© Copyright 1996-1999 by Clayton J. Powers

"Gray eyes! What, by the Fates, is going on here!" he exclaimed, his speech still slightly slurred. Athena, between dodges, filled him in. Rage, great towing rage filled Zeus as he stood. He looked and somehow two more of the giants had gotten up into heaven and were rushing in. They elbowed past the surprised Apollo and Poseidon and one of the them spotted Hera and Aphrodite. The giant sprinted towards the goddesses. He brutally backhanded the gentle Aphrodite in the face and sent her flying. Recognizing Hera, he bellowed. "Now you'll pay for raping our brothers!" He throttled her and started tearing her chiton.

Zeus saw it. Growing to incredible size in an instant, he roared "NO!" and raised an arm over his head. A great, electric blue, glowing fireball formed around his hand and he threw. A monstrous bolt of lightning emerged from his fingertips and flew towards the giant's back. It struck and blasted the giant into fragments. Zeus turned and found his victim's brother and he threw another thunderbolt with the same result. Immediately Athena and Apollo rushed over to the pile of remains, gathered them hurriedly and pitched them back to earth. They would soon simply reform into the giants they once were.

Zeus rushed to his wife's side. "Hera, Darling! Are you well?"

"It would have been better had you let him ravish me. Even now you nearly let Olympus be destroyed because you cannot stay out of the beds of mortal women."

"Hera! You know that I love you. I would die for you.'

Hera nodded with a bitter look on her face. If she said what she really felt, that she, and only she, was qualified to run existence, Zeus would simply blow her away with a thunderbolt. On the gods, Zeus' mighty weapon was utterly fatal. She lowered her plain face and muttered "How kind of you."

"Forgive me wife. I must go to my beloved daughter and find out more." He returned to his mighty daughter, who was sitting and taking a breather. The giants must now know that Zeus returned and they are reconsidering their tactics. "Athena, darling daughter, is there anything else I should know?"

"Yes, Father. Gentle Demeter and Brother Ares are missing. Demeter is charged by the giants for abrogating our treaty. I must leave to find her so that this terrible tragedy can be explained. There are reports that Ares is up to serious mischief on Earth. The greatest war in the history of mankind is in the offing."

"Why do you not go to Earth and pursue him?"

"I can't. The Fates have prophesied that only I can find a lion-skinned mortal who, with the 'Herb of Invincibility' is capable of killing any of the giants. According to Apollo's very brief consultation with the Delphic Oracle, only a mortal can find Demeter as well. Father, your brother along with Apollo, Eros, Dionysus, and Artemis cannot contain the giants. Without me, they would collapse and yield heaven to the enemy. You must join the fighting until I can get to the bottom of this mystery. I MUST find Demeter! Can you do this, and keep reality on course?"

Zeus was appalled. "I don't know! Weather throughout the universe will deteriorate without Demeter, but I think Themis can keep the planets in their orbits. Maybe she can help me with the weather. I've never said this in my life before. All of reality lays at my feet, but all I can say is that I'll do my best! Go now darling before they come back. What mortal can help you in this terrible task?"

"I think you can answer your own question Father."

"HERCULES!"

The weather had broken from the snow and brutal rains and the crew took a short break in their work to look upon the city.

Xena stood on the bulwark of her ship and looked up thoughtfully. A moment later she was joined by Gabrielle and Hattusilis.

"I still can't believe I was actually there when the city fell." Gabrielle said awed. Xena had been concerned for her. The fall of Troy was Gabrielle's first real taste of war, and she had handled it well. The house to house fighting was much less intense than any field battle where men died in huge groups, but Gabrielle had seen her share of corpses slaughtered one or two at a time. The Battle of Abana, as Xena had started calling it, was a mass butchery that only lasted a few minutes, and it had gotten to Gabrielle. "It was so awful, but Helen and Perdicus were so magnificent, that I wouldn't have missed it for anything. Now Helen is happy somewhere for sure." Gabrielle looked longingly up at the city. She remembered poor Perdicus, her husband, disemboweled before her by Callisto.

"Look at it, Hattusilis." Gabrielle mused. "Still magnificent even though the city's been abandoned and burned. There are so many stories on that beautiful hill--stories of love--stories of unrequited passion--stories of wonder and faith--stories of courage and cowardice. It's said Apollo, our sun god himself, founded the city. See how it glows in the sunlight? Thousands and thousands of people passed through this strait and climbed that hill. I wonder what filled their hearts when they first saw it."

Hattusilis looked at Gabrielle. "Troy means a lot to you. I can see."

"Ah it's a long story. I'll tell it to you sometime." Hattusilis nodded. He looked over at Xena who was scanning the ruin with her new binoculars. She was muttering to herself.

"Wall looks repairable. Citadel still stands. Might still make do with the old girl, if the Greeks decide to do something."

Hattusilis overheard and leaned in to Gabrielle. "Is Xena always so focused on her trade?"

"Pretty much. She has a big soft spot, but it's hard to get to. I'll give you an example: When she's moved, Xena can sing beautifully. I keep bugging her to do it professionally, (we live hand to mouth usually) but she always says it's not about performance with her, it's about feelings.

"Oh I see. I understand you write stories?"

"I do, mostly about Xena. She needs to have her story told."

"I can tell. I've never met her like before. Gabrielle, you seem too sweet and sensitive to be in such a dangerous trade. You're no warrior."

"I suppose, but I'm not a housewife either. I guess, I need the excitement. I got to keep creating, or I think I'd go nutty."

"Me too. I never really wanted to be a warrior. Just that it was expected of me. It wouldn't do for a possible Emperor to be a full time musician."

"Really? You play an instrument? So do I. Not very well I'll admit, but I play the Pan Pipe."

"Pan Pipe?"

"Hang one. I'll be right back" Gabrielle dashed below and did indeed come right back--with the pipe. She offered it to him.

"Oh one of those! We call it a mouth organ. They can be pretty and sweet."

"And you can play them while you're walking. Sometimes Xena sings while I play. But she's a lot better singer than I am a piper. Sometimes she can break my heart. What do you play?"

"Brass. Horn and bugle."

"Oh a horn well played can be so beautiful!'

"It can. Shame mine's back in Hattusas."

"Oh, don't worry. There are some incredible metal workers in Athens. Some are so good that they must have Hephaestus as their patron god. I'm sure you can find a great instrument there. Maybe we can play a duet?"

"I'd love to."

Gabrielle looked at Hattusilis closely, very closely indeed. Suddenly she felt the hair on the backs of her arms blowing in the wind and a stirring deep within her. Hattusilis was short. Maybe two, three inches taller than herself. He had wavy dark brown hair and a closely cropped beard with a sprinkling of gray in it. He was a young man, and Gabrielle mused that the premature graying was caused by all the horror he'd seen. His features were straight and square with a sharp nose and strong brown eyes. It had just struck her that he was very handsome, and very sad. Kind of like the way Perdicus was sad, but there were differences. Perdicus could neither carry his sadness nor his revulsion over the men he'd killed and seen killed.

Hattusilis had great dignity, and wore his sadness like a decoration. Was he like Xena in this way? Gabrielle didn't think so. Xena was sad too, but she didn't wear it. She got rid of her sadness in batches, when the mood struck her. Xena's normal face was confidence. She wore her PRIDE like a cloak, and this rubbed off on others. Hattusilis was right. He wasn't a natural warrior. That was the difference between him and Xena. He was trained to be a warrior, he wasn't born to be one. He is like Xena in another way though. He's direct, forthright, no nonsense. He's a nice man, and very worried about his homeland.

"Do you have a family, Hattusilis?" Gabrielle asked.

"I used to." I had a wife and a baby. A baby girl. My wife's name was Gloriana, and she was that too. She was sweet, elegant, and sophisticated. Daughter's name was Effisanilis. We just called her Effie."

"Hittite names are a mouthful."

"No worse than you Greeks. Klytemnestra?"

"Point taken. What happened to them?"

"They died. Fever took them away from me about five years ago. About the time my father died."

"Gods how awful! What did you do?"

"Threw myself into my work. Some in the palace called me 'The Assistant Emperor'. Basically, I was my uncle Suppiluliumsa's chief of staff."

"How did you end up in jail then?"

"That bastard Tudhalias outmaneuvered us. He lies not only because its in his interest but because it's in his nature. He insinuated himself into my grandfather's favor and got responsibility for personnel matters throughout the government. Next thing you know he was the real power in the Empire and the Emperor became a figurehead. When Grandpa died and my uncle took over, he found out and was trying to get the reins of power back in his hands where they belonged, but all of Tudhalias' cronies swamped him. He was killed for having the courage to fire the snake. Then one day I came home from a ride and found Imperial Guard officers all over my house. They tortured and killed my servants and most of my distant family members looking for me. These were men I'd known since I was a child! Tudhalias just dangled power in front of them and they instantly abandoned any kind of loyalty to me and to the nation."

"That's the worst tale of betrayal I've ever heard in my life." Gabrielle said.

"We Hittites are a stolid people. We believe in keeping our word. We also believe in live and let live. We don't pretend that we can take over nature like a lot of you Greeks say you can. We pray to our gods. Raise our sheep and olives and live life. This stuff that Tudhalias has been feeding the people is just so wrong. I'm convinced you can't rule a big country by fear for very long. Ach!" He exclaimed. "If I could only go back and tell the people what really happened, Tudhalias, and all his lackeys would be hanging on a cross right now. Then I'd name a successor, abdicate and go raise olives somewhere."

"Wow! You really do hate politics."

"Oh yeah, I just want to raise sheep and olives. Raise a family with a lot of fat boys, and play my horns. I like a simple life. A good wife, good food, good friends, an adventure now and then. Politics is something I could really do without. However, my people need me, and I have a duty to them. Just as my family has had towards them for five hundred years. I've got to get back. I've GOT to!"

"Hattusilis?"

"Yes, Gabrielle?"

"I think you must be the best Hittite of them all."

"What a sweet thing to say!" Hattusilis jumped down off the bulwark to the deck, and swept Gabrielle down as well. Then he took Gabrielle's hand and put it to his lips and kissed it.

Gabrielle blushed. She was genuinely interested in this man, and she felt compassion for him. He was faced with the terrible possibility that he might have to kill many of his people to get his homeland back for them, and her heart reached out. "Well when we get back home, I'll make sure that I get that horn for you." She said, and both went back to watching the abandoned metropolis sail by.

The wind veered to the south east and freshened. Xena, who was still standing on the taff rail near the stern post, took another look at the remains of Troy and jumped down. She yelled to the Amazons on the oars, "Sheets and braces, ladies! Wind's shifted!" With that order everyone, including Demodocus and Kotamuwa boiled up from below to haul in on the ropes. Xena nodded, took the steering oar from Pyronia, and pulled back on it. The rudder bit, and she set a course to the west south west. Thessaly and Zagora was only a couple of days away. 

Lyceus pulled up to the quay and the Amazons tied her off. Then the crew, exhausted and happy to be home, disembarked with their captain first off the gangway.

"Marshall! Marshall! How wonderful to have you back!

Xena walked over to her old comrade and shook his hand. "I'm sorry I can't stay Nikos, we have to leave immediately. I'd like to keep our arrangement as before, but don't beach her will you? I suspect someone might need her, or I'll be selling her very soon.

Nikos looked crestfallen. "Yes. Yes of course, Marshall. I will do as you ask."

Xena grabbed him affectionately by the shoulder. "Don't worry, Nikos. You've done Greece great service. I won't, I can't ever forget you for it."

"Why thank you! Thank you so much!"

By that time Argo, Maude and the remaining horses were unloaded, and the Amazons had disembarked. Xena took a moment to speak to them.

"Ladies. Gabrielle, Demodocus, Pyronia, Ephiny, Hattusilis, Kotamuwa, and I have to ride ahead. The news we carry must reach Queen Melosa as soon as possible. I'm not all that much for words. That's Gabrielle's job." A titter of appreciation went through the women warriors. "But I must thank you for what you have done for me and your homeland. I'll be certain to tell Queen Melosa about your gallantry and steadfastness. When I'm finished, the world will ring with the word Amazon! So, we'll see you when you arrive at home, and when you do, the first round of drinks is on me!"

The Amazons erupted in hooting and battle cries of Hippolyta. Big smiles came to them all, and all hugged and kissed each other. Xena started a receiving line and thanked every one in person, so did the rest of the party. Iphigenia and Julia were the last to stand before Xena. She hugged Iphigenia and thanked her gratefully for the blood she sacrificed in Halikarnassus. However, she saved her greatest praise for Julia,

"Julia, we all owe you our lives. If there's anything I can do for you, name it and I'll do what I can."

"No, Xena there isn't anything I need. But if you ever get into a scrape, make sure I'm with you will ya?"

Xena smiled, hugged the stocky Amazon, and kissed her cheek. "Count on it." Turning to her party, Xena shouted "Mount up!" She bent, slung Gabrielle up behind her, and they trotted up the road to the mountains.

"Tyldus, it's good to see you again. It's nice to know that my name still has some clout with you." Xena said.

"Where you are there's trouble, Xena. I'm just glad we're on the same side this time," The King of the Thesallian Centaurs said in his sweet bass baritone. Xena shook his hand then turned and did the same to Melosa, who was very glad to see her back. Xena looked down at the Centaur she had helped Ephiny deliver, who was standing beside his grandfather fidgeting. Xenon had grown tremendously in the year since she'd last seen him. His body was a beautiful white while on his head was his mother's curly blonde hair and brown eyes.

Ephiny bent down and told her son, "This is your gods mother Xena. Say hello Xenon."

The little boy horse pawed at the ground and looked down shyly, then stuck out his hand. "Hi!'

Xena kneeled and hugged him. "Ephiny he's growing into the handsomest centaur that ever lived."

By that time Gabrielle had joined them and kneeled as well. "Oh Ephiny he's precious!"

"Yes he is! My beautiful baby boy!" Ephiny said hugging her son. He turned beet red and retired behind his proud Grandfather.

"He's a little shy. I'm sure he'll get over it. That was the last thing my son Phantes ever was," said Tyldus.

"Xena, would you care to introduce our guests?" Melosa looked the men over and her eye landed on the Hittites, both were wearing the Black and Silver of the Imperial guard. On the ship, Pyronia had turned her tunic back over to Hattusilis to replace his prison rags. The Queen of the Amazons looked them over with a strong look of mistrust and shot a glance at Xena.

"Don't worry, Melosa, they're friends, and I think you'll want to hear what they have to say.

Melosa nodded but still looked at them very seriously.

Before Xena could say anything, Hattusilis stepped forward. "Hattusilis, Ma'am. Crown Prince of the Hittite Empire at your service." He bowed crisply from the waist. Standing again he continued, "Allow me to introduce my aide, Kotamuwa, formerly of the Fourth Battalion, Company D of His Majesty's own Imperial Guard."

Kotamuwa's eyes shot up in surprise. He'd thought that he was basically along for the ride. Now he'd been promoted to Emperor's Aide! He took a sharp step forward, braced to attention, clicked his heels and bowed his head curtly as well. "Ma'am!"

Melosa's eyes went wide then she introduced herself and Tyldus. Then she looked at Xena, "Is there no end to your tricks? I ask you to find out something for me and you return with the heir to the Hittite throne?" She shook her head suppressing a chuckle.

"My Queen! She does the best she can!" Gabrielle chimed in. Everyone erupted in laughter.

"Queen Melosa. I have heard much of you from your sister Amazons. If you are anything like them, especially Ephiny and Pyronia, it will be a great privilege to know you," Hattusilis added.

"Amen to that, Sire!" Kotamuwa added earnestly. Everyone laughed again.

Hattusilis shook his head. I hope you can forgive Sergeant Kotamuwa, he is not used to diplomatic affairs. If he does it again, he'll be PRIVATE Kotamuwa." Hattusilis said in a mocking tone. He smiled at the now flummoxed sergeant then to Kotamuwa's relief he slapped him on the back.

Xena walked back and took Demodocus' arm and introduced him. Tyldus and Melosa had heard of him and acknowledged their gratitude for his offering Ephiny help when she needed it. This was especially true of Tyldus.

"Bless you, Sir. Had my son lived, I'm sure that Ephiny and my grandson would have had a lovely life with your help."

"Ephiny is a strong woman and a loving mother. Prejudice or no, there isn't a reason why they couldn't have been happy in Athens. It would have been my pleasure as well."

Melosa said, "Well, now that's done, some kind of celebration is in order. Our sisters are back! We must have a feast!"

Xena held up her hand. "Melosa, we need to talk immediately. I have the information we need, and the news is bad. We need to take immediate action. Perhaps we can have the party tomorrow once we've set things into motion. Besides, the rest of the Amazons that you so kindly allowed to go with us are on foot. They won't be here until late."

"As you wish, Xena." Melosa walked forward to her charges. "Make preparations for a sacrifice and feast tomorrow! Our sisters are home safe! Let us make such a joyful noise that Artemis herself will come to see what it is!" Turning back to Xena she gestured, indicating where guests should go. Ephiny and Pyronia took this as a cue to go and return to their houses, but Xena stopped them.

"No, you risked your lives for this information. You deserve to be in on whatever decision is made."

"Sure, anything you say, Xena." Pyronia answered while Ephiny vigorously nodded her head.

"You too, Gabrielle."

"Yes, Tyldus." Replied Xena.

"I was with her when she opened the safe, Your Majesty." Pyronia added.

"You have confidence in the translation, Pyronia?"

"My Greek, as you can hear Tyldus, is excellent." Hattusilis said. I will swear by Pyronia's translation.

"It's nearly impossible to believe." Melosa said while staring off towards a wall, as if she couldn't muster the strength to look at the papyrus. "This lunatic is capable of doing what that plan says?"

"I've looked him in the eye, Melosa. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind," Xena said.

"I've worked with him for nearly ten years." Hattusilis added. "He's capable of anything, including genocide. He's completely convinced of his divinity."

"You say he has an army in the field of 200,000?" Tyldus asked.

"We've all seen it King Tyldus." Gabrielle said. "It went on as far as the eye could see just about."

"Gabrielle is taking a little artistic license." Demodocus said, as Gabrielle glared at him. "But the camp we saw was at least three miles square." I think you should take the order of battle figures there as accurate."

"The bit about what he plans for this area is just sickening," Melosa said. "I cannot believe he means to exterminate us all. There were Amazon tribes in Asia Minor!"

"I'm afraid they were wiped out years ago" Hattusilis said. Tudhalias fooled my grandfather into signing the order."

"Artemis preserve us." Melosa said.

"And Poseidon preserve US!" Tyldus added. "Standing orders are to slaughter any Centaur on sight?"

Xena nodded.

Tyldus shook his head. "600,000 plus. That's more than all the people in Greece I think."

"It probably is." Demodocus agreed.

"Tyldus, if this is the choice we're presented with, we've got no choice at all. We've got to fight!' Melosa said, her anger beginning to build. Her eyes flashed and the little queen seemed to grow in stature. "I categorically refuse to let some madman round up all my beloved sisters, no matter where they are, and crucify them! I'll die in battle first!"

"Well I, for one, am not going to stand by and roll over just to be sent to the knacker's yard either, but there's a lot more at stake here than just us. He intends to enslave the entire Hellenic Peninsula. We've got to get support. Everyone has to be shown these...these...things and told that they are in grave danger." Tyldus said pointing his finger at the document. His outrage was on the boil as well.

"What do you intend to do?" Gabrielle asked.

Melosa thought for a moment. "There's precedent for a grand gathering of all the rulers of all the cities and kingdoms of Greece at Delphi, but it's usually done at the Festival of Apollo in the spring."

"Yes! That festival usually ends up as a big political conference anyway." If we call it now, we'll just be rid of the religious hypocrisy," Tyldus averred.

"Delphi is neutral, owned by no state or kingdom. It's as good a site as any." Xena said.

"Well then, It looks like we need to send gallopers to every major city with this intelligence right away. We should include copies of the summary with our call," Melosa said.

"I hate to be a chicken little here," Gabrielle interjected, "But neither of you are on the best of terms with many of the Greek cities. Would they come to a conference called by you?" Tyldus and Melosa looked at each other.

"We'll have to try." Tyldus said.

Demodocus stepped in, "Gabrielle, I have a lot of influence on the Athenian Council. I was instrumental in getting the present Regent, Archon, installed. If I go there with these documents and the statements of our honored rulers here, including the Crown Prince, I'm sure I'll get the council, and Archon, to go. Once Athens goes, everyone else will. Athens is far too powerful to ignore. I'll leave at dawn.

Gabrielle nodded, relieved.

"Wherever this conference is held, it's gotta be held fast," Xena said. "I'm sure Tudhalias is gonna push up his schedule. He wants to take Halikarnassus before the winter sets in. Erginus is in a good, strong position but he's short of manpower and material. One good division would hold any kind of land assault until something is done to defend ourselves. Demodocus, do you think you can convince Archon to send Erginus maybe 10,000 men and a small fleet, maybe 100-200 ships? With Erginus' 30-40,000 and that defensive line of his, a force of that size is sure to hold. Tudhalias is sure to step back once he knows that a major Greek City is supporting Halikarnassus. This should give Greece a chance to act. I'll write a letter of introduction to Erginus to that effect."

"No problem."

"Good!"

"Eponin!" Melosa called out.

"Yes, My Queen!"

"Round up every sister that can write, and send a runner to our male friends next door requesting the same thing. We've got a lot of copying to do." Melosa's aide nodded and ran out.

"Equus!" Tyldus called to his aide. "Go round up the fastest centaurs you can--at least twenty. Equip them with at least four days rations. Tell them they're all in for long runs. I want them here at dawn."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Melosa, we need to get word to someone else, too." Xena added.

Quizzical looks flashed across the faces of nearly everyone but Gabrielle. "Hercules," she said.

"Come in!"

The door swung open, and Xena stepped in wearing a diaphanous green robe.

"Hello, Princess," The priest said with a weary smile. "I see you finished writing that letter."

Xena let the robe fall way and slipped under the covers with Demodocus. She gently kissed him on the cheek then wrapped herself around her lover. "Yes, finally. Demodocus, I came in because I missed you in Hatti, so much. It hurt to have to keep you at arms length. I didn't want to be so hard on you."

"I understand, Princess. I know that I wasn't much help to you. I've got no excuses."

"Demodocus, I know you did the best you could. I can't imagine what you went through having to feel all the garbage you had to have. How is that now?"

"It's much better now that I'm surrounded by friends. It still bothers me but I don't feel like I'm going to lose my mind. I think I can stay away from the bottle--for now."

"That's good." Xena snuggled even closer.

All the tension left them.

"I do want to thank you. We couldn't have gotten back alive without you."

"Thank you, Princess, but I really doubt it. What are you going do now?"

"I think I'll go back on the road. I've finished this job."

Demodocus sat up, shocked. He looked into Xena's sky blue eyes, then touched her. He took in a breath. "You're serious, aren't you."

"Why shouldn't I be?"

Demodocus took in another breath with a very questioning look on his face.

"Look. Nobody's gonna want me at that conference." Xena continued. "An awful lot of those cities and towns I sacked and burned. All I can do is try to help small groups at most. I'd do nothing but cause trouble."

"Xena, you know that's not true. The Xena you once were is behind you. The wound in your heart, although deep and wide, is healing. The whole world is finding out about how much you've changed, yet you're still too inexperienced to accept the truth into your soul. You risked your LIFE to give us this news. You saved all our lives in Hattusas. Don't you think you're entitled reward yourself for your behavior and see this through to the end?"

Xena sat up. She looked down and away from her lover. "I'm tired, Demodocus. I'm tired of all the killing. Did you see how the Battle of Abana affected Gabrielle?"

"You have every right to be tired. War is so hateful that any sane person would tire of it. I did see how Gabrielle reacted to the battle. I think she took it rather well."

"Well? That night on the ship she crawled into bed with me and cried all night. I don't want to see her go through all that."

"Xena, that little woman is tougher than you can know. Anyone would be affected powerfully seeing hundreds die in a few minutes. You express the stress differently than her. You express it through your ability. Gabrielle doesn't really have that outlet. Besides, just like you, Gabrielle chose her life. She knows it's a hard one. As for you, if Tudhalias gets what he wants here, do you think you'd be able to continue your wandering life? You'd be hunted like an animal. I've felt Tudhalias' spite. He will NEVER give up until you are on one of the crosses in Hattusas. You've got a personal stake in this conference."

Xena nodded.

Demodocus continued, "You deserve a rest. It's going to be at least two or three weeks before the conference could possibly convene. I'll be in Athens in three days, provided Maude lets me go that fast." Xena chuckled over her lover's affection for his mule. "I'm sure that the division you asked for will be at sea before the end of the week. Now this is your doctor talking, take that three weeks for yourself. Don't take any jobs. Stay here maybe. Rest, and above all, spend time with Gabrielle. Your friendship with her is the greatest tonic I can prescribe. Do something so that you can enjoy her company. Above all, talk to her. Tell her what you feel. Then start for Delphi. I'm sure a runner can catch you on the way. Don't you worry your lovely head about how you'll be received. I'll take care of that. The rulers of Greece owe you their lives now. You gave them TIME. A very precious commodity as you know. Besides, I have a funny feeling that the Fates have something grand planned for you. I don't know what."

"OK I'll go, but I wish you didn't have to go tomorrow."

"I don't want to go either. I really don't, but you'll be fine without me."

"Well, I'll miss you."

"Don't worry, I'll be in Delphi. In the mean time, you'll still have me in there." Demodocus put a hand over Xena's heart, and Xena reciprocated. They kissed languidly and passionately, then made gentle love until they both fell asleep.

So, on a cold, gray, ominous day the conclave met in the gigantic Amphitheater of Delphi hard by the magnificent Temple of Apollo. Its purpose was for its members to come to some kind of solution to the horrible problem Tudhalias' irresponsibility had presented to them. Tyldus and his Centaur delegation, Melosa and her staff of picked Amazon braves, as the rulers who requested this extraordinary meeting, sat down in front. Most of the delegations of the largest cities sat nearby as the progressively smaller governments sat farther and farther back. They were all huddled in their heavy cloaks with faces as gloomy as the task that they had to do. The rulers of Greece had to decide whether or not to go to war with an empire many times the size of all of them put together.

In the Amazon delegation, Xena and Gabrielle sat. Gabrielle was much better than in the immediate weeks after her shock at the Battle of Adana and she beheld the scene with awed wonder. Xena looked on with focused wariness. She had had little exposure to democracy in international affairs. It was her experience that many states just built up their forces and conquered their neighbors. There was, however, a tiny tinge of hope in her azure eyes. This conclave was the only shot the Greeks had to survive as a people, and she fervently hoped that its decision would be the right one.

"Your Majesties, My Lords and Ladies. We have been gathered here to confront a question that is momentous--whether or not the combined people of Hellas should go to war to protect ourselves against a planned aggressive war by the Hittite Empire. As we all know, this empire in Asia Minor is both vast and wealthy, with resources and a population far larger than our own. As you have heard, the documents here purport..."

Gabrielle elbowed Xena in the ribs, "Purport? PURPORT! Purport my eye! Those documents are genuine! What is he up to?" Gabrielle whispered.

"Hang on Gabrielle, we'll see," Xena replied.

...to be actual Hittite Foreign Ministry Documents taken by a reconnaissance party dispatched by the Monarch of the Pindus Amazon Nation, Melosa. We shall also be able to interrogate the members of this party, in addition to two distinguished and interested guests, all of whom are here. To lay out further this mission, and to give a general impression of what was found, let me present Demodocus, the Chief Priest of the Maiden Athena of my own fair City of Athens."

Demodocus rose dressed in his full ceremonial robes and walked over to the rostrum.

"Your Majesties. Our party, led by Xena of Amphipolis--known as the Warrior Princess..."

Xena's name sent a shock through the crowd. Xena looked up and out over them. She saw faces of anger, revulsion, and fear. To her surprise though, she saw some faces that looked positively happy over the announcement. She peered more closely, and smiled, for some ways back she saw four welcome faces, King Gregor, King Lius of Trius, his daughter Princess Diana, and "Little Flora" who was grown up and the elected Doge of a medium sized city.

"BITCH!" Someone near the front bellowed.

"Harpy!" Yelled another voice from nearer the back.

"BABY KILLER!" A woman yelled from the center of the crowd. Xena winced. Gabrielle saw this and put her hand on Xena's arm.

Another man, dressed like a Boetian nobleman rose exclaiming. "That animal sacked and burned my home and stole away two of my sons for her army and the both died! I didn't find out what happened to them for years. There is NO way I can believe anything that manipulative whore can tell me!"

"Gentlemen! Gentlemen! Please!" Archon said raising his hands. "There is plenty of evidence to discuss, not only Xena's. Hold your debate until Demodocus has finished his statement! Please!"

'...A month and a half ago traveled to Hattusas at the behest of Queen Melosa of the Pindus Amazons..." The mention of the Amazons brought another angry reaction from the crowd.

"Since when are those harlots GREEK?"

"Man haters! They should all be murdered!"

"Or forced to take men!"

Gabrielle looked over at Melosa with some concern. The Amazon Queen had a hot temper when provoked, but Gabrielle was pleased to see that she was only looking in the direction of the voices in a bemused manner.

Again Archon raised his hands and the crowd quieted. Demodocus restarted his presentation. It was long and detailed starting with the raiding parties and ending with the escape from the Hittite capital. "My Lords and Ladies, we have all the members of the party here to take questions to clarify events." Lastly, we have here His Royal Highness, Hattusilis, Crown Prince of the Hittites who Tudhalias prevented from taking his rightful place on the throne by an unlawful coup d'etat. He is available to answer questions as well."

That announcement sent a curious buzz through the crowd. Xena heard a man behind her say, "Hattusilis! I met him at the Olympics six years ago. He was one of the fairest men I ever met. Totally trustworthy. Gods what a hip throw he had! Best Pankration player I ever saw." Xena kept looking around and saw many nod their heads in recognition. Looks of curiosity were everywhere.

One by one, the members of the party were called up, sworn to an oath, and they were asked questions. Eventually they got around to Gabrielle.

"State your name," Archon said.

"Gabrielle of Potidaea."

"What were your impressions of the mood of the Hittite Empire?" Iphicles of Corinth asked. Gabrielle stared at him and her skin crawled. The man looked disconcertingly like Ares.

"I thought the mood was very tense. There were a lot of handbills about that said war was approaching."

"What did these handbills say?"

"A lot, all of it lies. I saved several of them." Gabrielle reached into her shoulder bag and pulled out the handbills and handed them to Archon. He then handed them up into the crowd for examination.

"Did you think that Hatti was preparing for war, Gabrielle?"

"I did."

"Why?"

"Because there were soldiers everywhere we went in the empire and we saw several recruiting stations. There were lines of men under guard being led into these stations. I have never seen so many armed men in daily life before. I also saw an army of over 200,000 men and heard Emperor Tudhalias himself say that he was building an army of over 600,000."

Menaleus, King of Sparta rose. "You're some kind of story teller are you not?"

"I am, King Menaleus. I'm a performing Bard."

"Then, if you're a story teller wouldn't you be prone to exaggerate for artistic purposes?"

"If I'm writing a piece of complete fiction, yes I am."

"Then are you exaggerating in this case?"

"Bards have a great respect for the truth, either artistic truth or physical truth. In the case of non-fiction, when I report something, its the real, brute facts of the case. No Your Majesty, I am not exaggerating."

"All right; let's go on." Menaleus continued.

"Do you have any military experience, Gabrielle?" His question had a bitter edge.

"The best kind. Three months training with the Pindus Amazons and two years with Xena, Warrior Princess."

"Gabrielle, you're a very young girl. Do you honestly think that this brief training with a group of unnatural, man-hating harridans and two years with a known murderer and war criminal gives you enough judgment to determine that we responsible rulers send thousands of our subjects to their deaths on your word?"

Menaleus' insults galvanized the Amazons. Pyronia, Ephiny and rest of Melosa's retainers were on their feet bellowing in rage. Melosa stood and got them quickly under control. Instantly, Gabrielle became livid. She knew this "King's" perfidy had nearly gotten herself and Xena killed. She stalked out from behind the lectern and pointed at Menaleus, but she was stopped short by a dark, rich, feminine voice in the audience. "Not now, Gabrielle. Maybe later!" It was Xena's voice.

Gabrielle looked at her friend and some of her anger bled away. However, she still glared at the King of Sparta. "Like them or no 'Your Majesty' nobody has ever claimed that the Pindus Amazons didn't know the warrior arts, and it was Xena who was enough of a military expert to evacuate your ex wife Helen from Troy. Right out from under your nose! So my answer is yes! That gives me PLENTY of skills by which to judge such things!"

The crowd roared into laughter. Menaleus, mortified, sat down. Archon asked for more questions. There were none, so Gabrielle sat down as well."

"Good job, Gabrielle." Xena said with a pleased grin on her face.

Gabrielle smiled. "Thanks for stopping me, Xena. I was gonna massacre him!" Suddenly, Gabrielle turned sheepish. "With words I mean," she added.

"I guess you were!' Xena said with a smile. "What a little bulldog," she thought shaking her head.

Hattusilis was called, and both he and Kotamuwa, in brand new Hittite Imperial Guard uniforms, strode to center stage. Hattusilis was dressed in the uniform of a full General. His helmet and epaulettes were gold plated and the helmet surrounded by white ermine fur. The chest loops and other uniform trim were made of pure silver. Kotamuwa was dressed as a Sergeant Major. His helmet was black fur trimmed while the silver cords on his much simpler uniform glittered despite the cloudy day. On his shoulder was the golden cord aiguillette of a General's aide. As they strode to the rostrum, their hob nailed, curly toed boots clattering on the marble, a rumble passed though the crowd. Many pointed and nodded. Gabrielle was right. Hattusilis was recognized.

Archon requested, "State your name and titles if you would, Your Majesty."

Hattusilis VI. Crown Prince and rightful heir to the Eagle Throne of Hatti, presumptive Chief Priest of Hatti etc. etc. Now in exile."

"Why and how are you here?"

"I am here to officially request the assistance of the mighty Hellenic people to restore me to my rightful throne, and to save my suffering people from a tyranny beyond measuring in human experience. I am here because Xena, Warrior Princess saved me from certain death by crucifixion by breaking me out of the military prison in the Hittite capital of Hattusas and successfully evacuating me to Greece.

"Why were you sentenced to death by crucifixion?"

"I was illegally convicted of treason by Tudhalias V who seized the throne of the Hittites in an illegal insurrection. He is not in the legal line of succession, and he reigns by brute force. I intend to go back to my homeland to destroy him and his criminal henchmen, so that I can restore my people to their freedom as is their right by the Hittite Constitution.

"I understand you were in line for the Hittite throne when your Uncle the Emperor died?" Iphicles asked.

"I was, My Lord. I came home from horseback riding to discover that my country home was surrounded by troops with orders to bring me to Hattusas in chains."

"The succession of Tudhalias V is illegal?"

"Yes, in the absence of any successor to a deceased Hittite Emperor, an elected regent is installed, until a new successor can be decided upon. I was already in line, therefore I should now be Emperor."

King Gregor, an old friend of Xena's stood. In the recent past, Xena had guaranteed his succession. "I have read the text of the treaty that was provided to us, and I have heard the events of your escape. Do you feel that Tudhalias V is capable of violating his own treaties and then attacking the signatories? Do you think he is capable of sending the terror squads that have been reported here? Is he capable of starting an aggressive war?"

"I have known Tudhalias for nearly twenty years. I say absolutely yes."

Xena watched. She could almost smell the fear in the crowd. She thanked the Fates that Hattusilis was having the effect she'd hoped.

King Lius of Trius stood, "What do you recommend that we do? We all appear to be in grave danger."

"I'll defer to Xena on most of this question. However, I pray that all of you distinguished leaders will find the political will, and the resources, to support the budding resistance movement in Hatti. It is my duty to return and take up its leadership. We need arms, money and administrative talent, commodities that are now in short supply in my suffering homeland."

At the top step of the Amphitheater there was an uproar. All turned to see. Several men, two in official looking robes, and the third in a brown uniform cut exactly like Hattusilis black one came walking down the stairs. They found some empty seats and sat down. Xena looked up at Hattusilis who had a surprised look on his face. He recognized them. Xena rose and went up on stage and asked him. "Hattusilis, you know these men?"

"I know the one in the brown uniform. His name is Stettinius. He's a high official in the Hittite Foreign Ministry. He may be Lordamulis' successor."

Xena nodded and sat down. The excitement was going to start soon.

Seeing that there were no more questions of Hattusilis, the Crown Prince sat as Xena's name was called. The Warrior Princess once again mounted the stage, this time walking to the lectern.

"State your name," Archon said.

"Xena of Amphipolis."

"Are you also known as 'The Warrior Princess'?"

"I'm known by many names, most of them not very nice. Warrior Princess is one of them."

This brought a small titter of laughter, but it also brought several hisses and some swearing from the crowd.

"Why did you go to Hattusas?"

"My friend Queen Melosa of the Pindus Amazons requested some assistance in identifying some well equipped and trained soldiers who had been raiding Amazon land. When they were interrogated they proved to be Hittites. On the way to the Amazon territory, I encountered a group of similar men, ten in all, who were systematically looting a small village as well as torturing and killing the villagers. My associate Gabrielle, and I stopped them."

Menaleus stood again, "How did you stop them? Did you murder them?" Another roar came from the crowd. Xena raised a hand to stop them.

"I killed them all, unfortunately."

Gabrielle shot to her feet "Xena's actions were justified! We had both seen a toddler beaten to death and three men were crucified on the side of a barn. We were out numbered five to one. Xena killed the criminals to save the lives of the villagers!"

Xena nodded to Demodocus who hurriedly ran up the stairs and out of the amphitheater.

"Little girl, you are obviously under the influence of this harpy and cannot be trusted with the truth." Menaleus pronounced. Gabrielle turned and glared again, but this was interrupted by Demodocus coming down the center stairs leading a modest looking man, by all appearances a simple villager.

"My Lords and Ladies, I have some corroborating evidence, if it may be heard?" Demodocus exclaimed to Archon.

"It may." Archon said.

Demodocus led the man up to the lectern. He was very nervous. He'd never been on a stage before.

"State your name?" Demodocus asked the man.

"Pindar of Tahawas"

"Can you tell us of the events in your village of approximately two months ago?

"Yes. For no reason at all, our village was attacked by ten heavily armed men. They went through the town and killed all the men. I and three others were nailed to a shed. They had just assaulted and murdered the women and children when out of nowhere someone came and put an end to the slaughter."

"Is that someone here?"

Pindar pointed at Xena. "That woman there."

"Anyone else?" Demodocus continued.

"Yes, the little blonde woman over there." Pindar pointed at Gabrielle who was seated in the front row.

"Did they do anything else?"

"Yes, they tended my wounds, and got me in good enough condition to go to a nearby village and get help. They also did basic first aid on the most seriously wounded. They had to leave in a hurry."

"Thank you, Pindar."

"Any questions from the conclave?" Archon added.

There being none, Pindar was excused. The crowd rustled in anticipation.

"When you arrived at Queen Melosa's village, Xena what did you find?" Archon asked.

"Melosa had two soldiers in custody similarly uniformed and equipped to those Gabrielle and I had fought at Tahawas. On interrogating them, I was able to determine that they were in the Hittite Army, specifically the Imperial Guard. They told me that they had been ordered to Greece to do reconnaissance and spread terror in advance of a Hittite invasion. While I was there we received additional reports of similar such raiding parties throughout our immediate area."

"THAT'S A BALD FACE LIE!" Came a voice from the conclave. Xena looked with the rest of the people in the front of the amphitheater and saw it was the Hittite official standing and shouting. This brought a new uproar. Archon held up his hands and asked, "You are, Sir?"

"I am Stettinius, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Hatti. I respectfully request participation in this conclave."

"This conclave is for Greek Heads of Government only. You will, however be allowed one formal statement before the conclave retires to deliberate on making a decision." Archon said. "This is the Greek way." Stettinius sat.

Archon turned back to the Conclave. "Are there any other questions for Xena?'

King Lius stood again. "Xena, as a military expert, what course of action would you recommend?"

"We're not at war yet. Although Tudhalias hasn't declared war, and although I believe that the raiding parties are enough to go to war over, if the conclave decides not to go to war, I would recommend forming an immediate defensive alliance among us all. The Hittite Empire is huge and rich. If we don't unite against it should war come, we'll be eaten alive bit by bit. I would include in this alliance Halikarnassus and whatever Ionian Greek city may be available to join. I recommend opening strong ties with Assyria, Babylonia, Israel, Egypt, and the Etruscans as well. If war comes, we would need their help. Once the alliance is formed, the largest cities should massively reinforce Halikarnassus, who didn't sign Tudhalias' treaty. This may make Tudhalias change his mind about attacking. Secondly, someone needs to retake Troy and turn it into a fortress. This would guarantee our security."

"What if Tudhalias goes to war against Ionia or crosses into Mainland Greece?"

"Fight. We have no other choice. If Tudhalias really does intend to carry out his extermination policy, and I believe he does, we must defeat him should war come. Even as it is now, everyone needs to recruit, train and equip the largest number of men possible for defense. As an armed alliance we might be too big and nasty looking for Tudhalias to swallow."

"Do you think the Hittite Army is capable of making war upon us?"

"Yes. I saw one army of about 200,000. It was extremely well equipped. I couldn't fully assess their state of training or morale, but I think it would be a terrible mistake to underestimate things. I fought one battalion of the Imperial Guard that was superbly trained and motivated. The men were very brave, and they were well led. If it weren't for the intervention of a huge force of marauding tribesmen, I wouldn't be here to tell you about it. The Hittite Empire would be a very formidable opponent. However, I saw weaknesses that can be exploited, which, for security reasons, I'll not talk about. They are not supermen."

This sent a murmur through the crowd. Gabrielle heard many favorable comments. She turned towards Xena and gave her a thumbs up as the Warrior Princess returned to her seat. Xena smiled.

Archon returned to the lectern. "My Lords and Ladies, that is all the testimony." The time has now come for us to debate the merits of the case for defense that has been presented. Foreign Minister Stettinius, you may now make your statement.

Stettinius stood. He was a man in his fifties, tall, spare and rather unremarkable. He had the air of an aesthete. He looked over the crowd with a critical smirk, as if all the Greek nobility around him didn't satisfy his artistic requirements. Hattusilis sidled next to Xena and said, "This guy is very old school Foreign Ministry. Never got his hands dirty once in his life. A cookie pusher and boot licker from way back. No wonder Tudhalias gave him the job."

"What do you think happened to Lordamulis?" Xena asked.

"Answer your own question."

Xena nodded. "Crucified." Hattusilis nodded too.

"Demodocus?" Xena asked. "It seems to me the crowd's wavering. What do you feel?"

"Anxiety. It's making me nervous."

"I'd feel better if Hercules was here. Does anyone know where he is?" Gabrielle asked.

"We don't," Demodocus answered." I saw Jason and Alcymene in the crowd, and every city has gallopers out scouring the country for him. He may be at sea somewhere."

Ephiny said. "Great! Just like a hero, not around when you need him."

Xena glared at Ephiny, who shrugged.

"Well, maybe we're better off." Demodocus said. "I don't care for the man myself."

Xena, Gabrielle, Melosa, Ephiny, and Pyronia, all turned and stared at the priest--stunned.

"It's true. He's too, well, sweet. Too nice. Too good looking. I don't know. He just sets my teeth on edge."

Xena was amazed. "I think that's the most ungenerous thing I have ever heard you say."

"If it helps any, he doesn't like me much either. It's not much. A personality conflict, that's all."

"Oh, why?" Gabrielle asked. "C'mon, Demodocus. There's got to be more to this than meets the eye. You're enemies with the most respected and beloved man in all of Greece? Spill it, or I'll ask Xena to touch you."

"Yeah, Priest," Xena purred, a mockingly dangerous smile on her lips.

"Well, all right. If you insist. He and I were both dating Deianeira at the same time. I lost."

All of the women around him exploded in laughter. The Priest blushed like a tomato.

"Your Majesties, My Lords and Ladies," Stettinius began his speech. "The Mighty Emperor of the Hittites, Tudhalias the Fifth, sends you greetings. He has heard of this glorious conclave of all the great leaders of the mighty Hellenic nation. He has also heard of the documents that you are discussing. He wishes to express to you all his profound regrets that these papers, complete fabrications, planted by enemies of Hatti, perhaps the Assyrians, found their way into your hands. My Emperor wishes to assure you all, that he neither has designs on any part of Hellenic soil, nor does he harbor any ambitions towards controlling the eastern Mediterranean. Hatti wants peace and security as to we all.

There was a confused rumble from the crowd. There were some catcalls, but there was mostly polite forbearance. Stettinius continued.

"There is however, one grave matter that must be addressed. It is THAT man." He pointed towards Hattusilis, who stood and proudly walked onto center stage. "Hattusilis is a traitor. He orchestrated a gigantic conspiracy to overthrow the legitimate Emperor of Hatti and destroy the government in order to replace it with one of his own making. He murdered his own uncle the Emperor Suppiluliumsa. He was legally convicted and sentenced to death. My Emperor demands his immediate extradition from Greece so that his crimes can be justly punished. My Emperor additionally regrets to say, that despite his love of peace, that if this man is not returned to his homeland for execution, grave consequences may be expected."

A howl of outrage erupted from the crowd.

"Where's your evidence?" A voice called.

"It's your word against his!" Another shout said.

The crowd bellowed more shouts of outrage, but Archon stood and raised his hands which restored order.

"Continue, Mr. Deputy Foreign Minister."

"My final point is that The Empire of Hatti did no such thing as send armed parties into the Hellenic peninsula for the purpose of either reconnaissance or terror. My Emperor believes in respecting all borders and in the sovereignty of states. In this case my Emperor would demand proof of such claims and if they prove to be true, then just compensation will be offered."

Xena turned and looked towards Melosa. The little Amazon Queen was glaring at the Hittite Deputy Foreign Minister. On her pursed lips was an expression of sharp distaste. Melosa turned and nodded towards Eponin who turned from her place and walked into the covered anteroom behind the stage. She returned with a man, whose hands were bound behind his back, dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Guard. It was the Sergeant Xena had interrogated at a time that now seemed to be long ago. Melosa rose, "Mr. President, point of information if you please."

"Yes, Queen Melosa?" Replied Archon.

"I have a witness relevant to the 'esteemed Deputy Foreign Minister's' concerns. She said, her voice dripping with contempt.

"Bring forth your witness." In a moment, Eponin brought the man she was escorting to center stage.

"Pyronia, would you translate please?" Melosa asked.

"Yes, My Queen."

"What is your name, rank, and service, soldier?" Melosa asked. Pyronia swiftly translated into Hittite. This brought a shocked reaction from Stettinius, he had been told that all the members of the reconnaissance parties were supposed to commit suicide by poison if they were caught.

"Sergeant Tonawanda. Company C Second Infantry Battalion, Hittite Imperial Guard."

"Thank you, Sergeant. Why are you in Greece?"

"I was a part of a reconnaissance party sent here to reconnoiter in preparation for a follow up assault."

Xena looked up at Stettinius. At first he was outraged, his face beet red. Then a look of stark terror entered his eyes. "Gotcha!" she thought.

"Who sent you here?"

"Our battalion was sent here by Emperor Tudhalias himself."

Stettinius stood and bellowed. "Liar! This is a ruse! This is nothing but an attempt to trump up a justification for aggression against Hatti!" Neither I, nor my Government will stand for it!"

"Demodocus, what are you feeling?" Xena asked looking at her lover. Then she became worried. There was a look of barely suppressed anger on his face.

"The crowd's becoming very angry. I don't know how much longer I can hold out if this keeps up." Xena put a concerned hand on his shoulder.

Archon raised his hands again, but that was superfluous. At the back of the auditorium another group of men arrived--three military men and a civilian. The lead soldier was dressed in a magnificent purple chiton with golden grieves, breastplate and gauntlets. A long, blue cloak fluttered in the wind behind him. On his head, pushed back, was a golden, ornate Mycenean helmet with a long black horsehair plume running down his back. Obviously some kind of General. Xena tapped Demodocus on the shoulder who turned and looked.

"That's the Chief of the Athenian General Staff, Epimonidas. Something big must be up. He wasn't going to attend," Demodocus said.

Trailing behind Epimonidas and his aides was a short man whose face was hidden by a cloak. About halfway down the stairs, he pulled his hood back revealing a bald head, an ugly pug nose, and bright blue eyes.

"Pausanias!" Gabrielle exclaimed. Xena saw who it was and smiled, as did the rest of the party. Melosa leaned towards Demodocus and asked who it was. The priest told her.

Epimonidas hurried down the stairs. Reaching the stage, he mounted it, bowed his head to his Regent, and handed him a dispatch. Then he and his aides left and found seats nearby. Pausanias remained on stage. Archon tore open the sealed pouch and read the parchment.

"My Lords and Ladies," He announced. "I have just received vital and terrible news. Approximately one week ago, the Hittite Empire attacked the defenses of the City of Halikarnassus. Heavy fighting is going on there now. Additionally, both the cities of Smyrna and Ephesus fell to the Hittites by either direct military action or coups d'etat. Both are now firmly in Hittite hands. Fortunately for us, there was sufficient warning to Smyrna that much of their large navy either escaped or was burned at their moorings. Many have arrived in Athens. This is a major catastrophe for all of the peoples that speak Greek. That goes without saying."

A gigantic howl of outrage raced through the crowd. At the back of the amphitheater the chant of "WAR" began in a part of the crowd. The chant began to build but did not sweep up the entire crowd. Indeed the majority still looked at Archon in shocked silence. Xena looked back and got a glimpse of Stettinius. He was completely stunned and white as a sheet. Tudhalias had sent him out on a mission to stall, not make peace, only he hadn't bothered to tell his Deputy Foreign Minister. Stettinius had been sacrificed. Xena felt like spitting on the floor in disgust.

"Please My Lord and Ladies! Order!" I have here The Foreign Minister of Halikarnassus, Pausanias. He was invited here but only now could break away to attend as you may expect. Your Excellency?" With a gesture, Archon led the bulldog like politician to the lectern.

"My Lords and Ladies." He began. "A week and a half ago, a gigantic Hittite army appeared at the defenses of our city, which lay across the neck of the peninsula upon which Halikarnassus stands. Utterly without warning or pretense, this vast force advanced upon our fortresses and stockades sweeping the populations of all the villages outside them to their fiery destruction. Thousands of men, women, and children were killed. Any centaur that wasn't fortunate enough to escape was publicly slaughtered. A few days later, Smyrna and Ephesus, both signatories to a treaty of friendship and cooperation with Tudhalias the Fifth, were stabbed in the back and destroyed either by violent subversion or by direct assault. The kings of both of those cities are dead. Hittite military forces occupy both metropolises. It is by the grace of the gods alone that their navies did not fall into the hands of this criminal conspiracy.

We are now standing at a great crossroads in the life of the Hellenic world. My friends and family, your brothers, sisters and cousins, have been ruthlessly assaulted by a group of criminals whose perfidy is so huge that it makes even the gods cringe in disgust. Even though we of Halikarnassus are the first to feel the brunt of this tide of evil, it is all of you that are ultimately at risk. Tudhalias cannot be trusted. He is a liar, a cheat, and a monster beyond description, but fortunately he has underestimated Halikarnassus, and I pray that he has underestimated you."

"What kind of people does he think we are? Does he think that we are so spineless and weak that we will not unite to destroy him? Does he think that we are stupid enough to voluntarily enter into a world where we will live perpetually with his hob nailed boot on the backs of our necks? Does he think that we don't love our lives, families and friends, of whatever race or species, sufficiently to make the sacrifices history demands to save them? I say he has miscalculated!"

So I ask, No I pray, for you to steel yourselves to the task that lays before you. I can say with firm belief in the courage our citizens of Halikarnassus that we will die as a people to prevent him from achieving his squalid designs. We shall fight to the last arrow, sword, horse, and man. We shall never, NEVER surrender.

Yet our position is precarious. We dance upon the edge of a razor blade. We need help. I implore you to join us brothers and sisters. Join us in putting our shoulders to this momentous work. Send us the ships, the weapons, and the men to throw this outrage right back into Tudhalias' foul smelling teeth. Join us in destroying Tudhalias and the horror for which he stands. Send us the tools, and we will finish the job!"

Briskly, Pausanias stepped down and took a seat in the audience.

Oddly, there was no applause. The crowd seemed stunned, almost overwhelmed by this request. Xena looked at Demodocus' face. Its showed confusion and a lot of concern. "They're scared Xena. They know that their backs are against the wall. I think I'm going to get up and pray." Demodocus left, presumably to go to the Temple of Athena that stood nearby.

Tyldus and Melosa were engaged in serious conversation.

"You know, even if they do decide on war, I have no idea how they are going to get an army together," Tyldus said.

"It's going to be tough. All of the big cities distrust each other at best. Mobilizing like they have has only made it worse."

"Yeah, Creon of Thebes distrusts Athens, Iphicles of Corinth and Argo, distrusts Creon, Archon of Athens hates Menaleus of Sparta, Orestes of Mycenea hates Iphicles and Menaleus hates them all!"

"Even worse, its not just visceral hatred. Each of these cities have legitimate fears that their neighbors will attack them. Of course the little cities and towns are petrified of the big ones." Melosa said.

Gabrielle listened carefully, fascinated. She had little experience with "High Politics." She wondered how leaders could deal with issues of life and death on a regular basis. Xena knew something about politics, but she disdained it. Gabrielle remembered that Xena once said that it wasn't the politicians that had to do the dying in war, but yet.... Politics had to do with relationships between people, and she had always been interested in people. She looked over at Xena and saw that she was staring straight ahead, her eyes ablaze, obviously lost in thought. "Xena, are you all right? It looks like what we need to do is going to be done. Aren't you pleased?"

Xena looked earnestly at Gabrielle. "No Gabrielle, I'm not. I've seen a lot of war. Right now, I wish that I was wrong about the Hittites. It's like one of my nightmares in broad daylight when I'm awake." Xena's face became stonily grim. Gabrielle went back to listening to Tyldus and Melosa.

"Well, I'm positive that nobody from a major city is going to be able to lead any kind of combined army. The distrust is just too great. It's a shame, apparently Athens has some great military talent. I hear from Demodocus that Athens has several great Generals, Epimonidas, and a really interesting man named Thucydides. He and this fellow Herodotus are writing down everything that the Athenian government does and then analyzing it. Herodotus for city and cultural life, Thucydides for foreign affairs. Demodocus says Thucydides is a genius. Menaleus isn't going to tolerate any Athenian at the head of such an army if he has anything to do with it." Tyldus said.

"Hercules would be a fine choice. He's the greatest warrior alive and would make a potent symbol for Greece to rally around."

"I agree, Melosa, but has he ever led a huge army in battle before?"

"You know, you're right Tyldus, I don't think he has. Judging by how badly we're outnumbered, we're gonna need a leader with a lot of experience and knowledge"

"And politically disinterested too."

"Gods! I hope we don't have to go off shore and hire a mercenary to lead us."

"I hear the Cartheginian, Hamilcar Barca is excellent." Tyldus added.

"I don't think we'll have to look for a mercenary. There's someone here who fits the bill exactly." Gabrielle said cheerily. Tyldus and Melosa turned towards her with quizzical looks on their faces. Gabrielle simply put her hand on Xena's shoulder. The leaders of the Amazons and centaurs both grinned from ear to ear as if to say, "Of course!"

Xena's reaction was very different. She turned towards Gabrielle her face full of anger, and to Gabrielle's amazement, a trace of fear. Then she turned her face away. "Forget it."

Gabrielle's jaw dropped. "Forget it? Xena, why?"

"You know I don't work for nations."

Melosa threw oil on the troubled waters, "Well, nothing's been settled yet. Let's see what happens--hmm?"

From the back of the amphitheater Stettinius' voice was heard once again.

"Mr. President! May I be heard once more?"

There was a roar of derision from the bitter crowd. Archon was incensed himself but he rose and put up his hands and called for order. "I do this 'Mr. Foreign Minister' to prove that we Greeks aren't barbarians like your Emperor! Order! Order please!"

"Mr. President, my Lords and Ladies. In the light of events hereby unfolded to me, I cannot but agree with Regent Archon. I have worked for the Hittite Foreign Ministry for nearly forty years. I have worked with many Emperors, but the conduct of this one fills me with loathing and shame. I for one cannot countenance this disgusting policy any longer. Tudhalias and his thugs must be overthrown as soon as possible!"

"Crown Prince Hattusilis!" Stettinius called. The Crown Prince rose and walked to center stage once again.

"Yes?"

"I have been hoodwinked by a mealy mouthed deceiver. All my work for peace for Hatti over the last decades has been betrayed. I hereby recognize you, as an honorable man. This is an opinion that I has always held, until I was ordered otherwise by Tudhalias. Therefore, I support you in your claim to the Eagle Throne of our people, and humbly beseech to join you in your mission to restore sanity to our homeland. If you will not allow me into your service, I hereby request from The City of Athens, political asylum on the grounds of personal betrayal and persecution." Stettinius walked down the stairs as fast as his aged legs would take him and walked on stage. He got as close as ten feet to his acknowledged Emperor and prostrated himself before him. Hattusilis looked embarrassed, but he saw the grave humiliation the old bureaucrat was inflicting upon himself and offered his hand."

"Get up you old fool! Of course I'll take you in! What do you think I was going to do? Crucify you here and now?" The bureaucrat rose still with fear on his face. Hattusilis walked over to him, enveloped him in a bear hug and slapped Stettinius on the back. The renegade Crown Prince had won a tremendous political victory.

"Thank you, Sire! Thank you beyond measure!"

"Forget about it. We've got work to do!"

The crowd exploded in applause and cheering.

"This look's like it!" Melosa exclaimed and she stood and shouted at Archon, "Mr. President! I move that all those assembled join in a defensive alliance against the Hittite Empire with a view towards restoring its legitimate Emperor to his throne! Additionally, I move that we declare war against the Hittite Empire effective from the date of the attack against Halikarnassus."

"Seconds!" Archon called out. About half the crowd raised their hands."

"Call the question!" Tyldus called out.

"All those in favor of forming a defensive alliance against the Hittite Empire signify yes by putting the beans your delegations were provided in the boxes at the end of the center aisle." Archon called out. "You each have a white bean and a black bean. If you support this motion, put the white bean in the right hand box here. All those in opposed, put the black bean in the left hand box. Thank you." Quickly, the lines formed down the aisle with Melosa and Tyldus at the beginning of the line for yes. Menaleus was at the head of the line for no.

Gabrielle was confused. "Xena, what's Menaleus up to?"

"He's a contrary old coot. My guess he's just showing Sparta's so strong he can vote any way he pleases."

"Well, I suppose he's not well known for his brains"

"Don't underestimate him. He's cunning. Remember Troy."

"How can you be cunning and stupid both?"

"Search me."

The voting seemed to go on forever. The amphitheater was now in torch light and a mist drifted through the meeting. Eventually, the count of the beans was held and a firm two thirds majority for hostilities was counted. King Gregor arose and made a motion to make the vote unanimous and it passed on a voice vote. Greece was at war with Hatti.

A cheer went though the crowd. Melosa and Tyldus were immensely relieved, they wouldn't have to fight the Hittites alone. Gabrielle didn't know what to feel. Part of her saw the upcoming conflict as a grand adventure, a source of stories that would go on forever, yet another part of her was afraid. The carnage of Abana washed in front of her eyes. She forced the memory out of her mind. She turned towards Xena and looked into her face. Xena's face was set grimly. Gabrielle thought she was lost in her memories.

"Xena? Xena? Are you all right?"

"Gabrielle, this may be the saddest moment of my life." Gabrielle's face fell along with her friend's. She tucked an arm around Xena's waist, squeezed hard, and let her head lean on her friend's shoulder.

"Gentlemen please!" implored Iphicles. "Don't you realize that our petty squabbles don't mean anything anymore? If the Hittites jump the Aegean we've all had it!"

"Look," growled Menaleus, "We can't commit every warrior we have to this war. We have a large Helot population to keep under control (Helots were Spartan slaves) A weakened garrison could make the city vulnerable to subversion by Athens or any other ambitious city. This could lead to a Helot revolt and POOF!" The King of Sparta signified this imaginary disappearance by a sweeping gesture of both hands.

"How would anyone do that? We're gonna all be damn busy. We'll be up to our kiesters in Hittites real soon unless we quit cutting each other's throats," Iphicles continued.

"You heard the estimates of Hittite strength, Menaleus," Orestes said, "We're gonna need every man we can get."

"Where are we gonna get the men to tend the fields? We surely can't commit all our reserves at once?" Creon asked.

"If we're beaten and enslaved, is it gonna really matter if we're fed all that much?" Archon answered a question with a question. Demodocus, who was seated behind his Regent, whispered something in his ear. "All right, Menaleus," Archon began. "why don't we offer you, say, 1,000,000 dinars and 100 nobles as hostages to guarantee our good faith? We're willing to make similar deals with you all. Of course, we'd expect similar compensation from you in return, prorated by the size of your populations and the wealth of your treasuries...."

These negotiations seemed to go on interminably. Later that afternoon, Xena gave in to Gabrielle's hectoring and decided to attend the discussions. They both quietly entered a side door to the temple and unobtrusively found a seat in the back.

"Xena, has there ever been a meeting like this before?"

"Dunno. Don't think so. I know that I never did anything like it. When I was a warlord, I was the only boss."

Gabrielle leaned forward to listen more closely.

"OK," Archon said. "We've settled the issue of indemnities and such. We need to decide how to organize the army and who is to command it.'

Menaleus began blustering again. "I refuse to merge my valiant Spartans into a gigantic mob that calls itself an army. Our greatness depends on our Spartan identity. Enemies fear the red cloak! Also, they will not march without their King at their head. If you want me and my men in this army, I will have to command the whole force."

"Nonsense!" Orestes interjected. "We're all under threat equally."

"I think that it makes sense that the city that provides the greatest number of troops should provide the leadership," Archon stated.

"So that Athens can exploit its power to prosecute the war in its own selfish interest?" asked Creon bitterly. Archon stared at him, his rage barely contained.

This caused an uproar in the audience. Melosa stood. "You're leaving out the smaller cities and communities that are contributing to the war effort. We Amazons would have big problems serving under Orestes, considering his dislike of us, and I'm sure you're not going to pass up 20,000 plus highly trained warriors male or female."

Tyldus joined in. "I'm not interested in serving under Creon. His bitterness against the centaurs is also well known. I know you're not going to refuse 19,000 of the most powerful warriors on earth." Tyldus was right, the average centaur weighed 800 pounds and was more than a match for ten men in battle. This brought catcalls and hoots from the Thebans in the crowd. "Filthy beast!" Someone called, but Tyldus ignored the insult.

"I guess that leaves me then." Iphicles said. "I'm sorry. I can't do it. I have little military training, and just because I'm Hercules' half brother, that doesn't mean that I'm a great warrior. I'm not bad, but I'm not the one you want. Also, I just got this job. I'm not sure that my army will fight for me yet. I've got a lot more confidence in my navy."

"Great! So, we're at loggerheads then." Menaleus groused.

The five leaders kept bickering for an extended period of time. Gabrielle looked over at Xena who was sitting on her bench with her back against a side wall. She had drawn her legs up and was absently cleaning her fingernails with the tip of her breast dagger. On her face was a look of bored indifference. Gabrielle shook her head. She couldn't understand why Xena would look so much like she didn't care. She knew her friend did care.

"Well, we're going to have to hire someone then:" Orestes said.

From behind Archon there was a rustling and one of the two Generals that came with the Regent rose. He was tall and elegant with a sharp, clean shaven chin and a longish, dagger like nose. He had light brown hair, blue eyes and beneath that interesting nose was a very carefully trimmed pencil thin mustache. When he moved, he moved with studied and fastidious elegance, almost like a dancer. His eyes burned with the fires of intense intelligence. "Your highness if I could contribute something?" He said to his Regent in a clipped, upper class Athenian accent.

"You may of course, Thucydides."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Nodding to the other kings at the table The historian General began, "We know that the strategic situation is grave. The Hittite loss of the navies of the Ionian colonies has given us some precious time. So we need to use this breathing space wisely. We need to choose a commander for our combined forces with great care. It has become clear to me, that a commander from the trained warriors of any of the major cities is politically unacceptable. This leaves choosing from one of the criminal warlords that stalk the land, or a mercenary from overseas. From no matter where this person comes, the choice must have the finest military mind available and must have tremendous leadership ability. When our army takes the field, it may be outnumbered by as many as six to one."

"Therefore, I think that a mercenary hired from off shore would be a bad choice. Mercenaries are notoriously politically unreliable because their only stake in the conflict is their wages. This complaint holds for the warlords as well. There is another objection to the warlords; only very few of them have either the military expertise or leadership talent necessary for such a difficult task. However we are fortunate, for from that very group, we have an answer.

"Well?' Menaleus asked. Thucydides continued.

"I have studied this person's campaigns in considerable detail. I have also interviewed many people that served under this person's command. The campaigns I have studied have been extremely sound strategically and tactically. They also showed imaginative brilliance and audacity of the highest order. This commander also has a galvanizing effect on troops, whether they are raw conscripts or seasoned professionals. This commander has unbelievable personal martial skills and great energy. This commander is Greek, will not take any remuneration for work, and is totally disinterested politically. Indeed at present, she cares not at all for any recognition. The lives she's saved are reward enough. I'm certain victory would be her only objective. In short, I believe this person to be the greatest military mind Greece has yet turned out, academy training or no. Best of all, she is right here in the room. All we need to do is ask her."

"HER?" Menaleus bellowed.

"I refer of course to Xena of Amphipolis, The Warrior Princess of Kalmai" Thucydides concluded and sat down.

Gabrielle's jaw dropped and before Xena could react, she bolted from her seat to the front of the room as if she were shot from a crossbow.

Menaleus shot to his feet screeching, "Are you seriously suggesting that we should turn the lives of over a million Greek citizens to a murdering harpy that once raised half of Greece to the ground for no more reason than her own glory?" His face was purple with rage.

Archon looked back at his general and saw that he was clearly ready for the explosion he had detonated. He turned on him as well. "She had my predecessor Theseus tied up in knots for nearly ten years with her threats! If she hadn't lost the war with the centaurs we'd all be under her heel now.

"Just so," Thucydides said.

Several from men the crowd, Boetians, bellowed. "She terrorized us for nearly three years! She killed thousands of our countrymen!'

"Thank you for supporting me." Thucydides nodded. The Boetians sat down shaking their heads in confusion.

Orestes blustered, "But how can we trust her? She's a murderer and a gangster!"

Thucydides stood. "That's my very point. Xena is not a murderer in the traditional sense. If you look carefully at the facts as I have, many did die collaterally from her campaigns, but she was waging war. War is a squalid business and civilian casualties are unavoidable. Some do say she was carried away and became a ruthless conqueror. She even says so herself, but who among you monarchs hasn't used the maxim in state craft that says, "There is no such thing as too much power?"

"Her reputation as a murderer comes solely from the fact, that she didn't follow the traditional methods of war. She refused to engage in niceties like heralds or duels. She used her armies like a highly tuned instrument, defeating enemies by maneuver and choosing her battles wisely. She had simple objectives, and stuck to them ruthlessly, as any good General should. I point out that she did almost all her fighting badly outnumbered. Indeed the only time she had superiority in numbers, the Corinth Campaign, she lost by a hair. Some claim that this is dishonorable military conduct. I say when you're outnumbered six to one and your head is on the block, what good are outdated notions of honor?"

Among all the men that served with her, she's respected by all and loved by many. Frankly, she made the best of us look like fools for nearly ten years. Listen to your reaction. She terrified you all. What would she do to the Hittites? She would give us victory after quick victory thereby building a reputation so fearsome to the Hittites they may reconsider their criminal conduct. Did you not listen to the reports of her conduct in Hatti? The entire operation was genius, sheer genius. Nobody, absolutely nobody else alive could have performed as well as she did, not even Hercules.

"My predecessor, Sisyphus ,did beat her during the war for Corinth." Iphicles stated.

"Not strictly true, Your Majesty." Thucydides answered. He pointed at the Centaur King. "King Tyldus beat her, but it was not by anything he did. Xena's defeat was due strictly the fortunes of war. She lost one day in the campaign and allowed Tydus to escape primarily because of the extreme speed of the centaurs. Had her army not done what comes naturally by stopping and looting, Tyldus would be dead now."

The Centaur King went white at that suggestion, but he stepped forward. "Thucydides is right. Xena taught me more about war than any opponent that I ever faced."

Gabrielle reached the front of the room and sidled her way along a row of benches to Pyronia and Ephiny. She took a piece of papyrus from her shoulder bag, hastily scrawled a note, and gave it to her Amazon friends, "Quick! Look up these people and get them in here FAST! I got some talking to do." Ephiny took the paper and read it while Pyronia peered over her shoulder. In a second both nodded, squeezed past Gabrielle and disappeared.

Melosa rose. "I agree with Thucydides. We saw and admired her generalship from afar. When we first met her, we doubted her trustworthiness, yet she successfully ferreted out a conspiracy designed to start a war between us and the centaurs and helped us put an end to it. By doing this, she saved hundreds of lives."

"I totally agree with Queen Melosa." Tyldus added.

In the back of the room, Xena sat up and stared ahead. She had a horrible, hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach. She bitterly remonstrated with herself. "I should have seen it coming!" she thought. Ares' prophecy was coming true. Memories, awful, stinking memories came back to her. She saw the faces of hundreds of young men, friends, some lovers, that she had ordered to their deaths. Worst of all, she remembered that she loved it! She loved it so much! War was challenging! She was terrific at it! The memory of the thrill of slamming the door upon some other stupid opponent and the joy she felt at destroying the poor wretch flooded her first with excitement then with terrible, burning shame. All those thousands of lives she took haunted her. She could see nothing but eyes, the eyes of suffering young men. Her eyes went dark and staring. She listened to Tyldus and Melosa defending the idea she should take command as if she were in a dream. It felt so unreal. Neapolitis, Corinth, Megara, those bloody conflicts sat on her heart like an anvil.

Behind her she heard a shuffling and the door flew open. In walked King Gregor, King Lius, Princess Diana, The Doge of Massini, The Regent of Skyros, The Powhateen of Parnassus, and lastly and most painfully--Flora. She had abandoned Flora to go out on her murderous path. But yet, the pit in her stomach filled a little. Flora was once known as "The Black Wolf". Xena had helped her destroy King Xerxes, a money grubbing petty tyrant so that her guerrillas would eventually become the legitimate government of the town. Xerxes deserved the death he got. Then she remembered who killed him. "It was me, ME! Is my purpose in life still death?" she wondered. Xena rose and almost painfully walked over to the aisle to get a better look. All of the most important people she ever helped stood before the Council. In the center of them, stood Gabrielle. Almost as if she was in a nightmare, she heard her best friend passionately address the Council.

"Your Majesties. Thucydides is very right. All of you fear Xena, but I and all these leaders here with me can say for sure that the woman you loathed is no longer alive. The Xena I know is a kind, loving person, whose word is inviolate. I know Menaleus, you are going to demand some kind of justice for the loss of Helen. You're gonna use it to try to divert this council from what needs to be done. What you were doing was unjust. Helen deserved her own life, and Xena gave it to her. You others please, PLEASE take that into account when you decide. Xena is the only great leader you have. You all know that she can do the job!"

"Gabrielle's right." King Gregor began "Without her, my life would have been desolate in grief over the loss of my wife and child in child bed. My most trusted advisor was manipulating me--setting me up to be destroyed. Like a gift from the gods, Xena came and gave me a family while fulfilling a prophecy. How can I oppose someone who gave me back my life? Consider your choice carefully, My Lords. Although her achievements may have been at your expense in the past, the victory that she will bring to you will shine to all your credit. That victory will be to your credit because she would have saved your lives, kingdoms and posterities, just as she did mine."

All at once, the group around the council table turned to hear the sound of more clopping hooves coming in through a wide side door. Ducking inside came a large, middle aged centaur with a brown body and unruly brown hair shot though with gray. Over one of his eyes was a ragged patch. Xena saw who arrived and stopped short. Her knees went weak and she slumped onto a nearby bench. "Oh no." she wailed to herself.

"Kaliaphas!" Both Tyldus and Gabrielle exclaimed.

"King Tyldus! It seems like forever since I last saw you!" The old animal roared in his gruff manner and slapped a arm onto the arm of his royal kinsman."

"I can guess why you're here old fella!" Tyldus said. His voice was full of joy.

"I came for the conclave, but I've just heard about Xena. I'm here to support her."

"Why would an old animal like you come so far for Xena's sake?" Iphicles asked.

"Because she saved my tribe--twice. The first time was during her first war with the centaurs. We were a rear guard for my liege Tyldus here when she lured me and my centaurs into a trap and cut us off. She could have slaughtered us all but she didn't. She and I struck a deal..."

Xena's eyes went wide in horror. She was afraid that he would reveal her greatest secret, her son Solon, but she could do nothing. She was now so moved that she couldn't walk or speak.

"For certain considerations on her behalf that shall remain secret to my death, she allowed my tribe to go on with their lives so long as I didn't fight. I was good to my word and so was she. She even made sure that we had enough food and treasure on which to live until the war ended. Yet, I still didn't trust her until ten years later when a bastard named Dagnine, and nearly a thousand warriors, arrived to prey on my village and find the Ixion stone. Xena arrived and helped us, with the people that lived nearby, to arrange an effective defense. I remember her specifically telling me not to send any of my centaurs into the woods without men for support. Without men, my centaurs would have been annihilated. Dagnine became Ixion's monstrous Centaur, yet Xena didn't run. She took command, fought and defeated Dagnine's men and killed the monster that threatened to kill us all. From then on, I've owed her a debt of gratitude that made my earlier obligation to her one of pure pleasure."

More people came forward to argue for Xena. Lius, Diana, Philomon, all had their say. Gabrielle looked carefully at the faces on the council. She started thinking about the upcoming vote. She guessed that Archon was for, Iphicles undecided, Creon against, but weakening, Orestes for, reluctantly, and Menaleus, thick headed Menaleus, implacably against. "Melosa?" Gabrielle asked. "How many votes does it take for the council to settle on a treaty or a general?"

"It has to be unanimous, Gabrielle." Melosa slumped in her chair--disappointed.

Finally, Xena had recovered enough to walk to the front of the room and find a seat next to Gabrielle. Gabrielle turned excitedly towards Xena and put a hand on her hand. But she stopped short when she saw the look on Xena's face. She had never seen such a face on the Warrior Princess before. Xena was staring off into the distance, seemingly right through the back wall of the temple. She looked incredibly tired, and to her total amazement, frightened.

"Xena? What's wrong? Are you all right?"

"No, Gabrielle, I'm not all right." Xena said quietly. She looked at her with the bleakest face Gabrielle had ever seen on anyone. "I'm very angry with you."

"Why?"

"I don't want this army. I don't want any army any more. You should have told me you were going to try to get me this job. I already told you to forget about it." Xena's face relaxed but she looked very sad. "I should hate you for doing what you just did, but I can't. Your heart, damn you, is always in the right place." Then Xena let out a long breath and remained silent.

Gabrielle was shocked, hurt, and crestfallen. "I, I, Don't know what to say! I thought you would have wanted the job. I'm so sorry!"

Xena slowly put a hand on top of Gabrielle's "It's OK. Just remember from now on I make my decisions myself." Xena managed a wan smile. "When the last person supporting me speaks, I'll stand and tell them I don't want it."

Gabrielle lowered her head and stared at the floor as the last of Xena's friends made their presentations. When Flora finished giving her impassioned tribute to the woman who was her oldest girlhood friend turned and sat, Menaleus stood and spoke.

"What lovely tributes. All of these 'wise' people totally taken in by the 'Mighty Warrior Princess' supposed transformation to a do-gooder. Thucydides gave us a long, glib talk about how marvelous a general this woman is. It's all rot! She's no hero. She's a criminal. How can we Greeks, so wise in so many things..."

As Menaleus began to drone on about Xena's past evils, a stir started near the back of the room. A man came in and went up to one of the Theban delegation who, Gabrielle noticed, put on a surprised, happy face and bolted out the front door. Soon several more people left. Ephiny and Pyronia looked around and then they stared at Xena with looks that said, "What's going on?" Xena shrugged. Gabrielle turned around and wondered as well. More people were leaving. Their excitement was very evident.

Menaleus was warming to his tirade. "So then, if this 'woman' is to be the commander in chief of this army she has to be trusted. How can the men of this army trust Xena if she once destroyed their homes and killed their loved ones? All these tributes don't amount to much when you compare it with the brutality she committed in the past. If this army's men don't trust Xena, then what warrior would serve under her?..."

At the very second Menaleus uttered his last question, a gigantic commotion arose outside the main door of the temple. Powerfully, the big double doors flew open with a crash and a gigantic figure stepped inside filling the portal. It was a man, a huge man, wearing a shirt made out of a tanned lion skin and pants made out of woven straps of heavy leather. His rich brown hair cascaded down to his neck and framed his incredibly handsome face. His eyes glittered a beautiful deep blue.

"I WILL!" He roared.

Xena and Gabrielle instantly recognized that shouting voice and both bolted to their feet while turning to look. So did everybody else.

A shout rent the crowd, "HERCULES!"

Gabrielle nearly jumped with joy at the sight of Hercules striding purposefully up the center aisle. Xena stared at the man who set her on her new path in life in utter emotional confusion. Of course, she was glad to see the Son of Zeus, but she'd also heard what he'd said. He was coming forward to ask that she be given command of the army. Gabrielle looked up at Xena and said, "C'mon, Xena, what's worrying you so much about this command can't be so bad. I mean look who wants you to have it. He wouldn't do this for you if he thought you'd blow it."

Xena looked down at Gabrielle, blew out a breath and sniffed. "If you say so, Gabrielle."

"Herk! HERK! Will you slow down for Zeus' sake!" Iolaus shouted after his friend. He'd been waylaid by one of his many friends at the door.

"Iolaus, that's what you get for schmoozing! C'mon now."

The Demigod finally reached the front of the vast room, stopped and held out his arms. Gabrielle jumped into them and kissed him on the cheek saying, "Thank the gods you're here!"

"Great to see you too, Gabrielle! You've gotten heavier. Lemme look at you." Hercules set her down and looked her over. "Wow! You must have been working out. Lookit that." He grabbed Gabrielle by the shoulders and gave her a playful shake.

"Aw shucks, t'wern't nothing!" She hugged one of Herk's legs then went back to see Iolaus.

"Xena. I heard all about Hattusas. Gabrielle didn't even have time to clean up the story. What can I say?" Herk said.

"How about hello?" Xena wrapped her arms around the man to whom she owed her new life and hugged him. She looked up into his eyes, and she couldn't stop a tear from falling.

"Xena?"

"No, Hercules, go do what you came here to do." She whispered with an air of resignation.

Hercules broke the embrace in surprise then nodded. He turned on Menaleus who looked as if he'd just soiled himself.

"Menaleus, when are you ever give up your petty need for power? Everything you do has to do with your ego. When are you going to learn that some things are a lot bigger than you are?"

"Hercules, I'm acting in the best interests of all of us. You know that."

"If you were, you wouldn't stand in the way of Xena taking this command. She is the best person in the world for this job, and you know it. You're blocking her because she made a fool of you at Troy." Menaleus began to bluster and turn bright red in mortification. Nobody else had the courage to say anything like that before. "Besides, you won't admit it, she's a lot better than you are."

"He does have a point though, Hercules. How can she be trusted?" Orestes added.

"That happens with every new commander. Bad past or no, a commander has to earn the army's trust. I've both fought against Xena, and fought with her. There is no person who I'd want guarding my back more."

"HERK?" yelped Iolaus, breaking his hug with Gabrielle.

"Well, except for Iolaus that is."

"Well thank YOU very much." This brought a roar of laughter from the crowd. Even Xena half smiled.

"So, what about it?" Herk asked. "You guys know what the program is, all you need to do is get with it!"

Iphicles, while feeling somewhat ambivalent about seeing his big half brother, said, "I move that Xena, Warrior Princess be offered the command of the Combined Greek Army now organizing."

Archon raised his hand to second the motion. Demodocus smiled, Archon could be wise if the obvious was pointed out to him. "The question is called," said Archon. All those in favor raise your hand."

Hercules, Xena , Gabrielle watched as four hands, all but Menaleus', shot into the air. Herk cast a baleful glare at the King of Sparta and slowly, reluctantly, his hand raised as well.

"Five being necessary for this council to decide, and five votes being seen, Xena, Warrior Princess is offered the post of STRATEGOS. Commander in Chief."

Xena stood to attention. She felt as if a gigantic sword had appeared over her chest and sliced her heart cleanly in half. She was moved beyond happiness that she had been forgiven all her past sins. She couldn't believe that she was to be entrusted with the most important, and powerful, post in Greek history. The command was the grandest present anyone had ever given to her, but she knew that command would force her to live in and use all her worst instincts. Xena was afraid that command would force her back into her old ways. She was afraid that she'd begin to enjoy the killing again. She was afraid that all the atonement she had achieved in the last two years would be lost. She was afraid that she would soon become a worshipper of Ares again, just as the god had told her she would. She was afraid that her behavior would drive away all her friends. She was afraid she would drive away the most important person in the world to her--Gabrielle. She braced herself and stood as tall as she could, then she began to say, "My Lords, I respectfully de..."

Gabrielle was listening and in total shock she realized that Xena meant exactly what she'd said earlier. She quickly reached up and put her hand over Xena's mouth. Xena stopped talking in complete surprise, "...Mands..." Gabrielle continued. "Xena respectfully demands 24 hours to come to a decision about your most important and generous offer of the post of Strategos" Xena grabbed Gabrielle's arm and forcefully removed it from her mouth. "Gabrielle, listen!" She began heatedly.

The little woman exploded, "No, you listen to me! These monarchs have offered you a both great gift and a great responsibility. Both History and they demand that you give them a careful answer."

Hercules, who was now just recovering from the shock that Xena was going to refuse the offer, joined in. "Gabrielle's right, Xena. This kind of decision can't be made hastily."

"Come on Xena? What happened to the deep planner I used to know?" Iolaus asked. "Give it a little time will ya?"

"Yes, Xena," Melosa said. "Think hard about it. Not taking this job means that you'd be letting down far more people than you ever hurt as a warlord."

Tyldus, Ephiny, Pyronia, Diana, and others all joined in the argument. Finally Xena could take no more. Throwing her hands out beside her she yelled, "ENOUGH! All right, I've heard you. I'll take a day to make up my mind. But, I'm telling you now, when I make up my mind its final. D'ye all hear? FINAL!" She turned back to the council. "Yes, I respectfully demand to be given 24 hours to make a decision. Do you find that acceptable?"

Archon looked around to see four nodding heads. "We agree, Xena. This meeting is adjourned until tomorrow." Archon said as he slammed his gavel down upon its block.

"Xena, we're all your friends here." Hercules said. "We know that this decision is eating at you. You've got to talk about it. Not even you has the will power to keep this bottled up."

"I'm sorry, Hercules. It's a tremendous responsibility."

"Xena, I think that..."

"Excuse me, Hercules, but don't you think she should work this out in her own way?" Demodocus asked defensively. The dinner had been made even worse by the evident tension between the hero and the priest. All the evening Demodocus and Hercules had danced around each other as if they were matadors; their mutual distaste was very evident.

"Demodocus..." Hercules said glaring. Then he let out a big breath. "You're right. It's not my place to interfere."

The priest wasn't much help. He had been drinking again, and he was a bit snotty. Xena had glared at him several times, but she'd said nothing. "Well, I'm glad that you finally came to the right conclusion." Demodocus said.

"What is your problem tonight, priest?" Hercules snapped.

"Look," Xena said. "I don't need two of the most important people in my life fighting like a couple of schoolboys. "I'm sorry I haven't been very good company to you all tonight. I'm tired and I still need to work things out."

"Princess, do you want me to touch you?" Demodocus asked hopefully. He was still crestfallen over being so sharp with Hercules.

"No, No. That's all right, Demodocus. I think I'd better work on this myself. So, I'd like to turn in."

There was a shuffling of chairs as all stood and said their good evenings. All the Amazons came over, hugged both Xena and Gabrielle, bowed their heads to them and left. In a moment all the men paid their respects and left as well. When all had gone, Gabrielle said to Xena, "Well? I'm here for you. Do you want to talk now?"

"I'm gonna go up to my room and try to relax. I think I'm going to take a bath. You can come in when I get done."

"Maybe we can brush each other's hair?" Gabrielle asked expectantly. She loved this intimate ritual. On the road it was an important part of their lives together.

"Sure, Gabrielle. I'll see you in a bit."

Xena mounted the stairs to her room in the inn's second floor. Archon had set up both Gabrielle and her in their own suite with a bathtub. This was a first-class inn. All Xena needed to do for a bath was to use a bell pull. She did so, and in a moment several women came up carrying shoulder yokes with two full buckets of steaming, rose-scented water hanging from them. When the tub was full, Xena tipped them and sent them on their way. She took off her breast plate, its intricate scrollwork a remembrance of a dear friend, M'Lila, now dead, and hung it from a hook. She took off her leather dress and shift then carefully entered the tub. She took in a deep breath through her nose and began to wash herself. Slowly, the tension began to bleed away.

She laid back and tried to look at her situation rationally. She knew that she was the best person for the job based on her own experience. She knew the Hittites and she knew many their weaknesses. Their training doctrine was wrong. Their armies were too big and clumsy. The basis of their entire force, the heavy chariot, was too inflexible. The Hittite's morale looked brittle. "Maybe they'll break if I hit 'em hard enough," she thought.

"NO!" she snapped to herself. "The issue is ME! What will happen to me if I take it? How can I continue with my mission..."

Xena sniffed something, and her eyes went wide. Then she sat back. Her war face appeared. "Hello, Ares," she said.

Behind her, the God of War stood quietly, a grin on his full lips. "Lady, you are so good. How did you know?"

"You need to brush your teeth. I can smell the blood on your breath."

Ares, his vanity hurt, flinched, but he recovered, "How do you like my plan up 'til now?"

"I really didn't think you cared much about what I thought."

"Hey, what do you think this is all about? I just need you thinking the right thoughts. Besides, I love 'Damned if you do, Damned if you don't' situations They're my specialty. I mean it's perfect. If you refuse this command and run away like a common coward, blood will flow in rivers, and I get my man as ruler of the known world. Accept this command like the brave you are, blood will flow in rivers, and I get my favorite parishioner back. You gotta love it!"

"Oh yeah! You're really good at setting situations like this up. Look, forget it, you might be forcing me into taking this command, but to get worship you have to get me to change my mind, and that's not gonna happen."

"I'll admit," He averred squatting down by the tub and looking Xena in the eye, "you are my prime objective, but there are other benefits available. Take Gabrielle for instance."

Intense rage washed through Xena. She glared but somehow mastered herself and remained calm. "You keep her out of this!" Xena's eyes, crackling with resentment, bored into the black pits with which Ares watched her.

"Nah! Why bother? Anyway my opinion of her has changed. I don't think of her as an 'annoying blonde' anymore. I fought next to her. I was impressed. Abana was her first real battle, yet she took it like a pro. You've taught her how to focus her anger extremely well. She also has the heart of a terrier. Now maybe if she'll learn a few more weapons and finally spill some serious blood, then I might be able to cut her a deal."

"She'll never do it. In some ways, she's stronger than I am. Don't look so shocked, it's true. Once she sets her head on something she won't budge, and her head is dead set against you."

"I'm not worried, sweetie. We'll see. By the way, I think she's coming up the hall. So I better get going. I got some other irons in the fire."

"Get lost, Ares!"

"As you wish, m'dear!" Chuckling softly, Ares evaporated.

Frustrated, Xena shied her soap, with a shout, at the place where the God once stood.

There was a clatter at the door to the bathroom, and Gabrielle barged in wearing a woolen nightgown. Her hair was still wet and wrapped in a towel turban. "Xena! Are you OK?"

"Yes, just angry. Seems like I'm angry an awful lot lately."

"How come?"

"I just had another little visit from Ares." Xena said with a broad, totally mirthless smile.

Gabrielle slumped down on a stool. "WONderful! What did he want?"

"Not much. He just came in to gloat."

Xena held her nose and ducked under the water. Gabrielle saw the soap on the floor and retrieved it. She returned, waited for Xena to surface, and started lathering her hair. "I'm worried about you, Xena. I don't think I've ever seen you more bitter and afraid. It scares me."

Xena stared at the opposite wall for a moment. She was worried about what was coming up. Gabrielle was so important to her. "It scares ME. You didn't know me when I was a warlord."

"Well, you told me about it. You did say how awful thought you were to others." Gabrielle put down the soap and started rubbing Xena's hair and scalp.

"That feels good, Gabrielle. Thank you."

"Hey, what are friends for? I've talked to a lot of people and they keep telling me your awful reputation was only partially true. You did a lot of good too."

"Gabrielle..."

"Wait a sec will ya? OK, I'm done." Gabrielle got up and took a cup down off the wall she returned and dipped it in a bucket of cold water on the floor. "Hang on Xena!" Gabrielle dumped the cold water on her friend's head. Xena convulsed from the shock then relaxed utterly. Quickly, Gabrielle repeated the process until her friend's hair shined like polished ebony.

Over her shoulder Xena said with a warm smile, "You enjoyed that, didn't ya?"

"Yeah, I did. Gotcha back for being so grumpy today." Gabrielle wrung out Xena's hair, took a nearby towel and wrapped it into a neat turban around Xena's head. Gabrielle got up and took down a huge towel from a hook on the wall and handed it to Xena as she rose from the bath and stepped out. Xena dried off, wrapped herself in the towel, donned a blue silk robe (a gift from Melosa), put an arm around Gabrielle's shoulders and they both walked out into Xena's bedroom. They both sat on the bed and Gabrielle took her turban off. Xena reached for a comb on a nearby end table and began to comb out Gabrielle's strawberry blonde hair.

"Xena?"

"Yeah?"

"You almost never show fear, but are you really scared? Of this command I mean? Are you afraid of going back on your promise not to become a monster again?"

Xena stopped combing, and sighed. She still found it hard to tell Gabrielle things. "Gabrielle, I..."

"Xena, look. You're the best friend I've ever had in my life. I'd have to see you kill someone I care about in cold blood before I'd leave you. And even then it would be hard."

Xena smiled, touched her forehead to Gabrielle's hair and started combing again. "I'm petrified, actually."

"Why?"

"Because of what it would do to me, you, and us. The last time I commanded an army I was at my very worst."

"I know that. You're so different now."

"Am I really? It's so hard to put that part of my life behind me. Y'see, I love being a warrior.

"I know that. It's a big part of you."

"Do you really? I love every part of it. Including the killing. My love of destroying an opponent is so strong, that if you weren't there to remind me of what being a person is like, I'd wallow in blood again."

"I know that too. You know it's wrong though, and you're trying to change. Not like Callisto. She thinks that killing is all that there is."

"Remember me telling you that after Amphipolis was sacked the second time, I lost all time to feel?"

"Sure."

"I'll be put in exactly the same position if I take this command.

"Well, I'll make it a point to remind you to take the time."

"Gabrielle, you don't get it. As a commander, I will have to order, ORDER people to go die for me. I don't know if I can take the responsibility and not become the monster we both hate. Estragon was the last man I ordered to die for me, and he did. I executed him when he disobeyed my orders to kill Hercules. I promised myself I'd never be put in that position again, no matter what the reason. In Hatti, since we had them totally unawares, I was reasonably sure that no one order would guarantee anyone's death. Now the situation is totally different."

"Well, that's understandable, we were all your friends."

"Gabrielle, when I had my army, they were ALL my friends, or I at least knew them. I knew every man in my army, over 60,000, by name. The closer you get to your men the better they perform. I had to write, only the gods know how many, letters to the families of the men that were killed. When you're a general, you have to force all of that aside and drive the men like animals to the slaughter. I don't know if I can do that and atone anymore."

Gabrielle turned and looked Xena in the eye. She could see that she was greatly moved. She imagined all the faces hovering in Xena's memory. Her heart reached out, and so did her hand. Gabrielle stroked her friend's cheek. "I never knew."

"It gets a lot worse. Do you know how you feed an army in the field?"

"Well, I suppose you buy food around the area and bring it along in wagons."

"No, Gabrielle. It's impractical. A soldier in active service eats around five pounds of food a day. Every day. The wagons can't really keep up, and there's never enough of them anyway. An army grazes like a swarm of locusts. It eats whatever's in its path. If it stays in one place for too long, the army starves. That means cleaning out villages, and stripping fields and barns. I tried to leave enough food to keep the villagers alive. When I had the time, I made a blackmail offer for food and forage. If it was refused, I smashed the villagers. More often than not, my army would have stripped the village before I could have done anything about it. I think that's what happened to Cirrah. I executed hundreds of my own men for looting, it seems like, but I could never stop it altogether."

"Oh no."

"Did you ever think about what I did with prisoners? The men my army captured from the enemy."

"You threw them in jail. Sent them home?" Gabrielle said hopefully.

"It's impractical for a moving army to take the time and the manpower to build and guard camps for prisoners of war. If we sent them home there was no guarantee that they wouldn't just rejoin the enemy and start fighting again. Swords ain't that hard to find." Xena began to mist up. "I had a standing order--a standing order, to put prisoners to the sword even if they weren't resisting anymore. As for civilians, I tried to leave the old men, women and children alone, but if I could get a tactical advantage by clogging up the roads, I burnt the village to the ground, and drove the refugees out."

"This time it can be different. You can make it different."

"No, Gabrielle, I can't. This time it's gonna be far worse. The Greek Army is gonna be outnumbered 6 to 1. That means it can't stand up in a slugging match. It's got to march, fast, all the time. I'll be forced to use every tactic I know, brutal or not, to win. Every man's at a premium, replacements will be non-existent. If anyone's gotta die, it's gotta be the enemy, or the civilians that get in the way. It doesn't matter if the civilians are our own countrymen or not. That's the terrible truth about war. If you try to make war softer, all that happens is that you get beat and slaughtered." Xena looked desolate--awash in all of her regrets.

Gabrielle wrapped her arms around Xena. Her own experience of war seemed so tiny and insignificant. Xena had been living up to her hips in blood nearly all of her life, and it was inevitable now that she was going to be swimming in it--one way or the other. She knew Tudhalias. He was mad, implacable, impossible to shift away from his murderous course. She remembered what she told Xena so long ago. "The only way to end the cycle of violence is through love and forgiveness." What did it all mean? Maybe she was right when she told Xena after her husband Perdicas had been killed, t