Marcus became lost thinking about the day Gabrielle had entered their lives. Moreover he couldn't get the look on Xena's face when she had tried to get Gabrielle to wake up in the middle of the street that day. Xena seemed as though she was out of control with grief. He had never seen anyone embrace their feelings for a complete stranger so readily, least of all the deadly queen.
Hecuba's eyes widened as she turned to Lila who was petting one of the soldier's horse's on the nose. The act froze the dedicated soldier who was trained to protect his mount. However, Lila and her family were completely off limits due to their ruler's adamant instructions. The soldier adjusted uncomfortably while looking over to the other riders around him. He instantly noted the glares being sent his way as though daring the young man to make a mistake. His eyes wide in fear he shook his head in the negative as if to say he wasn't going to do anything.
Trying to save the nervous looking soldier Hecuba called, "Lila! Help me with the bags. We have to get to Athens right away."
Knowing that her words were falling on deaf ears, Hecuba turned back to her house and rushed inside. She was a little shell shocked that she was however followed by Marcus running just as swiftly to help her with the bags.
Lila turned around chuckling at the sight of the adults finally starting to get excited like she was, okay maybe not like her at all, but it was something, "That's the spirit, mom!" she turned back to the guard on the mount and questioned, "Do you know the empress personally?"
Another look towards his peers, silently begging them to help not seeing any volunteers he sighed. He turned his eyes back to the teen and said, "Our queen has a hand in training all of her royal guards."
"Royal guards?" Lila's eyes became wider than saucers, "That's wild! How did you get tricked into coming to pick us up? You do know that we're just villagers right? Did you make the queen angry or something?"
The mounted knights in earshot shared a collective chuckle when they watched the man squirm uncomfortably. They knew that the young man was trying his best to stay professional but Lila had picked the one subject that the younger soldier had chewed on himself on the journey to pick them up.
"No, ma'am. Our mission is considered among one of the most important in the realm to our mighty queen." This was proudly said by the highly decorated soldier to the man's left. Lila couldn't help but notice the eleven metals on the right side of his jacket. Which led to yet another onslaught of questions this time directed towards the older man.
Hecuba grabbed two of the bags and spun around on her heel, surprised to see Marcus moving out of her way. For a moment they both found themselves trapped in the other's wild eyes. Hecuba nodded in recognition of someone who could be an important ally. Marcus nodded back and just that quick they parted ways. Hecuba rushed out the front door while Marcus grabbed the remaining three bags and also ran from the house.
Together they loaded the bags into the luggage rack. Hecuba hurried the still chatting Lila into the golden carriage. While Marcus hopped up on top of his own horse and watched the women climb aboard the back of the carriage. He got next to the driver and began rushing him along. Although Marcus knew that he could make better time on his own. He had given his word to Xena that he would keep the ladies safe. Besides, he could really use the time to think.
Hecuba and Marcus were hoping that they could make it back in time to stop the wedding they were sure they'd find. Lila just hoped that they would make it in time so that she would be able to be the maid of honor for her sister's wedding. A thing they had always agreed to be for the other. She was also really excited to taste sugar for the first time.
Lila threw open one of the lush purple curtains and stuck her head out leaning her elbows on the windowsill. A large part of the teen wanted to show off. Hoping that literally anyone that she knew would see her in the expensive ride and spread the news. It was easily one of the most exciting things to happen in their sleepy village.
Just at the edge of town she spotted a group of her friends picking wild flowers on the side of the road. Stephany was the first to look up and see the grand entrance her childhood friend was making. Her jaw became slack as she slowly stood up straight. Her right hand blindly swatted at the others missing them by far.
"No way! Is that Lila?"
Just then looking at the basket of flowers Lila remembered the plans she had made with them. They were going to make floral crowns today. Recognizing the irony that she was instead off to meet the queen amused Lila so much that she chuckled for a moment.
"Nice ride Lila!" Stephany said walking with the others next to the carriage.
"Hey guys. I won't be able to join you today after all." Lila was smiling broadly and with an ample boost to her pride she playfully teased, "You'll never guess where I'm going."
"Where?" they were all well bated by this point.
"I'm going to see the queen. She is with Gabrielle right now and the Conqueror herself has invited us to join them in Athens."
"No way." was the common exclamation among the group of teens, they were getting tired and the guards growing increasingly nervous by their presence began to speed the caravan up.
"I'll tell you everything when I return." Lila reached her hand out to her best friend and after holding it for a little while she let go. Watching as she moved out of the way and let the caravan pass.
"Yeah! You better." Stephany called out.
Gabrielle yawned as she slowly came into consciousness. Much like she was when she fell asleep Gabrielle was on her back. The difference was that Xena's face was softly pressed against the side of her tilted head. She felt so safe and secure wrapped in the warm embrace of the slumbering queen. Gabrielle smiled broadly and moaned in complete jittery happiness. She gently caressed the soft arm across her chest and enjoyed the pleasant weight of the warrior's strong leg slung over her own.
After a moment Gabrielle noticed the smallest of snores coming from the peaceful warrior cuddled up to her. Gabrielle couldn't help but feel a certain way that Xena wasn't having a nightmare like the night before. In fact the warrior seemed downright blissful.
Waking up like this was everything she could have wanted plus so much more that she didn't even know to ask for. Even though she still felt a considerable amount of pain in her ribs Gabrielle was quickly convinced that she was actively experiencing the Elysian Fields here on earth. The feelings that overcame her were far beyond mere bliss. She longed for the moment to last forever as she closed her eyes and allowed herself to luxuriate for as long as possible in the sensations laying claim to her.
'This is exactly what life should be like for everyone.' Gabrielle thought whimsically, wanting to share her joy with the world, 'Just so long as it is not with my warrior.'
A little while later Xena gave her own blissful grunt of approval as her arm, still being caressed by Gabrielle's soft fingers, adjusted around Gabrielle. Xena took in a deep breath not even minding the soft blond hair tickling her nose as she further buried her smile in the silk like strands.
"Good morning, Gabrielle." Xena's voice was a lovely melody to Gabrielle's sensitive ears, even roughened by sleep, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm actually feeling amazing, maybe I can get up some today."
The warrior adjusted her head so she could look Gabrielle in the eyes when she gave the stern warning, "Don't even think about it Gabrielle. You still need more time to heal."
Gabrielle made an anxious face and huffed in frustration. Over selling her fake disappointment while simultaneously and albeit blissfully snuggling closer to the warm body in bed with her.
"Hey if my company…" The warrior was quickly cut off.
"You're planning on staying with me again?" Gabrielle's smile was all encompassing as it claimed the warrior's very breath.
In search of a better view the warrior sat up on her elbow, after a few moments of searching eyes Xena all but purrs, "Well I was planning on it."
"Good." Gabrielle said with a blissful sigh, holding the warrior just a little tighter, not even questioning their ever growing connection anymore.
Xena grinned as Gabrielle's eyes fluttered shut. "Did you sleep well?"
"Emhm." Gabrielle grunted her agreement as her body trembled with desire from the soft embrace becoming stronger and somehow even more intimate, "What about you?"
"Never better." Xena said, acknowledging that instead of her usual nightmares her brain had taken her on a journey with Gabrielle while her body continued holding Gabrielle close to her in one way or another.
Even now Xena oddly held no desire to move. Normally the instant Xena wakes up she is beyond ready to start the day. Preferring to stay busy even while injured, so this was a completely new sensation for her.
The hours were flying by for the women in the carriage Lila had all of the curtains tied out of the way as she had bounced from one window to the next. While Hecuba was lost in concentration staring out of the open window. She was struggling desperately trying to make an impossible seeming plan to bust up the conqueror's wedding.
"Isn't this the absolute best?" Lila questioned, after a while.
Hecuba eyed her youngest daughter with a level of worry in her eyes that she couldn't convey. She didn't know how to explain how much peril her eldest child was in. "Lila. Don't you understand the danger Gabrielle is in? She is with the Destroyer of Nations!"
"It sounds like the queen saved Gabrielle's life. It was dad who tried to kill her! He's been awful to her this last month and you just let him go on beating her the way he was. You could have at least let me help her but no you held me back…."
"Lila! Watch how you speak to me." Hecuba was stunned. It was a solid blow that had effectively strummed her lingering feelings on the matter. It also killed the small hope that had just started to sprout that she could get Lila to join her fight.
'Figures she is quick to protect herself.' Lila snorted in disgust, and turned her eyes to the world outside. If she couldn't get all of her points across then she had little interest in speaking at all.
Now in the safety of the cave system that Callisto had made into her headquarters. The warrior stood motionless by a wall, listening to the soothing clash of steel against steel from her vast army training with each other. The close call with Celeste herself had only driven her all the more rabid. She was looking into a dull mirror assessing her own injury. Callisto poked at the clean scar going across her trachea.
"This is all her fault." Callisto growled angrily.
Xena had slit her throat nearly to the bone. Xena had used her to instill the fear of the Gods themselves into the other women of the guard. Callisto had foolishly thought that she was as mad as she could possibly get but somehow Xena had even managed to enrage her that much more.
"Ares thinks he is so clever leaving this scar around my neck. I will use it to drive my rage towards his precious Xena all the more higher. Tell me Jarvis," she turned her psychotic gaze towards her general, "How is plan b going?"
"The soldiers are waiting a few miles away from Athens. There hasn't been any sign of them yet." Jarvis said, holding himself tirelessly at attention. Afraid to move that he would anger the crazed blond.
The caravan had eaten along the way and the only stops were brief and far between, a task made easy as day turned to night and the two undisciplined villagers fell asleep. Near Athens Marcus became suspicious in the unusually dark and quiet night. Following his gut he decided to take the long way. They made a large circle halfway around the city. It would mean getting back near lunch instead of breakfast but it gave him some much needed relief.
Before they entered Athens the mounts circled the carriage making a moving barrier between the two women and the rest of the world. Ready to defend them at a moment's notice. With Marcus bringing up the rear they weren't taking any chances of making foolish mistakes.
Lila's head was out of the carriage once more as she took in the assortment of busy people who stopped to watch as they went through town towards the castle. Only for the riders next to the windows to reach in and draw the blinds.
"Good thinking men." Marcus beamed proudly.