A sigh escaped Zara’s control, “for a little mouse, you certainly ask a lot of questions,” she smiled, “but no, I will not be the
next ruler of the Sultan’s land. The Sultan has children already and he has an older son. The Sultan’s official title is, His
Royal Highness, Sheik Sultan Uthman Hadim ibn Zafar ibn Ja’lal ‘abd al-Quaiti, of the kingdom of Hadhramaut. With the
exception of his oldest son, who will inherit his title, all of his children are either called, Shaikh, if they are men, or Shaikhas, if
they are women, so, I imagine my title will change to Shaikha. As for what you are to call me…” The captain smiled down at
her and lightly touched the tip of the girl’s nose. “You will continue to call me Captain. Is that understood?” the Moroccan
asked, with a stern expression, yet Nadrah noticed the twinkle in the woman’s eyes.
Nadrah nodded as she wrapped her arm behind Zara’s back. “Captain…”
“Yes, Nadrah?”
“What is it like… ummm, I mean, does it feel good to have a family want you?” Nadrah felt a lump in her throat as soon as
she asked the question.
Zara heard the sadness in the little girl’s voice. With an arch of a brow, the tall woman turned her attention from the child,
then to her lover who returned her glance. The Moroccan hugged the girl close and lifted Nadrah onto her knee.
“Nadrah, is this something that you long for?” she asked as she placed the tips of her fingers under the girl’s chin forcing her
to look up. The little brown eyes grew misty as she nodded affirmatively. At the sorrow of the child, the Moroccan sighed as
she hugged her close again.
“Nadrah, there will come a day when someone will ask if they can take you into their clan, into their family. When that day
comes, I promise that I will give you a choice in the matter once I’ve determined that the clan is worthy of you,” she assured
the little girl.
“Why wouldn’t they be worthy?” Nadrah asked with interest, her momentary sadness forgotten.
“Well,” Zara caught her lover’s glance and noticed that the blonde was listening with the same amount of interest. “First, I
would want to make certain that whoever wishes to adopt you can take care of you. I want to know that they are stable, that
they will have a home for you and, most importantly, that you will not be put in danger, or harmed in any way. Once I feel
confident about this, then I will ask you if you would like to go with them, or stay with me,” she assured.
As she spoke, the Moroccan noticed the healer’s frown as the smaller woman turned away. As a way to make herself look
busy, the blonde was returning the vials of cosmetic powders to the table. Unaware of the Greek’s movements, Nadrah
tugged at the captain’s arm who looked down. “Yes, little mouse?”
“Captain, do you think it will ever happen? Is there a family out there for me?”
Gabrielle felt her heart aching for Nadrah. She could tell from the child’s voice that the little girl longed for a family of her
own. As she listened to Zara’s criteria for a suitable family, the Amazon began to wonder if her lover would deem her worthy
of raising the girl. Silently, she moved to sit beside the tall woman and listened to her words with head bent in thought.
“Nadrah, I am positive that there is a family waiting for you, all of my cabin girls have found families,” the Moroccan said.
“Really?” Nadrah looked up at her with wide eyes.
“Really. Each of them was asked to join a family. Why, my very first cabin girl is actually settled down now with a little girl
your age! I was with her family on the day she wed and a year later, I saw the first little one that she gave birth to!” Zara
smiled, the images still fresh in her mind, then glanced down at Nadrah. “So you see, I’m positive that there is a family out
there who will be pleased to have you join them, we just haven’t found them yet.”
After a moment of thought, Nadrah looked up at Zara. “Captain, why can’t you adopt me? I’d be good! I’d make sure that
you were always taken care of, I promise!”
The blonde noticed a frown cross the dusky woman’s features. With a slight sigh, the tall Moroccan hugged Nadrah close
and looked at her.
“Child, parents are supposed to take care of you, not the other way around,” the captain smiled at the girl, then continued. “I
would be proud to have you as my daughter, but remember I told you that I could not surrender you to anyone who was not
suited for you?” At the little girl’s nod, Zara smiled softly. “I must hold myself to that as well and I am not suitable for you.
My life is on the sea, it’s where I feel at home and where, I believe, I shall always be. But, there is too much danger in my
life, a-and… there is much more, Nadrah. Much more, which makes me unsuitable to be your parent, or anyone’s parent,”
sadness seemed to enter the Moroccan’s voice.
Sensing her sorrow, Nadrah smiled as she reached up and touched Zara’s cheek with her tiny palm. “I don’t care, Captain.
I’d be proud to be your daughter, no matter what!”
In a visible attempt at control, the tall woman looked away from the girl. The Moroccan wiped at her eyes before looking
back at Nadrah. “And I would be equally proud if you were,” the captain said as she hugged the little body close.
With a slight smile, Gabrielle leaned against Zara as she reached up and began to brush her fingers through the Moroccan’s
long, thick hair. A part of her felt sad that the Moroccan would think so little of herself, yet another part wondered if her
lover would judge her by the same criteria. Although she had never thought of it before, she realized that she never imagined
that there wouldn’t be a time when Nadrah wouldn’t be with them. It had never crossed her mind that someday the captain
would willingly give up the girl and now that this information registered, the blonde realized that she would like to be able to
take Nadrah along, wherever she went. Gabrielle hadn’t talked it over with Xena, but she was certain that if they were
successful at bringing her back she would not mind keeping Nadrah. Already the two seemed to have formed a close bond.
While she contemplated the idea, another part of her mind went over the fact that the sea was where Zara would always be.
The healer only sighed as she wrapped her arm around her lover’s waist.
~~~~~~
Once Nadrah seemed satisfied with the captain’s words, they made their way toward the gathered competitors. At the slight
smiles and greetings, the tall Moroccan managed a polite nod, or slight greeting. Although she appeared calm on the outside,
inside Zara was a bundle of nerves. Of all of the competition events, this was one that she had most dreaded.
The tall, dark haired woman ignored Jamil’s comments about her eye as she gazed at the dappled brown mare she would be
riding in the event, assessing it as she would do a new ship. In looks, it seemed an ordinary beast, occasionally twitching its
tail and ears at the flies. As she stood back glancing at it, she absently scratched her chin. At the sound of hooves nearby,
she looked up to see the Amazon riding what appeared to be the largest white stallion that the Moroccan had ever seen. The
smaller woman’s mastery over the prancing animal was not lost on Zara and she marveled again at the varied skills her lover
seemed to possess. Gabrielle pulled the horse up beside her and jumped off, a slight smile on her face as she patted the white
stallion’s flank.
“This one is yours?” the blonde asked as she glanced over the animal. Zara only grunted a response as she continued to stare
at the dappled mare standing so calmly. When she felt someone touch her shoulder she turned and gazed down at Arjun.
“Honey, don’t you worry a bit,” he whispered like a conspirator as he glanced around to make certain that no one was
listening to him. “I gave specific instructions that you were to be given the most docile, gentle horse in our stalls. You will find
her to be very accepting of you,” the prince assured as he patted his friend’s shoulder.
“What?” Gabrielle turned to Arjun, then looked sharply at Zara. “Wait a minute! You don’t know how to ride?”
“Shush, Gabrielle, really! We don’t need to advertise that!” The prince hushed her quickly as he glanced over their shoulders.
“I know how to ride, Gabrielle. It’s just that, well… I have not ridden very much,” the Moroccan stated with a frown.
“What? Great Zeus!” The Greek’s disbelieving eyes turned to her, then looked sharply at Arjun. “What in Tartarus are you
trying to do to her? See how deep an impression she can make in the ground?”
“Sweetheart, it wasn’t my idea,” the small ruler protested, fluttering his hands at her. “You know my dear sister has a mind of
her own,” then he paused and rolled his eyes before continuing, “Well, at least I’m relatively sure she has a mind.”
Gabrielle frowned at him before looking back up at the dusky woman. “Zara? How bad is this?”
