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Xena decided pacing in their room at the inn just wasn't going to cut it. The relaxed attitude she had shown after Ares had left was just that, a show. `I know Ares, he won't simply give up simply because he lost this time. I need to relax and give this some thought as to how I am going to keep him away from Gabrielle.'

`I'll just leave Gabrielle a note that I have taken Argo for a run.' Xena found a piece of parchment and scribbled her note. `Besides I may even be back before she's through, if she takes one of those long baths of hers.'

With that Xena headed for the stable to saddle Argo. She saddled her without speaking and led her to the outskirts of town before mounting her. Xena leaned down and spoke into Argo's ear. "Let's go girl, let's see how fast we can go."

Argo leaped into a run that had Xena laughing with the thrill of the speed. She let Argo run full speed for a few minutes before reining her in a little for a more sustained run.

Argo settled into a steady gallop giving Xena time to think as the ride released her tensions.

`Well let's be honest, out of all my worries about Gabrielle this was never one of them. I never once thought, not even after I saw how good a warrior she has become, that Ares would try and win her over to be his chosen. And still being honest, she may even be a better chosen than I was, if given the chance. She thinks things out in advance and would plan farther into the future than I could. No, thinking toward the future and the consequences has never been one of my strengths. It's also probably a big reason why she would never agree to be his chosen. She would think beyond the immediate and see all the problems on the other side.'

Xena felt the tensions in her body ease as she thought her way through her worries and found them groundless. She slowed Argo and turned her around to slowly make their way back to the inn.

Xena continued her introspection in a lighter vein as they headed back. `If things continue the way they have, Gabrielle is going to have all the bards writing about her heroic deeds. Wouldn't that serve her right, she would be the one to have to sit through the dramatic retelling of one of our adventures with the spotlight on her for a change. She would probably die of embarrassment, if she even figured out that it was about her.' Xena laughed out loud at the thought.

`Maybe I should do it. Find a bard, tell him one of Gabrielle's adventures and have him tell it when she's there, just to see her reaction.' Xena shook her head. `No because then I would have to deal with her revenge for weeks afterward. As much fun as it might be it wouldn't be worth it.' Xena thought sorrowfully.

Xena perked up as another thought came to her as she and Argo reached the stable. `Maybe I'm not as bad at planning for the future and thinking of the consequences as I thought. I probably just saved myself months of retribution.'


The End