Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Blue Eyes, White Horse, and a Chakram

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Chapter 29: Secerts

"It is done, my lord," a robed figure reported to the simmering fire.

"But you didn't kill him," Alti cursed, from the far side of the fire. Storming across the small space, she grabbed the robed man by the neck, making him sputter as his air was cut off.

The fire said nothing as the attack continued. Alti persisted, staring into blue eyes of the robed man until he started to loose consciousness. Waiting until the last possible moment, she released him, allowing him to fall to the ground. He put his hands around his neck, gasping for air. "You are a fool," Alti spat at him. "I should feed of your life force. It's all your worth anymore."

The man, still gasping for air, leaned forward in a deep bow, so that his forehead was touching the cold ground. His soul belonged to her and he would give it willingly.

"Daughter," the fire finally spoke. "He is still of use to us."

Alti turned and stared at the fire that represented her father. "I want to handle this myself…"

"No, it is not yet time," the fire roared.

Alti took a necessary step back to keep from getting burned. Turning and kicking the robed man in the gut, she commanded him back to his feet. "Return to Valedmar. If you fail me again, I will add your life force to mine."

"Yes mistress," the man managed to get out, as he held his throbbing side. "Next time the prince will die."

Alti sneered as the man hurried out the door. She knew he'd lick his wounds before returning to those cursed white-devils. In the mean time she had another agent who she could use. She needed more information about Xena and exactly what was going on in the palace itself. This agent was perfect for that.

-X-

It was now hours later, after the attack on the prince. It had taken a while to clean up the mess, but it was now quiet. Xena had fallen asleep a while go. Gabrielle, however, found that sleep eluded her. She still couldn't believe what she had done. For the first time she had caused a life to end and even though Xena had convinced her that she did so to protect her, and logically she knew that, in her heart she still was hurting. How many times had they been in a life and death situation and she had avoided taking a life?

She kept thinking that there must have been another choice. She could have thrown the knife to the side, or used her staff, or perhaps a rock or anything. It seemed that no matter how she analyzed the situation, she knew that she threw the knife with the intention to kill. She knew that she had aimed right between his shoulder blades, with the intention of piercing his heart.

Her mind kept drifting back to the last time she was with the Amazon's, when she had asked Eponin to show her how to throw the dagger. She remembered practicing over and over again, until she could hit the target every time. She remembered keeping it a secret from Xena, not wanting the warrior to see her new skill until she was ready, until she had perfected it. She wanted Xena to be proud of her for learning this new skill. Now she wished she never touched the blade. Her mind kept flowing back to the warnings that Xena used to give her about never touching a weapon unless you were prepared to use it. Now she wished she would have listened. It wasn't just the kill that was bothering her though, it was more than that. She did truly believe that the Black Solider was threatening Xena, but this fight had been different for her. She had felt the fear from the prince, and felt Xena's battle lust, and she had felt her own adrenaline rush. Somehow this battle had been magnified. When she threw that dagger, she wanted it to kill him. She was angry and wanted to hurt him, and that scared her more than anything else.

Gabrielle shifted a bit, trying to get more comfortable and as she did so she felt Xena wrap her arm tighter around her. The warrior was fast asleep, but even in a deep sleep she still knew that she needed the comfort. Gabrielle looked up at the warrior's face. The gentle lines and soft skin glistened in the moonlight. She looked so relaxed. For a moment Gabrielle envied that, wishing that she too could relax and sleep.

She tried again, to close her eyes, and let sleep take her, but she just couldn't. Finally she gave up trying. Carefully she twisted and wiggled out of the warrior's grasp. With a touch she sent a wave of comfort over the warrior. Xena continued to sleep as Gabrielle got out of bed and wandered across the room to a window seat. She glanced back at Xena, still sleeping peacefully. I was funny, she thought. She'd been doing this for years. She was the only one that could move about the warrior without waking her up. Anyone else, the slightest move or disturbance and Xena would have her sword out and be ready to strike in an instant.

Shifting to get comfortable and wrapping a blanket around her she called out, :Lysander?:.

:Hello Chosen, I was wondering how long it was going to take for you to call me,: he answered her with a bit of jest in his voice.

:I can't sleep.:

:I know. Do you want to talk about it?:

:Not really, but I think I need to.:

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Xena woke up and found the bed next to her empty. Confused for a moment, she did a quick scan of the room and found her bard curled up on the window seat, fast asleep. She had been exhausted last night, and although she hadn't meant too, she'd fallen asleep before Gabrielle did. Yesterday had been such a long day. She had to laugh to herself, remembering her promise to 'take it easy.'

The sun was fully up now. Xena would have normally been upset that she had slept so long, but today she didn't really care. She figured over the last few days she'd earned the right to sleep in. But enough was enough, so the warrior decided it was time to get up. She debated for a moment what to do with Gabrielle, she didn't want to chance waking her up by moving her, and she looked comfortable enough, so Xena decided to leave the bard in peace.

Xena didn't really get the chance to explore their new room last night, so she took a few moments to do so. The suite was much bigger than their last room. There was the main room, which had a seating area and a table and chairs, then adjoining that room there was the bedroom area. There were also two attached rooms. One of the extra rooms was smaller than the other and both were empty at the moment. It also had a rather large fire place at one end. The last door that she opened revealed a huge bathing room.

Xena entered the bathing area and glanced over the tub. She noted that it had the same sort of set up as their old room. Turning the leaver, she was pleased to see that it had the same hot water set up too. She turned the leaver fully on and stared to fill the tub. She felt grungy, realizing that she hadn't had a real bath in about a week. The idea of soaking in a hot tub was pure bliss.

She had just finished undressing when she felt a presence behind her. A shiver went down her spine as she heard the bard ask, "Is this a private party, or can anyone join in?"

"Well not anyone, but you are always welcome, my bard."

"Good morning, warrior mine," Gabrielle whispered in her ear as she came up behind her and started to kiss her neck.

Xena shivered again, and turned to face the bard. With a twinkle in her eye she replied, "Good morning."

===[x]

The bath lasted a little longer then Xena had originally intended, and the floor somehow got very wet, but the bard and the warrior had managed to clean each other thoroughly and Xena had to admit that it felt really good to be clean.

After they were done with the bath they had discovered towels and clothing in an armoire in the bathing room. Gabrielle decided on leggings and a tunic instead of the grey robe she'd become accustomed to and Xena followed suit, as she had still not gotten the new set of leathers back.

Suddenly there was a loud crash from the main room. Gabrielle froze and looked at Xena, who seemed to be unconcerned.

"Xena, what was that?"

"Tereth!" She called out. "We'll be right out." To Gabrielle, she lowered her voice and explained, "The prince, he knocked over the candelabra that I put next to the secret passage."

"What Secret passage?"

Xena smiled. "The one I found this morning. I figured that they put us in this room for a reason and I didn't want him sneaking in on us."

Suddenly the bard blushed. "Gods…what if he'd walked in half a candle mark ago?"

Xena shrugged. "I'd hope he'd have the decently to leave quickly. I'd hate to have to blister his backside for trying to spy on us."

"Xena! You can't spank the prince."

Xena shrugged again, "Why not? It's not so different than spanking a queen."

"Xena!" the bard exclaimed blushing again.

Xena merely smiled, raising an eyebrow at the bard and with a curt bow replied, "Let's not keep our guest waiting, my Queen."