AN: I would to like apologize for all this politicking in these last few chapters, but I am in the middle of the pre-climax of the war. I try to make politics more intriguing by adding some surprises and here is a big surprise for you all ;)

On the upside, Xena and Gabrielle are growing closer together as they continue to "figure each other out". Enjoy everyone and thank you for your kind words in reviews. Much appreciated. Glad to see that you all are enjoying this story. I didn't think it would be liked at all because it's very AU.

Chapter 21 –The Knot

Borias stood in his yurt with Osman, talking for hours about what to do with the Crusaders. So far, Xena had not sent word to them if she would help or not, but Borias knew that she would. She had to, he thought, after all, everyone helped her against the Crusaders already in Jerusalem. Xena was not the one to turn a blind eye to those that help her, at least, that's what he remembered of her. He wasn't entirely convinced this was the same Xena he met fifteen years ago.

"We should ask Xena for help, Borias," the chieftain after a long moment of awkward silence.

Borias shook his head. "No, we don't need her help yet!"

Osman rolled his eyes and slammed his fist on the table. "Stop letting your pride get in the way! Xena is too proud to admit that she needed help. Don't you follow down that same path! You are willing to give Xena whatever she wants to combat the Crusaders. It is only reasonable that she return the favor and help us! We are closer to Constantinople than she is. We need her, Borias."

His second in command groaned lowly and rubbed his chin, looking at the table filled with letters from Xena she sent this past week. She asked for more oil and he couldn't help but wonder why she needed so much oil.

"Why does she need such an abundance of oil?" Borias growled and swiped his hand across the table and the letters went flying. Osman folded his arms and leered down at him.

"I know that Natassa is your wife, but you've always had a soft spot for Xena. You two rely on each other more than you'd both like to admit." Osman said and Borias' eyes darkened at that statement of fact. "I like Xena too, but she is being secretive and clandestine. Ask her for help or I will."

Natassa walked into the yurt holding a letter close to her chest. Both men turned in her direction and her husband crinkled his nose at the sight of her. "Leave us, Natassa. We are –"

"No, we are finished here," Osman eyed Borias and scowled. "Do it or I will," he hissed then left the yurt in haste.

She inhaled deeply and approached Borias with the letter cupped in her hands. "I need to talk to you about Xena."

He groaned and scratched his scalp anxiously. "Xena, so much talk about Xena!"

"I'd like to know why she sent our son to escort her sons to Egypt," she began and he folded his arms, staring off into the abyss. "I just received a letter from Belach. He wants to stay in Egypt with them. He's been gone for two weeks now, Borias! She has him tied to her little string and he does anything she says because you allow it!"

He grabbed her shoulders firmly and stared into her blue eyes. "Natassa! I don't have time to deal with your petty jealousy with Xena. She is no longer with me and has not been for years. Belach is keeping Alexander and Solan safe. Xena didn't ask him to stay with them so he wants to stay out of his own free will."

She laughed lightly and pried his fingers off her shoulders. "And why would he do such an act of kindness for his stepmother?"

"You fed your hatred for Xena to Belach for years, Natassa. Maybe he is learning that Xena is not the one who hated him all his life." He narrowed his eyes then turned, walking to pick up Xena's letters that were scattered across the floor.

She gasped, "I do not hate our son!"

He snickered and placed the letters back on the tabletop. "No, that'd be Xena." He sighed and turned to his shocked wife's face. "Osman wants me to ask for Xena's help against the Templars in Constantinople. He thinks they will attack us."

Natassa folded her arms and grimaced. Xena's help, she laughed inwardly at the thought. "And are you going to ask her?"

Sighing he looked to the ceiling. "If I don't, Osman will."

"And you're so sure that she will help us? You saved her life and all she has done is ask for supplies since she returned to Thebes! Does she not have enough weapons in that grand palace of hers?!"

Silence from the opposite party.

She pursed her lips and nodded. "Alright," she smacked the letter from their son on the table. "Do what you want as always. Bending to every wish that Xena commands. She curses every land she sets foot on, Borias."

Borias scoffed and turned round to his bitter wife. "Xena has a huge empire, Natassa. You know that she has helped us several times with no questions asked and no complaints. You hate her and I cannot change your feelings towards her, but I doubt she hates you. She doesn't hate Belach even though he has not treated her very nicely and –"

"I'm pregnant," she blurted out.

His eyes widened and then he started laughing, finding that very amusing. "No, you're not." He shook his head.

"Yes," she pressed.

"No," he refused to believe it.

"Borias!"

"Natassa!"

She approached him slowly and grasped his shoulder, which he kindly shrugged her hand off. She frowned, lowering her eyes. "Borias, please," she begged softly. A whisper that he could hardly hear himself.

"Don't," he held up his hand and sighed heavily, refusing to look into her teary blue eyes. "I need to speak to Osman." He ran his hand across his rugged face and hurried out of the yurt to find the chieftain, eager to get away from his wife.

Gabrielle knocked on Xena's door and walked in slowly after she gave the command to come inside. She hobbled in, feeling very sore and achy after the training session from yesterday. Xena was nice enough to allow everyone to have a day off from training. She probably realized that these girls were not used to such vigorous training for hours on end. Saladin was still residing in the palace, which made everyone a bit uneasy, especially Gabrielle.

She saw Xena donning her old Sultan attire from Persia, constantly having her guard up around the Saracen ruler. It was like everything went backwards and suddenly they were in Persia again. Luckily, Xena held the training sessions early in the morning and did not permit the girls to wear heavy armor, cloaks or veils during combat. Although, Xena remained wearing her black garb and a very intimidating black face mask. Her emotions completely hidden and concealed to everyone around her. Not even her eyes could be seen, which made her stature even more frightening than ever before.

But now, Gabrielle gazed upon the empress not in her black robes, but in a simple form fitting burgundy gown, sitting on her bed with her hair down. She was being normal and Gabrielle liked normal Xena, definitely not Sultan Xena or Xenophon.

Gabrielle seized the opportunity and sat on Xena's bed willingly this time. The two shared a smile with one another and Gabrielle felt her stomach turn to knots. A warm smile that not everyone was able to witness, not even in front of the other girls.

"I..." she began, grabbing Xena's attention. "I have something to say."

The empress grinned and leaned back on the large pillows, folding her legs close to her. "I'm listening."

Here goes nothing. "You...wearing your sultan outfit unsettles me."

Xena frowned sadly and creased her eyebrows. "You're afraid of me?"

Oh no, I've upset her. Can she even get upset? Is she capable of having such feelings? Of course she is, she is human, duh Gabrielle. "No, no, I'm not afraid of you –this you." She sighed and realized she wasn't making much sense.

"It's the other you that I'm afraid of," she continued and Xena lifted an eyebrow at that.

"I'm not two different people, Gabrielle," Xena's tone changed from soft to firm in a matter of seconds.

Is she starting to get angry? "I didn't say that, I just meant that you've lived as one persona for a long time. I was starting to get used to this Xena, but you become a different person when you wear those black robes."

Xena tapped her fingers on her knees impatiently as her blood began to rise beneath her skin. "So, you are saying I have a good and bad side, Gabrielle?" she pried and saw the blonde's color drain from her face. "Now you're really afraid of me, aren't you?"

This is not going the way that I hoped it would, not at all. Gabrielle smiled softly, trying to reconcile her words and repair the damage she had already done. "I'm not saying that side of you is bad or good. I think you're a good person all around, but –"

"But you are afraid of me."

"No, I'm not! Let me finish!" she spat and Xena's eyes widened in shock. That wasn't supposed to happen either. Calm yourself, Gabrielle, you must remain calm. I can see the engorged veins in her arms. She's angry for sure.

"This is coming out all wrong," the blonde groaned and ruffled her long tresses. "I guess 'afraid' is the wrong word for this, but I don't know how to describe it," she huffed. "It's just, when you put on that outfit you morph into a different person."

Xena scoffed audibly and folded her arms, now annoyed with her trainee. "You are saying that I am two different people, Gabrielle! I am not! I've already explained my entire life story to you yet you don't understand."

Gabrielle frowned, also growing annoyed with this conversation that turned sour very quickly. "I understand! I understand why you did everything, Xena! But I think that you are comfortable with being an emperor and sultan. The entire Holy Roman army is after you because you're a woman not a man! You don't need to hide behind a mask to prove your worth. You're far more worthy than what a mask could give you." She said and Xena's eyes dropped to her lap, turning away in silence.

"I think you are spreading yourself too thin, Xena. I was fascinated by you when you were a sultan, but you fascinate me more as an empress and a woman now. You don't need to prove anything to anyone, especially Saladin." She smiled softly and Xena glanced over at her with a hint of a smile.

Yes, smile for me, I'm not trying to hurt you, Xena.

She leaned in close and grabbed hold of Xena's hand tightly. "You once told me that you couldn't trust me. I can see that trust is very important to you and I think you need to open yourself up in order to trust others, including yourself. You hide from Saladin but not to intimidate him. He has already recognized the power you have, you don't need to prove anything to him. Wearing that mask only prevents you from building a strong alliance. Who knows? Maybe Saladin could become a very trustworthy ally...if you allow it."

Xena lifted her chin and stared into those jade eyes, as if gaping into her soul. She finally let a smile slip and felt embarrassed. This girl was so much younger than her yet she possess such wisdom beyond her years.

"I think I'm the one who needs to figure you out," the empress expressed shyly.

"Get rid of the mask, Xena," Gabrielle's hand slipped from Xena's and she smiled warmly. "You don't need it."

Xena sighed heavily and nodded. "I will need the mask for later though when we go up against the Crusaders."

Gabrielle blinked rapidly. What is that supposed to mean? "Um...dare I ask why?"

"A plan to be later revealed, Gabrielle," Xena winked and pat her trainee's cheek lightly.

A harsh knock came to the door and both turned their heads. Dajan opened the doors and bowed his head curtly. "Empress, Saladin wants to have words with you. He is traveling to Athens within the hour."

"Athens?" Xena frowned, finding that very suspicious. A sister city of Thebes. Why would a foreigner want to go to Athens unless he is up to something. No, I should trust him as an ally like Gabrielle said. "I will be down in a moment then."

Dajan gave a quick grin and a firm nod. "I will leave you to dress then."

Xena stood from her bed. "No, it's alright. I will meet him now." She grinned and Gabrielle bit her bottom lip, not believing what Xena just said. There she was dressed in a long burgundy dress, forming to her soft curves and large thighs, not in her sultan garb, not like before.

Perhaps this is a step in the right direction for you, Xena.

Saladin waited patiently in the west entrance, anxious to leave. He felt he had stayed far too long in Xena's palace. It is a nice place, he gathered, but he was needed elsewhere. He paced back and forth continuing to wait and then he heard footsteps enter from the east wing.

He stopped and his eyes widened, expecting to see Xena clad in black with her face hidden, but she wasn't. She was far from hidden, he noted. His eyes scanned her body and she noticed his lingering eyes.

"Saladin, leaving so soon?" she mused with a smug grin.

He shied away, covering half of his face, unable to look into her beaming eyes. Blue as sapphire indeed, he thought. "Forgive me empress, but I have prior engagements. I did not...expect to stay so long."

"Is my palace not to your liking?" she teased, having a bit of fun with this prudish Saracen.

Saladin shook his head. "Oh no, empress, your palace is lovely. I've never seen such a beautiful piece of architecture displayed in such a way."

She stifled a laugh. "You are trying too hard, Saladin. I like to look into the eyes of whom I'm speaking to," she folded her arms and watched him slowly turn his head to gaze upon her. She bat her eyelashes. "Much better. My adviser told me that you are going to Athens. What business do you have in my sister city?"

He grinned nervously, eager to turn away again, but he refrained. He did not expect her to be so easy on the eyes and thought Imran was exaggerating, but apparently he wasn't. "I am to meet with an old enemy of mine in Athens. Baldwin IV, do you know of him?"

She frowned and shook her head. "Sorry to say that I do not. Who is Baldwin?" she was very curious now. How did all of these people mysteriously pop up in her life –these people that were slowly rising to power right under her nose? She obviously had been absent from Greece far too long.

"He is a leper who hides his face behind a silver mask. Many of which thought that was the illness that plagued you, empress, but it appears that is not the case," he grinned and she smirked, lowering her eyes. "I have received word that he plans to take over Jerusalem for himself and has allied with the Templar Knights. I was going to meet with him and threaten him to keep his distance. I trust that our alliance is still in effect?"

Xena raised her eyebrow and thought that was interesting. "Yes...it is. You will let me know the outcome of this meeting?" she hoped so.

Saladin nodded. "Of course empress. We are allies after all. You can trust me. We are of one track mind, you and I."

She smiled nervously. "Right. Well, I shouldn't keep you waiting."

"Thank you for allowing me to stay in your lovely home and I will send word about Baldwin when I have left Athens safely." He bowed his head and turned to leave.

"Saladin," she called and he halted. "Allow some of my men to escort you. If we are allies then I should protect your well being," she offered.

"Most kind of you, empress," he grinned and hurried out of the palace.

Xena frowned, folding her arms. Gabrielle came to her side and touched her shoulder, startling her. "You're right, Gabrielle, being an empress is far more exciting than being an emperor. Did you see the look on his face?" she grinned with excitement.

The blonde smiled, seeing a new light from Xena. "He was very distracted but he managed to get his point across. Who is Baldwin by the way?"

"I was asking myself the same question," the empress frowned, rubbing her chin. "Dajan!"

"Yes, Xena?" he ran to her side.

"Find any information on this Baldwin IV and report back to me immediately." She said and he nodded then took off running. "I want to know all of my enemies. They seem to be popping up from their dark corners."

One of the maids hurried over to the empress and bowed her head, handing over two letters, one with a wax seal that she was most familiar with. "For you, your highness."

Xena took the letters and waited to open the one she knew would give her a headache. She ripped open the other letter and smiled, seeing it was from her sons in Egypt. She squinted, trying to read the bad handwriting.

"Alexander's penmanship was never very good." She mused.

Gabrielle smiled seeing the happiness in Xena's eyes. It had been over a month since Solan and Alexander traveled to Egypt to go to school. She was sure that Xena missed them a lot, especially since she couldn't keep an eye on them.

"What does it say?" she curiously asked.

Xena raised her eyebrows in shock. "Belach is staying with them and..." she squinted trying to read her son's horrible handwriting. "And they are having a good time in school. They went to the beach many times, he says," she pursed her lips and peered down at Gabrielle who was smiling widely.

She continued to read and couldn't make out the word. She lowered the paper to Gabrielle. "What does that say?"

Gabrielle frowned and read over the word several times. "Scorpion," she grinned. Then it dawned on her. "Wait, what?"

"Scorpion?!" Xena looked over the word and held her breath. "They have scorpions as pets..." she folded the letter up and exhaled deeply.

Gabrielle was waiting for Xena to implode at any moment, but her exterior was very calm, too calm. "Boys," she sheepishly said with a small smile. "What're going to do with em, right?" she shrugged a shoulder and Xena eyed her with distain. "What?"

Xena sighed and ripped open the following letter, knowing it was from Borias. She didn't want to read the letter, knowing there might be something horrible in it, as usual. She read over it and growled. "He wants my help? Oh really, now you want my help? How amusing."

"Who?"

"Osman and Borias are asking for my aid against the Templars in Constantinople. They fear they will be attacked because they are allies with me." She hummed softly as she continued reading the lengthy letter. Borias sure knew how to write a letter that's for sure. His letters were always extremely long but she figured that was due to their joint custody of their children.

She felt her heart race and crumbled up the letter and tossed it onto the floor. She marched off back to her room and Gabrielle stood there frozen and confused. She quickly followed after Xena.

"Hey, wait! What did it say? Xena!" she called after her, trying to keep up with her long legged strides.

She stormed into her room and paced around. Gabrielle huffed and puffed and closed the door behind her, leaning against it trying to catch her breath.

"He asks too much from me!" she blurted out and Gabrielle shook her head.

"What are you talking about?" she managed to say in between big breaths.

Xena grinned mockingly and wagged her finger. "I won't do it. I draw the line right there!"

"What line? Xena, talk to me! I'm in the dark here."

Xena's eyes filled with rage and Gabrielle backed up against the doors, not liking that look at all. Scary was an understatement to describe the horror displayed in Xena's eyes. "His inconsiderate wife is pregnant and he wants to send her here in case they are," she used air quotes, "attacked."

Gabrielle bit her bottom lip and blinked rapidly. "Oh." That's awkward, also an understatement, she thought. "Well...what are you going to do?"

"Do? Do?!" Xena growled. "I will do nothing for that woman! She has been horrible to me ever since I met her. There is not a nice bone in that woman's body. I can't stand the thought of her living under my roof," she shivered at the idea and it was an awful one.

Gabrielle knew that this a very awkward situation and really none of her business. Although she knew that her children's father had a wife already, maybe they could put aside their differences. "But, she is Belach's mother and don't you care about him?"

Xena's demur softened at the mention of Belach's name. She never hated him and was always kind to him when he was a child. He was a sweet child and soon turned into a monster just like his mother when he grew older, but she saw much change in the haughty teenager lately since she spent time with him. She did not like Natassa, but Belach was also half of Borias, probably the only good thing that came out of that relationship. Belach had potential, but Natassa, she was something else. Xena may never be able to find common ground with the woman, despite Borias' request to keep her safe.

Although, Belach had a mother and Xena didn't wish harm to come to Natassa no matter how much she despised her.

"She never appreciated anything I did for Belach," Xena frowned, pouting a bit.

Gabrielle smiled softly and approached her with warmth. "You are a kind person, Xena. You are merciful like you said and family is important to you. Whether you like it or not, she's sort of...part of your family. I know you'd hate for Belach to go back to Ankara and find something terrible happened to his mother." She insisted on changing Xena's mind.

Xena quirked her mouth and rubbed her nose, turning away from the wise blonde. She knew that Gabrielle was right, but was too proud and stubborn to admit it.

"I am going to regret this," she said with a big exhale.

Gabrielle grinned and pat Xena's shoulder. "You know you're doing the right thing, Xena."

"If she complains about anything while she's here I can't promise I won't hit her."

The blonde sighed. "Well, that's fair...I guess," she nodded. No, definitely not fair at all, but this is none of business.

"Or wring her neck," a smile came to Xena's lips.

"Xena..."

"Or slip something in her –" she eyed the big frown on Gabrielle's face and smiled. "Small joke."

"Right."

"You know I don't kill women, Gabrielle," Xena winked. "I am merciful, remember?" she said in a most playful tone and Gabrielle eyed her suspiciously. She sighed and walked around the large chair in her room, gliding her fingers across the wood.

"Well, I wonder what Belach's reaction will be like? I long to see the shock on his face," Xena mused, already finding this situation super amusing. "How the tables have turned," she muttered to herself.

Gabrielle placed one hand on her hip, cocking her head. "Maybe he will get his act together?" she could only hope.

"I wouldn't be that optimistic, Gabrielle."

"So, are you going to send aid to them? You know...in case the knights attack them?"

Xena sighed. "I suppose it would be the right thing to do..." she leaned on the back of the chair, sulking silently. "And I suppose I should tell Borias that Natassa can stay here..." she groaned lowly. "Or maybe I should just let their entire camp perish in the hands of the Templars!" she roared.

Gabrielle's eyes grew in shock and Xena turned around to face her with wild eyes. She must really hate this woman, Gabrielle thought to herself.

"But...that would be very insensitive of me..." Xena smirked seeing the shock written all over her trainee's face. "Alright, Gabrielle, you've convinced me."

"Huh?" the blonde contorted her face in confusion.

"To let Natassa come here and stay with me. I'll make sure she is well taken care of." Xena winked.

"I did what?"

Saladin arrived in the alcove of Athens to a discreet location where his old foe, Baldwin IV resided with his wife, Sibylla. He often felt bad for his wife since the eager rising leader of his Hebrew people, was a leper and his wife so beautiful and unable to come close to the man.

He stepped inside the large villa in the corner of the outside of Athens. He lay eyes upon the silver masked man. Baldwin set down his paperwork and Saladin noticed the leather gloves the man wore. He had his fill with masked rulers as of late, although Xena was a sight to behold, Baldwin was not. He had a reason to hide, Xena did not.

"Saladin," Baldwin spoke softly. "I was beginning...to think you'd never make it," his voice raspy and short in tongue.

The Saracen bowed his head and sat opposite the Hebrew. "I had some prior engagements."

"Not with the heathen Greek ruler, I hope?" Baldwin cocked his head and stared through the open slits in the silver mask. He smiled beneath the mask seeing the color drain from Saladin's face. "I know of your meeting with the Greek empress. Do not think that I didn't have you followed and spied on."

"You cross lines, Baldwin," Saladin grimaced.

The Hebrew coughed as he let out a subtle chuckle at Saladin's demise. "You are my enemy, not my friend. Do not think that this woman will remain your ally, Saladin. She hid herself from the world for over a decade and you do not stop and think, why? I find that very...peculiar." he cocked his head, narrowing his slightly swollen eyes at the Saracen.

"The way she conducts herself as empress is not of your concern, nor is it mine."

Baldwin nodded and tapped his gloved fingers on the armrests of the chair. "You did not once think it odd that she posed as a man for so long? Or that nobody had seen her face?" he kept lolling his head from side to side eerily. "You are willing to trust this woman whom you barely know to combat the largest force on this earth –the Roman Church. You continue to make yourself my enemy, Saladin."

"Then she is your enemy as well, dear Baldwin," Saladin grinned and saw the man's eyes narrow in the slits of the mask. "You hide your hideous face from the world while Xena hides hers because she is a woman. I think God will judge who is the most fit to rule Jerusalem and it is not you."

"Jerusalem belonged to me once until that Sultan overthrew me and my family and forced me into exile. This Greek woman is now the keeper of the holy land and I will reclaim it with or without the Templars help. You can count on that, Saladin."

The Saracen chuckled lightly. He realized that Baldwin was incredibly bitter about his loss of Jerusalem long ago, long before Xena took over Persia. Baldwin had no deformities then, but he was a completely different man now. He resides in Xena's domain, hiding. Xena didn't hide, she was always out in the open unlike Baldwin.

"I have come to give warning," Saladin began. "Do not come near Jerusalem or Xena will obliterate you."

The Hebrew croaked a laugh. "Is that a threat, Saracen?"

"A warning," Saladin corrected. "We could have allied once, as friends, but you refused my offer."

Baldwin snarled and stood from his seat, towering over his foe. "You attacked me! You attacked my holy city to gain it for yourself! You are a fool to think that this Greek woman would ever allow you to control Persia and its finest glories! A fool!"

Saladin rose from his chair, staring into the hazel eyes of the leper. "And you are a fool if you do not heed my warning."

"I am not scared of your Greek ally, Saladin. You will crash and burn and you will be betrayed by her. I will sit on the side of my people and watch your world crumble right before my eyes."

"I was going to say the same thing about you," Saladin winked and then took his leave, ceasing this meaningless and pointless conversation.