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Alti was only interested in two people in the village. She looked around and could feel the energy, the life force of every woman in it. She smiled; there would be time enough. She carried on looking for the two who mattered. One was standing regally, proud and pregnant. She quirked an eyebrow, she would find out more about that. And the other was nowhere to be seen. She would have sensed her immediately.
As she came closer to the small blond she caught her eye and exerted the full force of power. That year had been well spent in Chin, learning about the mind. She took in so much of the blonde's life but to her shock the blond managed to close her mind off and break away. Alti was surprised at the woman's strength, but not disappointed. She would make an excellent challenge.
"Who are you?" she whispered.
"Alti. My name is Alti." She gave her a cold smile. This woman was preventing her from getting the true prize, the one she desired above all.
"Welcome Alti, to you and your tribe. I am Queen Gabrielle." Alti heard the words and was impressed the blonde managed to re-gather her wits so quickly. She also noted the emphasis on the word Queen.
Alti bowed low. When she rose she saw that Gabrielle was avoiding her eye. Clever girl, but I am so much more than the Chinese mind trick. "We ask you for kindness. We have travelled long. We are the last of our tribe, and fear if we remain we will be annihilated."
"Why so Alti?" asked a brown eyed woman with corkscrew curls. Alti levelled her gaze at her and within a second had drawn out her secrets, her dreams, and her loves-how interesting-and even more delicious, her pain. The woman stumbled back in shock and Gabrielle put her hand out to support her.
"Well-"Alti began and looked expectantly at the brown eyed woman.
"Ephiny. Queen Ephiny," she added coolly.
"Queen Ephiny and Queen Gabrielle. Our leaders were murdered several years previously by a Greek warlord. She killed them all and left children to fend for themselves. I am a mere shameness but I felt it was my duty, when I knew of their plight, to guide and lead them. The Northern lands, it is perilous and bleak. We were losing tribe members weekly. We have heard of your tribe's strength and wish to petition you for us to join."
She watched as the two Queens exchanged a glance with each other.
"We do not expect an answer immediately, of course." She bowed low. "We are staying off Amazon lands and-"
"Alti, you can of course stay on Amazon lands. There are caves that are convenient. We can supply you with any equipment you lack," Gabrielle said.
"You are most generous." Alti sighed quietly. She was now getting tired of this exchange. She had grovelled enough. She now wanted a glimpse, a feel of her target. If not, no matter, she would give the blonde a little gift of information.
"Our council will meet as soon as possible. But we would be honoured if you all join us tonight," said Ephiny unenthusiastically.
Alti nodded and moved closer to the women. Both avoided her eye. "Thank you," she said. She held out her hand to Gabrielle. She knew that to refuse it would be a huge dishonour and as nothing she had said would give any of the listening Amazons concern, it would be a big risk on Gabrielle's part. She could see the war going on within Gabrielle. Eventually she held her hand out.
Alti took it and gave it a shake. She then pulled Gabrielle closer to her. "I'm sure you are a fine queen," she whispered. "And of course Xena always did like Amazon royalty. I only hope she doesn't do the same thing to you as the last Queen she screwed." Alti moved away and was delighted to see the look of horror on Gabrielle's face. "That would be such a shame, especially now." She moved her eyes to Gabrielle's bump but Gabrielle moved away instinctively. Alti frowned and moved her hand towards it when her senses picked up a change in energy. The very thing she was waiting for.
"I'm sure that Ephiny and co can deal with some visiting Amazons," grumbled Epinon. "I was looking forward to this."
Xena shrugged in reply. Amarice hopped from one foot to another in her excitement. "But Ephiny wanted you back. They're no one we know."
"You mean they're not from your tribe, or your tribe doesn't know them," said Epinon, mockingly, still smarting from the abandonment of what she was hoping to be revenge on Xena.
"No!" added Amarice impatiently. "They're from the North or something."
Xena paled and went cold. She gulped and then said, "How many of them?"
"A dozen or so. Mainly kids." Amarice puffed her chest out and rose up as high as she could. "With one older woman."
"A shameness?" asked Xena with a sinking feeling, especially when Amarice nodded.
Xena turned away and closed her eyes. She thought she would never see Alti again, but yet again her past came back to haunt her. And the murdered Amazons. How could she tell Gabrielle that? Would that finally be the point the bard gives up on her. She wouldn't blame her if she did.
"Xena. Xena" Epinon called. Xena snapped her mask on and pushed her feelings to one side-something she had to do less and less these days-and turned around.
"Didn't you hear me, Xena? Do you know them?" Epinon was now looking concerned rather than irritated.
"Maybe. Come on lets get back."
She rode as quickly as she dared, the amazons frowning at times at her hurry. She hoped she could be there before Alti. Who knew what other abilities and powers Alti had acquired? They were so alike then, both lusting after power and didn't care what they did or who they hurt to get it. Sucking knowledge from whoever they could and disposing of them thoughtlessly.
As they arrived in the village she could see the crowd gathered in the square. She noticed immediately the different costumes of the Northern Amazons and her heart sunk. As Xena moved closer she could see Gabrielle talking to Alti. Gabrielle's face was of sheer horror and she watched as the bard backed away slightly. She moved quickly through the crowd, keeping her eyes on the bard and the woman in front of her, who spun around.
"Hello Xena," Alti said in her harsh voice. "Long time no see."
Xena starred at her quickly but then looked past her to Gabrielle. Their eyes locked and she could see nervousness in the bard's green ones. She then looked back at Alti who was grinning happily.
"We must go and prepare for tonight." Alti turned back to Gabrielle and Ephiny. "Thank you for your generosity."
She then looked at Xena. "I shall enjoy catching up with you Xena. We have so much interesting history," she said and moved past Xena, brushing against her. Instantly Xena's mind was full of her fight with the Amazon leaders leading to their deaths. As Alti stepped away the images receded and Xena watched wordlessly as Alti and the amazons left.
She looked at Gabrielle who looked pale as she watched Alti depart. She said a few words to Ephiny and then made her way to Xena. Conscious that Alti kept looking around at them, Gabrielle approached Xena and linked arms. "We need to talk," said Gabrielle, and they headed to their hut.
Neither of them said a word during the short walk to the hut and once they had entered it. Gabrielle lowered herself gingerly onto a chair and resting her elbows on the table she covered her eyes with her hands. She needed a few moments to try and make sense of this day-this day which had started so wonderfully had turned into an emotional battleground, and she felt critically wounded. She was conscious that Xena was there, no doubt peering at her with concern, so she removed her hands and gazed at Xena who was indeed sitting close by watching her anxiously.
"Are you sure you're alright?" asked the warrior.
Gabrielle nodded, not trusting her voice.
"I'm going to get Piri. You're looking very pale." Xena rose, and so did Gabrielle and caught her arm. Xena looked at the hand and suddenly the images of the dead Amazon leaders came to her and she moved away. She looked at Gabrielle who had a neutral expression on her face but suddenly swayed, but righted herself by putting her hand on the table. In a flash Xena was guiding Gabrielle to her chair again.
"That's it I'm-"
"We just need to talk." Gabrielle's voice was shaky and little more than a whisper. Xena nodded and moved further away and stood by the door.
"What did she tell you?" said Xena. She knew that Alti would have delighted in hurting the bard. That was her speciality.
"They are a tribe from the north. Their leaders were wiped out and they are in danger of being destroyed. "Gabrielle saw the warrior mask that Xena wore. Not for me, she thought with anguish, not any more. She looked down. "They want to join us."
There was silence. Xena was looking at her boots and Gabrielle said without emotion, "You killed them, didn't you. The leaders. Your lover. All of them."
Xena's head rose and Gabrielle could see the pain in the blue eyes. Xena nodded.
"Tell me." The bard's voice was gentle.
Xena looked around the hut. She knew she couldn't lie to Gabrielle. But the truth. The truth was so terrible, for anyone to accept, but as queen of the amazons, it would be torturous.
"I met Alti when I was with Borias. I was just pregnant with Solon. Alti promised-"Xena looked at Gabrielle who was listening intently. "Alti promised to make me the "Destroyer of Nations". To become even more powerful. She appealed to my dark nature. "Xena sighed.
"She's been thrown out of the amazons. They'd seen her for what she really was. Borias was taken by the amazons. Him and his little pacts. I met Cyane."
"The Queen," said Gabrielle in a strangled voice and looked away.
"Yes," Xena drawled out. "We had a brief affair. I wanted to gain as much knowledge from her as I could. She wanted to recruit me. We both had our own agenda. Lover is really pushing it, we were using each other."
"And then you killed her and the other leaders?" Gabrielle still wasn't looking at Xena. The warrior chilled and knew that the final revelation would seal her fate. To be parted from Gabrielle and their life together.
"Yes. Alti wanted me to. So I did." There was silence.
Gabrielle was now looking at the floor. "Why didn't you tell me? About the Amazons, about her. "For the first time her voice held a slither of anger.
"Like I can just drop it into the conversation? Nice leathers, your majesty, by the way I murdered several of your sisters. Wine or ale?" Answered Xena sarcastically and turned away from Gabrielle.
"Why didn't you tell me?" repeated Gabrielle.
"You'd leave me," she said quietly. "Every town every person we meet, it's another horror from my past. It's like a giant monolith casting shadows over my whole life, my future, our future." She whispered the last two words. "I don't want that for you. Especially now."
"Xena how many times do I have tell you, your past is just that; the past?" She approached the warrior and wrapped her arms around Xena's back. "I'm sorry I get jealous and I'm sorry you don't feel able to trust me. I can't deny I wish you told me, but it's happened. Nothing you can tell me about your past will make me leave you."
Xena pirouetted around so she was facing Gabrielle and held her tight. She lay her head on the blonde head and shed a few silent tears. "Thank you," she said hoarsely.
She could feel Gabrielle sag slightly and so she led her to the bed and they both sat down, still holding hands.
"What else happened?" asked Xena, her eyes scanning up and down.
"When I looked at Alti, it was like, she stripped me bare and could see into my soul, my life, everything."
Xena pursed her lips. "Before I told you about her, what did you think of her?"
Gabrielle tilted her head to one side. "I didn't trust her. She's lying at best, and at worst, she wants to hurt people."
"I agree." Xena squeezed the bard's hand gently. "She doesn't want to join the tribe, I know that much. Alti only desires power."
"You need to talk to council."
Xena looked away. "Then I'll admit to them what happened. I don't know-"
"You won't be punished. We have no jurisdiction over other tribes' affairs. That was to prevent internal tribe matters becoming civil wars. You need to tell the Northern amazons, too."
"We don't know what the connection is with Alti. For all we know they could be her apprentices." She shuddered as she thought of Anokin, Alti's apprentice who had been her lover for a brief spell but had turned on her.
"I'll talk to council, then. We're going to meet before the northern Amazons return."
"OK. But you need to rest first."
Gabrielle leant into Xena. "Thank you," said the dark haired warrior.
"For what," mumbled Gabrielle?
"Being you. Loving me. Despite everything. And I trust you. I don't trust my past."
"Xena," Gabrielle pulled away slightly. "Your past has made you the woman you are today. Your past has helped you help and assist hundreds if not thousands of people. It's part of you, part of us."
"Always the poet." And Xena leant in for a tender kiss. When they broke apart, she pushed Gabrielle onto the bed. The bard smiled broadly, but soon lost it as Xena moved off the bed and covered her up. "Now rest."
"Yes Xena," said Gabrielle huffily and rolled over.
"Are you sure you are OK?" asked Ephiny anxiously as they took their seats in the council meeting room. It was deemed a closed session, only council members were allowed.
Gabrielle patted her hand and sat down. Teles sat across from her and nodded curtly as she took her seat.
"We are discussing the Northern Amazon's tribe request to join our tribe." Stated Gabrielle. "We do not have to rush to a conclusion; they are comfortable in the caves."
"I'm not sure what the problem is?" asked Yanna. "They are amazons, they need our help. We should help them."
"I agree," said Aella, and received a glowering look from Ephiny. The regent had been shaken by her experience with Alti and didn't trust the Shameness. She had yet to discuss her thought with anyone. Aella slunk in her chair.
"What concerns do you have, Gabrielle?" asked Agamede quietly.
Gabrielle turned to look at the eldest Amazon in the room. Agamede's reputation was legendary; she was rumoured to be Melosa's former lover as well as one of the finest warrior's of her generation.
"I-I" Gabrielle searched for the right word. She knew that they would have to hear about Xena's past, but she hoped to gauge the opinion first. "I don't trust Alti."
"Neither do I," added Ephiny. "There is something dark about her."
"She has taken a great deal of responsibility on. She is obviously no warrior yet she has led those children to safety after their leaders were slain," said Agamede.
"Do you know who murdered the leaders?" asked Teles looking straight at Gabrielle.
Gabrielle stared at Teles and nodded, dropping her head.
"It was Xena wasn't it?" said Marpe speaking for the first time. She stood up angrily and pushed her chair away. "So it's alright for her to murder amazons, attempt to murder Gabrielle twice. She gets away with it as usual." The Amazon paced up and down angrily.
"Is this true?" asked Aella horrified.
"Yes. It is. But she didn't act alone. She and Alti were a partnership-"
"Let me guess, Alti asked Xena to murder them, so she did. How convenient. What a load of-"
"Teles thank you. Remember where you are." Ephiny spoke harshly. "And sit down Marpe. Please."
The blonde Amazon gave Ephiny a snarl and then sat down, crossing her arms.
"We should let Gabrielle continue," said Yanna.
"Actually what Teles said was correct," Gabrielle said quietly, finding it difficult to admit that. "But there was another thing-Xena said that Alti was kicked out of the Amazons."
"Maybe she repented," said Marpe bitterly. "It can happen." She glared pointedly at Gabrielle.
Gabrielle looked at the angry, twisted face. "Spit it out Marpe. As if we didn't know."
"Seems the Queen's Champion can do whatever she wants and gets away with it, while others are banished for a lot less."
"If your friends had sworn their allegiance they could have stayed. You know that and so do they. They weren't prepared to." Gabrielle said.
"We could have forgiven them for following Valasca, but they couldn't let it go," said Aella. "They weren't to be trusted."
Marpe went to stand up again, but Teles put her hand on her arm. She looked around the room. "It's not wise to re-hash that history, or Xena's. We need to make a decision."
"Teles is right," said Yanna. "What about giving them a week, to see how they integrate with us? Give a few of us a chance to get to know them."
"I agree," said Agamede. "Many of us have done things in our past. Everyone deserves a second chance."
"I can't agree," said Ephiny. "I don't trust Alti."
"I agree with Yanna," said Teles eagerly.
"I abstain," said Aella, surprising everyone. Ephiny scowled at her.
"I'm with Ephiny," said Gabrielle, but knew that Marpe was left.
"So it looks like they are staying for a short while. Excellent." Marpe grinned broadly.
"They should still stay at the caves," said Yanna. Everyone nodded their heads.
"There is another matter," said Teles quietly. "How would it look if the slayer of the Amazon leaders was the Queen's champion?"
Gabrielle shut her eyes. She knew this would upset Xena.
"Queen Gabrielle, Teles is right," said Agamede. "What sort of message would it send that the consort was-"
"Xena will remain my consort," retorted Gabrielle angrily. "That is not open for negotiation."
"But Xena should no longer be the Queen's champion," said Marpe.
Gabrielle nodded miserably. She looked down at her lap and blinked back the tears.
She raised her head and said quietly, "I choose Solari." There were nods in agreement around the table.
"I believe we are finished now," said Aella, eager to flee Ephiny's wrath. "Lets prepare for tonight." And with that she headed quickly out the door followed by Teles and Marpe in deep discussion wearing large smiles.
Ephiny turned to Gabrielle. "This was not good." There was a pause. "Did you feel as if she could see in your soul?" The regent whispered.
"Yes. I don't like this, Eph. Not at all."
"We need to be vigilant. I'll warn Pony, Sol and some others."
"This is not what we want at the moment, anything to encourage the Valasca faction."
"I know." The regent rose. "Come on we've an evening to prepare for."