Authors Notes: The character Helena is inspired from "The Lost Sisterhood" by Anne Fortier. The backstory is mine, but the idea of her Helen of Troy became an Amazon belongs to Anne.

Helena is observing the Amazon Queen lying on His bed. She takes in the bruising around the Queen's face and body, how her breathing is better, less labored. She takes in how her shoulder is hanging by the Queens side. Helena approaches and pushes some of Garbielle's hair off her face, kneeling next to the Amazon Queen.

"Gabrielle" Helena whispers. Gabrielle stirs, tilting her head into the hand providing her comfort, she reaches up to the hand on her cheek.

"Xena?" Gabrielle whispers opening her eyes realizing she didn't dream finding Helena. She tries to sit up and grasp her friend, to hold her and reassure herself she is not dreaming.

"My Queen, yes I am truly here."
"We thought we lost you, I searched for many weeks and mourned you."
"I am sorry for any pain, and hopefully I will get to fill you in. Did your and Xena's soul finally link?"

"Yes, no thanks to you. We have a daughter, Samantha. She is 19 summers." Helena looks knowingly at Gabrielle.

"My Queen, I need to set your shoulder and you need to rest, I fear He wishes to best you before selling you."

"He and I have history, his arm was a going away injury from me."

"I need you to lean into me, this is going to hurt." Helena comments as Gabrielle leans forward, working to steady her breathing.

"My Queen, rest now you will need it later," Helena says as she takes and twists Gabrielle's shoulder back into place. Gabrielle bites Helena's shoulder and collapses into Helena.

Laying the Amazon Queen down, Helena ducks under the tent flap and into the surrounding brush. She sits quietly, watching another figure approach. The figure is most definitely Amazon, she is tall and muscular with an very unique blue/green eyes. Wrapping her hand around the approaching Amazon's mouth, Helena pulls her to the ground.

"Princess, please forgive my boldness but I can't let you near the Queen."
"Who are you and how do you know me?" Sam whispers

"The short version is that I knew your mothers a lifetime ago, long before they were together, and even longer before your mom, was well, Queen. I will fill you in on the rest, but rest assured, I will look after her and protect her with my life. You need to get back with the others, once you hear the signal, you need to attack."

"How can we trust you?"

"Did you not see how your mom gave up herself for me, a sister Amazon? Tell Ephiny to be ready and that Hel has the Queen's back, just like in Troy."

Sam returns back to Sarah and Solary, relaying the cryptic message and is instructed to meet up with Ephiny, hoping the regent can make sense of it.

Helena returns into the tent to check on Gabrielle, stroking her hand once again down her cheek. She bends over and places a soft kiss upon Gabrielle's forehead. A hand reaches up and holds her in place.

"Helena, please promise me you will not react in the coming moments, I can take care of myself and need this to play out. When the time comes, you and I will both join up with our sisters, and you can fill me in on the past 20 summers. I need you to survive, I cannot grieve you again." Helena helps Gabrielle lay back down, leans her forehead into Gabrielle's, "Yes my Queen."

The pair remain in a similar position until He arrives.

"Woman, have you ensured our guest is feeling better."
"Yes, her injuries have been tended to. But she needs rest. She is in no condition to"
"Enough! As long as she can stand and hold a sword, that is all that I care about." He appraises the Amazon Queen, rubbing his severely disfigured arm.

"I owe you my Queen and I intend to make you suffer, you denied me before, I will not be denied again." From Helena's position on the side of the tent, she understands the true meaning behind his words, forgetting all about her promise to Gabrielle, she rushes Him, throwing herself and him onto the ground. They roll around, a grunt is heard and He stands above Helena as she looking at the dagger protruding from her abdomen. He stands and goes to kick Helena, but instead is thrown backwards, before he can register what happened, a dagger is thrown at him, just missing a very valuable area to him. Eye's wide, he looks down then back up in time to see Gabrielle sending a flying knee into his head, leaving him sprawled out on the tent floor.

Gabrielle rushes back to Helena, grabbing some cloth items and begins to apply pressure.

"No, no, no, Helena you promised me you would let me handle this."

"My Queen, I had to protect you" Helena says and passes out. Gabrielle screams out in agony and turns to find Him standing, sword at the ready.

"I wanted this to be a bigger deal, but can't fight timing" as He rushes Gabrielle.