Sex/Subtext ~ No doubt, nothing but the best. Sex though… well we all will find out huh? Sex just happens sometimes eh? *laugh* And I only know… casual sex… whatever that is.
Copyright ~ And as we all know Universal and MCA always own Xena, Gabrielle, Argo, Cyrene and Aphrodite. However, Torqueo, Saada, Ferus, Michael, Potestas, and the story line are definitely mine.
Started: July 18th 2000 on Tuesday
Series One-The Binding of the Soulmates of Time Story-Nine
If anybody has comments about my story please let me know at:
Part 3
Section 3
~*Part 6*~
Xena's middle finger continued to do small circles around her Soulmate's stomach.
The small warrior moaned and turned her head to the right on her partner's chest. "I'm still tired."
"Me too." The older woman sighed while she debated whether to get up.
"Yes we should get up."
Xena chuckled. "You think your Amazons will be up by now?"
"Them? Yes." Gabrielle turned over to press her stomach against her warrior's. She was lying on top of her warrior. She now nudged her head down under Xena's chin.
"Neither of us feel like getting up."
"True." The Amazon Queen chuckled. "Let's give it another candlemark." She just held back a yawn.
"Mmm, sounds good to me." The warrior kept her arms tight around her partner. She shut her eyes again and felt herself slip into her dreamscape.
Gabrielle followed behind and met her in the dreamscape.
Ephiny slowly opened the door a crack and poked her head in. She spotted the Soulmates asleep and she slowly closed the door again.
"Aren't awake huh?"
The regent shook her head at Solari. "Sound asleep. We musta kept them up to late."
Solari chuckled.
Amarice put her hands on her hips. "You gotta be kidding me? They're getting old or something. They never slept this late when we were traveling."
"They're on vacation, I'd do the same." Ephiny shrugged.
"Hey Amarice?" The second in command evilly grinned at the princess. "I dare you to go in there and jump on the them."
Amarice's eyes widen. "No way!"
Solari snickered. "Chicken… look at all that yellow."
The regent groaned inwardly, she knew this was trouble.
The princess narrowed her eyes at the second in command. "Fine, I'll go in there and jump on the bed but not them."
"Okay fine." The second in command crossed her arms over her chest. "I bet you couldn't do it."
"Watch me." Amarice grabbed the door's handle.
Ephiny's right hand instantly came up to the door to hold it shut. "Don't Amarice."
"Eph." The princess shook her head. "They won't kill me, don't worry." She saw the regent drop her hand.
"Fine." Ephiny stepped back next to Solari.
Amarice opened the door silently and evilly grinned. She slowly tip toed towards the bed.
The regent turned her head to the second in command. "Why'd you egg her on like that? They won't kill her but Xena might kill her."
Solari snickered. "Good learning experience for her."
Ephiny sighed deeply and glanced back to see Amarice come near the bed.
The princess took a deep breath, took a few running steps, and leaped into the bed beside the Soulmates. "Xena, Gabrielle!" She hit the bed hard, bounced a little, and she whipped her head up with a huge grin. However her eyes instantly widen while she lost her grin. There pressing into her throat was a tip of a dagger and steel blue eyes locked on her. She quickly realized Xena was one pissed warrior. "Morning." She had a huge sheepish smile.
The Warrior Princess narrowed her eyes more. She still held her breast dagger's tip against the Amazon's throat.
"Amarice!" Gabrielle whipped her head towards the princess. She noticed that first Xena's arm around her was tight in protection. She then noticed her warrior held Amarice at dagger point and had every intent to inflict injury if she moved closer to them.
The princess lost her shy smile. "Xena?"
The warrior didn't remove her dagger as her eyes swirled with darkness.
The Amazon Queen narrowed her eyes. "Amarice, get off this bed now." She corked an eyebrow. "Xena will do something if you don't."
"But-"
"Now," growled the Queen but she added more in calmer tone. "You just messed with our personal space. Just get off the bed okay?"
Amarice nodded faintly and slowly lifted herself up. She saw Xena remove the dagger and she got off the bed carefully.
Gabrielle sighed in relief while she saw her Soulmate slip the breast dagger in its home. She patted her lover's stomach and got off the bed.
Xena sat up next and narrowed her eyes at the two Amazons in the hall. "Going to jump on our bed too?" she growled.
The small warrior put her left hand on her warrior's shoulder to calm her.
Ephiny shook her head. "No, we promise. Sorry about Amarice."
The princess walked over to stand in the middle of the room as she felt herself shaking a little.
The Amazon Queen glanced up from her partner to her Amazons. "Guys, can you please leave. Close the door to huh?" Her voice was low and calm.
"Sure thing." Ephiny gave a sad smile. "Come on Amarice." She came up to the door to grab the handle
The princess nodded and left the room quietly.
The regent took a deep breath while saying, "Sorry Xena and Gabrielle for the bad awakening. I'll take care of it."
Gabrielle briskly nodded. "It's alright, thanks Eph."
Ephiny nodded her head back and closed the door silently.
"Hey, you okay tiger?" The small warrior bent down in front of her partner on the bed's side. Her right hand came up to rest on the warrior's knee.
Xena sighed and ran her right hand through her hair. "Yeah, sorry."
"No." The young woman shook her head. "You had right to do that." She sighed. "I'm sorry, that was my Amazon." She frowned. "Wouldn't have expected something like that out of Amarice."
"Really?" The warrior corked an eyebrow.
The warrior-bard grinned faintly. "Well… maybe a little." She went a little serious. "Protectiveness kicked in huh?"
"Just a little." Xena grinned however lost it. "I over reacted huh?"
The small woman shrugged her shoulders. "No, she did mess with our personal space. I'd done the same if I were you." She chuckled. "I wasn't to pleasant about it either." She groaned and dropped her head into her Soulmate's lap. "That was a rude awakening."
Xena sighed dramatically. "Was a good dream."
The Amazon Queen snickered. "Really good dream." She lifted her head and wrapped her arms around her warrior's leather-clad waist. She dropped her head on Xena's chest. "Wanna go back to the dream?"
"Tempted too." The older woman lifted her Soulmate into her lap. "When Amarice did that, it was my dark side coming to life."
"Yeah I know." Gabrielle chuckled. "I felt it… felt good. She'll be scared of you for a few."
Xena grinned a little "It did and she will be."
The small woman's legs hung off the side of the bed. She closed her eyes. "Just for that I think we should sleep for two candlemarks."
Xena quietly laughed. "I agree."
A knock came at the door.
The Warrior Princess lifted her head. "Who is it?"
"It's Eph, sorry but can I come in for a sec?"
"Sure Eph." Gabrielle started to get up.
The tall woman held her partner in place and whispered, "Please don't."
The young warrior smiled and relaxed back in her partner's arms. "I won't."
Ephiny slowly opened the door, came in, and then closed the door behind. "Look, I'm really sorry. Solari dared Amarice to do it."
"It's okay Eph." Gabrielle shrugged. "She just went into the personal space zone there."
The regent chuckled lightly. "I know I told her." She sighed while brushing back her curly hair. "Oh, also Michael is here."
The Amazon Queen's eyes widen. "Michael really?"
"Yeah Mike came in with an Egyptian too." Ephiny folded her arms. "The Egyptian didn't say whom he is."
"Go back down there Eph and tell them we'll be right down."
The Amazon nodded at Xena's words. "Alright. I have the Amazons down there staked out."
Gabrielle chuckled. "My body guards."
The regent evilly grinned. "You have no idea." She walked out with the door closed behind.
"What you think she meant by that?" The small woman glimpsed up to her Soulmate.
"I don't wanna know." Xena sighed.
The younger woman chuckled and stood up. Her partner followed. The pair quickly dressed as well as collected their weapons. After they were ready, they trekked down the steps into the tavern.
Michael looked to his left to see the Soulmates. "Xena, Gabrielle." He stood up with a smile.
The Egyptian stood up with a serious face. He was easily noticeable as an Egyptian by his dark skin, fine black hair, small size, clothes, make-up, and stern expression. Considering his Egyptian attire wasn't fit for the season of fall in Greece he wore a cloak as well to keep warm.
The two warriors came up to the table and saw that the other Amazons all sat at the table as well.
"Glad you made it back Michael." Gabrielle hugged the young man. "Thank you."
"Quite welcome." Micahael smiled warmly. "Fortunately Cleopatra sent a ship back up to bring me safe passage and take you both back."
"Yes, Michael is quite right." The Egyptian had a deep voice. He straightened his legs together with his arms against his sides. He bowed his head while speaking, "My name is Torrid, Queen Cleopatra's second minister and your protectors for your duration of the stay in Egypt. Anything you my need you ask of me and I will use all my powers to assist you both." He raised his head with his still serious expression. He relaxed his posture once more.
Gabrielle smiled warmly to Torrid. "It's nice to meet you. I am Gabrielle."
Torrid held his hand out. "Yes, Queen Gabrielle of the Amazons."
The small warrior took the man's hand and gave a brisk shake. "The same."
The Egyptian released her hand but he was still stern. He turned his attention to Xena hold his hand out to her.
Xena took the man's hand. "Xena. Thanks for your help Torrid."
The minister nodded while briskly shaking the woman's hand. "Egypt is in debt to the Warrior Princess." Torrid released the hand and gazed at Gabrielle. "And Queen Gabrielle for the help back a few years." He smiled faintly. "Egypt would not have such a great Queen if it were not for both your help."
Gabrielle sighed inwardly at the memory. "Thank you Torrid."
"Thank you." The minister took a deep breath. "Now then, I've come by one of Cleopatra's navy ships. We're docked currently at the port of Stagira and the Captain of the ship would like to leave soon as possible. However he is not in a great rush considering this is Greece and he has a deep fondness for this country."
The Amazon Queen quietly laughed. "Well, I believe we can leave today." She gazed up to her Soulmate for conformation.
Xena nodded in agreement. "We can leave soon as possible. Did you ride or walk?"
"We walked." Torrid gave hints of a grin. "I lack skills in riding a horse… only camels."
The Soulmates chuckled together.
"We prefer walking and we'll leave late this morning." Gabrielle smiled warmly.
"All of us." Ephiny gave a smile to her Queen.
The Queen's eyes flickered over to the regent. "We'll discuss this later." She gazed back to Torrid. "So, make yourself a home and give Xena and I a candlemark or so. We'll be ready to go."
"Sounds fine." The Egyptian nodded.
"Have you eaten?" Xena folded her arms against her chest.
"Not since we left the ship." Michael grinned. "I don't know how to cook and we wanted to arrive here right away."
The warrior grinned. "I'll have something for you both." She turned her head to her lover. "Let's go get ready."
Gabrielle moved her head in agreement yet glanced over to her regent. "Come with me Eph."
Ephiny nodded then stood up. She followed behind Gabrielle.
"I'll be right up." Xena stood in front of the kitchen door.
The young warrior nodded. "Meet you up there." She climbed up the steps with her regent following.
The Warrior Princess went into the kitchen to talk to her mother.
"Ephiny, no." Gabrielle put her hands on her hips. "Somebody needs to get back to the Nation to run it properly."
The regent sighed while folding her arms against her chest. "We're escorting our Queen to Stagira."
The Queen stalked up to her regent. "No Ephiny, that's risky."
"So is letting you go on that ship pretty much alone."
"Alone!" Gabrielle stomped off and turned back around. "Xena is a one man army. I don't need all my officers coming to Stagira."
"Gabrielle, the Nation will be fine. Masika can handle the Nation." The Amazon took a step closer to her friend. "I have no problem sending Eponin back to watch over things."
"Ephiny," growled the Queen. "You're risking my Amazons safety."
"And I'd be risking my Queen's life by letting her go on this ship without checking for safety first."
The small warrior narrowed her eyes. "You're going back to the Nation."
"We're escorting you."
"Are you disobeying your Queen's orders?" Gabrielle felt her chest rising up and down high in anger.
Ephiny narrowed her eyes as the anger came to her strongly. "Are you disobeying Artemis's orders?" She shook her head. "Her orders to protect our Queen… our Chosen?" She paused. "I am not letting you go on that ship that may contain enemies. Gabrielle, there are people out there that would love to get a hold of you to ransom or sell to slavery. Especially now that you're the Queen of all the Amazons, you hold a high price over your head." She stopped to breathe. "The Amazons will be nothing… nothing without you and Xena." She shook her head again. "I will not risk your safety because that would be risking nine hundred family member's safety. So do not tell me to back off, we'll follow you."
The short woman sighed while dropping her head. Her right hand came up to her forehead. "Ephiny my Amazons-"
"Will be fine." Ephiny put her hands on her friend's arms. "Please, I can't risk your life. It happens to much as it is." She smiled sadly. "Besides, you're my sister… I wanna see you off." She squeezed her Queen's arms. "Please Gabrielle."
The Queen sighed and dropped her hand. "Alright, just send a message to the Nation."
"I will." Ephiny smiled. "Thank you."
"And I do want Ep to come." Gabrielle ran her right hand through her hair. "Ep is always smart about seeing enemies."
"She is, good experience she has." Ephiny smiled sadly. "I really can't risk your life."
"I know." Gabrielle lifted her head. "I just don't understand why."
The regent shook her head. "You're important, don't you understand that? You're important to those Amazons, your Amazons Gabrielle. We'd be lost without you. You're Amazons see you as hope and the way to utopia." She smiled warmly. "And you're very important to me."
"And me as well." Xena stood in front of the door with her arms against her chest. She walked up to the regent's side. "Ephiny is right love."
The small warrior gazed up to her Soulmate. She turned her head to Ephiny. "Just make sure to get back to the Nation right away."
"We will… promise." Ephiny smiled. "Thank you." She pulled her friend in for a tight hug. She released Gabrielle. "I'm going to go get them ready. Meet you in the tavern."
"Alright." The Queen nodded and watched her Amazon leave. Her eyes lifted up to Xena.
The warrior smiled with reassurance then moved quickly to draw her partner in tightly. "She's just being protective of you."
Gabrielle chuckled. "Isn't everybody around me." She placed her head against her Soulmate's chest. "Why is that?"
"Everybody loves you." Xena grinned. "But you're mine."
The small woman smiled. "Mmm, and how lucky I am too."
"No, I am."
"And we could debate this all day." Gabrielle lifted her head with a grin. "Those Amazons are going to drain me."
The warrior groaned. "Me as well."
"Of course." The Amazon Queen patted her partner's chest. "You're my Soulmate."
"The best thing of yours."
"Oh yeah." Gabrielle reached up to pull Xena's head down. "I love you." She kissed her partner tenderly.
Xena smiled at the end of the kiss. "I love you too." She lowered her head to brush her cheek against Gabrielle's. "Ready for Egypt?"
"Gods, can't wait." The small warrior smiled while nuzzling Xena back. "I just don't like the water part."
The Warrior Princess quietly laughed while kissing her partner's cheek then lowering her lips to Gabrielle's neck. "You'll be fine."
"You really think so huh?" The warrior-bard dropped her head into Xena's neck as she enjoyed her Soulmate's touch.
"Of course." The dark woman's lips traveled over her best friend's neck and collarbone. "You're my Soulmate so you'll get use to it."
Gabrielle groaned. "I hope so. You still remember that time I ate squid?" She shivered in her lover's arms.
Xena chuckled while lifting her lips back up to travel over Gabrielle's shoulder. "Don't use the pressure point this time. I promise you'll get use to it."
"Thanks." The young warrior's lips spread into a smile that pressed into the warrior's neck. She sighed. "I wish we had time to…"
"Do trouble?" Xena suggested.
Gabrielle chuckled. "Yeah." She felt her warrior's lips go down to the top of her breasts and it made her suck in her breath. Her body's reaction was to spread her lips then her tongue came out. Her tongue traveled up the older woman's neck with her lips to take Xena's lips in passion. She ended the kiss though a little to fast and kept her lips close to Xena's. "Gods we can't, somebody will burst into here."
The older woman's hands went to Gabrielle's hips. She stepped back taking Gabrielle with her. She pressed her back hard against the door. "No worries." She leaned in to kiss Gabrielle. "We've got time."
"Yeah we do." The warrior-bard tried to come with more reasons. "Besides, we'll be stuck on that ship."
"Exactly." Xena hands went between Gabrielle's belt. "And that'll be at least five days."
"Then we'll be traveling with the Amazons, so no space there." Gabrielle's hands went to Xena's buckles. "And I really need your touch."
"That's the most important reason there." The Warrior Princess grinned while continuing to kiss her Soulmate. Her hands traveled up her lover's stomach to under her leather top. "I need to feel you inside."
"Oh, that's even more important." The small warrior grinned and pressed her body against Xena's. She dropped her head back when Xena's lips came to her chest again and traveled down. "Xena."
"Sssh." The older woman evilly smiled. "Like I said, I always fulfil my Soulmate's physical needs." Her fingertips slipped under Gabrielle maroon top to began to lift it off.
"So we ready to go?" Ephiny mounted her horse and glanced down to her Queen.
Gabrielle lifted her head. "You did send Michael with the message to Masika?"
"Yup." The regent nodded. "And I wrote in it to make sure somebody gave him a ride back here."
"Perfect." Gabrielle shifted the pack on her back after putting her wool and leather cloak on.
Torrid stood beside her with his cloak tightly on.
Gabrielle, Xena, and Torrid were all walking together while the Amazons rode.
Xena came down the steps of the tavern putting her heavy dark cloak on. Once she hit the ground she was slinging her pack on her back.
Cyrene came down the steps with Ferus beside her. She came directly up to the Soulmates. "You both be careful."
The warrior-bard smiled at the innkeeper. "We will, promise."
"Good." Cyrene smiled warmly as she kept her arms against her chest to stay warm. "And enjoy the vacation."
"We will mother." Xena smiled warmly. "We'll be back here soon as we get back."
"I'll be expecting you." The tavern owner grinned. "Solstice I have plans."
The Soulmates groaned together and asked at the same time, "Food plans?"
Cyrene put her hands on her hips. "Now I thought you like the cooking."
Gabrielle laughed. "We do mom, just it… makes me a little larger then I should be."
"No it doesn't sweety, you're the skinniest thing ever." Cyrene sighed. "Okay, you should go." She took a step forward and hugged Xena. "Take care dear."
"You too mother."
The innkeeper pulled back but not before placing a kiss to her daughter's cheek. She then drew Gabrielle in for a strong hug. "You be careful to sweety. Look after my daughter."
"I will, promise." The Amazon Queen released the older woman. "We'll miss you, take care of yourself mom."
"Of course." Cyrene took a step back to stand beside the constable again.
"Come on." Xena glanced at her partner.
Gabrielle was a bit hesitant at first because she saw the worried look on Cyrene's face. But she turned around to walk beside her Soulmate.
The Amazons kicked their horses into a walk to follow along side.
Both Soulmates glanced back and waved to Cyrene with smiles.
The innkeeper smiled back and waved, as did Ferus.
"Enjoy ladies!" Ferus called.
Xena grinned. "Take care of my mother Ferus!"
"I will… promise Xena." The constable smiled warmly.
Xena and Gabrielle turned their heads away and kept walking along side the Egyptian, out of the Amphipolis.
"You're worried Cyrene." Ferus turned his head to the innkeeper.
"I am." The older woman sighed sadly. "Something is going to happen to them in Egypt."
The constable tried to smile reassuringly. "I'm sure they'll be fine."
"Yes they will be…" The tavern owner turned her worried eyes to the man. "But at what price?" She turned her eyes back to rest on the Soulmates disappearing in the distance. "I love my little ones."
Ferus reached over to grasp the woman's hand in comfort. "Just as long as they make it out in one piece together."
"You're right." Cyrene squeezed the constable's hand. "That's what matters in the end." She sighed sadly. "But it's their destiny." A sad sigh escaped her lips again as she whispered, "Aphrodite please protect them on this journey."
"No Queen Gabrielle, we have numerous gods and goddesses like the Greeks." Torrid straightened his cloak out. "Each lifetime we receive a new god or goddess… depends on whom is our ruler. "
"Really?" The warrior-bard shifted the pack on her back. "How does that work?"
The Egyptian smiled at the small woman's high interest. "Well, our ruler at the time is basically our god that's descended down upon us to rule. They are the pharaoh of Egypt and once they pass into the next life we hold them as our god."
Gabrielle nodded a few times. "So Cleopatra will be known as a goddess once she dies."
"Basically yes. She is our pharaoh that will protect us from the evil of the world."
The warrior glanced down to her partner. "Ask Torrid about their equivalent to our Elysian Fields. You'll like it."
The small warrior grinned and turned her head to Torrid again. "What's your after life called?"
Torrid's lips shaped into a small grin. "The Fields of Food."
The Amazon Queen's eyes widen. "You're kidding? Ha, that's where I wanna go."
Xena chuckled while mumbling, "Wonder if they have a field dedicated just to nutbread." She lifted her head with a grin while she kept walking.
The Egyptian quietly laughed but went serious again. "I can not await to see the Fields of Food myself Queen Gabrielle."
"I can understand." Gabrielle's right hand came up to grasp the man's shoulder. "Please call me Gabrielle. I don't go in for that formal stuff." She dropped her hand.
"Very well." Torrid bowed his head and lifted it back up. He smiled warmly to Gabrielle. "Then you both may call me Ra." He went serious again. "It is my nickname given to me by my friends."
The small warrior nodded. "That's an interesting nickname."
The Warrior Princess turned her head to the Egyptian. "How'd you manage to get the nickname Ra? It is the name of the great sun god."
The Queen glanced up to her consort then back to Torrid.
The man took a deep breath. "Torrid they say is not quite Egyptian. So a number of my friend's nicknamed me after the sun god Ra for Torrid means hot." He grinned. "Not quite sun however the sun is hot." His grin was gone. "Everybody refers to me as Ra… few know me as Torrid."
Xena nodded at that explanation while turning her head away.
Around the warrior, Queen, and Egyptian were the Amazons on horseback. The group walking along the southwestern road to Stagira.
"Ra is your sun god?" Gabrielle crossed her arms against her chest. "He's important?"
"Very." Torrid gazed ahead. "For if were not Ra's light Egypt would be left in the darkness." He took a deep breath. "He's the second most powerful. There is Amun-Ra whom is the most powerful. He is Ra and Amun god put together."
"Two gods in one?" The young woman quietly laughed. "That's different. Sounds menacing."
"It is powerful." Torrid gave a small grin.
Xena glanced to her left to see the shore to the Aegean Sea. She sighed while looking forward again.
"I feel like walking out there." Gabrielle lifted her eyes to her Soulmate.
The Warrior Princess nodded in agreement. "Me too."
"Hold on everybody." The Queen stopped walking.
Ephiny glanced over to her friend. "What's going on?"
The young warrior grinned up to her regent. "Xena and I are going to meet you guys up in Stagira. We're going to go along the shore."
The regent opened her mouth to do a protest.
The Queen cut her off saying, "Deal Eph." She grinned.
Ephiny closed her mouth. "Very well my Queen." She grinned back some. "We'll escort Torrid to Stagira safely."
"Thank you." Gabrielle smiled and turned her head to Torrid. "You don't mind Ra?"
"Not at all." The Egyptian uncrossed his arms. "I've dealt with women before." A grin crept along his lips.
The Amazons all laughed together.
Solari gazed down to Torrid. "We'll keep you busy all the way to Stagira."
"I can only imagine." Torrid glimpsed up to the second in command then back to Gabrielle. "Enjoy the walk along the shore."
"We will." The Queen smiled and turned to her Soulmate.
Xena took her pack off. "Hold this for me."
"Sure." Gabrielle took the pack as she watched Xena take her cloak off.
"Hey Amarice." The warrior came up near the Amazon's horse.
The princess quietly replied, "Yeah?"
"Can you take my cloak for me?" Xena came up to the horse with the cloak in her arms. "I trust you." She smiled warmly.
"S-sure." Amarice let go of one rein and held her hand down.
The dark woman gave the princess her cloak and patted the Amazons leg. "Thanks." She kept her warm smile.
Amarice placed the dark cloak over her saddlebag plus glanced back to Xena. "You're welcome." She gave a shy smile.
Xena strolled over to her partner while getting her pack back.
Gabrielle smiled to her Amazons. "See you guys in Stagira."
The warrior turned her attention to the regent. "Eph, it'll take Gabrielle and I an extra half a candlemark or so."
The regent nodded. "We'll meet you both at the port."
"Perfect." Xena turned her head away and started walking into the woods towards the beach.
The small warrior followed before calling off, "Bye."
The Amazons together said, "Bye."
The Soulmates walked through the small portion of woods and onto the beach. Immediately they both were taken over by the wind and sounds of the waves crashing onto the shore.
"Gods, I love walking along the shores."
Xena chuckled. "Dido." A grin crossed her lips.
The small warrior chuckled. "Nice to get away from them."
"Uh huh." The warrior reached behind to bring the left strap over her shoulder. "Peaceful."
"Really is." Gabrielle smiled while walking along side her partner. "Do we keep walking along the shore to get to Stagira."
"Yup." Xena grinned. "Once we get a ways ahead you'll see the port coming out over the water."
"You think we may see the Egyptian ship?"
"Possibly." The warrior smiled at her Soulmate for a moment yet looked ahead again.
"I'm amazed that she sent a ship to pick us up."
The older woman shrugged her shoulders. "She's just feels indent about our help from the other year."
"Must." Gabrielle shook her head. "She's rolling out the red carpet."
"Oh don't say that Gabrielle." The dark warrior grinned. "She may just do that."
A laugh came from the Amazon Queen. "I hope not." He eyes gazed over the beach as she did she noticed a small bird running alone the shore ahead of them. "Xena, what kind of bird is that?"
The warrior glanced at it studying it for a moment. She replied, "A Solitary Sandpiper. Surprise it's still here as late in the fall as it is."
"It's really cute." Gabrielle chuckled. "It keeps trying to come up to the water edge then runs off."
"Yeah, he's trying to get food." Xena studied the small bird with a long thin beak. "What they do is try to grab at small fish along the water's edge." She saw a wave crash near the sandpiper and the sandpiper scurried away from the threatening water. "Or he may be drinking it too." She turned her head to Gabrielle. "They'll eat small fish or kelp. Usually they're around here between spring, summer, and fall."
The small warrior glanced up with a hidden grin. "How many eggs can they lay at a time?"
"Average… three." Xena shrugged. "Sometimes two sometimes four." Her eyes rested on the sandpiper running ahead of them. "Now, that's a female actually because it's so large. Males are a little smaller."
Gabrielle shook her head and gazed up in the sky to see a seagull fly by. "How about seagulls… any difference between them?"
"Oh sure." Xena looked up to that same gull. "That specific gull is a Ring-Billed gull."
The Amazon Queen studied the flying gull. "Because of the small black ring around its beak?"
"Exactly." The warrior glanced around to see another one. She pointed at the flying gull. "That gull there is Bonaparte's gull… one of the most common with the Ring-Billed." She sighed. "I hate them."
Gabrielle laughed while peeking up to her Soulmate. "Why?"
"They crap all over a ships deck." The older woman shook her head. "It's the most annoying thing. That and they'll leave remains of fish bones everywhere."
The smaller woman quietly laughed. "What about that gull?" She pointed at it sitting on the beach.
"That's a Laughing gull."
The warrior-bard started to laugh. "For real?"
"Yeah." Xena grinned. "I think that's why it's call a Laughing gull."
Gabrielle was taking in a deep breath. She saw that Laughing gull fly off. "I have to say… seagulls are ugly."
"Definitely." The warrior crinkled her nose. "Loud too."
"Yeah, squawk squawk huh?"
The dark woman sighed. "Oh yeah, they're brassy too." She walked along closer to the water. "Come here."
The young warrior flowed along as she saw her partner stop walking.
"See that?" Xena pointed down at the water's edge. She bent down to her knees.
The Amazon Queen bent down as well. "You mean the jellyfish? They sting like the dickens."
"Oh yeah." The warrior grabbed a shell off the beach and turned the jellyfish over. "Hate these too."
"Been stung before?"
The older woman nodded. "Yeah, once." She pointed at the long tentacles of the jellyfish. "That's actually the part that stings."
"Yeah." Gabrielle grinned while slowing reaching forward to it.
The Warrior Princess grabbed her Soulmates hand as she turned her head to Gabrielle with a smirk. "Don't think about it." She started to stand as well as lace her hand with her partner's.
Gabrielle chuckled and stood up. "Just testing you." A small grin creased her lips.
"Uh huh."
The pair started to walk together again while holding hands.
"Have you ever seen a man-of-war?" The warrior gazed at her lover.
"No." Gabrielle shook her head. "Like a jellyfish?"
"Sort of." Xena sighed in addition to explaining. "Instead of the jellyness they have like… a bag with air in it that keeps it afloat."
The young woman moved her head in understanding. "They sting too?"
"Oh yeah about ten times worse." The warrior looked over the sea then back to her partner. "I've heard stories of how men die from it."
"Really?" The warrior-bard furrowed her eyebrows. "People can die from that?"
"Personally, I don't' think so." The tall woman shrugged her shoulders. "I think what happens is… say a person is swimming in the water. They get tangled into three of these man-of-war's tentacles they'll just repeatedly get stung."
"Then they're body probably can't handle it so it knocks them unconscious."
"Exactly, then they just drown." Xena let her breath out slowly. "Then the body just washes ashore with the man-of-war's and the person thinks they died from that."
Gabrielle crinkled her nose together. "What a way to go."
The warrior quietly laughed. "Tell me about it."
The Queen shook her head. "Xena, how do you manage to know something about everything?"
Xena grinned at her partner. "I don't know everything… like cooking."
The young woman laughed. "Oh come on Xena, that's like the only thing you don't know. "
"Like I've said-"
"I have many skills," both the women said together.
Gabrielle laughed with a smile. "Seriously though, I don't understand how you learned so much." She shrugged her shoulders. "I mean if I just pointed at what I thought would be a weed you'd tell me it's name it's uses, season it grows in, it's climate it likes, and how to kill it."
The Warrior Princess laughed while smiling. She sighed with her same smile. "Learned a lot from just traveling." She peered down at her best friend. "Just like you've learned a lot in these past five years."
"That's true." The Amazon Queen grinned a little. "But we're only three years difference and I hardly know what you do."
"But you haven't been traveling for twelve years like I have."
"That's true too." Gabrielle chuckled. "I just love the fact you're a book of knowledge."
"Not quite." Xena grinned as well as squeezed her lover's hand. "Just picked up a few things in my time."
"Right." The small warrior smirked up to her partner. "Admit it, you know everything."
The warrior growled. "Not everything."
"Uh huh." Gabrielle quietly laughed. "You know as more then five scholars put together."
"Nah, maybe four." Xena evilly grinned.
The Amazon Queen chuckled and stopped walking.
The warrior faced her partner with a corked eyebrow.
The younger warrior gave a warm smile and pulled Xena's head down.
Xena fell into the kiss her Soulmate gave her. She slowly lifted her head. "That was not just random kissing."
Gabrielle laughed while holding her lover's hips. "Not totally… always to show you that I love you."
"And?"
"And for being so damn amazing."
The tall woman grinned while replying, "Just for you." She lowered her head to brush her lips over Gabrielle's.
"Mmm, is that why?" The warrior-bard grinned. "Was that planned from the beginning?"
Xena chuckled while wrapping her arms around her Soulmate. "Wellll figured there'd be a good reason to all my knowledge someday." She slowly slipped her hands in between Gabrielle's cloak to hold her there. "I know it would come to this day along the beach that my… bird knowledge would come in handy."
Gabrielle snickered and lightly kissed her warrior. "Good planning."
"Thought so myself." Xena took her lover's lips in a passionate kiss. "We better keep moving."
Gabrielle sighed. "Yup." She grinned. "Can't be late."
"Nope." Xena slowly released her Soulmate however still held her hand.
The pair began to slowly walk in silence. They listened to the crash of the waves and the blow of the wind. Both of them smelled the scent of the seas and her salt. And it left both of them with a grin curling their lips.
"Hey Xena?"
"Mmm?" The warrior glanced over to her Soulmate.
Gabrielle peered up with wonderment. "How did you meet Hercules? You met him in the Parathion Province right? "
Xena glanced ahead while breathing deeply. "Yes and no. I met up with him twice, once just outside of the Parathion Province and then later in the province."
"What happened?"
The Warrior Princess ran her left hand through her hair. "A lot." She chuckled with her partner. "The stage at which Hercules bumped into me I was beginning to give-up on my life." She sighed. "I was at the point where I knew the reality of my past but I still tried to deny it. So basically I became a low key warlord just so I could fight and try to run from reality." She shrugged her shoulders with a grin. "Didn't work to well."
The small warrior chuckled. "Was that when you met up with Draco?"
"Yeah." Xena nodded. "Draco and a lot of other warlords… but Draco was one of the few I worked well with." She lifted her gaze up to the long beach. "For some reason I decided to take on the challenge of trying to kill Hercules. I had this entire plan made up, which included Iolaus because I knew he wasn't quite that… bright."
Gabrielle snickered. "He's a good man though."
"Definitely."
"So what was your plan?" The warrior-bard had a huge intent look.
Xena grinned for a moment but lost it as she started to tell her tale from so long ago. "I pretended to be a traveler on the road. Iolaus just happened upon me when my horse went lame, so I said. Iolaus helped me out and escorted me to a village near he was headed to, to see Hercules. That's when I met up with Hercules and I was trying to gush all over Iolaus so that he'd… develop a thing for me."
The Amazon Queen shook her head. "If I know Iolaus it didn't take long."
"Not at all." The warrior wiped away her grin. "Iolaus and I stayed together after Hercules left. I continued to gush over Iolaus and fed his ego. At that point I said I wanted to stop the ruthless warlord Xena whom destroyed my village with my army."
"Neither Hercules or Iolaus knew who you were?"
"No, hardly." The warrior took a deep breath. "I asked Iolaus to help me stop the warlord and he agreed. While Iolaus and I traveled to my army I sent my second in command to try and kill Hercules knowing he wouldn't be able to. I'd given my second in command this necklace that I'd worn in front of Hercules."
"Oh, so when Hercules saw the necklace and he knew who you were then. Of course he musta came after you and Iolaus to save Iolaus."
"Yes, by the time he was coming for Iolaus I was in my fortress with my men. I took one of my men and went to attack Hercules. Hercules beat my man instantly so I ran off to return to Iolaus but before I did I tore my cape and rubbed dirt all over so it looked like I'd been in a struggle. I told Iolaus Hercules had done it and he'd gone mad. That Hercules was coming to take his job over like he couldn't handle it."
The young warrior nodded. "Obviously Herc and Iolaus fought huh?"
"Yeah but Herc wouldn't fight Iolaus, eventually Iolaus figured things out. Basically I just told my men to kill them both. Didn't happen and I escaped to go get a new army to fight Hercules later."
"That's a good plan."
"Only fault was the tight friendship." The warrior sighed. "I was pretty sure that Iolaus was going to kill Hercules then realize what was going on."
"If Herc had fought Iolaus back it may have happened."
Xena nodded.
"What happen in Parthian Province?"
"Well in a nuthsell… I was raiding villages in the province. Herc found out and came to stop me. At the same time my second in command, Darphus, took my army and kicked me out. I fought Herc, lost, left and then Herc with a few friends tried to stop Darphus. I later on helped out and stayed with Hercules, started traveling with him."
"Darphus put you through the gauntlet right?"
Xena moved her head in answer. "I just made it through the gauntlet."
Gabrielle shook her head. "I know I wouldn't."
The tall woman grinned at her partner. "You would."
"How you figure?" The Amazon Queen raised an eyebrow.
"Because you're my Soulmate."
The small warrior chuckled. "That's your answer to everything."
"Do I need to say more?"
Gabrielle smiled warmly. "No, that says a lot right there."
"Exactly." The warrior smiled as she looked ahead again.
The warrior-bard evilly grinned. "Did you and Hercules-"
"Gabrielle," growled the warrior.
"Oooh." The Queen quietly laughed. "That was answer enough." She evilly grinned again at her Soulmate. "Was he good?"
The Warrior Princess had a stoic expression as she turned her head to Gabrielle. "What you think?" Her eyes were twinkling with mischief.
"Mmm, I think he probably was a one time use."
Xena laughed then shook her head. "What's that suppose to mean?"
"Wellll..." Gabrielle shrugged her shoulders. "He was great the first time but a second time wouldn't be quite as good."
"You're probably right actually." The older woman chuckled with her Soulmate. "I wouldn't know."
"So was he?"
The warrior raised an eyebrow at her best friend. "Why you so interested anyway?"
Now it was the small woman's eyes sparkling with mischief. "Thought the next time we saw him I'd invite him for a threesome."
Xena laughed for a few seconds yet went dead serious. "I don't think so."
"Oh come on." A grin came over the Amazon Queen's lips. "You must have done a threesome once Xena. I know you."
"I forget." The tall woman ran her freehand through her hair.
"Two males, two females, or one of each?"
"It was one of each." The warrior grinned. "Different." She chuckled. "I tell you, the guy wanted included another man said it would be a blast."
Gabrielle's eyes widen. "Ha, that's crazy."
"That's what I said." The older woman sighed. "Now if you wanted a good guy… mmm probably…" She started to chuckle. "My old friend Jonathan. Now he can show a good time."
The small woman raised an eyebrow. "Nobody like Draco?"
"Nnno." Xena shook her head. "He wouldn't want to include me."
Gabrielle laughed. "That's right, the spell."
"Uh huh." The warrior chuckled.
"Maybe we should just stick to Herc." Gabrielle's eyes were sparkling again.
"Like I said, I don't think so." Xena turned her head to her partner with a serious look.
The small warrior evilly laughed. "Why not? It would be fun."
"First, we have enough fun as it is and second I'd kill anybody that touched you."
"Now that's true." Gabrielle chuckled. "I'd kill anybody that touched you."
The Warrior Princess nodded. "Exactly."
"So why didn't you stay with Hercules?" The warrior-bard glanced up with an arched eyebrow.
"See what happened." Xena was grinning at her partner. "Is I told Herc I couldn't stay with him. He just didn't do it for me. So he broke down crying like a baby, I patted his back, and said I had to pick up this hot chic in Potidaea."
Gabrielle stopped walking because she exploded into laughter at her Soulmate's words. She let go of her warrior's hand as she bent forward holding her stomach.
Xena put her hands on her hips while she grinned at her lover. "Was that funny? The poor man was broke up and you're laughing."
The Amazon Queen fell down only laughing more. She was bright red from all the laughing with her body heating up.
The warrior chuckled and squatted down in front of her small warrior. Her arms rested on her knees while she waited for Gabrielle to settle down. A huge amused grin crossed her lips.
Gabrielle shook her head while breathing heavily. She lifted her legs up to drop her arms on her knees. "Oh gods… that's the funniest thing… ever." She sucked in a deep breath and opened her eyes that were stinging from the tears. "Hot chic in Potidaea?" She quietly laughed a few times and leaned forward. "Gods Xena." Her right hand came up to wipe the tears away.
Xena shrugged her shoulders. "Didn't think it would be that funny." She reached forward to spread her Soulmate's cloak open noticing something. "Must have been really funny." Her eyes stayed pinned on the other woman's chest.
The young woman glanced down to see her chest all broken out with redness. "Gods, I broke out into a heat rash." She chuckled. "Wahoo… I still feel hot."
"Come on." The warrior stood up and held her hand down.
The Amazon Queen took her warrior's hand to be hauled onto her feet. "Gods I need to take this off now." She started to take her pack off.
The tall woman walked behind to take the pack then slowly remove Gabrielle's cloak. She noticed Gabrielle's shoulders red as well from the small heat rash. "Poor Herc, I'm glad he doesn't know."
The small woman chuckled as she put her pack on again. "Thanks."
"No problem." Xena walked forward while holding her Soulmate's cloak in her left arm. She held out her right hand.
The young warrior took the other warrior's hand and started walking again. "So Herc was pretty broke up huh?"
"Oh yeah." The Warrior Princess sighed. "Actually not really, I was the one broken up."
"Yeah?" The Queen gazed up to her friend. "First person to touch your heart."
"That's what I said at the time." Xena shrugged her shoulders. "Wasn't even that, I just idolized him up till I had sex with him. The idolization wore of real quick."
"He must have not been good."
"Not really." The tall woman grinned down to Gabrielle. "S'alright."
A quiet laugh came from Gabrielle. "We're bad." She sighed. "What was bad?"
Xena laughed. "No play." She corked an eyebrow. "Just a big…" She was holding her left hand up to describe how big, big was. Her lips pressed together. "Mmm."
"We'll say sexual organ."
The dark woman laughed. "Yeah, spare him."
The small warrior shook her head. "Poor Hercules, we're walking along this beach and just disrespecting him and his reputation."
"What, his sexual reputation?" Xena corked an eyebrow. "If you'd been with him too you'd understand."
The Amazon Queen's eyes widen. "Xena, you're getting worse then me." She snickered then crinkled her nose. "Besides, I couldn't sleep with big muscled guys."
"No, only big muscled women."
Gabrielle squeezed her Soulmate's hand. "Xena, you're not hulking and busting with muscles like him." She shivered. "I can't stand that. He's just to big built." She shook her head. "See, he'd make me feel crushed while you make me feel safe." She grinned up to her warrior. "Actually you make me feel perfect."
"That's because you are." Leaning over, Xena kissed her partner lightly.
Gabrielle whispered back, "Not like you."
The tall woman smiled then looked away. "So feel crushed. What else?"
"Hmmm, just he isn't quite smart enough for me." The warrior-bard kept thinking. "And… he's a he."
"Ooooh." Xena grinned. "Into women are we love?"
"Only one." The Amazon Queen evilly grinned.
"Same here." The warrior grinned back.
"Okay okay… we need to fix this man's reputation." The small warrior took a deep breath. "Hercules is a good man, good hero…"
"Gentleman." Xena nodded. "Nice looking."
"Yeah." The young woman nodded as well. "Great friend too. Very careful with people today."
"He tries to understand people." The warrior grinned. "And help them."
"Yeah, exactly." Gabrielle chuckled. "He's just a good man."
Xena laughed while saying, "That does bad sex." She shook her head. "With a big… sexual organ."
"Xena." The short warrior laughed for a few seconds. "We gotta stop talking about Hercules's bad sexual life, it's just really wrong."
"True." The warrior sighed. "I'll be nice."
"No play though?" Gabrielle glanced up in question.
"No!" Xena threw up her freehand as she sighed dramatically. "I have yet to understand that."
"Gods…" Gabrielle shook her head. "I love play."
Both the Soulmates started laughing together.
The small woman sighed then stopped walking. "Okay, I'm starting to feel the cold." She started taking her pack off. After she did she turned her back to her partner.
The dark woman slipped her Soulmate's cloak on her back. And saw her putting her pack on slowly. She evilly grinned while taking steps back she bent down to collect a handful of sand. "Gabrielle, you love play?"
The Queen pulled the last strap on while turning around. "Yeah." She corked an eyebrow.
"Good." Xena stood then threw the handful of sand at her lover.
"Xena!"
The Warrior Princess evilly laughed but stopped when she saw Gabrielle's look. She knew she was in trouble however she urged it on. "Come on Gabrielle."
Gabrielle wiped the sand away from her face. "I'm going to have you eating this sand."
"I'd love to see you try." Xena kneeled down to collect more sand in her hand and this sand held more water.
The small warrior's eyes widen. "Xena… Xena." She stepped back but ducked as sand went flying over her head. "Hades." She bent down to start getting handfuls of sand.
The Soulmates stayed squatting in on the beach chucking sand at each other and laughing. Midway through the war they threw their packs off as well as Gabrielle took her cloak off.
"Xena!" Gabrielle's voice boomed as a pile of sand went right down between her chest.
Xena laughed loudly as she held her pile of sand in her hand. "I dare you Gabrielle."
The Amazon Queen still held her right hand with the wet sand. "I dare you Xena." She narrowed her eyes with a grin. "You don't have the guts."
"Neither do you." The Warrior Princess shot back with a smug look.
It was a standstill.
"Who's gonna make the first move?" Xena grinned as small bits of sand fell from her hand.
The small warrior narrowed her eyes, dropped the sand from her hand, and sprung forward.
The older woman's eyes widen and she frantically threw the sand to the ground. She reached forward as her Soulmate came crashing into her.
The pair hit the sand and started rolling to their left into the cool water with laughter. They stopped as a wave came crashing over them.
Gabrielle shook her head to get the water out. She smiled down at her partner. "Cold water."
"Feels good considering how hot I am."
The Queen lowered her head down close to Xena's as she felt Xena's arms come around her back. "I know you are."
Xena chuckled then moved her left hand behind Gabrielle's head. She brought her small warrior's head down to kiss her, with her tongue going into Gabrielle's mouth.
A wave came crashing on them.
Both Soulmates pulled back laughing and smiling.
"This is something you read in the trashy romantic scrolls." The warrior-bard chuckled with a smile.
The tall woman grinned. "But our romance isn't trashy."
"Definitely not." Another wave came to bump into them while Gabrielle kissed her warrior again. She could taste the salt on her Soulmate's lips and it made her moan. When she pulled back she saw the huge wave coming at them. "Hades!" She ducked her head down into her warrior's neck.
Xena wrapped her arms tightly around Gabrielle. "Hold on."
The wave came down on the warriors and washed up the beach to leave the Soulmates laughing.
Gabrielle shook her head. "We better get up." She slowly stood up.
The tall woman nodded and got up after her partner was off her. "Oh gods." She lifted her right hand to brush back her wet bangs.
The small woman did the same thing and sighed. "Now we'll be sandy and salty." She quietly laughed. "But it was worth it."
"Definitely."
The pair walked up to pick up their bags and Gabrielle's cloak.
"Hey you going to be warm enough?" The small woman gazed up to her lover. "The wind is strong."
"I'll be fine." The tall woman grinned some. "Just stay near me."
Gabrielle chuckled. "Deal." She started walking with her arm around Xena's waist.
The warrior kept her right arm draped over her friend's shoulder.
"Where have you two been?" Ephiny stood with her hands on her hips. "That must have been a Hades of a beach walk. And why are you both wet?"
Gabrielle tried to keep a serious expression. "I tripped on a clam shell and took Xena with me into the water." She shrugged her shoulders. "That's why we're wet."
The regent corked an eyebrow. "I don't believe that for a second."
The Queen shrugged her shoulders again. "Fine, don't." She grinned and turned to Torrid. "Nice rest of the way?"
"Yes." Torrid smiled. "Your Amazons were nice."
"Good." Gabrielle grinned and saw her four other Amazons coming.
Amarice walked up to Xena. "Here's your cloak." She handed it over.
"Thanks." The warrior was more then glad and put it on to keep warm.
"Here's the ship." The Egyptian turned to his right while holding his arm out towards the huge ship.
Gabrielle gawked.
Xena stepped up to her partner. "Small huh?"
The Amazon Queen shut her mouth and peered up. "Oh yeah, real small." She grinned. "How big is it?"
Torrid stepped up beside the young warrior. "The Isis is over a hundred and seventy-five feet." He smiled warmly to the women. "Capable of handling quite rough seas." His eyes rested on the navy ship again. "And it's manned by sixty-two men… excluding the cooks."
"How many cooks?" The small woman gazed over to the Egyptian.
"We have exactly six cooks on board."
The small warrior nodded a few times. "Sounds good to me, I think I may make it to Egypt."
The minister laughed quietly and put his hands behind his back. "We can board anytime you'd like." He gazed at the Queen. "And if you'd like I can give you a tour of the ship with your Amazons before we leave."
"That would be great Torrid." Ephiny smiled warmly. "We'd like to check it ourselves."
"Of course, right this way." The Egyptian minister led the way onto the ship.
The group of women followed behind. As they boarded the ship there were two Egyptian guards on the ship that bowed to them. They wore masks that were much like a dog's head.
Solari leaned towards her regent. "How about those masks?"
"Those masks are the faces of Anubis." Torrid stopped and faced the women. "Anubis is our god that omits people to the afterlife by judgement."
The Amazons nodded together.
Eponin smiled. "Sorry about that, we were masks ourselves in our Nation."
"I've heard." The minister smiled. "Masks of the bird." He nodded and turned on the heels of his sandals to start walking.
The Soulmates glanced at each other with the same thought. Torrid has done his homework.
The Egyptian led them to the middle of the ship. "Here is the main deck." He pointed to his left. "There the bow with our forward mizzen mast." He lifted his right hand to rest on another but larger mast. "Our main mast." His arm stretch out towards the back of the ship. "Then our stern with our second mizzen mast." Torrid turned his head that way. "And as you can see there is the ships helm on the poop deck." He lowered his arm. "Now I'll show you below deck."
The group strolled along the main deck to go down a large ladder and entered into a large room. On the left and right side it was lined with bunks with tables, chairs, and hammocks.
"This is the middle cabin for our sailors. There are exactly a hundred bunk beds in here." He guided them though the room. "The next room is longer which contains five hundred bunk beds." He walked into the cabin.
The seven women all turned their heads each way studying the inside of the huge ship.
"This is the main quarters for our soldiers. Naturally we do not have any need for them on this journey. The next area is the galley with a large dining quarters." Torrid walked ahead stepping past the door to the next quarters. "The galley is fully equipped for our cooks. And the table will seat one hundred at time." He walked past and opened the door ahead. He swung open the door and stepped into a small corridor. "Now then…" He held his hand to the right. "That is the Captain's quarters, the next one is the second mate, then the third mate, the one after that is a guest quarters which is mine currently." His left hand held out to the last room as his attention went to the Soulmates. "And this will be your quarters for the duration of the journey. It is rather small so you will have to make do till we arrive in Egypt." Torrid walked over to the door and pushed down on the handle and swung it open.
The group all shuffled in to gape at the size of the room.
"I hope this will qualify Xena and Gabrielle." The minister glanced around then to his new friends.
Xena nodded. "It'll do." She grinned.
"Yeah." Gabrielle chuckled at seeing the huge bed, the large windows to the left. A large dresser against the wall then off to the right was another doorway to probably the head. Overall the room was large and comfortable with a light air. "Can we leave our packs in here?"
"Of course."
The Soulmates took their bags off and placed them on the bed.
"Now then, I'll show you the rest of the vessel." Torrid walked out with the women.
"Ssso, what's your final decision regent?" The Queen crossed her arms against her chest.
Ephiny was standing on the dock with Gabrielle and Xena. Her eyes travel across the length of the ship. Her eyes shifted to her Queen. "I do believe I should go with you." She grinned a little. "I have a horrible feeling you two will enjoy Egypt to much."
"I don't think so." Xena narrowed her eyes with a mock glare.
The regent chuckled. "Or I may not and let you both enjoy being alone."
The Queen patted her regent's shoulder. "Thanks regent, glad I have your approval."
Ephiny sighed happily. "Safe travels huh?" She smiled warmly but her eyes held sadness.
"We will Eph." Gabrielle stepped forward to pull her regent in tightly.
The other four Amazons had gone after getting their Queen's hugs. They were collecting the horses and waiting for their regent to return home.
Ephiny tightly hugged her friend. "I'll miss you Gabrielle."
Gabrielle quietly laughed while pulling away. "I'm never in the village to begin with."
The Amazon shrugged. "But you're normally somewhere in Greece. Now you'll be on another continent." She smiled a little sadly. "We'll come to Amphipolis to see you when you get back."
The small warrior grinned. "You mean you're not going to be here when the ship comes in?"
"Now, that's tempting."
"Wouldn't surprise me." The Queen grinned in tease.
Ephiny chuckled and glanced up to the warrior. "Well, old warrior. I'll miss you too."
Xena corked an eyebrow. "Gee thanks Eph. You know you're not looking so young yourself."
The Amazon gave a laugh and pulled the taller woman in for a hug. "Take care Xena."
"You to Eph." The warrior gave a hard hug and pulled back with a smile.
"Ladies, the captain says it's time to depart from the port." Torrid stood on the gangplank with his cape flowing in the wind.
Gabrielle sighed sadly and peeked up to her partner. "Ready?"
"Yup." Xena flashed a smile to the regent. "See you Eph." She turned to stroll up the plank.
The Queen jumped forward to give one last strong hug. "Take care Eph and watch over my Amazons."
"Of course my Queen." Ephiny released her friend and watched her walk onto the ship to join Xena.
The gangplank was pulled up onto the ship by the two guards.
The regent turned her head to the right down the dock to see her Amazons coming with the horses.
The four Amazons came up and stood beside Ephiny. They all gazed up to the Soulmates and began to wave while shouting words of goodbye.
Ephiny locked eyes to her Queen as a warm smile eased across her lips.
The ships sails came down, the ropes taken aboard, and the hands on deck running around getting the ship in order. The helmsman was glance behind, to his left, and to his right. He began to navigate the huge ship out of it's slip.
The Soulmates waved with warm smiles to their friends.
"Here we go Xena."
"Uh huh." The warrior grinned with a small laugh. "Egypt here we come."
"Mmm, sex here we come." Gabrielle kept waving even though she felt her snicker coming up.
"Let's… plan on it."
The Queen lowered her arm and stepped up to the railing and leaned against it.
The ship came out of the slip backing out, it glided through the calm water to the left in front of the dock. The helmsman twirled the steering wheel to send the ship slowly moving to the left towards the Mediterranean Sea.
Xena was behind her partner and lowered her head a little. "Send a kiss to them for me."
Gabrielle snickered and straightened up. She grinned at her Amazons on the end of the dock. She kissed her palm and blew it at her Amazons. "It's from Xena girls!"
The five Amazons all laughed. And it was Solari who blew a kiss back. "Just for the warrior babe!"
The Warrior Princess laughed with her smile.
Amarice now yelled off to the Soulmates at seeing the ship turn. "Bye you guys! Sorry about this morning! I'll miss you!"
"Bye Amarice!" Gabrielle grinned. "Don't mess with beds!"
Ephiny took a deep breath and yelled, "I love you my sisters!"
The Queen smiled with love. "Love you too Eph!"
"I can't say I don't love you Eph!" Xena grinned with a wink.
The regent chuckled with her warm smile.
The ship kept turning and just began to turn the stern to the docks. Her sails picked up the wind and began to enter out of the small cove into the sea.
Gabrielle sighed and leaned back against the rail. "I'll miss them."
Xena chuckled. "Like you said, we hardly see them."
"Like Eph said, at least we're always in Greece."
Teresa, Amarice, and Eponin began to walk down the dock with their horses.
Solari turned her head to her regent. "You're worried."
Ephiny nodded as she turned her head to Solari. "Yeah."
Now the second in command could see the concern in her friend's amber eyes. "About what?"
"I don't know." The regent turned her eyes back to the stern of the ship. "Something tells me it won't be a vacation for them."
Solari sighed and with her freehand she placed it on Ephiny's shoulder. "They'll be fine. Even if we're not there Artemis and Aphrodite will be."
Ephiny's head bobbed up and down. "Let's hope so." She sighed and smiled to her second in command. "Let's go home."
Solari handed her regent the reins to her horse. "Sounds good to me."
Xena took a deep breath to smell the salty sea. She closed her eyes and her memories took her back. Her body began to sway with the ship. She stood on the bow of the boat.
Gabrielle chuckled. "You make it look so simple."
Torrid grinned at her friend. "It's rather simple Gabrielle. You just keep a straight course."
The small warrior lifted an eyebrow. "Ra, this is only a ship about a hundred times larger then me."
"And you control it with just this small wheel Queen Gabrielle." Torrid smile warmly. "Go ahead and try again."
The small woman took her friend's position and grasped the steering wheel.
The helmsman stood beside the minister. "She's Queen of the Amazons?" he whispered.
"Yes." Torrid glanced up to the bigger man. "Highly regarded."
The helmsman nodded. "Good." He glanced back to the small woman steering the ship.
Gabrielle kept her hands on the wheel while gazing ahead in the night. Her eyes then settled on her Soulmate all the way on the bow of the ship. She sighed sadly. Something is going on. She glanced to her right at Torrid and the helmsman. "Can I try it later?"
"Yes of course." The helmsman smiled. "Besides, it's safer if I steer in the night." He came up and took the wheel.
"Thanks." Gabrielle smiled and walked over to Torrid.
The minister followed his friend to walk down the steps off the poop deck. "Is there anything else you need Gabrielle?"
The smaller woman glanced back to her friend. "I think we'll be fine."
The Egyptian had a small confused look.
The Amazon Queen quietly laughed. "Xena and I."
Torrid quietly laughed. "Yes of course. Do enjoy the rest of your evening. I think I may retire to my room."
"Sleep well Ra."
The man bowed his head. "You do the same." He raised his head with a small. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." The small warrior watched the man walk across the deck of the ship with his cloak flowing. She sighed and began her pursuit to her Soulmate.
Xena's eyes drifted open when her body went warm. "Like steering the ship?"
"It's different." Gabrielle came to stand beside her partner. "You'll have to show me."
The warrior glanced down with a smile. "Love to." She studied her lover whose cloak whipped in the wind strongly as her smile.
Gabrielle reached out to take her Soulmate's hand. "What you concerned about?"
"I don't know… yet." The tall woman's lips escaped with a sad sigh. "I can't figure it out."
The small woman nodded. "I can feel that… you're confused about something."
Xena nodded. "It'll come to me." She confidently smiled to her partner. "Come here, I wanna show you something."
Gabrielle stepped in front of her partner as she felt warm hands grasp her sides.
"Hang on." The warrior lifted her partner up in the air high and brought her back.
"Ya! Xena!" The small warrior found herself settled down on her partner's shoulders. She instantly wrapped her arms around her Soulmate's neck. "Okay, this is frightening."
"Look to the sea."
The Amazon Queen gave her focus to the sea. Her eyes narrowed in question as she noticed the small white glow in the horizon of the sea. "What is that?"
"It's the Pharaohs Lighthouse."
"In Egypt?" Gabrielle's mouth dropped. She'd forgotten about the part of being high up.
"Yup." A grin creased the warrior's lips. "It's not in Egypt, it's actually on a small island just off the shores of Alexander." Her hands tightened a little on her Soulmate's calves.
"That's amazing." The young warrior shook her head. "They must burn a huge fire to do that."
"They do." Xena took a deep as the boat crash into the water. "There are mirrors in the lighthouse to reflect the light out over the sea. Then they don't have to see the light in Egypt."
"Yeah I bet." Gabrielle quietly laughed. "You'd never be able to sleep with that much light."
The Warrior Princes quietly laughed. "Speaking of sleep."
The small woman sighed. "Yeah, I'm tired too."
"I know." The warrior brought in a deep breath.
Gabrielle took a deep breath and slowly lowered her chin down onto her Soulmate's head. "Haven't been up here in a few."
The older woman grinned. "Yeah, you still remember going through that village?"
"That was chaotic." Gabrielle groaned. "Just because of the Dionysus festival."
Xena sighed contently. "Use to the height yet?"
The Amazon Queen thought for a moment. "Considering I am not throwing up… yeah. If I can handle being high up and on a ship… I'm doing good."
The warrior grinned while patting her smaller warrior's calf. Then she started to hear her partner giggling a little. "What?"
"I was just thinking about the time…" Gabrielle shook her head. "When we went to find Argo and I had fungus."
The older woman was now groaning. "Me and my lice."
The small warrior snickered. "I tell you, that little bunny was mean."
"All I know was you said you'd get us dinner and you come back with bite marks and no rabbit."
The young woman laughed while keeping her eyes locked on the dark water that reflected the stars. "You don't understand Xen. That was one mean rabbit, the thing had fangs."
"How could a rabbit have fangs?"
"I keep asking myself the same thing." Gabrielle sighed. "This one did and it beat me up."
Xena laughed a little and grinned. "My chakram."
"Oh gods." The small woman closed her eyes. "I admit, using your chakram to…" Her eyes opened again.
"To scratch your fungus was bad."
"Yeah." Gabrielle laughed as she remembered the entire scene with her partner. "I couldn't believe you were going to use your pressure points on me."
"Hey, you were messing with my chakram."
"True." The warrior-bard grinned. "That was ssso funny." Gabrielle laughed as she could remember what she said to her friend at the time.
"The whole adventure was rather funny."
"Yeah it was." Gabrielle sighed. "I wonder how Joxer is? We haven't seen him in a while."
"I'm sure he's fine and he'll find us."
The young warrior groaned. "I've gotta talk to him about his…
"Interest in you?" suggested the warrior.
"Yeah." The small woman gave a quiet laugh. "That's not going to be easy." She paused for a moment. "We've never told him about us huh?"
"Never had the chance." Xena lifted her eyes to the stars. "I can always talk to him." A small grin creased her lips.
"I still want Joxer alive now." The small woman received a snicker. She grinned in reaction and lifted her attention to the stars. She saw the three bright stars of the warrior in the sky. "Oh gods," she whispered.
"More memories huh?" The warrior smiled up at the constellation that she'd shown her Soulmate so many years ago.
"I've always loved the constellation," ushered the warrior-bard. "Reminds me of you."
"Reminds me of the night in the Amazon village." Xena sighed a little sadly.
"Dido." Gabrielle closed her eyes a little. "Xen?"
"Come on." The warrior smiled to herself. "Lean forward a little." She sensed Gabrielle's warm stomach pressing into the back of her head. So she reached up to her lover's sides and lifted her up and over.
The Amazon Queen's feet made contact with the deck of the ship. She leaned back into her warrior. "This rocking is putting me to sleep."
"Mmm me too." Xena's right hand came to press against her friend's stomach. "Ready to get some sleep?"
"Yeah." The small woman furrowed her eyebrows. Her hands came down to grasp Xena's hand. "Hades, your hand is cold." She took the larger hand into both of hers and rubbed. "Let's get inside."
The taller woman quietly laughed. "Motherhen."
"Because you love it." Gabrielle turned around to smirk but she went serious. "Come on." She squeezed her Soulmate's hand and released it.
The pair slowly made their way across the deck to the door to go into the cabins. In a few seconds they found themselves inside of their large cabin.
Xena was only in her leathers. She was glancing out the open window to watch the water that was only a few feet below.
Gabrielle was out of her boots and was coming up behind her lover. She wrapped her arms around Xena's waist so she could pull the warrior in. "Miss that life?"
"Sometimes." The warrior sighed. "I miss the waters, yeah."
"Why'd you stop being a pirate?" The small woman lowered her head to Xena's back. "I know what happened with Caesar."
"After Caesar I became lost in the darkness." The tall woman shook her head. "Wasn't about protecting Amphipolis anymore."
"It was about searching some form of revenge huh?" The young warrior sighed sadly while starting to sway their bodies together.
"Yes… revenge on the world." Her large hands came down to rest over Gabrielle's. "I'm pretty lucky."
"What you mean?" She felt her warrior turning so she lifted her head up.
Xena smiled at her Soulmate. "I mean I'm lucky to have you after my past."
Gabrielle smiled warmly. "Xena, after what you went through in your past you deserve so much."
The warrior's right hand came up to trace over her lover's lips. "I'll never find anybody else that will forgive me like you."
"That's because nobody else is your Soulmate." The smaller woman had a content smile.
The Warrior Princess lowered her head with her smile. "Very true." She tenderly took her Soulmate's lips. When she pulled back the smile never faltered. Her strong arms came around Gabrielle and pulled her in.
The Amazon Queen sighed happily while closing her eyes.
"Go to sleep."
A small laugh came from Gabrielle. "On you?"
"I'll take care of you." Xena was starting to sway with the rocking of the boat.
"You're gonna fall asleep at the same time." Gabrielle tightened her arms.
"Think so?" The warrior grinned while lowering her head on to Gabrielle's.
"I know so." A small grin crept along the small warrior's lips. "How about this, you carry me to bed, let me lay on you, and then I can sleep on you?" Now she found herself being lifted into strong arms. "I guess that's a yes."
The older woman grinned while slowly carrying her partner to the bed. "I love you Gabrielle." Before she went into the bed she found her lips being taken into a warm kiss.
Gabrielle slowly pulled back with her eyes gradually opening. "I love you too."
Xena grinned at that and the sleepiness she saw in her lover's eyes. She climbed into the bed and lay down with her Soulmate on top of her.
The shorter warrior settled onto her friend's body while closing her eyes. "Night Xen."
"See you in the dream, love." The dark woman kissed the top of her lover's head. Her head came back down to the pillow. Her eyes slowly closed.
The Soulmate's breathing eased together. The wind continued to drift through the open window and cool the room. Yet the Soulmates never felt it in the heat of their bodies and love. And soon they would awake to another day on the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Destination- Egypt.