Nice story - Anon - Jan-08-2012   

This is a wonderful "fill-in" piece or deleted scene off the cutting room floor from the episode "Sins of the Past that explains how Gabrielle found Xena at the camp site at the end of the episode where Xena finally allowed Gabrielle to stay with her. Wonderful writing depicting Gabrielle's determination and enthusiasm over finding this new found friend, but more importantly is her obvious belief in the warrior and her devotion to her. Cyrene's intuition about Gabrielle's influence on her daughter is very touching as well and sets up the foundation that frames Xena and Gabrielle's relationship. This story satisfies the appetite for those lovers of Xena classics. - kazy - Jan-08-2012   

IQ's writing takes me back to the good ol' days of Xena fiction and seems a natural extention of the Xena and Gabrielle I remember seeing on TV. The dialogue and interactions with the parents are spot on. - Clara - May-06-2006   

Wonderful story! Just love how the author depicted the relationship between X&G. - aurelius - Mar-19-2006   

Very nice. Reminds me of the first season. - Anon - Jan-26-2013   

Very nice. Reminds me of the first season. - Anon - Jan-26-2013   

Poignant. Wonderful. I actually said "Wow" after I read the last line. - Alicia - Mar 27th, 2004   

Link Broke. - Lysia - Jun-10-2011   

I loved this story...it's a hidden Gem - Brighteyez - Aug-12-2009   

absolutely one of the Queen's most gorgeously written musings. poetic from start to finish. - osb - May-31-2007   

So nicely balanced, IseQween. Bravo! - 3creeks - Jun-05-2007   

Very beautifully written and the last line was so evocative. Satisfying and thought provoking. - Anonymous - Mar-29-2009   

Intense & sensual - Brighteyez - Aug-12-2009   

No one is better than Iseqween at penning our favorite heroes as "real" people. In this effort, Gabrielle is very "young", and Xena is very "old"; it's a journey of discovery and acceptance, accented with the thoughts of a young poet and an old warrior. The Qween's last story travelled far into the future; this one returns to the beginning. What an amazing writer. Read her. - osb - Jan-01-2008   

This was such a cute story and it made me chuckle. A nice moment set in the XWP universe. - Anonymous - Feb-03-2009   

Has a wonderful flow and it really gives you a great perspective on how Lao Ma became who she is. The dichotomy explored here, of near clairvoyant insight and willful blindness, is really fascinating. - Kerr - Apr-17-2009   

in her usual intelligent and intuitive way, the qween weaves words between our heroes that need to occur in their relationship at whatever point it was in the series. She completes thoughts and fills in blanks with humor, sensivity, and love. Thanks. - osb - Mar-28-2008   

I really haven't read a fanfiction in a few years & have been trying to find a good read. I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed IseQween's story. It was a nice roller coaster of laughs, upsets, tricks, and wit. Also IseQween's writing style was a little different versus many other's I've read so that was rather refreshing. This is seriously a good story and I highly recommend it to anybody, its a lot of... fun. - Red Hope - May 23rd, 2003   

Very nicely written. A lovely interlude indeed inbetween the Price and Season 3. Sometimes all it takes is a little care and share instead of the simpler solution of jumping to erroneous conclusions. - Anonymous - Dec-11-2009   

The witty banter between Xena and Gabrielle is delightful to read! We should have more heart-warming stories like this. - aurelius - Nov 27th, 2004   

this story would have made a wonderful episode. good job! - jac - Dec 24th, 2004   

A funny story but also a very touching one, with some really good insights into Ares' feelings for Xena. Whether or not one fully agrees with the characterizations here, it's a very enjoyable read. - LadyKate - Oct 7th, 2003   

Absolutely beautiful. - Alicia - Dec 10th, 2003   

For those readers interested in a classic Xena and Gabrielle story, I would highly recommend IseQween's, "When Xena Was Callisto". This story feels true to the canon and true to the characters. The setting and action are so authentic that this is the episode TPTB should have aired between Intimate Stranger and Ten Little Warlords, and if they didn't have room in season two, then I'd have dropped FHTBT in its favor. There are a lot of subtleties in this story for diehard X&G fans...insights into the characters' emotional states, reprisals of past situations, and the treat of reading an episode we never got to see. Take the time to read this story if you love Xena and Gabrielle and the depth of love these characters shared for each other. There is no doubt that the author knows and loves these characters, and has the talent to tell their story. This is a fine example of what real fanfiction is. - Phantom Bard - Feb 20th, 2003   

I enjoyed this! - Anonymous - Aug-05-2016   

So, so cute! Incredibly well written and very much in character. It is definately one of my favorites. :) - Miss Rose - Apr 1st, 2003