The following is a bit of alternative fiction based on certain characters from the Xenaverse. It is not meant to infringe on anyone else's rights. If you don't agree or disapprove, please go read something else.
After the nature of the contest was announced, almost everyone of the candidates ran off the field in a hurry. By golly, they were gonna find that treasure. Joxer nearly got ran over by a buff warrior type, but she saw him on time and managed to make a detour. Instead he got toppled by another guy who wasn't looking where he was going. Joxer decided it was safer on the ground and waited for the field to clear out. Gabrielle, who by now was seated at the shaded dais, watched the pandemonium in awe, hardly believing all of this was for her. She noticed that there were only three people who didn't seem to be in a hurry. Xena, that brown haired girl she'd noticed before, and Joxer who was actually acting with wisdom for once.
Xena also waited for the rest of the candidates to clear the field. Then, her face giving away nothing, she herself strolled towards Joxer and helped him stand up. She leaned forward and whispered something in his ear. The man gave her a startled look and she returned it with an even gaze and a slight smile. She leaned forward again and said something else. He nodded. Then he smiled and shook her hand and said something in return. Gabrielle thought she could make out the words, "I'll do right by you." She watched as the lanky man left in a completely different direction than everyone else.
Then Xena approached the young woman who still lingered on the field, but somehow her back was turned towards the bard so she couldn't make out anything from either person, not so much as a facial expression.
What Gabrielle didn't know was that Xena was conducting an evaluation of her own. First, determine if the young one was a threat. Second, determine what she wanted out of this experience. Third, make sure the Amazon would not stand in her way. Xena deliberately blocked Gabrielle's view and began a quick, yet thorough interview.
"You're Kelly. Right?"
The brown eyes blinked, "Kalai."
"Yeah, Kalai." Xena folded her arms and managed to look very impressive. Kalai's eyes gleamed and Xena recognized that look. It was the same hero worshiping look that Gabrielle used to give her. Kalai was no threat.
Xena decided to be helpful. This one hadn't run like a chicken with her head cut off. There was potential. "This is my home ground Kalai. You know that don't you?" Xena was saying two things at once, she wondered if the woman would catch it. The Amazon nodded very carefully, the color of her eyes changed a little in response. She caught it. "I'll make you a deal."
Kalai swallowed. "You give your damnedest to this contest and don't slack off and I'll help you." The Amazon looked confused, was this another double message? "Gabrielle is my," there was a significant pause and an emphasis, "best friend. You seem motivated enough." Kalai snuck a look past Xena's shoulder and her expression went very carefully neutral. Xena was right on. "I will be doing my damnedest too. You understand."
Kalai read the message as, 'you will probably lose,' and gave another nod. "But if something should happen I want someone reliable." Blue eyes pierced into Kalai's very soul. The Amazon nodded emphatically since she was still in that speechless phase. Definitely. Absolutely. Damnedest. "Good, we understand each other." Then Xena, placed a hand on the woman's shoulder and told the wiry young Amazon one of her secrets. Kalai grinned from ear to ear and loped off the field.
Xena then sauntered off in the opposite direction of the inn.
Gabrielle wasn't worried at the warrior princess's apparent lack of speed. She had no doubt that the former warlord had treasure troves pocketed all around the area, not to mention the whole of Greece. She'd figured that out a long time ago. How else would one explain how they never really lacked for dinars, at least not for long, or why Xena never worried about acquiring any. Not that Gabrielle didn't do her fair share of raking in the dinars with her own story telling abilities, it's just that she didn't fear a great lack in their future.
Gabrielle also doubted that those same treasures were the ones being discussed at the opening of the contest. Most people simply didn't know about Xena's . . well anything actually, except for maybe the stories that Gabrielle told or the former Warlord days. But no one really knew Xena like she did and she only knew so much. Which meant, the treasure everyone was searching for, was not any of the warrior's per se. Yet the wording of the contest didn't discount it either. So Xena shared some locations, though the bard wasn't actually sure why, except maybe it was out of the goodness of the warrior's heart. Gabrielle's own heart warmed at the thought. She decided that there must be rumor of treasure and this was what the, she glanced at her mother and the "impartial" judges who were already discussing the attributes of the contestants (rather vocally), arbiters of this little competition must be referring to.
Gabrielle sighed loudly and shifted in a bored way in her chair. Her elbow was positioned on the armrest and her hand cupped her chin. Cherise turned to look at her and smiled gently. She excused herself from the other's company and an drifted to Gabrielle's side. Then she looked out on the field. Her voice was understanding, "This really is the least interesting part of this whole thing. We won't get results in for several hours. Why don't you go back to the inn and get some rest or do your bardly thing." Cherise looked at Roen, who was standing guard. "I'll be sure and contact your guard to tell you when it is time for you to come to the feast."
Gabrielle's eyes lit up at the word feast. "You didn't tell me there would be food involved."
Cherise grinned, Queen Ephiny's description had been accurate, "Yes, we've invited several of the finest chefs and cooks to Amphipolis. These next couple of nights there is going to be feasting and festivities. Tomorrow there will be a dance and hopefully by the third night you will have had at least a consort's joining, though I'd rather you had something a little more permanent. But that's just cause I'm a matchmaker." Cherise didn't worry about letting too much slip, she believed in the power of subliminal programming. It was time to get the bard thinking along those lines.
Gabrielle started really thinking about this whole matchmaking concept and realized that cost had to be involved. She had a sudden worry.
"How is Mom going to pay. . ."
Cherise waved her hand, "Honey, your Mother is just a judge now. She's not paying for anything. This is all in care of the Amazon nation." Gabrielle gulped. Cherise patted her on the back, "and trust me, you can afford it." Gabrielle stared at the gently smiling redhead. The bard hadn't thought of that. Cherise decided that Gabrielle probably ought to go away from the field now. It was time to pull Iolaus into the strategy, although, with the way Xena was looking, she didn't expect that it would be as hard as they had anticipated.
Gabrielle talked to Roen on the way to the inn. The Amazon, who at first had been reluctant, began telling the bard about her life experience and ambitions and about her small crush on Vera. Gabrielle quipped, "well, I guess with all this matchmaking stuff going on, love is just in the air." This got a small grin out of the normally stoic warrior.
Gabrielle decided to take a morning nap since she rarely got them and then maybe later she would do some catching up on her scrolls. She shut the door tight behind her and she looked at her bed, which was still unmade. That brought a smile to her face and she dipped her hand into the bodice of her outfit and lifted out the blue silk cloth. She made another plan and headed for the bed.
She was stopped abruptly by a strong arm which encircled her waist, a warm body pressed against hers and a hand cupped to her mouth. Then a familiar, "shh," brushed passed her ear and the bard found herself really smiling.