Subtext ~ Maintext here but no sex between the characters that I'll write.
Copyright ~ Lets see, Universal and MCA both own Xena, Gabrielle, Draco, Melosa, Solari, Epinion and Argo. I though own Lux, Gelidus, Augeus, Seoirse, and Cacus. So don't take my characters or story line, I'm very protective of them.
Started: April 18th 2000 on Tuesday
Finished: June 14th 2000 on Wednesday
Series Two-Meeting in the Midst as One Story-Two
If anybody has comments about my story please let me know at:
Part 1
Section 3
~*Part 7*~
The Amazon Queen lowered her hands from the back of her neck after tying her necklace into place.
A knock at the door quickly followed during this dawn morning.
Gabrielle gazed over at the door. "Come in."
The door easily opened and Ephiny came stepping in with a smile.
"Good morning Eph."
The Amazon nodded. "Morning Gabrielle." She quickly noticed her Queen was dressed in her Amazon Queen attire.
The Queen smiled for a second then turned to the wall to snatch up her staff.
"Are you prepared Gabrielle?"
The peasant sighed. "I think so." She turned around to face her friend. "Not really."
The Amazon's smile went into confidence. "You'll do fine."
"Thanks." Gabrielle crossed the distance to stand in front of Ephiny. "Can you stay with me during the battle?" She paused. "Please Ephiny, I'll need your help."
The second in command quietly laughed. "Of course my Queen." She smiled warmly. "Come on." Turning to the open the door, she headed out.
The peasant followed behind and closed the door as she went. "Xena left?"
"Yes she did a candlemark ago."
"Good." Gabrielle took a deep breath. "Go get the Amazons ready. We need to be there on time or the plan won't work."
"What you going to do?"
The Queen grinned. "Grab something to eat. I'll meet you at the front gates with my Amazons. Got it?"
Ephiny nodded. "Of course." She jogged off to collect the Amazons.
Gabrielle stood in front of the gates and in front of her were eighty plus Amazons lined up.
Ephiny jogged up to her Queen. "We're ready."
The Queen nodded. "How long since Xena left?"
"Half a candlemark now."
The peasant turned her head to her second in command. "Let's get the strategy Amazons out and in place before Draco's men show."
"Yes my Queen." The Amazon jogged off to her left to where there were twenty Amazons separated from the main force. "Alright listen up."
All the Amazons focused their attention on Ephiny.
Ephiny went stern at the Amazons. "Here's the plan. All of you go to your posts in the forest. Make sure you're hidden well and prepared. Each of you know where you're going?"
The twenty Amazons nodded quickly.
"Good. Now get out there and into your spots."
The Amazons all jogged out of the gates and into the forest to find their spots.
The second in command came up to Gabrielle's side again. "Are we to begin the rest of the plans?"
The Queen shook her head. "No, give our strategy Amazons a few minutes to get into position." Turning her head to the Amazon, she posed a question. "Is that breastwork fortified?"
Ephiny nodded. "I checked it out myself Gabrielle. It is safe enough for three people and well hidden in the forest."
Gabrielle's lips creased into a smile. "Good." She took a deep breath. "It's time." A nod.
The second in command's head bobbed up and down. "We'll stop him." Ephiny winked and gazed at the remaining sixty or so Amazons. "Amazons attention!"
The sixty Amazons stopped their low talking and went serious.
The Queen took a deep breath. "We are heading into the forest now. Make sure all of you hide among the trees and behind the trees. This is a huge surprise attack. The plan is for Draco's men to come at us but we will not attack or appear at first. Our sisters in the different hiding spots will do their attacks first. After that we come from our spots to attack." She paused for a second. "Within a quarter of a candlemark into the fight Xena's army will rush up behind us from the south. They will rush us and scream Draco's name. Do not worry about them they will breeze past us to attack Draco's men." Gabrielle saw the nods of her Amazons. "All of you fight with honor and remembrance to your sisters. Do not let the enemy live!"
All the Amazons cheered for a second then stopped as they pulled their masks down with ease.
Ephiny reached up to pull her mask down and turned her head to Gabrielle. "We're ready."
The peasant nodded. "Fall out!" She turned around with Ephiny at her side.
The Queen and her second in command led the small army of Amazons out of the gates and into the woods.
Xena walked out of her tent, she'd changed into her warlord attire now. She reached to her right clipping on her chakram while walking to the main area of the camp. Once there, her mare waited for her.
Seoirse held out the reins to his commander. "The men are almost ready."
The warlord nodded briskly and took the reins. "Good. Get them lined up."
"As you wish." The warrior jogged off to get the other warriors in order and lined up.
Xena though quickly mounted her warhorse and gazed around in her camp. Within a few minutes she saw her men all lined up before her.
Seoirse came up to the warlord's horse. "They are ready."
The Warrior Princess slowly lowered her eyes to her second in command. "Are you ready?"
The man grinned. "I've been ready."
Xena's lips shaped into a deep grin. "Good." She raised her head to her men. "Attention!"
The hundred warriors went silent and still.
The warlord's intense grin came into play again. "We are going into battle against Draco and we are allies with the Amazon Nation. And as some of you know your leader, Gabrielle, is now also the Queen of the Amazons. Remember that and respect that." Xena paused and took a deep breath. "We are to charge north towards the Amazons. I want every last one of you cheering out Draco's name as we charge towards the Amazons. And each of you are not to even look at the Amazons let alone touch them. Breeze past them and attack Draco's men. Is that clear?"
All the warriors nodded their heads.
"Good. The last thing is hack Draco's men into pieces. But if any of them surrenders then take them as prisoners. Is that clear as well?"
Xena's men nodded out again. Then they all began to cheer. "Xena! Xena! Xena! Xena!"
The warlord grinned for a second but it quickly disappeared. "Silence!" She waited for the silence. "Now cheer Draco's name."
"Draco! Draco! Draco!"
Xena laughed low and turned her mare around. She kicked Argo in the sides and headed towards the woods.
Seoirse held up his right hand and dropped it towards Xena's direction in command. He started walking behind the mare with the army directly behind him.
Xena and Gabrielle's army marched through the forest. Ahead the warlord could clearly make out the sounds of the battle raging on over the din of her men cheering. As they went ahead she began to see a fight brawling on and she stopped her horse while raising her right hand.
The army stopped and watched their leader drop from her horse.
The warlord turned towards her men. "Draco!" She raised her right hand up in the air.
The warriors all cheered. "Draco! Draco!"
Xena grinned. "Charge and attack Draco!"
In the forest an uproar of swords scraping across stone was heard. The forest filled with the name, Draco, and it could be heard the sound of pounding.
Xena grinned as she watched her warriors pass by her and go forward. She turned to her mare and hit her on her rump after the army was gone. "Stay near girl."
Argo nickered and ran off into the woods.
The warlord unsheathed her sword and started running towards the battle. Ahead she could see her men charging towards the Amazons screaming Draco's name. She saw all her men run directly past the Amazons and crash directly into Draco's men. Xena grinned. "Perfect." Now she slowed her running searching for her soulmate behind a breastwork.
Gabrielle ducked low behind the barrier as an arrow breezed past her head. She sighed in relief.
Ephiny grinned over at her Queen. "Looks like the reinforcements came."
The Queen chuckled. "Thank the gods. Xena has good timing."
The Amazon grinned. "She does. I wonder where she is?"
The peasant slowly raised her head over the breastwork to scan the battle. "She's coming."
Ephiny glanced over at her friend then back to the fight. She watched Draco's men try to take on Amazons and Xena's men alike. It wasn't pretty.
The Queen grinned when she saw one of Draco's warriors walk over a certain spot. She saw one of her Amazons pop up from under the ground and take his feet. The Amazon pulled the man into her hidden hole and killed him. "Eph?"
"Yes?"
"Good Amazon strategy."
The Amazon laughed. "I thought it would work."
Gabrielle grinned. "Oh it does." She was about to add something but…
"How's the fight?"
The peasant turned her head to the left to see her soulmate kneeled down beside her behind the breastwork. She grinned. "Its good."
The warlord grinned. "I figured."
Ephiny quickly turned her head to the left. "When in Hades did you get here?"
Xena gazed at the Amazon. "Just now."
The second in command smirked to the Warrior Princess. "Not bad timing by the way warlord."
The warlord gave her own smirk. "Not bad Amazon strategy… Amazon."
Ephiny chuckled and gazed ahead. "So are we three going to sit here all day like peas in a pod? Or are we going to fight?"
Gabrielle leaped up with her staff. "Fight." She ran around the breastwork and into the fight.
"Hades." Xena leaped up now with the Amazon. The warlord unsheathed her sword and ran ahead to protect her partner's back.
Ephiny grinned. "Time to dance." She charged into the battle while unsheathing her sword.
Xena stopped a sword behind her back as she saw a man charge her. She grabbed her chakram and slashed the man charging her across his neck. He was instantly dead. Now she kicked behind to kick her attacker from behind. Spinning around she faced him with her sword and chakram.
Gabrielle gave rapid blows to her enemy's knees. She saw him crash to the ground and her staff came down to hit him across the head. He went out cold. And turning to her right the peasant saw one of her Amazons just become beheaded. Gabrielle stood there stunned for a second watching the Amazon's headless body crash to the ground. That same warrior that killed the Amazon saw Gabrielle and came after her. But the Queen was all to stun by what she saw.
The warlord rammed her sword forward to let it cut through the man's chest. She jerked her sword in his chest with a huge grin. She then brought her hand up to push his body of her blade. Turning around she saw her soulmate stuck in her tracks with an enemy coming at her. Her eyes widen and she bursted forward to take the man. Xena quickly attacked the man from his side and gutted him. Whirling around to her partner with wide eyes, she practically screamed. "Gabrielle?"
The Queen still was bewildered and didn't shift at all.
The Warrior Princess stepped up to her soulmate and grabbed her by her shoulder. "Gabrielle?"
The peasant shook her head.
"You okay?"
"Yeah." Gabrielle gazed up to her friend. "Sorry. Thanks."
"No problem. Be careful." Xena squeezed her soulmate's shoulder.
The smaller woman nodded but her eyes widen as she saw one of Draco's men come up behind Xena. "Xena!"
The warlord gritted her teeth and spun her sword to have the blade go behind and she jabbed back. Her blade entered into the man's lower gut and he dropped his sword. Xena turned around and kicked the warrior off her blade. Turning back to her partner she grinned. "Gotta be careful, you know."
Gabrielle couldn't help but chuckle.
Xena narrowed her eyes. "Duck."
The Queen's eyes widen and she bent down to her knees.
The warlord's right hand went to her chakram and she threw it at Draco's man right behind Gabrielle. It cut directly through his neck and bounced off a tree behind and returned to Xena. "Stand."
Gabrielle stood up with her staff as she heard a body fall. Off to her right she saw a warrior coming towards her and one to her left.
Xena grinned. "You take the right, I've got the left."
The younger female nodded and whirled to her right to take her man.
The Warrior Princess turned to her left with a huge grin and held up her sword at her enemy.
Seoirse slashed his enemy and watched his enemy fall. When the body hit the ground, he saw his leaders ahead of him. He also saw an enemy headed towards Xena's back. With a grin, he ran ahead and brought his sword up to stop the man after Xena.
The warlord turned her head to see Seoirse. "Thanks Seoirse."
The man took on his opponent. "No problem." Seoirse went into a sword fight with his enemy and was able to get the best, chopping his enemy's right arm off. Last he ran his sword through the other man's chest killing him quickly. "By the way, Draco is in the middle of the fight."
Xena grinned. "Good." She then turned towards her second in command. "Get back into the battle. And I'll take care of Draco."
Seoirse nodded. "As you wish my liege."
The warlord raised an eyebrow. "I might ask you to keep that title."
Xena's commander grinned. "Of course my liege." He then disappeared ahead into the main portion of the battle.
Gabrielle took out her enemy with a hard whack. She felt somebody coming up behind and she whirled around with her staff on attack.
The warlord held her right hand up to grab the staff. "Calm down." She grinned.
The Queen laughed. "Sorry."
"Look, I want you to stay here. I am going to go after Draco."
The peasant's eyes narrow. "Don't let him live Xena."
A feral grin came onto the warlord's lips. "I promise you, he won't." She then gazed around to spot Ephiny. "Ephiny!"
The Amazon had just slain her enemy and turned around. She saw Xena and her Queen and rushed to their sides. "What's up?"
The warlord gazed down at the Amazon. "Stay here and protect your Queen."
The second in command nodded. "Of course."
Xena was about to say something but saw Ephiny lift her right hand up to point behind Xena. Xena knew. The warlord narrowed her eyes and did a back flip up into the air and land on top of a small man. Her eyes lowered to the man that was struggling to get her off him. "Tsk tsk." She stepped across his body and came up to his head. Lifting her foot, Xena gritted her teeth and brought the heal of her right boot down to crush the man's head and break his skull. With a twist of the boot's heal the blood seeped across the ground.
Suddenly the Queen's breathing picked up at this display but she didn't say anything.
"What I was trying to say Ephiny." A grin from the warlord. "Is get two other Amazons here to protect Gabrielle."
The second in command nodded and slammed the blade of her sword into the ground. She brought her hands to her lips and did a bird call.
The peasant looked up to her warlord.
Xena winked and then disappeared into the battle to find Draco. She either was able to pass through all the small fights or she had to simply hack her way through certain people. And by the time she made it to the heart of the battlefield her armor and blade were tainted a deep red. But in the center of the battle she found Draco.
Draco stabbed his opponent in the heart and drew his blade out. He watched the corpse fall to the ground and once it hit the ground he lifted his eyes up. His eyes narrow quickly. "You bitch!"
Xena grinned. "I know." A twirl of the sword.
"I'll kill you Xena."
The warlord laughed evilly. "Don't talk about something you can't do Draco."
"Ah!" Draco took on Xena with his sword.
Gabrielle delivered a blow to her opponent's right hand to knock his sword free. The sword fell to the ground and would stay there. For the Queen quickly made work of her opponent knocking him out cold. She then turned around to see Solari, Epinion, and Ephiny all busy fighting as well. That's when she did a double take on Ephiny with wide eyes.
Ephiny brought her sword slicing through her enemy's throat. Pulling out her sword she grinned up at the man but the grin was gone instantly as a scream came from her lips. Her back filled with an immense pain and it caused her to black out and fall to the ground with the man she just killed.
"Ephiny!" The Queen bursted forward to take on the warrior whom stabbed a dagger into Ephiny's upper back. She came up to late for Ephiny's attacker had disappeared in the fight. Gabrielle fell to her knees beside the Amazon. "Ephiny?"
Solari quickly turned her head to the right to see Gabrielle down beside Ephiny. She backed up to stand guard over her Queen. Turning her head to the left, she found Epinion. "Epinion?"
The weapons master clashed swords a few times with her enemy then took him out. She glanced back to see the scene and she backed up to guard with Solari.
The peasant rolled the second in command onto her side. "Ephiny?" Tears took form now. "Ephiny?" Gabrielle's voice was in a shaky plea. "Come on Eph, wake up." She shook the Amazon's shoulders. The Queen shook her head. "No no."
Solari glanced down to her Queen then brought her sword up as an enemy came out her. "Queen Gabrielle we need your help."
Gabrielle shook her head. "No." She took a deep breath and lowered her right ear to Ephiny's chest. She could faintly make out her friend's heartbeat. "Come on Ephiny. Wake up. Don't die on me."
Solari started fighting her enemy with little effort in hopes to win. "You can't do anything for her Queen Gabrielle."
"No Solari!" The Queen shut her eyes after yelling out in angry. Her red eyes opened again and her left hand moved to the second in command's upper back. Lifting her hand from the Amazon's back, Gabrielle found her hand now red. "No…" Her head was shaking back and forth. "Don't you leave me Ephiny. I need you to help me with these Amazons. I can't do it alone." Her eyes shut as a deep anger came over her.
"Stand up Gabrielle!"
Gabrielle said nothing to Solari and released Ephiny carefully. She gripped her staff tightly in protection. The sounds of battle filled her mind.
"Stand up Gabrielle!" Solari ran her enemy through as another came at her. "Stand up now!"
The Queen's eyes shut tightly and she screamed as she leaped to her feet. Her eyes were flashing deeply. She saw one of Draco's men coming at her and she charged him with her staff.
Solari and Epinion immediately surrounded Ephiny's body to protect her as she lay bleeding on the ground.
Solari kept glancing over to her Queen seeing her take on a deep rage over just what happened. She also knew Ephiny was still alive, barely. And right now she would do anything to keep Ephiny alive. So Solari went all out to take down her enemy and succeeded in doing so. Once she did she cupped her hands over her mouth and did a bird call.
Two Amazons dropped from the trees in question.
Epinion glanced over to them. "Protect Ephiny!"
The two Amazons nodded and circled up with their backs to Ephiny. The two Amazons, Velasca and Leon.
Gabrielle knocked out her enemy and turned towards the direction she knew Ephiny's attacker went. She started running in that direct but was stopped as Solari grabbed her.
"Gabrielle don't."
The Queen's burning eyes averted to her third in command. "Don't you Solari. I want her attacker."
"No!" Solari's grip on Gabrielle's arm tightened. "He's to big for you. He'll kill you."
Gabrielle's eyes narrow. "My rage is to big for him."
"No Gabrielle, I can't let you."
The Amazon Queen took a deep breath and straightened up. "Stand down Amazon. Remember your place!" She jerked her arm free and raced into the direction Ephiny's attacker went.
"Hades!" The third in command glanced over to Epinion. "Stay here and guard Ephiny."
The weapons master continued fighting her enemy. "Where you going Solari?"
"To protect our Queen!" Solari ran off to follow Gabrielle.
Gabrielle beat the living daylights out of her small enemy. She then searched around for Ephiny's attacker and found the man.
Draco's warrior was huge, well muscular, with one large sword to match his big built.
Gabrielle didn't care.
The Amazon Queen raced over that way with her staff up. "You bastard!"
The man slain his enemy and whirled around to face the woman, his sword pointed at her. "You!" He narrowed his eyes.
Gabrielle grinned. "You got that right. I'll kill you."
The man laughed. "Right." He came at Gabrielle with his sword. "Come on little Queen."
The peasant fought against the hulking man with all her anger. She let it come out of herself. She'd never felt such an anger, such a darkness. Where did it come from? Nor how could it come from her? She'd called herself Xena's counterpart. The Light. Yet she felt this darkness brewing deep below. How?, where?, and why? That she couldn't figure out right now, later. If there would be a later for this Gabrielle.
Xena jumped back and gave a huge smirk. "Is that all you got Draco? No more thrust. Come on." She tapped the tip of her sword against Draco's.
The warlord glared at the Warrior Princess. "You're coming down with me Xena."
"Uh huh." The warlord pounced back into action with her sword. She began to take Draco's defenses down now. She was sick of playing and wanted to end this battle and all she had to do was kill Draco. Simple enough. Xena easily pressed Draco against a tree but he held himself.
Draco tried stabbing forward but only caused Xena to jump.
And when the warlord jumped, she cut a branch just above Draco.
The branch fell and landed on Draco. He pushed it off himself and stopped Xena's sword attack.
The Warrior Princess glanced up to the remains of the branch from the tree. It was sharp from the way Xena cut it. She quickly focused on Draco and went full force, she kicked his sword from his hand.
Draco looked to his right to see his sword gone. He stood tall with cold eyes.
Xena grinned and went into a blur of motion, her right hand came to wrap around the man's neck. She began to choke him hard. "Sleep well Draco."
The warlord closed his eyes tight. "I'll tell your… friend Marcus hello… Xena."
Xena's grasp only tightened. "Do that. And tell Hades he'll have more warlords coming his way." She then quickly lifted Draco from the ground and rammed him hard against the tree.
Draco screamed out as he felt the cut branch's remains pierce through his heart.
The warlord grinned as she released Draco's throat. She watched the blood ooze off the branch's tip and a droplet of blood gathered up at the tip and fell from the air. Xena brought her hand quickly out to catch the blood drop. Her eyes were fixed on the droplet for a second and she smeared it across her fingertips.
Lifting her eyes she saw Draco's eyes wide open in horror and his head slumped forward. "Perfect image." She smirked and spun her sword. Turning her back on the other warlord, she gazed around at the battle.
Draco's men were few and hers were many along with the Amazons. Some of her men working with the Amazons to fight Draco's men. The battle would soon be over. So she decided to find her soulmate, she broke out into a run.
The man rose his sword up.
Gabrielle stared up in horror. She was about to die any second. By Ephiny's same attacker. Her staff had rolled off to her right.
The sword came down.
The peasant shut her eyes in waiting anticipation. But then she heard a loud cling.
"Gabrielle get away!"
The Amazon Queen opened her eyes to see the two swords' blades almost touching her nose. "Hades!" Her eyes were wide and she rolled away to her right to get her staff.
Solari jumped back as the man's sword went into the ground. "Come on you asshole!" She held her sword up.
The warrior laughed at the Amazon. "As you wish bitch."
Gabrielle stood up with her staff to watch her Amazon take on Draco's warrior. She decided to glance around and took note of the battle. Her army and Amazons were winning, Draco's men few. She watched one of Draco's men fighting two Amazons.
Draco's man lunged forward to cut one Amazon's arm off. But the other Amazon attacked in rage. The man held her and took a second to chop off the first Amazon's head off. The second Amazon however got even and stabbed the man in the chest with her sword, jerking the sword tight.
The Amazon Queen shook her head. "At what price?" Her mind focused back on Solari and the warrior.
The warrior knocked Solari's sword from her hand. He then gave a hard kick to have her flying through the air and slam into a tree. Solari's eyes closed and she slipped down the tree with a slump.
"No!" Gabrielle had breathed it quietly, she shook her head. Her flashing eyes lifted to the warrior.
The warrior turned his head to the Amazon Queen. "You're next."
The peasant stepped back with her staff up and angry eyes. "Stay back."
The man laughed hard. "Don't start something you can't finish."
Suddenly an Amazon head rolled between Gabrielle and the warrior.
Gabrielle stared down with wide eyes. "Oh gods." She held back the contents of her stomach.
"Can't you handle a battle girl?" The warrior kicked the Amazon head at Gabrielle and kept coming at her.
Gabrielle stumbled back in a hurry as the head rolled away and out of her sight.
The warrior laughed and brought his sword down on Gabrielle.
The Queen lifted her staff to block the blade.
The man grinned and reached with his left hand to grab the small woman by the throat. He squeezed hard and lifted Gabrielle from the ground.
The peasant closed her eyes and tried to breathe. Colors began to flash before her and everything began to spin. But at the last possible second she found herself on the ground coughing and gagging. Opening her eyes she gazed up to see her soulmate.
Xena stood there with a fury in her body. She stood in front of Gabrielle in battle stance with both her hands holding her sword tightly. Her body was masked in blood along with her sword's blade.
Draco's warrior was bending forward breathing hard and shaking his left hand. He lifted his cold eyes to the warlord.
The warlord smirked. "Try me."
The warrior narrowed his eyes. "Good. Somebody my own level." He spun his sword approaching.
Xena laughed. "No, I am on to much of a high level for you."
The warrior growled and came at Xena with his sword.
Gabrielle quickly stood up and searched for her staff. She found it and snatched it up while turning back to her soulmate fighting the warrior.
The Warrior Princess glanced over to Gabrielle while fighting. "Get out of here Gabrielle."
The Amazon Queen shook her head.
The warrior took his opportunity and punched Xena hard in the face. He then doubled back and did another punch and a third punch. Reaching with his large right hand he held Xena's throat with a tight squeeze.
Xena's head swam quickly, she had no time to react. She lifted both her hands to his hand trying to pry his hand off.
Gabrielle pounded forward. "No!" She brought her staff across the man's side.
The warrior ignored it and swung his left arm to hit Gabrielle to the ground. Turning his attention back to the warlord, he grinned. Wrapping his other hand around her throat he laughed. The warrior then jammed his right knee up into Xena's chest.
The warlord coughed and fell to her knees while fighting the man's hands. Her eyes were closed hard. Stars were coming now.
Draco's man pulled Xena close against his body and lowered his head close to hers. "I'll kill that Amazon bitch just for you." He then threw the warlord to slam into a tree like Solari.
Xena hit her head against the tree and went unconscious.
The warrior saw Gabrielle still on the ground, stuck in place by the scene. He laughed and pulled a dagger from his belt and came to the peasant.
Gabrielle started to move but so did the warrior. She found the dagger's blade first in her leg placing her on the ground with pain. Then next the blood stained dagger was at her throat.
The warrior placed his left hand on Gabrielle's bare stomach to hold her down. "I am sick of you." He grinned.
The Amazon Queen's eyes widen. "Don't."
The man laughed. "Oh I may die today but I'll die happy knowing you went with me."
"No! Xena!"
"Your warlord is asleep."
"No no… Xena!" Gabrielle glanced over to see Xena slump on the ground. She shut her eyes.
The warlord heard Gabrielle's voice and it seem to pull her back. She fought to come back around for her soulmate. Her head lifted up and her eyes opened as she heard her name again. Her eyes widen as she saw the man had his dagger up to bring it down at Gabrielle's chest, the man pinning her.
Xena lifted her self from the ground.
Gabrielle's eyes focused on the dagger's tip. "No!"
The man grinned and began to bring it down.
Gabrielle sucked in a breath, it was all blurred.
The dagger came but then disappeared as a tall form flew through the air and came at them. The Amazon Queen saw the warrior go crashing off to her right onto the ground. Gabrielle quickly looked to her right to see Xena on top of the man with his dagger in her left side.
Xena reached to her left side to pull the dagger out. She looked down at the man.
The warrior looked up surprised at the change of situations. Reversed roles.
The warlord laughed. "I owe these." She punched the man three times hard. "And don't forget this." She slammed the dagger down into his chest.
The man reached up to grab Xena's hands on the dagger hilt. His hold was weak.
Xena grinned and twisted the dagger to the right in his chest. "One turn deserves another." She jerked the dagger hard to the left and saw the man's eyes roll up into his head.
"Xena."
The warlord turned her head to the Gabrielle. She smiled faintly. "Hey."
Gabrielle laughed out of relief. "Oh gods." She was lying on her side propped up.
Xena crawled off the man and came over to Gabrielle. "You alright?"
"Yes." The peasant's eyes began to let tears roll. "Thank you Xena."
The warlord smiled sadly. "Come here." She pulled her soulmate in for a hug.
The Amazon Queen hugged tightly back and fell back with the warlord on top of her. She chuckled.
Xena laughed back and smiled down at her partner. She carefully brought her lips down to claim Gabrielle's lips in a loving kiss. They became so involved with the kiss they didn't realize the battle was over and the fact people were circling around them.
"Ahem." Solari cleared her throat while rubbing the back of her head. She wasn't making any head way of getting the soulmates to break the kissing.
Seoirse now came pushing through the crowd of Amazons and warriors. "Let me do this." He grinned at the Amazon. He turned his head to gaze at his two commanders kissing. "My liege?"
Xena sighed and pulled back. She gazed down at her partner. "Later."
The Amazon Queen chuckled. "Definitely."
Both the leaders gazed up in Solari and Seoirse's direction.
The warlord went stoic. "Report Seoirse."
"The battle is over. Draco's remaining men are being held prisoner. We won my liege."
Xena grinned down at her partner.
Gabrielle chuckled. "We won."
Suddenly the air was filled with the warriors and Amazons cheering.
The warlord stood up with her soulmate and gazed around to hear the Amazons and warriors cheering. The cheering soon went into chanting of, "Xena, Queen Gabrielle."
The Amazon Queen stared around and dazed by the chanting of her name. It was almost perfect to her, it filled her. Her eyes rested back on Xena.
The warlord wink and pulled Gabrielle in for a deep kiss as the cheering only went crazier.
~*Part 8*~
Solari came up to her Queen's side. "Gabrielle?"
The Queen smiled and gazed at her Amazon. "Hey Solari."
"How are you?"
"A little better." Gabrielle leaned against her staff. She still stood in the middle of the battlefield. But now in front of her were her Amazons and warriors lining up the prisoners. Off to the left was Draco's dead corpse still hanging from the tree limb, she ignored it.
Solari nodded. "Good."
The peasant gazed at her friend. "Thanks for saving me Solari."
The third in command smiled. "No problem. Anytime my Queen." Her right hand came up to her friend's shoulder then released.
Gabrielle smiled and gazed ahead. "Report."
Solari nodded. "Twenty Amazons killed. Ten injured." She grinned. "Including Ephiny."
The Queen quickly turned her head to the Amazon . "Ephiny is alright?"
"Yes. She'll be fine. She was the first into the healer's hut." Solari took a deep breath. "Twenty five of Xena's men were killed. Twelve injured and are in the healer's hut as well. I hope you don't mind my Queen."
Gabrielle smiled. "Not at all." She took a deep breath. "Is Xena's healer helping?"
"Yes, her healer is helping ours."
"Good." The Queen gazed at the prisoners. "How many prisoners?"
"Twenty-six." Solari saw the warlord appear in her blood stained body and attire. "Are you sure you want to see this Gabrielle?"
The peasant placed her left arm around her stomach as she leaned against her staff. "I need to Solari." She glanced at the third in command.
The Amazon nodded and looked at the scene. Off to her and Gabrielle's right were a bunch of Amazons and warriors watching over the scene.
Xena nodded at something Seoirse said and walked in front of the chain prisoners. She grinned at them all.
Seoirse grinned and ambled over to stand beside the Queen. "Gabrielle… you sure-"
"Yes Seoirse." Gabrielle kept her eyes pinned on her soulmate.
The warlord placed her hands on her hips. "Your leader was pathetic."
The prisoners all glared at the warlord with hard eyes.
Xena grinned. "And right now I am giving you all a generous offer." She paced back and forth as she spoke. "You may either join your former leader. Or you may join me." She stopped pacing and cat smiled at the prisoners. "It's that simple. Choose your leader." The warlord walked over to the tree where Draco was hanging from and unsheathed her sword. With a hard whack, Draco's head fell and Xena caught it by the hair. Xena ambled back in front of the prisoners with the dangling head, blood dripping. "Draco or Xena?" She threw the head at the middle prisoners.
One of the prisoners instinctively caught the head and jumped back dropping the head to the ground. He peered down to see Draco's head staring up to him with wide eyes, fear in them. He lifted his head towards the warlord. "Xena!" He raised his shackled arm.
Twenty-four of the other prisoners joined in cheering Xena's name.
The warlord smiled for a few seconds. Her eyes then fell on the one man that wasn't cheering, her eyes narrowed. "Silence!"
The forest went dead quiet.
Xena slowly walked over to the one man that stood near the right's end. She grinned at him. "Well one less won't be bad." She spun her sword. "Say hello to Draco for me." She jabbed her sword forward into the prisoner's stomach.
The prisoner shut his eyes and bent forward while cupping his hand over his wound as he felt the sword jerk through him. Slowly the sword came out and he fell down two his knees and fell forward to the ground. His eyes were open staring off as the blood seeped across onto the ground.
"Xena! Xena! Xena!"
The warlord smiled at the cheering prisoners. She lifted her cape and ran the sword through her cape to clean the blood off. She easily sheathed her sword again and stared at her new warriors.
Seoirse grinned happily and jogged up to his commander's side. "My liege?"
Xena turned her head to her second in command. "Have these prisoners whipped into real warriors for my army."
The man nodded. "As you wish."
Gabrielle turned around and quickly released whatever was in her stomach.
Solari turned around and patted her friend's back. "Are you okay?"
"Great." The peasant closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She rose up wiping her mouth clean. "Solari, get our dead Amazons into our village. We have pyres to do tonight."
The third in command nodded sadly. "Of course." And left to collect Amazons to help her gather their dead sisters.
Xena slowly strolled up to her soulmate's side. "Gabrielle?"
The Queen turned around to face her partner. "Hey."
The warlord placed her hands to Gabrielle's back. "Ready to go back?"
Gabrielle nodded. "Yeah. Let's go back."
Yes back, back if only back.
Xena smiled. "Good." She started walking and sucked in a deep breath at the pain in her side. "How's your leg?"
The young woman gritted her teeth as she limped along. "It's great."
The tall woman stopped walking abruptly. She lifted her right fingers to her lips and whistled.
Argo reappeared from no where and came trotting over to her owner.
"I'll help you get on." First, Xena placed her hands on her partner's sides. "Ready?"
Gabrielle grasped the saddle horn and slipped her left foot in the stirrup. "Yeah."
The warlord pushed her soulmate up into the saddle. She then put herself up into the saddle in front of Gabrielle. Xena took the reins and sent the mare into a walk towards the Amazon village.
The Amazon Queen held her soulmate's sides. She then felt a warm liquid on her left hand. She lifted her left hand to see blood all over her hand. "Xena, you're bleeding."
The Warrior Princess kept her back straight in the saddle, ignoring the pain. "I know."
"Xena it's bleeding pretty bad."
"I can't worry about that now." Xena felt a shot of weakness for a second then it disappeared.
"Xena you can't-" The Queen was cut off.
"Listen to me Gabrielle…" Her words were low but hard. "I can not look injured in front of our men." She took a deep breath. "Keep your hand over my wound so it won't show. And press hard so it'll slow the bleeding."
The peasant nodded and pressed her left hand tightly against the warlord's side. "Like that?"
"Perfect." Xena clamped her jaw down and steered Argo to the village.
Xena and Gabrielle both ambled into the Queen's hut.
As soon as Gabrielle shut the door she turned to her soulmate. "Let's get that wound taken care of."
The warlord stepped up close to her partner but kept a certain distance. "Gabrielle, I need you to understand something." Her voice was hard and almost cold. "If either of us are ever injured no matter the extent we can not act it in front of our men. If we do, our men will kill us for it." She paused. "Any one of those men would die to be a leader in this army."
The Amazon Queen narrowed her eyes. "Maybe in our army but not in my Nation Xena." She crossed her arms against her chest. "Our men fear us… fear you. My Amazons are loyal." She shook her head. "And right now I am going to the healers to get my leg taken care of." Turning around, she grasped the door handle.
The warlord's right hand shot out to grasp the smaller woman's shoulder. "Gabrielle… I can't stitch my side up." She took a deep breath. "I need your help."
Gabrielle closed her eyes for a second and took a long breath. "Alright." Her hand fell from the door handle.
Xena nodded and released her friend's shoulder. "Go ahead and take a bath. I'll get us a med. kit."
The peasant nodded. "Okay." She shifted away from the door and went to the washroom.
The warlord watched for a second yet left the hut in search of Seoirse.
Seoirse stood at the gates of the Amazon village watching the prisoners come into the village with guards. He grinned at the scene, today was a good day.
"Seoirse?"
The second in command gazed back to see the warlord coming towards him. He smiled. "Yes Xena?"
"I need you to do me a favor."
"Of course." Seoirse crossed his arms against his chest.
"I need you to go back to the camp and retrieve my other leathers and armor. Also pick up my saddlebags. Can you manage that?"
The warrior nodded. "Of course. It'll be a few minutes."
"Fine, just bring my stuff by Gabrielle's hut." Xena paused. "I'll be out soon to take care of these prisoners."
Seoirse nodded and watched Xena walk off with a strong gate.
Gabrielle very carefully lowered herself into the warm water. She felt the deep sting to her leg where the dagger had made its mark.
Xena closed the door silently and glanced to the washroom where she saw the side view of her soulmate's nude body slipping into the water. She stared with confused eyes. Very deep confused eyes. Slowly the warlord crossed her arms against her wire-clad chest. As soon as she did she remembered the grime and gore over her body. Gazing down at her body she held her hands and arms out, looking over herself. There was nothing but a red tint to her body and leathers. Her armor was tainted red and the gold in her armor was smeared red. Slowly she lifted her hooded eyes to study Gabrielle in the water.
Xena stood there staring with hooded eyes towards her soulmate. A dark Xena studied, with cold eyes, a Gabrielle of light.
The warlord straightened her back up and lost her darkness as she ambled into the washroom. "How's that feel?"
Gabrielle quickly looked up. "Gods, I didn't even here you come in."
Xena grinned. "I know." She placed her hands on the top of the tub. "Seoirse is bringing by my… warrior attire."
The peasant chuckled. "Good, I love you in those leathers."
The warlord shrugged her shoulders. "So I've noticed." Walking out of the washroom she called back to Gabrielle. "Tell me when you're done."
The younger woman sighed and stood up and slipped out of the warm water. She grabbed a towel and placed it around her body. She saw Xena come in with nothing on.
The warlord slipped into the tub and as soon as she did the water picked up redness to it.
Gabrielle padded out of the washroom and saw her soulmate's warlord attire on the wood table. She stared at the dark attire. They were very dark.
A knock was heard.
The peasant sighed and tore her eyes away from her soulmate's leathers. Shifting to the door, Gabrielle opened it and poked her head out.
Seoirse smiled warmly. "Delivery."
The Amazon Queen chuckled. "Thanks Seoirse." She opened the door more and watched her second in command place the stuff on her bed.
Seoirse walked back outside. "Anything else?"
"No." Gabrielle shook her head. "Thanks again."
"Anytime." His right hand went to his sword's hilt. "Things seem to be getting in order."
"Good." The Queen kept her hand up holding the top of her towel. "Make sure you talk to Solari. She's my third in command."
Seoirse furrowed his eyebrows. "Where's your second in command?"
"She's been badly injured. So till then take things up with Solari."
The second in command nodded. "As you wish Queen Gabrielle." He turned around and walked off.
Gabrielle watched him for a second and closed the door. She sighed. "Queen Gabrielle?" A shake of the head. "Just great."
Xena came out of the washroom her skin now tan and not red. She walked over to her warlord attire and picked them up. "Seoirse?"
"Yes."
"Good." The warlord took her attire and took them into the washroom. She dunked them into the red water cleaning off all the gore and dried blood.
The peasant took a deep breath and limped over to the saddlebags on the foot of the bed. She opened them up to find a medical kit inside and she pulled it out. "Bingo." Placing the medical kit down, her left hand fell on the brass armor of the warrior attire. Her fingertips followed the swirls of the brass breastplates, her mind played with the image of Xena in the outfit. She studied the image deeply and took it on another level.
Xena grinned. "We could do the whole hero bit."
The smaller woman arched an eyebrow, she lifted her head to look to her soulmate. "Nnno." She shook her head.
"So you saying traveling Greece together fighting evil wouldn't be… fun? Just you and I? Do a… Hercules thing?"
Gabrielle could still hear her soulmate's words. What would have happened if they did do the hero bit? And what are they doing now? She thought she was doing the hero bit just in a different way. Is she? Is creating wars and battles the hero bit? But she's doing it in the name of the greater good. Yes for the greater good. She's fighting for the greater good.
Her fingertips still followed the swirls of the breastplates as if reading a story. Gabrielle tried to imagine herself by Xena's side fighting evil. Tried to imagine herself traveling with just Xena on dirt paths, partners together. She tried so hard to imagine. But she couldn't imagine such a fantasy. No, she is a Queen of Amazons and a leader of an army. Gabrielle knew then that such a thing as being a hero she is not capable of. Her destiny is to become a ruler of Greece, this is who she'll become. This was the reality and she had no time for such children's fantasy.
Warm handles slipped onto her shoulders and squeezed. "What you thinking about?"
Gabrielle sighed and dropped her hands from her soulmate's warrior armor. "Stupid dreams." She laughed. "I don't know why I imagine." She shook her head. "It could never be us."
Xena stared at the armor for a second. "Heroes? No never." She slid her hands down from Gabrielle's shoulder to her sides. "We're conquerors."
The peasant closed her eyes and dropped her head back against Xena chest. "How's your side?"
"It's still bleeding."
"Hades." The Queen turned around and took a look at the warlord's side. "Xena."
"Hey?" Xena locked eyes with her partner. "Let's take a real bath together and clean these wounds. Then we'll stitch them up huh?"
Gabrielle sighed. "Alright." She straightened up and walked into the washroom with Xena.
Gabrielle was first into the healer's hut with her warlord right behind. The Queen walked over to her left to see Ephiny there asleep on a pallet.
The warlord came up beside her soulmate and gazed down at the Amazon.
The peasant smiled sadly at seeing the Amazon's chest rising and falling. She sighed in relief and brought her hand to Ephiny's forehead.
The second in command slowly opened her eyes. "Gabrielle?"
The Queen smiled. "Hey. How are you?"
Ephiny grinned. "Wonderful." She reached up to take her friend's hand. "How'd we do?"
Gabrielle grinned. "We got him."
The Amazon smiled. "Thank you Artemis."
The peasant let a chuckle escape. "And you need to rest Eph."
"I know." Ephiny smiled warmly. "Thank you."
The Queen gave a confused look.
"Solari and Ep told me what you tried to do." The second in command squeezed her friend's hand. "Thank you."
Gabrielle smiled sadly. "I was pretty pissed." She sighed. "I just couldn't get him. You'll have to thank Xena for that."
The Amazon's amber eyes shifted to the warlord. "You?"
The warlord crossed her arms against her chest and stared at the woman on the pallet.
Ephiny grinned faintly. "Thanks warlord."
Xena let a very fine smile crease her lips. "You're welcome Amazon."
The Amazon averted her eyes back to Gabrielle. "What are the plans now?"
The Queen sighed. "Xena and I are leaving tomorrow… late afternoon." She let her breath out slowly. "I am going to need you tomorrow Eph."
The second in command smiled. "Eilis said I will be fine by tomorrow."
"Good." Gabrielle smiled a little then lost it. "We have twenty-five prisoners and they're becoming part of our army." A pause. "I need to ask you a favor Eph."
The Amazon shrugged her shoulders. "Ask away."
"I need you to take my place Eph. To become the regent."
The second in command stared up at her Queen. "You're joking?"
"No Ephiny." Gabrielle smiled. "You're the best I've got and I trust you the most. Please. I need to know these Amazons will be in safe hands while I am gone."
Ephiny's lips shaped into a warm smile. "Alright. I'll do it."
"Good." The Queen bent down to place a kiss to her Amazon's forehead. "Get some rest."
Ephiny nodded. "Yeah. See you Gabrielle."
"See you Eph." The peasant flashed a smile and headed out of the hut.
The warlord came to the door and glanced back to the Amazon. "Ephiny?"
The Amazon gazed back at the warlord. "Yeah?"
"Good job today."
Ephiny huffed and rolled her eyes. "If I hadn't got stabbed in the back."
Xena shrugged her shoulders. "It happens. Better then stabbed in the chest." She winked and walked out of the hut.
The Amazon shook her head. "Weird." She closed her eyes and tried to go back to sleep.
~*Part 10*~
The following day soon came. It came with Ephiny coming up a set of steps onto a podium before the Amazons.
Gabrielle stood there waiting with a mask in her hands. She stood in her green halter-top and brown skirt beside her soulmate.
Ephiny smiled to her friend but turned to face the Amazons. They all cheered in unison, they wanted Ephiny for their regent.
Gabrielle smiled at this and she side glanced at Xena. "Does an Amazon Queen beat a Warrior Princess?"
The Warrior Princess leaned forward close to her partner. "Do you really want to find out?"
The peasant let her tongue run across her molars. "Maybe later." She grinned and raised the mask as the Amazons went silent. Gabrielle walked in front of Ephiny with a warm smile. "Just don't expect me to come to any Amazon parades Eph."
The second in command furrowed her eyebrows. "Amazons don't have parades."
"I know." Gabrielle shook her head. "It was a joke."
The Amazon sighed. "How'd we get you for a Queen again?"
"Just lucky." The peasant raised the mask high again and saw her friend close her eyes. Gabrielle slipped the mask over her Amazons head. Once she did, Gabrielle stepped off to her right to stand beside her soulmate again to listen to the cheering.
That scene was morning and by late afternoon Xena and Gabrielle's army was lined up outside of the gates of the village.
The warlord was still in her warrior clothes and coming out of the stables with her mare.
Gabrielle was already outside waiting and talking to her new regent.
Ephiny nodded. "Of course."
The peasant grinned. "Good." She took a deep breath. "Thank you Eph."
"You're welcome my Queen." The regent smiled warmly but out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of Epinion, Solari, Amarice, and Teresa all coming towards them.
Xena came up to her partner's side and saw the four Amazons all coming. "Great more leathers and feathers."
Ephiny quickly looked up to the warlord. "Got a problem warlord?"
Slowly the warlord turned her head towards the regent. "With leathers being mixed with feathers. Yes."
The regent narrowed her eyes. "I have a problem with leathers mixing with warlords."
Xena gave a smug look. "Well I am glad we agree on disagreeing."
Ephiny gave a smirk. "That's about it warlord."
Solari came up first. "We wanted to see you off Gabrielle."
The Queen smiled at her third in command. "Thanks Solari."
Amarice brought her right hand back behind her neck and glimpsed over to Xena. "Hey I want to… apologize for earlier about what I said in the meeting hut."
The warlord placed her hands on her hips. "Thank you Amarice."
"Yeah." The Amazon looked away. "I still say you're to dangerous."
Gabrielle chuckled. "Very true."
Epinion quickly jumped in. "Are you taking any Amazons with you Gabrielle?"
The peasant shook her head. "No. Why?"
Epinion was about to respond but Solari did instead.
"Well Epinion and I think you should take a few guard Amazons."
Xena quickly narrowed her eyes.
Gabrielle straightened her back up. "I am not having shadows."
"Wait." Epinion followed up the explanation. "What Solari is saying is you and Xena might run into problems in the army. And well… we were thinking you might need some extra support. It's nothing offensive. We have to protect our Queen."
The Amazon Queen sighed and turned her head towards her soulmate. "What you think?"
The warlord crossed her arms against her brass chest. "Considering our plans, it might be a good idea."
Gabrielle's eyes fell to the ground as she thought. Well soon they would be splitting the army and Gabrielle would be in command on her own. She just might need that protection and besides a few female friends would be nice in the army. She sighed. "How many… guards?"
Ephiny answered that. "I'll only let three go."
The peasant quietly laughed.
"I would love to go." Solari smiled.
Teresa nodded. "Same here."
"I would." Epinion grinned and crossed her arms against her chest.
"Now you need me to go." Amarice grinned.
The regent cut in. "Wait a minute. I am not having this entire Nation leaving to protect Gabrielle." She narrowed her eyes. "I said three Amazons and I am not letting my third in command go."
Solari's eyes widen. "Wait, I have to go."
Ephiny raised an eyebrow.
"Hold on here." Gabrielle took a deep breath. "I am the Queen. I can choose here for gods sakes." Relaxing she thought for a moment and lifted her eyes to her regent. "Train Teresa to be a commander."
"W-what?"
The peasant grinned. "You heard me." She turned her head to Teresa. "Make Teresa my third in command and Solari will be second in command." Turing her attention back to Ephiny. "I would like Solari with me, she's well experienced under you. Epinion is a perfect fighter."
"And Amarice's reason?" The regent crossed her arms against her chest, she had to hear this reason.
"Amarice…" Gabrielle gazed at that Amazon. "Because the experience would be good for her."
Amarice's jaw dropped. "What's that suppose to mean?"
Everybody in the group chuckled.
The warlord evilly grinned at the Amazon. "It means I get to work that cockiness out of you." Her eyes narrowed.
Amarice glared over at Xena. "Whatever."
Teresa spoke up. "Why am I going to be third in command?"
Gabrielle smiled over to her Amazon. "Because you're experienced and there's something else about you I see." She grinned.
Teresa slightly flushed. "Thanks."
Ephiny sighed. "Alright. So it's Solari, Epinion, and Amarice. Nobody else."
"Right." The peasant smiled to her friend. "Thanks Eph."
The regent smiled. "No problem." She took a step closer and hugged her Queen. Turning her head to the other Amazons she was serious. "Solari, Ep, and Amarice. Get your stuff together and you may take a horse each."
The three Amazons exchanged glances. Amarice though said it. "Sweet." The three Amazons then power walked off in their separate directions.
Gabrielle glanced towards the three Amazons heading off and called to them. "You three better hurry up or we're leaving without you!" She saw the three Amazons break out into jobs.
Ephiny started walking now towards the gates.
Gabrielle, Xena, and Teresa walked beside the regent.
The Queen took a deep breath. "You were a great help Eph."
The regent nodded. "Sorry I wasn't earlier."
Gabrielle shrugged her shoulders. "I don't blame you Eph. I would have been the same way."
The Amazon faintly nodded and peered ahead. "I am just glad it worked out."
"Definitely."
The group came up to the gates to see Xena and Gabrielle's army waiting outside all milling around preparing to travel.
Ephiny turned to her friend, standing in front of the gates. "You came at the right time Gabrielle."
The villager laughed. "I guess so." She sighed sadly.
Teresa decided to join in. "You did. I mean I was even a bit skeptic but you're a good Queen."
Gabrielle smiled. "Thanks Teresa."
Ephiny averted her eyes to the warlord. "Thank you Xena." She crossed her arms against her chest. "If it wasn't for you and your army we wouldn't have stopped Draco."
The warlord nodded. "You're welcome." She paused. "Just don't forget about the treaty."
The regent grinned. "Not at all. You received your payment and the Nation will hope to be trading food and weapons."
Xena nodded. "Of course." She faintly smiled. "I believe I can state myself as allies to the central Amazon Nation."
Ephiny bowed her head. "Agreed." Her head came back up with a smile on her lips. Looking off to her left she saw three Amazons coming with horses. "Here they come."
Gabrielle took a quick glimpse. "Great." She took another step to Ephiny and pulled the Amazon in for a long hug. "Thank you so much Eph."
The Amazon hugged back hard. "Be careful Gabrielle."
"I will." The peasant pulled back bit held her friend's arms.
"Protect yourself too Gabrielle." The Amazon smiled sadly. "Wars are nasty."
Gabrielle nodded. "Yeah." She smiled sadly again. "Take care huh?"
"Definitely." The regent glanced over to the three Amazons. "You three ready?"
They all nodded.
"Good." Ephiny then smiled. "Protect our Queen each of you." She then gave each of her Amazons a hug and smiled. "Bye."
Solari smiled. "Bye Eph. We'll see you soon."
"Send messages huh?"
The second in command chuckled. "We will." She walked up to her Queen with her horse.
Amarice and Epinion did the same.
Teresa finished giving her Queen a hug. "Take care Gabrielle. We'll miss you."
"Don't worry, I'll visit." Gabrielle smiled and watched Teresa walk over to Ephiny's side. "Bye Eph and Teresa." She turned around with her soulmate and began to walk through the gates.
The three Amazons all followed behind.
Ephiny smiled sadly. "Bye my Queen!"
Teresa sighed. "Bye!"
Gabrielle had her head hung low and slowly raised her head to have her eyes fixed on her army. Her eyes shifted to a shade of darkness and her body sparked with darkness. And she let the darkness stay with her.
The group came to the army.
Xena scanned her army and saw them ready to move. "Seoirse!"
The second in command appeared before Xena. "Yes my liege?"
"Are we ready?"
"Yes of course." He caught sight of the three Amazons.
The warlord glanced to the Amazons then back to Seoirse. "They are coming with us as Gabrielle's protectors. Make sure the men know and keep their distance from them."
The warrior nodded. "I will."
"Good." The Warrior Princess took a deep breath. "Get mounted."
The second in command nodded and strolled off for his horse.
Xena turned to Argo and mounted her mare with ease.
Gabrielle came up to the side of the warhorse and pulled her staff free from the saddlebags. "Thanks."
The older woman nodded. "No problem." She smiled but went serious and lifted her eyes to the army.
The Amazon Queen saw her Amazons mount their own horses.
Xena took a deep breath. "Alright everybody. We're continuing on out trek to the east. We won't be traveling far today so relax. Let's move." She watched her army begin to move.
Gabrielle watched as well for a second but then began to walk to the front of the army with her head high.
The warlord watched her soulmate go and saw Amarice and Epinion come up behind Gabrielle on their horses.
Solari stopped her horse beside Xena's. "Does she always walk?"
Xena nodded while keeping her eyes pinned on her soulmate's back. "Always."
The Amazon glanced at her Queen. "She's has a lot of spirit."
"She does."
Solari smiled a little. "See you up there Xena." The Amazon kicked her horse into a trot to catch up.
But the warlord didn't move Argo just yet letting the light breeze blow on her.
Xena sat tall in her saddle as the black shadows of the trees fell over her and she studied her soulmate walking in the piercing sunlight.