themselves. Within a quarter of a candlemark they were dressed, the sun low in the sky. But for once Gabrielle wasn't in her normal attire, she had put on her own leathers. The bard turned from the saddlebags to see blue eyes gazing at her already, a slight flush covered the bard's cheeks. Xena just grinned at the Amazon Queen in her leathers. Then there was a tap at the door, Xena moving to the door to open it. In stepped a brown haired Amazon.

"Queen Gabrielle" The small woman looked to the Amazon.

"Solari, what brings you here?" The second in command grinned and watched out of the corner of her eye to see Xena moving to the table to sheath her sword and pick up her chakram. Solari then lifted up the mask in her hands.

"The Queen's mask" Gabrielle smiled and the Amazon moved to the bard, handing her the mask.

"Thank you Solari" The warrior turned around to watch her soulmate place the mask under her arms, curious. Ivy eyes looked back up to the Amazon with a smile. "So did Ephiny send you?" Solari smirked to her Queen.

"Actually yes, she's plotting on how to get you two back for the whole Mom thing" Both soulmates snickered and Xena shifted to her soulmate's side. "So what is the deal with all this Mom stuff?"

"Well I was sort of noticing the way Ephiny always is checking on Xena and I and seeking us out" The second in command chuckled at that.

"That's Ephiny, she's always looking for me" A pause. "I think to put me on patrol more then anything" Both Xena and Gabrielle smirked to each other.

"Maybe she isn't Solari" The Amazon looked up to the taller woman.

"And what makes you think that?" Xena grinned and shrugged her shoulders then she walked out of the hut, leaving her bard to do the detailed part.

"Well Solari, next time you're around Ephiny tell me if she glows or not?" Solari arched an eyebrow at the Queen and watched her leave to catch up with her soulmate. The Amazon shook her head and turned to leave the hut, wondering. Solari watched as the two women in front of her linked arms and then the Amazon finally caught up with the fast paced soulmates. Their shadows were all long, pointed in the direction of east, sunset soon. All three women entered into the food hut, which was fancied up for tonight's occasion. The night for the begins of a war, one celebration Gabrielle never liked going though, but it had to be done. The bard didn't want the celebration, believing a war shouldn't be celebrated for yet Ephiny only came up with another excuse. The Queen arrival. Emerald eyes had rolled at that and Gabrielle said that the Amazons would find any excuse to have a party. Ephiny had just smirked at that, not denying it.

Once they entered the hut, the regent came stomping over to take the Queen's mask with a smile. Then the warrior, regent, and Queen all made their way to the head of the table. There on the table lay a scroll, a scroll to hire the mercenaries. Now all this scroll needed were three signatures to prove its truth and then the Amazon messengers to seek them out. Gabrielle looked down the long stretched table to see all the council members and a plethora of other Amazons. She quickly spotted Solari, Eponin, Lysia, and Teresa all together she had to smile at that. Teresa had faintly waved to the Queen, Gabrielle smiling directly at her then nodding her head. Then the Queen turns to the regent with a serious face, Xena on the bard's left side. Ephiny lifted the mask over the bard's head and spoke in a loud voice.

"Queen Gabrielle has return to us to protect the Nation from a threat. Hail Queen Gabrielle" Then there was loud cheers from all the Amazons, everybody's ears rung from the yells. The bard bent her head and slowly Ephiny placed the mask onto the bard's head, fitting perfectly as the old one once did. The mask covered Gabrielle's face, the long strands went down her back with an marshalling of colors, feathers coming off the sides. Slowly the Gabrielle turned to face all the Amazons the acclaim only becoming louder and then the regent held her hand up, immediately everybody was quiet. The Queen pushed the mask up over her head and placed her hands to her hips, her face stern.

"It has been decided, between myself, regent Ephiny and the Council that the Amazon Nation will hire a group of mercenaries select by Xena of Amphipolis. We expect a battle with the Warlord Okeanos within five days, maybe less" A pause as the bard searched her audience then spoke again in her loud tone. "Till that day comes, the Amazon Nation will take the necessary preparations for this battle. In the name of Artemis the Nation will succeed in stopping this warlord!" There was another loud round of yelling made by the Amazons as Gabrielle looked down to the scroll. She lifted up the quill on the right and signed the document as Gabrielle, Queen of the Amazons then the next signature was Amazon Regent, Ephiny the last signature to follow is Xena of Amphipolis. The bard folded the scroll up then sealed it with a small blotch of red wax then pressed the wax with the seal of the Amazon Nation. Last the scroll was tied with a red ribbon the ribbon lying over the seal. Gabrielle turned to her left near Xena was a middle aged medium height Amazon, the bard handed it to her and the Amazon nodded her head then disappeared out of the hut. By then the cheering had silenced and everybody began to move to get a well-prepared dinner.

By now it was late night, dinner being over and the Amazons had moved outside. There was a large fire built in the middle of the village with Amazons dancing around it, Gabrielle watching intently. The bard sat on the ground, Xena right beside her, the small woman looked to her larger soulmate.

"I remember the last time I danced here" A dark eyebrow arched in questioning.

"I don't believe I was here" The bard thought then looked back to Xena.

"You weren't were you?" A shake of the head, but Xena noticed Gabrielle was a bit red.

"So what was so funny about the dance?" The Amazon Queen did a double take.

"Funny?" The words came out frazzled, "Um nothing funny about it, just one of those dances you know" The bard only grew another shade of red, not even the darkness of the night could hide it. Xena just smiled in amusement at her lover.

"Yeah I know, one of those dances where you get so caught up in dancing that you don't hear the music stop playing. One of those dances?" Red all the way to the roots. Gabrielle turned away for a moment then a large hand touched her farthest cheek and turned her face. Instantly warm lips seized the bard's and Gabrielle melted into the kiss. Once their kiss broke Gabrielle pulled back with dreamy eyes, Xena stood Gabrielle doing the same. The warrior took one of the bard's small hands in her own. "May I have this dance my Queen?" Xena had her head bowed to the bard, so Gabrielle placed her fingers under Xena's chin and lifted her head.

"It'd be my pleasure" Xena grinned and slowly back stepped into the ring of Amazons dancing. They moved with the Amazons, it was a slow dance. So the tall female pulled her soulmate in placing her arms around the bard's waist. Gabrielle wrapping her own arms around the warrior's leather clad waist. The pair moved to the music, slowly. Their bodies became lost in the rhythm and beat of the drums with the chanting. Eyes locked in a passionate gaze. Slowly the world around them faded out and it was just the soulmates and the music. Xena felt her body warm, her senses zenith, the air around her was warm with a light breeze that flowed around them, to only give the couple a sensation of flying.

The bard stared into deep twinkling moonstone eyes, Xena's dark mane lightly rolled in the wind, a smile creased her lips with her white teeth flashing in the night. Her lips were a vibrant red emphasizing her eyes and high cheek bones. Her armor glistened while the reflection of the fire swept across the brass armor drawing her out.

But the Nation's Queen, herself, was elegant on this night capturing an equal amount of fans as her tropical forest eyes flashed reflecting the moon. Her tan body was lustrous in the fire's light as her feather earring and her soulmate necklace glinted the fire light into cobalt eyes. Her own sunset hair waved in the light breeze her smile radiating with her slightly flushed cheeks.

The soulmates glided around the fire with the other Amazons. The on lookers became lost in the singled out pair by the way love illuminate off them. It protected them while at the same time it connected them closer and closer. Everybody in the Amazon Nation quickly realized that night that there was no force that could separate this pair.

The Queen of the Amazons is the Warrior Princess, the Warrior Princess is the Queen of the Amazons.

The bard stared at her drawing in her diary for a few moments, then her mind began to pick up on the sound of the rhythmic sharpening. Green eyes lifted and so did blue from across the room.

"Xena, what were Okeanos and Lykus doing when you left the battle scene?" The warrior shrugged her shoulders then went back to sharpening her sword.

"They were both charging each other like a bunch of idiots" Gabrielle grinned and looked back to her diary and began to write. She sat in the middle of their made bed while Xena sat at the table, sharpening her sword. The bard knew her soulmate was thinking, by the way her face was constructed, her shoulders ever so faintly slouched. The blond stopped her writing again as she stared at her drawing, in the book, of Okeanos she had done. She had to admit it looked pretty realistic. She chewed on the tip of her quill then went back to writing.

Ephiny seemed to be pleased with the idea of hiring a group of mercenaries. The council though took a little more work, but they agreed in the end. The one thing I am worried about is the mercenaries might not follow my orders. Mostly due to the fact, one I am a woman and second I come off as a weak Queen. But then Xena has commented to me before that I have strength in my stance, the way I talk, just carry myself in general, I hope she is right. Besides that, Xena will be there and she knows the leader of these mercenaries. Tomorrow we're expecting two scouts to return from their mission of spying on Okeanos. Hopefully the troops have lessen, but Xena seems to think he'll have new men, I have to agree. Find out tomorrow.

But Xena and I decided to try and get a few chuckles in the mean time. It's been dead obvious Solari and Ephiny are in-love, can feel it between them. They just don't seem to realize it or acting on it. Gee, sounds just like Xena and I not to long ago. Thank the gods I can laugh at all that now. But we're going to try and push the relationship some, I can see how happy Ephiny becomes anytime Solari is around.

Till the battle comes between the Amazons and Okeanos we'll just be preparing.

The bard closed her diary then hopped out of bed, her bare feet touching the smooth wood floor. She walked over to the table where her satchel lay, placing the journal and quill inside. Then Gabrielle moved to the other side of the table where her lover sat, still in full armor with weapons. Small hands fell onto the sword, stopping the whetstone from moving on it. Two sets of eyes locked.

"Thanks for the dance earlier" Xena smiled to her partner as she gazed up into beautiful spring eyes. She then sheathed her sword and placed the sharpening stone onto the table then retorted back.

"Thanks for dancing with me" The tall soulmate then rose up from her seat, Gabrielle watched as the strong dark form towered over her. It sent a small wave through her body at the strength of her soulmate. "I want to show you something Gabrielle, if you're up for it" The bard smiled up to her best friend and nodded.

"Anything"

"Get your boots" A nod of a blond head and the bard went to the foot of the bed to slip on her boots. She tied them and walked to Xena whom was by the door. The warrior opened the door and Gabrielle stepped through, Xena pursuing her. The door closed quietly as Gabrielle waited for her soulmate. The bard still had her Amazon Queen attire on, the mask naturally still back in the hut. Xena stepped up to her soulmate and grasped her small warm hand, the warrior walking a little ahead to lead the bard. The small blond began to notice Xena was guiding her in the direction of the sparring fields. She gazed up to see that the night was clear, the air crisp. The stars above looked like droplets of water caught in the sky, it made her smile. Now they stood dead center in the practice field, the Warrior Princess stopped and pulled Gabrielle in front of her. The small woman willingly moved in front of Xena, strong arms engulfed her and pulled her in tight to a warm body. Xena bent her head down closer to Gabrielle's head. "See those three bright stars a little ways above the tree line?" Dazzling sea eyes looked up to those three stars.

"The three that are right in a row?"

"Yup all about the same brightness" Xena released one arm and pointed to relatively near the three aligned stars. "Now look down a little see those other two" A nod of the small head. "Then looked above them you see the three almost make a triangle"

"Yeah…it sort of looks like a person" The warrior's lips formed into a grin.

"Look at the star to the far right, then there are five other slightly faint stars that seem to make out a sword or a club?"

"Oh wow, I see it now" Xena's large arm snaked back around the bard's waist.

"It always reminded me of a warrior or a hunter" A deep breath from the warrior. "The three stars look like a belt"

"It does, when did you notice it?" A shrug of the shoulders.

"Back when I was a pirate. I always used those set of stars to know when fall was coming"

"How?" The tall woman grinned to herself over her curious bard.

"Well when I saw the constellation I began to always look to it and began to notice during the fall season they would touch the southern horizon fast at night" A pause. "But by summer the stars were never around unless it was right before dawn" Gabrielle stared at the diamonds caught in the sky that formed a warrior to her. She began to really like it, deciding the constellation will always remind her of her soulmate.

"I guess that was helpful huh?"

"Yes, considering my ship could be at seas for months never seeing land to catch sight of the leaves turning" The younger woman nodded her head and Xena lifted her head back up and ever so carefully Xena rested her chin on top of strawberry-blond hair. They stood in the moonlight that flooded over them making them glow. The stars twinkled and glowed, developing pictures in the sky, but the one warrior constellation is what stood out for the bard and her warrior. Neither spoke, becoming lost in the moment as it took over their world. For once Gabrielle forgot about her duties as a Queen, as a fighter, a bard. Her mind let go of her family's death and destruction to Poteidaia, Perdicus's death, and Xena's own death. The weight lifted from her as she felt Xena protect her and along with the knowledge Xena only loves who she is.

For Xena she too felt the weight of her past disappear in this rare moment. The deaths, fights, battles, loses, pain all drifted into another place. All that matter was now, this instant in time. They both knew the love they held was unbreakable. The soul that controls the mind and body and is reflected through the heart.

This small thing that the soulmates shared is a small entity of the heart.

"Want to lay down for a while?" Gabrielle smiled. It was late and they both knew it, but the bard rather spend time with her soulmate. She knows that precious moments were worth the lack of sleep.

"Yeah" Xena nodded her head and released the smaller woman, she walked off the dusty sparring field to the grass near the trees. She unbuckled her sword as she saw her soulmate step up beside her. Xena sat down and placed the sword down closer to her hands, the chakram being removed and placed on top of the sheath. The younger female then bent down only to have large hands pull her on top of a large body. The bard smiled to the twinkling blue eyes, her back now resting on top of Xena's body, her head directly between the warrior's breasts. The brass armor was cool but quickly warmed between the two bodies tightly pressed together. Legs intertwined as Xena's strong arms wrapped around the bard's mid-section to keep her warm. The bard's own hands went to Xena's thighs, lightly caressing them like they were delicate as glass itself. Deep ivy eyes looked to the moon a little to the right. "The moon's beautiful" Navy eyes look to the moon as well, a smile formed on the warrior's lips.

"It is, almost full"

"I always wondered why the moon would go through those different…stages" The tall woman considered the moon as she contemplated the bard's words.

"Not sure, but I know it has an effect on the tides" Green eyes blinked as brows furrowed.

"Really? I always thought that legend about Kripdis was true"

"It might, but when ever the moon is full there are tremendous low tides then when the moon is new there are extreme high tides" A pause. "It makes you wonder if the moon has anything to do with the tide changes"

"I could see that" Silence and the bard began to chuckle.

"What?"

"It would make for a worse story though if it were true" The warrior chuckled a few times.

"This is true my bard" A comfortable silence fell once again and the pair enjoyed the embrace. But Gabrielle's eyes were becoming heavy and she began to drift to sleep after the day's excitement. Xena felt her bard's chest rise and fall at a slow speed, she smiled to herself. Ever so carefully Xena sat up with the bard still soundlessly sleeping in her arms. She released one arm and picked up her sword and buckled it on with both hands while the bard continued to lean into her. The warrior hooked her chakram on and moved one arm under Gabrielle's legs and slipped the other behind Gabrielle's back. The Warrior Princess stood up the smaller woman curled up in her arms, a look of peace on her face. Xena stared at the beautiful face, her mind relaxed to see that peaceful look, it hadn't been there since Xena's death. Xena only hoped the bard was through the worst of the pain, the healing needed to begin.

Xena made her way back to the hut with her soulmate in her arms. She quietly entered the hut and placed Gabrielle onto the bed and then removed her leather boots. The tall female placed the boots at the foot of the bed and then proceeded to remove her armor, boots and weapons. Within a few heartbeats Xena was just in her leathers and crawled into the bed beside her lover.

"Xena?" A warm body pressed into the bard's back.

"I'm here" The small woman rolled to her right to face her partner. She closed her eyes again and wrapped her arms around Xena, the warrior doing the same. One of the warrior's hands went to the strawberry-blond hair to stroke it, Gabrielle going back into her serene sleep.

A large knock at the wooden door rung through the room, the small bard rolled out of bed. She groggily walked over to the door and opened it a little. The sunlight from the early morning blinded Gabrielle for a moment then her eyes adjusted. There stood the regent with a serious face.

"Gabrielle the scouts have returned with news of Okeanos" The Queen nodded her head.

"Alright I'll be there in few moments" Ephiny nodded her head and turned on her heals, the bard closed the door and turned back around. Her soulmate slept on the bed soundlessly, at least is looked it. The small woman made her way to the foot of the bed to get her boots and sat down with them in a chair by the table. She quickly tied her laces as her mind tried to wake up.

"Where you going?" Small fingers tied the knot and Gabrielle looked up to a propped up warrior.

"The scouts have returned"

"Okay" Xena began to move out of bed.

"Xena you don't have to come, its pretty early" The tall form stood up in her leathers and looked to the bard.

"No I need to come" Gabrielle nodded and watched as her soulmate quickly moved to her boots. That gave the bard a few seconds to try and wake up. Then the warrior went to her armor putting it on, immediately Gabrielle got up to buckle the armor on. Afterwards Xena grabbed her chakram and sword while Gabrielle retrieved her staff and they left.

~*Part 12*~

The tall Amazon stared at the other two Amazons about twenty paces away, out of earshot. They were the scouts. Lysia watched as the regent stepped up to them and began talking. That's exactly when Teresa stepped up beside the tall Amazon with a smile.

"Hey Teresa"

"Morning" Now both Amazons stared to the returned scouts and regent. They watched as the Queen and her soulmate came stalking over with serious faces. "She looks a lot like you" Lysia looked to the smaller Amazon then back to the scene her eyes falling on the Warrior Princess.

"She does"

"Hmm, except she's a little taller" Lysia replied with a grin.

"Xena also has black hair and more blue eyes"

"She does"

"Teresa, I'm sure she's a better fighter too" Teresa grinned up to her taller friend. Both Amazons chuckled. "But I wouldn't mind sparring with her some day, be a good lesson" Teresa nodded her head.

"Lysia, I think you'll not be able to walk for a few days" A huff from the taller brown haired Amazon.

"Queen Gabrielle though on the other hand is a great staff fighter, I won't forget that" Teresa nodded her head.

"Yeah I guess you think different now eh?" Lysia glared down at Teresa, the smaller Amazon thinking she might have over step her line. But Lysia then grinned to her with sparkling eyes.

"I do, I vowed my life to her" Teresa nodded her head twice. "Come on we better go find Solari" Teresa looked to the group of Amazons near them. All of them conversing.

"Yeah, I'm surprised Solari isn't over there with them" Lysia chuckled and the two women began to move from their spot.

"You'd think so since Ephiny is there. Always see them together" The two new Amazons of the village disappeared from the scene, the boots scuffing along.

"Hold on, how many days ride is he from the village?" The two scouts looked to the Queen. Both were short, one had brown hair, the other blond. Both of them were not young nor that old, they looked to be in their twenty seventh summer.

"We believe they'll be here in two days…Gabrielle" The bard nodded her head and looked to Xena. Then back to the scouts again.

"Were you able to get a count of the men?" The brown haired Amazon nodded her head and retorted.

"There were a total of six hundred, well equipped and three quarters looked trained" The Warrior Princess then cut in.

"All footmen?" The brown haired Amazon shook her head with a sigh.

"No there were hundred on horse back, they're well prepared" Ephiny nodded her head and looked to the two scouts.

"Thank you both, let us know of any changes" The two scouts nodded their heads and made their ways to the food hut. Gabrielle looked up to her soulmate, the warrior's face etched with seriousness.

"Xena, will the mercenaries be that much of an advantage?" Cobalt eyes looked down to the bard.

"We need any advantage we can get right now" Gabrielle looked down to the ground.

"The Nation doesn't have enough fighters"

"No, but we have strategy we'll have to just out smart Okeanos" The bard nodded her head as did Ephiny.

"I'm going to go find Solari, Eponin and the Council Members, update them" Xena and her smaller soulmate looked to the regent.

"Thanks Ephiny" The curly-haired blond looked to the Queen and smiled then went off on her mission. Green eyes looked up to the warrior.

"Is two days enough time for the mercenaries to get here?" Xena's eyes shut for an instant then reopened.

"I hope so, depends on how far away they are and how fast they can move" Gabrielle nodded her head, her stomach tightening into a bigger knot.

"Xena can we really do this?" It was a low whispered question.

"Its going to be close, but we'll stop them" The small Queen nodded her head and she felt a large hand on her shoulder. "Either way my bard, we're going to live through this" A small smile from Gabrielle. "Lets go get something to eat" And that's preciously what the soulmates did. We can not assume exactly the number of people whom will lay on the ground by the end of this battle and will never rise up from the ground. We can not guess the number of bodies that will become lifeless over one countries desire to rule another. But we can naturally assume that our heroes will win out this future battle. Because to us they are the greater good.

By that afternoon all the Amazons of the Nation were being trained. Their weapons and leathers prepared for battle along with their minds and bodies. The village was rowdy and everybody mentally prepared for the battle. Xena, Gabrielle and the regent went over their forces, figuring them. There were twenty-five archers, thirty horseback riders, and then two hundred on foot. The only questions that were left were; who is leading the Amazons? How are we attacking Okeanos with the forces? Where are the mercenaries figuring into the plan? And where is Gabrielle, Ephiny and Xena going to be located in the battle? Those all being the main questions. So Gabrielle in the end had rolled up the map of the area to take to her hut for the night and work on the plans with Xena. In the morning she would consult Ephiny since the regent would be to busy during the day prepping the Amazons. The soulmates for their part went into the woods just on the edge of the village to spar. By early afternoon the pair had returned. The Queen of the Amazons and the Warrior Princess made rounds through the village, watching the preparations. The soulmates stood at the edge of the sparing field, watching.

"Xena, what if we have the archers out first?" Blue eyes studied the fighters on the practice field.

"Begin the attack?"

"Yes and have their arrow tips poisoned" The bard's eyes narrowed for a moment. "Let Okeanos get a taste of poisoned arrows" A deep breath. "Or we could use the archers to stop the cavalry?" Xena didn't respond right away, her mind thinking the idea out.

"That would probably serve us better" A pause. "Keep the archers in the trees to take out the horses then a few warriors up in the trees to jump any riders" The warrior crossed her arms against her chest while the bard continued to lean on her staff.

"What of the mercenaries?"

"I'm not sure, either way they'll be a surprise attack" The bard nodded her head. The Queen spotted the regent mingling with the Amazons, then she made her way over to Solari and Epinion. "Come on" The bard looked up to her soulmate and nodded, the bard following her partner. Xena made a beeline to the Healer's Hut, her gate broad. They both stepped inside to see the healer raise her head.

"Queen Gabrielle" The bard smiled to the healer.

"Hi Eilis"

"What may I help you with Gabrielle?" The bard looked up to her soulmate, Xena looking to the older healer.

"Do we have any hemlock?" The healer nodded her head to the warrior in answer.

"Yes we do, plenty in stock, how much you need Xena?" The warrior thought for a moment.

"I'd say enough to kill two hundred" The healer's eyes widen then she looked to the Queen.

"Do we have enough Eilis?" The healer nodded her head.

"Actually we do have plenty. For the battle?" Gabrielle nodded her head. The warrior moved to a shelf by the wall, analyzing the jars with labels. She plucked at one jar, holding it in the palm of her hand. She read the label and grinned. Xena turned around with a twinkle to her blue eyes.

"Mind if I borrow some of this Eilis?" The healer looked to the jar and smiled.

"Go right ahead"

"Thanks I'll bring it back tomorrow" Eilis nodded her head and then looked back to the Queen.

"Exactly how are you going to use the hemlock?"

"We're putting it on arrow heads" The old healer grinned.

"Oh I see, okay I'll prepare the hemlock poison today and report to…" The bard finished the sentence.

"Eponin will be in charge of the weapons" The healer nodded her head.

"Okay, I'll have it done soon as possible Gabrielle"

"Thank you Eilis" The two women left the hut to leave Eilis to prepare the death poison for the archers. Once Xena's boots hit the ground from the steps of the hut she looked to her soulmate.

"Lets go to the artillery hut, want to pick something up" The small blond arched an eyebrow but nodded and the pair made their way to where the weapons of village were stored. Xena ducked in with Gabrielle right behind her. The hut twinkled for a moment with all the metal. The bard remembered the last time she was here when she'd first received her weapon of choice as the Amazon Princess. The warrior scanned the weapons searching for something, the bard not sure what she was looking for.

"What you trying to find Xena?" Blue eyes locked on her prize and Xena made her way through the hut into the middle.

"Here it is" The Warrior Princess lifted the wood top off the small box on the middle table. Inside contained around fifty small arrowheads that had handles. Gabrielle knew from experience that they were meant to be small to conceal then throw a short distance at a target. Small hands picked up one from the box and gazed at it, her thumb running on the edge, finding it sharp to the touch.

"Xena what's this for?" The warrior grinned as she collected five out of the box and closed it. Gabrielle then placed the one she had in her hand into Xena's hand. Xena handed the jar from earlier, in her other hand, to her soulmate. The Queen read the label on the front of the jar. "Ipecac" The bard wrinkled her nose as she tried to think of what drug that was.

"It causes vomiting" Then it hit Gabrielle and she looked up.

"Xena you're not going to?" The warrior chuckled some.

"I am, Okeanos deserves it" The younger woman shook her head and handed the jar back to the grinning Xena. The pair stepped out of the weapons hut and into the late sun. "Lets go back to the hut so I can drop these off" Gabrielle nodded her head and they migrated to the Queen's hut.

~*Part 13*~

The moon hung low in the eastern sky, full, acting as a light source to all that moved in the night. Within a vast wooden lay a tribe of women and in one single hut was their pacing Queen. Her head down as she paced in front of a tall warrior whom sat in a seat beside a round table. There was a worn map on the table, unrolled. The Queen wasn't much for fighting let alone tactics on how to fight a battle. That's where the warrior came into play, she being an ex-warlord with years of experience.

Xena looked up to her pacing soulmate. She then sighed and stood up from where she sat, Gabrielle coming to a stop to look at the ex-warlord. It was early night and they wanted to finish this quickly. The bard took a few steps to her lover and looked down to the map, Xena doing the same. They both looked to where Okeanos planned to come from, west of the Nation, through the Amazon Mountains.

"Xena what if we place the mercenaries right at the base of the mountains?" The warrior shook her head.

"No I think it would be more beneficial to keep them as a surprise attack from an angle" Xena then pointed to the mountains. "Personally I'd like to take five archers and thirty fighters and go into the mountains to nip away at some of Okeanos' lines"

"You think that'll really help or get those warriors killed being in an open spot? Those mountains are barren" Xena looked to her partner then her eyes stared back to the map.

"Not if I go" The bard looked to her soulmate, studying her profile then blue eyes looked up to lock contact with her.

"Xena" An extreme breath from the bard. "I don't know if it would be safe"

"That's why I should go, it be good to produce weak points in his lines so we can destroy Okeanos" They still had their eyes lock, Gabrielle not at all content with the idea. Xena turned her body to face her partner and placed a hand to each of the bard's shoulders. "Gabrielle, I'll be fine" Emerald eyes dropped.

"I just don't like not having you by my side so I can see what's happening" The warrior smiled to her friend.

"I know, but you know I can take care of myself" A snort from the smaller woman.

"For the most part" A deep chuckle from Xena and the pair looked back to the map. "Okay, what else?" A stare of the map. "I am left with twenty archers and a hundred and seventy fighters" The bard's head turned some as she studied the map more. "The twenty of the archers in the trees with…twenty fighters. Let see then the riders…thirty correct?" A nod of Xena's head. "You think we should have them mixed in or as back up?" The Warrior Princess crossed her arms against her armored chest.

"Back up, always good to have that" Gabrielle nodded her head and strolled over to her satchel. She removed her quill and a new scroll. She then jotted down her final order of troops.

1. Thirty warriors and Five archers in the mountains under Xena's command.

2. Twenty archers with Twenty warriors in the trees in the Amazon forest under Solari's command.

3. One hundred Fifty warriors on foot in the Amazon forest under Gabrielle's command. -Main Force

4. Thirty riders as back up under Regent Ephiny's command.

5. Mercenaries will be under Queen Gabrielle's command or Eponin's.

The bard looked up from the scroll and placed the quill on top and pushing it to the side of the table.

"We should place the riders directly behind the main force Gabrielle" The bard nodded her head.

"What of the fighters on the ground?" A pause. "A hundred fifty, three waves?" Xena studied the map as she considered the numbers.

"Tight or loose?"

"Tight would probably be to hard with the trees" The warrior nodded in agreement. "So loose to start then from there we should let them have free rein to fight" Xena uncrossed her arms from her chest and rested her hands on her hips.

"That would be the best way to go. Then just have the force in the trees moving freely under Solari's command"

"Ephiny's cavalry will move when I signal them to"

"Yes, that would be the best idea, have her riders split on each side of the fight equal then sweep in"

"What about you Xena?" The ex-warlord looked to her soulmate for briefness then back to the map.

"We'll come from behind, try to take out as many as possible then once it gets messy I'll let my fighters have free reign" The Queen nodded then picked up the scroll once more with the quill and jotted down information again.

1. Xena's fighters will surprise attack Okeanos from mountains then follow behind the troops and lastly intermingle in the battle.

2. Solari's warriors and archers will stay among the trees, unless commanded otherwise, to take out as many of Okeanos' men as possible with hemlock poisoned arrowheads. Main target is Calvary of Okeanos.

3. The Main Force will be broken into three loose waves of fifty warriors, once battle is well engaged then the warriors have free rein to fight.

4. Ephiny's Calvary will be signal by Gabrielle and split equally to come in by the sides of the battle and work in.

5. Mercenaries will come from weakest side as surprise attack.

The Amazon Queen rolled up the scroll and then the map and placed her scroll back into the satchel. Gabrielle looked to her soulmate with a tired look. Xena pulled her lover into a hug, the bard resting her head on her lover's chest.

"Why don't you change into something comfortable. I'll get the fireplace going and some tea" Gabrielle looked up and nodded.

"Deal" The warrior released her bard and stalked over to the fireplace, throwing in some wood to start it soon. Gabrielle went to their things, she retrieved one of her soulmate's shifts and then went to the bed. The blond sat down and leaned forward to untie her boots then take them off. Standing back up, the small woman untied her halter-top then slipped out of her skirt. Putting up her arms, the soft white shift slipped down her smooth body. Gabrielle reached behind and pulled her hair out from under the shift. She looked to her soulmate whom was standing in front of the fire, her blue eyes fixed on the growing flames. The small woman quietly came up behind the warrior and reached up to unhook the sheath. The bard felt the weight of the sword in her hands and watched as Xena lifted her chakram from the small clasp. Small hands took the round weapon and moved to place them on table. Gabrielle looked to the fire as she walked back to her lover, hanging over it was a small pot of water. The warrior then bent down in front of the fireplace and removed the boiling pot of water from the fireplace.

Xena filled the cups while the bard gathered the tea and honey. The taller woman handed the mugs of boiling water to the bard. Gabrielle put in the tea then placed put in some honey and stirred it, as she did Xena stood back up with a smile. The warrior walked to the foot of the bed and removed her boots placing them besides the bard's. Her long fingers then began to work on the buckles of the brass breastplate, but small fingers took her job. The warrior grinned to herself, Gabrielle working on the buckles while the warrior removed her wrist and armbands. Once that was done with, Xena walked over to the table again and dropped everything into a chair. She turned around just in her leathers to the fireplace to see her soulmate moving back to the fire. The tall form walked over to the fireside and sat down on the warming wood floor. She crossed her legs and soon the bard sat in her lap with a mug of tea in each hand.

"Tomorrow is going to be really busy" Xena nodded her head in agreement.

"That it will be" The warrior took a sip of the warm tea, she could feel it travel through her body warming her insides.

"Xena what happens if things don't work out?" The older woman had one arm wrapped around her bard's mid-section. Gabrielle in the warrior's lap her head resting on Xena's right shoulder, both her hands holding the mug.

"They will" The bard's right thumb rubbed up down on the side of the mug as she stared at the fire then retorted back.

"What if it doesn't?" A deep breathe from Xena, her mug settling onto the wooden floor.

"If it doesn't then we'll be out of here" The mug moved down from Gabrielle's lips as she considered that.

"Xena we can't just…" She is cut off.

"We won't be running Gabrielle, if things look real bad then we'll get who we can and get out of there" A pause. "It won't do us any good to get killed, we can always get more help to stop him" The small woman nodded her head. "We'll stop him" The Queen nodded her head and both females took another sip of their honey tea. They studied the fire, feeling it warm their bodies along with each other.

"Winter is coming huh?" A smile from Xena.

"Yeah it is, I like winter"

"Me too, not sticky like the summer" A smile formed on the bard's lips. "Then there's always Solstice, always been my favorite" The warrior's mug found the floor again as she replied.

"I use to love Solstice when I was a child"

"Yeah it's when the family comes together. Lila and I always had so much fun together" A twinkle had entered Xena's crystal eyes, but it wasn't noticed by Gabrielle. So the conversation went on.

"This Solstice should be interesting"

"Why you say that?"

"Well I thought we would spend it at mother's" The bard quickly swallowed her tea and replied.

"Really? Sort of like a vacation huh?" A large smile formed on Xena's lips.

"Thought you would like that. We need one" A snort from the bard.

"Especially after this fiasco and we were suppose to have one" A deep chuckled came from the warrior as she lifted her three-quarters empty mug. She drank from it then it went back to the floor.

"We need to get ourselves some cloaks, I think this winter is going to be bad" The bard's brows furrowed.

"You think so? I mean the leaves are turning now but the airs still warm"

"But during the day, the nights are quite cool. There'll be a cold snap and it'll be the end of the warm days" The small woman nodded as she swallowed her empty mug going off to the side.

"Time to pull out the furs" Xena grinned as her drained mug was placed beside the bard's. Her arm encircled the bard's stomach pulling her in more, Gabrielle's head finally staying on Xena's shoulder to rest.

"Do the Amazons have any cloaks?" Gabrielle's eyes unfocussed for a moment as she thought.

"Actually they do now that I think about it"

"Good" The bard giggled for a second.

"Xena, how long you think we'll stay in Amphipolis?" The Warrior Princess shrugged her shoulders.

"How ever long we like" The bard sighed as her warm body relaxed.

"That sounds great"

"Mother makes great nutbread by the way" Emerald eyes sparkled.

"Oh really?"

"Uh huh" The Amazon Queen grinned to herself.

"Mmm, I'll have to trade secrets with your mom for nutbread" The warrior arched an eyebrow.

"Secrets?" Gabrielle nodded as her eyes drifted shut.

"Secrets about your appetite" The warrior laughed and smiled.

"What good would that do her?" The bard's eyes drifted open again and looked sidelong to the warrior, a grin on the bard's lips.

"Xena we both know that's the route to your good moods" Xena grinned back and leaned in to kiss her bard lightly.

"And your good moods too" Green eyes rolled and her head fell back onto the tall woman's shoulders.

"That and enough sleep" Xena nodded her head, her bard's small fingers gently stroked the warrior's large hands. "Mmm your temper"

"My temper, what's that have to do with anything?" A smile just began to form on the crease of Gabrielle's lips.

"Xena that temper of yours puts you in a bad mood for an entire day"

"Oh? And like yours won't?" The smile increased.

"But I can get out of mine" Xena huffed for a moment.

"Well I guess you'll just have to get me out of mine" The bard looked to her partner then back to the fire.

"I can think of a number things that would do it" The older woman grinned.

"I bet" Gabrielle chuckled some, her eyes slowly closed again.

"Tired?" The smaller woman nodded her head in answer.

"Long day"

"Mmm, it was. Want to go to bed?" Gabrielle shook her head but a yawn caught up with her making Xena grin.

"To comfortable" Xena chuckled. Silence fell but then Gabrielle quietly spoke.

"Xena?"

"Yes?"

"What's this mercenary guy's name?"

"His name is Criostoir" The bard took a deep breath.

"Criostoir, interesting name. Nice guy?" The warrior shrugged her shoulders.

"He was smart but very precious about things, enjoyed his work, overall he was nice if you were nice to him" Gabrielle nodded and Xena went on. "Met him after I became a pirate. When I did land my ship for attacks occasionally I hired him to help with the attack against any large villages" The bard nodded her head.

"Large mercenary band he has?" The warrior's mind work fast to recall recent information of him.

"The last time I heard he had a band of hundred men or so"

"All foot"

"No I believe all cavalry"

"That will be helpful if they still are" Xena nodded her head, completely understanding. "It will even more so if his band is larger"

"It could be, he was always good at what he did, cost quite a bit to hire" The bard chuckled at that.

"Considering how much you took from Okeanos to pay for these mercenaries it wouldn't surprise me" The warrior smiled.

"Well if the Roman Senate finds out, that'll just tick them off" Emerald eyes opened again to looked to Xena.

"You think after this battle the Romans will back off from Greece?" A sigh escaped Xena's lips.

"I doubt it. So as long as Caesar is alive Rome won't give up"

"Cut off the head of the snake and then you kill the rest of it" Xena nodded her head and Gabrielle looked back to the fire.

"Afraid so"

"But he's only one man Xena. How can we get to him?" The warrior's lips curved into an evil grin.

"We don't, we let him come to us" The bard nodded her head gingerly then slumped into Xena's embrace, her body wearing out. "Go to sleep love" A small smile slipped onto the bard's lips as she let her eyes close shut. Xena stared into the slowly dying fire as she felt her lover's breathing slow up and her body relaxed while in the warrior's embrace. Xena looked to her soulmate for a moment and smiled then looked back to the fire. For a half of a candlemark the pair stayed like that then Xena felt her own body's tiredness. So she lifted the bard in her arms and gently placed her in the bed then she herself crawled under the covers. The bard subconsciously snuggled into Xena's body, the warrior wrapping an arm around her soulmate's waist. Soon the warrior fell into a deep sleep with her bard.

Continued in Part 5.