She leaned forward easing it off the old bone watching as it came up from the grass. It was a beautiful white golden chain with a sparkling red round ruby pendent which was surrounded by thick gold which had weaving outer patterns. She stood up ignoring the pain in her ankle and her arm as she carried on walking using her fingers to get rid of the dirt on the beautiful pendent. What an odd thing to find it on this battle field, warriors never wore elaborate pendants. May be who ever owned this had taken it from someone or it had been dropped. She breathed in as she carried on walking trying to ignore her inner pain, as she walked towards the town ignoring the commotion which was going on behind her.

Xena watched as Gabrielle disappeared from sight she felt the pain in her heart which she tried to ignore as she turned hearing the city warrior speak. “Who’s that who’s leaving.” Xena looked down slightly. “My friend.” The warrior laughed as he looked at the Minotaur in the pit bellow. “Well your friend isn’t here now so how’s about you celebrate your great victory with us?” He put his hand on her shoulder. “We have lots of warm mead and ale.” Xena pulled away sharply from his grip. “No.” She turned eyeing the pit. “I’ve sent a message to Seleukos’s mother, she’ll be here by tonight all you have to do is watch him until she gets here. He may be a stupid smelly beast but he loves his human mother and he’ll behave and go home with her, he always does.”

She moved away ignoring his surprised look. “He won’t bother you or your people again.” She carried on walking realizing that it was to late Gabrielle had disappeared from sight. She picked up her pace gods she was so stupid! Why had she said what she had to her? The truth was that she didn’t know why she said anything anymore it just came out of her lips and cut through the younger woman’s heart.

End of part 1

THE ULTIMATE PRIZE OF ROYAL BLOOD

Inside the royal wagon heading towards Illyria.

The red haired woman swung her long wavy hair back as she looked at the other woman in front of her, her dark blue eyes narrowed as she adjusted her white chiton robes with their golden patterns and thick purple velvet tie around her slim waist. “My father wants a child to rule this is all that this is about. That’s all he wants.” The slightly older woman adjusted her pale blue peplos robes she shook her head as she looked up. “Princess Sophia your father loves you dearly he only wants what is best for you.” Sophia snorted as she tapped her brown sandals on the wooden floor of the carriage. “I’m going to be nineteen this seasons fall Chara and I still haven’t found a man to suite me.”