AN UNLIKELY ALLIANCE AMONG OLD RIVALS

Xena kept hold of the younger woman not wanting to let her go, gods it was nice to kiss her, she just wanted to do it again. She inched closer moving her hand up to the younger woman's collar running her fingers down the edge, as she spoke in a deeper tone. "Do you know how long I searched for you?" Gabrielle felt herself breathe in sharply as the other woman hands moved downwards resting on her chest. "I…I…have no idea." Xena moved her hands down the front of other woman's shirt as she leaned forward so she was close to her ear as she spoke in a whisper. "To long…being with out you was like being like with out air." Gabrielle swallowed trying to focus her thoughts, which was suddenly becoming difficult as the other woman's hands moved coming to rest at her waist. "I'm sorry." Xena eased one hand up putting it on her face running it gently down the scar on her eyebrow she leaned closer laying a gentle kiss on it, as she moved her hand away. "Don't be sorry…did you find what you were looking for in The Slaughtered Lamb?" Gabrielle felt her eyes dart she looked up meeting the other woman's curious gaze. "You went in to that tavern?" Xena nodded as she put her face against hers. "Yes I did." She kissed her lips tenderly. "Clearly Corinth has more of your people than I first realized." Gabrielle breathed in deeply as she leaned against the statue. "Yes I found just what I was looking for." Xena felt her grin widen. "I'm glad to hear that." She leaned forward about to kiss her again.

"Excuse me…Empress."

Xena stopped in mid motion she turned slowly watching as Abraxas and Ilithyia came in to view, she kept her hand on Gabrielle's waist watching as the other woman looked down looking slightly embarrassed as well as uncertain. She watched as Abraxas put his hands together as he spoke nervously. "Well em." Xena raised her eyebrow wanting to put Gabrielle more at ease. "Yes Abraxas, what did you want, we are busy?" Abraxas breathed in well that answered his question, though he wasn't as surprised as he thought he would be. Right from the moment he'd met Gabrielle he'd seen that the Empress had treated her very differently to the other Greek royals. Ilithyia had also said very early on that she suspected that Empress had a thing for this woman, so clearly her instincts were right on the mark, plus she loved playing match maker. He coughed clearing his throat as he eyed the tall woman who refused to move from her position. "Your friends Demetrius and Thaleia are both getting ready for breakfast we were wondering if you wanted to join them, we would be honoured if you'd join us." Xena kept her hand on Gabrielle's waist as she turned to younger woman feeling a wide grin form. "Would you like to come and have breakfast with me?" Gabrielle blinked she looked up. "Of course." Xena turned back to him. "We'll join you in a few moments."

Abraxas nodded. "As you wish." Ilithyia grabbed his sleeve moving him away slowly. "Let's go to the breakfast room and wait for our guests." Abraxas breathed in deeply as he followed her. No doubt she'd be talking about this for months to all the other diplomats and that she had been right all along about the match. Clearly once this got out officially it was going to be a crazy time he could see it all ready. The gender wasn't the issue but the Empress falling in love with a partner who wasn't human would cause some confusion among certain diplomats, as it was unheard of for someone of such a high status to marry a royal who wasn't human. He breathed in deeply oh he could see that dinner event already it was going to be as hard as Tartarus to sit through and explain. Humans did marry none humans though that wasn't unheard off nether was the idea of children coming out of this unions so he had that his favour. Him telling them though that the Empress had taken a female werewolf as a partner that wouldn't go down easy for those didn't know anything about werewolves having a human form. He just hoped he was up to this, just getting the other idiots to sign the papers had been difficult enough but he this was going to be even harder to explain.

He knew already that him self and Ilithyia were going to have come up with some clever ways to bring the others around to this union in any way they could. Gabrielle watched as they both disappeared from sight. "Thaleia's here?" Xena slowly met her gaze. "Yes she is, she helped me find you along with Demetrius." Gabrielle lowered her gaze feeling the guilt hit home. "I need to speak to her I said something to her which I shouldn't have." Xena eased up her hand running it through her hair. "I heard that you two had an argument." Gabrielle looked down eyeing the floor. "Yes we did…I wasn't kind to her, she's like a sister to me and I treated her poorly." Xena let go of her waist moving her hands to her shoulders. "It can happen to the best of us Gabrielle." Gabrielle raised both eyebrows. "It doesn't happen to you." Xena shook her head. "No it does happen to me from time to time I get angry with Demetrius. He always forgives me though despite that I take out my frustration on him." Gabrielle slowly walked through the garden watching as the other woman followed her very closely. "I just want to make it right." Xena eased up her hand putting it on her arm. "Then let's go and make it right."

Gabrielle looked up catching sight of the dinning room which overlooked the gardens she could see the others sitting around the table which she'd been sitting at yesterday, they were talking and eating as they sat on the side ways sofa's. She could see Abraxas and Ilithyia speaking with Demetrius who was in very plain clothes and not his palace clothes. She walked in to the room watching as everyone looked up she breathed in clearing her throat before speaking as she looked at the plates of food. "Your food looks nice." Xena eyed the food before sitting herself on a side ways sofa she had admit that she was in fact quite hungry. "I agree it looks very nice." Ilithyia took hold of a bowl which was full of cooked mice. "Dormouse, there a Roman delicacy?" Xena shook her head. "No thank you I've never cared for them that much." Ilithyia turned to Gabrielle who remained standing. "Dormouse?" Gabrielle eased up her hand feeling her body tense. "No thank you, I really don't like them." Ilithyia put down the bowl. "I'm surprised it's just you being, well the way you are I thought you wouldn't be against them." Gabrielle looked at her for a long moment. "Oh I've eaten them but I don't like Dormice in general one once found its way in to my ear in werewolf form it drove me crazy, never really liked them that much after that."

She ignored Ilithyia's surprise as she turned seeing that Thaleia wasn't present. "Where is Thaleia?" Ilithyia turned slightly. "She's in the room opposite, she wanted to freshen up." Gabrielle eased up her hand. "Excuse me." Demetrius watched as Gabrielle opened the door behind them then closed it vanishing from site. He turned slowly back to the Empress. "I assume you two worked things out?" Xena picked up a goblet of wine feeling a smile form. "You could say that yes." Demetrius raised an eyebrow. "So would I be right to say that you finally have a consort now?" Xena took a long drink from her goblet before meeting his curious gaze. It had been a very long time since she'd heard the word consort, which was in essence the political name for a partner from a royal line who could one day be a king or queen. She took some flat bread from the nearest dish taking a bite out of it. "Something like that but you know Gabrielle she'll want to finalize the name, werewolves have their own terms for everything." Demetrius felt his smile widen as he took a cooked Dormouse from the bowl, it had been ages since he'd had Dormouse and he'd always liked it. "Of course, my congratulations to you both though." Xena took another bite out of her flat bread. "Thank you Demetrius."

Thaleia adjusted her robes in frustration she just couldn't get the collar right! She pulled harder trying to fix it so it looked right she stopped feeling a pair of hands on her neck which carefully adjusted her collar so it was right. She stopped still. "Demetrius?" A calm voice came from behind her as the hands moved away from her collar. "No I'm not him but he is waiting for you at the breakfast table." Thaleia turned sharply watching as Gabrielle came in to view she could see the uncertainty in her eyes. She breathed in trying to hold back her anger. "You know next time you run away at least leave me or the Empress a note, do you know that we spent all night looking for you!?" She breathed in deeply unable to stop her anger as it boiled up even more. "Or maybe you could give me a warning in advance next time to go out of your way to be a jackass." Gabrielle breathed in painfully, she deceived that. "I'm sorry Thaleia, what I said to you was wrong, you are not my personal maid you've been like family to me…I could never ask for a better friend than you." Thaleia turned to face her feeling the uncertainty as she spoke feeling her anger start to fade away. "Why did you walk out Gabrielle, what were you thinking?"

Gabrielle eased up her hand putting it on her shoulder. "I wanted to take a walk Thaleia I needed to find a side of my self, it was important." She paused pulling out the card that the werewolves had given her in the tavern. She took hold of her hand gently placing it face down in it. "You know what I realized? I realized that you and Xena were right." She paused for a moment that this was the first time that she'd said Xena's name rather than her title in front of others. She looked up speaking once more. "About things not being as hard as I see them and that I can change anything." Thaleia eased up the black playing card eyeing the image which she recognised instantly as Gabrielle's from the scroll. "This is your image." Gabrielle felt a wide smile form. "I met other werewolves Thaleia, they were in this tavern." Thaleia looked at the card. "We found those werewolves as well they were in The Slaughtered Lamb, they told us where to find you." Gabrielle raised her hand. "They weren't the only ones in that tavern Thaleia there were more and they said that they wanted to fight for me…they said that my stopping the hunting of werewolves really mattered to them." She put her hands together. "You were both trying to tell me this all along and I wasn't listening to you but you were both right all along and I just couldn't see it."

She breathed in deeply. "May be I didn't want to see it because I was afraid of messing it up or not being a good leader to my people but I see now that I do have those who are loyal to me and that they have nothing to do with Imperial Council they also want to see them dethroned." Thaleia looked at the card she turned it over eyeing the black face again before looking up. "Wait I've seen this symbol before I thought it was Jewish that's what everyone said when I asked about it." Gabrielle shook her head. "It's not Jewish Thaleia, it's the werewolf symbol for serenity, if it's on any door or business it means a werewolf lives there." Thaleia stared at the card for a long moment before handing it back to her. "I've seen it on a lot of doors in this city there are clearly a lot of werewolves in Corinth." Gabrielle took the card putting it away. "Yes there are." Thaleia breathed in not being able to help herself as she pulled Gabrielle in to a hug. "I'm glad you found what you needed but please don't disappear like that ever again, I consider you the sister I never had and I can't imagine anything happening to you."

Gabrielle breathed in deeply. "You know nothing would ever happen to me Thaleia, I can take care of myself." Thaleia kept hold of her rolling her eyes. "Says you…who fell out of a window." Gabrielle pulled away from her. "You know technically I was pushed." Thaleia put a hand on her shirt. "You know what I mean Gabrielle." She lowered her gaze feeling the need to change the subject. "You know you were right about Demetrius, I do have feelings for him but I don't know how to tell him." Gabrielle put her hand on her shoulder. "Why don't you tell him how you're feeling?" Thaleia breathed in deeply. "Because I'm scared he's so high up on the ladder and I don't feel that I'm good enough for him." Gabrielle looked at her for a long moment. "You are good enough for him Thaleia you were good enough for him long before you became my personal maid. You've always been kind, how could he not want someone like you?" Thaleia shook her head. "You know I wasn't always kind to you Gabrielle, in the beginning I just thought the same as everyone else it was my mother who said I should speak to you." Gabrielle shook her head. "Yet you still spoke to me that night Thaleia, no one else did." She looked at her friend. "You also stood up for me when no one else would and even when Xena and I were not getting along, you were there to help me along with your mother and for that I'm truly grateful."

Thaleia turned meeting her gaze. "Do you think he likes me, really?" Gabrielle raised her hands. "Yes Thaleia I think he really likes you and I think you should tell him how you feel." Thaleia shook her head. "I don't know what to say or were to start." Gabrielle breathed in deeply. "I confess I'm no good with expressing my feelings and I've never really pursued anyone but I know this. You don't have to say anything, until you feel ready and what you say has to come from your heart." Thaleia breathed in her best friend's statement was true. "I'll try but it's going to be hard." Gabrielle nodded. "That's all any of us can ever do." Thaleia turned eyeing the other woman's shirt sleeve which was dirty. "Your shirts a mess didn't you bring a change of clothes?" Gabrielle eyed her sleeve. "I did, I've just been preoccupied since I got up I've been talking with Xena." Thaleia raised an eyebrow. "Ah I see, so you two worked things out then?" Gabrielle felt a warm smile form. "Yes we did."

Thaleia moved her hand up brushing her sleeve removing the dirt. "You'll have to tell me all about at it when we get back to the palace." Gabrielle nodded before looking up. "I'll tell you everything, I promise." Thaleia adjusted her robes. "Do I look all right its just I feel so under dressed and this is the house of Abraxas and Ilithyia and their both really high up on the ladder?" Gabrielle raised her hand as she opened the door. "You look beautiful Thaleia and you always look stunning in what ever you wear." Thaleia looked at her for a long moment. "You think so?" Gabrielle nodded. "Yes Thaleia." Thaleia turned to her. "Well then let's go and get some breakfast." She paused eyeing her friend's shirt. "After breakfast you're going to chance your shirt right, because you're not going to walk around in a dirty thing all day?" Gabrielle rolled her eyes. "Yes I will change this shirt." Thaleia raised an eyebrow. "You know this is why you need me around because with out me you'd walk around covered in mud and dirt and you wouldn't take care of your self." Gabrielle turned sharply. "No I wouldn't." Thaleia felt a playful form as she spoke. "Yes you would Gabrielle."

8

Xena stood up adjusting her armour the breakfast had been quite but at the same time very pleasant. Gabrielle had gone to the guest room to change her clothes and freshen up and Demetrius and Thaleia were out in the gardens talking. She turned eyeing Abraxas and Ilithyia who both looked a little unsure of themselves. She breathed in deeply she'd been thinking very deeply about this whole event, these two had, had a chance to manipulate her and take advantage of the situation but nether had. Yet she knew that any of the other diplomats would have done so if they had been in the same position. She watched as Ilithyia picked up some seed feeding the blue rose-ringed parakeet which was sitting close by on a wooden perch she folded her arms as she spoke. "You know Gabrielle has a Collard Dove as a pet." Ilithyia turned slightly. "I know Empress she told me, safe to say we share a common interest in birds, in that we believe they shouldn't be caged up but free to fly around as they please." Xena stepped closer eyeing her. "She believes that nothing is as free as a bird as they are not bound to the earth like we are."

She turned to Abraxas. "You had an advantage to use this whole situation against me you could have both bribed me or brought the other diplomats on your side against me. Yet you didn't instead you told me where Gabrielle was and with out asking for a thing in return." Abraxas adjusted his shirt. "I only want the house guard to be rewarded I sent him because he's been loyal to me for years and deserves the coin." Xena raised her eyebrow. "So that's all your asking for, nothing more?" Abraxas folded his arms. "Yes it's all I'm asking for." Xena put her hand on one of the sofas. "I do believe it was Gabrielle who spoke about an honourable act and you doing one to show me your loyalty." Abraxas breathed in deeply. "Yes I remember that conversation Empress." Xena eased up her other hand. "Well I believe this qualifies as a noble act, wouldn't you agree?" Abraxas felt his eyes dart. "I believe so but my doing this was not done to gain your approval, I did it because as I said before I like your." He looked down choosing his next word carefully before looking up hoping that it was okay for him to use the term as he'd heard the Empress using it over breakfast. "Consort."

Xena shook her head. "Regardless of your thought on Gabrielle you didn't have to go out of your way to do what you have done, plus before this you gained all the signatures I wanted regarding the haunting law. How you got it I don't know but because of that and your actions now I feel it only right and fair to allow you both the privilege of staying at the palace during your visits." She ignored their surprise as she carried on speaking. "You'll be the only diplomats allowed to stay at the palace and you'll set the example for the others, you will also tell them that to gain the same favour they must do an act of nobility just like you. I'm sure it'll give me time to see what those who wish to prove themselves can come up with." Abraxas stepped forward. "Thank you Empress this means a lot to the both of us, I know it was my brother who caused this issue and I've always wanted to put it right." He adjusted his shirt. "As I've said many times before my brother was always a stupid bastard and I don't blame you for his death, he caused so much suffering in Corinth. There is something I don't understand though which is after what happened with him, why did you allow us to take his place on the seat of Corinthian diplomats."

Xena folded her arms. "I let you take the position because you are not your brother, your record was always clean and I don't judge a family based on the actions of one family member. After all it was you who tried to fix some of his mess among the other diplomats at the time as best you could and you weren't even a diplomat back then. That was when I realized that you and Ilithyia were right to take the diplomat positions I just hope I don't regret this decision now." Abraxas nodded. "You won't regret this decision Empress." He looked up slightly wanting to change the subject. "You know that there will be a fall out from some of the diplomats when they become aware of the nature of your relationship with Gabrielle, not all will favour a werewolf sitting beside you on the throne." Xena turned fully to face him. "I'm well aware of this along with the confusion it will cause for some and anger it will cause others. I already have something in place regarding one of the issues but I will need your help to resolve this problem." She lowered her gaze feeling a twinge of guilt take over. "It's very easy to see Gabrielle as a monster I made that mistake my self once at great expense and it took me a long time to fix the damage I did. Truth is I'm surprised that she even allows me to kiss her after what I put her through and I refuse to repeat the same mistake with the diplomats. I don't want her to suffer just because they can't look in to her eyes in her other form and see the humanity in them."

Abraxas put his hands behind his back. "You could dress her in human clothes in her werewolf form." Xena shook her head. "Gabrielle won't do it I asked her about that once, her reply was that she should be accepted for who and what she is and not have to be something she's not." Ilithyia raised her hand. "Maybe an introduction dinner at the palace in that beautiful top floor room would help, you could make a point of not telling the others who she is." Abraxas felt a smile form. "Yes introduce her to them without them knowing who she is then surprise them." Ilithyia put her hands together. "If you put her in some form of robes which I'm sure she'll look beautiful in, it will help soften the image of her not being human. Her normal clothes though very nice to look at might concern them as they may see her swords as a threat, I mean once they get to know her better she can then dress as she normally does." Xena nodded as she looked up. "You both make good points and once I get back to the palace I will think them over and once the dinning room is repaired I will see about inviting them to dinner along with the both of you." Abraxas blinked in surprise. "What happened to the dinning room?" Xena felt herself tense. "An unfortunate incident some time back nothing you need to concern yourselves with." Abraxas eased up his hand. "Do you need a horse? I can have my stable man lend you my horse so you can get back to the palace quicker."

Xena shook her head. "No there's no need I enjoyed the walk down here and I'd like to walk back, myself and Gabrielle still have a lot to talk about." Ilithyia took hold of her parakeet stroking its back. "If you want to come back here to our villa you're both always welcome, we'll ensure that the dinner is on a much grander scale." Xena nodded meeting her uncertain gaze. "Thank you I would like that a lot, as it's clear to me I don't get out enough these days." She paused watching as Gabrielle appeared adjusting her fresh shirt and trousers and boots which had now been cleaned. "Ah there you are, are you ready to go?" Gabrielle pulled on her collar as she eased her coat on. "Yes I'm ready to go." She turned slowly to Abraxas and Ilithyia. "Thank you for inviting me here, your hospitality has been very gracious." Abraxas felt a smile form. "It was a pleasure to have you here I hope you will come and visit us again." Ilithyia kept a gentle hold of her pet. "Yes please come back again we enjoyed having you here." Gabrielle felt a wide smile form. "I hope I'll get another chance to come here or have you come to the palace."

End of part 86

Silvermoonlight

Dormice were considered a delicacy in ancient Rome, though they were a seasonal dish and a starter.