The rest of the story will focus solely on Xena, Gabrielle and Arielle's journey through the conquests and invasions. Hope you'll all enjoy ;)

One Year Later

Chapter 45 –A United Front

Princess Aurora thought she used to have a close relationship with her mother but that shattered in less than a year. She was left alone at the palace while her mother was so focused on the wars. These last couple of months just after her seventh birthday passed, both her parents were away fighting off the Byzantines on the Persian and Armenian borders.

She took the opportunity to do whatever she pleased and disobeyed Ku-Ilm and Kuba who were obligated to watch over her while Arielle was away. Once a well mannered princess now turned into a rebellious child who thought she was invincible.

The news of her future marriage to the Hinukh Bey's son, Kazem, was revealed two days before her birthday. She was forced to spend time with Kazem and ever since then the two got into a lot of mischief together.

Today was no different. Aurora took it upon herself to take her horse gifted to her by her grandfather and rode it through the busy streets of Neapolis with Kazem accompanying her. They galloped through the city for more than hour before returning to the palace.

Aurora laughed and hopped off the horse and helped her accomplice. She took her hair down from its coiled state and ran her fingers through the knotted strands.

Kazem passed the horse off to a stable boy and brushed the dirt off his sleeves. "I can't believe we got rid of the guards!"

"They are probably still looking for us in the city!" she rejoiced and fist-bumped Kazem.

"Aurora!" Ku-Ilm yelled from afar and marched into the gardens.

Kazem eyed the furious Arab woman storming over and exhaled. "She's looks pretty mad," he whispered. "I better get back to my room and study. Good luck."

Ku was ready to scold both children but when Kazem took off running to the palace she was forced to unleash her anger onto Aurora. She would have to deal with him later. Standing in front of the defiant princess she folded her arms in front of her heaving chest.

"Morning, Ku-Ilm," she cast an arrogant smile.

"Just what do you think you're doing? You aren't supposed to leave the palace without my permission!"

"I was just having some fun," Aurora attempted to pass by her caretaker and Ku grabbed her arm. "Let go!"

Ku snarled with a wicked frown. "You've been nothing but trouble ever since your mother left. I ought to lock you in your room until she returns."

Aurora gasped, desperately trying to pry Ku's fingers off her arm. "No, Ku please!" tears brimmed and she whined.

"Your crocodile tears won't save you, Aurora."

Ku dragged the princess across the gardens. Locking her up was the easiest way to tame Aurora but she didn't know how to explain that to Arielle. Through exchanged letters, Ku held back information about Aurora's destructive behavior. She didn't want Arielle to stress over a war and her daughter. Ku cared too much for the empress to cause such unwarranted distress.

Justinian had men everywhere and Xena wanted to make sure she knew all of the minions who allied with him. So far Chieftain Mezamir was the most formidable of them all. Ever since he set Neapolis on fire and nearly destroyed the capital, he was quiet and lurked in the Baltic region. Xena knew that enemies who lie in wait are the most dangerous.

For precaution Xena ordered soldiers to be posted on the borders of Scythia. As expected, Justinian stuck his nose in everybody's business and acquired more people under his belt. The last of the Bulgur Huns now relocated around the Black Sea and have succumbed to Justinian.

Xena and Gabrielle rode all the way to the Dulo tribe to meet the Khan who now worked under Byzantium. Not much information was provided about this Khan but they knew that he converted to the church and had left his pagan life behind in order to please the emperor.

Slowly trotting through the grassy plains, Gabrielle set eyes on the many yurts up ahead. There were hundreds of them scattered on the land. The sea was visible from the encampment. This place reminded her of Pannonia when she shared a yurt with Xena many moons ago.

"What do you hope to accomplish during this meeting?"

Xena twisted her mouth. "I'm not going to behead the man, that's for sure," she cast a knowing look towards her wife. "Arielle worries me. She's been on a power trip ever since she started this campaign."

Gabrielle steered the horse closer. "She decapitated a man last month because he refused to give her information on Mezamir." She set a warm hand on top of Xena's. "I know this hurts you to see her change so drastically."

"It hurts me more to see how this is affecting Anastasia," she squeezed Gabrielle's hand. "I hope she didn't give in to the flower to suppress her feelings."

"I received a letter from Navaz. He is making sure that she stays occupied. Both Cera's and Pamira's daughters are keeping her very busy," Gabrielle cast a smile, hoping to lighten her warrior's gloom mood.

Xena set aside the emotions swimming inside her and focused on the mission at hand. She took in a deep breath and slipped her hand away from Gabrielle. In the middle of the tribe's camp there was a very large yurt, three times the size of the average yurt. That could only mean that was the Khan's dwelling.

They rode into the camp and a man emerged from the expansive yurt. He crossed his arms over his broad chest and with a raised chin, he frowned at the guests. The men curiously circled around his yurt but they didn't draw weapons as they recognized the tassels on the horses' manes and tails to be of a Hunnic tribe.

He studied the black and gold headdress that Xena wore and knew that she was a woman of status. He skeptically eyed the blonde woman who accompanied her. The women dismounted and approached him guardedly eyeing all of the men surrounding the yurt.

"Are you a Hun?" he called in a loud voice.

Xena kept a hand on the hilt of her sword. "Yes. We've come from Scythia on Khagana Arielle's orders."

His lips curled into a smile. "The Khagana!" he brought his arms to his sides. "Welcome to the Dulo tribe. I'm Khan Kubrat. You have traveled a long distance. I hope you haven't come to behead me," he mildly joked.

Xena puckered her lips and turned to Gabrielle. "We want to speak with you about a possible alliance."

Kubrat scratched his trimmed dark beard. He made a path and motioned for them to follow him into his abode. Xena and Gabrielle cautiously walked through the encampment and advised the accompanying Avar soldiers to remain outside.

This place definitely brought back memories from time spent under Attila's reign. Xena remembered many meetings held in large yurts just like this one. It was like she traveled back in time and it was very odd. To sit in a yurt instead of a large castle which she grew accustom to now. She didn't know if she missed this lifestyle or not given the circumstance of their visit.

A woman of fair skin and honey colored hair served them tea. Gabrielle took the cup and met eyes with the dark-eyed woman. She noticed the uneasiness on Xena's face. They had to be thinking the exact same thing. This was a time warp for them both and it made them feel more than uncomfortable.

Kubrat grabbed one of the cups and gave a nod of gratitude. "My wife, Drusilla," he informally introduced.

Gabrielle half smiled. "That's a nice Greek name."

He flicked his wrist and Drusilla smiled at the women and with a bow of her head she swiftly vacated the yurt to allow the meeting to commence. Kubrat sipped the hot tea and smoothed a hand over his clean shaven head. He smiled at the stony expression Xena possessed. He knew he was being examined the moment she and Gabrielle arrived.

Xena did a quick scan of the Khan and couldn't quite read him. He appeared to be polite and even invited them in without asking who they were. For all he knew she and Gabrielle could be assassins. He was very confident in his position.

He had a strong jaw, perfectly straight long nose that reminded Xena of Navaz. His dark trimmed raven beard framed the strong features of his face. His eyes were a dark hazel lined with kohl and bore thick eyebrows to accentuate the shaven tattooed head. He also had several piercings on his ear and one on either side of his nostrils.

"You wanted to discuss an alliance," he started the conversation.

Gabrielle lowered the cup. "Yes. I'm the governor of the Hun Empire. My name is Gabrielle and this is Xena," she raised an open palm, "she's the empire's Khanum and the Lieutenant General."

Kubrat arched his eyebrow with a grand smile. "Xena Khanum, what a pleasure it is to meet you. I've heard many things about you."

"Only good things I hope," she cast a short smile.

"Depends on what you define as good," he chuckled. "Let's skip all the details and get straight to the meat," he set the cup down on the rug and folded his legs. "You both must know that I side with Justinian."

Xena nodded. "Which is a very unwise decision. You could be labeled as a traitor. You are a Hun yourself. Why do you side with him?"

"He paid me," he simply said. "He also gave me over one hundred thousand soldiers to get rid of the Avars. I like money, khanum."

"At least you're honest."

"What could your khagana offer me that I don't already have?" he inquired.

Gabrielle shared a glance with Xena and both had their tongues tied.

"I thought so," he snickered. "I can tell that you both aren't going to leave until I submit. I assume those soldiers you brought will raid my camp if I don't agree."

Xena's mouth gaped. He was one hundred percent correct which wasn't surprising. If he was a Hun, and he is, he knew the culture and customs very well. But he sold out his people to Justinian. Xena gathered that Kubrat was a man of reason but he was also ambitious which she admired. She didn't know what else to offer him other than to fulfill Arielle's wish: behead him.

"Is there something that we can offer you?" asked Gabrielle. "We don't want to raid your camp."

Kubrat scratched his beard. "I do have something in mind." He gave pause and cast an impious smirk. "I will join the Avars willingly but only if I marry the Khagana. I hear that she is unmarried."

Xena clenched the cup and was tempted to throw the hot beverage on his face. "Very bold of you to be so upfront."

"I am not a complete barbarian, khanum. I would like to meet with the Khagana first. Is she as beautiful as everyone says she is?" his curiosity got the better of him.

"One wife isn't enough for you?" Xena asked with a playful grin.

He found her comment humorous and laughed lightly. "I will have a yurt set up for your stay. I think we can better discuss this when you've both rested for a few days."

Drusilla set up a yurt not far from the main camp and brought in several freshly beaten rugs and wool blankets. The yurt was decorated with several candles and there was a fire pit in the center of the round abode. Being the hospitable woman she was, she asked her servants to bring in copious amounts of food, wine and tea for the guests.

Evening rolled around and Gabrielle stripped of her clothes and wore a gown that she packed. She set her boots next to the mattress on the floor and eyed Xena who sat by herself around the fire pit, sipping wine gingerly.

She took a seat opposite her wife and tried to read her expressionless face. "Hey," she gripped Xena's knee. "What are you thinking right now?"

Xena sighed. "I'm thinking about what I'm going to tell Arielle when we return to Scythia." She took a large gulp of the wine. "She's not going to want to marry anybody especially after Xerxes."

"Kubrat made it seem like if he doesn't marry Arielle that he will attack us."

"I don't know what to do," Xena rested her hand over her eyes. "Arielle is using pain and anger as fuel."

Gabrielle crawled closer."Like you used to." she rubbed her spouse's back affectionately. "I remember when you were like that. You thought you were unstoppable and at times…you were," she chuckled.

"It's a very difficult cycle to break," said Xena in a tired voice. "I let it consume me for many years. I don't want Arielle to go down that path." tears brimmed in her eyes and she saw red. "I made sure to train Arielle in a way that showed compassion to those around her. I did everything possible to make sure that she didn't end up like me. What did I do wrong?" she peered at Gabrielle with watery eyes.

Gabrielle offered a faint smile and wrapped an arm around her wife. "She has a good heart and so do you. She feels lost right now." She wiped the single stream of tear from her wife's cheek. "Arielle thinks the world is against her and she likes to control every situation around her. She believes that the only way to control her life is to use a sword."

"I know…that to conquer people you sometimes have to use force," mumbled Xena. "But you should only use force when needed. She's letting her emotions control her. That was one of the first things I told her: don't let emotions influence your decisions."

Gabrielle lifted an eyebrow. "You've made some pretty horrible decisions in the past, Xena. You let your emotions control your actions too."

"I know!" she spat angrily. "And I don't want Arielle to do the same!" she chastised herself inwardly. "I told Anastasia the same thing. She only took my advice when it suited her."

"Anastasia is a wonderful woman. She's grown and learned from her mistakes just like you have. Arielle will have to learn the hard way."

She planted a firm kiss to Xena's temple. Tenderly, her fingers laced along the collar bone and traveled down to her arm causing a soft shiver from her spouse. Gabrielle smiled and continued to roam her fingers down Xena's arm and then laced their fingers together.

"You're the best mother, grandmother, spouse, and friend that anyone could ask for," she said lovingly and Xena hid her smile. "And you're a great warrior and very…passionate about your family and your work. You always put others before yourself which is your downfall sometimes."

Xena murmured, "you're embarrassing me."

"Then I should compliment you more often!" Gabrielle snorted and kissed the hand on top of hers. "I couldn't imagine a life without you."

Xena touched her flushed cheek and glanced at her endearing wife and chuckled softly. "You're just trying to distract me from the bigger picture."

Gabrielle leaned her head on the shoulder next to her. "It worked for awhile, didn't it?" she rubbed her thumb along the back of Xena's hand. "Do you think Arielle will agree to the marriage?"

"I don't know what that girl is thinking anymore. I don't really like the idea of her being in a loveless marriage."

Gabrielle looked up and said, "but Ana married Navaz without loving him at first."

"And she was very unhappy for awhile." She crossed her ankle over Gabrielle's. "I don't want Arielle to be unhappy."

"She already is."

Xena nodded. "I don't know what she will do."

"I didn't love you at first either," Gabrielle mentioned. "Maybe Arielle…will grow to love Kubrat?"

"You're already assuming she will agree," she muffled a laugh. "That girl is a hard woman to love. She is complicated."

"Oh and like you aren't?" Gabrielle laughed and received a pinch to her hand. "Ow!"

"You don't get to shower me with compliments then insult me," Xena teased. "But you are right. Kubrat is a man who jumps at an opportunity when he sees one."

"Marrying the empress of the empire is definitely a huge opportunity," Gabrielle agreed. "If Arielle agrees then Justinian will lose an ally and gain another enemy."

Xena ran a hand over her face and released an exasperated lengthy sigh.

"When you explain it that way, Arielle will see this as a way to stab Justinian in the back. There's no way she would refuse." She clenched her teeth and grumbled. "She will treat the marriage alliance as a business transaction."

"What about Bayan? Can there be three rulers of the Avars?"

Xena pecked her wife's nose. "Baby steps, Gabrielle. Baby steps."

Along the Armenian borders shared with Persia, Arielle caused a ceasefire against the invading Byzantines. She stood underneath a canopy to watch the war unfold. She'd been acting behind the scenes and called all of the shots for over two months. She wondered when the Byzantines were going to give up and finally run back to their emperor.

Helping the Persians left a bitter taste in her mouth. She no longer thought the Sassanians allies anymore despite all of the funds and weapons Shah Kavad supplied. If it was up to her she would've set fire to the Sassan palace already but her father was the only person who was able to talk her out of it.

Bayan rode into camp with a Byzantine officer whom he tied and gagged. He tossed the enemy onto the ground in front of Arielle's boots. The Byzantine officer raised his head, barely able to see out of his swollen eye socket obstructing his view.

"He says he doesn't have any information but I doubt that," said Bayan.

Arielle smiled and walked forward. She took the cloth out from the officer's mouth and stomped her boot on his thigh. He winced and spat at her feet to which she grabbed his short hair and reared his head back, stretching his neck to its fullest.

"What is Justinian's next move?" she questioned. "Will he send Mezamir to attack Scythia? Or will he send King Alduin to ransack Pannonia?"

Met with silence she pushed him to the ground and reached over to the Avar standing next to her. She whipped his sword out from its holster and pointed to the blade at the officer's throat.

"I'm not going to ask again."

He pressed his neck to the tip of the blade and flashed a smile. Arielle snarled and drove the sword straight through his throat and it exited through the other side. Blood spattered on Bayan standing nearby and Arielle wiped her face of the blood spatter.

She pressed the sole of her boot on the officer's chest and kicked him backward. His throat glided on the blade which made a sickening sound of the tendons and muscles against the sharp edge of the metal. Arielle handed the sword back to her soldier and heaved heavily.

"Bayan, I need to speak with you in my tent," she ordered and stomped off.

He swiftly jaunted into her tent. A bit horrified at the display he just witnessed he was very cautious to stay quiet while standing behind Arielle. He'd been with her throughout this entire war for the last couple of months and saw her do heinous things to Byzantine soldiers.

"How long will it take to push these Byzantines out?" she asked over her shoulder. "I don't want to prolong this war as much as I want them to blow the Persians to smithereens I can't allow it to happen."

Bayan loudly cleared his throat. "We could always pull out. We are winning the war anyway."

"It doesn't look that way to me."

He grabbed her shoulder and turned her around. "I know you don't like the Sassanians, Arielle but we have a duty to protect them. What happened to Xerxes has nothing to do with our alliance with Shah Kavad."

She shoved his chest. "Why does Kawus get to live and not Xerxes? He murdered Xerxes!"

"And Shah Kavad had no knowledge of your relationship with him!" he spat and shook her shoulders. "It was only a matter of time before Xerxes was gotten rid of. He allied with us and his brother hated that. This war has nothing to do with that. You're taking this too personally!"

She gazed into his dark eyes and then lowered her gaze to the floor.

"You're right."

Bayan felt relief that he was able to talk some sense into her. He didn't know how much more of her erratic behavior he could take. Two months of Arielle on the field was enough for him.

"Should we pull our army out now? We can go back to Scythia. This has gone on long enough."

Arielle scoffed. "Our army? It's ours now?" she folded her arms. "Why am I cursed with picking men?" she chided and obviously struck a nerve in Bayan given his peeved expression. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I was thinking out loud."

He raised a hand. "It's fine. I deserved that." He took a step closer. "Can I pull back the army now?"

She gave a curt nod and he walked to exit. She called out his name, "oh, Bayan. Thank you for your help."

He gave a short smile. "Can I take Aurora back with me?" he asked and Arielle's eyes flickered. "For the winter season."

"You had her all spring."

He grinned, "and you had her all summer and fall," he retorted. By the look in her eyes he slowly backed away. "We will discuss this later."

Three days passed since their arrival to the Dulo tribe and Xena wanted to return to Scythia as soon as possible. Just like every morning, Drusilla came into the yurt and brought a large tray of assorted food and wine for the morning.

Gabrielle folded the blankets and sleepily looked at the doting woman who quietly set out the wooden bowls on the rug. She yawned and stood up then went over to Xena who was lacing up her boots.

"I'm going to tell Kubrat that we will leave tomorrow. He's going to want to talk about the marriage alliance further. Are you coming with me?"

Xena stared at Drusilla and lifted her eyes. "I'll catch up with you."

The Khan's wife kept setting the spread of food and after Gabrielle left the yurt, Xena stared at the woman. She finished lacing up her boot and sat back, supporting her weight on her palms. Drusilla hadn't even said her early morning greetings. Xena thought the woman was waiting until she finished her conversation with Gabrielle.

"Drusilla, right?" she startled the woman.

"Oh…yes," she bowed with a shy grin. "Good morning. I hope that you will enjoy the food I prepared for you both."

Xena was very familiar with the food here. Frankly, she missed the food here in this area. It paled in comparison to what was eaten in Scythia but she didn't want to discuss food with Drusilla. She had other questions on her mind that needed answers.

"Your husband wants to marry the Khagana."

Drusilla brushed her light brown locks behind her ears. "Yes. I gave him permission."

Xena widened her eyes. Permission. A woman giving her husband permission to marry another woman? Well, at least Kubrat didn't marry someone outright without his wife's consent like Attila did to Kreka. He followed the laws of their people it seemed and Xena smiled at that.

"I was the one who suggested it," Drusilla added, further shocking Xena. "I don't like that my husband allied with the Emperor. I feared that the Khagana would exile us so I hinted the marriage to him."

"Oh…" Xena furrowed her brows. "Does…your husband treat you well?"

Drusilla, taken aback by the question, giggled. "He has not done anything to me, khanum. He treats me and our children very well."

"You have children…"

"Two sons; ages thirteen and eleven. I would have you meet them but they are hunting." She folded her hands in her lap, staring at the bemused khanum. "I know the khagana has a daughter. My sons are looking forward to meeting her."

It appeared to Xena that the person in charge was not Kubrat but in fact his wife. Drusilla had a very shy demeanor about her which was very deceiving. She looked very innocent and soft but knowing that she was the one who insinuated the marriage in the first place was shocking to say the least. Xena was speechless and unsure of what to think.

Gabrielle poked her head in the yurt. "Xena, are you coming? He's waiting for us."

"Yes…yes, I'm right behind you." Xena stood up and gazed at the brunette."It was nice talking to you, Drusilla."

"Likewise, khanum. I hope we will have plenty of opportunities to talk again," she flashed a charming smile.

Ku stood by Aurora and Kazem as they all waited for everyone's return. Over the last few weeks Aurora was confined to the palace and forced to focus on her studies. While the three waited in the foyer, Aurora was playing a small hand game with Kazem to pass time.

Ku frowned and nudged the princess' arm. "Stop that," she hissed.

"I am so bored, Ku-Ilm. Why do we have to wait here to greet everyone?"

"Because I said so."

Xena walked into the foyer with Gabrielle and they both smiled at the two children dressed in matching black robes and pants. Gabrielle came by and brushed her hand over Aurora's hair and greeted Kazem with a slow head nod.

Xena took off her leather gloves and slapped them against her palm. "Is Arielle still in Armenia?"

"She and Bayan will be returning in a few days," Ku informed her.

"Did these two behave?" Xena glared at the children who dared not look at her.

Ku peered down specifically at Aurora and pursed her lips. Aurora side-eyed Ku and hoped that her behavior wasn't going to be revealed. She thought she had been punished enough over the last month being locked away in her room. Nervously, she twiddled her fingers behind her back and gnawed at her lips.

"They left the palace several times without permission," Ku spat venomously and Aurora gasped at her being ousted. "I have kept them inside for the last month."

Xena raised her eyebrow and titled the children's chins and they both gawked at her fearfully. "Your parents are going to be very disappointed when they hear about this."

"But grandma khanum!" Aurora pleaded. "We didn't do anything else, I swear."

Kazem bobbed his head in agreement. "Honest, we studied really hard."

"Uh huh," Xena stepped away and walked off. "I'm not going to punish you. I'll leave that to Arielle."

Aurora slapped a hand on her cheek. "Oh no…" she uttered in dismay.

Gabrielle couldn't help herself from smiling. She knew those two were going to get in some sort of trouble while everyone was away. She did sympathize for them for when Arielle and Bayan returned from war. Arielle was unreasonable lately and her temper often got the best of her so Gabrielle expected there to be a harsh punishment for the children.

She took Ku-Ilm aside and spoke softly, "we need to talk to Arielle as soon as she returns. We were able to talk to Khan Kubrat. Tell her that…he has an offer to join the empire."

Ku frowned. "What kind of offer?"

"Just tell her to come see us immediately," Gabrielle briefly smiled and sauntered away.

Earlier than expected, Arielle and Bayan arrived two days before they initially thought. After a quick bath, Arielle was met with a problem she had no desire to deal with. The only thing that she liked about having Bayan close to her was that she didn't have to parent their daughter alone. While she left her daughter and Kazem to be scolded by Bayan, she joined her two mentors in the conference chamber.

She sat down with her legs folded on the sofa and coiled her damp hair into a loose braid and stared at the women who sat opposite her on another low sofa. She flicked her wrist at the guards standing by the doors to disperse.

Once it was just the three of them in the room plus Kuba who stood by her side, she allowed the discussion to begin but she wanted to be the first to relay the news she brought from Armenia and Persia.

"The Byzantines were pushed out by Bayan and that's the only reason I left," she began and watched her two mentors nod their heads. "I sent a letter to my parents. I would've gone to see them but I wanted to return to Scythia because I wanted to discuss something with you two."

"So do we," Gabrielle interrupted.

"Can I go first?"

"No."

Arielle scraped her nails together and grimaced. "This better be more important than my news, Gabrielle."

"I promise you it is," she took in a breath. "We met with Khan Kubrat. He is in fact allies with Justinian and he has over one hundred thousand soldiers."

Xena crossed her arms and sat back. She could see Arielle was unimpressed so far. This was either going to go one of two ways. Either Arielle was going to throw a massive tantrum or she was going to agree to Kubrat's proposal. Lately, Xena couldn't judge her granddaughter's actions just from the way she looked. Arielle was a swinging pendulum.

"He wants to merge tribes by marrying you," Gabrielle finished off.

Arielle answered with a muffled laugh and then she slapped her palms on her knees, laughing loudly. She wrapped an arm over her aching stomach and slowly the laughter dissipated and faded away. Her smile was still present on her face, chuckling at the absurdity of the conversation.

"Marry me? He wants to marry someone he has never seen?" she said in between snorts and short laughs.

Miffed by the reaction, Gabrielle continued, "he was given orders to attack us but he will forgo the deal with Justinian if he marries you."

Chuckling, the Empress smiled and said casually, "I have a line of men waiting to get in my bed apparently."

Xena leaned forward with elbows on her thighs. "This is serious, Arielle."

"Obviously, grandma."

"He is willing to come meet you first if you can agree to that," Xena narrowed her eyes, mildly irritated that Arielle wasn't taking this very seriously. "He already has a wife so this would be a political marriage."

Arielle drummed her fingers on her knees. "I would still have to sleep with him," she stated. "God, do I look like some kind of sacrifice to you?" she rose from the sofa.

Xena met her in the middle of the room. "I'm just telling you what he told us. He wants a marriage alliance or he will attack us. He is older than you, Arielle. He is more experienced than you. His tribe is larger than ours in Pannonia and he has Justinian supplying him with endless supplies and men. Take your pick."

"I have to decide right this second?"

Xena clenched her fist, "did I say that?"

"Kafayı üşüttü," she cursed. Her grandmother's hand came to pinch her cheeks together and tilt her face upward.

"I have been very patient with you, Arielle but you cannot speak to me like that. I don't think you would speak to your father like that, would you?"

Arielle brought her eyebrows together and her cheeks were released of their hold. She rubbed her face and glared over at Gabrielle who was sitting in silence, allowing this to ensue.

With a dubious smile she said, "I suppose you want an apology."

Xena swiped her tongue across her teeth and sighed. "It would be nice but I'm not going to pry it out of you. I need an answer soon so we can inform Khan Kubrat. I advise that you weigh the pros and cons of this arrangement for everybody. You have thousands upon thousands of people under your belt."

Arielle replied through clenched teeth, "fine. Can I tell you both my news now?"

Xena sat back down and crossed a leg over her knee. She motioned for Gabrielle to continue the conversation with the incensed empress. She had nothing else to say and if it were up to her, she would've left this chamber already.

Steaming from the brief conflict, Arielle took her seat and sat on her crossed ankles, breathing steadily after her temper simmered. She cleared her throat and smiled at the two, a bit calmer than she was minutes earlier. Gabrielle waited patiently with her journal on her lap, ready to write. Luckily, she didn't record the argument between Xena and Arielle.

"I talked it over with Bayan and we've come to a decision," she said, holding her breath, "I received a letter from Farah. The new Adames are nearly finished being built in western Pannonia. I would like to move back to Pannonia."

Gabrielle's quill halted on the parchment. "Move back?"

The Empress nodded. "Each Adame will hold each family. There will be room for everyone. Bayan has offered to stay in Scythia. I would like the capital of the empire to remain where it started."

"Are you sure you want to do that?"

"I have been in Scythia for two years but I don't think it should be the capital of our empire. Pannonia has been and always will be the heartland. We need to be united as one to show that our empire isn't fractured."

Gabrielle kept writing. "What about your parents?"

"My father can keep his kingdom. My mother is married to him so she will stay in Balaam."

"And Bayan…will stay here?"

"Yes? What's with all the questions?" Arielle grumpily asked. "This is what I want. I thought you two would be overjoyed. We get to live altogether as a family again."

"It's very sudden," Gabrielle said, surprised. "You didn't tell us that you wanted to move back to Pannonia."

"Well, I am telling you now." Arielle got off the sofa and smoothed down the wrinkles of her sleeves. "I'm not going to allow Justinian or anyone else, to take Pannonia from us again."

She skipped dinner that evening and went straight to her quarters. Her body was ready to give in to the exhaustion but her mind was alert and wide awake. Her eyes stung from being awake for so long. She couldn't remember the last time she had adequate sleep. The sleep deprivation began to cloud her thinking.

Arielle rubbed her tired eyes and stood at the end of her bed. She desperately wanted to climb in and stay locked away for days but she couldn't. She was mentally and physically drained. Above her headboard she kept the bow Xerxes gave her as a sweet reminder that he'd always be with her.

The day her father gave her the letter she couldn't breathe. She thought it was a cruel joke but it wasn't. The Sassanians were always snakes and they loved to keep to themselves. Xerxes was a ticking time bomb. Bayan was right. It was only a matter of time before Xerxes was disposed of.

She hated that Shehzade Kawus was alive. She often thought of Nousha and wondered how she was faring after her son's death. Arielle did not like that woman but Nousha was Xerxes' mother and it was obvious that she loved him very much.

Her eyes focused on the bow and a deep frown formed on her lips. The anger of his passing had long left but now that she found out that someone else wanted her hand, she didn't know how to feel. She was essentially sacrificing herself for her people. She had so many questions. Is this what it's like to be a ruler over an empire: to sacrifice yourself?

Arielle climbed onto the bed and ripped the bow off the wall. She padded over to the fireplace and gripped the wooden metal bow tightly with her eyes fixated on the roaring flames.

Xena opened the door with a sly maneuver of her elbow and carried a tray of food. She looked around the room in search of Arielle. She set the tray down when she noticed Arielle hovering by the fireplace holding Xerxes' gifted bow.

"Arielle?" she came to her side and grabbed the bow. "What are you doing?" she asked, her eyes darted to the fire and then set a hand on Arielle's shoulder. "Come sit down."

Arielle slowly turned from the fireplace and sat down on a large pillow and relinquished the bow. The tray of food was set on the rug and Xena gently put the bow on the bed before joining her on the floor. Arielle sniveled and wiped the tears beneath her eyes.

"I brought you some food. You didn't eat with us," Xena pushed the tray across the rug.

"I'm not hungry."

Xena half smiled and made a plate anyway. She set the plate of food in front of Arielle's crossed legs and handed over a spoon.

"You are exhausted, Arielle. You need to eat something."

With a heavy sigh she snatched the spoon and pushed the food around. She took a few bites of the food only to appease her grandmother. She couldn't handle the piercing stare and knew she was going to be pestered if she didn't at least try to eat.

"I know you loved Xerxes very much," Xena spoke quietly. "He was the only Persian I ever liked."

Arielle smirked and kept eating the rice. She said she wasn't hungry earlier but her body said otherwise. She was halfway through eating the entire plate and drank almond sherbet to quench her thirst. After she downed the tall glass and exhaled, she decided she needed more of it.

She smiled at her grandmother's warm expression across the way. She reached for the pitcher of sherbet and Xena poured some of the sweet drink into the glass. Arielle brushed her long hair behind her shoulders and drank half the glass in a matter of seconds.

"Your mother married your father to save our people," Xena said and Arielle took a long pause. "I know you've heard this many times but they didn't love each other at all. I wish I was there to help your mother."

Arielle bit into a pepper and lifted her gaze. "I have horrible luck with men."

"Me too," Xena stifled a laugh which brought a smile to Arielle's lips.

"First Bayan cheats on me and then Xerxes gets killed. Now I am going to blindly marry this Khan…" she mocked the idea of it all. "Why can't I have a marriage like Cera's or Csaba's? Mirac is like a saint and Farah loves Csaba to death. Even Soran and Pamira have a good relationship and I was the one who married them!"

Xena snorted. "No marriage is perfect, Arielle."

"And mother had two great husbands!" she spat bitterly. "Ellac treated me like his own daughter and my father…well," she fluttered her eyelashes, "he would do anything for me and my mother."

"Oh I know…" Xena murmured.

"Hell, even Yeter is happy with Oran!" She tapped the spoon on the edge of the plate. "Am I cursed or something?"

The question caused the khanum to laugh. She covered her mouth and rubbed her lips together to halt her laughter. Arielle didn't find the question to be very amusing and so she sent a glare towards her giggling grandmother.

"That's taking it a bit too far, don't you think?" Xena kept the smirk despite her granddaughter's soured expression. "You aren't cursed, Arielle."

"Sure feels like I am," she said just above a whisper. "What does…Kubrat look like? You said he is older than me. Please tell me he isn't my father's age."

Xena chuckled again. "He's about Csaba's age but I didn't ask. I'm just guessing," she could tell Arielle was curious. "He has tattoos."

"Really?" that piqued her interest as her body was almost entirely inked.

"And this disgusting piercing in his nose," she stuck her tongue out. "He's very tall, well built," she wriggled her eyebrows and Arielle blushed. "From what I saw, he treats his wife very well. His wife is a very…interesting woman."

Arielle frowned at the mention of the Khan's wife.

"Do you have a problem with him having another wife?" asked Xena, knowing that was a very sensitive subject.

"I…I don't know. I don't know Kubrat nor do I love him so I guess it doesn't matter."

"It matters to you. It's alright to feel uncomfortable, Arielle. As you know, Ebnedzar had two wives and Attila had several," she grumbled with an added eye roll.

"But Ursula and Handan were good friends. They got along just fine."

Xena reached over and caressed her granddaughter's cheek. "You can judge for yourself when you meet with Kubrat. Nothing is set in stone. I want you to know that I love you very much and I think you're a great ruler."

Tears brimmed in her eyes and Arielle cast a soft smile. "That means a lot to me," she kissed the hand on her cheek. "I apologize for what I said earlier. I'm just so…tired and that was a lot thrown at me."

"I've always been hard on you that sometimes I forget to commend you for all you've accomplished."

Arielle covered her mouth as she let out an audible yawn. She felt herself fading slowly. It was about time, she thought.

"Come, I'll help you to your bed," Xena stood up and grabbed Arielle's hand, hoisting her off the floor.

Being tucked into bed like a child was just what she needed right now. Her body relaxed into the soft bed and she sprawled her arms out onto the pillows and let out a satisfactory sigh. She opened her eyes and Xena sat on the edge of the bed, smiling.

"So, Pannonia? Where did that come from?"

"I decided it's time to go home," Arielle traced her fingers along the silk sheets. "Besides, I think this palace is cursed."