Sex/Subtext ~ No doubt, nothing but the best. Sex probably won't happen but it may.

Copyright ~ Repeat after me, Universal and MCA always own Xena, Gabrielle, Argo, Toris, Cyrene, Amarice, Ephiny, Eponin, and Solari. However, Torqueo, Teresa, Joan, and the story line are all mine. Then there are my special Amazons; Renotta, Karena, Lesia, and Janelle that you definitely do not touch.

Started: November 11^th 2000 on Saturday

Series One: The Binding of the Soulmates of Time Story: Ten

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The Darkness: Protection

By

Red Hope

~*Part 8*~

Xena sighed and closed her diary slowly. She lifted her eyes and stared out the cave, she debated on whether it was safe enough to travel this morning. Once up on her feet, she came out of the entrance with her fur blanket around her shoulders. She studied the white forest around her as her breath materialized in the air.

"Should be safe enough," she concluded, "Not much ice." Going back into the cave, the warrior took off her fur, put on her cloak, and started packing up. Within a candlemark, the Warrior Princess was outside and tacking Argo up.

"Ready for another cold ride?"

Argo snorted before she felt the bit enter her mouth.

"Won't be that bad," promised the warrior.

Argo whine with laughter.

Xena chuckled and continued with the face tack. "Alright won't be exactly� merry."

The mare huffed her agreement.

The warrior patted her horse's rump before going into the cave again. "Be back, girl." She bent down and picked up her saddlebag. She took one more search of the cave and knew she had everything. Headed back out, she neared Argo and hooked the saddle on. "Ready, girl?"

Argo took a deep breath and released it slowly.

Xena patted her mare's neck with a grin. "Let's get you warmed up." She pulled down the stirrups and mounted her horse. After she settled down in the saddle, she scanned the ground and spotted the road. She tapped her horse in the side with her boots and gave a click.

The pair silently traveled southwest towards the next town in mind - Dodoni.

~*~*~*~

Mairead bowed her head then slowly lifted her gaze once more. "Welcome Princess Amarice and Teresa." She smiled lightly and her focus went to Lesia. "Welcome back, Lesia."

Lesia bowed her head. "Nice to be back� for awhile."

Amarice took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Mairead, we are here on an interrogation about one of the Amazons that came from here."

"One of mine?" Mairead dropped her head to one side and put her hands behind her back. "Which Amazon?"

"Renotta," replied the Princess, and she saw Mairead's eyes flash.

"Yes, I do� recall Renotta," stated the queen. "What seems to be the problem?"

Amarice gazed around at all her Amazons and Mairead's Amazons near in the middle of the forest. "May we discuss this in your hut?"

"Of course," agreed Mairead. She turned to her Amazons. "Please escort our guests into the village then bring Princess Amarice and Teresa to my hut."

Mairead's Amazons nodded and signaled Amarice and her Amazons to follow.

After settling into a hut, Teresa and Amarice were brought to Mairead's hut and let in.

"Sit, please," ordered Mairead with a friendly smile.

Amarice and the third in command both nodded and took seats.

The southern queen took a seat herself but faced Gabrielle's Amazons. "What seems to be the problem?"

The Princess sighed and crossed one ankle over the other. "Queen Gabrielle is concerned about the rumors she has heard about Renotta."

Mairead nodded before shifting in her seat. "Renotta is an� interesting Amazon." She paused before adding, "She's different so to say."

"What do you know about her?" asked Teresa.

"That depends on what you need to know," countered the queen.

Amarice narrowed her eyes and sat up straight. "Excuse me� Mairead."

The southern queen turned her attention to the Princess.

The Princess locked her eyes with Mairead's. "Queen Gabrielle would like your help in finding out more about Renotta. It is very important that Renotta is found out." She stopped and considered her next words. "Queen Gabrielle will not have a 'crazed' Amazon in her Nation." She narrowed her eyes even more. "I, personally, will not leave Queen Gabrielle endangered. So help us solve things or become apart of the problem?"

Mairead just stared at the young Amazon, surprised by her cockiness. Slowly, a warm grin crept along her lips. "Solution, Princess Amarice."

The Princess sighed in relief and sat back in her seat. "Thank you, Mairead."

The queen nodded and folded her arms. "Now, what do you know of this Renotta?"

Teresa and Amarice exchange looks.

~*~*~*~

He ducked as the sword breezed over his head. "Ah ha!" He bounced back and waved his sword. "Too slow."

The enemy growled at the drunk man. "Shut up and fight," he challenged.

"Only if you can," he taunted back with a smirk. He soon found a sword stabbing forward at him, and he just moved out of the way.

"You're a dead man," snarled the enemy before he rushed forward and knocked the drunk man on his back.

He groaned as his sword left his fingers. His fuzzy eyes opened up and found a sword against the tip of his nose. "Hey man, this has been fun, its been real but-"

"Shut the fuck up," yelled the enemy. He slammed his metal tipped boot into the drunk man's stomach. "Shut up!"

"Excuse me."

The enemy turned around after receiving a tap on his shoulder. "Wwwhat?"

"Hasn't your mother ever taught you any matters," growled the deep voice.

The enemy's eyes widened right when a fist connected hard with his face. He stumbled back in the snow and dropped his sword.

He stayed on the ground, completely dazed by what was going on.

The enemy focused his eyes on the tall, dark woman in front of him. "Oh no� you're her�?" he squeaked out in fear.

"Damn straight," growled Xena and she suddenly did a scissors kick, sending the man flying. She watched him slam into a barn and sink down into the snow. She sighed and turned to the drunk man resting in the snow. She stepped closer, put her hands on her hips, and smirked down at him. "How are you, Toris?"

The drunk man blinked up at the woman grinning at him. "Xena?" he whispered.

"Yessss," replied the warrior.

Toris shook his head. "No."

"Yes."

Toris focused his eyes on the Warrior Princess. "No."

Xena rolled her eyes and dropped her hands from her hips. "Gods Toris, get off your ass and stand up."

Toris laughed. "Hi, Xena."

The warrior laughed softly and held out her hand. "Come on, brother."

The drunk man took his sister's hand and felt himself hauled up to his feet. "Thanks, Zena." He took a step to his right in a seeming stumble.

"Uh huh." The warrior folded her arms. "How long you been drinking for?"

Toris stared up into the sky. "Uuuuh� a few candlemarks."

"Right," whispered the Warrior Princess. She glanced to the west and noted the sun would set in three to four candlemarks. "Hmmm mind as well stay here for the night," she muttered.

"So what are you doing here, sis?" interrupted the brother.

"Looking for you," answered Xena before she started trudging towards the inn near by.

Toris stumbled a little but shook his head and walked beside his sister. "Really?"

"Really," replied the Warrior Princess as she climbed the stairs. "Where've you been?" She stopped at the top of the steps.

Toris stopped on the step below and stared up at the warrior. "What you mean?"

Xena sighed and fully turned around. She grasped her brother's shoulders. "You didn't come home for Solstice," she stated sternly. "Mother has been worried about you."

Toris's light hazel eyes lowered to the ground. "She has?"

"Yesss." The warrior sighed then went into the inn. "Come on."

Toris slowly followed inside.

~*~*~*~

Amarice's head moved up and down several times as she listened to Mairead. "So this Kyle has disappeared from the Nation?"

"Yes," replied the queen, "she left one night, I sent two of my best trackers."

"Nothing?" whispered Teresa.

Mairead nodded and stood up from her chair. "Absolutely nothing." She walked over to her window, and peered out into the white night. "No tracks in the snow either."

The Princess glanced at her third in command then gazed at Mairead's back again. "How long ago did Kyle disappear?"

"A month ago," replied the queen, she turned around and leaned against the windowsill. "Seven days after Renotta left the tribe with Lesia."

Amarice licked her lips and stared at the floor, her worry suddenly became stronger.

Teresa caught the tension just vibrating off the Princess. "Nobody is sure though exactly where Renotta came from? Whether it was this hospice or from a farm?"

The queen overlapped her arms against her chest, and considered the question. "No and yes."

"Who might?" inquired Amarice, she looked up quickly.

Mairead grinned and replied, "Ask Lesia."

Amarice and Teresa both stood at the same time.

"We'll do that now," stated the Princess, she walked over to the door with Teresa at her side.

"Oh one other thing, Princess." Mairead's hands slid from her chest and grasped the windowsill from behind. "Kyle is not a true Amazon."

"How is that?" asked the third in command.

The queen tilted her head to one side. "She was brand new when everything started happening. She was still earning her feathers... she has no feathers."

Amarice moved her head in understanding. "Thank you, Mairead."

"You're welcome, I'll be here for anymore questions. Get some rest tonight."

"We will." Amarice smiled warmly and tugged her cloak tighter against her body. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

The Princess left the hut with Teresa behind.

The third in command said, "Goodnight," to Mairead with a wave and closing of the door. She took a few large steps to catch up beside her companion. "What you think, Reese?"

Amarice shook her head several times, a dark expression shaping its way into place. "I think there's a lot of trouble going on here."

Teresa nodded.

"And I also think Gabrielle's life is endangered," added the Princess in a quiet utter.

The third in command closer her eyes for a second then opened them again, she stared at her boots crunching down into the snow. "We need to find out what's going on quickly."

"We will," promised the Princess in determined tone. "Right now, its time we talked to Lesia."

~*~*~*~

"So why didn't you come home for Solstice?" inquired the Warrior Princess.

Toris peered up from the mug of... water. "I didn't want to."

"Why?" Xena stared at her brother across the table in the inn. "Mother has been worried, I have and Gabrielle."

The male warrior looked up with darker than normal eyes. "I didn't want to, which part didn't you understand?"

The warrior raised one of her dark eyebrows. "All of it, Toris."

Toris rolled his eyes and took another swallow of water.

"Tor-"

"Xena," growled the brother, "shut up!"

Xena suddenly reached out, grabbed her brother's wrist, and pulled so hard that it jerked Toris across the table. "Toris, I don't know what your problem is," she whispered hotly, "But I have just spent good quality time with my Soulmate to search for your ass. I promised mother I'd find you and bring you home. She is worried to death about you and all you can say is you didn't want to." She shook her head, her eyes locked with soft blue ones. "I can't believe you're my brother." She pushed the her brother's arm away and stood up.

Toris stood shocked in place, he just watched his sister walked away, headed back towards the bedrooms of the inn. He snarled lowly and slammed his mug down. Getting up from the chair, he stomped out of the inn and into the cold winter's night.

The Warrior Princess however went into the room, and she gazed out of the window. She watched Toris trek across the snow street headed out of town. She sighed very several seconds then went to grab her cloak. She shrugged the heavy cloak on and grabbed her brother's cloak as well. She hastily left the room and inn, trailing after her brother.

Toris left the village and came to the wooded area, and to the summit of a tiny hill. He found a nice tree to lean against and stare at the night sky.

Xena came up the hill and found another tree, she leaned against that one. She folded her arms with Toris's cloak in between, she sighed with her breath materializing in the air. She dropped her head against the cold bark.

The male warrior's shoulders finally dropped down and a heavy sigh escaped him. He just continued to stare at the starry sky, his mind wondering to all his recent memories.

The warrior closed her eyes for a minute then they gradually opened again. She silently lifted herself off the tree side and came up behind her brother just as quietly. She opened up the cloak and came right up behind saying, "You'll catch a cold out here without a cloak.... brother."

Toris turned his head to the side and felt the heavy cloak fall onto his shoulders with strong hands gently squeezing his shoulders. He closed his eyes now and pressed his cheek into his sister's warm hand.

Xena smiled at the apologetic affection she saw from her brother. She leaned forward a bit and placed a light kiss on Toris's temple. She then released his shoulders and took a step to his side. "Want to tell me now what happened?"

Toris dropped his head back while sucking in a shaky breath. "Too much, Xena." He lowered his head back and pulled his cloak on closer. "I was headed up from Athens a month ago or so."

The Warrior Princess nodded, continued to listen to the start of his story.

"So along the way, I hit a few towns naturally to stay for the night." He paused as he licked his lips. "In this one tavern, I bumped into a barmaid."

Xena now gazed at her brother with curiosity. A love story?

Toris laughed faintly and said, "Yeah just a barmaid huh?" He shook his head and lifted his eyes to Xena. "She was incredible, Xena."

The warrior smiled sadly and stated, "She must have found you incredible."

"Yes... amazingly." He shook his head as his happy smiled faded out. "I was never sure why." He fell silent for many moments then began again. "That same night, she came to my room." He grinned a little. "You'd think we'd had sex or something but instead we spent the entire night just talking."

Xena chuckled a faint bit and shook her head a little. "Go on."

"She stayed for the night and in the morning, she told me how much she loved me and wanted to go with me." Toris's head moved back and forth as he spoke, "I told her she couldn't-"

"At first huh?"

Toris faintly laughed and nodded. "Yes, she was stubborn and I gave in so that afternoon we left together." He smiled some to his sister. "We started making our way up north and I fell more in love with her each day." He then leaned against the tree again and continued on with his story. "One day we were traveling along a snowy road and the usual thugs came around the bend. I told Helen to hide behind a tree before they saw us. When they did finally come around the turn, I fought them all and manage to stop them."

Xena now noticed a few tears creeping down Toris's cheek and he his lower lip was quivering has he talked.

"I yelled for Helen to come out... waited a couple of seconds and she didn't come. I got worried and raced back to where I told her to hide." Toris chewed on his lower lip and more tears flowed down his cheek. "I found her lying in the snow... the snow red. I started screaming her name, shaking her shoulders."

The Warrior Princess's eyes shut tightly and lump formed in her throat, her sorrow strong for her brother now.

"Helen never woke up," whispered Toris. He wiped at his cheeks. "Thing is Xena..." He gazed at his sister as she gazed at him. "I'm not sure if I dreamt this all up in my hysteria or not but... I saw a woman standing in the snow, deeper in the forest." He narrowed his eyes and they glossed over. "She held an unusual dagger with blood on it, she wore leathers with a deathly black cloak on. She just stared at me with these eyes that were black as night." His eyes focused back on Xena. "I'd blinked and then she was gone without a trace."

"No tracks?" whispered the warrior.

Toris shook his head and replied, "I never checked... because I was never sure if it was real or not." He licked his lips and whispered, "But Xena, this woman... she looked like an Amazon."

Both of Xena's eyebrows raised up gradually.

~*~*~*~

Lesia sighed and sat on the foot of her bed. "Yes, Renotta use to talk to me a lot. We were drinking buddies," she explained.

Both the Princess and Teresa sat down together, facing the other Amazon.

"Did Renotta say if she was from the hospice or a farm, Lesia?"

Lesia shook her head at Amarice and replied, "She said both," but she paused before adding, "The thing is I asked her where her hospice was on one occasion."

"And?" urged Teresa.

"It was like I had three heads, she looked at me like I was crazy." Lesia shook her head and lifted up her feet to cross together. "Then a few nights later when we were drinking together again, I ask her that time where this farm was she use to live on was located. This time she gave me a sad smile and told me it was about a days walk due east."

Both Teresa and the Princess gave each other a look.

"She tell you where exactly, Lesia?"

"Not really Amarice." Lesia's expression went into thought, she rubbed her chin a bit. "If I remember right... she said this farm was right off the road and just outside of a small town." Her eyes focused back on the two officers. "She said she hated it there, the farm and the town near by."

"She talked about family or anything?"

The Amazon took a long breath. "Well... she'd been beaten by her father when she was young."

"I thought it was by her supposed husband."

"Him too," agreed Lesia with Teresa. "But also by her father... she hated her family too. Either way, she's had a real bad past... one that she hasn't escaped yet."

"No," muttered Amarice, "she's trying to escape."

"What are the plans?" asked Lesia quietly.

Teresa gazed at the Princess in question.

"Well..." Amarice revealed a small grin. "Sounds like we're headed towards the sunrise tomorrow morning."

Teresa and Lesia both agreed and kept studying the Princess.

Amarice patted her knees and stood. "Well, I think that's enough for now." She gazed at Teresa. "Time for bed."

"Yeah." The third in command rose up and flashed a smile at Lesia. "Thank you, Lesia."

"You're both welcome." Lesia then added, "Sleep well tonight."

"We will." Amarice made her way to the door. "Night, Lesia."

Lesia gave a smile and watched the pair leave her hut.

Amarice's shoulders slumped once she was in the cold night, heading to her and Teresa's hut. "I'm beat," she mentioned.

"Me too." Teresa yawned and shook her head. She then smiled sleepily at her friend. "You did well today, Reese."

The Princess groaned and muttered, "Why'd I take this Hades of a job?" A sarcastic grin spread across her expression.

"Because Gabrielle knew you'd be good at it... once you matured enough."

"Thanks, Teresa."

"Not a problem," teased the third in command, and she slapped Amarice's back hard.

Amarice shook her head and whispered, "Well nobody else could be as good as me," in a snotty tone.

Teresa cracked up laughing with a large smile.

~*Part 9*~

"Come on, Come on," ordered Eponin in her ordering tone, clapping her hands at the same time. "Get out there."

Renotta, Karena, and Janelle sighed before walking out of the village; off on patrol duty together.

Karena pushed Janelle a little ahead of Renotta and growled lowly, "I can't believe this."

"I know," muttered Janelle, her shoulders drooping down. "Why are we stuck with her?"

"And you think I'm any more excited?" chided Renotta as she caught up to the pair.

Karena glared back at the other Amazon. "Let's get this day over with." She looked ahead and walked faster out of the village.

Gabrielle watched the three Amazons head out of the village and Eponin came back near her. "What was that all about?"

Eponin sighed and stood beside her Queen. "They all got in a fight a bit ago." She watched the three Amazons go through the gates. "Trying to get them to calm down together."

"Mmmmm." Gabrielle folded her arms. "I don't think it'll work," she whispered sadly.

"Its worth a shot though," stated the weapons master. "You seen Eph around?"

"No, why?"

Eponin shook her head. "Just need to catch up with her on something."

Queen Gabrielle nodded and asked, "Have you heard anything from Amarice and Teresa?"

"No, not yet, Gabrielle." The weapons master sighed and replied, "Which probably means something is going on."

"I know." The Queen folded her arms. The morning was still warming up from the rising sun. "I'm real worried."

Eponin licked her lips, becoming concerned for the Queen knowing she had to worry about Xena and now this case with Renotta. "Look Gabrielle�" Eponin grabbed her friend's arm tightly. "Don't forget Eph, Solari and I are all here to help." She gave a warm smile. "Don't let this all stress you out too much."

The warrior-bard nodded a few times. "I know, thanks Ep." She smiled at her Amazon.

"Come on, let's get some breakfast," suggested the weapons master.

The Queen chuckled and stated, "You know me very well, Ep."

"Too well," taunted Eponin. "Its scares even me sometimes."

Gabrielle laughed while heading to the food hut with her friend. She then took a brief glance at the food hut entrance and furrowed her eyebrows. "Ep, since when did we have a bush beside the entrance door?"

Eponin became confused herself when she saw the bush beside the doorway. "That's weird."

The pair came up to the entrance, staring at the brush.

Suddenly, the bush shook and a growl came up from the bush.

"By the gods!" yelled Gabrielle as she screamed.

Eponin in reaction drew her sword. "What the Hades!"

Next came a belly full of laughter from the bush and the bush fell down.

"Solari?" growled the Queen.

Solari was on the ground laughing hysterically and curled up in a ball. "Oh gods� that� that was the best reaction� yet!" She continued laughing hard.

The warrior-bard sighed and shook her head. "Solari, you've been doing this all morning in the cold?"

The second in command nodded faintly and stopped her laughing. She took a deep breath and sat up while readjusting her cloak. "Oh gods, its been the funniest thing too."

The weapons master was shaking her head while sheathing her sword again. "Do you need something to do, Solar?"

The second in command shook her head and tossed the tied pieces of bush branches aside. "No, no I've had my fun." She laughed again then stood up. "Going in for breakfast?"

"Yes, care to join?"

"Yeah." Solari rubbed her hands together quickly. "Getting cold now." She grinned and entered the food hut with her friends following.

Ephiny noted her friends coming in and smiled. "Morning, ladies."

"Good morning, Eph," greeted the Queen, she took her white cloak off and placed it on the bench seat on the opposite side of the regent. "How are you doing?"

"Pretty good. How you feeling?"

Gabrielle sighed and replied quietly, "A bit stressed."

"I know," whispered back the regent.

"Heard any word about what's going on?" inquired the small warrior.

"No." Ephiny shook her head as well. "Xena find Toris yet?"

Gabrielle finally smiled warmly. "She did." She folded her arms while gazing down at her friend. "She's headed back now with him."

"Where'd she find him?" Ephiny furrowed her eyebrows together.

The warrior-bard chuckled and said, "Let me go get something to eat and I'll tell you all about it."

"Sounds good."

The Queen strolled off and collected a plate full of food.

"You have to be kidding me?" growled Eponin, she was moving down the line of food with Solari. "We are not-"

"Not what?" inquired the Queen, an inquisitive look crossing her features.

"I was just telling Ep about the plans for a new temple for Aphrodite," revealed the second in command. She scooped up a helping of scrambled eggs and placed them on her plate. "Ep is very excited."

The weapons master huffed while getting some of the eggs herself. "That's centaur crap."

"Well you better be," cut in the Queen.

Eponin put the spoon back into the eggs. "We're not erecting a temple for the goddess of love are we?"

Gabrielle put her free hand on her hip. "We are, Ep."

"Wwwwhy?" The weapons master shook her head. "She's� she's� the goddess of love and we're Amazons not� not love birds," stated the rough and tough Amazon.

"Oh really?" teased Gabrielle with a smirk. "Coulda fooled me." She took a scoop of the eggs then strolled over to where Solari and Ephiny sat.

Eponin gazed at the Queen's back, her mouth a bit slack jawed. "Damn," she growled and went to join the others.

"She found him where?"

Gabrielle looked to Solari and repeated herself, "Xena found him in Dodoni."

"That's that small village due southwest of us," stated Ephiny to her second in command.

"Okay, I know which one now." Solari went back to eating her eggs.

"So, how'd Xena find Toris?" cut in Eponin.

The Queen sighed before replying, "Drunk."

"What? Drunk?" Ephiny shook her head. "Why?"

Gabrielle poked a little at her eggs then ate some of them. "Xena said he fell in love."

"And that caused him to drink?" interrupted Eponin.

The Queen shook her head and gazed up at her friends. "No, she was killed while he was headed back to Amphipolis for Solstice."

The three Amazons fell silent and stopped eating briefly.

"What happened?" whispered Solari.

The warrior-bard licked her lips, still staring and poking at her eggs. "Toris fought some bandits while this woman, Helen, hid in the forest. After he fought them off, he went back to get her and found her dead."

"Oh gods," whispered Solari in horror.

"How was she killed?"

Gabrielle looked up to her regent, replying, "Stabbed� in the heart."

"By whom?" Eponin narrowed her eyes, her words coming out coldly.

The warrior-bard chewed on her lower lip and her eyes closed some.

"Gabrielle?" whispered the regent. "Who?"

The Queen of the Amazons looked up at her regent. "An amazon," she whispered very quietly.

Ephiny's fork slipped out of her fingers and hit the plate as she just stared at her Queen in shock.

~*~*~*~

Amarice tugged the hood of her cloak closer around her face then lowered her head to keep the cold breeze from chilling her face.

Teresa glanced over before coming closer to her friend. �Think we�ll make it there by sunset?�

The Princess sighed then gave a small shrug. �Possibly� Lesia seems to think we will.�

�I hope so�� The third in command shivered for emphasis on how cold she was feeling. �Blasted winter, hate it.�

�Mmmm,� agreed the younger Amazon.

�So what you think is going on?� asked Teresa quietly. She peered up and studied Amarice�s hooded eyes.

�I don�t know�� The Princess glanced at her friend then back at the snowy forest ahead. �Conspiracy maybe.�

�Seriously?� Teresa�s eyes were wide now.

Amarice chuckled and turned her focus back to the third in command. �Well� what you think, Teresa?�

Teresa shrugged then folded her arms against her chest to keep warmer. �Not sure either� but� I think I have to agree with you on this one.� She shook her head and stared at the snow-covered road ahead. �Its just� why would Renotta go through all this trouble� and where is Kyle now?�

Amarice licked her lips quickly and sighed, her warm breath materializing in the cool air. �I�m sure we�ll find out� soon��

Teresa gave a huff and shook her head. �It just makes you wonder why�� She began shaking her head.

~*~*~*~

�Are you ready?� inquired the Warrior Princess.

�As ready as I�m gonna get,� replied Toris. He mounted the horse outside of the stable. �Thanks for getting the horse, Xena.�

Xena nodded with a warm smile. �Anytime, brother.� She lightly tapped on Argo�s sides and came closer to Toris and his new horse. �We�re going to head to the Amazon Nation� afterwards I suggest you go straight to mother�s.� She raised her eyebrow high up.

The brother sighed but a smile played on his lips. �I know.� He then peered up into blue eyes. �As long as I can stay a night in the Nation�?�

The warrior chuckled and kicked her mare�s sides. �You�ll have to ask the Queen.� She flashed a quick smirk before directing Argo out of the town.

Toris laughed some and followed after his sister. �I think I can sweet talk her into it.�

�Sure, Toris,� taunted the younger sister.

�Speaking of which�� Toris hurried his stallion to catch up with Xena. He came up along side and smiled at the Warrior Princess. �How is Gabrielle doing?�

�Pretty well,� answered Xena.

�Yeah?� Toris chuckled and tilted his head to one side. �How�s the relationship?� He lifted his own eyebrow in a teasing tone.

Xena rolled her eyes and grumbled, �Well.�

�Why didn�t that sound so happy?� teased the brother.

The Warrior Princess laughed quietly and exited the village with Toris. �No, we�re doing very well, Toris.� She paused while in thought. �We� we had a nice Solstice with mother.�

�That�s good.� Toris nodded his approval. �How was mother?�

�Mother was happy.� The warrior released a heavy breath. �She missed you� a lot.�

�So I�ve heard.� Toris licked his lips before giving a warm smile. �I promise� I�ll spend at least a week at home.�

�At least?�

The brother laughed lightly. �No more than a month,� he stated quickly. �Can only handle so much.�

Xena laughed, her head moving up and down knowing what her brother meant. A child could only take so much of their own parents.

�So� why is Gabrielle in the Nation?� Toris gazed at Xena with a confused look. �Affairs?�

�Yes� plus I wanted to make sure she was in a safe place till I returned.�

Toris adjusted himself in the stiff saddle, he studied the snowy hills ahead of him then looked to Xena again. �Is something wrong?�

�No� not quite.� The Warrior Princess released one side of the reins and pulled her cloak in closer against her body. �You did hear that Gabrielle is the Queen of all the Amazons�?�

�Yes I did. She�s preparing to combine all the village from what I heard.�

Xena nodded several times. �She plans to take this spring to do that.�

�That won�t be an easy task.� The brother shook his head. �Each one of those villages are different than the other� especially the one all the way in Chin.�

�I know,� whispered the Warrior Princess.

�How is she going to manage that?� Toris had a worried expression.

�Well Gabrielle, her officers, and I all plan to sit down� combine the laws and traditions together.�

Xena�s brother considered the idea for a moment then said, �Not a bad idea. But� what about all the queens?� He grinned. �They�re really giving up their crowns so easily?�

�Well since Gabrielle won the contests they really don�t have much choice. Although we are concerned about one queen in the south named Mairead.� Xena gazed back at Toris. �Worried she�ll stir up trouble so Gabrielle had to act quickly and take her place as the head Queen.�

Suddenly Toris�s eyes lit up. �Sssso that�s why she�s not here with you, huh?�

�Yup.� Xena nodded a couple of times.

�Boy� I bet she�s miffed she�s not with you.�

Xena grinned over to her brother. �She�s not the only one.�

Toris laughed lightly before readjusting the reins in his hands. �Must be killing you two not to be able to see each other huh?�

�Well� we still see each other,� replied the warrior as an evil grin spread across her lips.

The brother turned his head instantly towards his sister. �What?� he exclaimed.

The Warrior Princess held back her laugh but kept her grin. �Our dreamscapes are linked,� she explained.

Toris�s jaw dropped. �Centaur shit!�

Xena this time laughed, and she dropped her head while laughing more at her brother�s facial expression. She calmed down a bit and stated, �We do have linked dreamscapes.� She smiled at Toris. �Its apart of being Soulmates.�

Very slowly Toris nodded with a still suspicious look. �Prove it,� he declared.

�What?� The warrior furrowed her eyebrows. �How?�

�I don�t know� I�m sure you can come up with a way.�

Xena thought for a moment and said, �When we arrive in the Amazon village, ask Gabrielle if she has a tattoo on her hip. Then ask her when she got it.� She suddenly grinned.

The male warrior narrowed his eyes. �What�s the tattoo of?�

�Its my name,� replied the warrior.

Toris nodded briskly. �I�ll do that.�

�Yeah� you do that, Toris.� Xena gave a deep laugh then kicked Argo�s sides hard, sending Argo into a full gallop.

Toris shook his head and kicked his stallion�s sides, following after his sister.

~*~*~*~

Amarice and Teresa stopped walking and studied the lonely farmhouse ahead of them.

�Must be it,� whispered the third in command.

Lesia slowly treaded up beside the Princess. �I believe this is it, Princess.�

Amarice quickly looked down at the Amazon and stated, �Amarice� not Princess.�

Lesia gave a small smile and nodded.

�So� we headed in?� Teresa grinned at Amarice.

The Princess nodded and folded her arms. �Definitely especially since people are there.�

�How you figure?� questioned Lesia.

The Princess pointed towards the rising smoke from the house.

�Mmmm.� Teresa chuckled before nodding. �A small hint.�

Amarice turned around, facing her ten other Amazons. �Ladies, we�re headed into that house. The rest of you are to stay out here and keep watch. Understood?�

The Amazons nodded their understanding and followed behind Amarice towards the farmhouse.

Teresa and Amarice stepped up to the front door of the house with Lesia beside them.

The Princess took a deep breath and knocked, she waited.

Slowly, the door creaked open and a little girl peered out of the crack of the door. �Hello�?�

Amarice smiled and knelt down. �Hi.�

�What do you want, ma�am?� asked the small girl.

The Amazon Princess rested her hands on her knees and replied, �I�m here to see your folks.�

The little girl shook her head. �Only my daddy lives here with us.�

�May I speak to him?�

The little girl peered up at Teresa then at Lesia before gazing back at Amarice, she considered for several moments. She then turned her head back into the house, calling, �Daddy, there are three women here.� Looking back at the Amazons, she questioned, �What are you�s? You have lots of leathers and feathers for women.�

Amarice�s smiled went into amusement. �We�re Amazons.�

�Wow� you mean real Amazons?� The tiny girl�s eyes were wide in disbelief. �I was told Amazons were just a legend.�

�Nope, we�re real,� stated the Princess. She then caught sight of the door opening by a larger hand so she stood up tall again.

�Daddy, they�re real Amazons,� squealed out the girl excitedly.

�I know, dear� go inside.� The father watched his daughter go back in, and he gazed back at the three Amazons. �What can I help you with, ma�am?�

Amarice held out her hand. �I�m Amarice.�

The man studied the Princess a second then took her hand, shaking it. �Jacob, ma�am.�

The Princess nodded and held her hand out to her third in command. �This is Teresa and�� She shifted her hand towards Lesia. �Lesia.�

�Nice to meet you both.� Jacob flashed a faint smile to the other two Amazons. �Now what may I help you with, Amarice?�

�Well�.� Princess Amarice thought for a moment then straightforwardly asked, �Were you married to a woman by the name of Renotta by any chance?�

The man blinked and glanced at the other two Amazons then back to Amarice. �Yes ma�am I was� but she no longer lives here.�

�I know,� stated the Princess, �She�s an Amazon now.�

Jacob didn�t reply straight away, he just stared as a stunned look masked his features.

~*~*~*~

�Gabrielle?� Ephiny knocked on the Queen�s hut again.

The Amazon Queen rushed to the door and opened it. �What�s going on?�

The regent smiled and held out the scroll. �A report from Amarice, my Queen.�

�Ephiny,� growled the warrior-bard at the Queen title. She took the held out scroll and stepped back as her regent entered her hut. Unrolling the scroll, the Queen began pacing about while reading over the contexts of the report; her head was bobbing.

The regent just stood in front of the closed door, her eyes following the Queen�s every step. �Sssso�?�

Gabrielle stopped and faced her friend. �Seems that Renotta has more than likely lived on a farm. Amarice and Teresa are going directly to the farmer�s house to find out more� should be there today.� She glanced back at the scroll while talking aloud. �Its seems that Kyle is not an Amazon either.�

�What?� Ephiny stepped forward and took the scroll from Gabrielle. She read over what Gabrielle had just read and shook her head. �I�ll be damned,� she muttered.

�No feathers,� stated Gabrielle.

The regent peered up from the scroll. �Makes you wonder huh?�

�Mmmm,� agreed the Queen. �Looks like we won�t know more until Amarice checks into the farmhouse.�

Ephiny nodded and folded her arms, the scroll sticking up. �The plans for the Temple of Aphrodite have been made.�

�Already?� The warrior-bard smiled and asked, �May I see?�

�Of course, my Queen,� teased the regent again. �Follow me.�

�Lead the way, my regent,� taunted back the Queen.

Ephiny shot a teasing glare before leaving the hut with her friend. �The plans are rather nice, just need your approval and we�ll begin construction.�

�Sounds perfect.� Gabrielle entered into what seemed to be a new hut that was beside the designated construction area.

�Gabrielle, this is Zeros� she�s our architect.�

The Amazon Queen smiled at the Amazon architect. �Nice to meet you, Zeros.�

Zeros bowed her head with a smile. �I�m happy to join your tribe, my Queen.�

�Just call me Gabrielle,� insisted the Queen.

The architect nodded after lifting her head back up.

The regent then held her hand out to the other Amazon on the opposite side of the table between them all. �And this is our head foreman Evian.�

The warrior-bard now averted her smile to the next new Amazon. �Nice to meet you as well.�

Evian gave a warm smile back, bowed her head, and replied, �The honor is mine� Gabrielle.� She lifted her head with a grin.

Gabrielle chuckled and said, �For once, somebody got it right.�

Evian winked at the Queen before going serious.

The bard looked to her regent and asked, �Have we figured out which Amazons will be helping in constructing the temple?�

�Mmmm� yes.� Ephiny folded her arms again and gave a grin. �All of them.�

�Well with the exception of you, Gabrielle,� cut in Evian, �That�s not required.�

�No� no.� Gabrielle held up her hand a bit. �I would like to help as well.� Facing her regent, the Queen added, �Maybe what should be done is have the Amazons split into groups. Solari and Evian can figure that out together and have one group per day work on the temple.�

�Then rotate it each day?� inquired the foreman.

The warrior-bard nodded, her hands going to her hips. �That a way, nobody gets too tired� or bored.�

�Good idea,� agreed the foreman.

�The plans.� Ephiny glanced at Zeros and nodded.

Zeros turned to a shelf unit behind her and pulled out a scroll. She unrolled it then placed it on the table then both her and Evian placed paperweights on the four corners.

Gabrielle peered down at the plans and slowly a smile creased her lips.

�Satisfactory, my Queen?�

The Amazon Queen looked up to Zeros and replied, �Very.�

The architect mirrored back the smile, she gazed at Evian.

Evian winked and nodded proudly. �We�ll begin work right away.�

�Great.� The bard smiled. �Thank you.�

�No thank you,� stated Zeros. �Since its our honor.�

Gabrielle nodded and looked to Ephiny. �Anything else, regent?�

�Nope, that about covers it.� The regent stepped back and opened the door. �My Queen�?�

The warrior-bard rolled her eyes but left the hut.

�Nice job, Amazons,� whispered the regent to the foreman and architect.

�No problem, Eph,� replied Evian.

Ephiny left and joined her friend outside. �So� when do you plan to tell the rest of your Nation about our new goddess?�

�Soon,� answered the Head Amazon Queen.

�Soon� is that like asking what the weather is like and getting seasonal as a reply?�

Gabrielle laughed while shaking her head. �Eph, it�ll be soon.� She grinned up at the Amazon. �After the other tribes walk in and see the temple to Aphrodite.�

Ephiny laughed this time. �I�m sure they�ll love it.�

�Mmmm� I�m thinking more about the looks on their faces when they see it.�

The regent chuckled quietly. �That�ll be a laugh.�

~*~*~*~

Xena tugged on Argo�s reins, urging the mare to pick up her pace but Argo didn�t speed up. She then stopped walking and waited for her mare to catch up. �What�s wrong, girl huh?� She rubbed her horse�s nose.

Toris walked up beside his sister with his stallion in tow. �What�s wrong?�

�I�m not sure� Argo is skittish for some reason.� The Warrior Princess narrowed her eyes faintly.

�Maybe she senses something.�

The warrior turned back towards the snowy road. �And that would be trouble.� She reached back drawing her sword.

Toris�s right hand shifted over to his sword on his left side. He started walking again with his sister.

�I get so bored of trash on the roads,� grumbled the Warrior Princess.

The brother chuckled deeply and asked, �You must get it often when you�re traveling with Gabrielle huh?�

�Too much.� Xena swung her sword and released her mare�s reins. She turned and patted Argo on the side leg. �Go on, girl.�

Argo huffed and trotted off into the woods.

Toris did the same with his horse and waited till the stallion joined Argo in the woods. �A little entertainment at least,� he mentioned softly.

A tiny grin found its way onto Xena�s lips. �True,� she whispered back. She then went into her warrior persona with a twirl of her sword. She started walking towards the three men in front of her.

Toris turned around at hearing the sound of people behind him and he spotted three more behind. �I�ll take care of the rear.�

Xena faintly nodded and smiled evilly at her three enemies. �How can we help you, boys?�

�You know the usually,� retorted one of the three.

The Warrior Princess just rolled her eyes at the usually. �Figures,� she grumbled, �This just isn�t as fun without my partner.�

�Oh that�s nothing to worry about,� cut in the man. �You�ll see her soon.�

The warrior�s eyes widened for an instant but narrowed when the three men yelled and came charging at her.

�Now!� cried out the leader of the six men.

Toris spun his sword, his eyes pinned on his three opponents but his heart was pounding for once. Something was seriously out of place and he knew it wasn�t good.

Suddenly six other men dropped out of the trees between Xena and her brother. Two of the men had clothes in their hands and one sprung onto Xena�s back while the other onto Toris�s. Both of the men covered the Warrior Princess�s and Toris�s mouths with the white clothes

Xena started to reach back like her brother but soon as she did the three men jumped her, grabbing onto her arms and body. She tried struggling against them but soon felt her body weakening.

Toris was doing the same but was being held in place by three other men.

The two remaining men both sprinted off down the road, disappearing in the distance.

The warrior closed her fuzzy blue eyes and her sword slipped from her fingertips; it crashed to the ground. Then her eyes rolled up into the back of her head and her knees buckled.

The enemy on Xena�s back jumped off her and removed the cloth from her mouth. He stepped back and watched her fall to the ground.

Toris followed Xena, his eyes rolling back, his sword dropping from his hand, and he hit the snowy ground hard.

The leader of the bandits looked up with a smile. �Perfect. She�ll be very happy.� He then peered up when he saw his two other men returning. They were escorting four other men with a jail wagon. �Shackle �em both up and throw �em in the wagon,� he ordered.

~*~*~*~

Gabrielle stopped reading her scroll; she peered up and stared out her window. She felt her heartbeat skip then speed up for several seconds before it went normal again. Licking her lips, she watched the sun take another step towards the west in the afternoon.

�Not good,� she muttered then went back to reading her scroll while sitting at her desk.

Suddenly, the door to the Queen�s hut flung open and an angry Amazon came stomping in. �Queen Gabrielle,� half yelled the Amazon, �I refuse to work with her anymore!�

Queen Gabrielle nearly flew out of her seat but stood up rapidly and looked at her Amazon. �Karena, who are you talking about?�

Karena paused and composed herself with a deep breath. �I�m sorry, my Queen but I cannot take anymore of Renotta.� She held up her hands, her palms pressing out. �I can�t stand her and how brassy she is,� she growled lowly.

The bard walked over to Karena and grasped her shoulders. �What has she done?�

�She�s been a� a�� Karena lowered her head closer to Gabrielle�s. �Frankly she�s an itch� but put a �b� in front of that.�

Gabrielle sighed deeply and lowered her head. �I�m sorry, Karena but she�s here to stay��

The Amazon grumbled and stomped back to the open door. She closed it quietly then turned around. �My Queen, I�m not usually the one to get uptight and everything but I can�t stand the woman.�

�I know, I know,� whispered the warrior-bard as she gazed up. �How is Janelle doing with her?�

�Not any better and Nel can put up with people the best outta us both, mate.�

�Okay, okay� let me see what I can do� I�ll talk to Ep and Solari. Okay?�

Karena nodded and smiled now. �Thank you, mate.�

�You�re welcome until then can you deal with her?�

The Amazon sighed but still smiled. �I�ll try, Gabrielle.�

�Thank you.�

Karena nodded and left the Queen�s hut.

The bard strolled back to her desk and rolled up one of many scrolls about the Amazon Nation. She then picked up her sais from her desk and inserted them on the sides of her boots. Heading out, she went towards Ephiny�s hut.

�Gabrielle,� called an older Amazon.

�Phyl.� The warrior-bard smiled happily while coming up to the council member. �How are you?�

�Well and you?�

Gabrielle smiled and replied, �Well too just busy.�

�I know.� Phyllis folded her arms against her chest. �I�ve been meaning to catch up with you about something.�

�What�s that?�

�Well its been brought to my attention about one of the Amazons here.�

Gabrielle laughed and held up a hand. �If its about Renotta, I know.�

Phyllis chuckled lightly then shook her head. �No, not Renotta.� Now she went more serious. �Mairead was the first to notice it and passed it on to me and we�ve both been trying to catch up with you. But one of the Amazons here has been lacking feathers.�

The Queen tilted her head to one side. �Which Amazon?�

�I�m not sure who she is,� answered the council member. �Mairead doesn�t even recognize her but she�s constantly on patrol duty. She may be new.� She shrugged. �And forgot she needs to wear her feather all the time.�

�Could be,� agreed the Queen quietly as her eyebrows furrowed together. �I�ll check into it. Thank you, Phyl.�

�You�re welcome, my Queen. And go on, I can tell you�re in a hurry.�

�I am,� confused the Queen. �Thank you.� Gabrielle flashed a warm smile before rushing off to Ephiny�s hut.

~*~*~*~

�I undetstand, Jacob.� Amarice stopped for a moment before asking, �But she just up and left?�

�Yes, ma�am.� Jacob poked at the wood in the fireplace then sat back down in his seat, facing the two Amazons. �Its was about a year ago.�

�Any reasons why she left?�

The farmer shook his head. �None in particular. She tried taking my eldest daughter but she refused to leave with her mother.� He tapped the stone floor lightly with the end of the red-hot poker. �I believe she got bored of this life.� He looked up again. �I wasn�t a good enough husband and her children didn�t bring enough joy to her.�

Teresa shook her head, gazing over to the three children playing together on the opposite side of the room. That�s hard to believe� two girls and a boy and good kids at that. �Then what did she say would?�

Jacob shrugged his shoulders a bit. �Adventure and women,� he stated softly.

Amarice then cut in. �Has Renotta always been a heavy drinker?�

Jacob nodded sadly. �Yes, ever since I�ve met her. She wasn�t so bad back in her day but as time moved on she became worse.� He paused before adding, �She picked it up from her mother.�

�How was her relationship with her father?� inquired the Princess.

�Bad, very bad� with both parents as a matter of fact.� Jacob fell silent for a bit then continued on with his story. �Both her parents are drunks and that�s where she picked up the habit. Her father had a very bad temper and beat her and her mother constantly. Besides the fact they were in debt with local businesses in the village.� He glanced at his children then back at the women. �We then found each other, met at the local bar and hit it off right away. Renotta eventually begged me to marry her but there was a small catch to it.�

�You had to pay off her father,� cut in Lesia.

Jacob nodded at Lesia�s words. �Yes, I paid a large dowry for Renotta. We moved here to this farm, which was willed to me by my father through the generations. We had our three children and well� one day she gathered her things and� left.�

�Nothing from her since?�

The farmer shook his head at Amarice�s question. �Nothing, ma�am� until you three came here.� His dark green eyes narrowed a bit. �And why are you here�?�

The Princess let out a long breath. �Renotta, as I said, is an Amazon but� this been some suspicions going on.� She crossed one ankle over the other. �She�s been suspected of lying and the cause of one of our Amazon�s deaths.�

Jacob looked to each Amazon as he became stunned.

�We�re sorry but she�s a threat to our Nation and our Queen,� stated the Princess in a powerful tone.

~*~*~*~

The Amazon Queen crawled into her bed, exhausted from reading so many scrolls. �Even a small nap will help,� muttered the Queen. She curled up a bit and slowly fell asleep.

Swirling, swirling, blur in and blur out it let her come together in the darkness. �Where�?� she muttered in her confusion. �Xena?� her called came out.

Walking about, the dark world moved about her as she moved about. Hunting around for her other half because she knew she couldn�t be here without her Soulmate.

�Xena?� the cry came out. �Where are you?�

Her legs moved her through yet there was no sight of Xena to be found. Yet suddenly her feet tripped over and her small body came crashing down; onto something warm.

A tiny groan feathered the air around.

Green eyes peered down at the warm body under her and a gasp left her lips. �Xena, xena?� Her small hands grasped the shoulders of the warrior and shook the warrior. �Xen, come on wake up.�

�Gabr�� moaned the warrior faintly yet awareness never came to her.

�What happened?� whispered the bard as the dreamscape around her started fading. �Xena?�

The Warrior Princess�s body began dissolving but not before her words muttered out, �Toris and I� kidnapped� two days ride� south� kidnapped��

Gabrielle�s hands clung onto her lover tighter in hopes to hold her back from disappearing but Xena�s body dissolved away. �No!� came out her scream.

The Amazon Queen sat up instantly in her bed, her body coated in sweat. �Xena,� she whispered and flew out of the bed with a pounding heart. She hastily threw on her boots, tying as fast as she could, and grabbing her sais from her nightstand. She ran a hand threw her hair and raced out of the hut, running towards her regent�s hut yet again.

Ephiny looked up from her desk when her door flung open. �Gabrielle, what�s wrong?� She sprung out of her seat and neared her Queen.

�Xena, she�s been kidnapped.�

�What!� The regent grabbed her friend�s arms. �How you know?�

�I went to sleep,� hastily told the bard, �and she was in some other kind of sleep in our dreamscape.� She shook her head. �As if she�d been drugged. Her and Toris have been kidnapped about two days due south. I have to go find her, Eph.�

�We will, Gabrielle,� reassured the regent. �But first let�s figure out where two days south is and get some Amazons together.�

�Ephiny it can�t wait!� yelled the bard in fury. �They will kill her!�

�No they won�t,� interjected the regent; her grip on Gabrielle�s arms going a bit stronger. �Not if they went through all that trouble to capture her.�

The warrior-bard closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. �Okay�� She opened her eyes. �I�m calming down.�

�Thank you,� whispered Ephiny. �Let�s go find Solari and Ep.� She left the hut quickly with her Queen.

~*~*~*~

�Well�� Amarice pulled her cloak over her head. �Now we know the truth.� She began walking away from the farmer�s house.

The other two Amazons nodded in agreement.

Teresa then looked up to the trees and did a birdcall. She watched only two Amazons drop from the white trees and land in the snow.

�Amarice,� called one of the Amazons.

The Princess came up to the Amazon. �Yes?�

�We have a slight problem. While you three were talking to the farmer, about half a dozen bandits came through this area.�

�And�?� encouraged Amarice.

The Amazon turned around and pointed towards the white woods. �They�re watching us from there.�

The third in command grinned and unsheathed her sword. �Attack?� she glanced to Amarice.

The Princess grinned back and nodded. �Fight first� ask questions last.�

Teresa nodded and did an order in a birdcall for the remaining Amazons up in the trees.

~*~*~*~

Gabrielle shook her head and replied, �Eph, I can�t wait� Xena can�t wait nor Toris.�

The regent sighed and flopped down on the foot of the Queen�s bed. �They won�t harm Xena, Gabrielle.� She then stood up and neared her friend by the desk. �Besides that�� She held out her hand to the setting sun. �Its almost dark out, we can�t get anywhere in the dark.�

�And the darkness is slowing down the Amazons?� growled the Amazon Queen. �My Amazons?�

Ephiny closed her eyes and walked a bit away before turning around. �That snow has iced the roads over at night. It can wait until sunrise then we will hunt them down.� Nearing her Queen once again, she took her friend�s hands into her own. �Can you wait until tomorrow?�

The bard stared at the floor then peered up. �Yes,� she replied softly.

�Thank you,� whispered the regent. She hugged the Queen tightly then said, �Get some rest.�

Gabrielle nodded while watching Ephiny leave the hut. She stood still for about a minute, her eyes floating over to her saddlebag. Suddenly, she walked over to it and hefted it onto her bed; digging through everything she began looking over her supplies. �It�ll have to do,� she muttered.

The warrior-bard hastily went to her desk and flung open a drawer. She pulled out a sheathed dagger but pulled the sheath off. Lifting the silver bladed dagger, she gazed at the reflecting ivy design before kneeling down and sheathing it in her right boot.

Gabrielle tossed the sheath into her saddlebag, closed up her saddlebag, and walked to the door. Plucking her cloak off the hanger beside the door, she threw it around her shoulders and slipped her arms through one at a time. She then rushed out of the hut into the dark village, sprinting towards the stables. Once inside of the stable, she was saddling up her horse.

Torqueo gave a whine about what the big production was about but left the stall.

Gabrielle rubbed her stallion�s nose while whispering, �We have to be quiet, boy.� She shook her head and bit her lower lip. �Xena is in trouble, boy. We have to find her, okay?�

Torqueo nodded then nudged his master.

The Amazon Queen took her horse�s reins and led him.

Solari chuckled and patted Eponin�s back. �That�s for sure.�

The weapons master grinned briefly but suddenly she had a confused look. �You hear that?� she uttered, and she stopped walking.

�Yeah� somebody is in the stables�� Solari waved her friend to follow her to the stables.

Eponin tensed up and quietly pursued.

�Who�s in there?� called the second in command.

Gabrielle swore under her breath but came up with her stallion. �Its me, Solari.�

�Gabrielle, what you doing?� But Solari already figured out quickly what her Queen was planning.

�I�m going after Xena,� stated the Queen, her green eyes darkening.

�Gabrielle, don�t do this,� urged the weapons master. �Its not a wise choice� especially on your own.�

The bard licked her lips before ordering, �Out of my way.�

�Gabrielle,� warned the second in command, her hands coming up in defense. �Don�t.�

Gabrielle�s knees bent a little, and she narrowed her eyes at her Amazons. �Get out of my way now.�

Eponin sprung forward and grabbed her Queen�s hands. �Get a grip on her, Solari!�

The second in command was already getting her hands on the Queen as well.

The Amazon Queen struggled but wasn�t getting much success.

Torqueo whined and suddenly rose up onto his hind legs then aimed his front hooves at Solari.

�Wooohooo!� Solari screamed; her eyes pinned on the stallion�s hooves.

Torqueo brought his feet down and his hooves smashed into Solari�s feet.

�Yaaaahhh!� Solari lost her grip on Gabrielle and fell to her knees.

The warrior-bard then looked to the stunned weapons master and instantly made a fist.

Eponin went stumbling back from the hard punch, her hands covering her face.

Gabrielle smiled up at her horse and quickly mounted him. She kicked his sides and galloped towards the gates.

Ephiny came bursting from her hut at all the noise. She saw her Queen galloping towards the close gates.

The bard pinned her eyes on the two guards at the gates. �Open the gates!�

The two guards� eyes widened but they hurried to open the gates.

The regent shook her head and broke off running after Gabrielle. �Close the gates, close the gates!� she ordered.

The Amazon Queen glanced to her regent then back to the confused guards. �Open those gates. Orders by your Queen!�

The guards nodded instantly and continued opening the gates for the Queen.

Ephiny was narrowing in towards the Queen on an angle. She came right up and suddenly leapt up at the horse. �Gabrielle, are you crazy!� She kicked out her friend�s foot from the stirrup and inserted her boot. �Stop!�

�Get off, Eph!� Gabrielle pulled Torqueo to a halt then grabbed her regent by the straps of her top. �Ephiny, there are somethings more important than my Amazons.� She lowered her head closer to the regent�s. �Xena needs me.�

The regent close her eyes and whispered, �Yes, my� sister.� She opened her eyes again and whispered, �We will come find you both.�

�I know,� uttered the Queen, �And make sure our enemies pay?� She received a nod back then released Ephiny.

Ephiny fell to her feet on the ground and watched Gabrielle gallop off and out of the gates.

Solari and Eponin came running up beside their regent.

�You let her go?� gasped Solari, �Why?�

Ephiny stared at the open gates. �Because you can�t separate Soulmates for too long,� she whispered. �Close the gates!�

Solari and Eponin gazed at each other then sighed.

Gabrielle galloped Torqueo hard, heading to the borderline of the Amazon Nation. Xena, I�m coming for you, she prayed out to her Soulmate. Then she recognized the birdcall of her Amazons and slowed her horse down. She dismounted as four Amazons lowered from the trees.

�Gabrielle, where are you going?�

The Queen bit the inside of her mouth then replied, �I�m off to find Xena, Janelle.�

�That�s dangerous, mate,� cut in Karena.

�Very dangerous,� piped in Renotta.

Karena shot a glare at Renotta but looked back to the warrior-bard. �Alone?�

Gabrielle nodded. �Alone.� Then her eyes shifted to the fourth Amazon she didn�t recognize at all. �And which Amazon are you?�

The Amazon stepped forward while bowing her head. �I�m� Kate, my Queen.� She smiled while raising her head.

�Kate is a bit new, Gabrielle,� interjected Renotta. �So we�re showering her the ropes� rather the branches.�

Karena rolled her eyes and Janelle grinned at that.

�Good.� Gabrielle moved closer to Torqueo and took his reins. �I have to go, ladies.�

�Gabrielle, can we help you?� inquired Renotta. �Please.�

The Queen shook her head. �No, I�m okay� in a rush.� She was about to mount her stallion again but was stopped short by Kate�s hand on her arm.

�Please Gabrielle, can we at least escort you to the border?� Kate smiled warmly and held onto the Queen�s arm as if she wouldn�t take no for an answer.

The warrior-bard studied the new Amazon then averted her eyes to her other Amazons, noting how their feathers and hair blew slightly in the breeze. Looking back to Kate, her heart skipped a beat at realizing something. One of the Amazons here has been lacking feathers, rang Phyllis�s words in her head. Her mind then had an instant flash back�

She glanced back at the scroll while talking aloud. �Its seems that Kyle is not an Amazon either.�

�What?� Ephiny stepped forward and took the scroll from Gabrielle. She read over what Gabrielle had just read and shook her head. �I�ll be damned,� she muttered.

�No feathers,� stated Gabrielle.

The bard pulled back from her memory.

�Gabrielle?� questioned Kate with a confused look.

�Sorry, sorry,� muttered the Queen. She then flashed a smile and replied, �Yes, I would appreciate an escort. Thank you, Kate�

�This way then, mate.� Karena gave a warm smile and followed along side the Queen.

Janelle wedged onto the other side of the bard.

Kate and Renotta directed the group to the border.

Gabrielle clicked at Torqueo for him to follow behind. She then leaned towards Karena and whispered, �Kate is an imposter.�

Karena looked quickly, her eyes wide. She then silently nodded. �How can you tell?�

Janelle furrowed her eyebrows wondering what was being said.

�No feathers,� muttered the Queen. �When we get near the border, we�re going to attack them.�

�Both?�

�Yes,� replied Gabrielle softly. She then leaned towards Janelle. �Nel, look at Kate.�

Janelle�s eyes focused in on the new Amazon.

�She�s an imposter� no feathers.� The bard watched her Amazon nod then she added, �We�re going to attack them once we�re close to the border.�

Kate�s eyes flickered to Renotta in signal.

Renotta�s hands slipped under her belt to pull out two metallic items, she then winked.

Kate held back her grin then stopped while twirling around. �Here we are.�

Karena raised an eyebrow and stated, �This isn�t the border, mate.�

�Well�� Kate revealed the grin she�d been holding back. �Well, it�s the end of the road for the Queen.�

Janelle and Karena both unsheathed their swords as Gabrielle got her sais.

Renotta suddenly pulled back her hands then threw the two items violently at the two other Amazons.

Janelle dropped her sword and grabbed the pointed arrow that stuck out of her shoulder.

Karena fell to her knees and looked at the arrow point in her side. She then looked up at the grinning Kate and Renotta before her vision blurred out. �You bitch,� she muttered before hitting the ground.

Renotta and Kate unsheathed their swords, stepping closer to the armed Queen.

�Mmmm you�re not too far behind your Soulmate, Gabby,� taunted Renotta.

Gabrielle glared and replied, �And you�re not too far behind Sylvia.�

Renotta growled and yelled, �Get her!�

Four men reappeared out of the woods and one man directly at Gabrielle�s back with a white cloth in hand.

~*Continue to Section Five*~