WARNINGS AND DISCLAMERS

It was around noon when they arrived in the small village. The last candlemark of the ride the warrior's body had started to protest in pain, letting her know that she was probably over doing it. Not wanting to admit any weakness to the bard, the warrior tried a different tact. "Gabrielle would like to stop and get a meal from the inn?"

"I thought you would never ask." The bard replied. "I'm starving... trail rations don't last very long on the stomach."

Xena chuckled knowing exactly how well the small bard enjoyed her meals. She pulled Argo up in front of the inn and they dismounted and headed inside.

They found the innkeeper and purchased food and drink and then Gabrielle followed Xena to a table.

Xena found a spot to sit against a back wall so she could keep an eye on the door as well as the rest of the room while they waited for their food to arrive.

It had only been a couple of minutes when a serving girl sat their mugs down on the table in front of them. Xena looked up at the blonde girl and asked, "Do you have anyone in the village that does leatherwork?"

"Well, there's old Dominic in the west end of the village. He retired about five cycles ago, but he still does small repairs for the villagers. He might be willing to help you out." The girl replied, then left and went back to the kitchen.

"Gabrielle while we're waiting on our food, I'm going to go talk to Dominic and see if he'll be willing to repair my leathers for me." the warrior said.

Before the bard could even answer the warrior had got up and headed for the door. Gabrielle continued to sit in silence waiting for the warrior and their food.

The girl that had served them had looked out and seen that the warrior had gone leaving the smaller woman sitting alone with what she thought looked like a worried expression on her face.

She walked up to Gabrielle and introduced herself; "Hi my name is Karyna. Are you all right."

Gabrielle looked up at the blonde-headed woman whom she guessed to be around her age, and smiled warmly. "Hi, I'm Gabrielle." She extended her hand toward the woman. "I'm just fine, why do you ask?"

There weren't any other customers in the inn so the woman sat down at the table with her and started to chat. "I'm not really meaning to pry, but your face is awful bruised and swollen. Do you need the healer?" The woman asked.

"Oh that. It was just an accident and I already have one of the best healers in Greece, thank you." The bard said with pride.

"Is your friend the healer? She's dresses more like a warrior." The woman commented.

"Yes she's the healer, one of the best and she's also a warrior." Gabrielle replied.

"I've heard of women warriors before, but I'd never seen one until today. Is she good?" Karyna asked with interest.

"I think she's the best... I can't speak for others." Gabrielle said cautiously. She never knew where all Xena had been in her travels and you could never be sure what people's reaction to her were going to be. The bard knew the warrior was weak and didn't need any trouble. The fact the woman said she'd never seen a woman warrior before was a plus.

"You don't look like a warrior, why would you travel with one? Isn't it dangerous." The woman further questioned.

Gabrielle could sense that the woman's continued questions were no more than being curious about seeing a woman warrior for the first time. "No... I'm not a warrior. Actually I'm a bard. I like my stories to sound real when I tell them. It's hard to relate something you've never seen or experienced. Besides I enjoy the adventure and it's only dangerous sometimes, but she manages to protect me."

"Most women warriors I've heard of are Amazons. Is your friend an Amazon?"

Gabrielle could tell the woman was still fascinated with Xena. The bard knew some people didn't like Amazons any better than they did the Warrior Princess, but the bard felt she needed to say something that would distract her. "No... actually I'm the Amazon. She's just a warrior that happens to be my friend."

Karyna eyes went wide and her mouth opened, but nothing came out for a few seconds except a gasp.

Yep! I think that did it, the bard mused to herself.

"You're kidding aren't you?" The blonde said in awe.

"No, I'm not kidding. I just don't live with the Amazons very often. I'm an Amazon, but I'm not a warrior. Like I said I'm a bard and I travel and tell my stories. The warrior and I travel together and she helps keep me safe."

The woman seemed to have run out of questions or was just too stunned to think of any more. She was just sitting there looking at the bard when they heard the door open and the warrior stepped through.

Xena's arms were full of their things and she laid them down just inside the inn door. The warrior then looked straight at them and gave the girl a scowl and headed for the table. The girl quickly rose and headed back to the kitchen saying she'd be back in just a few minutes with their food.

Xena strode to the table and resumed her seat. Her protective nature of the small bard had kicked in as soon as she'd seen the girl talking to Gabrielle. Xena looked across at the bard, "What did she want?"

"Nothing really... or at least she didn't say. She did say her name was 'Karyna'. I guess she thought I looked lonely sitting by myself and it's not like she has a room full of customer's to wait on." The bard replied with a slight apprehension at the warrior wanting to know. "So did you find Dominic?"

"Yes and he said he'd do the work for me. Since we'll have to stay a day or so while he's making the repairs, I took Argo to the stable before I came back. We'll also need to see about getting a room for a couple of days." Xena answered as her eyes continued to scan the girl across from her. She felt like there was something the bard wasn't telling her, but she didn't know what.

Gabrielle was beginning to feel uncomfortable under the warrior's frank scrutiny. "I'll go talk to Karyna and see if I can get us a room." With that she rose and headed in the direction of the kitchen as the blonde exited.

Karyna looked up and smiled as the small woman approached. "Your food will be ready in about 5 minutes, I was just coming to see if you'd like something else to drink."

"Yes we would, please bring two mugs of ale. We're also going to need a room for a couple of days." Gabrielle answered.

Gabrielle and the blonde continued to talk for a few minutes and then Gabrielle returned to the table again taking a seat across from the warrior. Gabrielle was feeling awkward and still felt that the incident earlier was all her fault. The guilt and embarrassment she was feeling made it impossible to look across into the blue eyes of the warrior. So she sat there staring at the table with her hands folded in her lap. It wasn't long... thank the gods... and their food and fresh drinks arrived.

Xena had been sipping her mug of tea since she'd returned, but hadn't quite finished when the serving girl arrived.

The girl placed the food and drinks on the table and smiled openly at Gabrielle. "Mikka said it would be ok. We'll be expecting you later." The girl said cheerfully as she turned and left.

Xena's eyebrow arched and she looked at the bard questioningly but remained silent. While continuing to eye the bard she picked up her new mug and smelled. A large grin swept her face. She took a large swallow. "Gabrielle that's really good, it's been a while since I've had some good ale."

Gabrielle looked up and smiled at the warrior. "I was hoping that you would like it. I also paid for a skin of ale and one of port to take with us when we leave."

Xena couldn't stand it now. "Gabrielle we don't have that many dinars. I know that you're a good bargainer, I've seen you in action, but I know they're not giving this stuff away... so how did you manage to do it?"

"I promised to tell my stories in the evenings while we're here. I can keep any money I make from the customers and if it creates enough business for the inn, we'll owe nothing. Otherwise I'll pay them out of the money earned from the customers that do come to hear me."

Xena couldn't help herself; she had to smile; the little bard had seemed to manage the impossible yet again.

Gabrielle picked up her mug taking a rather large swallow and choked and gasped.

"Gabrielle are you ok?" The warrior was concerned and picked up the bard's mug and smelled of it. A smile spread across the warrior face as she realized the bard had also ordered a mug of ale.

"I forgot I had ordered ale instead of tea." The bard said still gasping a little trying to catch her breath.

"You really should sip it, at least until you are used to it." The warrior said trying to be helpful.

"Thanks, I'll remember that." Gabrielle said still embarrassed.

They ate their meal and attempted to keep up the small talk, while both avoided what was really on their minds. As soon as they finished eating they went to the door and picked up their things and headed upstairs to deposit them in their room.

Gabrielle flopped on the bed to try it out while Xena changed out of her leathers and into a shift.

"Gabrielle I need to get these over to Dominic so he can get started on them. Would you like to go with me or do you want to stay here?" Xena asked.

"I think I'll just hang around here until you get back." The bard replied. As soon as the warrior left the room Gabrielle relaxed. She was sure that Xena could actually see her tension and it had already given her a headache. Gabrielle's thoughts went to what had happened earlier and immediately felt a warmth and wetness start between her thighs. Gabrielle knew she had to get her mind on something else in a hurry. The bard walked over and got the latest story that she'd been working on and sat down to see if she could finish it for tonight's story telling.

Xena took her time going to the tanners. She needed time to think and when she was around the bard that was almost impossible. Her emotions tended to cloud any thought process. The warrior had never had this kind of problem before. She'd been a warlord and had just taken or destroyed at her whim. Now a small young non-violent girl from Poteidaia was scrambling her thought processes. She needed some distance to try to get her mind and body back in harmony.

It was a very small village and there just wasn't much to occupy herself with. The warrior stopped by the stables on the way back to the inn and spent nearly a candlemark brushing and talking to the mare. It had actually started to attract some attention, as she noticed that for a small town there sure where quite a few people passing by the stables and looking in.

Xena decided she had delayed returning to the inn as long as she could. As she headed back to the inn she felt the tension and edginess start to return. As she entered the inn she spotted Karyna and asked for a pitcher of ale to be brought up to their room. She knew that Gabrielle didn't usually drink, until recently anyway, but thought it might help lessen the tension between them. Even if the bard didn't drink any, it was sure going to help her.

Xena continued up the stairs and found Gabrielle working on her scrolls when she entered the room. "What are you working on?" the warrior said trying to make conversation.

"I'm trying to finish the story I've been working on. I thought if I could get it finished I'd try it out tonight."

"Gabrielle that's another story about me isn't it?" The warrior arched an eyebrow waiting for the answer.

Gabrielle sheepishly looked at the warrior, "Yes... but Xena you know my best stories are the ones that I know about first hand and since I travel with you... that's what I know the best!"

"Then you won't mind if you have one less for your story telling. You know I can hardly sit there and listen to you go on about me... you always make me sound like a super-human or a god or something other than the old warlord I really am."

"Xena you're just being too hard on yourself again. You may have once been a warlord, you've seen and done a lot in your life, but you're not THAT old and besides you're my friend and I like telling others about my best friend."

"Well, I thank you for the compliment my friend, but I think I'd still rather just sit in the room."

Just then there was a knock at the door. Xena walked over and opened it. The serving girl handed the pitcher of ale to her and asked if she needed anything else. "No, that will be all, thank you." Xena said and then shut the door.

Gabrielle looked at the warrior questioningly.

"I thought I'd try some more of their ale out this evening. It will help me pass the time while you're telling stories." Xena said with a crooked smile playing across her face.

Gabrielle went back to working on her story and Xena got a mug and started on the ale. It was really good and tasted a lot like her mother's though she still thought her mother's was better.

² Copyrighted January 1998 by DelShannon