I remember.

They don’t think that I remember but I do. I remember as sure as the day I was brought kicking into the world, to stand upon unsteady legs.

Thinking back to those first days, I remember how uncertain she was. The world was a big scary place to her. But she faced it with nervous determination. For me, having ridden across the length and the breadth of the land, it was hard to understand how someone could be scared. Even when I was young, I loved to travel with my mother, to go new places, see new sights, smell new smells. Why would anyone feel differently?

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Or behind myself maybe. Storytelling has never been my strong suit.

She was uncertain... yes. But she was fiercely determined also. At first she annoyed me. She seemed like such a little pest! And I kept my distance. I’d be damned if I was going to let her near me! Even if it did mean we had to travel more slowly. But something happened... and to this day I still can’t figure out exactly what it was. Somehow I realized that this little girl wasn’t going to leave us anytime soon. She was learning. And, almost in spite of myself, I came to look at her with a certain amount of pride.

And I realized that my feelings were rubbing off on Xena...or at least that’s what I like to think.

Xena. The destroyer of nations. The name that used to inspire fear in the hearts of women and men alike. The name that gives me a warm feeling from the tip of my nose to the end of my tail.

Many of my friends used to snort at me haughtily when they heard I rode with Xena. "Tame Horse" they used to call me. "Slave" was another one. I shrug these off as readily as I shrug off sleep. One of them, a handsome white stallion, had even approached me in confusion once. "Why don’t you just buck her and run? You could be free like us." I just snorted and swished my tail at him. They’ll never understand what I have. They don’t know what it’s like.

Again I ramble.

So I was proud of the girl. I admit it! This young woman, who had looked like she was fresh out of the stable, was holding her own. She learned to find food, make a fire. I even began to let her feed me. I’ll never forget the look on her face when I finally took an apple out of her hand. How easy it is to please some people! Of course, I guess it is just as easy to please a mare. Because her smile pierced right through to my old warhorse heart.

But if I thought she was having an effect on me, I had no idea how much of an effect she was having on Xena. Not until that night.

A night like any other night the three of us had shared together. I remember how sweet the air smelled... that is something I always remember: the smells. Why is that I wonder? Men and women never seem as preoccupied with smells as we horses do. In any event, the air that night was incredibly sweet... like lilacs or honey on the breeze. The stars were out in full force. We crowded around the fire for warmth. Of course, I might have been a painting on the wall for all the attention they paid me. It didn’t matter. I know my presence is enough, sometimes, to comfort Xena, just like her presence is enough to comfort me.

They didn’t speak to each other, which was odd, I thought. They just sat, staring into the fire, casting surreptitious glances at each other, until I thought I was going to die of boredom. Finally, the young woman whom I had grown to like so much rose and crossed over to sit next to Xena. It was a bold move, and I champed nervously. But Xena didn’t turn away... in fact she put her arm around the young woman’s waist and hugged her close! And I knew, right then and there, that Gabrielle was here to stay.

If I had been told, long ago, that Xena would be closer to someone than she was to me, I would have snorted in derision. She and I had seen more things together than most people could dream of! I knew that if someone ever took her away from me I would be terribly angry. As it was though, I didn’t find myself angry at all. I was a little bit shocked at first, and strangely enough I felt happy. But I felt a little bit sad also, since I knew that these two had formed a bond that I could never break. One that I could never share.

And so I whinnied and stamped my hoof. They turned to me and grinned, and the sadness inside me vanished. How could I possibly think of myself, when Xena was obviously so full of joy? Her eyes looked deep into mine and I understood true love. Maybe I’m the only horse who ever has. Sometimes it feels that way.

Gabrielle chuckled and asked me if I was hungry ( why does she always think I’m hungry? She must be projecting. ) And I looked down at her and realized what Xena saw, what we both saw, in this strong young woman. And I nodded my head in understanding. This of course sent the young woman off to get an apple from her pack. Silly girl.

I remember Xena rose then, to run her fingers through my mane as only she can. She buried her head in my neck, and I felt her body tremble. I nuzzled her with my nose, supporting her. Then she lifted her head, and I caught a glimpse of those shining eyes I love so dearly. She raised her lips and whispered into my ear.

"I love her, Argo."

Sometimes I think she was admitting it to herself as much as she was admitting it to me. But I will never forget those words, nor the look in Xena’s eyes after she said them. Such a deep, heartfelt emotion.

Gabrielle returned then, giving me the apple with gentle hands. And I accepted, with what I hoped was a graceful nod of my head.

They didn’t speak again for the rest of the night, but I didn’t care. I had plenty to think about, and so did they. So I stood silently and watched over them protectively as they fell asleep in each other’s arms.

Other horses may laugh at me. They may call me names. But I don’t care. The things I have seen make up for anything they might say. They think to carry a human is a burden, that it is to be a slave. But to me, it is a privilege. I think I’m lucky to be able to journey with these two.

Xena and Gabrielle.

Those will be the names people remember. Not Argo. The deeds that are done will be what people remember. Not nights like that one...so long ago.

But I remember. Oh yes. I remember.

The End