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.