Erin was trying her best to improvise, she really was, but improvisation had never been her strong suit. 'I'm from one of the northern tribes,' she said. 'I'd heard tales of you and I wanted you to notice me. I wanted to be your companion, like Gabrielle is. I thought we could be friends.'

Xena wasn't buying it. 'How'd you know about Alti? It's the one name which makes me overreact, lose my sense of perspective and, because of that, not many people know about her.'

'I did a lot of research. I really do want to travel with you.'

'Sounds like a lot of effort to get me to make friends with you.'

Erin hesitated. 'I lied,' she said quickly. 'I don't want to be friends. I...I'm in love with you.'

'You've never met me before.'

'I'm in love with the stories of you. I wanted us to be together.'

'You're maybe fifteen summers old.'

'Age doesn't matter. Some couples have a thirty year age gap.'

'I'm not going to date a child. Besides I don't believe you can fall in love with someone you've never met.'

'Well I did.'

'What's your real name?'

'Minya. I told you.'

There was real anger in Xena's eyes now. 'And you're a liar. Minya's a friend of mine. You used her name, but I don't know how you knew it. Hers isn't a story which Gabrielle ever sings about.'

'Gabrielle told me about it. Last night, when I was in the Amazon village.'

Xena seemed to buy that. 'So what is your name? I know it's not Stella.'

Erin tried to think of anything at all which sounded vaguely ancient and Greek. 'Circe.'

'Not a wise name to choose. Wouldn't want to anger a witch.'

'Sappho.'

'Sappho's a friend of mine.'

Under the force of Xena's steely gaze, Erin crumpled. 'Erin.' She said at last

'So you're not Greek?'

'I think my family was once.'

Xena had moved to sit beside her and was looking her straight in the eyes. Erin swallowed. Hard. Those eyes were fierce. 'When you tripped just now,' Xena said. 'Did you do it delibrately?'

And suddenly Erin couldn't lie anymore. 'Yes.' She said.

'Because you were trying to slow me down?'

'Yes.'

'Why?'

Erin looked at the ground, at the trees, at the sky. Anywhere but at Xena. 'I'm trying to help you. You have to believe me. I just want to make everything right and save Gabrielle and...'

On the word 'Gabrielle', Xena had become instantly alert. Her hand flew to the chakram at her waist and Erin suddenly found that her throat was pressed against cold steal. 'Save Gabrielle from what?' Every syllable was like ice. 'You need to tell me everything right now.'

And Erin knew fear. The soldiers of her own world like children playing at terror compared to the full force of Xena's glare and the bite of her chakram. 'You told me to do it,' she blurted out. 'You came into my world and took me away from my home and my people and you brought me here to use me in some ritual.'

'I brought you here?' Erin could see Xena's mind work. The older woman's eyes fell to the long straight scar on her hand where the other Xena had cut her to open the portal. 'Who did that?'

'You did. In my time. You and Aphrodite. To bring me here.'

'When is your time?'

'The 21st century. You lived into my time and you found me because I'm the last of the Amazons...'

'And Aphrodite was the last goddess and I was the last hero.' Xena finished for her. 'A powerful combination. Now start from the beginning and tell me everything.'

And Erin did.