The Prophecy

One year ago

"Niobe, are you sure the warrior princess is back?" Demos asked his blind daughter. He was old and she was young, but he did his best to protect her. While her visions had been small it was eight years ago she had, had a powerful vision. It had left her a bed for a week with worry and now her worry was back. He thought back to that rainy night eight years ago. More specifically he thought of the prophecy.

"In two years time the one called the Destroyer of Nations will give birth to the ultimate destroyer. He will destroy the world. If his father raises him, his father will rule supreme instead and all of mankind will perish. He will destroy mankind and he will enslave the Gods and rule supreme in Heaven and Earth. But if…"

"I'm sorry sweetheart, what did you say?" Demos asked.

"I said she is back and if he finds out we're doomed."

"Than we must tell her, she will fight if she knows," Demos said. Niobe nodded.

"I'll go saddle the horses." Demos nodded and watched his daughter walk out carefully. Even though she was blind she had learned to do a great many things. Demos paced the carpet in front of the hearth.

"Oh my we have to tell her before its too late," Demos muttered loudly. Ares appeared behind him and he turned and bumped into him.

"Ares!" He squeaked. Ares lifted him up by his collar.

"What do you know about the warrior princess?"

"Nothing."

"You lie, you said you must warn her, tell me!"

"Please, please don't hurt me."

"I'll do more than hurt you if you don't tell me." Demos nodded as he started to sweat. He repeated the prophecy.

"So she has my son, well, we'll just see about that." Ares was blind with power. He pulled out his sword and raised it ready to strike down Demos, so that he couldn't warn Xena.

"Wait you said you wouldn't kill me if I told you," Demos cried.

"Now when did I make that promise?" Ares asked. Demos eyes went even wider as he realized Ares had never actually said that. Ares brought his sword down and split Demos head in two and cut his neck. Blood flowed like the Nile as he disappeared with an evil laugh. Niobe walked in and her bare feet touched blood as she called for her father. She tripped over his body and upon feeling his missing head she began to scream.

Present

"How's the corn coming?" Solan asked Tabbai.

"Good, we'll have plenty for the winter."

"Good," Solan said. Tabbai nodded and walked off. Solan approached the forge where Xena was making Gabrielle a pair of sais like she asked.

"That's really good," Solan commented. Xena nodded as she put a crystal onto the ends of the hilt.

"Think she'll like it?" Xena asked.

"Definitely, its really good, I didn't know you were so skill in making weapons." They had been back six months and one of Xena's pass times was making weapons that turned out really good.

"Neither did I, I had to concentrate really hard to make my katana and the dagger. Its like I improved over night."

"Yeah, I'm bored," Solan said. Xena looked up at him.

"Well why don't you take these Gabrielle, you can even ride Argo."

"Really?" Solan asked. Xena nodded as she boxed both sais after polishing them and testing them. "Yes!"

"But you are to ride straight there and back, no detours."

"Awe," Solan said. Xena handed him the box.

"No detours." Solan nodded and ran to saddle up Argo. Xena washed her hands and face as Cyrene came into the yard.

"Oh good Xena I was hoping you were home," Cyrene said stopping to wait for the Geese to go by.

"Yes, did you need something?" Xena asked.

"Yes, I already sent your brother to Olynthus, but I need you to go to Pella, a messenger just came and apparently my shipment of port can't be delivered to me, but I need it in two days before I run out."

"I'll set out for it as soon as Daniel comes back." Cyrene nodded and handed her the money and told her exactly where to go. She hurried back to the tavern. Solan came out leading Argo.

"Hurry back with Argo we're going to Pella for my mother." Solan nodded as he got on Argo. He rode her out towards the Amazon village. Xena heard meowing and it sounded like Kitty was in distress. She walked over towards the small olive tree Hadar and Hadassa had bought and planted last year.

"Oh no Kitty," Xena groaned seeing Kitty was nursing several black and white kitties, except one was all black like her mother.

"Yay Kitty!" Daniel exclaimed coming up behind her.

"Mommy, Kitty had four babies."

"I know, I see." Xena got Kitty's bed and placed her and the kittens inside near the fire, but not too close.

"Oh I see she did like that cat that's always hanging around her," Hadassa said.

"Yeah, a little too much if you ask me," Xena commented as Doggy walked in sniffed the kittens and than sat down protectively near them.

"Its not so bad," Samara said coming to see them.

"So you say," Xena said heading for the kitchen. She got milk for Kitty and set it down near her and once the kittens were sleeping she stood up and drank her milk. Daniel got her some fish as well.

"Did you put the animals back?" Xena asked. Daniel looked wide-eyed and shook his head.

"Doggy!" Daniel exclaimed. He ran out and Doggy looked at him, but didn't follow. Xena followed Daniel outside however and lucky for him Asher was keeping the animals away from the garden.

"Daniel," Xena groaned. Xena rounded up all the pigs and used her staff to herd them back to their sties. The goats went to their places near the kitchen where Samara came out to milk them to make cheese. Hadassa got the cow and milked her. Daniel gathered the sheep.

"What's this?" Xena asked going over to a brown crate. Daniel ran over and blocked her way.

"Nothing Mommy," Daniel said a little too sweetly.

"Let me see," Xena said sternly.

"Mommy its nothing," Daniel said.

"Daniel," Xena said. She crossed her arms and gave him a hard look. He tried to smile, but faltered as he presented her with the crate. She opened it and found a turtle inside. The poor reptile was old and dying.

"Where did you get it?" Xena asked.

"I found it," Daniel said.

"Go set him free."

"But…"

"No buts the poor thing is dying, let him die in the wild." He tried to give her a pout, but she just pouted back and he shuffled off pouting all the way hoping she would change her mind, but she didn't. Soon he came back still pouting.

"Cheer up we get to go to Pella."

"What's in Pella?" Daniel asked.

"It's the capital of Macedonia."

"Capital?" Daniel asked as a small smile filled his face.

"Maybe I should leave you here." Daniel shook his head.

"No, no mommy I wanna go, I wanna go." He was jumping up and down.

"Okay, okay calm down, but I'm watching you." Daniel nodded. He helped her get the wagon out of the barn. She informed everyone except Tabbai that they would be gone a day or two at the most. Solan arrived and they hitched Argo up to the wagon.

"Gabrielle loved it," Solan said. "She wanted to thank you personally, but she said she'd wait until you came back from Pella." Xena nodded. They waved to Asher, Hadassa, Hadar, and Samara. They left.

Pella was full of life during the day and they were lucky enough to catch some of it in the late evening. Solan and Daniel took in everything. Xena picked a nice quiet tavern that didn't have drunken patrons. They ate dinner and went upstairs to bed.

"Mommy, I don't wanna sleep," Daniel said as she changed into her night tunic.

"You never want to sleep," Xena replied getting into bed. Solan lay on the other side yawning.

"I like sleeping," Solan said as Xena yawned.

"Me too."

"No, no sleep," Daniel said.

"Okay, how about a story?" Xena asked. Daniel nodded as he crawled onto her and got comfortable. Her right arm supported him as he lay against her and Solan sat up and moved closer so that her left arm was around him. She told them a story and while Solan was quite content to sleep, Daniel was not. She gave him his kiss and tucked him in, but he lay awake.

"Maybe if you be still you'll sleep," Solan suggested the tenth time Daniel had woken them both up.

"I'm hungry, Mommy can I have some peppers."

"No, its too late to eat, its time to sleep." Silence fell over the room again. By dawn Daniel was singing every possible song he could think of and Xena had a headache from lack of sleep and Solan just wanted to kill his brother from waking him out of what could have been perfect slumber.

"I'm sleepy," Daniel said and rolled over and went to sleep. Solan and Xena lifted up on their elbows and stared at him in disbelief. They tried everything to wake him up, but he slept right on through it.

"Stinker," Xena mumbled as she got dressed after a bath.

"Stinker doesn't even cover it," Solan grumbled. Xena nodded. The tavern keeper knocked to tell them they had to go because he was touchy like that as if he had other customers. Solan grabbed the saddlebags and Xena picked up Daniel. He had such an angelic face, but sometimes she could swear he was the devil. They had breakfast, which he woke up for, which Xena viewed purely as a Gabrielle move and went back to sleep. Before they headed to load the wagon full of port.

"I wanna go home," Daniel whined.

"Okay, sweetie calm down, they should be done in a few minutes." Daniel got grumpy and surly. Xena could tell he was still tired. He leaned against her leg.

"I'm tired."

"Why don't you and Solan go see a puppet show over there," Xena suggested. Daniel didn't reply. Solan however had perked up at the idea after observing several people and wishing he was in his nice warm bed where Daniel couldn't keep him up all night.

"I'll go if he won't," Solan said. Xena handed him four dinars and gently pushed Daniel toward Solan. He took his hand and they walked off.

"Are you almost done?" Xena asked with a sigh. She wanted to go home too and get some rest with luck.

"All most your mother has a pretty big order and your wagon is large, but not that large."

"I'm not coming back so either it all fits or next time you give my mother a discount for not giving her all the port." He nodded noting her underlying threat. Especially when she took out her sword and began to polish it.

"That's a fine sword you have there, how much would your husband sell it for?" Xena looked up to spot a slightly handsome man with a nose that had been broken quite a few times or else the healer had failed to set it correctly. She didn't like him for his suggestion that the only reason she had a sword was because it was her husband's sword.

"I don't have a husband, it's my sword, and it's not for sale." He looked at her slightly amused.

"You're a curious woman than."

"I'm sure I am," Xena replied before going back to her business, but he didn't move. "Is there something else you wanted because you're blocking my light and you're wasting my time you've been dismissed." There was an in take of breath from the man loading the wagon and the two men who had come up behind him.

"I'll have you know I am Prince Aristo and no one talks to me like that."

"Well I just did and I don't particularly care who you are exactly as long as you're not bothering me, but you are." He laughed.

"I like you, but where did you get your sword?" Xena now gripped it comfortably.

"I made it myself," Xena answered with a shrug. She was bit intrigued he had not walked away yet. Prince Aristo nodded and walked off. Xena looked over at the puppet show to see Solan looking around frantically.

"I'll be right back." She put her sword in its sheath and walked over.

"Where's Daniel?" Xena asked.

"I dunno, one minute he was here and the next gone." Panic rose in Xena as she tried to reason he had just run off like he often did in Egypt or Amphipolis without thinking. She blamed herself for not paying more attention to him when they traveled.

"Daniel!" Xena called.

"Daniel!" Solan yelled. Xena knew they would have better luck if they split up, but she didn't need to be looking for two children in the middle of Pella. They finally spotted him in Prince Aristo's arms.

"Mommy, look what Prince Aristo bought me." He held a leash to a turkey.

"I believe he belongs to you?" Prince Aristo asked.

"Yes, he does, what are you doing with him?"

"I have a business proposition for you."

"Well I don't want to hear it, let my son go." Xena was not very happy.

"You will make me a sword like yours that will not break in battle. My last sword you see did that and I don't want to take any chances. Once my sword is made and you can use my forge to make it, I will give you back your son. Understood?"

"You can't take me away from my mommy." Daniel kicked him in the chest and back flipped out of his arms. Xena grinned as he came over leading his turkey.

"Come on I think we're about ready to go home."

"We're not through here."

"I think we are." They walked off disappearing into the crowds.

"Get the guards and let's corner her," He ordered. He was very taken with this warrior woman. He wanted to get to know her better.

"Did you get all of the wine?" Solan asked as they walked leading Argo. Daniel was happily skipping ahead with his turkey while Xena shook her head in disbelief that he had somehow managed to get yet another pet.

"Yes, he made it all fit. Hopefully next time we go to Pella we can do more fun stuff and not deal with guys like the one back there." Solan nodded.

"Are you angry he got another pet."

"No, I just can't phantom why every time he comes back with another pet, I'm still shocked." Solan chuckled. Xena did too looking at him. And smiling. She pulled him close and delivered a kiss to his forehead.

"I'm really glad you're with me now."

"I am too," Solan replied. " I love you."

"I love you more," Xena told him.

"I want a kiss too," Daniel said frowning up ahead of them. They grinned at him as they caught up to him. Xena delivered a kiss to his forehead and a hug. Solan gave him one too. They stopped at a spot along the river near Amphipolis and swam and played even though they would get back later than planned.

"You're back late," Cyrene commented as she carried first Daniel and than Solan inside without waking them.

"Yeah, we stopped to relax just the three of us. I'll go put the wine up." Cyrene nodded. Xena left quickly to the tavern using her key to enter and put up the wine with Torres help after waking him.

"He's crying again," Cyrene told her coming out to meet her. Xena hurried upstairs where Solan was trying his best to reassure Daniel that Xena would be right back.

"Look see I told you so," Solan told him. Daniel didn't stop crying though.

"Just go back to bed honey," Xena told him. He nodded as she kissed him before he left out watching her lovingly take Daniel into her arms.

"Its okay baby I'm here." She sat on his bed and pulled his blanket over to him. "Its okay calm down." Daniel calmed down in her arms.

"Okay now what's wrong, I know mommy being away for a few minutes wasn't why you were crying tonight."

"He come."

"Who's coming?" Xena asked.

"Father." Xena tensed up.

"Do you know when?"Xena asked him quietly. Daniel shook his head.

"He's going to hurt me."

"No, you never have to fear death from him, you're too valuable to him at the moment."

"He's going to kill you."

"No, no baby I'm not going anywhere, he's not going to kill me."

"I want to go back to Egypt!" Daniel yelled and screamed as his hands got red and hot to the point where Xena caught on fire just as Solan and Cyrene came to see what the problem was.

"Daniel calm down," Xena told him as everyone came to see the problem.

"Xena you're on fire!" Cyrene exclaimed in shock. Xena looked at her arm.

"Daniel stop it you're hurting me." Daniel stopped thrashing and crying to see Xena on fire. He quickly put it out just as Tabbai came up with a bucket of water, he paused in throwing it on them.

"Xena are you okay?" Cyrene asked.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine, this isn't the first time. I got lucky this time."

"What's wrong with him, why did he do that?"

"He says Ares is coming, he wants to go back to Egypt because he's afraid Ares will kill me."

"And the fire?" Solan asked.

"Its fine, he loses control when he's hysterical." Xena was hugging him close as she rubbed his back. The poor boy was all sweaty and shaking still.

"I don't think it was a good idea to tell him dear."

"Yes, it was, he didn't have a nightmare, if he had he would have had a vastly different reaction." Once she had reassured everyone she was fine they went to bed. Daniel however would not, he refused to let her out of his sight if at all when she had to use the little warrior's room.

"Watch your side," Xena told Solan as he hit the dust again. She never showed any mercy when they trained. She didn't want him to expect mercy from any future opponents more specifically Ares. Training with Centaurs had made him stronger than the average kid, it also helped that he had great genetics, but with her training he grew stronger more graceful everyday, he had been working hard at his flips, which pleased her. She swung her sword to block Daniel's staff.

"You watch your legs," Xena told him as he fell on his back. She now had a new urgency to make sure they both knew their weaknesses. "Know your weaknesses better than your enemies, know them better than me. They will learn to exploit them, you must learn to use them. To your advantage." They nodded as they got up. "Defend yourselves." They got into a fighting position.

"Xena must you be so rough."

"Yes, I don't want them to expect mercy in times of defense. I must train them as if they were in battle. This way they know what to expect and they're better equipped to survive. The only difference will be, I hit to cause a little pain, for real they will hit to kill." Cyrene nodded knowing her daughter was right as they did jumping jacks with weights on their legs and arms. She was purposely driving them to the point of near exhaustion.

"That's enough grab your spears. Leave the weights on."

"I don't like them learning to use weapons like the spear and sword."

"I know," Xena told her with a frown. "I don't either, but Ares will come when we are separated in that case if he takes either of them anywhere I want to make sure that with whatever weapon they fine they have a fighting chance. I know he'll send warriors first, he always does. And trust me there's nothing worse than trying to wield a weapon you know nothing about."

"Than I suppose this is for the best dear." Xena nodded. Solan and Daniel took a beating, but she noticed that they both paid attention to their mistakes and never made the same ones twice.

"Solan you're favoring your left side and Daniel you're favoring your right. Don't favor either side you're leaving yourself open."

"Yes ma'am," They said. She taught them the ancient art of Kung Fu. She made them ultra flexible and they were no longer allowed to train without weights. Even the Amazons at Artemis' insistence were working their young warriors of all ages harder. Gabrielle and the girls barely had time to visit.

"Why meditate?" Daniel asked as they did so.

"Because it focuses the mind, relaxes the body, and calms the soul. It allows you to become one with nature. Becoming one with nature allows you to disappear in plain sight, and the elements to work for you not against you. To be at peace with yourself is the making a true warrior."

"Will I have to kill?" Daniel asked once all three of them had opened their eyes in the snow. They were out in the wilderness with practically no clothing. Solan was shivering, but he had sucked it up so that like Daniel and Xena he was not shivering.

"If your father seeks us out before you are a man, than yes you will be forced into a position where you must choose to end a man's life. Both of you." She looked at both of them. "If it was up to me neither of you would be forced into such a decision."

"Its okay mother I know you didn't choose this." Xena nodded.

"I want you guys to take this wisdom with you though. Don't kill unless you have too. Ares men will be ruthless, but most will run away if they feel like they can't win."

"Kill or be killed," Solan quoted.

"No, not kill or be killed, that means show no mercy. Mercy is what separates us from others, its what will separate you from me in your lives. Don't make my mistakes don't live by that motto. You don't have to be Prey, but you don't have to be a predator either. Draw blood only when all other options have been exhausted and there is no other way out. "

"But I want to travel and help people like you do," Solan told her. "And what if I must fight in a war."

"Unfortunately that is the time to live by the kill or be killed motto, however, it is always good to go that extra mile to spare a life rather than extinguish it." They nodded.

"Find your dinner." They stood up with their spears. They were on amazon land, so the fear of Ares was temporarily extinguished. If Ares appeared anywhere on Amazon land Daniel and Solan would immediately appear by her side. Of course neither of them had much success, but she did. It was hard, but she managed not to give into her maternal instincts in favor of their survival against Ares.

"Solan you look so weird without hair," Cyrene laughed as she rubbed his head as he ate hungrily along with Daniel. Xena had passed on dinner preferring to go to her forge. She spent a lot of time in there on a secret project.

"Yeah, but I like it," Solan told her after swallowing. Cyrene was amazed that they had kept their manners in tact even though they were half starved.

"Do I look funny?" Daniel asked. Cyrene shook her head.

"No, you look adorable." She pinched his cheek. "Do you ever take off those weights." They shook their heads.

"We want to workout in whatever we do."

"If you two boys are done, why don't you do your chores," Xena told them entering. They nodded as they finished up.

"Thank you for breakfast Nana," They said before running out. Cyrene set food in front of Xena.

"Did you have a hard a time as them catching food?" Cyrene asked. Xena shook her head.

"No, I just know where to look though. But I didn't fare too much better in my catch."

"Why didn't you shave off all your hair."

"Because I'm the teacher not the student. Besides I like my hair." Cyrene chuckled at her daughter as she ate. Xena ate quickly to go watch her boys.

"I thought you would have daughters you know," Cyrene told her as they watched them. Xena smiled a little.

"Funny so did I, but its not meant to be."

"Of course it is."

"No, in this life I have my two sons and I am content with that, I don't need a girl. She can only make me happier, but I'm not going to get any sadder without her." Cyrene nodded.

"I guess I'll have to reply on Solan and Daniel to put you through some of the misery you put me through and I put my mother through and so on." They chuckled. Once their chores were finished it was back to training. Even Tabbai was joining them now. He had opted out on the trip into the wild to help his parents. Samara was sick.

"You have all worked hard this pass year," Xena told them as they stood before her. "Now I put you through one more test before you are upgrading from Learning to Training." They were in the training yard in the amazon village. Every weapon imaginable was laid out for everyone. She tested every Amazon including her own sons and Tabbai. Some didn't pass, but the majority did and managed to escape with only a few bruises.

"Wow you did a good job training Solan," Ephiny commented as the competitions commenced all in good fun. Xena sat on the fence nodding as Solan fought a girl in one of the competitions.

"Thank you," Xena commented looking at her briefly turning back to see Solan use pressure points on the girl's leg. "Solan no, pressure points are not for competition." He nodded and undid what he had done.

"I can't believe you taught your son before you taught me," Gabrielle stated in disbelief.

"Sorry Gabby, but I must prepare him, so that even if I'm not there I can protect him." Gabrielle nodded in understanding.

"He's not alone Xena, neither of them are and neither are you. You guys still have us, so don't forget it."

"Never," Xena told her. After a day of competitions for children and adults a like and feasting they headed home.

"Did you see me win?" Daniel asked her in his carefree tone. Today had been a successful day of distraction, and happiness was filling his voice again. It had been so long since he had been able to break free of his impression of Ares as Xena liked to call it, in the sense that everything he said was devoid of any real emotion. She hated to hear him unhappy. Even Solan was not so tense now. He had been made thoroughly aware of the threat Ares posed to their lives. So she relaxed too through always on guard. She was also pleased to notice that however relaxed they also remained aware of the situation.

"I have presents for you guys when we get home." They nodded happy they were finally going to get to see what was in the forge.

"Your next lesson is making your own weapons," Xena told them. A smile filled their face as they got excited and high fived each other.

"Yes!"

"I take it you guys wanted to try it." They nodded their heads vigorously. "Well this is a family tradition that goes back since the beginning of mankind."

"Making weapons really?" solan asked.

"Yes, but not just any weapon, your first weapons," Xena told them. "Though girl children were more likely to get a dagger at best they would never use. However my father made my brothers and I our first sword, and so on with his father, and his father. So now I do the same for you. I present to you both your first sword and every other weapon. "

"You mean they belong to us and not you?" Daniel asked.

"Wield them with Grace," Xena instructed them. Solan held out both hands and she placed the beautiful blade into his waiting hands. He bowed to her and stepped back as Daniel did the same. They carefully unsheathed their blades.

"Father's name is on here," Solan said. "And yours and Daniel's."

"So you know why you fight, so you remember all your lessons."

"Mine says everybody's name."

"So you remember your family and what we stand for and where your home is."

"Mommy if I turn out bad would you still love me."

"I will always love you, no matter your actions nothing will ever change that. Both of you listen to me. You can always come home." Cyrene stood outside the forge and let a few tears fall. She had shunned Xena for making bad choices and here her daughter was embracing her children and telling them no matter how bad they were, she would always welcome them home.

"But Father's going to make me a bad person."

"Only you can make the choice to be a bad person, but you can also make the choice to be a good person," Solan told him. "That's what mommy did and my daddy who is your daddy now too."

"Mommy is Solan daddy really my Daddy now too?" Daniel asked.

"Yes, if you want him to be," Xena told him. "Ares helped to create you, but it takes a lot more than that to be a father. But Solan's right you can make a conscious choice not to become his pawn. I know your heart, and inside there is a courageous, innocent, young boy with a heart of gold." Daniel hugged her because he was so scared of becoming a person that would be so evil he'd harm his own mother.

"Its your choice," Solan repeated to him as he hugged him too. Another Fall and Winter passed without incident bringing a beautiful spring to earth and leaving young daniel another year older.

"Thirteen and already as tall as your mother," Gabrielle told Solan as she rubbed his head. He hadn't grown his hair back opting to do so when he headed off to the university to further his education at eighteen years of age. Currently he spent time with the town goldsmith in an unofficial apprenticeship. He really loved to create stuff in the forge with his hands. Daniel had opted to learn enough to make his own weapons, but Solan and Xena produced works of art, they often sold in Pella.

"Is this the forge of Xena?" A man called from the gate. They were all outside since it was so hot preparing a meal for that night to celebrate everyone's birthday since they were around the same area. Ephiny, Solari, and Gabrielle were in charge of the cake.

"Yes, who calls?" Xena asked going to the gate wiping her hands on a clean cloth.

"I am a Merchant."

"And for what do I owe this visit?" Xena asked opening the small square to look out. The man was on a horse, but she could easily see him.

"I've come to request some of your works of art."

"You'll have to talk to Solan." She beckoned him over.

"We'll trade you works of art for pure gold and silver."

"but that is so expensive, I couldn't trade it."

"Suit yourself."

"Okay, okay, I'll come back later with a supply." They shut the slot and he galloped off.

"I'm going to take Argo out for a ride." They nodded as she retrieved her beloved horse. She took a long ride enjoying the feel of the win in her hair. She stopped and suddenly and Argo lifted up on her hind legs as Xena unsheathed her sword.

"I hear it too girl." Argo snorted and turned north and they spotted a horse coming their way. Xena put her sword away and picked up her chakram instead. She sent it flying and the rider found themselves on the ground as the horse kept galloping off.

"Xena," the rider called. Xena approached cautiously on Argo holding her sword at the ready. "Xena."

"Who are you and how do you know my name?" Xena asked suspiciously. The rider she realized was a blind woman as she breathed heavily she reached out for her before passing out. Xena sighed and got down. She easily lifted the woman up and into her saddle before collecting her horse which had now slowed down to rest and graze. It was a chestnut mare of good stock, definitely well taken care of possibly recently acquired by the girl.

"Xena, what happen?" Gabrielle asked as she saw the girl slumped over Xena.

"Was she attacked?" Ephiny asked. Daniel looked alarmed from his seat where he was caring for his weapons like Solan.

"No, no she's been riding for quite awhile, I imagine she's only stopped a few times and only just long enough to get a new horse. Come on let's get her inside."

"I'll go prepare a room," Solan told them. He placed his weapons carefully out of the way before running inside.

"Daniel go fetch water from the town well," Cyrene commented. She had just shown up from the tavern, Torres would be joining them in a little while. Hadar went with Daniel to collect water since he had been heading there in the first place. Asher went to the garden to pick fresh medicinal herbs.

"We'll get her fresh garments," Hadassa told Xena who nodded.

"Move Kitties," Daniel told the four offspring of Kitty. Doggy sniffed the woman, but followed Daniel as Monkey swung in a swing preferring to not go to the well. Nalani of course dutifully followed Daniel.

"I don't see any wounds, so she is just exhausted," Xena told them before she let them in to help bath her and change her into fresh clothing.

"Come on let's leave her to rest." They left out. It was late when the Merchant returned with lots of gold and silver that Xena had to inspect for Solan. He wasn't very good at telling real gold from metal painted gold, the same with silver. In exchange he had excellent works of art and a curved sword.