Chapter 2

"Lyceus did you hear that?" she inquired, looking at him hopefully. "This could be my chance to do something more."

Her eyes instantly brightened up, overly excited about the idea and silently wondered what exactly she would have to do to actually get the chance and turn her fantasies to reality. Xena slid her chair closer to the conversation to hear better.

"Apparently there are some openings for Athena's elite arches. They say there is a camp just three miles west of here where the new recruits can go and try out." one of the patrons said.

"I've heard that Athena doesn't pick just anyone to serve her and you really have to be something special to even think about the possibility of joining them." the woman said.

"Well I think I got a real shot." she said with confidence. "I've been practicing and training real hard for months hoping that one day an opening will happen and it finally did."

She smiled big knowing that she had this.

"Astra…come on! You do know the only moment an opening happens is when one of them dies right? That's kind of a harsh thing to hope for." the girl said in a disapproving tone.

"It's not like I want them to die." she emphasized defensively. "But hey, there lost is my gain."

"Alright, so when do the new recruits have to make contact with the camp?" her friend asked.

"From what I've heard they are meeting tonight, a few hours after sundown. Once there, they will set you up for the night and in the morning they will move to one of Athena's training grounds." Astra informed her friend. "You're going to come too right Flora?"

"I don't know if I'll actually make it but it would be nice to have the chance to try." she said with a smile.

"Then it's settled. Let's go pay the tab and see what else we can find out that will work in our favor."

Both women got up and headed to pay for their meal then left.

Xena's mind was reeling with all the new information she got. This was her chance and she was going to take it. She looked back at her brother and saw the soft smile on his face.

"What?"

"Oh nothing." he grinned more. " I can just see how much you want to do this."

"This is the opportunity I've been waiting for."

She couldn't contain her excitement, but her smile faded in less than a blink when she saw her mother walk out from the back.

"Now I just have to convince mother."

Lyceus turned around at her staring to see their mother walk back into the kitchen.

"Good luck with that."

"Oh no." Xena groaned out as she tried to cover her face with her hand.

"Xena what is it?" he asked her but she quickly shushed him.

"Don't say my name so loud." she peeked over her hand to see if he noticed. "He might hear you."

Lyceus cast her a confused look for a moment and then swiftly turned around to see who she was referring to and he couldn't help the chuckle.

"It's not funny." she barked at him. "Stop laughing you are drawing attention." she peered again at the person in question and saw him glance in their direction. She lowered her head to the table hoping he didn't notice her.

"Oh if you could only see your face righ..." but he stopped talking as the person she was trying to avoid approached the table.

Xena knew at his abrupt pause that they were no longer alone. She squeezed her eyes shut sighing mentally at her bad luck. Still, wanting to get this over with as soon as possible she looked up at their new visitor.

He had a huge grin on his face as he stared down at her. He had been looking for her all morning long and figured he should have started here to begin with instead of wondering around town all day. Now that he found her he just couldn't help but stare. He was completely taken with her. Her soft blue eyes, the way her raven hair was waving over her shoulders in just the right way making him want to reach out and touch it….He always hoped that she would give him the chance to prove himself.

Hearing her voice broke him of his musings.

"You're staring Acacio."

His cheeks flushed as he turned his gaze to the floor. She always made him feel nervous. He looked back up at her and smiled.

"Sorry, I just can't help it."

He saw her uneasiness at his comment. Wanting to gain her affection he brought his hand that he kept hidden behind his back forward revealing the small bouquet of wild flowers.

"These are for you." he said sheepishly.

Xena's eyes widened in shock as she saw the flowers. She turned and looked at Lyceus, irritated to notice that amused look on his silly face.

He was enjoying the romantic scene unfolding before his eyes way too much for her liking. She turned back to Acacio and gave him a soft smile. She reached out and took the flowers from him.

"Thanks." she said with no real emotion behind it and placed them on the table without a second thought. She looked back at her brother and noticed he was trying to hide his laughter. He was going to pay for this later.

"I was wondering if I could join you?"

There was a lot of hope in his voice, Xena quickly realized, and looking up she could clearly see the eagerness in his eyes.

"Actually I have something's to do."

She mentally praised herself for not getting rid of the clothes basket immediately when they got back. She reached down and patted the basket by her feet.

"If I don't finish this mother will kill me."

And she was right about to get up and retrieve the basket when he stopped her.

"Oh maybe I can help you. It will be faster with two people." he stated. He bent down and picked up the basket.

Xena couldn't believe her luck. She reached out and tried to take the basket from him.

"No, it's quite all right I have it under control."

She pulled on the basket but he wouldn't let it go. "I'm sure you have things to do."

"I have nothing of importance to do at the moment." he said while grinning at her and pulling the basket back towards him.

It was a tug of war with the basket for a few moments until a hard tug from Acacio caused Xena to lose her grip on it and it tilted over. The clothes tumbled to the ground along with her father's sword that was hidden inside it.

"Xena I'm sorry. Here let me."

He bent to pick up the clothes and noticed the sword among them. He went to pick it up when Xena quickly snatched it from his grasp.

"Don't touch that." she said with a hint of anger in her voice.

He threw her a puzzled look. "Why do you have that amongst your clothes?"

The look in his eyes suddenly changed when he put the pieces together to that of an amused one.

"Are you back on being a warrior again?" he laughed at her as he said it. "Oh come on Xena do you really think the God of War is going to let a woman be one of his warriors? Besides, war is no place for a girl, you belong here."

Xena felt her rage grow at his comment. Who did he think he was talking to her like that. Telling her what she could and couldn't do. She cocked her head at him and gave him a deadly stare. "I'll have you know there is more than one way to become a warrior."

He continued to laugh and that only angered her more. He reached out to touch her and she stepped out of his reach. "You might want to rethink that idea if you still want to keep that arm." she spitted in a venomous voice.

He could see that she had meant it and he retracted his hand. She glanced at Lyceus for a moment and then quickly made her way out of the tavern.

She walked in no particular direction and was just trying to calm herself from what had just happened. She had put up with his presence for long enough and after today she was done with him. She took her eyes off the ground and looked up. She stopped walking for a moment and looked around her at the dense forest. She wasn't sure where she was going but felt the need to continue forward.

She stepped out of the tree line and her eyes widened as she realized where she was. She was now standing outside the temple for the God of War. She had never been that close before and she shivered a little as she looked at the massive structure. She took a few cautious steps towards it.

" Do you really think the God of War is going to let a woman be one of his warriors?" she replayed his words in her head. Maybe all the War God needed was a little encouragement for that to happen she thought to herself.

"Now how does one go about getting his attention." she said out loud.

She looked down at the blade in her hands and she got an idea.

She was going to offer the God of War her father's sword and with a few carefully worded statements, she hoped it would be enough to get him to notice her offering. Then maybe she could prove everyone wrong and show them that the God of War could have a woman as a warrior. She made her way to the steps of the temple and walked up them until she reached the doors then stopped and stared at them. She took a deep breath and was about to enter when she heard her name.

She turned around to see Lyceus coming towards her. She walked away from the doors and met him at the bottom of the temple steps. "Lyceus what are you doing here?"

"I was worried about you so I followed you." he looked at her with compassion.

"I'm fine. Just needed to get some fresh air."

She was trying to sound as if what Acacio had said had no effect on her but she knew Lyceus would see through her front.

"Xena, Acacio doesn't know what he is talking about and I'm sure the God of War would jump at the chance to have you as one of his warriors." he said with a sweet, candid smile.

She smiled softly at his comment. He was the only one who never tried to talk her out of trying to be a warrior like their father.

"Now you got to try and convince mother to let you go to that camp." he said with encouragement. He held his hand out to her.

"Easier said than done." She slipped her hand in his and they began to walk back to the tavern.

Xena turned her gaze back at the temple behind them as they reached the tree line. Looking at it she felt something stir in her but wasn't sure what it was. She turned back towards Lyceus and they continued on their journey back home.