My first encounter with Xena the Conqueror of Nations and she saved Lila and I from slavers. Father grudgingly let her into our home so I could tend to her wounds but she wanted no thanks from us. Within minutes she was stalking out our door, with me hot on her heels. But the conversation didn't go as planned. Well I'm not really sure what I was expecting, but the outright rejection stung a little.

xxxxx

Blue eyes stare at me icely. It doesn't seem to matter that she's just saved my life, she pushes away any and all gratitude.

"Take me with you."

"Do you know who I am? What I am?" She laughs ruefully.

"I don't belong here."

"What makes you think you belong anywhere near me?"

"It's my destiny." I refuse to back down, even in the presence of the Conqueror of Nations.

"You have a lot of growing up to do, and a boy to marry. Stick to the simple life, it's more suited to you." She turns, walking away from the farm, not even bothering to look back.

The thing is, this is what I've been dreaming of since I was little. A warrior to follow, to emulate, to dedicate my life too because I know I can be so much more than this. Being a farmer's wife is just not part of my dreams. My mind already made up, I rush back to the house and pack the few things I own into a travel bag.

"What are you doing?" Lila interrupts my thoughts.

"Lila, I'm going to join up with Xena."

"Are you serious?"

"Absolutely. I'm going to be a warrior, like her."

"A warrior? Gabrielle, I can beat you up."

"Yeah, well... you're very strong for your age. Lila, you know I'm different from everybody else in this town."

"I know you're crazy."

"Well, call it whatever you like. The point is, I don't fit in here. And the idea of marrying Perdicus…."

"He loves you, you know."

"But I don't love him. I've got to do this, Lila."

"I'm gonna miss you so much." She grasps me in a hug on the verge of tears.

"Cheer up, you'll finally have a room of your own. Take care of Mother, Don't let her carry the water from the well by herself."

"All right." I leave her behind, trying not to look back.

xxxxxxx

Xena laughs at me as I explain how I end up sitting on a log in the dark, though her face still holds a fierceness in it. The fact that she hasn't killed me, that she has told me to lay next to her, speaks volumes she won't say. She throws a blanket at me and beckons me to her side.

"You're not going to get rid of me." I mumble against the fur covering half my face as I snuggle deeper into it.

"I've noticed."

"Where are we going?"

"I'm going to Amphipolis." I stare at her back in the moonlight.

"Where are all your men?" I can see her body tense.

"Not here." She states gruffly. I feel like I'm missing something very important. Xena is known to travel with legions, yet here she is alone.

"Xena?" I feel like there is so much I want to ask.

"Most people in your position would be dead by now, particularly if they continue to call me by name." It's barely a threat.

"I want to learn from you." She turns, really looking at me for the first time.

"There's nothing good you can learn from me." Her eyes hold a deep despair that never crosses her face. For some reason I want to reach out and touch her cheek. I want to help her with whatever tortures her soul.

"What were you doing out there?" I finally ask, watching as her face goes hard.

"Trying to bury my past." But there's more than she's telling me. "You are a talkative one aren't you." Xena shakes her head as if disappointed at being stuck with me.

"You love it." I give her the biggest grin and she just raises an eyebrow at me.

"You wouldn't think you were talking to the Lord Conqueror." She just seems to be amused.

"It's too long to say." I can't help the yawn that follows. "I like Xena better." My eyes close as sleep nears.

"I haven't been just Xena in a very long time." She whispers to the dark sky.

xxxx

I wake up to Xena nudging me repeatedly with her boot. The sun is barely starting its trek into the sky.

"I thought warriors got to sleep in?" I grumble at her.

"You're no warrior." She actually laughs, and I find the sound intoxicating. "A real warrior is up before the sun." She nudges me again. "Come on farm girl." Xena walks away chuckling to herself. I'm not about to let her good spirits go to waste. Jumping up, probably a little too quickly as I stumble slightly; I begin pulling the bedroll and furs up, carrying them to her horse. Xena expertly rolls them up, tying them to the saddle bags.

"Are you really going to insist on following me?" She asks, some mirth manages to break into her voice.

"Yes." I nod, possibly too enthusiastically.

"And why should I let you?"

"I can help you. I know things." But Xena laughs a little too hard at my statement.

"How are you, going to help me?!"

"I don't know yet." I falter, unsure of my whole plan for the first time. She looks me over, analyzing me with cold eyes. I do my best not to wither under her gaze. After what seems like an eternity in Hades realm, Xena climbs up onto her horse with graceful ease. Making a clicking noise, she goads the beast forward at a leisurely pace. I'm unsure of what to do, so like an idiot I just stand here, watching her retreating back.

"Are you coming?" She finally calls behind her. In seconds, my brain moves and I stumble forward after the majestic raven haired warrior.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

I think I've lost my mind. This girl, who by all rights is probably 18, is very unaware of what she's getting herself into. The only reason I let her come along is because I know she'll get tired of this very quickly. Her family probably thinks I've kidnapped her to be my personal slave. If they only knew she's the one forcing herself on me.

I came out here to give up, to bury everything, to walk away from what I've created. I've grown tired of the power and the fear. To think, this is all I used to thrive on and now I wish for nothing more than to forget the pain I have caused to thousands, perhaps millions. And this simple farm girl is so enamoured by the fact I'm a warrior, she doesn't see the demon others see. And she won't stop talking.

"Does your mouth ever stop moving?" I don't mean to growl at her but I do. She pauses for the briefest of moments, actually thinking about the question.

"Well my mother has always told me that no man likes a talker, but there are so many questions to be answered and stories to be told." The thought of doing anything just to please a man makes me roll my eyes.

"You're marrying that boy, he must not be bothered." Why am I even continuing with this conversation?

"Oh Perdicus?" She waves her hand as if literally swatting him away. "I don't want to marry him. He always tells me I talk too much." She seems lost in thought for a moment. This brief interlude of silence is all too short. "So do you live in a castle?" Her assault of words continues. The excitement has yet to wane from her dancing green eyes. It's somewhat infectious, and against my better judgment I answer her questions with a smile. As we near Amphipolis however, I can feel my mood darken considerably.

Soft fingertips on my thigh intercedes the darkness threatening to overcome me. She looks up, a question on her face but not her lips. For once she keeps the question to herself, probably sensing the change in me. Pulling the horse to a stop, I climb down next to the waif of a girl. I need to walk. The sudden silence I find myself in is almost deafening. Gabrielle walks next to me, half running to keep up with my demanding pace. I feel this need to explain myself, but who is she for me to divulge my secrets too.

Purposefully I take us around the outskirts of Amphipolis, taking care not to let anyone see me. Gabrielle, for her part, follows without question. I take us deep into the woods, following a game path I took often as a child. It leads to the one place I have avoided for more years than I care to count. The trees open up to a lush garden, bigger than I remember. We stop, standing in the darkness the forest edge provides.

"Where are we?" She asks so quietly I nearly didn't catch it. A sigh of years of anger releases from my lungs.

"Home." Though this hasn't been my home in quite some time. Her fingers find mine and she squeezes them. Looking down at her, it's hard to hide the shock. She is so unafraid of me as to offer comfort….to me….the destroyer of nations. I feel something loosen deep inside me. My eyes turn to find the inn again.

"She's not going to be happy." I say, almost to myself, but really for her.

"Who?"

"My mother." Do I even still have one?

"Why?"

"She blames me for my brother's death." Still her fingers squeeze reassuringly. "She's right too." For some reason I spill my secrets to her. I recall the events that took place. Gabrielle"s silence is profound. I look at her again and see no judgment on her face, she's simply waiting for me to say whatever is I need. I don't know why, but it would be so easy to spill my soul to this simple girl that I've only just met. We stand there a while longer as I gather my courage.

"You don't have to come." Finally, I feel like prepared.

"Of course I'm coming." She says as if that was a stupid statement. So together we walk towards the inn. "You probably shouldn't go in there as the Conqueror." She suggests before we reach the door. The hardness and ruthlessness of the Conqueror is how I've managed to survive this long.

"I am the Conqueror."

"You're her daughter." Maybe this naive farm girl has more depth to her than I thought.

"I used to be."

"Maybe it's time for you to be that again."

"You say that as if it's so simple."

"It can be." She sounds so hopeful I almost regret yelling at her next.

"You don't know a thing about me! The things I've done can't be forgiven." She doesn't even shrink at my rage, doesn't tremble in the slightest.

"Then why are you here?" She asks simply, walking into the tavern without a second thought. Most men would be dead by now, so why do I even continue to entertain her insubordination? She doesn't fear me. I'm confused by this girl. With a deep breath I steel my nerves for the task ahead.

The tavern is much as I remember it, though a bit more worn. Cracks adorn the walls like decorations. No mother of mine should live like this. But then again it's been a very long time since she was my mother.

Thankfully we arrived in between meals so the place is practically empty. Gabrielle is sitting at the bar, chatting animatedly with one of the barmaids. I continue to scan the room until I spot her, hunched over a table scrubbing the surface. She looks so much older, tired and burdened. I swallow hard.

"Mother." I watch her back stiffen as she slowly straightens.

"What do you want?" Her voice is a low growl.

"I've come too…" I falter, fighting to control all the emotions that are welling up inside.

"What? Kill, enslave, destroy!" She turns, spitting venom with her words.

"I've come to give you a better life, to save you from all this." I can't believe I sound as weak as I do.

"The only thing I need saving from is you." She scoffs. After all these years, the hatred in her eyes still pierce me to my very core. "And this," She sweeps her hand out angrily, "is what kept you clothed and fed."

"Mother.."

"Mother?!" She injects. "The Lord Conqueror has a mother? You're cold, heartless and cruel. No daughter of mine." I feel as if so many swords and daggers pierce my skin.

"She's more than that. She saved my life!" Suddenly the farm girl is on her feet, stalking towards my mother.

"And what are you? Her slave?" She laughs ruefully.

"I'm her friend." What is wrong with this girl?

"Friend? Even more ludicrous."

"Above all else she's your daughter." My mother looks from me to the farm girl with utter shock. "Xena has good in her. I can see it." This girl….

"Xena?" My mother questions, surprised to hear my name come out of anyone let alone a simple farm girl. I'm lost for words, something I'm not quite comfortable with. Then, even more astonishingly, the blonde stalks over and grabs my hand before unceremoniously pulling me back out the door.

"What do you think you're doing?" I finally ask after gathering my wits.

"That woman doesn't deserve you." She looks personally offended.

"That woman is my mother. You have no idea what she does and does not deserve." She's barely paying attention to me, mumbling to herself about mothers. I'm ready to backhand her, as I've done to so many in her place, then her eyes shift to mine and there's nothing but unfettered concern….for me. God's above.

"Anyway I don't know how she can continue to blame you."

"How can she not?"

"You were young, trying to save everyone and everything you cared for. How can you be held responsible for your brother who was only doing the same?" Sighing, I rake my fingers through my hair.

"If only I could see everything as simply as you do." It's an admission I do not mean to utter.