By Protek
 

Disclaimers

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Gods, has it already been a year? Gabrielle sat on a rock by the river bank and watched the crystal clear water flow smoothly down the narrow bed. When she thought back that time, she could not remember any particular moment from her solitary, like it never had happened. The first thing that she remembered after her heartbreaking decision to leave her soul mate, was the moment when she had stepped inside the inn and seen the raven haired warrior behind the desk. The past year felt like a dream, like someone else had been in control of her body. In a way that had been the case. Gabrielle wondered, whether she would still be wandering around aimlessly if she hadn't chosen to join Salmoneus on his journey to Amphipolis. Seeing Xena had been an awakening to her. Xena. How much she longed to be with the warrior right now. To hold her, to comfort her, to let her know how much she loved her. They both had changed so much during their separation but in the basic level their feelings for each other had not changed and in the end, it was all about basics.

"I thought that I might find you here." The voice of the Amazon regent said behind Gabrielle's back.

"I needed some time by myself." The bard turned to face Ephiny.

"That was some speech that you gave," Ephiny said. "I would have never believed that Cista would agree with you if I haven't witnessed it myself."

"Cista is a smart and determined woman," Gabrielle commented. "And I actually agree with her. The Amazons deserve a queen who is dedicated to her people instead of one who is travelling around the world. Maybe I should give up my throne."

"Absolutely not!" Ephiny objected. "Without you, we probably still would be in war with the Centaurs. Not to mention all the other things that you've achieved. As far as I'm concerned, you're the best thing that has ever happened to the Amazons." The regent put her hand on the bard's shoulder.

"Thanks, I guess." Gabrielle smiled to her.

Ephiny seemed to debate with herself for a moment. Then she opened her mouth. "How are things…"

"…between Xena and me?" Gabrielle finished the question. "We… I guess we're starting to work it out. We are in the beginning of a long road and we don't know where it will take us but at least we are going to take that road together."

"How is she doing?"

"She has gone through a lot lately and I can't help feeling at least partly responsible about that." The bard gazed in the distance. "If I had hard time during my solitary, hers has been a torment. I realize that now. Xena is also taking the losses, that we suffered against Parseus, very hard. I don't know where she does get the strength to keep going."

Ephiny cast a smile at her. "I think I do. You are the source of her strength. She'd go through Tartarus for you. You miss her right now, don't you?" She asked.

"Yes." The answer was plain and simple but one could see easily how much emotion was hidden inside that word.

"Then go to her. I can take care of things here. We'll come right behind you."

"Really?" Gabrielle asked as if she wasn't sure that she had heard correctly, then she gave a big smile and a hug to the Amazon regent. "Thanks, Eph!"

"You're welcome, my queen," Ephiny answered. "But don't think that I would let you go without a proper escort. I'm going to ask someone to ride with you."

"Yes, mother," Gabrielle grimaced. That got a grin from the tall Amazon. Gabrielle stood up and they both headed back to village.

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"You asked for me?" Annika said to Shanni when she entered the infirmary.

"Yes," the Amazon healer said tiredly. "You need to do something about Eponin. I can't get her to stay in bed. As if I didn't already have my hands full." Shanni sighed.

"I'll see what I can do," Annika said. "You look like you could use a break. I'll get someone to stand in for you."

"Thanks, I'd REALLY appreciate it," Shanni said.

Annika left the healer and head to the back of the infirmary. There she found the weapons master in a half sitting position, her arms crossed.

"Shanni told me that you have been giving her and everybody else here a hard time," Annika said to her.

"Damned sure that I have!" Eponin said angrily. "I don't need to be here, I'm perfectly all right!"

"That is not what Shanni thinks."

"Well, what does she know?" Eponin asked.

"She is a healer. If she says that you need to stay in bed then you will stay in bed," Annika answered matter-of-factly.

Eponin cast a defiant look at the young Amazon. "Who is gonna make me, you?"

"In the matter of fact, yes. You see, Gabrielle put me in charge of the Amazons and in your current condition that includes you."

"What!" The weapons master shouted in disbelief.

"That's right," Annika confirmed. "And if I'm not enough to convince you, I can go get Xena." That suppressed the Amazon's defiance a bit.

"Very well." Eponin relented. "But there's still one issue, we need to discuss."

Annika had expected that the weapons master would bring this up. "If it's about Shiro, forget it. That's totally between him and me."

"No! It's between you and your people. You have responsibilities to your people." Eponin's tone was strict.

"Do you really think I don't know that?" The young Amazon's temper started to show. "Do you have any idea what is going inside right now? Besides how come our queen gets to travel around the country and nobody is complaining about that!"

"Ah, well Gabrielle wasn't born as an Amazon…" Eponin started.

"But still you would be willing to give your life for her!" Annika interrupted her. "This isn't about my responsibilities as an Amazon. You have been picking on me since the first day I arrived to your village! What is it that you have against me?"

Eponin didn't answer. She knew perfectly well what it was but now was neither the time nor the place to tell it.

When Annika realized that the older woman wasn't going to continue the conversation, she turned and walked away. As she stepped out of the infirmary she saw the warrior princess walking towards her. Annika walked to meet her.

"Annika, you and your group up for a little chore?" Xena went straight to the point.

"Sure, you name it," Annika answered.

"Well," the warrior started. "Even if Gabrielle manages to get some reinforcements, we'd still be outnumbered. That's why I have been playing with an idea that would even up the odds a bit." Xena grinned but Annika could see that the grin didn't reach the eyes.

"I'm listening…"

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"Is this what you had in mind, my queen?" Hesia asked as she passed a pendant to Gabrielle.

Gabrielle took a look at the pendant between her fingers. The blue opal that she had bought from Salmoneus was now inside a golden ring. The ring had carvings that were exactly like the ones on Xena's chakram. The jewel hung from a golden chain. Gabrielle smiled approvingly. "This exactly what I wanted. You truly are a master at your work, Hesia," the bard said to the jeweler. "What do I owe you?"

"Oh, I couldn't dream of charging you, my queen. Besides, I can see who you had in mind. I just hope you two will be happy together," Hesia said.

"Thank you, I certainly hope so too," Gabrielle said and slid ten dinaars on the counter. Hesia didn't touch them but Gabrielle knew that as soon as she was gone the jeweler would put the money into her purse.