"Oh. So now it’s MY fault, is it?" Gabrielle said with a twinkle in her eye.

"Well," Xena answered with false innocence. "It’s not MINE!"

"And now I guess you want me to take away the pain?"

"You`re the Healer, aren`t you?"

"That’s my job. Stand still."

Gabrielle gently placed her hands on Xena’s shoulders and a faint violet glow appeared. Slowly she ran her hands over and down the back of Xena’s body and legs erasing the sunburn, and in its place appeared the golden brown tan Xena had on her face, arms and upper shoulders.

"That feels much better. Thanks," Xena said. But as she looked down at herself, she saw that she was completely tanned. "Hey, what’s the idea of the all-over tan?"

"That’s just in case you decide to do any more sun bathing. And besides, I think the tan brings out the blue in your eyes."

"Oh, so now I’m supposed to walk around naked just so my eyes will be brought out? I don’t think so."

"You’ll get used to it," Gabrielle answered, and on an impulse, kissed Xena between the shoulder blades. Then she slapped her on the butt. "Get dressed! Have you no shame?"

Xena chuckled a little as she began to dress.

As she did, Gabrielle laid out supper – Ham, oysters, grapes, bread, cheese and ale. As they ate, Xena noticed that Gabrielle was getting deeper and deeper in thought.

"Anything you’d like to talk about?" Xena asked her.

"I was just thinking about that nightmare. I was in a cave, and I KNOW the Altar of Dahak was there. I saw it."  Xena just let her talk. "It had blood all over it, just like before. And there were all these things, just out of sight,  making really odd, scary noises. That’s what I was throwing the fireballs at. What I can’t figure out is what it means. Is Dahak trying to kill me? Or is it a warning  to stay away, assuming he knows I have these powers?"

"There may be a third possibility, you  know. He could want you to join him."

"You’re right. Or there may be something else we haven’t thought of."

"I wonder if Ares knows anything about it?" Xena speculated. "Should we ask him?"