~X~

Gabrielle yawned awake. She felt Xena wriggle next to her and grinned when she felt the warrior's hand travel over her bare thighs.

"Xena…," she giggled sleepily. "The prince is sleeping over there."

Xena mumbled something drowsily in reply, but didn't retract her hand. Instead Gabrielle felt her move her hands further up, brushing past her skirt until she cupped her hip. Xena's hands felt strangely rough but when the new friction against her skin made her blood boil, Gabrielle found it hard to complain. She growled lustfully and reached out to palm Xena's own leg. Unfamiliar wiry hair met her hand.

With her eyes still closed, Gabrielle frowned. "Xena? When did your legs get so hairy?"

"What?"

Xena pulled up the furs. Except it wasn't Xena. When the furs fell, revealing broad shoulders and tousled short, black hair, Gabrielle felt the world spin around her. Pushing away from the man, she shuffled back as far as she could.

"Prince Tobias? Gods! What are you doing in my bed? Get out!" Gabrielle frantically looked around for the warrior but couldn't find her anywhere. Where had she gone?

The prince blinked sleepily. "Gabrielle? What are you talking about?"

Gabrielle's eyes flicked to Tobias. She grabbed her staff and held it out threateningly. "Get out of my bedroll! I don't care if you are royalty, Prince Tobias. It doesn't mean you can get everything you want. If I were you I would get up and get my clothes back on before Xena gets back. She'll go easy on you if you explain the whole thing was a mistake."

"Gabrielle, I think you're confused, or still dreaming." The prince started to reach towards her. "Just get back into bed and-,"

"Xena!"

Tobias moaned and held his head. "Gabrielle, stop shouting! What's wrong with-,"

Tobias's eyes finally rid themselves of sleep and fixed on his arms. She watched him as he lowered them in front of him slowly, turning them over to look at the dark hair on his thick forearms. "What in Tartarus?"

"If this is some kind of joke, Prince Tobias, it is not funny. Where's Xena and why are you in my bed. When Xena gets back she-,"

"Gabrielle! It's me!" Tobias looked up at her and patted his chest. "I'm Xena!"

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Gabrielle…"

It was then that she realised that the prince was wearing Xena's under slip. There was no way that Tobias would be able to steal Xena's clothes while she slept, and then risk sliding in next to her. Any fool who tried to would certainly live a short life. Once her heart returned to its usual pace, Gabrielle crept closer until she knelt in front of 'prince Xena'. She reached out with a tentative hand. When the prince looked up Gabrielle hesitated, but she shook her head and brushed the black hair away from his face. Baby blue eyes stared back at her, searching, worried, and it was like she had been punched in the chest. When Gabrielle saw those eyes filled with unwavering love for her, she knew without a doubt that it was Xena looking back at her.

Nobody else looked at her in that way.

"Xena?" she whispered and looked over her new body in disbelief. "W-what happened? Why do you look like the prince?"

"I don't know."

Xena glared over at the cloaked mound across the fire and stood. With a rough tug she yanked up the cloak. She swore aloud when she saw nothing but the prince's peasant clothes in a pile on the ground. "Just as I thought," she growled, throwing the cloak to the floor. "He's gone!"

"Do you think he did this?" Gabrielle asked, gesturing to Xena.

"If he was innocent he would still be here."

"How do you think he did it then?"

"I don't know!" Xena repeated a little more forcefully this time. She spied her armour was still where she left it and sighed with relief. "At least he didn't steal my clothes."

Gabrielle looked at the pile where the prince had been the night before. "If his clothes are here does that mean he's naked out there?"

"It wouldn't surprise me if he stole the uniform from one of the dead," Xena growled.

Not wanting to anger the warrior any more than she was, Gabrielle lowered her voice. "Um, Xena. I don't think you can wear that armour."

"Why not?"

Holding her armour up to herself and dressed in nothing but her slip, Xena's muscly physique looked bizarre. Gabrielle chose her words carefully. "First…you're missing, um, a couple of things. You can't exactly fill it out."

Xena glanced down at where her breasts usually were and found instead flat planes of a hard chest. She pulled the edge of the slip away from her and looked further down. Xena grimaced when she found an unfamiliar friend staring back.

"It looks like you'll have to wear the clothes he left," the bard declared and she carried them over.

Xena fumed the whole time as she yanked on the dirty, smelly clothes. She could still smell the prince's scent on them. They were tinged with earth and sweat, but there was a slight hint of the rich perfumed soap she knew he probably used at the castle that lingered within the thick fabric. She brushed the creases out and glared at her new body.

"This is stupid!"

Gabrielle grimaced. "Why would he do this? Was he really that against going back to the castle that he would put you through this?"

"He was probably looking for someone to use as a decoy so he could continue running."

"What would change you so drastically? Do you think a god has anything to do with this?"

Xena pinched the bridge of her nose as she thought. This didn't smell of divine intervention. There would be nothing to gain from it that Xena could think of. She tried to remember the night before for anything that would give away when the prince had made his move, but she couldn't think of any time. She had kept her eyes on him at all times, even when he thought she wasn't looking. He had looked annoyed that she had decided to take him back to the castle, but he hadn't once made an offensive move that would have caused her concern. Unless…

Xena rushed over to her water skin. She flipped the lid and smelled it. She cringed when a pungent aroma rose from within, burning her nostrils. "He spiked my drink," she muttered darkly.

"He poisoned you?" Gabrielle felt the blood drain from her face. She rushed to Xena, holding her bigger hands in hers as she remembered the men who had poisoned themselves the day before.

"Killing me would serve no purpose, and if he had somehow managed to poison me, I would be dead already. Besides, he didn't seem like the killing kind. I suspect it was some kind of shape changing potion."

Gabrielle's eyes travelled over Xena. She took in her new manly form. She watched the way her back muscles rolled under her clothes, her biceps bulged against the sleeves, and the way her strong jaw tensed with growing frustration. "But why change you into him?"

"To force me to take his place." Xena sighed, watching the tainted water as she emptied it to the ground. "If I'm seen around here people will recognise me as the prince, meaning that one way or another I will be taken to the castle. He didn't want to go back and now I can't do anything but."

The matter-of-factly way Xena said it made Tobias's plan clear cut. "Rude as he was, the prince seems smarter than we gave him credit for."

Xena arched an eyebrow. "Clearly."

"What do we do now?"

Xena dragged a hand through her short, dark locks, and peered between the trees. "I guess it's time I meet my 'father'."

~X~X~X~

When the castle finally came into view over the small hill, Gabrielle felt Xena tighten behind her. She glanced up and saw the warrior's face looked both calm and focused at the same time. "Xena? What's wrong?"

"Someone is on their way."

Gabrielle looked forward. Across the plains, nothing but trees and a dirt path greeted them. She couldn't see anyone. "Where?"

"There. The bridge to the city wall is lowering."

As soon as she said it, Gabrielle saw a section of the city's wall break off and lower on thick, heavy looking chains. Numerous men on horses poured out from within.

With a sound like thunder horses sailed out from the city gates and galloped across the plains, closing the distance between them. Their magnificent hooves kicked up dirt and left deep treads in their wake. The men atop the beasts shouted to one another. The sound rumbled deeply through the chests of Xena and Gabrielle as they watched them advance, waving the red and gold colours of Lyncestis. At least twenty of them rode together, each as strong and frightening as the last, clad in hoplite armour that looked thick and impenetrable, and almost appeared like burnished gold in the sun.

Xena leaned back. "Let me do the talking. I can't image they are going to be that happy after the constant disappearances of their runaway prince."

"But he's returned." When Xena made a face at her, Gabrielle grinned apologetically. "Well…kind of."

The small cavalry halted a short distance away. A single soldier broke away from the rest of the horsemen and approached cautiously. He removed his masked, plumed Chalcidian and held it under his arm, revealing a young albeit grizzled face. The only part of him that didn't seem marred by the patchwork of battle scars on his tanned face were his light, steel-grey eyes. He clenched a fist over his heart.

"Prince Tobias," he said, speaking with a softness unexpected of his appearance, "I have been ordered by your father, King Markas of Lycestis, to return you safely to Lyncus Castle. I respectfully request you follow me and my men back, Your Highness, as your presence is required."

Xena looked around at the men. Each of them stared at her as if they were watching a skittish deer, ready to bolt at any given chance. They seemed to sit upon the very edge of their horses. It would have been funny if it hadn't been so sad to think of how many times their prince had deserted them before. Well, that was going to stop today.

Xena nodded at the captain. "Lead the way."

The soldiers looked at one another in surprise, or was it more confusion? It was almost as if they didn't believe her. Half of them broke away from the group and circled her and Gabrielle, making any chance of escape impossible, whilst the rest turned to face back towards the castle. The captain nodded and came to trot beside Argo. Even he didn't seem convinced of the prince's sudden change in behaviour. He stayed very close, but far enough away that Gabrielle could talk in Xena's ear without being heard.

"They're angry," she said.

"Wouldn't you if the person you looked to fulfil their duty kept running away from his people?"

Gabrielle glanced around at the soldiers. They stared back at her with an icy detachment that made her shiver. "They don't look too happy to see me either."

Sensing her worry, Xena gently squeezed Gabrielle's fingers. "You'll be okay. I'll make sure of it."

Gabrielle didn't doubt it. She tried to distract herself from the strange looks she kept receiving from the soldiers by looking at the castle.

Even on the outside of the walls, Xena had to crane back her head. Lyncus castle's steepest spire rose toward the sky, threatening to cut the heavens with its height. Well-armed guards patrolled along the parapets, their eyes turning toward Xena when they noticed her and her entourage approaching the city gate. She itched to pull a face or turn away, but remembering her new appearance, she settled for grumbling obscenities under her breath instead. Though she was furious about the whole situation, she couldn't help but admire the distant view of the castle once the party had passed through the city gates.

Beyond the city walls a large stretch of land held rows and rows of houses, each lined in semi circles facing away from the castle to act as the city's first edge of defence. Within the middle of them was the city square; it was chock full of lively people going on about their day, all seemingly unaware to the large party of soldiers that had just arrived. Horse-drawn carts were pulled between the crowd while they shopped, parting the people as they went on their way. Merchants shouted over the clopping of the horses, almost drowning them out completely with their calls to attract people to their stalls. They seemed oblivious to the presence of Hoplite soldiers which patrolled the busy centre, keeping the city folk in check.

"Xena, look at that," Gabrielle said with wonder.

Xena looked to where the bard was pointing and found herself fascinated too. Stood directly in the middle of the complex facing the city gates was a fountain circled with marble. Upon a marble plinth within the very centre of it stood a statue of a golden lion, its mouth open in a ferocious roar; a warning to whoever dared to even think of invading the mighty castle. The lion looked the epitome of strength, courage, and power as it rested frozen above the crowd.

"This place is beautiful," Gabrielle whispered.

Xena couldn't deny it when she looked around and saw the clean streets, brightly flowered bushes and trees, and the happy expressions on almost every person she saw. "It certainly seems like it."

As if noticing the mob of soldiers for the first time, people moved out of their way, but not before noticing Xena sat upon the only golden horse among them. They stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to her.

"Prince Tobias!"

"It's the prince!"

"He's returned to us again. Praise Zeus!"

Gabrielle leaned back. "Despite leaving, the prince seems popular with the people."

"Either he doesn't know or he doesn't care." Xena smiled awkwardly and waved at the people of Lyncestis.

Xena and Gabrielle followed the captain as he directed his horse through the crowds. He led them through the courtyards until they finally arrived at the castle's gatehouse. Upon noticing them, a soldier moved to the centre of the parapets above.

"Halt! Who goes there?" he called.

The captain pulled out his decorated sword and presented it to the soldier. "I am Captain Leon, leader of the king's first battalion, and champion of Lyncus castle. I bring the king's son, Prince Tobias, back to him and request entrance to the castle."

The soldier peered at Xena. Once he was satisfied that she was the prince he nodded and turned to someone behind the wall. "Raise the portcullis!"

Leon replaced his sword back to its sheath and turned to Xena. "Shall we, Prince Tobias?"

Xena was about to ask Leon about the security, but as he led his men through the portcullis gate the castle opened up before them in a wide, well-groomed inner ward, filled with guards and finely robed men and women whom looked up as they arrived. When she looked closer at the well protected castle walls, Xena started to become less and less convinced that it was because of Tobias's welfare that he left. There was no way that anyone would be able to get to him without being noticed. Wherever she looked there was always a guard not too far away. She glanced up at the second floor of the castle where an open balcony overlooked the whole inner ward. Numerous hoplite guards were on hand, standing tall and proud as they protected those who explored the grounds with ease below.

Leon halted before the castle's thick wooden door. Carefully, he slid off the horse and motioned for one of the servants to take it. As the horse was led away, he turned to face Xena. "Your Highness, if you would follow me?"

Xena climbed down from Argo. She saw Gabrielle look around at the soldiers worryingly and knew that she couldn't just leave her. "What will happen to my friend?"

Leon glanced briefly at Gabrielle. "Your friend will be escorted to the city."

Xena shook her head. "No. I want her to stay with me. She…," Xena paused, knowing that she couldn't give away the nature of their relationship to the captain. Though Xena was not really the prince, no one in the kingdom knew that. It would cause a scandal that they did not need if people believed he was romantically involved with a peasant woman.

Leon waited patiently. "She…what, Your Highness?"

"Gabrielle saved my life and she has nowhere else to go. Her home was destroyed. Without her I wouldn't have made it back."

The remaining men first looked at Xena then to her short, blonde companion with a look of disbelief that Gabrielle had become used to when people had first heard the mighty warrior princess was travelling with a village girl. Gabrielle had the good grace to remain cool under their prying gaze. She played the role of the shy, humble peasant and smiled timidly back at them.

Captain Leon nodded. "In that case, what do you wish of her?"

Xena looked down at her lover and smiled. "I wish to give her a job in the castle. A personal assistant perhaps?"

Gabrielle's eyes glinted mischievously at the unspoken innuendo of Xena's words and they shared a knowing smile.

"I'm sorry to remind you, Your Highness, but you already have a personal assistant. Claudius is currently audience to your father in the great hall. They both await your presence."

Knowing how well Gabrielle cooked, another idea popped into her head. "Then perhaps a kitchen hand? Gabrielle is a talented cook."

The captain nodded at the idea. "I'm sure Erika will appreciate the help. Phoebus, please escort the prince's friend to the kitchens and inform Erika of her new helper."

One of the burlier soldiers marched towards Gabrielle. Before he could escort her away, Xena turned to her and - under the pretence of bowing to her 'saviour' - whispered so no one but Gabrielle could hear. "I will find you later. I promise."

Gabrielle curtsied and whispered back, "I count on it."

"Thank you, Lady Gabrielle for helping me in my time of need," Xena said loud enough for everyone to hear. "I owe you my life."

"You are welcome, Your Highness. I am only glad I could help. "

Phoebus started walking to the east side of the castle. Realising that she had to follow him, Gabrielle stole one last glance at Xena and ran to catch up with him. Xena watched the golden bard out the corner of her eyes until she could no longer see either one of them and turned to address the captain. "Shall we?"

Clutching his helmet under his arm, Leon walked toward the large, thick main doors of the castle. Neither of them said much as the captain led her to the king. Xena noticed he put most of his weight on his left leg when he walked; as if he had suffered a bad injury that never really healed.

"What happened to your leg?" she asked.

Captain Leon shot her a funny look. "I was a gladiator, Your Highness. I thought you already knew that?"

Xena pretended to remember. "Oh yeah. Sorry. I forgot."

Once they were inside the castle, Xena was led through numerous hallways and staircases. She tried to ignore the mixed looks of shock and wonder of the servants they passed. Being a renowned warrior princess, Xena was used to the curious eyes of people, but for some reason, wearing the face of another made it harder.

They finally came to more thick doors. Stood at either end of them were two soldiers dressed in the same hoplite armour as Leon. Upon the arrival of their prince and captain they placed a fist over their heart and ushered them in. The great hall was unlike anything Xena had ever seen. The large one-room structure had a high loft ceiling, and each of the walls were decorated with shields and tapestries of what she guessed were historic battles. They had to manoeuvre around the large hearth that resided within the centre of the hall and heated the whole room.

As they walked across the whitewashed stone, Xena's and Leon's footsteps echoed in the vast open space. It was then that she noticed the quiet conversation they had intruded on had ceased and they were now being watched.

A single man sat upon a high wooden throne; his fur collared cloak wrapped around him tightly, and was dyed in the king's colours. He looked ancient from a distance, but as they got closer, Xena saw past the wizened face of the land's ruler and could see a slightly older version of the man who had subjected her to the torment of her current form. His decorated golden crown sat upon cap of the same black hair she now had, except the king's was streaked with white, and his blue eyes had become watery with age. Still, they shone with recognition when he saw Xena step out from behind Leon.

"My son! Tobias! What a lovely surprise," the king said gleefully. He started to lift himself slowly out of his throne and onto the carpeted, stone platform.

Fearing for the king's safety, the man next to him stepped forward just in case. Seeing this, the king waved away his hands in frustration. "I will be fine, Claudius! I may be old but I am not yet frail enough that I cannot lift myself up to embrace my only son."

Claudius bowed respectfully and stepped back.

The king smiled. "Tobias."

Xena could do nothing but hold out her arms and receive him. "Father."

The perfume she had smelled on Tobias's clothes covered the king. "Tell me, son, where have you been this past week? I feel I have barely seen you." The king looked over his 'son' and furrowed his brow. "And why are you wearing peasant clothes?"

Xena paused for a moment. The king didn't know Tobias had even left the castle? Then who had sent men out to look for him? She glanced over at Leon. The captain had told her that the king himself had requested that the prince return. He had to be lying if the king wasn't even aware of Tobias's absence. Why would he lie? She would have to ask him later.

Not wanting to cause any concern, or ruin her chance of discovering the reasoning behind keeping the king in the dark, Xena smiled. "I have been out exploring the city, father."

The king's eyebrows rose slightly. "Oh? You are taking interest in the peasants?"

"I find them fascinating," Xena replied.

"Your mother was the same. She did so enjoy walking amongst the people of the city. She really was 'the Peoples' Queen'." The king's smile faltered slightly. He reached out with a wrinkled hand and cupped Xena's cheek, his eyes darting to each of hers. "You remind me so much of her, Tobias. You grow to be more like her every day. She would be proud of the compassion you hold for your people."

Guilt chewed away at Xena's insides for lying to him. It was clear this man loved Tobias dearly and missed him when he was gone. Each second she spent within the presence of his people, the more she found herself detesting Tobias for abandoning them so easily.

Claudius cleared his throat. "I beg your pardon, Your Majesty, but there is the matter of the prince's marital status."

"Marital status?" Xena echoed.

The king blinked as if just remembering something. "Ah, yes! Tobias, I know that you are not warm to the concept of marriage, but I am no longer a young man, and I will not be around forever. You are my heir - my eldest child and only son. When I pass on to the Elysian Fields, the fate of the throne falls to you, but you cannot become king until you have taken a wife."

"The prince has already demonstrated his lack of agreement towards the idea of marriage with his many…visits to the city," Claudius said sardonically, brushing back his short brown hair from his face. The middle-aged man stared curiously at Xena.

The king returned to his throne, seemingly exhausted from the effort it took to stay on his feet too long. "Your sister cannot take the throne, Tobias. I don't know why you deny Nysa and refuse to see her. The Arkadian princess is a viable mate for you. The country is rich and by marrying her, we will have more allies to fight against the Persians should they attempt to attack again. Your union would further secure the safety of the kingdom and its people. Isn't that what you want? To protect your people?"

Xena looked around the room. What could she do? By denying the king's wishes she could end up damaging something without realising it. What if she said no and the country fell into turmoil? Or what if she said yes and she could not escape her male form? She would end up having to live and marry the princess. There was no way she could do that to herself or Gabrielle. Not when she had finally confessed her love for the bard. She knew, however, that while she was stuck as Tobias, she would have to do her best to act as he would or should act as the future successor of the throne. Until she found a way out of this nightmare there was only one thing she could do.

Xena forced a smile and faced the king. Gabrielle is going to kill me when she finds out.

"When should I meet her?"