Avator, forever thinking of you.

Only Artemis would ever know why, and maybe it was Artemis who was responsible, but for whatever reason, circumstances which they had no control over had thrown Ephiny and Solari together once again.

It was late afternoon when Solari awoke and the sensation was all too familiar. In her sleep Ephiny had pressed up against Solari's side; her arm curled around Solari's waist and her head rested comfortably on the dark haired woman's shoulder. Even the tickling sensation of soft curls against her jaw was the same. It was just like waking up with Terreis, and for a moment it was so tempting.

Tempting that was until Ephiny stirred and looked up at Solari. As soon as Solari saw those eyes her temptation was over. Terreis's eyes were the colour of a clear sky on a summers day, where as Ephiny's eyes was hazel with an intensity about them that always made the woman look like she was scowling, but they were beautiful.

Ephiny had awoken when her body had detected the subtle changes in the one beneath it. She now gazed up into Solari's dark eyes, which were openly regarding her. Ephiny always believed that the eyes were the windows to the soul and right now she was hypnotised by this soul.

The soft knock on the cabin door caused them to pull their eyes from one another. Solari slipped out from under Ephiny and settled her friend back against the pillows and then crossed the living area to open the door.

Ephiny watched the expression upon Solari's face as it shifted from one of contentment to apprehension as she bid their visitor's entrance and Gabrielle entered followed closely by Xena. The young Amazon Princess scanned the interior of the cabin until she found Ephiny resting on the bed; a faint smile tugged her lips as she limped across the room using her fighting staff as support and then lowered herself to the soft bed.

Solari was watching the young Princess with undisguised resentment while Xena watched the Amazon guard with undisguised wariness. This had the potential to get very ugly, very quickly and so she made an attempt to dispel the tension, "I guess this a little bit late but… Gabrielle, Xena this is Solari, Solari this is Xena, the Warrior Princess and Gabrielle, our new Amazon Prin…"

"I know who she is." Solari stated simply. She had not meant it to sound so harsh but she had known since Terreis's death that she would have difficulty hearing Amazon Princess connected with any other name than her lovers. She knew her tone had been rude, but not only that she had been rude to Amazon royalty. A quick glance showed Gabrielle trying to hold back tears born from fatigue and sadness, an openly stunned expression upon Ephiny's features and a quietly seething Warrior Princess. Not a good situation to be in, but it just hurt so much; it was the final reminder that Terreis was never coming back to her. She took a moment to calm her breathing, "If you will excuse me, I'm needed on the training field." With that she slipped through the door and was gone.

Moments later and Xena was headed the same way, "I think I could do with a good sparring session." She too was gone.

Ephiny allowed the silence to continue no longer when she saw the downcast look in Gabrielle's eyes, "Gabrielle."

"I wanted to make sure you were okay." Gabrielle burst out quickly.

"Gabrielle." Ephiny said a little more firmly this time.

"And to make sure little Xenan was alright." Gabrielle gazed down at the young Centaur, sleeping peacefully in the crib that Solari and Eponin had hastily constructed.

"Gabrielle." Ephiny all but shouted.

"Solari doesn't approve of me, does she?" Gabrielle's shoulders slumped in defeat as she finally spoke what was troubling her.

"Solari doesn't know you." The blonde Amazon told her as she reached out a hand and covered the bards.

"She doesn't think I'm worthy to succeed Terreis."

Ephiny lifted her hand and clasped Gabrielle's chin, lifting the young girl's head so that she could see the glistening blue-green eyes that gazed back at her. "For Solari nobody would be worthy to succeed Terreis."

"Were they close friends?"

Ephiny hesitated, not knowing how much of Solari's personal life she should disclose but how much Gabrielle would understand. She knew that Eponin had been told to instruct Gabrielle in Amazon ways because she had issued the order herself. What she did not know was how far those lessons had gone; Eponin had certainly taught Gabrielle how to swing a staff but had she discussed the Amazon way of life, its rituals and customs. Finally she decided that if Gabrielle did not know then now was as good a time as any. "Gabrielle. Solari was Terreis's lover."

"Oh." Was Gabrielle's quiet reply. During her tuition in Amazon ways Eponin had mentioned that many of the Amazons took female lovers but she had not got much further in her explainations before all Tartarus had broke loose with the Centaurs and Krykus. She had considered asking Xena about the subject, the warrior seemed to know a lot about the Amazon nation, but every time she tried to broach the topic she would become flustered and turn her attention towards her latest scroll.

"Solari feels guilty that she wasn't there. Because as a Royal Guard she wasn't just protecting the Princess, she was protecting the woman she loved." Ephiny took Gabrielle's hand in her own once again, "Solari is still trying to heal," the Amazon looked down at her son, memories of Phantes threatening to overwhelm her as she did. "It'll take time but she will come to accept you and serve you as your Royal Guard."

That brought Gabrielle's face up. "I have two questions."

"Go ahead." Ephiny urged.

"Magdelus said that when Terreis bestowed her Rite of Caste on me that her titles and possessions became mine. Does that mean…"

"No." Ephiny answered quickly, "Lovers are not possessions, we do not own each other. You are free to choose your own lover."

"Which brings me to my second question." Suddenly Gabrielle was not sure she could ask it, but who was Ephiny going to tell. "If an Amazon Princess can take her Royal Guard as a lover does that mean that she can…" she forced herself to continue, she wanted to know the answer, "take her Champion as her lover?" There she had said it. Shyly she raised her eyes to Ephiny's and saw the Amazon smiling back at her.

Ephiny had to fight every impulse in her body to stop herself from shouting I knew it, I knew it. Instead she gave Gabrielle the answer that she knew the young Amazon Princess wanted to hear.

* * *

Once outside the cabin Solari turned and walked in the opposite direction from the training field. At the moment if she had sparred with any of the young warriors she would have hurt them. If I sparred with Eponin at the moment I'd probably knock her on her backside. The opportunity to defeat the tribes best warrior was a tempting one but Solari wanted nothing more than to be alone with her thoughts.

She ended up at the riverbank as she always did. So many good memories…

Several kisses later and they were climbing onto the bank. Fishing, trout and lunch forgotten for the afternoon…

Solari was not so lost in her thoughts that she did hear the approach, "Why are you following me warrior?" Not even turning as Xena cleared the last of the trees and stood beside the Amazon.

"You should show more respect Amazon." Xena stated simply as she gazed over the water, watching the rays of the setting sun filter across its rippling surface.

"Why? You're not an Amazon." Solari hissed. She could not believe she was saying these things. If the stories about the Warrior Princess were true then this woman could very easily break her in two.

"No. But my best friend is an Amazon. And she's your Princess." Xena had noticed that the use of Gabrielle's rank had unsettled the dark haired woman before and it did so again. She was hitting a raw nerve but she was not sure which one.

"She's not my Princess." Solari answered fiercely.

Xena heard the emphasis on the word my, it was unmistakable. "How long were you bonded to Terreis?" As Solari's façade cracked Xena knew that she had hit the right nerve.

"Three summers." She bowed her head; dark hair cascaded around her face, hiding the tears that she did not want the warrior to see.

Xena dropped to the ground and sat next to the Amazon. "You always wish that you were there, don't you? That there might have been something that you could have done."

Solari looked towards the legendary Warrior Princess who suddenly seemed as vulnerable as she herself felt. "You lost someone you love?" Solari ventured.

For a moment Xena considered not answering, she had already let the Amazon see that there was a vulnerable side to her, one that could be exploited. "Almost." The warrior began as she plucked a blade of grass and pitched it into the river. She remembered Thessaly and the memory turned her stomach, "Gabrielle was almost beaten to death because of a situation that I put her in the middle of. And I know that if I'd been with her they would never have harmed her." She slowly turned to the dark eyes that were regarding her, "But you can't always be there, and you can't always take the responsibility."

"Yeah, that's what she keeps telling me." Solari stopped when she realised what she had just revealed. A look of puzzlement graced Xena's face, and those blue eyes asked the question. "I keep seeing her in my dreams. She tells me to move on but it's just so hard. She was my life."

"And now this is your life." Xena gestured to the surrounding area, encompassing the land, the Amazons and everything that it stood for.

"I think I needed to see Gabrielle. I think that it just brings it home that Terreis is really gone." Solari brought a hand to her mouth, forcing back the fresh flood of tears. "I don't hate the kid, it's just going to take time to get used to her."

"I'm not the one you should be telling this to." Xena hinted.

"Do you think Gabrielle will forgive my behaviour?"

"Gabrielle is a very forgiving person." Xena told her, "Look who her best friend is." Xena indicated herself, meaning that Gabrielle in all of her peace loving ways had befriended a warlord. If that did not tell you how forgiving she was then nothing would. The warrior stood and extended her arm to the Amazon.

Silently they returned to the village and Solari's home.

* * *

"Magdalus?" Gabrielle announced triumphantly.

"No way, not my type. She's too skinny." Ephiny patiently explained.

Gabrielle was only defeated for a moment, "It was Terreis, wasn't it?"

"Good Goddess no. Solari would have dumped me in a fire pit. She's been in love with Terreis since we were old enough to carry swords." Ephiny was watching her son as he roamed around the cabin, discovering the one draw back of having a Centaur child: they were not only curious at a young age but they could move around in order to satisfy their curiousity and Ephiny knew how much Solari loved that urn. "Xenan. No." Ephiny warned and her son immediately backed away from the object.

"Who else?" Gabrielle's face broke into a broad grin, "Eponin."

"No!" Ephiny answered quickly.

That was the give away, that and the furious blush creeping up the Amazons neck. "That is the nicest shade of no I have ever seen. Come on tell me everything." Gabrielle made a show of getting impatient.

Finally Ephiny gave in to the persistent bard, "Alright, alright. It was a brief fumble in the hayloft of the stable on the night that we were given full Amazon Rites. We were both more than a little drunk, it was nice and we haven't spoken about it since. Satisfied?"

"Yes." Gabrielle finally answered when her brain had caught up with the speed that Ephiny was speaking at and had registered the fact that she had been asked a question.

They both looked up when the door creaked open and Xena's head appeared in the gap.

"Solari?" Ephiny whispered.

"Outside." Xena told her and then turned her attention to her best friend, "I think she has something she'd like to say to you." The warrior indicated that Gabrielle should go to the dark Amazon.

Gabrielle patted Ephiny's hand that rested on the blankets and stood from the bed, retrieving her staff she headed for the door. Xena held the door for Gabrielle and then she entered the cabin as Gabrielle left.

"Is everything alright?" Ephiny asked quietly as the warrior approached.

"It will be." Xena assured her and she was certain it would be.

* * *

Solari stood at the edge of the veranda, looking out over the village with her palms resting on the wooden beams that made the railings. Gabrielle approached cautiously and leant against a solid upright beam.

"I'm sorry for the way I acted Gabrielle." Solari turned, leaning her hip against the support.

"Ephiny told me about you and Terreis and I know why you did it."

"But that doesn't make it right." Solari retorted.

"Maybe not, but at least I understand why." Gabrielle reasoned.

"Thank you." In that moment Solari knew that Xena had been right, and that Gabrielle could forgive her. "If you wish to replace me as your Royal Guard I will understand, but I am willing to serve you, your majesty." It was a hard admission for her, but one that she knew she had to make.

"Well I won't be in the village much, but I think I like the idea of having a Royal Guard and a Champion." Gabrielle decided, suddenly feeling very important.

"As you wish." Solari extended her arm in a warrior gesture.

Gabrielle looked at the offered arm, it was what the Amazons did, but it just was not her. Taking a step forward she wrapped her arms around the Amazons body and hugged the woman tightly. The momentary stiffening of Solari's body told Gabrielle that she had startled the Amazon but after a moment she felt arms returning her embrace.

A hug was the last thing she had expected but it was not unwelcome. In fact it was nice to feel the affection and even found herself slowly stroking Gabrielle's back. She looked up as the door to her home opened and Xena and Ephiny appeared in the doorway. One of them wore a wide grin; the other merely arched an eyebrow.

Solari decided that she would leave the raised eyebrow for Gabrielle to deal with, but she heartily returned the smile with one of her own, realising that this was indeed her life.

To Be Continued…

* * * * *

There you have it. Hope you enjoyed it. Now reply to it.