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:

redhope@redhope.net

Part 4

Section 4

~*Part 7*~

Gabrielle slowly stood up in the hot water with the beads of water rolling down her body.

Xena came strolling in and saw the scene, she grinned. "Gods, I love perfection."

The small warrior corked an eyebrow. "How about a towel sexy?" A small grin spread over her lips as she got out of the tub.

The older woman quietly laughed and tossed the towel to her partner.

The Amazon Queen snapped it out of midair and opened the clean towel to dry herself off. "I'm still amazed they have a tub in here."

"Lucky for us." The warrior began to dry herself off as well.

"Yeah really… after the sand war." The small woman looked up with a false glare.

Xena just grinned while brushing her wet bangs back. "You love the wars."

"Considering neither of us ever win… yeah." Gabrielle began to run her hands through her hair to straighten it all out. "Gods I hate this part about short hair."

The taller woman was leaning against the doorway of the head. Her towel she'd slung over her shoulder. "It's cute."

"Right." The young woman growled low and just shook her head. The hair and water went everywhere.

"That's… one way to do it." The warrior chuckled and saw her Soulmate brush her hair back again to see it a little darker. "You're hair looks good wet."

"Yeah?" Gabrielle put her towel over her shoulder now and strolled up to her partner. "Looks good or-"

"Sexy?" Xena chuckled. "Both." She shifted off the doorway and leaned down to kiss her lover.

A small moan came from the shorter warrior. "I'll get our clothes together." She went into the bedroom.

"Oh yeah, our salty clothes."

"They're not salty!" Gabrielle laughed. "Don't tell me that."

The dark woman snickered and walked over to the tub. "Hey catch." She threw her towel to her partner.

Gabrielle caught it. "Thanks." A small grin formed on her lips.

Xena winked and walked over to the tub. "Well, you can do this tub if you want."

"Hades, I'll never figure out how to work that thing."

The older woman shook her head with a smile while she strolled over to the tub to let the water out.

Gabrielle had on her top and skirt. "Hey Xena, where'd my boots go?" Her voice was a little shy. She glanced into the head to see her partner fiddling with the tub.

"Where you left them last night." Xena's voice held a tease.

"Really?" The small warrior stared at the bed to see the towels. She evilly grinned and picked one up. "Where might that be Xena?"

"You think I keep tabs on your stuff?"

"Yes." Gabrielle was sauntering into the head with the towel. "I know you know where they are." She began to twirl the towel. "And I highly recommend you tell me."

The Warrior Princess got the tub to drain the water out. Then her head whipped to the left to see what her Soulmate was about to do. "Don't even think about it."

The small warrior evilly laughed while she held the towel stretch out in front. "Tell me where my boots are or you'll be feeling it."

"Gabrielle," growled the warrior. "Don't you dare whip that towel." Her eyes narrowed. "Don't start this."

"What you gonna do huh?" Gabrielle snapped the towel forward to hear it crack in the air right near Xena. "I want my boots and you put them somewhere to drive me nuts." She stalked into small room towards her lover. She was stooped a little with the towel ready to be whipped.

"I don't know where your boots are." The warrior held her hands up and stepped back. Her eyes were twinkling. "Why would I know where your boots are?"

"Because you know where everything of mine is." Gabrielle took another menacing step. "Last chance, where are they?"

Xena shrugged with her hands still up. "Do you think I know where your boots are?"

"Do I look like your Soulmate?"

"Yup." The warrior jumped back as the towel's ended snapped at her stomach. "You're dangerous with that thing." She stepped back.

"Come on Xena, you're almost out of room here." The small warrior took another. "Where are they?"

Xena grinned while still holding her hands up. "I threw them out the window, they're headed back to Greece."

"Right, yours are going to be going with mine real soon then." The young woman took another step still holding the towel up with sparkling eyes. "If you don't tell me where mine are I'm not going to tell you where yours are."

"What you mean?" Xena narrowed her eyes. "I better find my boots."

"Oooh, you want them?" Gabrielle whipped the towel with the end just nicking at Xena's left arm. "We'll trade."

"No can do." The warrior took another step back as her back pressed into the wood wall. "I've got plans right now." Her eyes narrowed.

"Like what?" The Amazon Queen snickered. "Getting your ass whipped?" She took two more steps.

"No, getting yours." The dark woman blurred to move quickly away from her Soulmate.

"Hades." The warrior-bard tried whipping the towel at Xena as she skimmed past her. She whirled around to spot her lover in the bedroom with a towel now and putting her leathers on. "Hades you're fast."

Xena grinned. "When I need to be of course." She twirled her towel. "Come on Gabrielle. Two can play this." She pulled her leather strap on her shoulder and started stalking towards her prey.

The small woman's eyes widen. "Oh boy."

"You got that right." Xena stretch the towel out. She came right up to her Soulmate and snapped the towel at her.

The Queen had ducked and rolled up to spring up near the tub. She brought up her towel to twirl it.

"Oooh." Xena laughed and shifted around the tub towards her friend.

Gabrielle shifted away with her towel up and aimed. "Stay back."

"Or what? You can't get away." The Warrior Princess had her towel up as well ready to whip. "Come on, it's only a small sting."

"Xena, all I want are my boots."

"And you'll get them when I say."

The small warrior narrowed her eyes. "Then you won't get yours till then either." She stuck her tongue out.

Xena whipped her towel across the distance of the tub and it snapped right in front of Gabrielle.

Gabrielle jumped back with a snicker. "Miss, you getting old?"

"Never." The warrior jumped onto the tub's edge with a grin.

The small warrior took the opportunity to whip the towel at her Soulmate's legs.

The older woman just jumped again and landed behind her partner.

"Oh gods!" The young woman just jumped away from her lover's grasp. "Aaaahhh!" She went running into the bedroom with her towel.

Xena laughed evilly and came in slowly. She twirled her towel again as she saw her warrior standing in front of the foot of the bed. "Let me just get you once." She came stalking up with twinkling blue eyes.

"No way!" Gabrielle snapped her towel at her lover. "Stay away."

The tall woman jumped back with a grin. "But you're mine and I want what's mine."

"Yeah well right now you're not being nice."

"Me?" The older woman's eyes were wide. "Who started this?"

"You did!" The Queen had her towel twirled again. "You put my boots somewhere."

"You just forgot." Xena smirked. "You must be getting old."

"Pffft, you don't know where yours are either." A smug look came from the younger warrior. "Suck it up Xena."

"I may just when I get you." The warrior took a few steps closer.

Gabrielle smirked at her lover. "If you can get me first." She whipped her towel to keep her partner back.

Xena just took the whip as the towel cracked at her leathers. "Try aiming for skin… like for example your stomach." The warrior laughed and began to whip the towel at Gabrielle's stomach.

"Ah!" The small woman jumped in time to only receive the sting on her legs. She was on the bed now and stepping back while whirling the towel. "Okay you stung me on my legs. I want my boots now."

The Warrior Princess bounced onto the bed. She bobbed on the bed a few times with her evil grin. "Getting desperate are we?" She whipped the towel again.

The young warrior yelped as the tip of towel stung her stomach. "Xena," she growled. She dropped her towel in her right hand. "Just try it again." Her eyes narrowed.

"I think I may." The older woman whipped the towel again.

The Queen quickly moved her hand to watch the towel. "Don't mess with me Warrior Princess." She jerked the towel hard to bring Xena's body smashing into hers.

The pair went stumbling back on the bed to hit the wall.

Xena's arms were above Gabrielle's head. Amused blue eyes gazed down. "Was that really your plan Gabrielle?"

"Your hot body pressed against me? No but I like it." Gabrielle peeked up with a shy smile.

The warrior grinned. "You still have to pay a price to get your boots."

"What's that?"

"This." Xena leaned down and kissed her Soulmate.

The warrior-bard moaned as Xena's tongue slipped into her mouth. She let her own tongue go inside her warrior's mouth. Her right hand came up to the side of Xena's head.

The taller woman's right hand came down to press her lover into her more. Slowly she lifted her head.

"That's my payment?" Gabrielle smirked and added, "Yours is a lot higher."

"Now that you mention it, I think the price just went up."

"Mmm." The young woman pressed the palm of her hands against her lover's breasts. "Let me see if I have enough here."

"I know you do." Xena wrapped her right arm around her Soulmate's back while claiming Gabrielle's lips again. Then she pushed back to fall into the bed.

Gabrielle laughed and grinned down at her warrior. "Gods, I love you Xena."

The tall woman smiled while pushing Gabrielle's hips down to her own. "Oh, I couldn't live without you Gabrielle."

The small woman lowered her head to bring her lips scarce inches from Xena's. "Good." She took her Soulmate's lips while pressing her body into Xena's.

"There you go." Xena grinned. "Not that complicated huh?"

Gabrielle chuckled. "Not when you're helping." She stood holding the steering wheel.

The warrior was standing behind her partner with her hands on the wheel as well. "Just steer straight." She glanced to the left to see Torrid coming up the steps slowly.

The Egyptian smiled warmly and said, "Morning ladies."

"How are you Ra?" The warrior-bard glanced to the man with a smile then back to the sea.

"Quite well." The minister took a deep breath while crossing his hands over his chest. "I must admit ladies, you both are quite the loud neighbors."

Gabrielle went red.

The Warrior Princess turned her head to the man with a stoic expression. "When you have a partner like Gabrielle, nothing is ever dull let alone quiet."

"So I've heard."

The small woman groaned and dropped her head into the steering wheel.

The tall woman leaned her head towards Gabrielle's. "You can quite steer the ship well with your head there."

"Right." Gabrielle chuckled and lifted her head. She gazed over to Torrid. "Was it my voice you heard or Xena's more?"

"Well…" The minister gave a small grin. "I know your partner is normally quiet until she enters that cabin alone with you. This I have truly discovered." He sighed dramatically. "We may have to give you a room at the end of the palace for your partner Gabrielle."

The Amazon Queen snickered.

Xena went red as the breeze tried to cool her down. "Next topic."

The small warrior glanced up to her lover and saw the redness and she only giggled.

"Watch where you're steering," growled the warrior.

"Yes ma'am." The young woman went back to steering. "Did you get something to eat Ra?"

Torrid nodded with a small smile. "I did, thank you for asking. I hope you ladies did."

"Oh yes we did."

Gabrielle huffed.

The Egyptian gazed around. "Where's the helmsman, I just realized?"

"He went below to get breakfast." Xena gave a little smile. "We relieved him for a little while."

"Ah, that's quite nice." Torrid chuckled. "He doesn't get to many chances to break." He went a bit serious. "I do hope you know where you're heading to."

Xena nodded. "All in my head."

"Ah, so I take it you've been to Egypt before."

"Once."

"And once is good enough to know the way?"

Gabrielle turned her head to the man. "For Xena, yes." She smiled reassuringly.

"Well then, I will trust your judgement Gabrielle." He smiled back.

"Thank you." Gabrielle smiled briefly then glanced back to the seas.

The warrior leaned towards her partner. "You have this?"

"Yeah, go ahead." The warrior-bard flashed her smile to her Soulmate knowing the warrior wanted to do something.

"Be back." Xena started heading to the steps to head onto the main deck.

Torrid took a step closer to his friend. "Where is she going?"

The small woman glanced at the Egyptian. "To get some water."

The small man gave a confused look. "How do you know?"

"I know Xena."

Torrid quietly laughed while looking ahead again. "Amazing." He smiled at the seas. "It will be wonderful to return home."

"Back to the deserts huh?" The Amazon Queen's tone was teasing.

"Yes, the great sands of Egypt and the glory of the Nile."

"Will we go down the Nile to get to Alexandria?"

The minister shook his head. "Unfortunately not." He sighed. "Alexandria is a long the coast. And there's a small cover of Alexandria."

Gabrielle nodded with a sad smile. "I hope I get to see the Nile."

"Oh, I am quite sure you will." Torrid gave a small smile. "Queen Cleopatra loves to dine on the Nile on her golden barge. So I am rather sure she will take both you and Xena."

"That would be grand."

"Then I will put in a special request to Queen Cleopatra to take you both on the Nile." He smiled warmly. "I am sure she would be excited to take you."

The young warrior quietly laughed. "Thank you Ra."

"You're rather welcome."

"What are we thanking about?" Xena came up beside Torrid with a mug in her hand.

Gabrielle glanced to her partner. "Ask Cleopatra to take us on the Nile."

"Ah." The warrior nodded with a small grin. "With her golden barge." She turned her head to the minister. "I hear she likes to wine and dine on this barge."

"Oh quite." Torrid chuckled. "She is rather fond of the Nile and her beauty… which I can not blame her."

Xena grinned. "I can understand." She walked over to her partner and handed the mug over.

Gabrielle carefully took it with one hand. She drank some of the cool water then handed it back to her lover. "Thanks."

The older woman smiled with a wink. She held the mug and turned her head to Torrid. "Now I was wondering, exactly how massive will our room in the palace be?" She had an amused grin on her lips.

Torrid quietly laughed. "The guest rooms are a little smaller then Queen Cleopatra's room."

"Ah, and exactly how small is… small?"

The Egyptian thought for a moment. "Well… in comparison… it would be about as big as that tavern."

The short warrior's mouth dropped.

Xena grinned. "That small huh? Horrible."

The minister chuckled while smiling warmly. "It is rather horrible. There is only a hot tub, large queen size bed, twenty pillows, a ledge, closet, two fireplaces, two washrooms, and a personal servant." He sighed. "I've mentioned to the Queen she should improve the quarters… they're rather insufficient." A tiny grin crept along his lips.

"Oh yeah definitely!" Gabrielle threw up a hand. "Horrible." She chuckled. "In my Amazon hut we have five hot tubs, three queen beds, three washrooms, forty pillows, ten servants, and a ballroom branching off." She sighed overly dramatic. "I don't know what Cleo is thinking."

Both Torrid and Xena laughed together.

Xena lifted her mug to drink the rest of the water, she lowered it with a grin. "Gabrielle, you'll have to fix up the hut too. It's been looking a little to rough."

"Yeah I know." Gabrielle's sighed dramatically again. "That Hades of a marble floor keeps cracking a little. The gold needs cleaning with the silver and my diamonds I have scattered across the floor need polishing."

The Warrior Princess snickered. "I told you to keep that place in order."

"Yeah well, I girl can only keep control of her gems and gold so much." The small woman smirked a little.

Torrid raised an eyebrow. "I do hope Egypt never gets that… wealthy. We'd never be at peace with the world." A small chuckle came from his lips.

Xena turned her head to the Egyptian. "Well, nobody has an Egyptian navy."

The minister nodded a few times. "True." He sighed a little. "And what troubles that can bring."

"Oh?" The tall woman corked an eyebrow.

"Matters that should not be discussed." Torrid bowed his head. "I apologize for bringing the topic arise." His head lifted again.

The older woman narrowed her eyes after noticing how raw of a topic it was to discuss the Egyptian fleet. She had to wonder why Cleopatra did send a navy ship to pick up her and her Soulmate. It was strangely odd yet it made sense to her when she thought of Rome.

The small warrior glanced to her partner to see her eyes glossed over with thoughts. She quickly began to speak to keep Torrid from noticing. "Ra, what's Alexandria like?"

"Very grand Gabrielle." The minister sighed with happiness. "It is a thing of beauty that I can never describe… only the eyes can fully reveal the genuine beauty."

"Then I can't wait." The Amazon Queen grinned. "She sounds magical." She noticed her Soulmate coming out of her phase.

"She is." The man grinned. "So much magic that she can make a person act not of their self." He frowned a little. "That can be the scary beauty of Alexandria… all of Egypt. She can be deadly as she can be beautiful."

"Reminds me of Cleopatra herself."

"Ah yes." Torrid lifted his attention to the warrior to add, "Cleopatra is Egypt. Egypt is mysterious, dangerous, and beautiful therefore Cleopatra is the same. She is a power to reckon."

Xena sighed sadly. "And I am sure one day she will be reckoned."

"That is the day Egypt will gravel to her feet before a new power." He shook his head. "Egypt will not survive without Cleopatra's wisdom."

The warrior-bard stayed silent while taking in this information. She didn't like any of it. Torrid's words began her fear and questioning of this trip to Egypt.

The dark woman glanced to her smaller Soulmate to see her expression of strength. That's when she knew her Soulmate would be very weary in Egypt.

Everybody heard a small stomp on the deck, so they glanced back to see the helmsman returned. He smiled while strolling up.

"Full belly I believe?" Torrid crossed his arms against his chest.

"Very full." The helmsman chuckled and turned his eyes to Gabrielle. "Would you care for me to take back over?"

"Would you like to take over again?" The small warrior grinned.

The helmsman sighed with a friendly grin. "Considering I love to do my job, yes."

"It's all yours." Gabrielle smiled while stepping away from the wheel.

The helmsman took the wheel again.

The small woman gazed up to her Soulmate in question.

Xena nodded to her left towards the main deck. She was signaling to leave with her to talk.

A faint nod from the warrior-bard and she gazed over the minister. "I think Xena and I may go below deck."

"Yes of course." Torrid smiled. "I must speak with the captain."

The group strolled off the poop deck, went below to the corridor of rooms. Torrid went his way while the Soulmates went to their room.

"What's up?" Gabrielle glanced to her lover.

"I saw that look." Xena sat on the foot of the bed.

The small warrior sighed while coming up to her partner. "Sorry."

"Nothing to apologize about." The warrior grasped her Soulmate's hands. "I'm just worried. You'll be stressed in Egypt."

"Not stressed… just cautious." Gabrielle smiled a little while squeezing her warrior's hands. "Aren't I always being cautious these days?"

"Yes but this is different."

"I know… I know." The warrior-bard knelt. "I'd like to think we were safe… but after Torrid's words I don't feel that way." She shook her head. "I can't afford to let all my guard down Xena." She squeezed the large hands. "Not with us. I've let my guard down one to many times on us. It's not fair to you or us." She leaned down to kiss her Soulmate's hands.

Xena studied her lover's eyes while a gently smile came across her lips. "Alright, just don't get overly stress."

"Count on it." Gabrielle smiled while squeezing her warrior's hands. "Don't you either."

The older woman quietly chuckled. "Don't worry."

~*Part 8*~

That day had gone and passed as calming as it was on the gentle sea. However today was not another gentle day on the sea, it was a rough day at sea. The sky above contained a storm and the bed in the cabin contained the Soulmates of Time. Both women being tossed every which way on the bed. Then a small flood of water came crashing into the room by way of the one open window.

"Hades, Gabrielle stay here." Xena only wore her leathers.

The Amazon Queen was on top of her Soulmate and was grabbing a hold for dear life. "Don't."

"And get water logged?" Xena grinned. "I don't think so."

The ship gave a strong toss and the pair rolled to the left into the center of the bed.

Xena was now on top of her partner. "Stay here." She rolled out of the bed to hit the floor as another toss came to the ship. She went slamming into the wall with a groan. "I hate this." She lifted herself off the wall and with her arms up to balance herself, she went to the window.

The Egyptian navy ship rolled left hard then whip lashed to the right again.

This sent the warrior flying to the foot of the bed and she would have gone out of the window but that's a would.

Gabrielle held her lover's hands tightly. "Don't go swimming without me."

The Warrior Princess grinned while feeling the ship rock back to even out. She quickly let go of her warrior's hand and turned around. Jumping, her hands came over the window to close it with the other one and she locked the windows. As soon as she did a large wave crashed against the window and streamed down. Xena sighed in relief and was thankful the window was made of thick glass.

The warship went pitching to the left.

The warrior was prepared and leaned forward as the ship came rolling back.

"Xena, get back over here." Gabrielle was still on the foot of the bed with concerned eyes.

Lying in bed was about all one could do during storms when you didn't operate the ship.

The tall woman carefully made her way back to the bed with her muscles tense to deal with another roll of the ship. She came near the bed and soon found herself thrown into the bed by another pitch of the ship.

The Soulmate were laughing hard now for Xena had landed on Gabrielle and became tangled up.

"What a morning." The warrior-bard sighed deeply while she felt her friend untangle them

The older woman moved to lie on the bed normally and in the center.

The smaller female came crawling on her partner's body to hold on tightly. "How long will this go on for?"

"For a few candlemarks or all day."

The young warrior groaned loudly while dropping her head between her lover's breasts. "Don't tell me that," she mumbled.

The dark woman quietly laughed as the ship pitched again. "Don't worry, it'll stop."

"Gods, I hope so." Gabrielle had her eyes closed. "Xena, I hope I don't-"

"You're not going to throw up."

The Queen whimpered. "I feel like I am going to toss my cookies."

"Don't even think about it." Xena chuckled. "Just keep a hold of me huh?" She'd had her arms tightly around her partner. A small grin crept along her lips. "If we keep talking you won't notice it then your body will get use to it."

"Alright." The small woman lifted her head as the room filled with a small bang from a wave hitting the window. Then she cringed as thunder echoed into the boat. "Know any good jokes Xena?"

"Mmm, can tell you a cheesy one."

"Start telling it." Gabrielle propped her arms up on her Soulmate's chest to rest her chin there.

"Alright." A funny smile was on the warrior's lips. "A mushroom walks into a bar-"

"Wait wait, it's not going to be that cheesy?"

The Warrior Princess sighed with her grin. "I told you, it's cheesy." She cleared her throat. "Anyway, a mushroom walks into a bar and comes up to the bartender." She paused at seeing her Soulmate's raised eyebrow. "So the mushroom asks the bartender if he can get a drink. The bartender said he doesn't serve mushrooms and the mushroom asked, "Why not? I'm a fun-guy."

Gabrielle laughed while shaking her head. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard." She laughed quietly with a grin. "How about a riddle?"

Xena arched an eyebrow. "You know I hate those."

"Oh come on." The small woman evilly grinned while swaying a little to the right from the roll of the ship. "You're good at them… or can't you handle them hmmm?" Her eyes sparkled. "Let's see who's better huh?"

"Alright." The older woman's eyes twinkled. "You go first with the riddle."

"Fine." Gabrielle paused for a moment. "Okay, what animal walks on four feet in the morning, two at noon, and three in the evening?"

The older woman sighed dramatically while rolling her eyes. "Everybody knows that, man." She grinned at her partner. "Here's a practice one for you love, how many months have twenty-eight days?"

"Shoot, all of them Xen." Gabrielle shook her head. "This is hard."

"I told you, practice." The dark woman quietly laughed. "Go ahead, riddle away."

"What is black when you buy it, red as you use it, and gray when you throw it out?" Gabrielle smirked while keeping her chin on her arms.

Xena thought for a few moments while feeling them both rock to the rolls of the ship. "Coal."

"Hades."

The tall woman grinned while she thought of a riddle. "Okay, here's a perfect one for you. What is easy to get into but hard to get out of?"

The Amazon Queen furrowed her eyebrows. "Easy to get in and hard to get out."

The older woman had an amused smile with twinkling eyes.

Gabrielle's eyes widen. "You… you're just so funny Xena. It's trouble."

A small laugh came from the warrior. "Yup."

"Okay… try to get this one smarty." The Queen paused for a moment while getting a thinking expression. "What… has two arms, two wings, two tails, three heads, three bodies, and eight legs?"

"What?!" Xena shook her head as her left hand shot onto the bed to stop them from rolling to the left. "That's ridiculous."

The young woman shrugged her shoulders. "Figured you couldn't handle riddles."

Xena narrowed her eyes. "Let me think." She wrapped her arm back around her lover's waist. "Eight legs?"

"Uh huh."

"Ooooh, a man on a horse holding a chicken." Xena shook her head. "That imagination is still working well."

Gabrielle laughed. "You're not bad at this."

"Thanks." The warrior gave a smug look. "What cannot be seen but only heard, and will not speak unless it is spoken to?"

"Will not speak unless…" The small woman's eyes went unfocused. "That's a good one… but not hard." She grinned while her eyes focused on Xena. "Echo?"

The tall woman nodded. "Exactly."

"Mmm, here's a good one for you." Gabrielle evilly grinned. "The more you crack it, the more people like you. What is it?"

"Oh that's real rich Gabrielle." Xena sighed with a grin. "A smile." She took a deep breath. "What question can you never answer "yes" to?"

The small woman was silent in answering. She tilted her head a little trying to think of the answer. "Is it, are you asleep?"

"Yup."

"Sweet." Gabrielle laughed while coming up with a riddle. "What has six legs but walks with only four?"

"Oh gods, a horse with a rider." The warrior grinned. "What grows larger when you take more away?"

"Xena, a hole. What else?" The small woman sighed. "Okay, neither of us are getting anywhere."

The older woman sighed in relief. "Thank the gods for once."

The ship tossed hard and the Soulmates went rolling to the edge.

Xena eyes peered down at the floorboards as she held herself and Gabrielle from rolling off while the boat still tilted. "Hold on."

"Yeah," peeped the warrior-bard. She could feel her side off the bed.

The ship went crashing back to normal and it took the women rolling back to the middle like nothing happened.

"Okay, let's talk about something funny." Gabrielle took a shaky breath while a small grin took her lips. "How about we come up with some new put-downs for when we fight bad guys?"

Xena laughed then the thunder crashed. "Sounds good. I guess my line, I have many skills, is getting old huh?"

"Nah… it's you, it's classic." The Queen grinned then said, "Here's one, you're so narrowed minded, you can look throw a keyhole with both eyes."

The warrior laughed but snickered. "Sounds like Nyx should have given that line to you."

The young warrior groaned. "Gods she probably should have." Then she suddenly started to laugh hard. "Oh gods I just came up with a good one I can use on Cleopatra if she touches you."

The older woman corked an eyebrow. "Oh, please share."

"Why don't you get yourself a kitten? You could certainly use a new puss."

Xena's eyes widen and she started to laugh hard. She settled down and growled, "Gabrielle."

"Ha!" The small warrior evilly snickered. "It would serve her right for messing with my Soulmate."

The warrior grinned. "Maybe I'll have to use it."

The Amazon Queen corked an eyebrow. "I doubt it."

"Never know." Xena chuckled quietly. "How about a new line for a regular thug on the road?"

"How about… let's play house. You be the door and I'll slam you down."

The warrior chuckled. "Mmmaybe." She grinned. "I could say nice things about you but I'd rather tell the truth."

"Oooh that's not bad." The warrior-bard's head bobbed up and down. "I've hears so much about you. What's your side of the story?"

The older woman snickered. "That's real nice.

The ship tossed to the left with a roll of thunder. And this time it was Gabrielle holding onto her lover from falling off. "Hold on."

Xena smirked and replied, "Yeah." She then dug her head under her partner's head when the boat went rolling back into position.

Gabrielle found herself back on top of Xena. "Xena…. I'm gonna really toss my cookies here." She dropped her head when the wheeze feeling came.

"Come here." The warrior reached to twine her hands with Gabrielle's. "Just don't think about it."

"How can't I?" The Queen dropped her head down while closing her eyes.

The tall woman sighed. "Let's get you on your back, it won't help to rest on your stomach."

"I don't wanna move." She squeezed Xena's hands tightly.

"Please Gabrielle, it'll help us stop rolling too." The Warrior Princess smiled when Gabrielle glanced up. "Right beside me."

The small woman nodded faintly, let go of the large hands, and rolled to her right off Xena. She crashed into the bed beside her lover and her head on Xena's arm. "Oh gods." Her eyes shut.

"Feel a little better?"

"Yeah." Gabrielle opened her eyes. Her right arm crossed over her stomach as her Soulmate's large arm encircled her. "I can't wait for land."

"Mmm, yeah." The dark woman sighed a little. She then rolled onto her right side to peer down at Gabrielle. Her expression was serious.

"What is it?" Gabrielle grasped her warrior's side to hold her. "I don't like it when you get this serious over vacation."

Xena grinned briefly however went stern. "I want you to understand something before we hit Egypt." She sighed. "It's been nagging at me."

"I know." The small woman kept her eyes locked with Xena knowing it would come.

The older woman lowered her head to place a gentle kiss to Gabrielle's lips and raised her head back up.

The ship gave a tiny pitch and the window shook from a wave crashing into it.

"As Torrid said Gabrielle, Egypt can be very mysterious… it can be dangerous." The warrior sighed while her eyes filled with worry. "The magic of Egypt can possible take control of people. It may just take control of either one of us and make us do things we normally don't." Her left hand wrapped around her partner's body found Gabrielle's hand. "It won't affect both of us but it's possible it may happen to one of us." She shook her head. "Understand, whether it's you or me if at all, the other must pull back the person into their arms." Xena's eyes narrowed a little. "If say I started acting distant and ignoring you, you need to remind me who owns me. Do you understand?"

"Yes." Gabrielle nodded. "But why do you think it would only affect one of us?"

"Because we've always been a balance Gabrielle. You are the light, I am the darkness. You are the love and I am the coldness… in theory. So it's possible that I may not think clearly at all and you think so clearly you understand the world or visa versa."

The small woman nodded. "You think it may really happen?"

"I don't know, it may… it may not." The Warrior Princess shook her head. "Either way, we are stronger then the power of Egypt… our love is." She smiled warmly and held Gabrielle's hand tightly. "Remember, your mind, body, heart, emotions, half soul… everything of you is mine and it's yours. Everything of me is yours and it's mine. And the world that is created between us is ours." She lost the smile. "We just may have to keep control on the other."

"Ssso, you're saying if one of us strays it's up to the other to remind who owns who?"

"Yes." The warrior nodded. She closed her eyes while the boat tossed a little. Her eyes opened again. "This is our world Gabrielle, we won't loose it to a little thing like Egypt's magic."

Gabrielle smiled warmly. "No we won't." She let in a deep breath. "What is yours is mine and what is mine is yours… it's ours."

A loving smile was on the warrior's lips. "Forever."

~*Part 9*~

"Well ladies, I hope yesterday did not spoil your perspective for the blue seas?"

It was the following day.

Gabrielle groaned. "No, I was just turning blue."

Torrid quietly laughed at his friend. "I completely sympathize." He glanced over to rail off the bow of the ship. "You can see the great Pharaoh's Lighthouse from here."

"We saw." Xena smiled while standing on the poop deck with her Soulmate in front of her. "Are we expecting to dock tonight?"

"Possible." The minister sighed. "That reminds me, I need to speak to the captain about that. Please excuse me then I may let you ladies know the plans."

"Great, thanks Ra."

The Egyptian smiled at Gabrielle and made his way off the poop deck to go below and find the captain.

"I still can't believe how huge the lighthouse is." Gabrielle shook her head. She was completely mystified by the size of the lighthouse. She began to wonder if it touched the skies.

"Mmm, a bit big." The warrior was grinning as she placed her hands on her lover's shoulders.

The warrior-bard chuckled. "Do you think we'll really make port tonight?"

"It's possible." The tall woman shook her head a little. "I can't believe we're already here."

"You think that storm had anything to do with it?"

Xena nodded. "I think they were south bound winds. Got us here faster."

"Must have." The small woman sighed contently.

"Look that way." The warrior lifted her left hand to the left off the starboard side. "See that strip of land there?"

"Yeah."

"Over there are the three entrances to the Nile." Xena grinned as she gazed at that direction.

"Really?" Gabrielle had a confused expression. "Three entrances?"

"Yes." Xena took a deep breath. "The Nile is a rare river. It flows north instead of south. So it dumps out into the Mediterranean Sea. Now rivers carry silt, rocks, pebbles, sediment, etc. and so what happens is when the river flows into the a greater body of water it releases all the articles it carried."

The small woman lost her puzzled look. "It's a delta."

"Exactly." The older woman shrugged. "This certain river has three main entrances to pass through the delta and into the Nile."

"That's interesting." The Queen breathed in deeply. "Exactly where are the three entrances?"

"There's an eastern entrance, western, and the middle one is relatively more close to the western entrance." The warrior paused. "If we were to enter the Nile coming from this direction, it would be best to enter the eastern entrance through the delta." Her gaze went back to the Pharaoh's Lighthouse. "Let's hope we make it to Alexandria tonight."

"It would be nice." The small woman smiled as she stared at the grand lighthouse. Her eyes then flickered over to the bow of the boat to notice two Egyptian sailors lifting a line with markings and dropping it into the water, yelling out something, and then redropping the line. "What are they doing?"

Xena glanced over to the two sailors. "They're doing soundings."

"What's?" Gabrielle glanced up to her lover. "Depth?"

"Yes." The Warrior Princess nodded a few times. "I imagine being off the coast of the Nile can be a bit dangerous. The depth shifting constantly." She lifted her right hand to point at the men. "See on that rope how there are marks at every certain length?"

"Yeah." The young warrior kept studying the men and heard them call, "Mark twenty-five." She shook her head. "So, they drop the line into the water to find the depth?"

"Yup, they'll throw the rope ahead of themselves with a weight at the end. By the time the ship reaches to the thrown line the rope should be at the bottom of the water."

"Now, why does he say 'mark'?"

Xena took a deep breath. "Mark is basically telling the helmsman that he's talking about the sounding. You may have somebody on the ship yelling numbers out and getting the helmsman confused between which are the sounding numbers." She turned her head to the helmsman. "Now he…" She saw her lover glance over to the helmsman. "Is suppose to listen carefully and steer through the right depths. Usually the ship is going slower but it sounds like we have good depth.

"Mark twain!" called the Egyptian sailor.

"Twain?" Gabrielle chuckled.

"Twain means twenty." The tall woman shrugged her shoulders. "Don't ask me why… never been able to figure it out."

"They should just call it twenty."

"Well… why not just call a dozen twelve?"

The small warrior snickered. "You've got a point. Like decade and ten huh?"

"Yup, same difference."

"That's neat." Gabrielle nodded a few times. "There's a lot to sailing huh?"

Xena nodded a few times. "Amazingly enough there are, not many people think so. They think you just drop the sails and go. Never quite that simple."

"I can see." The Amazon Queen smiled with respect. "I like it… a lot."

The warrior quietly laughed. "Is my side coming out in you?"

"I think so." Gabrielle dropped her head back with a smile.

The older woman smiled back and watched her partner lift her head again.

Torrid came up the steps to the poop deck. "Well ladies, the captain believes we'll be docking late this evening." He smiled warmly. "Get ready to enter another world this evening."

Both the Soulmate glanced to each other with excitement but small worry was tinted into their eyes.

"Now then, follow me this way." Torrid strolled off the gangplank onto the small dock. "This is the small personal dock of Queen Cleopatra and only used on special occasions. So feel special." He grinned a little.

The Soulmates chuckled together while shifting their packs on their backs.

"Let's go." The minister lead the way across the limestone walkway to come to numerous steps up to a huge pillared entrance. "Now this is the main entrance to Cleopatra's palace."

It was certainly late evening for their was torch after torch going up the steps to light the way. And every other step there was an Egyptian guard with a spear, sword, and an Anubis mask.

"Queen Cleopatra is awaiting for us inside with your servants to take your things."

"To our room at the remote end of the palace?" Gabrielle's voice was a tease.

The minister chuckled a little. "Yes, rather remote."

Xena narrowed her eyes at her lover with a grin. "You'll be so lucky to be silent tonight."

An evil grin creased the small warrior's lips. "I don't know silence… except in the silent game."

The warrior snickered but didn't respond while seeing the entrance to the palace come.

The group walked through the huge marbled entrance, that even left Xena feeling small, to come into a large room that was lined with torches. There was another doorway with two guards.

"We are to wait here for Queen Cleopatra's greeting." Torrid turned to stand behind the two women.

The two guards stepped out of the way of the door. Four young women came out of the entrance in single file and flanked off to each side. Next came two guards with no spears but armor instead and they flanked to each side.

Next came out a dark skinned woman with gold swirled around her breasts, arms, and legs. From her hips to her upper thighs was cover by a thin red silk skirt then in her black hair were beads of gold. Her eyes were bright amber with black eyeliner circling around to swirl to her temples. She slowly strolled up to the Soulmates with a radiant smile. "I am so happy and honored that you both could make it to Egypt." She came directly up to the Soulmates. She glanced between both women. "I hope the trip was pleasant enough, I heard of the strong storm."

"Nothing to worry about." Xena shrugged with a small grin. "We stomached it."

Cleopatra gave a small grin. "Good to hear." She glanced back to Torrid. "And I do hope my second minister was helpful enough."

Torrid bowed his head with his arms against his sides.

"Yes he was." Gabrielle glimpsed back to the minister then to the Queen again. "He was wonderful."

"Well then Queen Gabrielle." Cleopatra smiled warmly. "He will remain as your aid through the rest of your stay. And speaking of which, I hope your stay will be long."

"We're not quite sure yet." The warrior folded her arms against her chest. "Depends on how things go. Playing by ear."

"I can understand." The Queen of Egypt put her hands to her hips. "I still thank you both for your help in Greece on stopping my assassin." She bowed her head. "It may have been a year ago however Egypt never forgets her friends." Her head came back up to gaze at the Warrior Princess. "And thank you for taking me up on the offer to come see the magical lands." Her eyes flickered over to Gabrielle. "I had high hopes you'd both come."

The Amazon Queen held back her instinct to narrow her eyes.

"But I will let you both go to your room. I'm sure you're both quite tired from the journey." The Egyptian Queen stepped up to Xena first. Her hands rested on the warrior's arms. "This is how we say, welcome back to Egypt Xena." She leaned into to kiss the taller woman.

Xena felt small flickers of coldness dot her body. When the woman pulled back she gave a small smile.

Cleopatra then stepped up to Gabrielle. "And this is how we say welcome to Egypt Gabrielle." She leaned down to take the small warrior's lips in a warm kiss.

The Warrior Princess slowly arched an eyebrow while watching. Only fair.

The Queen of Egypt pulled back with a smile and stepped back. "Sleep well tonight. If you need anything please ask your servants or Ra." She folded her arms over her chest. "They will assist in anyway."

The warriors nodded together and said words of thank you and goodnight.

Cleopatra only gave them back and left the room with all the people that entered with her.

Torrid stepped up beside the women. "I'll take you to your room." He smiled warmly and began to walk slowly through the entrance to come to a huge corridor that ran left, right, and straight ahead. He turned to his left to walk down the corridor slowly.

The Soulmate's followed in silence. They just glanced around taking in the size of the palace and all the doors leading every which way. They were led to two double wood doors to the left.

Torrid reached forward to grasp one of the gold rings and pulled the door open. "This is your room ladies, I do hope it's adequate enough." He stepped back holding the door with his head bowed.

The women made their way into the room. Again Gabrielle only found herself gawking and Xena was stoic.

The room, naturally, was by no mere means small, for it stretched out and across for a great length. Off to the right was a huge size bed big enough to hold four people comfortable. The ceiling of the room stretched out for a certain distance but stopped as the floor kept going to make a balcony that overlooked Alexandria. To the left and right were doorways to two other rooms. Then on the right side of the bed was a huge dresser made of fine wood. To the women's left was a long red couch and two large comfortable chairs with a glass table in front of the couch.

"It'll suffice for now." The warrior was nodding.

"Gabrielle?" The minister turned his head to the warrior-bard for her response as he grinned.

The Amazon Queen's head started bobbing up and down while she closed her mouth. She lost her surprised look and turned her head coolly to Torrid. "It's a bit small in comparison to my hut in the Amazon Nation." She put her hands on her hips. "But I think it's… livable." She grinned at the man. "It's horribly small."

"I know, it's rather quaint I do say."

"Yes rather." Gabrielle chuckled while smiling to the Egyptian. "Thank you Ra. You've been great help."

Torrid bowed his head. "Thank you." His head came back up. "I try but my serves are not ended till you both leave Egypt." He smiled warmly. "Now then, I'll let you both settle in for the night. Sleep pleasantly."

"We will." Xena smiled to the man. "Sweet dreams Ra."

Torrid chuckled. "Certainly. Goodnight ladies." He turned to head out of the door and closed it behind quietly.

The Queen glanced up to her warrior. "I've got the right, you've got the left."

"Right… I mean left." Xena chuckled while power walking to the left doorway.

Gabrielle jogged over to the right doorway on the other side of the room. Her jog instantly stopped as she entered into the extravagant room. "By the gods!" She shook her head. "Xena check this out!"

The warrior shook her head at staring at the huge washroom that included two huge marble tubs. She spun around on her heels and power walked over to her partner's side. She glanced around in the huge room. "Not bad… at all."

"Ha." The small woman shook her head. "Feel like going for a swim?"

The Warrior Princess snickered as she looked up and down the length of the gigantic hot tub that only needed to be filled with hot water, incensed, and bubbled. "So what you think?"

"I think we're in the lap of luxury."

"Uh huh." Xena put her hands on her hips. "I think we need to get one of these when we settle down."

The young warrior laughed. "Right, I'll make sure to tell Eph to build us one. No we'll get two… one outdoors and one indoors." She nodded. "I am the Queen… not that it means anything."

The older woman quietly laughed and turned her head to Gabrielle. "Ready to try out that huge bed?"

"Oh yeah." Gabrielle grinned but sighed. "To tired to play though."

The warrior wrinkled her nose. "Me too."

"I tell you though." The warrior-bard shook her head. "It's hot here."

"You should get your cloak off." Xena turned to take her Soulmate's pack and remembered her own so she took it off. She walked back to the bed to settle the packs there.

The small woman came strolling up to drop her cloak on the bed and she closed her eyes. "I feel like I am still on the boat."

"Still rocking huh?"

"Yeah." Tired green eyes opened. "How about you?"

"The same." Xena grinned. "Aren't I always the same as you?"

A small grin took the Queen's lips. "But of course." She chuckled then glanced to the bed to see all the pillows. "Now what are we suppose to do about those?" Her hands went to her hips.

"Oh boy, no pillows when we settle down."

"Two are good, three fine but twenty is ridiculous." The warrior-bard sighed dramatically. "Gods, we have to take them off tonight then put them back on tomorrow. What's the point?"

Xena laughed with a grin. "I'll show you… later." An evil grin crossed her lips.

Gabrielle corked an eyebrow at her lover. "You do that." She sighed tiredly. "I don't know about you, but I'm stripping tonight. It's to hot to be sleeping in clothes." Her hands came down to snag the packs and cloaks. She started walking over to the dresser.

The warrior was shaking her head with a grin. "Guess I'm stripping too," she said with an amused voice.

The young warrior whirled around after placing the stuff on top of the dresser. "Yeah you are." She winked at her partner.

The tall woman was still grinning with an amused look.

The pair was then quickly undressing. Their clothes left on top of each other's on top of the dressor.

Gabrielle was lying near the edge of the bed on her side. She had her back to the washroom and eyes closed.

The warrior was in the washroom and slowly coming out. She stood there with a smile and gazing at her Soulmate's smooth body. She sighed happily then came up silently behind. She slid half her body onto Gabrielle's while she rested on her side. Her left arm went around the small warrior's stomach and her top leg crossed over Gabrielle's. Her right hand came up to disappear in Gabrielle's short hair. Leaning in, her lips pressed against the other woman's neck. "Tired?"

"Yeah." The warrior-bard's breathing was very quiet. "I couldn't believe Cleopatra."

"Mmm, you mean the kisses huh?" Xena's right hand worked to massage Gabrielle's head. "Yeah… was a disrespecting on our part."

"Uh huh." The small woman sighed. "She knows about us… anybody does by glancing at us."

"Except for Joxer."

"Except for Joxer." Gabrielle chuckled while feeling her lover's hand slip down to her lower stomach.

"You were the one wanting a threesome."

"I don't think so Xen."

The warrior laughed quietly. "Oh… I see now." Her thumb rubbed against her Soulmate's warm stomach. "Don't want that threesome now?"

"I do… but with a man." The Queen snickered. "I didn't say anything about a woman… let alone Cleopatra."

The older woman was grinning as she drew Gabrielle in closer. "I don't think you have to worry. She knows we're together and respects that."

"I don't see the respect."

Xena sighed for a moment. "Not yet you don't. Give her a chance love." She nuzzled her lover's neck. "She was just welcoming us."

"Some welcome," mumbled the small woman.

The dark female chuckled. "I'll agree to that." A small sigh escaped her. "Give her a chance though huh?"

"Yeah," Gabrielle whispered. "I guess I'm still a little raw about the last time… especially considering you weren't mine then."

The warrior kissed her Soulmate's shoulder. "I'm always yours, no matter." She placed her head back into her small warrior's neck. "I'd be the same way Gabrielle." She chuckled a little. "A little bitter she kissed you tonight."

"Dido." Gabrielle rolled around to face her lover. "Let's fix that." She leaned into to kiss her Soulmate deeply and with ownership.

Xena fell into the kiss and poured her ownership into the kiss. Slowly she pulled back with a smile. "That's better."

The Queen chuckled with a tired smile. "Doesn't matter in the end because I know what's mine. She can't touch you."

The warrior grinned and replied warmly, "Dido." She leaned in again.

Gabrielle was chuckling as her partner was about to kiss her. She stopped with a smile and sealed her lips with Xena's. When she pulled back she dug her head under Xena's.

"Let's get some sleep."

"Sounds good." Gabrielle gave a small laugh. "Think we should maybe… try the center of the bed."

"Uh huh." Xena released her warrior.

The young woman lifted herself up to crawl into the middle of the bed and flop down.

The taller female came over next and slowly laid down. She pulled her lover in tightly. "Sleep well." She kissed the top of Gabrielle's head.

"Night Xen." The small warrior kissed her warrior tenderly and kept her body pressed against Xena's. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too Gabrielle." Xena tucked her Soulmate's head under her chin and closed her eyes with Gabrielle's.

The Soulmates soon disappeared from this world to enter their world of dreamscape.

~*Part 10*~

"I do hope you ladies are ready for an exciting day?" Torrid bowed his head. "I've made arrangements."

"Really?" Gabrielle smiled while crossing her arms against her chest. "What's the plans?"

"Wellll…" The minister lifted his head. "I, myself, plan to give you a tour of Alexandria." He smiled warmly. "Following thereafter we are to stop into the Alexandria's great library. Then following that it will be near lunch. We are to return here and the Queen said she would reside with us. This morning she has important affairs to attend but sends her wishes and apologizes for not going herself."

Xena smiled warmly while putting her right hand on her lover's shoulder. "We're ready."

"Wonderful." Torrid smiled. "Right this way." He turned on his heels to head to the same doorway that was to the forum of the palace where they met Cleopatra last night.

As soon as the group came through the doors two guards followed behind and walked down the steps with them.

Gabrielle glanced up to the minister. "Why shadows?"

The Egyptian slowed down to now walk beside his friends. "Queen Cleopatra authorized that we should be escorted by two guards for precautions."

The small warrior patted her Soulmate's stomach while saying, "I think we have all the protection we need right here."

Torrid quietly laughed. "Very true however the queen would be rather furious if I did not allow the guards with us."

The Soulmates nodded together at that answer.

The group went into the main streets of Alexandria where they were bombarded by vendors and their customers. They kept walking together following Torrid.

The warrior kept eye on her partner whom continually was getting her sights caught up in the items the vendors were selling. Xena couldn't blame her Soulmate one bit considering how unusually anything was in Egypt. She leaned towards her partner whom was staring at a jewelry stand. "Interesting stuff huh?"

Gabrielle nodded while looking back to her lover. "It really is, I'd love to take a better look later."

Xena turned her head to Torrid beside her. "Ra, later this afternoon Gabrielle and I would like to glance around in the market."

"Of course." The minister nodded with a smile. "I would never pass up a good bargain from an Egyptian vendor. They have quite fine things here."

"I know they do." The Warrior Princess's lips shifted into a smile.

Torrid gazed over to the warrior-bard. "Gabrielle, I would recommend you buy some papyrus scrolls. They are very rare and wonderful."

"I've heard." The small warrior folded her arms over her chest while glimpsing to the minister. "Grow along the Nile correct?"

"Yes, papyrus reeds grow naturally along the great banks of the Nile. The papyrus makers take great care in making their scrolls and papers. Hard to find anywhere else in the world."

The Amazon Queen gave a small grin. "Any bard would die to write their stories on papyrus from Egypt."

The minister was quietly laughing. "I've heard."

The darker warrior looked at Torrid again. "Do we do camel rides?"

Gabrielle's head quickly whipped up at hearing this one.

"So you found the library intriguing?"

The Amazon Queen nodded with a smile. "It was amazing Queen Cleopatra. I've never seen something so huge."

The Queen of Egypt chuckle while shifting a little in her large chair. "Yes, I am rather proud of Alexandria's extensive library. Scholars from around the world come here just to use our library. We hold the most recorded history, knowledge, and stories known."

Gabrielle nodded after drinking some of her wine from the golden goblet. "I can imagine. I've never seen anything quite that amazing. Just isle after isle with everything carefully categorized, numbered, and summarized."

"Yes, we keep the library orderly. There are actually twenty-five librarians hired to watch over the library."

Xena placed her hands on the arms of the chair. "I noticed you had guards there as well. Problems with people stealing the scrolls and books?"

Three servants came in to clear the table of the dirty plates.

"Unfortunately yes we have a small problem with that." Cleopatra sighed sadly. "The problems have lessen quite a bit since we've placed the guards inside and outside of the building. No one is allowed to take the scrolls or books out of the library. The people whom use them are heavily monitored to make sure they don't ruin the items. Since then we hardly ever have problems."

"That's good." Gabrielle nodded. "It would be ashame if you ever lost all of that knowledge."

The Egyptian Queen's face was written with a little fear. "I pray that Egypt never loses her wondrous library." She glanced away as the thought disappeared from mind. She smiled at the two women. "I heard from Ra…" Her eyes flickered to the minister whom sat to her right at the round table. "That you both wish to take a… ride down the Nile."

Torrid bowed his head while speaking. "If that is not a problem my Queen."

Cleopatra turned her head to her second minister. "Not at all."

The man lifted his head with a smile. "Thank you."

"Ra, you know how I feel about cruises down the grand Nile." Cleopatra's expression lit up with a grin.

A small chuckle came from the minister. "Of course my Queen, but I wanted to make sure you had time to take our guests on a cruise."

"I always do." The Queen of Egypt turned back to the Soulmates. "The affairs can be put off for one night." The grin had came back. "You both will love the Nile." Her eyes gleamed. "It's very magical and it's the center of Egypt's magic."

Gabrielle glanced up to her warrior then back to Cleopatra. "I can't wait to see."

"Wonderful." Cleopatra turned her attention to her minister again. "We'll depart near dusk from the port."

Torrid nodded. "What of the preparations?"

"I'll take care of those Ra. You just bring our guests." The Queen gazed back to the warriors. "The cruise will be rather long. We'll enter the Nile and head through the delta. Normally we cruise down to Memphis but we'll go a little beyond Memphis this time then come back up. By the time we make it back to Alexandria it will be fairly late, I hope neither of you mind."

"Not at all." Xena grinned. "I think we can handle that."

Cleopatra slowly stood with her dark skin reflecting the sunlight. "Very good." A radiant smile crossed her lips. "Then I will see you both at the port." Her smile transformed into a grin. "Prepare yourselves for a mysterious night." She spun around and strolled out of the lunch room with three guards and two servants.

Gabrielle kept her cork eyebrow up after the other Queen's departure. She slowly turned her head to Torrid. "Ssso… what about that camel ride?"

"Hold on, how do I get him to stand again?"

Xena laughed while slowly positioning herself on her sitting camel. "Just lightly tap him on his sides. He'll stand up." She did it herself in example and lightly tapped the heel of her boots on the camel's sides and instantly her camel stood up high.

"Okay." Gabrielle chuckled while lightly tapping her camel's sides in the ribs.

The camel started to stand.

"Wahoo!" The Amazon Queen soon found herself high up and gripping the reins tightly. "He's a little taller then Torqueo."

Torrid pulled on the right rein of his camel and came up beside Gabrielle. "Camels are physically differently from horses however they're ridden the same way."

"Really?" The small warrior glanced down at her camel then back to the Egyptian. "That's easy."

"That was the idea." Torrid gave a teasing grin. "Egyptians did not want to complicated any foreigner's lives by confusing them with riding camels."

"Ha, ha." The warrior-bard mocked glared at the minister. "I didn't think ministers could be funny."

"It seem this one can be." Xena pulled back on the reins as she came closer to the pair.

Torrid raised an eyebrow with a grin. "My apologizes yet it is quite true about horses, camels, and foreigners." He glanced to his right to see the two guards mounted on camels to follow. "Let's go then ladies." He tapped his camel's sides to send her into a walk heading down the road out of Alexandria.

The Soulmates followed behind then the guards followed behind them.

"So explain to me why camels have humps?" Gabrielle placed her hand on her camel's hump slightly studying it. "Must be for storing food or water."

"It's for water mainly." Torrid smiled to his friend. "Camels can go days out in the deserts without water."

"That's interesting." The small woman nodded few times while collecting the bright colorful cloth reins in her hands again. "That would make sense."

"It's just a natural adaptation." Xena glanced to her Soulmate. "Horses wouldn't make it for long in the deserts."

The young woman nodded a few times while bobbing up and down on her camel. "So exactly where are we heading to Ra?"

The minister slowed his camel down to come along side the woman. "To a small area outside of Alexandria. There is a small pyramid that was built hundreds of years ago."

"For what pharaoh?" Xena glanced to the Egyptian.

"It's actually a pyramid built for a family member of Ramses the second."

The warrior furrowed her eyebrows. "The same Ramses that fought the Hittites?"

"Yes." Torrid smile warmly to the Warrior Princess. "King Ramses the second was an excellent general and kept the Hittites away for centuries. He also was a marvelous builder and this is one of his pyramids to his sister. It's rather small that he did in the beginning of his reign." He kept smiling while gazing ahead on the road. "He also built the temple, Abu Simbel which is in southern Egypt."

Gabrielle shook her head. "There's a lot of history to these lands."

"There is." Torrid smile warmly. "The lands of the pharaohs goes back thousands and thousands of years while Greece had yet to be conceived."

"Who was your first king?" The young warrior glanced to the minister.

"Our very first king was the glorious Narmer." Torrid sighed contently with a smile. "He brought Egypt out of her civil wars and united upper and lower Egypt."

The group continued talking about Egypt's history while travelling south of Alexandria. They soon made it to the sight of the 'small' pyramid. The group stopping with their camels to stare at the pyramid.

"By… the… gods." Gabrielle shook her head plus lifted her right hand to shut her mouth. "I've never… gods."

Xena lifted her right hand while running it through her hair. "Good engineering." A small grin creased her lips while her head bobbed.

The small warrior slowly turned her head to her Soulmate. "Do you see this thing?"

"Kinda of." The warrior grinned to the partner. "I think I need to lean back to get a full view."

The young woman laughed. "Really." She turned her head back to the old sand tan pyramid that seemed to reach the skies. "It's a wonder."

Torrid smile with such satisfaction. "Now ladies, if you believe this to be a marvel you haven't seen anything till you've seen Khufu's great Giza pyramid."

"I've heard of those collection of pyramids." Xena turned her head to the Egyptian. "That's where the Sphinx is right?"

The minister briskly nodded. "Yes Khufus's son, Khafra, built the legendary Sphinx and the second pyramid at Giza."

"Egypt seems to have a lot of wonders." The warrior-bard stared at the huge pyramid that just stands along side the road as if it were just a tree.

"Ah yes this she does." Torrid studied the pyramid with happy eyes that gleamed. "Non-such in the world." He tapped the sides of his camels to have it lower and sit down. "Now for a better look."

The Soulmates did the same and climbed off their camels. The guards slowly shifted their camels to stand beside the other three camels to watch over them. The warriors with Torrid slowly strolled up to the huge pyramid.

"So this is small compared to the ones in Giza?"

Torrid nodded a little. "Yes this pyramid is rather minuet in comparison to the Khufu's pyramid."

The young woman shook her head because she couldn't completely take this in. She noticed how much larger the pyramid grew as she neared. "Is there anyway to get inside?"

"Yes of course." The minister walked to his left around the pyramid. "Yet we may not enter for it is the resting place." He came around the corner of the pyramid in the brown dirt. There ahead he spotted a huge door in the pyramid's side. "This is the door here."

The group came up and stood beside the door.

Gabrielle was the one taking a step closer to notice the odd images chiseled into the door. "What are those?"

Xena took a step up beside her Soulmate. Her right hand came up to run across the images. "Hieroglyphics." Her hands kept running along as she glanced down at her partner. "They're the ancient writing style of the Egyptians." She lifted her eyes to the doorway again. She started pointing at each hieroglyphic while saying, "Here… is the tomb… of the great… Ramses the second… sister…" She stopped while furrowing her eyebrows. "I believe the name is Hathor." Her expression went back to concentration. "That was one of Egypt's… needed women…" She kneeled down to read the rest, her hand still on the door. "Fear entering this… tomb of the late Hathor… for it is… guarded by powers… of Anubis himself." She slowly stood up with her arms against her chest. "Interesting."

Together the Soulmates gazed back to Torrid noticing how quiet he'd became.

The minister blinked, closed his mouth, wiped away his expression of awe, and glanced up to the warrior. "You can read hieroglyphics?" he peeped out.

Xena quietly laughed with a grin. "One of my many skills."

"That is one of the most impressive things I've seen." Torrid shook his head. "Very few can still read ancient hieroglyphics."

The small warrior peeked up to her partner wondering exactly how and when her warrior picked up reading hieroglyphics. She glanced back to the minister. "Why don't many know?"

The Egyptian sighed sadly. "People have forgotten over time. There are still a few whom know but they are limited. Queen Cleopatra has tried to preserve the ancient hieroglyphics by keeping a few scrolls on the language in the library. Yet it can be rather hard because hieroglyphics can be a little different in each region of Egypt as if it were a dialect."

Gabrielle nodded a few times. "They look hard to do."

"They are very complicated." Torrid started walking back towards the camels with his friends. "Queen Cleopatra would love to teach her people the old ways of hieroglyphics but she's not sure if it would ever be possible. I have a feeling they may be lost in time." He shook his head.

The short warrior had a sad expression. "It's ashame to lose such things like that." She lifted her head up in time to catch sight of her camel spit on the ground. "Lovely… I'm glad Torqueo doesn't do that."

The warrior chuckled at her partner. "I'll have to teach him." She received a playful hit to her stomach. "Then again I might not."

"You better not." Gabrielle narrowed her eyes up to her warrior. "You're not going to have a chakram if you do."

Xena grinned evilly.

The small warrior sighed with a grin. She came up to her camel and found a water skin.

The warrior came up behind her lover and whispered, "Feel like walking around the pyramid?"

"Sure." Gabrielle turned around with a smile and her attention went to Torrid. "We're going to go get a better glance at this pyramid."

"Of course." The minister bowed his head. "Take all the time you want. I'll wait here."

"Thanks Ra." The Amazon Queen followed her Soulmate as she still carried the water skin. She uncorked it and drank some then handed it to her best friend. "Pretty amazing."

"It's beautiful." Xena glanced at the pyramid and drank some of the water. She corked the skin and brought the strap over her right shoulder to carry it. "You'd by mystified by the Sphinx in Giza."

"Have you seen it?"

"From a distance." The warrior grinned at her Soulmate. "Wish I'd seen it up close and personal."

Gabrielle chuckled and noticed they were coming around a corner of the pyramid. "Where'd you learn to read hieroglyphics?"

The older woman sighed while trying to remember. "The one time I was here in Egypt."

"You're kidding?" The small woman glanced at her warrior. "How long were you here for?"

Xena shrugged her shoulders. "I'd say… two weeks or so. I was a pirate then and was hiding from an enemy for awhile. Picked up on hieroglyphics then while waiting for my men to repair my ship."

The Queen shook her head. "Gods, you're amazing."

The tall woman's lips crept along into a grin. "I try." She came around a second corner with her partner and knew they were completely out of sight from their guards. "Come here." She stopped walking.

Gabrielle turned to her lover and reached up to pull her head down. She claimed her Soulmate's lips in a tender kiss.

Xena placed her hands on her warrior's sides. Slowly she pulled back with a smile and she let her arms encircle her partner.

"I hate Xena withdraws." The young woman grinned while resting her hands on Xena's upper arms.

"They're right up there with Gabrielle withdraws." Xena grinned while lowering her head. Her forehead resting against Gabrielle's. "I love you."

"I love you too." Gabrielle finished the distance to kiss her warrior deeply. She soon found her body pressing into Xena's hard. She slowly pulled back with a groan. "Gods." She dropped her head onto her warrior's chest.

The warrior kissed the top of her friend's head while dropping her chin down. "Been a nice day."

"Uh huh." The small woman closed her eyes. "Tonight will be interesting."

"It will be." Xena slowly closed her eyes. "We'll have to be on guard with Cleopatra."

"Oh yeah?" Gabrielle chuckled a little. "I gotta keep her hot lips off you."

"Ha." The tall woman was grinning. "You mean I have to keep them off you." Her arms tightened. "I don't share."

"Neither do I." The young woman lifted her head with a grin. "You're mine." She took Xena's lips in a strong kiss. She then lowered her lips to her lover's chest to press there. "Gods, I love you."

"Sssh." Xena stepped back reluctantly with a sad smile. "Come on love. We better keep moving."

The Queen's eyes sparkled in a flash. "Tell me about it." She held out her left hand.

The warrior carefully took the smaller hand and twined their hands. She lifted her partner's hand and kissed the top. "I love you Gabrielle." She winked and lowered their hands to keep walking.

Gabrielle squeezed back while turning her loving gaze ahead. "We're gonna sleep really gggood tonight."

The dark woman snickered with a twinkle in her eyes. "Oh yeah."

The warrior-bard laughed then smiled. "Oh gods." She shook her head while grinning. "At least we have our late late night planned." She shrugged her shoulders. "Just a little sex."

"Who said anything about little?" Xena evilly grinned at her partner. "There's nothing little between us."

"Except for me." The young woman snickered.

"Mmm." The Warrior Princess slowly turned her head away as a happy grin controlled her lips. "Good things come in small packages."

Gabrielle's eyes drifted shut as she felt the rushes go through her body. Her eyes slowly opened again. "And my other half is perfection." Her head slowly turned to the warrior.

Xena smiled with love and squeezed the small hand. "Almost… I don't know how to cook… yet."

They came around the third corner of the pyramid.

The blond warrior laughed with a smile. "The Warrior Princess… the Cooking Princess." She started to roll with laughter.

The tall woman sighed with a shake of her head. "You never know." She grinned at her partner.

"That will be frightening." The young woman grinned at her partner. "We'll ask Cyrene to give you an apron and everything."

Another sigh came from the older female. "Just a little credit." She gave a pout to her partner.

"Okay okay… you pick good fruit." Gabrielle grinned but squeezed her lover's hand tightly. She went serious. "If you really want I can teach you."

"Would love it." Xena glanced ahead. "But when we settle down. It would be to stressful to learn now."

The Queen chuckled with a smile and sighing. "Yeah true." She grinned up to Xena. "Guess that leaves me still as the cook between us."

"Yup." The warrior grinned, saw the corner of the pyramid, stopped, and pulled her Soulmate in again. She leaned down to kiss the younger woman.

Gabrielle pulled back with a sigh. "Come on, we'll survive till tonight."

"Let's hope so." The dark woman released her warrior while starting to walk again.

The young woman started walking again with her partner.

The pair came around the last bend and saw the camels with the guards and Torrid. They started making a beeline for the camels.

Xena adjusted the strap of the water skin on her right shoulder.

Gabrielle suddenly stopped walking and grabbed Xena's arm. "Xena," her voice was low and hinted with fear. Her eyes stayed pinned on the ground ahead.

The warrior glanced ahead to see what her Soulmate was fearing of and it made a small grin slip on her lips. "It's just a spider."

"A really huge one."

"It's a tarantula." Xena started walking towards it.

The small woman tightened her grip to stop her lover from walking. "Don't mess with that thing." She glanced up to Xena.

The Warrior Princess lost her grin. "Don't worry, it won't do anything. I swear."

The Queen slowly corked an eyebrow but forever trusted her Soulmate and released her arm.

Xena slowly walked up to the tarantula that scurried away for a second, stopped and turned towards her. She knelt down to one knee and held her right hand out.

Gabrielle's eyes widen as she watched the huge spider slowly walk up into her Soulmate's palm. She shivered instinctively.

The warrior cupped her palm while turning back to her partner. "The fangs are poisonous."

"Ah great." The young warrior folded her arms over her chest. "It looks good from a distance."

Xena grinned while lifting her left hand to let the spider crawl onto that hand. "They won't bite unless you give them a reason to."

"I just won't touch it so I don't have to worry at all."

The dark woman stepped up in front of her partner. "Come here."

The small woman shook her head. "No thanks."

The tall female saw her Soulmate shiver. She lifted her eyes from the tarantula with a trusting smile. "Come on, it won't do anything. It actually tickles." She reached forward with her right hand that didn't hold the spider.

Gabrielle whined. "I hate spiders." She grasped her partner's hand tightly.

The warrior slowly brought her left hand over with the tarantula and she let it slowly crawl on top of her lover's hand. She felt the life threatening hold Gabrielle had on her hand.

The small woman held her breath while watching the black spider began to crawl along her hand and search her hand. "Oh… gods," she whispered. Her fingers were white from holding Xena's hand tightly. She could feel the small little hairs of the tarantula's legs come up her hand and head towards her wrist.

Xena watched intently and lifted her eyes to her friend's face.

Torrid put his right hand to his hip. His head tilted to the right while he kept his focused attention on the Soulmates up ahead. "Interesting."

Gabrielle took a calming breath as she saw the spider begin to climb up towards her arms. "It's going up my arm." Her eyes widen to see the spider picking up a little speed to head up the small woman's arm. "Okay, okay stay off the arm."

The warrior quickly lifted her left hand to her partner's arm. The tarantula crept into the large hand.

The Amazon Queen sighed and released her Soulmate's hand. "Always played with them when you were young?"

"Yeah." The tall woman nodded while watching the spider crawl between her hands. "They're interesting I think."

The small warrior nodded, she took a deep breath, and placed her right hand up. She watched intently to see the spider go onto her hand. "I can do this."

The older warrior grinned while seeing her best friend let the tarantula crawl between the hands. "Not so bad huh?"

"Yeah." The warrior-bard took a deep breath. "I'm just not doing it on a daily basis."

Xena chuckled quietly. "Just think of all the mosquitoes that could be biting you if it weren't for spiders."

Gabrielle nodded at that. "True." She chuckled as she finally let herself realize that the hairs of the tarantula were tickling here. "They are a ticklish feeling."

A grin came over Xena's mouth. "Yup." Her eyes lifted from the black spider to her partner's eyes.

The small warrior glanced up and slowly let a smile come into play. She glanced back down to the spider and held her left hand out with it.

The older woman lifted her right hand with a smile to take the tarantula. Once it was on her hand she took a few steps away, bent down, and let the spider leave her hand. Slowly standing up again she joined her Soulmate in heading back to the camels.

The midnight tarantula stood in place for a moment then slowly began to crept away in its own direction.

"We'll be fine." Gabrielle placed her right hand on Torrid's shoulder. "What could happen between Xena and I?" She grinned.

The minister slowly raised an eyebrow. "Considering what I know, a lot."

The Amazon Queen dropped her shoulders then hand. "You've got a point." She peeked up to her partner with a serious looked however her eyes sparkled. "Think we can really handle being on our own in Alexandria?"

Xena lips crept along into a grin. She slowly turned her head to Torrid as her grin disappeared. "I think we can handle it."

"I do believe the Queen would be furious with me if I left you both alone."

"How about this..." The warrior reached up between her breasts to pull her dagger out. "I hold you at dagger point…" She put the tip of the dagger to her fingernails. "So then you go to Cleopatra saying I threatened you. She can get… furious with me." She flipped the dagger so the tip pointed at Torrid and she took a step closer. "Sound like a plan?" Her eyes twinkled with wildness.

"Uhh…" The minister stepped back with his hands up. "However, I think I may be able to deal with the Queen's wrath."

"You sure?" Xena ran her right thumb over the blade. "I don't mind… I'll just give you a little niche so it looks believable."

"That's quite alright Xena." The Egyptian chuckled with a sheepish smile. He suddenly went serious with a straight back, he snapped his right fingers. "Guards."

The two guards came stepping up beside the minister on either side.

Torrid took a deep breath. "We will head back to the palace to await our guests return from the market."

The Warrior Princess pressed the blade against her lips while she grinned. "Toodles boys."

The two guards huffed while turning on their heels.

Xena's eyes widen for a second with a chuckle. She slipped the dagger back in.

"Thanks Ra." Gabrielle grinned. "See you tonight."

"I'll come by to pick you ladies up." Torrid turned to saunter off. "Enjoy your time in the market." He glanced back with a board smile.

"Bye." The small warrior watched him disappear in the crowd and she sighed. "Nice going." She glanced up to her partner.

"Hey." Xena grinned. "That's what you get for asking me to get rid of our shadows."

The younger woman grinned amusingly. "Who said I never liked it?" She turned to start walking into the heart of the market.

"Your look did." The tall woman walked along side her Soulmate.

"Whatever." A grin creased the warrior-bard's lips. "I grinned… I didn't give you a disappointing look."

The warrior's head bobbed a few times. "True."

"See." A chuckled had come from her. "Besides, I wouldn't have asked you to do it if I knew what you were going to do."

"True too."

"Uh huh." Gabrielle gave a grin to Xena for a second but lost it. "So where we going first?"

Xena shrugged. "You're the one that likes to shop."

"Not like I use to." The small warrior stepped closer to her partner as a few people tried to run into her. "Nice crowd."

"Mmm, stay close. I don't need somebody trying to steal you."

"Is that a crack on my height?" Gabrielle mocked glared to her lover.

The warrior evilly grinned. "Only if you want it to be." She chuckled while glancing around. "You know I love… vertically challenged people."

"Gee thanks." The small woman sighed with a smile. "I feel the love here Xen."

The tall woman smile warmly, lifted her right hand to Gabrielle's back, steered her to the left, and said, "Come on." She soon led them back to that same stand from earlier that held jewelry.

"You're good." Gabrielle glanced at her warrior then to the stand. "How'd you…" She shook her head with a laugh.

"I just know." Xena stood behind her Soulmate while Gabrielle looked. She folded her arms while keeping her eyes on the people around as well as her lover.

The Amazon Queen ran her right hand through her hair while gazing down at the first table.

Slowly a short dark tanned man came up to the two women with a smile. "Anything I can help you ladies with?"

"I think we're fine." Gabrielle glanced up with a smile.

"Let me know if you need anything." The man put his hands on his hips. "Everything here is made only in Egypt." He smiled before strolling away.

"Don't believe everything you hear," the warrior-bard mumbled.

Xena chuckled while lowering her head down closer to Gabrielle's. "You may just find them stamped with, 'made in Chin.'"

The younger warrior laughed while shaking you're head. "You're probably right." She reached forward to lift up a silver necklace. "How you like this?"

The dark female stepped around to face her partner. "A y-necklace?" She held her hand out.

Gabrielle brought the tale end of the y-necklace to Xena's palm.

The warrior studied the blue gems and lifted her eyes with a grin. "Blue?"

"I love blue." The small woman grinned.

The older warrior took the necklace, stepped forward while unhooking the necklace, and she brought it around her partner's neck. She carefully hooked it again and took a step back to see it on her partner's neck. "I like that." She lifted her eyes to Gabrielle. "You'd have to wear it on nice occasions though."

"Yeah that's true." The Amazon Queen reached behind to unhook it while staring it in the palm of her hand.

The warrior folded her arms again. "You're thinking you have enough necklaces as it is huh?"

Gabrielle glanced up. "Yeah, I do as it is." She carefully placed it back down on the table. "I mean I have our necklace then this tighter one." She sighed. "Can't do rings… bracelets… anklets… or necklaces really." She crossed her arms over her chest. "So that leaves me with armbracelets."

"And earrings." That was at the point Xena had collect a set of earrings from the table. She held them out to her Soulmate in her palm.

"Hey… those are nice." The small warrior carefully took them from her lover's hand. The earrings were small and were deep red scarabs that gleamed when Gabrielle turned them. "What kind of stone is this?" She peered up to her Soulmate.

"It's carnelian stone… it's a native stone of Egypt."

"I thought turquoise was big here."

"It is." Xena nodded while adding, "Turquoise, gold, copper, carnelian, and feldspar come from Egypt mainly and the amounts are vast."

Gabrielle grinned while shaking her head. She lowered her attention to the earrings again. "They're not to heavy." She lifted them up and down in the air to figure their weight.

"Here." The warrior collected them and carefully slipped them into her lover's pierced ears. She stepped back while studying her partner with the earrings in. "Those look real good."

"I have the red thing going on." Gabrielle chuckled. "They do huh?"

"Yes." Xena smiled warmly.

"I like them too." The small woman smiled while slowly slipping them out one at a time. "I don't wanna think about the price."

"Good, don't." The tall woman scooped them up to hold on to. "I will." She winked.

"Oh no you don't." Gabrielle narrowed her eyes. "We only have so much money."

The older woman grinned. "Let me worry about that." She turned to the table and walked down the second table.

The Amazon Queen followed in a huff while mumbling, "Sneak." She came up to her partner's side to see her glancing at an array of arm bracelets that were gold. "Oh no, you're not-"

"Try these out." Xena lifted up a set of bracelets that were gold and twisted with something black.

"Xena-"

"Come on." The warrior grinned while holding out the pair of bracelets.

The young woman sighed dramatically while giving her partner a glare for this. She took the bracelets and slowly slipped them on to let them lay over the thin black ones she had on.

The tall woman stepped back with dark eyes. "Oooh I like those on you."

"Xena," growled the small warrior.

"You don't?" The warrior glanced up with partially concerned eyes.

Gabrielle corked an eyebrow slowly. "You know what I am Xena-ing about." She gave a sigh with a serious look.

The older woman gave a confident smile. "Can't I spoil my Soulmate?"

"Only if I can." Gabrielle crossed her arms with a serious look.

"Hades," grumbled the warrior. "You're going to get even huh?"

"Uh huh." The small warrior nodded with a serious look. "Only fair."

Xena chuckled with a smile. "Okay, okay." But she went serious again. "You like those?"

The Queen sighed. "Yeah."

"Good, I like them too." The warrior grinned. "Anything else?"

The small woman clamped her jaw down shut. "No."

A quiet laugh came from the warrior. "Okay, I got the hint." She reached forward to take the bracelets off her lover's arms. She turned to see the merchant coming down. Soon she was extracting twenty-seven dinars for the earrings and pair of bracelets with a silent partner the whole time. After she'd paid for them she was pulling the small leather bag tightly closed. "Ready?" Her eyes lowered to Gabrielle.

The younger warrior nodded and stepped up to her Soulmate. She wrapped on arm around her lover and whispered, "Thank you, I love you."

"Anytime." Xena smiled while placing a quick kiss to her best friend's temple. "I love you too."

"Hold on to that stuff." Gabrielle grinned up to her partner. "I'm bound to lose them."

The tall gave a small laugh while hooking her bag to her side. "So where to now?"

"Your kind of store." The small woman evilly grinned.

"Oooh, I could like this." The warrior chuckled while walking alone side her partner.

The pair soon found a weapons shop and were inside glancing around together.

The Warrior Princess soon found herself kneeling down in front of a display of daggers.

Gabrielle came up beside her lover and squatted down. "Daggers?" She turned her head to Xena. "You do have a dagger."

"One can never have enough daggers." Xena grinned at her Soulmate then glanced back to the display. "Besides, it's only a breast dagger."

"My breast dagger at that."

"And you have such good taste too." The warrior lowered her eyes to the next row of daggers.

Gabrielle laughed while smiling. "I still remember when I bought that."

"Yeah? What happened?" The older woman was now starting to study the last row of daggers.

The young warrior grinned while saying, "I remember the guy giving me this huge sword to try and I could barely lift the thing." She chuckled. "Then I asked for something more… petite."

The dark woman laughed then carefully reached forward to extract a dagger in a sheath. She pulled the dagger out of the sheath and turned the handle every way to see the blade. "How you like that?" She handed the dagger to her partner.

Gabrielle took the dagger by the blade after noticing it was made of gold. She glanced at the hilt seeing it was made of solid gold with cuts made in rings around the hilt. She looked at the top of the hilt to see a turquoise stone embedded in it. "I like how they put these cuts in the handle." She pointed.

"Yeah, for better handling."

The small woman then just held the dagger in her palm lifting it up and down. She glanced at her partner with a concerned look. "You don't mind it that heavy?"

Xena shook her head. "The weight is fine. It's not exceedingly heavy."

"Now you think it's made of solid gold?"

The warrior shook her head. "Oh no, it's mixed with other stronger metals. The gold is just for looks… and expense." She grinned at her partner.

Gabrielle grinned back however gazed back down at the dagger. "It's not to shabby."

The dark woman was chuckling while taking the dagger. "Definitely not shabby." She sheathed it while reaching forward to put it back.

"So let's get it." The small woman grasped her partner's hand that still held the dagger. "Only fair." Her eyes locked with Xena's.

The warrior opened her mouth to protest just trying to imagine the cost. "Gabrielle-"

"Don't start up the Gabrielle-ling." Her hand slipped under to pull the dagger from her lover's hand. "You want it, you got it." She stood up with the dagger.

Xena was now grumbling as she stood.

"And no grumbling." Gabrielle grinned at her lover and walked over to the where she saw the owner of the shop.

The tall woman sighed with a content smile. She followed along and came up beside her partner.

"Can I help you ladies?"

"Yeah." The Amazon Queen smiled warmly. "Can I get this?" She placed the dagger in its sheath on the counter.

"Yes of course." He smiled down at the dagger. "Ah yes, everybody keeps glancing at this dagger. Very popular one."

"I can see why." The small warrior placed her hands on the table. "Can you do engraving on it?"

"Yes." The shop owner smiled up to the young woman. "Free of charge. What would you like?" He reached under the counter to lift up a quill and a piece of papyrus.

Gabrielle unsheathed the dagger and pointed to one side running down the length. "Along here can you write 'Xena' in fairly big letters but not overly noticeable."

"Uh huh." The man wrote the order down. "Anything else?"

"And then." Gabrielle flipped the dagger over and pointed directly underneath where the hilt and blade meet. "Across here in small letters can you engrave, 'To my Soulmate. Love forever Gabrielle.' But place 'To my Soulmate' on one line with 'Love forever Gabrielle' below."

"Okay." The man nodded while jotting the instructions down. "Is that it?" He glanced up with a stern expression.

"Yup." The warrior-bard smiled. "How long you think that'll take?"

The shop owner took the dagger and sheathed it while picking up the papyrus paper. "A little less then a half of a candlemark."

"Great, we'll be back then."

The man nodded with a warm smile. "It'll be ready."

"Thank you." Gabrielle smiled while turning to leave with her partner.

The women left the shop quietly and went into the market again.

Xena slowly turned her head to her lover. "You're bad."

The small warrior grinned up to her partner. "It's so you don't lose it."

"Right." The tall woman chuckled while walking closer to her Soulmate. "Now I'm not going to want to use it."

"Oh sure you will." The warrior-bard grinned up. "A little engraving won't stop you." She smiled warmly now.

Xena smile back warmly back.

Gabrielle tilted the dagger up and down while smiling. "It looks good."

The warrior nodded while coming out of the washroom after drying her face. "It really does."

The small warrior turned the gold dagger around to look at the smaller engraving on the top of the blade. She contently sighed. "He did a good job."

"Yeah." The older woman came up behind her Soulmate to wrap her arms around Gabrielle's waist. She lowered her head down near Gabrielle's. "Thank you."

"You're welcome Xen." The young warrior lifted her head to kiss her lover tenderly. She pulled back with a smile. "The Warrior Princess has a new toy."

The Warrior Princess laughed with a grin. "Uh huh."

Gabrielle sheathed the dagger while leaning back into the other woman.

They were back in their room in Cleopatra's palace.

"So what's the plans now?" The warrior-bard peered up into warm blue eyes.

"Mmm, thought we could relax."

"Sounds good to me." Gabrielle sighed with contentness. "I'm beat."

Xena evilly grinned. "But the day has only begun."

"Right." The Amazon Queen sighed dramatically this time. "That… cruise is going to be our undoing."

The taller woman laughed as a grin spread along. "Probably." She nuzzled her lover's cheek. "I'm going to get out of my armor and boots."

"Dido." The small warrior let a grin play over her expression. "Wanna test out that couch?"

"Definitely." Xena released her lover.

The Soulmates were soon out of their boots, weapons, and Xena out of her armor. The warrior stretched out on the couch with her Soulmate laying on top of her stretched out.

Gabrielle lowered her head back onto her friend's chest. "This is really comfortable."

"Maybe we'll have to take this couch home with us."

The small woman laughed. "I wish." She suddenly closed her eyes tightly realizing the stiffness in her neck.

The warrior's hands went to Gabrielle's shoulders and pushed her forward. "Lean forward."

The Queen did that and soon found strong warm hands massage her neck and upper shoulders. "Thanks."

"What's that from?"

The young woman shook her head a little. "Maybe from leaning back to see all of the pyramid."

Xena quietly laughed. "Maybe."

Gabrielle chuckled. "Wouldn't surprise me." She soon felt her neck loosening up due to her Soulmate's perfect touch. "That's got it."

"Good." The older woman's hands worked the shoulders for a moment then she carefully pulled her warrior back into her body.

Leaning back, Gabrielle let her breath out slowly. "Gods." Her hands rested on top of Xena's on her stomach.

"No, just you and me."

"Just us." The small woman grinned while closing her eyes. "I'm still trying to understand this."

"Mmm?" Xena lowered leaned the side of her head against Gabrielle's. Her eyes drifted shut.

"Understand how I was the one to get you."

"I keep asking myself the samething with you."

Gabrielle shook her head. "But Xena, people didn't know me like they know you." She paused for a moment. "There are and were people who would love to be yours."

"And there are people whom would die to be yours." Xena smiled to herself. "So?"

The small woman chuckled. "You're the Warrior Princess."

"And you're the Amazon Queen."

The warrior-bard chuckled lightly. "You're not going to give me any space."

"Because there is none." Xena tightened her arms. "There's nothing special about me here."

Gabrielle corked an eyebrow. "Now that's a lie." She slowly moved so that now she straddled her lover's hips and could face her. "People know who you are."

"And they know who you are." The warrior smile while circling her Soulmate's waist.

"Nnnno they don't Xen." She rested her hands on the other woman's shoulders.

"Oh really?" The older woman soon had an amused looked. "Then tell me why Ra and Cleopatra both know whom you are. They know you're the Amazon Queen."

"Yeah but they heard from somebody else."

The warrior grinned. "Exactly, whom heard from somebody else and that person from another and another then another… people know who you are Gabrielle."

"If they know that then they know who we are together." The small woman raised an eyebrow in questioning. "They know you're my consort."

"Uh huh. I'd say they may be able to figure it out." Xena reached forward to lift the chakram and staff necklace her partner wore. "I think they can." Her hand came down to Gabrielle's left hand to study the two rings of engagement and wedlock. "Don't you?" She lifted her eyes up as that grin creased her lips again.

Gabrielle smiled warmly while collecting her partner's hand. "Yeah, just a little." She carefully released her lover's hand to place her fingertips over Xena's lips. She carefully felt them and studied them. Then leaning in, she with care took her Soulmate's lips. When she pulled back her eyes were still closed with a tear rolling down. Lifting her head back she sadly smile and asked, "You're mine?"

"I'm yours," whispered the warrior while she tried to smile with love.

Gabrielle's lips were held in a sad smile. Her right fingertips came to Xena's forehead where she brushed back the bangs to have them fall back over her hand. Her eyes stayed pinned on her own fingertips. She traced her hand down to her lover's temple and brushed back midnight hair. The small warm fingertips then glided down the smooth cheek then trailing along the jaw line. She brought her fingers over Xena's warm lips again and then over Xena's other cheek.

Xena stayed motionless. Her eyes fixed on Gabrielle watching her expression the entire time. She noticed her Soulmate absorbing this as if it were the first time she'd seen this body.

The small warrior's hand glided down the other woman's neck then down her chest. Her eyes still were fixed to the movement of her hand. Her fingertips came over the top of the breasts but came back up. Came back up and they traced over the warrior's shoulder and down the right arm. Gabrielle studied the muscles in her Soulmate's arm with small tilts of her head. She sent her hand down to the inside of the elbow followed by the forearm.

The warrior watched the small fingers study her forearm and come to her wrist. The small fingertips went into her palm and just Gabrielle's index finger followed the lines in her palm. She watched for a moment yet lifted her eyes to watch her partner's face.

The young woman carefully lifted her Soulmate's hand up in the air. She watched as she pressed her palm against Xena's. She examined the size difference in hands. That's when the sad smile went into love and she lifted her eyes to Xena.

The warrior's smile came back over her expression. She let her fingers lace with Gabrielle's as she began to pull her Soulmate in.

Gabrielle went with the command but kissed her lover's chest over her heart. Then she rested the side of her head against her best friend's chest.

Xena kissed the top of Gabrielle's head.

The Amazon Queen began to shift on the large body so that she rested on the side of her body. She curled her body up against Xena's and closed her eyes as she tucked her hands against her chest.

The older woman smile while keeping both her arms around Gabrielle's body. Her legs were over top of Gabrielle's.

The small hand slowly slipped down to grasp one of the large hands. Gabrielle brought her hand back up with Xena's and twined their hands together and tucked them under her chin.

A smile slipped onto the warrior's lips while she let herself slip into her dreamscape.

Gabrielle was right beside Xena in entering their dream.