- Gabrielle .... you are going to pay for this! - promised the raven haired warrior as she sat and quietly fumed.

When Nebula and Toris had escorted her back to the infirmary and delivered her up to the irate bard, she had made the mistake of chuckling at the tirade the younger woman had been delivering. Gabrielle's eyes had suddenly gone flinty and she had watched with silent anger as the warrior had slowly and carefully stripped off the tunic she'd been wearing, turning her back on the bard and everyone else in the cabin to hide her wince of pain as she did so, before lowering herself gingerly onto the pallet.

"Alright, Warrior Princess," hissed the bard, "if you aren't going to take your injuries seriously, I'll do it for you."

Xena, somewhat recklessly in the current situation, smirked at her friend as if daring her to do her worst. However, inwardly she was struggling to maintain the confident strong facade that she was presenting to hide the fact that she was exhausted and hurting like blazes from the damned fool stunt of jumping out of the crowsnest.

Gabrielle turned to the glowering Malonda, "Thank you, Malonda ... that will be all." As the Chief Scout turned to leave the Queen added, "Oh Malonda. Please have Ushanta, Ossian, Lesich and Raedwulf come down to the infirmary as soon as possible," she commanded without offering any explanation.

The injured warrior's frown darkened as she wondered just what her bard had in mind, - You're up to something, Gabrielle, - she told herself.

"Um ....," Nebula moved away from where she stood next to Toris, "I've gotta keep an eye on things up on deck," she told them reluctantly. She was beginning to enjoy the company of the good looking innkeeper, but she did have the running of her ship to see to. She smiled almost seductively at the warlord's brother, "But when I get time, I'm going to hold you to that offer to show me your chest," she said wickedly.

"Chess!" retorted Toris quickly. "It's a game called chess," he repeated, as much for the cabin's other occupants as for the pirate.

"Whatever," Nebula ginned wickedly, flashing her toothy smile, as she sauntered out the door, "Later, guys!"

Gabrielle transferred her scowl to Toris who shrugged helplessly. "She likes to joke," he told her, although he wasn't absolutely sure why he was desperate to explain his innocence in the affair. The bard continued to look blackly at him. "Ummm .... I promised I'd help Autolycus with .... er, with, um with .... whatever he's doing right now," he finished helplessly, bolting for the cabin door and exiting without a backwards glance.

"That wasn't nice, Gabrielle," protested Xena. "You're mad with me ... not my brother. Don't take this out on him."

The bard drew in a deep breath and turned her attention to her partner. She crossed over to the cot, where the Warrior Princess sat, her mind racing with all the things she wanted to scold her about. However, when she reached her side she could see the faint sheen of perspiration that beaded her friend's face and said in exasperation, "Xena, you promised!" as she laid the back of her hand against the dark fevered brow.

Shaking her head in admonishment, she pushed the stubborn warrior back against her pillows and swung her legs up onto the cot where she roughly drew the covers over the reluctant patient. "What am I supposed to do with you?" she demanded, caught somewhere between concern and anger.

"You could yell at me later," the warrior suggested with a mock pout. "I'm not well you know," she sighed insincerely.

"Oh no, Warrior Princess! You don't get off that easily," the bard retorted with annoyance. "Did you, or did you not, promise me that you would stay in bed until you were fully recovered?"

"We were under a lot of pressure, Gabrielle .... I may have said it ...." blustered the warrior, reluctant to admit the promise.

"Oh believe me, Xena, you said it," assured the honey blonde.

"Damn it, Gabrielle. You know I hate being cooped up," growled the raven-haired woman uncomfortably, knowing that she had broken her promise even if she did feel well enough to be up and about ... she also knew that she wasn't fully recovered.

"Oh. I know Xena," agreed the bard with forced amiability.

"How about we slip off the ship and go collect Argo ourselves?" asked Xena hopefully, changing the subject and trying for a chance of freedom.

Smiling sweetly at her friend as four hulking Amazon warriors came through the cabin door, the bard answered, "Not a chance, Warrior Princess. You were only up on deck a few candlemarks and you came back here exhausted. There are still bounty hunters looking for us, and you are in no condition to fight them off." She shook her head at the glare that she was getting from the icy eyes of her friend, "So we're staying on this ship for the entire journey and you are going to stay in that bed."

"Gabrielle!" protested the warrior, "I'm going crazy here. I need some fresh air. A walk on deck is good for my recovery. Sheraya told you that, and so did Patroclese."

- Damn her hearing! - snarled the bard to herself. It had been a private conversation in hushed tones while Xena had been asleep, - Well obviously she wasn't asleep or she wouldn't have heard that, would she? - Sighing, she decided to concede a point, "Yeah well maybe you do need some fresh air, once a day. But I think we'll take a couple of precautions."

"Like what?" demanded Xena suspiciously.

Gabrielle waved the four Amazons over, "Xena, these warriors are now your personal attendants." The bard grinned at the scowl that descended on her partner’s face. She turned her attention to the four warriors. "Your task is to see that the my Champion remains in her bed except for a gentle walk around the deck for a candlemark each morning and again in the afternoon. You answer to no one's orders except mine, and your responsibility is to make sure that Xena does not tire herself during her recovery." She watched as the quartet nodded acceptance of their orders.

"Gabrielle," snarled the warrior patient, her voice full of simmering anger.

Ignoring her friend, the bard continued, "You will make sure that other than the two candlemarks she has for light exercise, she stays right where she is now .... oh yes, and light exercise does not include climbing, running, flips, rolls, fighting of any kind … with weapons or without. There is also to be no jumping, arm wrestling, practice kicks … in fact anything that requires more than a gentle walk or quietly sitting is out. Got it?" she demanded, looking at each of them and then at the raven-haired woman who was glaring at her.

"Yes, my Queen!" the four said in unison.

"Kill me now, Gabrielle," grumbled Xena in disgust. "I'm going to die of boredom!"

"No you won't, Xena. And it's for your own good. I know you. You always want to run before you can walk .... literally!" the bard told her.

Eponin chuckled from the next bed, "Look at it this way, Xena. As soon as you're fit enough, you can beat your 'attendants' into chopped liver. That way Gabrielle will know you're well enough to be out of the bed."

The four Amazon warriors looked at each other a bit dubiously at the thought, while Xena looked balefully at the Weapons Master, "Ya know Ep, you got a smart mouth!" she growled.

"Years of practice, Warrior Princess. Years of practice." crowed the Amazon. "The rate you're going, I'm gonna be outta here before you."

"Don't bank on it, Poni," chimed in Gabrielle. "Sheraya says you're going to need to take it easy for quite a while. So, if you start causing the same trouble as my friend here," she said tapping Xena's arm, "I'll just have to arrange some attendants to aid in your recovery, too. I'm sure there'll be plenty of willing volunteers for the job. I'm certain everyone would want to participate in ensuring your full recuperation."

The grins from the four big Amazon warriors let Eponin know that there would be no lack of volunteers for the task. She'd always been a hard taskmaster when it came to warrior training and taking care of the Weapons Master during her recovery would be perfect payback time for them.

Groaning at the thought, Poni demanded of the Warrior Princess, "Was she always like this ... or has she learned it being around you?"

"Nothing to do with me, Ep!" retorted an indignant ex-warlord. "It's being made queen by you Amazons that's done this. All that power has corrupted her."

"I've seen that happen before," admitted Eponin nodding sagely. "But people afflicted with this kind of thing usually end up getting paid back."

"And paybacks can be a bitch!" grinned Xena maliciously.

Gabrielle looked from one warrior to the other as they talked disparagingly about her, "That's right. Have your fun .... but neither of you are in any shape to do anything right now, so you will take it easy and obey the rules." She stood up and smoothed her skirt down. "Now since you both need to rest to get well, it's time for a nap for both of you."

"Gabrielle," hissed the Warrior Princess in warning.

"Hey! I haven't been anywhere," protested Eponin.

"You," the bard said, pointing her index finger at the Weapons Master, "need all the rest you can get. And you," she glared at Xena, "have pushed yourself too hard. You're both still replacing lost blood and you need plenty of rest for that. So either you take a nap like good patients, or I'll have Sheraya mix up something to put you to sleep."

The raven-haired warrior was ready to refuse when she saw the bard glance towards the hulking quartet of attendants. Her message was clear. She wouldn't put it past her autocratic partner to use her warriors' muscle to force feed a sleeping potion to her. Glowering angrily she settled back into her pillows, surprised at how tired she actually felt. Despite her intentions of just closing her eyes and waiting out her time, she actually drifted off to sleep quite quickly.

That had been five days previously, and true to her word, Gabrielle had used the warrior attendants to keep a strict eye on her champion. Xena didn't know whether to be infuriated or proud of the stubborn young woman who had risked the Warrior Princess' wrath in order to ensure that she had time enough for healing.

As she sat and thought about the situation, a grudging smirk swiftly crossed her lips before it was carefully hidden, once again, behind a coldly stoic mask, - Gabrielle, I swear ... if it wasn't that I knew your heart was in the right place, and that you thought this was for my good, I'd paddle your backside until you yelled for your mother!-

She listened to the sound of the sea churning behind them in a wake of white water as 'Wave Dancer' sped over the Aegean sea. A glance thrown over her shoulder through the stern lights showed her the island of Scyros falling behind them. Ahead of them lay the eastern reaches of the string of islands called the Northern Sporades, which they'd pass maybe around evening time. They'd made good time with no sign of Caesar's pursuit ships darkening their horizon.

Xena allowed her fingers to brush the collar that remained locked around her throat as she thought of the Roman. Hercules had tried his best to remove the thing .... even with her own not inconsiderable strength added to his, they didn't even strain the rivet that held the collar fast. She felt the start of a warm glow as she thought about the demi-god, but she reluctantly crushed it for the time being and kept her attention on the collar.

Anger flared deep within her, - How in Hades do we get these things off, - she wondered as she looked across at the bard who was talking to Joxer. It was bad enough that she was constantly subjected to the reminder of Caesar, but Gabrielle didn't deserve to be marked by what was ultimately the stigma of her past failings.

Trying to shake herself out of that mood, she glanced across at Eponin to see if the Weapons Master felt up to a game of chess. The Amazon had proven to be an adept pupil and learned the game almost as quickly as Xena had herself. The Warrior Princess still won the games, but Poni's increasing ability was pushing her, and was proving to be a stimulating pastime for both of them. - With practice, Ep may just beat me someday. - She grinned wolfishly, - But it will be a cold day in Tartarus if she ever managed to do it consistently! -

She almost sighed with disappointment when she saw that the Weapons Master was asleep. Patroclese was off doing something with the children that he'd brought with him, - We'll have to decide what we're going to do with them when we reach home, - she reflected, accepting responsibility for their welfare. - The girls can all be taken in by the Amazons ... I think they'll all be happy with that. -

During her exercise periods on deck, she had spent some time getting to know the children, She snorted softly at the reason behind that, - Not much damn choice with my 'attendants' dragging along with me. - But the time had been well spent. She had noticed that the girls found the Amazon warriors to be fascinating. They were so unlike anyone the girls had encountered before. It had taken some time but she gently encouraged them to spend time with the women and they had begun to learn from them so that now, the girls tended to spend more time trailing after the Amazons than with the boys.

- Those lads are another matter entirely, - she conceded. - I can probably get Mother to take a couple. Mattin would be a help in the kitchens, - she smiled at the thought. She'd grown to like the young kitchen slave in the time she'd known him, and knew that her Mother would treat him well, teach him what she could and give him a safe place to stay. - She could probably do with a stable hand to care for the guest's horses, - thinking of cheerful Fersan. - The inn is prosperous and even with Toris there, there is always plenty of work to be done. - She thought about that for a moment, and the more she thought about it the better she liked the idea. - Hmm, that might work. - she conceded. - But that still leaves five more of them to find places for. -

She let her very active mind piece together possible ideas and destinations for the rest of the group. - Well I'm sure that Hippocrates could use some apprentices. I'll see what Patroclese thinks. He knows the boys better than I do. The ones that are suitable can go with him to the hospice that Hippocrates runs. For the rest .... well, I'm certain Ephiny can talk Tyldus into taking them in. Failing that .... well, Autolycus wanted an apprentice. - She grinned at that. - Gabrielle would have a fit if I suggested that! Maybe Salmoneous needs an apprentice to help him? - A bigger grin formed, - That might be worse than letting Autolycus take one to train! -

She sighed again, and looked longingly out of the stern windows. She was bored almost to tears. She hadn't had a visit this morning from Hercules or Autolycus and not even Iolaus had popped in to try and avoid Nebula and spend some time near Gabrielle. Toris seemed to be busy doing something else and Ephiny was curled up in a bed on the other side of the cabin recovering from the attempt to abort her unwanted child.

- That had been bad, - she brooded. She could understand the reasons why the Regent had wanted to be rid of the child. Gabrielle had told her the whole story about just how the pregnancy had come about. - From the sound of things, there was definitely some foul play by the gods in that, - she told herself. - That probably explains why they couldn't abort the foetus. The hands of one or more gods are involved in this and if I had to put dinars on it, allowing for the fact they were taking an active part in other things that were going on, I'd have to say that this is down to Aphrodite and Artemis. Aphrodite because of the love aspect and Artemis because it's her Amazon Regent involved in this. -

She scowled blackly at that thought. - Damn all gods to Tartarus anyway! - she cursed. - Why can't they just leave us alone? - she questioned, and then answered herself with bitter sarcasm, - Because they wouldn't have anything to amuse themselves with. If they didn't interfere with humankind, they'd have no reason to justify their existence! -

There hadn't been anything much that she was able to do to help Ephiny when the violent contractions, caused by the potion that Sheraya had reluctantly given the Regent, had wracked the Amazon's body with violent torment. However, when they had continued unabated for over six candlemarks without any sign of the foetus being aborted, Xena had tried to go to her side, only to be physically restrained by the two attendant Amazons. Fuming, she had called Sheraya over and suggested that she give the suffering woman an infusion of Sanicle, Serapias Tublith and Valerian.

The healer had quickly prepared the potion and had forced Ephiny to swallow enough to ease her painful contractions and to put her asleep for a full day and night. Since that time, the Amazon had withdrawn into herself, refusing to communicate with anyone as she battled with her demons and anguish. Three and a half days had passed like that, and Xena was beginning to think that it was time she took a hand with the Regent. The question was, how to achieve her aims while being burdened with her Amazon escort who were totally intent upon following their queen's rigorous instructions?

Gabrielle happened to glance over at that moment to see a black frown on her friend's face as she chewed in frustration at her thumb nail. She knew that this relative inactivity was gnawing on her warrior's nerves, but in the five days since she had imposed her will, it was clearly evident that Xena had recovered much of her lost health.

She pursed her lips, - Maybe she could do with some extra time out in the air now. - she thought to herself. - A couple of candlemarks this morning and the same this afternoon? - Making up her mind, she patted Joxer's arm and told him, "I'm just going to have a chat with Xena and maybe get some fresh air with her."

Hiding his disappointment, the injured man produced a weak smile, "Okay, Gabby. I'll just wait here for you. I won't be going anywhere."

"Thanks, Joxer," she told him. "I'll come and tell you a story in a little while ... I just want to make sure Xena doesn't overdo things up on deck."

"Oh great, Gabrielle!" he beamed. "Ummm......"

"What is it Joxer?" she asked, knowing that he had a request.

"Well ... if you could ... I mean if it's okay ... that is, if you don't mind me asking ...." he bumbled self consciously.

"What is it, Joxer," she repeated, trying to hide her amusement and the twinge of frustration at his beating around the bush.

"Well, if it's okay with you ... ," he saw her start to frown with impatience and dived in. "Could you tell the one about how Hercules got turned into a pig, please?" he finished in a rush.

Gabrielle laughed, "Is that all?" she chuckled.

Joxer looked slightly hurt, "Well I didn't want to impose in case you had something else in mind."

"It's okay, Joxer. I'd be happy to tell you that story. Get some rest and I'll be back in about half a candlemark or so."

"Okay," he agreed happily, pleased he had something to look forward to. If bed rest was chaffing Xena, at least she managed to get out into the air a couple of times a day. He'd been cooped up in the infirmary since he'd been hurt and, although he tried not to worry about it, he really was concerned that he'd never walk properly again.

- Gabrielle is never going to look at me other than as a crippled friend if I can't even stand on my own two feet again, - he silently worried, looking glum as she moved away from him and crossed the cabin to Xena's side. - I'll never get to have another adventure with them. I'll be laughed at and shunned ... a useless fool! - He gulped deeply to swallow the lump the was forming in his throat and blinked back the tears that threatened to spill.

Sheraya appeared at his side and checked his healing legs, as she did three times a day, to make sure that the splints weren't rubbing up sores. She had been pleased that the gash, made by the broken bone punching through the skin of his thigh, was healing well without any sign of infection and, from what she could tell, the bones were knitting satisfactorily.

Glancing up at his glum face, she patted his legs encouragingly and told him, "They're healing nicely Joxer. You'll soon be up and around, doing your mighty deeds again."

"Ha, ha!" he answered despondently. "I've never done any mighty deeds. All I've ever done is tagged along after Xena and Gabrielle when they'd let me. Now, I won't even be able to do that."

Sheraya gave him a vexed look. She'd just about had enough of the self-pitying morass that had afflicted her patients. What with Ephiny, Xena and, to a certain extent, Eponin, the last thing she needed was a despairing Joxer. "Alright, young man," she told him in a no-nonsense tone. "Firstly, there's a little girl on this ship who thinks your are the greatest hero there is. You saved her life and she and the other children know it. Charis, or Cassie as they call her, has even badgered the Queen into teaching her the 'Joxer the Mighty' song!"

"Really?" he asked with some interest.

"Really," she told him bluntly. She didn't bother telling him that Cassie had just about driven her friends and everyone else mad with the tune, mainly because her young voice hit so many bad notes it was painful when she hit a good one. "Not only that, but these legs of yours are healing nicely. Give it another few days once we reach Amphipolis and the splints will be able to come off and you can start some exercises to get some strength back into them. It will be hard work, and exhausting, but if you work at it you'll be walking normally in no time."

"Really?" he asked again, not sure whether he could believe her.

"Really," repeated the healer, giving him a wry look, "I'm not in the habit of coddling my patients. I'd tell you if I thought you wouldn't walk again."

"Thanks, Sheraya," he said, gifting her with an enormous smile.

"No problem, Joxer. Just take it easy and stop beating yourself up," she told him, finishing her inspection of his legs and moving off to check on Eponin's wounds.