Disclaimer 5: I was not in my right mind, or left mind for that matter, when I wrote this. So any comments can be sent to loszamek@juno.com. We will both consider comments, and like all pieces of advice we will follow the ones we agree with. Just kidding.

Outside a modest hut in a simple village stands a hooded figure clad all in black. Beside this ominous figure is a very nervous peasant farmer. Wringing his hands and with a voice that trembles he speaks to the dark form.

"But Warlord, we have nothing more to offer as protection money, uh tribute..."

"No dinars, no sheep, no grain, wine, nothing?" the voice purrs like a cat ready to pounce on a mouse.

"Nothing, Lord, nothhh... aacck"

A dark gloved hand efficiently snaps out, grabs the peasant by the neck, and lifts him into the air.

"Acckk acckk," the peasant garbles.

"Nothing except perhaps your miserable life?" the dark form growls. "No women perhaps to amuse the camp on a cold night such as tonight?"

The peasant is released and lands at the booted feet of the warlord.

"No, Warlord, even my own wife is poor comfort at best, giving me only daughters instead of sons, which I could have used to aid me farm the land.

"Daughters?" the dark voice lifts with interest.

Realizing his mistake, the peasant tries to babble his way through.

"Yes, yes, two young very unimportant, girls... Innocent, soft spoken, uneducated girls--not much to look at really. Children in fact..."

Suddenly a blood-curdling scream is heard, and two forms come rolling out of the hut. A tangled mass of hair-pulling , scratching, cursing female lands at the warlord's feet. The peasant and the Dark Warlord pull the two girls apart. One is dark haired, dark eyed, and plain in feature; the other is a smaller fair-skinned blonde.

In the melee, the hood falls back and we see that in fact the warlord is a dark-haired woman. The peasant tries to hold back the darker girl who is screaming like a wildcat. The blond girl is obviously trying to hide behind the tall Dark Woman.

"Let me go!" the dark girl shouts. "I'm gonna kill her!"

"Yeah, you and who else?" the blonde retorts from behind six feet of Dark Warlord.

"Quiet!" intones the Dark Woman while looking at the peasant whose face is red from either embarrassment, exertion, or both.

"Lila, stop this!" yells the peasant.

"Yeah, Lila, stop it or I'm gonna have ta hurt ya." The blonde yelps as battle hardened arms pull her back into the body of the Dark Woman.

Lila lunges and almost gets free of her father's hands. The small blonde squeals and proceeds to climb Mt. Warlord up to and including the dark armor clad shoulders.

"ENOUGH!" shouts the now irritated woman.

All freeze where they are--the blonde teetering on the warlord's shoulders.

"Soft spoken? Quiet?" the warlord looks at the peasant.

"I never said quiet," the peasant mutters, trying to hide his embarrassment.

Ice-blue eyes glare at him, and he falls silent.

"Get down," she says in a low menacing voice to the blond bird perched on her shoulders.

As the girl starts to move, Lila lunges again.

"No, no, that's OK. I kinda like it up here. Nice view above the smog. Safe and sound. Yup, kinda like it up here."

The Dark Warrior glares at Lila.

"Don't move," she snarls.

Lila does a very good imitation of a rock.

"Now, you get down."

Trying to remove herself from what she now perceives as a very high and suddenly dangerous place, the blonde mutters "Get down, don't move, shut up, do this, do that, my whole life every time."

"Yipes!"

The blonde falls over the front of the Dark Woman and finds herself suddenly cradled in a pair of strong sinewy arms. Blue eyes touch green. They lock. And for a few moments, the world is of no concern.

"Uh, hi," the blonde stammers. "I'm Gabrielle."

"Xena," is the soft reply.

Gabrielle's eyes widen in recognition of the name.

"Not THE Xena. The Destroyer of Nations Xena? The greatest fighter in all of Greece Xena? The Xena with a tattoo of a..."

"Don't go there," Xena warns in a low voice.

"Uh yeah sure uh," mumbles Gabrielle. "Wow. Um, you can put me down now," Gabrielle says softly.

With a smirk on her face, Xena answers "You'll have to take your arms from around my neck first. I don't think you will quite reach the ground otherwise."

Gabrielle's face turns red, and she removes her arms from Xena's shoulders. Xena lowers the small girl slowly, almost regretfully, to the ground.

"Bitch!" yells Lila as she lunges.

Again Xena is used as an escape route for Lila's prey.

"What's this all about?" her father yells.

"I just caught her in the barn with my boyfriend and he was naked!" Lila screams.

"He was showing me his war wound!" Gabrielle yells.

"He cut his finger peeling an apple," Lila retorts, all the while trying to climb over her father.

"It was a vicious piece of fruit," Gabrielle shouts back. "I once heard of a pomegranate that..."

"I said 'Enough!'" shouts Xena, though her command is muffled by Gabrielle's skirt.

She pushes it aside and looks at the peasant.

"Innocent?" she says.

The peasant is now thinking "OK, kill me now, it can't possibly get much worse."

Xena helps Gabrielle down from her perch. Suddenly a voice shouts "Don't worry, Gab, I'll save you!!"

A gangly form rushes into the yard, trips over his own two feet, and lands face first into the dirt at Xena's feet.

"OMMMPF!!!"

"What is that?" Xena asks Gabrielle.

"Oh, that's just What's His Name, my betrothed."

"Oh," Xena looks up unconcerned, placing one booted foot on the unconscious youth's back.

"Now, we were talking tribute."

"Yes, Warlord," the peasant stammers. "As you know, we are a poor village..."

Xena holds up a hand and the peasant falls silent. She smiles sweetly. Like a wolf in a sheep herd.

"It's simple. I'll give you till say noon tomorrow to collect an acceptable tribute..."

A voice calls Xena from aside. She rolls her eyes in annoyance.

"What, Brackus?"

A soldier walks over to talk to his leader. Gabrielle starts to slip away when Xena's hand shoots out, catches her by the hair, and pulls her back.

"Don't move from this spot till I tell you," she growls.

The soldier walks towards Xena, who holds up her hand indicating that he should wait.

"Just a minute. Now where was I?" Again her hand shoots out and grabs Gabrielle by the hair, preventing her second attempt to sneak off again. "I said don't move, I'm not finished with you yet."

Gabrielle makes a face and mutters, "And you aren't gonna start either."

"WHAT!" Xena barks.

Trying to look innocent, Gabrielle replies quickly "Nothing, nothing, nice sky, looks like rain."

Xena glares at Gabrielle but speaks to her father. "Acceptable tribute or it's simple. We sack the town, rape the women, and generally see to it that you all have one really bad day."

"Cough cough" the soldier tries to get Xena's attention. "Uh, Xena," he nods his head indicating that she follow him a short distance away.

Gabrielle, seeing that Xena is talking quietly with the soldier, tries to sneak off yet again. Xena, without turning her head, snakes out her whip, manages to wrap it around Gabrielle's waist, and pulls the girl back into her arms.

"You have a problem with simple instructions?" Xena snarls

"Simple? No, not really, but it depends on what you define as simple. I mean what to one person is simple, may to another be quite complicated. Like, try to explain how to build a hut to say a two-year-old child and..."

Xena clamps her hand over Gabrielle's mouth. "Not another word."

"But..."

"Not another sound."

"But I..."

"Not even a peep."

Gabrielle opens her mouth again.

"I mean it," Xena says quietly. "Or I'm going to find the most unpleasant looking man in my army, take off one of his boots, and shove it into your mouth."

Gabrielle reflects on this, gets a little green in the gills, and is silent. For now.

"Now, Brackus, what is it?"

"Uh, Xena, about the women in the village. Have you seen them, I mean other than these two?"

Xena shakes her head no.

"Sacks would be an improvement, I mean for the heads. Even blind Boris wouldn't touch them, and you know he'd hump a Gorgon if he could get his hands on one."

Xena stares at Brackus in disbelief.

"That bad?" she asks.

"Yeah," replies the soldier.

"Well, they don't know that." Xena returns to the peasant, pulling Gabrielle behind her still wrapped in the whip.

"So you have till noon tomorrow to comply with my wishes. Or, well, you have been warned. "

"Actually, father, it seems they think... "

Xena clamps her hand over Gabrielle's mouth again .

"And as incentive for you, I'll just keep this little plaything for myself." Xena tosses Gabrielle to the soldier. "Take her to my tent, see that she stays there."

"But Xena..."

"DO IT!" she yells, and the soldier drags a kicking and screaming Gabrielle off to Xena's tent.

"I'LL give you twenty dinars to keep her," Lila says to the astonished warlord.

"I take it you don't get along," Xena smirks.

"Not hardly," is the reply.

A groan is heard and everyone looks to the now moving youth on the ground.

"Better take care of What's His Name," Xena nods in the youth's direction.

"Who?" Lila asks.

Gabrielle is pacing around the inside of a very comfortable looking tent.

"I don't care if she is the Destroyer of Nations." She picks up a pillow from the sleeping pallet. "She tries to put one finger on me and..." Gabrielle punches the pillow and sends it across the tent and into the face of Xena who just at that moment enters.

"Remind me to be more careful when I enter my own tent next time." She chuckles softly and tosses the pillow back to Gabrielle, who clutches the pillow like a shield in front of her. She has heard stories about warlords and what they do to captives. Xena walks to a table where a pitcher and cups sit. She pours wine into two of them, and offers one to Gabrielle.

"It's not poison, girl, take it."

Gabrielle takes the cup and backs away.

"I've never had wine before." She gazes into the cup.

"First time for everything," Xena says in a low sultry voice.

She sips from her cup but keeps an eye on the girl. Gabrielle tastes the wine; she finds its flavor interesting and drains the cup.

"Thank you, that was very nice. I was thirsty. Now I'll just..."

"Sit down," Xena says, pointing to a chair near the small table.

"No, thank you, I really must get back. I have things to do at home..."

"Sit Down," Xena repeats a little louder.

Gabrielle starts to back away towards where she hopes the entrance to the tent is.

"No, no, no, that's OK, I'm really not tired."

She darts for the entrance but not before Xena flips and lands right in front of her. Gabrielle starts to back away as Xena stalks forward like a cat that has spotted a helpless little bird.

"You have a choice where you will sit," Xena purrs. "Either one of the chairs or..." Her head nods towards her sleeping pallet.

"Chair, definitely chair, yup, like chairs. Father lets me sleep in one at home. So in the morning I'm all set to just get up and get to my work for the day."

Xena backs Gabrielle towards the nearest chair where she stumbles into it. Xena pours more wine into the two cups and hands one to Gabrielle. Kicking the other chair over in front of Gabrielle she sits and places one booted foot on the arm of the girl's chair, effectively trapping her between herself, her leg, and the table. Leaning back into the chair, she sips the wine slowly.

"So, girl, tell me about yourself."

"Look, I have a name. It's Gabrielle and there isn't much to tell. I live in a small, poor village. I'm betrothed to What's His Name. I'll never be what I want 'cause I'll never get out of that small, poor village. I'll end up married to What's His Name with a bunch of kids." Gabrielle looks down and frowns unsure why the cup she is holding is empty.

"What is it you want to do, Gabrielle?" Xena refills the cup. A slight smile gleams through her eyes as Gabrielle sips from her replenished cup.

"Well, you'll probably just laugh, but I like to tell stories. I mean, I want to be a bard."

She glances at Xena waiting for the laugh she usually gets when she mentions her dream.

"Go on," Xena says softly.

Warming to her subject Gabrielle stands up and starts to wave her arms around.

"Ever since I can remember I've loved to hear stories."

She stumbles into Xena's leg and looks down at it as if she had never seen it before.

"Oh, excuse me." She lifts the leg, goes around it, places it back on the arm of the chair.

Xena just sits there with half a smile on her face. This was definitely entertaining. Gabrielle paces the tent, her arms moving about as she talks.

"Sometimes when travelers would come through the village they would tell of places they had been or people they had seen. I would listen, and then I would try to tell them better. Or if by chance a real bard came, I would beg father to let me listen in the square to the stories they would tell. Of course, I tried to write everything I could remember so I could practice later."

Xena rises and fills the cup again.

"Oh, thank you. Ya know, this is really very kind of you. I thought all kinds of... I mean people have said some pretty nasty things about you."

"Like what?" Xena watches the girl waver slightly, the wine definitely hitting her now.

"Well, that you are perhaps the most dangerous woman in all of Greece. That you command one of the greatest armies the world has ever seen. That you have a tattoo of a..."

"I told you once, don't go there," Xena snarls quickly.

Gabrielle backs up and stumbles, almost falling, but Xena quickly catches

her up in her arms.

"You know, the two of you are really very pretty," Gabrielle slurs, looking at Xena with very wide eyes.

"Two of us?" Xena frowns, then realizes that the girl had just passed out cold. Lifting the limp form, she gently places the unconscious girl on the sleeping pallet. She gently removes the girl's boots, and covers her with a cloak. Xena gazes down at the sleeping form, and gently brushes a few strands of hair away from the face. She frowns, walks away, and pours herself another cup of wine. She sits in a chair and just watches the girl's sleep.

"If anyone finds out about this, I'll never live it down."

She smiles softly and sits thinking about the most beautiful green eyes she has ever seen. Suddenly there is a crashing noise and Xena is on her feet, sword in hand.

"I'll save you Gab..." THUNK!!

A familiar form hurtles into the tent and lands face down at Xena's feet. Brackus runs in with one other man and freezes before the angry glare on his leader's face.

"How in Hades did he get this far?" Xena roars. Gabrielle moans and shifts on the pallet. Xena glances towards the sleeping girl and then back at her two very pale men.

"Warlord, I swear I don't know," Brackus's companion stammers. SMACK!! Xena backhands him to the ground.

"Wrong answer," she snarls softly. "Brackus, pick up the fool. And drag What's His Name out of here and get him back to the village. Make sure you take it easy on him."

Brackus does a double take at Xena. "Take it easy on him?"

Xena grabs Brackus by the front of his leathers. "Do I stutter?" she growls.

"NO Xena I uh No uh OK." Brackus pulls the woozy soldier up from the ground and the two of them drag the unconscious youth from the tent.

"And I mean easy!" Xena barks out through the tent flap.

"Yes, Warlord," a voice replies.

Xena walks over to the still sleeping girl and sighs. "Perhaps later, little one, when you will be more able to give me sport. And next time, my pet, no wine for you." She pauses for a moment. "Pretty, she says. Been a long time since I've been described as that."

Xena shakes her head, putting out all the lamps except the one near the sleeping pallet. She sits in a chair and just watches the girl. Slowly her eyes close, and she is haunted in her dreams by eyes the color of emeralds.

Xena wakes to the feeling that she has been run over by a herd of centaurs. Plus, there is a bird outside who does not know it's singing its own death song if she can just get to it.

"What in Hades am I doing in this chair?" she thinks. She rises stiffly and stumbles toward her sleeping pallet. Xena stops short. "And who is sleeping in my bed?" she murmurs. The past night slowly oozes its way into her hung-over brain.

"I'M UP EVERYBODY IS UP!" she shouts.

It almost kills her, but she stands and watches as the furs on her bed explode. Flying out like a game bird from cover comes the fair-haired girl. What was her name? The girl lands on the ground at the warlord's feet who, if she felt better, would probably be roaring with laughter. But for now, she allows herself just a small smile.

"Gods help you, Lila. When I get up, I'm going to..."

The girl stops short as her eyes register not her sister's skirt but a pair of black leather armored legs. Suddenly Brackus comes running into the tent.

"Xena," he yells, "some fool just tried to steal our horses."

Xena rocks back, the sound of the soldier's voice like thunder in her head.

"Did he get away?" she snarls.

"No," replies Brackus, "we caught him just as he tried to mount your horse."

Xena's eyes blaze with pain and rage.

"Is he alive?" Xena snarls.

"Yes, Xena, the men have him outside awaiting your orders."

A low moan at her feet draws Xena's attention. She glances down but it takes a moment for her to remember who is there.

"Let him wait a while, I have other matters to attend to at this moment. For now just get me a pot of hot water."

Xena waves her hand, and Brackus leaves thinking he would not want to be in the place of the would-be horse thief, or of the poor girl on the floor of the tent. Brackus shudders. Hung over and someone messed with her precious horse. No, glad he wasn't on her 'List' today.

"Please tell me I'm going to die soon," Gabrielle moaned.

"No, you're not gonna die, girl," Xena sighs and pulls Gabrielle onto her feet.

"Oh gods," Gabrielle moans and clutches her head.

Xena retrieves a water skin, drinks deeply, and presses it into the suffering hands.

"Drink something, it will help till I can get tea brewed for the pain."

"Oh no, thank you, I can't even think of anything in my stomach right now."

Gabrielle staggers back to the sleeping pallet and falls face first across it. The water having helped her head, Xena now looks to amuse herself with this new 'toy'. She flops onto the pallet next to the girl, which immediately causes the girl to moan in pain.

"Never had a hangover before?" she smirks.

"No," comes the muffled reply. "Now just let me die in peace."

"Ya know what you need?" Xena says smiling.

"A shroud," mutters Gabrielle as she pulls a cover over her head to block out light and sound, she hopes.

"Naw," Xena murmurs close to the covered head. "You need a nice breakfast. Some cold meat, maybe some goat cheese, perhaps bread with herbed olive oil spread thick."

Suddenly Gabrielle is up and looking for the nearest exit. Xena leans up on one elbow and points to the tent exit. Gabrielle is a lovely shade of green as she runs out of the tent holding her mouth.

"This is proving to be a really fun morning," she muses.

One of the camp women comes in carrying a pot of steaming water. She glances at Xena, who just nods in the direction of the small table. The woman places the pot down, turns, and just looks at the warlord.

"Something light. The girl is being sick right now, I don't think she can handle much," Xena says.

The woman nods, and without a word leaves the tent. Xena rises, and goes to her saddlebag. From it she pulls a bag of herbs and measures some into two cups. She then adds some of the hot water and stirs them. Suddenly she hears a screaming.

"Put me down you big overgrown piece of..." a female voice protests. "I have friends in high places and when they find out you have been manhandling a friend of theirs..."

Gabrielle is carried into the tent over the shoulder of a gigantic shirtless man.

"Xena?" the giant says "I believe this is yours. Is it?"

Gabrielle is flailing around trying to get free of the giant who held her like a small child.

Xena's face softens "Yes, Olin, she's mine. Thank you for bringing her back."

"Oh," says the giant, who you now see is really fairly simple minded. "I was hoping I found a new friend, she's kinda pretty." Olin puts Gabrielle down gently. "She was kinda sick outside, and that new guy was gonna hurt her, I think."

Xena's eyes darken.

"Ya know like the other girl, um, Brackus's little girl."

Xena's voice is low. "Where is he now, Olin?"

"Uh, Xena," Olin begins to shift from foot to foot, like a small child who fears a scolding from a parent or beloved friend. "I stuck him into the manure pile up to his ankles." Olin pauses. "Head first."

Xena bursts out laughing. Olin stands with a childlike grin on his face, still holding Gabrielle by one arm.

"If you don't mind, I would really appreciate it if you would let me go." She tries to pull away from Olin but is unsuccessful.

"Oh no, Xena says ya belong to her and till she says so I gotta make sure that you are OK. Right Xena?" Olin grins at his leader.

"Right Olin. Again, thank you, but you can let her go now that she is in my tent."

"Oh yeah," Olin grins. "I kinda forgot."

Xena gently but firmly slaps Olin on the shoulder.

"Olin, maybe later she can tell you some stories. Would you like that?"

The gentle giant rushes over to Gabrielle. In his excitement he lifts her into the air.

"Ya know stories? I like stories. I like stories about rabbits, and horses. Like Xena's Argo, she's my friend, she likes me and Xena even lets me brush her and feed her sometimes."

"Olin, you need to put her down now," Xena says gently.

"Oh I'm sorry." Olin puts Gabrielle down. "I didn't hurt her Xena, honest."

"Hey, uh, Olin, that's OK. I'm sure uh Xena knows that." Gabrielle carefully pats him on the arm. The gentle giant grins down at her.

"Ya know you're pretty like a... a new horse."

Gabrielle frowns at the comparison.

"Yeah, all legs but little. Ain't she, Xena?"

Xena smiles softly. "Yeah, all legs and little, Olin. Now, do you think you could keep an eye on her for me? I have someone to see."

Olin frowns for a moment.

"I gotta feed the horses and make sure that they're OK from that guy... Oh" Olin guesses that it is the horse thief Xena is talking about. "Ya don't want her around, do ya Xena," Olin nods in Gabrielle's direction.

"No, I don't think that would be a good idea, do you?" Xena replies, her eyes going cold as she thinks of what is ahead.

"No," he says softly.

"Wait, what's going on?" Gabrielle looks from an unhappy Olin to a very dark Xena.

"Just go with him, girl, and don't ask questions."

"Look, I have a name--it's Gabrielle, and you know it," Gabrielle says as she walks up and into Xena tapping her finger on the tall women's leather covered chest. "I would appreciate it if from now on you use it and stop calling me girl."

Olin just stands there and smiles at Gabrielle.

"Hey, Xena, she's just like that little kitten that used ta live in your tent, she used ta bristle and spit like that at you. Remember?"

With one eyebrow raised, Xena glares down at Gabrielle. Gabrielle swallows hard.

"What happened to the kitten?" she asks softly.

Xena leans down close and growls softly. "She doesn't live in my tent anymore."

"Oh," comes the soft reply.

Xena looks up at Olin and nods her head for Olin to take Gabrielle with him. Olin reaches out his hand and takes Gabrielle by the arm. She resists his pull and looks up at Xena.

"Go with him, Gabrielle. It's better if you do."

"Why?" she asks.

"Come on, Gabrielle. Xena says go ya gotta go."

Olin gently pulls Gabrielle after him. Realizing that she doesn't have the strength to pull away from him, Gabrielle follows.

Olin takes Gabrielle away from the tent and across the camp to where the horses are kept. The animals, recognizing a friend, wicker softly. One, a beautiful palomino mare, pushes her way to the front and almost commands Olin's attention.

"Hey, Argo," he chuckles, "be nice." He nods to Gabrielle. "See, Argo, this is a new friend of Xena's."

Argo looks at the strange new person and snuffles at her. Gabrielle backs up, a little afraid of the war horse, but not before Argo gets the distinct scent of her mistress mixed in with the new scent. She turns away and pushes at Olin, demanding the treat that he always brings her in the morning.

"Wanna feed her?" Olin asks Gabrielle, feeling her fear of the large horse, but not understanding it.

Gabrielle steps timidly forward. Olin pulls an apple from his pouch and hands it to the timid girl.

"Just hold it flat on your hand," he instructs.

Argo sniffs at the hand, tickling Gabrielle's wrist with her lips before her large teeth gently removes the apple from the girl's hand.

"She likes you," Olin grins.

Gabrielle reaches out and softly touches the warm hide. It shudders under her touch.

"That means it tickled like a fly, you gotta pet a little harder."

He takes Gabrielle's hand, presses it harder against the mare's neck, and helps her stroke it for a moment. He removes his hand, and Gabrielle keeps on stroking, lost in the sensation of the warm hair-covered flesh.

"The horses in the village never let me touch them at all." She continues to caress the mare's shoulder. They tended to bite." She winces, remembering how the village bully had shoved her into a nasty old gelding who nipped her painfully, thus giving her a fear of all large animals.

"Aww, Argo won't bite unless she is mad at you, or protecting Xena.

Then she gets real mean. You can help me feed them, and then you won't be scared no more."

Gabrielle smiles and is about to answer when a loud scream of pain sounds across the camp. Olin looks very upset.

"Olin, what was that?" Gabrielle asks, her eyes wide.

"Never you mind Gabrielle, Xena's just dealin' with a horse thief."

Another scream sounds across the camp. Gabrielle takes off at a dead run in the direction of Xena's tent.

"Gabrielle, wait!" Olin shouts. His feet get tangled in some rope that was used to tether the horses and it takes him a few moment to free himself.

"Xena's gonna be so mad at me," he mutters. He stands and watches the fleeing girl. "But don't she run like a little horse, so cute."

Olin ambles after, knowing he wouldn't catch her in time, but hoping that Xena wouldn't be too mad at him. It hurt when she yelled at him.

Gabrielle runs through the camp dodging around men, camp followers, a few dogs, and even a few children. She stops for a moment and looks wildly around trying to remember where Xena's tent was.

"Gabrielle!" she hears Olin call again. A scream is heard. Fixing on the direction, she runs towards a large tent. Bursting inside she sees Xena sitting in a chair, watching as one of her men, whip in hand, lays it to the bleeding back of a young man who is being held on his knees by two more of Xena's men.

"NO!" Gabrielle screams, and puts herself between the whip and the young man.

Xena jumps up.

"What in the name of Ares' balls do you think you're doing?" she yells at Gabrielle.

"Stopping you from making a mistake," Gabrielle yells back.

"He's a horse thief. He tried to steal my horse. No one steals my horse and lives to tell about it."

"Oh," Gabrielle's stammers, "I guess you're just going to beat him to death."

Xena walks forward, pulls Gabrielle up close to her, and glares at the girl.

"That's pretty much what I had in mind, yes."

Olin stumbles into the tent and watches the exchange between Xena and Gabrielle.

"Well, I'm not going to let you," Gabrielle punctuates her words by poking Xena in the chest with her finger.

"You aren't going to let me," Xena says, her blue eyes blazing.

"No, I'm not."

Gabrielle crosses her arms and puts on what she hopes is a very intimidating face. Xena almost bursts out laughing. Her men shift, uneasily. The last person who stood up to Xena like that wasn't standing long.

"See, Xena, just like that kitten I tell ya, spittin' and puffin' up all big and fluffy."

He grins at the girl. Something in Xena's manner tells him that she won't hurt the girl, that in fact Xena likes her. Xena leans down and Gabrielle backs away, the light in the blue eyes causing strange feelings in her.

"And just how do you intend to stop me, my little captive?" her words come out in a dangerous purr. "Gonna offer me some better entertainment?"

Some of her men chuckle. They'd seen this act before. Gabrielle blushes and stumbles backward.

"I could try," she stammers, "I know a lot of stories."

Xena pulls the girl into her arms. "Oh, I think I could find a more amusing pastime than stories."

Without looking at her men, she issues orders. "Take the thief out and release him." She pauses and looks deep into sea-green eyes. "Tell him he owes his life to this girl, but if I ever see him again it will be his last."

"Now, all of you, get out," Xena smiles evilly. "I have other matters to attend to." Xena lowers her head, ready to taste the sweet morsel in her arms.

"Uh, Xena," Olin speaks

"What!!" Xena barks. "I thought I told everyone..."

"Uh, Xena, I didn't get a chance ta tell ya when I was tryin' ta catch her I ran into one of them guys from the village."

"So what?" Xena growls, very annoyed that she was interrupted during what promised to be a rather pleasant few hours.

"They came ta talk about the tribute," Olin says, upset that he made his friend mad.

Xena sighs in frustration. Dragging Gabrielle behind her she grabs a bag from near the sleeping pallet, throws Gabrielle face down on it, and holds her down with her knee.

"Don't struggle and it won't hurt," she snarls. Pulling leather straps from the bag she secures Gabrielle's hands behind her back.

"Wait! Hold it! What are you doing?" Gabrielle shouts.

Xena buckles a wide leather collar around the helpless girl's neck, and flips her over.

"Olin, get over here."

Olin walks to where Xena points.

"Stand there and don't move till I tell you." Olin nods. "Now hold this, and don't you dare let her get away this time." Xena hands the end of the leash attached to the collar to him.

"OK, Xena," he replies somewhat puzzled.

"And as for you," she points to Gabrielle, "not one word, not a sound, not a peep out of you unless I say so."

"If you think for one minute..." Gabrielle starts.

"Remember the boot?" Xena grins, her face just inches from her now silent captive. Xena grabs a handful of golden hair and presses her lips to Gabrielle's in a strong, possessive kiss.

When she releases her, Gabrielle's face is one of disbelief. Never before had anyone caused the feelings she experienced now. Fear, and something else, something deep and warm. A blush rising across her face, she turns her head, afraid to let Xena see the color in her cheeks. Strong fingers under her chin raise the shy girl's face to the Dark Warlord.

"Soon, my little pet, soon." Xena places a soft kiss on her lips, and Gabrielle almost faints from the surge of fire throughout her body.

Xena chuckles softly as she walks to the large table in the room and sits behind it.

"Come in," she yells.

Four peasants--three elders and one young man--are pushed into the room. One elder steps forward. It's Gabrielle's father. His face pales when her sees his daughter tied and leashed on what can only be the Warlord's sleeping pallet. A soft moan escapes his lips.

"What is it, you're interrupting my pleasures," Xena growls and toys with a small but obviously very sharp dagger.

"Warlord, we need more time to come up with the tribute you desire."

"Done," Xena replies in a bored tone.

"Please you must give us more...huh?" Gabrielle's father stops, not believing what he hears.

"I said done, you have more time, anything else?"

Before anyone has a chance to answer, the youth steps forward.

"Yes. I demand Gabrielle be allowed to return to the village with us."

Xena's eyes rise slowly to the youth. There is no expression on her face, but her eyes blaze blue fire.

"You... demand," she says slowly.

Xena rises slowly from her chair. The elders pale but cannot move. Slowly she walks around the table and stands a few feet from the youth.

"And just who are you to demand anything from me?" she purrs as she places the tip of the dagger against her lower lip, a smirk on her face.

The youth raises his hand quickly. But before he can dive forward at the Dark Woman, a spear butt hits him in the back of the head, knocking him face first at the warlord's feet.

"Oh, it's you, What's His Name," Xena smirks. "Never saw your face before."

"Warlord, please forgive..." Xena waves her hand dismissing the peasant's words. "You have your extra time. Take that," pointing to the youth on the ground "and get out. I'll sent word when I want to see you again."

"But, Warlord, my daughter?"

"Will stay right where she is in my camp, with me," Xena finishes. She glares at the peasant, her face one of barely kept rage. "Get out," she says in a low growl, much like an irritated large cat ready to spring.

Two of the elders half carry the now groggy youth from the tent.

"But my daughter..."

Xena raises her arm to strike the peasant, but at a gasp from Gabrielle, she stays her hand. Xena glares at the peasant.

"Brackus," she yells. Brackus rushes into the tent. "Get him out of here before I lose my temper."

Brackus half drags the protesting peasant from his leader's tent. Shaking in rage, she advances on Gabrielle, who backs away as far across the pallet as she can. Xena grabs the leash from Olin.

"Go wait outside. I'll call you if I need you."

Olin looks uncertainly from a now terrified Gabrielle to a very angry Xena.

"She's just a kitten, Xena," he says softly and leaves the tent.

"Come over here," Xena growls softly.

Gabrielle shakes her head quickly, fear in her eyes.

"I said come here!" Xena reaches across the pallet and drags Gabrielle over by one leg. Rolling the girl onto her front she uses the long leash to bind her feet up near her bound wrists.

"If you struggle," she whispers harshly into the girls ear "you will hurt yourself."

Xena crosses the tent going to chest where she removes a change of clothing for herself, and one of her tunics and a belt. Gabrielle can't take her eyes off Xena as she changes out of the dark leather armor, and into a robe of soft dark silk.

"Olin!" she shouts.

Olin rushes in, glancing from Xena to Gabrielle and back to Xena.

"The Kitten and I need a bath, get it in here quickly. I already ordered the water heated, it should be done by now. When it's ready I want no interruptions, do I make my self clear?"

"Ya gonna leave her tied like that?" Olin asks quietly, pain in his eyes.

"Not once you are standing guard outside my tent, Olin. I'm sure no one will try to steal her then." Xena ruffles the simple giant's hair like a favorite child. "Now go."

Olin gives Xena a big grin and rushes out to do her bidding. Xena sighs and walks over to the pallet. She unties Gabrielle's feet and wrists but does not remove the collar. Gabrielle moves as far away on the pallet from Xena as the leash will allow. Xena reclines on the pallet and for a moment just looks at her captive.

"You owe me two, girl," she says softly.

Gabrielle rises onto her knees, her hands on her hips.

"I've already told you my name is... what do you mean I owe you two? Two what?"

Xena smiles and slowly pulls Gabrielle by the leash towards her.

"Lives. The horse thief, and that peasant." Xena pulls hard and Gabrielle falls into her arms. She quickly pins the girl beneath her. "Two lives must be worth something to you."

Before she can protest, Xena captures Gabrielle's lips in a long devastating kiss. Gabrielle's senses are in a whirl, her mind and body fighting the awakening feelings of desire.

"No," she moans as Xena releases her lips.

Xena just chuckles softly and begins to nibble at her ear. A soft moan escapes Gabrielle. Just then Olin comes into the tent.

"Xena, the tub is here, and the water. Where do you want it?"

Xena growls and mutters to herself. "Can't have a moment's peace without someone or something getting in my way, or interrupting." Xena rises from the pallet. "Put it over there." She points to an area close to the brazier that provides the heat in her tent.

Servants struggle with the half full tub. More enter and pour hot water into it. Soon it's full of steaming water.

"Now get out, all of you," Xena shouts. "The next person who interrupts me had better have the hounds of Tartarus hanging on their backsides."

The servants stumble over each other trying to get out of the tent. Xena takes a deep breath and lets it out. Her lips curl in to a smile of expectant pleasure and she turns to the pallet.

The girl is gone.

Gabrielle has just managed to slip out in the confusion of hastily retreating servants.

"Which way do I go?" she mutters to herself.

The men of the camp ignore her presence. All know that she is the Warlord's new toy and what will happen if any touch her. Most just figure she has been allowed out for a walk while Xena goes over the rest of the day's events before an early dinner. After all, how far is a collared girl going to get anyhow.

Gabrielle walks along as if she hasn't a care in the world, while trying to figure out how to get home.

"HERA'S TITS!!!!" a loud angry shout is heard. "WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON THAT GIRL..."

Gabrielle makes a run for it to the trees. "I gotta hide ooooooh she's gonna kill me now for sure." Her feet are moving almost as fast as her heart is beating.

"FIND THAT GIRL AND BRING HER TO ME UNHARMED," Xena's voice rings out over the camp.

"There she is!" voice sounds just as she has made it to the trees.

Gabrielle runs as fast as she can hearing the sounds of pursuit. She runs over a stream, over logs, and around bushes. Suddenly she knows where she is. Bursting out into the open, she sees the village storage barn. Praising her luck, she ducks inside just as Xena's men burst out into the open field. Back she climbs into a small space that only she knows about. One she fashioned for herself long ago. A place to hide and dream, but for now just a place to hide.

"I SAID FIND THAT GIRL" she hears Xena's voice raised in anger. "SEARCH THE VILLAGE, LEAVE NO HUT UNEXPLORED, NO BARN, NO CROFT, THEN BRING HER BACK TO ME."

She hears the door open and the sound of booted feet, then silence. Gabrielle is afraid that whoever it is can hear the beating of her heart, it sounds so loud in her ears.

"It's OK Gabrielle, Xena's gone into the village to look for ya." She holds her breath. "I saw ya come in here. I ain't gonna tell her you're in here right away. I just wanna know why ya ran. She wasn't gonna hurt ya."

Gabrielle crawls form her hiding space to face Olin.

"Olin, I don't think you understand what she was going to do with me."

Olin looks down, his face red. "I know what she wanted to do, but not if you asked her to stop."

"Olin, warlords don't stop just because you ask them to."

"But, Gabrielle, you didn't really want her to stop." He looks deep into Gabrielle's eyes. "I heard the sounds, I saw you movin', you liked her kissin' you, touchin' you. I'm not so dumb that I don't see some things. She really likes you."

"Yeah, I can tell," Gabrielle sneers and indicates the collar.

"When you was out in the camp before Xena yelled, nobody bothered you did they?"

"No," she replies.

"Nobody would either cause of it. It kinda means hands off."

"Gabrielle, ya gotta understand something, I been with Xena a long time. I seen her take captives before. She used ta just use them for a couple hours and send um away. Especially after a battle, she ain't so nice then. But you were different. Yeah she wants you to share her pallet, but it's not just get jumped on and pushed out. When she came back into camp, she musta paced outside her tent for a whole candle mark before she went inside. She didn't just grab ya and throw ya on the pallet did she?"

"No," Gabrielle answers softly.

Olin grins "See, she like ya."

Gabrielle sits down on a small stack of grain sacks.

"Olin how did you, I mean why do you stay."

"Xena's the only family I got since my brother went to the other side," Olin says softly, a slight tremor in his voice. Olin sits on the ground near the young girl, and remembers.

"The sun wasn't even up yet when the bad Warlord's men came. They shouted and started to burn the huts, and the fields. We already gave them more that we should, it meant that come winter there may not be enough food. My brother and I ran out to help our father. But Da was already dead. We tried to save the village, but they was to much. I saw one man stab my brother with a sword. I got so mad I squeezed him till I heard his bones break. I tried to help my brother, but the blood just kept comin'."

"All of a sudden Xena was there kneeling next to me. Her men was chasing the others away. My brother starts coughin' and blood is comin' outta his mouth. He grabs Xena's hand and begs her to take care of me for him. He says I ain't so smart, that he was all I had, and that he knew he was goin' over to the other side."

"Xena's eyes got funny and she held his hand and promised. 'Your name' he asks so he can tell the fates who to be good to. Xena says her name and my brother smiles and says 'May the Gods bless you Xena, they favor those that protect children, and the childlike, simple like him'. Then he just goes over."

Tears roll down Olin's face. "She's protected me ever since, 'cept when I'm not protecting her, like in battle."

"Olin, I'm sure that she feels that she has to protect you but..."

"No, she wants to, she's my family. You don't know her like I do. She really doesn't want to hurt innocent things."

"Oh, what about that kitten that doesn't live in her tent anymore?" Gabrielle asks.

Olin grins. "Oh, Xena gave her and her babies away."

"Wait a minute," Gabrielle holds up her hand, "babies did you say?"

"Yeah, the kitten wandered into her tent one night, and when she woke up it was asleep on her. Xena tried to pretend that she didn't want it around, and the kitten used ta spit and puff at her sometimes. But at night it would wait till Xena was asleep and curl up on her. I think sometimes that Xena was awake, 'cause she could hear lots of things nobody else could." Olin grins at the memory of the big bad warlord gently petting the sleeping animal.

"Wait, what about the babies?" Gabrielle asks.

Olin grins. "One day Xena went to get her saddle bags, and the kitten had had babies in it. She let her live in it till the kittens started runnin' around the tent. Ya shoulda seen her, she looked funny with all those kittens sleepin' on her."

The image of Xena buried under a small pile of feline fur made her giggle.

"So where is she now? The kitten, I mean."

"Oh, she gave them away to a farmer and his kids, except for one. She gave one to Brackus's little girl, cause hers got stepped on."

"Gabrielle Xena says you know stories. Could ya tell me one?" Olin asks shyly.

"Sure, Olin. Let's see, how about I tell the story of how you met Xena? This way you can correct me, and it will be good practice."

"I like that" Olin grins.

"OK. I sing a song of Olin, a brave yet gentle soul..." she starts.

The two new friends immerse themselves in the unfolding tale, unaware that they are being watched by a pair of soft blue eyes.

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