ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

Fragile Innocence

by Gabby Bard

Disclaimer: Xena, Gabrielle, Ephiny, Solari, and Argo are property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance. I in no way intend to infringe on their copyright.  All other characters in the story are my own creation. Also, the poem "Fragile Innocence" is mine. If you'd like to use it, please ask me first.

Thank yous: First of all, thank you to Cindy for putting my story on your awesome site. You're terrific! :) R.G. Heller <g>, for editing, reviewing, and commenting on my story. You've been a greater help than you realize and I'm so very grateful. And for making me laugh with your stories and humor that always relates to something in my day. Also, of course to Scarlet...there's no place to begin so I'll just say, thank you.

PART I

           "How much longer is it to Athens?" Gabrielle asked impatiently.

            "Hopefully not much longer, it looks like it's about to rain," Xena said looking up at the dark and foreboding sky.

            "I sure hope so, my behind is so numb I can barely feel it," she complained. That was just one of the many reasons Gabrielle didn't like riding Argo.

            The warrior chuckled. "Hang on Gabs, it isn't much further."

            Sure enough, they soon arrived on the outskirts of the city just as it began to downpour. Xena quickly directed them to an inn and rode Argo into the stable.

            Gabrielle slid off the mare and began to stretch her legs happily as Xena brushed off the animal. "If I never ride Argo again it will be too soon." The honey-haired woman remarked as she rummaged around in the saddle bags for the money pouch.

            The warrior grunted. "Remind me never to get you a horse." She replied and put Argo's brush away.

            Having secured the mare in her stall, the duo left the stables and hurried through the rain into the inn. They shook the rain from their hair and clothes and Xena offered to get a table while Gabrielle ordered the food.

            The smaller woman walked up to the bar and looked around for the owner. He was no where in sight. She had just sat down on a stool to wait when she began to overhear a conversation coming from a table about three feet from her:

            "..no! And you don't get no dessert either. Such things shouldn't be wasted on worthless kids." This was coming from the mouth of an elderly gray haired woman with a sour face and more wrinkles than a stale prune. She was sitting next to an ancient looking man with a turned-down nose and a slightly different version of disapproval etched on his face. Opposite them was a small girl of about six or seven years with messy dark blonde hair and a solemn face, to whom the old woman was talking. Gabrielle listened quietly, feeling sorry for the child.

            "Yes, ma'am," the little one said so quietly it was nearly inaudible.

            Satisfied that she had gotten the point across, the crotchety woman returned her attention to her food. The old man stared blankly into his mug of ale, saying nothing.

            The child scanned the room with longing eyes and finally rested her gaze on Gabrielle. The bard smiled warmly at the little girl and waved.

            The little girl returned the expression with a cautious yet delighted smile. But as soon as she lifted her hand to wave, the old man broke out of his trance and slapped her hand. "Keep your hands to yourself," he snapped and went back to staring into his drink.

            The girl didn't say a word or cry a single tear. She simply drew her reddened hand back down by her side and looked up at the bard with the saddest blue eyes Gabrielle had ever seen. It was all the bard could do not to rush right over and take the poor kid into her arms. She was still staring down into the girl's eyes when an impatient voice interrupted her thoughts:

            "Hello? Miss?" The bar keeper was drumming his fingers on the counter, waiting for the young woman to speak.

            "I...um..." she faltered, reluctantly taking her eyes off the child.

            "Come on, miss. I got an inn full of customers wantin' my attention. If ya don't wanna order, I gotta get movin'."

            "Oh I'm sorry," Gabrielle said quickly and handed him some money. "I'd like to order two bowls of beef stew, two glasses of mead, and one room for my friend and I."

            The innkeeper gave her a short nod and took the dinars. "Yar food will be here in a minute."

            As he disappeared, Gabrielle looked again at the table with the little girl  and saw the three of them getting up to leave. The bard watched with ever curious eyes as they hurried out the door pushing the little girl ahead of them. *Please send someone to help that little girl,* Gabrielle silently prayed to the gods, completely unaware that she would be the answer to her prayer.

            "Here's yar food, miss." The voice of the innkeeper once again broke her thoughts as he handed her the tray of food along with the key to their room.

            "Thanks," The slim woman answered distractedly as the man began to turn away. "Wait, one more thing..."

            He turned back around, slightly annoyed. "Yea?"

            "Do you know anything about that little girl that was just in here with that old man and woman? What's her name? Are those her parents?"

            "Listen lady," the innkeeper cut in before she could ask more questions. "I don't know nuthin' about 'em except that they come in here once every few seasons. They just started bringin' the kid last year. Dunno if its theirs or not."

            Gabrielle sighed, dissatisfied with the answer. "Well thanks anyway," she said and carried the tray over to the table Xena had reserved.

            "What took you so long?" Xena asked looking impatient.

            Gabrielle decided against telling her friend about the child, at least for now. "I'm sorry Xena, the innkeeper was really busy." She sat in the chair across from the warrior.

            "Are you sure that's all? You look upset." The woman's keen eyes picked up on the bard's distracted, preoccupied look.

            "No, I'm fine. Really." Gabrielle forced a smile and the warrior decided to let the issue go for the moment. But about halfway through the meal Xena noticed her friend was barely eating and kept glancing worriedly out the window.

            The dark haired woman set her spoon down and laid a hand on the bard's forearm. "Gabrielle," Xena began quietly so as not to jar the woman from her thoughts. "I know something is wrong. I can see it in your eyes."

            The small blonde sighed. Xena knew her too well for her to effectively hide anything. "You're right...something is bothering me."  The warrior looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to continue. "Did you happen to see those two elderly people in here earlier? The ones with the little girl?"

            Xena's brow furrowed. What did they have to do with anything? "I saw them briefly on their way out. Why?"

            "Well, those two old people were really mean to the girl."

            "How do you mean?"

            "They told her she was worthless, that she couldn't have any dessert, and they smacked her hand."

            The warrior's instinctive anger subsided a bit. "Is that all? Gabrielle, a pat on the hand and withholding sugar is common discipline with children. As far as what you heard about her being called worthless, maybe you just heard wrong."

            Gabrielle sighed. Maybe Xena is right, she thought to herself. "I guess you're right, maybe I was overreacting," she said, although that nagging feeling in her stomach that told her something more was wrong didn't go away.

            Xena smiled. "Its understandable. We're all a little defensive when it comes to kids."

            "Yeah, I guess." The bard shrugged slightly. "Look, I'm really tired. Would you mind if I just went up to bed?"

            "Sure, no problem. I'm done eating, so I'm ready to go up too." She finished the last swig of mead and followed her friend up the stairs of the inn.

            As soon as they got inside the room, Gabrielle kicked off her boots and plopped down unceremoniously onto one of the beds. She folded her arms behind her head and laid back. "Gods, I'm exhausted," she announced with a yawn.

            "I noticed," the warrior remarked, beginning to remove her armor.

            "Can you blame me? We've been traveling for six days straight. And not under the best conditions, I might add."

            Xena gave the younger woman an amused look. "That was nothing. When I had my army we used to travel for weeks at a time without many breaks." She tossed her leather and armor onto a nearby chair.

            "Well, I'm not one of your soldiers Xena," Gabrielle said with closed eyes. "I need my beauty rest, and often too." In a swift move, she tossed a pillow over at the warrior with a smirk.

            Xena chuckled as she caught the pillow. "You don't need beauty rest, Gab. You're already perfect." She sent the pillow back to the smirking woman and climbed into her own bed. "G'night," she said turning over to face the wall, not giving her friend a chance to reply.

            The bard reached over and blew out the lantern, smiling at no one in particular. "Goodnight Xena."

                                                            ************

            Sometime in the middle of the night, Gabrielle awoke with a strange feeling in her stomach. She sat up and strained her eyes to see through the darkness of the room. Nothing seemed to be amiss and the only sounds were the muffled voices of the bar tender and late night drinkers below, and the soft snoring of Xena.

            The bard tried to lay back down and return to sleep, but something compelled her to want to get up. And do what? she wondered. *The stables. Go to the stables,* the voice in the back of her mind offered.

            Unsure of why she was doing so, but unable to rid herself of the persisting feelings, Gabrielle climbed out of bed and put on her boots. She then tiptoed across the floor, retrieved her staff, and slipped quietly out the door.

            Once out into the dimly lit hall, she looked from left to right and breathed a sigh of relief when she was certain there was no one around. A woman walking down a dim hall alone at night could attract some unwanted attention. Not that she couldn't handle it, but it wasn't something she wanted to deal with if she could help it.

            Gabrielle followed the corridor to the right and exited the inn from the back way, so as not to have to pass the bar which no doubt held some filthy, drunken men.

            When she reached the outside, she encountered a tall, well-built, gruff-looking man. Doubtfully, she tried to walk past him without provoking some kind of reaction. No such luck. The man stopped her by putting a strong hand on her shoulder. "Well, now aren't you a pretty little thing. Where are you going alone on such a dark night?"

            Gabrielle shrugged his hand off. "None of your business." She tried moving on but he grabbed her elbow and spun her around to face him.

            "I'm not done with you yet." The burly man pulled her close to his chest and grinned down menacingly at her. His breath, so strong with liquor and the smell of old meat, made her stomach turn.

            "Too bad I can't say the same for you." The bard smiled with mock sweetness and shoved her knee hard into his groin.

            The offender doubled over in blinding pain. "Bitch," he murmured through gritted teeth.

            "Thanks. I'm flattered." Gabrielle lifted her staff and brought it down forcefully across the back of his head, instantly sending him into Morpheus's arms. She watched with a satisfied look as he slumped to the ground.

            Having dealt with him, she continued on her way to the stables. When she arrived, Gabrielle quietly opened the door and peeked inside. All was dark and silent. She took the lantern hanging on the outer wall of the building and lit it as she stepped inside.

            The bard peered around the now lit room. Nothing seemed abnormal. Argo was still in her stall and snickered when she saw the fair-haired woman, as if to question her presence.

            "I'm not sure why I'm here either, girl," Gabrielle said patting the mare on the flank. She looked around once more before preparing to leave. "I've got to stop listening to these impulses." But as she turned around to go, a sound like that of a hiccup and sniffle combined came from the back of the stables.

            Startled by the noise, Gabrielle spun around and saw some movement in the corner. "Who's there?" she called out, instinctively her hands tightened on her staff. The movement stopped. "I know you're there. Show yourself," she demanded.

            Moments later, a small blonde head poked itself out from behind a mound of hay.

            A child! "You can come out, I won't hurt you," she said, dropping her staff and the defensive tone. The child didn't move, she simply stared at the bard with mistrust.

            "Its okay, really. I mean you no harm." Gabrielle insisted, dropping to her knees so that she could be eye level with her.

            What seemed like hours later, the girl slowly emerged from behind the straw and started toward the kind-faced woman. A bleak sense of relief went through her when she recognized her from the inn.

            Gabrielle's eyes widened as she, too, had a moment of recognition. "You're the girl I saw in the inn earlier," she blurted out. She was taken aback by the child's haggard appearance.  The girl was wearing a very tattered, dirty, blue dress that hung off of her thin shoulders. Her face had the remnants of recent tears and there was a large, fresh bruise above her left eyebrow. Additionally, there were several other bruises and marks on her arms and legs. Gabrielle was scared to think of what injuries lay beneath the dress. Eventually she asked, "What's your name? And how old are you?"

            "Rhiannon," she whispered between hiccups. "I'm seven."

            By Zeus, what was a child so young doing out here alone? "That's a pretty name, Rhiannon. I'm Gabrielle." She smiled. "But what are you doing out here? Aren't you supposed to be with those people I saw you with earlier?"

            Rhiannon shook her head 'no'. "They sleep in the inn. I'm supposed to sleep out here to guard their horse," she said almost inaudibly.

            The horse?! What about someone protecting you? Gabrielle thought and shuddered at the realization of the danger the child was in. With all the men, most of which are drunk, that rode in and out of there all night, it wasn't a good scenario.

            Rhiannon shivered despite the warmth of the night air. There was no time to ask questions right now, this girl needed help. The bard reached out to take the girl's hand, but she cowered, afraid of being hit.

            These kids are skittish, Gabrielle reminded herself with a frown. "I won't hurt you. You don't have to be afraid of me." She held her hand out at a comfortable distance.

            This time, Rhiannon put her hand into the bigger one of Gabrielle's. Besides, what did she have to lose? This woman couldn't hurt her any more than she'd already been hurt. "Okay," she whispered with trepidation.

            The woman led her over to Argo and rummaged around in the saddle bags until she found the spare blanket she was looking for. She was just wrapping the girl in it when a tall, dark shadow loomed in the doorway.

            Gabrielle turned quickly, then breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh Xena, its only you." Her friend was standing a few feet away dressed only in her shift, hair mussed, sword in hand.

            "Were you expecting someone else? I heard you leave the room but I thought I'd give you the benefit of a head start before following you." Out of the corner of her eye, a shaking figure under a blanket caught her attention. "What's going on?" She pointed her sword at it. "What or who is that?"

            "For gods' sakes Xena, put the sword down, its just a child." Gabrielle bent down by the girl. "Its okay Rhiannon, you can come out. That's my best friend Xena. She won't hurt you either." Two little eyes peeked out from the covering of flannel and the bard gave the warrior a warning look to lower her sword.

            With an arched eyebrow, Xena did as she was bid. "Okay Gab, you wanna tell me what I'm missing here?"

            "Xena, this is Rhiannon. She's the girl I told you I saw earlier. Remember?"

            The warrior nodded vaguely. "So why is she out here and not with her parents?"

            "That's just it. Those people, whoever they are, make her sleep out here all alone because they want her to protect their horse. Can you believe that?"

            "Are you sure Gabrielle? That sounds a little strange..." Xena remarked, knowing that her companion had an overactive imagination at times.

            The smaller woman gave her friend a look. "Why would I make up something like this? Besides, just look at her." She glanced at Rhiannon. "Would you please come over here for a second, honey?"

            Too scared to say no, the child stepped out of the blanket and stood between the two. Xena immediately noted the girl's gaunt look and superficial injuries. Placing her sword on the ground, she squatted down in front the girl. "Where did you get these bruises Rhiannon?" While waiting for an answer, she glanced up at Gabrielle and was surprised to find rage and hate in the normally placid green eyes.

            "Jorius, my grandfather, pushed me 'cause I wasn't moving fast enough. I fell and hit my head on the steps outside the inn." Her voice came in a broken whisper, as was so common with children of abuse. "That's where I got this." She indicated the painful mark above her brow.

            Xena fought back anger. "And these?" She ran her index finger ever so lightly along the bruises on Rhi's arm.

            The little girl swallowed. "They hurt me when I'm bad. Its called 'treatment'," she said simply, leaving those horrific words hanging like a rain cloud in the silence of the room.

            "That woman I saw is your grandmother? And she hurts you too?"

            Rhiannon nodded.

            The warrior glanced at Gabrielle again, who was staring at the child with an unreadable expression. "Well, we'll just have to take her to the local authorities tomorrow and report her grandparents," she said determinedly.

            "No!" Rhiannon suddenly exclaimed, for the first time raising her voice above a whisper. "You can't tell anyone what I told you! Especially not Jorius and Avella!"

            Gabrielle, now out of her trance, bent down and looked the frightened being in the eyes. "We need to tell them. Someone has to stop them from hurting you."

            "No ! Jorius will kill me. He swore he would if I ever told."

            "We won't let him hurt you anymore," Gabrielle began again, but the girl wouldn't be persuaded.

            "He knows men who kill for a living and they'll come after me...then you." Rhiannon shook her head violently from side to side. "You can't, you can't, you can't!!! If you tell, I'll just deny it!"

            Seeing the child near hysterics, they unanimously decided not to push it. "Then I guess we'll just have to take you with us," Gabrielle said suddenly.

            Xena gave the bard a sharp look. "Gabrielle, may I have a word with you?" she interjected. She flashed Rhiannon a reassuring smile before dragging her quick-mouthed friend off to the side.

            "Are you out of your mind?" Xena hissed the moment they were out of earshot. "We can't take her with us!"

            "Why?"

            "Two reasons: A.) She's not our child. B.) Its far too dangerous for her."

            "Xena!" Gabrielle protested in the same hushed voice. "We can't leave her here. She's been abused so bad, who knows how long she'll survive it?"

            "We'll have to convince her to turn her grandparents in. She doesn't realize she'll be protected if she does."

            "You can't guarantee that. And you saw how terrified she was at the thought of turning them in. Face it, its not going to happen. Xena, we have to take her with us."

            "Its not our place Gabrielle!"

            "Maybe its not your place, but its mine," Gabrielle argued vehemently. She was a heartbeat away from stomping her foot childishly. "Don't you see?" She continued, her voice softening. "This child who has been beaten and broken, and who obviously has a tremendously difficult time trusting, opened up to us--complete strangers--and told us about it. Doesn't that tell you something? Rhiannon's looking for someone to believe in her; to protect her."

            "Xena, if we leave her here, she'll die. And I will never forgive myself for knowing her situation and not doing what I could to help." She looked beseechingly at her best friend; the one who had always protected her, who loved her. Now she wanted so much to give that to another who so desperately needed it. "Please. Please let her come with us."

            The warrior stood silent for a minute, weighing those words. She had many oppositions to the idea, but there was something in Gabrielle's voice...something that seemed to almost be brought up from the past that struck a nerve in her. And the way her friend was looking at her, almost begging...she couldn't refuse. "You know you can't run away from problems, Gab. They'll follow you wherever you go," she reminded her. "But fine. She can stay with us for awhile. No promises on how long though." It wasn't that she didn't care. But Xena knew all too well what consequences this move could have on everyone. And she wasn't sure her friend could stand losing another child.

            The bard heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank you Xena. Really."

            Xena gave a short nod and retrieved her sword. "I'll go get the stuff from our room. Stay here with Rhiannon." She turned and exited the stables.

            Gabrielle turned back to Rhiannon with a smile. "Did you hear that? You can come with us. That is if you want to..." she just now realized neither one of them had actually asked the girl if she wanted to leave with them.

            The child studied the woman's face through pale blue eyes. She wasn't sure that she could fully trust the bard yet, and Xena was even more questionable. But on the other hand, they couldn't be any worse to her than Avella and Jorius were. And there was something about the little bard that disarmed her; something sincere and loving about her that reminded her of a time so long ago. "Yes, I want to," she answered finally with a weak smile.

            Gabrielle reached out and took Rhiannon's hand, giving it a little squeeze. "I'm glad to hear it." She smiled and led her again back to Argo. "Here, you take this and have a seat while I get Argo ready, ok?" she asked, after adjusting the blanket around the girl's small shoulders.

            Rhiannon sat on a pile of hay and watched as Gabrielle saddled the mare. Her eyes fell upon the food bag, and her mouth instantly began to water. The bard must have heard her gulp for she turned around.

            "Are you hungry, Rhiannon?" she asked, following the child's gaze to the food bag.

            When the girl shook her head yes, she hurried to remove a generous slice of white cheese and a handful of figs from the pouch. "Here you go," she announced with a smile, placing the food into the little hands.

            "Thank you," Rhi mumbled between bites. Gods, she couldn't remember the last time she ate. She munched hungrily and she continued to watch her new found friend. Maybe these people were going to be the ones who would break the cycle of violence she had fallen prey to.

            Gabrielle was just backing the mare out of the stall when Xena reappeared her full attire and their items in hand. "That man lying unconscious outside, is that your handiwork?" she addressed her companion while stuffing the saddle bags.

            "Is he big and ugly?"

            "That's a matter of opinion, but I'd say yeah."

            "Then yeah, that's my 'handiwork'. He was giving me a hassle so I knocked him out," she replied with a smirk.

            "I'm impressed," Xena said approvingly. "I don't think he'll be waking any time soon." She swung herself up on Argo and looked down at the child. "I hope you don't mind riding Rhiannon. Traveling will be a whole lot faster if we ride."

            "Okay," she said quietly and the bard lifted her, blankets and all, up to Xena who set her in front.

            "Come on Gabrielle, you too."  Xena held out her hand.

            "Me too? Is there enough room?" Gabrielle looked uncertainly at the small space in the back of the saddle.

            "It'll be a tight fit but we need to leave the village quickly. C'mon."

            This time the blonde complied and wrapped her right arm around Xena's waist, her left hand holding her staff. The warrior took a similar position, wrapping one arm around Rhiannon and taking the reins with the other.

            "Yah! Let's go Argo." Xena snapped the reins and the horse obediently left the stables.

                                                                  *************

            They rode as far as they could until the sun began to peek its brilliant head over the horizon. Xena knew it was time for a break. Gabrielle was asleep against her back, Rhiannon against her stomach. Everything from her waist down was numb from inactivity.

            Finding a small, shady grove of trees not far off the path, Xena rode Argo over to it and commanded her to stop. "Come on, sleepyheads, its time to get down." She patted her friend's arm to wake her.

            "Mmm?" the bard mumbled and reluctantly opened her eyes.

            "We're going to take a rest here. But I need you to hop down first and get Rhiannon, ok?"

            Gabrielle came to quickly now remembering the child they had acquired last night. Without hesitation she dismounted and stood next to the mare with open arms. Rhiannon was just beginning to wake.

            Getting over her initial disorientation, the child smiled at the pleasant face that greeted her. "Morning," she said in her whispery voice as she slid into the welcoming arms.

            Gabrielle gave her a gentle hug. "Good morning." She set her down on her feet and took her hand. "Let's go set up a fire, huh?" She tossed a half-smile to Xena before taking the girl off into the nearby woods to gather wood.

            About a candlemark later, everyone one had finished breakfast and was sitting around the fire. Xena was, as usual, sharpening her sword and Rhi was leaning drowsily aganst the bard.

            An uneasy quiet was settling on the camp, so Gabrielle decided to speak up. "Hey, how about a swim? We'll be able to scrub all that mud off your face," she said grinning at the child.

            "I don't know how to swim."

            "That's okay, we don't have to actually swim. We can just wade around a bit. Does that sound like a good idea to you?"

            Rhiannon thought it over a moment before answering. The idea was more appealing than just sitting there feeling terrified over the decision she had made last night. "Sure. But where's the water?"

            "There's a small stream stream behind that patch of trees there," Xena answered, looking up from her sword.

            "Why don't you go on ahead and I'll be there in a second, ok?" The fair-haired woman suggested with a smile.

            Agreeably, the child started off toward the water without question or protest. Once she had left, Gabrielle turned to her friend. "Xena, is there something wrong? You've barely said two words all morning."

            Xena again lifted her eyes from her sword to meet the deep jade pools of her friend. "No, nothing's wrong. I was just thinking of what we're going to do about Rhiannon's situation."

            Gabrielle nodded in understanding. Laying a gentle hand on the warrior's forearm she smiled reassuringly, her eyes full of faith and admiration. "You'll think of something. You always do," she said seriously. "Why don't you come with us for a dip in the stream? It'll do you some good."

            Xena gazed at the bard for a long moment, grateful for her attentive concern and limitless confidence. "Sure, I'll be along in a minute. Just let me get Argo. I'll take her down to the water for a drink."

            Gabrielle gave her friend a satisfied smile and patted her arm. "Good." She stood up and jogged over to Rhiannon. "Gotcha!" She grinned, tickling the girl's ribs lightly.

            Rhiannon started to giggle too, until she reached a certain part on her ribs. "Ow."

            The bard's hand recoiled as if she'd touched a flame. "I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?"

            "Uh no...it's just...nothing." Rhiannon looked around desperately searching for something on which to refocus her attention. Fortunately, they were just coming upon the stream. "Oh look, we're here." She knew it was a flimsy attempt at a subject change, but it was all she could come up with.

            Completely disbelieving, Gabrielle's eyebrow rose in a manner similar to that of Xena's. But because the girl was apparently trying hard to defer the topic, she decided not to pursue it further at the moment. "Alright, if you're sure..." She gave her a concerned look before beginning to undress.

            When finished, she turned back to the child. "Do you need help undressing?"

            Rhiannon bit the inside of her lower lip. How would she get out of this one? "C-can I swim...swim with my dress on?"

            Chalking it up to being bashful, the woman didn't think the question too strange. After all, she wasn't sure she'd like to undress around people she'd only known for a few hours anyway. "Sure Rhi, if that's what you want." She smiled and waited until she'd taken her sandals off before leading her by the hand to the water's edge.

            They walked in until the water reached Rhiannon's knees. There, Gabrielle knelt down and dipped the cloth she'd brought into the cool water. "Let's shine up that little face of yours, shall we?"

            She gently wiped every inch of the small, thin face, making sure to catch the areas behind her ears and on the neck. Finishing that task, she sat back to survey her work. The bard was astonished at how ethereal-looking the child was without all the grit and grime. The girl's large, doe-like eyes were laced by long, dark lashes. She had a heart shaped face with fair skin and a light sprinkle of freckles adorned the bridge of her nose.

            "You're beautiful," Gabrielle mused aloud.

            Rhiannon turned a shade of crimson. "Thank you."

            Gabrielle smiled. "Do you want to go out a bit further?" When the answer came back 'yes', they walked hand in hand out into the water. After a few yards, the stream came up to Rhiannon's shoulders.

            "No more, its too deep," she said shakily.

            "Here," Gabrielle said, scooping the girl up in her arms. "now we can go out further."

            "N-no...we'll drown. Please don't go out any further."

            "Okay, alright." Gabrielle complied taking them a few feet back. "Is this better?"

            "Um hum."

            "Good. Do you want me to teach you how to float?"

            "Is it hard?"

            "Nah, not at all. Here let me show you."

            Xena had been watching the two interact from a large clump of foliage. She watched as the bard taught the girl how to float on her back. It always amazed her the way her friend could disarm even the most guarded of people.

            "Look Rhi, you've got the hang of it!" Gabrielle exclaimed.

            Rhiannon smiled and kicked herself onto her back and floated in a little circle.

            Xena smiled in spite of herself. "Oh Gab, you'd make such a good mother. I wish I could take back what I did to Hope," she whispered to herself as her friend spotted her.

            "Come on in Xe! Come see what Rhiannon learned," she called, waving her over.

            The warrior tugged on Argo's reins and emerged from the bushes. "On my way Gabrielle!"

            They swam for a long while, soaking up the sun and cool water. Around midday though, the bard's stomach began to rumble. "You know Xena, I think my stomach is telling me its time for lunch."

            Xena, who had been floating on her back, righted herself. "Oh really? Your stomach seems to be a bigger conversationalist than you."

            Gabrielle sent a splash of water at her companion. "Maybe so, but I don't think I'm the only hungry tummy here." She tossed a glance over at Rhiannon who was a few feet away working on her doggy paddle.

            Xena nodded with understanding. "As long as I'm here, I'll catch us some fish. Why don't you take Rhi back to camp and dry her off in the mean time."

            "Will do." She turned to the girl. "You hungry, hon?"

            Rhiannon swam up to her. "Yep, a little. Are we getting out of the water now?"

            "Yeah. Any longer in here and you'll turn into a prune."

            Rhiannon smiled slightly as Gabrielle picked her up. "C'mon you little mermaid, let's get you dried off."

            Once they reached the shore she set the child down on the sand while she got herself dressed. Gabrielle was just slipping on her skirt when she felt something hit the side of her head. Startled, she looked around to see what caused the offending blow. Next to her left foot lay a big bluegill. She picked it up by the tail and turned around in time to see the bronze warrior emerge from the water with an armful of fish.

            "Very funny Xena." She smirked.

            Xena chuckled. "Rhiannon thought so." She winked at the little girl and unloaded the fish into Gabrielle's arms. "Here ya go."

            Gabrielle gave the raven haired woman a good natured glare before heading up the path. Once her and Rhiannon reached the camp, she piled the fish into a pan and went over to the girl in time to see her shivering. "Let's get you out of those wet clothes." She reached out to pull the dripping rag off her but Rhi drew back suddenly.

            "What is it, Rhi?"

            "I don't want my dress off."

            "Well you're shivering, we need to put you into something dry." Gabrielle gave her a sympathetic look. "Its okay, really."

            Rhiannon dropped her head as a sign of resignation. She couldn't fight this anymore.

            The bard reached forward slowly, carefully and pulled the dress up and over her head. She was in no way prepared for what she saw. With a gasp, she dropped the dress. It fell to the ground lying abandoned and forgotten.

            Yes, Gabrielle knew the child was thin, but now standing there stark naked, it was obvious the girl was very malnourished. Her pale skin was stretched taut across exposed hip and rib bones. Her spine jutted out so far, the bard was sure the vertebrate would break the skin any second. But even more disturbing than that were the five large bruises scattered across Rhiannon's torso. Two were on her left side of her rib cage, one on the right, one near her spine, and one right on the bottom of her pelvic bone that made Gabrielle shudder. For one to be in that region would mean someone had touched her there. Not a common place for just a haphazard blow.

            "By the gods," the bard choked in horror.

            Rhiannon stood there shaking like a leaf in the wind, so full of pain and embarrassment that she couldn't bring herself to look up at the woman.

            The bard repressed a sob and gently lifted the girl's chin so that their eyes met. Her heart nearly broke in two when she saw the pain written on Rhiannon's face. "Oh you poor thing." She pulled the damp, naked frame into her arms and wrapped the flannel blanket around her as Rhiannon collapsed into her chest and wept.

            "Shhh, its okay." Gabrielle cooed in the crying child's ear as she soothingly stroked the damp hair. It took no more than a few minutes for the desperate sound of the small child's anguish to cause a torrent of tears to flood down her own cheeks.

            Xena was just entering the clearing when she saw the humbling scene being played out before her. Rushing to their side, her face clouded with concern, she questioned Gabrielle. "What's wrong? What it is?"

            The bard replied by shaking her head and mouthing "later".

            Xena responded with a confused nod and set about preparing the dinner, restarting the fire. As she worked she listened to her friend humming to the child. The song, whatever it was, was beautiful. But the way Gabrielle was humming it, with such heartfelt anguish, sent chills up and down her spine.

            Soon after, Gabrielle looked down at the child who was beginning to drift off. "You tired honey?"

            Rhiannon nodded slightly, her eyes half closed in exhaustion. Xena took the signal and quickly laid out a bedroll. Still wrapped in her blanket, Gabrielle lay her down and wiped the tears from the child's face. She sat there looking at the fragile form for a moment, a thousand emotions running through her. She sighed morosely and kissed the girl's forehead before returning to her spot by the fire.

            Xena stood lamely in the middle of the clearing, staring at Gabrielle, awaiting an explanation. "Want to tell me what that was about?"

            The bard briskly wiped the tears from her own face before looking up at Xena gravely. "Those bruises. My gods, those bruises." She rested her elbows on her knees. "And she's just so thin..." She dropped her head into upturned palms and drew a shaky breath.

            Xena's forehead crumpled and she went to her friend's side. "Gabrielle," she began, crouching down in front of the young blonde. "what bruises? The ones on her arms?" She gently pried Gabrielle's hands away from her face. "C'mon, tell me."

            The bard's saddened green pools met Xena's worried blue ones. "Those marks on her arms aren't anything compared to those on her chest and back. And there's this one on her pelvic bone...I don't even want to think how that got there."

            "Zeus, I can't imagine what they must have hit her with," she continued, inhaling slowly. "And she's so pitifully skinny. You can tell she hasn't eaten a decent meal in ages." She paused. "I have no idea how she survived this long." Waves of nausea washed over her like ocean tides. "And Xena," she went on in a  hushed, horrified voice. "She had no underwear."

            Xena, who was by now seething with rage, tried to control herself long enough to speak with her friend. She moved to sit next to her. "We'll have to take her to a healer, and soon. If there is any internal damage done, the sooner we know the better," she said, jaw set, eyes staring forward.

            "Can't you just look at her and find out?"

            "Yes, I could but I want and actual healer in this case. I don't want to take any chances; not with a child. Not with her."

            Gabrielle nodded and Xena handed her a plate of food. "You hungry?" she asked, looking at her companion's face, which had over the past day become considerably white and drawn.

            "Not now, thanks. Maybe when Rhiannon wakes up." She rested her chin on steepled fingers and stared at the dancing flames. "What then? Where are we taking her after she sees a healer?"

            Xena returned the plate of food to the ground. "I was thinking the Amazon village. If Rhiannon is in your care I'm sure the tribe would be more than happy to offer their services and protect her."

            "Good idea," Gabrielle commented. "And I was thinking of something else, too. How about we change her appearance and her name, at least while we're traveling through villages? You know, make it harder for her grandparents to track her down."

            The warrior arched a surprised eyebrow at the bard. "Smart thinking. When we go into villages, we'll just pretend she's your daughter. You two look enough alike. I'm sure she'd enjoy it."

            Gabrielle wondered if she'd heard a trace of envy in her best friend's voice. "Alright, sounds good to me. We'll have to talk with her when she gets up."

                                                            *************

            He rolled onto his back and winced as the bright morning sun caught him full in the eyes. "Ugh," he groaned, rolling himself up and out of bed. How many drinks did he have last night? Couldn't remember; musta passed out before he finished.

            "Stop your groanin' and get the kid, Jorius. I need her to clean up the room before we leave." Avella said from a nearby chair. She was brushing her long blue-gray hair lazily.

            Jorius ran a withered hand through his thin gray hair. "Yeah, yeah. Stop your yelling woman. Just wait till I get my trousers on, will ya?" He stood and pulled a pair of ragged brown pants over his gangly white legs.

            "Make sure she knows the consequences if she hasn't done her morning chores already," his wife called after him as he left the room.

            Once in the stables, Jorius looked around for Rhiannon. "Girl?" He checked the spot where she usually slept. She wasn't there. "Girl??" he called louder as he searched the stables.

            A man stepped into the stables, hearing Jorius's call. "Are you looking for someone, sir?"

            Taken by surprise, the elderly man jumped guiltily. "Ah, I'm just looking for my dear little granddaughter. She usually likes to come down here early in the morning to play with the horses," he lied, feigning a concerned look.

            "Sorry man, there hasn't been any child in here all morning. I've been down here most of the morning, except for when I just went to get some breakfast. Maybe she went back to your room," the stranger suggested.

            "Um, yeah...maybe. Thanks," Jorius said in a uniformly polite tone before leaving the stables. Damn kid, he thought. Probably out playing. With growing anger he searched the area around the inn and stables. She was no where to be found.

            "Listen kid, I've got a hang over and a cranky wife to deal with," he mumbled through clenched teeth. "If you don't show up soon you're going to get one Hades of an ass whipping."

            Jorius searched for another quarter of a candlemark before returning to the inn and stomping furiously upstairs to their room. He flung the door open so abruptly that it hit the wall with a loud bang.

            Avella, who hadn't budged, looked at him with a scowl. "What took you so long? Where is she?"

            Jorius stood in the doorway, eyes blazing. "She's gone."

                                                            ***************

            "So its set then. We'll take Rhiannon to the healer and then pick up a few groceries in that little town...what's the name?" Gabrielle asked as she tossed some wood into the fire.

            "Lohr," Xena replied and snapped her head around as she heard some movement behind her. "Oh Rhiannon, you're up." She smiled at the little girl who awoke with tousled hair and puffy eyes.

            Rhiannon smiled meekly and wobbled over to Gabrielle, still in her blanket.

            "Hi there, munchkin," the bard said affectionately. She picked up the girl's dress that had now dried. "Do you want to get out of that blanket and back into your clothes?"

            Though the idea of being exposed again was less than appealing to her, Rhiannon agreed and dropped the blanket to shimmy into her dress. It was just enough time for Xena to see for herself the bruises Gabrielle had mentioned. She looked away in shock.

            Once dressed, Rhiannon sat between the two of them, feeling out of place and anxious. She couldn't get the thought of what would happen to her if Jorius found her off her mind. Part of her almost wanted to go back to them to end the awful anticipation and fear.

            Xena tried to lighten the heavy atmosphere. "Did you sleep well, kiddo?"

            "Um hmm, kinda." Rhiannon replied in her quiet manner as she stretched her legs out, curling her toes.

            "That's good to hear. Are you hungry?"

            The child didn't hesitate to answer yes. Her stomach was growling nosily. When Xena handed her a plate of fish, bread, and apple slices, she fell upon the food with abandon. Being used to having food withheld, she took all she could when she got it.

            Xena was delighted that the child was eating so well. If she could hold the food down, they'd have her back to healthy again in no time. She tried again to hand Gabrielle a plate, but the bard pushed it away in disinterest. She frowned knowing her friend hadn't eaten since yesterday morning.

            As Rhiannon ate, Gabrielle took the opportunity to talk to her about their plan. "We were thinking about what to do next," she began watching the child eat. "and we've come up with a plan."

            Rhiannon munched on a piece of bread and looked from one to the other, waiting for them to go on.

            "First, we'd like to take you to a healer." Gabrielle stated carefully watching her expressions. "We need to make sure your injuries aren't serious," she explained. Seeing no readable reaction from the girl, she went on. "Then we're going to get you some new clothes and maybe a different hairstyle so that you won't be noticeable to people who may be looking for you. What do you think about all of this?"

            Rhi wasn't thrilled with the idea of going to a healer, but maybe these two were right. If she had some serious injury, they needed to know. The second part sounded more fun to her. She liked the thought of being dressed up and looking different. Anything to separate herself from where she had just come. And even if it didn't last for long, at least she'd be able to keep the memories of these things with her, in the case her grandfather found her. "Okay," she said finally with a faint smile.

                                                            ***************

            "What do you mean she's gone?" Avella hoisted herself out of the chair and stared accusingly at the old man. "Did you look everywhere?"

            "Yes, I looked everywhere. She's gone I tell ya."

            "Well, where could she go alone?"

            "I don't know," Jorius said as he began to pack their belongings. "But get dressed because we're going to find out.

                                                            ***************

            "..and Xena won the battle against the Persians single handedly saving Athens and her friend, all in one day." Gabrielle spoke with great animation.

            "Wow," Rhiannon breathed. "Xena's a hero, isn't she?"

            "She sure is. Though she wouldn't admit it if her life depended on it," the bard said with a smirk in her friend's direction.

            "Come on you two, we've reached Lohr," Xena called from a few paces ahead of them.

            Gabrielle and Rhiannon trotted to catch up with the warrior. In a few moments they had all reached the outside of the physician's hut. After Xena had tied Argo's reins to a post, she turned to see the child shaking and pale.

            "It'll be alright," she said reassuringly, reading the apparent fear on the little face. "Gabrielle and I will be with you throughout the whole exam."

            "Xena?"

            "Yes Rhiannon?"

            "Will it hurt?" she asked in her wispy voice.

            The bard and warrior exchanged glances. "Well, it might...a little," Gabrielle answered honestly. "But it'll be over in no time, you'll see."

            "You sure?"

            "Very sure," Gabrielle said trying to calm herself as well. Taking Rhiannon by the hand, she followed Xena into the hut.

            Just inside the door was a small waiting room with a curtained doorway. Behind it they could hear the physician speaking to a patient. A pungent odor of herbs and elixirs hung thick in the air.

            "I guess we'll have to wait." Gabrielle led Rhiannon over to a wooden bench underneath the small window. Xena stood leaning in the door frame, arms crossed, eyes skeptically scanning the walls of the hut.

            The room was decorated with, besides a diploma from Rome, shelves that held figures of Greek diety on one wall, and famous heros and leaders on the other. Hercules, Pompey, Augustus and...no. Xena narrowed her eyes in disbelief.

            It can't be, she thought as she crossed the room to inspect. Sure enough, there it was: a small figure of her. It held a remarkable resemblance to her, except that it had noticeably larger breasts and much less clothing.

            Xena picked up the figure and nearly dropped it just as quickly when it squeaked in her hands. "What the Hades?" She gingerly squeezed the stomach of the figurine between her forefinger and thumb. This action elicited a loud eeeeekk!  from it. "Well, I'll be," she mused. "A squeaky doll of me. Darn Athenian merchants."

            Gabrielle's head swiveled to look at her friend. "Was that you ?"

            "Ah, well, sort of," Xena turned to her friend. "You wouldn't believe this thing." She was about to explain when the healer emerged from behind the curtain escorting a woman with a splint on her arm out the door. "Don't forget to check back in a week, Corina," he called after her.

            He then turned back into the room and gave Xena a friendly smile. "Playing with my toys, are you?" he asked, his brown eyes laughing.

            "Uh, I'm sorry," she said, quickly replacing the doll on the shelf. "I've just never seen anything like it."

            "Nah, don't apologize. Its actually quite an honor to have the warrior princess herself here in my hut." He gave her a curious look. "Although I somehow find it hard to believe that you would need a healer."

            "Hey, even warriors aren't invincible." Xena said matter-of-factly. "But I'm fine this time. Its my friend's...er, daughter that needs your attention."

            "Oh I see." He looked to the other side of the room and saw Gabrielle and Rhiannon stand.

            "Hi, I'm Gabrielle and this is my daughter Riora." She said evenly, following the plan as previously laid out.

            The physician stuck out his hand. "I'm Talos. I've heard of you--the fabled Bard of Poteidaia. I never knew you were a mother."

            Gabrielle just smiled, ignoring his comment.

            Talos squatted down and looked at the blonde child. "Hello there," he said kindly. "you must be Riora. Its nice to meet you."

            Rhiannon smiled shyly and leaned close to the bard's leg. "Nice to meet you, too," she whispered.

            Talos looked up at Gabrielle. "What seems to be the trouble with your daughter?"

            The bard glanced uneasily at Xena and tried to explain the situation. She omitted, of course, the part about them kidnapping Rhiannon. She began to say they rescued her from abusive family members and was now her adopted mother. It wasn't entirely untrue, but the more she tried to explain the harder it was to hide the truth. Finally after Xena, rather threateningly, made him swear to keep quiet they told the real story.

            Talos listened quietly throughout. "I see," he said solemnly after they had finished. "Well, let's see what we can do, huh?" He winked kindly at the girl before rising again to his feet.

            "One more thing," Talos lowered his voice so only Xena and Gabrielle could hear. "Has she been sexually abused?"

            The one question she couldn't bear to think about was finally being asked. "We don't know," Gabrielle answered. "Gods, I hope not."

            "Then its up to me to find out," Talos sighed heavily. He'd only done an exam like that two other times and even then the victims had been older. "Well, let's begin, shall we? I know we all want this over as soon as possible."

            Xena and Gabrielle nodded simultaneously. It felt good to have someone on their side. The bard picked up Rhiannon who was still shivering and silent and followed the healer into the back room.

            "Okay Rhiannon, I'm going to need you to step out of your clothes ok? Can you do that for me?" Talos asked, rummaging around in one of his drawers.

            With those words, the child's face turned a shade of gray. She'd heard that so many times before, though with much more insistence and no kindness whatsoever. For a moment, she wasn't even sure if she was breathing. Why did every man she ever came across ask her to do this?

            Bad choice of words, the healer immediately chided himself. Now he thought he knew the answer to that question from before. "Er, don't worry, you'll have a blanket to cover up with. I just need to be able to see your chest and back during the exam." He held up the white blanket. "Rhiannon, I know this is very difficult for you. And I'm not expecting you to trust me," Talos said seriously and calmly, trying to make her see that he was not a threat. "but I will not hurt you. If anything during the exam starts to hurt, you just tell me and I'll stop. Okay?"

            Rhiannon looked into Gabrielle's jade eyes and, finding comfort there, decided to comply. "Okay," she whispered between chattering teeth. Regardless of the midsummer heat, she felt cold as ice.

            "I'll let you get undressed then." Talos turned away and looked through his cabinets for some herbs, also to give the child her privacy.

            A few moments later, given the go ahead, the healer turned back to the emaciated child who sat frightened on the cot. Even being the experienced physician he was, Talos was stricken by the little one's harrowing appearance. Never, in all his years of practice, had he seen a child so young this abused.

            "Where did you get all these bruises?" Talos asked. He'd already heard it from Gabrielle, but he wanted to hear it from the girl as well. Though the blue-black patches on her torso were large, it was the ones on Rhiannon's arms that really bothered him. They looked as if to be placed there so purposely, as if someone was keeping a physical tally of her punishments on her arms.

            "From Avella and Jorius," she replied nervously.

            "What is it they hit you with?"

            Rhiannon felt Gabrielle slip her hand into hers. Xena stood right behind the bard watching the healer's every move.

            "Hard things," she answered looking down at the floor. "Rocks, belts, fists. Whatever they can find first."

            Bastard, Xena thought with anger.

            Gabrielle kept a strong hold on the child's hand but turned away, not wanting Rhiannon to see her cry. She felt Xena's hand on her back offering comfort.

            "Okay Rhiannon, can you lay down for me?" Talos waited until she did. "I'm going to press a little on your chest and tummy." He straightened the blanket on her lower half. "You tell me when it hurts, ok?"

            After she gave him permission to proceed, he began to prod lightly the areas around her stomach and abdomen. On many different areas, Rhiannon would jump or squirm or cry out in pain. Finally Gabrielle could stand it no longer, and Xena could sense it.

            "Please stop," Gabrielle whispered almost inaudibly.

            Xena wasn't sure what upset her more, Rhiannon having to go through the exam or her friend's distress. "Can we wrap this part up, doc?" she asked impatiently.

            Talos glanced from them to the child's tense face. "Ah, alright. Sure." He pulled the blanket up over her chest and gave Xena a "you-know-what's-next" look. "Okay Rhiannon. One more thing we have to do, though." He took a seat on a stool at the foot of the cot. "But first, I need to ask you a question. Is this okay with you?" He was treading with the utmost caution.

            Rhiannon murmured a yes.

            Talos swallowed hard and mustered up the courage to ask what he needed. "Has anyone ever touched you down there?" he asked, pointing at her nether regions.

            Gabrielle didn't want to hear the answer. She wanted to run away as far and as fast as she could. If it wasn't for Xena's strong hand on her shoulder, she probably would have bolted for the door right then. But instead, she stared out the window and nearly had a panic attack waiting for the answer. Beside her, she could feel Xena steel herself for the reply.

            Finally, as if in a nightmare, the answer came, "Yes."

            Gabrielle tried unsuccessfully to stifle a sob and Xena dug her finger nails into her palms until blood ran through her fingers in little rivulets. Talos himself was having a hard time keeping his temper.

            "When was the last time it happened?"

            "Two nights ago."

            Talos looked up at Xena with a grim face. He knew that no one, himself included, wanted to go on. But as a professional, it was his job. "Rhiannon, can I take a look down there?" he asked very gently, not wanting to further traumatize her.

            "I don't want you to," she protested weakly.

            Gabrielle couldn't find her voice so Xena stepped in. "Honey, if there's been some damage down there, we have to know so we can get it fixed." An icy fire in her chest threatened to steal her own voice. "We'll be here next to you the entire time."

            "She's right. And don't forget that I'll stop the very minute it hurts," Talos was quick to add.

            Rhiannon couldn't speak or move, but she looked up at the warrior, as if saying the exam could go on. What other choice did she have? 

            Taking a deep breath, Talos pulled back the sheet and propped the girl's knees up.

            While laying there naked on the cot, being examined for something she felt was her fault, Rhiannon felt cold and dead inside. The terrible shame and embarrassment she felt threatened to choke her off. Though the healer's hands were gentle and intending of help, horrible memories of Jorius' "games" came back to her.

            She couldn't bear to watch Gabrielle cry or Xena pace the floor in rage. She squeezed her eyes shut tight and watched the iridescent ribbons of color dance behind her eyelids. Without even realizing she was doing it, she started to mumbled the little poem she had made up when Jorius made her take naps with him. She'd repeat it over and over, praying for the incident to end.  

            "I'm a little bird, I'll fly away

            away from night, to find the day.

            sunshine, rainbows, stars above

            someone out there will show me love."  

            Suddenly, a wave of panic overwhelmed her and the poem wasn't helping to distract her from the doctor's exam. "Stop it!" Rhiannon screamed, jolting everyone in the room from their thoughts.

            Talos drew his hand away immediately. "I'm sorry, sorry," he said apologetically, scooting back a bit. She had seemed to be tolerating the procedure well enough, so he was more than a little surprised by the outburst.

            Gabrielle nearly got whiplash turning her head to look down at the girl. "Hey, okay. Its okay," she said soothingly, grasping tighter the girl's hand.

            "Are you done?" Xena asked the healer.

            "Um, yes. Yes we're done." Talos decided not to try and push things anymore. Besides, he'd gotten enough of a look to know the general state of things.

            Gabrielle nodded. "Good," she said and then another awful wave of nausea hit her. "I'll be right back," she mumbled and rushed through the curtain, past the waiting room where an elderly man was sitting, and finally outside. Just in the knick of time too; as she went around the corner of the building she threw up.

            Xena watched with concern as her friend bolted from the room. She waited until she finished dressing Rhiannon and asked Talos if he could watch her for a few moments. Once he agreed, she went in search of the bard.

            The warrior found her doubled over and retching. Without saying anything, she wrapped her arms around the small frame and waited for the heaving to subside. When eventually she finished, the bard turned into her best friend's arms and cried.

            "Shhh," Xena mumbled into the top of her friend's hair. She wanted to tell her it would be alright, that everything would turn out okay, but at the moment she wasn't sure if they would.

            The bard was so utterly appalled by the knowledge of what happened to the child that she felt she would come apart at the seams. Like a bolt out of the blue, memories from her past hit her and made the situation all the worse.

            When Gabrielle came to her senses again, she pulled out of the strong arms and sheepishly wiped at her tears. "I'm sorry. I lost it, I know. I just couldn't--"

            "I know Gabrielle."

            "I shouldn't have acted like that though. She needs us to be strong for her."

            "Don't apologize for your compassion. Rhiannon needs that just as much as she needs strength."

            "I suppose so. But you didn't lose it.." the bard pointed out, at the same time noticing Xena's bloody palms.

            "Believe me, its all I can do to contain myself. I want nothing more to kill that son of a bitch that did that to her."

            Gabrielle looked up and saw her friend was right. There was that familiar speck of hate burning in those deep blue eyes. What she didn't realize was that she also possessed this fire. "So what's stopping you?"

            "Only the fact that I want to get you and Rhiannon to the Amazon village first. Once you two are safe, they'll be nothing holding me back."

            The barely suppressed rage in Xena's voice scared her in one way, but in another, she was so blinded by her own hate that she didn't move to stop her. "We should get back to Rhiannon," the bard said, her mind brought back to the present as she rounded the corner of the building. She stopped first to rinse her mouth out at the pump before following Xena back into the physician's hut.

            Rhiannon was in the waiting room with Talos when they entered and he was naming the figures he had on the shelves. "Ah, you're back," he glanced at the blonde haired woman. "Are you alright, Gabrielle?"

            "Sure. Just needed some air," she replied shortly as she scooped the child up in her arms.

            "Is Rhiannon going to be alright?" Xena asked.

            "Well, she has a few cracked ribs, some internal bumps and bruises, and she's quite a bit malnourished, but I think all in all she'll be alright. There're no permanently disfiguring injuries." Talos fumbled around in a drawer until he found a small jar filled with a cream colored poultice.

            "Just apply this to her external injuries until its gone. Its got some strong herbs in it that are known to speed the process of healing."

            Xena took the jar from him. "And what about the second part of the examination?"

            The healer shifted uncomfortably. "Time will heal the physical wounds," he said simply. Gabrielle and Xena automatically read the other part of his statement in his eyes: "The emotional wounds will take much longer to heal, and they'll never be gone completely."

            "Thank you Talos, for everything." Xena said, breaking the solemn atmosphere quietly. "We appreciate your cooperation."  She moved forward to hand him some dinars.

            The physician shook his head. "No. You keep the money." He looked at the expressionless girl in Gabrielle's arms. "She needs it more than I do."

            Xena hesitated but put the money away. "Thanks again," she said sincerely.

            "Don't mention it." He smiled and watched as the warrior took Rhiannon from the bard's arms, leaving the hut. Gabrielle was on her way out too, but he caught her arm. "Wait."

            "Yes?"

            Talos released her arm when she turned around. "I just want to say that I wish you three the best of luck. I know its going to take Rhiannon awhile to heal, in more ways than one, but with you and Xena on her side I'm sure she'll be alright." He smiled kindly. "Take care Gabrielle. You're a very brave woman."

            "I hope you're right Talos," Gabrielle replied before leaving the hut.

            A few minutes later they were standing outside the village inn. "Okay, meet back here, then?" The blonde bard asked, confirming their plans.

            "Yep. In one candlemark Rhiannon and I will meet you back here." Xena said. "And don't forget to pick up some groceries," she reminded her distracted friend.

            "I won't." The bard took the money pouch in her hand. "I'll see you in a little bit, ok sweetie?" she said, smiling down at the girl who hadn't spoken a single word since her outburst at the healer's. She glanced once more up at Xena before walking down toward the south end of the village.

            As she walked along Gabrielle took a few deep breaths, still trying to quell her nagging nausea. Her stomach felt ready to creep up into her throat again, so she tried to concentrate on the shopping she had to do.

            Xena had agreed to take Rhiannon for her little "makeover" and let Gabrielle have some time to sort things out. Secretly though, the bard was battling terrible guilt, unknowing at the time that it was not only because of Rhi's situation.

            She took her time picking up some fruit, bread, cheese, and peanuts from the market. She had no desire to haggle or bargain today. Her thoughts were consumed completely by an anger and a hurt that she didn't understand. A small face with the same hurting eyes as Rhiannon kept popping up in her head. Why couldn't she just forget that?

            Having bought all the needed groceries, Gabrielle started on her way back to the inn when a man selling children's toys caught her eyes. She'd barely begun to look over the goods when the merchant started on his spiel.

            "Having a good day?" He didn't wait for her to answer. "You're a pretty lady. I bet you're a mother. You're a mother, right?"

            "In a way yes," Gabrielle replied, thinking both of Rhiannon and Hope.

            "Ah, I knew it!" He grinned. "How about a toy for your little one? All toys are one dinar off today."

            "Oh, I don't know..            "

            "Isn't a smile on your child's face worth a few dinars? Think of the lasting memory it will make!" The guy was laying it on thick.

            The extra dinars weighed heavily in her hand. Maybe he's right, Rhi would like a toy, she reasoned to herself.    Her eye fell upon a soft doll; complete with yellow yarn hair, blue button eyes, and a bright cloth dress. "I'll take that."

            The merchant handed the doll to Gabrielle. "Good choice! That'll be three dinars."

            Three dinars? Wow, prices of toys had sure went up from when she was a kid. Nonetheless, she handed the money to him. "Three dinars. There you go."

            "Thank you, miss! You have a great item there. Enjoy your day!"

            Gabrielle smiled inwardly and finally returned to the inn where Xena and Rhiannon were already waiting. "Wow, Rhiannon, you look great!" she exclaimed when she'd gotten a better look at the girl.

            The child's hair had been dyed from the dishwater blonde it was to a vibrant reddish blonde. Over that was tied a white crocheted handkerchief and now she wore a long light blue dress with tiny white flowers all over it. If the sadness had been gone from her eyes, she would have looked angelic. Instead, she looked like a porcelain doll who had been broken and was now missing pieces.

            "But Xena, the dress," Gabrielle said, looking up at her friend.

            The warrior scowled. "What? I tried my best to pick something 'cute' out for her. You know I'm not good at this sort of thing."

            Gabrielle gave her a confused look. "No, I wasn't insulting it Xena. I love it, really. But what I was going to ask is, why the long sleeves and skirt? Its so warm out here."

            "Oh that. I knew it would raise suspicions to have the bruised areas of her body showing," Xena explained. "We don't need to attract anymore attention than we already do."

            "That's right. Sorry, I hadn't thought about that." Gabrielle said, glancing down at the mute child. "Well, at least its light weight material." She caught Rhiannon looking curiously at the bundles in her arms.

            "I got us some food, Rhi," Gabrielle said, softly. "Are you hungry now?"

            The little girl shook her head 'no'.

            "Okay, well, how about you open this then?" She handed her the doll that she'd placed in a cloth.

            Rhiannon timidly took the package and hesitated before beginning to unwrap it. When she did, her eyes lit up noticeably and a slight smile graced her lips. "Is this for me?"

            "It sure is."

            "To keep?"

            "To keep." Gabrielle said with a grin. Oh, that smile on the child's face really was worth those dinars and so much more.

            "Thank you very much." Rhiannon replied, lifting her pale blue eyes to meet the bard's green ones. She had to admit, these two were making an admirable effort to take her mind away from her terror. They fed her, clothed her, and held her when she was scared. It was more than she had ever hoped to experience again. And yet, she still couldn't shake the feeling that it would all be taken from her someday.

            "You're very welcome." Gabrielle smiled and turned to  Xena. "Is that all we need to do while we're here?"

            "Yep, we're ready to leave," replied the warrior how had watched the exchange between the two strawberry blondes with mixed feelings. Of course, she was happy to see a smile on both of their faces finally, but there was also something in their eyes that made her feel they were keeping an awful secret. They now knew Rhiannon's, but what about Gabrielle?

            "Do we have to ride?" Rhiannon asked quietly. So quietly that Xena needed to bend down and ask her to repeat it.

            "Oh yes. I'm afraid we'll have to ride," the svelte woman replied, picking the child up and depositing her into the saddle on Argo's back. "We need to make as good of time as possible. As it is, we're a few days from Amazonia."

            Xena swung herself up behind the girl and held her hand out to Gabby. "Ready?"

            "I am but I'm not sure that my hind end is," she remarked dryly, not looking forward to the trip ahead. Her complaint, though, was cut short by one look at Rhiannon who looked just as tired, if not more so, as both of them.  "I'm right behind you." With that she allowed herself to be hoisted up onto the mare.

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Part II

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