Subtext: There's some. And a bit - ish. Nothing too explicit (I think...) - whatever they get up to behind closed trees is their concern. Oh, and it's set around season six.

By Silent Dee. e-mail: happy.noodleboy@virgin.net. All comments will be welcomed with open eyes.

For Jay - It's all her fault.

Day One.

The early morning sunlight filtered through the canopy of trees and dappled the ground below. The babbling of a nearby stream and crackles from the smouldering campfire were the only sounds for miles around.

She was ready.

A patch of bright yellow light inched across her cheek and over her closed eyelids.

Any minute now.

A creature bustled through the undergrowth, snapping twigs and rustling leaves. It glanced at the woman lying on the ground and sniffed the air suspiciously. The woman sniffed too, and remained motionless. From the smell and the sound of the soft footfalls she knew it wasn't a threat. A beaver looking for breakfast. It had better move along soon, or it could end up being breakfast, although the dull ache in her stomach had nothing to do with hunger.

Every month it was the same. The pain was nothing to her, a brief distraction. The moodswings could be controlled - she'd had alot of experience over the years. In fact, the problem wasn't her at all.......it was.....

The beaver turned and hurried away, suddenly frightened. The woman lay still, her eyes firmly shut against the outside world.

A few more seconds......

Her body tensed as she felt the moist tongue creeping up her face. It stopped just below her right eye. Here we go again, she thought, and slowly opened it. Bright green eyes beamed back at her.

"Come on Xena, it's time to get up - I've brought you breakfast!" Gabrielle pounced on Xena's aching stomach, straddling her, and thrust a large trout into her face.

"Tasty, eh?" Said the bard, grinning proudly.

"You caught this? What did you use?"

"My own bare hands, just the way you taught me."

Xena looked at the fish closely, not having much of a choice. "Are those bite marks?"

"Well it wouldn't die! It just kept wriggling away, but I won in the end. No fish is going to get the better of me......Do you like it then?"

"Yes, it's fine. It's a....fine fish."

Gabrielle frowned. "You don't like it, do you? I know it's not the biggest trout in the world, but it was only meant for breakfast. It might have a few teeth marks on it, but it's not like I'm diseased is it?! You know where I've been! I'm not a leper you know!"

"I know, I know, calm down, it really is a lovely fish - I couldn't have caught better." The warrior winced as Gabrielle's thighs tightened around her waist. "Let's cook it, straight away." She managed through gritted teeth.

"You're just humouring me now. No, you're right. It's a rubbish fish. I'm not hungry now anyway - I'll just put it back in the river."

Xena sighed with relief as Gabrielle got to her feet.

"STUPID FISH!" She screamed, and hurled it through the trees surrounding them. A couple of seconds passed, and they heard a loud splash.

Satisfied, the bard sat back down and began to run her fingertips gently along Xena's shoulderblades. "So, what shall we do now then?" She said, smiling coyly.

It was going to be a long day.

"Oh Xena, that was amazing." Gabrielle shuddered with pleasure and lay back on the soft grass. "It's never been like that before."

"I'm not just a pretty face." Replied the warrior, hooking on her breastplate.

"So tender.....so...juicy."

"I aim to please." Xena said with a satisfied grin.

"And the pastry was delicious. You'll have to give me the recipe..."

"Recipe?"

"For the beaver pie. I didn't know you could cook like that."

The dark woman glared at the discarded plate at her feet. "Oh, the pie, right." That was over two hours ago and she's still going on about the pie. Nothing else, just the pie. Normally, chopped beaver wrapped in pastry would be the last thing on Gabrielle's mind, but not while she was in this mood. Xena looked down at her partner as she licked the last of the meat juices from one of her sai.

"You know, you really shouldn't be using those to eat. It's unhygienic."

"Don't worry, I'll wash them in the stream before we go. Where are we going today anyway?"

"You've got the scroll."

"Oh, pardon me, I didn't realise I was your secretary as well." Gabrielle stood with a huff and began rifling through her pack.

Xena cursed herself under her breath. She should watch what she's saying at this time of month. The slightest thing could be the trigger.

The bard unravelled a long scroll and began to read. "You've got a meeting with the mayor of Timerus at two, that's about the streetgang problem. Then there's the seminar you're giving to the local children in Bencos town. That's at three. And, then....oh, we've got to stop a couple of warlords from finding the last piece of the Arugala pendant which will grant them immortality and the power to......" Gabrielle trailed off and continued to read silently. "...Oooh, that sounds nasty. But I think we can swing by there tomorrow. You know what warlords are like, they'll be fighting amongst themselves for days until you turn up."

"Average day then" Xena said, looking up at the sun. "Okay, it's about twelve twenty....three now, so we should probably get going."

The moon was high in the sky by the time the two women got back to their camp. Xena knelt by the fire and gently blew the few remaining embers, covering them with some dry grass until it ignited.

"We need some more firewood. Do you think you can manage that, or shall I go?" She snapped.

"What's wrong with you all of a sudden?"

"You know what's wrong."

"That thing with the mayor? That was a misunderstanding, nothing bad happened."

The warrior glared at her friend. "You punched him in the face and broke his nose! And then you held your sai to his throat until he swore that he'd never been unfaithful to his wife!"

Gabrielle looked at the ground sheepishly. "He clearly made a pass at you - I was just being careful."

"All he did was shake my hand."

"Okay, maybe I over-reacted, but you didn't see his eyes Xena. They were full of lust."

"The man is seventy years old and nearly blind, I'd be surprised if he could see me at all."

The bard bent down to gather some dry branches. "Well how was I supposed to know that?"

"And then there was the children. I couldn't believe the language that was coming out of your mouth - at one point I thought you'd been possessed."

"Oh, I suppose you were about to split my skull open with your chakram again."

This time it was Xena's turn to look sheepish. "Of course not. I just don't understand."

"They annoyed me, scurrying around like vermin with their dirty faces and grubby fingers. Look..." Gabrielle thrust her hip forward where a brown handprint had stained her red skirt. "It'll take me ages to get that out."

"But you always used to love children."

"Well not anymore. Children suck a big centaur's co..."

"Gabrielle!!" The warrior interrupted quickly.

"Well they do. I'm going to fetch some wood." The blonde said with a huff, as she stomped off into the undergrowth.

Day Two.

Sparks flew as the chakram bounced off a wall and continued it's journey towards the running man. He quickly changed direction and the disc clipped his left ear as it flew past. He grinned with a mouthful of rotten teeth, but the look soon turned to horror as the weapon struck a fence post in front of him and came hurtling back.

The warlord closed his eyes and his life flashed before them.

His mother taking him for his first tattoo when he was five.

His father forging his first sword.

That time, at warlord camp, when the other boys made him dress up as a slavegirl. Killing them all in their sleep the following night and being awarded the "Most Homicidal" badge.

All the faces of all the innocent people he had slaughtered over the years.....happy days.

And now.....nothing. Where was the death? And what was that liquid running down his leg? He hoped he hadn't wet himself again, that really would be embarrassing, and tended not to instil respect in his men.

He cautiously opened his eyes and looked down. Thank the Gods! It was only blood.

Xena plucked the chakram from the air and somersaulted toward the bleeding warlord. He reached to his belt and tried to draw his sword, and then he realised where all the blood was coming from - his wrist, which should have had a hand at the end of it. He glanced up and saw blackness, as a fist slammed into his face.

Xena reached down and picked a metal shard from the severed hand on the floor.

"The last piece of the Arugala pendant. Another job to cross off the list." She looked around to find Gabrielle, but the streets were deserted. Where had she gotten to now? The warrior followed a trail of corpses through the ruins of the village, each one covered in slashes and punctures from the bard's weapons. Eventually, the sound of retching led her to a large feeding trough. Gabrielle was perched on top, her head bowed over a wooden bucket in her lap.

"Are you okay?" Xena asked, worriedly.

"Yes, I'm having a great time." Replied the bard sarcastically, a thick rope of saliva dangling from her pale lips.

Xena reached out a hand to comfort her friend.

"Don't touch me!"

"But you're so cold. We have to get you warmed up."

Gabrielle raised her head from the bucket, her eyes ringed with darkness. "I feel like I'm dead..........again."

"Don't worry, I'm here now." Xena lifted her partner out of the trough, and her nose crumpled at the sudden odour. The small blonde let out a delirious cackle.

"I hope no horses try to feed out of there."

Day Three.

A thick mist rolled slowly across the ground, as the first rays of sunlight appeared over the horizon. Xena sat huddled against the cold. She watched as Gabrielle's eyes began to twitch and turn under closed lids.

Finally, she was asleep.

It had been this way for so many years now. Gabrielle had such a pure spirit, it seemed that this was some sort of punishment for her good nature. The warrior couldn't help wondering if it was something to do with her. Soon after they had met, their monthly cycles began to synchronize. Xena's own pains remained the same, but Gabrielle started to suffer far more. The stomach cramps were eased with a pig's bladder filled with heated water - it was resting on the bard's abdomen now - but the changes in personality were the real problem. It reminded Xena of herself, back in the old days. Gabrielle claimed it was just a coincidence, but it was still worrying. One minute she would be fine - the next, homicidal. And then there were the other strange appetites she had developed......

The dark woman raised an eyebrow and smiled. Well, it had to have some perks.

"Xena?" The bard yawned, rubbing her eyes gently.

"I'm here."

"How long have I been asleep?"

"About five minutes."

"Wow. It seemed like forever. I had the weirdest dream. We were attacked by these men, but they were already wounded. They were covered in bandages and one of them only had one hand. And I vomited on his stump."

"That wasn't a dream - It happened a couple of hours ago, remember?" Xena stood and motioned for Gabrielle to take a look around. The camp was littered with bodies. "The warlord we fought yesterday. He thought he'd take us by surprise. He was wrong. I should have finished him off when I had the chance. That's what you get for being nice."

Gabrielle looked puzzled. "And the tidal wave? When did that happen?"

"No, you dreamt that bit."

"Oh right, because we were married..."

"Really?!" The warrior spun on her heels.

"Yeah, you were married to Ares, and I was married to Virgil."

"Oh."

"Actually, it was more like a nightmare than a dream. The wave bit was nice though."

Xena frowned at her friend. "I see. Well, I don't suppose we'll get any more sleep now, so we might as well be on our way."

The bard started to gather her pack together. "Good idea, these bodies are starting to give me the creeps. Look, that one's eyes follow you wherever you go."

The warrior stared at the man. "That'll be because he's still alive. We can carry him to a...."

A sai flew past her head and into the man's chest. He let out a low moan and his eyes closed slowly. She turned at glared at Gabrielle, who simply shrugged.

"He started it! Besides, who just lies there and doesn't say anything? He was probably planning to attack us."

Xena knew not to press the matter further. "You could be right. Come on, we need to get to the next town as soon as we can." She said, walking off through the trees.

The two women forced their way through the bickering crowds that lined the streets. It was market day in Koventis. Anything you wanted could be bought here, if the price was right. Xena wanted information.

The one-handed warlord, who she had named "stumpy", much to his annoyance, had told her all about the Arugala pendant once Gabrielle had vomited on him. He thought she was some kind of bile spewing demon and promptly wet himself. Warlords weren't what they used to be.

The pendant had been split into shards many years ago, when it's owner decided to shelter under a tree during a thunderstorm. He discovered that although the pendant made him immortal, it didn't made him indestructible.

His frightened minions removed the pieces from the charred corpse and hid them all separately, thinking the talisman was cursed.

Stumpy, along with several other clan leaders, formed an uneasy pact to search for the pieces and re-unite them. The task had taken years, but he had finally found the one remaining shard.....and then Xena found him.

She knew that it wouldn't take long for the other warlords to find out what had happened. And when they did, they would come to reclaim their prize - and they would come in force.

"Xena, can we have these?" The warrior turned to see Gabrielle holding two small balls suspended by a length of string.

"Where did you find those?" She asked, a flicker of recognition crossing her face.

"They're on this amazing stall, come and have a look."

The stall was littered with strange looking devices and instruments. Behind the counter, a wizened oriental man bowed majestically before her. He started to babble excitedly in a language Gabrielle didn't understand. She was surprised when Xena replied to him in his native tongue.

"Do you two know eachother?" She said, when they had finally stopped talking.

"We've had some dealings in the past. It was a very long time ago. He said I've aged remarkably well, and he wants to know my secret."

"What did you tell him?"

The dark woman smirked. "I said that it was all down to healthy eating and a good sex life. Speaking of which, do you know what those things are for?" She pointed at the balls.

The bard started to whirl them above her head. "Aren't they some kind of weapon?"

The balls began to clack loudly, and the surrounding crowds began to edge away, some mothers shielding their children's eyes from the spectacle.

Xena quickly grabbed the string and placed the balls gently on the counter. "No.....that's not what they're for."

"Well, what are they then?"

"Erm....I'll tell you later." She said, pulling Gabrielle away from the stall's many other delights.

After an hour of trawling through the busy streets, Xena finally found what she was looking for. A hulk of a man stood hunched over an anvil, pounding a length of white hot metal with a large hammer. As she approached, he dipped the metal into a water trough, surrounding them with a cloud of steam.

"Are you Brynus?" The warrior asked, wafting the hot steam from her face.

"That I be." The huge man replied. He placed the newly forged sword on a rack with several others and turned to face his guest. He stared intently at Xena's chest. "But you can call me Bry, if it pleases."

"You're well known in these parts."

"A good blacksmith never goes wanting."

"And you're the best?"

Bry continued to stare, and merely shrugged in response.

"Erm.....Bry?" Xena clicked her fingers in an attempt to gain the huge man's attention. "I'm up here, there's nothing for you down there."

Bry snapped out of his trance and looked suitably embarrassed. "I'm sorry. It's your breastplate is all. Very nice workmanship. I couldn't have done better."

"Oh....right." The dark woman mumbled, slightly disappointed.

"Now, what can I do for you little lady?" Everyone was little to Bry. "A new sword maybe, or a shield. I've got a special offer on horseshoes - buy three, get the forth free."

"Thanks, but it's your furnace I'm really interested in."

"Ooh, no. I couldn't sell that, it's my pride and joy - the hottest fire this side of Athens."

"No Bry, I don't want to buy it, I want you to melt this in it." Xena held the shard of pendant before Bry's puzzled eyes. He took the piece of metal and examined it closely.

"Never seen anything like it. Can't imagine why you'd want it melted, but thinking never was my strong suit."

The sound of clattering pans heralded Gabrielle's entrance. She stood in the doorway, surrounded by bags and grinning widely.

"This place is great! We should come here more often - I've got some real bargains. Look Xena, I've bought us matching ear-warmers!"

Xena let out a long sigh and tried to look pleased with her gift. "They're great. Gabrielle, this is Bry - Bry, meet Gabrielle."

Bry held out a shovel sized hand in greeting. "Hello little girl."

The smile instantly dropped from the bard's mouth. "What do you mean by that, fat man?"

Bry seemed confused by the response and tried again, slightly louder in case she couldn't hear through the fur covering her ears. "Hello little girl."

Gabrielle started to twitch with anger. "Are you saying I look like a child? I don't look womanly enough for you, is that it?" She started hopping from foot to foot and raised her fists. "Come on then, you big freak, I'll show you what a woman can do. I'll kick your ass!"

Xena stepped in, and pulled the bard to one side of the room. "Hey, calm down will you," she whispered, "ignore Bry, it's just his way, he said the same thing to me. He's going to help us, as long as you don't spoil it by trying to kill him."

"I don't trust him Xena. Look at all these weapons lying around - he's up to something."

"He's a blacksmith. It's his job."

This reassurance had no effect. "Still though. He's suspicious. No-one is that big without being a giant, and you know what they're like. I'm going to keep my eye on him."

Xena released her grip on her partner. "You do that." She turned to face Bry, who was still looking slightly puzzled. "Sorry about that Bry - she's very excitable at the moment. Shall we see how hot your furnace can get then?"

An hour later, three shiny faces peered into the flames.

"I don't understand it." Said Bry, scratching his damp skull. "It's as hot as hell in there."

Xena mopped her sopping brow with the fur from her new earmuffs. "It's hotter - trust me. Hang on, I think it just moved."

The shard of metal didn't respond to the allegation.

"It's not even red, Xena." Gabrielle snapped. "I've seen enough. This big ape is trying to trick us. You couldn't fry an egg in that thing. He obviously wants the pendant for himself. He must be in league with the other warlords - put the pinch on him and find out what he knows."

"Gabrielle, look at yourself. You're drenched in sweat. I could fry an egg on you, nevermind in there. It must be the power of the pendant. Bry doesn't know anything about it."

Bry looked down at the bard and smiled as sweetly as he could manage, which wasn't a good idea.

"He knows something alright, and if you won't find out, then I will!"

Before Xena could stop her, Gabrielle leapt into the air and thrust two fingers hard into the side of Bry's throat. The huge man buckled with the pain and dropped to his knees.

The small blonde looked satisfied. "See, you're not the only one who can do it."

Bry looked up with a grimace. "Ow! That really hurt. I'm not sure I like your little friend anymore Xena."

The warrior scowled at her partner and helped Bry slowly to his feet. "Be thankful she's such a bad shot. I'm really sorry about this. Gabrielle isn't herself at the moment. It's that time of month, you know, I'm sure you understand."

Bry looked completely blank, as Gabrielle stormed out of the hut in disgust.

"You know, those times, when a woman might act strangely and out of character. You're married, you must have noticed your wife......is different......once a month?"

A dim candle fluttered into life inside Bry's brain.

"Ooooh, do you mean on bath day?! Well, it's a struggle to get her in there sometimes, but she's never poked me in the neck before. She is alot calmer afterwards though. And she smells better."

Xena struggled with the imagery. "Yes, I'm sure she does."

"Maybe that's what your friend needs. A nice hot bath."

A brand new frying pan flew into the hut, and the warrior ducked instinctively as it shot past and crashed against the wall.

"You know, Bry - I think you could be right."

Day Four.

"Are you sure this is such a good idea?"

"You're relaxed aren't you?"

"Well, yes, but what about the warlords?"

"Don't worry about them. I've got everything under control." Xena squeezed the sponge over Gabrielle's shoulders and watched the rivulets of water cascade down her back.

"Mmmm, that's nice." The blonde purred, as Xena followed the water trails with her fingertips.

A loud clap of thunder outside the bath-house stopped the warrior in her tracks. She glanced around the steamy room, suddenly unnerved.

The truth was, she didn't have anything under control. After the incident with Brynus, they had spent the rest of the day trying to destroy the pendant, without success. It seemed to be indestructible. The onset of bad weather had forced them to seek shelter, but there was something about the storm that seemed unnatural. If she didn't know better, she could have sworn it was following them around.

"Is something wrong?" Gabrielle asked, wondering why Xena's fingers had stopped wandering.

The dark woman tried to shake the crazy thoughts from her head and return to the task in hand.

"No, everything's fine. I've finished with your back now - turn around."

The bard dutifully bobbed around in the soapy water, the smile on her lips instantly calming the warrior's troubled mind.

"Don't use the sponge anymore, it's too rough on my skin."

"Gabrielle, you're such a girl sometimes." Xena replied, tossing the sponge to one side. She reached forward and began to lather the bard's body, her hands gently caressing every inch of flesh.

"And that's just the way I like it." She added, softly.

Gabrielle moved towards her partner and grasped the leather straps around Xena's hips.

"So, are you gonna use this soon, or is it just for decoration?"

The dark woman looked down and smiled. "Slow down. All good things to she who waits."

The bard's fingers felt something sharp sticking out from under one of the straps.

"Is that......? Is that the piece of pendant?!"

"It might be."

"You brought it into the bath with you?!"

"I was just being cautious. You never know when someone might attack."

"Well I think we're alone now." Gabrielle said, snaking her arms around Xena's neck.

A gust of cold wind blew into the room as the doors to the bath-house crashed open.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Said the large figure looming in the doorway. A flash of lightning briefly illuminated his features as he stepped into the room. Deep scars littered his grinning face and bald scalp. A patch covered one eye, partially obscuring a large black tattoo on his forehead.

He was followed into the room by six other men, each bearing the same mark, and each with their swords raised.

"Why am I always right about these things?" Xena muttered to herself.

The bald warlord took in the scene with his one good eye. It looked like it was about to pop out of his skull at any moment.

"Hey Xena, I knew you and your little bard were good friends, but.....I had no idea!"

"That'll be because you're an idiot." The warrior replied, bored of the conversation already.

The bald man ignored the remark and continued. "I mean, if only we had an artist on hand to capture the moment."

"Yeah, he could've captured your imminent death."

The warlord laughed loudly, as they tend to do. "And how is that going to happen? I'm the one with the sword - what have you got?"

"I've got a brain. By the way, nice tattoo - what happened, did you lose a bet?"

The laughter stopped. "The mark of Arugala proves we each carry a shard of the sacred talisman. I will ask this once - where is the last piece?"

"Search me." The naked warrior shrugged.

The warlord turned to his men, who were studying the bath with wide eyes.

"Check their belongings." He commanded. The smile returned to his lips. "I'll check out Xena, and her little friend."

Gabrielle slapped the water angrily. "Why does everyone keep saying I'm little?! That's it. I've had enough of this!"

As she spoke, Xena dipped under the surface and launched herself into the air with a shrieking warcry. Three somersaults later, she landed at the feet of the hairless chieftain.

The room fell silent, as thirteen eyes fixed themselves on Xena's groin.

"I told you", one of the men whispered to a colleague, "that's twenty dinars you owe me."

"Nah, that's never real - look at the size of it!" The colleague replied.

Xena followed the chieftain's eye down.

"Do you like it?" She asked, unhooking a strap. "Here, have a closer look."

Before the man had a chance to respond, the makeshift cosh whipped against the side of his head, sending him reeling against a wall.

Gabrielle clambered out of the bath and came face to face with two warlords. She took a fighting stance, ready for action.

The warlords didn't move.

"Come on then, I'll take you both on." She said. The two men exchanged a quick glance, and then returned their gaze to the naked bard.

The ceiling exploded in a shower of sparks as a fork of lightning struck the roof of the bath-house. Gabrielle dodged from side to side, as burning timbers crashed to the ground around them.

The warlords remained still.

"You couldn't pay for a show like this." One of them commented, before a massive beam crushed his skull like an egg.

His brain splattered friend mumbled in agreement and stared on.

Across the room, Xena dodged a sword swing and brought her new weapon crashing into the nose of the bald warlord. The sound of snapping bone pleased her. She ducked as another sword passed over her head, and kicked it's owner into the bath tub.

"You're very impressive." The leader said, blood streaming from his nostrils.

"I do my best." The dark woman replied, looking over at Gabrielle. Why the hell was she dancing?!

"Now let's see how you do against the rest of my men." The warlord put two fingers into his mouth and whistled as loud as he could.

Xena's eyes widened as she spotted the advancing army through the doorway. She quickly grabbed her gear and vaulted over the bath tub to the jigging bard.

"Time to go, Lola."

"But I haven't got my clothes!"

"Here, wear this." Xena said, flinging a nearby towel over the blonde's head. "Now follow me."

As fifty soldiers scrambled to be first through the doorway, the two women ran up a fallen beam and through the newly created hole in the ceiling. Before anyone could follow, Xena pushed a few more timbers out of place, causing the rest of the roof to crash down into the room.

The few soldiers outside looked up in awe, as two naked women bounded across the rooftops and away.

"So let me get this straight. My clothes were lying right next to yours, but you didn't think to pick them up?!"

"I was kind of busy fighting for our lives, Gabrielle. And I didn't get all my stuff - see, I've only got one boot."

Xena lifted her bare leg and wiggled her toes for the bard to see. Her eyes remained focused on the approaching army as they climbed the steep ridge towards them.

Gabrielle stared at the muddy foot with contempt. "Oh, my heart bleeds - look at the state of me!"

The warrior's mind was filled with battle scenarios and possible methods of attack. So far, the outcome for each was the same - we die, they win. There had to be a solution, if she had a few seconds to think.

"Do you think we could talk about this later?"

"No! I think we should talk about this now. Look at me!"

Xena finally averted her gaze from the hoards below and looked at her friend. Gabrielle stood before her, drenched and dishevelled, her hair glued to her scalp in the torrential rain. She held the small towel around her waist as best she could, the soaked material barely reaching the tops of her thighs.

"Is this the best you could do? It's a hand towel, Xena."

"I was in a hurry - besides, I think it suits you. It could be your new outfit." The dark woman pointed at the bard's chest. "You could certainly stop alot of fights with those."

Gabrielle shivered, half from the cold, half with anger. "Don't you mock me!" She screamed, covering her breasts with her hands. The towel dropped to the floor with a splat.

"Why am I always the one who ends up naked and wet?!"

"Hey, I've been wet lots of times."

"And possessed. The demons always seem to come after me. How come you never get possessed?"

Xena raised her eyebrows in disbelief. "I do too! There was - " Her argument was cut short as another bolt of lightning struck the ground nearby. The crash of thunder returned her senses in an instant. She leaned over the cliff top to see the warlords were less than fifty feet away.

"Gabrielle, we've got to do something. We can't let them complete the pendant."

"Not that thing again! You didn't forget that, did you? You care more about that piece of metal than you do about me!"

"You know that's not true. If this falls into the wrong hands......." Xena looked at the shard she held. It began to vibrate, sensing the other pieces were near.

"What?" Gabrielle asked angrily. "What will happen? You don't know for sure. Maybe it is cursed. You can't destroy it, so are you going to carry it with you for the rest of your life? I'm already sick of the sight of it."

The bard lunged forward and grabbed the shard from the warrior's palm. She pulled her arm back and threw it high into the sky.

"Gabrielle! No!" Xena shouted, a little too late.

She watched as the metal piece arced over the ridge, it's smooth surface glinting as it tumbled through the air. It seemed to hover for a second as it reached the apex of it's flight........just long enough for a bolt of lightning to strike it.

As the electric charge passed through the shard, it split into seven forks, each one striking the seven tattooed warlords clinging to the mountain. They screamed in unison, their burning bodies falling to the rocks below.

Gabrielle smiled triumphantly. "See. I was right. It was cursed."

As the sun slowly dipped behind the horizon, Xena pulled the blanket around her shoulders. The first stars began to appear in the evening sky, twinkling like diamonds.

It seemed as though the talisman had been cursed after all. The power of the final lightning strike had been enough to melt the eight pieces into misshapen lumps that could never be combined. The warlords had melted quite a bit too.

Once their leaders were dead, the soldiers didn't know what to do next. As it turned out they weren't given much of a choice.

Xena looked across at the shadowy figure huddled under a nearby tree. One more night, and then everything could get back to normal. Until next month.

"Are you warm enough over there?" She asked.

"No."

"Do you want another blanket?"

"No."

"Are you going to be like this all night?"

Gabrielle craned her neck foward to get a better view. "What do you think?"

"I've told you, it's for your own good. You were pretty wild back there."

"They were our enemies. They deserved everything they got." The blonde spat the words out.

"You beat a man half to death with a severed arm! And that was after we'd got back into town. He was just there to fix the roof in the bath-house!"

"He looked at me funny."

Xena got to her feet. "Oh really? He saw a naked woman, covered in blood, holding an arm - how did you expect him to look?"

"Okay, that was a mistake, but everything else was justified. You saw what it was like."

"I saw you trying to crucify a soldier with a couple of branches." The dark woman said, kneeling beside her.

The bard shrugged. "What goes around, comes around." She mumbled, as tears welled in her eyes.

Xena wrapped her arms around her partner and lightly kissed the tears from her cheeks. "It's okay, I'm here. Let it out."

Gabrielle sobbed loudly onto the warrior's shoulder. "It's just.......I really don't want to die anymore. It hurts......"

"I know."

"So, do you think you could untie me? The ropes are starting to itch."

Xena nodded. "Yeah. In the morning, when you're better."

"Bitch!"

To Gabrielle, each hour seemed like ten. The night stretched on and on as she worked silently in the darkness. She had watched the moon inch it's way across the starry sky, but unlike Xena, she couldn't tell the time by it.

Everytime sleep tried to take hold, she concentrated on the pain in her wrists. They were red and sore from all the pulling and twisting, but it was going to be worth it.

Her eyes were fixed on the two sai which lay just out of reach. She had spent the first two hours trying move them with the power her mind - and although she thought one of them had wobbled for a brief second - she decided it wasn't going to work.

An owl hooted from the treetop above, causing the bard to stop.

"Sssshhhhhhh, I'm nearly there." She cursed the bird under her breath. She wanted nothing to wake Xena, until it was too late.

Finally, the last strand snapped under the pressure, and she was free.

Gabrielle rubbed her stinging wrists, an evil smile curling her lips.

This was it.

She grabbed one of her weapons and used it to cut the binding around her ankles. Xena was very thorough.

As she crept towards her sleeping partner, Gabrielle's mind raced with possibilities. She had to be quick, otherwise Xena would undoubtedly stop her, like she had in the past. This time would be different though - she had the sai.

The bard twisted the blade in her hand and prepared to strike.

One......

Two.......

Three! The weapon flashed in the moonlight as it struck.

Epilogue.

"I take it from that little stunt that you're feeling better?"

"It wasn't a stunt. I've been planning it for a long time."

"I never knew you had so many uses for those things."

"You have to open your mind to new experiences."

"That's not the only thing...."

"Didn't you like the surprise?"

"Well yes, but there's just one point."

"What?"

"Next time you decide to wake me up like that - do you think you could warm the handle first?"

The End.