I listen to the steady rhythm of stone against steel as I stare up into the night sky. The sound of her sharpening her instruments of war is unusually calming. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I'm enjoying the darkness that surrounds me. The night is alive with so many sounds, so much life that I'm not always aware of. The sky sparkles like so many grains of sand, scattered and shining with the brilliance of jewels.

"You would think you've never seen the night sky." Xena muses without stopping her task.

"Not as I see it now."

"And how's that?"

"With a sense of freedom I've never felt before." I finally look over to see eyes that are searching mine. What is she looking for?

"Haven't you always been free?" She finally stops her task, fully immersed in the conversation.

"Free in a way. I've had my father to answer too, and I've always been expected to do what I was told. My father didn't believe in dreams, he believed in me getting married and settling down." I can't help but feel a little sad.

"And your dream was to follow me around?" She smirks at me. I laugh a little at our exchange.

"No Xena, my dream is to become someone important, to make a difference."

"You definitely chose the wrong person to follow." She laughs at her own self deprecation.

"No." I become serious. "As soon as I saw you I knew there was something….." I'm not sure how to explain the feeling. "I knew I had to be wherever you were. It's fate." Xena snorts at me.

"I don't believe in fate. We are in charge of our own destiny." Her hand moves to continue sharpening her sword.

"Maybe…" I let it drop, turning back towards the darkness above. "Maybe there are things even The Conqueror cannot control."

xxxx

For some reason, when she calls me the Conqueror, I feel something stab me deep inside. I'm beginning to enjoy the way she speaks my name, a name I haven't heard uttered in an innocent way since youth. But she is innocent, and I will do nothing but destroy that about her. She is right about one thing, there is something undeniable, something unexplainable between us.

I watch as she begins to fall asleep. Her wonder is refreshing, but this new path I'm on doesn't allow for selfishness. If I let her stay that is exactly what I'm being. I'm resigned to leave before she wakes when her voice breaks the silence.

"I'm glad I found you." She mumbles in a half asleep state.

"Didn't I find you?" I half smile to myself.

"I told you, fate." She rolls over, snoring within seconds. I feel stuck suddenly. I'm tired of the nightmares and the death, and the bodies that trail behind me. But this girl is awakening something inside of me that I thought had died long ago. So do I leave her or take her on this journey I hadn't intended to start? The reality is hard for me to face and I know it. She is awakening things and I'm afraid. So before the moon is halfway through the night sky, I'm gone.

As I travel, my thoughts move constantly to her. Why she has had such an effect in so little time is confusing. I have refused to let anyone get too close to me in recent years, as those who have in the past only betrayed me. This is why I run from her. I travel for over a day, skirting villages and towns along the main road. This girl is no tracker and I fully expect her to head back home with her tail between her legs. So to say I'm surprised when she comes crashing into my camp in the dead of night, would be an understatement.

"Did you know cyclops aren't very smart?" She asks, sitting down and rubbing her feet. "I mean I just had to promise to kill you." She starts laughing to herself.

"How did you find me?" I ask, somewhat dumbfounded.

"I just followed the light of the fire." I drop my head in frustration.

"Before that."

"Oh I don't know. I just kept walking." She looks around. "Do you have anything to eat?" I have this intense urge to slap my forehead.

"Why is it I don't scare you?"

"Why would you?" I look around as if someone will show up just to explain to her who I am.

"I've killed, set people's heads on pikes, crucified men, destroyed entire villages."

"Oh but you haven 't done that in a long time." She laughs a little like I'm crazy.

"How do you know?" I'm on my feet, feeling myself lose control. She just looks at me in wonder.

"There was this wonderful bard who would travel through our village a couple times a year. He told the best stories. When he was finished he would always sit and answer my questions." She completely sidestepped my question.

"I have no personal bard." I drop back down to the ground.

"Oh, but he traveled everywhere. He knew so much about the world."

"I'm a monster, stop worshipping me."

"Aren't you a little full of yourself?" She's laughing at me! "I don't worship you Xena, but I think we can learn from each other." I know I'm already learning immense patience, so I try a new tactic.

"Well I have assasination attempts nearly every season, Rome wants my head on a pike, I command the most brutal army in the nation." Gabrielle looks at me in rapt fascination. There's no getting through to her.

"So you don't have a bard?" Was she even listening?

"No."I grumble.

"I can be your bard." She claps her hands together in excitement.

"You know how to read and write?"

"Oh yes." Her head bobs up and down. "I love telling stories." She stands suddenly, spreading her arms out in a grand gesture. "Oh I sing a song of.."

"I thought you wanted to be a warrior?"I cut her off before she can get any further.

"I do."

"You can't be both." It's my turn to laugh.

"Who says?"

"Who ever heard of a warrior bard?!"

"You are only limited by what you dream."

"So if I wanted tooo… live a thousand years, I can achieve it?" I narrow my eyes at her, daring her to answer.

"Of course." She simply smiles and nods. I throw a piece of jerky at her and it hits her square in the face.

"Maybe you should just stick with being a bard." I mumble, trying really hard not to laugh. It hits me right then. I've laughed more in the few hours I've known her than I have since I left Amphipolis as a kid.

"Ow." She says quietly to herself before shoving the dried meat in her mouth. I don't think I'll ever fully understand what I've gotten myself into.

xxxxxx

"Is it true that you"ve been with hundreds of lovers?" She looks at me with shock, exasperation, and confusion rolled into one. We stop dead in our tracks.

"What kind of question is that?" Her voice practically squeaks.

"Well I've just heard you've had a lot of lovers."

"First of all, that makes me sound like a prostitute." She stops in the middle of the road. "Second of all, I'm not sure when I would have had the time." I'm about to start walking again when she grabs my arm. "Third of all the term lover is not something I would use for most. I admit to using sex for power and control and because I needed a release, but the same can be said of those I've been with."

"So close to hundreds." I can't help but laugh as I tease her.

"I've just bared my soul to you, and you laugh." She feigns disappointment. It seems odd that we should get along in such an easy manner, but she really exposes very little. I, of course, spill every secret ever told to me. "And what about you?" She asks with narrowed eyes.

"What about me?" I've learned in our short time together that deflecting doesn't work with her. I don't care.

"How many?" She asks.

"None." Her jaw drops.

"And here I thought farm girls were easy."

"Well most are." We both laugh.

"Well now I know I have to protect your innocence as well." She's grinning at me as I slap her arm playfully.

"What if I don't want it protected?" Her eyebrow arches up.

"Don't go giving it away now." She's laughing at me but I don't care. I'm enjoying the ease with which we talk. But as quickly as it comes, her countenance changes. "Stop."She puts her arm out, stopping my forward movement

"What's wrong?" Her head moves back and forth, listening to our surroundings.

"We're being watched." She whispers between clenched teeth.

"By who?" I'm in awe of her skills.

"I have an idea." This is all she says as she continues to walk, acting as if nothing is wrong.

"Well, well, well." A voice calls from the trees above us.

"Come down and face me." Xena growls, pulling her sword from its sheath. Four women seemingly drop from the sky, wearing elaborate masks.

"Why has the Lord Conqueror deemed us worthy of her presence?" One woman walks up to Xena, lifting her mask.

"We're just passing through." Xena puts one hand up as she resheathes her weapon. They both narrow their eyes at each other.

"Oh but Lord, I think Queen Melosa would be most pleased to see you." The woman's voice is dripping in sarcasm. Her eyes shift to me momentarily. "You and your slave here." She shifts back to Xena. "If you have no problem with that of course."

"Of course not." Xena says through gritted teeth.

"Who are these people?"I ask, none too quietly.

"Amazons." The woman responds for Xena. "And I am Terreis."

"Amazons?" I've only heard stories, and not good ones. Terreis motions with her head, spurring her troops into action. As we walk, Terreis and I talk about the Amazons, and I find a kindred spirit in her. She is surprisingly open and honest with me, answering my questions without hesitation. We walk like this for ages before Xena stops suddenly again.

"Get to cover!" She yells as arrows start pouring from the sky. The Amazons make for the trees and I make for Xena. I'm amazed by how easily she deflects arrows with just her sword. Terreis does not make it into the trees before an arrow hits her. Without even thinking, I throw my body over hers. I can feel the arrows impact the ground all around. The wait for the assault to stop is agonizingly long, and I don't even realize it's stopped till Xena pulls me up.

"Are you crazy?"Her eyes are wild.

"But I couldn"t let her…"We both look down at the same time. Terreis is gasping, blood spurting from her mouth as well as her wound. Dropping back to my knees beside her, I pull her head into my lap.

"Don't move her." Xena crouches down on her other side. I'm vaguely aware of the Amazons running up to us.

"Only another Amazon would risk their life like that."Terreis coughs, looking up at me. "I give you my right of caste. Take it." Other Amazons behind me protest.

"Ok. But you're going to be fine." I have no idea what I've accepted. Looking around, I only wonder why no one's made a move to do anything. She coughs and sputters before all breath stops.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

This day just goes from bad to worse. I can't help but think I wouldn' be in this situation if it weren't for Gabrielle. After we make a litter to carry the fallen Amazon Princess, we all walk in silence.

What strange dream is this that I'm in that a simple farm girl can befriend Amazons in minutes, and be given the right of caste? I feel Melosa is going to be none too happy that I just happen to be present at her heirs death.

As we enter the main village, I'm stripped of all my weapons. They aren't about to let the most dangerous woman in Greece walk about freely. One of the scouts leads us to a small bare hut, leaving guards outside as she leaves.

"Xena, what's it mean?"

"It means you're next in line to be Queen of the Amazons." She gasps, throwing her hands to her mouth.

"Well you wanted an adventure." I stand still, listening to the movement and voices outside. An escape is doable, should I need to escape, but with Gabrielle it might be a bit tough. After awhile, I hear approaching feet so I back up against the far wall. The scout has reappeared, a scowl on her face.

"Queen Melosa will see you both." She turns, walking out and expecting us to follow. I nod to Gabrielle, her feet finally moving. We are flanked by no less than 10 warriors on our way to the main throne that sits outside. Queen Melosa sits with her mask covering her face. Gabrielle is making gasping noises every time she sees something different, apparently more awed than scared.

"Well Lord Conqueror. Why do we have the honor of your visit?"She stands, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I was just passing through."

"And yet Princess Terreis is killed. A bit of a coincidence, don't you think?"

"I have no soldiers in the area my Queen."I knew she would blame me. "And they shot at me and my friend as well."

"Ah yes, your...friend. Step forward." She lifts her mask finally, to better scrutinize Gabrielle. "Am I to believe the right of caste was passed to you?"

"Yes your majesty."Gabrielle looks at me nervously, unsure of how to act.

"You tried to save her life?"

"I didn't do a very good job." Gabrielle looks down at her feet.

"Not many would have done what you did for a stranger, an Amazon no less. Be proud of that." Melosa motions for the scout escorting us to move closer. "My best scout will teach you in the ways of the Amazons." The woman gives a small bow. "As for you, Lord Conqueror, you will be our guest until we can figure out who killed our princess." With a wave of her hand we are dismissed, this time we are led to a bigger hut, furnished and with my saddle bags waiting.

"Tomorrow your training will start, and food will be brought to you soon" The scout scowls at Gabrielle, looking her up and down.

"Did you look at Terreis that way?" Gabrielle asks, staring the scout down.

"Of course not." She's indignant, insulted to even be asked that question.

"Then I assume she would be disappointed in you." Gabrielle has no anger, no ulterior motive. She is letting the scout know that she is taking her role seriously, and the scout should as well. Sometimes I don't know if this girl is stupid, or hiding brilliance behind a simple farm girl facade. The scout does a small nod and leaves without another word. Gabrielle however, jumps up and down in excitement. "Isn't this amazing." She declares.

"Sure." I lay myself out in one of the hammocks. "As soon as I can, I'm getting far away from here." Crossing my arms over my chest, I close my eyes.

"Oh, but you wont leave me?"She comes over, pulling down on my hammock, nearly upsetting it.

"Isn't this what you want?" I regard her seriously. She probably doesn"t know what she wants. Gabrielle looks down at her feet.

"Well I mean, yes and no."

"What does that mean?" Women, I sigh to myself. Wait….

"I would love to learn all about the Amazons, but I don't want to stay here. I want to go with you." She looks at me bright eyed and smiling. I'm never going to get rid of her. Thankfully the food shows up and we don't have to continue the conversation.

As the days go by, I'm relegated to the hut while Gabrielle is treated like royalty. Every chance she gets, she tells me everything she has learned for the day and how strange she finds the customs. Frankly these Amazons are lucky I'm in a good mood because I'm beginning to go stir crazy.

"Queen Melosa would like to see you." Ephiny, the head scout appears in the doorway. I'm happy to just be getting out of this hut, I could care less if I'm about to be sentenced to death or not.

"Well Lord Conqueror, it seems our treaty has held. We found those responsible for the death of Terreis and have taken care of them. I am satisfied you had nothing to do with the death. You are free to go as you please." She pauses as if to think, but I know no thought is necessary. "Think twice about entering our territory again." The queen knows I'm not afraid of her, but she puts on a good show for her people.

"Yes my Queen." I give her a little bow, but in reality I bow to no one. I take this opportunity to see Argo. I hope they have taken care of my horse or heads will roll, regardless of any treaty. Argo knickers and stamps her hooves as soon as she sees me. "I know girl, I'm sorry." I coo in her ear as I rub her mane.

"Oh Xena, I heard the good news!" A squeal as arms wrap around me from behind. "So when do we leave?" I turn around to look at her. Gabrielle has already changed so much. She holds a staff in one hand, leaning against it as she smiles up at me. No longer in a long skirt and blouse, she"s opted for the Amazon garb, showing off a very toned body. And while her confidence seems to have surged, she hasn't lost that naive, farm girl attitude.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay? You can learn a lot more from them, than you could ever with me?"

"Oh, I think you're wrong about that." She dismissed me easily. "Besides, I'm going to be your personal bard."

"Now I haven't agreed to that." I scowl.

"Too late." She shrugs at me.

"What do you mean too late?" She is so exasperating.

"I mean," She leans forward, poking me in the chest with her finger. "I've made up my mind, so it's too late." I can't help the smile that spreads on my face.

"Well we should probably leave first thing in the morning. I think you better have a talk with your Queen." She grins before practically skipping out of the stable. Again I have to question myself. Once I would have threatened her, I would have left in the night, I would have backhanded her for even touching me. Is this really the person I want to be now? Argo nudges me. "Yeah, I know girl." She likes this me better too.