Chapter 4

Xena just sat in her bed fuming from what had just happened. Why couldn't her mother see that she was meant to do this? She didn't want this opportunity to pass her by and given that life rarely offers second chances, she knew she had to take advantage of it. She knew what she had to do now. Her family may not approve with her decision, but she was going to take her chance whether they liked it or not.

It was late now. A bit too late then she wanted it to be in order to make it to the camp in time. But she had to wait for everyone to go to bed first. When she finally heard her mother's door close she waited a while longer to make sure everyone was asleep. Getting out of bed she made her way to her own door. She opened it quietly and peered out into the darkness of the hall.

Seeing that everything was clear she made her way to her mother's door. She listened to make sure she was indeed asleep and when she heard nothing she opened the door. Xena glanced for a moment at the bed where her mother was lying and made her way over to a closet. She opened it as quietly as possible, hoping not to accidentally wake up her mother. She blindly shifted through the items in there until she found what she was looking for.

Hearing movement, she glanced back at her mother thinking she had been caught. She let out a silent breath when she noticed that she was just switching positions in bed. She looked down at the sword in her hands and gripped it tightly. She certainly wasn't going to stand there doing nothing, simply allowing her mother destroy it. She looked back into the closet and grabbed the bits of armor that her father used to wear as a solider.

Gathering everything together, she made her way back towards the door. Seeing her mother stir a little, she froze. That was it, she had been caught…. the argument was coming. When nothing happened, she slowly turned her head towards the bed and relaxed. She just couldn't believe her luck! Her mother was still sound asleep, so she quietly made it to the door. As she began to open it, the door squeaked. She looked back at her mother to see if the small noise had woken her. Seeing she was still in the clear, she stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her.

She let out the breath she had been holding for awhile now, and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Looking down at her newly acquired items, she smiled. Now all she had to do was make her way to the camp. She went back into her room to grab a saddle bag to put the armor in and fastened the sword to her back.

A few minutes later, she quietly made her way down to the kitchen where she began to pack herself some provisions for her journey. Hearing the door open up behind her, she turned around with a jolt, just to discover her brother standing there. Seeing that it was Lyceus, she relaxed a little.

"It's late. What are you doing out of bed?" she asked him.

He chuckled a little. "I could ask you the same thing." he moved further into the room.

"Are you going somewhere Xena?" he inquired, casting a curious glance at the bag in her hand.

Xena looked down at the bag and then back up to meet her brother's eyes. Out of everything, she only hated that she had to leave him behind. She shifted and turned her gaze to the floor.

"You're going to go join up with that camp aren't you?"

It was more of a statement then a question. He knew how much she wanted this.

"Yes" she said softly, looking at him again, hoping that he wasn't angry with her and to her amazement, she saw understanding in his eyes.

She watched as he walked up to her and pulled her into a hug. She returned it and she heard him whisper in her ear. "I'll miss you."

She couldn't help the few tears that rolled down her cheeks. She hugged him tighter before finally pulling back from their embrace. He brought his hand up and brushed away her tears and they laughed a little at the situation.

"I'll try to visit as much as I can." she gave him a soft smile and turned to finish loading up her bag.

They made their way to the entrance of the tavern and stood there for a couple of seconds more. Xena stepped out and turned back to her brother. She walked back over and pulled him into another hug.

"You be good for mother now, you hear me?" she pulled back so she could look at him.

"Don't worry about me Xena I'll be fine." he answered on a very brave tone, smiling widely. "Now it's time you get going before you miss your chance for good."

She laughed at his statement and moved to set out towards the camp. Once she was at the edge of town she turned back around and took in the village she had called home. She took in all the buildings and all the memories she had from her time here. She switched her gaze to the temple of Athena that was in the middle of town. Seeing that one made her mind drift to another gods temple.

She turned towards the east where the temple of the God of War was rising towards the sky. She took a few steps in that direction feeling the pull she always got when she looked at it. She was going to be a warrior, just like her father, no doubt about it. It may not be for the same God but she was going to do it. She smiled as she headed in the opposite direction. She didn't know what fate she would get when she arrived but she knew there was no turning back now.