Chapter Thirteen
Gabrielle was disturbed. She was concerned for Xena. The warrior had been extremely nervous about losing her. Had she been like this from the beginning? Was Xena jealous of Gabrielle's closeness with Ephiny and the other amazons? Why did Xena care so much about how long Gabrielle wanted to stay.
Gabrielle lay back on the bed and closed her eyes. She folded her arms behind her head and propped her head on them. She knew that what she'd said to Xena hadn't been fair, but Xena wasn't being fair either. The amazons were just as much family to Gabrielle than Xena was. Gabrielle shook her head slowly. She loved Xena with all of her heart but, being in Amazon Territory was like home for her. She had a roof over her head and didn't have to worry about turning around every five minutes to make sure nobody was following or trailing her.
"Why?" Gabrielle asked nobody in particular. She put her hands on her belly and felt nothing. The baby wasn't big enough for her to feel the movements yet. She smiled when she pictured a perfect little child holding one of her hands and holding one of Xena's. She pictured the three walking along happily and laughing. Now, she wasn't so sure she could have that picture. Had the last few years with Xena all been a climax leading up to a disappointing end? Tears formed in the corners of Gabrielle's eyes and she let them fall freely.
*~*
Xena walked away and into the woods for a quiet reflection on the past few years. She didn't want to go on living her life without Gabrielle and her child. If Gabrielle was happy at the Amazon Lands, she wouldn't take Gabrielle away. She would let Gabrielle and the child stay if that was what they wanted. Xena knew that if that's what Gabrielle wanted, she'd stay as well.
Xena sat down on a dead tree stump and closed her eyes. She could still remember the first time she saw her bard. Draco's men were capturing her and she was upset. But, she was the bravest girl there. Underneath the wide eyes and the heavy, frantic breathing, she was brave and she stood up for her fellow villagers.
The first time Gabrielle told Xena she loved her and the first time she and Gabrielle had consummated a new, loving relationship. She could still remember that wonderful night, a month or so after Perdicus' death. Gabrielle had been frightened, Xena had been too. Neither of them had done anything quite like that before, but for their first time together, they both did quite well in the pleasing department.
The first time Xena ever saw Gabrielle's beautiful smile and heard that wonderful laugh had been one of the most joyous times of her life spent with Gabrielle. The bard was so full of life and love, Xena wasn't sure why Gabrielle loved her so much.
Xena realized that her own life was dark and perpetually boring until Gabrielle showed up. She was so glad to have Gabrielle that she may have taken advantage of her being around.
"Gods, Gabrielle, why did I bring you with me? You could be an innocent little village girl right now if I hadn't shown up," Xena spoke aloud. She felt a tear cascade down her cheek and she sniffled.
The warrior dried her eyes and stood up. Her heart was aching and she was ready to apologize to her love. But, would Gabrielle even be there? Would she even accept the apology? There was only one way to find out.
Xena started to walk back toward the huts and she could already hear the amazon girls laughing and playing. She could hear a couple of women practicing with staffs. The dark-haired beauty made her way back to the queen's hut in about ten minutes. She wanted to see Gabrielle immediately.
She crept up to the entrance of the hut and could see Gabrielle sitting on the edge of the bed, her face in her hands, her back shaking. She could tell the young queen was crying. Xena walked silently into the hut and made her way to the bed. She sat down next to Gabrielle and wrapped her arms around her.
"Shh," Xena started. "I'm sorry Gabrielle." With that, Gabrielle leaned into Xena and cried on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry my love."
"I'm sorry too," Gabrielle sobbed. "I don't think I can go on like this." She pulled away and stared into Xena's eyes.
Xena felt a lump in her throat. Was this it? Was Gabrielle about to tell her that she wanted her gone? Did Gabrielle want to stay with the amazons without Xena there? The lump turned back into heartache and Xena started to cry.
Chapter Fourteen
"I understand, Gabrielle," Xena spoke without letting Gabrielle speak. Gabrielle looked scared and confused as Xena stood. "I'll be out of here after lunch." Gabrielle shook her head and stood up quickly.
"What?" she asked frantically.
"You want me to leave," Xena declared. "Don't you?"
"No! Of course not!" Gabrielle exclaimed. "I want to be with you. I don't want to be where your not happy."
"And I don't want to be where you're not happy, Gabrielle. I love you too much for you to be out there with our child, in danger," the warrior confessed. "You're the one person that made me love again. I love you so much Gabrielle. It hurts so much to see you unhappy."
"I know you're unhappy here and I can't bare to see you like that," Gabrielle declared. "I don't want to be here if you don't." There was a long pause while both women tried to figure out what to say or do next.
"I guess we're at a stalemate," Xena discovered. Gabrielle smiled through her tears.
"How about this," she started. "I want our child to see the world, but I want it to know the amazons as well. So, we will be with you, out there on the road, but we will come back a few times a year."
"Are you sure?" Xena asked, stepping closer to Gabrielle. Gabrielle nodded.
"I'm positive," Gabrielle said, her face turning brighter. Xena smiled and pulled Gabrielle into a soft hug and a long, tender kiss. Xena ran her fingers through the queen's long, blonde hair and smiled. She didn't think that going any farther would be a good thing at this point in the pregnancy, but they could hold each other for as long as they wanted to.
Gabrielle pulled away when she felt a bit queasy. She looked as if she were going to fall back but Xena caught her before she even started to fall.
"You okay?" she asked. Gabrielle nodded.
"I just need to lie down." The bard said. Xena nodded. She helped Gabrielle lay down on the bed. She kissed her forehead.
"Rest now," Xena said. Gabrielle nodded before drifting off. Xena left the hut and decided to go talk to Ephiny. She walked down to Ephiny's hut where she heard crying. Xena furrowed her brow. "Ephiny?"
"Please, come in," Ephiny's voice called. Xena entered the hut and saw the amazon sitting on the floor, leaning against her bed. She was a mess. Her face was streaked with tears and her eyes were bloodshot.
"By the gods," Xena whispered. "What happened?"
"My son," she whimpered. All that Xena could think now was that Xenan had been killed.
"Oh, Ephiny," Xena said as she kneeled down to Ephiny. "What happened?"
"He was taken by a group of centaur hunters. I just got word from one of the children from the village. Xena, Solan was there too. He tried to protect Xenan and he was taken too," Ephiny declared. "We have to find them."
"We will," Xena said as she feared the worst for her son and her friend's son. "But, I want you to stay here with Gabrielle. She needs you. I will find them and I'll take them back to the village. They'll be safe." Ephiny nodded.
"Please make sure they're okay," Ephiny declared.
"I will," Xena swore. "Did you find out where they're keeping them?"
"Somewhere around the centaur village. Caliopus has a troop of centaurs staked out around the boundaries. A few of them have been killed by arrows, but for the most part, it's quiet," explained the amazon. Xena nodded. "They won't kill Xenan or Solan until you show up. They want to kill you."
"Okay. I'm going," Xena said. She quickly stood and ran out of the hut. She ran back to the queen's hut and found her things. Gabrielle quickly sat up in bed.
"Xena?" she asked. "What's going on?"
"Xenan and Solan have been kidnapped. I have to go save them," Xena explained. She didn't dare tell Gabrielle that they wanted her there so they could kill her. She didn't want Gabrielle afraid for her.
"I'm going," Gabrielle said as she started to get up.
"Oh no you are not," Xena ordered. "You're staying here and you're going to take care of yourself and our child."
"But," Gabrielle protested.
"No buts, Gabrielle. I don't want you or our baby harmed," Xena warned. "I love you. I'll see you soon." Xena hurried over to Gabrielle and kissed her softly. "Goodbye my love."
Chapter Fifteen
Riding fast and furious, the warrior princess wasn't about to stop for anything or anybody. She didn't want to waste anytime getting to the centaurs. It would take about two or three days without sleep, but she knew she'd have to sleep sometime. She'd probably get there within four or five days. She just had to get to her son and her friend's son. She couldn't let them die. She wouldn't be able to live with herself.
The sun was setting in the sky and the stars were becoming visible. Xena figured she could ride for about three more hours to cover more land. She could tell that Argo was getting tired by the snort in her whinnying.
"Come on Argo. You can do it girl," Xena coaxed as they rode. She got the horse to go a bit faster.
As the sky blackened and the stars shone brightly, the moon became overcast with rain clouds. The wind was blowing fiercely and was rather cold. Xena didn't want to spend too much time riding now because she didn't want to get sick.
"Whoa girl," Xena soothed as she brought the horse to a halt. She dismounted and let the horse into a clearing that looked like it'd keep the rain out. Xena tied Argo's reins to a tree and she set out her bedroll. She started a fire and sat close to it. She missed having Gabrielle by her side. She missed the warmth that Gabrielle brought to the cold nights.
Xena shivered and shook her longing thoughts away. If she thought about that all night, she'd never get any sleep. The warrior laid down in her bedroll and covered up warmly. She closed her eyes and listening to the leaves rattling on the three branches. She smiled momentarily and drifted off into sleep.
*~*
Sitting up in bed, her hands on her stomach, staring into the fire, Gabrielle thought of Xena. She hoped that she'd be back soon. In a couple of weeks, the child would be born and she needed Xena there for that. She refused to give birth if Xena wasn't there. She knew the gods didn't care about that, but she could try to keep the kid in.
She pulled the blanket up to her chest and she sighed softly. She listened to the wind screaming and the wolves howling. The day would be here soon and the queen wondered what Xena was doing. Was she sitting by a fire, freezing, trying to keep the cold away? Was she sleeping peacefully? Was she having a good time in a tavern somewhere? She didn't believe that last thought was true, but it was always a possibility.
There was a tapping on the outside of Gabrielle's hut. She yawned and stood up. She walked over to the door and peered out. There were two very small amazon girls. One was a toddling child. Gabrielle smiled.
"Hi girls," Gabrielle said with a warm, welcoming wave. The girls bowed before her and Gabrielle let them in. The oldest, probably about four winters old held the little one's hand. "What's wrong?"
"We're scared. The wind is really loud tonight," the oldest spoke. "Will you tell us a story? You're a bard, queen Gabrielle." Gabrielle was touched and she hoped that her own child would ask her to read to them one day. Gabrielle sat down on her bed and motioned for the kids to sit up there with her. They crawled up onto the bed and Gabrielle pulled out a scroll and began to read about the adventure she and Xena had with Velasca.
*~*
Xena woke up abruptly in her sleep. She had had a nightmare that Gabrielle was being chased by wolves and she was killed. Xena had started to cry. She couldn't stand being away from her love.
"Gabrielle," Xena said. "I miss you. Please be safe." She closed her eyes and listened to the fierce wind for a few minutes before calming down and going back into a fitful sleep.
Chapter Sixteen
In the morning, Gabrielle woke up to an empty room. She'd forgotten about taking the children back to their hut. After remembering, Gabrielle stood and felt a little off balance. She looked down at her protruding belly. It had grown a little more since the day before. She patted it and felt the baby respond. The first kick. She smiled but realized that Xena wasn't there and she frowned.
The bard fixed her hair and clothes and left her hut. She hated being alone in there. She was greeted by a bright, warm day. She saw the children playing excitedly in the fields. She saw the teenaged girls practicing with crossbows and she saw the older amazons gathered around Ephiny. Gabrielle headed over to them. She could hear them talking about warfare.
"What's going on?" Gabrielle asked. They all turned to look upon their queen.
"Queen Gabrielle," one amazon started. "We're about to wage war on the centaur hunters." Gabrielle realized what they were saying and decided against it.
"No. We will let Xena do her job. She will return Xenan and Solan back to their village. They will be safe and Xena will return. She will be fine and so will the boys," Gabrielle promised.
"Gabrielle," Ephiny started. "I think we should go join the centaurs, just in case Xena needs our help."
"We will stay," Gabrielle started, but was interrupted by Ephiny.
"Gabrielle," Ephiny repeated a bit harshly. A few of the younger amazons stopped what there were doing and gazed over at the gathering with looks of shock on their faces. "We should go. We won't fight. We will just be there for the centaurs and Xena." Gabrielle thought about it for a few minutes. She decided that it would be okay but she'd have to travel slowly.
"Fine," Gabrielle said, feeling a little put down by Ephiny. "We'll go to the centaur village." With that, she walked back to her hut while the other amazons looked on.
*~*
Xena rode quickly this morning. Argo was freshly fed and rested. The sun was bright and the air was crisp and warm. Xena had to ride through a gigantic crack in the middle of a mountain, much like she did when she was with Hercules, Iolaus, and Salmoneus. She rode slowly through it, as to not cause an avalanche.
The hoof beats echoed back and forth on the walls. Xena could feel the sounds reverberating off of her spine. The hairs on her neck stood on end. She looked around and up just in case she was about to be ambushed. Old habits died hard for the warrior princess.
Xena began whistling as to calm a spooked Argo. The poor horse hated when it was too quiet. She would always get spooked and relied on Xena's humming, singing, or whistling to calm her down.
After getting through, Xena took Argo into a fast trot again. The horse seemed relieved to be out of the silence. The fast riding made Xena a bit more alert and it gave her less time to worry about Gabrielle. She didn't want to be scared, but she couldn't help it. Gabrielle was pregnant and with the amazons. The amazons would take care of their queen, but Gabrielle was a curious one. What would happen if she got too curious and got hurt?
*~*
Ephiny helped Gabrielle pack up her things and she helped her saddle a good horse. She helped Gabrielle onto the horse and Gabrielle, Ephiny, and a few other older amazons left Amazon Land. The teenaged amazons were left in charge of the young ones and were left responsible for anything that happened while the older women were gone.
"Do you really think we should be doing this?" Gabrielle asked Ephiny as they rode.
"I'm positive," she replied. "Let's go."
Gabrielle was disturbed. She was concerned for Xena. The warrior had been extremely nervous about losing her. Had she been like this from the beginning? Was Xena jealous of Gabrielle's closeness with Ephiny and the other amazons? Why did Xena care so much about how long Gabrielle wanted to stay.
Gabrielle lay back on the bed and closed her eyes. She folded her arms behind her head and propped her head on them. She knew that what she'd said to Xena hadn't been fair, but Xena wasn't being fair either. The amazons were just as much family to Gabrielle than Xena was. Gabrielle shook her head slowly. She loved Xena with all of her heart but, being in Amazon Territory was like home for her. She had a roof over her head and didn't have to worry about turning around every five minutes to make sure nobody was following or trailing her.
"Why?" Gabrielle asked nobody in particular. She put her hands on her belly and felt nothing. The baby wasn't big enough for her to feel the movements yet. She smiled when she pictured a perfect little child holding one of her hands and holding one of Xena's. She pictured the three walking along happily and laughing. Now, she wasn't so sure she could have that picture. Had the last few years with Xena all been a climax leading up to a disappointing end? Tears formed in the corners of Gabrielle's eyes and she let them fall freely.
*~*
Xena walked away and into the woods for a quiet reflection on the past few years. She didn't want to go on living her life without Gabrielle and her child. If Gabrielle was happy at the Amazon Lands, she wouldn't take Gabrielle away. She would let Gabrielle and the child stay if that was what they wanted. Xena knew that if that's what Gabrielle wanted, she'd stay as well.
Xena sat down on a dead tree stump and closed her eyes. She could still remember the first time she saw her bard. Draco's men were capturing her and she was upset. But, she was the bravest girl there. Underneath the wide eyes and the heavy, frantic breathing, she was brave and she stood up for her fellow villagers.
The first time Gabrielle told Xena she loved her and the first time she and Gabrielle had consummated a new, loving relationship. She could still remember that wonderful night, a month or so after Perdicus' death. Gabrielle had been frightened, Xena had been too. Neither of them had done anything quite like that before, but for their first time together, they both did quite well in the pleasing department.
The first time Xena ever saw Gabrielle's beautiful smile and heard that wonderful laugh had been one of the most joyous times of her life spent with Gabrielle. The bard was so full of life and love, Xena wasn't sure why Gabrielle loved her so much.
Xena realized that her own life was dark and perpetually boring until Gabrielle showed up. She was so glad to have Gabrielle that she may have taken advantage of her being around.
"Gods, Gabrielle, why did I bring you with me? You could be an innocent little village girl right now if I hadn't shown up," Xena spoke aloud. She felt a tear cascade down her cheek and she sniffled.
The warrior dried her eyes and stood up. Her heart was aching and she was ready to apologize to her love. But, would Gabrielle even be there? Would she even accept the apology? There was only one way to find out.
Xena started to walk back toward the huts and she could already hear the amazon girls laughing and playing. She could hear a couple of women practicing with staffs. The dark-haired beauty made her way back to the queen's hut in about ten minutes. She wanted to see Gabrielle immediately.
She crept up to the entrance of the hut and could see Gabrielle sitting on the edge of the bed, her face in her hands, her back shaking. She could tell the young queen was crying. Xena walked silently into the hut and made her way to the bed. She sat down next to Gabrielle and wrapped her arms around her.
"Shh," Xena started. "I'm sorry Gabrielle." With that, Gabrielle leaned into Xena and cried on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry my love."
"I'm sorry too," Gabrielle sobbed. "I don't think I can go on like this." She pulled away and stared into Xena's eyes.
Xena felt a lump in her throat. Was this it? Was Gabrielle about to tell her that she wanted her gone? Did Gabrielle want to stay with the amazons without Xena there? The lump turned back into heartache and Xena started to cry.
Chapter Fourteen
"I understand, Gabrielle," Xena spoke without letting Gabrielle speak. Gabrielle looked scared and confused as Xena stood. "I'll be out of here after lunch." Gabrielle shook her head and stood up quickly.
"What?" she asked frantically.
"You want me to leave," Xena declared. "Don't you?"
"No! Of course not!" Gabrielle exclaimed. "I want to be with you. I don't want to be where your not happy."
"And I don't want to be where you're not happy, Gabrielle. I love you too much for you to be out there with our child, in danger," the warrior confessed. "You're the one person that made me love again. I love you so much Gabrielle. It hurts so much to see you unhappy."
"I know you're unhappy here and I can't bare to see you like that," Gabrielle declared. "I don't want to be here if you don't." There was a long pause while both women tried to figure out what to say or do next.
"I guess we're at a stalemate," Xena discovered. Gabrielle smiled through her tears.
"How about this," she started. "I want our child to see the world, but I want it to know the amazons as well. So, we will be with you, out there on the road, but we will come back a few times a year."
"Are you sure?" Xena asked, stepping closer to Gabrielle. Gabrielle nodded.
"I'm positive," Gabrielle said, her face turning brighter. Xena smiled and pulled Gabrielle into a soft hug and a long, tender kiss. Xena ran her fingers through the queen's long, blonde hair and smiled. She didn't think that going any farther would be a good thing at this point in the pregnancy, but they could hold each other for as long as they wanted to.
Gabrielle pulled away when she felt a bit queasy. She looked as if she were going to fall back but Xena caught her before she even started to fall.
"You okay?" she asked. Gabrielle nodded.
"I just need to lie down." The bard said. Xena nodded. She helped Gabrielle lay down on the bed. She kissed her forehead.
"Rest now," Xena said. Gabrielle nodded before drifting off. Xena left the hut and decided to go talk to Ephiny. She walked down to Ephiny's hut where she heard crying. Xena furrowed her brow. "Ephiny?"
"Please, come in," Ephiny's voice called. Xena entered the hut and saw the amazon sitting on the floor, leaning against her bed. She was a mess. Her face was streaked with tears and her eyes were bloodshot.
"By the gods," Xena whispered. "What happened?"
"My son," she whimpered. All that Xena could think now was that Xenan had been killed.
"Oh, Ephiny," Xena said as she kneeled down to Ephiny. "What happened?"
"He was taken by a group of centaur hunters. I just got word from one of the children from the village. Xena, Solan was there too. He tried to protect Xenan and he was taken too," Ephiny declared. "We have to find them."
"We will," Xena said as she feared the worst for her son and her friend's son. "But, I want you to stay here with Gabrielle. She needs you. I will find them and I'll take them back to the village. They'll be safe." Ephiny nodded.
"Please make sure they're okay," Ephiny declared.
"I will," Xena swore. "Did you find out where they're keeping them?"
"Somewhere around the centaur village. Caliopus has a troop of centaurs staked out around the boundaries. A few of them have been killed by arrows, but for the most part, it's quiet," explained the amazon. Xena nodded. "They won't kill Xenan or Solan until you show up. They want to kill you."
"Okay. I'm going," Xena said. She quickly stood and ran out of the hut. She ran back to the queen's hut and found her things. Gabrielle quickly sat up in bed.
"Xena?" she asked. "What's going on?"
"Xenan and Solan have been kidnapped. I have to go save them," Xena explained. She didn't dare tell Gabrielle that they wanted her there so they could kill her. She didn't want Gabrielle afraid for her.
"I'm going," Gabrielle said as she started to get up.
"Oh no you are not," Xena ordered. "You're staying here and you're going to take care of yourself and our child."
"But," Gabrielle protested.
"No buts, Gabrielle. I don't want you or our baby harmed," Xena warned. "I love you. I'll see you soon." Xena hurried over to Gabrielle and kissed her softly. "Goodbye my love."
Chapter Fifteen
Riding fast and furious, the warrior princess wasn't about to stop for anything or anybody. She didn't want to waste anytime getting to the centaurs. It would take about two or three days without sleep, but she knew she'd have to sleep sometime. She'd probably get there within four or five days. She just had to get to her son and her friend's son. She couldn't let them die. She wouldn't be able to live with herself.
The sun was setting in the sky and the stars were becoming visible. Xena figured she could ride for about three more hours to cover more land. She could tell that Argo was getting tired by the snort in her whinnying.
"Come on Argo. You can do it girl," Xena coaxed as they rode. She got the horse to go a bit faster.
As the sky blackened and the stars shone brightly, the moon became overcast with rain clouds. The wind was blowing fiercely and was rather cold. Xena didn't want to spend too much time riding now because she didn't want to get sick.
"Whoa girl," Xena soothed as she brought the horse to a halt. She dismounted and let the horse into a clearing that looked like it'd keep the rain out. Xena tied Argo's reins to a tree and she set out her bedroll. She started a fire and sat close to it. She missed having Gabrielle by her side. She missed the warmth that Gabrielle brought to the cold nights.
Xena shivered and shook her longing thoughts away. If she thought about that all night, she'd never get any sleep. The warrior laid down in her bedroll and covered up warmly. She closed her eyes and listening to the leaves rattling on the three branches. She smiled momentarily and drifted off into sleep.
*~*
Sitting up in bed, her hands on her stomach, staring into the fire, Gabrielle thought of Xena. She hoped that she'd be back soon. In a couple of weeks, the child would be born and she needed Xena there for that. She refused to give birth if Xena wasn't there. She knew the gods didn't care about that, but she could try to keep the kid in.
She pulled the blanket up to her chest and she sighed softly. She listened to the wind screaming and the wolves howling. The day would be here soon and the queen wondered what Xena was doing. Was she sitting by a fire, freezing, trying to keep the cold away? Was she sleeping peacefully? Was she having a good time in a tavern somewhere? She didn't believe that last thought was true, but it was always a possibility.
There was a tapping on the outside of Gabrielle's hut. She yawned and stood up. She walked over to the door and peered out. There were two very small amazon girls. One was a toddling child. Gabrielle smiled.
"Hi girls," Gabrielle said with a warm, welcoming wave. The girls bowed before her and Gabrielle let them in. The oldest, probably about four winters old held the little one's hand. "What's wrong?"
"We're scared. The wind is really loud tonight," the oldest spoke. "Will you tell us a story? You're a bard, queen Gabrielle." Gabrielle was touched and she hoped that her own child would ask her to read to them one day. Gabrielle sat down on her bed and motioned for the kids to sit up there with her. They crawled up onto the bed and Gabrielle pulled out a scroll and began to read about the adventure she and Xena had with Velasca.
*~*
Xena woke up abruptly in her sleep. She had had a nightmare that Gabrielle was being chased by wolves and she was killed. Xena had started to cry. She couldn't stand being away from her love.
"Gabrielle," Xena said. "I miss you. Please be safe." She closed her eyes and listened to the fierce wind for a few minutes before calming down and going back into a fitful sleep.
Chapter Sixteen
In the morning, Gabrielle woke up to an empty room. She'd forgotten about taking the children back to their hut. After remembering, Gabrielle stood and felt a little off balance. She looked down at her protruding belly. It had grown a little more since the day before. She patted it and felt the baby respond. The first kick. She smiled but realized that Xena wasn't there and she frowned.
The bard fixed her hair and clothes and left her hut. She hated being alone in there. She was greeted by a bright, warm day. She saw the children playing excitedly in the fields. She saw the teenaged girls practicing with crossbows and she saw the older amazons gathered around Ephiny. Gabrielle headed over to them. She could hear them talking about warfare.
"What's going on?" Gabrielle asked. They all turned to look upon their queen.
"Queen Gabrielle," one amazon started. "We're about to wage war on the centaur hunters." Gabrielle realized what they were saying and decided against it.
"No. We will let Xena do her job. She will return Xenan and Solan back to their village. They will be safe and Xena will return. She will be fine and so will the boys," Gabrielle promised.
"Gabrielle," Ephiny started. "I think we should go join the centaurs, just in case Xena needs our help."
"We will stay," Gabrielle started, but was interrupted by Ephiny.
"Gabrielle," Ephiny repeated a bit harshly. A few of the younger amazons stopped what there were doing and gazed over at the gathering with looks of shock on their faces. "We should go. We won't fight. We will just be there for the centaurs and Xena." Gabrielle thought about it for a few minutes. She decided that it would be okay but she'd have to travel slowly.
"Fine," Gabrielle said, feeling a little put down by Ephiny. "We'll go to the centaur village." With that, she walked back to her hut while the other amazons looked on.
*~*
Xena rode quickly this morning. Argo was freshly fed and rested. The sun was bright and the air was crisp and warm. Xena had to ride through a gigantic crack in the middle of a mountain, much like she did when she was with Hercules, Iolaus, and Salmoneus. She rode slowly through it, as to not cause an avalanche.
The hoof beats echoed back and forth on the walls. Xena could feel the sounds reverberating off of her spine. The hairs on her neck stood on end. She looked around and up just in case she was about to be ambushed. Old habits died hard for the warrior princess.
Xena began whistling as to calm a spooked Argo. The poor horse hated when it was too quiet. She would always get spooked and relied on Xena's humming, singing, or whistling to calm her down.
After getting through, Xena took Argo into a fast trot again. The horse seemed relieved to be out of the silence. The fast riding made Xena a bit more alert and it gave her less time to worry about Gabrielle. She didn't want to be scared, but she couldn't help it. Gabrielle was pregnant and with the amazons. The amazons would take care of their queen, but Gabrielle was a curious one. What would happen if she got too curious and got hurt?
*~*
Ephiny helped Gabrielle pack up her things and she helped her saddle a good horse. She helped Gabrielle onto the horse and Gabrielle, Ephiny, and a few other older amazons left Amazon Land. The teenaged amazons were left in charge of the young ones and were left responsible for anything that happened while the older women were gone.
"Do you really think we should be doing this?" Gabrielle asked Ephiny as they rode.
"I'm positive," she replied. "Let's go."