Disclaimer & Notices
Copyright: Many of these characters do not belong to me, and we know which ones do not. I, however, own the plot and other certain characters.
Violence: There is violence in this story.
Subtext: Any subtext becomes main text here.

Summary: This dramatic epic opens up to Xena and Gabrielle's childhood when they are best friends with an growing friendship. One day, Gabrielle's hometown is attacked while Xena is visiting her. Xena tries desperately to protect Gabrielle but ultimately fails. Xena will not stop believing that Gabrielle is alive, and she hunts for her friend. Along Xena's journey, things become darker and lead her further from Gabrielle and the memories. Meanwhile, Gabrielle is taken into slavery but it isn't for some time before her luck comes back. She meets a very caring master, who sends her away to be schooled as a bard. Later, Gabrielle befriends a very unusual girl, and the girl claims to be an Amazon. It isn't long before Gabrielle discovers how real the Amazons are, and that she's fated to be more than just a slave.

Feedback: redhope@redhope.net
Homepage: http://www.redhope.net
List: http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/redhope/

Started: March 33, 2003
Ended: April 24, 2007
Series 9: Destiny of Mine – Story #1

To Find What was Mine
by Red Hope

“Yes mother, I know,” muttered Xena under her breath.

Cyrene raised an eyebrow at her daughter momentarily. “Alright honey, as long as you remember that, then you can stay there for the next couple of days.”

Xena smiled at that. “Thanks, mom.”

“You’re welcome, sweetie.” Cyrene leaned forward on the Xena’s bed; she placed a gentle kiss on her young daughter’s cheek.

“Mom,” grumbled the teenager.

Cyrene chuckled while pulling back. “Pretend with your mother for once.”

Xena grinned and leaned over, she gave her mom a kiss on the cheek as well. “There,” she stated.

“Thank you, sweetie.” Cyrene stood up from the small bed. “Now you think you can go get your brothers for me?”

“Yes, mother.”

“Good… have them come into the kitchen to help me cook.”

Xena nodded her understanding and slid out of the bed. She quickly left her room in search of her brothers.

Cyrene listened to her young daughter’s footfall down the stairs. After a heavy sigh, she left the small room and into the tavern. She went directly into the kitchen to begin dinner for herself and her children.

“Hey Toris!” yelled Xena, she came around the corner of the tavern to the backyard.

“What?” barked Toris. He lowered his wooden sword.

Then Xena’s younger brother, Lyceus, peered around his big brother towards Xena. “Mom wants us huh?”

“Yup,” confirmed Xena. “Your two’s turn to make dinner with her,” she taunted.

Toris huffed. “I don’t get why we have to do a girl’s job,” he grumbled while walking towards the tavern.

As Toris neared Xena, she stuck her foot out once he was close enough.

Toris tripped and growled after he recovered. “Don’t do that,” he warned.

“Then don’t talk about mother like that.”

“I wasn’t,” stated the young man.

Xena put her hands on her hips. “She’s only trying to help you.”

“How’s that?” Toris raised an eyebrow. “If I need food later in life that’s what I get a wife for.”

The young girl glared. “If you can find one that’ll take your crap.”

Toris shook his head and decided not to fight anymore. “Whatever.” He brushed past her.

Lyceaus neared his big sister and whispered, “Why you always pick on him?”

The teenager huffed and crossed her arms against her chest. “He needs it, Ly.” She started shaking her head. “He’s always tough on us all.”

“He’s just going through that stage, mother says.”

“Yeah well, he’s not much older than me and you don’t see me going through it.” She then added, “Or you.”

“Yeah I know,” uttered the boy. He swung his wood sword in his hand a little then asked, “Mother want me too?”

“Yes.” Xena shrugged. “I’m going to set the table… do the dishes.”

Her baby brother smiled up to her.

Xena just returned the smile and said, “Come on.” She rested her hand behind his back and led him into the tavern.

~*~*~*~

Xena swayed back and forth in the wagon. She slowly opened her eyes and gazed about the area as a yawn escaped her. She quickly realized she was coming into town. Straightening up off the side of the wagon, she looked to her mother at the front of the wagon. “We’re in Potidaea?”

Cyrene glanced back at her daughter briefly then focused back on where the horses were going. “Yes, honey we are. How did you sleep?”

“Pretty good,” replied the teenager. She then started studying the village and all the people.

“We’ll be at the market in a minute,” promised the mother.

“I know,” responded Xena. Her stomach turned in excitement again just like it had very early this morning. Her mother had awoken her before sunrise so she could prepare to travel to Potidaea and stay for three days.

Cyrene directed the horses to an open spot at the entrance of the marketplace. She pulled the reins to make them halt. She carefully then climbed out of the wagon.

Xena, on the other hand, had sprung up and jumped out of the wagon. “Mother?” she asked.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything this time.” Cyrene smiled softly. “Go on.”

The teenager came up to Cyrene and kissed her quickly on the cheek. “Thank you.”

“Scoot,” urged the mother.

Xena grinned then broke into a run across town.

Cyrene watched her child run off, it simply made her chuckle.

The teenager came up to the other side of town. She directly went to rather well-built house and went rushing up the steps. Rasping for air, she furiously knocked on the door. After about the fifth knock, somebody finally came to the door.

“Well hello, Xena.”

“Hi, Hecuba. How are you?”

“I’m fine. Yourself?”

Xena tried catching her breath then replied, “I’m great.” She took a deep breath again and asked, “Is… is Gabrielle home?”

“Yes, dear. Come inside… she’s in her room.” Gabrielle’s mother opened the door more and stepped aside.

The teenager entered the small house. “Thank you.”

“You are welcome,” replied the mother. “Go ahead.” She grinned then added, “I know you both have missed each other.”

Xena smiled and repeated, “Thanks.”

Hecuba laughed quietly. “Go ahead, dear.”

The teenager nodded and hastily walked down the hallway of the house to Gabrielle’s room. She took a shaky breath but then knocked on her friend’s door.

“Yeah come in,” called a girl.

Xena grinned to herself and entered her best friend’s room. She didn’t say anything as she noticed Gabrielle was sitting in the middle of her bed, head down, and writing.

The girl was biting on her lower lip as she sat there writing her story. “Hold on, sorry…”

“Its okay,” replied Xena.

Gabrielle threw up her head at the familiar voice. “Xena!”

“Hi.”

The little bard tossed her scroll off her lap with her quill; she bounded off the bed after her friend.

The next thing Xena knew was she couldn’t breathe from the enormous hug she received.

“Oh gods, I’ve missed you so much, Xen.”

The teenager tried laughing a little between the hugging. She then finally felt her friend’s squeeze loosening up but she had yet to let go of her. “I’ve miss you too, Bri.”

At hearing her nickname, Gabrielle gave one more tight squeeze then let go of her best friend. “You been okay?”

“I’m a lot better now,” confessed Xena.

“Me too,” agreed the little bard. “How long can you stay?”

A huge grin broke out across the teenager’s face. “Mother said three days. She’ll be back then to pick me up.”

Gabrielle’s face just lit up at the good news. She again engulfed her friend in a gigantic hug.

Xena was so happy that she took hold of Gabrielle and spun each other in a circle.

The younger girl laughed when her feet touched the floor again. “I love your mom.”

“Yeah me too,” teased the teenager. She then released the smaller girl and asked, “What were you writing about?”

“Oh.” Gabrielle brightened up at the mention of her latest story. “I’m writing a new story.”

“What about?” inquired the teenager. She sat down on the edge of the bed.

The little bard jumped onto the bed, landing on her stomach next to her friend. “It’s kinda silly actually.”

Xena felt a grin pull at her lips. “Tell me.”

“Well….” The girl considered for a moment.

“Please,” begged the teenager.

“Okay.” Gabrielle chuckled then started explaining her new story idea. “Well it’s a bit about us.”

“Oh?” Xena raised an eyebrow at this.

“Sorta,” explained Gabrielle, “but when we’re older and like we’re partners.”

The teenager laughed softly. “And we’re not now?”

“Oh I know but what I mean is… we’re well….”

“Yes?” urged Xena, she read the title aloud, “The Warrior Princess?”

“Yeah.” Gabrielle grinned and snatched the scroll from the larger hands. “You’re a warrior right?”

“Uh huh.”

“And so am I but not as good as you since I’m never as good at things as you are.”

“Gabrielle, you’re a much better bard than I ever could be.”

The little bard shrugged. “But I could see where you’d be some great warrior.”

“Go on,” teased the teenager.

“Okay so you’re a warrior and I’m your partner. So together, you and I travel through Greece…” she stopped but quickly said, “the entire known-world even. And like we meet all these new people and we help people.”

Xena chuckled at her friend’s idea.

“I’m serious!” roared the girl. “You think its funny.” She put her scroll aside while her friend was laughing. “Xena!”

The teenager was shaking her head as she laughed. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not funny!” Gabrielle playfully growled and rapidly sat up. She knew her friend wasn’t going to stop laughing, so she threw herself into Xena.

“Aaaah!” yelped Xena, she fell off the bed but not without taking Gabrielle with her. She made sure though to land on her back and with her friend directly on top. She felt the wind get knocked out of her and she started coughing.

“You okay?” asked a worried little bard. She lifted herself up off her best friend

Xena just nodded but took a deep breath. “I’m okay,” she whispered. She then gradually wrapped her arms around her friend’s waist and forced her to lie back down.

Gabrielle sighed and rested her head on the large chest under her. “You really think its funny?”

The teenager smiled to herself. “No, I like the idea.” With her right hand, she began rubbing the other girl’s back. “I just don’t see us as warriors… and traveling all over the known-world.”

“But wouldn’t it be fun though?” whispered the tiny bard.

The older girl thought about the question then finally replied, “Yeah it would be. Just you and I….”

“Right the wrongs,” teased Gabrielle.

“Bri, you know how dangerous that would be?”

The smaller girl shrugged and closed her eyes. “You’d protect us.”

Xena felt a smile shaped her features. “I’d try my best, yes.”

Gabrielle lifted her head and lowered her chin onto Xena’s chest. “And I know your best is like… better than anybody else.”

“I don’t know about that,” countered the teenager.

“Sure it is, Xen.” The little bard now lifted her arms up and folded over top of Xena’s chest. She lowered her chin onto her arms now. “I mean, you’re clever, talented, really smart… you’d make an amazing warrior.”

“Glad you think that.” Yet Xena shrugged. “But I don’t think I’m going to be a warrior or anything like that.” She grinned. “As nice of a fantasy as that might be.”

Gabrielle chuckled. “Never say never.” For emphasis, she freed one hand and poked the nose in front of her.

The teenager grinned back. “I think though you’d make a wonderful bard later on.” She studied her friend as a question came to her mind. “Still thinking about going to the Academy for bards?”

“I really want to,” admitted the tiny bard. “But I think I have awhile before that happens.”

“Well…” Xena considered a few things. “You probably could go when you’re eighteen if not sixteen.”

“I’ve heard they let some sixteen year olds in just because they’re so good.”

A huge grin developed on the teenager’s lips. “I bet if you tried, you could get in when you’re sixteen.”

“I would… gee that means in four years.”

“Less even. Your thirteenth birthday is this coming spring,” reminded the older girl.

“Oh gods, yeah in like a few months.” Gabrielle laughed in surprise. “Wow… I’ll be a teenager.” She then suddenly shot a smirk at her friend. “A teenager like you… must mean I’m getting ooooold.”

Xena groaned and rolled her eyes at the comment. “At least I have more rights as a seventeen-year-old than you,’ she taunted.

Gabrielle huffed. “True.” She then turned her head to one side.

“You okay?” asked Xena in a quiet voice.

“Yeah… just thinking.”

“About?” urged the teenager.

“What’s going to happen with you while I’m at the academy… if I go.”

“You’ll go,” promised Xena. “And I’m sure I’ll keep myself busy.”

“Hold on… what am I going to do after I graduate from the academy?” Gabrielle quickly lifted her head. “Am I suppose to do anything in particular?”

Xena shrugged then said, “I know most bards travel and tell stories for several years. A way to… earn a reputation so to speak.”

Gabrielle furrowed her eyebrows in thought. “But if I do that, means I’ll have to leave you more.”

“Don’t worry… I’ll be fine.”

“You’re probably right….”

Xena frowned at her friend’s agreement.

“You’ll probably find some cute guy by then,” started Gabrielle, “get married… have kids.” She smiled sadly at her friend.

“Maybe,” agreed the teenager. “Maybe not.”

“You ever thinking about where you’ll be in the future?”

“Mmmm.” Xena pressed her lips together. “Sometimes but I don’t worry too much about it.” She focused her eyes back on her best friend. “How about you?”

“Sometimes I do.”

“You’ll be a famous bard, I know that,” stated the teenager.

“I hope so,” whispered the little bard.

“I know so.” Xena reassured Gabrielle with a warm smile.

Gabrielle smiled back and just laid there studying her best friend.

~*~*~*~

Gabrielle rolled onto her side and studied her best friend.

Xena smiled at her.

The little bard mirrored the smile back but her eyes were more serious.

“What you think about?” whispered the teenager.

Gabrielle shrugged then replied, “Just about when you leave in two days.”

“Don’t think about it,” urged Xena. She reached over and carefully plucked a piece of straw out of the long blond hair.

The little bard’s green eyes followed the slender fingers as they pulled the straw from her hair. She then watched the straw being held in the air then placed back on the straw pile. “I know it’s just… I’m going to miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too,” confessed the older girl. “But I’m happy I’m here.”

The tiny bard brightened up at that. “Me too.” She then rolled onto her back and studied the roof of the small barn. She always loved spending a night or two up in the loft of the barn with Xena, it was a tradition between the friends. She sighed at the thought of her friend leaving and it caused her to wonder when she’d see Xena again. She then asked, “You think I can come to Amphipolis soon?”

“Probably,” answered Xena. “Mother would like to see you again.”

Gabrielle giggled at the mention of Cyrene.

“I think she would adopt you if she could,” teased the teenager.

“I think so too,” agreed Gabrielle. “But I’m not sure how your brothers would take that.”

Xena huffed. “Toris wouldn’t be to fond of it.”

“Ly would though.”

“Yeah he would.” The teenager furrowed her eyebrows. “He really likes you too.”

Gabrielle turned her head at what Xena mentioned. “Does he?”

“Uh huh.” Xena licked her lips. “He’s always asking about you or just talking about you.”

The small bard grinned. “He likes me huh?” She paused but then added, “He reminds me a lot of you… but a male version.”

The older girl laughed in response, afterwards she said, “Yeah he does.” Suddenly a devilish smirk formed on her lips. “He’d make a good boyfriend for later huh?”

Gabrielle grumbled at that, she turned her head away and folded her arms against her chest. “I like Ly but… nothing much else.” She closed her eyes and muttered, “Not ready for a boyfriend.”

“Yeah I know,” uttered Xena, “still too young.”

“Xen?”

“Mmmmm?”

“Why don’t you have one?” Gabrielle could hear her friend stop breathing briefly. She realized she wasn’t getting any response so she urged Xena on. “Seriously.” She rolled her head to the left and stared at the teenager. “I mean… you are seventeen.”

Xena chewed faintly on her lower lip then finally replied, “Just can’t find anybody right for me.”

“No cute boys in Amphipolis?” teased the little bard.

The older girl grumbled at the question and stated, “We have a lot of rude, not to mention ugly, boys in the town.”

A couple of giggles came from Gabrielle.

“Besides,” continued Xena, “I just don’t date anybody.”

“Figures,” retorted the tiny bard.

Xena mock glared at her best friend for the comment. “You know what?”

“What?”

“You are a bratt, Bri.”

Gabrielle stuck her tongue out for a response.

“You little… bratt!” roared the teenager. She sat up but with a handful of hay. She tossed it on top of her friend.

“Aaaaah!” screamed the tiny bard. She sat up sputtering and thrashing away at the straw covering her face. She finally got most of it off her body but a few pieces still in her hair and in her mouth. “Oh gross,” she whimpered. She reached up and slowly extracted a piece of long straw from out of her mouth.

Xena laughed hard at the scene.

Gabrielle threw the straw over the loft’s edge and then glared at Xena. “That’s it,” she growled. She sprung up onto her feet but was soon leaping towards her best friends.

“Oh Hades!” yelped the teenager. She soon found herself on her back with a very furious little bard on top of her. She began laughing at the red faced Gabrielle.

“It’s not funny!”

Xena then suddenly stopped laughing and had a very devilish grin. Without warning, she rolled to their bodies to the right in all of the hay.

Gabrielle growled when she looked up into twinkling blue eyes. She quickly forced her friend to roll to the left.

The teenager only made them roll again.

They kept rolling to the left but then suddenly Gabrielle felt a shock rip through her body as she went off the loft’s edge.

“Xena!” screamed the little bard. Her entire body directly rolled off the ledge but she just grabbed onto the edge before she went over. “Xena!”

Xena furiously tore the straw away from her face and grabbed a hold of her best friend’s wrists. “Grab onto my arms, Gabrielle. And don’t look down.”

The tiny bard gripped her friend with all her strength. She then peered down below and saw how far the drop was and the pitchfork on the ground sparkled at her. “Oh gods!” She began squirming and struggling.

“Gabrielle, relax please. You’ll be okay.”

The tiny bard took a deep breath; she closed her eyes and tried ignoring her racing heart.

Xena was finally able to get her feet under herself and began pulling back. She slowly lifted her smaller friend back up onto the loft. Once she had Gabrielle over the edge, she scooted back a ways from the ledge and pulled her best friend into her arms. “You okay?” she whispered.

Gabrielle whimpered quietly then tucked her head into Xena’s chest. She then started shaking uncontrollably.

Xena felt her heart drop as she hid her friend in her arms and legs. She lowered her head on top of Gabrielle’s then she was able to hear the little bard quietly crying. She sighed and tightened her grip around Gabrielle more. She sensed her anger growing inside of herself for failing to protect her best friend.

The tiny bard lifted her head slightly so she could wipe away the tears on her cheeks. She then raised her head more and then rested it on Xena’s right shoulder.

“You okay?” whispered the teenager.

Gabrielle nodded faintly.

“I’m sorry,” uttered Xena in a shaky voice.

The smaller girl closed her eyes and nuzzled her face into Xena’s warm neck. “It wasn’t your fault,” she muffled out.

“Yes it was… I shouldn’t have rolled us that far.”

“You didn’t know,” stated the tiny bard.

“It doesn’t matter, should have been more careful.”

Gabrielle lifted her head off Xena’s shoulder. She peered up into navy eyes. “It wasn’t your fault, Xen. I mean, you could say it was my fault for jumping into you.”

“Mine for throwing straw at you,” reminded the teenager.

The little bard shook her head. “Wasn’t anybody’s fault… it was an accident.” She watched Xena’s eyes turn away from hers. “Xena?” she whispered to draw back Xena’s focus.

The older girl looked back to her friend.

“Not your fault, okay?”

Xena didn’t say anything but then gradually nodded. Yet she was still angry with herself and promised herself and Gabrielle that she would protect Gabrielle better from here out. “Tired?”

“Yeah I am,” admitted the tiny bard. “Are you?”

“Yeah,” uttered the older girl. She glanced to her left then leaned that way to grasp their blanket for the night. Slowly, she lowered herself back, pulling Gabrielle with her.

Gabrielle snuggled into her best friend’s side and closed her eyes. She then felt a warm wool blanket cover her and Xena. She smiled some to herself as she cuddled in closer.

Xena smiled too and finally rested her eyes. After a big sigh, she tried relaxing and going to sleep.

~*~*~*~

The following day, the friends decided to visit the market and mingle about after they received Hecuba’s permission. Together, they went through the different stands, stalls, and small shops.

“Ooooh, Xen, look,” cooed the little bard. She pointed out the necklace at the jewelry stand.

The teenager moved closer beside her friend and studied the silver necklace. “That’s very nice,” she whispered.

Gabrielle smiled up to Xena then glanced back down at the necklace. “I wish I had the money to buy it.” She then frowned after saying that.

The taller girl raised her right hand and rubbed her best friend’s back. “I know.” She continued studying the silver necklace that had a quill for a pendent. “Come on.” She made a mental note of the price tag on the necklace right before she led her friend away.

The smaller girl wove her way through the people back to the middle of the market place. “I’m getting hungry.”

Xena grinned at her friend’s declaration. She noticed it was noon according to the sun’s position and decided she too was rather hungry. “Wanna go to the Greasy Spoon?”

“Yeah sure.” The small bard made a beeline for their favorite restaurant. “I’m so hungry.”

The teenager grinned while following behind her friend. “I’m pretty hungry too.”

“Not as hungry as me,” joked Gabrielle.

“Nobody is as ever hungry as you, bard,” taunted the older girl.

For a response, Gabrielle stuck her tongue out then hurried off to the steps of the restaurant.

Xena giggled at her friend and rushed after her, as not to lose track of her.

Once the pair was inside, they decided to eat up at the bar together. It was not long before they were served today’s lunch, a regular meal that they both thoroughly enjoyed. While they ate together, they talked about this or that, mainly family.

“Oh, you know what I just remembered,” cut in the tiny bard.

“Mmmm?” asked the teenager between a mouth full of lamb.

“I need to grab more scrolls.” Gabrielle pointed a long bread roll at her friend. “I almost forgot.”

Xena swallowed her bite of lamb from her gyro and then grinned. “We can’t forget them.”

“Definitely not,” agreed the very serious bard.

The teenager laughed quietly to herself as she took the second to last bit from her gyro. “Know what I wouldn’t mind?”

“What’s that?” Gabrielle swirled her last piece of bread through some leftover sauce from the beef and lamb.

“I want a couple of daggers,” whispered Xena. She tried being quiet about it since she didn’t want any funny looks from various people around them.

Gabrielle’s ivy eyes widened in surprise. “Really?” she squealed.

“Ssssh,” urged the older girl.

The tiny bard laughed softly and leaned forward, closer to her best friend. “Really?”

“Yeah, really,” answered the teenager. “Not sure why though.”

“You think it's safe?” uttered the tiny bard. “I mean, my dad says it isn’t safe for girls to handle sharp things like that.”

Xena rolled her eyes. “Gaaaabriellleeee,” she drew out.

“What?” huffed the tiny bard.

“I like your dad a lot and all but come on,” pushed Xena, “What is so different between girls and boys anyway?"

The bard shrugged. “Their bodies… guys are much stronger.”

“Yeah right.” Xena grabbed her last piece of her gyro. She wagged the meat in front of her friend’s face as she spoke. “Just the other day, I was wresting with both Lyceus and Toris. I whipped both their butts.” She popped the meat into her mouth.

“Really?” squeaked the tiny bard. “But… but you’re like a tougher girl than most of us.”

“What’s that suppose to mean?” Xena arched a brown eyebrow at her friend.

“Ummmm… well….” Gabrielle grinned sheepishly. “What I mean, Xen is that… well you’ve grown up with two brothers. I have a sister so like….”

“I act like a boy?” probed the older girl.

“No, no,” squeaked the tiny bard. She held her hands up briefly but lowered them when she spoke again. “It's just you know how to be tougher because you had to grow up with two brothers. Lila and I, well… we are use to each other and we play with dolls instead of sticks.”

Xena considered her friend’s words as she chewed on the remains of the beef in her mouth. “I guess you’re right, Bri.” She sighed, swallowed the small meat, and then added, “Guess I need to act a little girlier.”

Gabrielle huffed at that and rolled her eyes. “Gods… I hope not.” She finally straightened back up in her seat. “I like the way you are.”

“Thanks.” The teenager offered a warm smile and got one back in return. “Come on, let’s go.”

Gabrielle suddenly grinned. She hopped off the tall stool and waited for Xena.

Xena paid the bartender for the two meals then stepped off the stool as well. With Gabrielle, she headed out of the tavern.

“You think you can get the daggers?” whispered the small girl.

“Yeah, I think so.” Xena watched her best friend jump down each step. She just grinned, bent her knees, and jumped over all three steps to land neatly on the dirt road.

“Show off,” growled the bard yet she grinned.

Xena winked and teased, “Thanks.” She then went a little more serious. “Okay, here’s the plan. You go get your scrolls okay? While you’re doing that I’m going to get the daggers. Alright?”

“Why can’t I go with you?” whined the little bard.

“Because then I’ll look younger than I really am, no offense.”

Gabrielle’s shoulders dropped. “Really?”

“Unfortunately yeah.”

“I can wait outside,” urged Gabrielle.

Xena just shook her head. “I’ll come back to the scroll stand for you.”

The tiny bard frowned some but finally asked, “Promise?”

“Promise,” replied the teenager.

“Okay.”

Together, they went to the scroll stand and once they were there, Xena offered her friend some money for the scrolls. As always, the tiny bard refused the dinars and told her to hurry up while at the weapons store.

Xena promised to be back in a few minutes and for Gabrielle to take her time at the scroll stand. She then turned around and started walking off into the market area again. Once she knew she was out of Gabrielle’s vision, she broke off running. She had to carefully maneuver her way through all the people as she ran.

“Where’s that stall?” growled the teenager to herself. She then found what she had been hunting. Coming right up to the owner of the stall, she asked, “How much is that necklace?”

The owner turned around, he looked the young girl up and down. “Its thirty dinars.” He smiled warmly at her and picked it up then carefully handing it to her. “Are you interested in it?”

“Well… yes and no,” replied the teenager. “I’d like to buy it but not for me.”

“Oh, a gift then?” The jeweler smiled even more. “Whom for?”

“My best friend… she loves to write.”

“Oh I see.” The jeweler folded his arms against his chest as he thought about this. “And how much were you expecting to pay for this charm?”

Xena peered up with sky eyes. “I wasn’t sure.” She lowered the necklace back down carefully. “Anything really since it's for my friend.”

The man nodded at this. “And when do you plan to give it to her?”

“Well….” The teenager seriously considered this question then answered, “Her birthday is soon.”

“Perfect. And how much money do you have with you?”

Xena took a deep breath as she thought about how much her mother gave her for her allowance and how much lunch was today. “Thirty-two dinars.”

“And do you live here in town?”

“No, just in Amphipolis.”

“Really? I’m originally from there. Who is your mother?”

“Cyrene,” answered the teenager.

The jeweler’s eyes widened at this information. “Then you must be her only daughter, Xena?”

Xena brightened up at this. “Yes actually. You know my mother?”

The jeweler nodded at this and answered, “I was close with your mother for many years until I moved here. My name is Potestas.”

“Nice to meet you.” The girl held out her hand.

Potestas grinned and shook Xena’s arm firmly. “Now then,” he continued while releasing her arm. “You have thirty-two dinars, her birthday is in a couple of months, and you want that necklace?”

“Yes, sir,” agreed Xena.

“Now will you be in town again soon?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well then, how about you give me seven dinars now. I’ll hold this necklace for you. Then when you want it for her birthday, bring me another seven dinars and we’ll be even. How does that sound?”

Xena’s eyes widened. “Fourteen dinars all together?”

“Yes, for Cyrene’s daughter anything.”

Xena chuckled at that. “I’ll take it.” She unhooked her pouch and fished around for seven dinars.

Potestas took the necklace and carefully slipped it away in a special pouch for later. He then took the money from the young girl. “I’ll see you soon then, Xena.”

“Thank you, Potestas.”

“You’re quite welcome, dear. Tell your mother I said hello.”

“I will.” Xena smiled and started walking off but called, “Bye!”

“Bye!” The jeweler waved but then went back to his business.

The teenager took off sprinting for the weapon’s shop and now there was a bounce in her run. She made it there in no time and went right inside, out of breath. Once inside of the small store, she studied the various weapons in the store. She raised an eyebrow though at the long, heavy built sword that hung high up on the far wall. She admired it for several minutes.

“Like the sword huh?” questioned the weapons master in the store. He’d reappeared out of the back of the shop and had watched the girl studying the sword.

“Its beautiful,” answered Xena.

“It is,” agreed the weapons master. He turned around and reached up to carefully lift the sword off the display. He then gently lowered it onto the glass casing.

The teenager neared and leaned against the casing as she looked down at the sword. “May I touch it?”

“Of course, be careful though.”

Xena nodded then gingerly ran her right hand down the blade of the sword. She studied the blue gem at the top of the hilt. “What’s it made of?”

“Well,” started the weapons master, “It's made of steel.”

“Doesn’t look it.” Xena peered up in question at the man then back down at the sword.

“No, it’s been coated in bronze for looks.”

“Why not gold?”

“Gold is too weak for a sword.” The weapons master folded his arm. “Gold is good for fashion but not a well made sword. The bronze is much sturdier and ages well.”

Xena nodded her understanding but then asked, “What’s the gem?”

“It's a sapphire,” replied the man. “It took a black smith a very long to produce this sword.”

“Why is that?”

The weapons master folded his arms again. “Steel has to be heated at a very high temperature. As soon as it’s touched by water it begins to cool and then its harder to shape the steel. So the black smith went through many trials and errors to come out with just this one sword.”

“It sure is amazing though.”

“I agree.”

Xena lifted her blue eyes back up. “May I hold it?”

“Well….” The weapons master pressed his lip together. “It's rather heavy.”

“I can handle it,” promised the teenager.

The weapons master saw the confident look and nodded his head. “Go ahead.”

Xena grinned suddenly. She wrapped one hand around the hilt and began lifting it off the case. She soon realized she needed her second hand, her left hand too curling around the hilt. She heft the sword up with all of her strength, she stared at it for several minutes, memorized by its beauty and strength.

“Amazing sword, isn’t it?”

Xena could only nod her answer. She then felt her muscles straining from the weight some but before she lowered it, she asked, “How much is it anyway?”

“Oh gods, it's not for sale,” replied the weapons master. “I doubt I could part with that sword.”

The teenager chuckled at the weapons master’s words. She lowered it slowly back onto the glass case. “I can understand why.”

The man picked it up without trouble and lifted it back into its home high above. “Now then, what can I help you with?”

Xena finally tore her eyes away from the sword. “I was interested in some daggers, possibly.”

“Hmmmm.” The weapons master gave a curious look. “How old are you?”

The teenager sighed. “Seventeen, sir.”

“I’m afraid I have a store policy that I may not sell to anybody that’s under eighteen.”

Xena grumbled quietly to herself but then stated, “My eighteenth is this coming winter.”

The weapons master considered the girl for a minute but then said, “I think I can let this one slide.” He walked off to his right to another case. “All my daggers are here.”

The teenager brightened up and quickly hurried to that side of the shop. She knelt down and looked over the weapons in the display case. “That’s a dagger?” She pointed against the glass.

The shop owner peered through and chuckled deeply. “That would be a breast dagger.”

Xena dropped her head back and grinned. “Really?”

The man nodded while chuckling some more.

“Interesting,” muttered Xena; she continued studying the daggers over. “How about those two?”

“These ones?” The weapons master pointed from his side of the glass. “Nice choice.” He slid open the glass door, reached in, and picked up the two matching daggers that both had separate sheaths. He placed them on the top of the display unit.

Xena stood back up and examined the two daggers. “I like these.”

“They’re very lovely.” The man picked up one of them. “They’re rather light but still hold enough weight to make them fly.” He then unsheathed it and held out the dagger in the palm of his head. “And I enjoy the design engraved on them.”

Xena smiled as she ran two fingertips over the integrated design of intertwining ivy leaves. “How much are they?”

The weapons master considered while he placed the one back down on the case. “For you, twenty dinars.”

“Honestly?” Xena peeked up between her brown bangs.

“I like you, so yes,” answered the shopkeeper.

Xena smiled at that.

The weapons master grinned and took that as a yes. He placed the one dagger back into the sheath. He then went across the shop back to the front. He checked to make sure they were locked into their sheaths then placed them into a woven satchel to carry them in for now.

The teenager, on the other hand, pulled out twenty dinars and handed them over. In return, she received the satchel. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome and please be careful with them.”

“Yes, I know.” Xena smiled warmly then quietly left the store. Once outside, she grabbed a hold of the daggers while they were in the bag, she took off sprinting for the scroll stand.

Gabrielle looked up when she saw Xena reappeared at her side. “Get them?”

“Yup,” answered the teenager.

“Seriously?” The tiny bard grinned.

“Seriously,” simply replied the older girl. “I’ll show them to you when we’re in your room.”

“Alright.”

“Got what you needed?”

“Yeah, sure did.” Gabrielle held open her bag of scrolls.

Xena nodded and then asked, “Ready to go home?”

“Actually yeah, been a long day.”

The older girl chuckled. “Come on.” She twisted and turned her way through the crowd until they were out of the market. “Maybe we can get a nap in before dinner.”

Gabrielle sighed happily at that idea. “Sounds good to me.”

Xena laughed at her friend. “Me too.”

~*~*~*~

The little bard snuggled closer into her friend’s side. “You really have to go home tomorrow?”

Xena let out a long sigh. “Yeah,” she whispered. “Sorry.”

“Not its okay… just I’ll miss you.”

“Yeah me too.” The teenager placed her hands under her head as she stared up at the ceiling. “At least we live close by.”

“Yeah true,” agreed the tiny bard. “When you think we’ll see each other again?”

“Hopefully soon.” Xena grinned. “Mother wants you to come over. She enjoys having you over just as much as me.”

Gabrielle chuckled at that. She rolled onto her right side so that she snuggled up against her friend. She threw her left arm across her friend’s stomach. “I’d like to come over.”

“Ask your parents, okay?”

“I will,” promised the smaller girl. She was quiet momentarily but then suddenly asked, “You going to show those daggers to me?”

Xena had a devilish grin. “Yeah sure.” She sat up then rolled out of the bed. She grabbed the bag off her friend’s small desk. She sat down on the bed again and crossed her legs.

Gabrielle sat up as well and crossed her own legs.

The older girl removed the two daggers from their bag and handed them to Gabrielle.

The tiny bard pulled one out of its sheath and looked it over. “I really like it.”

“Me too,” agreed Xena.

“Wait… what are you going to do with them?” asked a confused bard.

Xena shrugged and answered, “What most people do with them.”

“And that is?” pressed on the younger girl.

“Learn how to throw them mainly.”

“Oooh.” Gabrielle’s head bobbed a little and she sheathed the dagger. “Happy you have them?”

“Oh yeah.”

The smaller girl laughed quietly and handed them back carefully. “Me too. I know you wanted them.”

“Uh huh,” agreed the teenager.

“Can you teach me how to use them once you learn?”

Xena brightened up at the request and asked, “Are you sure?”

“I think so… yeah.” Gabrielle smiled. “I think I would.”

“Alright, I will,” promised the teenager. She wrapped the daggers back up in the bag and placed them on the floor. “Let’s get some sleep.”

“Yeah, I agree.” Gabrielle grabbed her friend by the shoulders and together they rolled into place in the bed.

~*~*~*~

“How was your visit, dear?”

Xena lifted her head up but yawned before she replied to her mother.

Cyrene waited while she continued directing the horses down the dirt path towards Amphipolis.

“It was nice, mother.”

Cyrene smiled.

Xena returned the warm smile.

“Gabrielle’s parents said you both had a nice time together.”

“We did,” agreed the daughter.

“They also asked if Gabrielle may visit soon.”

“Did they?” Xena grinned at the news. She lifted herself up in the wagon some and hopped into the seat beside her mother. “What’d you say?”

“I told them anytime she wants to come over she can.”

“Thanks, mom.”

“Welcome, sweetie.” Cyrene briefly patted her daughter’s back then concentrated on the horses again. “Gabrielle’s birthday will be soon.”

“Yeah I know.”

Cyrene raised a dark eyebrow at her daughter. “What’s that grin about, dear?”

The teenager laughed softly because she knew her mother knew her too well. “Gabrielle and I were in the market and I happened to meet an old friend of yours.”

“Oh really? Who was that?”

“Potestas.”

“Oh gods… I haven’t seen him in ages. I didn’t realize he was living in Potidaea now.”

“Well I met him.”

“And?” urged her mother.

Xena wiggled around a little in her seat to get more comfortable. “Well,” she started, “he had this necklace with a quill pendent on it. I asked how much it was and we began talking. He told me he knew you and me, when I was a baby though I think. So he offered me the necklace for fourteen dinars.”

“Do you have it now?”

“Not yet, I paid half of it now. Then when I go back for Gabrielle’s birthday, I pay the other half.”

“That was very nice of him. Did you thank him?”

“Of course, mother.” Xena smiled. “He was very nice.”

“He is a nice man.” Xena’s mother gave a light jerk of the reins to slow the horses back down. “And I am sure Gabrielle will love the gift.”

“Oh I know she will.”

The mother arched an eyebrow at her overly confident daughter. “Oh?”

“Uh huh. Gabrielle saw it earlier and just loved it.”

“I see.” Cyrene began to chuckle. “You are always the clever one.”

Xena just grinned at her mother’s words.

“We should be home fairly soon.”

“Yeah I know.” The teenager sighed. “How are the Toris and Lyceaus?”

“They are fine. Ly missed you though.”

A few chuckles escaped the teenager. “He always does.”

“He adores you,” reminded the mother. “Toris on the other hand….”

“Toris just needs to readjust his attitude,” grumbled the girl.

“Honey, I think sometimes he thinks a lot about your father.” She rested her left hand on her daughter’s knee. “It’s hard on him, I believe.”

“He’s gone though,” stated the teenager. “What’s there to think about?” She crossed her arms against her chest, a displeased look on her face.

Cyrene squeezed her daughter’s knee briefly then returned it to the reins. “Toris misses your father.”

“What father?” reminded Xena. “You’re all we have, mother.”

“I know, honey. I realize you do not miss him but Toris misses having a father.” She shook her head. “He is angry he has no father figure to look up to like all the other boys in the town do.”

“Ly isn’t like that though,” countered Xena.

“No he’s not and he is not Toris either.”

The teenager groused to herself. “I still don’t understand him sometimes.”

“I know, sweetie just… don’t give him such a hard time. He loves us all and may not show it but he’s just going through a stage.”

“Yeah I know,” whispered Xena. She brushed back a few strands of deep brown hair. “You think about father at all?” She peered up.

Cyrene pressed her lips together but then responded. “Not really, honey…. You three are the most important things in my life.”

Xena smiled happily. She leaned over and lowered her head onto her mother’s shoulder.

Cyrene revealed her own smile, and she placed a gentle kiss to her daughter’s temple. She then returned her attention to the road.

~*~*~*~

Xena narrowed her eyes, pulled back her right hand as the dagger shimmered from her fingertips, and she suddenly threw it roughly.

The dagger glided through the air and struck the centre of the black circle on the tree.

“Bullseye,” declared Xena proudly. She faced her best friend with her hands on her hips.

Gabrielle laughed and her head bobbed. She looked at the practice tree with the dagger sticking out at the centre point. “How long did that take you?”

The teenager grinned as she walked over to the tree to retrieve her dagger. “I started the day I got home with them.”

“I can’t believe that.” She studied the other dagger in her hand that she held onto for Xena. “Only a month?”

“Uh huh.” Xena took the sheath from her friend and put the dagger into it.

“That’s amazing.” Gabrielle handed over the other dagger. “I wonder if I could learn that quickly.”

“Maybe.” The teenager shifted one foot forward and leaned back against the other. “I can show you. Then once you get the hang of it, you just have to practice.”

“Well, I don’t have a dagger,” reminded the bard.

“True, but you can burrow one of mine,” offered Xena.

Gabrielle gazed down at the two daggers in her friend’s hand. “Um… I’m not sure.”

“