The fight was on before Gabrielle could say that she was Queen or that all she wanted was to have a meeting with the council. Nope. These were blood thirsty Amazons and not the kind that Ephiny and Varia had strived for. All these Amazons wanted was blood on their hands. At the moment they were getting blood on their feathers, their leathers and their bodies. The rain was washing it away into the ground and it was becoming rivers.

The bard watched out of the corner of her eye as Xena was fighting off five at one time. It was amazing how the warrior was actually pulling her punches sorta speak. The warrior was using her sword but the blows that she was causing were actually superficial wounds placed just right so that it would make continuing to fight near to impossible.

So much for a blood thirsty warlord. Gabrielle also saw that Cyane and three of her Amazons were engaged in the battle. The fifth had stayed to guard the nine prisoners. There was a glint in the tall dark haired Amazon whose name was Leda. The bard could see that she wanted nothing more than to jump into the fray but she was following orders as a true Amazon would.

It took only about half an hour before all of the renegade Amazons were out for the count as did the rain. Xena cursed in several languages as she found a deep cut across her shoulder blade near where the bear had clawed her. The blood was dripping and there was a lot of pain. Cyane was already roping up the stray Amazons and leading them over to the renegades.

Gabrielle quickly went to Argo's saddle bags and got the healer kit that was always there. She forced Xena to come to the edge of the trees where she had placed Argo's blanket. The warrior sat cross legged and was muttering about the annoying Amazons. It made the bard smile and knew that the wound while in a bad spot wasn't as bad as she had first thought.

Xena's muscles tensed a little as the needle pierced her skin each time and the thread neatly closed the wound. There was a time when I would have just let the thing heal on its own. If I couldn't do it myself I just let it go. Now I enjoy having her take care of me. "Guess I moved a little too slow. You were like a blur out there. You all right?"

The bard sensed her body as she finished putting a healing salve over the nasty cut and a bandage to keep it clean. "I got a whole lot of bruises and one good scratch on the back of my leg." She showed the warrior who touched it gently. The bard never even winced. In fact she felt a whole something else at the welcome touch of her lover. "You were the one taking on five or six at a time. I limited myself to just a couple." She leaned down and kissed the bandage on her lover's back before kissing her on the lips.

That made the warrior relax completely and pulled the bard into her lap so that she could just hold her for the longest of times. She knew that the Amazons were watching and waiting to see what was to be done next but she really didn't give a rat's bottom about them at the moment. All she cared about was in her arms. She sighed heavily. "We do have to deal with this." Her voice lowered and she leaned in close to the bard. "It's been too long. I'm going to spend the first week we are in Amphipolis showing you just how much I'm attracted to you. How much I love you."

The words brought the glints of tears in to Gabrielle's eyes. She nibbled on the earlobe that nearest and felt a deep intake of breath. "Well that means that I'll be showing you the exact same things." They both wished they were anywhere but where they were at the moment. Amphipolis would be the preferred place of course. "Soon." It was a one word promise but it meant everything. The bard composed herself and reluctantly stood up taking her soul mate with her. "Time to get this show on the road."

The pair made their way to Cyane and the other four Amazons. "My queen." Gabrielle winced at the words. They were really taking on a negative meaning for her. "It will be difficult but the five of us can bring in the renegades ourselves along with Estra's body. You need to get to the council. They will be able to sort through all of this."

"I figured as much." Gabrielle turned to where Varia was standing off to the side. From her posture the bard could see that she had a half defeated attitude already. "Are you worried about facing the council after what you tried to do to me?" Her face was soft and understanding. "I understand what you tried doing. It's the second time you've tried to kill me for the greater good."

Varia's eyes could not meet her queen's. There was now a lot of bad blood between the two women. The fight over Eve could be forgiven. But trying to kill her on the beach that day not all that long ago and now just a day or so ago could hardly be forgiven. "I'm an Amazon. I'm not afraid of anything." She snuck a peak and saw icy blue eyes glaring at her. That caused her to take a step back. "Ok, almost nothing."

"Get your horse ready to go. We leave after we get something to eat." Gabrielle turned to see soft blue eyes that had a bit of a twinkle in them. "What?" A smirk appeared on the face that belonged to the soft blue eyes. "I just figured we aren't gonna stop until we get to them. And I want this all wrapped up so we can get back home in just a few days." She stepped closer and spoke in a voice she knew only Xena could hear. "I have a something that needs collecting on."

Xena turned and as she did felt a little pinch on her bottom. It caused her to jump and a huge grin to appear on her face. Quickly she went to the river and got enough fish for everyone including all of the renegades. Not that she hadn't had motive before but after what she had said to her soul mate and got the same response it gave an almost sense of urgency to what she was doing.

()()()()()()()()

It was almost midnight. The three had stopped for a quick late meal but the warrior princess had insisted on pushing ahead. The night was cold and the air still had a chill in it from the rain earlier. Gabrielle was riding in front of Xena leaning her head back onto the strong shoulders of her lover. They were both wrapped in their blanket to try and ward the chill off.

Varia was hanging back a little to give the two a little privacy. While she had never been thrilled with the warrior princess she had always seen the love between the two women. That had been clear when Gabrielle had tried to fight her so that the bard could spare her daughter. Partly she knew the bard had done it to save her daughter but more so had done it because of the love she had for the woman whose arms were wrapped tightly around her.

A far off noise that only Xena could hear caused her to halt Argo. Gabrielle instantly sat up and waited to see what the warrior's instincts told her to do. Varia pulled up even with them on the other horse. Finally the warrior princess spoke in a low even tone. "We've got company. There's an advance scout party just over the next bend. I believe it's the renegades. Maybe four or five. How many were with the council?"

Varia tried peering ahead but saw nothing. She tried listening but heard nothing. If it had been anyone but the warrior princess she would have thought that they were insane. The goose bumps were up and down her fairly bare body. One drawback of not being a northern Amazon. Usually go around in our skimpy outfits till winter. "I think it was ten. So I'd say, if you're right, this is half of them. Are they really that stupid to stretch themselves this thin?"

Xena only gave her a roll of the eyes. Only a handful of Amazons I've met had any sense. Ephiny was one. Gods do I wish you were here to help us out. "Well then this is the plan. We camp just over there." The warrior princess pointed to where there was a cave entrance. "I've stayed there many times. Then we can face whatever it is we need to face in the light of day. Unless they are stupid enough to attack at night."

Gabrielle finally spoke up as she had resumed her leaning position just loving the feel of the warmth they shared on contact. "It means it's gonna be a long night of little to no sleep. More stupid Amazons in the morning." She looked at Varia and shrugged but made no attempt to apologize. "I think I'm going to need a vacation after all of this."

The warrior princess whispered in her ear, "Or just a room to ourselves that we can do whatever we like in." That got the bard squirming a little and the rubbing of their bodies together almost sent Xena over the edge. Almost. "Let's go just keep your ears and eyes open. I don't think they've moved or that there are anymore but I don't like taking chances."

They hastily made their way to the cave which luckily was big enough for the horses. There was an underground water supply but no fish so it was lucky they had their trail rations and the jerked rabbit. They made a fire and Gabrielle put their bedroll on one side of the fire. Varia had nothing but she settled on her side and took the offered bits of food that were given to her.

Xena was standing at the entrance. She had her eyes closed and was letting all of her other senses take over. There's an owl in the tree five hundred yards to the right. There are squirrels fighting over in the tree just behind the cave. There's a wolf heading to the top of the cavern going to have fun with those squirrels. She laughed at the last thought. Then her senses prickled up and she could sense five human forms coming right for them. Hades! She turned around and gave a hand motion.

Both the Amazon and her soul mate jumped to their feet. The Amazon pulled out her sword and her soul mate her sias. Xena pulled out her sword and kept it in her left hand. With her right she retrieved her chakrum and just waited. They were still almost half a mile away but she wanted everyone to be ready when they finally got close enough.

Now even the warrior's two companions could hear the low movements of the Amazons. Xena once again closed her eyes and let the chakrum fly. Metal hitting metal was the sound that came from the edge of the forest. Xena caught the chakrum on the rebound and smiled to herself. "Well, they'll only have half swords to fight with now. If they choose to fight at all." After just a moment she was shouting, "Get back!"

All three pulled back from the entrance as a volley of arrows flew in. Xena put herself in front of Gabrielle as more volleys came in. It was several minutes before they seemed to run out of arrows. Xena cautiously took one step into the entrance and caught one arrow dropping it quickly waiting to see if more were on the way. Finally she heard rustling and the five Amazons slid out of the trees just to their right.

Xena met them with her sword now in her right hand. Gabrielle stood a little behind her to her right and Varia stood a little behind her on her left. The Amazons stood in a similar manner with one in the lead and two flanked on either side of the leader. Each of the Amazons threw down their broken swords in disgust. "I know you aren't an Amazon." The tall redheaded Amazon spoke in a rather nasally voice that grated on the warrior's ears. "If you were you'd put your weapon away and we would fight hand to hand."

That caused the warrior to laugh. "First off thank the Gods I'm not an Amazon. I think I'd have to hurt myself repeatedly if I were." That got some pissed off looks from all five Amazons. "Secondly I'm not in the mood for a fight. I haven't slept well the past few nights because of you Gods forsaken Amazons. Thirdly I am Xena. I have nothing to prove to anyone including myself. So why fight you? I'm just here to escort the Queen to meet the council."

All five Amazon's raised their eyebrows not at the mention of her name but at the mention of the queen. "We don't see Estra." The redhead took a dangerous step forward. "Unless you are keeping her prisoner in the cave." She took another step forward to have Xena take a step forward so that they were eye to eye. "You are rude and insolent. I demand to speak with the Queen."

Gabrielle stepped forward and held out her hand. "I know it's been awhile since I've been to the village but I'm sure you remember me." The redhead only glared at the outstretched hand. "My name is Gabrielle. I'm sure you've heard of me around your campfires or the reputation that my champion here has around the Nation."

The redhead spat at the hand that was still outstretched which caused Xena to slap her across the face. "You may not recognize her as Queen but if you do anything ever that I consider disrespectful to her as just a human being I won't need my sword or my chakrum. You'll be fodder for the trees growing here and there won't be anything even remotely left to recognize you with."

An actual growl escaped the redhead but she managed somehow to not go after Xena. She cracked her neck and tried to get her composure back. "I don't recognize her as queen. There is only one true queen of the nation." Her eyes met with Varia. "This piece of trash was long ago dethroned and I believe by your beloved bitch here. Now, where is Estra?"

A punch to the face was her answer sending the tall redhead to the ground in a heap. Xena smiled and waited to see if she could manage to get up or not. "I told you not to say or do anything that I considered disrespectful to my soul mate and your queen." It had felt good to take the Amazon down a notch or two. "Besides she is the queen seeing as Estra is dead."

Two of the Amazons helped the still stunned redhead up. It wasn't apparent if she was more stunned with the news that the woman she considered queen was dead or if it had been the blow to the head that she had just received. "How?" The woman was unable to stand on her own and that told the warrior princess that her hit had been more powerful than she had intended.

Gabrielle's quiet voice entered the tension filled night. "It was a fluke bear attack." She pointed to some scrapes on Xena's back. "Tried to save her. Managed to save the other nine that were with her. Cyane and her compatriots are bringing all of your friends back." The look of shock on the Amazons was priceless. "Now if you don't mind we're tired. Can't this stupidity wait until morning?"

The redhead looked from Xena then to Gabrielle. "You really are the queen." It was as if a wave hit all five of the Amazons and they bowed down to her. What was more was they actually appeared to mean it. "I'm sorry. We were following who we were told was the true queen. There were rumors that she had taken the title in the wrong way. We will go back tonight and tell the others."

That set off all sorts of warning bells inside the warrior princess' head. "No." Her grip on her sword tightened in reflex. "I really must insist that you stay with us for the night." The redheaded woman jerked a little. "Surprised I caught your bluff so easily? Just save anymore tricks for the council. Hopefully they'll see through them as easily as I do you."

The five Amazons attacked at once the lead three going for Xena and the other two going for Gabrielle and Varia. It really was a stupid move on their part. One easy hit from the back of the bard's sias and her opponent was on the ground writhing in pain. Varia not wanting to kill a fellow Amazon side stepped the smaller woman that launched at her and hit her with the hilt of her sword. As for the three all it took was for Xena to move her sword to head level and smack each of them in the side of the head with the hilt of her sword.

It was Varia that spoke first. "Stupid Amazons." Xena and Gabrielle only laughed. "Well, I don't think we have any rope. Not sure what you want to do with these renegades." She slid her booted foot out from underneath the head of the one that she had knocked out. "In one regard I can see why Estra wanted a tougher Nation. But her followers are simply pathetic."

"Let's just leave these guys here." Xena started for the cave. "The mood I'm in now I wouldn't be able to sleep." She turned as Gabrielle caught up to her. "You can sleep on Argo." The bard smiled. "Wouldn't be the first time and it won't be the last." She put a loving arm around the bard and pulled her closer. "We're only a half day away now anyways. Then we can get rid of this mess."

It took only moments to get everything stored away again. Gabrielle indeed had fallen asleep and rather quickly with her head leaning on a strong shoulder. Xena kept her arms tight around her but not necessarily to keep her on the horse. They made good time and by the time that light was just showing over the horizon they were entering the outskirts of the village.

It was odd that there were no scouts to meet them and they dismounted and wearily entered the main part of the village. It brought up many memories for both the warrior and bard. Some good ones but mostly just horrible ones. Suddenly in front of them were a pack of Amazons. Some had swords. Some had crossbows. "Where's Estra?" One of the ones with a crossbow asked.

"Dead." Came the answer from Xena. "I have your true queen here. Are there any problems?" The click of the bolts being readied in the crossbows was her answer.