"Gabrielle, you know taking on Deklin's army will not be so simple. " The blonde smiled as Ephiny spoke of the impending battle the amazons faced. "I know this Ephiny but he threatens to take us all out. I'm not even sure why... The Amazons have never done anything to even put us on his conquer list." Ephiny shrugged at her queen. "I couldn't tell you Gabrielle this all seems very odd to me." Gabrielle nodded "I agree there is something else behind this war but what it is I'm not sure." The two Amazons walked through their village watching as the children ran around playing. The now great queen smiled when she saw her daugther playing with the other children. Ephiny watched the sparkle in Gabrielle's eyes as she stared down at her child. "She thinks you to be like a God." Gabrielle smiled and gave her head a small nod. "I know she does." Ephiny lightly elbowed Gabrielle in the ribs. "Do not worry. Nothing will happen to the children we are strong." Gabrielle now turned her attention to her friend. "Ephiny I am going to Poteidaea I'm taking her to stay with my parents until this is over. I'll never be able to fight with a clear head if I'm worried about her getting caught in the cross fire of this." The Amazon nodded to her queen.
"I will be leaving tonight. It should only take a day's ride to get there. I need you to take care of the tribe for the time being." Ephiny nodded. "Anything for you, Gabrielle." The blonde nodded as she touched her hand to Ephiny's shoulder. "You are my greatest friend." The Amazon queen turned and began to walk back to her hut to being to gather her daugther's clothes and belongings. "Aminta come along!" Gabrielle's daugther looked up when she heard her name behing called. Seeing her mother she ran to her. "What is it, mom?" Gabrielle leaned down to move a strand of hair from her child's face. "You are going to stay with your grandparents for a while." The small girl nodded as she smiled. "Okay!" She quickly ran to the hut to gather the toys she wanted to take along. Gabrielle smiled as she followed Aminta to the hut. It wasn't long before they were packed. Ephiny had gotten their horse ready for the ride and was waiting at the edge of the village for the two. "Are you ready, my queen?" Ephiny smiled as she held the reins for the horse in her hand. Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "What have I told you? Don't call me your queen. We are to close for such things."
Ephiny chuckled as she handed the reins to the woman as she approached. "But your facial expressions are worth seeing." Gabrielle took the reins as she wrapped her arm around her daugther and lifted her onto the front of the horse. "I'll be back shortly, Ephiny. Try to keep things in order this time." Ephiny nodded as she giggled. "I will make sure they don't get into any trouble, Gabrielle." Gabrielle reached up grabbing hold of the saddle and lifted herself onto the horse. When she was settled and had Aminta seated comfortably she rode off from her tribe. The ride was in one straight shot was short. Gabrielle arrived at Poteidaea before the sun had risen. Her small daugther sleeping against her chest. As if sensing it Lilla, Gabrielle's sister came out of the house. "Gabrielle! Oh look at her! The poor thing must be so tired. Here give her to me I'll take her to bed." Lilla came to stand by the horse her arms out stretched to take the child from her older sister. Gabrielle smiled as she gently handed her daugther off to Lilla then jumped down from her horse. The darker haired woman then went into the house to put her niece to bed as Gabrielle took in Aminta's bags. Gabrielle's parents were also up. Both of them sitting at the table as if waiting for her.
"I brought Aminta for you to watch for a while. There's a battle coming. I don't want her anywhere near the village until it's over. I know she'll be safe here." Gabrielle's mother smiled as she stood up to come and kiss her eldest daugther's cheek. "Of course we'll keep her here Gabrielle." The woman then rushed off to gather some more blankets for the sleeping child in the next room. Gabrielle's father remained silent. She knew what was coming. Another lecture about her life. She sighed as she sat her daugther's bags down to go sit at the table with her father. "You know, if you'd never met that devil woman you'd still be here, at home where you belong." Gabrielle hated how her father talked about Xena. "Father, had it not been for Xena and the life I live now you wouldn't have that granddaguther who is sleeping in that room there." She pointed to what was once her and Lilla's shared bedroom. "You can say anything you want about Xena but she changed me and it was for the good. She gave me a meaning to my life. She gave me my daugther." Before her father could begin to argue Gabrielle raised her hand. "Don't argue with me. Not now. I have to much to worry about right now. Just keep her safe until I come back to get her." She stood from the chair and began to head back twoards the door.
"You make Xena out to be some kind of God. Yet where she is now? You went your own ways and it's been what since you were pregnant with Aminta since you saw her last? That was over 7 years ago,Gabrielle." The blonde stopped her hand on the door. She stared at the door as her father's words hit her like knives. He was right. She hadn't heard nor seen the Warrior Princess in a very long time. She felt like she had just abandoned her though she had never spoke those words. "Xena and I are both on different paths in life. She's trying to find her redemption." The Amazon quickly opened the door and left the house not bothering to say goodbye to her mother or sister. She quickly got back onto her horse and began to race back to her tribe. Tears burned her eyes as the brisk morning air hit her face. Xena would come back. She promised they would be together.