They stood in the barn with Joxer nearby. Though Xena longed more than anything to take Gabrielle in her arms and lay her back into the straw they hadn't told anyone but Cyrene about the change in their relationship. She was unsure of Gabrielle's feelings on the matter but she much preferred privacy and in the past had always shied away from public displays of affection. It was a good thing Joxer couldn't remember seeing the hickey on her neck, Gabrielle's face had given it all away. She reluctantly released Gabrielle from the hug and then turned to Joxer.

"Hey Joxer I have a mission for ya."

"Anything Xena, what monster are you sending me to face, what diabolical scheme are we going to foil?" He puffed out his chest and placed his hand on his sword. "No mission is too difficult for Joxer the Might. OH Joxer the Mighty..."

"Well Joxer it's a mission that requires stealth. Can you do that?" He made a motion like zipping his lips and nodded. "Good, I need you to head southwest. I heard there's a warlord down there stirring up some trouble. Find out what you can and wait for me there. Got it?"

"Yes Xena, Joxer is on the job you can count on me." He walked towards the door singing his Joxer the mighty song. Once he was out of sight Gabrielle turned to Xena.

"I thought we were headed northeast. You said there was nothing in the other direction but quiet peaceful resort towns on the sea."

"Exactly," she said with a smile. Gabrielle's eyes lit up with understanding.

"Oh good. Wouldn't it be easier to tie him up and leave him somewhere?"

"Nah, he's like a mouse, just chews through the ropes."

"What?"

"Never mind, you didn't live that day."

"So are you ever going to explain to me exactly what happened here?"

Xena shrugged. "Eh, I have. Depends on the day if you can handle it." Gabrielle glared at her. "Ok, ok let's get moving. We haven't been up through Celtae. It a beautiful land I'd love to show to you, without Joxer on our heels."

"Sounds good Xena, but can we stay here one more day? This barn is warm and private, rest for Argo. It's a win win."

"NO!" Gabrielle cringed at how harsh Xena's voice sounded. "Sorry no. One more day in this town and I'll be battier than when I was possessed by the Furies."

"Alright, I'll start getting packed up."

With that the two packed quickly and were out of town within half a candle mark. Xena was in exceptionally high spirits. She was even humming as she walked beside Gabrielle. Until she could afford to get Gabrielle her own horse it didn't seem fair to ride all the time when Gabrielle had to walk behind Argo. Gabrielle walked closer and closer to her until she slipped her hand into Xena's free one. Xena had been day dreaming about finally living a new day and wasn't expecting it. She pulled her hand away before she realised what she was doing.

"Sorry Gabrielle, I was daydreaming." She reached out for the bards hand who took it gratefully. "It's so nice not be living a different day. Getting out of that town, not seeing the same people over and over."

"You saw me over and over."

"That was the one good part about the day. I got an extra seventeen days with you, but we didn't get to spend much time together."

"Seventeen days? We were really there that long? Xena I don't know how you're still sane!"

"Maybe I never was to begin with. But you're kinda lucky. One of those days Joxer noticed my hickey." Gabrielle looked away guiltily. "But it wasn't as bad as when you got really mad at me for tying you up."

She didn't even see the fist coming until it hit her shoulder. "What was that for?" Inside she was secretly impressed. Gabrielle had hit her, her reflexes were really improving. She was becoming a great fighter. Xena cringed a little at that thought. Gabrielle wasn't supposed to be a fighter. She fought to defend herself yes but was she destroying the bard's peaceful ways.

"You tied me up!"

"Yes but you had been killed the day before so I wanted to make sure you were in a safe place while I tried to figure everything out!"

"Wait you said you tied Joxer up too. Did you leave us tied up together?"

"Well not tied together..." This time she managed to catch Gabrielle's fist. "Hey now, I tied you in a comfortable position, you could even lay down if you had wanted to. Joxer was hog tied, I still don't know how he chewed through those ropes."

"You had to tie me up? You couldn't have just explained everything to me?"

"I tried that most days but I wasn't going to be out on the street protecting you two that day, I was in the houses of the two families. I couldn't handle either of you dying again so I made sure you were safe."

"Exactly how many times did we die Xena?" Gabrielle had stopped and put her hands on her hips in disbelief.

"You and Argo died once, Joxer died twice."

"The towns people killed us that many times?"

"Yea," Xena nervously rubbed the back of her neck remembering her chakram sticking out of Joxer's chest, "the towns people. Oh and that one time Joxer got us all killed."

Gabrielle shook her head in disbelief. The rest of the day carried on much the same. Xena tried to remember the order in which everything had happen as Gabrielle made notes on a spare piece of parchment as they walked. They even ate lunch on the move. Xena didn't say it but she wanted as much distance as possible between her and Xanthi. She wanted them to at least reach the Thracian border with Dardanoi by the end of the next day. That would mean some hard riding on their part though and a lot of stress on Argo.

"Let's camp here Gabrielle."

Xena took the saddle off Argo and Gabrielle grabbed her bridle. They were right by the road but there was nice little pond nearby and Xena really was in the mood for a bath. In no time at all they had their camp site set up and a small fire burning.

"I'm going to take a swim, care to join me?" Xena's eyes sparkled mischievously. Just looking into them Gabrielle knew exactly what she had in mind. Checking quickly to make sure no one was coming she sauntered over to the Warrior Princess playing with the lacing on her top.

"I don't know Xena," her voice was taunting and sultry. "I'm still worn out from the other night. It was only two days ago for me you know." She was so close now she was brushing against Xena's breastplate. "And that hickey is still on your neck. Shouldn't you let that heal a bit?"

Xena gave out a frustrated moan, her eyes pleading. "Gabrielle." It sounded almost painful. Xena didn't know what had gotten into her. She hadn't been with anyone since Marcus until Gabrielle. Two years in which she was in complete control but now, a few days without having touched her, having been touched was driving her mad.

Gabrielle just smiled. "What's the matter Xena, you're looking a little frustrated."

This time all she managed was "please" barely spoken above a whisper. Gabrielle guided Xena's hands to her tyings. "You do it." Xena's hands shook as her fingers, for once clumsy worked the lacings until the top fell away. Her fingers brushed against Gabrielle's breast but she grabbed them and directed to Xena to her belt. "Not till we're in the water."

Xena worked much more quickly at the belt and let Gabrielle's skirt fall away. Under the dying light her hair seemed almost as though it was on fire. She looked like a goddess descended to earth, but Xena had met the gods, Gabrielle was greater than them. She moved to start undoing her own armour but Gabrielle grabbed her hands again and brought them down to her sides. Then Gabrielle began to work Xena out of her armour piece by piece until she finally stood there in nothing but her sheath which Gabrielle gently lifted over her head smiling.

"Ok, now we go for a swim." She grabbed Xena by the elbow and led her to the side of the pond releasing her at the edge she walked in till the water was up to her chest then she dove under. When she emerged Xena was reminded of the myth of Aphrodite arising from the foam off of Cyprus but Gabrielle was more beautiful than Aphrodite by far. Unable to resist any longer she ran into the water and wrapped Gabrielle in her arms, kissing her with more passion than she knew was in her. She felt as she had when Bliss's arrow had made her fall for Draco but she knew this wasn't fleeting.

Gabrielle returned Xena's kiss hungrily. She reached beneath the water but before she could make contact Xena had both her hands behind her back which she held there. Gabrielle gasped. "Let me know if it's too much." Gabrielle nodded as Xena's teeth raked down her cheek and the side of her neck. With her free hand she snaked her fingers into Gabrielle's hair and pulled. Not hard but not exactly gently either. She began to nipple across the bard's neck and down her chest. The water was on the colder side so Gabrielle's nipples were already harder than normal. When Xena's teeth brushed over them Gabrielle let out a yelp. Xena immediately pulled back. "You ok?"

"For the love of the gods Xena don't stop!" Gabrielle squirmed against Xena who still had Gabrielle's wrists pinned behind the bard's body. She was shaking but not from the cold. Her eyes had gone almost black as her pupils expanded. "That's an official command Warrior Princess. Unless you hear no or stop you keep going. Got it?"

To show her understand Xena leaned beneath the water and nipped the skin just below Gabrielle's breast. This elicited another yelp that turned into a throaty moan. Xena returned to kissing her while slowly leading her to a nearby rock. With no effort she put her hands on Gabrielle's hips and lifted her up onto the rock and stood between her legs. With no warning Xena's face found its way between Gabrielle's legs. Her tongue brushed Gabrielle's lower lips causing the bard's whole body to shudder. She went to place her hands on Xena's shoulder but Xena stepped back.

"No. We're going to play a little game." Gabrielle pouted. "No touching me." Her insides ached as she said those words. "No touching till I say so. If you win I have a surprise for you."

"Fine." Gabrielle was too far gone to make works beyond that. She leaned back on the rock with her arms crossed behind her so she wouldn't be tempted. Xena took the opportunity to run her fingers all over Gabrielle's body. She glided down her chest and torso, her legs and shoulders. Over her breast and even gave a casual flick of her nipple. While continuing this Xena's tongue went back to work. She you broad strokes starting inside of her and then up over her clit. She could feel Gabrielle squirming beneath her fingers. When she started to flick her clit with her tongue Gabrielle's legs squeezed in around her head. She took them and threw them over her shoulders, Xena's fingers now teasing the inside of Gabrielle's thighs. She wasn't sure how many times Gabrielle came. After every shutter of her body and squeeze of her thighs Xena would change the direction of her tongue. Finally knowing Gabrielle was getting to sensitive she launched herself out of the water. Laying beside Gabrielle on the rock she growled into her ear, "hold me," before plunging her fingers into Gabrielle who came one last time with her nails buried in Xena's back.

While Gabrielle was recuperating Xena got up and grabbed some fish for dinner. She dressed and skinning them on the shore when Gabrielle finally emerged from pond still looking a little shaky. Xena flashed her one of her biggest smiles and handed her the skinned fish. "Dinner," was all she said still smiling. Gabrielle went to respond but just changed her mind, shook her head and walked back towards the fire. After they had eaten their fill (Gabrielle had managed to eat two whole fish by herself) they sat back leaning against one another.

"That was delicious."

"Thanks but I cooked them the same way I always do."

"I wasn't talking about the fish." Xena smirked licking her lips. "I hope you didn't fill up though I still have that surprise for you." She got up and made her way to the saddle bag.

"I don't know if I can take any more surprises today Xena."

"Ok more for me then." She returned to Gabrielle with two objects wrapped up in cloths. "I'll just have to eat both of ours." With that she unwrapped the nut bread her mother had made for Gabrielle. The nut bread was halfway to her lips when all of a sudden she found Gabrielle's mouth wrapped around her fingers. Laughing she handed the rest of the loaf to Gabrielle and unwrapped her own honey cakes.

"What have you got there Xena?"

"Honey cakes you want to try a piece." She held the morsel out in her fingers. Gabrielle took it with her mouth. When she was done chewing she returned to suck all of the sweetness of Xena's fingers. Again Xena felt a stirring inside of her. Gabrielle must have seen it in her eyes because she set aside the nut bread and pounced on Xena pinning her to the ground. Xena was still excited from earlier and Gabrielle could tell how worked up she was. She went straight up her skirt and in just a few strokes Xena shuddered holding Gabrielle close to her. Smiling she fell asleep with Gabrielle's head on her chest.

Xena woke earlier than usually, not really sure why. Gabrielle was still wrapped around her but in the distance she could hear someone approaching their camp. She threw Gabrielle's arm off and sprung to her feet grabbing her chakram that was nearby. A soldier dressed in Athenian garb bust threw the trees. As soon as Xena saw how hurt he was she put the chakram down and ran to him. Just as she got there he collapsed. She caught him and guided him gently to the ground.

"Gabrielle, water quick!" She took off his helmet and started to remove his breast plate. She could see that his shoulder was dislocated and blood was staining through the side of his shirt. Examining the wound she realised it was just a graze. By that time Gabrielle and returned with the water skin. Xena gently tipped it back into his mouth. After a few minutes he was able to compose himself.

"Thank you. Are you Xena?"

"I am. What'd you want?" She didn't always answer truthfully but she could tell this man didn't mean her any harm.

"There was a battle. A horrible battle. An entire regiment of the Athenian Army was destroyed but me. I was sent to look for you." She gave him a moment to catch his breath. "We couldn't break through their armour. Their swords cut through ours like butter. Our shields were sliced in half. What kind of metal can do that?"

"It's the metal of Hephaestus. Ares probably finally got his hands on it and is using it for his new army."

"Not playing fair, that definitely sounds like Ares."

" They were chanting Ares name and Agathon's as well."

Xena stood up. "Rest here you should be safe. There is still some fish in the pan by the fire help yourself. Oh hold on." She walked up to him and pulled his arm back into place and then fashioned a sling out of linens. "Come on Gabrielle pack up but leave the fire and fish for this man. We're going to need help. Agathon is no ordinary warlord. We'll have to find a few old friends of mine."