“No,” she said, “where have you
been?” She asked him and he smiled as he brought his hand to
the front and Xena’s grinned turned into a smile as she saw
the beautiful flowers he had for her. “I saw these and
thought they were perfect for you,” he said and she smiled as
she took the flowers from him bringing them up to her nose and
inhaling their scent. “Mmm…They’re beautiful,”
she said then looked at Ulysses, “thank you,” she said
as she wrapped her arm around his shoulder leaning in and kissing
him. Cadell looked at them and grinned as he finished their
painting. “I’m finished,” he said twenty minutes
later and they stood and walked over to where he worked. They
looked at the painting and he was indeed a brilliant artist,
“Cadell this is…” Xena said as she looked at it
at the detail and saw her love toward Ulysses and his love towards
her.

 

 

“Magnificent,” Ulysses said and Cadell
grinned, “Thanks,” he said and they continued to look
at the painting. “How much do we owe you?” Ulysses
asked as Xena picked the picture up and looked more closely at it.
“Forty obols,” he said and they looked at him,
“that’s all?” They both asked and Cadell nodded.
“Cadell you should charge more your work is excellent,”
Ulysses said and Cadell nodded. “True but not many people
here are willing to pay that for it,” he said and Ulysses
looked at him. “Well we’re paying you double
that,” Xena said and that’s what Ulysses’ gave
him. “Thank you so much,” Cadell said and they nodded.
He took the picture from Xena rolling it up since the paint he used
dried quickly and he put a leather tie around it with his sign on
it then handed it back to Xena.

 

 

“We’ll see you later Cadell,”
Xena said and he smiled and nodded as he watched them go. “So
where to now?” Xena asked and Ulysses grinned, “I was
thinking a cruise on the Nile,” Ulysses said and Xena
grinned. “Lead the way,” she said as she placed her
hand in his and they walked towards the Nile River. There were
slots for six small, long boats at the private dock and three were
gone. “How much for a ride?” Ulysses asked the man who
looked good enough to take them on a ride.

 

 

“Twenty,” he said and Ulysses nodded
and handed the man his money then held his hand out to Xena helping
her into the boat and he got in behind her. Ulysses sat down
leaning his back against the back of the boat and Xena sat down
next to him but her back leaned against his chest. Ulysses wrapped
his arm around Xena and the man pushed off with his long oar and
they began sailing down the Nile and looking at the beautiful
scenery. As she lay against his chest Xena pulled the band off
of the papyrus unrolling it and looking at the picture. “I
wonder if this is how everybody else sees us?” Xena asked and
Ulysses looked at the picture, “I know the love we feel is
intense but to look at the picture,” Ulysses said and Xena
nodded. Xena turned her head and looked into Ulysses’ eyes,
“do you realize how lucky we are? To have the kind of love
other people dream about,” she said and Ulysses looked into
her eyes as he caressed her cheek.