"Yes he did. Do you know him?"

"I know him, all right. That was Caspero, Jobyna’s son. Did you kill him?"

"No, he got away."

"Then you can expect him to return in a few years, with an army, and looking for revenge."

Barely whispering now, King Belos said, "Then I will prepare for him." And he fell back asleep.

As night began to fall Gabrielle and Xena sat beside the king’s bed. Gabrielle had another one brought in so she could stay at his side throughout the night.

Even though she and Gabrielle had shared the large bed before, Xena now insisted that she would be more comfortable with just a straw mattress on the floor. And she would be less visible if an intruder were to sneak in.

By the end of the first month, the king was able to sit up and resumed running his kingdom.

Xena continued to be at Gabrielle’s side. And even though he still had his questions about Xena’s trustworthiness, he decided she was more valuable watching over the Queen than in the dungeon, for the time being.

By the beginning of the third month, King Belos was almost completely healed and it was almost as if he had never been wounded. And it was then that he decided he had to determine exactly what was to be done about Xena.

Despite her value as a battle tactician, and as Gabrielle’s bodyguard, she was still considered by many to be a murderous barbarian who’s single episode of flogging was not punishment enough to compensate them for the death of a husband or son at her hands.

"Xena, we have a problem with you. For more than two months you have been living in the palace as a free woman. There has been much unrest and dissatisfaction among my subjects. Some say the floggings should continue. Others want your head mounted on a post at the city gates. In good conscience I cannot ignore the rumblings of the people. They have good reasons to want you dead. On the other hand, not only did you save the life of the Queen, but you provided a valid battle plan against Jobyna. So the question is — What should we do about it?"

"My Lord," Xena answered, "Since it is the people who want ‘justice,’ then maybe I should go out and face them and let them decide my fate."

"No! Xena you can’t do that," Gabrielle protested. "They will kill you! You know that!"

"Gabrielle, my Lady, there is no other way. We both know it has to be done. They are your subjects, and you can’t ignore them, not if you are to be the kind of queen that they know will do what is right, no matter the consequences."

"Xena’s right, Gabrielle, it has to be this way. Guard! Spread the word, at midday tomorrow Xena will face her accusers on the portico of the palace."

As the guard bowed and left the throne room, Gabrielle did also, in tears, running up the stairs to her bed chamber. After a quick nod to King Belos, Xena followed Gabrielle up the stairs; her place was still at her side.