A note to everyone: Thank you for your reviews, they make me want to write faster. As Jemicus said a beta reader might be a good idea, let me know if any of you are interested. I spent a bit more time on this chapter so hopefully it's a bit smoother. Please read and review and let me know how I am doing. Where it has italics in the story with a preface of Day 1, Day 2 etc.. that's the villan thinking. The only other use of italics is for a memory. I hesitated in doing it this way but it seemed to make sense and fit so. I dunno let me know your thoughts.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, I am just playing with the characters, please don't sue me.

Early the next morning Arizona and Callie were up and at the training fields sparring back and forth. Callie stretched her long and lean body, closing her eyes a moment meditating as she focused her attention fully on her breathing, Arizona not far from her stretching watched as the brunette closed her eyes and watched the peace overcome her features. It took her breath away. Callie was incredibly beautiful. She groaned as watched. A moment later brown met blue as Callie stood.

"Come Join me in the circle Arizona."

Arizona nodded and stepped to the edge of the warriors circle. She pulled her sword and waited, watching her opponent. As they began to trade blows, Arizona was impressed by the tall brunette; she was a formidable warrior and a force to be reckoned with. They circled one another, Callie striking first and their swords clashing together as Arizona blocked the blow. Arizona watched the fluid motion that Callie's body had as she blocked several more blows.

Callie watched her opponent, watched as the years of battle had taught Arizona the warriors stance, she moved well within the circle. Arizona won the first point, landing a small cut to Callie's side. Callie nodded and chuckled at her and resumed her ready position. The second point went to Callie who landed a very small cut to Arizona's arm. The bout continued until all five points had been reached, a draw being called as both women had swords at the others throat. Blue met brown as their chests heaved with the exertion and Callie struggled to not lean in and kiss the beautiful blonde. She withdrew her sword first and smiled.

"Well done Arizona. We should wash and change before we head to the council chambers."

Arizona flashed her a dimpled smile, studying her a moment as she replied. She saw the battle lust in Calliope's eyes and felt the desire to knock her over and fuck her on the training fields. Clenching her jaw through her smile she replied.

"Of course Calliope."

Several hours later the two women were sitting in their respective seats listening to the discussions of what the alliance would look like. Calliope listened well and interjected only when she felt it necessary. Arizona listened as Callie interjected, she only interjected occasionally but she had done her homework on the Persian nation, on Arizona herself, making sure to correct mistakes that Arizona had exploited as a younger warlord. She appreciated the calculated approach Callie brought to the table, often there to defuse both Persians an amazons alike, keeping the place mostly friendly and the members not at each others throats. She was calm and collected in delegations and Queen Eiraina relied heavily on Callie for the decisions that were being made and the observation of the players involved.

Day one:
I sat in silence and watched as the delegations ensue. It was going as I had planned for the most part. Encouraging Arizona in the direction of an alliance with the Amazons had been mostly easy. She thought I wanted to help her grow her empire, when all I really want is her throne. She will be mine.

Day 3:
As the delegations go on I find myself bothered by them. They are making a stronger alliance than I hoped. I realized by day 3 This was a stupid idea, and the Amazons would only get in my way especially Callie, she was calculated, cold, observant and I have to admit a very very good delegator. It seems she has studied my princess, our nations, us as advisors and seems to know the weaknesses and strengths of the nations. The weaknesses and strengths of our princess. She will be my largest challenge in acquiring the throne. I wonder, I wonder if I could have them both, she is beautiful, what person would argue that the tall dark beauty would be also a nice consolation prize. The princess cares for her and that is disturbing to me. Maybe I will teach them both a lesson, Callie can be my whore in the basement and Arizona the wife in my bed, and the throne of the Persian nation my own.

Day4:
Maybe I was hasty in picking my wife. Callie seems to have a strong head on her shoulders, an ability to listen, observe, correct and dare I say a lethalness to her when it comes to these delegations. Its like she hits you with a velvet sword. She stabs you and you are so caught up by her that you realize you are bleeding and then you die. She is firmly calculating. Maybe she would make a better wife. I am still toying with the idea of having both. I will have my throne.

Arizona sighed as she ran her hands through her hair, the treaty was almost done but she found the tension between the tribes almost completely exhausting. She stepped outside to get a breathe of the cool night air. It had been four days, they had just a few more details to work out and then it would be done, an alliance with a nation almost as strong as hers in some ways stronger. Then the romans would cease terrorizing their villages, cease taking their women and children and killing their men, that was the sole driving force behind her motivations. Arizona sighed as she blinked back tears, in her younger years the lives of her people didn't matter to her, she just cared about conquerment. Tears began to sting her eyes as memories assailed her.

Five years earlier

Arizona's sword dripped with blood as a nasty smile covered her features, the firelight of the burning houses shadowed her face. Three of her best men stood surrounding her as a few of her soldiers herded the villagers towards her, the village leader pushed forward. He cringed at the sight of her.

"Look old man, I am not interested in anything but your crops. You will give 75% of your crops to me, or I will kill you, your choice."

The old man nodded and Arizona left the details to Mark. She walked towards her camp passing the small but scattered battlefield as she did. As she walked she saw a movement caught her eye and she immediately drew her sword, only to find at its point a small child. His little grubby and now bloody hands were clasped in the hands of the dead woman on the ground, his little eyes welled with tears as he met the blue eyes of the fierce warlord. He said nothing but got down on his knees, then lay his little head against his mothers bloody abdomen, closed his eyes and simply waited for her sword to behead him.

Arizona took a deep breath as a cool breeze brought her back from the memory. It had shaken her to the core of who she was, the campaign had ended a few months later, battle after bloody battle had been fought, she had lost a good portion of her army trying to conquer a larger portion of the roman lands. She had injured Ceaser she knew and they had conquered a good portion of land, expanding the kingdom ten fold. In the final battle of the campaign she had been injured badly, Mark had taken her to a local temple to be taken care of. Arizona spent a month there while Mark and a few others signed a shaky peace treaty with some of the neighboring tribes around the Roman empire. At first Arizona had been hostile to the monks and those who tried to tend to her wounds both mentally and emotionally. The image of the small boy haunted her dreams, her memories both when she was awake and asleep. One particular monk tended her day in and day out, teaching her the ways of peace, while sparring with her on the battlefield, challenging her both mentally and physically, her name was Alisha. One day Alisha had come into her room and handed her a book.

"May I suggest you read this Arizona?"

"Why?"

"It holds the key to the peace you are looking for."

Months passed, Arizona healing both mentally and physically, she was an even better warrior that when she had entered the temple. She spent her time meditating, sparring, and reading. Alisha and she had become fast friends, often talking over the teachings that she was reading. After six months, Rome had recovered and attacked her people again. She returned as ruler Mark and the other generals stepped down and Arizona began to reinvent her kingdom. Instead of conquest and lives lost for it's cause she helped the villages become sustainable, feeding the empire without starving themselves. Though her people feared her they slowly began to respect her. Her men began to risk their lives to save her because they respected her as their leader and as their warlord. As Rome pushed into the Persian nation and Arizona led her army against them she grieved the bloody bodies of her people as she had sought to protect them. The sound of the wind through the pine trees brought her out of her musings. It had been almost two years since she had returned to the temple, she missed the peace it had brought her. This was the closest she had come to it, here with the Amazons. A sigh escaped her lips as she stared off into the distance, she knew that a few of her generals and some of her men would be at odds with the amazons, damn chauvinistic pigs. They would rise up against her soon, hopefully she would be able to squelch their rebellion and keep her nation strong against the ever advancing romans. Hearing a noise behind her she reached for her dagger only to relax when she saw Calliope approach. She felt strong arms encircle her in a hug offering comfort and strength. She pulled back after a moment and met the brown eyes glinting in the moonlight.

"You ok? "

Arizona nodded.

"Yes, I hate delegations."

Callie smiled squeezing her close again.

"I understand. Come they are ready for you."

"How long have you been there?"

Callie chuckled.

"I never left you Ari, I just chose to let you have your space."