AN: Ok, so. I actually started working on this fic months ago, like back in June, but a ton of things kept popping up. I got really sick for a while, I moved, I started a new job, I decided to do a giant writing challenge to clear out all of my old fandoms- I've been busy, and, sadly, this fic was only worked on on and off because of that. However, I'm currently working on chapter 11, and considering I'm going back to my once a week posting after November is done, I figured I could start posting this. This is based loosely on the Minotaur myths, so hopefully you guys all enjoy! :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Xena.

Crete was beautiful this time of year. Even from the boat, it looked like a painting- mountains that jutted tall into the sky, green sprawling down into the valleys they stood as guardians over, those gentle, rolling slops dipping down into the coast. Though it was too far away to see, busy cities and peaceful villages dotted the land, breaking up nature and blending in with it in a wholly human way.

It would have been perfect, if Gabrielle had been able to keep her head up long enough to look at it.

"You said it was going to be a short trip," Gabrielle groaned, turning her head just enough to take a look at Xena, barely catching a glimpse of the woman holding back her hair before her stomach turned again, bile rising in her throat to burn and soil her tongue. Spitting it out, she rested her head against the wooden railing, trying to focus on the soothing hand against her back instead of the rolling waves beneath them. "Xena, it's been hours, and if we don't get off this ship soon, my stomach will be joining my lunch in the water."

"I don't know what the holdup is," Xena replied, "but I'm going to go find out. You'll be alright here?" When Gabrielle nodded, Xena pulled out a leather tie and quickly braided Gabrielle's hair, making sure to sweep back the little wisps that normally framed her face so they would be out of the way. Tying it off, she gentle pat Gabrielle on the back and headed off- not that she thought her friend had noticed, for she was too busy once against retching to really notice much of anything.

When word had gotten out that the Queen of Crete had gone missing, Xena hadn't thought too much about it at first. Worrisome news, yes, but in her experience, nobles were much more likely to go missing from their own homes on their own accord then out of foul play. So, figuring the Queen would show up on her own soon enough, perhaps with a heir to the throne a few months away, or that some new piece of information would show up to make her change her mind and get involved, Xena had shrugged and continued with her and Gabrielle's original plans to Athens- a much needed vacation for herself and a greatly anticipated trip for her friend.

More news had ended up showing up in the form of a messenger, one of a couple dozen who had been sent out by the royal advisor to find her. The young boy, only fifteen at the most, had been unable to tell her anything, only giving her the message he had been sent out to deliver. And what a message it was.

The Queen has been taken by the Minotaur. Please, we need your help. Come as fast as you can.

The message had been signed by the royal advisor, a man named Philias, and sealed with the royal stamp. Along with a pouch that had exactly enough dinars to fund their passage to Crete, a gift the messenger had almost begged them to accept, along with the job. It had been a change of plans, and a two week's journey out of their way, but after careful consideration of what did seem like a ploy, since the Minotaur had been killed generations ago (Gabrielle had pointed out how amazing a trip to Crete would be, even if it was on business or into a trap, which had made up her mind then and there) they had accepted the task and set out.

Xena hated getting involved with nobles. There were only a few she actually trusted more than she couldn't throw them, and that was a very, very short list. One the Queen on Crete wasn't on. But the Minotaur, the monster she had grown up listening to stories of, that had peaked her interest.

Now if they could just get on the island.

"I'm sorry," the captain said before she was even able to speak a word, "but ever since the Queen went missing, security has been tight. Any ship going on and off the island is double checked, in case any of the country's enemies try to sneak in and cause an uproar while she's gone. Unless we have a pass from the council, we have to wait our turn. There's nothing I can do."

"Look," Xena said, reaching into the pouch she had taken to carrying around her waist, since Argo had been left on the mainland, "my friend over there is sick. For some reason, pressure points aren't helping her get better. So we're going to be on land, soon, and you're going to make it so. Will this count as a pass?" Pulling out the letter she had received from Philias, Xena handed it over to the captain, making sure the royal seal was clearly visible. "Because the way I see it, 'come as fast as you can' is pretty much a direct order to anyone standing between me and Crete to get out of my way or help me get there quicker. Which would you prefer?"

The captain visibly swallowed as he took the letter, refusing to look up at Xena as he did- she scared him, that much was clear, and had ever since she first stepped foot on his boat the afternoon before. When she had paid their passage he had refused to look her in the eye, had spent most of the time speaking to Gabrielle even when it was clear the bard wasn't listening to him, and most of the time, whenever Xena had searched him out he had fled. It both pained and pleased her- the constant fear made her wonder if he had been one of her victims once, back when she was a warlord, but watching men scurry before her always had and probably always would fill her with a settled pleasure.

"I-I'll help you, of course," the captain stuttered, raising the letter slightly. "The guards sh-should accept this, especially s-since it is you we're talking about. I'll g-go get the ship on course for entry. I apologize for the wait." He bowed before he left- a weird parting, but one she just shrugged off as she went back to Gabrielle.

Who had slid down the railing so she was sitting, leaning against the wood, her knees hugged closely to her chest.

"Did you try the pressure point again?" Xena sat next to Gabrielle as she talked, pulling the other woman into a one armed hug. For some reason, no matter how many times both of them had tried, Gabrielle's normal seasickness remedy hadn't been working. Leaving the last day and a half torture for the poor bard.

"Yes, and they didn't work," Gabrielle groaned, leaning her head on Xena's shoulder. "Tell me something, Xena," Gabrielle said after a few moments, her voice weak but present, "how could the Queen have been taken by the Minotaur? Everyone knows the story of Theseus and the ball of string: how he slayed the Minotaur, saved the sacrifices, and collapsed the labyrinth before escorting them all to safety. How he left Princess Ariadne on the island when he was returning home, and forgot to raise the sails, causing King Aegeus to throw himself to his death. Everyone's heard the stories since we were young- so how could it be the Minotaur?"

"I don't know," Xena said honestly, wiping away a strand hair she had missed from Gabrielle's face, "but I do know legends aren't always right. Who knows? Maybe Theseus just thought he killed it, or maybe there's more than one? This Philias guy will know more than we do- once we get on solid ground, we can go ask. And I talked to the captain, that should be soon."

As if spurred on by her words the ship lurched forward, the sails raising and the men who had been hired to row working the oars under the deck, the ship slowly gathering speed. One of the men, the first mate, came to a halt besides them, kneeling so he was at their level. He gave Gabrielle a half pitying, half soothing smile before turning his attention to Xena and nodding.

"We sent a bird to the guard ships, explaining the situation. We'll be docking in half an hour, a full one tops."

"Thank the gods," Gabrielle said, pushing herself unsteadily to her feet, both Xena and the second in command helping to steady her. "I'm going to our cabin," Gabrielle said, clutching her stomach, "and I am going to pack. Xena, when this ships stops, I am getting off with or without you. So be ready." Taking a stumbling step forward, Gabrielle soon enough found her balance and made her way to the entrance to the cabins, disappearing through the door and leaving the two of them behind, chuckling.

"Is it always this bad for the poor girl," the sailor asked, tipping his head in the direction Gabrielle had just left. "If it is, I have a few remedies you could try."

"She normally uses the pressure point technique," Xena said, casually pressing on her own wrist when the man raised his eyebrow, "but some reason it's not working."

"The wrist bump can be a tricky one," the sailor said, giving a shrug. "Some people become immune to its effects after a while. Have you ever had to use it on yourself?" When Xena shook her head, he gave a little sound of understanding. "Use it too many times, and the point no longer turns off whatever it turned off before." Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a pouch and handed it over to Xena. "Next time she's sick, have her chew on a sliver of this."

"Ginger," Xena asked, surprised, as she checked the contents of the pouch. "I haven't seen this in years, not since I was in Chin."

"We were recently there, and I visited one of their doctors about a stomach pain," the sailor said, giving a small shrug, though his voice was distracted. The dock was coming into view quickly, and soon he would be needed to direct the men to unload the cargo the ship had originally be ordered to bring. "He said turn it into a tea- a drink I'm not too fond of, so I barely used it, though he gave me a whole pouch. You can have it, if you bring our Queen back to us."

"That's the plan," Xena said. Holding out her hand, she shook his hard when he took it, giving him a smile before excusing herself. She had a bag to repack.

And a bard, practically leaning out their window heaving, to convince to chew on the strange, sharp tasting herb. Even if they were getting off the boat soon, her stomach wouldn't settle for hours without it, and Xena needed Gabrielle in tip top shape for whatever weirdness was coming their way.

"I had heard the castle was famous for its baths," Gabrielle sighed as she sunk into the scented water, foam from the bubbles that had been poured in with them almost hiding her from sight, "but I hadn't realized it would be this amazing."

Gabrielle, true to her word, had been off the ship the moment it had stopped, barely waiting long enough for them to lower the gangplank before she had rushed off. If they hadn't been in public, Xena was almost sure she would have dropped and kissed the ground, though Gabrielle had restrained herself. Barely, instead taking long, deep breathes as she powered through the sharpness of the ginger and continued to chew, but still, she had. Deciding it was late enough in the day, their hold up at the border putting them close to dusk, they had agreed an inn, warm baths, and some warm, easily digestible food would do them good. They could make their way to the castle in the morning.

Only, just a few minutes after they has begun their search, a young man in green robes had descended upon them, asking, almost desperately, if they were Xena the Warrior Princess and Gabrielle the Bard. When they had confirmed they were, his face had lit up brighter than a child's on Solstice, and he had quickly hurried them to the castle, promising food and baths and beds and whatever else they wanted, so long as they went with him.

It saved them having to try and get in later by themselves, so they had agreed, following after him through the city sprawl of the capital.

A room had already been prepared for them, a large, beautiful suite that overlooked the ocean- a nice view, though one Xena was sure Gabrielle was tired of. Food was brought up shortly after, meat and bread and soups specially designed to sooth the stomach, and while they ate servants set about drawing up a bath.

Very quick, very efficient hospitality, making Xena sure, once they were clean and dressed again, that it would end. In her experience, things were never this nice or this quick unless the people putting on the show wanted to end it soon.

"Come here," Xena said, beckoning Gabrielle over. "I'll do your back."

Gabrielle, unaware of the urgency Xena could feel in everything, leisurely swam to Xena's side from the other end of the bath, the deep, warm waters more like a pool then a tub. Settling herself onto the ledge that ran the length of the tub a bit under the water, Gabrielle moved her hair off to the side, sighing as Xena went to work with the soap, scrubbing away the dirt and massaging the tense muscles she could find there.

"How's your stomach feeling," Xena asked casually as she worked, extending the time they could spend in the tub- if someone wanted to talk to her, they could talk, but not play little games they didn't want her winning at. "Any better?"

"That soup was a life saver," Gabrielle sighed, arching slightly into Xena's touch. "Though," she said after a moment, her word trailing off, "it seemed as if the servant who gave us our food was a bit…"

"Anxious?"

"Yeah, anxious," Gabrielle agreed. "I know the Queen is missing, and that's always a cause for alarm, but this seemed…different somehow. As if they were hoping we would hurry."

"There's a tradition in Crete," Xena said, reaching up to wash behind Gabrielle's ear, "where, if your guest had to travel a great distance to see you, you allow them comfort before you begin business. Whoever wants to talk to us followed this tradition, but wanted us to put a rush on it instead of just breaking it altogether."

"Perhaps a mistake of mine, I will admit," a man's voice called out, "but only one I did because of necessity, not out of rudeness."

"You must be Philias," Xena said, turning to face the man walking towards them- and putting herself between him and Gabrielle, reaching behind her to draw the other woman closer to her back, so she could fully shield her. Not that either of them needed to worry; the bubbles that surrounded them were so thick they were almost like a blanket, but having Gabrielle at her back still made Xena feel calmer. "Do you always interrupt your guests while they're bathing?"

"Only in great times of dire need." Surprisingly, instead of remaining standing, Philias settled himself onto the group, putting them almost at eye level. He was actually young, a lot younger than Xena had been expecting. When he had named himself the royal advisor, she had imagined an old man in his sixties, maybe seventies, but Philias was young. Mid-twenties, if she had to guess, and that was being generous. "When it comes to my sister," Philias continued, meeting her gaze, "I am willing to break whatever niceties I must to get her back."

"You're the Queen's brother," Gabrielle asked, resting her chin on Xena's shoulder to look at him. "Wouldn't that make you the Prince, then, instead of the royal advisor?"

"Technically, yes," Philias replied, "if I had cared for the title. But I don't, so I'm not. Please," he said, looking back to Xena, "do you think you'll be able to help me?"

"I can't make a commitment if I don't have all of the answers, Philias," Xena said, raising an eyebrow. "How about you answer a few questions of mine, and then we'll see."

Philias sighed and shook his head, though he had a small smile on his face. As if he had been expecting that answer. Waving his hand towards her, he shifted so he was more comfortable on the stone floor and waited.

"How is the Minotaur still alive," Gabrielle asked, cutting off whatever Xena had been about to say. Her eyes were wide and curious, excited for the story. "And where is it, if the labyrinth was destroyed by Theseus?"

"I take it you've heard the stories, then," Philias asked, looking between the two. When they both nodded, he nodded himself, resting an elbow on his knee and his chin in the palm of his hand. "Well, they're not fully true. Or, rather, they're not fully accurate. The labyrinth was never destroyed. It was sealed off, as many of the entrances that we could find, but the labyrinth runs the full length of the island. To destroy it, you would need to destroy Crete herself, something my ancestors were unwilling to do. So, they searched for years, trying to find every passage that would lead into it, and tried to close them off. Clearly, they failed, because at least one still exists- the one my sister went through. As for the monster? Who knows. It might not have really been killed, or there might be more of them in existence. We're not entirely sure what the creature did to the young women we were forced to send down as sacrifices- the original one Theseus killed might have had children that stayed down there. Either way, for what Great-Grandfather did, it's clear to me that the minotaur wants revenge."

"Wait," Gabrielle said, once again cutting off Xena. "You mean you're…"

"The great-grandson of Theseus and Ariadne," Philias said with a wiry grin. "Yes, and so is Pelopia. When Ariadne was left on the island, she was with child. Her father found her, and while she refused to ever take the throne herself, our grandmother did when she came of age, as did our mother. And Pelopia, being the oldest, followed in her footsteps when Mother died a few months ago. But I'm sure the Minotaur, or Minotaurs if there's more than one, would want revenge, and forcing us to go back to the old ways would be sweet. And what better first sacrifice then my sister? Conjecture, of course," he added, "for I truly don't know why they would have taken her, but that's what's been on my mind."

"What makes you so sure it is a Minotaur," Xena asked, shooting Gabrielle a look so she could get a word in otherwise.

"There's been sightings of it, near the entrance we found," Philias explained, shuddering slightly. "A giant creature, taller than you, and meaner as well. It can't leave through the entrances- there's some kind of invisible wall that keeps it from exiting. But it must know where the exit is, and must have left through there and reentered at the one we found. Please, Xena, Gabrielle," Philias said, the hint of desperation clear in his voice. "Please, will you help me?"

"One more question," Xena said. "Where's the ball?"

"The ball of thread Theseus used to guide himself to the monster," Philias clarified. "We have it- Ariadne stole it back from Theseus before he abandoned her, and while we've messed with it some, it still works."

"Messed with it how?" Xena knew her tone was suspicious, but she wasn't going to risk her and Gabrielle's life in some giant maze with defective goods.

"Nothing huge," Philias reassured her, his hands coming up defensively. "Instead of a giant ball, which kept getting tangled, we put it on a giant spool- keeps the thread from knotting, and it's easier to keep track of. I've personally tested it around the city. It still works, and still leads the holder wherever they wish to go. So, will you?"

"What do you think, Gabrielle," Xena asked, turning to fully look at her partner. "Something you're interested in?"

"Xena," Gabrielle said, her voice almost dead with excitement. "We would be stepping foot into a real life myth and legend. Of course, I'm interested!"

"Then you've got yourself a hero, kid," Xena said, holding out her wet hand for Philias to take, the two of them shaking hard as the agreement was struck.

"Tomorrow, we'll go find your sister and get this whole thing shut down."