They had been marching for at least two weeks. With Xena's reinforcements they had been able to take Sparta in less than a day. Xena left a willing Dagnine behind to help keep order, now her and Marcus were headed for Rome. Well actually, they were on their way to Pylos so they could catch some boats to Thurii. Apparently there was a slave already leading a major revolt named Spartacus who had taken the town. Xena had managed to get word to him to hold the city and she would be there to join him.
"Do we really have to take the boats Xena, I hear the Alps are lovely this time of year." Gabrielle was riding her stallion beside Argo, wrapped in furs in an attempt to keep as many people ignorant of her pregnancy as possible.
"That's what Hannibal said." Marcus was on Xena's other side so they could talk strategy as they rode. "And besides Gabrielle, that puts us too far to the north. Without our aid as quickly as possible Spartacus won't be able to hold out."
"You know I was joking but I have an idea. Spartacus just needs enough men to hold Thurii right? And he's got the Romans completely distracted?" Xena nodded. "So, let's definitely go over the Alps."
"Gabrielle, if you don't want to take a boat…"
"No. I will be on the boat and so will you and a third of our best forces. The biggest and strongest. The stealthier ones will go with Marcus over the Alps."
Xena actually pulled up her horse to look at Gabrielle. After a few moments a giant grin spread across her face. "Hammer and anvil?"
"And we're the blacksmiths."
"Any one wanna fill me in? And let's keep this army moving alright? Walk and talk." Marcus was urging his horse forward in an attempt to get the column moving again.
"What's going on is Gabrielle is a military genius. We send out biggest and strongest troops because it will look like I've sent my whole army. Rome will have all eyes on the south. We'll meet up with Spartacus, and once his men are ready we march north, pushing the Romans further and further back. Meanwhile, you will be marching south, as quickly as possible and without being noticed. Before Rome knows it one day they'll wake up facing the south for a battle with us and they'll find themselves already being crushed from the north with your army. We're going to split your army further, three groups. One at Ravenna, Rimini and Pesaro. Those three groups will meet up in Arezzo…"
"No, that's too far north. An army that big is bound to catch Rome's attention. Have them stay separate, if possible dressed in the uniforms of Rome's legions. Then, they meet at Rieti and by then it will be too late. Even if the Romans notice them they'll only be a day or two march from the city, and then we meet and crush Rome between us."
"You two seem to share one mind. Before one of you finishes a thought the other has already completed the next. It's really hard to talk to you two, you know that right?"
"Comes with the soul mate thing Marcus." Gabrielle laughed. "It's going to be a hard march for you Marcus, are you up for it?"
"Of course. My men and I will get plenty of rest on the boats and I've already got the men in mind to lead the other two contingents. We'll make Rome pay!" He pumped his fist in the air and a few men around them catching on the mood cheered.
"That's not what this is about Marcus. We're going to do the same thing we did in Sparta. Make sure my empire remains intact while defending the rights of all my citizens. If we crush Rome who is there left to rule? The point of this to make all of Greece, Rome and Egypt equal. Luckily we have a strong ally in Cleopatra in the south. Rome has more slaves than freemen. When its slaves are free, it will hopefully become our most loyal province."
"What about Gabrielle?" Both Xena and Gabrielle shot Marcus a questioning look. "Her condition. Is she to remain…"
"By my side always. When her time comes in the next three or four months we'll deal with it and keep going. I gave birth in the midst of a battle and Solan is just fine, so I am I…mostly."
"Have you gotten any letters from your son?"
Xena and Gabrielle both looked away and Marcus knew better than to push the point. The day they had returned from the waterfall they had decided what to do with Solan. Joxer would accompany him to Kaleipus and once back with his father he would give him the letter Xena and Gabrielle had written him. They begged him to understand that he was too young for war and the palace was just not a safe place with no one but Joxer left that could be trusted. They promised to come for him as soon as they had returned to Greece and had written letters almost every day to send home to him with messengers. Only the first one had returned so far and he had said that Solan hadn't even opened the envelope once he found out who it was from. He had thrown it straight in the fire and ran off into the woods. Gabrielle reached out and squeezed Xena's hand.
"You know one day he'll understand right? When he's older he'll look back and realise you were trying to protect him."
"Can I wait that long? I abandoned him once, now he'll just think I'm leaving him again."
"You had a really good reason both times. This time is no different than the last except he knows you're his mother, he knows you love him and deep down he knows that you're coming back for him. And if anything happens… well he knows."
Xena offered a half smile in thanks. She was about to respond when Palemon rode at them at full speed. He loved to show off. He waited until he was almost about to collide with them before pulling his horse to a skidding stop and flipping forward off it to land at Xena's side. She rolled her eyes at him.
"Come on, I'm getting better. I totally stuck the landing this time and it's only my third try." Gabrielle snickered. "How many times did it take you?"
"After I moved from frantic leaps to actually jumping…two."
He ignored her and turned back to Xena. "It's all set. A full set of merchant vessels, all hired to take you and your men to Thurii."
"Change of plans. A third of those ships are going to North Italy."
"At this time of year! Xena! Do you know how much it cost you to get them to go to the southern shores? The Adriatic is dangerous this time of year and the cost in the north is not the easiest…"
"How many ships do you think your salary will buy me?" She pursed her lips and opened her eyes wide. She did not want to fight with one of her highest commanders in front of her entire army. He knew she wouldn't but the threat made him realise that this conversation was over.
"Fine, I'll find the ships." He mounted back up and took Marcus place. "You know, you do have a navy at your disposal, those men are already on your payroll to sail anywhere you tell them."
"It's all about stealth Palemon. Only some of us are going for a full on assault. Marcus is he one of your men?"
"He can be, but I figured you'd want him with you." Xena nodded. She did like to have Palemon close. It wasn't that she didn't trust Marcus, she did not only with her life but her soulmate and son's lives as well. She was just sick of the stares, the longing looks, the questioning eyes. As close as Palemon got to her and Gabrielle he never showed any affection but that of a close friend. It was a welcome change from Marcus after her and Joxer after Gabrielle. In fact, she was pretty sure there was a good reason he had never seemed interested. She'd noticed lately how his eyes wandered to his second in command, a man named Lycos. He hadn't felt the need to share though so she hadn't brought it up.
"We'll wait to tell the captains the change of plans till we arrive. Maybe a little extra money and me with the might of my army will be enough to change their minds."
"Probably better than me anyway. I don't think they fell for my charming personality that I can usually get away with. It was just my purse they were interested in."
"That's all anyone is interested in." Gabrielle laughed. As she did all of a sudden a look of pain crossed her face. Xena immediately went to grab her but Gabrielle waved her away. "Just a cramp. No worse than any of the others that I've gotten from my past moon blood."
"Do you need to stop and rest? There's a carriage…"
"You tell me to get in the carriage and I'll break your legs so you're in there with me Warrior Princess." Xena looked hurt. "I'm sorry Xena, I just… I don't want to be treated any different. I never told you to stop riding or doing flips or even fighting even though every time you did my heart skipped a beat."
"When did you see Xena pregnant?" Marcus was staring at her intently and his question had raised Palemon's eyebrows as well.
"When I first got here she thought she was. Turned out to be a false alarm but for a while there I was kinda worried about her." Xena and Gabrielle's eyes met and they shared a quick moment. They had agreed one day, down the road to tell their closest friends how they had gotten here but now was not the time for that. They would probably think that they were crazy and Xena could not take the chance of her most trusted generals doubting her.
"Look the coast." Marcus pointed to the horizon and there was the sea stretching before them. It would be a beautiful sight if it didn't mean they were that much closer to war with Rome. Gabrielle had already started to turn green. The shade just got darker the closer they got to the harbour. When she actually saw the ships bobbing the waves her stomach flipped.
"So that pinch thing is safe to use in my condition right?" Gabrielle's voice was shaky and she already had her middle and forefinger at her wrist.
"Go for it, doesn't really effect anything but appetite. Don't worry I'll make sure there is no raw squid on our boat."
"Or any of the things that I craved in with Ho…"
"None of that either, I promise." Xena cut her off before she could bring up Hope to both stop Gabrielle from thinking of her and so there wouldn't be any more questions from their friends. She knew she had failed at least in getting Gabrielle's mind off her first child. They could talk about it when they were safely aboard.
It didn't take long to get through Pylos. The citizens there had always been very loyal to her and they had heard of her coming and cleared the streets for her army to advance. After a quick meeting with the town's governor they began boarding the ships. Palemon was right. In Xena's presence it hadn't taken long for the captains to agree to the change of plans.
Gabrielle was tired. Her legs almost went out from under her when she dismounted. Xena saw and swooped her up in what looked like a romantic gesture and carried her to their cabin on the ship. The strangest thing was that it had an actual bed. Xena had requested it so Gabrielle wouldn't have to try to find a comfortable position in a hammock.
"Everything okay up there?" Xena set Gabrielle down and laid a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"As good as it could be." Her hand reached out and she quickly intertwined her fingers with Xena. She rested her head against Xena's chest and took a deep breath. "My child is going to be born in war."
"Not necessarily, we could take Rome quickly if the rest of the slaves rise up against their masters."
"And then we'll be there forever trying to teach the former slaves not to hate their masters. The cycle of hatred will burn strong in them for a long time." Xena wrapped her arms around Gabrielle pulling her close. She laid down, guiding Gabrielle to lay on top of her while gently stroking her golden hair. "I wish we could just stay like this."
"I want nothing more. One day we'll take a nice cruise during our retirement."
"If any part of that happens I'm going to hurt you. My idea of retirement would be never setting foot on a boat again while roaming the world, saving people and helping anyone who needs it."
"Sounds exhausting. Think you could keep that up for a few years?"
"A few, try a lifetime." She leaned over and kissed Xena gently on the lips. "You see the trick is to do it with someone you love more than yourself. A soulmate makes all the weight of the road easier and wear and tear and little less noticeable."
"I think I could give this thing a shot. Got a soulmate in mind? I think I could teach someone to be a good sidekick." Gabrielle gently pinched this skin on Xena's forearm. "Ok, maybe not a sidekick. What about a partner? Someone I can learn from too while I teach them to fight and survive?"
"I may know someone. What else are you looking for?"
"I don't know, smart, well studied in stars and philosophy. Oh prophecy would be good too. And if it's not too much to ask I'd prefer a blond, one that comes up to about here." She held her hand up her chest exactly where Gabrielle stood. She took the hand and slowly kissed each finger.
"I know just the person for you. If you don't mind funny, a quick learner and…"
"Sexy." Xena pulled Gabrielle's face to hers and kissed her deeply. "Someone who," she flipped Gabrielle onto her back and sank off the bed onto her knees. "Tastes like the nectar of the gods."
She slowly pushed Gabrielle's skirt up and peppered kisses up and down her thighs. She could see how excited Gabrielle was. Her tongue struck out and licked Gabrielle's clit causing her whole body to shudder. Before she knew it Gabrielle had wrapped her fingers in Xena's hair and was holding her tight against her. It didn't take long before she was writhing and calling out Xena's name. A few moments later her hips bucked up and she came. It was much longer before she was still again. Xena smiled and crawled up into bed. She went to kiss Gabrielle but realised that her bard was snoring softly. She settled for a quick kiss on the tip of Gabrielle's nose and then smoothed back down her lover's skirt. She scooted down till she was eye level with Gabrielle's now protruding stomach.
"Your momma's getting old. She used to be able to go all night." She ran her fingers lovingly over the bump. "Not that I'm blaming you. Thanks to you her hormones have had us going none stop for months. At least now she's not getting sick, I hate seeing her not feeling well." She lay quietly for a few moments just stroking Gabrielle's belly. "I can't wait for you to get here. You're gonna love our little family and this time, nothing is going to stop me from protecting it." She fell asleep staring at the growing life.