After the hut had cleared, Xena turned back to
Garona who was finishing her examination and giving herbs to the
princess. "How is she?"

"Looks like she has a couple broken
ribs."

"And the blood?"

"One may have scraped against her lungs.
From the amount of blood, it doesn't seem too bad. But we do
have to worry about infection."

Xena lowered her head. *This couldn't have
happened at a worst time.* Xena gazed at the Amazon princess,
wondering how this was going to affect Gabrielle.

Gabrielle raced to the healer's hut as
soon as she heard the news. "Xena, what happened?" The
blond Queen looked over at her sister.

"Lila was sparring and was hit in the
ribs."

The hut's door opened and Hecuba entered.
She glanced at her eldest and then at Lila. Tears welled up in the
older woman's eyes. "Will she be okay?"

Garona placed a hand on Hecuba's shoulder.
"Two of her ribs are broken and she is badly bruised. She
seems to be breathing fine, but we will have to make sure that an
infection doesn't settle in." Garona looked over at her
Queen. "I've given her a poultice to ease the pain and so
herbs to fight infection and help her sleep. Right now, what she
needs most is rest."

Hecuba walked over to the bed and held her
unconscious daughter's hand. "I would like to stay, if
that is possible."

"Of course." Garona grabbed a chair
and placed it by the bed. "I'll make sure that the guards
know to bring you something to eat."

Xena walked over to the bard. "I need to
go and check up on Tali. She was quite shaken up about all of
this."

"Was she…"

"It was an accident Gabrielle. Lila
totally dropped her guard during the drills." Xena glanced
over to Lila. "Don't worry about Tali, you have to attend
to more important things."

"Are you sure you don't want me to
stay?" Xena place her arm around Gabrielle. "I can, you
know."

"I appreciate it, but you don't need
to, I'll be fine."

"Well, remember to get some rest."
Xena glanced over at the sleeping patient. "We don't need
both of you sick."

Gabrielle nodded as Xena left the hut. The
bard then took a seat near Lila, across from her mother. Hecuba
glimpsed up at the Queen. "Are you staying?"

Gabrielle realized that those were the first
words Hecuba had spoken to her since the day that she learned the
truth. "Yes."