Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Blue Eyes, White Horse, and a Chakram

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Chapter 8: Trainee

15 years ago…

Now established in the new land she had been working to do her father's bidding. An army of mages were being assembled, trained, and controlled. There were but a few of them, but every day they added to their numbers. In time they would grow strong, and in time they would feed her enough power so that she could leave her corporal body forever and join the ranks of the gods themselves.

But first she had a job. There was a young prince who had great potential. If she were able to capture him, his essence would make her stronger than ever. The problem was he was one of the Heralds. It wouldn't be easy to get to him, but he had a young wife; a delicious young wife who could serve her well. It was time to find a new apprentice.

-X-

Xena's eyes fluttered open, as she focused on her surroundings. She had a habit, learned over the years, of waking up quickly, but taking a few moments to listen and 'feel' around with her senses to make sure that it was safe to move. This morning though, she felt relatively safe. She knew that she and Gabrielle were in a secure room with a locked door. That didn't stop her from having her sword within easy reach and a dagger under her pillow, but at the moment she had no use for them.

Xena took a moment to study the room. It was about a candlemark or so before dawn. She could see the false dawn morning light, just starting to break along the horizon. She then took in the sight of the beautiful blonde, who as usual had figured out a way to wrap herself securely around the warrior. She gently brushed a stray lock of the bard's hair away from her face and then laid a gentle kiss on her forehead. It was moments like this that made it all while. It was when she could enjoy Gabrielle without having to pretend that they were 'just friends.' She wanted so much to be more then friends. She wanted to be able to look at Gabrielle the same way when she was awake as she did during the bard's slumber.

Xena was in no rush to get up. She silently scolded herself for being lazy, but then reconciled to the idea that she really didn't have any place to go or be. Even if she did venture out, she didn't know the grounds, and although everything seemed to be on the up and up with the Heralds, she was reluctant to leave Gabrielle alone. Actually, she was reluctant to leave Gabrielle at all. It was nice here, comfortable and peaceful. Of course now she was awake, and since she didn't want to leave and didn't want to wake Gabrielle, she decided it would be a good time to sort through some of the information that they had gathered the previous day.

As the dawn fully awakened, the room was lit with a golden hue promising another beautiful sunny day. Xena felt the bard stir as she opened her eyes. Green met blue, which was followed by red, in the form of a blush from the bard. She tactfully unwrapped herself from the warrior and muttered some sort of apology. It was almost a morning ritual for them when they awoke together, although it didn't happen very often. Usually Xena would be up before Gabrielle and would have carefully unwoven the bard from her body. Xena wasn't even sure if Gabrielle knew that she did this every night. Not that Xena was going to spoil the fun. Over the past couple of years, since they had started to share a bedroll, Xena had come to enjoy the presence of the bard, and on the few occasions that they were apart found it hard to sleep without her.

"Hmmm…look at you, lazy warrior. Sun is up and you are still in bed," Gabrielle teased.

Xena scoffed and jested in return, "Oh, and who do you think you are, Queen of the Amazon's or something? Waiting for some servant to bring you breakfast in bed?"

"Now there is an idea," explained Gabrielle. "Breakfast in bed!"

Xena raised an eyebrow, as Gabrielle giggled then stuck out her tongue. Xena didn't miss a beat and landed a swat to the cheeky bard's backside.

Gabrielle yelped, turning to the warrior and giving her her best puppy dog pout. Xena tapped her finger on the edge of Gabrielle's nose and said, "Come on, bard, let's get dressed and then we'll go find some breakfast."

Xena didn't need to say anything more, as Gabrielle was more than happy to agree with that. After all she'd been up for almost a quarter of a candle mark now and her stomach was already talking.

"Maybe after breakfast we can find the practice fields," Xena commented. "You need a new staff, and since neither one of us have had a good work out in a couple of days, it would be a good time for a little sparing. Besides I'd like to size up what kind of training they do here. I have to start thinking about how to prepare for whatever we are supposed to prepare for."

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It was all Gabrielle could do to keep a straight face as she and Xena surprised the trainee that was currently stationed outside their door. He obviously wasn't expecting them to be up so early and had his nose stuck in a book. He had his chair precariously tilted back and when the door had suddenly opened he had lost his balance and he had landed on the floor.

"Xena, if we are not careful we are going to get a reputation for knocking these Heralds on their backsides."

Xena gave her a look, accompanied by the raised eyebrow, "Why should the men here feel any different than the ones at home?"

"True," Gabrielle agreed with a giggle as she offered a hand to the red-faced trainee.

"I'm sorry we startled you," she apologized. "I'm Gabrielle, and this is Xena."

"Niiice to meet you," stammered the young trainee. "My name is Marc. Is there something that I can't get for you?"

"Breakfast," stated the warrior. "But we would like to see some of the grounds here. Is there a mess hall, or some sort of communal dining area we could go to?"

"Oh, of course," answered the trainee. "The Collegium has a common room where meals are served. You are welcome to eat there."

"Great," Gabrielle replied with a grin. "Can you show us where it is? I'm famished."

"What else is new?" mumbled the warrior who was rewarded with an elbow jab to the ribs from the bard.

Marc indicated which way to go as he lead them from the guest suites and out into the sun. As they walked Gabrielle watched the young man. He seemed a bit nervous, and didn't offer any conversation. Xena seemed to be enthralled with the scenery. Gabrielle knew that out of habit she was making a mental map of the grounds and would be too lost in thought to carry on a conversation, so she decided to try to get some more information from the trainee.

"Marc, would you mind if I asked you a few questions?"

"Um, sure. What do you want to know?"

"Well for starters, why are you in a red uniform rather than a grey or white one?"

"Well, I'm not a Herald trainee, I'm a Bard trainee. Depending on your Gifts you wear a different color. Only Heralds where white, their trainee's grey."

"Oh. Well that's convenient. You can tell just by looking at somewhere where they belong"

"Yes, it is. And you can tell the trainee's from those of full rank by the colors as well. As a trainee, I wear a rust color, when I become a full bard my uniform will be a much deeper scarlet."

"What other colors are used?" Xena asked, joining the conversation.

"Well, the Healers use green, Mages a yellow/gold, and the blues are children of nobles, sent to the Collegium for an education. The castle guards also wear blue, but a deeper color." Marc answered, as the warrior nodded her understanding.

"Ah, we are here," announced Marc, as they turned and entered the common room.