"Well, it is true we have been hearing reports of barbarians attacking villages again. Is that what you mean?"

"Perhaps," the priestess replied.

She turned to Gabrielle and looked at her momentarily, then let her eyes drift up to Xena. Their eyes locked. Again, it was all Xena could do to keep from attacking her.

Then Lorelei let her eyes slip away, as if she had been looking at nothing that was of any consequence to her. She looked back at Gabrielle. "I see you are great with child. May I approach?"

As she took a step forward, Xena immediately started to intercept her, but Gabrielle's hand went up again, stopping Xena.

"You may," she told the priestess.

Lorelei knelt down in front of the queen and slowly placed one hand to Gabrielle's belly. There she slowly moved her hand in circles, gently feeling her.

"A strong, healthy child," she declared. "A son."

"You are sure of this?" the king asked.

"It is my nature to know these things."

While she was looking at the king, as if by accident, Lorelei's hand brushed Gabrielle's breasts and she felt a slight tingling in her nipples, then it went away, unnoticed.

"If it please the Queen," Lorelei said as she backed away. "It would give me great pleasure to attend the birthing, for it is but days away."

"Yes, you are very welcome here. One can never have enough attendants."
 

"Gabrielle, are you sure you want this woman here? I have a bad feeling about her, very bad."

"Oh, Xena, you just feel funny because she looks so much like you. You're not getting jealous are you?"

"That has nothing to do with anything. There's something not right here. Why is it that she shows up now? Just when the baby is about to be born?"

"Xena, Xena, Xena. You know very well how long it takes to travel between villages. For all we know, she could have been on the road for months. Don't be so suspicious!"

"Well, I'm going to go talk to the King about this woman. Maybe he'll know what I'm talking about."

"You'll do nothing of the kind."

"What?"

"You heard me. You will not do, nor will you say, anything to cause trouble for the High Priestess Lorelei."

"You're giving me orders, now?"

"I am The Queen!" Gabrielle said, her voice harder than Xena had ever heard before. "You WILL do as I tell you!"

Xena bowed her head. "Yes, My Lady," she said through clenched teeth, barely able to control the anger she felt. "It will be as you say."