Gabrielle began to pack up the blanket and bedrolls, which were now dry. "Hey Xena?"
Never tiring from hearing the sweet sound of the young bard's voice, Xena answered, "Yes?"
"So I was thinking, since we're not really in a hurry to go anywhere specific, do you think you can spar with me a little bit?"
Xena stopped loading Argo's saddle bags and looked over the saddle at the woman, "Spar?"
"Yeah, you know, so I can get a little better with my staff." Gabrielle was being hopeful. Truth is the warrior had never sparred with her, but she was the one who could teach her the most; besides, she loved watching the woman in action.
"Uh, if we have time for it sure." Xena wasn't sure what had inspired this idea, but she thought it could be some fun.
"Ok, cool. Everything is packed over here, so I'm ready when you are."
Xena hopped onto Argo, her trusty stead, and sent a flirty smile down to Gabrielle. "A ride for the beautiful lady?"
Gabrielle looked at Xena, trying to muster up a smart aleck smile, which turned out to just look like she was blushing. "If you insist." She hopped up behind Xena, scooting closer than ever before and wrapping her arms around her waist.
"I'd ask if you're on, but I'm pretty sure I can tell on my own," Xena said with a chuckle. She grabbed one of Gabrielle's hands and brought it to her lips for a soft kiss before heading off. Gabrielle returned the affection with a gentle kiss on the warrior's shoulder.
The two were riding in a peaceful silence, when they heard a woman shrieking for help in the distance. Gabrielle abruptly lifted her head, "Can you see where she is?"
"Over there!" Xena exclaimed, speeding Argo into a quick trot in the direction of the woman.
Upon meeting up with the woman, Lady Suryllus, the duo found out that her only daughter had been kidnapped by the evil warlord Krellus. Apparently she is a part of some royal family, and Krellus decided to kidnap her daughter, Cora, for a ransom. "Don't worry, they can't have gotten too far, I'll find them. Gabrielle will stay here with you in case they come back."
"Xena!"
"I need you here Gabrielle."
"But I would be more help to you than I would be just sitting here. I'm an Amazon Princess! I know how to fight!"
The lady, just wanting all the help she could get, agreed with Gabrielle, "The more people there are to fight the better I'll feel. Besides, my home is only a little ways from here, I should wait there in case they try and contact me."
Xena, realizing there was no use in fighting, agreed. The two women took off in the direction that Lady Sullyrus told them the men were headed, while the woman headed back to her home to wait.
"Why do you always do that?" Gabrielle asked defensively.
"Do what?" Xena had that annoyed tone in her voice.
"Leave me behind when you know I can fight?"
"I just think that leaving a bard with a distressed loved one seems to keep them calm and stop them from doing something stupid."
"Is that all you see when you look at me, Xena? A bard?"
Realizing she'd offended her friend, Xena softened her voice, "Of course not, you know that."
"I know you have 'many skills'," she said sarcastically," but I'm not just a bard, I'm also an Amazon princess, something you seem to like to forget."
"It's not that I forget, it's just that I like to know that you are safe, I hate having to worry about you."
"It's not that I don't appreciate that Xena, I just want to make sure you know I'm not a little girl anymore and I can hold my own."
Admitting defeat against someone much better with words than herself, Xena replied sweetly, "I know Gabrielle, I just love you, that's all. I don't want something to happen to you, I don't know what I'd do."
Gabrielle, knowing that the warrior princess was only being protective, sighed, "I know Xena, but that goes both ways you know? I trust you with my life, I just wish you trusted me with yours."
"You know I do, it's just a little harder you know, after all I'm the Warrior Princess. I don't need everyone thinking I need a bard-turned Amazon Princess protecting me." Xena teased.
Gabrielle playfully backhanded Xena in the shoulder, "Just because you know that I can protect you!"
"Look, up ahead, I think I see smoke!" Xena slowed up and they both dismounted the horse, so as to keep their presence unknown. "We're going to have to be very quiet if we want to get the drop on them."
"Ok." Gabrielle was practically in her fighting stance already.
"You're going to have to stay behind me. And no arguments this time." Xena looked back demandingly. Gabrielle nodded in agreement and the two took off towards the smoke.