Slowly, blue eyes opened to the dark world around and blankly stared at the blurry object not far from reach. Gradually the blurry but silver object came into focus, and it was a beautiful steel sword that glowed in the moonlight. The sharp blue gem at the hilt shined brightly despite the darkness.
Suddenly, the Conqueror stretched out her arm and wrapped her long fingers around her sword's hilt. She dragged the sword towards her body then placed her other hand's palm against the ground. She gritted her teeth and proceeded to lift her aching body up from the dirt. She could feel the blood that oozed from her wounds, but none of it matched the rage that flowed through her.
Xena scanned her immediate area, but she found nothing left of the attackers. Her attention centered on Gabrielle's Amazon staff that was only left behind. She walked over to it, picked it up, and straightened up. She gripped the staff hard, and she shook from anger. "I'll kill them all," she snarled.
Xena tried to estimate how long she was out after going unconscious from the brutal beating, but she suspected not long. Then, the distinct sound of somebody running came to Xena. Yet she realized the person was running at an almost impossible speed. She readied her sword in the direction and grounded her teeth. She slightly calmed though when surprisingly the automaton formed from out of the dark woods.
Seven of Nine glanced over the beaten ruler, and her assumptions were confirmed. She looked from the staff to the ruler and coldly insisted, "What has happened to Queen Gabrielle?"
"Taken." Xena only managed the strangled word.
The automaton quickly thought about the next logical step. "We must tell the others."
The Conqueror sharply focused on the Amazon. "There's no time."
Seven of Nine slightly lifted her chin and stated, "Then we must hasten if we are to save her." She extracted her sword. "Do you know what direction they retreated?"
Xena was already thinking out the possibilities. She recalled seeing the rider head off to the right into the woods. So she started in that general direction, and she scanned the ground for any hoof impressions. "This way." She quickly started into a run and easily followed the tracks.
Seven of Nine stayed at the Conqueror's side. She too saw the trail that would lead them to the Amazon Queen or so they hoped at least.
Xena focused on her task. She did briefly consider how the automaton knew that her and Gabrielle had been attacked. But she didn't have time for an answer and could only be grateful for the added support. Right now, she wanted to find her friend then kill each of the men that took Gabrielle.
Seven of Nine stopped when the Conqueror abruptly halted. She'd gone a few steps so she turned and waited.
The Conqueror scanned the grass for impressions. She went off to her right, past a tree, and knelt beside a fallen tree. She studied the deeper printers from where the horse jumped over the tree. She signaled for the automaton to follow her. She started into a slow run.
The trail led them out of the woods and out into the rolling lands towards the mountain range. The pair came to a stop by a single olive tree that gently glowed in the silver hue from the crescent moon. They tucked behind the tree for coverage and carefully studied the low light that came from a cave's mouth off in the distance. Then the low horse whine was enough to confirm that indeed the kidnappers were hiding in the cave.
"We must devise a plan," the automaton declared. She stood beside the kneeling ruler.
Xena had cold eyes, and she was already mapping out a plan. "There were about a dozen."
Seven of Nine slightly inclined her metallic eyebrow. "Perhaps a diversion would suffice. They are not aware of me."
"True." The Conqueror had Gabrielle's staff horizontally across her knees. She finalized her plan then shared it with the automaton. "I'll draw them out of the cave, but I suspect a few will stay behind to guard Gabrielle." She tilted her head back and peered up at the tall automaton. "You'll need to duck into the cave and find Gabrielle."
Seven of Nine glanced from the ruler to the cave's mouth at the base of the cliff side. She concluded what the Conqueror may have in mind. "It will suffice if you can draw them far enough away from the cave." She scanned the surroundings of the cave's entrance. "There is not much foliage."
Xena pointed at the low shrugs about two hundred paces from the entrance. "You should be fine there. Just stay low. They'll be too focused on me to notice you."
"Acceptable," the automaton agreed.
The Conqueror rose up and ordered, "I'll give you a few beats to get over there." She then turned her head to the automaton. She had a dark expression and coldly ordered, "I don't want any of them to... walk away."
Seven of Nine gradually inclined her metallic eyebrow. "I will comply... they will be terminated." For the first time, she realized her and the Conqueror agreed on one thing, and it was Gabrielle that forced them to join together. She, like the Conqueror, was overwhelmed by the need for vengeance for the queen.
"Go," the ruler quietly but sharply ordered. She took the automaton's spot behind the olive tree and waited for the right time to strike. She first silently sheathed her sword.
Seven of Nine was fast; her run could not be matched by any normal mortal. She quickly disappeared behind the brush near the entrance, and she tried hard to remain unseen despite her large stature. She reached behind for her sword and quietly withdrew it.
The Conqueror glanced from the positioned Amazon to the mouth of the cave. She could barely make out the two figures casually strolling out. She suspected they were starting watch for tonight. She decided it was best to put the plans in motion.
The two selected guards exited the cave and observed the local terrain, but they saw nothing out of the ordinary. They didn't expect to see the Conqueror after tonight's earlier beating.
"I didn't think she'd be so easy. I mean how can she have conquered this much, and we just beat the stuffing out of her?"
"Because I've survived much worse," a husky, female voice declared.
The two guards instantly drew their swords at seeing the Conqueror appear before them. They were dumbfounded to see the ruler considering the blood splotches that covered her.
The Conqueror slammed the Amazon Queen's staff deep into the ground so that it could stand upright on its own. She then reached for her sword at her back and clenched her teeth at her enemies. "You have something of mine, and I want her back," she snarled. She had a wild look.
The guards simultaneously unsheathed their swords, and one of them back stepped because of the Conqueror's primal look. The other guard turned back to the cave's mouth and hollered, "The Conqueror is here!" His voice clearly echoed down the cave and vibrated off the walls.
The revenge hungry ruler advanced on the pair. She spun her sword, and her lips curled.
The guards steeled their fears especially because they heard yells coming from the cave. They gathered their courage and charged the Conqueror with feverish battle cries.
Xena gave her famed battle cry and came right at the pair. She swiftly gutted the man on the right, kept his heavy body on her blade, and she threw his dead carcass at her other opponent.
Seven of Nine had her head slightly over the top of the brush. She watched how the Conqueror mercilessly cut down the first guard. She then heard the other men coming from the cave so she ducked back down and carefully listened.
"Get her! Stop her!" a man hotly ordered. He paused at the cave's mouth but unsheathed his sword and joined the battle. He and his eight men fought against the aggressive Conqueror.
Seven of Nine carefully peered over the brush and was satisfied that they well occupied. She glanced at the Conqueror and wondered if the Conqueror could really handle all those men. She slightly raised her eyebrow at how the Conqueror ran for the staff, grabbed it by both hands, and suddenly did an unbelievable spin around it to kick several men in their faces and onto their backs.
The automaton climbed to her feet and went to the rock wall. She instantly blurred into a run and disappeared into the cave's flickering mouth. She silently made her way through the cave that was well lit by torches. She came to a bend and stopped because of the voices.
"What if she kills everybody?" a man insisted.
"Shut up, Thanases," a different man barked, "Grows some balls already." He's boots scuffed on the ground. "We beat her up pretty badly earlier. I think she'll be even easier now."
Seven of Nine knelt and carefully peered around the corner. She instantly spotted Queen Gabrielle tied and gagged. The queen was positioned upright against the cave's wall, and Seven noted the queen was indeed awake.
Suddenly the Conqueror's warcry echoed through the cave.
Thanases jumped then looked at his partner. "You hear that?" He stepped up to his partner, Anders, and pointed back towards the cave's mouth. "She's going to come down here and kills us without a second thought."
"Come on, Thanases... don't you hear the stories about how she's noble now?" Anders brushed off his comrade and walked over to the Amazon Queen. "And this Amazon Queen is the Conqueror's Achilles heel."
Thanases shook his head and deduced, "That Amazon Queen is also the Conqueror's fury."
Gabrielle lifted her eyes to the pair, and she conveyed her own thoughts about the topic. She couldn't promise them life once the Conqueror came in here.
Anders huffed and walked away from the queen. He went back to talking to Thanases.
The bard now carefully took the chance to move her bound legs up so they were closer to her hands. She just needed to reached a bit closer to her right boot's top.
Seven of Nine slotted her eyes once she noted the dagger's handle that scraped the queen's hands. She wanted to act, but she also concluded if the queen had the weapon ready then it could improve the outcome.
Gabrielle had the ivy dagger out, and she put her legs back into their earlier position. She now hastily cut at the ropes that bound her hands. She kept her dagger and actions hidden behind her back. She prayed the two men would keep arguing in the corner.
The automaton watched the queen's cutting at the ropes from her side view. She calculated another two heartbeats so she silently stood up and readied her sword. She mentally prepared and stepped back once but purposefully scuffed her boot on the ground.
"What the Hades was that?" Thanases demanded. He pulled out his sword.
Anders ripped his sword from his side sheath. He was closer so he edged up to the bend's corner to investigate. He heard the Conqueror's distant war cry again and a few yells so it couldn't be her.
"What is it?" Thanases checked.
Anders spun his sword for extra measure and came around the corner with his sword ready. He didn't stand a chance as a blade drove into his heart and stuck out from his back.
Thanases was stunned and stood frozen.
Gabrielle too was shocked and briefly forget her original plans.
Seven of Nine extracted her sword and dropped the dead man to the floor.
Thanases snapped into focus and came towards the Amazon Queen with his sword at her. "You move anymore, and I'll kill her." He stared at the odd woman and looked her over. He didn't pay attention to the Amazon Queen.
The automaton stepped over the dead man, but she stopped and held up her left hand and bloody sword.
"Who the Hades are you?" Thanases demanded.
"My designation is Seven of Nine." The automaton slotted her eyes at her enemy. "You will be terminated in less than a hundred heartbeats."
Thanases became shaky, but he went to the Amazon Queen and grabbed for her arm. "I don't think so," he told the automaton. "I'll kill her before that."
Gabrielle was fast, and she brought her ivy dagger around. She slammed it into his side and twisted it for good measure.
Thanases screamed in pain and stumbled away in reaction.
Seven was swift and came for Thanases. She first brought her left hand up as his sword came at her. She caught his sword then plunged hers into his stomach. She wrenched it hard into him, and she felt the full weight of his sword once he let go of it.
Thanases stumbled to the ground and rested there with open eyes. His blood pooled under him.
Seven tossed the sword to the side then she went for the queen's dagger. She extracted it, cleaned it on Thanases's clothes, and went over to the queen. She first removed the queen's gag.
Gabrielle spit out the disgusting taste from the rag. "Seven, how did you get here? Is the Conqueror okay? Where is she?"
The automaton used the dagger to cut the ropes at the queen's ankles. "We do not have time for dialog. We must hurry." She tossed the cut rope aside then quickly resheathed the dagger into the queen's boot. Next, she hauled the queen to her feet.
The bard though grabbed the automaton's arm and hotly demanded, "Is she okay?"
Seven took a steady breath and replied, "She is operating sufficiently."
The response was good enough for Gabrielle. "Alright. Let's go." Gabrielle tried to step forward, but she recalled her biggest problem. She'd sprained or twisted her ankle during the fight on the road. "Hades," she hissed at the now apparent pain.
"You are injured," the automaton concluded. She deduced the fastest solution, and she sheathed her sword. Then suddenly, she swept the small woman off her feet. She easily lifted Gabrielle, who was rather light to Seven.
Gabrielle was surprised by the switch, and she had no time to protest as she was taken through the cave. She was about to ask something else, but she fell short from her friend's distinct warcry that echoed into the cave. She could only imagine what was happening beyond the cave's mouth.
But it unexpectedly went quiet outside the cave just as the Amazons neared the entrance. Then somebody's running boot steps were coming down the cave.
Seven of Nine stopped and prepared to attack if it was an enemy. She grew tense at the shadow, but she recognized the Conqueror immediately.
Xena was coated in splotches of blood, and she had wild hair. She stopped in front of the automaton, who still held her best friend. She stared wide eye at Gabrielle.
The bard slid out of Seven's arms and took one limp step towards the Conqueror.
Xena dimmed at her friend's obvious injury, and she took three wide steps to cover the space between her and Gabrielle. She managed her sword into its sheath. "Are you alright?" She grabbed the bard's sides.
Gabrielle clung to the ruler's biceps and steadied her weight onto her right leg, which wasn't injured. "I'm fine." She stretched up her hand and touched Xena's bloody cheek. "How about you?"
Xena didn't respond and just dimly stared at her friend. Her earlier panic just started to recede.
"You must return to camp," the automaton reminded.
The queen glanced at her Amazon then back to Xena. "She's right." She noticed how Xena didn't drop her grim look. She hadn't seen Xena's features and eyes this dark since their childhood when Dan kidnapped and hurt her.
The Conqueror straightened up and focused on the automaton. "Can you carry Gabrielle back to the camp?"
"Yes."
The Conqueror lowered her gaze to her friend. "You can't walk the terrain back with your injury."
Gabrielle just nodded and decided not to argue. She squeezed Xena's arm then whispered, "Let's get back."
Seven of Nine silently agreed by coming over to the queen. She picked Gabrielle up and adjusted Gabrielle in her arms.
The bard placed her right arm across the back of Seven's shoulders. She became as comfortable as possible.
"Let's go," the ruler ordered. She guided them out of the lit cave and into the darkness outside.
Seven of Nine scanned the dead bodies that littered the ground beyond the cave's mouth. She slightly inclined her metallic eyebrow, but made no comment because she, for once, concurred with the Conqueror's actions. However, she sensed how tense the queen became in her arms, and she was curious as to why.
Gabrielle didn't want to count the dead men. She instead tried to gaze past them and focus on where Seven was headed.
The Conqueror didn't speak, and she breezed past the dead bodies like they were not there. She had no sympathy or mercy for them. All that she could explain was that her rage had been mostly smoldered.
The Amazon Queen felt some relief once they were away from the area. She softly cleared her throat and asked, "Seven, how did you find out something was wrong? How'd you find us?"
Xena slowed her pace so she too could join in the conversation. She was fairly suspicious.
The automaton developed a rare expression; she was confused. "It is... hard to explain."
Gabrielle tilted her head to the side and studied the Amazon's constricted features. She then insisted, "Try."
Seven glanced at the queen but focused on the hike up the hillside. "I do not fully comprehend it... but I will attempt to explain it." She took a beat to compose her thoughts on the topic. "I was in the camp and just finished consuming my nutritional supplements. I then..." She sighed and hesitantly voiced, "I sensed or felt that something had happened so I exited the camp and found the Conqueror."
"How did you know where she was?" the bard insisted. She suspected the automaton had relied on her feelings and sensations to discover what was wrong. But what Gabrielle was confused by was how it could happen and even why.
"I do not know. I ran at my top speed." Seven shook her head and added, "It was... overwhelming."
Gabrielle bit her lower lip gently then looked over at Xena's profile. "You think it's the hippothoe, Xena?"
The Conqueror glanced at her friend but didn't reply.
Gabrielle knew that Xena didn't totally believe in the hippothoe story or how Gaia made the first Amazons before their human predecessors took over. "It's the only thing that makes sense," she further insisted.
"They're just stories," the ruler sharply reminded. She then amended, "Maybe there's some history behind the stories but nothing more."
"Why?" Gabrielle debated. She was clearly getting emotional about a topic she thoroughly believed in now. "Just because it's about the gods and that maybe you and I are apart of that?" She narrowed at the ruler's annoyed features. "Explain to me or even better, explain to Seven how she's been transformed into an automaton? I mean there has to be some extremely scientific explanation."
Xena briefly looked at Gabrielle, but she turned her head away and ignored Gabrielle's rant. She could feel how the bard was picking a fight, and Xena knew she'd over react to the fight simply because she was still charged from earlier.
Gabrielle sighed, which released some of her annoyance. She knew she didn't win or lose, but it was merely set aside.
Seven of Nine had a brief glimpse at the relationship between the Conqueror and queen. She filed it away for later thought process. She then inquired, "What is a hippothoe?"
The Amazon Queen focused on the automaton. "It's a type of Amazon... or unusual Amazon. Back in Amazon history," she emphasized, "the Amazons were originally from Gaia... born from Gaia."
Seven carefully listened to the queen's lesson about the original Amazons then later the human predecessors that took up the mantle as Amazon. She didn't expect to find out that a hippothoe was an Amazon, who was an earth bound and human version of one of Gaia's Amazons. She then concluded, "I am a hippothoe."
"Yes," Gabrielle agreed. "So is Xena, Yakut, and I... that we know so far." She noticed how Xena only listened and didn't contribute to the discussion on any level. "It might be why and how you knew something was wrong."
The automaton considered the hypothesis and more accurately described, "I am linked to you and the Conqueror."
"It's a reasonable explanation," the bard agreed. "And quite possible."
"Indeed," Seven murmured, but she wasn't totally positive just yet.
Gabrielle muttered, "But why the link?" She had no answer nor would she find it any time soon. She instead fell silent and thought more about it.
Xena remained quiet on the rest of the walk. She was more concerned about the attack that'd happened than some mysterious connection between Seven with her and Gabrielle. She realized they weren't far from the camp, and she could actually detect the distant smell of horses.
Gabrielle set aside her thoughts and studied her friend's dark profile. She knew she needed to get a few moments alone with Xena so she could settle their earlier argument. It wasn't even their disagreement that concerned her, but more the fact they were leading into a fight just after a surprise attack. She inwardly sighed at herself because she shouldn't have egged it on so badly. But part of her was frustrated by Xena's rejection of the history because Gabrielle didn't understand why Xena rejected it.
About several hundred paces away from the camp, Gabrielle asked Seven to stop, and she slipped out of Seven's arms. She tried to get her balance, but Xena insisted on helping her friend make the rest of the trip back into the camp. Gabrielle carefully limped the rest of her way with Xena's help.
Seven of Nine walked along side and monitored the queen's steady pace. She then looked at the campfires just ahead that glowed brightly. All the chatter was loud and sharp that came from hoplites and Amazons.
"But we have no clue why she would have ran off like that," Ephiny snapped.
"And Gabrielle could be endanger," Solari shot back. "I say we go to the village and start the search there."
"It may take too long," Andra argued.
"We have to start some place." Solari looked away from the blacksmith to Ephiny. "I think we..." She lost her words because of Ephiny's perplexed features. She noted how Ephiny stared past her so she slightly turned and followed Ephiny's line of sight.
Ephiny suddenly pushed past Solari and Andra. "Gabrielle," she called and rushed across the camp.
"My liege." The frantic dekadarchos came over to the ruler. "What has happened?" He was stunned to see the blood on the ruler and how the Amazon Queen limped.
"In a beat," the Conqueror brushed aside. She led Gabrielle over to one of the campfires that had a log in front of it. "Come on, sit down." She first set Gabrielle's staff down then she carefully helped Gabrielle sit. "I want to check over your ankle."
Gabrielle just nodded.
Ephiny appeared by the queen's side and demanded, "What's happened? You were attacked?"
Queen Gabrielle scanned her surroundings and realized that every hoplite and Amazon had encircled her, Xena, and Seven. She felt suddenly confined so she desperately peered up at her best friend.
The Conqueror straightened up after Gabrielle's look, and she slightly slotted her eyes at the crowd around them. "Hoplites, return to your posts now. Dekadarchos, stay with me."
Ephiny decided the Greek ruler had the right idea so she ordered, "Amazons, return to your posts as well." She watched the crowd thin out until it was just her, the Conqueror, the queen, Cyryl, and Seven of Nine.
"What happened, my liege?" Cyryl carefully insisted. "Must we increase security?"
Ephiny squatted down beside Gabrielle and softly inquired, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," the bard replied. "Just a sore ankle is all."
"What hap-"
"Wait," Gabrielle cut off. She held up her hands and peered up at Xena. "Let's just do this all at once."
Xena nodded then offered, "You first."
Gabrielle sighed but she now had Cyryl and Ephiny's attention completely on her. "The Conqueror and I were coming back from the village, and we were attacked. They separated the Conqueror and I by taking me to some caves. Somehow Seven was aware of what'd happened and found the Conqueror then they both tracked me to the caves."
"What of the attackers?" the dekadarchos urged.
"They've been dealt with," Xena curtly answered.
Cyryl merely bowed his head, but he understood his leader's undertones.
"Why did they attack?" Ephiny insisted.
"I don't know why." Gabrielle focused on the Amazon. She then went quiet but softly added, "We can discuss it more tomorrow, Ephiny." She touched her forehead. "The Conqueror and I need to catch our breathes."
Ephiny had a hard time holding her tongue, but she conceded. She stood up and promised, "I will get the medical supplies."
The Conqueror turned to the dekadarchos and ordered, "We'll debrief tomorrow morning before we break camp."
"As you wish, my liege." Cyryl bowed his head but asked, "Is there anything I can do?"
Xena considered it a beat. "Have some men go to the stream... pull two buckets of water and warm them over the fire."
"It will be done," the hoplite promised. He then marched off to carry out his orders.
"Seven?" Gabrielle gently called. She patted the seat on the log next to her.
The automaton preferred to stand, but this time she sat for the queen's benefit. She was ridged and tucked her hands between her knees. "Yes, my queen?"
The bard leaned in and lowered her voice when she spoke. "Do not speak about what has happened tonight unless I tell you otherwise." She hesitated but further elaborated, "Do not reveal how you found the Conqueror or how you knew something was wrong."
"I will comply," the automaton promised.
"Thank you." Gabrielle turned her head away some. "And thank you for your help tonight." She swallowed but looked at the automaton. "I hope such an event does not reoccur."
"I concur." Seven went quiet though because she wasn't sure what else to say or do.
The Amazon Queen gingerly touched the automaton's closest knee. She knew Seven relied on formalities so she gently ordered, "Get some rest. You're dismissed."
Seven of Nine now rose up and became toe-to-toe with the Conqueror. She remained motionless and stared at the dark ruler.
Xena's bright blue eyes locked with Seven's crisp blue eyes. She let her gratefulness for tonight pass between them, but she never spoke a word.
Seven of Nine moved after a few heartbeats passed then went on her way. She wanted to prepare for regeneration.
Gabrielle briefly watched the automaton go then she peered up at her tall friend.
Xena said nothing and studied the bard.
"My queen," Ephiny greeted. She returned with the medical kit and handed it over. "Is there anything else I can do?" She showed her apparent concern.
Gabrielle received the kit then gratefully smiled. "I think we'll be okay, Ephiny. We're going to get cleaned up then to bed." She hesitated but added, "You should do the same."
The Amazon bowed her head and offered, "See me if you need anything else." She then excused herself.
The Conqueror waited a beat then she knelt down in front of her friend. "Let's get your boots off."
The bard set the medical supplies off to her right. She hunched over and unlaced her right boot while Xena took care of the left. She pulled off her right boot easily, but she sucked in her breath once Xena removed her other boot.
Xena gently removed the boot, and she slowed from the bard's sharp hiss. She knew it was going to hurt either way. She finally had it off and set it aside with the other. She then went for the medical kit and sifted through it for what she needed. She finally found what she needed that would soothe the sprain.
"What is that?" the bard quietly inquired.
"It's salix alba mixed into a balm... it'll help sooth the achenes," the ruler explained. She gingerly rubbed the white balm into the bard's skin. She could pick out the hint of bitterness that was the salix alba.
"How do you know some much about healing?"
Xena peered up briefly then focused back on her task. She took more of the salix alba balm and rubbed in a bit more. "I've learned from healers, from reading, and from just doing it."
"Did you read the Hippocratic Corpus?" Gabrielle couldn't imagine if the ruler really found time to read such a long set of scrolls.
"I have," Xena softly answered.
"Gods... I hear there's like thirty or so sections to it."
Xena sealed up the container of balm and tucked it away. "There's thirty-three right now... I believe the thirty-fourth section will be out shortly."
Gabrielle huffed and muttered, "And Hippocrates is long dead."
"Apparently not," the ruler murmured back. She switched topics and became rather stern. "I'm going to clean myself up. You need to go rest and get your ankle propped up."
"I will... after I help you," Gabrielle insisted.
"Gabrielle-"
"Deal with it," the Amazon Queen cut off. She leaned into the Conqueror and became eye level. "We need to talk anyway."
"It can wait until tomorrow."
"Listen," Gabrielle argued, "I wasn't making an offer. I was telling you."
Xena was about to respond, but she was cut short.
"My liege, I have the warm water."
The Conqueror momentarily stared at the stubborn queen and after a beat, she stood up. She turned to the hoplite that balanced a bucket in either hand. "Take it over there." She pointed. "Set them down just on the edged of the clearing."
"Yes, my liege." The hoplite was about to go but stopped at his leader's voice.
"We'll need a few rags too... get those first. Then Queen Gabrielle will need a small bucket of the cold water from the stream along with a long cloth."
The hoplite gazed back at the ruler after having gone a few steps. "Will that water need to be warmed?"
"No, it needs to stay cold. "
The hoplite bowed his head in understanding, and he went on his way.
Xena then looked back at the bard. She paused but held out her right hand.
Gabrielle took it and was carefully lifted onto her good foot. She then was relieved that Xena let her put her arm around Xena's waist. Together, they took the walk slowly to the buckets that the hoplite had set down. Once they made it, Gabrielle separated and placed her weight onto her right foot while using her left to slightly balance herself.
Xena had brought the medical kit, and she set it near the buckets. Just as she straightened up, she was pleased to see the hoplite had returned.
"I brought several clothes, my liege and also two towels." The hoplite hesitated but explained, "Perhaps you will need them."
"I concur," the ruler softly agreed. "Thank you for your foresight."
The hoplite dipped his head again then hurried off to get the cold water for the Amazon Queen.
Gabrielle sadly smiled at the hoplite's consideration for the ruler. She could tell they did think ahead and also for the ruler's benefit.
Xena placed two rags into each bucket then set the towels aside with the extra rags on top. She then pulled out a warm, wet rag and rung it out. She then straightened up but slightly hesitated at her next step.
The bard limped one step closer and took the wet cloth. She held Xena's hand in her left and proceeded to carefully wipe away the blood and grime from the ruler's hand and arms. She would slowly clean the ruler's body, armor, and leather as best as possible.
The Conqueror slightly bowed her head and closed her eyes. She felt a sense of calm possess her finally after what'd happened tonight. The blood was wiped clean from her skin and the warm water soothed her tension away. But it was Gabrielle's soft touch that eased her mind.
Gabrielle occasionally paused and would clean the rag in the water then continued her task. She now reached Xena's front armor and cleaned the red tint over the beautiful bronze. "You were pretty scared back there too, huh?" She found blue eyes slowly revealed to her. She understood that what truly could drive Xena's anger was fear, and Xena never liked to fess up to it. Gabrielle long ago deduced that version of Xena's anger was far worse than any other.
Xena wouldn't respond and just studied her friend.
Gabrielle worked her way down to Xena's stomach and really wiped the black leather clean. "So are you going to share with me why they attacked us?" She knew that Xena had knowledge about why they were attack. As Gabrielle waited, she knelt down and placed her weight onto her knees. She stretched over for a bucket and cleaned out the rag. She noted the water was tinted a light red.
The Conqueror closed her eyes again and just felt the warm rag clean away at her legs then down to her greaves. "Cortese hired them."
Gabrielle didn't find much to clean in the greaves. She was faster there and cleaned out the rag once more before she stood up. Once she was up, she recleaned the ruler's front armor just to be sure. "They were specifically after me."
Xena opened her eyes and focused on the bard. "I took his kingdom... he wants to take you."
"Ah," Gabrielle murmured. "But how can he know that I'm important to you?" She paused and lifted her gaze to Xena. "He's either been spying or..."
"Somebody clued him in," Xena agreed.
The queen frowned at either idea, really. She came over to Xena's left arm and tried to finish it up. "He's getting personal, Xena."
"Very personal," the ruler murmured.
Gabrielle glanced at her friend and spotted that hidden venom there. She washed out the cloth one last time then finished up with the gauntlet and Xena's hand. She came down to Xena's fingers and cleaned the last of it away. "Almost done." She dropped the rag into the dirty bucket and took a fresh rag from the bucket she never touched. She rung it out then softly ordered, "Lean down to me."
Xena first shifted closer so that they almost touched bodies. She bent forward but pulled her hair back out of the way. She held it in place and closed her eyes just as the warm cloth met her cheek.
Gabrielle wiped the blood spots away from the ruler's face. She then finished with wiping a clean part the cloth across the ruler's red lips, but they remained just the same, deep red. "There," she whispered, "you're all clean, I think."
The Conqueror straightened up again and released her hair so that it showered over her shoulders. She took in the bard's last words. "I can ever be clean again, Gabrielle."
The bard tossed the cloth into the bucket then gazed up at her friend.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to join you in the Elysian Fields when the day comes," Xena confessed.
Gabrielle felt broken at the hard truth. She reached for Xena's hands and held them tightly. A certain, honest thought came to mind. "And the Elysian Fields will be my Tartarus if I am without you." She increased her grip because Xena held harder. "I would cross the fields, the meadows, and into Tartarus to be with you if that were to happen."
Xena sadly smiled then she tried to lighten the mood. "At least we'll keep Hades plenty busy."
The bard softly laughed and swore, "He'll want to give us another life after we're done."
The Conqueror revealed her devilish smile and winked at her best friend. She then softly said, "Let's get back."
"Before they think anything else happened," Gabrielle joked. She signaled the medical kit in hopes Xena would grab it. "I'll put some balm on your wounds once we're near a campfire."
Xena wasn't much for exposing her wounds around her hoplites, but she sensed she didn't have much choice. And she suspected she could stay out of view if she worked it right. She picked up the medical kit and other items then mentioned, "I'll get a hoplite to get these buckets." She came over to Gabrielle and helped her make it back to the camp.
Gabrielle was slow and cautious with her injured ankle. She could feel the ground's chill rising through her feet, but it felt good against her dull pain. She slightly slowed because she spotted Ephiny off to the side of the camp with Seven of Nine. "Wait," she told Xena.
The Conqueror hesitated but stopped and followed the Amazon Queen's stare.
Ephiny stood close to the automaton and looked to be invading Seven of Nine's personal space. She had an annoyed look that was on the verge of anger. She again hotly demanded, "Why?"
"I cannot answer why," the automaton refused.
Ephiny slotted her eyes and wondered if the queen had given some orders. "If you knew something was wrong then you should have spoken to me or Solari... anybody. Instead you tore out here without even a warning."
"There is no need for anger," Seven of Nine coolly remarked. "I had no intention of causing a problem."
"What?" Ephiny snapped, "'Sorry isn't in the automaton vocabulary?" She leaned in a bit closer to the subordinate Amazon and hotly ordered, "You need to check with me before you leave the parameter." She paused but deepened her next order, "Understood?"
Seven of Nine had her hands behind her back, and she tried to remain calm. "Understood," she replied in her monotone.
Queen Gabrielle looked at Xena and softly offered, "I'll catch up with you in a few beats."
Xena just nodded because she understood. She released the queen and briefly watched her make her way over to Ephiny and Seven of Nine.
The ridged automaton lifted her chin some then explained, "I am... unaccustom to working in a hierarchy. As an automaton, there was no need to ask permission."
Ephiny slightly pulled back then sharply informed, "If you're going to be a member of this nation then get use to it. Procedures exist for a reason. We have got to work together... follow the same set of rules." She hesitated and gave an odd look at a certain realization.
"Ephiny?" the automaton prompted.
Ephiny focused back on the new Amazon. "I was given that lecture once... by Commander Kaylee not long ago. If I can learn that lesson then so can you."
Seven of Nine bowed her head some then met Ephiny's gaze again. "Of course. I am... sorry for the inconvenience."
Ephiny tilted her head some. "Unfortunately an apology doesn't always correct insubordination. You'll have to-"
"Ephiny," Queen Gabrielle broke into the conversation. She took a spot to the side of the two but put her full attention on Ephiny. "What's happening here?"
Ephiny looked to the queen and answered, "Seven and I were having a conversation about protocol."
"It sounds like a good conversation for me to be apart of." Gabrielle placed her hands on her hips. "What were you about to tell Seven?"
"That she will have to be disciplined for breaking protocol tonight," Ephiny replied.
Gabrielle considered it for a beat then argued, "What protocol did she break?"
Ephiny slightly bristled at where this may lead to now. "She raced out of the camp without permission. She had knowledge of the attack while we were concerned for your well being... she withheld that information."
The queen digested the broken protocol then carefully asked, "And would you have listened to her had she told what she knew? But further, would you believed how she knew it?"
Ephiny shifted on her feet, yet she couldn't find an answer.
"Or would have the time she'd spend trying to tell you could have been better spent helping the Conqueror and I?" Gabrielle waited a beat but still received no response. She then offered, "I think for tonight we can let this go."
Ephiny was clearly offended by the queen's leniency. "You cannot do that, my queen. Perhaps I would have been faulted for not listening, but Seven needed to at least try to explain why she was leaving."
"Considering the circumstances," Gabrielle argued, "and how Seven helped the Conqueror, I think we can compromise." She glanced up at the automaton. "Seven knows she needs to get permission or warn somebody."
"That's exactly it," Ephiny hotly fought, "Seven knows she broke protocol."
"And I think your lecture has been discipline enough," Gabrielle pointed out to the Amazon.
Ephiny wasn't satisfied and sharply reminded, "I broke protocol to protect you too... and I was punished for moons."
"Ephiny-" Gabrielle tried, but she was cut short.
"Or do you always have a soft spot for every tall, blue-eyed woman?" Ephiny snapped. She felt on fire from her temper at the apparent mistreatment.
Seven of Nine slightly shifted at the harsh remark, and she instantly sensed the queen's discomfort by it. She took a step closer towards Ephiny purely out of instinct and not thought.
Gabrielle was quick despite her limp and placed herself between the two. She pressed her left palm into the automaton's side and halted her. "Seven," she warned.
The automaton sharply broke from her pursuit for Ephiny. She seemed to recover from something slightly beyond her control.
Ephiny had a cold glare centered on the automaton, but she looked at the queen once the next words came from the queen.
"This is ridiculous," Gabrielle sharply stated to both of them. She lowered her hand from Seven. "At this rate, I'll be disciplining you both." She then added through gritted teeth, "I've had enough of this." Gabrielle suddenly became the Amazon Queen that Melosa had taught her to be long ago. "We'll discuss this tomorrow, Ephiny after you've had a chance to cool off." She then turned to Seven of Nine and ordered, "Tonight I'll decide the proper punishment for breaking protocol."
Seven of Nine slightly lifted her chin and coolly agreed, "Understood."
"Good." Queen Gabrielle then looked between the pair and ordered, "You're both dismissed."
Ephiny didn't say a word and marched off.
The automaton briefly watched Ephiny go then she too headed off to get some rest. She was slightly confused why Ephiny had been so abrasive with her when she thought they were somewhat friends. Perhaps she'd erred.
Gabrielle sighed deeply and went on her way to find the Conqueror. She tried to let her temper cool off too. She just wanted today to end already.
The Conqueror was seated on the end of the bard's bedroll. She patiently waited but kept busy by pulling out the salve for her wounds. She seemed slightly stiff and had her back straight.
Gabrielle slowly lowered down until she sat cross legged in front of her friend. She received the balm and proceeded to apply it where she spotted open wounds. She remained quiet.
Xena was positioned so her back was to the half of the camp where her hoplites resided. She kept her right arm stretched out while Gabrielle applied the white ointment. She quietly inquired, "Is everything alright?"
"Mostly," the bard sadly admitted. "Ephiny laid into Seven about breaking protocol."
"That she left the camp without warning," Xena summarized. She watched Gabrielle's nod, but she further probed the topic. "What else happened?"
Gabrielle sighed and peered up at her friend. "Ephiny just made a smart remark... that's all."
"It looked like Seven was the most offended."
The queen had a puzzled look, but she continued her treatment on the wounds. She softly explained, "It was like Seven planned to protect my honor." She shook her head at the thought. "Is she growing protective over me...?" She gazed at her friend for help.
Xena honestly considered the question then came up with a theory. "You have been protecting her since she's entered the Nation... perhaps she's returning that now." She tilted her head. "She obviously respects you."
The bard now took Xena's other arm. She dipped her two fingers into the white paste then applied it to a long, red gash on Xena's forearm. "She respects Kaylee and I... I'm not exactly sure why."
"You're both leaders... good examples... and you've both stood up to her," Xena reminded.
"You've stood up to her," the queen debated.
"And I killed her family."
Gabrielle flinched at the statement. She pretended to ignore it and mentioned, "Kaylee and I also first accepted her."
"I think there's a lot of factors," the Conqueror concluded.
The bard bobbed her head a bit. She then thought back about earlier tonight and why Xena and her were almost into an argument. She decided it was best to bring it up now. "Why don't you accept that we're hippothoes, Xena?"
The ruler released a heavy breath because she didn't want to spiral down into a fight about it. She seriously studied her friend. "It's a story, Gabrielle... if there's any truth behind them then I'll admit I am wrong."
"How can't it by true?" Gabrielle locked eyes with her friend. "I mean look at Faolan? Do you think that a white wolf that can understand Greek is just a normal occurrence? Or that somebody like Seven of Nine is normal?" She dropped her hands to her lap in frustration. "They're real... so how does that make the hippothoe history a story?"
"There is no proof of it," Xena reminded.
"As if you, Yakut, and I stopping Seven wasn't proof enough?" Gabrielle waited for a response, but she could tell Xena would hold her silence. She then leaned in and sharply explained, "I went to the fallen temple just before the Battle of the Fates... something happened out there to me."
Xena gradually inclined her right eyebrow and waited for the story.
"I went the night before the battle. I had to tuck away Andra's blacksmith hammer. There were three Amazons with me too." Gabrielle nibbled on her lower lip, but she honestly told, "We heard a woman's voice speaking in Ancient Greek, Xena. The only reason I knew it was the language was because you taught me bits and pieces of it. She was calling my ancient name... Gavrila."
Xena lifted her chin slightly but still listened.
"I went up onto the temple ruins... vines came out of the woods and formed a woman. The next thing I know, I'm standing in the middle of temple and Gaia is in front of me."
The Conqueror shook her head and argued, "How do you know it wasn't an illusion?"
Gabrielle sighed heavily but answered, "The three Amazons saw it too."
Xena inhaled deeply then slowly released it. She questioned, "And what did Gaia say?"
"She told me I may die during the battle, but that you, Yakut, and I could help Seven." Gabrielle paused and studied her friend's blue eyes. "She revealed that Seven is a hippothoe and that's why she survived Ares and Hephaestus's experiment." She shook her head and stated, "I have no reason to not believe what happened that night... or what she told me."
The Conqueror released a heavy breath that obviously showed her chest falling.
Gabrielle had a concerned look and asked, "What is it, really, Xena?"
"You haven't forgotten the fact that I have a past history with the Amazons, right?" the ruler chided
"Xena-"
"I'm not an Amazon," the ruler sharply reminded. "Perhaps I was for a couple of moons... but I'm not now."
Gabrielle bowed her head slightly and studied the wood jar of salve in her hand. She peered up and whispered, "I understand... but if you're a hippothoe then you're an Amazon."
Xena glanced away for a beat then asked, "Can we let this go, for tonight?"
The bard accepted and took more balm from the jar. She continued her work in silence.
The ruler captured her friend's hand into hers. She found curious green eyes on her, but she said nothing that her features already spoke.
Gabrielle softened some and double squeezed the ruler's larger hand. She use to do a double-squeeze when they were kids; it was her physical way of telling Xena she loved her.
Xena tenderly smiled at the affection and memory behind it. She returned the double-squeeze before she let go. "We need to get some rest." She leaned forward and sucked in a sharp breath but she quickly recovered. "Here." She pulled the bucket of cold water closer and took a rag out from it.
The Amazon understood and propped up her injured leg.
"Lay down first," Xena instructed.
Gabrielle first decided to remove some of her jewelery and her attached sword. An odd thought struck her that her kidnappers never took it from her. She cleared away the thought and laid down in her bedroll.
The Conqueror got off the bedroll but knelt beside. She pushed the furs away from Gabrielle's left leg and proceeded to wrap the swollen ankle with the cold, wet cloth. "This should help subside the swelling tonight." She adjusted the furs so they covered much of Gabrielle's leg but still left the injured ankle exposed to the chilly night. She figured between the cold wrap and evening it would calm the injury.
"Xena?"
The Conqueror turned her head to the right and lifted her eyebrow at her friend.
"I'm sorry about earlier... about getting into an argument with you after what happened tonight."
Xena sighed and promised, "It's alright."
Gabrielle revealed her hand from under the furs. She touched the ruler's covered knee. "I shouldn't have egged you on... you were still cooling off."
The Conqueror smirked. "You're not the first." She patted Gabrielle's hand. "Get some rest." She then rose up and seemed much taller from Gabrielle's perspective. "Goodnight." She headed off without another word. In her right hand, she had the medical supplies.
Gabrielle watched her friend go. She sighed heavily. She almost started to turnover to her side, but she groaned at the realization that the wrap on her leg offered no help. She hated sleeping on her back yet had little choice otherwise. Tonight would be an uncomfortable night.
Gabrielle closed her eyes, but she still thought heavily about tonight. She had many questions about Seven of Nine and about her attackers. She tried to think of the different ways King Cortese knew that she was important to Xena. She feared that perhaps it was becoming common knowledge throughout Greece. And what if Xena's enemies gained this knowledge?
It heavily sunk into Gabrielle that her life would always be endanger. Her life or death was also the fine line between Xena being either the Warrior Princess or the Destroyer of Nations. She darkly recalled all the men's fates tonight who attacked her and Xena. The heavy truth settled deep into Gabrielle's mind.
To be continued.
Continued.