For Better or Worse

With Meleager slumped in Xena's arms on Argo and the Gabrielle on
Meleager's horse, they rode towards Walsas.  The silence between them
was extremely uncomfortable for the bard, who was feeling a little
guilty for her earlier actions.

"If you want to, we could rest a while,"  Gabrielle offered glancing
over at the warrior, who probably needed a break by now from lugging
Meleager around like that.

"No,"  Xena relayed, her eyes focused forward.  "Unless you need to
rest,"  Xena added curtly, the word 'need' grating on the bard's
nerves.  

"No, I'm fine.  But thanks for your concern,"  Gabrielle said
sarcastically.  "How's your head?"  Gabrielle asked with a thin
smile.

"Fine.  Thanks for asking,"  Xena responded flatly.

"Sarah, you are not taking this seriously enough."  Sarah's mother
trailed behind her daughter with a variety of fabrics.  "Would you
stand STILL for one moment?!?"  She snapped.  

"Lila, would you please tell your sister the colour and material of
her dress IS important."  The mother enlisted the aid of her quiet
daughter in the corner, who cringed at being brought into the middle
of yet another wedding argument.

"Sarah, the colour and material of your dress is important,"  Lila
repeated in an unenthusiastic drone, making Sarah grin.      

"I've always been fond of black," Sarah blurted, studying the
fabrics.  

"Well black WOULD go with the bridesmaids dresses,"  Lila relayed,
thankful she had to only go through being a bridesmaid in a
Traditional wedding once.  Of course, she would have been much
happier if Sarah had just avoided the Traditional Wedding
altogether, like Gabrielle did. 

"Lila!  Sarah!  You two are incorrigible!"  The woman scolded her
daughters, shaking her head wondering what she did to ever deserve
such difficult children.

"Queen Sarah!"  A young guard rushed in interrupting them, receiving
a cold stare from the older woman and a look of thanks from the two
younger women.

"Please excuse the interruption.  Lookouts have reported your sister
and the Warrior Princess are arriving," he relayed, bringing a big
smile to the sister's faces for the reinforcements had finally
arrived.

"You invited them?"  The older woman asked with a raised eyebrow.    

"Why wouldn't...."  Sarah's question to her mother was forgotten when
she noticed the concerned look on the guard's face and no mention of
her soon-to-be-husband.  "Isn't Meleager with them?" 

"Lookouts report he's been hurt my Queen."   

Queen Ephiny paced in her tent as Eponin watched uneasily. 

"She still hasn't asked for my decision.  She hasn't made any more
demands."  Ephiny shook her head.  Trayla entered the tent.  

"Well?"  Ephiny asked.

"She's practicing again,"  Trayla responded.

"I don't suppose she's practicing the sword?"  Ephiny asked
hopefully, but knowing the answer.

"No my Queen, she is practicing the staff," Trayla relayed with a
sigh.  "Again." 

"Gurda is shrewd, I'll give her that,"  Ephiny relayed
appreciatively.  "How is she at the staff?"  Ephiny asked Trayla.

"Deadly."   

Rushing out of the Walsasian castle, Sarah, Lila and their mother 
saw for themselves what the lookouts reported.  The three travelers
rode in the front gate. 

"My Gods, what happened to him?"  Sarah gasped as she rushed to
Meleager's side as Xena lower the still unconscious man to two
guards.   

Gabrielle dismounted, quickly going to Sarah and putting a comforting
arm her.  "He'll be ok Sarah."

Meleager groggily muttered something as the two men shifted him to
get a better hold.

"He's not drunk again is he?"  Sarah's mother asked caustically,
Sarah gasped, eyeing her mother in disbelief and hurt.

"NO!...He hit his head."  Gabrielle snapped, quickly defending him. 
"He was in a cave trying to get one of the Traditional items," 
Gabrielle added coldly, watching an upset Sarah leave with the two
guards take Meleager into the castle.  

Her eyes returned to her mother.  "Oh, and don't worry mother...he'll
be alright," Gabrielle relayed, her eyes as cold as her voice.

Xena finally dismounted, not even receiving so much as a glance from
Gabrielle's mother, not that she wanted one.  

"I see," her mother responded, standing rigid, offering no embrace or
words of affection for her well-traveled daughter.  Xena finally
received a glance from the older woman when she stood behind her
bard.  In it's brief duration, that glance imparted all that the
warrior needed to know.  Gabrielle's mother despised her.

"Let me guess," Gabrielle eyed her mother with a polite smile.  "You
didn't ask Meleager to get me to help with the preparations." 

"No dear."  The woman's admission wiped the bard's polite smile off
her face.  "I know you have other, more pressing business than to
bother with our family and our little Traditions."   

The woman's pleasantly spoken words inflicted more damage to the
bard's heart than a dagger ever could.  Funny how important a
mother's words were.

Lila looked at the ground feeling helpless.

Xena inwardly cringed, feeling that she was the cause of this
reaction from the bard's mother.  And they didn't even tell her about
their relationship yet, Xena sighed.  Perhaps Gabrielle was right
about visiting her mother in Amphipolis, the warrior considered, torn
between wanting to make it easier on the bard yet not wanting to
leave her side.  Xena grew angry with herself for worrying so much
about her own feelings and ignoring Gabrielle's. 

"Well, I have work to do, if you'll excuse me.  Lila?"   Her mother
looked to Lila, who lifted her head, looking between her sister and
mother.

"I'll be right along Mother,"  Lila offered, amazed that her response
seemed to appease her mother, who nodded then left.  

"Gods Gabrielle, I swear Sarah and I had no idea she was still so
upset,"  Lila hugged her sister tightly.   "You would think..."  Lila
blurted, interrupted by Gabrielle.

"Lila, I understand why you and Sarah were so desperate for
reinforcements."  Gabrielle forced a laugh.  "But I'm afraid I won't
be as much help as you two expected."  Gabrielle shrugged. "On the
bright side, I'm getting used to being a disappointment."  Gabrielle
forced a smile.  

An uneasy Lila looked at Gabrielle then Xena, who was also disturbed
by the bard's comment.  "Not to me," Lila responded, hugging her. 
"Dinner will be in about an hour...amazing how you timed that," Lila
joked, trying to lighten the mood.  "See you then?"  Lila pulled back
looking at the two.

"Of course,"  Gabrielle responded, a polite smile still on her face. 
Her sister smiled uneasily, then left.  

Just as Xena stepped to give the bard a reassuring squeeze on the
shoulder, Gabrielle headed towards the castle leaving the warrior to
grasp the air.   "I should freshen up for dinner," she relayed,
turning to the Warrior Princess.

"First I'd better tend to..."  Xena automatically began her usual
reply, but with the vacant look in the bard's eyes, she realized this
was not time for their usual routine.  "Uh, the stable boy can tend
to Argo and our stuff...lugging Meleager around has made me riper
than usual...I wouldn't want anyone to loose their appetite on my
account," Xena joked.  

Gabrielle nodded silently and headed towards the castle. Xena's
eyebrows furrowed with worry as she followed behind the bard. 

"We should send messengers right away...to tell Gabrielle to stay
away...until you finish up with Gurda," Eponin blurted, concerned
for her absent Queen.  

"Eponin, I can not "finish up" with Gurda until she challenges
me...and I suspect she will choose to be very patient with her
challenge to the throne."  Ephiny sighed.  

"But we can't have Gabrielle walk right into ...."  Eponin's argument
was cut off by the Acting Queen.

"Gabrielle is the Queen, in bad times as well as good, Eponin. 
For better or WORSE, she will accept her duty, as should you," 
Ephiny responded forcefully, successfully stopping further discussion
on the matter.  She sighed, wishing she could "finish up" with Gurda.
Gabrielle seemed to keep getting the 'worse' part of the bargain.

When they entered the bard's room, Xena waited for the bard to say
something.  When they bathed, Xena waited for the bard to say
something.  When they dried off and dressed, Xena waited for the bard
to say something.  When the bard sat down and started to brush her
hair, Xena waited for the bard to say something.  

With each brush stroke, a weary sigh came from the bard, who usually
took pleasure in the task.                                           

Moving behind her chair, Xena gently took the brush from the
bard's hand and proceeded to untangle the strawberry blond locks. 
"Gabrielle, do you still want me to go to Amphipolis?"  She asked,
bracing herself for an unwanted answer.    

"No," Gabrielle answered weakly, shaking her head.  "Unless..." 
Gabrielle turned towards the Warrior Princess.  "...you WANT to go."
 
Xena sighed and knelt down to speak face-to-face with her bard.

"Not alone," Xena responded emphatically.  "Bedsides," she grinned. 
"Who would talk to mother?"   
 
Tears welled up in the bard's eyes. 

"Hey..."  Xena spoke softly, her strong hand cupping the bard's
cheek.  When a tear fell, it was carefully wiped away by the
warrior's thumb.  

Xena felt lost on this emotional minefield.  The bard needed to talk
and it was up to the Warrior Princess to make that happen. 
Unfortunately, her most successful method for getting someone to talk
was out.  Gabrielle would need way more than thirty seconds, Xena
considered.  

What would Gabrielle do if the situation were reversed, Xena asked
herself.  Slowly and carefully ease into the discussion.  Obviously,
the warrior sighed.  From her admittedly sparse verbal arsenal, Xena
selected an approach that had the benefit of being successful in the
past as well as a relatively safe topic.  

"Nice weather we're having,"  Xena blurted.  Gabrielle's tear-filled
eyes lifted from the floor and looked blankly at her.  The bard's
head tilted as if she didn't quite catch the last statement from the
Warrior Princess.  

"Huh?"  The bard asked softly, sniffing and wiping away another tear.

"Uh...the weather,"  Xena stammered, now feeling the pressure of
having gotten the bard's undivided attention.  "It's nice,"  Xena
added, pointing at the window.  Gabrielle stared at the warrior for
another long moment.  "Don't you think?"  Xena asked, nervous at
the bard's silence.  

Surprising the warrior, the bard leaned towards her and kissed her. 
"Thank you,"  Gabrielle whispered, her voice thick with emotion.  

"We'll talk later...after dinner...Ok?"  Xena asked hopefully.  A
small smile crept over the bard's face.  When she nodded, a dazzling
smile appeared on the warrior's face, making the bard chuckle warmly.

The bard's laugh subsided into a loving gaze.  "You know how much I
love you?"  Gabrielle asked the familiar question, tracing her
fingers over the warrior's cheek.  Xena took the bard's hand from her
cheek and kissed her palm. 

"I've never questioned how much Gabrielle..."  Xena responded,
holding the bard's hand against her cheek. "...only why,"  Xena admitted
honestly.  

The bard drew a sharp breath in for her response.  But she slowly
exhaled a thoughtful moment, realizing that she couldn't possibly
find the words to adequately describe why she loved Xena so much.  

After waiting for words that didn't come, Xena's eyes drifted down to
the floor.  Gabrielle immediately felt horrible for disappointing her
warrior.

"Xena, anything I say to describe why I love you so much will be so
grossly inadequate, incomplete and just plain lacking, that I have to
admit,"  Gabrielle relayed with a dramatic sigh, "as a bard, I'm
ashamed."  Her head dropped in feigned disgrace.  Peeking up, her
theatrics were rewarded with a crooked grin.  

"Perhaps," Xena slowly took the bard's hands in hers. 

"If we put our heads together,"  Xena leaned towards her bard so
their foreheads touched.  

"We could find another way,"  Xena suggested, pulling back
and kissing Gabrielle's forehead.  

"For you..."  Xena slowly kissed the bard's eyebrow.  

"To express yourself..."  Xena slowly kissed the bard's other
eyebrow.  

"Without words."  Xena playfully brushed the tip of her nose over the
bard's, evoking a small giggle. 

"I wouldn't want... "   Xena slowly kissed the bard's cheek.  

"you to feel...."  Xena slowly kissed the bard's other cheek.

"...ashamed." 

"No?"  Gabrielle asked innocently, her warrior's lips hovering over
her's.  

"No,"  Xena answered, waiting for the bard to better express herself.

"You know what?" Gabrielle relayed, closing the already small
distance between them.

"What?"  Xena whispered.

"I'm hungry."  

"Me too," the warrior agreed, nipping at the bard's lips.  The bard
grinned.

"I'm talking about dinner," Gabrielle relayed, causing the warrior
to pull back and stare at her bard.

"Oh...." 

At the dinner table, two chairs at either end of the table were
empty.  Sarah decided the recovering Meleager needed her undivided
attention.  

Only after sitting down, did Lila realize that she was next to her
mother and father on one side of the table with Gabrielle and Xena
were sitting on the other side.  

"Isn't this good soup?"  Lila asked, eyeing the uncomfortable group. 

"Yes dear, very good soup," their mother responded, with a polite
smile and nod.    

"Yeah, fabulous soup,"  Gabrielle added with a sigh.

"Needs salt," Xena relayed honestly.

"Think so?"  Gabrielle's father looked up from his soup with genuine
interest.  Xena looked at the man who's gaze, unlike his wife's,
appeared friendly.  She nodded.  "Me too,"  He agreed simply.

"Well, now that you mention it, it does need a little salt,"
Gabrielle's mother agreed quickly glancing at Xena with a nonchalant
shrug.  

A surprised Xena looked over to Lila, who shrugged, then
Gabrielle, who stared at her soup while quietly sliding the
salt dish towards her.  

"OH...OH,"  Lila blurted, almost choked on her soup in her
excitement.  

"Calm down Lila.  We've already established the soup is good," 
Gabrielle responded, making Xena grin as she added some salt to her
soup.

"Very funny.  I just remembered... you had two Amazon
visitors....Sustra and what was ...."  Lila tried to remember. 

Gabrielle and Xena exchanged concerned glances.

"Solari dear," her mother added.

"Yeah...They had a message for you."  Lila relayed.  

"What was the message?"  Gabrielle asked.

"They wouldn't say."  Lila shrugged.

"Not surprising.  Amazons are not very open with information," Xena
relayed, causing Gabrielle's father to look up from his soup with
interest.   

"Where are they now?"  Gabrielle asked.

"They are in town at Cumae's Inn,"  Lila explained.  

"Why are they at the Inn?"  Gabrielle asked, looking at Xena,
considering Amazons usually felt more comfortable outdoors.

"Sarah invited them to stay here, but they refused," her mother
relayed with irritation.  "Rather rude of your little 'subjects' to
refuse an invitation like that."  

Xena and Lila cringed as Gabrielle looked blankly at her mother who
continued.

"Sarah is your sister you know.  But I guess if their 'Queen' doesn't
think much of her family, why would her subjects?" 

Xena eyed the woman, both shocked and angry at her entirely
inaccurate and heartless remark.  Not wanting to make things worse
for Gabrielle, she debated whether or not to say anything.  But
looking over to bard who stared blankly at her mother's bowl of
soup, her decision was made.  As Xena opened her mouth to challenge
this woman's hurtful words, Gabrielle's mother stood up.    

"Dear, your not finished din..." her husband called to her.   

"I've lost my appetite dear, excuse me," she interrupted him and
left.  

The bard stood up immediately after her mother's departure.

"Gabrielle..."  Lila called to her sister.

"I'm going into town,"  Gabrielle stated calmly.  She turned to leave
but stopped and looked to her father.  "Excuse me?"  

With sadness in his eyes, he nodded weakly and Gabrielle left.

As Xena stood up from the table, she glanced down at the two
remaining diners.  They looked as lost as Xena felt.  Xena shook her
head and sighed with annoyance before she left to follow her bard.

Xena caught up to Gabrielle as she left the castle.  

"Gabrielle?"  She asked uneasily, making Gabrielle stop and turn
towards her.  

"Xena, I'm not interested in talking about my mother right now,"  
she relayed firmly.  "What I am interested in is finding out why the
Amazons are here," Gabrielle informed her as she started walking
back towards town.  Xena sighed and followed.

Entering Cumae's Inn, they were immediately greeted by Xena's old
friend.  

"Well Hades! Look what the cat drug in!"  Cumae's voice boomed
happily as she came towards the two, giving Xena a huge bear hug. 

Even Gabrielle had to smile at Cumae's greeting.  Her smile faded,
realizing Cumae was allowed that simple indulgence, yet she wasn't.

"You look good yourself Cumae," Xena responded with a smirk.

"Guess you're here to see the Amazons?"  Cumae blurted, now giving
Gabrielle a bear hug.  Gabrielle nodded as the woman released her
hold.  "Upstairs, second door on the right," Cumae informed her,
noticing the usually talkative bard quietly nodding again.  

As Gabrielle left up the stairs, Cumae grabbed Xena's arm and pulled
her aside.  "What's wrong with her? Cat's got her tongue?"  Cumae
asked with a chuckle.

"Wrong animal," Xena said bluntly, making Cumae even more curious.  

"What's going on Xena?"  Cumae asked.

"Don't know yet,"  Xena relayed, her eyes drawn to the stairs.

Gabrielle knocked on the door in a familiar rhythm.  It quickly
opened.  "Your highness!  We heard you had arrived."  Sustra smiled
broadly, bowing slightly.  Gabrielle noticed with concern the sword
in Sustra' hand, which the Amazon promptly sheathed.

"Sustra, I just got the message you were here to see me.  What is
going on?"  Gabrielle asked, looking in the room to find Solari
coming to the door as she was putting her dagger back in her belt.

"We shouldn't talk here,"  Solari informed her with an air of
mystery as she scanned the hallway, finding it clear.  "It is best we
leave town," she added.

"Why?"  Xena asked, appearing out of nowhere and surprising the
Amazons, who didn't like surprises.  

"Because these walls have ears," Solari relayed gravely.    

As the four women walked through the streets, the people of Walsas
warmly greeted Gabrielle and Xena with many hello's, glad you're
back's, and genuinely warm smiles.  

"They like you very much here."  Solari eyed the people as they
passed.

"I'd like to think so,"  Gabrielle responded, her curiosity growing
with each step.  "They are good people."

"And strong, they fought well together against Grickas," Sustra
added, assessing the people as they walked by.  Gabrielle thought it
odd Sustra would bring up Grickas.  The man who murdered Sarah's
first husband, the King of Walsas, and unsuccessfully attempted to
take over the kingdom.

Gabrielle noticed Xena keeping a suspicious eye on the Amazons. 

Finally far enough away to satisfy the Amazons, the group stopped at
a clearing.  Gabrielle and Xena silently looked at each other, then
the Amazons.  Finally, Solari explained the troubling situation.  

"Queen Ephiny has been formally petitioned by Gurda to claim Walsas
as Amazon land," Solari blurted with Sustra nodding in agreement. 

Gurda was a familiar name to the Warrior Princess, who's eyebrow
raised.

"What gives Gurda the right?"  Gabrielle asked calmly.  

"Amazon Law,"  Solari informed her with a sigh. "Gurda found an old
scroll that establishes the Amazon claim for this land, now called
Walsas."  She motioned toward the land and town.  "According to our
law...." 

"Gurda can challenge the throne if the Queen refuses to claim the
land,"  Xena interjected gravely, her concern not well hidden.

Gabrielle laughed, surprising the three.  "How convenient for her. 
And just where did she find these scrolls?"  The bard challenged.  

"A northern tribe in Ratheos, they keep a large collection of Ancient
Amazon scrolls," Solari explained.

"Ephiny had them brought to Amazonia after Gurda's discovery.  Kinda
late now," Sustra interjected with a sigh.

"They are mostly boring historical accounts of land and kingdom
management.  Without battles, they make for poor fireside
stories...and I'm afraid our sisters have not been very interested in
reading these scrolls,"  Solari relayed honestly. 

"Until now,"  Xena noted.

"How do we know they're not fake?"  Gabrielle asked, starting to feel
as uneasy as Xena.

"Trayla has looked over the scrolls very carefully.  She believes
them legitimate,"  Solari relayed with a sigh.

"Oh,"  Gabrielle spoke weakly, trying to think of a good next step.  

"Don't worry Gabrielle, Ephiny has no intention of claiming Walsas." 
Sustra tried to console her.

"Then she'll be challenged,"  Gabrielle relayed with concern.

"Ephiny can EASILY take Gurda."  Sustra laughed, having great
confidence in the Acting Queen's skills.  

Xena nodded and smiled, agreeing with Sustra.  Ephiny would be able
to handle this situation and Gabrielle wouldn't have get involved,
Xena sighed with relief.

"Yeah but how many challenges can she take?"  Solari relayed, shaking
her head.  Xena suddenly didn't feel so relieved anymore.

"What do you mean?"   Xena blurted with irritation.

"Gurda has many Amazons who are loyal to her, and are just as power
hungry.  If she fails in her challenge of the throne, I don't expect
it will be long before they figure out they have same right to
challenge the throne over Walsas," Solari relayed.

"I want to read the scrolls myself.  There's got to be something
Trayla missed," Gabrielle relayed thoughtfully.

"NO!"  Xena blurted vehemently.  "Once you step foot on Amazon land
Gabrielle, Gurda will challenge YOU."  

"Gabrielle, this is not like a personal challenge, Xena won't be able
to be your champion for a challenge to the throne," Solari quickly
informed her that important detail.

"I KNOW,"  Gabrielle relayed with irritation, eyeing a very unpleased
Warrior Princess. 

"Gabrielle, this is EXACTLY what Gurda wants,"  Xena blurted with
frustration. "THINK Gabrielle, why else would she choose to go after
Walsas.  There's got to be other lands that the Amazons have claim
to.  But she KNOWS Ephiny won't claim the land, she KNOWS you won't
want Ephiny to have to constantly defend your sister's land, she
KNOWS you will come and ..."

"And she knows she can easily beat me,"  Gabrielle calmly
interrupted, quickly defusing the Warrior's impassioned argument. 
Though the bard's voice was calm, the look in Gabrielle's eyes
revealed great hurt.

Solari and Sustra looked at each other uneasily.  Insulting their
Queen like that could mean they would have to try to arrest Xena.  Or
if Gabrielle was in a really bad mood....they really didn't want to
think about that.

"Isn't that right Xena?  Tell me," Gabrielle challenged the Warrior
Princess, who's heart dropped knowing the bard was questioning Xena's
faith in her.  "Come on Xena.  I want to hear you tell me what you
think.  That I have no chance of winning a challenge.  Say it."  

"Gabrielle..."  Xena spoke with great pain, in her voice and on her
face.  

"SAY IT!" Gabrielle commanded, finally disclosing her anger and hurt.

With each word, she had managed to injure the woman she loved. 
Xena's heart ached knowing her next words would be no different. 
Yet, she had to utter them.  She had to convince Gabrielle it was
foolish to even risk a fight with Gurda.

"Gurda is a better fighter Gabrielle," Xena admitted with cold
honesty.

Solari and Sustra tensed, disturbed by the Warrior Princess'
admission.

Gabrielle looked at the ground, drawing in a long breath.  She nodded
slightly as she exhaled slowly.  "I have no desire to fight, Xena." 
The bard spoke quietly as her eyes lifted to meet Xena's.  "But I
have no intention of letting Walsas remain a constant thorn in
Ephiny's or my side."  Gabrielle informed her.  "I need to go to
Amazonia and review the scrolls myself,"  Gabrielle explained with
unnerving calm and confidence.  "I will tell Sarah what's going on.
We'll leave in the morning."    

"Uh ...Your majesty..."  Solari started to question the Queen's
wisdom to tell her sister but Gabrielle's piercing gaze immediately
silenced the Amazon, who slightly bowed in acquiescence.

"Shall we meet you in the morning at the castle gates?"  Sustra
interjected, causing Gabrielle to nod before leaving for the castle.

The Amazons stood awkwardly, waiting for the Warrior Princess to
explain how this really wasn't such a bad plan.  Xena closed her eyes
and exhaled.  It was a long moment before she opened her eyes again.

"Uh, Xena?"  Sustra dared to bother the warrior when she opened her
eyes.  "What should we do?"  

Xena abruptly drew her sword, making the Amazons nervously jump back.

Xena eyed them coldly.  "Care to practice?"

Finding her sister in the kitchen putting together a tray of food for
Meleager, Gabrielle sighed not knowing where or how to begin.  "How's
Meleager?"  Gabrielle asked.  

"There you are," Sarah looked up with relief.  "Oh, he's up and very
hungry," she relayed with a smile which faded seeing the concern on
her sister's face.  "I heard about mother at dinner Gabrielle.  She
had no right to say ...." 

"We have to talk."  Gabrielle relayed gravely.

"Yes, I know,"  Sarah agreed reluctantly.  "I really had no idea
mother is still so upset with you.  I guess I should have known by how
obsessed she is with my Traditional wedding."  Sarah relayed with a
weary sigh.  "She's just wrong to...."

"There you are!"  Lila interrupted Sarah, coming in the kitchen. 
"You know mother was dead wrong to treat you like..."  

"Great, she's wrong,"  Gabrielle interrupted, rolling her eyes.  "Now
listen, I just found out what the Amazons wanted to tell me," 
Gabrielle relayed with urgency.  "Uh ....you might want to sit down."

The three sat in silence around the kitchen table, staring at their
plates of nutbread after Gabrielle explained the situation.  

"WOW,"  Lila finally blurted in amazement, breaking the silence. 
"You know, one day you'll both look back on this and laugh and laugh
and la..."  Lila realized her humor was not exactly going over well,
from the glares from her sisters and sighed.  "Don't worry, you'll
figure something out," Lila encouraged her sisters, stuffing her
mouth with nutbread.

"I'm not sure what I can do, but ...."  Gabrielle relayed with a
sigh.  

"You'll do your best,"  Sarah rubbed her temples.  "That Gurda sounds
pretty dangerous," she relayed with concern.

"Yeah.  I'm hoping for a peaceful solution," Gabrielle relayed,
picking at the nutbread on her plate.  She suspected her continued
good health depended on it.

"If not, Sarah could make her a bride's maid,"  Lila suggested with
her mouth full, munching on another piece.

"Huh?"  Her older sisters blurted in confusion as Lila slowly sipped
her water to wash down the treat. 

"Yeah, mother could nag her to death," Lila explained, successfully
evoking giggles from her older sisters. 

"Yeah, sic mother on her!"  Sarah readily agreed, laughing harder as
Lila threateningly wagged her motherly finger of reprimand at them.

"She'd nag her to death or at least die trying," Lila added.

"I don't think I hate her THAT much," Gabrielle blurted.

"Gurda or Mother?"  Sarah asked seriously.  All three howled.  

"Well, it would be a toss up on what would kill Gurda
first...mother's nagging or the embarrassment of wearing that
hideous pink bridesmaid dress!"  Lila burst out laughing, making
Sarah laugh even louder and almost fall off her chair.  

Gabrielle wasn't laughing.  "Pink?"  Gabrielle questioned her.  

Sarah looked up at her sister and took a deep breath as she wiped the
tears from her eyes, trying to calm herself long enough to answer her
sister.  Lila coughed, also trying to regain her composure.  Looking
at the upset face of their middle sister proved very sobering.  

"Uh," Sarah uttered uneasily, then looked at Lila, who's eyes
grew wide just before they burst out laughing again.

"You're making me wear PINK?!?"  Gabrielle was not amused.

"Uh...it's not so bad...really.  Lila looks great actually," 
Sarah added nervously, with an unconvincing smile thrown in.  

"Lila...doesn't...have...RED...HAIR!!"  Gabrielle blurted slowly,
making her sisters giggle more. 

"How could you do this???"  The upset bard abruptly stood from her
chair, knocking into the table and causing the plates of nutbread to
violently lurch.

"Now Gabrielle...stay calm,"  Sarah held her hands out as if they
could deflect her sister's temper.  Lila rolled her eyes and sighed,
grabbing her plate back.

"You of ALL people, a fellow RED head!  How could you!!"  Gabrielle
snapped.  "PINK!!"  She blurted as she slapped her hand down on the
table punctuating her displeasure with the colour, which happened to
hit the edge of her plate of her uneaten nutbread.  While nutbread
normally doesn't fly, it did take flight long enough to cross the
table, hit Sarah square on her chest, and fall down snugly between
her ... attributes.  

Gabrielle's mouth dropped as Lila coughed on her nutbread.  Sarah
sighed, looking down at the nutbread.  Lila made no effort to contain
her amusement.  She grabbed her stomach and let out an obnoxious
belly laugh that drew stares from her older sisters which stopped her
abruptly.  

"Now wait just a damn minute!"  Lila protested angrily, seeing a
familiar conspiratorial gaze exchanged between her older sisters. 
"What did I do??"  Lila quickly got up from the table, realizing if
she wanted a chance to escape, now would be the prudent time.  With
incredible speed, Lila fled from the kitchen.

"Oooff," blurted the fleeing Lila as she barreled into the Warrior
Princess.

"What's wrong?"  Xena asked, pealing Gabrielle's youngest sister off
her.  

Lila looked back.  "They're plotting again.  If you know what's good
for you...you'll stay clear of the kitchen,"  Lila warned, looking
over her shoulder at the kitchen.  "Don't say I didn't warn
you."  

Xena sighed and shook her head as Lila proceeded with her escape. 

"Boy, Lila is FAST."  Gabrielle laughed.

"And awfully nervous...did you notice?"  Sarah relayed with feigned
concern then chuckled.  She sighed when she sat down, eyeing her the
nutbread lodged between her attributes, then her sister.

"Uh...sorry," Gabrielle responded with a guilty grimace.

With a unconvinced smirk, the Queen of Walsas proceeded to extract
the nutbread.  Succeeding in generating a lot of crumbs, she
shuddered.  "Ugh...where's Meleager when you really need him," Sarah
relayed with a smirk at her crumby predicament, making Gabrielle
howl.

"Give the poor guy a break, he was just attacked by a Furry Wegget," 
Gabrielle relayed, wiping tears from her eyes.

"I hope he comes through on the items," Sarah sighed.  "Or that will
be something else Mother will hang over our heads until we are all
visiting Hades."  Sarah sighed and juggling her shoulders again,
trying to get more crumbs to fall through.

"She wouldn't let death stop her,"  Gabrielle joked wearily.

"I really am sorry for bringing you here so early.  I had no idea," 
Sarah apologized holding her sister's hand.

"Funny thing is, I was kind of glad to hear she wanted me here, in a
masochistic sorta way," Gabrielle joked sadly.  "I never meant to
hurt her...."  Gabrielle relayed with a sigh, wearily rubbing her
eyes.

"Gabrielle, you should never have to apologize for living your life. 
She should have been quite pleased you got back with Perdicus, if you
remember how happy she was announcing your betrothal at cousin
Huestis' rehearsal dinner,"  Sarah relayed.  "A lot happier than you,
as I recall."

"I was EIGHT, Sarah.  I hadn't even kissed a boy yet and mother
already had my life with Perdicus planned out,"  Gabrielle
complained, shaking her head at the unpleasant memory.

"Yeah...well...it was always mother's goal in life to marry off her
three daughters.  You know, I was thinking of inviting cousin Huestis
to the wedding," Sarah relayed.  "Do you think he'll come?"  

Gabrielle let out a laugh and shook her head no.  "I think he's
probably had enough of mother and her Traditional weddings for a
lifetime," she relayed making Sarah nod. "Promise me one thing,"
Gabrielle asked her.  "You won't let mother keep you and Meleager
from going through with it.  I still have nightmares from poor
Huestis' fiasco," she sighed and sat back.

"Well, you know what they say, 'For better or worse'...and poor
Iphigenia couldn't take the 'worse' part," Sarah remembered.

"Yeah...but the worse is supposed to come after the wedding not
during the wedding," Gabrielle relayed grimly.  "I would have
strangled her if it was my wedding."        

"Is that why you didn't want a Traditional Wedding?"  Sarah asked
with surprise.

"Well, killing your mother, even if justified, would still constitute
loss of blood innocence,"  Gabrielle joked.  Sarah sighed and sat
back waiting for a serious answer.  Sarah's patient gaze caused
Gabrielle to shift uncomfortably and look at the table.

"You know," Gabrielle spoke softly, picking through a plate of
nutbread crumbs.  "Your wedding day is supposed to be a celebration."

Gabrielle looked at her sister and smiled warmly.  "Two people...
publically declaring their love for each other, in front of
the Gods, their family and friends," Gabrielle softly preached her
romantic vision.  "It's not supposed to be a trial," Gabrielle
sighed.  "Our village has made the most sacred and wonderful ritual
into a painful ordeal.  Well, at least mother has seen to it it turns
out that way."

Sarah nodded knowingly, quietly listening.  

"I don't think I...I don't think we...."  Gabrielle stumbled over
her words as her eyes filled with tears.  She paused and took a deep
breath.  "I loved him," she added as if needing to convince her
sister.  "but..." Gabrielle sighed and stared at her empty plate of
nutbread.  "...if I had to go through all that, to justify my love
..to my family...friends...."  Gabrielle sighed and shook her
head, leaving many thoughts unspoken.  

"Perhaps this Traditional Wedding stuff has its place after all." 
Sarah smiled with new understanding.  "And maybe you'll have one
yet," Sarah suggested with a mischievous grin, causing Gabrielle to
laugh softly.

"Not likely,"  Gabrielle laughed, sitting back in her chair and shook
her head with an amused smile.  "Besides the obvious of not being
very traditional, you'd have to call that a public display of
affection," Gabrielle informed her sister.  "We agreed that public
displays of affection were out," Gabrielle added with a sigh.  

"NO public displays of affection?"  Sarah repeated in amazement. 

Gabrielle sighed unhappily and shook her head no.  

"None?" Sarah asked.  

Gabrielle shook her head no.  

"Not even hugging?"  Sarah asked, incredulously.  

Gabrielle sighed heavily and shook her head no. 

"No casual touches?"  Sarah asked, almost in shock. 
 
"Xena doesn't want me to be a target...so no public disp.." 
Gabrielle explained.

"That's the most ridic...." Sarah interrupted.

"Sarah," Gabrielle blurted with irritation. 

"And you're HAPPY with that?"  Sarah related incredulously.

"I promised,"  Gabrielle snapped.  As Sarah opened her mouth again,
Gabrielle quickly stopped any further discussion on that topic. "Drop
it," the bard blurted with a warning glare.

Xena heard footsteps approaching.  Maneuvering behind the
unsuspecting man, she placed her hand over his mouth.  "No you
don't," Xena spoke quietly in Meleager's ear.  Before he knew it, he
was no longer entering the kitchen but the library across the hall. 
When she released him in the library, she curiously eyed the confused
man with a raised eyebrow.

"Nice pajamas."  Xena smirked, still eyeing his silky yellow pajamas
with a big black M embroidered on the right breast pajama pocket.

"Think so?"  He looked down and inspected his big M and smiled
warmly.  "Sarah actually had this made....Hey! Why in Hade's name did
you yank me away from the kitchen?  I'm starving!  I haven't eaten
all day."  Meleager whined.

"Sarah and Gabrielle are talking."  Xena informed him.