And so it begins…

Chapter 4 –Oleander and Geese

Farah and Rabia stayed in the women's quarters together playing a traditional card game from Banat. The two were able to spend time together alone without interruptions. For once the room was not occupied by a bunch of children, servants and mothers. The two former Czarinas hardly had one on one time to bond anymore as their lives were incredibly busy.

Rabia studied her cards and placed one in the center of the rug. She cast a smile at her little sister, knowing that it'd be very hard to find a card to trump hers. She had her mind set on winning this card game and they were only on their first round.

"Don't be a spoiled sport if you lose," she tells her little sister.

"I am not going to lose! Just let me think for a minute." Farah quirked her mouth and looked at her sister's cards on the floor and back at the ones in her hand.

While she was waiting for the chosen card Rabia curiously asked her sister, "how are things between you and Csaba?"

Farah lifted her eyes from the cards and stared into her sister's brown eyes. "Okay, I guess."

"Just okay?"

"Rabia, why are you asking me about my marriage? You don't even like Csaba."

The elder sister smiled. "He's alright I suppose. He just annoys me. I just noticed that you two hardly speak when in passing and at dinner sometimes."

Farah sighed and placed a card to match her sister's on the floor. "It's my fault we're at odds. I've been pressuring him to have another baby."

Rabia gasped. "Another one? Farah, tu fata nebuna," she muttered and slapped another card on the floor.

"I want a girl!" the queen clenched her fist and slammed her palm on the floor. Her sister raised an eyebrow and gently pushed the cards aside to place another winning pick next to the other four.

"If…you do decide to have another child will you be disappointed if it's a boy?"

Farah set the cards down, no longer wanting to play this game now that her mind was focused on her husband's past arguments with her.

"I will still love the child if it's a boy but I really want a daughter. I got more than I bargained for last time. I don't see what the big deal is! We have plenty of space here. Csaba is just being ridiculous. It's not like he's going to be doing all of the hard work. His part is easy."

"Alright, I don't need to hear anymore," Rabia cut her sister off with a raise of her hand.

She smiled and gently slapped her sister's knee. "Why don't you get married? I'd love for you to have children of your own."

Rabia half smiled. "No thank you. I've been married once and I am not doing that again. As for children, I enjoy being an aunt to your children. They are like my own."

"Mom!" Aman screamed and ran into the room with his brother. Both of them were covered in mud from head to toe.

"That is why I will never have children."

Farah shot a glare to her sister and turned to her filthy sons. "What happened to you two?"

Ku walked in with Aurora and she too was covered in mud, except the princess was smiling and her cousins weren't exactly happy that their fresh clean clothes were now ruined. Ku sighed and Farah's mouth gaped at the three children.

"Oran thought it'd be a good idea to take the children to the marshes," Ku informed the queen.

"Oran," Farah rolled her eyes. She grabbed a cloth from one of the tables filled with linen and wiped her sons' faces. She gasped when she saw red spots all over their cheeks. "What is this?!" she inspected their faces and pinched their cheeks.

Ku frowned and wiped the mud off Aurora's face and saw red splotches all over her face as well. "I don't understand. They didn't have these spots on them this morning."

"I'm going to kill Oran." She picked up Aladar in one arm and grabbed Aman's hand and led them out of the women's quarters. Ku hurried along with Aurora right behind them.

Yeter stormed into the Adame and Farah quickly tried to avoid conversation with the infuriated Gokturk queen. "Farah!" she screeched. "Your sons are to blame for this!" she pushed Muqan and Issik forward and their faces and necks were covered in red bumps as well.

Ku covered her mouth and then Yeter looked at the other children who also were infected with the same skin condition. Ku didn't recall Yeter's sons being in the same area as the others were when Oran was present.

"They didn't go into the marshes, did they?"

The Gokturk folded her arms. "Why would I allow my sons to go to that place in the dead of winter?" she snapped back at the handmaid.

Ursula held Nisa's boys by their hands walking into the foyer and Farah exhaled deeply when she saw Kurt and Utigur also with red spots all over their skin. The shamaness looked at all of the children and there was something amiss here. She also spotted a few other children in the tribe who contracted this illness as well. She figured it was just a small fixable thing but apparently it wasn't as every single royal child was affected too.

"This is a problem," said Ursula.

Yeter crossed her arms and glared at her mother in law. "Obviously."

"No, I mean that children everywhere in the camp are infected. This must have come from an outside source."

Edemen ran downstairs and flung his coat over his shoulders, eager to go outside and spend some time with his father. He saw all of his cousins and two brothers standing in the foyer with the red spots all over their skin.

"Whoa, what happened to you guys?" he addressed everyone.

Aladar frowned and wiped the mud off his eyebrows. "He's got no spots!" he points at his brother.

Farah stretched her arm out. "Stand back, Ede. Don't come near any of them. I'm going to take these three to the bathhouse upstairs. I think it's best if all the children are quarantined to a room. They can stay in the guest suite downstairs."

Issik groaned and folded his arms, glaring at his little brother. "I don't want to share a room with everyone else."

Kurt shoved him forward. "Too bad."

"Don't touch me!"

"Stop it!" Farah yelled. "You will do as I say." She set her son down and gently pushed them to go upstairs and grabbed Aurora to follow them. "Go upstairs. Go, go." She waved her hands and the three ran up the stairs, leaving muddy footprints all over the carpeting.

Crossing the borders into China only took a few days and they were greeted by Emperor Liu's men guarding the Great Wall which took some convincing to get into. After they passed the Wall they continued their journey on foot towards the imperial city which was also blocked by another wall, but it was not quite as large as the other one.

Much to everyone's surprise, Arielle had been on her best behavior around Bayan. Gabrielle couldn't say the same for her wife as she saw a different side of her during their journey to the imperial city. Xena was fascinated by China and she wanted to explore. The governor sensed that her wife was not going to abide by Arielle's rules given that she was very anxious to get into the palace to meet the emperor and his family.

They made it inside the imperial palace and Ernak lead the way with Arielle by his side. Bayan stood behind them and he felt Arielle's grandmother's eyes burning into the back of his head. He was surprised that he hadn't been scolded by her yet. Her quietness was unnerving.

"Remember to let me do all of the talking," whispered Ernak.

Arielle nodded.

They halted by the guards' spears blocking further entry into the emperor's chambers. Liu walked out and everyone dropped to their knees, prostrating themselves. Ernak knelt down on both knees and he looked behind him to see the others on their knees but Arielle was still standing, staring down the emperor.

A man standing beside the emperor's throne by the name of Tan Daoji, frowned at the Hun woman standing before the emperor. He walked over to her and the guards stepped aside.

"Kneel," he hissed.

Gabrielle lifted her eyes briefly and sighed, staring at Arielle's backside, refusing orders was a habit for the young commander.

"I said kneel, Huna!"

Arielle looked at him in the eye and slowly knelt down to both knees and rested on her heels then bowed her head. Ernak muttered to himself and grimaced at Arielle. He cursed her stubborn and outlandish behavior. It wasn't the first time she had rejected Chinese royalty.

Emperor Liu waved his hand to Tan Daoij and smiled at the Hun entourage. "I recognize the face of the young woman. Tell me your name."

Arielle looked to the emperor and rose off the floor. "Princess Arielle of Pannonia, Queen of Harran, Commander of the Hun Empire, House of Khushnavaz of Armenia," she introduced herself.

He nodded. "Princess Arielle. I remember you. You were quite mouthy to my mother, Empress Dowager Shen."

She lowered her gaze. "Yes…" she admitted. "I send my sincerest apologies to the Dowager."

"Perhaps she will hear them from the heavens," he raised his hand to the ceiling.

Her eyes widened and eyed Ernak who kept wagging his head to keep her silent but she spoke anyway, "My condolences."

Xena raised her eyebrow. "She is being very polite," she whispered.

"She is trying to look her best in front of the emperor," Gabrielle told her wife.

"She didn't get off on a good start by not bowing along with everyone else."

Emperor Liu smiled and waved his hand and Arielle knelt back down to the floor. "King Ernak, I was not aware that you were bringing so many members of your family. Princess Arielle is now the commander yet I see Xena behind her."

Ernak stood and bowed his head. "Yes. Arielle has taken up the mantle of commander but is guided by Xena throughout this journey, emperor. Thank you for inviting us into your home. I have brought over half of the army with us to aid in your conflict."

"Yes, the conflict. My son, Prince Houfei, rules over the southern territories of China. He has become a problem to my empire. He has risen against me and caused a rift in my family. I rely on you and your army to help get rid of his growing empire. There is a rumor spreading that he is working with Shah Balash. I know your people are familiar with the Persians."

"We are very familiar with the Sassan family, emperor. What will you have us do first? We are here to serve you as allies."

Liu smiled at the Hun king. "The closest territory to the imperial city is in the Himalayan Mountains. It is a long ways from here. I will send General Tan Daoij with you so you will not get lost along the way."

"Excellent. We will leave by the end of the week."

Arielle's eyes grew and she looked back at her grandmother and Gabrielle who glared at her. She clenched her jaw and stood up along with everyone else in the room and backed away with her head hung until they were escorted out by the guards.

The women split off into their own rooms while the men had theirs. Arielle sat on the floor with Gabrielle and her grandmother. Both of them were staring at her instead of eating the food that the emperor's servants brought to them.

Arielle held the chopsticks in her hands, unsure how to use them. She poked the unfamiliar food and grabbed the saucer of rice and scooped some onto her plate. Xena kept eyes on her and the commander half smiled.

"What? Are you two not going to eat anything?" she asks.

Trying to get a hang of the chopsticks was not going in her favor and she set them aside then used her fingers as an eating utensil. She ripped the meat apart and used three fingers to scoop the rice into her mouth.

Gabrielle sat back and observed the strange behavior of the young commander. "You heard what the emperor said, right?"

She nodded. "Yes," she took a minute to swallow her food and wipe her mouth. "We are going to the Himalayas to fight against Prince Houfei. I was listening."

"The Himalayan Mountains is a vast area, Arielle. We will have to scout and make sure there aren't any traps in the mountains and snow."

Arielle frowned and no longer liked sharing a room with these two. "Are you both going to pester me the entire mission? I know what to do!"

"I don't want to walk into a death trap," said Xena. "I hope you remember everything that I've taught you. I'd hate for the army to lose during the first excursion."

The commander slammed her palms on the low table, startling the two women. "Stop undermining my authority! You can't stop, can you? I was given this position because I earned it and now you want to thwart my commands and belittle me in front of everyone. You should've never come here."

Xena lowered her eyes and Gabrielle turned the other way.

"You're here to take orders from me, not the other way around. You are not commander anymore, grandma. You can't tell me what to do and how to do it. I will do things my own way whether you like it or not."

Arielle pushed herself up off the floor and walked over to the doors and knocked loudly. Two female maids opened the doors and she looked back at them then stormed down the hallway.

Gabrielle looked at her annoyed wife. "What happened to you having faith in her?"

"I didn't say anything."

"Yes, you did. This is what I was afraid of. You can't keep your mouth shut for one minute, Xena. You always have something to say. Just let her do what she wants even if she fails. You've taught her well. She already feels like a disappointment to you. Don't make it worse."

"Why?" Xena curiously wondered. "Because she lost in Balaam to the Persians? I was there. She did a good job. You can't win all the time."

The governor grabbed her empty bowl and poured rice onto it, listening to her wife. "You were there, yes. I was there too. She was nervous while you watched her from afar. She didn't want to make any mistakes and now she feels the same way. She feels like she is in your shadow, Xena. You keep hovering over her like a dark cloud. You need to stop."

Xena sighed heavily. "I don't mean to overshadow her. I just want her to do well."

"She will if you stop breathing down her neck all the time. Don't push her away. And don't forget your place," she quickly reminded her. "You are beneath her now and you must follow her rules even if you don't agree with them."

"I've never fought against the Chinese before. I am unfamiliar with their tactics. I only know a few commands –the ones Csaba told us years ago but that's it."

Now Gabrielle understood it all. "You are worried Arielle will not know what to do and you are worried because you don't know what to do." she raised her eyebrows with a smile and Xena knitted her brows. "And now you've gone and pissed her off. Way to go."

"That child has a short temper."

Gabrielle set down the plate louder than she expected. "She is not a child, Xena. She may be a lot younger than you but she's not a child. This is why she is so frustrated with you. Stop treating her like a little girl. I've had this conversation with you several times about Anastasia. When you stopped treating Ana like a child and started treating like an adult things went a lot smoother. Try it. It works in your favor."

"I forget that I am not in that position anymore."

"I know. It will take awhile for you to get used to the change but look at it like this, we're in a new land and you have to take orders from your granddaughter. That means if she asks you to kill a bunch of men, you have to do it."

Xena's lips curled into a smile. "Ah, yes. Am I permitted to go into the battlefield?" she teased her wife.

"Only if you behave yourself."

"Ha. Well played, Gabrielle." she looked around at the empty room. "Should I go talk to her?"

The governor shook her head. "Best if you let her be alone for now. She needs to focus and not be around you."

"Oh thanks. Am I really that bad?"

"I know it's because you care so much. It's not a bad thing but just learn to be patient. She's not going to become a great commander overnight. You weren't great at her age, were you? You made mistakes, right?"

Xena nodded. "A lot of mistakes."

"Just keep that in mind next time and wait until she asks for help. She looks up to you, Xena. She's your biggest fan," Gabrielle reminded her wife and that brought a smile on Xena's face.

Csaba turned down one of the hallways and saw his wife coming out the guest quarters and ran to her. "Farah!"

She made eye contact with him and head down the hall carrying a basket of soiled sheets. He frowned and followed her until he grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"Why do you ignore me? I've been looking for you everywhere."

"You've finally decided to talk to me? You've been gone for days, Csaba! I have a lot of work to do. I don't have time to talk to you." she handed the basket of linen to one of her chambermaids.

"Wait," he held her hand and emits a soft smile. "I was thinking about what you said and I've come to a decision," he began and she stared at him skeptically. "We can have another child. I have decided."

She laughed. "You decided this? Since when is it all up to you?"

"Well…I mean I am giving you what you want. That is what you want, isn't it?"

"Csaba, you didn't want to listen to me when I brought up the subject and you ignored me instead."

"I'm confused. Do you not want a child anymore?"

Farah groaned and shoved him away. "I have a lot on my plate right now. All of the children are sick and while you were off doing who knows what I've been dealing with that and all of the documents Gabrielle left behind. I don't want to talk about this anymore. Leave me be." She waved her hand and yelled at the chambermaids from across the way.

He folded his arms and huffed. He was baffled as to what just happened. He was trying to cheer up his wife and instead he got yelled at and upset her further which wasn't what he anticipated at all. What a backfire, he thought.

Ursula came out of the room filled with infected children and Csaba walked over to her. She turned and jumped at the sight of him. She bowed her head. "You frightened me, your highness."

"My apologies," he smiled, eager to talk to someone. He missed talking to his mother and Ursula was the only other mother figure here to talk to. Being only a couple years older than his mother, he knew that he could come to her with anything that was on his mind.

"Ursula, may I speak with you? It's about Farah."

She eyed the long hallway ahead of her. "Of course but it must be quick. I am to check on Nisa."

"Oh," his cheeks flushed. "Well, she asked me if we could have another child and I said no but I just told her I am okay with the idea and now she is upset with me."

Ursula's eyes lit up. "Bu harika bir haber," she rejoiced at the idea and he shyly grinned. "She is overwhelmed, your majesty. Give her time to adjust. This is her first time ruling the empire without your mother. I look forward to hearing the expecting news. Excuse me, Nisa is waiting for me." She bowed curtly and hurried away.

Aurora scratched her arms with her wool mitten covered hands and grunted loudly. "Ku-Ilm! Ku-Ilm!"

"Yes, halu?" she answered and rushed to the bedside and began rubbing cream on the princess' arms to soothe her skin.

"I'm so itchy!"

Ku chuckled. "It will pass. The others are in the same boat as you."

The princess sighed and sat up, looking at her boy cousins playing games in the center of the room on the floor. "Why can't I be with them?"

"Because you're a princess. You get your own room. Special treatment for you, halu." She poked Aurora's nose.

She looked at her cousins and frowned sadly, unsure of what to think. All of her cousins had siblings and she was the only girl in the family. With seven cousins and all of them being boys she felt further and further alienated from them as they grew older.

Ku finished dressing the girl's arms with the cream. Her skin was now drenched. "This should stop the itchiness but you must stop scratching. Lie down and relax. Do you want me to tell you a story?"

Aurora settled in the bed and her eyes were focused on her cousins laughing and playing. "I wanna go play with the boys."

"You can't right now."

She looked up at her caretaker. "How come?"

"Because Queen Farah said so."

Aurora scratched her arm and puckered her lips, irritated that she was stuck in a room by herself while her cousins could do as they pleased. "Can you tell Teyze Farah to let me play with them?"

Ku nervously glanced back at the princes. "Um, I'm not sure she will allow it."

She was too apprehensive to speak to the young queen and frankly, she was mildly fearful of her. Farah had the beauty of a thousand suns and a mind sharper than anyone in the camp but her words could cut ice sometimes. Anastasia Khatun was nicer, softer and more understanding. Farah was the true definition of a privileged queen.

"Please, Ku?"

"I'll see what I can do. Halu, you must stop scratching! I will tie you to the bed if I must!"

Csaba was shown a fair amount of jewelry by one of the merchants of West Pannonia. He requested to see jewelry specifically made in the empire and others that were imported from Egypt and other North African territories.

The merchant held up a ruby necklace carefully in his palms. "This is from the lower Nile, your majesty. Do you believe the queen will like it?"

Csaba rubbed his chin. "It is hard to please her. She has so much that I need a separate room just for her jewels and gowns," he joked. The merchant chuckled softly.

He wasn't on the best terms with Farah given the argument they had earlier and their lack of communication for the last month. He knew that she enjoyed lavish gifts and hoped that a set of jewelry would coax her into forgiving him.

The falconer rushed into the king's quarters and bowed from the waist. Csaba frowned at the falconer and waved his hand at the jeweler. "My king, I have news from the Khatun," he said breathlessly and held out his hand holding the small message.

"What does she have to say?"

"She…she says that Princess Cera has been taken from the Nezak tribe of Chieftain Kerem. They have searched all of Kazakhstan but did not find her." he did not make eye contact and kept his arm extended.

Csaba slowly walked over and snatched the letter to read it for himself. The jeweler gently placed the necklace back into the silver box and bowed his head in silence. Csaba crumbled up the message and threw it in the fireplace.

"I will tell Farah about this. Excuse me," he nods to the jeweler and brushed passed the falconer.

Madhiya's servant girl set down a silver platter of rice, peppers and goat in a thick sauce on the floor of the yurt. The girl bowed her head and backed away from the platter and Madhiya inspected the food and looked at the servant with her hung head.

"Is there anything else I can get for you, governor?"

"No, that is all for now, Viktoria." Madhiya waved her hand and ripped the large flat bread in half and dipped it into the tomato sauce. The young servant girl slowly backed away and stood by the entrance of the yurt, waiting for further instruction.

"Destur!" a loud orator outside announced and Madhiya froze in the middle of enjoying her meal. "Anastasia Khatun senin huzurunda!"

The governor frantically looked around for her kozak and Viktoria found it lying on a chair and hurried over to Madhiya. She ripped it out of the girl's hands and settled the headdress upon her head and grabbed her sword, exiting her yurt.

Anastasia dismounted her horse and approached the Yakut governor's yurt with Badr and two other soldiers standing behind her. Madhiya emerged and smiled at the prim and proper queen dressed in black robes and an elaborate beaded black headdress with a veil that dipped to her knees.

"Khatun, what brings you to Siberia?" she bowed curtly.

"I've never had the pleasure of meeting you before, Madhiya. It has been long overdue," Ana politely said and the governor kept a smug smile. "Bey Malka was not informed of your sudden departure from the Altai Mountains. Are you running from something?"

Madhiya looked at the soldiers standing by with their hands on their swords. "I have no reason to hide, khatun. I am not part of your empire after all. My late husband's brother exiled me if you have forgotten."

Anastasia clicked her tongue against her cheek. "Oh, I didn't forget, governor."

She took a short pause.

"Is there any particular reason you've fled to the old Sabir territories? It is very cold here and desolate in Siberia."

Madhiya pursed her mouth. "We are close to the Amur River. It is not so desolate here, khatun. What is the meaning of your arrival? If I had known you were coming I would've set up arrangements for you."

"I bet you would have," the khatun smirked. "I would like to make an offer."

"Yes?"

"I would like you to rejoin the Hun Empire."

Safiya's jaw dropped as she stood a few paces away. "Anastasia Khatun…"

Ana held up her hand and the Sabir woman frowned. She turned her attention back to the shocked Yakut governor. "What will it be? Join us or remain in poverty?"

"Four decades too late, khatun. I will have to consider your offer. It will take me a few days to come up with a decision."

"Understandable. I will set up camp in your tribe." Ana smiled and turned to leave and Madhiya bowed her head, her eyes never leaving the tall khatun.

Ana approached Safiya and whispered, "Have Soran and Badr search the tribe and if you find anything come get me. I will set up a tent on the outskirts."

Safiya held her tongue and bowed her head. "Yes, khatun."

Arielle led the army to the Himalayas just as instructed by Emperor Liu and she was overwhelmed by the amount of area her men and women needed to cover. She eyed the huge mountains ahead and the thick snow in the crevices of the valley below.

During the journey Xena kept her mouth shut per her wife's request and allowed Arielle to command the army. She didn't realize how hard it was to keep her opinions to herself until now. She'd never been in the backseat before. She was always up front and had a plan but this time, her body and mind were in the hands of Arielle.

Ernak pulled the scarf down from his mouth and icy breath escaped his mouth as he exhaled deeply. "What is the first step, commander?" he asked.

Arielle turned to him nervously and looked behind at her grandmother who sat patiently and silently on her horse. She gazed at the mountains and miles and miles of snow ahead. She knew Balaam like the back of her hand and still lost to Shah Balash. Now she was in an unfamiliar territory and felt like she knew nothing even after years of intensive training.

"Um…" she tapped her gloved fingers on her thigh. "Squads two and four spread out –left and right –search for traps," she said.

Ernak smiled and waved his hand to the two groups of men and women. They separated and began treading through the thick snow. He looked over at Xena who was just itching to say something but he was proud of her for not saying anything.

"Bayan and I will scout the woods," she said. "And the governor and…lieutenant," she eyed her grandmother, "will scout the flat plains. Ernak you stay here and make sure nobody is spying on us. If you see anything, sound the horn."

She kicked her horse and rode off with Bayan into the forests. Xena frowned at the Harran king and left with Gabrielle to the flat plains which just happened to be in the valley of the mountains. Ernak pulled the scarf over his face and waited patiently for the squads to return.

Gabrielle steered her horse through the snow and looked at the valley. Everything was quiet here which made her uneasy.

"We shouldn't be doing this. We should be in the woods with them. She shouldn't be alone," said Xena.

"These are her orders. You're doing a good job so far, Xena. Don't ruin it now."

A loud explosion erupted not far from their base location and Xena whipped her head around. Black smoke filled the sky and she saw Arielle gawking at the smoke just outside of the woods. "God dammit," she muttered. She turned back around and galloped towards Ernak.

"What just happened?"

He sighed. "There are land mines in the snow. One of the soldiers stepped on one."

Xena furrowed her eyebrows and locked eyes with Arielle who looked incredibly embarrassed. Everyone's attention diverted to the valley and torches were lit along the mountain walls. Xena's eyes widened in horror as hundreds of torches lit up at the sound of the explosion and there were loud horns from the mountains yet she couldn't see any people.

She backed away on her horse, yanking the reins tightly. Gabrielle rode up beside her and then soldiers dressed in white and black armor appeared from hidden spots in the mountains and valley.

"My goodness," she whispered. "Xena…"

"I see them…"

This was the first time Gabrielle saw fear in her wife's eyes. Arielle sat on her horse, frozen and all of her soldiers stood in place, waiting for a command. Xena looked over to her and grabbed Ernak's horn on the saddle and sounded it loudly.

He turned and growled, "Xena what are you doing?!"

She tossed the horn back to him and yelled, "Arielle!"

The commander turned with big frightened blue eyes, breathing heavily.

"Give the command!"

Arielle turned to see hundreds of Chinese soldiers running towards them and her heart stopped. Bayan nudged her arm and she nodded, swallowing deeply. She raised her hand and inhaled heavily. "Yürüyüs yaptirmak!"

The army marched forward towards the Chinese, although they were at a slow pace so far.

"Kalkanlar!" Arielle yelled and all the soldiers lifted their shields and weapons.

Gabrielle nervously bit on her leather glove. "Xena, what are we supposed to do? Stand here?"

"Just wait until she gives the attack command." She kept looking at the young commander, waiting and waiting. "Come on Arielle," she mumbled.

Arielle watched as the Chinese were only yards away and waited until the last second. She waved her arm downward. "Saldirmak!" she screamed and drew her sword and rode down with the army to attack the enemy.

Xena's jaw dropped. "What is she doing!"

"She's living life dangerously," Ernak said.

The three watched the army clash into the Chinese and Arielle make rounds around the army, avoiding the land mines carefully. Gabrielle raised her eyebrow and saw Arielle gathering a legion on horseback into a diamond-shaped formation, enclosing the opponent's, Prince Houfei's soldiers.

"Did you teach her that strategy?" she leaned over, asking her wife.

Xena's eyes traced Arielle leading the army with her sword high into the air. "No, I didn't."

"Dear god in heaven," Ernak gasped. "She's heading towards the mountain."

"I swear, that girl," Xena kicked her horse and went around to the flat plains, empty of soldiers, and followed Arielle. Her wife groaned and reluctantly followed her and kept her eye on the army circling around.

Arielle pulled out her bow after slashing through a few Chinese soldiers. Her thighs steered the horse as she loaded her bow and she aimed the arrow at one of the low points of the mountain. She spotted a Chinese tent filled with barrels of explosive black powder. Her target was there and she knew she only had one shot.

Closing one eye she galloped by a lit torch and pulled back the flaming arrow and aimed for the black powder barrels. She blocked out everything around her and released the arrow.

Xena halted her horse at the sight of the Chinese tent of explosives went off several times and black thick smoke scattered about the field. Her head lifted upward and saw the side of the mountain begin to fall.

Arielle smiled and her one shot caused an avalanche. She slung her bow over her shoulder and hurried to turn her soldiers around back up the valley hills. She rode with great speed and met up with Gabrielle and her grandmother all with a big grin on her face.

"Are you crazy?!" Xena yelled.

"I didn't tell you to leave your post!" Arielle teased and rode ahead of her back to where Ernak stood watching the avalanche obliterate all of the Chinese in the valley while the Hun army retreated at the sight of the monstrous snow rushing towards them.

That evening after setting up camp, the Chinese were quiet and didn't retaliate. Xena sat by the fire with her wife and kept sharpening a dagger to death. Gabrielle grabbed her wrist.

"If you keep sharpening that you'll have no blade left."

Xena sighed and stabbed the dagger into the snowy soil and laced her hands together, eyes fixated on the fire. Arielle approached them with a cup of wine and smiled. She took a seat opposite from them and Gabrielle nervously smiled.

"I did good, right?"

Xena blinked slowly at her granddaughter and pursed her lips.

The commander's smile disappeared. "What did I do? I got rid of the first wave of Houfei's men."

"You did well, Arielle," complimented the governor.

Arielle nods and stared at her grandmother who was not convinced. "Grandma, you have something to say. What did I do wrong this time?"

"I'm not going to say anything."

"Good because I have a job for you," she says seriously and Xena knitted her eyebrows together. "I want you to gather fifty pounds of goose feathers, six bellows and six large pots suitable for burning at high temperatures."

Xena cocked her head. "And why do you need these items? And how am I going to get fifty pounds of goose feathers?"

Arielle smiled deviously and stood up, drinking the wine. "You'll see. I know I can count on you. Ernak will give you the necessary coin that he received from Emperor Liu to buy the items."

She walked off and yelled at some of her soldiers for drinking too heavily. Gabrielle rubbed her chin and stared at her wife who was equally as confused.

"Why does she need goose feathers?"

"I haven't the slightest idea," Xena muttered. "We're going to need to buy a lot of geese. I don't know where she is learning these tactics from. I've never used that diamond strategy in my life and she almost killed half her army with that avalanche stunt!"

The governor looked at the happy young commander, joking along with her female soldiers. "Maybe she did some research before coming here."

"She doesn't like to read anything."

"Or…maybe she is very tactful and thought of that strategy by herself," suggested the governor and saw her wife holding her tongue. She quickly changed the subject so she wouldn't further irritate her wife. "Looks like we'll be going to the nearest market soon."

Xena kept eyeing her granddaughter laughing and talking with the female soldiers. She narrowed her eyes. "Look at the way she speaks to her soldiers. They are not her friends. They should be fearful of her. She is their leader."

"She's not you, Xena. She's her own person and if she wants to have a friendlier relationship with her soldiers, she can, as long as they obey her commands I don't see the harm in it."

"She should've never allowed women to join the army."

The governor chuckled and snatched the dagger out from the snow and placed it on her wife's lap. "If I do recall, you are a woman yourself unless you've forgotten that." She squeezed her wife's thigh.

Xena half smiled and lowered her shy eyes. "Don't try to lighten my mood, Gabrielle. I am in war mode. You know I need to focus."

"Got it. War now, love later. I remember you can't do both at the same time." She playfully nudged the lieutenant's arm several times.

"Quit it, Gabrielle," she says softly with a big grin and then pushed her off the bench. "I told you to quit it."

"Ha, okay fine." The blonde brushed the snow off her pants and sat on the opposite side of the fire.

Xena winked at her and began sharpening the blade which obviously didn't need any more sharpening. She eyed Arielle again when she heard her loud laughter from afar.

"If she calls me grandma on the field I swear I'll break her arm."

Farah sat in front of her vanity, rubbing oil into her hair. She grabbed her comb and ran it through a couple of times, tugging on the knots at the ends of the hair shaft. When she was satisfied with her hair she dipped her fingers into an oil based cream and gently glided her fingers along her face.

A knock came to her doors and she didn't hesitate. "Come in."

As she was rubbing the cream into her face she looked in the mirror's reflection. "Ku-Ilm," she says and the Assyrian bowed her head. "What can I do for you?"

Ku looked at the queen's reflection and nervously fidgeted with her red dress. "Your majesty, I wanted to tell you that the children are recovering well. I am sorry to hear about Princess Cera's disappearance."

"Hmm." Farah answered and looked at a blemish on her cheek and cursed softly under her breath. She wiped her skin with a hot cloth and stared at the handmaid lingering in her room. "Is that all?"

"No, actually there is…something else," Ku admits and Farah kept staring at her through the mirror, waiting. "I…well, it is winter and there is a Mass I'd like to attend. I go every year and –and since there are no churches in this area," she felt her heart fluttering rapidly, "I'd like to go to Thrace to attend Mass there for a few days with your permission."

Farah nodded. "A church service," she says. She closed the lid on the jar of cream and swiveled around in her chair. "And who will look after Aurora while you are gone?"

Ku saw the look in the queen's eyes and her cheeks blushed. "Well," she smiles, "your chambermaids are very good with Aurora. I was hoping they could watch her. I will only be gone for a week at the most."

The queen half smiled and turned around, facing the mirror to inspect her face. "I'm sorry Ku but that is not possible. My children are assigned to Gurda and Ramora. They are overwhelmed enough as it is. Arielle ordered you to watch over Aurora during her absence. Perhaps when she comes back you can go to your church service."

Ku lowered her gaze, disappointed to hear the rejection. "Yes, your highness. I understand."

"Is there something else or will you linger in my chambers?" Farah furrowed her eyebrows and covered her palms in white powder, staring into the mirror.

The handmaid bowed her head. "No, that's all. With your permission, I'll take my leave."

She closed the double doors and cursed softly in her native language. She spun around and bumped into Csaba. She gasped and lowered her eyes. "My king…"

Csaba smiled and lifted the maid's chin. "Ku, how are you doing today?"

"I'm doing well, your majesty…" she brushed a tendril behind her ear.

"Glad to hear it. How are the children doing?"

"They –they are getting better. They've finally stopped complaining about the itchiness and the bumps on their skin have faded slightly."

He nodded. "Good, good. Is there something wrong? You're pale."

She touched her cheek. "Oh. It's very cold outside."

"Hopefully you are not coming down with something," he says and rests a hand on her shoulder. "I see you've just visited my wife. Is she in good spirits today?"

Ku half frowned and there were a lot of things she could say about the queen but she remembered her place. "She…she seemed a bit agitated."

He sighed. "Great." He did not want to deal with Farah when she was in a bad mood and so far she'd been in a bad mood for over a month now. "Keep me posted about the children's recovery status. I have to go see my wife now, excuse me."

"Your highness," she said and kept her gaze low until he disappeared into Farah's room. She exhaled deeply and hurried back to the guest suite where the children stayed.

Ku gathered the empty silver platter from the children's room and head to the kitchen in the basement of the Adame. She treads down the stairs carefully and paused at the doorway when she heard gossiping from Farah's chambermaids. She backed up and listened but they did not hide their feelings towards their queen and spoke loudly.

Gurda picked at a plate of fruit and smiled at her friend. "The queen is in a mood. I don't know if I can stand to be around her any longer."

Remora nodded and licked her syrupy fingers from the honey dipped cheeses. "She was kinder to us in Banat. I don't like living in Pannonia with these Huns. They are a strange people. They eat on the floor!" she laughed.

Ku frowned at the maids' conversation and remained in the hallway, debating whether or not to go in the kitchen or continue to eavesdrop.

Gurda wiped her hands and leaned in close. "I serve the queen in her chambers a lot as you know. She has been very vocal when the king is present that she wants another child, preferably a girl."

"Of course. She will stop at nothing. She's been talking about it since Prince Edemen was born," Ramora rolled her eyes.

"She's been in such a foul mood that even the king will not come near her. I also do not wish to serve her when she's pregnant. She gives me such a headache. She had me running around the palace in Banat last time!" she groaned. "I have been giving her oleander tea."

Ramora gasped. "Gurda, why do you do such a thing? Surely she will find out that the tea is the cause of the lack of conception," she whispered.

Ku's eyes widened and she walked down the stairs, entering the kitchen. The two maids ceased conversation and went about finishing their food. She set the empty tray down on the table a bit harder than normal and glared at the maids.

"Prince Aman wishes to have tea soon," she informed them.

Gurda smiled at the Assyrian. "I'll give it to him during dinner."

"He wants it before dinner is served." Ku folded her arms, glaring at the conspiring maids.

Ramora raised her eyebrows. "Oh, suddenly Ku-Ilm is the boss of the kitchen, huh?" she teased and Gurda snickered. "I will make the tea for the little prince, don't you worry. I'll bring the tray to him. You don't have to bother with that." She grabbed the platter and walked over to the stove.

Ku skeptically looked at the two and hurried up the stairs.