Fragile Innocence 3

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.

Warning: This story deals with the aftermath of physical and sexual child abuse. Though it is not in great detail, this story does have a dark theme. Please proceed with caution, especially if you are particularly sensitive to this subject. There is also mild use of cuss words, nothing too severe though.

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 III

Things in the amazon village passed quietly and smoothly one month after another. Rhiannon was still thriving and now growing like a weed. Almost constantly by her best friend Fernanda's side, she was as close to a healthy, happy child as one could expect. Her nightmares had also become much less frequent.

"Are you sharpening that sword again?"

"There's not much else to do," Xena answered flatly.

Gabrielle smiled empathetically and sat down on the bench next to her friend. She tilted her head back and let the mid-morning sun shine warmly on her face and neck. When she thought back on the time spent there, she could hardly believe they had been in the village for a whole year now.

The bard turned her head to look at the warrior. She knew that Xena was nearly going crazy with anxiety but hid it well enough. It was for Rhiannon's benefit that she had stuck around so long already. Deny it all she would, but the warrior princess had fallen in love with the child. Anyone with eyes could see that.

"Hi Xena, Gabs!" A perky voice called from nearby. Rhiannon, riding bareback on her horse, came trotting past them. Her voice rang out clear and strong. The use of whispers and inaudible phrases had been gone for the past six months.

"Hi Rhi," they called back unanimously.

The girl smiled at them before moving on. Xena was amazed at the child's natural riding skill. After Fernanda had given her a few lessons she could ride like the wind.

"She's getting better on that horse, isn't she?" Ever since Gabrielle had given the right of caste to the child last fall, Rhiannon being the tribe princess, was given lots of nice things; one of which was her new horse Freedom. The name was very fitting.

"I'm proud of her," Xena agreed. "She's a natural."

"Just like you, huh?"

Xena shrugged modestly as she sheathed her sword. "Look Gab," she began, "I want to talk to you about something."

The bard turned her head again to look at her. "About?"

"About being here. Gabrielle, I'm just not made for village life. If the sisters ask me to go on a group hunting expedition one more time, I'm gonna scream."

The blonde couldn't help but chuckle. "I know this lifestyle is hard on you. And I'm so happy that you've stayed so long already. But I know what you're trying to say. You want to leave."

Xena hesitated. "Yes, actually I do." She took a deep breath. "But I don't want to ruin anything for anyone. You and Rhiannon are happy here. I don't want to disturb that."

"Xena, I love seeing Rhiannon the way she is now, but I don't want to be here without you. If you leave, I'm going with you."

The warrior wasn't sure this was what she wanted to hear. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. I didn't leave Potedaia to stay in the amazon village. I left to be with you."

A smile crossed Xena's lips involuntarily. "Well, I'm glad I know I don't have to now find a way to live my life without you," she said with a playful look that faded to seriousness after a moment. "We should go tell Rhiannon."

"Yes we should," Gabrielle said reluctantly. "By the way, thanks for staying as long as you did. I know how hard it was for you sometimes."

Xena said with a smile, "It was easy when I was doing it for you and Rhi."

Later that evening while Xena was talking with Ephiny, Gabrielle waited near the stables for Rhiannon to come back from riding. Not long after she'd gotten there the bard saw the child and her smiling friend part company for the time being. Rhi came riding over on her horse with a pert look.

"Guess what?" she bubbled excitedly. "Ferdi and I are learning how to use a staff, just like you!"

Gabrielle smiled warmly. "Really? How's it going?"

"Great! Ferdi's really good at it just like everything else she does," Rhiannon said with a look of admiration. "Hey, what's wrong?" she asked, noticing an apprehensive look on the bard's face.

"Well, I'd like to talk to you about something."

"Uh oh." She knew that an unpleasant conversation always followed those words. "Why don't I like the sound of that?"

Gabrielle searched her mind for a way to break the news peacefully. "Its about Xena and I...we're thinking of leaving the village, go back to life on the road."

Rhiannon felt a shiver of fear shoot through her as she slid off her horse. "But why? Aren't you happy here?"

"Its not that. Its just that we're so used to a life on the road that staying in a village for so long is kinda hard," she said, not wanting to single Xena out as the reason to leave. It was a combined decision and that's how she wanted to present it. Gabrielle saw the girl staring forlornly at the ground. She went over to her, and kneeling down, looked up into her watery blue eyes. "Oh hun, don't cry. You know I hate to see you sad. Don't worry, Xena and I will be back to visit you as often as we can. And--"

"You're leaving me here?" The girl gulped loudly.

"Well, I thought that since you were so well adjusted that you'd like to stay here. Besides, its so much safer than traveling on the road with us."

Tears began to form in the corner of Rhiannon's eyes and she made no effort to conceal them. "But you said you'd never leave me! You promised me you'd always be here for me!"

Gabrielle drew the child into her arms in a motion to comfort her. The girl fought for the first few moments then relaxed. "Okay, shh." She couldn't imagine why Rhiannon would want to come with them when everything had everything she could want right there. "If you really want to come along, you can."

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

"You told her that?"

"Xena, what was I suppose to do? She began to cry and reminded me that I said I'd always be here for her. I couldn't tell her no."

"And what if Jorius is still out there?"

"I don't know. You intimidated him so he should leave her alone. We'll just have to keep a low profile."

"Gabrielle, I don't know...it isn't safe to travel with a child."

"Xena, please. I can't just leave her here and I don't want to stay here without you."

Inwardly, the warrior felt ashamed for her decision to leave. Everyone was depending on her. If she left, Gabrielle left. If Gabrielle left, Rhiannon wanted to go. But Xena couldn't stay, even though she loved the child dearly, it just wasn't her.

"She can come, Gabrielle."

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

"Nanda, can I talk to you for a sec?"

"Sure Rhi. Anything wrong?"

"Ah, actually, I don't have such great news."

Fernanda looked up from the scroll she was reading, eyes filled with concern. "What's wrong?"

Rhiannon sighed and sat on the floor near her friend's chair. She was dreading this conversation all the way over to Fernanda's hut. "I'm leaving," she blurted out not wanting to beat around the bush.

"Leaving? You mean, like out for a few hours?"

"Um, no." The blonde girl averted her eyes. "Actually, I mean I'm leaving the amazon village--for good."

The brunette just about dropped the scroll she was holding. "What! Why? When?"

Rhiannon sighed and raked her long fingers through her long hair. "Gabrielle and Xena want to get back to their life on the road. Staying here isn't their thing," she said hesitantly.

"Well, I can understand that. But why do you have to go with them? This is your home now."

The younger girl looked up into the light brown eyes searching for understanding. "I know. I know it is. But..." she trailed off, unsure of what to say.

Compassion got the better of her and Ferdi set down her scroll so she could take the girl's hand. "You don't know how to be without them," she finished.

Rhi looked up into the eyes of her best friend and greatest strength. "Right."

Ferdi nodded. "I understand, Rhi." She gave her friend a strong smile. "I'm gonna miss you."

"Hey, I'm going to miss you too, so much." She looked down guiltily. "Fernanda, I want you to know that just because I'm leaving with them, it doesn't mean that you're less important to me. You know, my mom used to say that twisting paths always cross again. And who's paths are more twisted than ours?" She grinned. "You will always be my amazon sister. My sister and best friend."

"Right back at ya kiddo," Ferdi replied with the bravest look she could muster.

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

"We're going to miss having you three around," Ephiny said handing Gabrielle her staff.

"Don't worry, we'll be back to visit often. Right Xena?"

"Right," the warrior replied. "Besides, its the least we can do in return for the amazon's protection of Rhiannon this last year."

Ephiny shrugged modestly. "It was our pleasure. She's been great for the community."

"Speaking of our little woman of the hour," said Gabrielle. "where is Rhiannon?"

"She went to tell Fernanda that we're ready to leave."

As if on cue, the two girls came around the corner of the nearest building and ambled over to the group.

"We're ready when you are, Rhi," Gabrielle announced as she completed packing the bags.

The young girl nodded. "I've got my things packed." She handed them her small bag of clothing and other possessions.

As Xena and Gabrielle said their goodbyes to Ephiny, Solari, and a few other amazons, the girls said their goodbyes as well.

"You gonna be okay Ferdi?" Rhiannon asked with genuine concern. She hated to see her best friend look so desolate.

"Sure Rhi. Don't worry about me, ok?"

The child didn't reply, blinking away tears. She'd never been good at farewells, and she hated the thought of leaving the sister of her heart.

"Hey, don't cry. You'll get me started," Fernanda chided gently with a rueful grin.

"Sorry. I just don't want to leave you." Uneasiness about her decision crept into her mind. "Maybe I should stay here..."

The older girl was quick to turn down the idea. "No. You need to be with them." No one knew so well what it was like to want to be with the only family you had.

"What about you?"

"I'm happy if you're happy. And anyway, I've got all these adoptive mothers to take care of me." She winked.

Rhiannon gazed at her friend for a long moment then stuffed a small figure into her friend's hands. "I want you to have this."

Fernanda looked down with astonishment. "Your doll? No Rhi, you love this thing. It was your first gift from Gabrielle." She tried to hand it back but the girl refused.

"I have Gabrielle. And besides, you said you can't remember the last time you had a doll. This way you'll have one, and it'll be a reminder of me."

A smile slowly slid across her lips. "I'll take good care of her for you," she resolved. Fernanda reached into her pocket and withdrew a string of beautiful glass beads interchanged with feathers. "While we're exchanging things, this is for you." She held it out.

Rhiannon took the string and looked down at it admiringly. "Its beautiful. Did you make it?"

"Yep. Its a friendship necklace. You know, something for you to remember me with."

"Thank you so much. But you know, I don't need a reminder. I'll always think of you."

Overhearing bits of the conversation, Ephiny said, "Hey, you two don't need to be so gloomy. Its not the last time you'll see each other, you know."

"She's right girls," Xena agreed. "And I hate to rush you two, but we really better be going if we want to cover any amount of ground by sundown."

Rhiannon glanced up at the warrior then back at her friend. "Okay." She slipped the necklace over her head, flipped her hair out from beneath it, and then threw her arms around Fernanda in a hug.

Ferdi tucked Precious under her arm and returned the embrace with sincerity. "You take care, okay kid?"

"You too, Fer. I'll be back someday, I promise."

"C'mon little one, we've got to go," the bard called as she and Xena took their place on Argo.

The girls released their hold on one another and smiled at each other, each for the other's sake. Rhiannon gazed at her her friend for only a moment longer before turning away to mount her own horse.

"You ready now?" Xena asked.

"Yep, I guess so."

"We'll keep in touch, okay?" Gabrielle said to Fernanda, seeing in her the same reluctance at the child's departure as Rhiannon was feeling. "And keep out of trouble, huh?" she added with a playful grin, trying to lessen the tension some as Xena snapped Argo's reins.

Rhiannon sat atop Freedom and looked at the family she had come to know and love over the past year. Something in her heart made her feel she wouldn't see them again for a very long time. She wanted to say something, but felt the threat of tears so she smiled instead at them. She turned her smile then directly to Ferdi and turned her horse abruptly, following the warrior and bard out of the village.

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

In three weeks they arrived in Delphi, a place Xena felt was far enough from where they'd found Rhiannon that she'd be safe. Nonetheless, they still agreed to keep more to themselves.

"I'm going to get Argo and Freedom some new horseshoes. They've put on a lot of miles these past weeks," Xena said, taking the reins of both animals in her hand. "Why don't you two browse or whatever?"

Gabrielle's face lit up. "Great idea. I can teach her how to haggle."

The warrior rolled her eyes dramatically. "Yeah, that's what we need, another you."

Rhiannon giggled to herself as she slid off her horse. That comment was sure to set the bard off.

"Oh? And just what's wrong with me?" Her lips were drawn into a straight line though her eyes betrayed the look of seriousness.

Xena swallowed her laughter. "Nothing Gab. Nothing at all."

Gabrielle gave the woman a suspicious look. "Uh-huh. That's what I thought."

Xena smirked. "You're spoiled, you know that?"

"I'm spoiled?" Gabrielle gaped with mock shock. "Who's the one who--"

"Look, I really hate to interrupt this soon to be catfight, but knowing you two this could go on all day. Could we please keep moving?" Rhiannon grinned. Actually, she loved seeing the two women banter like that but there was something she really wanted to shop for.

"She's right," Xena agreed, throwing her blonde companion an impish look before turning the horses around. "I'll meet you two inside the tavern for lunch in one hour, ok?"

The bard nodded and let the little issue drop. "We'll be there. I just hope we don't lose track of time."

"Believe me, Gab, your stomach won't let that happen."

"Xena..."

"See ya later!" Xena called over her shoulder.

As they began to weave their way through the crowd Rhiannon said, "She just loves teasing you, doesn't she?"

"You have no idea." Gabrielle took the girl's hand so as not to lose her in the throng. "Is there anything in particular you want to look at?

"Well, I was hoping to find a present for Xena. Something to say thanks, you know, for everything she's done."

"That's very thoughtful of you," said Gabrielle with a smile. "but as you know, Xena isn't one for material possessions. I don't think she needs anything."

"I know," Rhiannon admitted. "I'll keep an eye out anyway."

Not long after, her eyes fell upon an intriguing item. She picked up a small rectangular wooden box. Opening it up, Rhiannon saw there was an inscription on the inside cover. It read: "Friends are the family we choose."

"Its perfect!" she exclaimed.

"What is?" Gabrielle turned away from the cart of scarves she was looking at so she could see what the child had found. "Did you find something for Xena?"

"Well, no, but I found something that I'd really like to get for Fernanda." Rhiannon held out the box for the bard to see.

Gabrielle took the item and examined it. "Looks great. I'm sure she'll love it." She was fully aware of how much the little girl was missing her best friend. Turning to the merchant, she asked, "How much for this?"

The man's eyes gleamed at the prospect of making a purchase. "Six dinars."

The bard widened her eyes purposely. "Six dinars? Are you out of your mind? For that amount you'd better throw in the guy who made it!"

"Don't get cute with me," the vendor said, losing some of his eagerness as soon as he realized he had a haggler on his hands. "Its six dinars. I'm not going to negotiate. The wood to make that was expensive to get, you know."

Rhiannon peered at the man from the side of the cart, watching the interaction between him and Gabrielle with interest.

"Hey, just because I'm a woman doesn't mean I'm dumb," Gabrielle said with a smirk. "This box is made out of oak. Comes a dinar a dozen around here." She watched in satisfaction as the guy reddened in obvious embarrassment at being caught in his own lie. "I'll give you three dinars."

"Three dinars? That's an insult! Five dinars. Final offer."

"No way. There's a guy in the village next to you selling these things for one dinar. I'll give you two."

"Five."

"One."

"Four."

"Two."

"Three."

"I'll take it." In the end, Gabrielle got it cheaper than it was worth. She gave the vendor a sweet smile and dropped the dinars, one by one, into his waiting palm. "You have a great day, now." She winked at the exasperated man before turning away.

The bard handed Rhiannon the item. "And that concludes your first lesson in haggling."

Rhi grinned. "That was great, Gabby! Where'd you learn to do that?" The bard didn't have her hand at the moment and she began walking a little further ahead on her own.

"I just picked it up along the way." Gabrielle smiled.

"I can't wait to take it to Ferdi." Rhiannon stopped and tucked the box into her shoulder bag. "When are we going back to the amazon village anyway?" She asked over her shoulder. No answer. "Gabrielle? Gabrielle?" Her voice rose in panic as she looked all around but didn't see her beloved bard anywhere in sight. Before she had even gotten the chance to take a single step forward in search of the woman, a rough man took her by the arms and led her away.

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

Xena drummed her fingers on the table impatiently. Where were they? It had been over an hour now. And it was very unusual for Gabrielle, rather Gabrielle's stomach, to miss a meal.

Chill Xena, she thought. You're just being overprotective. They'll be here soon.

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

"We're trying to help you, little girl."

"Trying to help me do what?! I want to see my mother!" Rhiannon screeched. Xena and Gabrielle had told her time and time again that if she happened to get separated from them, she should stick with her alias and the rest of the plan. It was the best way to keep her safe.

"We know that woman isn't your mother," the judge said gently. "But don't worry. Your grandparents are on their way. They'll be so happy we found you."

Rhiannon felt her world come crashing down around her with fear that was nearly deafening. A tremor started in her toes and crept up her legs, spine, and back until she thought she'd fall over. "Oh my gods," was all she could mutter. They'll kill me! she thought in sheer terror. In an impulsive moment, she bolted from the stone building before anyone could stop her.

Xena, who was just coming out of the tavern in search of her friends, was hit full force by a half crying, hysteric child. "Rhiannon!" She bent down and stared at the child with concern. "What's wrong? Where's Gabrielle?"

"I don't know! I-I asked but they won't tell me."

"Who's 'they'?"

Rhiannon pointed to the large building she'd come from. "The judge."

"The judge? Why?" Xena wondered aloud.

"Xena?" the girl said in a trembling voice. "They're coming. Jorius and Avella."

The warrior had no time to respond, for two small, peasant-looking men strode over to them purposefully. "Rhiannon!"

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

"What do you mean they're coming to get her? I can't believe this!" Gabrielle paced back and forth across the small room.

"I knew it. We should have made Rhiannon stay at the village. Jorius' hate is stronger than his comon sense. I thought he'd let it go by now," Xena said aloud more to herself than to anyone else. She watched the bard pace in anxiety.

"She can't be with them! They'll hurt her all over again."

"Gabrielle, you don't need to convince me. I know this already. She's not safe with her grandparents."

"We can't let them take her away again."

"They won't."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Xena! Gabrielle!" A terrified voice broke their conversation. Rhiannon came running down the steps, through the dark hall lined with cells holding other criminals, and finally arrived at the one that kept Xena and Gabrielle captive.

"Rhi, are you alright?" Gabrielle rushed to the bars. Her eyes scanned the girl's face for any injures.

The child stood a few inches from the iron bars and looked at each woman in turn. She couldn't nod or speak. In the moment it was a miracle that she could breathe.

"Rhiannon. You're not supposed to be down here," Matthias, the judge said, following close behind.

Immediately, she ran over to the cell and clung to the door as if her life depended upon those bars of iron. "Please, I want to stay."

"I'm sorry, you can't."

"Why not?" Xena asked, riveting her dark blue eyes on the smaller gray ones of the judge.

Matthias looked incredibly annoyed. "You kidnapped her. You're the offenders," he spoke as if he were explaining this to toddlers. "She has no place with you. Besides, her grandparents are coming; her rightful family."

"We are her rightful family!" Gabrielle cut in. "We rescued her from abuse!"

Never hearing anything of this before, the judge scoffed, "Criminals will say anything to sound believable."

Now it was Rhiannon's turn to be angry. "They are not criminals! Let them go!"

Matthias looked at her in confusion and amusement. "They're not going anywhere for awhile. Tomorrow, when your grandparents are here, there'll be a trial."

"What are you going to do with Rhiannon until then?"

"In cases like this when there's no family nearby we put the children in the local orphanage for the night. There's always an available bed or two."

Xena nor Gabrielle cared at all for the idea. "No. Please, let her stay with us."

"Out of the question."

"What are you afraid of? We're not going anywhere."

Matthias had to admit, Xena had a point. The women's weapons had been confiscated, there was only a small square of a window that was barred, and the walls, floor, and ceiling were all made of stone.

"Oh please, please, please!" Rhiannon chimed in.

"Fine!" The judge held up his hands in irritated surrender. "Keep an eye on them," he barked at the nearest guard before he spun on his heel and left.

As soon as the guard unlocked the door, Rhiannon ran into the bard's open arms. It was there that she spent the last night with the closest thing to a loving family that she could remember.

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

When morning broke Gabrielle awoke to find Rhiannon curled into her like a kitten to its mother. Propping herself up on her elbow, she gently stroked the girl's hair. By now it had gone back to its original color and in the morning sun it shone like gold.

As she lay there gazing at the child, the bard tried to understand how one so small could steal her heart so quickly. She reflected on the first time she saw her, mesmerized by her haunting blue eyes. Oh how she'd changed since then!

Rhiannon's face was filled out and tinted by a slight but lasting blush. Her eyes, once cold and devoid of any emotion except fear, shone with the new love she had found in the bard and warrior. Save for a few small scars scattered on her skin, her bruises had all but faded. And best of all, Rhiannon had come to know true maternal love and what it meant to feel safe.

"I'm so scared of losing her," Gabrielle said, glancing over at Xena who was awake and had taken over her previous activity of pacing the floor.

At the sound of her companion's voice, Xena turned to look at her. This is what she had wanted to protect her from in the first place: losing another child. So much for that now. "I know Gabrielle. I am too. Hopefully that won't happen, though."

"How can we stop it?"

The warrior sighed. That's exactly what she'd been trying all night to figure out. She couldn't just act on her impulse which was to instantly annihilate anyone who tried to take the child away. No, matters like this were delicate. She couldn't just execute people whom she thought to be guilty. "Rhiannon will have to testify against them."

"What? You know she won't do that."

"She has to Gabrielle. Its the only way."

The bard sighed wearily and lowered her face into the golden locks of the sleeping child. "I wish I could take you away from this."

About mid-morning Matthias sauntered downstairs in his long flowing robe and requested that Xena come up and talk to him. True, he did want to speak with the warrior about her side of the story, but more than that he wanted her out of the cell when Jorius and Avella arrived, and Rhiannon would have to be taken out to see them. Sure, the bard had a fiery temper, but if Xena got angered it could be a real danger.

Morning melted away into early afternoon as Gabrielle and Rhiannon told stories, played little games, and talked; anything to keep their minds off the events sure to come soon.

Not long after lunch a tall, rustic-looking guard came downstairs and over to their cell. Rhi recognized him as the man who hauled her out of the marketplace the other day. "Your grandparents are here. They want to see you," he said in a uniformly polite voice, looking directly at the child.

Rhiannon who was sitting on Gabrielle's lap started shaking so bad that the bard wondered if she were trembling or having a seizure.

"She's not ready yet."

Calmly, almost serenely, the man replied, "They've requested to see her and that they will. Its their right." A nearby sentry unlocked the door, allowing the man to enter. "C'mon Rhiannon. They've had a long trip, let's not keep them waiting." He held out his hand to her.

"No," she whispered, burying her head in Gabrielle's chest.

The bard looked down at the child with sorrowful eyes. It was all coming apart, everything they had worked so hard to attain. The child, well, actually, both the child and her had lost their appetites again, Rhiannon had battled violent nightmares during the small amount of sleep she had gotten the night before, and this morning her voice had reverted to that petrified whisper. All of it seemed lost, like she'd fallen back down the side of a mountain that took an eternity to climb. "I won't let you take her until she's ready," she said icily.

"You have no legal rights to say what happens and what doesn't in this child's life. Now either she comes to me or I'll take her from you."

Rhiannon didn't budge, she couldn't. As warned, the guard walked across the cell and extracted the girl from Gabrielle's protective arms.

"Leave her alone!" Gabrielle growled raising a fist.

The sentry that stood by the door stepped in and took her by the shoulders. "Don't make this harder on yourself that it has to be," the man snapped. He shook her slightly to emphasize the point.

Unfortunately, this was all the time that was needed by the other guard to whisk Rhiannon out of the cell. Struggle as she might, she couldn't pull her body out of the strong grasp. "Please..." she whispered achingly, giving the bard a pleading look before rounding the corner and disappearing from her sight.

Around the corner. Set on her feet and pulled by the hand. Up the stairs. Oh, so many stairs. Each one made her legs ache and her chest constrict. When she stood at the top of the stairwell and looked back down, she could scarcely believe there had only been six steps.

"Rhiannon!" A terrible voice frightened her out of her dazed state. There was no time to even attempt at getting her bearings before she was pressed between the breasts of a large woman reeking of cheap perfume and horse manure. Avella.

Like a statue, Rhiannon stood as still as stone, arms pressed tightly to her sides. Fleetingly, she wondered if she would suffocate within the embrace.

Avella, knowing that she had to put on a good show, hugged the child all the tighter and cooed, "We missed you so much, our little Rhiannon. Our beautiful little granddaughter." Into the girl's ear she whispered crisply, "Act happy you little witch or you'll pay for it later."

Rhiannon threw up.

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

A candlemark after the "reunion", everyone had assembled in the the courtroom for the trial. Xena and Gabrielle sat on the first bench on the left side; Avella, Jorius, and Rhiannon directly across from them on the right.

It didn't take long for a tense and unforgiving atmosphere to settle over the room. Matthias took a deep breath and took his place at the front. "Everyone ready now?" Brief nods came from around the room.

"Alright. This is the trial for the case of the kidnapping of eight year old Rhiannon," he addressed the group of villagers assembled as the jury.

"Jorius, step up to the bench please." Matthias indicated a rickety wooden chair near to his own seat.

Jorius did as asked and waited for the judge to continue.

"Do you swear to tell the truth in its entirety while at this bench, so help you gods?"

"Yes."

"Good. Have a seat." Matthias glanced down at his parchments then over to the elderly man. "Now tell us, what is the charge you're bringing against the defendant?"

"They kidnapped my granddaughter." A pause. "And that woman Xena threatened to kill me." He pointed his bony finger at the raven haired woman.

Xena in reply tossed a glare up at the man.

"Did anyone witness this threat?"

"Yessir. My wife was right next to me and there was a group of villagers that saw it, too."

"Did you bring any of them along to testify?"

"Er, no, sir. You see--"

"Alright. Next question: can you explain how and when you first discovered that Rhiannon was missing?"

"We were staying at an inn in Athens. The last time I saw her before today was when Avella and I tucked her in her bed for the night. When we woke up the next morning she was gone."

"And when did you meet up with Xena then?"

"We were traveling through towns and such to try and find our little Rhi when we ran into Xena. She started to tell us that she could help us, but as soon as we were away from the crowds, she cornered my wife and I. She said she had our granddaughter and wouldn't give her back. She wouldn't tell us where she was keeping Rhiannon or why. Then Xena threatened to kill me if I continued to search for her."

"Hmm. That'll be all for now, thank you."

"Avella, would you please step up here?"

The woman took the bench and answered the judge's questions. Same story mostly, but with much more drama.

Finally, when Matthias could stand no more of Avella's sniffling and half sobbed words, he asked her to return to her seat and called Xena up to the chair of questioning.

After agreeing to tell the truth, Xena sat down and looked over at Gabrielle and Rhiannon.

"Xena, how did Rhiannon end up in your care?"

"It was destiny, I suppose," the warrior answered cheekily.

Matthias sighed. "Let me rephrase that. Did you kidnap Rhiannon?"

"If you call taking a hurting child out of a life-threatening situation without asking the offenders, then yes." Xena drilled her blue eyes on the judge's time worn face.

"Can you explain that?"

"Rhiannon was abused, plain and simple." A collective gasp from the audience. Xena gave them a wry look. "Not pleasant, is it? No. Well, these things never are. Unfortunately, in Rhiannon's case, its her life story."

"Okay Xena, before you begin preaching to me, could you explain what you mean by abuse?"

"Bruises, marks, scars. She was covered in them when we found her."

"Where did you find her?"

"Gabrielle found her in the stables of the inn Jorius mentioned."

"The stables?"

"Yes. You see, Jorius and Avella never had a bed for Rhiannon in the inn. She was made to sleep in the stables to guard the horse."

Rhiannon's grandparents fought to maintain their look of innocence.

"How do you know this?"

"Rhiannon told Gabrielle."

This being the second time that the bard's name came up in the conversation, Matthias decided perhaps she knew more. "I excuse you, Xena. You may return to your seat."

"Before I answer any questions," Gabrielle said, once she'd gotten up there, "I want to say that this was my idea. Xena only went along with it because I begged her to. I don't want her to have to pay for this." She said evenly, avoiding her companion's eyes. She knew if she looked at them, she'd only find disapproval at the statement.

"Gabrielle!"

"Silence," the judge commanded before Xena's protest could go any further. "Now, Gabrielle, what exactly is it that Xena went along with?"

"Taking Rhiannon. She agreed to do it because I persuaded her."

"So, you kidnapped her?"

The bard was hesitant. "Yes."

"Um-hum. Why did you do that? Are you not aware that taking a child out of the guardian's custody is illegal and punishable by Greek law?"

"Yes, I'm well aware of that. But like Xena said, Rhiannon had been abused. It was the only thing we could do. It was that or leave her to suffer at the hands of those people you call her grandparents." Anger inched its way slowly into Gabrielle's speech.

"How do you know she was abused?"

"When I first saw her in the stables, I noticed she had lots of bruises on her face and arms. And she looked so very thin. I asked her why she had all those marks, and she told me she'd been hit."

"By who?"

"Jorius and Avella."

"If you thought she was being abused, why didn't you take her to the local authorities in Athens? They could have investigated."

"We offered that idea, but Rhiannon was terrified at the idea of anyone telling what happened to her. She was certain Jorius would kill her."

"So you then decided to fix the problem yourself and take her away."

"That's right. It was the only option." Gabrielle saw the mildly disbelieving look on Matthias' face. "What would you have done?"

"You aren't here to question me." The judge gave the slender woman a serious look. "Do you have anyone that can testify to that abuse?"

"The healer we saw and the amazons."

"You took Rhiannon to a healer?"

"Yes. It was there that we also found out she'd been abused in another way."

Rhiannon looked down at the cold stone floor and tried not to make eye contact at the townspeople who were staring at her.

"Can you specify?"

"Sexual abuse. Is that specific enough for you?" Gabrielle couldn't help but add with an agitated tone.

"What was the healers name?"

"Talos."

"So, if you brought him here he'd be able to truthfully say that it was Jorius and Avella that caused the abuse?"

"Well, no...not really. He can testify to the fact that she's been hurt, but he took our word on who it was." Gabrielle just now realized how hopeless the situation was beginning to look.

"Okay. What about the amazons?"

"Um, same thing. They saw the bruises, but it was Xena and I that told them about who it was that caused it."

"So basically, there are people who had seen the marks, but no one had seen Jorius and Avella actually harm Rhiannon. And as for as much as everyone in this courtroom knows about it, you and Xena may have been causing the abuse."

"We never hurt her!"

From her seat on the bench, Xena wondered if her friend would reach across and hit the judge right then and there.

"How can I know that?"

"Because I'm telling you," Gabrielle said with an incredulous look.

"Jorius and Avella claim to have never hurt Rhiannon either. Why should I take your word and not theirs?"

"Because I'm telling you the truth, you imbecile!" The bard couldn't help blurting that insult out.

Matthias' eyes narrowed angrily, but he kept a cool head. "But you have no proof to back this up?" Gabrielle was silent and he knew he had his answer.

"Rhiannon, would you please approach the bench?"

"Yessir," she whispered and gratefully extracted herself from her place between Jorius and Avella. She was so thankful to be away from them that she almost smiled. Already twice Jorius had ran his hand along her leg when others weren't looking.

Avella tried her best to stifle her glare as she watched Rhiannon walk up to the front of the room. She was still miffed at the fact that her granddaughter's stomach upset earlier had caused her to go back to the inn and change into another dress.

Matthias gave the child a vague smile and promised to make the questioning as quick as possible. "Is it true that Xena and Gabrielle took you away with them?"

Rhiannon nodded.

"I'm sorry, dear, but I need a yes or no answer."

"Yes."

"Did you want to go with them?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"They're nice," she said quietly, staring down at her hands.

"You just wanted to go with them because they were nice? What about your grandparents? Didn't you like them?"

"Xena and Gabrielle were nicer."

Matthias saw this question wasn't the right way to approach what he wanted to know. "Rhiannon, did your grandparents ever hurt you?"

Slowly, Rhiannon's gaze skimmed over the faces in the room. Finally, she found the one pair of eyes she had learned to hate. One look at Jorius and her courage crumbled. His phony smile couldn't mask the barely contained fury she knew he was feeling.

"Rhiannon, please answer the question."

Jorius still had the power to render her helpless and there was nothing she felt she could do about it. "No comment."

Xena shook her head. They would lose the case if she wouldn't testify.

Gabrielle gaped at the child. "Rhiannon--"

"Hush!" Matthias interjected. "Let me talk with the jury and we'll reconvene in an hour for the verdict."

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

The judge rubbed his temples in small circles trying to unlock the tension. The decision had been made, a conclusion reached, and no matter what side he presented the victory to, the other was going to be pissed.

"Ah, could everyone please quiet down?" He asked after everyone had reassembled in the courtroom. "We've come to a decision concerning Rhiannon."

The entire room held its breath as Matthias moved to the front and center of the room. He raked his eyes over each of the five faces in the front row. This decision would affect all their lives.

"The verdict is that the child Rhiannon, in her best interest and safety, shall be returned to the custody of the prosecutors, Jorius and Avella."

All at once the room erupted in tremendous noise. A snicker from Avella. Measured words of praise from Jorius. "What?!" from Xena. Gabrielle sat in stunned silence and Rhiannon gasped so loudly that it rose above the noise level.

Others on the benches murmured to one another and tried to keep those in the front from from tearing each other to pieces.

"No!" Gabrielle yelled.

The judge took a step back to be on the safe side. "They'll be in the village for the next three days under supervision just to be sure things go well."

"They'll hurt her! You can't trust them!" The same tortured look that scared Xena so much came back to Gabrielle's face.

Xena's first reaction was to want to fight. But what good would that do in the long run? Sure, she could fight her way through this crowd, get Rhiannon and get out of there and to another town, another place. What then? Gabrielle, the child, and her would have to live a life on the run for there would always be someone trying to get Rhiannon back. It was too dangerous and no way for the child to live. No, there had to be another way.

Rhiannon was taken out of the courtroom right away by order of the judge. He didn't want her to have to witness the whole scenario. As she left she looked once more at her bard and warrior. She was silent but her eyes screamed, "Help me! Gods, help me!"

Gabrielle lurched out of her seat and dove for Jorius. Had it not been for Xena's lightning quick reflex grabbing her arm, she would have attacked the man with all her strength. "You molested her, you sick bastard!" she shouted, struggling desperately to extract herself from the warrior's hold.

"Gabrielle! Stop it!" Xena forcefully turned her friend back around. She couldn't believe that her normally gentle companion was so wild with rage. And besides, she knew that one wrong move from her and the judge would see to it that she never saw Rhiannon again.

The bard turned to stare accusingly at the warrior. "Why the Hades are you being so passive about this? Don't you know what he did to Rhiannon? Do I need to spell it out for you?" Her words came out venomously, eyes blazing.

Xena shot Gabrielle and equally cold look, if only to bring her around. "If you would calm down long enough to think straight, you'd see this wasn't the way to go about this."

"The way to go about this?! Gods, you make it sound like we've got hours to think about this! Well, we don't and--"

"Don't make this harder on Rhiannon than it already is. If you care for her, you'll shut up and act like an adult."

It worked. Gabrielle finally quieted long enough for most of the villagers and others to leave without seeing her make a completely hysterical scene. She turned around and saw Jorius and Avella had gone. She turned back to Xena with an irate look that wasn't necessarily directed at her. "I swear Xena, if they hurt her I'll kill them. Both of them."

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

Jorius caught up with Rhiannon who was leaning against the outside of the building, facing the wall, face buried in her hands while she cried. An evil grin crept into his features and he looked around to make sure others were occupied or not paying attention before going over to her.

"Hey," he said in greeting as he came up next to her. He reached out and ran his hand along the length of her back to her tailbone. "Its okay, you know. You're back with me. I'll take care of you, I always have, haven't I?"

Rhiannon shuddered violently under his touch. He was doing it again; starting the same old cycle. It always went the same way. First he'd be all sweet and cuddley, then he'd ask her to sit on his lap or give him a hug. The moments of touch lingered too long and before she had a chance to protest, she ended up in his bed. And if she cried or spoke, he'd beat her. It was all starting again.

"No, please," she whimpered.

"C'mon, its been a long day. Your grandma wants to rest and I think you and I could use a nap too."

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

Gabrielle kept to herself most of the night sometimes stewing in anger, other times breaking into tears. Her face was contorted in an expression that Xena couldn't figure.

Both of them knew there would be no sleep that night, though if it were possible they would have welcomed it gladly, for the long hours spent in the cell were almost unbearable.

"What was that?" Xena asked, moving to look at her friend who was leaning up against the stone wall looking out the window.

"I'm sorry Nicolae," Gabrielle mumbled quietly, her eyes focused on a bright star piercing the black blanket of the sky. She had no idea Xena was even talking to her.

"Nicolae? Who's that?" Xena's trademark eyebrow lifted as she stared confused at her friend.

The bard didn't answer so absorbed was she in her memory.

"Gabrielle, who's Nicolae? And what does she have to do with anything?" The warrior took her friend's arm and turned her around gently. She sighed when she saw that now all too familiar look on the weary face and the tears in her eyes.

Gabrielle stared at Xena--no, through Xena. "I should have done something. I knew. She knew I knew. She counted on me and I let her down."

"What? Who? This isn't making any sense to me, Gab. C'mon, explain this to me."

The bard just then looked at her companion. "Its all my fault." She pressed a palm to her forehead as if trying to physically push back what she didn't want to think of. "Nicolae was my dearest friend when I was a little girl. We met at a harvest fair in Potedaia when I was nine and she was eight. We were the best of friends and from the day we met were inseparable." She smiled slightly at the remembrance of those lighter days, completely missing Xena's slightly envious look.

"But the first time I went over to her house I noticed something was strange. Nicolae never really wanted to be there and whenever we were in the house she was as nervous as can be. I didn't understand why right away, especially since her father--that's who she lived with--was so very nice. Or so it seemed."

Xena watched Gabrielle with attentive eyes as she told her story. By this time she already figured what was coming, but she wasn't about to stop her from saying what she obviously so needed to.

"Nicolae never said anything to explain until one day she came over so bruised up on her legs that I couldn't help but question. And she told me. Her story was the same as Rhiannon's. Her father was abusing her and it got really bad when he drank. She made me promise not to tell--and I promised." Half a dozen tears dropped off her chin and onto her chest. "That was the biggest mistake of my life Xena." She looked longingly at the warrior as if there was something the woman could do to justify what she'd done.

"That promise killed Nicolae. She died two years after I met her. Her father lost his farm in a game when he was drunk so he went home and took it out on her." Gabrielle struggled to breath steadily and not completely break down. "I could have prevented that. I could have told and Nicolae would still be alive today."

So that was it; Gabrielle's secret, the reason she looked so pained every time Rhiannon's abuse came up. Xena took Gabrielle's face between her hands like she were a small child, and wiped her tears with her thumb. "Listen to me, that was NOT your fault. You did not kill Nicolae, you were not the one who hurt her."

"But I didn't help her either."

"You did what you thought you should. For gods' sakes, you were just a child then yourself. You couldn't be expected to control another's life--or death"

"I still could have done more." Gabrielle looked into her best friend's eyes. "How do I get over that?"

Xena slowly removed her hands from Gabrielle's face. "You won't ever get 'over' that. But you have to learn to accept that you did what you thought was right. And the Fates decided that Nicolae should go then. Nothing you would have done could change her destiny."

"How can a child's destiny be to die so brutally at such a young age?"

"Her death wasn't her destiny, it was only a small element in it. Its said that the gods' put mortals on this earth only long enough for them to do one thing: learn how to love unconditionally. Maybe she learned that from you...and then she could go."

"You think so?"

"I do."

Gabrielle moved away from the window and sat down on the wooden bench on the north side of the cell. "Xena?" she asked after sitting for some time in quiet. "Why do you think I can't be a mother? Or rather, why is it I always seem to mess up the relationships I have? Nicolae, Hope...and now I've broken my promise to Rhiannon to always keep her safe." It wasn't so much a tone of self pity in her voice as confused speculation.

When Xena was sure her friend was actually speaking to her and not just mumbling another soliloquy, she returned, "Believe me, Gabrielle, we all make mistakes as parents. The gods know I sure have." The warrior's thoughts drifted to her son. "But that doesn't diminish our love. We're mortal, and consequently, not perfect. But our imperfections are what make us beautiful."

"I thought I was the bard."

"You are. Where do you think I learned it?" Xena said with a lopsided grin. "And as for you always messing up relationships...well, that's the sorriest thing I've ever heard. You know that's not true. I could give you the names of more than a dozen people with whom you still have a wonderful friendship." She went over and sat next to her the bard.

"And in case you ever forget how much good you do, just look at this," Xena said as she reached into her leather bodice and retrieved a small object the size of a rock. "This was me before I met you."

Gabrielle looked down at the object in Xena's hand and then glanced back up at her with a "have-you-lost-it?" look. "You were a peach pit before I met you?"

Despite the dreary atmosphere, the older woman couldn't help but chuckle. "No, I wasn't. But my heart was. It was as impenetrable and cold as this seed. But you came into my life and you showed me that this world has more to offer than the blood of others and the lust for money. You showed me light, Gabrielle."

For a woman of few words, Xena was sure putting on a show tonight. The blonde bard offered the first smile she had in the past few days and for a brief moment she was able to evade the gripping fear of what would happen to Rhiannon. "Thanks for telling me that Xena." And partly out of just wanting to get a reaction out her companion, she said, "Couldn't have done it without you."

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

The next afternoon about a candlemark after noon, Matthias suddenly happened downstairs. His expression was decidedly grim and it was obvious that he had some news. "Gabrielle, Xena," he said in greeting. Right off the bard's distress was noticed by him and guilt shot through him like an arrow.

Both women turned their attention to the judge. "Yes?" Xena asked.

"I have some news about Rhiannon."

Gabrielle nearly trampled Xena in order to get up to the bars to hear Matthias better. "What? What is it? Is she alright?"

"What happened?" the warrior echoed with the same intensity.

Half-expecting this reaction he quickly said, "She's alright. A little bruised and shaken up though." He rushed on with the explanation before he got buried in questions. "Rhiannon has been taken out of her grandparents' custody. Jorius' tried to take her to bed again last night, but she fought him and took a pretty good beating for it. A couple in the next room heard the commotion and finally went to check it out. They reported the incident as soon as they saw what happened. Jorius and Avella are upstairs getting sentenced immediately. Their punishment will be decided within the hour."

Xena cursed as she slammed a balled up fist into the iron bars. Gabrielle shook her head in shock. "Where's Rhiannon? How is she now?"

"She spent the night in the local infirmary. The healer says she'll be alright and the bruises will be gone in a few weeks." Matthias' face was for the first time showing evident concern and compassion. "Rhiannon should be here soon to meet you two. You can come upstairs to wait for her." He unlocked the cell and swung the door open. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you before."

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

Though it seemed like an eternity until she arrived, Rhiannon eventually ambled into the smaller of the two courtrooms where Xena and Gabrielle were waiting. To the surprise of everyone, Xena actually beat Gabrielle to the child's side. "Sweetheart, are you alright?" She smoothed the hair away from the girl's eyes to reveal an angry purple bruise staring back at her from around her left eye. Her top lip was a bit swollen and she had a bruise in the shape of crushing fingers around the top of her right arm.

Rhiannon murmured something incoherently and slid into the safe arms of the warrior. "I was so scared," she said just loud enough to be heard in the woman's ear.

Xena wrapped her arms protectively around the small form. "I know you were. But its all over now. I promise. The judge knows what Jorius did and now he and Avella will be punished."

Gabrielle had by now come up by Xena and placed her hand over Rhiannon's uninjured arm. "You're free now Rhiannon. They can't hurt you again. Matthias won't let it happen." She tossed a glance at the judge as if asking him to verbally confirm it.

Taking the cue he repeated Gabrielle's words in his own way. Then he looked up at the two women and said, "There will be another meeting in a fortnight to decide where Rhiannon will be placed." From experience with this bunch, he took a few measured steps back.

"What? Why can't she be with us?" the bard questioned on the brink of another tirade.

Matthias sagged weakly into his chair. "For the love of Zeus, please don't fight me on this," he almost begged. "I'm only following the law."

Xena held up a hand to silence her friend, whom she knew would be ready to fire back another round of incessant questions. "That's fine. We'll see you in a week."

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

They spent the next two weeks camped outdoors on the outskirts of the village. It was the farthest away they were allowed to get before the next court meeting. But they didn't want to stay in the inn and perpetuate Rhiannon's nightmares by taking her back to the place she'd last been with her grandfather.

So under the stars the trio camped each night and they stayed at the site most of the day, save for when Gabrielle or Xena went into the main part of the village for small errands. Rhiannon was in a state of constant anxiety to the point that she'd have attacks of hyperventilation at times. She would eat, only because she was asked, would sleep only to appease Morpheus and perhaps be rid of her night terrors, would smile only to make the bard and warrior happy. The child was so frightened of losing the two who had been her refuge that nothing could calm her. These, she thought, may be the last two weeks with them I have. And the time slipped by all too quick.

Sometime during the early part of the first week a young couple came into the campsite. Their names were Ethan and Naarah, a local childless couple who Matthias was considering to let adopt Rhiannon. Rhiannon didn't say much during any of their three visits, though she didn't exactly dislike them. The woman was nice enough, although she wanted absolutely nothing to do with the man. Never again, she thought. Never again.

Before Xena, Rhiannon, or Gabrielle was ready, the day came for them to meet back in the stone building which had become a place of dread since their arrival. Again, the three of them were seated in the front rows of the room. New jury, new opposite party. Across from them in Jorius and Avella's previous spot sat the young couple who had visited them recently.

Naarah was a young woman of about twenty-four, light brown hair that hung straight and down to her chest, and two dark brown eyes that peeked out from lashes so long Gabrielle thought she must be able to dust furniture with them. Her husband seated on her right side had ear length blond hair that kept falling into his dark blue eyes. With a friendly smile on his face and an air of dignity in his posture, he was the perfect combination of maturity and boyish charm.

Naarah would have liked to go over to the trio of anxious faces and say hello had Matthias not walked in at that moment. Again, the room quieted and the proceedings began.

On and on he seemed to drone about what was important in this case, and why this had to take place in the first place, etc. Nothing Rhiannon cared an ounce about. All she wanted to hear was the result. It was like holding her breath. All she wanted to do was exhale. The numbing speech and words with almost every letter of the Grecian alphabet in them nearly drove her crazy. She was incredibly tempted to stand up and demand that someone tell her what was going to happen to her when she caught the the tail end of the judge's words, "...of Ethan and Naarah."

"What?" Rhiannon's head snapped up and she caught the overjoyed look on the young couple's face. She looked up at Gabrielle and Xena. "No...wait. Why are they looking so happy? I'm not going to live with them, am I?"

"You're going to have a real family," Xena said with a forced smile, trying not to uncover the sting of the verdict she was feeling.

Rhiannon's mouth formed a perfect O and for a long moment she said nothing. Crushed wouldn't have covered what she was feeling. Either would fear. Maybe a crushing feeling of fear...She couldn't cry anymore. She simply didn't have it in her. All she could do was say in a quiet voice, "You and Gabrielle are a real family." The girl looked up at the latter. "Why can't you be my family?"

The bard took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. A fraction of her--that tiny corner in the deep recesses of her heart--was thankful for this decision. No more putting the child in danger by involving her in their nonstop battling life, no more wondering if they were giving the little girl all she needed--food, clothing, happiness. This would be a secure home with two parents in a community with lots of children for her to make friends with. In spite of how much she loved this little addition to her and Xena's lives, she knew it was best for her. That was her source of comfort.

"You will always be a part my family," Gabrielle finally answered. "Just because you live somewhere else doesn't change that."

"She's right," said Xena standing up. "I know this is going to be a big adjustment to you, but you're strong Rhiannon. You can do this." She held out her hand and the two walked to the other end of the room to talk in quiet, away from the chatter of the new parents; to have one last chat.

"Xena, I don't want to leave you. Please. Can't you do anything about it?" Rhiannon asked when they were alone, perched on the small couch at the very back of the room.

Well, it was humanly possible to do something about it, but she wouldn't. Not when she knew this was somehow, a good decision for the girl. "Rhiannon, listen to me." She gently turned the child's chin until their eyes met. "I know that you're scared right now. You feel unsure, worried, like you're lost. But you are not lost. There is a loving couple that is going to be your new family." She caught the protesting look about to make itself clear on the little face. "Yes, we--you, I, and Gabrielle-- will still be family. But Ethan and Naarah are just new editions to that. Just like you made your best friend Ferdi an addition to your family, and she to you. Let them into your heart, Rhi. They're good people."

"But Ethan. I don't like Ethan." She swallowed hard. "What if he hurts me?"

"He won't hurt you."

"How do you know that?"

"Well, for one, I've met him. I've talked with him each time after he and Naarah visited our camp. He doesn't have it in him to hurt a fly, much less a child. I saw that right away. And besides that, people have checked up on him and his past to make sure he's never hurt anyone before. He's safe, Rhi. You'll see that sooner or later." Xena let a small smile pass over her lips. "I have intuition for things like this. Believe me, I wouldn't let my little girl just be handed over to any old guy. He had to be perfect."

Rhiannon caught the maternal reference in Xena's words, though the warrior didn't. And she smiled back. Her words were consoling, but that reference was her comfort. She was Xena's little girl. Somehow she felt that no matter how far apart they were, the warrior would always be able to protect her and give her strength. She leaned over and slid her arms around the woman's waist, resting her head against Xena's chest. "Thank you."

Surprised was a bit of an understatement in Xena's case. She had not anticipated that the child would actually be that accepting about the situation, regardless of what words were said. She smiled and stroked the soft blonde hair that was growing down to the middle of Rhiannon's back. "Anytime, kiddo. Anytime at all."

The two of them remained in silence for awhile simply basking in the warmth of each other's company. Then, after awhile, Rhiannon asked, "Xena? You'll take care of Gabrielle, won't you?"

"I'm sure Gabrielle can take care of herself, but I'll keep an eye on her." She winked. "Why do you sound so worried about her?"

"Well, I know she's got a lot of pain in her heart that she hasn't resolved yet, " Rhiannon said with a knowing look. "Just like we all do. But I think she needs to learn how to share that better with you. I think it would help her." She looked up at Xena. "And you know, Xe, you could work on that yourself."

Meanwhile, Naarah saw this moment as an opportunity to talk with Gabrielle. She made her way quietly over to her and began with a smile, "Hi Gabrielle. May I speak with you?"

"Hm?" The bard lifted her gaze to the woman's face. "Oh, sure. Have a seat." She slid down the bench to make room.

"Rhiannon sure is a wonderful girl," the new mother said as she sat down. "I'm so happy that we'll be able to take care of her."

Gabrielle nodded slightly. "Yeah. I'm sure you and your husband will make great parents." She looked at Naarah with curiosity. "If you don't mind me asking, why don't you have children of your own?"

Naarah tucked a wisp of hair behind her left ear. "We tried, but I can't have children. I guess the gods didn't choose to bless us in that area," she said with a small shrug of her shoulders.

"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that." She glanced at the child at the back of the room. "I think Rhiannon will be good for you."

Naarah smiled. "Gabrielle, I just want to say thank you. You and Xena have given us so much. We never would have imagined that a child would fall into our laps like this, so to speak. We have so much love to give," she said with excitement. It was obvious to the bard that this woman wanted nothing more than to be a parent. "But listen to me rambling like this. I don't want to be insensitive. I know what you must be feeling," she said in a soft and understanding voice.

Gabrielle smiled at the woman, feeling more certain than ever that there was no place better for Rhiannon to be. "It was our pleasure. We loved having her with us."

Ethan now wandered over to the two women chatting. "Hi there Gabrielle." He smiled creating two perfect dimples in his tanned cheeks. "I hope I'm not interrupting. I just thought we should be leaving soon since its almost dinner time. And I know you want to get Rhiannon settled in," he said to his wife.

"You're right," Naarah agreed and stood up.

"Wait," Gabrielle interjected as she rose to her feet. A wave of urgency to fill them in about Rhiannon's likes and dislikes hit her suddenly. "You need to know some details about Rhiannon."

The couple waited patiently for her to continue.

"For one, she still has nightmares frequently; especially if she doesn't have her amazon dream catcher near her. She likes to be read to or cuddled back to sleep when that happens." The bard made it sound like they were taking an infant home and not a child of eight years. "Rhi always wears that friendship necklace of hers, so don't ask her to take it off. And asparagus--she hates it. Except if you cut it into small pieces and--"

Naarah chuckled softly and reached out to take the bard's hands in her own. "Gabrielle, she'll be fine. I'm sure she'll clue us in to all these things as they come up."

"That's right," Ethan chimed in. "We'll make sure we get all those specifics from her. And we'll avoid giving her asparagus, in any form," he added with a twinkle in his eye.

Gabrielle nodded. "I know. I'm sorry. Its just..."

"We know."

"So, will Xena and I be able to visit her at all?"

"Of course. Feel free to come see her any time you're in the area."

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it," said Naarah with a smile, releasing Gabrielle's hands.

"Hi," Rhiannon started quietly, coming up beside the bard.

"Hi honey," Naarah said with a warm smile.

"Why don't we leave you two to say your goodbyes alone, huh?" Ethan smiled down at the child and then at Gabrielle before leading his wife away.

The blonde haired woman knelt down in front of the doe-eyed child and smiled encouragingly at her. "Do you like your new parents?

Rhiannon shrugged noncommittally. "They're alright. But like I said to Xena, I'd rather be with you."

"I know you would. But now you'll have a real mother and a loving father. You'll live in a nice house with a room of your own. And I'm sure you'll meet lots of new friends here. Doesn't that sound nice?"

"I guess." Then abruptly she threw her arms around the bard's neck. "I'm going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you too, Rhi. But I want what's best for you. This is best, I'm sure of it. Trust me."

"I always have." The girl let go of the woman and removed the bag she carried on her back. She set it on the bench and removed a wrapped object. "This is that gift I wanted to give Fernanda. Could you please give it to her? I don't know when I'll see her again."

Gabrielle took the package and placed it gingerly in her lap. "You bet I will."

"Rhiannon, my dear, are you ready?" Naarah called from a few yards away.

"Just a moment," she called back.

"You be a brave girl, ok?" Gabrielle said gently.

The child bit her lip and tried not to let her emotions run away with her. "I'll try."

"Don't cry, Rhi," the bard soothed. "This is not goodbye. This is just so long for now." This time she began the embrace. "I love you, Rhiannon."

"I love you more."

"Wanna bet?" She returned with the most light-hearted look she could muster. Gabrielle held the child for just a moment longer before releasing her from her arms, while in her heart she held her all the tighter. "Go ahead now. They're waiting for you."

Rhiannon stared at the woman for a a lingering minute, her large blue eyes desperately trying to convey the thanks she couldn't say with words. Then, before it became too hard to turn away at all, she picked up her bag and walked over to Ethan and Naarah's sides.

"We'll see you two around soon, I hope," Ethan said with a smile. He and Naarah took Rhiannon's hands and began to lead her out of the room. Just in the doorway though, the blonde haired child paused, removed one hand from her new parent's grasp, and turned to blow the warrior and bard a kiss that they would forever keep in their memories.

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

Not long after Rhiannon left, Gabrielle and Xena said goodbye to Matthias and began their trek back to camp. Both felt something of a gap in their hearts, already missing the sound of the little girl's chatter and the look of her smile. Nonetheless, it was silently agreed between them to pick up and keep going on as they had before her arrival. And both felt that in spite of the pain of missing the little one, Rhiannon had left them with more than they had before she came.

"What about Jorius and Avella?" Xena asked suddenly, glancing sideways at her companion. "I'm surprised you didn't want to go give them a piece of your mind before leaving." She had her own reasons for not wanting to go downstairs to the jail to see them. She felt it would only aggravate the anger toward them she had and it wouldn't accomplish anything. The warrior was only thankful that their sentences were giving them what they so rightly deserved.

"A piece of my mind?" Gabrielle laughed dryly. "Believe me, if I went down there I'd have come back with a piece of their heads. When I said that I'd kill them if they ever hurt Rhiannon again, I wasn't exactly kidding. I don't think I could go down there and face that wretched man and not pummel him half to death." She couldn't prevent the smirk that tugged at the corner of her lips. "But the main reason was that I know, somewhere deep inside my heart, that Rhi will have to learn how to forgive him or she'll never heal. How could I help teach her what forgiveness is if I ended his life?"

Xena nodded. "Well, you've got to have a lot of will power to not go and do that. Believe me, when you want vengeance its hard to settle for less." She thought back to her younger days when she would have executed Jorius on the spot. Still, as much as she hated the man, she knew that killing him wasn't the answer. Her instinct had been right all along. No, killing him would have been too easy of a way out. His court assigned punishment of being sent to a place in Crete where the worst criminals are beaten down and forced to become slaves of every conceivable form of labor was better. Maybe a few years under the blows of an iron whip and nearly intolerable conditions would straighten him out. Or at least give him a hearty taste of his own vile medicine.

"Think Rhiannon will be alright?" Gabrielle asked after awhile. She glanced up from the road to look at the sky. It was rapidly changing from light blue to a dazzling display of vibrant oranges, reds, and purples as the glowing disk slid lazily over the hills in the distance.

"I'm sure she will. Ethan and Naarah are good people. Rhi will learn to adjust to them as she did to us." Xena followed her best friend's gaze to the sunset. "What about you Gabrielle? Are you going to be okay?"

"I will, sooner or later. I know I have to work on some forgiving, of others and myself, but it'll come eventually." Gabrielle thought of Rhiannon and smiled. She would be forever touched by those tiny hands and great big heart. "I've learned humans are capable of feeling and doing amazing things. And that a child shall lead them to it."

EPILOGUE

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