For disclaimer, see part 1.

 

Part 2 by Cheeya

 

Ducking a low hanging branch, Xena shifted a little in her saddle. A light breeze lifted her hair and she pushed it back impatiently with her hand as she lost herself in thought. The last time she'd been in the Centaur village had been...

 

She sighed and shook her head. It all seemed so long ago and so much had happened to herself and Gabrielle, yet it still hurt. Losing Solan had torn her apart and nearly destroyed the most precious thing in her life... her relationship with Gabrielle.

 

Pushing the hurtful memories aside, Xena took a deep breath and extended her senses. She smiled as a bird above her sang sweetly and then shook her head in mild disbelief. There'd been a time, not so long ago, when she would have found it annoying nonsense and would have dismissed it but now... now the tune reminded her of a time only a few weeks earlier...

 

Sleepy blue eyes blinked open and Xena looked down at the golden head tucked neatly against her shoulder. Gabrielle was still napping, her hand curled around her lover's bicep and her body leaning gently along the warrior's side. Lifting her upper body slightly, Xena looked for Thalia and found the girl sitting with her back against a rock, drawing the lake and forest by which they'd stopped. The warrior brushed her lips against Gabrielle's forehead and relaxed again, letting the feeling of just waking slowly fade away while a nearby bird sang sweetly.

 

It was a moment that Xena had tucked away in her heart and would hold onto until her dying day. The feeling of belonging that had pervaded her, granted a sense of peacefulness and happiness that she'd only ever felt in the presence of her family and in her connection with Gabrielle.

 

With this thought still in her mind, Xena shielded her eyes from the sun and peered ahead. There, not too far away, were the totems signifying her entrance into Centaur territory. Kneeing Argo gently, she picked up her pace and cantered toward the stone markings, wanting this visit to be over as soon as it could be. Happy and painful memories mixed in her mind and she remembered a time where her son had jumped out of a tree at her in this very spot. "No," she whispered, squeezing her eyes shut and gripping her reins tightly. "Don't think about it."

 

It was easier said than done. The Warrior Princess just sighed and continued toward the village.

 

**

 

Gabrielle ran her fingers gently through her daughter's long hair. She smiled as blue eyes, exactly like her mother's, looked up at her. "You look great, Honey," she said proudly.

 

Thalia grinned and ducked her head, a little embarrassed. She'd received a new set of leathers for the occasion and her mom had spent a candlemark going through the details of the ceremony with her. Now, they were just stalling for time until Xena got back. The girl ran her hand over her dagger and squared her shoulders, her face taking on that same determined look that Gabrielle had seen on Xena's face a thousand times. "I'm ready, Mom," Thalia said softly. "I promise I won't let you down."

 

"I know, Cutie," the queen replied, feeling tears welling in her eyes. She sniffed them back and swallowed the sudden lump in her throat. "Your mother and I are so proud of you, you know that, right?"

 

"I know," Thalia smiled. She threw her arms around her mom and hugged her tightly.

 

Gabrielle kissed the top of her daughter's head and then chuckled. "C'mon, Princess Thalia. Let's see what trouble we can get into. In fact let's go see if we can steal some cookies from the dining hut."

 

With a little laugh, they wrapped an arm around each other and headed out the door.

 

**

 

Even as her senses tingled, Xena's eyes were scanning the area. She was being watched and she knew it. Her hand drifted to her chakram but then she smiled and relaxed. "You know, if you're going to try to sneak up on me, it would be better to leave off the aftershave."

 

A blonde head appeared from between two bushes and a young, male centaur trotted out to meet her. "Hi, Xena."

 

"It's good to see you, Xenon," the warrior replied warmly. She slid down from Argo and ruffled his long, curly hair. For a moment, Xena was struck by how strong a look of Ephiny was present in that youthful face but smiled as she realised that his father, Phantes, was also there.

 

"I've come to escort you the rest of the way to the village," Xenon said proudly.

 

The warrior chuckled as she mounted her horse and tugged gently on the reins. "Lead on, young Xenon," she replied with a regal wave of her hand. The young Centaur trotted off with Argo right behind him.

 

"Is Gabrielle not with you?" Xenon asked casually as they entered the village.

 

Shaking her head, the Warrior Princess jumped down from Argo and handed her reins to a stable hand. "No, she's back at the Amazon village with Thalia. We're going to be staying there for a while."

 

"Oh! Thalia's here too?"

 

Xena quirked an eyebrow. I think my daughter has an admirer. "Uh, sure. Maybe you could visit soon?"

 

The young Centaur grinned and blushed a little. "Cool."

 

"Xena!"

 

The warrior turned to find her old friend reaching a hand out to her. "Tyldus," she said softly. "I came as soon as I heard you wanted to see me."

 

The old fighter nodded. "Good. Come in and slake your thirst." They entered his hut and Xena took a seat on a wooden bench. "It's good to see you again. It's been too long."

 

Blue eyes rose to meet his and Xena exhaled softly. "It's hard for me, Tyldus," she replied, leaning her elbows on her knees and rubbing her face. "The last time we were here..."

 

"What of you and Gabrielle?" the Centaur asked as he trotted over to a shelf to pour some wine.

 

This made Xena smile. "We're lifebonded now. We went through Tartarus but we're stronger than before."

 

"I see. That's good to hear. She's a good woman."

 

Silence fell between them then but Xena stood. "You didn’t ask me here to exchange pleasantries, Tyldus. What's going on?"

 

The King chuckled. "Never one to beat around the bush, were you, Xena?"

 

"Especially not when I've got my kid's crowning to get home for," came the answer with a quirked eyebrow.

 

"Oh, come then, Xena. I must show you something."

 

The two warriors exited the King's hut and walked toward the river. On the rise on the far side of the hill, Xena could see wisps of smoke making their way into the air. "Campfires?" she asked, surprised.

 

"Yes," Tyldus replied solemnly. "It's an army of about two hundred. I've sent scouts out and so far, they're keeping to themselves but I don't know how long that will last."

 

"Have you sent word to the Amazons?" Xena asked as she scanned the area.

 

"Since Queen Salia died, I wasn't sure..."

 

The Warrior Princess understood and patted his shoulder gently. "I'll tell Gabrielle. I just need..." Suddenly she froze and her hand shot up to catch an arrow just before it hit her chest. "Whoa," she murmured as her sensitive ears pinpointed the location of the assassin. "He's human," she told Tyldus and then took off into the trees with the king in pursuit.

 

Finally, they crashed into a clearing and there, just about to disappear into the foliage on the other side, was a man. Xena unhooked her chakram and hurled it. The weapon caught the man's ankle and took him down before flying back to the waiting warrior. Xena plucked it out of the air and continued to the fallen assassin, stopping and hauling him to his feet by the front of his tunic. "Who are you?" she demanded.

 

Xena wasn't expecting it and when he spit in her face, she lost her temper and put the pinch on him. He sank to his knees, clutching at his throat. "I've just cut off the flow of blood to your brain," she said in a soft, dangerous voice. "You've got thirty seconds to live unless you tell me."

 

"Xena wait!" Tyldus called as he crossed the clearing. "Don't hurt him."

 

The warrior scowled but released the pinch and pulled the young man to his feet again but he drew a hidden dagger and stabbed at her. Thanks to her reflexes, the blade didn’t go very deep but it left a healthy wound in her side. "Godsdammit," she growled as she kicked the knife out of his hand and punched him, knocking him out cold. Xena pressed her hand to the wound. "I told Gabrielle I'd be careful," she complained before she realised Tyldus was next to her. "Um... you know..." she cleared her throat softly. "She worries."

 

The king nodded briskly. "This is Galendus. He was a friend of Solan's but he disappeared shortly after our son died."

 

"Why would he try to kill me?" Xena asked softly. She crouched and pulled back the man's eyelids. "He'll be ok." Then she lifted him and slung him across Tyldus' back. "Let's get him back to the village so I can get back to the Amazon Village."

 

"Go on." The king nudged her. "I can manage fine. Go back to Gabrielle and tell her. Maybe you can come back tomorrow?"

 

"Thanks," the warrior replied. Then she let out a piercing whistle.

 

"What was that for?" Tyldus asked, confused.

 

"You'll see," Xena replied and moments later, thundering hoof beats approached. "There's my girl." Argo appeared and skidded to a halt, waiting for Xena to mount, which she did. "See you tomorrow, Tyldus."

 

And with that, Xena was gone.

 

The king chuckled and headed for the village.

 

**

 

Sneaking into the healer's hut, Xena looked for the supplies to treat her wound so Gabrielle wouldn't find out.

 

"Ahem..."

 

Uh oh.

 

"I think you're looking for these." Gabrielle moved to her partner and shook her head as she put the bandages on the table. "How long will it take you to realise that I kinda know when you're around? It's the whole soulmates thing."

 

The warrior nodded sheepishly as she took a seat on a bed. "Sorry. I didn’t want to spoil the ceremony."

 

"Xena." Gabrielle slid her arms around her partner's neck and smiled up at her. "That's not possible. Besides, I was worried when I saw the blood on Argo's coat. I figured out it wasn't hers which meant that it had to have dripped from you." She grinned. "So here I am."

 

"My Queen," Xena whispered against the bard's lips. "Thanks for caring."

 

With a little pat to the warrior's butt, Gabrielle chuckled. "C'mon, let's get you cleaned up so I can go crown our daughter." She paused. "Xena?"

 

Xena was struggling out of her leathers. "Hm?"

 

"What am I going to give her to do for the Sacred Challenge?"

 

The warrior paused in her shimmying. "The what?"

 

"The Sacred Challenge. By Amazon tradition, the crown princess has to perform some test of her abilities to prove she will make a worthy queen." Gabrielle frowned. "Why didn’t I think of this before?"

 

Xena shrugged. "You didn’t have to do that when you became a princess."

 

"That's because I got Terreis' Right of Caste as she was dying. It's different. I'm not dying right now."

 

The Warrior Princess nodded. "Well, send her somewhere to get something. How much trouble could she get into?" She winced as Gabrielle began to clean her wound. "Ow. Um... Besides, I could follow her and make sure she's safe."

 

"Xena, how did you get this anyway?" Gabrielle asked as she sprinkled some herbs over the gash.

 

"Long story but to make it shorter, Tyldus called me over to tell me about an army that have set up camp on the other side of the ridge. He didn’t know who to come to here so he thought it best to tell me so I could pass on the message to the new queen."

 

"Me," Gabrielle said flatly.

 

"You," Xena agreed. "Then as we were about to leave, this kid fired an arrow at me and then turned out to be a friend of Solan's who disappeared from the Centaur village not long after my son died."

 

"Whoa," Gabrielle muttered as she bandaged her partner's midsection.

 

"Exactly," the warrior replied. She began to get dressed again, frowning as she examined the tear in her leathers. "And I only just finished the repairs after the last time." She straightened to her full six feet and sucked in a breath, pleased that the wound didn’t hurt too much. "Thanks, Gabrielle."

 

The bard patted her stomach and gathered up the healing supplies. "Don't mention it. We'd better get going. Thalia is waiting for us. I'll think about this army after the ceremony."

 

The queen and her consort strode across camp to where the Amazons were waiting, chatting in small groups. "Mother!" Thalia cried, jumping down from the raised dais and sprinting for Xena. The warrior grinned and ruffled her daughter's dark hair. "Hey, Shorty," she whispered as she kissed the crown on her head. "Ready to rock?"

 

"Sure am," the girl replied. Then she turned. "Queen Gabrielle," she stated as she dropped to one knee and bowed her head.

 

"Arise, Thalia," Gabrielle replied formally. "Please take your place on the dais." Then the bard jumped up onto the platform herself and opened her arms out as if to encompass all of her sisters. "My sister Amazons," she said loudly. "We are here today to crown my daughter, Thalia, as the new Amazon Princess. She will become queen on my death and rule until her own death. Is there anyone here who is opposed to this crowning? If so, step forward and accept the Royal Challenge."

 

Silence reigned across the village for a long moment.

 

Then Gabrielle smiled. "Thalia, please stand before me." The girl took her place in front of her Mom, her head bowed as per Gabrielle's earlier instructions. "Do you swear your loyalty to the Amazons and our patron Goddess, Artemis?" Gabrielle would have sworn she'd heard Xena grinding her teeth but ignored it.

 

"I swear," Thalia replied loudly.

 

"Do you swear to rule the Amazons with a fair and just hand?"

 

"I swear."

 

"Do you swear to act in the best interest of the Amazon Nation with every decision you make?"

 

"I swear."

 

The queen nodded and reached for a knife, holding out her own hand and pressing the blade to it. Xena started but Gabrielle gave her a reassuring smile taking the blade away without cutting herself. Then she did the same to Thalia. "This is a symbolic bloodletting," she winked. Then she picked up a bowl of water and poured a handful over her daughter's forehead.

 

"Fealty and loyalty has been sworn. The bloodletting and blessing with water had been performed. Only one task remains... The Sacred Challenge!"

 

The Amazons let out a yell of enthusiasm as Thalia raised her fist over her head. "What is my challenge?" she asked loudly. Xena chuckled, seeing a look on her daughter's face that she'd seen in the mirror a thousand times. Ooooooh, my kid looks exactly like me. Good thing she doesn’t have my temper though.

 

"Your challenge," Gabrielle cried. "Is to climb to the top of the ridge and bring me back an egg from an nest without dropping it on the way down. You will have no food and nothing to carry the egg in."

 

Thalia grinned. "Sounds like fun," she replied and the Amazon audience laughed. Gabrielle nodded solemnly. "Go then and come back as Princess of the Amazons."

 

With a wink at her mother, Thalia straightened her leathers and settled her sword. "I'll be back soon." Then she took off at a run and disappeared into the forest.

 

"She'll be ok, right?" Gabrielle asked as the others headed back to their tasks.

 

Xena smiled. "Sure, she'll be fine. Nice challenge, by the way."

 

"Thanks," the bard replied with a sigh. Then she stopped. "Xena, would you..."

 

Xena rolled her eyes but smiled affectionately. "I'm on my way," she replied and then took off to track her daughter.

 

**

 

Crouching behind some thick bushes, Xena watched as her daughter made her way over her last obstacle and reached a nest. Thalia leaned over and plucked one of the many eggs out of the nest. Then she looked around for somewhere to put it. "Think," Xena urged and then smiled proudly as the girl wiped the egg on her tunic and popped it into her mouth. "Good girl. Best natural carry place ever."

 

The warrior waited until Thalia had passed and then followed her all the way back to the village, taking the trees to beat her to the dais. The lookouts had already told Gabrielle of her daughter's return and the entire village was out in force for the final crowning and the celebratory party. Jogging to the rhythm of her family's cheers, Thalia jumped up onto the dais and dropped to one knee in front of her mom. Then she opened her mouth and removed to egg, offering it for inspection.

 

Gabrielle nodded, a proud smirk tugging at her lips as she reached behind her to pick up a mask. "You have fulfilled the challenge. Arise, Princess Thalia of the Amazon Nation!" With whoops of joy, the sisters jumped up and down as Gabrielle gave the mask of position to her daughter. "Congratulations, Cutie," she whispered as she hugged her close.

 

Then Xena hugged her daughter. "Well done. Good idea, putting the egg in your mouth," she praised quietly. "It was quick thinking."

 

"Thanks," Thalia replied. Then she turned and lifted the mask above her head.

 

The Amazons roared and gave their allegiance to the new crown princess... Thalia.

 

**