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Disclaimer: Xena: Warrior Princess, Gabrielle, Argo and all other characters who have appeared in the syndicated series Xena: Warrior Princess, together with the names, titles and back story are the sole copyright property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. All other characters, the story
idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.

NOTE: All works remain the © copyright of the original authors. These may not be republished without the author's consent.

LOVE/SEX WARNING/DISCLAIMER: This story depicts a love/sexual relationship between two consenting adult women. If you are under 18 years of age or if this type of story is illegal in the state or country in which you live, please do not read it. If depictions of this nature disturb you, you may wish to read something other than this story.

The BC Team: Lucia C Dievendorf  loszamek@juno.com, Gin_  xenabard@hotmail.com, PatsBard barbd@peganet.com, Heartbrkn Bard Kimsgrl@aol.com, RENEE' RABB bluegoldfish@earthlink.net, Annette King femerlin@bellsouth.net, Teejames@webtv.net, and Karolyn Shadowpaw shadowpax@hotmail.com

Babysitting The Bard

by the BC Team

"It was a dark and stormy night, suddenly a crossbow twanged...Gabrielle was huddled over the fire lost in thought; as she reached over for another log, the arrow struck...missing her fingers by scant inches as she instinctively rolled away from the source of danger. She turned towards the direction of the arrow just in time to see a shadow across the trees and suddenly it disappeared. Instinctively she reached for her staff, to find it gone! A sense of dread filled her. "Oh, Xena, you better be back!"

Just as the thought crossed her mind, a hand appeared from the bush just behind her and reached forth...sinking a dagger deep into her shoulder. Lurching forward she stumbled, going down on one knee reaching out...searching frantically for anything to use for defense; she came up with a thick branch and settled into a fighting stance. Wincing at the sharp pain in her shoulder she shook it off, concentrating on her surroundings...  "HOOT!"

"Argh!!!! Stupid, damned owl scared the Tartarus out of me!" She tried to scowl and the owl stared unblinkingly back. As she was distracted she felt a presence behind her and a hand covered her mouth. "Shut up! Keep quiet! If you want to stay alive..."

Well, sure Gabrielle wanted to stay alive, but it's common knowledge that she can't keep quiet. She knew it was just a matter of time before her assailant took the hand away from her mouth, and she'd be blabbing a mile a minute trying to talk herself out of the situation. She sighed and rolled her eyes. Now would be a good time for Xena to show up.

Unfortunately, Xena was 20 miles away on a fishing trip with Joxer. Gabrielle shuddered. Disturbing images crowded her mind. However, the clouds cleared quickly as the voice behind her reminded her to shut her yap. "I know you," Gabrielle said.

"Yeah, smart ass? If you think you know me you will do as I say," the voice whispered.

Gabrielle remained quiet, wondering with her now clear mind who exactly she was supposed to be keeping quiet from. Swallowing hard at the thought of another threat besides the one currently behind her. She nodded acceptance of the silence order and allowed herself to be pulled back into the undergrowth. Once they were hidden from view, her captor released his hold and Gabrielle turned to face him. "You were talking to Xena at the tavern last night."

He nodded and motioned her to be quiet. After listening to the sounds of the night for a few minutes he whispered back. "She asked me to keep an eye on you while she was gone."

Stung by the phrasing, Gabrielle retorted hotly. "I do not need a babysitter!"

The man ran his tongue over his teeth and pulled a length of bandage from a pouch at his waist. Indicating her shoulder he grinned. "I think maybe you do."

She gave him her best Xena glare imitation only to be laughed at. She fumed silently as he set about bandaging her pierced shoulder, plotting different ways of escape from his humiliating presence. One day she'd show Xena she was no child to be watched over, that she was a grown woman with a woman's needs and desires. Her thoughts of escape quickly turned to thoughts of how she could convince the warrior that she was an adult, not noticing when her babysitter sat back to watch the soft glow transform her fresh, young features into the beauty of a woman in love. Slowly, and with a calm that comes with practice, Brutus bandaged Gabrielle's shoulder.

"Now, Gabrielle. Lets talk about what you and I are going to do while Xena's gone."

"What…?" she could hardly think; her mind was still on somehow showing Xena she was able to take care of herself. Brutus shook his head. "I said I want to talk to you about us while Xena's gone...." 

Us...!? What about us...what’s wrong with me? Gabrielle struggled to keep focused. I am not a child. I do NOT need a baby sitter..."Look, is it Brutus? I don't want to talk...I'm a little tired..." Gabrielle settled into her sleeping roll, fumbling with the covers.  "Brutus?"

"Yeah…?"

"Thanks for the bandage." Brutus just grunted and went over to his bedroll. Gabrielle was determined to wait him out and slip away...Babysitter, huh... Not noticing the numbness and swelling that was starting in her shoulder….

The next morning found Gabrielle moaning and delirious. Brutus ran frantically to the nearby stream to fill the water skins with cold water, then raced back to his patient. Her forehead was hotter than Hades' pits, and he cursed under his breath at his rotten luck. Xena had finally trusted him with something important and he had blown it...big time. As he bathed the heated flesh, his mind conjured up images of the tortures Xena would put him through if anything happened to her companion.

Brrrrr. He shook off the chill that those thoughts gave him, and concentrated on making Gabrielle better before Xena got back. Would he be able to do it? He had to!! No questions asked, otherwise he would have to face the consequences. "The wrath of Xena." " Hades"...I need to get her fever down... Searching his and Gabrielle's bag he can't find the right plant to cut the fever...wait...there was some down by the stream. "I'll be right back, Gabrielle...."

Waking up, Gabrielle saw Brutus walk off. Not thinking clearly, her only thought was leaving….

She listened closely to his footsteps as they got further away. When she was sure he was out of range, Gabrielle reached for her staff and used it to help her stand. A wave of dizziness and nausea washed over her. She took a moment to let it pass, then using the staff as a crutch for support, she quietly wandered into the nearby brush. Her concentration was soley on getting as far away from Brutus as possible, knowing he would try to stop her from accomplishing her goal -- to prove to Xena that she is not a child, but a grown woman, not only capable of taking care of and defending herself, but also of giving love and pleasure to Xena in the most intimate of ways.

Twenty miles away, Xena awoke with a start. Dread and fear filled her heart. She looked around the campsite confused and began to call Gabrielle's name when she realized Gabrielle wasn't there. This frightened her at first ‘til she cleared her head enough to remember she had gone fishing with Joxer and left Gabrielle alone at the other campsite. They had been fighting a lot lately and mutually decided that they needed a little time apart to relax and regroup. The road had become a battlefield lately and they seemed to always have to be tense, and alert and it had finally begun to take its toll on their friendship. Xena had found a "safe" spot for Gabrielle to rest and work on her writing...while Xena went fishing to relax. Unfortunately, Joxer had stumbled onto their campsite about the time Xena was leaving and wormed his way into her little trip.

 At this memory, Xena suddenly realized it may have been a mistake to leave Gabrielle alone. Not that she wasn't able to defend herself and take care of herself--she had matured and become so proficient with the staff that it almost amazed Xena. "But then again," Xena thought with a smile, "she is an amazing person -- and she really cares for me, not that I deserve anyone caring for me, especially someone as loving and giving as Gabrielle." But then she felt a tug at her heart on that bond they share and she knew beyond any doubt that Gabrielle was in trouble. Without waking Joxer, she quickly saddled Argo and gathered her gear. Donning her leathers and armor, she leapt into the saddle and rode off back to the other campsite…back to Gabrielle as fast as Argo could take her.  

When Brutus returned with the herbs, Gabrielle was gone. Panic made him run in circles a few times. "Oh gods," he said out loud. "Gabrielle?" She couldn't have gone far. He thought he heard a sound from a nearby bush, and ran like Tartarus. He dropped to his knees at her side. She was curled up in a ball, deliriously whimpering for Xena. It broke his heart. "Its ok now, Gabrielle, I'm here," he tried to comfort the girl. She grabbed his hand tightly. "Xena?" she whispered, laying her fevered face on his arm. "Please don't leave me again," and she fell back to sleep.

 A twig snapped and Brutus froze. " Oh Gods, I'm in for it now." Thinking Xena was coming back early, he imagined what she would do to him for failing to protect her "friend". 

"Hey, Brutus! Ya could have waited a candle mark more for me... what the…! Oh Gods, what the...." A young, dark figure came out the trees.  Standing in the light of the campfire, the young girl rushed over and looked at the fevered bard. “What the Hades did you do to Blondie here?" 

"Honest, Tara! Nothing! I swear on my father’s head!"

"Yeah, like you know what dog that was."

Tara touched the hot, pale face… Gabrielle moaned softly. "Ok. What happened?" Tara snarled. "What did ya do to her? Oh Gods, Xena is gonna be so mad!"

"I didn't do anything! By the time I got here, she already got hurt. Whoever it was took off when I showed up." 

Tara bit her lower lip trying to collect herself.  "Look Brutus, Xena and Gabrielle were the first two people to really believe in me.  We gotta get her to a healer." Tara started to put the camp site in order to travel. She saw the arrow in the log.  "Ares’ balls! We gotta get her outta here now!"  

"What’s wrong?" Brutus asked, seeing the fearful look in Tara's eyes. Tara snatched up the arrow. " I know where this arrow came from…and it ain't good."

"Come on Argo! We have to get to Gabrielle." Xena didn't like the feeling she was getting in her heart. Something was definitely wrong. 'What was I doing twenty miles away from my bard anyway?' If something happened to Gabrielle, someone will pay a price!!  Nobody hurts my Gabrielle!!! No one.

Except you  she thinks.  What was the fight about anyway. Or was it even a fight.  Admit it Xena you ran away.  Something you almost never did in battle. You ran away, and from what? A small country girl???  She pulls Argo to a sudden stop. The horse rears in protest at the rough treatment.  No not a girl, a woman. Xena's mind begins racing thru different scenes of their lives together, watching Gabrielle grow and mature before her very eyes. Suddenly, it all becomes very clear in her heart and mind. All the pieces are falling together and she finally admits to herself the depth of her feelings for the sweet bard who befriended her so many years ago when most wanted to kill her.

"Go Argo!!", she shouts, spurring the mighty warhorse on. "We've got to get to her quick, girl. We can't loose the other half of my soul now that I've found her." Xena raced into the clearing. Leaping off Argo and drawing her sword as she touched ground, she spun around surveying the campsite. With wide eyes and a crushed heart she realized the camp was no more. Gone, everything was gone. 'Gabrielle is gone', she thought to herself. 'She left me. But didn't I leave her first. But I was coming back -- just needed some time to get my head together... and my heart. Needed to realize what I was taking for granted. Now I'm too late.' But that feeling of dread was still there and she realized it wasn't about Gabrielle leaving her but that Gabrielle is in danger. Quickly, she began to scan the campsite looking for clues as to what may have happened and where the light of her life my have gone or been taken.

Xena's eyes scan the now empty campsite again. Suddenly a small flash of color catches her eye.  Snaged on a bush is a small piece of cloth...with blood on it. " Oh Gods" she moans  Argo snorts and Xena spins at the ready.  Argo is pawing at something in the brush.  Xena rushes over. "What is it girl." The Warhorse snorts and backs away so that Xena can get a closer look.  "Its a scroll wraped around and arrow" she mutters. Xena unrolls the parchment, and reads .  

X,

Gabrielle got hurt. I think its got something to do with the arrow I left with the scroll. Anyway I aint takin no chances. Brutus and I are gonna try to get her to the healer in the village.  Hey won't Blondie get sore when she finds out I was writin on one of her...Xena I hear somthin...follow trail I'll  try to leave. 

Tara

Xena reread the scroll twice then examined the arrow.  Blue eyes darkened, and a dark rage began to fill her.  If He so much as touches on hair on My Bards head I make him wish I'd sent him to meet Hades the last time I saw him.The Arrow snaped in half, but The Dark Warrior didn't hear it. "Ok Tara lets see what you can do."  Xena searches near the spot where Argo found the scroll." She said something about a healer, but which one.

Tara was tying the scroll to an arrow. "I wish Brutus would hurry

up."*whuump* "What was that?" Then she looked up in alarm "Brutus?" She scanned the area quickly.

"Oh Hades' Balls! Brutus! Get your hairy butt back here now!"

 He came grunting and cursing, crashing into camp. "What? This had bett..."

 “Shut up! Blondie’s gone!”

 Brutus turned in a slow circle "Ares three wenches, girl! Weren't you looking out for her?"

 “Hey! I was... I thought I heard you coming and looked around only to find Blondie gone! We don't have time for this. We've got to find her! It looks like she went this way. Come on...” Forgetting the arrow and scroll, Tara and Brutus head out looking for Gabrielle.

 “We have to find her quick, Brutus. This stuff is really bad and we still need to get her to a healer....”

 Gabrielle was burning up. "Xena??" Was that Xena she was hearing in the forest? Gabrielle desperately needed to see her...talk to her. Her heart was bursting and, Hades, she was hot! Vision blurred, she was trying to rely on her hearing, only there was a buzzing noise in the back ground. Stumbling around a large rock she could barley make out shape..."Xena??"

"No Little bird not your precious Xena." The unkempt man lifts the unconscious bard in his arms. "No but Tor will give me a large reward for getting my hands on you. No thanks to that idiot brother of his."

"Live pretty bird and when Xena comes to find you Tor The Cruel will have his revenge and perhaps he will let me clip you wings before I turn you over to the camp."  Others enter the small clearing.

"You got her." One says with a smirk on his face." Tor will be pleased."

"Gabrielle!" a voice shouts nearby.

"The man and the girl from the camp." Snarles the man holding Gabrielle. "Wait here, take the girl kill the man."

"She'll bring a good price in the market." The men laugh softly and all fade into the trees.

The sun was going down making it more difficult to follow the trail. "Where are they?" Xena swore softly. Argo whickered in answer. "They can't have gotten far. But the direction they took is all wrong, It's not even in the direction of any nearby village." Xena steps into the small clearing and sees Gabrielle's staff on the ground. "Gabrielle doesn't go anywhere without this." A soft moan is heard. "Gabrielle!" She cries and moves quickly to the noise. "Brutus!" She exclaims.

"Xena they got Tara..." he gasps. Brutus is a mass of blood and bruises.

"Gabrielle, is she safe, do they have her as well?"

"Jumped us Tara saw the staff and ran for it. They came out of nowhere, six of them. Dragged Tara off, left me for dead." Brutus is seized by a racking cough and brings up blood. Xena quickly examines the battered man. "Xena I tried honest I really did."

"I know Brutus I know." she replies her eyes full of sorrow. "Xena ya gotta promise you'll get Tara back, she was my sisters only kid. Tell her I love her, she never knew I was her uncle." Brutus coughs
more and Xena can tell he is slipping fast.

"I'll get her back Brutus I promise, I'll get them both back." Brutus smiles up a Xena and for a moment it's as if all the pain just vanishes. "See you on the other side Xena." Brutus sigh and it gone. " I promise" Xena eyes blaze with cold blue fire. She stands lifts Gabrielle's staff and moves into the night.

"She's no good to me if she dies Dargon.!!!" screams a rather unpleasant looking man. He hurls a cup of wine at a slave standing nearby. Dargon stands and just looks at him calmly.

"Lord dead or alive Xena will move mountains to get her 'little friend' back." He glances at the feverish form being held up by two men.

Gabrielle moans softly "Xena?" "Where are you?"

"Bah she's worthless to me even for sport. Not much fight in her." Growls Tor the Cruel. 

Dargon moves close to the now sitting Tor.  " Lord it's simple let the old woman look at her. If she lives better the sport, better the chances of Xena making a mistake. Alive the wench means Xena must use
greater caution, more likely to make a mistake. Easier to capture, less damaged shall we say, to live longer to die harder at you hands."

Tor's eyes gleam with evil fire. " Make the Bitch pay for what she did, Yes. Alright take the wench to the old Hag tell if the girl dies then her daughter dies and the child she carries. Ha I can always make another one with some other wench."  Tor laughs as he pours himself another cup of wine and nearly
chokes on it while laughing.

Hours later the old healer comes to Dargon. "Well woman how is my little bird?"

"The girl will live, the poison in the wound was not strong who ever cleaned it before did well."

"And the fever old one?" asks Dargon.

"Broken, she rest now her strength is great, she calls to someone though perhaps it is that which give her the will to live"

"Excellent, I may yet clip those pretty wings yet." Dargon chuckles.

Above the camp cold blue eyes watch, looking for a sign of her beloved bard.

"Keep your lousy hand to yer self or I'm gonna..."

Smack Xena's eyes blaze Tara has been backhanded by one of Dargon's men. "Shut yer trap you, if it wasn't fer Dargon saying you was bound for market I'd a showed you manners." The man grabs the front of his pants.

"What's wrong can't find it??"

Xena smirks and shakes her head. "No she hasn't changed."

The man grabs Tara holding his hand over her mouth he drags her to the trees. "Oh you'll find it girl, and in more than one place." As the fates would have it, the man drags Tara right past the very tree Xena is in. "Must be his unlucky day," she musses.

Tara thrown to the ground she feels the clothing being pulled from her. "Oh Gods my mouth finally got me into it now." Snap!! UUHH. Thump... silence....Tara slowly opens her eyes and sees the most beautiful shade of blue she has ever seen.

"Xena I…" Xena covers Tara's mouth with her hand. Tara nods, with the Warriors help she is in the trees over looking the camp.

 "Where are they keeping Gabrielle?"

 "Over in that tent," Tara points to a small tent near the center of the camp.  "Xena honest we tried, she got a fever and just wandered off. We was breaking camp to get her to..."

 " I know Tara." Xena reassured the girl.

  "What are we gonna do?" Tara asked in a worried voice."

"I am going to get my friend back, you are going to get to someplace safe."

"But, Xena, I wanna help. It's my fault. I  shoulda watched her better."

"Tara, look," Xena laid a hand on Tara's arm. She could feel the girl trembling,"We can discuss this later. Right now I have to think what to do next, and I can't if I feel I have to worry about you as well."

Tara looked down at her boots and just nodded. Xena settled herself in the tree, surveying the camp. She could feel Tara's eyes on her, feel the pain the girl felt for what she saw as her failure to protect Gabrielle.  But Xena knew, it was not Tara's failure; it was her own.

"Damn my stupid pride, my blindness, my 'I can live my life alone' attitude." She felt the tears in the back of her eyes and pushed them back. " No time for tears, Xena," she told herself.  "Got to keep a clear head for her sake... and your own." The two watchers sat hidden in the trees and waited.

"What do you mean the girl is gone!" shouted Dargon as he walked across the center of the camp, followed by Tara's former keeper.

"Dargon, I swear I just stepped into the trees to...ya know...and wham! There musta been five or six of 'em to take me out so quick, bit when I woke up they was gone, and so was the girl!"

Xena smirked " So I'm five or six people, I could use five or six right now." Suddenly an idea sprang into her head. "Tara do you know the way to the Amazon village?"

" I could find it, but, Xena, it would take a day or better for me to get there."

"Not on Argo."

"Whoa! Wait a minute! You want me to take your horse? Xena, are you outta your mind? That beast would eat me alive before she'd let me near her, let alone ride her!"

Xena shook her head. "She will if I tell her to, that's what she's trained to do, besides she does know the way to the village and she could just take you there herself. Follow me."

Tara follows Xena through the trees, and before long they are beside Xena's warhorse. Xena speaks softly to the animal who twitches her ears at every word Xena speaks.  Xena boosts Tara up into the saddle, and hands Gabrielle's staff with the head fixed on it to Tara.

"Now remember what I said. This...." she hands Tara a scroll, telling everything that the Amazons need to know. "....my horse, and Gabrielle's staff will show you come from us. The head piece will show it's urgent so that at least you'll get to the Regent with few questions."

"OK, Xena. I'll do my best. I won't fail you this time."

"I know Tara." Xena gives Tara a warrior handshake and the girl beams at the honor.

 "Argo," Xena grabs the horse's ear, "Go find Eph, Argo. Go find the Amazons."  The horse snorts and is off at a gallop nearly unseating Tara.

"Hang on, Tara. She'll get you there." Xena says softly. She knows that even if Tara and the Amazons don't make it back in time at least Tara would be safe. "Well, my friend, at least I kept one promise. Your sister's daughter is safe."

Leaving Dargon's tent, the old healer breathes a sigh of relief. "Gods be praised he believed me and didn't want to see the girl. Hades, curse Dargon and his threats. I know I have given my daughter enough time to leave camp at least. That poor girl has strength. I don't know where she pulls it from, but the poison is deadly. I could only slow it and fight the fever from the infection. I fear she will not last much longer. Now if Xena really knows this girl we all could be in for a better time. Xena won't stand for the likes of Dargon and I know her healing...she is sure to have the antidote...."

Walking into the healers' chamber her thoughts are abruptly cut off. Gabrielle is thrashing wildly, sweat is pouring off her. Rushing over to the pallet the old healer struggles  with her. Knowing her patient can hear her, the healer begins to talk to her. " Hold on, child, you must hold on. Give Xena the...." Suddenly the thrashing stopped.

"Artemis, no!" she moans. She feels for a pulse. It is weaker than before."Think, you old fool, think. What poison does Solvar favor. The two of them should just kill each other and let Xena deal with Dargon. Gods curse the day that bitch gave birth to Tor and Solvar, born twin brothers and enemies as well. Dargon feeds their evil souls against each other and thereby is the true leader of this army, and ruler of the city." The old Healer pulls Gabrielle up into her arms, and tries to pour some liquid into the unresponsive throat. "Come now, girl, you must drink, else how will the poison be held at bay."

"What poison is that, Old Woman?" A voice low and dangerous comes from a dark corner of the Healers' chamber.

Without moving, the Old Healer smiles and sends a prayer of thanks to the Gods. That voice, one she has not heard in many years. One that with the years has matured, like the woman she knows is behind her.  She cannot resist the old chide she used to the small girl with too many questions of the Healer's art. "Girl, do you have no manners then? How you sneak up on an
old woman like a cat." The old healer lowers the limp Bard to the pallet and turns. "Or should I now say, Wolf?"

Xena steps from the shadows, her face one of shock. "This can't be." Her mind whirls, memories of long ago when as a child she used to torment the healer of her village with questions of draughts, and poultices.

"Grandmother?" Xena whispers a name she gave the woman long ago. 'Well, I can't call you mother, I already have one, so I'll call you Grandmother.' A frown on the face of the dark-haired, blue-eyed child of seven years says that not even Zeus himself will change her mind.  Both women relive the memory as if it was but a day ago.

"Yes, child, and soon to be a Grandmother in this life, Gods grant me the sight of the first and perhaps only."  "But enough. This girl calls your name in her fever. Do you know her?"

The Healer steps aside and Xena sees Gabrielle laying there very pale , very still. Xena examines the bard, looking into her eyes and mouth. She checks her pulse, the smell of her breath, anything that might give some clue as to  the nature of the poison. She examines the wound in her shoulder. "This wasn't deep, so the poison must have been on the blade of the knife."

"The knife? Praise Artemis, I may have the very knife used."

"The girl had it in her pouch on her waist. How the fools missed it, I don't know, nor do I care." The old healer rushes to her bench where she keeps many vessels of liquids and powders. She returns and hands a small dagger to Xena.

The dark warrior examines the blade, sniffs it and tastes the trace of something on the blade. Xena spits quickly. "Grandmother, I need to see everything you have." Looking back at Gabrielle, "How long has she been like this?"

"Less than a candle mark ago she kept calling your name. Then just before you made yourself known, I found her thrashing wildly as if minions of the dammed were trying to take her, then nothing. She is as you see her. Xena, you know the poison?" Hope flares in the old eyes.

"I think so, but we have to hurry. I need hot water." Xena's hands tremble as she looks over the stores in the healers' chamber. She examines plants hanging from  the rafters, as well as the contents of bags and pots. Tasting, she chooses some and discards others. Grinding roots and leaves together, she pours the hot water into a cup with the mixture and lets it steep.

After a time, she strains it into another cup to cool a little. Xena hands the cup to the old Healer, lifts Gabrielle into her arms, and cradles her head in one arm. "Now we have to pour it a little at a time carefully so she doesn't choke." Xena opens Gabrielle's mouth and the old Healer trickles the fluid into her. Xena presses on Gabrielle's throat to stimulate partially paralyzed muscles to swallow. It is a long and slow process but they manage to get it into her.

"How long before we know? The old Healer asks.

" I don't know for sure, we wait a candle mark and give her more." Xena strokes the blonde head in her arms. "Gabrielle, if you can hear me, don't leave me, there is so much I have to tell you. Please. I need you."

Masked women fly from the trees and land in the path of the running, lathered horse. Tara almost falls but manages to hang on. Amazon crossbow bolts are trained on the dark-haired girl.

"Hey, easy! I'm a friend!" Tara yells.

"She has the queen's staff." One of the masked women points to Gabrielle's staff.

Tara holds out the scroll Xena gave her. "Look. Xena says that you'll help. This will explain everything. Gabrielle has been taken by some real bad characters. She's hurt and...."

"Queen Gabrielle's hurt and captured?" The Amazon removes her mask and just glares up at Tara. "Where is she?" she asks.

"Pony, we can't be sure this girl is telling the truth," an amazon states, removing her mask as well.

Pony examines the scroll before turning to the other amazon. "You obviously don't know much about our Queen's champion or her horse for that matter. No one rides Argo but Xena, or someone Xena has put into Argo's care."  She grabs Argo's bridle, looking into the warhorse's eyes. "We gotta get to the village, Argo. You're going to have to take the both of us, ok?"

Argo stamped nervously. as Pony leaped up behind Tara. "I hope this works." she mutters. "Take us to Eph, Argo. Take us to the village." Xena's words repeated to the horse send her flying down the path to find the woman Xena told her to find.

Swifter than the horse could run a series of whistles and drums signal to the Amazon Regent that something is happening. Ephiny rushes outside of her hut, and Amazons from around the village gather. Suddenly the sound of a horses hooves are heard. A Palomino War-Horse gallops into the square and straight towards the woman she was told to find. Argo stops and nearly unseats her two riders. Eponin leaps off the exhausted horse's back and hands Xena's scroll into Ephiny's hands. "The Queen has been injured and captured." 

Ephiny takes in the scene before her. A young dark haired girl, holding Gabrielle's staff, on Xena's lathered War-horse.   Eponin's report that Gabrielle's in trouble and hurt, and a scroll that she can already see is written  in Xena's hand. "You get that girl down and see to her comfort, I'll talk to her in a little while." Ephiny commands. One the amazons helps Tara down.

"Wait I gotta find someone names Ephiny, the regent of something I don't have time.." 

"You've found her." Ephiny replies "Go get something to drink someone will bring you to the council."

Tara reaches for Ephiny's arm. "Look I don't have..HEY!!" Two Amazons grab her and drag her back from their Regent. 

Ephiny signals and the amazons release Tara. "What is you name?"  Ephiny asks. 

"Tara, look we gotta get moving Xena's alone back there. She sent me to get help, now if your not gonna help then I gotta get back there."  Tara walks towards Argo.

"Tara," Ephiny takes Tara's arm. "Come with me." She leads Tara into her hut, sits her in a chair and orders food and drink to be brought. "Tara, Argo is exhausted and won't go very far, I think Xena will understand the need to let her rest for a while." Tara looks as though she's about to protest, but Ephiny hold up her hand. "I need to read the message you brought, then I'll need to hear the whole story from you. Then and only then can I decide what needs to be done to rescue Gabrielle, and help Xena."

"It's been four candlemarks Xena, do we dare give her more?" The old Healer gazes down at the unmoving girl.  Xena runs her fingers through her hair, a look of fear and pain in her blue eyes. Suddenly she throws the clay cup in her hand.

"I don't know Grandmother I just don't know." Her voice is one of anguish, she kneels by the pallet, puts her head down, and does something she rarely does, she weeps. The old Healer starts to pick up the fragments of the cup, giving the weeping Warrior the respect of her silence. Xena's shoulders shake with her nearly silent sobs. 

A small hand weakly strokes her head.  "Don't cry I won't leave you, I told you I never would."  Xena's tear streaked face rises and tear filled Blue eyes meet, fever free green. Six feet of joy envelops  the small Bard, As Xena lifts Gabrielle into her lap and arms.

"Oh my Love I thought I'd lost you again"

"Xena what's happened, where am I?" Gabrielle asks confused by Xena's actions and the strange place she finds herself.

Xena lowers Gabrielle back to the pallet. "Grandmother I need to get more fluids into her, anything, water, broth, soft bread..."

The old Healer smiles. "So, these old eyes have beheld the fall of the  Destroyer of Nations." The old woman thinks. "Felled by a slip of a girl with green eyes." She muses to herself as she goes to get the things requested.

"Xena?" Gabrielle says in a weak voice. 

"Gabrielle we are in a tough spot, your too weak to just make a run for it. Now I've sent Tara..."

"Wait , Tara? How is she involved in this, where's Brutus?"

Xena pauses for a moment, trying to decide how much to tell the already upset Bard. Xena sighs. "I sent Tara to the Amazon village on Argo." 

"Wait Tara is riding Argo?" Gabrielle's head spins, it must be bad if Xena sent someone off to the Amazons, on her horse. 

"She should have reached it by now and I'm sure that almost the entire village is on it's way here."

"Xena," Gabrielle puts her hand on Xena's arm. "Start at the beginning, how did I get here?"