Chapter 6

Kreka walked into Xena's yurt and Gabrielle was drinking tea and eating by herself. She knocked on one of the tables near the entrance, startling the governor. She smiled softly and Gabrielle wiped the corners of her mouth and set down the tea.

"If you've come to drop off more documents from Ellac tell him that I am swamped. I'll have to look at them tomorrow –"

"I didn't come here to talk about documents," the khatun said.

Gabrielle awkwardly looked at the queen mother and drummed her fingers on her knee. "Oh, then what brings you here?" it wasn't often that Kreka made house visits since she was preoccupied with her new grandchild. Not to mention that she lived in the Adame with the rest of the family and didn't bother to come to the yurt unless something was awry.

"I actually wanted to talk to Xena but I can see that she isn't here." She looked around at the tidy home and Gabrielle offered her a seat on the floor which she gladly took. "I came to talk about Anastasia and Csaba."

Oh, this again. "You know what happened?"

Kreka frowned. "I know that Csaba is seeing a girl and Ana doesn't approve. She was extremely upset and frantic like Xena used to be. I am worried about her and I have a feeling I know who Csaba is seeing."

Gabrielle didn't have to say Farah's name. Kreka had an intuition when it came to things such as this. Instead, she poured a glass of tea and pushed it towards Kreka. "So, you know who she is…" she hinted and Kreka gave her a look. "Xena told him that he couldn't see Farah anymore because she is promised to someone in Banat."

This is what the khatun feared and if everyone knew about Farah except Anastasia, she knew that the queen was going to be furious. "He isn't going to stop seeing her. You and I both know that. I am seeing flashbacks of Anastasia and Ellac together. Not a sea or stretch of land was able to keep them apart and Csaba is only a day's ride away from Farah."

"What do you suggest should happen? Should we tell the Czar about their relationship? Maybe he could call off the engagement."

"He isn't going to do that, Gabrielle and Anastasia is going to go ballistic when she finds out the mystery girl is the Czarina. I'm surprised that Xena hasn't told her about Farah."

Gabrielle rubbed her chin and sipped the tea casually avoiding eye contact. Kreka frowned and grabbed the governor's cheeks and turned her face swiftly to look into her eyes. Gabrielle blinked and her mouth was full of hot lemony tea.

"Where is she? Where is Xena?" she let go of the blonde's face and Gabrielle was able to swallow the tea.

"She's…looking for Csaba. He left before we arrived in Banat. She thinks he went to Akitziri."

Kreka groaned. "Because Farah is there," she concluded. "That boy is just like his mother. He could ruin this alliance, Gabrielle. When Xena returns I want her to come talk to me in my room. Can you do that for me?"

"Sure, Kreka."

"Thank you. I have to get back to Bakkah." She stood and thanked her for the tea to which she didn't even touch.

"How is baby Kurt doing?"

Kreka smiled warmly. "Very well. Ernak was very pleased that he has a son. He's been rubbing it in Ellac's face for awhile now."

Gabrielle nodded and tore off a piece of bread. "And Dengi? Has he seen the baby?"

"Only briefly." She sadly admitted. She was afraid that seeing a child would upset her son and she thought right. Dengizich was still so hurt by the loss of Giselle that he didn't and couldn't, be around other children, especially babies. Leila was also reluctant to have more children but yet she was constantly around Ernak's son, offering to help Bakkah in any way that she could.

"I won't tell Anastasia about Farah until I talk to Xena," she looked at Gabrielle in the eye very seriously.

Csaba leaned against a tall tree and looked out at the sea. Farah's eyes were locked on him and she had shed tears for over an hour now after she explained everything that was arranged between her and Pascal. He was apparently her father's commander for the military and the General was Rabia's husband. It was so obvious that the Czar would marry off his daughters to important men in their province. He wanted to protect them as best as he could. He began to regret coming to speak with her now that he knew the truth. He didn't want to believe his grandmother or Gabrielle, but it was true.

Farah sniffled and wrapped her arm around his. "Are you mad at me? Please don't be mad at me. I have no control over who my father wants me to marry."

"I'm not mad at you," he said and looked at the soft waves crashing into the rocks by the shore. "Did you have sex with him?"

"No!" she felt insulted he would even imply that. "I've never been in a room alone with him. When…I return to Banat next week I will have to marry him."

Csaba frowned and paced around in a circle. "You shouldn't have to be with him. My father was almost married off to someone he didn't even know."

"And then…what happened to that marriage?"

"He got my mother pregnant," he said bluntly and she looked away.

"Csaba," Xena appeared from behind with Rabia by her side. Farah gasped and saw the horrendous look on her sister's face and Csaba looked at his grandmother, shocked to find her here. "You left your post and your mother is worried about you."

The last thing he wanted to do was upset his mother and he felt bad for leaving during the mission like he did but he had to talk to Farah. He already knew that his was going to get a serious lecture from his mother and grandmother.

Farah stepped forward. "It wasn't his fault. I didn't tell him about Pascal. Don't blame him, please," she begged the commander.

Rabia growled and grabbed her sister by the arm. "You are acting like a harlot, Farah! You shouldn't even be sleeping with this Hun! He is not one of us!"

Xena raised her eyebrow and interrupted. "Just because we aren't the same as your people doesn't mean we are beneath you, Rabia." She walked over to her sheepish grandson. "And sleeping with Csaba doesn't make your sister a whore."

"Well, she can't see him anymore. She is marrying someone else. Come with me," she tugged on her sister and Farah looked back at Csaba. He glanced over at his grandmother and she sighed. It was the same look that Anastasia had when she was caught with Ellac many, many years ago.

"Wait," she said and the two sisters paused. "We are allies with your father now. I've known him for awhile. If Farah doesn't want to marry this man then she shouldn't have to because she will be miserable. And I know my daughter wouldn't want her son to be unhappy either."

Farah's face lit up and Rabia scowled at the Huns. "What are you saying?"

"Come to Pannonia with us and meet with my daughter. She is very understanding and she really wants to know who Csaba is seeing."

"Are you out of your mind?" Rabia scoffed. "Farah is done with this relationship. She is marrying Pascal. They were promised to each other a year ago. Let's go!" she grabbed Farah's hand and pulled her away.

Csaba hung his head in shame and Xena wrapped her arm around his shoulder. "I really like her."

"I know you do. We need to get back to Pannonia and I really think you should tell your mother about Farah. She's already met her so maybe she will go easy on you."

"Have you met my mother?" he frowned up at her.

"Maybe once or twice," she winked and slapped him on the back. "Let's go."

"What about Farah?"

"We'll deal with that later. Your mother is really worried about you so please get on the horse," she urged and he grumbled and did as he was told for once.

He looked over at her as she was petting her horse's mane. "Thank you for sticking up for me," he said softly.

"I'd do anything for you."

Princess Cera convinced Gabrielle to go with her to the sheep herder in the outskirts of Pannonia. She also convinced her to take back a sheep to the Adame but Gabrielle wasn't sure that this was going to go over well with Anastasia, considering Cera had grown quite fond of the sheep over the last day. She sat on the grass, brushing the sheep's curly white hairs with a simple hairbrush a stable boy gave her.

Gabrielle's eyes were focused on the field, waiting for Xena's return. Two days without her and she was beginning to worry Xena had done something to Farah or worse, she had done something horrible to Csaba. Cera hummed quietly as she continued brushing the matted sheep.

"Gabby, can I keep him?" she asked and the governor didn't reply. "Gabby!"

"What? Oh, maybe," she smiled and stood up once she saw Xena riding towards the yurt but she was without Csaba. "Oh no, what did you do this time?"

Cera frowned and turned around, staring up at her. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing Cera, just continue doing…whatever it is you're doing," she muttered and ran ahead to meet up with Xena before she even halted her horse. "Xena, where is Csaba?"

Xena hopped off her horse and was bombarded by a certain redheaded princess. "Cera," she grinned and picked the girl up in her arms, hugging her tightly. She spotted the sheep nervously. "What's this?"

"This is my friend. His name is Boba," she said and Xena nodded her head slowly. "Traton said I could keep him! He's so adorable, isn't he?"

"Um, yes, very adorable." She set down her granddaughter and watched her run back to her new pet. "You let her keep a sheep?"

Gabrielle frowned. "Forget about the sheep. Where's Csaba?"

"I told him to go talk to Anastasia about Farah."

"You what?! Kreka wanted me to tell you to go talk to her first! Oh my god," she panicked and breathed in and out deeply to the point of almost hyperventilating.

Xena rolled her eyes and calmed Gabrielle down by resting her hands on her shoulders. "Gabrielle, its better if Ana knows now instead of finding out later. What did the dragon lady want this time?"

"All I'm saying is that Kreka told me to tell you to talk to her first. Do not let Csaba talk to Anastasia!" she shook her commander.

She slapped her hand away and Cera pulled her new pet over with a puzzled look upon her face. "Are you two fighting?"

"No, of course not," Xena said and eyed Gabrielle.

"No. Not at all," Gabrielle carefully chose her words.

The princess crossed her arms and crookedly grinned at her grandmother and aunt. "I know what's going on," she said with certainty and watched both of their mouths part slightly. "It's about my birthday isn't it."

Xena breathed a sigh of relief. "Cera your birthday is in the fall. It's barely spring right now."

"I know but we can plan early!" she cheered and wrapped her small arms around her and Gabrielle. "Do you think mother will let me keep Boba in my room?"

"Um, you know what happens to sheep around here, don't you?"

Cera scrunched up her face in confusion.

"We eat them," Xena said and Gabrielle slapped her arm. "Hey…"

The princess gasped and hugged her pet sheep. "Noooo. I don't want to eat him. He's my friend."

"A girl from a long line of warriors befriending a sheep. You don't see that every day." Xena remarked with chagrin and Gabrielle groaned. "Okay I'll go to the Adame. Keep an eye on sheep girl."

"I want to come with you!" she begged.

"Stay with Cera. I won't be gone long. Hopefully I can catch Csaba before he reaches Anastasia." She waved and hopped on her horse, riding towards a looming disaster ahead.

Cera muttered something to her pet and then paddled Gabrielle on her leg, getting her attention. "It's okay Gabby, you can stay with me and Boba."

What a brilliant idea, she thought. She didn't want to be left behind knowing that something really terrible was about to happen. She tried to keep calm but she just couldn't let Anastasia or Xena blow up at one another or at Csaba. "Hey Cera…you know who loves sheep?" she smiled smugly and the princess shook her head. "Kreka Khatun adores sheep. I'm sure she would love to meet Boba…"

The little princess gasped excitedly and grabbed the rope around the sheep's neck and pulled him along to the Adame. Gabrielle cocked her brow and followed her. One step closer, she thought. She would definitely hear yelling but not from Xena or Ana. Kreka hated goats and sheep. She was sure that calling people goats was more insulting to the animal than a human.

Kreka sat at her vanity, plaiting her hair and cursing under her breath while doing so. She was getting more and more frustrated with her own hair, especially the noticeable silver streaks in her once perfect black locks. She wondered how she could have so many changes in her body while Xena looked much the same, despite the subtle faint wrinkles around her eyes when she smiled, which was never it seemed like.

She threw her unfinished braid behind her shoulders and folded her arms, glaring at her reflection. She ran her finger through the middle part in her hair and began combing her nails through the midnight locks generously.

Small wraps on the door interrupted her and she stood then smoothed out her black cotton dress and didn't bother to put on her headdress as she wasn't finished doing her hair for the day. Opening the door she beamed when she saw Cera and then frowned when she saw a white sheep. Gabrielle looked at the khatun and pushed Cera into the room with her pet, Boba.

"Excuse me what is that filthy animal doing in my house?" she growled and Cera pouted.

"He's my friend."

"Your friend?" she spun around to a very guilty governor. "What is going on?"

"Well, I was wondering if you could watch her. I have to go find Xena. It's a long story so if you wouldn't mind I would really appreciate it. Thanks!" she ran off before Kreka could say anything. Gabrielle hoped she wouldn't be too mad.

Kreka grunted and slammed the door, startling the princess and the loud sheep. She didn't want that animal anywhere near her clothes, her shoes, her ornate rugs, her bed –she didn't want him near anything in her room –she didn't even want him in her home.

"So, he's your friend. Does your friend have a name?" she picked up some of her dresses lying around so the animal wouldn't think they were a tasty snack. Also, she didn't want to upset Cera and whatever Gabrielle and Xena were up to, she would find out sooner or later.

Csaba gave himself a little pep-talk before he was able to ready himself to knock on his mother's door. He never felt so nervous before in his entire life but his grandmother was right. She needed to know, he kept telling himself that over and over. Listening at the door he heard his parents talking loudly but not quite arguing with each other.

He pressed his ear against the door and heard his name mentioned two times by his mother. He frowned sadly, not wishing for his parents to worry and argue about him. The door swung open and he straightened himself out in front of his father.

Ellac cocked his brow. "Csaba, where have you been?"

"Csaba! Is that you?" Ana ran forward and pushed her husband out of the way. "Tatli cocuk I was so worried about you." She cupped his cheeks and he was nervous before but now he was just embarrassed. She still treated him like a child. "Where did you go? You were supposed to go to Banat with Gabrielle and your grandmother. I have been so concerned about you!"

He grunted and stepped away from his frazzled mother. "I'm fine."

"He's not a baby, Ana," Ellac said and she shot him a glare. "Where were you?"

The prince nervously stared at his parents' light eyes and stern faces. "Well…I…I went to Akitziri."

"Akitziri?" Anastasia asked suspiciously. "Why would you go there?"

Xena and Gabrielle ran over and wrapped their arms around the young prince. He gasped and looked at the two women and Ellac shared a glance with his wife. "Csaba, I was looking for you. I really need your help with the Banat men," the commander said.

"But you said –"

"I said I needed your help," she squeezed his shoulder and he cringed. "You're always running off without permission. First you worry your parents and now you're walking away from your duties. Get to the field." She growled and slapped his back. He scowled and backed away from her.

"Wait just a minute!" Ana grabbed her son's hand. "What were you doing in Akitziri?"

Gabrielle's eyes widened. "What a great question, Anastasia. I told him to go there to discuss the treaty with the Bey."

"What treaty?" The king asked.

Her face paled and she looked to Xena for guidance but all she got was a dramatic eye roll. "Um, you know those Akitziri Huns. They can be so stubborn," she lamented and Ana folded her arms, listening to the façade. "They wanted a share of the coin given by the Czar."

Ellac furrowed his eyebrows. "Then we will give it to them."

"You will?" Gabrielle's mouth gaped. "Of course you will. You're a very generous king. I should get started on the treaty right away." She smiled and Anastasia leaned over, staring into those deceitful emerald eyes of hers.

Xena leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, staring at Gabrielle, shaking her head curtly. The queen whipped her head around to her mother. "You're both lying goats," she accused.

"Anastasia, would I lie to you?"

"Yes. Both of you are lying to me! Someone tell me what is really going on!" she ordered loudly and Gabrielle bowed her head. She glared at her mother. "Can't rely on you." She then turned to Gabrielle. "And you're her accomplice. Csaba…" she smiled tersely at her son. "Tatli cocuk…what is going on? I know you wouldn't lie to me. Would you?"

He looked at his blonde aunt and then at his grandmother and his father then stared directly into his mother's eyes. "I…I…" he was immediately flustered by all the pairs of eyes upon him. "I went to see that girl I told you about."

Ana's eyes enlarged and Xena buried her face in her hand. "You went to see her?" her face lit up excitedly and Gabrielle slowly retreated, unsure if she wanted to see this volcano erupt. "When can we meet her? Your father and I were talking about marrying you off to someone but if we can meet this girl then that arrangement will be void."

"You would let me marry her?" he smiled brightly.

"If we meet her."

"Csaba, think carefully about what you're about to do," warned Gabrielle.

"Quiet!" Ana snapped and Xena frowned at her daughter. "So, who is she?"

His heart raced as if it was going to pop out of his chest and his stomach churned. "Her name is…Farah," he said and his mother's mouth parted. "You met her at Arielle's birthday…remember? She's very sweet and she likes me a lot."

"The Czarina of Banat?!" she screeched and he flinched, afraid he might get smacked. "Of all girls you had to pick her?!" she balled her fists up and glared at her mother and Gabrielle who were trying to slip away. "And you two knew about this?"

They halted and sheepishly looked at the angry queen.

"Mother, don't be angry at them," pleaded the prince.

"Be quiet you!" she whipped her sword out and approached her mother and governor. "You two lied to my face. You kept this from me. How could you do this to me?"

Xena sighed. "Ana, we didn't know for a long time. What were you going to do when you found out eventually? Threaten her? Kill her? You know you can't stop this."

"I don't need lectures from you! You're the last person to give advice on something like this. You once said that if Ellac weren't the son of Attila that you'd kill him. Why would I take advice from you?"

"That was a long time ago." She tried to explain and the end of the blade was thrust towards her. Gabrielle gasped and hid behind Xena, fearing for her life. "You were fifteen, Anastasia! It was different –this is different. Csaba is twenty one. He can make his own decisions!"

Ellac grabbed his wife by the shoulder. "Ana, put the sword down."

She spun around, breathing heavily, staring at the father of her son and frowned sadly. She lowered her blade and looked at her frightened son and a once in a lifetime, apologetic mother. How lucky was Csaba that he had a father around to care for him and she didn't ever have one.

"Maybe if my father was still alive you wouldn't have treated me the way you did growing up," she addressed her mother. She sheathed her sword and walked through Xena and Gabrielle.

"Anastasia, wait I –" Xena called out to her and Gabrielle gripped her hand for comfort.

Ellac grimaced at the two women. "I will go talk to her."

"But father! What about Farah?" Csaba yelled and he was ignored. He leaned over the railing and watched his father race down the stairs after his mother. He snarled at his grandmother. "Tell her and everything will be fine? This is your fault!"

"This is not my fault!" Xena got up in her grandson's face. "You shouldn't have been sneaking behind everyone's backs!"

"Xena…" Gabrielle tried to keep the peace between the two. "Fighting won't solve anything."

"I should have known never to trust you," he glared at his grandmother. "You were horrible to my mother when she was with my father. And now that is rubbing off on her! She is turning into a bitter woman just like you!" he poked her chest with his finger and her lip curled. "Don't talk to me anymore." He stormed off.

Gabrielle covered her mouth and Xena gripped the wooden railing. "That went horribly…" she mentioned and the commander scoffed and left her side. "Xena, we can fix this!" she followed her. "Xena!"

The commander swung at a tree for the last couple of hours. Ever since the argument she had with Csaba and Anastasia yesterday, she couldn't do anything about it except to express her anger by hitting something. She wished the tree was a human target instead, but that would be awfully messy and far too barbaric. Now that Arielle was gone and Csaba was seeing Farah without his mother's permission, she was sure that Ana felt like she was losing control over her own children and her life.

It was nearly impossible to be a mother and a queen. That is one of the reasons why Kreka declined the position as commander although Kreka's sons seemed easier to handle because she allowed them to have freedoms that Arielle and Csaba didn't have. Xena hit the tree with her sword again, nearly chopping it down in half.

She frowned and swung at the bark again. The things that her daughter and grandson said to her were definitely hurtful and she had heard many hurtful things in her life but it never hurt worse than when the words came from the lips of her own family.

Gabrielle had finally worked up the nerve to go talk to her partner after watching her swing at the same tree for hours. Pieces of tree bark went flying and the trunk creaked and cracked. Within a few moments the tree toppled over and Xena frowned, now upset her target was gone. She searched for her next victim and spotted another tall tree.

"Xena wait," called Gabrielle."Hitting trees isn't going to make you feel better."

"Don't you have a meeting with Ellac about Odoacer or something?" Xena rubbed her sword on her pants and marched towards the next available tree.

Gabrielle watched her get ready to swing at the tree trunk again. "The meeting is later tonight." She said and Xena swiped her blade across the tree, cutting down a large branch. "You're going to dull your sword."

"I have other swords."

Alright, that's enough, Gabrielle thought. She marched forward and put herself in front of the tree right before Xena was about to swing her sword. "No more, Xena! No more!"

"Get out of my way, Gabrielle."

"I'm not moving. You need to go talk to Anastasia."

"She called me a horrible mother. She doesn't want to talk to me."

Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "No, she didn't. She didn't mean what she said. She was just angry. You know how she gets sometimes. You two always get into arguments. She is more like you than you'd both like to admit. I love her as much as you do and I don't like it when you fight. We've all overcome much worse than this!"

Xena still gripped her sword high into the air, ready to strike whether Gabrielle was in the way or not.

"What about the time when the Vandals took Anastasia and Ellac," she said, keeping her eyes on the glistening blade in the sunlight. "Or the time when the Romans attacked Balaam and almost took Anastasia. And that time you rescued Ellac from Queen Tomiri's stronghold in Scythia. Or when Bey Basil sold Ana, Ernak and Dengi to Odoacer." She clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white.

"Thank you for reminding me all of the travesties I've had to endure over the years. Now, get out of the way before I shish kabob you to the tree."

Gabrielle's eyes widened in fear and she was almost positive that Xena wasn't going to swing until she saw the sword coming down right before her eyes.

"Xena!" Kreka's voice boomed from behind and the commander halted her sword over Gabrielle's head.

"I'm busy, dragon lady."

"I see. Busy cutting down trees and almost slicing Gabrielle in two, hm?" the queen mother reached upward and grabbed Xena's wrist. "Give me the sword before you hurt someone."

"Let go Kreka or I'll slice you next."

Gabrielle creased her brows together and pulled out the Sais from her boots and whacked Xena's blade and swung her leg around, knocking her off her feet. Kreka grabbed the sword and pointed it at Xena's throat as she lay on the grass. Xena looked up at her blonde cohort in shock that she struck her. Gabrielle frowned apologetically and lowered the Sais to her sides.

She tried to get up and Kreka lifted her chin with the tip of the blade. "Stay down." She ordered in a firm voice and Xena gritted her teeth. "You really want to play this game with me, Xena? Because I am not in the mood for this foolishness."

Gabrielle tried to help Xena up but she was shunned away. She put back the Sais in her boot straps and Xena got up, brushing grass off her pants and finally the khatun lowered the blade and handed it back to her.

"I told Gabrielle to tell you to come talk to me first," Kreka told the commander.

Xena sheathed her sword and looked at Gabrielle with a forlorn expression. "Gabrielle tried to tell me. I didn't get to him in time and now Anastasia knows about Farah and she's furious."

"Let her be furious then."

"What?"

Kreka shrugged her shoulders. "Not much she can do. He isn't going to stop seeing her and there's nothing you or Anastasia can do about it. You weren't able to stop her and Ellac. What makes you think you can stop your grandson from doing the same thing?"

Gabrielle smirked and Xena recognized those words all too well. Now, she felt horrible for raising a sword to her. "Gabrielle…I'm –"

"I forgive you," she smiled warmly.

She returned a faint smile and spoke to the stoic khatun. "What am I supposed to do?"

Kreka sighed. "Don't do anything, Xena. You're wasting your energy on this. Focus on Justinian and Odoacer. They are more important. The Banat girl will be dealt one way or another. Anastasia needs to learn that she can't keep her son locked up like you did to her."

"I did not!"

"Yes you did, Xena. You thought keeping her locked away forever would solve everything but it didn't. She disobeyed you several times and lied to you. She's angry that she can't keep her son in locked cage like a bird. This is about her, not Csaba, not Farah and not…you."

"But…this is my fault."

Gabrielle shook her head. "No it's not. You can't protect her forever and she needs to learn that she can't protect Csaba forever either."

Kreka nodded. "You should listen to her." She winked and Xena quirked her mouth into a lopsided smile. "Now, please go do some commanding and forget about Anastasia for now."

"You're really turning into a big softie, you know that?" Xena teased the queen mother.

"Is that so? Would you like to put your money where your mouth is?"

Xena smiled and Gabrielle groaned at the two challenging one another. "Yeah? A duel then. In the orchards outside of the encampment. You pick the day."

"Ladies, this is ridiculous. You can't just –" Gabrielle tried to convince them otherwise.

"Deal." Kreka nodded and the two shook hands. "We'll see how your right hook has held up over the years, grandma."

Xena raised her eyebrow and gripped the woman's forearm tightly and Kreka's eyes widened. "Should I remind you that you are a grandmother as well?"

"Oh yes, of course, but you have more experience in that department. You've been one for a very long time, Xena. You must teach me your ways."

Gabrielle rolled her eyes and grabbed Xena's arm and dragged her away. "Enough of this silliness. We have to get to Anastasia and Ellac. We have a very important meeting to discuss and –" she suddenly heard laughter from her partner and turned around swiftly. "Something…amusing to you?"

Xena bit her bottom lip and shook her head at the serious blonde governor.

"Alright..." She continued walking whilst dragging the commander along. "If Ellac decides to ally with Odoacer then we should possibly create some kind of coup or diversion. And then maybe –" that laughter arose again and she snarled. "Xena!"

"You're acting like a grumpy old lady, Gabrielle. Come on…" she gently hit the governor in the shoulder.

She gasped. "I am not old!"

"And neither am I." Xena walked ahead of her. "Are you coming or what?" she whistled on her way to the Adame.

Ernak stood awkwardly in his brother's throne chambers standing opposite of the commander and governor who kept gawking at him strangely. "I uh…I'm filling in for Ellac and Anastasia." He said and Gabrielle shared a look with Xena.

"So you know about the deal with Odoacer then?" asked the stoic governor.

"I was briefed on it before you both arrived." He smiled and Xena crossed her arms, unimpressed by the young king regent. "They should be here later this evening."

"Really?" Xena nodded and he kept smiling. "And where are they?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know or you won't say?" she pressed and he chuckled nervously. "Ernak!"

"I really don't know where they are!" he lamented. "Can we please just discuss this alliance now?"

Xena turned a cold cheek and Gabrielle stepped forward to go ahead and talk of the alliance. While the two were busy discussing Odoacer and his schemes, Xena couldn't help but wonder where Ellac and Anastasia went. She knew that her daughter was upset and realized recently that she had been very irritable and anxious lately. Kreka was right to say that she shouldn't worry about Ana, but it was hard not to.

She too, had wondered what life would have been like if Borias had lived and they raised their daughter together. She had thought about that scenario many times throughout her life, especially when Ana was a baby. For the first few weeks after Anastasia was born she was completely numb and she was alone. She saw that same look of horror on her own daughter's face when Csaba was born, but it was different. She had Ellac by her side and her mother of course and many other people to help. Xena just had Cera and no one else but after the young queen gave birth to Ellac and died, she had nobody again.

She had a feeling that if Borias was alive that Anastasia would have never been with Ellac and she wouldn't have been raised as a boy either. Ana would have probably married someone else when she came of age and maybe would even have a younger brother or sister.

"Are you sure you don't know where they are? I would rather discuss this with them, no offense," Gabrielle said to the king's regent.

Ernak sighed. "I don't know, Gabrielle. I am being honest. If I knew where they were then I would tell you."

She nodded. "Alright then it's settled. We ally with Odoacer and post soldiers along the borders of Pannonia and Dalmatia in case he decides to come into our territory." She turned and frowned at Xena who was dazing off. "Xena, are you listening?"

The commander blinked and stared at the governor and doe-eyed regent. "What?"

"Now is not the time to be daydreaming, Xena," she cocked her brow and muttered, "unusual behavior for you anyway." She cleared her throat and pointed her finger in the commander's chest. "We're going to round up some soldiers to protect the borders of Pannonia and Dalmatia. I need you to do that tomorrow morning."

"Dalmatia and Pannonia borders. Got it." Xena smiled falsely.

Gabrielle rested a hand on her cocked hip and saw Ana and Ellac storm into the room. She gasped and Xena spun around, equally surprised as the governor. The two watched the monarchs barge through the room with ferocity, especially Anastasia.

Anastasia stopped and stared at Gabrielle and her mother. "Csaba and Farah are gone."

"Gone? What do you mean gone?" Gabrielle asked with concern.

"He left for Akitziri yesterday and he took Farah with him. When the Czar finds out his daughter has been kidnapped by my son all hell will break loose!"

Xena approached her daughter cautiously. "He didn't kidnap her, Ana. If they left, she went willingly."

"That's not what her father is going to think." She swiped her sword across the table and sliced through a large vase filled with quill pens. "I want them found!"

"I can find them for you," Xena offered.

Gabrielle frowned and tapped her shoulder. "You're supposed to secure the borders."

"Ernak and Dengi can do that. I am excellent at tracking people. I can find them easily." She smiled, hoping her daughter would agree to allow her to do this, although her daughter did not look happy. "Kreka can come with me and Gabrielle."

"Say what?" Gabrielle didn't like being roped into this. "I didn't agree to this!"

"It won't take me long to find them and bring them home. I'm sure they haven't gone far. We'll be back before Odoacer and his army invades Dalmatia."

Ana tapped the sword against the cleared off desk and unexpectedly embraced her mother tightly which took Xena off guard. "Bring him back," she muffled a whisper as she buried her face in her mother's hair.

Xena smiled softly now knowing that her daughter had not completely lost faith in her and didn't hate her. "I will." She pulled away and kissed her forehead then grabbed Gabrielle's hand. "We'll leave tomorrow morning."

Gabrielle frowned and looked back at the three Hun monarchs. "Okay but tomorrow we need the borders secured! And write down everything that General Basilius says! And –" she yelped as she was yanked out of the room by her cohort.

Ernak looked over at his elder brother swayed back and forth on his heels. "So, does this mean that I'm the commander while Xena is away?"

The king pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a hefty groan mixed with a sigh. "Yes, Ernak. You're the commander."

He smiled and clapped his hands together. "Excellent! I must go tell Bakkah that I will be gone for awhile. Dengi is going to be peeved!" he ran out of the chambers and Ellac shook his head at brother's cheery disposition.

"So," he looked at his distraught wife. "What did Justinian say?"

Anastasia stared at the open doors and couldn't take her mind off of her son. "He…isn't interested in a new peace treaty." She turned to him with blank lifeless eyes. "We should prepare the army in case we are attacked. You will take my mother's place and continue training the new recruits. We can't put everything on hold." She took in a deep breath and left his side.

He grabbed her arm and she spun around with a ferocious stare. "They're going to find him, Anastasia."

Xena and Gabrielle barged into the khatun's room just as she was combing through her wet hair. Xena smiled and Kreka gently placed the comb on the vanity. "How would you like to go on a little trip with us tomorrow?"

Kreka eyed the annoyed governor. Gabrielle frowned with folded arms up at Xena. "I was roped into this."

"I take it…something happened?" she asks the commander.

"Csaba took Farah and they ran away. Gabrielle and I promised –"

"No! You promised. Not me." The governor was quick to retort.

Xena released a hefty nose breath and clenched her hand tightly. "I promised Anastasia I would bring them back. And I said you would come too."

Kreka drummed her fingers on the vanity. "Why do you need me?"

"Because…I just do."

The khatun grinned. "Oh, you need my help, do you?" she rose from the chair and walked over to the commander. "Come on," she poked her in the chest, "I want to hear you say it."

Xena looked into those smug hazel eyes and Gabrielle slapped her arm unexpectedly. "Just say it already!" snaps the blonde.

"Fine! I need your help, alright…." She grumbled and Kreka's smile grew.

"I'd be happy to help since you asked so sweetly," she pinched Xena's cheek and received a snarl. "I'll see you two in the morning. Now, get out of my room."