Xena agrees to aid them.

"Of course we'll help you, but on one condition."

"We can pay you, if that's what you require?!" injected Tassia.

"No, we won't need payment." replied Xena, "But you must trust me to take the box the rest of the way. If it's as dangerous as you say I would feel better if you would stay behind."

"But.." started Tassia, before Gabrielle put a friendly hand on her shoulder.

"Xena knows whats she's talking about." said the Bard, "I mean no disrespect but you've already had the box stolen once.".

"Yes, you're quite right." she replied, "This is where it needs to go, please keep it safe!".

The young woman handed Xena the box and a rolled up animal hide. When Xena looked at it she saw a map of mountains, rivers and a forest.

Once the two women had departed Xena mounted Argo and turned to Gabrielle.

"This is going to be a difficult journey Gabrielle." she explained, "I want you to go to the town of Alotae and wait for me.".

"But Xena, what if you need me?" chirped the little Bard, forcing a smile.

"Its too dangerous!" replied Xena, "I've heard some... unsettling things about what might lurk in the lands along the way."

"I'm not afraid! Please, let me help!" came Gabrielles reply. Xena noticed the steely look in her friends eyes and relented.

"Get on then, we have a long way to go!". Once Gabrielle was seated securely Xena spurred Argo and the horse galloped off.

-===-

After two weeks of hard travel the duo noticed tall rugged mountians in the distance. Even before they got to those though they were met by the loosely knitted trees of the forest marked on the map they had been given. The trees were mixed of deciduous and pines and through them narrow streams bubbled and trickled. The days were cooler here and the going slower as they meandered their way through the trunks.

Towards the end of the fourth day they came across a small shallow lake, fed from the streams they had passed along the way. The surface was dotted with huge lily pads and a wide variety of large dragonflies buzzed overhead.