For Better or Worse

Four days passed and Gabrielle was still sitting at the table in
her hut reading the Amazon scrolls.  She feared she was closer to
finishing the scrolls than finding a solution.  Gabrielle sighed
wearily, finishing yet another Amazon scroll and with no answers.  

As had become their strained routine, Xena returned to the hut with a
tray of food, hoping to encourage the stubborn bard to eat something.
The bard's voracious appetite had disappeared.
  
Gabrielle looked up at the warrior as she placed the food next to her
and sighed.  She picked up another scroll instead of a fork. 

"Gabrielle,"  Xena sighed.  "You need to eat something," Xena
blurted, picking up an apple and placing it in the bard's hand.

"Ok OK," Gabrielle acquiesced and took an apple.  With her hand
now preoccupied, she used her elbow to pin down the end of a scroll
as she unrolled it with her free hand.  

The warrior's eyes narrowed. 

"What?"  She asked defensively.  "I'm eating!"  She added, taking 
a small bite of the apple then presenting the apple to the warrior as
proof.  "See..."

"You need a break,"  Xena informed her flatly, unimpressed with the
apple.

"Xena, I'm reading about Queen Tuthesa and her treaty with
Ratheos...it's quite interesting...though I can understand why the
Amazons are not too excited about this stuff...not the epic battles
and bloodshed they like listening about," Gabrielle relayed. "But
it is interesting, I can't stop now,"  Gabrielle explained.  "I'm on
a roll," she added, taking another bite of the apple.

"Gabrielle," Xena blurted.

"Xena," Gabrielle blurted back.

"Gabrielle..."  Xena countered, then stopped, seeing the familiar
determination in the bard's eyes.  Xena sighed with familiar
frustration and left in familiar defeat. 

"How's it going?"  Ephiny asked the Warrior Princess, who briskly
marched past her as she left the hut. 
                                                                 
Xena paused and turned to the curious Amazon.  Xena abruptly drew her
sword. A few startled Amazons near-by jumped back and instinctively
grabbed for their swords.                              
                                    
Ephiny rolled her eyes.
 
"Care to practice?"  Xena asked Ephiny, who wisely shook her head
no to Xena's gracious offer.

"Uh...what about Sustra?"  Ephiny suggested.  Warrior Princess
snorted and sheathed her sword.  "Come on, she's almost completely
recovered from your last practice session and no one else will go
near you,"  Ephiny relayed with a smirk.  Xena exhaled with a
furrowed brow. 

"You know, Solari's arm is still in a sling," Ephiny reminded her,
successfully making Xena feel a bit guilty. 

"Sorry," Xena blurted.

"How's Gabrielle?"  Ephiny asked, glancing at the hut.

"Just wonderful," Xena relayed pleasantly with a smile, surprising
Ephiny.   

"Reading from first light, throughout the night, then, when she does
stop reading...unable to sleep, barely touches her food," Xena
relayed with increasing irritation. "And, very soon, going to face a
well-rested, well-fed and BLOOD-thirsty AMAZON," Xena blurted
angrily. 

"How do you THINK she is?"  Xena snapped, reconsidering that practice
session with Sustra.  

"She's not very happy,"  Raiz relayed to Gurda, as they watched the
Queen's hut from across the village.

"I can't blame her.  Soon, Gabrielle will have no choice and face
me in a challenge to the throne,"  Gurda relayed thoughtfully.  "It
must be eating Xena up,"  Gurda grinned.

Gabrielle read the last scroll on the Treaty of Yuesa.  She
rubbed her eyes and moaned.  There was nothing there that
contradicted the claim to Walsas.  In fact, the scrolls were very
clear to the bard...the Amazons had a claim to the land.  

When she got up to stretch her legs, she heard a knocking on the hut
door.

"Come in,"  Gabrielle called.  "Sustra?" 

"Queen Gabrielle, just checking to see if you need anything.  You've
been cooped up so much, I was wondering," she asked glancing
uneasily at the door, rubbing her still sore neck.   

"No...but thanks." 

Sustra looked at the pile of scrolls.  "Are you finished?"  She asked
with hope.

"Yeah,"  Gabrielle relayed unenthusiastically.

"Oh," Sustra sighed.  "Perhaps you ought to start thinking about
practicing?"  Sustra offered with a sad shrug.  Gabrielle felt ill as
she reluctantly nodded.  Sustra smiled at her.  "Don't worry
Gabrielle, you'll be ready for her."  

Exhaling as she grabs her staff, she felt like she had already
lost.  

"Are you ok?"  Sustra asked, seeing the weary look in her eyes.  

Gabrielle smiled warmly at her friend.  "I had prided myself on being
able to find peaceful solutions," she relayed as they exited the
hut and headed towards a field to practice.  "This time...." she
sighed and shook her head sadly.  

"Gurda!  She's left the hut.  She's going to practice!"  An excited
Raiz informed the lounging Amazon as she rushed into their hut. 
"Don't you want to watch?" 

"Why?"  Gurda grinned, casually locking her fingers together and
placing her hands behind her head to rest her confident head on.

When they reached the practice field, Sustra laughed and shook her
head, causing her Queen to eye her curiously.  

"What in the world would we do with Walsas?"  Sustra asked with a
shrug.  The two contemplated that as they stretched with their
staffs.  

"The first thing I would do is rename it," Gabrielle joked, making
the two chuckle as they stood towards each other.    

"Thank the Gods,"  Sustra relayed with relief, then proceeded to
attack her Queen.  Sustra's blows were easy on the Queen, but after
Sustra's rear found the ground, she realized the Queen was not going
to go easy on her.  "Hmmmm...."  Sustra got up and dusted herself
off, eyeing the grinning Queen.    

"As long as you are renaming things, could I get a street named after
me?"  Sustra asked as she once again proceeded to attack her Queen.
 
"I'd like a street," Sustra admitted between an attempt to sweep the
feet out from under her Queen.  Unsuccessful with the sweep, she
found the staff, with a stupid looking furry thing on the end of it,
over her head and rapidly descending.  She quickly lifted her staff
up just in time for a block.   

After Sustra's successful block, the Amazon attempted to overwhelm
the Queen with a flurry of attacks.  Easily blocking the Amazon's
blows, Gabrielle smiled.  

"I don't see why not Sustra, you've been a very loyal subject."  The
bard feigned an attack with one end of her staff and smacked the
Amazon's stomach with the other end.

"Oooff."  Sustra backed off.  "Good shot," she wheezed one
moment and attacked the next, almost catching Gabrielle off guard.  

"You know, Trayla will be jealous," Sustra relayed as she jumped
over the staff swung at her ankles in a sweeping attack from a
crouching bard.  "If I get a street and she doesn't,"  Sustra
informed her as she countered with a thrust. 

Rolling out of the way of the thrust and immediately back in the
ready stance, Gabrielle laughed.  

"I guess to keep the peace, I'll have to name all the streets after
my Amazons," she relayed, receiving another flurry of attacks from
the Amazon that succeeded only in hitting wood. 
     
"I hope there are enough streets,"  Sustra relayed.                
     
"If not, I'll just have to expand the kingdom,"  Gabrielle countered
with a smirk.

"I guess you can do that...being Queen and all."  Sustra blocked a
counter attack of rapid strikes.  "You can pretty much do...
what...you... want," she responded, punctuating each word with
thrusts.  Surprising the Amazon, the Queen failed to block the
Amazon's last blow.  Sustra landed a powerful hit to her Queen's left
arm, tumbling her to the ground.

"GODS!"  Sustra stopped, her mouth gaping open at her unexpected
success.  Snapping out of her shock, she rushed over to Gabrielle. 

"Are you OK??"  She asked nervously.  Gabrielle looked at Sustra and
smiled broadly.  "Oh gods, you're not ok,"  Sustra blurted
nervously at the stupid look on her Queen's face. 

"Sustra, you are wonderful!"  Gabrielle got up, kissed the Amazon's
cheek and gave her a big bear hug.

"If I wasn't dead before, I'm dead now,"  Sustra muttered. 

"Don't worry Sustra, Xena might just hug you too,"  Gabrielle added
with a grin and rushed back to the Queen's hut.

As they waited in the war tent, Trayla, Solari, Sustra, and Ephiny
tried to get Xena to reveal what the big news was.  

"I told you, I have no idea what she has planned,"  Xena said with
frustration.  "She just told me to be patient,"  Xena added flatly,
not feeling the need to inform them the bard giggled when she told
her that. 

"What did she say to you when you were practicing?"  Trayla asked
Sustra, drawing curious glances from the other three.

"Uh, well, we were talking about the need to expand the kingdom to
get more streets..."  The Amazons looked at each other in confusion.
 
"...and then WHAM! I landed a really solid blow to her arm.  The
force knocked her...right...down,"  Sustra paused and cringed,
feeling Xena's intense glare at her enthusiastic account.            

"Then she smiled," Sustra quickly added, hoping to appease the
Warrior Princess, who raised her eyebrow.  "Of course, she surprised
the Tartarus out of me when she jumped up and ...uh," Sustra
laughed awkwardly when she glanced nervously at Xena.  "I don't know
either," she smiled sheepishly and shrugged.  

Gabrielle finally came into the war tent with Eponin, who carried
four scrolls in her hands and set them down on the table.  The bard
turned to her friends.  

"I have reviewed the scrolls very carefully and agree with Trayla's
findings - the Amazons have a legitimate claim to Walsas,"  Gabrielle
relayed this unpleasant news.  The Amazons shifted uncomfortably,
exchanging glances among themselves.  

"And as Queen, I have decided to honor that Amazon claim and declare
Walsas Amazon territory," Gabrielle informed them, carefully
watching the response of the women.

"WHAT!?!"  Was the joint response from the dumbfounded Amazons. 

"How hard did you hit her?"  Trayla asked Sustra, who shrugged
uneasily.  

Xena eyed her bard, who was smiling confidently with that familiar 
devious glimmer in her eyes.  Silently the two exchanged glances,
giving Xena a sense of hope she hadn't felt for a long time. 
Gabrielle had a plan and knowing Gabrielle, it would be interesting,
the Warrior considered.

"Are you CRAZY?"  Ephiny blurted, not worried about the potential
penalties of insulting an Amazon Queen.  "Do you really want to
attack Walsas?"  She asked, making Gabrielle chuckle.

"There is no need to attack Walsas...at least not yet.  I think we
can settle this between the thrones, peacefully.  It may be news to
some, but I have some pull with the Queen of Walsas and think she'll
agree to my demands, without the need for bloodshed."  She smiled at
Ephiny then turned to see a grin on Xena's face.

"How...what...huh?"  Ephiny blurted, scratching her head. 

"The scrolls had the answer in them," Gabrielle relayed with a shrug.

"Believe it or not, Gurda's stunt is not the first time someone has
tried to use a territory issue to get control of the throne." 
Gabrielle feigned surprise.  

Xena noticed the bard was enjoying this from her buoyant confidence
and smile on her face.  Xena also noticed just how much she missed
that beautiful smile.

"If you read beyond the four scrolls on Walsas, there are detailed
accounts of how, long ago, the Amazon nation PEACEFULLY settled
claims and managed lands, from small villages to sizable kingdoms," 
Gabrielle happily relayed the tale to the room of now-interested
Amazons.                              

"Once a land is claimed and a treaty is signed, it is no longer an
issue for the throne.  The Amazon nation did not need all the lands
claimed in the past.  However, the Queens sought the lands and
treaties because of politics.  They wanted to avoid constant
challenges to the thrones.  Surprisingly, very few battles were
necessary."  Gabrielle eyed the smiling Acting Queen.
 
"The Amazons were incredibly successful collecting treaties,
especially from the small lands.  Even when the terms were obscenely
favorable to the Amazons, the people wisely did not want to face the
Amazon nation on the battlefield."  Gabrielle looked over to Xena,
who shook her head with amusement at the bard Queen.  

Gabrielle paused a moment to enjoy the amazed looks on the Amazon
faces.  "A treaty was never signed for the land, now
named Walsas.  Amazon Law is crystal clear on this unfinished
business.  Gurda has the right to demand the throne to claim the
land."  A satisfied grin crossed the bard's face.

"But, Amazon Law is also crystal clear on the role of the throne.  As
Queen, I shall set the conditions of our claim and I will write the treaty," Gabrielle relayed forcefully, eyeing the Amazons, who realized their Queen had just pulled the rug out from under Gurda.  

The women erupted with laughter of relief and amusement.  "Now no
more worry of challenges!"  Eponin blurted, generating relieved nods
and chuckles from the women, except Sustra who noticed Gabrielle's
polite smile.

"Gurda could still challenge her," Sustra noted with a shrug.  The
other Amazons laughed knowingly.  Xena grinned, hoping Gurda would.  

"It wouldn't be over the throne, just a personal challenge Sustra,"
Solari relayed to her the obvious.  "And Gabrielle would name a
champion."  

Ephiny laughed.  "Gurda's not crazy enough to fight Xena,"  Ephiny
added shaking her head.  

Sustra looked over to Gabrielle who sighed as she quietly collected
the scrolls.  

"Well, she was crazy to plan on challenging Gabrielle over
Walsas," Sustra countered with a shrug, making the Amazon's laugh
and her bard Queen smile warmly at her loyal friend.  

Xena eyed Sustra curiously. 

"Yeah, Walsas of all places,"  Eponin blurted, evoking more
chuckles.

Seeing an irritated Sustra open her mouth to correct Eponin,
Gabrielle interjected.  

"Hey, Sarah DOES have a nice castle..."  Gabrielle shrugged and
smiled at Sustra, who sighed and remained quiet.  

Now Xena eyed her bard curiously.

"We should all get some rest tonight, I will make my announcement
tomorrow morning,"  Gabrielle relayed to the grinning Amazons, who
couldn't wait to see Gurda's face.       

In the Queen's hut, Xena watched the bard sit down at the
large table and pull out a quill and a blank parchment.  

"What are you doing?"  Xena asked.  "Writing a story about this?" 
The warrior grinned.                               

"No, I'm drafting up my demands,"  Gabrielle responded seriously,
dipping her quill in ink.

"Why?"  Xena chuckled, removing her weapons.      

"To ensure the safety of the Amazon nation!  To seek a lasting peace
with the kingdom of Walsas!" Gabrielle announced grandly.  "To bridge
the great chasm between..." 

"Uh huh," Xena interrupted, removing her armor then reclined on the
very uncomfortable cot, her stiff bed for the past few nights.  She
had concluded her first night on the cot that the nosey Amazons
deliberately provided them most uncomfortable cot they could find.   
                 
"Hmmmmm...now what should I demand,"  Gabrielle asked, stroking the
quill under her chin thoughtfully.  "hmmmm....money?" 

"Money??"  Xena questioned with a smirk, folding her hands behind her
head as she stared at the thatch ceiling.  When that familiar bump on
the frame jabbed her shoulder again, Xena grimaced, finally
concluding she would have to kill the cot maker.    

"I think it's a good start...how about a MILLION dinars a year!" 
Gabrielle declared.  "Gabrielle," Xena blurted, poorly hiding her
amusement, "she's got to be able to pay it or you'll be forced to
attack her."  

"Oh, right...thanks!"  The bard happily wrote the slightly less
demanding demand down.  "Hmmm...I've also been thinking of renaming
Walsas, what do you think?"                                   

The cot creaked loudly as an amused Xena rolled over on her side and
propped her head on her hand.  She silently eyed the bard.  

"How about Gabriellopolis!" The bard asked enthusiastically.  Xena's
eyebrow raised.

"North Gabriellopolis??"  Xena's second eyebrow raised to meet her
first.  "Ok Ok...that's not exactly appropriate....it's more like
North EAST Gabriellopolis,"  She offered.  Xena smirked.             

"Why don't I just keep that open for now...to give you a chance to
mull it over before commenting,"  She relayed diplomatically as she
cheerfully wrote down a note to rename Walsas.  Xena smiled.  There
was nothing more wonderful than seeing her beautiful bard so happy. 

"Of course, being a benevolent Queen and champion for the people, I
want to right wrongs, correct GRAVE injustices done to POOR
unsuspecting innocents," she declared dramatically and wrote down
another demand.

"What?"  Xena asked with a little concern.

"No pink." 

"Huh?"  Xena asked the bard, who unconsciously rubbed her aching left
arm and grimaced.                                                   

"A long, and very disturbing story..." Gabrielle sighed writing down
her explicit requirements on that very important demand for justice. 

"What else?"  Gabrielle asked, looking up to the cot finding it
empty.  She found her warrior sitting down on the bench beside her
and inspecting her aching arm.  

When Gabrielle recoiled slightly at her gentle touch, Xena sighed.
"Why didn't you say something about the pain?"  Xena asked softly.   

"Uh...it's nothing," Gabrielle relayed with a shrug, slightly
grimacing at the movement.  Xena sighed and got up to retrieve some
medicine from her bag. 

"Really, there's no need to bother..."  Gabrielle relayed to the
Warrior Princess who shook her head as she pulled out an herbal
powder.

"It looks like you took quite a blow.  You're lucky she didn't break
your arm,"  Xena blurted with a furrowed brow as she returned to the
table and grabbed a goblet.
 
"Yeah, or Sustra would have surely died of panic right there.  You
should have SEEN her face when she hit me - WHAM.  When I
went down she lost ALL the colour in her face,"  Gabrielle relayed
with a chuckle of amusement.  Amusement that the bard noticed Xena
didn't share.     
  
"Hey, it was my fault for not focusing," Gabrielle confessed.  
"Something I'm sure you'll agree I need to work on," she added
quickly.  "You'd think after a few of these...," Gabrielle pointed to
her forearm that now sported a thin scar.  "...I'd learn pay more
attention," Gabrielle joked.      

"Gabrielle, you got that because I wasn't paying attention,"  Xena admitted bitterly, pouring some water in the goblet.
  
"Xena, I didn't react fast enough,"  Gabrielle corrected her.

"You wouldn't of had to, if I had done my job,"  Xena responded,
mixing the powder in the goblet.    
  
"Your job?!? I can't believe you are taking the blame for MY
mistake!"  The bard blurted with exasperation. 

"Gabrielle, the simple fact was - I wasn't paying attention that day
at that bazaar.  I was..."  Xena sighed heavily, remembering her
completely hopeless state of mind that particular morning.  She
should have never agreed to go to that stupid bazaar, especially
after she had made such a point of no public displays of affection,
she mentally scolded herself.

"I was...too busy looking at you to notice the threat,"  Xena blurted
out the shameful truth and handed the bard the mug.  "You could have
been killed because of my carelessness,"  Xena added, dropping her
gaze to the floor.

"What?!?"  The bard blurted in utter amazement.  "I seem to remember
being there.  And as I recall, I had a staff!  And I could have used
it to stop the attack if I wasn't so busy looking at the beautiful
woman who had COMPLETELY and UTTERLY took my breath away that
wondrous night before!"  Gabrielle declared.

"So don't you DARE try to blame yourself for MY lack of focus!" 
Gabrielle blurted, then paused a moment and added sheepishly, "Uh,
perhaps I should rephrase that."  

The bard noticed a small smile on the warrior's lips. 

"You know, this is just another reason why public dis..."  Xena
relayed thoughtfully.

"STOP it!" Gabrielle erupted.  "I promised and I intend to keep my
promise.  But I am NOT going to sit through another lecture on the
dangers of public displays of affection," she added with frustration.

"And I'd really appreciate it if you didn't rub it in that you got me
to promise." 

"GOT you to?!?  Gabrielle...we've discussed..."  Xena relayed amazed
at the bard's reaction.  

"Xena DON'T!  Just...don't"  Gabrielle interrupted and sighed
wearily, shaking her head.  As the bard sipped from the goblet, the
warrior watched with confusion.  

Xena opened her mouth to say something but didn't know what to say. 
It was clear the bard finished their discussion.  She quietly
continued writing the treaty and her demands.  Xena once again found
herself lying on the cot, looking up at the ceiling and sighing
heavily. 

When the bard finally completed her task and retired to her bed, Xena
looked over at her bard lying still, also finding the thatched
ceiling fascinating.

"Gabrielle?"  Xena called softly, causing the bard to turn her head
towards the warrior.  "Never mind," Xena sighed and turned her gaze
to the ceiling.        

"You have no idea why I'm mad, do you?"  Gabrielle asked softly.   

"No," Xena admitted gruffly.  "I thought we discussed it."           
           
"I see,"  Gabrielle sighed, returning her gaze to the ceiling. 
"Tell me Xena, if I had agreed to walk away from this Amazon problem
when you asked...right after we made love...would you have also
considered THAT a discussion?"  Gabrielle asked sharply.
      
The realization of what she had done finally hitting her, Xena
abruptly sat up.  "Gabrielle...I only...I ...I never meant to hurt
you," Xena spoke earnestly.  "I...."  Unable to continue, Xena's eyes
moistened and her heart pounded with fear.  Fear that in her blind
desire to protect Gabrielle, her blatant manipulation would prevent
Gabrielle from ever being able to trust her again.  

Sitting on the edge of the cot, the warrior searched at the ground as
if she would find a fix.

"Xena," Gabrielle softly spoke as she left her bed.  She sighed when
she sat next to her ashamed warrior who, refused to look at her.  

"Your not the only one guilty of trying to manipulate the other like
that...and neither of us liked it when we were on the receiving end,"
Gabrielle relayed, then couldn't help but grin slightly. 

"Well...that's not entirely true, I guess I didn't mind it THAT much,
at first,"  Gabrielle admitted.  Xena finally looked at the bard, who
smiled warmly. 
     
"But after you got mad at me for trying to convince you to go to
Amphipolis, I realized you were right to be angry.  That no matter
the reason, we attempted to manipulate each other, at a very 
vulnerable time."  Gabrielle looked into her warrior's moist eyes.   
    
"I think we should promise each other we won't resort to that
again,"  Gabrielle proposed, Xena nodded.  Gabrielle wrapped her arms
around her warrior and hugged her.                                   

"Never again," Xena exhaled with relief, tightly holding her bard.
                             
"Good.  You had an unfair advantage, you know...you are much better
at it than I am,"  Gabrielle relayed, revealing a grin and reached to
wipe a tear from Xena's cheek.     
             
"Who says?"  Xena challenged her, capturing her hand and gently
kissing her palm.  Gabrielle smiled warmly, then surprised the
warrior.      
 
"It's getting late, we should get some sleep," Gabrielle informed as
she stood up.                                       

Xena sighed and nodded, reluctantly releasing the bard's hand.  
As she started to lie down on the cot, it groaned loudly. 

"Xena," the bard held out her hand to the Warrior Princess, who
looked up hopefully.  "We'll both sleep much better in my bed."    

As they laid down together in each other's arms, they found peace
and, for the first time in many nights, sound sleep.

In the center of the Amazon village the Queen arrived with her
entourage of senior advisors and a Warrior Princess.  Gabrielle
sighed when she looked out over the large group of Amazons gathered
and did not find Gurda.                                     

Finally, the cocky Amazon made a show of her arrival as she emerged
from the crowd, followed by group of Amazons.  Gabrielle knew each of
them and was not surprised by their allegiance to Gurda, though it
still saddened her.  

Xena crossed her arms as she watched Gurda make her way to the front
of the crowd.  The two warriors coldly eyed each other.  Gurda smiled
and turned her gaze towards the Queen and her advisors for an
indication of nervousness, surprised when she found none.  Gurda had
to admit, being cool under the pressure was an admirable trait, even
for the bard Queen. 

With all finally gathered Gabrielle began her announcement.  "As you
know, there has been a request by Gurda that the Amazons claim the
land, now called Walsas."                                            

Heads nodded as the crowd quietly murmured.         
      
"This claim was based on Ancient Amazon scrolls kept by the Northern
Tribe in Ratheos.  After carefully reviewing those scrolls..." 
Gabrielle paused and looked Gurda in the eye.  "I can only confirm
Gurda's assertions that the Amazons have a claim to Walsas," 
Gabrielle relayed, making Gurda inhale deeply with a big victory
grin.

A disturbed murmur erupted through the crowd. 

"With this claim, I am faced with a decision,"  Gabrielle relayed
dramatically, starting to pace.  All Amazon eyes on her except
Gurda's, who was watching Xena, not understanding why Xena's eyes
rolled with impatience.  Gabrielle glared at the Warrior Princess,
who sighed.

"As the sister of the Queen of Walsas, whom I dearly love, I wish no
harm to come to her or her people.  I have a responsibility to see to
that,"  Gabrielle relayed, continuing her pacing the other way as the
Amazons intently watched and listened.  Except Gurda, who was
watching Xena, not understanding why the Warrior Princess seemed more
interested in a stray thread on her bracer than the Queen's speech.

"However, as the Amazon Queen, a position for which I have the utmost
respect and intend to bring honor to, my responsibilities require me
to see Walsas for what it really is....AMAZON LAND!"  Gabrielle
blurted with conviction, surprising the crowd.  Gurda's mouth
dropped, her full attention abruptly captured by Gabrielle.

"NO!  You can't be serious..."  Gurda blurted, looking back towards
Xena, who was smiling broadly.  The bard noticed how much her warrior
was enjoying this.  

"You are willing to attack your own sister?  What kind of sister ARE
you???"  Gurda added, trying to find a way to salvage the situation. 
"Amazons!  Do we want a Queen who is willing to attack her own sister
in the back to avoid a challenge?"  The Amazons looked uneasily at
each other.

"ENOUGH!!"  Gabrielle erupted with an anger that surprised Xena. 
"Gurda, if you wish to challenge ME go ahead.  But it WON'T be over
Walsas and it WON'T be over the throne,"  Gabrielle snapped, eyeing
the woman, who shook her head as she eyed Xena, who smiled and
cracked her knuckles.

"I'm not stupid Gabrielle,"  Gurda responded as she made an
about-face and marched through the crowd, who's eyes returned to
the Queen.  Gabrielle took a moment and a few calming deep breaths
before continuing.

"My sisters,"  Gabrielle called out with her hand up to settle the
disturbed crowd.  "Sisters...rest assured, there is no need to
attack Walsas," she informed them with a smile as she saw the curious
looks throughout the crowd.  
                                                                  
"As allowed by Amazon Law, I have drafted up my demands and a treaty,
which Xena will deliver to the Queen of Walsas,"  Gabrielle relayed
to the gathering, careful to avoid the gaze of a certain, very
annoyed Warrior Princess.  

Xena's eyes narrowed at the bard, who apparently didn't remember to
inform her of this little trip she was about to make.      
 
"Once the treaty is signed, the matter of Walsas will be behind us," 
Gabrielle relayed, her smile and words serving to pacify everyone,
except the Warrior Princess.

"Gabrielle I will NOT leave you here ALONE!"  Xena exploded when they
got back to the hut.  Gabrielle sighed, tying a ribbon around the
scroll of demands and the treaty, waiting quietly for the warrior's
anger to settle.       
 
"I can't believe you didn't ASK me!"  Xena blurted as she paced
behind the bard.  "And DON'T think just because you told the WHOLE
village I was going doesn't mean for one MOMENT that I am!....I can't
believe you didn't ask me!"  Xena repeated, stopping for only a
moment and continued to pace.  "Why don't you get Sustra to go...I'm
sure she'd be more than happy to please her Queen!"  Xena snarled.

When Gabrielle turned to face her jealous warrior, she wisely wiped
the amused grin off her face.
 
"Xena," Gabrielle spoke in a soothing voice.  "You are the only one
Sarah trusts.  I can't send anyone else," Gabrielle reasoned, trying
to make eye contact with the pacing warrior.  

"Fine!  She trusts you too.  We should go together,"  Xena argued,
avoiding eye contact.  Gabrielle smiled warmly at her warrior.

"I'd love to Xena, but I have to send my demands and treaty and wait
for a counter proposal,"  Gabrielle rattled off the procedure,
causing Xena to furrow her eyebrows and start to pace again.  

"If she has one, then we'll need to meet at a neutral land and get
the treaty signed....I want to do this by the scrolls all the way..."
Gabrielle relayed firmly, then grinned.  "What are you so worried
about?"  Gabrielle stood in Xena's path, stopping her pacing.

"Gabrielle, I don't like this.  Gurda might try something,"  Xena
relayed, finally looking into the bard's eyes, revealing great worry
in her own.

"I think she's made it pretty clear she's not interested in
challenging me now," Gabrielle relayed with a smirk.  Seeing Xena
starting to object again she quickly added.  "Please Xena, do this
for me," the bard asked softly and held out the scrolls.

Xena sighed heavily as her eyes dropped to the scrolls.

As she mounted Argo, Xena grimaced unhappily as she looked down at
the Amazon Queen, who ceremoniously displayed the treaty to the
crowd.  After placing the scrolls in Xena's saddle bags, Gabrielle
looked up at her warrior.  

"Don't be long," Gabrielle instructed her warrior with a familiar
twinkle in her eye.                 
   
Ephiny noticed the Warrior Princess' grimace dissolve into a small
crooked grin. 

"HAhhh!" Xena called out to Argo, who immediately lurched forward,
kicking up a cloud of dust.  As the thundering hooves swiftly carried
Warrior Princess away from camp, Ephiny turned to Frea and Roeya.  

The three Amazons nodded confidently.     

"She wants to WHAT?!?"  Sarah blurted in confusion as Xena tried to
explain the situation to Gabrielle's sisters and Meleager.  Lila and
Meleager eyed each other, then Xena as Sarah stared at the scroll in
in disbelief.

"She wants to resolve this territory issue with a treaty...read the
scrolls Sarah, it is very clear what Gabrielle's trying to do,"  Xena
explained patiently.  Sarah shook her head in amazement.  Following
Xena's advice, she returned her gaze to the incredible treaty in her
hands.

"I Gabrielle, Queen of Amazonia...blah...blah...yadda...yadda...claim
Walsas as AMAZON territory,"  Sarah reread the words and blurted
again.  "She wants to WHAT?!?"   

"Sarah, it would help if you read beyond the 'claim Walsas' part," 
Xena suggested with a sigh.  Sarah shook her head and started to read
again.

"...claim Walsas....yadda...yadda...blah...blah...upon agreement of
Amazon demands..."  Sarah read the words.  "She has DEMANDS?!?" 
Sarah, Lila and Meleager blurted in unison.  

Xena wondered if just attacking Walsas wouldn't be easier.  

"So what does this Furry Wegget look like?"  Sustra asked her Queen
as they dismounted at the mouth of the cave.  

"Size of a chicken, furry...and NO I have never seen one," Gabrielle
blurted with annoyance, having been asked that question many times by
the Amazons with her.

Solari was last to dismount.  With a sigh, she eyed her hunting party
consisting of Sustra, Trayla and Eponin...all recruited by
their Queen to get this egg.  Though they were all known as skilled
hunters, none of them had ever heard of a Furry Wegget before.  

Gabrielle smiled when she looked into the dark cave and took a deep
breath of cave air.  "Amazons...I smell SUCCESS today," she blurted
confidently, then coughed.  The Amazons eyed her with concern.  

"Here little Wegget, here Wegge Wegge Wegge..." Gabrielle called out
to the darkness as she entered the cave with a torch in hand. 

The Amazons looked uneasily at each other.

"How hard did you hit her??"  Trayla asked Sustra, who shrugged
innocently. 

"She wants to WHAT???"  Sarah blurted upon reading another demand,
making Xena cringe.  "How can she rename Walsas?"  She asked
indignantly.  "It's always been Walsas...hasn't it??"  She asked
Meleager and Lila, who shrugged.

"Well, what does she want to name it?"  Meleager asked helpfully. 
Xena rolled her eyes and braced herself, remembering Gabrielle's
suggestions the night before.

"Galisar" Sarah blurted, surprising Xena.  "Why in Tartarus would
she want to name it that?"  She complained, shaking her head.

"I dunno...but it sounds a lot better than Wal..."  Meleager
admitted, then cringed at the displeased glare from his future wife. 
"Well it DOES!"  He responded defensively.

Xena grinned, realizing how the bard picked that name.  "It's from
all your names," Xena relayed, appreciating the bard's choice.  Sarah
looked up confused.

"Gabrielle, Lila and Sarah..."  Lila laughed.  "I LIKE it!  Keep it!
Oh you've GOT to, please??"  Lila pleaded with her sister, who
sighed, not ready to admit she also liked it better than Walsas. 

"Don't know why SHE gets to be first," Sarah muttered as she read the
next demand.

"Damn it," Sustra blurted as her torch blew out again.  The
occasional cool gusts from the caverns below extinguished their
torches.  Sustra fumbled around in the dark to get her flint stones
out.  Clacking the stones together, she produced a successful spark
that relit her torch.                                          

Gabrielle relit hers from Sustra's.  "Thanks," she relayed with a
smile and resumed her hunting.  "Here wegge wegge wegge,"

"Sustra," Eponin pulled her aside as Gabrielle continued to hunt
around the cave for Furry Weggets.  "How do we even know this
bird even exists?  I mean...WE'VE never seen it or even heard of it,
and Gabrielle has said SHE'S never seen it.  And after you hit
her..." Eponin shrugged as if it was obvious.  

"It exists!  She said so...and I DIDN'T hit her THAT hard!!"  Sustra
relayed defensively.

Outside the cave, Solari stiffened as Gurda and five other Amazons
rode up.  Solari whistled a warning to the sisters in the cave. 

"Solari...there's no need for that," Gurda smiled as she gracefully
slid off her mount.  "I mean you no harm," Gurda relayed truthfully
as she watched Solari reach for her sword.

Sustra, Eponin, Trayla and Gabrielle quickly emerged from the cave. 
"Your highness,"  Gurda bowed.  "Lovely day for a hunt isn't it?" 
She noted, walking towards the Queen.  Gabrielle's hunting party
stepped protectively around her but Gabrielle held her hand out to
stop them.
 
"She wants WHAT?!?"  Sarah blurted on the final demand.  "No
pink?!?"                                                             

Xena listened curiously.

"It's only fair Sarah,"  Lila relayed, looking over her sister's
shoulder at the scroll.

"But the bridesmaid dresses are already done!"  Sarah blurted. 

"You were going to make Gabrielle wear a pink dress?"  Xena asked in
amazement.

"Uh...yes...I really LIKE pink, though I can't wear it because of my
hair...colour...,"  She explained, then cringed under the glare of
the Warrior Princess.

"Alright, alright, no pink bridesmaid dresses...even though it IS my
wedding,"  Sarah blurted with annoyance.

"She can go around NAKED now, for all I care..."  Sarah
muttered, causing the Warrior Princess to slightly grin.  That would
certainly add to at least HER enjoyment of this Traditional wedding,
Xena considered.  Her grin faded as her eyes drifted over to the
door.  

Gabrielle's mother just entered the room.

"It is a lovely day Gurda,"  Gabrielle relayed to the Amazon with a
pleasant smile.

"I've been thinking about what you said, Queen Gabrielle," Gurda
relayed respectfully.

"I'm glad to hear that," Gabrielle responded with a smile.

"You said if I wanted to challenge YOU, I could,"  Gurda repeated the
bards statement.

Trayla and Eponin started to laugh.  

"I meant it,"  Gabrielle said cooly, meeting Gurda's gaze.  

Trayla and Eponin stopped laughing.  

"Good.  I would like to take you up on your offer then, your
highness,"  Gurda stated calmly, but with eagerness in her eyes. 
"Now," she added.  

"Staff?"  Gabrielle asked calmly.  

"Certainly," Gurda answered holding her empty hand out.  Raiz quickly
filled it with Gurda's staff.

"Queen Gabrielle, I would be honored if you would allow me to be your
champion," Trayla interjected uneasily.  Gurda snorted and rolled her
eyes.  Gabrielle smiled warmly at Trayla and shook her head no.

"Please, your highness, I would be greatly honored to be your
champion,"  Eponin blurted nervously in an another unsuccessful
attempt to protect the Queen. 

Solari and Sustra didn't bother to offer, knowing full well their
stubborn Queen would also decline it.                       

Seeing the concern in her Amazon's faces Gabrielle sighed.  "She is
challenging ME and I will fight,"  Gabrielle explained with
confidence.        

Gurda grinned.