A GOOD DEED IS NEVER WITHOUT STRINGS

Gabrielle watched as the tall dark haired woman paced across the tension showing in her face as her blue eyes looked at the floor. It was angry pacing she breathed in deeply playing with her sleeve nervously not really knowing what to do with herself. She knew what was coming next and somehow it just made her feel even nervous. Xena felt come to a stop as she turned to looked at the young man who was sitting on the bed watching her saying nothing. She breathed in deeply meeting the forest green eyes. "So let me get this straight that pendent around your neck turned you in to this?" Gabrielle pulled out the pendent from her shirt looking at it. "Yes I found it on the battlefield this morning."

She looked at the gleaming decorative outer pattern. "I turned the decorative gold outer ring and it turned me in to this, I can't turn it back it's like the things stuck or something." Xena eased up her hand eyeing the young man who had guilty look on his face. "You said that you picked this pendent up but you didn't put it on it was just around you neck when you woke up?" Gabrielle folded her arms. "Yes it was just like that." Xena felt the burning anger rise before she could stop it. "This is why I've told you not to go around picking things up that you find!" Gabrielle looked down feeling her eyes trace the floor once more the Warrior Princess was shouting at her because she'd messed up once more.

She breathed in deeply feeling the pain in her chest as she put her hands together leaning forward keeping her voice even to hide the pain. "I'm sorry, I didn't know it was going to do this to me, it didn't have a label on it saying what it did." Xena looked at her as she put a hand on her face she was being unkind once more. She breathed in deeply as she gained control over her anger as she looked at the young man who was her best friend. She looked up slightly keeping her voice gentle. "Have you tried to turn the decorative part?" Gabrielle looked up slightly. "Yes I've told you already that I've tried that, I can't get it to rotate."

Xena moved towards the young man ignoring the confusion in his face which mirrored the expression she was so used to seeing on Gabrielle's female self. "Let me do it." She looked at the strange pendent hanging from her friend's neck. She didn't think as she eased it up with her hand looking at it. She paused for a long moment before speaking. "Looks simple enough, no more than a decorative turning circle…" She took hold of the decorative patterned ring with her fingers. "Should be easy enough just to turn it, just needs some force that's all." She didn't think as she tried to turn it with all the force she could muster.

She growled aloud it hadn't moved instead it stay locked in place which angered her even more. She cried out in pain as red light suddenly shot out of ruby under her palm causing her to let go instantly. Gabrielle looked up sharply. "Are you okay?" Xena winced trying to ignore the pain it was more her pride that was hurting than her hand. "I'm fine!" She shook her hand as she turned to her friend. "Let me try something else." She leaned down pulling her breast dagger free then took hold of chain moving the dagger across it hoping that one of softer white gold metal chain pieces would break. Her dagger sliced across the metal doing nothing. She felt the frustration hit home as she put the dagger away. "I'm going to try the Chakram."

Gabrielle pulled up her hands as the taller woman reached for the gleaming weapon. "No its fine really!" She watched as the dark haired woman looked up sharply. "Look I think it's just stuck all we need to do is find out what it is and how it works." She looked at her large hands. "I'll just have to be this way until I can fix it. I can fix this, I know I can, I just need time." Xena slowly she sat herself down next to the young man. "Okay so we'll do it your way, as you say all we need is to do is find out, what this pendent is and then it'll all be fixed." Gabrielle breathed in deeply. "There must be a library in this city I just need to go there, then once I find out how to change back everything will go back to normal."

Xena took in a deep breath as she turned to meet the green gaze. "So you'll just be a man until then, I guess we'll just have to work with this." She raised her hand thinking about how to pose her next question she breathed in sharply. "So you have." She paused eyeing the brown trousers upper area. "The equipment as well?" Gabrielle turned sharply eyeing her. "Xena!" Xena raised her hand. "I was just curious." Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "If you must know yes I do and everything including that part feels really weird right now." She breathed in deeply. "I feel like myself I still think I'm a woman." She eyed her new body. "Yet I'm trapped in this body." Xena shook her head patting her friend's knee. "A woman trapped in a man's body sounds interesting." Gabrielle folded her arms. "Yeah well it isn't that interesting right now I feel like I'm missing the big part that makes me, me." Xena breathed in deeply this was going to be a difficult day she could feel it already.

8

Xena looked around the market place she turned back eyeing Gabrielle who was looking around in a slightly unsure manner, if the green eyes were anything to go by. She wanted to fix this as soon as possible she didn't like the odd looks she'd gotten at the tavern when they'd packed up their things and she'd paid the tavern keeper who had asked were the girl was that she'd come in with. She ended up making the excuse that she'd left last night and this was her cousin twice removed. She had to admit that, that excuse was lame even Gabrielle expression told her so but it was the best she could come up with. The truth was that this whole situation was making her feel very uncomfortable.

The fact is that Gabrielle looking this way was going drew attention, attention which she wasn't in the mood for. Her reputation said that she didn't travel with men that often and if she did people normally thought is was because she was having sex with the man in question, even when she wasn't. She didn't think as she turned slapping Gabrielle's hand which was moving to her hip she watched as Gabrielle turned to look at her in surprise. "First rule if you're going to be stuck this way, don't put your hands on your waist like that, it makes you look very un-masculine." Gabrielle breathed in as she folded her arms. "Fine."

Xena turned throwing the young man his staff. "Now I want you to stay here, I'm going to get Joxer and I'm going to meet back up here with you, then we'll all go to the library." Gabrielle narrowed her gaze. "Joxer's here you didn't tell me he was here!?" Xena eyed her for a long moment before turning away. "Well he's here it arrived last night." Gabrielle put a hand on her chest she was really not enjoying feeling muscle there in stead of her own breasts. She ignored the sensation as she looked up. "Oh well that's just wonderful, he's going to see me this way." Xena turned pulling a list out of her pocket she grabbed Gabrielle's larger hand pushing it in it. "These are the supplies we need." Gabrielle breathed in sharply watching as the tall woman turned away from her. "Oh so that's it? I just end up doing the shopping that's just great." Xena stopped turning sharply. "Yes I need you to do our shopping it's what you do best." She turned away moving up the street feeling her hash words hit the air. "And don't you dare go and buy one of those little parakeets!"

8

Gabrielle moved up the street trying to control her temper shopping it's what you do best, how patronizing could she be? She pulled up their food bag while checking the list, so what if she liked miniature parakeets? It wasn't her fault that they were small, colourful and cute and they made a lot of noise. She turned to the stall picking up a loaf of bread as she looked at the stall keeper. "How much?" The store keeper turned her wide toothless smile showing. "Why that's two dinars young man." Gabrielle eyed the rolls. "Is there a chance that you could throw in a seeded roll or two for that price? They are so delicious."

The older woman laughed as she took the money. "Of course I can, it's nice to have someone who appreciates my bread goods for a change." Gabrielle smiled as she put the bread and rolls in the bag. She'd put her staff away as it seemed pointless to walk around with it since it was small compared to how tall she was now. She turned smiling at the older woman. "More people should appreciate bread making, it's an art form." The older woman smiled as she picked up another roll tossing it Gabrielle moved quickly catching it. "For that thoughtful remark this one's for free." Gabrielle smiled at her. "Thank you." She moved away from the stall well maybe this wasn't so bad she could still charm sellers. Her gaze drifted to the pet stall she eyed the bag before closing it, that was everything so now she could indulge her self. She tossed the bag over her shoulder moving over to the bird cages watching as they all flew around chirping happily. She moved eyeing the small blue and green parakeets with slightly curved beaks and white heads with dark stripes on the forehead.

"They are called Budgerigars and there from a land far to the east far beyond China and Japan."

Gabrielle smiled eyeing the little birds only to look up as the male store keeper came closer his voice hitting the air. "Are you buying a present for your wife?" Gabrielle looked up slightly. "No I was just admiring your birds." The middle aged man folded his arms. "You know they have another store up the streets that sells dogs it may be more to your taste." Gabrielle looked up feeling the confusion take over since when did her taste in animals mean anything to anyone? She smiled slightly. "Well I prefer small birds to dogs." The store keeper shook his head throwing a sheet over the cage. "Look here sunny boy, unless you're purchasing for your girlfriend, wife or boyfriend I suggest you get lost, I have women who want to buy here."

He threw over another blanket over the other cages. "Other wise go purchase a dog or a cat and stop wasting my time." Gabrielle blinking as she turned away from the stall oh well that was just charming and here she was thinking that she could charm people. Gods she was already starting to hate this body. If she'd have still been a woman that seller would have let her stare for as long as she wanted and pick up one of his tame birds as well. She breathed in deeply as she put the last of her money away. It was odd today she really wasn't in a shopping mood, the only good thing so far was that she'd saved them some money.

May because her friend had told her that, this was all she was good for, which stung her to the core. Xena never treated her with any respect, she hadn't heard the words you've done well or thank you Gabrielle in ages. She lowered her gaze as she carried on walking may be the truth she was just never going to hear them again because she didn't deserve to.

"Make way for her Ladyship!"

Gabrielle didn't get a chance to speak as a bigger man suddenly shoved her aside she looked up meeting his dark gaze. "Hey!" The guard looked up raising his sword to her. "Did you not hear me little boy? Her Lady ship is coming through stand aside!" The next moments turned to pain as she was pushed back first in to a weapons stall. The bigger man dressed in armour sneered as he carried on moving allowing two women to pass by both ignoring her as they carried on talking. Gabrielle breathed in as she adjusted her shirt getting off the weapons stall. She turned feeling the sellers hand on her shoulder his concerned voice hitting the air. "Are you okay son?"

Gabrielle breathed in watching as the two women carried on moving while the warrior cleared a path. "I'm fine, I'm sorry about your stall." The older white bearded man shook his head. "Its okay you don't need to explain, that bastard body guard always loves to push people around." Gabrielle pulled on her shirt. "How charm…." Her words were cut off as she caught sight of a man running towards the group. She felt her gaze narrow as she caught sight of long dagger slowly being pulled out of his belt. She turned with out thinking grabbing one of the tall quarter staffs from the stalls table as she turned. "I'm sorry I'll bring this right back!" She ignored his cry of shock as she bolted in to a run seeing the dagger being raised higher she knew now that the man was aiming for the women in the middle of the group and he was going to stab her in the back! The body guard was to busy to even see because he was pushing some one else aside while laughing at them.

She brought up the staff higher as she came to a stop behind the thin man who dagger could now be seen in the gleaming sun light. She didn't think as she brought the weapon down full force on his back watching as he cried out before he hit the ground on his knees. He turned the shock in his eyes, she didn't think as smashed her staff end across his face watching as he hit the ground. His whole body went still as he held his face in pain she looked up only to feel the pain as a fist impacted with her jaw. She groaned as she hit the floor hard on her back, her head felt like it was spinning and she couldn't focus on anything. She looked up trying to focus on the shadow as it came over her to her and the cold voice hit the air. "You stupid boy, don't you raise your weapon to her Ladyship!"

"Stop it right now Preben you fool! Look at that other man he was holding a dagger he was going to kill me!"

Gabrielle coughed tasting blood inside her mouth as she heard the cry as the man she'd knocked down was punched hard by the body guard causing his body to hit the ground fully as he passed out. She winced in pain gods that hurt she shook her head watching as everything came back in to focus, twice in one week, what else could go wrong? She looked up slightly realizing that there was a woman with long red hair and blue eyes smiling down at her, her soft voice hit the air. "I'm so sorry are you alright?" Gabrielle groaned as she blinked pulling herself up on to her feet trying to keep herself steady. "I'll fine." She pushed her foot in to the floor trying desperately not to topple over.

She forced her heavy staff in to the ground using it to keep her self standing she didn't get a chance to think as the woman's hands took hold of the sides of her face gently. She blinked feeling herself freeze not knowing what to say or even what to do, she had no idea how to even begin to deal with the situation. Sophia eyed the young handsome man in front of her she could see blood dripping down his lip, she turned eyeing Chara who was staring on in shock. "Give me your handkerchief." She turned realizing that Chara wasn't paying attention. "Your handkerchief now!" Chara snapped out of her haze she pulled out her white cotton hanky only for Sophia to grab it as she gave her a cold look.

Sophia turned back eyeing the young man who still staring at her, his green eyes full of confusion and uncertainty she eased up the white cloth dabbing gently against his bloody lip as she kept her fingers on his face enjoying the feel of his skin. "I am so sorry for my body guard Preben he is a foolish stupid brute." She turned eyeing Preben who looked away in disgust. "Who wasn't doing his job, which was to protect me!" She turned back smiling gentle at the young man. "What's your name?" Gabrielle blinked she wasn't used to the gentle warm touch from anyone, she had only ever felt Xena's touch but she hadn't felt it much recently and she had come to miss it so much.

A part of her was begging to feel that affection and somehow it almost felt good just feel it from someone who she didn't know. She blinked as she looked up meeting the dark sea blue eyes. "My name?" Sophia moved her fingers to beard as she carried on dabbing the taller man's face enjoying his rather uncertain look there was something rather charming about it. She smiled gently as she carried on wiping the last of the blood away. "Yes what do they call you?" Gabrielle felt her gaze dart, no one ever bothered to ask her name ever. They ether referred to her as girl or sidekick she breathed in about to speak only to stop she couldn't call herself Gabrielle, what would call her self?

She looked down slightly as a name shot in to her head and the only one she could think off in this instant as she stood up. "My name is Sebastianos." Sophia watched as the young beard man stood up to his full height she gently put the cotton hanky in his larger hand. "Well Sebastianos take this as token of my thanks." Chara eased up her hand. "But that's my?" She stopped as Sophia gave her a cold look before turning back to the tall man. Sophia turned giving the young man a warm smile. "I feel that for saving my life this will not be enough so I would like you to extend you an invitation to the great palace."

Chara blinked in shock eyeing the other woman. "But your father is planning." Sophia turned eyeing Chara in disgust. "I don't care about my fathers plan!" She took hold of the young man's hand as she looked up in to his green eyes. "Would you do me the good will of coming and being a guest at my palace?" Gabrielle swallowed suddenly feeling very unsure of her self as everyone around her seemed to look at her. "I…I…you see I have a friend and she's." Sophia held his hand tighter. "Your friend can come to so long as she does not cause trouble." Gabrielle swallowed a part of her wanted to run away or make an excuse.

The problem was that another part of her was telling her to go, because she never got invited anywhere unless it was by some drunk man or woman who were coming on to her in a seedy tavern. She never got invited to go to royal functions or parties ether, so what did to matter if she went? The truth was simple that she was sick off never being noticed by anyone and a part of her was screaming for attention. She turned eyeing the young woman who was holding her hand tightly. Sophia felt her smile widen as she met the man's green eyes, may be she should pull a slightly different tack. "My father will give a great banquet with all the food you can possibly imagine."

Gabrielle turned sharply the thought of that was really appealing. She felt her smile widen as she met the other woman's deep blue eyes. "I would love to come to the palace." She heard the pounding of feet coming up behind her, she turned just in time to see Xena run up to her closely followed by Joxer who looked confused. Xena didn't think as she shoved the guard aside ignoring his sneer of disgust. "There you are! You know I've been looking for you, I told you not to wander off." Gabrielle let go of the other woman's hand feeling her anger as it started to boil. What was this? Was it fun for the older woman to humiliate her in front of other people?

She didn't think as she turned thrusting the bag in to older woman's chest. "I didn't wander off I was doing your shopping, oh and don't worry I didn't buy any little parakeets." Sophia didn't think as she pushed in front of the young man eyeing the tall dark imposing warrior woman whose blue eyes were staring at the young man in shock. "How dare you be so rude?!" She folded her arms eyeing the blue eyed woman who turned to look at her, her anger showing. "This young man just saved my life!" Xena stopped still eyeing Gabrielle for a moment before looking at her again. "What?" Sophia sneered slightly. "I said that this young man just saved my life, another man was going to kill me and this man saved me, you will show him some respect!" She folded her arms seeing the shock as it spread over the taller woman's face. "Who are you that you can be so rude in my presence?" Xena blinked before regaining her composer as she eyed the rude young woman in front of her. "My name is Xena Warrior Princess." Sophia raised an eyebrow. "I see, well I am Princess Sophia of Illyria and you will kneel in my presence!"

End of part 4

Silvermoonlight

I admit I love Budgerigars used to have them as a kid :)