Prologue

Xena gently touched her lower abdomem and frowned. She didn't like what was happening to her body. Looking to the east she saw the first rays sunlight creep out from the horizon to light up the earth. Xena frowned and silently nudged the sleeping form at her feet. Gabrielle rolled over. She groaned.

"Please don't tell me to get up", the young bard groaned.

"Get up", Xena told her without even faltering. Gabrielle grumbled but obligingly tried to force her eyes open. When that didn't work she gave up and went straight back to sleep. Xena sighed. Just as well she thought. The warrior princess stood up and walked to a nearby bush. Making sure that her best friend was completely asleep Xena bent over and threw up. Her insides were in a turmoil and her body was revolting. Xena didn't think she could feel anymore wretched. A few moments later, after she had sufficiently placified her stomach Xena straightened stiffly, wiped her mouth and walked back to camp. She then proceed to shake Gabrielle mercilessly until she woke up. Gabrielle then gathered breakfast and packed up the camp. Xena sat on the ground sharpening her sword.

"We're going to Thebes", Xena stated matter-of-factly as Gabrielle swallowed the last of her breakfast.

*****

"Xena, we have being walking NON-STOP for five hours, or at least I have", Gabrielle complained loudly.

"I never made you walk", Xena explained patiently, "You flatly refused to ride Argo."

"Yeah, but you KNOW I hate riding...", Gabrielle began but she was cut off quickly by Xena who did NOT want to listen to the amazon princess complain all day, "Fine. We'll stop her lunch." Xena turned her golden mare off the travel worn road and into the forests lining the sides. Before long the duo reached a small clearing in the woods.

"We'll have lunch here, then we'll go", Xena announced firmly. She reached into one of Argo's saddlebags and brought out a chuck of dried meat with some simple trail mix which she handed to Gabrielle.

"Be quick", Xena told her and sat down.

"Aren't you going to eat anything?", Gabrielle asked. Xena shook her head. She didn't think she could keep it down if she ate it. Gabrielle handed a fistful of trail mix to Xena.

"Even the mighty warrior princess must eat", Gabrielle told her companion firmly. Xena sighed. She knew Gabrielle was right so reluctantly she took the trail mix and forced a little bit into her mouth. It wasn't as bad as she thought it might be. Slowly Xena ate the rest of her food. Gabrielle hungrily devoured her share of the mix before biting viciously into the meat.

"Why are we in such a hurry to get to Thebes anyway?", Gabrielle asked with her mouth full.

"Because", Xena answered briefly, "We are." She did NOT want a lengthy discussion on why they were going to Thebes.

"Why?" Gabrielle persisted. All of her bard's senses were screaming STORY HERE!!! Xena didn't answer. Gabrielle waited until she'd finished eating her meat before continuing with the interrogation.

"Come on, you don't justdrag me off on a mission without telling me about it!", Gabrielle accused. Xena just climbed on Argo.

"I never asked you to come along. We're fairly close to Potedaia, I can take you there", Xena said. Gabrielle shook her head in defeat.

"Alright, I'm coming along, but I STILL want to knnow WHY. What's the story?", the bard asked the warrior perched on the horse. Xena silently shook her head and motioned for Gabrielle to follow as she urged her horse forward.

*****

During the course of the next few hours the two friends had journeyed off the road and into a lush forest. the ground steadily became steeper and the foliage more densely packed. Gabrielle's feet hurt and she ached all over.

"You know, I seriously regret not taking you up on that Potedaia offer", Gabrielle joked wearily trying to make a conversation. Xena glanced at her friend and noticed that the young bard was leaning heavily on her staff. Xena shook her head. Gabrielle was as stubborn as she was!

"Gabrielle, get on Argo", Xena instructed in a no-nonsense voice.

"No I can walked", Gabrielle protested, it came out more as a plea than anything else. Xena rolled her eyes and gave Gabrielle 'the look'. The amazon princess remained unfazed.

"Look," it'll save you energy and me time, just DO it!", Xena commanded. Gabrielle finally relented and climbed on the palamino muttering curses. Xena shook her head and took Argo's reins. Clucking her tongue she lead the way through the forest.

"I hate this, I hate this oh, and did I say I HATE this?", Gabrielle complained.

*****

The sun set slowly that day, it dipped beneath the horizon staining the whole sky red as it disappeared. Gabrielle had fallen asleep in the saddle hours ago. Xena moved her best friend off her horse and Gabriele didn't ever sit. Xena smiled in nostalgia. If had been a long time since she had last slept like that. Brushed down her mare Xena found herself humming a tune she had often sung in her days as a warlord. She'd often stand in solitude and sing. It was one way Xena found she could relieve the burdens of the life she led. As a warlord Xena always sang for the dead. It eased her guilt. The lyrics of the familiar tune spirled round and round in her head.

"I keep my memories wherever I go,

I keep my feelings buried.

I cover up any emotions,

That might betray how I feel.

And my secrets will stay locked up inside of me,

Until my lover sets them free.

They will stay locked up,

In the depths of my heart,

Until you tell me how to be free...

...to love."

Still smiling she bent down to gather up her chakram and several daggers. A sleepy moan snapped Xena out of her remenisance and she straightened to see Gabrielle attempting to sit up.

"Well hello there sleepy head!", Xena called in a bright voice. Gabrielle suddenly sat up in suprise.

"Okay! Why in Tartarus are you so happy?", Gabrielle demanded, "Spill!" Xena just smiled again and shook her head. Without warning the expression on the warrior princess' face changed and she suddenly burst out, "Can you make croisus?" Gabrielle stared at her as is she had just sprouted another head..

"WHY?!?", Gabrielle asked in disbelief.

"I don't know, I just feel like having some."

"You could hardly eat anything before!"

"I know, but can you make them?"

"No."

"What about those little dumplings with the red centres?"

"What about them?"

"Can you make THEM?"

"Yes but...oh no!", Gabrielle backed away slightly, "You are NOT making me make them. Everytime I touch that dough it gets all over my fingers and I can't pick up anything in case it sticks to my fingers and it always takes YEARS to wash off!"

"Okay then", Xena said seemingly non-chalant, "What do you want for dinner?" Gabrielle shrugged.

"Anything I guess, oh no, except fish. We've being eating fish since consistantly for waaaay too long", the bard decided. Xena nodded her consent and headed off into the woods leaving Gabrielle behind. Gabrielle shoook her head. Xena had being acting really strangely that day. Gabrielle fiddled with her hair absent-mindedly. Why was her friend in such a hurry to get to Thebes? There wasn't anything...oh wait a minute! Wasn't Thebes where Hercules' mother lived? Could Xena be looking for Hercules? Gabrielle shook her head once again.

"Nah!", she told herself out loud, "We just saw Hercules about two weeks ago." Suddeny the snap of a twig interruted Gabrielle's trail of thought. She looked around desperately for her staff...and spotted it leaning on a tree near Argo, far too far away to reach in the short span of time. Standing up resolutely she spun around to face her intruder...defenseless.

TO BE CONTINUED...