“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>Xena had spread out her blanket next to Gabrielle and
tried to be as quiet as possible as she laid her sword and Chakram
beside her bed. She sat on the blanket and slowly began unlacing
her boot, weariness creeping up on her.

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>"Busy day, huh." A soft drowsy voice
stated.

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>Xena glanced to her side, "I didn't mean to
wake you. How's the headache?"

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>Gabrielle rolled onto her side and propped her head on
her hand, "Better. Those nerve pinches really
helped."

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>With a soft grunt Xena pulled off one boot, tossed it to
the side and began unlacing the other, "Good. You still need
to take it easy for a day or two. We'll be traveling with this
group for the next couple of days."

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>She looked around at the sleeping figures and watching
guards, "Xena, what did we stumble into here?"

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>Xena pulled the other boot off and scooted around to
face Gabrielle, "These people are survivors from one of the
raids Krosis told us about. The soldiers are escorting them to
Havenous to start new lives."

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>"Havenous?" Gabrielle repeated coming more
awake and sitting up a little more, "I thought it was just a
story."

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>Xena frowned, "What?"

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>"Havenous, " Gabrielle began explaining,
"was a large Kingdom that was destroyed by a vicious Warlord.
The ruins of the city remained empty for years then a group of
pilgrims came upon it. Their homes had been destroyed months before
and they were looking for a new place to start their lives again.
They were overwhelmed by the size of the once great kingdom and
loved the peaceful valley that surrounded it so they began
rebuilding. As time went by other raid survivors from all over the
land heard about the city and came to help rebuild. It took many
years and a lot of hard work but it's supposed to have been
completely restored and it's entire population a mixture of
survivors from different raids."

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>Gabrielle's gift a gab and listening made her a
wealth of information that even Xena had come to respect.
"They welcome any people who are in search of a safe haven.
They say that there is a Guardian watching over the city and
it's people and protects all within its walls."

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>Xena interrupted, "Guardian? Refresh my
memory."

“http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/space.gif” width=”20″
border=”0″>"Chosen of the Gods." Gabrielle supplied. When
that didn't seem to help, she continued, "Some of the
Gods, the ones who appreciate and like mortals saw that they
couldn't be every where to help us and decided to choose
certain mortals. Bestow on them a special gift to help in their
mission, like super strength or great speed, invisibility, all kind
of things. Course all of this is only a myth. Part of the deal is
that they can't advertise who they are so no one can really say
they've ever met a Guardian."