DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Xena stuff is the legal property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer. This story was inspired by a Keune poster.

The Black Amazon
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Then.

The village was burning. Only a few Amazons were still alive and even they were either lying on the ground, dying, or tied to the stakes and also dying. It had been a hard battle, but the enemy was stronger and the Amazons were defeated. The enemy soldiers raped the tied Amazons and tortured them.

"Darphus!" one of the soldiers called and the commander of the army approached the messenger.

He listened and then turned to his men.

"Kill them!" he ordered. "We're leaving!"

The men half-heartedly objected, but they knew that if the commander of their army, the real commander, ever found out about this little excursion of theirs, heads would roll. They started to kill the Amazons, those on the ground and those on the steaks.

Suddenly, a soldier screamed as a tied Amazon girl managed to free herself and kill him. She quickly cut her ties and ran into the forest. The archers immediately shot arrows after her, but only one hit home. The soldiers wanted to go after her, but Darphus stopped them.

"Let her go, she won't get far."

The young Amazon, who was barely in her teens, could barely see. Her clothes were in rags, her body a little more than a congealed puddle of blood. The arrow protruded from her shoulder, but she ignored the pain and ran on.

Finally she collapsed. She coughed and blood came from her mouth. A lot of blood. She lay still and listened if someone was still following her, but there was no one. She lay for a few minutes, trying to regain some strength. Then she got up and tried to orient herself. When she knew where she was, she headed for the near-by creek.

She collapsed into it and drank. Then she crawled to the bank and reached for the arrow. It was deep inside her shoulder and she started to push it through. When it was finally through, she was on the verge of unconsciousness. She paused for a moment and then quickly broke the arrow and pulled it back. Then she passed out.

Now.

Xena and Gabrielle slowly traveled down the road. They were both quiet, which was quite unusual as Gabrielle usually kept talking. But they were both tired and they looked forward to sleeping in a bed again. Suddenly Xena stopped Argo. Gabrielle felt her tense and she looked over her shoulder.

"What is it?" she asked, annoyed because she was disturbed in her daydreaming.

"A rider is approaching," Xena reported. "It's an Amazon," she added after a while.

That caught Gabrielle's interest and she observed the approaching rider from behind Xena's back.

When the Amazon got closer, she stopped and nodded to Xena.

"My Queen," she then said, "I am Phrynia from Queen Antiopa's tribe."

Gabrielle nodded, trying to look a bit more regal.

"The Queen had heard that you were in the region and she would like to discuss something with you," Phrynia continued.

Xena rose her eyebrows.

"What?" Gabrielle asked.

Phrynia seemed a bit uncomfortable.

"The Black Amazon," she said.

Gabrielle was confused.

"I didn't know there were black Amazons."

"Her skin is not black, her armor and her hair are."

"Oh."

"She is from a village north of ours which was destroyed about ten years ago. We thought that everyone was killed, but then we started to hear rumors about a mysterious Amazon. We didn't know who she was until my sister saw her."

"Who is she?"

"Her name is Baucis and she was the daughter of the village weapon master."

"I see. And what is the problem?"

"Well, the Greeks complain about her, they say she is scaring their children and stuff. And besides, she's our sister, we want to make sure she's okay."

"Did she kill anyone?"

"Only bandits and when she was attacked. When we tried to talk to her, she left and when we tried to stop her, she was ready to fight us. She didn't attack us, though."

"I see. Do you know where she is?"

"We know the approximate area."

"Good. How far is your village?"

"A day away."

"Good. You can ride back, if you want, but we're definitely staying in the next inn," Gabrielle said.

"May I ride with you?" Phrynia asked.

"Sure."

The trio moved on.

When they got to the Amazon village the next day, Queen Antiopa herself came to greet the Queen of the Amazon Nation.

"Queen Gabrielle," she said when Gabrielle dismounted, "we are honored to have you in our midst." She turned to Xena. "You too, Xena."

"Thank you," Gabrielle said. "So, what's with the Black Amazon?"

"Come into my hut."

"Gabrielle," Xena said, "I'll go track her down."

"But don't try talking to her."

Xena nodded.

"Phrynia, go with her," Queen Antiopa ordered.

"Yes, Queen."

Xena and Phrynia left and the two Queens went to Antiopa's hut.

"So, what's with the Black Amazon?" Gabrielle repeated her question.

Antiopa sighed.

"She is from the village north of ours. The village was destroyed about ten years ago and we never found out who was responsible. We thought all Amazons from that village were dead." She paused. "Then we started hearing about a mysterious woman in black armor and people claimed she was an Amazon, but she has never entered our territory. We sent out search parties and we eventually tracked her down, but she refused to talk to us. She tried to avoid a fight with us, and when we tried to use force, she only defended herself. She did kill all non-Amazon attackers though. We didn't know who she was until Phrynia's sister recognized her." She paused again. "We are concerned, about her and about our relationship with the Greeks if we don't settle the matter soon."

"I see," Gabrielle said and thought. "I will try to talk to her," she then said. "I hope I can help her."

Antiopa nodded.

"I'll leave as soon as Xena finds her."

"Good. Will you rest now?"

"No, I'd like to see how the Amazons live here."

"Very well," Antiopa said, a bit surprised.

Two days Xena returned.

"What has she been doing?" Gabrielle asked her as they rode to meet Phrynia.

"I think she was searching for someone."

"Who?"

"I don't know. We tracked her for a while and we saw her go to a battle field. She was examining arrows."

"Arrows? Why?"

"Some warlords have their arrows marked to let people know who did it."

"Oh." Gabrielle thought. "So she's looking for a warlord?"

"Probably."

"The one that was responsible for what happened to her village?"

"Yes."

Gabrielle thought. Baucis reminded her of Callisto only she wasn't so violent. She hoped she would be able to find out what Baucis wanted.

"She's by the creek," Phrynia told them when they dismounted.

Gabrielle nodded and went straight to Baucis. Xena followed her.

"Don't be too close to me, I don't want her to run away when she sees you."

Xena smiled briefly and slowed her pace.

Gabrielle noticed that Baucis had noticed them, but that she didn't seem interested in them. She hoped she wouldn't just walk away when she got to her.

Finally she got close enough to take a good look of the mysterious woman. The first thing she noticed, beside the scars, was that she was gorgeous. She looked pale and like a baby and her expression was blank. Her lips seemed to be quirked and her right eye seemed to be higher than her left and they were both empty, emotionless. Her black, shoulder length hair, which was combed backwards, looked very sleek and it matched the color of her non-Amazon looking armor which covered her scarred body. Only a scar, which ran from her left eyebrow, across her left cheek, down her throat and was lost beneath the armor, marred her otherwise flawless face and even it couldn't destroy her beauty. Gabrielle also noticed that Baucis had blades attached to her staff and her chobos. She hoped it wouldn't come to a fight.

Baucis suddenly got up and started to walk to her horse.

"Wait!" Gabrielle called, but Baucis ignored her. "Please, Baucis, wait!"

Baucis jerked at her name, but she continued to walk.

"Baucis, I am Gabrielle, Queen of the Amazon Nation, and I order you to stop," Gabrielle tried.

Baucis stopped for a few moments, torn between her quest and between her loyalty to the Amazons. Then she moved on.

Gabrielle hurried after her.

"Look, Baucis, I want to help you, but I can't if you don't tell me what is going on. You are not alone, Baucis, you have sisters and we want to help you. Will you let us?"

Baucis walked for a few more moments and then stopped, knowing that Gabrielle had a point. She slowly turned and Gabrielle stopped.

"Will you tell me what is it that you want?" Gabrielle asked after a short pause.

Baucis stared at her for a few moments and then opened her mouth. Gabrielle was confused, but then she looked closer and saw that there was something not right with her mouth. Suddenly she realized what it was, Baucis' tongue had been cut out.

"I'm sorry," she apologized, "I didn't know."

Baucis closed her mouth and nodded.

"Is there any other way you can tell... I mean let me know what is it that you want?"

Baucis nodded and went to her horse. Gabrielle followed her. Baucis reached into her saddlebag, pulled out a broken arrow, which was covered with blood, and showed it to Gabrielle.

Gabrielle looked at it, not certain what she was looking for.

"What am I looking for?" she asked and Baucis pointed at some markings on the arrow. "I don't know what that means."

"Can I see it?" Xena asked as she came closer and Gabrielle gave her the arrow. "Darphus," she said with disgust when she saw the markings and returned the arrow.

For a moment the blank expression in Baucis' eyes was replaced by anger.

"Darphus?" Gabrielle asked, surprised. "You mean Darphus burned down that village?"

"Probably," Xena said.

"But I thought..." Gabrielle started and then trailed off, realizing that it wouldn't be wise to mention that Darphus was Xena's second-in-command then.

Xena slowly walked to the creek and Gabrielle turned to Baucis and gave her back the arrow. Baucis pointed at the markings and looked at Gabrielle questioningly.

"You want to know about Darphus?" Gabrielle asked and Baucis nodded. "Well," Gabrielle said hesitatingly, "I don't know the whole story, you'll have to ask Xena."

Baucis looked at Xena and then followed her.

Xena quietly stared at the water in the creek and she ignored Baucis for a while. When she finally looked at her, Baucis pointed at the markings and gave Xena a questioning look. Xena glanced at the markings and then looked at Baucis. She took a deep breath before confessing.

"These markings belonged to my army and Darphus was my second-in-command."

Shock and anger appeared in Baucis' eyes and a moment later, before the arrow hit the ground, she was attacking Xena with her bladed chobos. Xena barely managed to avoid being hit and she immediately drew her sword and defended herself.

"No, Baucis, stop!" Gabrielle called, but Baucis ignored her.

Gabrielle wanted to stop the fight, but she had no idea how as the two women fought like crazy. Then she suddenly saw her chance when Xena somersaulted over Baucis' head. She quickly ran to Xena and turned to Baucis, who was already in the middle of her attack.

"Gabrielle!" Xena called, horrified.

"Stop!" Gabrielle ordered Baucis and Baucis stopped, not wanting to hurt a fellow Amazon. "Listen, Baucis," Gabrielle quickly continued, "I know you're angry, but listen to the rest of the story. Please."

Baucis stared at her for a few moments, shivering from anger which had been culminating in her for a long time, and then slowly took a couple of steps back. It took every bit of her will not to attack Xena. Gabrielle turned to Xena.

"Tell her the rest."

Xena looked at Baucis.

"I'm sorry about what happened to you," she said. "I was away scouting that week and Darphus was in command. He was supposed to stay in the camp and monitor the surrounding roads, but apparently he disobeyed." She paused. "A few years later, he finally told me that I wasn't bloody enough and he took over my army. I later killed him." She paused again. "I know I was ruthless, but I never killed women and children and my army had the orders to let them go." Another pause and she dropped her sword. "I didn't order that attack, but it was still my army, which makes me responsible. I am ready to accept what ever punishment you deem appropriate."

"Xena!" Gabrielle protested, astonished.

"Step aside, Gabrielle."

"But, Xena!"

"I can't run forever."

"Xena..."

"Step aside," Xena repeated firmly.

Gabrielle hesitated and then stepped aside. She hoped she wouldn't lose a friend in the next few moments.

Baucis was as surprised as Gabrielle and she just stared at Xena for a few moments. Then she slowly approached her. Xena didn't move. Baucis slowly raised one of her chobos to Xena's neck, but Xena didn't move. Gabrielle was holding her breath, worried. Baucis gently ran the blade across Xena's neck. Then she slowly prepared to slit Xena's throat.

"Xena!" Gabrielle cried when Baucis swung the blade, but the blade missed.

Baucis stared at Xena for a few moments and then nodded. Xena nodded back and Baucis went to her horse. Gabrielle looked from one warrior to the other, confused.

"Are you okay?" she asked Xena and Xena nodded.

Then she ran after Baucis.

"Baucis, wait!"

Baucis stopped.

"Will you return home?" Gabrielle asked when she stopped.

Baucis stared at her for a few moments and then a smile brightened her beautiful face and she nodded.

"Will you go there right now?"

Baucis shook her head.

"You want to be alone for a few days?"

Baucis nodded.

"I'll go to your village and tell the Queen that you are coming."

Baucis nodded and then continued to her horse and Gabrielle returned to Xena.

"Don't ever do something like that again," she told her, "you can't be blamed for what Darphus did."

"He was my second-in-command, Gabrielle. And besides don't you ever do that again. If that were Callisto, you'd be dead."

Gabrielle mused.

"Well, it wasn't, it was an Amazon and I am her Queen."

Xena smiled.

"Well, Your Highness, then move your royal behind and lets go to Baucis' village."

Gabrielle smiled.

"Well, my behind is more royal than yours, Princess," Gabrielle said and started walking.

"Do you want to fight over it?" Xena challenged.

"Later, if we find some decent pillows."

Xena laughed.

The End