CopyRight: Universal/MCA and Renaissance Pictures own all Xena, Draco, Hercules, Callisto, Perdicus, Gabrielle, Amazons, Argo, Toris, and Cyrene not mine damn it. The story line as always is all mine as well as the characters, Ferus, Potestas, Teresa, Michael, Masika, Maired, and Saada so don't let the thought cross your mind to use them. You will receive hell from me if you mess with my story or characters.

Subtext: It aint subtext any more, its main text. But it is definitely sex free, won't go there.

Started: January 15, 2000 Saturday

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

redhope@redhope.net

Part 4

Section 4

~*Part 14*~

"I wonder if anybody is home?"

Solari grinned at Ephiny's words as she looked to her regent. Ephiny looked around in the tavern for somebody, anybody.

That's when the door behind the bar swung open, an older woman came out. Her hair was black and curly, high cheekbones but short. "You two must be the Amazons"

Ephiny smiled to the older woman and replied. "I am Ephiny, I'm looking for Gabrielle. My guess is you're Xena's mother"

The innkeeper chuckled as she came up to the two Amazons. "I am, Cyrene. Nice to meet you Ephiny" The tavern owner then looked to Solari. "And you are?"

The second in command smiled. "Solari Ma'am"

Cyrene smiled. "Nice to meet you too Solari" She then looked back to the regent. "Gabrielle is out right now with Xena. They're doing a little sparring, left just awhile ago"

"When do you expect them back?"

The innkeeper's hands went to her hips. "Hopefully soon actually. By the way, I have rooms for you and your friends. Seventeen if I am not mistaken?"

The regent nodded. "Yes there's seventeen of us. But I don't think you would want to put up with all of us"

Cyrene grinned. "No I can handle a pile of Amazons, I've had worse"

Solari chuckled and the regent grinned at the second in command. Ephiny then looked back to Cyrene. "Thank you Cyrene, greatly appreciated"

"Quite welcome. Now then, there are nine rooms free. You don't mind sleeping in pairs?"

"Oh no, we'll be fine with that"

"Wonderful, the stable is right out side I'm sure you saw. They'll be taken care of by my stable manger"

Ephiny nodded and looked to her second in command. "Go outside and tell everybody to stable up their horses and come in with their stuff"

Solari nodded her head. "No problem, be back" With that said Solari went stomping out of the inn and to the other Amazons standing outside waiting.

The regent heard the door close and she looked back to Cyrene. "Thank you again for putting all of us with a room and food"

Cyrene nodded a little and answered. "Well you are friends of Gabrielle's so that means you're friends of mine as well"

Ephiny grinned, that sounded like Xena. "Yes well, now if I could just get a hold of the Queen"

"You might be able to find her and Xena just behind tavern, that's normally where they go to practice"

The regent nodded her head. "Thank you. I'll have to go see if they're there" Ephiny then turned around heading to the door, Cyrene watched her go.

As soon as the regent's feet hit the snowy ground she looked up, she noticed very small snowflakes coming down. She mumbled something under her breath to nobody but herself. "We got here just in time" The Amazon tugged her cloak closer against her body and looked to her left to where the stables are. She hears the nickering of horses as she walks closer to the barn. Once she steps into the doorway she spots her second in command. "Solari?"

The Amazon looks up from inside of the stall to her regent. "Hey Eph"

"Look, I'm going to go find Gabrielle and Xena. After everybody is done here just have them go inside of the inn till I get back"

Solari nodded her head. "No problem"

"Good" The regent then began to turn around, she stopped in mid action. "Solari?"

"Yeah?"

"Make sure you get us a good room"

Solari grinned to herself. "Anything for the regent"

Ephiny turned her head to the right to glance side long at Solari, she grinned. "Keep it that way"

"Yes my Queen"

The regent chuckled then looked back ahead, she stomped back out into the snowy cloudy day. She trekked past the inn to the back, near the woods. Entering in the woods she noticed tracks in the snow, two sets. One big the other small, definitely the soulmates. She grinned and began to follow them, that's when she began to hear fighting going on. Xena's voice rung through the air.

"Gabrielle if you duck first then swing, I think it'll be more…effective"

The regent chuckled at the warrior's words. She came to the clearing where they were, she watched them. Ephiny smiled at the sight as she leaned to her left against a tree.

Xena brought her sword down on the bard, Gabrielle stopping it with her staff. But Xena never backed off, instead she took two steps closer. Their bodies almost touching by mere inches. Xena peered down into her soulmate's eyes. Gabrielle grinned up at her soulmate.

So in turn the warrior bent her head down close to Gabrielle's. "We have company"

In that instant Xena heard her partner let a low growl from her lips. "Who?"

Xena grinned. "Your regent"

"Hades, she has some bad timing"

Xena's grin definitely went a little devilish now. "Why?"

Gabrielle arched an eyebrow. "You know why"

Now the warrior's eyes began to twinkle. She brought her sword down along with Gabrielle's staff with a strong force. The staff and sword at the soulmate's sides. With Xena's free hand she brought it up to the bard's cheek and leaned in. The kiss was long and loving, it sent fires through the women's bodies.

Once it ended Xena looked up with cold eyes to Ephiny. The warrior's blue eyes locked with Ephiny's zircon eyes. Xena then looked back to her partner, she released the bard. Taking a step back she sheathed her sword. "Glad you made it Ephiny"

The regent grinned. She straightened up from the tree and walked over to the pair. She then smiled. "Well I'd say the same if I hadn't just got such a cold look"

The warrior smirked. "Bad timing Ephiny"

Ephiny nodded her head.

By then Gabrielle had turned around to face Ephiny. "Safe trip Eph?"

The regent looked to her friend. "It was, made it in no time" Ephiny then smiled very warmly and without warning she pulled the bard in for an embrace. "Congratulations Gabrielle"

The bard returned the hug back in the same force. Once they pulled back, she smiled up to her Amazon friend. "Thank you. We're both excited"

"I know" Ephiny then looked up to the warrior with a smile. Xena smiled back. Ephiny shifted to the taller woman and pulled her in for a huge hug as well. "Congratulations Xena"

"Thanks Eph"

After releasing the warrior the regent stepped back to face both women. "So in two days is the big day. You don't leave us much time you two"

Gabrielle chuckled. "Have to keep everybody on their toes"

Ephiny rolled her eyes. "To say the least Gabrielle"

Xena then spoke up before anybody could say anything. "Let's go back to the inn so we can stay warm"

The other two women nodded at that. So the three women all migrated back to the tavern, going inside.

Gabrielle grinned and then nodded. "That's all the time you have Eph"

The regent sighed. She then leaned forward picking up her mug. After drinking from it she slowly put it back down on the table as she spoke. "Well, this is going to be the quickest Amazon ceremony in history"

The bard kept her grin and looked to the warrior.

Xena saw her bard's grin and mirrored it back. She then looked to Ephiny. "Well I have confidence you can do it Eph"

The regent sighed and looked to Xena. The warrior sat to the right of the bard across the table. "Thanks Xena, that helps"

Gabrielle chuckled and crossed her arms in her lap. "So Eph, how long did it take you to get here?"

The regent reflected for a moment. "Around…fourteen candlemarks. We left early this morning. Surprised we made it here when we did"

The bard nodded at that. "I thought you'd be here tomorrow. Made good time"

Ephiny nodded too. "Definitely, the roads weren't to bad. We also brought the messenger back"

Gabrielle smiled at that. "Good, I don't think he wanted to trek back in all of this snow"

"That's what I figured" Ephiny's gaze then wandered across the tavern. The council sat on the other side of the tavern at a table together, conversing. Solari, Eponin, Teresa, and the priestess all sat together at another table, talking as well. The regent looked back to the soulmates.

The Amazon Queen reached up to her mug of cider, about to pick it up. "So how are you Solari doing?" She then lifted her mug to drink from it.

"We're doing well"

The bard nodded as her mug came back down to the table. She then grinned. "Has she moved into your hut yet?"

The Amazon laughed a little then replied. "I've been waiting for that one myself"

"Actually Gabrielle" The bard looked to her warrior and Xena went on. "Ephiny is moving into Solari's hut"

The bard snickered and then looked to her regent.

Ephiny rolled her eyes. "You wish Xena"

The warrior looked to the regent. "Oh I don't wish, I know"

The regent huffed as she lifted her mug again. She took a big gulp of her drink then settled it back on the table.

Gabrielle arched an eyebrow at Ephiny. "She doesn't deny it…"

Ephiny grinned. She sat more up into her seat. "So… are we planning to have anybody other then the Amazons at the ceremony?"

The Amazon Queen looked to her soulmate with a grin, the warrior understanding the look. Gabrielle then looked back to her Amazon friend. "Yup…Cyrene, Toris, Amphipolis council, and probably a few villagers will be there"

The regent nodded. "Is there any sort of deal being made with Amphipolis over this?"

Xena took that question. "There is, Gabrielle agreed that the Amazon Nation would set up an alliance with Amphipolis"

Ephiny furrowed her brows as she looked to the warrior. "What sort of an alliance?"

"That's between you, Gabrielle, and the council"

The Amazon nodded her head. "When's that meeting?"

The bard looked from Xena to Ephiny. "After the marriage once it's approved"

Ephiny nodded her head. "Sounds great. I think we can handle that"

The day lagged on for the soulmates. The Amazons on the other hand rested for the day, catching their breaths from the long ride from the village to Amphipolis. By the night, Ephiny and her other Amazons were conjugated in Ephiny and Solari's room talking, with the exception of the council.

"Are you sure Eph?"

The regent sighed and looked to her second in command. "Yes, I told them. They'll be here on time"

Solari nodded her head and the priestess looked up to Ephiny. "Exactly when do you plan for them to show up in the ceremony?"

The regent reflected then responded to the priestess, the priestess Maired. "They'll be there directly at the end Maired, that's the plan"

The priestess nodded her head. "Wise choice"

Ephiny nodded at Maired. "That's what I thought" The regent then grinned.

Maired grinned back and chuckled. "Yes well I don't think Artemis want's any of her ceremonies interrupted"

Ephiny nodded in agreement.

That's when Eponin cut in. "Eph, how are we going to work things?"

All five of the Amazons in this one single room were collected in different spots. Solari, Maired, and Ephiny sat at the table. Which they had pushed to the foot of the bed in the center of the room. On the end of the bed sat Teresa with Eponin, bodies rather close.

Ephiny looked up to Eponin on the bed. "Tomorrow we need to find out where we're performing the ceremony. Once we do that we need to get things organized there. The following day Solari and I will take care of preparing Gabrielle for the wedding while you and Teresa take care of Xena"

Eponin and Teresa nodded their heads in agreement. Teresa then asked a question. "Do we even know if Amphipolis has a temple dedicated to Artemis?"

Ephiny shook her head. "No they don't. They have one to Athena, small. But that's it. We might just be doing this outside"

Solari grinned. "That's going to be a cold one"

The regent chuckled as she looked to her second in command. "Well, whatever the Queen wants the Queen gets now"

Solari nodded at that and everybody chuckled. "Ephiny, what does the council think about this?"

The regent sighed then responded to her second in command. "The council agrees with the exception of one"

Solari rolled her eyes. "How many guesses do I get on who it is?"

"One guess"

"Masika maybe?"

The regent groaned a little. She then crossed her arms against her chest. "Yeah unfortunately"

"What is Masika's problem?"

Ephiny looked up to her weapons master. "Xena is her problem"

"She has something against Xena huh?" Eponin then huffed after that, crossing her arms against her chest too.

The regent shook her head. "Yeah, don't know what though"

"Somebody needs to set her straight" After saying that Solari grinned at her regent.

"I think we all know who's going to set her straight" Everybody laughed at Ephiny's words. "Okay everybody, why don't you each head to your rooms. We have to get up early tomorrow, it's going to be a long day"

All the Amazons nodded their heads in agreement and began to stand up. They all left with a word of goodnight, except for Solari.

She still sat in her seat watching everybody go. Once they did she looked to her regent with a smile. "You're going to go find Gabrielle huh?"

The regent sighed. "Yeah I need to talk to her quickly. I won't be long" Ephiny then stood up from her seat as did the other Amazon. That's when Ephiny took a step closer to Solari.

The bard lifted her head from looking down at her scroll. "Come in"

The door swung open and the regent stepped in with a smile. "Need to talk to you Gabrielle…and Xena if she's here"

Before the bard could respond the warrior did for her. "I'm here" Xena came out of a room off to the regent's left that she hadn't seen. In the warrior's hand was a towel. "Problems Eph?"

The Amazon sighed and moved over to the table Gabrielle sat at. She pulled out the other chair across from the bard. "A small one"

Xena nodded her head, she shifted to sit down on the end of the bed and looked to her soulmate and regent.

Gabrielle already is staring at Ephiny. "What's the problem?"

"Masika is the problem"

The bard groaned. "I forgot about her"

The Amazon nodded her head. "That's what I figured. Everybody in the council will approve of your marriage but Masika"

"And considering she's the head member, we have a major issue" Once those words passed between the bard's lips, she crossed her arms against her chest.

Ephiny nodded her head at Gabrielle's words. "That's about the gist of it"

Xena stared down at the towel in her hands. She looked up to Ephiny. "What's she been saying?"

The Amazon looked to the warrior. "That's just it Xena, nothing. The entire ride here she's said nothing. That concerns me"

The warrior nodded her head. "Well then…" Xena began to stand up, Gabrielle and Ephiny staring at her. "I'll take care of her" The Warrior Princess then smiled.

"Xena" Warning tone. The warrior looked to her soulmate. The bard then continued on but more in a light voice. "Let me talk to her"

"I could get the point across better Gabrielle"

"Yes which type of point is what I'd like to know? Sword point or dagger?"

Xena grinned at her partner. "Haven't decided yet, maybe both"

The bard grinned despite herself, she shook her head and looked back to the warrior. "Seriously Xena, let me talk to her. And if that doesn't work…you can have a "talk" with her"

Sapphire eyes looked up from the towel back to Gabrielle. Xena nodded her head and the bard smiled.

Gabrielle then looked back to her friend. "Go get some sleep Eph, tomorrow is going to be a long day"

The Amazon nodded her head at that. "Yeah, sleep well you two" The regent stood up and made her way to the door. As she left she heard the warrior and bard's voices call back saying goodnight.

The door closed behind the regent and Gabrielle looked to her soulmate. "What is it with Masika?"

Xena sighed. "I have no idea" The warrior then went back into the washroom to deposit the towel, she came back out. Her gate took her to the bard. Both soulmates still fully dressed in their normal attire.

Xena bent down to one knee in front of her bard. Her large hands going to Gabrielle's lap. "We need to get some sleep too"

Gabrielle nodded her head. "Yeah" She looked to the scroll on the table then back to Xena with a sleepy smile. "I'm not in the mood to finish this story up" Gabrielle then uncrossed her arms, her hands falling on top of her soulmate's hands.

The warrior stared up into her partner's eyes. She saw some concern in them. "What you worried about?"

The Amazon Queen sighed, her fingers lightly rubbing across Xena's hands. "Just about Masika"

Xena smiled confidently. "We'll take care of it. She's not going to stop us, promise"

The bard smiled. "Yeah I know. I just wish she'd lighten up with you. She's judging you without knowing you first"

The warrior took a deep breath. "Well I'll always have that"

Gabrielle's face went a little hard at that. "Not in my nation as long as I am Queen"

Xena's eyes dropped for a second then she looked back up. "And what you going to do then Gabrielle? Kick everybody out of your nation if they don't like me?"

"No, she doesn't have to like you but she has to respect you as a human being" Gabrielle then sighed. "Xena its just I don't want to be doing things in the nation with your help and have Masika question them every damn time. It's ridiculous"

The older woman sighed some. She dropped her head for a moment then looked back up to the bard. "Give her time Gabrielle. Maybe she'll change perspective. Its been known to happen huh?" Xena then smiled, her hands tightening over Gabrielle's.

The bard smiled back. "Yeah I know, just get sick of it" Xena nodded at that in agreement. "Xen?"

"Mmm?"

"It really doesn't matter in the end"

The warrior arched an eyebrow in question.

Gabrielle grinned. "Nothing matters" She bent forward closer to Xena, her forehead touching Xena's. "Nothing matters when it comes to you and I"

Xena grinned up at her soulmate. "Nope, you only matter" The warrior brought up her right hand under the bard's chin. She brought the bard's lips to her own. Their lips locking in a kiss.

~*Part 14*~

The next day was busy to say the least of course. Ephiny in the early A.M. hours quickly found out the ceremony would be held outside. She had little problem with that. The rest of the Amazons though, well there was a lot of grumbling, understatement. So now all the Amazons were looking forward to having a long Amazon ceremony outside in the cold.

The Amazons set up the ceremony for outside. The set up a small stage in the center of the town which they got from Constable Ferus' help. Then they proceeded to decorate the stage with Amazon ritual items, that went on for a better part of the day. Ephiny and the priestess Maired on the other hand had the hardest job. And that was to watch Solari, Eponin and Teresa set up the ceremony. Occasional the priestess and regent would intervene on the setup, find something out of order. And then there was always the Amazon council. They watched the younger Amazons set up the ceremony. Every now and again the council members would talk among themselves. Masika had little to say, she just glared at the stage.

So this went on for the entire day. While our two soulmates were inside of the warm tavern. Cyrene had numerous decorations she wanted up for Solstice eve. Solstice eve being tonight. Here and there Gabrielle would go back into the kitchen where Cyrene was to help cook. The tavern owner planned to have the tavern closed for the night. Instead she was making a huge feast for Xena, Gabrielle, Toris, the Amazons, and Constable Ferus.

Gabrielle came out of the kitchen from helping Cyrene and found Xena stepping down off a chair. "Like you needed a chair to reach that high"

The warrior looked to her soulmate and grinned. "Didn't feel like pulling any muscles"

The bard rolled her eyes and looked up to see what Xena put up. Over the mantle of the fireplace were a plethora of garland and pine. The smell of the pine began to fill the room.

Gabrielle moved to her soulmate. Her right hand instinctively going to the warrior's side. "Hey Mom wants the square tables all put together for the dinner, right in the center of the tavern"

Xena looked up around in the tavern. They're going to need a lot of tables with twenty-two people at the dinner. "We can handle that"

The bard chuckled at her soulmate and Xena looked back to her partner. The warrior then lowered her head down to her soulmate's. They kissed.

Once they pulled back, Gabrielle smiled up at her other half. "Come on tiger, let's get this stuff moving…and ourselves"

Xena chuckled at Gabrielle. The pair then went to work at pushing the round tables off to the sides of the tavern and placing the square one's altogether in the middle.

By late afternoon the regent and her second in command came stomping into the tavern.

"Stop right there"

The two Amazons froze in the doorway as if they did something wrong. They arched their eyebrows at the warrior.

"What Xena?"

The warrior grinned devilishly at Ephiny's question as Gabrielle came up to her side. The bard looked up to her soulmate and Xena looked down at her. The warrior saw the question behind her eyes and so Xena looked back up to over the doorway. The Amazon Queen followed her gaze and spotted what was over the doorway hanging down. Gabrielle grinned.

"Above you two"

Quickly the two Amazons looked up above them, their expressions dropping.

Ephiny looked back to the two soulmates. "Very funny joke Xena"

"It's not a joke"

Solari looked to her regent. "How what you afraid of Eph?"

Ephiny lightly glared at Solari then looked to her Queen. "Was this your plan too?"

Gabrielle grinned and crossed her arms against her chest. "Nope"

"That's alright Eph, I forgot you can't handle that"

The regent arched an eyebrow at the warrior's words. She then looked back up again at the green and red mistletoe. She then looked to her right at her second in command. Turning her body fully to Solari, Ephiny brought up her right hand to the other Amazon's right cheek. Leaning in the regent captured her second in command's lips.

Xena grinned as the kiss went on, she looked to her soulmate.

The bard looked up and grinned. She leaned to her left closer to Xena and whispered up to her. "Sneak, good plan"

The warrior chuckled and they both looked up to see the Amazons end their kiss.

Once the regent's head was far enough away to look into her eyes, Solari grinned. "We'll have to walk under that more often"

Ephiny evilly grinned at the other woman. "Maybe" The regent's thumb grazed across the other Amazon's warm lips. "Or we'll just have to get some"

Solari arched an eyebrow and Ephiny removed her hand from the second in command's face. The two Amazons then completely remember where they were and looked to the warrior and bard. Solari then began to blush, Ephiny coughing a little to draw attention away.

Gabrielle snickered a little. "Excuse me I have to go help Mom" The bard disappeared behind the kitchen door rather quickly.

Xena grinned to herself. "Glad you both like the mistletoe. Have some extra if you want some"

Solari shook her head. "Uh nope what you have over the door is just great Xena" The Amazon took a deep breath. "Excuse me too" The second in command in a flash opened the door of the tavern and busted through the door into the cold day. Her body slowly cooled down from the kiss earlier.

Ephiny watched her second in command go. Once the door closed behind her the regent looked back to Xena. "You're a trouble maker Xena"

The warrior grinned. "So I've been told" Xena then looked back around to see the kitchen door open back up.

Gabrielle came back out with huge linens in her arms. "Need some help"

Xena nodded her head and shifted to her partner. "Table cloths?"

The bard nodded and Ephiny shifted from the door to the ten large tables in the center of the tavern. The three women began to place table clothes over the table.

Gabrielle straightened out the last corner on the linen and looked to her regent. "Where's Teresa, Eponin and Maired?"

Ephiny looked up. "Still in the square organizing the last of the ceremony"

Gabrielle nodded her head. "They should be back soon right?"

The regent smiled. "Yeah"

The bard grinned. "Great" She then looked to Xena. "Can you go get Constable Ferus?" The warrior nodded her head. Gabrielle then looked to Ephiny. "And can you go get Toris for me? He should be upstairs in his room. And then the other Amazons?" Ephiny nodded her head. "Great" Gabrielle looked to her soulmate. "Mom and I are going to get the food out. Dinner in…fifteen minutes?"

Xena nodded her head with a smile. "Good, I'll be back in a flash" The bard nodded and watched as Xena went to the door. Xena grabbed her cloak off the table to her right on a round table. She slipped it on and went out the door. Gabrielle watched as Ephiny went up stairs. The bard went into kitchen.

By nightfall everybody but Teresa and Eponin were sitting at the dinner table. Granted Gabrielle and Cyrene weren't either. Those two were going back and forth between the kitchen and dinner table putting food out or getting drinks.

The bard came out of the kitchen with a huge round glass bowl of steaming mashed potatoes. That's also when the tavern door swung open and Teresa and Eponin came tracking in.

The Queen grinned and settled the bowl down on the table as the two Amazons stamped their feet on the floor to get the snow off them. Everybody at the table watches the two Amazons but the bard. Gabrielle looked back up and saw the two Amazons about to move. "Hold it right there"

The two Amazons went stiff where they stood. They looked to their Queen with questioning faces.

Gabrielle grinned and pointed to what hung over their heads. Eponin looked up first then Teresa did. Teresa then looked to Eponin as a blush crept up her neck to mask over her face.

The weapons master looked to the other Amazon. She coughed. Looking to Gabrielle with a pleading look. "Really Queen Gabrielle?"

The bard grinned, her eyes sparkled. "Really"

The weapons master grumbled. "Gods' damn mistletoe" After saying that, without any warning to Teresa. Eponin kissed the other Amazon. Her every intent was to make the kiss light and quick. But Eponin couldn't stop herself from deepening it, definitely considering Teresa helped her along. The pair slowly pulled back and Teresa opened her eyes to gaze into the weapons master's. She then looked around herself and realized there were people. The young Amazon blushed again while the weapons master smiled lovingly to the other Amazon. Teresa looked back to Eponin in time to see that smile, she smiled back in the same depth.

"Sit down you two"

Eponin nodded her head at Ephiny. The standing Amazons left the space near the door to sit down at seats across from each other. Their cloaks going to the back of the chair. Once they sat down, Xena stood up as soon as Gabrielle came back out again from the kitchen.

The warrior came up to her soulmate, taking the bowl of carrots from her. "Go sit down"

"It's alright I got it Xena"

Xena smiled. "I know but you've done enough. Sit down and I'll take care of everything. Okay?" It had all been whispered, the warrior's back to everybody at the table.

Gabrielle looked up into warm sapphire swirled eyes. "Thanks"

The warrior smiled. "No problem" She then placed a quick kiss to her partner's forehead. Gabrielle smiled and moved to sit down at the table. The warrior placing turning around to place the carrots down on the table. She then went into the kitchen to her mother.

The warrior relaxed into her seat, her stomach entirely to filled. She hadn't eaten like this since…well let's just say she couldn't quite remember. I'm going to be real out of shape thanks to Mother's cooking. Xena grinned inwardly at that. To her left sat her soulmate then to her right sat Ephiny. Ephiny was carrying on a conversation with Solari. The bard though was listening to a tale Teresa was telling from her original tribe, Eponin was surely listening intently.

Xena grinned at that. She then looked to her soulmate. The warrior slipped her left hand over to the bard's leg, resting there. Gabrielle all of a sudden smiled and it wasn't because of Teresa's story necessarily. Her right hand slipped off the arm of the chair. Her hand now resting on top of her soulmate's larger hand.

The night went on. Everybody laughing and having a good time. Why wouldn't they be? Soon two soulmates would be locked together in marriage. Not to mention it is Solstice Eve. It is a good night to relax and enjoy life. As the night progressed on, the bard was swindled into a few stories. She had no problem with that and got up to tell a few. By the time it was late at night, the food almost gone and settling into everybody's stomachs did people begin to shift to go to bed. Constable Ferus was escorted back to his home by Toris. Once Toris came back he went to his room, feeling the effects of the port from over dinner. The Amazons were quick to follow with the exception of Masika. Each going to their shared rooms but Masika went outside. All that was left was Cyrene, Xena and Gabrielle.

The bard was slouched a little in her seat. She looked to her soulmate with a warm smile. "I think I'm going to go outside for a second" Xena nodded her head. Gabrielle stood up and migrated out of the tavern without a cloak.

Cyrene looked to her daughter across the table. "Is she okay?"

The warrior nodded. "Yeah, she just wants to talk to Masika"

The tavern owner nodded. Cyrene then stood up and began to collect the dishes. The warrior also stood up to help with clearing the table.

"Masika"

The Amazon turned her head at hearing the Queen call her name. "Queen Gabrielle" She bowed her head some as the bard approached.

"We need to talk"

"Of course. What seems to be the problem my Queen?" The Amazon was near the stables seeming to relax, or was. Gabrielle came up to her side, her eyes cold.

"You're the problem"

Masika's eyes narrowed at the bard. "Could you be more specific my Queen?"

"Centaur shit Masika, you know damn well what I'm talking about"

"If the Queen means the marriage with Xena then I do"

"Masika, don't play mind games with me"

The Amazon took a deep breath, she crossed her arms against her chest. She looked to Gabrielle. "You know what I think of the marriage Queen Gabrielle"

The bard's hands went to her hips. "Actually I don't Masika. All I know is you have a staff up your ass over Xena for some gods' be damn reason or another"

"What would my opinion matter anyway Queen Gabrielle?" Gabrielle took a deep breath, her eyes dropping to the ground. Masika sarcastically smiled and looked back to the sky. "Exactly my point Queen Gabrielle, it doesn't. Either way, you and Xena will go through with this marriage"

"Yes but I'd like to have the council's approval" After her words the bard looked up to the Masika.

The head council member looked back to Gabrielle. "And you will Queen Gabrielle. It was agreed upon last night, majority ruled"

"But I do not have the head council member's vote do I?"

Masika looked back to the sky. "No, never"

"Why Masika?"

The older Amazon whipped her head to look at the bard. "Why do you care Queen Gabrielle?" The Amazon's eyes were cold and hard.

The bard took a deep breath. "Because you're one of my Amazons. If you have a problem with Xena then you have a problem with me. I don't like it when that happens in my nation. I like to know what's wrong so it can be fixed. Basically it comes down to me giving a big damn about every last Amazon's opinion in my nation. I maybe be Queen but I will not rule like one without everybody agreeing first"

Masika nodded her head, she looked back to the sky again. Gabrielle waited for an answer as silence took over.

Masika crossed her arms against her chest, she took a deep breath. "I must say you're quite the different Queen this nation has ever had"

The bard huffed. "Don't know if that's good or bad"

The older Amazon looked to Gabrielle, a very fine smile seemed to just faintly crease Masika's lips. "It's a good thing my Queen" The head council member sighed and looked back to the night sky. "I have a problem with Xena because I have a problem with my past"

"What?"

Again Masika sighed and looked back to the Queen. "A long time ago before I became an Amazon I got caught up with a warlord" Gabrielle's mind quickly worked with that new information as Masika kept explaining, her eyes drifting away into the past. "She was a fairly good warlord and she'd actually bought me as her personal slave. I became quite emotionally involved with this warlord" Masika stopped and took a deep breath. "Well my Queen" She looked to Gabrielle. "Lets just say she wasn't emotionally involved with me and used me. She almost killed me but I escaped and the Amazons found me. Took care of me and been an Amazon since that…experience"

Gabrielle's eyes dropped to the snowy ground. She looked back up and brought her right hand up to Masika's closes crossed arm. "I'm sorry Masika" She took a deep breath. "I know what you're thinking. You think Xena will do the same thing to me?"

The head council member nodded her head. "Yes my Queen, that's what I think. Old memories never seem to leave. I was young then and didn't know, you're young now and I wonder"

The bard nodded, her hand dropping from Masika's arm. "Thank you Masika"

The older Amazon looked to the bard, her expression in a bit of shock. "For what my Queen?"

"For being…concerned about my life"

Masika chuckled and looked away. "Yes well I do believe the Queen might have liked me to have approached it in a…better way"

"She would have but thank you for telling me Masika" The Amazon nodded her head as she still looked away. "And Masika, don't be worried about Xena. She isn't a warlord or even the same person as she was"

The head council member nodded her head. "I do believe you're right my Queen, I'm beginning to see it myself" Masika then looked to Gabrielle. "Besides that, I do believe the Queen is a lot smarter then what I was at this age"

"Nobody is perfect"

The older Amazon nodded her head. "Quite. Now then I think I'm going to retire for the night. Sleep well my Queen. Quite a huge day tomorrow"

"I will, sleep well yourself Masika"

"I will. Goodnight my Queen" Masika then began to move, heading back to the inn.

"Masika?"

The head council member stopped walking and looked back to Gabrielle. "Yes my Queen?"

"Try Gabrielle"

Masika nodded her head with a smile. "Goodnight Gabrielle" With that said the head council member disappeared off into the night to her room.

The innkeeper picked up the butter plate and looked to Xena. The mother and daughter watched as Masika came in heading to the stairs. Before climbing them Masika looked to Cyrene and Xena. "Goodnight Cyrene and thank you for dinner"

"Quite welcome Masika. Have a good rest"

"I will thank you" The old Amazon then looked to Xena, her eyes not so quite cold as they normally are. "Goodnight Xena" She then turned back around not waiting for an answer. She went upstairs.

The warrior shook her head and furrowed her brows.

Cyrene shrugged her shoulders and looked to Xena. "Dear I've got the rest of this clean up job. Go outside with Gabrielle huh?"

Xena smiled. "Thanks Mother"

Cyrene smiled back. The warrior then opened the door of the tavern and went outside. Looking up Xena saw the stars above glistening so brightly, a clear night. She took a deep breath and released it. It was definitely visible in the night air, the moon full. Looking down Xena found her soulmate's fresh tracks, she followed them. They quickly led her to the stables. The warrior's eyes locked on the small form leaning against the stable, arms cross against her bare midriff. Xena had stopped walking and just stared at her other half.

A very rare warmth filled Xena. It started in the center of her body and swept through her. It was so strong it made her head buzz and her heart rate pick up. Then it traveled to her heart and that in turn leapt into her soul. Xena's vision waved for a moment as she stared at her soulmate. It calmed back down and the warrior walked over to Gabrielle.

The bard looked up and smiled to Xena. "Hey"

Xena smiled back. "Hi"

For a cold night, the both of them didn't feel it at all. In all truth, they felt like they were on fire. They felt like ambers in a fire.

Xena stood beside her partner and looked up to the same stars Gabrielle looked to. "Pretty eh?"

Gabrielle nodded. "Yeah"

"Have a nice talk?"

The bard nodded her head. "Yeah, Masika and I figured things out"

"Good"

Silence loomed for a while. There were no words that needed to be spoken. Their connection told them all they needed to know.

Xena brought her right hand up to the bard's right shoulder. Gabrielle looked up into her soulmate's eyes, they were so incredible warm. And she knew what Xena's intent was by that. So she shifted off the stable's wall. The warrior then leaned against the cool stable wall. The bard moved in front of Xena. She then soon found the warrior's arms wrapped around her waist. Gabrielle then leaned back into Xena's body. Her small body molded with exactness to Xena's body.

And that's where we slowly fade away from. A scene of two soulmates being captured in time again. From a scene with soulmates wielding the strongest form of love. Soulmates defined as two people that are completely opposite but the exact same.

~*Part 15*~

Xena and Gabrielle both lifted their heads. Somebody banged on the door again, real hard at that.

"Yeah come in"

After the bard's words four Amazons came rushing in. They all had huge grins on their lips.

"Come on Queen Gabrielle gotta get up"

The bard groaned and pulled the sheets over her head. "Its to early Eph"

The regent grinned and went to the bard's side of the bed. The other three Amazons stayed at the foot of the bed. Ephiny bent down close to Gabrielle's head. "But its Solstice my Queen. Quite an important day"

Gabrielle pulled the covers from back over her head to look directly into Ephiny's eyes. "Hades I almost…" The bard pulled the covers from over her body. Gabrielle then rolled to her left to Xena. She grinned at her soulmate. She'd been told the plans from Ephiny yesterday during the morning. The bard quickly kissed her soulmate. "See you soon Xen" The warrior arched an eyebrow. This was even moving a little to fast for her. "Love you" But she knew overall what was going on.

"Can't wait, I love you too"

Gabrielle smiled and hopped out of the bed.

"My Queen, where's your Amazon attire?"

The bard looked to Solari as the second in command came to stand next to Ephiny. She shook her head. "It's…in the right saddlebag"

The Amazon nodded her head and went to the saddlebag, she dug out all the Amazon Queen attire. Solari then straightens back up and looked to Ephiny, she nodded.

The regent nodded back and looked back to Gabrielle. The bard stood in her normal traveling clothes. "Lets go my Queen"

Before Gabrielle could say anything, she was shuffled out of the door. Before closing the door, Ephiny looked to Eponin and nodded with a grin. The weapons master nodded back with a wink. The door closed, Teresa and Eponin looked to the warrior with a grin.

Water was poured over the bard's head. She shook her head to get the excess water out of her hair. She then looked up to glare at Ephiny for a moment. The regent chuckled. Solari then came up behind the bard and proceeded to lather up Gabrielle's hair with soap. The Amazon Queen sat in a tub in the two Amazon's shared room. Gabrielle could only guess how Teresa and Eponin were doing with Xena. That made her snicker inwardly. After Solari finished washing the bard's hair, Ephiny came back to rinse it.

Gabrielle resurfaced from being dunked under the water. She then looked to Solari. "Solari I need you to do me a favor"

The second in command nodded her head. "Yes my Queen"

"I need you to go to this store at the other end of Amphipolis called Fine Accessories. There's a gentleman there by the name of Potestas, he has a ring for me"

Solari nodded her head. "I'll go get in now. Be back"

Ephiny nodded her head and she watched till Solari left the room. She then looked back to Gabrielle. "Wedding ring?"

The bard looked up to her regent. "Yeah" She then smiled warmly to the regent.

The Amazon smiled back just as warmly. They went back to the bathing process. By the time Gabrielle had risen from the bath tube she was drying, Solari returned. In her right hand contained a small black leather bag, She hand it to Gabrielle whom had a towel wrapped around her body.

Gabrielle opened the bag and let the ring fall neatly into the palm of her hand. The gold ring twinkled up to Gabrielle as if in greeting. The bard smiled down at the ring and lifted it to peer in the inside of the band. She read the inscription and grinned.

"That's beautiful Gabrielle"

The Amazon Queen looked to her regent. "Thanks Eph. Think she'll like it?"

Ephiny grinned. "I don't know how she couldn't"

The bard smiled and slipped the ring back inside of the bag, she handed it back to Ephiny. The two women locked eyes as Ephiny took the bag. The regent read the trust in the bard's eyes. The Amazon faintly nodded to Gabrielle, the bard's eyes softening to her. The Amazon then slipped the small bag into a bit of a large bag tied at her side.

Cyrene knocked at the door and heard Gabrielle's voice answer back for her to enter. The innkeeper opened the door to see Gabrielle in the center of the room. She was dressed in completely different clothes then she was use to. Behind the bard on either side is Ephiny and Solari, they were braiding the bard's partially wet hair at her sides.

The tavern owner stepped in closing the door behind herself. She walked over to face Gabrielle. "My sweetie I thought you'd be wearing something else"

The bard grinned. "What did you have in mind Mom?"

Cyrene's hands went up to rest on her hips. "I don't know, maybe a dress"

The bard chuckled. "If I was doing a regular marriage, this is Amazon"

The innkeeper grinned. "So you wear the leathers huh sweetie?" Gabrielle nodded. Cyrene then nodded and crossed her arms against her chest. "Either way sweetie, I'd say you look gorgeous"

Gabrielle smiled warmly. "Thanks mom"

"So I guess the other one is in her room?"

The bard nodded her head. "Yeah, Teresa and Eponin her getting her ready"

Cyrene smiled. "I bet they're having a time with my daughter"

Gabrielle chuckled. "That's what I was thinking earlier"

The innkeeper grinned. "Well sweetie, speaking of getting ready I need to also. I was just um…" The tavern owner's eyes shifted behind Gabrielle to the regent. Ephiny locked eyes with Cyrene and her face went serious. The innkeeper then focused her eyes back on Gabrielle who had an arched eyebrow. "I was cleaning up from last night. Quite a mess it was too"

The Amazon Queen smiled. "I can imagine"

"I'll see you later sweetie"

"Bye Mom"

Cyrene smiled and shut the door. She went to her room to prepare. Gabrielle then felt the two Amazons drop her hair. On each side her hair was braided down the tips, the rest of her hair was left unbraided.

"Solari brush"

The second in command nodded at Ephiny and went to the table. She grabbed a brushed and handed it to the regent. The only few things Gabrielle didn't have on was her Amazon feather necklace nor her boots on. The rest of her Amazon Queen attire is on.

The bard brushed her hair back behind her ears, she looked to Ephiny. "God's Ephiny, I forgot something"

"What's that my Queen?"

"I forgot to get my scroll, Hades"

"Hold on my Queen" The regent looked to Solari. "Solari, go to the other room and see if they're still there" The second in command nodded her head. She left. Ephiny looked back to her friend. "Scroll?"

Gabrielle nodded. "Yes, I need it for the ceremony"

By then the second in command came back in. "They're gone amazingly, probably off getting breakfast"

"Great, let's go" The two Amazons nodded at Gabrielle's words. The Queen quickly made her way into her room and went to her scroll satchel. She dug through it and found the scroll she was looking for, she grinned. Gabrielle then looked through her satchel more, she quickly found what she was looking for as well. She pulled the small item out of her scroll bag and turned to the Amazons. They both arched their eyebrows at the article in Gabrielle's hand.

"Queen Gabrielle?"

The bard grinned at Ephiny and answered the unasked question. "Long story Eph"

"I can assume that naturally my Queen, but a doll?"

Gabrielle grinned, her eyes looking down at the doll in her hands. It was a small little doll, just like Xena's. But there are a few small exceptions, one the doll didn't have blond hair, it has black straight hair. The eyes being blue buttons with a black stitched smile. Same type of skirt with frills though with a cute little round face, hands, and legs. Quite precise as the other doll.

The bard looked up to her regent. "Yup, just a doll" Gabrielle then walked over to the dresser in the room where the other blond hair doll sat. She carefully sat the doll up there beside the other one, their two little round hands touched.

Taking a step back, Gabrielle stared up at the two dolls. She memorized the sight. Ephiny and Solari glanced up at the two dolls. The two Amazons quickly understood and smiled to themselves. Everybody stayed like that for a few heartbeats.

Then the regent came up to Gabrielle's side. "My Queen, I do believe it's time to go"

Gabrielle nodded her head. She turned back around to face Ephiny. She took a deep breath. "Gods I'm nervous"

Ephiny smiled. "Don't be" The regent then pulled her friend for a hug. "You'll be fine Gabrielle"

"Thanks Eph" A pause as her eyes stared at the scroll in her hands. "Lets go" She looked back up to Ephiny and smiled. The regent nodded. They left.

~*Part 16*~

The air was crisp during this Solstice. The lands still covered in the bright glistening snow. There were no clouds above, only the sun. The crisp clean air pigmented the sky to a royal blue. The world around sparkled and twinkled with the sun's light reflecting off the snow. It was a glorious day that had a faint breeze. And in the breeze's air was a fine scent of fire. The sheer scent of fire coming from the center of one town in Greece, Amphipolis.

In the center of this one town was a young woman. Her hair was flowing a little in the light breeze as she stared up at the stage center in the town. Her stomach curled and twisted. Her heart rate picked up to a quick pace. She began to breath heavy. She gripped the scroll in her hand rather tightly.

"Easy up my Queen"

Gabrielle looked from the stage to her right at Ephiny. "Sorry"

"It'll happen so fast it'll make your head spin Gabrielle"

The bard grinned. "Thanks for the confidence Eph"

"No problem" The regent then noticed the priestess Maired step up onto the stage, near the back portion. She nodded to Ephiny. The regent looked to her friend. "Ready my Queen?"

"There is no ready, just go Eph"

"As you wish my Queen. A grand day" Ephiny then looked back to the stage where the priestess stood and nodded. Maired nodded back and she moved to the front of the stage.

Gabrielle stood off to the left side of the stage with Ephiny. In front of the stage was the audience of people, but there was a huge gap of space between the stage and audience. That struck Gabrielle as a bit odd. Mostly the two councils of Amphipolis and Amazon Nation were in the crowd. Then there was Cyrene, Toris, Constable Ferus, Potestas, Teresa, Eponin and then an array of villagers. All in all a huge crowd.

The stage though was carpet with a red linen, at all four corners were torch stands lit. Behind the priestess was what looked to be a golden statue of Artemis with two lit torch stands beside it. Then off to the priestess right was a table with a knife, red ribbon, and a mask. What Gabrielle really wanted to know, was exactly how her Amazons managed to pull off getting a gold statue of Artemis to Amphipolis? But as right now, she didn't care because she was too nervous with the situation.

"Its time my Queen"

As soon as Ephiny said that they both looked up to see the priestess of Artemis step up to the edge of the stage where the steps were. The crowd went silent at seeing this.

"Sweet mother of Zeus I don't know if I can handle this"

The regent chuckled at Gabrielle's low whispered statement. They both then looked back up to Maired as she spoke to everybody.

"Today on this Solstice day two women will be joined with the Artemis' grace and virtue. Let the Amazon Ceremony begin of Xena of Amphipolis and our Queen" The priestess bowed her head and straightened back up. She looked to Ephiny with a nod. Maired then stepped back close to that table and in front of the statue of Artemis.

The regent turned to Gabrielle and brought up the Amazon Queen mask over Gabrielle, then slipped it over her head. The mask covered the Queen's face. Ephiny then held hers up and put it on over her head.

"Let's go my Queen" Ephiny then brought her left arm up. Gabrielle looked to her and took a deep breath. She locked her right arm with the regent's. Ephiny smiled. "You'll do fine my Queen" It was a low whisper. Gabrielle nodded her head. The pair began to walk down the open space between the stage and the crowd. They came to the steps and Gabrielle looked up to Maired. The priestess smiled in reassurance and Gabrielle smiled back.

Ephiny and Gabrielle climbed up the steps to Maired. Everything was silent except the breeze slightly blowing. Gabrielle came up to the priestess with Ephiny still linked in arm. Once the came to the priestess, Ephiny released the Queen then stepped off behind Gabrielle some. Gabrielle then handed the regent her scroll, Ephiny placing it on the table.

The bard faced the priestess. Maired smiled and looked to her left over the other side of the stage. Gabrielle followed her gaze, there was Xena. Gabrielle swore her mouth must have hit the stage floor. Solari, linked arms, was escorting Xena up to the stage as well. As soon as Xena came onto the stage she stood there for a heartbeat for Gabrielle to take her in.

Xena stood in warlord clothes, which she hadn't worn in years. The gauntlets different, the armor different, boots, everything but the leathers. She was exact to her warlord attire, right down to the chain across her chest with her old cloak on, flowing in the wind. Her hair was not pushed back or up, just loose. The way Gabrielle loves it.

Xena grinned at her soulmate. She then was escorted to the opposite side from Gabrielle, Solari releasing Xena and stepping behind her too. That's when Solari pushed her mask over her head, Ephiny did next then lastly was Gabrielle.

The soulmates face each other.

Maired grinned at the two women and stepped up more to them. The priestess then looked to Ephiny, the regent winked at the priestess. The priestess nodded her head. The regent then brought her hands to her lips and made a bird call. The soulmates looked to Ephiny with arched eyebrow. This is definitely getting odd.

From some where there was the sound of chanting. It was an Amazon chant. Gabrielle's eyes widen as she looked past Xena. Xena quickly followed her soulmate's gaze behind her. There came into the center of the square were Amazons, tons of them.

The Amazons continued chanting an Amazon ritual song. They were in three single files and marching into the center and right into the front between the stage and audience. They all had their masks on covering their faces as they marched and chanted.

Gabrielle looked to her regent with narrowed eyes. "Ephiny…"

Ephiny grinned devilishly. "Well you can't have an Amazon ceremony my Queen without Amazons"

Gabrielle shook her head and looked back to the chanting Amazons. The Amazon chanted for a while more till all of them were centered in between the stage and audience. The first Amazon at the first row stopped chanting and pushed her mask back, she smiled to the Queen. She then unsheathed her sword and kneeled down to one knee, her sword going in front of her body. The Amazon then bent her head forward. Quick to follow were all the other Amazons in her row following the same actions. Then the next row then the last third row. All the Amazons had stopped chanting, kneeling with their swords in front of them, heads bent.

Maired then looked to the Queen. "Queen Gabrielle this Amazon Nation has come here not only to watch her Queen take a Consort, but to hand over her life to you. This Amazon Nation is yours for as long as you live. You are no longer the Queen of this Nation, but we are your nation. Each Amazon has now handed her life over to what we consider the greatest Queen of our time"

Breathe Gabrielle, its just a couple of hundred Amazons. Not a big deal. Oh gods! The bard took a deep breath and tried to push her musing away. Maired then shifted to the table, she lifted something showing it to Gabrielle.

"Queen Gabrielle, this feather necklace has never been worn by any Queen in past. It was created so long ago by the first Nation for the Artemis' chosen. The chosen has come to our Nation. Each one of these feathers is a different color to represent all the different Amazons in all the Nations. Wear it we strength Queen Gabrielle" The priestess then handed the necklace to Ephiny.

The regent stepped more behind Gabrielle. She removed the feather necklace on the bard's neck. She then replaced it with the new one, the old being deposited on the table.

The priestess then looked to Xena nodded, looked to Gabrielle and nodded. She then looked back to the crowd, Amazons still bowing but with their heads now up.

"Today our Queen will be bound to Xena of Amphipolis and Xena of Amphipolis to our Queen. They will become as one. Nobody will be able to break this great bond between this pair. And in the binding of Xena and Gabrielle so is the Amazon Xena created" Maired turned to the table and lifted the mask with feathers. She turned to Gabrielle with the mask.

Gabrielle took the mask with a nod and looked to her soulmate. She took a deep breath and spoke loudly, her eyes locked with Xena's. "Xena of Amphipolis, you have been selected not only by me, but by this nation, and by Artemis to be accepted into this Nation. There are high responsibilities to uphold in this Nation and to our chosen goddess. This is an honor not to be taken lightly. Do you recognize the responsibilities as an Amazon, to this Nation, and to Artemis?"

Xena smiled, she lowered her head. "I do recognize the honor and responsibilities to all conceiving of Artemis" She brought her head up to lock eyes with her soulmate again. "And not only do I recognize the responsibilities and honor, but I recognize the greatness of this Nation's Queen" Xena then unsheathed her sword bent down to one knee and bowing her head. The sword stood in front of her. "So I hand my life over to Queen Gabrielle"

Gabrielle stood stunned for a moment. Her mind then quickly came back as she realized what she had to do. "Thank you rise back up"

So Xena stood back up and sheathed her sword. She bent her head forward as she felt her soulmate place the mask over her head. Gabrielle then grabbed each side of the mask and lifted the mask over Xena's head. Xena smiled to her soulmate and Gabrielle smiled back. That's when Gabrielle's body went shaky.

"Now let the ceremony continued, this ceremony in the joining of Xena and Gabrielle" Maired then looked to Ephiny and Solari. The two Amazon both nodded and knew what that meant, they started to remove articles from their pouches at their sides. The priestess looked back to the soulmates. "Artemis has allowed this joining to be. Our Queen will be recognized not only as herself but as Xena of Amphipolis. In turn Xena of Amphipolis will be recognized as our Queen. Xena of Amphipolis will be Queen Gabrielle's eternal consort" Maired then looked to Ephiny and the second in command, nodding to them.

Solari nodded and handed to Xena the article.

Xena smiled and nodded to Solari, she looked back to Gabrielle. Reaching out with her left hand, she took her soulmate's small left hand. She carefully slipped off the engagement ring, holding it into her free right hand. In her right hand Xena switched rings to a small band ring. But it wasn't a solid plan band, it was two thin little bands that intertwined with out end. She carefully slipped it onto her soulmate's left ring finger. "I take Queen Gabrielle to be my consort and the other half of me…of my soul, forever" Xena then looked up from the ring to her soulmate with a smile.

Gabrielle looked back up and smiled to Xena. She then felt Xena slip back on the engagement ring. Her hand was squeezed and then release, Gabrielle then looked to her regent. Ephiny smiled and handed the bard the ring. She took it and looked back Xena taking her soulmate's left hand carefully. With her right hand, Gabrielle carefully and slowly slipped on the band ring on. She watched as it glistened in the sun's light. After it was on she looked up to Xena. "I take Xena of Amphipolis as my consort for eternity, it couldn't be any other way" The soulmates had their eyes locked, Gabrielle released Xena's hand slowly.

"Queen Gabrielle?"

Gabrielle looked to the priestess and nodded. She then looked to Ephiny and the regent quickly understood the look. Ephiny reached for the scroll and handed it to Gabrielle. She unrolled it and looked to Xena with a smile. Xena arched an eyebrow.

Gabrielle then grinned, she took a deep breath and began to read the scroll in her bardic voice.

"This is entitled Entity of the Soul" Taking another deep breath Gabrielle read her scroll.

I become lost in her eyes

Her touch invades my world

I become claimed by that smile

Her voice carries me across worlds.

Her eyes capture my heart

I become controlled by her touch

Her smile only brightens sending me over

I become flooded by her voice

My world spins out of control

I am her's

My body aches for her touch

I am her's

My heart soars heights

I am her's

My spirit screams for her

I am her's

Entity of the soul

After reading it, Gabrielle looked up to her soulmate. Xena locked eyes with Gabrielle. They stayed like that for hearbeats, they couldn't move. They couldn't look away from this perfect moment. Xena never felt such a love before, she'd do anything for it. Gabrielle had only dreamt of this sort of love, only read it, only told it. Now she lived it, she is it.

The priestess smiled at this connection she felt between these two women. She then spoke but low to Gabrielle. "Beautiful poem my Queen"

Gabrielle smiled and looked to the Maired. "Thanks"

"Quite welcome, we must continue on"

Gabrielle nodded and turned to Ephiny, handing her the scroll. Gabrielle looked back to her soulmate.

The Priestess of Artemis then turned to the table and pick up the small dagger with the hilt of the Amazon bird. She then lifted the red ribbon from the table, she turned back to the soulmates.

"Now" The priestess took a step forward. "It is time interlock these two beings" The priestess placed the dagger into her right hand with ribbon. She then looked to Xena. "Hold out your left hand" Xena nodded her head, lifted her left hand, palm up. Maired then grasped the bottom of Xena's hand with her free left hand. She brought the dagger over Xena's hand and cut across the warrior's palm. Blood immediately came flowing from the dagger's cut. It wasn't deep though.

The priestess then looked to Gabrielle. "Your right hand my Queen"

Gabrielle nodded her head and brought her right hand up. The dagger cut across her right palm. For once neither soulmate felt the pain of a cut.

The Priestess of Artemis then handed the dagger to Ephiny and looked back to the two soulmates. She then grasped the two soulmates' hands bringing them down by their sides and then putting them together. The hands interlocked together and the Priestess of Artemis took the silken red ribbon tying it over the locked hands. After doing so she straighten up and spoke again. "Do not let your interlocked hands separate for a day for if they do so might your souls"

The two soulmates nodded their heads at Maired. The priestess smiled warmly and looked to the entire crowd. "Let no harm come destroy these two for Artemis protects them. It has been done, the body, mind, heart, and soul of our Queen Gabrielle and new Amazon Xena of Amphipolis have been joined for eternity!"

Soulmates closed in the distance as soon as Maired stepped back. All the Amazons rose up to their feet. Xena locked her eyes with her Gabrielle and Gabrielle locked eyes with her Xena. They eyes were filled with intense love. All the Amazons sheathed their swords. The soulmates leaned in and their lips sealed together. A roar filled the air around.

But as we know the soulmates were not hearing this cheering. They were in their own world that only contained of them, this kiss, love, and their shared soul. But once that kiss ended the cheer went up in volume. All the Amazons rushing up onto the stage surrounding their Queen.

Gabrielle looked around at her Amazons and then she looked back to her Xena. Xena looking to her Gabrielle, she smiled. Gabrielle's heart rate picked up all over again, her body extremely shaky. Xena knew this and so she wrapped her one free arm around her Gabrielle's waist. Xena then bent her head down to claim her soulmate's lips yet again.

~*Part 17*~

"Ephiny don't"

The regent shook her head. "No I insist Gabrielle. It'll make things simple"

The bard sighed, she lifted her mug of cider with her left hand. Beside her sat her warrior. Their hands still locked from earlier today. Now it is night. All the Amazons and Amphipolis having been partying since the end of the joining. The Amazons showing Amphipolis how to do a party at the same time.

"Eph, I said I'd be there, so I'm going to"

The Amazon grinned as she leaned back in her chair. The scent of fire lingering in the tavern. "Gabrielle, you and Xena should get out of here tomorrow. Especially while you can. Go take a little time alone, just the two of you. I can handle the alliance between the nation and Amphipolis"

Gabrielle shook her head. "I can't do that"

The warrior finally decided to cut in, she leaned to her left to the bard. "If you don't except Ephiny's favor then we'll be stuck here fate's only know how long"

Gabrielle grinned and looked up to her soulmate. "You think so huh?"

"I know so"

The bard grinned and looked back to Ephiny. "You're sure Eph?"

"Positive, go enjoy yourselves. Gods ain't everyday you get married"

The Amazon Queen chuckled. "Thanks Ephiny"

"Anytime my Queen" The regent then took a sip of her port. "You both better get to bed, get an early start" Her mug went back down on the table. "If I were you"

Xena arched an eyebrow with her soulmate, Xena grinning. "Don't even Ephiny" The warrior and bard both stood up after Xena's words.

Ephiny huffed at Xena. "Sleep well and congratulations again"

"Thanks Eph, goodnight"

The regent nodded to Gabrielle. "Goodnight" The Amazon then watched the two soulmates head upstairs together. She relaxed back in her seat thinking about the amount of work she'd have to do.

By the following early morning the two soulmates were up and about. They'd gotten all their stuff together and found Cyrene, Toris and Ephiny. They'd say their good-byes. Cyrene encouraging them to come back to Amphipolis as soon as possible. Toris though was a bit sleepy considering he was woken up. Ephiny on the other hand grumbled mostly due to the fact she had a headache from drinking late into the night. She'd just given them words of safety and hugged both soulmates.

The soulmates then made their way through the mangled Amazons on the floor of the tavern to get outside and to Argo. The quickly saddled up the warhorse and headed out of town in the early dawn, the day still cool.

Gabrielle tugged the collar of her cloak closer against her throat. "South huh?"

Xena looked to her left at her soulmate and grinned. "Yeah, it isn't going to be warm though"

The bard chuckled and looked back ahead. "Hades"

The warrior grinned. "I thought you liked winter?"

"I love winter and the cold, just not being cold"

The Warrior Princess chuckled. "Same here. We'll stay warm"

The Amazon Queen looked to her warrior and arched an eyebrow. "Trust me I know"

Xena now devilishly grinned she reached over to Gabrielle's staff. The bard handing it to her. Xena then attached it to the saddlebags on the horse. Next the warrior hopped up into the saddle and looked down to her soulmate, holding her hand out.

Gabrielle smiled and took her soulmate's hand. As she did she felt the cool metal wedding ring on Xena's hand. It made her grin inwardly. Soon the bard found herself in front of Xena, the warrior's cloak coming around to tuck her in closer to Xena's body.

"So why south?"

The warrior adjusted the reins in her hands. "I thought you might like the area by the coast. Really beautiful"

Gabrielle nodded her head, she then looked up to her soulmate. "Any area with you would look beautiful if not exquisite"

Xena stared down into her soulmate's eyes and then smiled warmly. Bringing her head down she kissed her soulmate deeply.

And that's where we leave the soulmates, entity of the soul.

Author's End Notes:

To let me readers know. I know all of you definitely figured out all my stories are interlinked, even Flying Time Warp was, a series for sure. I'm am not positive whether if any of my readers do this, but it's a warning. If some of you only read just the Xena and Gabrielle stories and not the Janice and Melinda, or visa versa. Well the next one is with all four. My next story is a really important story to Janice and Melinda and to Xena and Gabrielle. If you don't read it and go to read the following story, you'll be so lost it'll make you crazy. It's a real important story to all of them and my next story will sort of be like two stories in one, you'll see. But right now I plan to write two more stories in this series. Then I plan to start a new series, which has two stories right now to it. And I might come back to this series, it's still sketchy though, but I'll try to name both series.

Everybody just hang in there and you'll see. But my next two stories will be fabulous, they're all planned out and I'm so excited. As a matter of fact my next story is in progress. Be ready, they'll be fast moving story lines. Till then! Take Care!

-Red Hope