A Visit Home, An
Awakening, Part I
Hunter
Ash
ripperbard7@yahoo.com
frost29@post.com
Disclaimers: the
usual rundown - I don’t own Xena, Gabrielle, Argo or Gabrielle’s
family. This story is written for entertainment purposes and no
copyright infringement is intended. Don’t bother suing me - it
really wouldn’t be worth it.
Sex/Subtext: yup
and it’s between two consenting adults of the same gender.
Violence: nope,
just thoughts of throwing someone through a window but our warrior is
patient for once.
Summary: A “first
time” story with Xena and Gabrielle visiting Gabrielle’s family
and the relationship between them being forced to the surface.
Feedback:
definitely!
Gabrielle had
finally broken away from her mother and her endless questions. The
bard was tired and irritable. She and Xena had been at Gabrielle’s
home for two days and nights and the bard was more than ready to
leave.
As she slowly
walked around the house, heading for the barn, she stopped. The
little Amazon realized that she was more than ready to leave, in more
ways than one. Gabrielle stood looking at the barn door, as if
trying to make a decision. The bard nodded to herself and changed
direction, heading for the pen that held the goats, picking up the
food bucket, as she moved.
Unknown to
Gabrielle, her mother Hecuba was standing at the kitchen window
watching her daughter and reading the young woman’s body language
with a frown. The older woman was well aware that Xena was in the
barn attending to her horse, Argo and now Gabrielle was moving away
from the barn.
The last two days
had been tense and it was tearing at Hecuba to see her daughter
withdrawn and obviously upset. No matter what questions the worried
mother asked, she wasn’t getting any answers from her daughter.
The bard’s mother could sense that Gabrielle was at a crossroads.
Gabrielle was also
wondering the same thing, as she fed the goats.
The bard would have
also used the description of a crossroads to describe her thought
process. It just seemed time for decisions and Gabrielle was not
thrilled with any of the choices or paths. The blond unconsciously
brushed a hair back from her forehead and reflected again on how
tired she was. Countless nights of fitful sleep, long days spent
feeling tense, were beginning to take a toll on the small woman. She
was tired and she was tired of being tired.
She was also tired
of being frustrated.
If Hecuba were a
little closer she would see a familiar setting of the bard’s jaw.
The bard replaced the bucket and headed for the barn.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Argo nudged the
warrior when Xena’s hand stopped brushing the horse, the warrior
lost in thought. Xena smiled at her horse and continued the brushing
and talking.
“It’s probably
a good thing you can’t talk back, girl. You’d probably tell me
I’m an idiot too. Gods, this is hard.” Xena leaned her head
forward and buried her face in Argo’s mane for a moment.
She hated visiting
Gabrielle’s family. Gabrielle’s father barely tolerated the
warrior and the bard’s mother kept trying to play matchmaker for
her runaway daughter. Lila, Gabrielle’s little sister, was filled
with questions, almost as curious about things as her older sister.
Each family member seemed determined to drive the usually stoic
warrior out of her mind.
Gabrielle had
finally suggested that Xena see to Argo for awhile so she could help
her mother with lunch. Xena had quickly seized the opportunity and
almost dashed out the door, leaving the bard to fend for herself and
now Xena was feeling guilty about that too.
Gabrielle opened
the door slowly and slipped inside, not surprised to see her best
friend Xena tending to Argo. Earlier the bard had given the warrior
an easy out by suggesting that Xena look in on Argo and escape the
bard’s mother’s endless questioning.
Gabrielle was
surprised that Xena hadn’t heard her come in; this was highly
unusual, and the bard decided to take advantage of it, standing a
moment, watching Xena brush Argo’s coat and mane. The bard felt a
familiar heat beginning in her loins and spreading throughout her
body, as she watched the warrior’s muscles rippling with each long
brush stroke. Gabrielle quickly fought her heartbeat back to a more
regular rhythm.
“Gods, Argo, I
have to be more patient. I can’t strangle her father, I can’t
strangle her father, I can’t strangle her father.” Xena
whispered, resuming her brushing.
The fierce warrior
spun around rapidly on her heels, face blushing bright red when she
heard a giggle behind her. She tried to stammer something out when
she caught Gabrielle’s green eyes laughing at her. The young bard
was holding her ribs, trying not to fall to the floor laughing. Xena
tried glaring at her friend and that only succeeded in making the
blond laugh even harder. Gabrielle finally caught her breath and
closed the barn door.
“Gods, Xena.
Don’t you think I feel the same way!?” she giggled, watching the
warrior resume brushing the horse with a scowl on her face. .
“I know, sorry I
left you alone in there.” Xena mumbled.
The battle scarred
warrior was surprised but pleased when Gabrielle’s arms circled
around her and she found herself in a tight hug.
“It’s okay, I
figured I had to get you out of there before you threw him through
the window.” the bard giggled again.
Xena was very aware
of how hot she suddenly was. As her breath began to quicken, the
warrior found herself closing her eyes and leaning back into the
embrace.
Gabrielle leaned
into the warrior, relishing the scent that was uniquely Xena:
leather, soap root, and musk. With a start, the bard realized she
was rubbing her face against Xena’s leather top and holding the
warrior tight. A roaring filled her ears and she felt her entire
body flush with heat.
The warrior
suddenly realized that she was about to turn and take the bard in her
arms and kiss the small woman. She straightened up and felt
Gabrielle’s arms leave her.
Gabrielle quickly
backed up out of the hug, trying to catch her breath.
Xena kept from
whimpering but only from years of self-taught control. Then, when
she thought she could face Gabrielle, she turned.
Looking deep in
Gabrielle’s eyes, the warrior almost lost all that control but
managed to hold firm. Gabrielle seemed just as lost in the moment as
both seemed frozen in place.
The barn door
slammed open, breaking the spell between the two women and both
blinked in the sunlight and intrusion. Lila rushed in with a
frustrated look on her face.
“There you two
are! Lunch time!” and she was gone again.
Xena noticed
Gabrielle blushing, eyes downcast and stammering. “I... we should
go in.”
“Uh huh.” Xena
agreed. Gabrielle quickly turned and was gone after her sister,
leaving a stunned warrior holding a brush with a puzzled look on her
face.
“Argo,” she
whispered, “what just happened?”
Lila grabbed her
older sister’s arm, stopping the bard, looking back at the barn
door and realizing that Xena wasn’t stepping through immediately,
Lila turned to Gabrielle.
“Well?” she
demanded.
“Well what?”
“Did you tell her
how you feel?” the youngster snapped.
“No, of course
not! I’ve told you, she doesn’t care for me like that!”
Gabrielle snapped back, beginning to walk back to the house again.
Lila caught up with her sister.
“Looks like it to
me!” Lila protested.
“We sleep under
the same blankets every night, I’m in her arms every night, we eat
together, bathe together, sleep together and she hasn’t shown any
interest in me sexually. She thinks I’m a kid.” Gabrielle
complained.
“I think you’re
both hooked and won’t admit it to each other!”
“Glad you think
so, I’m the one living with this!” Gabrielle stopped dead in the
middle of the common yard and glared at Lila. “It’s torture,
Lila. My body and soul ache just to touch her. I almost just kissed
her!”
“Do it! What can
you lose?”
“My best friend
and I couldn’t live with that.” Gabrielle whispered.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Xena kicked at a
non-existent pebble as she walked back towards the family home. She
was confused and that always made her grumpy. She hated not being in
control and the one thing she was NOT in control of was her feelings
towards her best friend. Xena didn’t know when she had fallen
totally in love with the bard but she had finally admitted it, at
least to herself. To no one else, of course. Well, Argo didn’t
count, she thought with a sarcastic smile.
The problem was
that she knew the bard wasn’t interested in women sexually and only
thought of Xena as her best friend. It was beginning to drive the
warrior crazy. With the cool fall weather they were spending every
night under the same blankets, the bard in Xena’s arms. The
warrior had lost count of how many nights she had lain awake with the
blond sleeping peacefully in her arms. Xena didn’t know how many
times she had leaned down and kissed the bard softly on the hair, the
forehead and finally the lips, careful not to wake the young woman.
Every muscle and fiber of her being wanting to take the bard and make
love to her.
It was becoming
more and more of a distraction. Xena found herself thinking of the
blonde every other minute. Gabrielle’s hair shining in the sun;
the movement of Gabrielle’s well toned body as she dried her hair
and body after a swim or bath was enough to almost bring tears to the
warrior’s eyes in frustration; Gabrielle’s muscles rippling as
she practiced with her staff; the thoughts of the bard’s hands as
the young woman slowly removed her boots at night; the contented sigh
she always gave when she settled into Xena’s arms. Xena smacked a
house pillar, hoping to distract herself, somehow.
‘Some
self-punishment streak,’ the warrior decided, admitting that she
was torturing herself slowly.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No one seemed to
notice that Gabrielle was quiet during lunch, something really
unusual for the young woman. Her mother had noticed the dark circles
under her daughter’s eyes and had commented on it several times
with a disapproving click of her tongue, eyes glaring at the warrior.
Gabrielle clenched
her jaw, the familiar setting that warned most anyone who knew her
that she was tense and her infamous stubborn streak was about to show
itself. The bard looked over and saw Xena concentrating on her food,
her jaw also clenched. Gabrielle was confused. At times, Hecuba
questioned her about the men she met, wondering if there were any she
was interested in and then her mother would turn around and ask
detailed questions about Xena, as if sizing up a potential mate for
Gabrielle.
The bard knew that
her father could barely stand having the warrior around but tolerated
her so that he could see Gabrielle. The bard knew that he still
blamed Xena for his daughter running off to the road, following the
warrior woman and pursuing the dream of being a bard. Hecuba was
more receptive of the warrior, but uncomfortable at the same time.
Gabrielle wanted to scream.
Xena clenched her
jaw again. She too had noticed Gabrielle wasn’t sleeping well
lately and had done everything she could think of to help her bard
but she was at a loss as to what to do and having Gabrielle’s
mother point out her failing didn’t help Xena’s mood any.
“Are you sure
you’re all right, Gabrielle?” her mother asked again.
“I’m fine!”
the bard snapped.
“Hey, don’t
talk to your mother in that tone, young lady!” Herdoctus
threatened, pointing a finger at his oldest daughter.
“I’m just
worried about you,” Hecuba said softly.
“I’m fine,
Mother.”
“You could visit
your mother a little more often! You act as if you don’t care about
her feelings. Leaving here with only a brief note!” Herdoctus’
voice began to rise.
“Traveling around,
putting yourself in danger, of course she’s worried!”
“Stop it, both of
you! I’m fine, I’m doing what I want to be doing! Can’t you let
it alone?” Before tears could escape the green eyes, the bard had
jumped up and rushed out through the kitchen.
Xena knew that
visiting her parents had been bothering Gabrielle but now she could
see it was also wearing on the bard’s nerves.
Lila kept her eyes
fixed on her food and Gabrielle’s parents faces were bright red.
Xena stood up
slowly, “I think I’ll take Argo out for a ride, excuse me.”
she carried her dishes to the kitchen and looked out the back door.
She frowned when she didn’t see her bard anywhere in sight. She
sighed, hoping to find the young woman in the stable, knowing Xena
would follow but she was disappointed not to find Gabrielle there.
Xena began feeding
Argo an apple and tired to sort things out, especially her feelings.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gabrielle hit the back door running, and didn’t
stop until she was through the fields and running by a stream. The
bard finally collapsed beside a familiar old oak, gasping for air and
trying not to cry.
The bard sank
further to the ground with her back to the tree, welcoming the shade
and the soothing sound of the water rushing by over the rocks. She
crossed her arms over her knees and rested her head. It was then
that she finally let loose and began crying.
After awhile the
tears had finally slowed down and she leaned back against the tree.
She closed her eyes and let her body relax.
“You know you
were always my favorite tree when I was a kid,” she said simply to
the tree behind her. “You always listened and you never told
another soul of my doubts, my dreams, my fears or my pain. I’m
glad you’re still here, old friend.”
“Gabrielle?” a
tentative voice questioned.
The bard opened her
eyes and smiled at her younger sister standing nearby. “Hey,”
she answered and motioned her sibling to sit down with her.
“Hey,” Lila sat
down looking around. “I come here when Dad gets angry.”
“Was my favorite
spot when I was home.” Gabrielle said with a smile.
“Want to talk?”
Lila picked up a rock, and tossed it into the stream.
“Yeah, I need to
talk to someone.” Gabrielle hesitated, “I’m leaving tonight.”
“I didn’t know
you two were leaving until tomorrow.”
“I’m leaving
alone.” the bard whispered.
“What? Without
Xena?!” Lila demanded, and saw Gabrielle’s eyes filling with
tears.
“Yes, I can’t
take it any longer!” Again the bard’s control broke and Lila
took her bigger sister into her arms and held Gabrielle while she
cried once again. “I love her so much but I can’t keep going the
way it is and I can’t stay here!”
“Where will you
go?”
“Athens, I was
accepted into the Academy there once, they’ll have me again.”
“You can’t
leave Xena, you two are just right for each other.” Lila protested.
“I can’t live
like this!” the bard cried and Lila held her close.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Xena had only taken
Argo out for a short romp through the countryside, taking it easy on
the horse. The warrior knew if she released her feelings and
translated them to the horse they might end up in Athens before Xena
could think straight again.
She had come back
before dusk, knowing the family would be expecting her for dinner and
discussion afterwards. The last thing she wanted to face was another
meal and discussion with Gabrielle’s family but she didn’t want
the bard to think Xena was avoiding her as well. Again she had
frowned when Gabrielle wasn’t in the stable or nearby waiting for
Xena. Usually the bard sought her out when she needed comforting but
lately the woman had been withdrawn and more quiet than usual.
Xena was wondering
if Gabrielle was changing her mind about leaving the road. Was her
parent’s arguments getting to the bard? She had left Xena once for
marriage, for a simpler life and the warrior wondered if the bard was
craving that again but struggling against her family’s overbearing
wishes.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The two sisters
made their way back to the farm when it started getting close to
dinner time. Lila hurried off to feed and water the pack horse,
while Gabrielle started towards the kitchen to help her mother with
final dinner preparations.
The bard was
puzzled to find the kitchen empty and voices, from the common room.
She moved across the room and started to open the door and stopped at
the tone of her father’s voice. She knew that tone and it chilled
her to the bone. If Gabrielle had been fifteen she would have crept
back out the door and headed right back to her favorite oak tree,
maybe to even spend the night in its welcoming branches, but she
wasn’t and she was determined not to be afraid any longer.
“She can’t
leave here again! It’s time she settled down and gave us
grandchildren!” he snapped.
Gabrielle moved
closer to the door and opened it a crack, listening with her jaw
beginning to clench.
“You can’t keep
her here, Herdoctus. She’s not a farmer and she’s a grown
woman.” Hecuba protested.
“You going
against my wishes?” he hissed.
“No, of course
not!” her mother’s voice held a familiar tone: fear. Gabrielle
almost opened the door to throw her father through the window, but
held tight.
“I thought this
mess was behind us when she married Perdicus, but, not! Because of
that damned warlord bitch, he goes and gets killed and our daughter
takes up with that war-bitch again!” he yelled.
“It wasn’t
Xena’s fault he died! It was that madwoman, Callisto.”
Gabrielle’s head
was roaring and her eyes were hazing over with red. She could feel
her body trembling with the rage that was building inside of her.
\\\\\\
Part 2
Xena had decided to
enter through the kitchen, the door being the closest to the barn
area when she stopped suddenly and ducked back out the door as she
spotted Gabrielle standing by the door separating the kitchen from
the living area of the house. Xena dared a glance around and saw her
bard was listening at the door and Xena held her breath. The body
language of the younger woman was readable even in the twilight. The
bard was furious.
Gabrielle’s fists
were clenched, one at her side and the other on the door jam as she
listened at the door. Xena was surprised to see the bard’s body
trembling and she recognized the stubborn set of Gabrielle’s jaw.
Whenever Xena saw that familiar clenching she knew that she was in
for an explosion or an unbending bard. Xena knew people called her
stubborn but most of them had never gone up against Gabrielle once
the smaller woman had set her mind to something. Xena smiled to
herself, even the Conqueror of Nations gave in before her little
bard.
Xena’s curiosity
was more than intense and she quietly left the doorway and
made her way around to the window on just the other side of the
doorway of where Gabrielle was listening. She wanted to know what
was causing Gabrielle such distress.
“I still say it’s
not right!” her father was saying loudly, Xena presumed to
Gabrielle’s mother.
“I agree. Who
will have her when she finally decides to settle down? After
traveling with that she-demon! We were fortunate that Perdicus still
wanted her, but he had been a soldier, after all.” the voice of
Gabrielle’s mother reached the warrior and she found herself seeing
red.
Then Xena sagged
against the wall and sat down with her back to it. She could still
hear everything but her strength seemed to have fled.
Were they right?
What man would want to settle with Gabrielle after being with Xena,
one of the most feared warriors in the land. One of the most feared
women warriors of the land? Was she cutting off Gabrielle’s
future?
“You know what
they are saying about our daughter?” her father demanded.
“Don’t,” her
mother’s voice pleaded.
“You know what
that stupid merchant said last week? Before he knew who I was?!”
the father’s voice was loud and angry.
“Please don’t,
I don’t want to hear it. We hear good stories about them, too,”
her mother protested.
“Oh yes, the good
that they do, rescuing people, doing good deeds but this is about the
two of them together!” he raged.
“Don’t!”
“They actually
think our daughter lies with that demon!” he ranted.
“Stop it!” her
mother’s voice went shrill.
Gabrielle
felt a growl beginning in her throat.
“I agree it’s
time to stop this!” Gabrielle threw the door open and stormed into
the common room, facing her father and mother, hands clenched and jaw
muscles twitching. The bard felt like she could spit fire, at the
moment.
Xena’s head
snapped up at the sound of her bard’s voice, sharp and calm but
Xena could hear the tension undertones, but the warrior didn’t dare
risk a glance through the window, Gabrielle was probably right in the
doorway across from her.
Xena’s heart
skipped a beat and she nearly died when Lila crawled around the
corner. Then the little sister signaled the warrior to keep quiet
and crawled along the walkway to join the warrior. She smiled and
placed a finger on Xena’s lips and pointed to the window. Xena
understood what Lila was saying, that she did this often. Xena
blushed a deep purple at having been busted spying on her best
friend’s family and then having Gabrielle’s sister join her in
that spying.
Gods, this was
complicated!
“Gabrielle,
please, we .... we....” her mother’s voice stammered.
“Yes, I know,
just discussing my future and your concern for me.” Xena could
almost see Gabrielle’s clenched jaw and she saw Lila’s eyes were
wide and curious. “Yes, mother, I know. What you both need to get
through your heads is that I am where I want to be! I don’t care
what anyone thinks about me! I don’t care what they whisper! And
I especially don’t care what some idiot farmer thinks about my
marriage potential!” Gabrielle’s voice finally rose to a shout.
“But you’ll
want to marry someday!” her father protested.
“I want to get
married now!” the bard snapped and wished she could take back the
words. This was not where she wanted the conversation to go but now
it was too late.
Xena’s heart sank
and her head dropped forward.
“You do? To
whom? Do we know him?” her mother’s voice was excited.
“Yes, you know
who I want for my bond-mate but it’s not going to happen.”
Gabrielle muttered, trying to fight back tears. Xena and Lila barely
caught the words.
“What? Why not?
Aren’t you good enough?” her father demanded.
“It’s not like
that, Father. I am in love, so deeply in love that no one else will
ever touch my heart like this again, ever.”
“Oh, Gabrielle,
then what’s the problem?” her mother wailed.
Lila rolled her
eyes at her mother’s tone and Xena growled. Who could Gabrielle be
talking about? Not Perdicus, could she? Was she still silently
grieving that much?
“She doesn’t
realize it.” Gabrielle said simply and steeled herself for the next
blow, whether physical or verbal.
“She?”
Gabrielle’s father, mother and Xena all asked in the same moment,
fortunately Xena had whispered her question. Lila’s eyes were as
wide as saucers. Xena’s heart began to pound almost loud enough to
keep her from hearing the rest of the conversation.
“What!? It’s
true? You do bed that demon!?” her father demanded.
“That’s enough!
Right now! You say another word against Xena and you’ll never
talk to me again! No, I don’t have sex with her. I sleep with her
but we only share the same space but that doesn’t mean I don’t
want to!”
“Gabrielle, you
want.....” her mother’s voice broke and Xena could hear the woman
begin to cry. Xena herself was stunned. Gabrielle wanted her? Was
she hearing right? Was this a weird nightmare sent by Morpheus?
“Yes, Mother. I
want her. Not just sexually but.... oh gods, talking relationships
with your parents is not my idea of a good time.” the bard
muttered. “I love her, do you understand? I want her as my mate,
totally - emotionally, spiritually, physically, everything. She
doesn’t want me in that way, though.” Gabrielle wiped an angry
tear away.
“I can’t
believe this! You want to travel around, fighting all the time,
putting yourself in danger just to bed a woman?!” her father
demanded.
“No! I travel
with Xena not only because I love her but because of the good we do.
I will be content to spend the rest of my life with her and not touch
her, if necessary! She is the best person I’ve ever met, damnit!”
Xena heard Gabrielle smack her hand on the table with a frustrated
growl.
Lila was looking at
the warrior with wide eyes. “You didn’t know?” she whispered.
Xena shook her head
and dropped her eyes.
“You love her
like that?” Lila whispered and Xena nodded.
Lila reached out
and hit the warrior on the arm, hard. Xena looked up.
“That’s for
making her wait.” the young teen hissed and then cocked her ears to
listen.
“Why doesn’t
she want you?” Gabrielle’s mother asked.
“She doesn’t,
all right.” Gabrielle muttered.
“You haven’t
told her?”
“What do you
mean, asking her that? You approve?” her father’s voice was
shrill and Gabrielle wanted to shove him through the door.
Xena resisted the
urge to rush in and grab the man by the throat and throw him out the
window.
“I don’t know.
I want her to be happy.” her mother protested.
“Happy? How can
she be happy with a female warrior? How can she be happy fighting for
her life all the time? Just traveling with Xena will get her killed.
You know what we’ve heard. How many times have you been attacked
just traveling the road?”
“None of your
business!” Gabrielle snapped. “I would spend an eternity in
Tartarus just to be with her!”
“Gabrielle, don’t
say that!” her mother’s voice was horrified.
Xena was stunned,
surprised at the depth of the feelings the bard was voicing about
her.
“It’s true! She
came back from the dead for me and we aren’t even lovers.”
Gabrielle fought back from having her voice break, from the tears
that were filling her eyes.
Lila started to ask
questions but Xena held a finger up to her lips.
“I forbid this!
It’s not natural! It’s not right!” her father yelled.
“Oh shut up,
Father. Who says it’s not natural, even the gods share their beds
with someone of the same sex.” Gabrielle suddenly felt weary. She
could sense that her father was losing his steam of anger, and she
felt hers draining away as well. The bard was also wondering why she
was arguing with her parents about this and explaining everything?
She wouldn’t be with Xena, soon anyway.
Xena could hear the
weariness in Gabrielle’s voice and ached to hold the young woman in
her arms, anything to comfort her.
“Family, how can
you have a family with her?” Xena sensed that the bard’s father
was losing his hold on the argument and searching for any ammunition
to use.
“Who says we
can’t have children and we can’t raise them? Besides, all that
assumes that we’re lovers. We’re not and it’s killing me!”
Gabrielle’s voice cracked and Xena heard the kitchen door slam and
then the outer door. Xena sat against the wall, still stunned.
Lila punched her in
the arm again and motioned for Xena to follow her. When they had
gotten away from the house Lila turned and punched the warrior again.
Xena’s eyes narrowed, she had let the teenager hit her enough,
thank you.
“You two are so
damned stubborn!” Lila yelled at her and looked like she was going
to hit the warrior again. Xena held up her hand warningly.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gabrielle had
grabbed the travel packs she’d hidden in the barn earlier that
morning, and started out the barn door, when she heard Lila’s
irritated voice just outside.
“She told me last
time you were here how she felt, I thought you two would have settled
this by now. Do you know she’s planning on leaving?” Lila
demanded, hands on her hips, the same stubborn set to her jaw.
“No, I thought we
were staying another night.”
“No, not with
you,” Lila shouted. “Without you!”
Xena’s heart
stopped and a chill came over her body. “Without me?” she
whispered.
Could Xena care
whether she stayed or went, Gabrielle wondered.
“Yes, she can’t
take it any longer. It’s killing her to be near you and not touch
you. She thinks you don’t want her because she’s not in your
league.”
“What? I’m the
one that isn’t good enough!” Xena protested. “After everything
I’ve done, how could she want me?”
“Beats me, I
think you’re okay.” Lila shrugged with a smile. “She thinks
you’re from the gods and would do anything for you but she’s
dying inside.”
Gabrielle was
considering killing her young sister for telling Xena all of this.
The bard wanted to crawl under the ground somewhere and hide. Xena
would know everything! She wouldn’t want the bard, she wouldn’t
want her around anymore!
Then Gabrielle
listened to the warrior’s words.
“She’s light
itself!” Xena continued to protest. “Anything I am today is
because of her!”
“Then tell her,
not me.” Lila snapped. “Adults! You make it so complicated!”
“Wait till you
fall in love,” Xena snapped back, “and see how easy it is.”
Love? Gabrielle
thought her heart had stopped.
“You love her,
right?” Lila demanded.
“Yes, with all of
my being. I don’t think I can live without her.” Xena whispered.
Without thinking
the bard opened the door. “Xena?” a voice called, softly.
Xena and Lila spun
around to see Gabrielle in the doorway of the barn, her bags in her
hand.
Xena and Gabrielle
found themselves caught in another frozen moment of time, both of
them losing themselves in each other’s eyes. Lila finally broke
the moment by shoving the warrior and bard back through the barn door
and shutting it behind them.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
“You mean it,”
they both asked at the same time, both breaking into smiles and
relaxing finally. Gabrielle sighed and sat her travel bags down,
walked over to a hay bale and sat down. She brushed a lock of hair
from her eyes and Xena once again found herself wanting to do that
for the young woman, to touch just her hair would be enough.
Then heat spread
over the warrior and she thought that maybe just touching Gabrielle’s
hair might not be enough anymore. They had both heard too much to go
back and she knew Gabrielle sensed that too.
The bard sat for a
moment, trying to think rationally and couldn’t find a way to make
any sentence hold together. She swallowed deeply and risked it.
“I love you,
Xena.” Gabrielle said quietly, not lifting her eyes up.
Xena moved slowly
and carefully, kneeling in front of the bard. Tenderly she lifted
Gabrielle chin up until the green eyes were looking into her deep
blue ones. Tears were filling both their eyes.
“I love you, so
very much, Gabrielle. I’ve been in love with you for so long.”
Xena said softly.
“Oh, Xena!”
Gabrielle threw her arms around the warrior’s neck and grabbed her
in a tight hug, tears falling.
Xena, feeling tears
falling from her eyes as well, welcomed the bard into her arms and
held the other woman tightly. The warrior felt months of tension
easing out of her muscles and a healing of her soul beginning. She
pulled back slightly to look Gabrielle in the eyes.
“I....” the
warrior stammered. “I love you so much, I’ve never felt like
this before.” Xena took the bard’s hands in hers. Gabrielle kept
quiet, watching her warrior struggle with the words. Getting Xena to
talk about emotions was like pulling a tooth from a horse, almost
impossible, the bard knew.
“I’ve had
lovers, many of them, but not like I want you. Not even Borias, it’s
different with you. If you want me I’m yours but it has to be a
commitment. If you let me love you it will be forever.”
Tears flowed freely
from both women as the warrior struggled with the words.
“I love you,
Xena, more than life,” Gabrielle whispered.
“You are the
other half of my soul and I know if you love me that we’ll be
together for eternity. I don’t want just sex, I want to marry you,”
Xena managed to stammer out.
Marry me? the bard
questioned in wonderment quietly.
Gabrielle was so
quiet for a moment that a feeling of fear began to grab at the
warrior’s heart and then the bard grabbed her again in a
bone-crushing embrace.
“Yes! I love you
totally and completely. I’ve wanted you as my mate for so long!”
Gabrielle whispered.
Both women held
each other for several moments before Xena pulled out of the
embrace. She held a finger up to Gabrielle’s lips to indicate
silence. She slowly stood up and unlaced her chakram and placed it
at Gabrielle’s feet and then did the same with her sword and the
dagger hidden between her breasts. She knelt on one knee in front of
the bard and Gabrielle thought that her heart would stop forever.
“I offer you my
sword and my life. I will love you forever if you’ll have me,”
Xena pledged.
Gabrielle wiped
tears of joy from her eyes. She knew this warrior’s pledge was the
ultimate pledge Xena could make and was touched beyond words.
“I love you, and
I accept your pledge and your love, warrior Xena. I pledge my love
and trust in you and promise to love beyond time itself. I know that
not even death will separate us from this point on,” Gabrielle
pledged and pulled the warrior up to her lips.
The kiss was meant
to be soft and gentle but the electric shock that passed through both
women at the first contact sent both of them backwards.
“Wow,”
Gabrielle whispered, touching her lips in wonderment.
“Wow? I’ll
say,” Xena agreed and sat back up, reaching for her bard when angry
voices brought her to her feet, chakram at the ready. Gabrielle
reached up and placed a reassuring arm on Xena’s arm.
“It’s all
right, it’s my father, not an army.” the bard grinned and Xena
lowered the chakram, blushing that her warrior instincts had won out
again. Gabrielle knew that Xena’s heightened senses and warrior
instinct had only lessened slightly all the months they had been on
the road together. Gabrielle had come close several times to being
knocked unconscious by the warrior, when the bard had accidentally
startled Xena. She didn’t think Xena would ever be totally relaxed
and without those highly toned and trained muscle instincts.
Lila’s voice was
shrill and answered by an angry shout from her father. The door of
the barn slammed open and he stood in the doorway, obviously fuming.
Gabrielle stood up
angrily. “What, Father? Expecting to find me rolling naked in the
hay with her?” She certainly wasn’t going to tell her father
that’s what she had been hoping for, just a moment before.
Xena blushed, that
was what she had been intending with the bard as well but wasn’t
going to say that to the girl’s angry father.
“I want her
gone!” he demanded.
“We were just
about to leave,” Gabrielle snapped back.
“You’re not
going anywhere this time! You’re still my daughter and I won’t
have you become the laughing stock of Greece because you sleep with
her!”
Gabrielle quickly
grabbed Xena by the arm as the warrior growled and took a step
forward. The bard reached out and eased the chakram out of the
warrior’s hand and Xena let her, trying to calm her breathing and
the roaring in her head. She fought against the raging anger
building up.
“If you keep this
up I won’t be your daughter any longer!” Gabrielle threatened.
Lila stepped into the barn, holding her cheek. Her eyes were red
from crying. This time it was Gabrielle who growled. “You hit
her?” she demanded.
Her father’s jaw
clenched and his eyes narrowed. “You are not leaving here,” he
hissed.
“Don’t threaten
her,” Xena growled back, stepping a half step in front of
Gabrielle.
“What will you
do, warrior?” her father sneered. Gabrielle’s head was spinning,
this was happening too fast and everything was out of control. With
a moment of clarity she knew that Xena was about a moment away of
injuring or killing her father and her father was going to push the
warrior into it. And there was a good chance of Lila or of Gabrielle
getting in the way.
Gabrielle quickly
pulled Xena back and stepped in front of the warrior, the bard
placing her hands behind her back to keep bodily contact with Xena.
“Father, calm
down! Both of you! I love you both!” Gabrielle pleaded and felt
Xena relax slightly behind her. Her father scowled but didn’t move
any closer. Gabrielle almost screamed in frustration when her mother
peeked in the doorway and entered.
“Fine! Everyone
come in and let’s settle this!” she muttered. Her mother crossed
over to Lila and began to examine the girl’s cheek.
“Xena has just
asked me to bond with her, to marry her and I have accepted. What
that means to us is more than just a simple bonding ceremony like I
had with Perdicus. If Xena agrees, we will be bonded in an Amazon
ceremony. I’ve already pledged my soul to her and plan to spend
eternity with her. Accept this or lose me,” Gabrielle said simply.
“I love you,
Gabrielle. I don’t understand but if she makes you happy then
you’ll both be welcome here,” her mother said quietly and Lila
nodded enthusiastically.
“I forbid it!”
her father shouted.
“Oh shut up,
Herdoctus,” her mother snapped and he looked at his wife, stunned.
“She’s our
daughter and all that should matter is that Xena is a good person now
and Gabrielle thinks that she will be happy with her. Accept it, I’m
not going to lose my daughter because of your pride!” She
approached her husband in a fury and he backed up quickly, surprised
and stumbling. She poked a finger in his chest and he took it.
Gabrielle and
Lila’s eyes were equally wide with surprise.
“Don’t you ever
lay a hand on either Lila or Gabrielle again or you’ll never wake
up again!” her mother shouted and then spun away from her husband.
She approached Gabrielle and Xena slowly. With a hesitant smile she
gathered her daughter into a hug and Gabrielle grinned, hugging her
back. Lila, unable to resist the moment, rushed over and joined in.
Xena was grateful they didn’t try to include her in the family hug
although Gabrielle’s mother did hug her awkwardly after detaching
herself from Gabrielle.
“Make her happy,
please,” she said to the warrior.
“I will spend my
life trying,” Xena promised.
“We’re leaving,
Mother,” Gabrielle stated.
“I know. Let me
pack your food bags before you go,” None of them were surprised to
find her father had slipped out of the barn. “Don’t worry about
him, he’ll fume for awhile but settle in once you two are gone,”
her mother reassured them. She turned to her other daughter. “Lila,
go and pack Xena’s bags, I’m sure she doesn’t want to run into
your father right now. They need some time to cool off.”
Lila hugged her
sister again and then surprised Xena by hugging the warrior and then
dashing off quickly.
“Xena, could I
have a moment with Gabrielle?”
“Of course, I’ll
saddle Argo.” Xena retrieved her chakram from the bard’s hand and
bent to retrieve her other weapons with panther-like grace.
Gabrielle was unaware of the desire on her face as she watched her
warrior move. Her mother, however, knew the look and smiled, it
was just awkward to see that type of look on your daughter, she
thought. She’s still my little girl. She then touched her
daughter’s arm and they moved outside the door.
“Gabrielle, I
love you and I’d like to you to visit again,” her mother brushed
a tear away from her weathered face and Gabrielle hugged her mother
again.
“We will. Just
give us a little time, this is new for us too.”
“Gabrielle, your
father....” her mother stammered and they moved to sit on two hay
bales by the door. “I think he’s always sensed something about
you and has fought against it since you were a baby.”
“That I prefer
women to men?” Gabrielle asked, puzzled.
“No, something
else. If anything happens to him or me I want you to go to your Uncle
Harpalion in the next village, he has a parchment for you.”
“What is it,
Mom?”
“I can’t tell
you right now. Just know that it might answer some questions you’ve
had during your life. It may even answer some of the questions I’ve
been asking you. Is she your soulmate?” Hecuba asked gently.
“I think so. I
just know that I couldn’t go on without loving her totally and I
can’t live without her,” Gabrielle hesitated. “What’s in the
parchment, Mom?”
Her mother smiled
and held up a hand to cut off any protests. “I know your curiosity,
Gabrielle. Promise you’ll wait.”
The stubborn jaw
was well known to the mother but she continued to stare sternly at
her daughter.
“All right, I
promise.”
Lila came running
out of the house with the packs. “I’ll go and pack your food
bags,” her mother said with another quick hug.
Lila grinned at her
big sister. “Finally got your warrior, huh? How far did you get?”
“Lila!”
Gabrielle shrieked.
\\\\\\\
“Xena?” The
warrior was surprised and more than a little cautious when she turned
and found Herdoctus standing near the stall. She slowly walked out
from saddling Argo and faced her love’s father. He dropped his
eyes and when he looked back at the warrior she was stunned to see
tears in his eyes.
“Can I talk to
you before Gabrielle comes back in?” he asked softly.
“Sure.”
“I’m..... I’m
not a good father,” the man began to pace and Xena waited for him
to continue. “I try, I just don’t know how to handle emotions
and feelings. I swore to the gods when Gabrielle was born that I
would never lay a hand on her like my parents did me but.... I’ve
failed both her and Lila,” He looked over at the warrior. “I’ve
heard things about you, can you understand the rage?”
Xena nodded, softening a little. She
had been fortunate, her mother and her brothers had been a good
family.
“I swear I will
never touch Lila again,” he swore passionately. “I’m sorry
about earlier. You asked her to marry you?”
“Yes,” Xena
nodded.
“You mean it, you
won’t just use her and then tire of her?” Herdoctus stopped,
looking deep into the warrior’s eyes.
“I’ve told
Gabrielle that I’ve had many sexual partners, most of them have
been one time encounters. Gabrielle is different, I intend to spend
my life with her.”
“You’ve not
been with her yet, have you?” he asked, frowning.
“Herdoctus!”
Xena growled.
“No, please,
don’t misunderstand me. It’s just that, how do you know you’ll
stay with her?” Herdoctus clarified.
“How does anyone
know? She is my soul, I can’t live without her any longer,” Xena
shrugged and Herdoctus nodded.
“Swear to me that
you’ll try and make her happy.”
“I’ve already
sworn that oath to Gabrielle,” Xena said with a frown.
“Then that’s
enough. I’m sorry, warrior. She deserves better than me for a
father,” Herdoctus complained.
“You’re
attempting to change, Herdoctus. So am I and with Gabrielle’s help
I’ll make up for my past. It’s up to you to make up for yours
with your family. Go talk with Gabrielle and tell her you’re
trying.”
“No,” Herdoctus
shook his head. “It’s too soon, she won’t believe me.”
“Yes, she will.
She has a talent for seeing only the good in people, she’ll believe
you,” Xena insisted.
“Next time,
warrior.” Herdoctus promised and was out the door before Xena could
protest further.
“Damn!
Stubbornness must run in the family!” she grumbled.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Xena was grateful
that Gabrielle had agreed to ride on Argo when they left the village.
They were late in getting started, later than Xena liked but she
knew that Gabrielle didn’t want to spend another night in her
family home. Xena hadn’t been able to convince either father or
daughter to talk to each other. Gabrielle was still angry and hurt
over his words and he was too ashamed to take them back yet.
Gabrielle had been
puzzled by Xena’s actions; up to the point when they left, the
warrior kept trying to convince the bard to talk to her father.
Gabrielle’s jaw had taken on that familiar clench and the warrior
had to concede defeat. The bard was just too angry to talk to her
father right then.
Gabrielle had been
pleased but surprised when Xena asked her to ride in front of her on
Argo but didn’t understand why until Xena slipped her arms tightly
around the bard and began to nuzzle her neck from behind.
“Oh, no fair!”
the bard protested with a moan as Argo walked steadily along once
they were out of sight of the village.
“All’s fair, my
bard,” Xena whispered and began to nibble on Gabrielle’s earlobe.
Gabrielle leaned
over and back, Xena finally was able to kiss the bard like she had
wanted to in the barn. Gabrielle’s arm circled around the
warrior’s neck and held her tight in the embrace. The kiss was
everything both women had been dreaming about. Gentle and tender at
first but quickly turning into something very passionate. Xena was
surprised to find that her inexperienced bard was a bundle of energy
and passion, her tongue demanding entry past Xena’s lips and Xena
moaned with the contact. The she felt Gabrielle’s hand tighten in
her hair, holding her prisoner at the bard’s lips. Both tongues
began a fight for dominance that left both women breathless. Xena
pulled back laughing.
“Must remember to
breathe,” she muttered.
“Oh, Xena,”
Gabrielle reached back and grabbed her warrior by the thighs,
welcoming the growl she received and delighting in the warmth she
could feel her hands causing in the taller woman’s body.
Xena’s lips moved
down, trailing her tongue along the bard’s neck, sending shivers
over the blonde’s body. The lips settled on the bard’s neck and
the warrior’s teeth began to lightly nibble on Gabrielle’s neck,
causing her moans to increase, the bard’s hand’s beginning to
move seductively between Xena’s thighs.
Argo stopped dead
in the road with a snort, drawing the women out of their haze.
“I think we need
to find a place to camp,” Xena suggested.
“I agree totally,
my warrior,” as a hand crept up between Xena’s thighs and
Gabrielle was delighted with the gasp from her warrior as her fingers
began to struggle past the undergarments.
“You keep that up
and we’ll never get off this horse and that is not how I intend my
first night with you!” Xena lightly slapped at the hand.
Gabrielle giggled
but withdrew, leaning back into her warrior.
“Hmmm, doesn’t
look too inviting around here, we’ll move on a bit.”
“Okay,”
Gabrielle settled back into her warrior’s arms and let the motion
of the road lull her into a light sleep.
Xena was pleased
with the trust the bard gave her, always trusting Xena to keep her
safe, even on the back of a moving horse. The bard hadn’t been
sleeping lately and the visit with her family had been emotionally
exhausting for everyone. All Xena wanted to do was get somewhere
safe and secluded for both of them to rest, heal and discover each
other as well as what this new development meant for them.
Unfortunately the landscape wasn’t cooperating very well. Poteidaia
may have been a small village but the surrounding land was
well-developed farm land and wasn’t offering much in the way of
secluded campsites. Xena frowned.
It was well into
dusk when Xena finally found a site that would do. She moved Argo
carefully through the brush and almost thanked the gods when the
horse worked her way unerringly to a good sized creek, tumbling over
lots of boulders and creating mini waterfalls and pools. The clean
water promised fish and bathing and relaxing in the morning.
Xena managed to
dismount Argo and pulled Gabrielle down into her arms and cradled the
bard, softly carrying her to a fallen log. Gabrielle mumbled and
started to blink. “Stay here,” Xena ordered. “Just rest, I’ll
make camp.”
The bard started to
protest but Xena stopped her with a light kiss. The bard smiled and
leaned against the log. Xena smiled and quickly went about setting
up camp. There was a chill in the air and she wanted a fire going as
soon as possible. They were both tired and their cold tolerance
would be low. Xena wrapped the bard in her traveling cloak and a
blanket and set about starting a fire. Within a candlemark she had a
fire roaring, food cooking over it and their sleeping mat and
blankets set up. Xena was a little worried, Gabrielle had curled up
next to the log and had been tossing in her sleep again, although she
quickly slipped further into sleep when Xena would touch and whisper
reassurances to the bard.
Moving to the log
with their dinner she sat next to her bard.
“Come on,
sleepy-head, time for food,” Xena lightly shook her bard and was
pleased to see Gabrielle smiling at her.
Gabrielle felt
familiar hands shaking her, and the most wonderful voice in the world
talking to her; and she sat up, blinking.
“Smells good.
Hey, you actually cooked,” The bard sat up, rubbing sleep out of
her eyes, looking around in wonderment. “Wow, I must have been
out.”
Xena smiled. “Yup,
you’ve been tired and today wasn’t easy.”
“That’s an
understatement!” Gabrielle took the plate of food and began to eat
with an appetite that Xena was glad to see return. “Gods, I can’t
believe we went through that today!”
Xena frowned, “Any
regrets about us?” she whispered.
“Not a chance!”
Gabrielle lightly hit the warrior on the arm and leaned against the
taller woman. “Now that I’ve got you I’m not going to let you
go.” the bard promised. “I’m just glad I overheard you before
I left. Thank the gods for Lila.”
Xena grinned in
agreement. “I think that stubborn streak of yours runs in the
family.”
“Hey! What
stubborn streak?” the bard protested playfully. She felt her eyes
beginning to droop a little. “Whoa, did you put something in the
food?”
Xena laughed and
took the plate from Gabrielle’s hands. “No, little one. It’s
just all catching up with you and me.”
Gabrielle looked up
and saw the weariness on her warrior’s face. “You too?”
“Yup, neither of
us have slept decently for weeks. We’ve been driving ourselves
crazy with our feelings and hiding them that we’ve been a bundle of
nerves. Then the scene with your family wasn’t exactly relaxing.”
“You’re right,”
Gabrielle agreed, her head beginning to drop forward and she snapped
it back up with determination. “This isn’t how I wanted the night
to be like,” she complained.
Xena knelt down and
placed a finger over the bard’s lips. “Quiet, little one. Get
ready for bed. We’ve got the rest of our lives and I don’t want
to rush this.” Xena held out her hand and the bard was stunned to
see it shaking.
“Xena?”
“I’m nervous,
I’m so scared of loving you and I’m too tired to think right. I
want to hold you tonight and convince myself that it’s real. Am I
making any sense?”
Gabrielle reached
out and held the hand to her lips, kissing each fingertip and then
the palm. “Yes, my love. Perfect sense. I want it to be special
too.”
“Let’s sleep,
little one,” Xena said softly.
For the first time
in months they both slept soundly, Gabrielle laying curled against
Xena, their fingers intertwined, Xena’s arm over her bard, both
dreaming of the coming day and their future together.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gabrielle was very
surprised when she opened her eyes and found the sun was all ready
up. She was almost in shock when she realized that Xena was behind
her and still asleep. This was such a rarity that the bard lay
there, fingers intertwined with the warrior’s, enjoying the moment,
relishing the feel of Xena nuzzled at her neck.
They had been
spending many more nights under the same blanket since fall had began
but Gabrielle had never felt this connection before. After months of
agonizing over her feelings for the warrior Gabrielle now felt
peaceful, nervous, calm and excited. She wanted nothing more than to
turn over and begin loving her warrior, but she wanted both of them
awake and coherent when it happened. With a twinge of fear, the bard
realized she wanted to really be sure that’s this is what Xena
wanted between them.
Careful not to make
too much noise or movement, the bard got up and grabbed a towel from
their travel packs. Xena had mentioned a stream nearby and Gabrielle
wanted some time to herself before the warrior woke up.
With a grin, she
left the other towel over a tree branch, grabbed clean clothes and
her staff, and headed for the water.
The water was cold but refreshing and Gabrielle
felt like months of tension was falling from her body as she streaked
through the water in the pools and currents. Feeling like a river
otter without her clothes on in the water, the bard delighted in the
sensation of the water and the sun beating down on her skin. It
promised to be a warm day for fall and she was grateful. With a
smile she crawled up onto a rock on the opposite shore and stretched
out along the rock, letting the sun begin to warm her body.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Xena was surprised
to find her arms empty when she woke in the morning. She frowned
Gabrielle almost never beat her up, preferring to sleep as long as
possible. Xena looked around and realized that the sun had been up
for over a candle-mark.
“Wow, I must have
been tired,” she mumbled and then smiled. “And content.”
Xena noticed a
towel hanging on a tree branch near her and grinned. Taking the hint
she left her armor off, content to just carry her chakram with her
down to the river. When she spotted Gabrielle the warrior thought
her heart had stopped.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gabrielle reflected
on her mother’s question: Was Xena her soulmate? The bard
certainly thought so, and probably had since the first time she saw
the warrior. Gabrielle hadn’t known the total depth of what
feelings she would come to have for the former warlord, but she had
been drawn to Xena since the beginning. It felt like she was waiting
her whole life to meet the warrior.
Why had she
resisted all her parents’ attempts at marriage when every girl in
the village was usually married by fifteen except for Gabrielle? She
remembered the long fights her mother and father had over it; he
insisting she find a suitable mate and her mother holding him off.
Gabrielle had always been puzzled over that. It wasn’t often that
her mother stood up to Hedoctus but when it came to Gabrielle’s
dreams of something beyond Poteidaia, Hecuba had always been
encouraging.
When Xena had saved
Gabrielle and the other village girls from the slavers, the bard had
seen fear in her mother’s eyes and hatred in her father’s. Her
mother had always puzzled her, she reflected. She had been grateful
to Xena for saving Gabrielle’s life but had also been very thankful
when the warrior had moved on.
Gabrielle’s
parents hadn’t counted on the bard following on her own accord.
It was almost like
Hecuba had been waiting for someone to sweep her daughter away, and
had feared that was Xena. Now, Gabrielle grinned to herself, it had
been.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The bard was
breath-taking. Xena couldn’t find the words. Gabrielle had
already been in the water and was now on a smooth rock, leaning back
on her elbows, letting the sun dry her beautiful skin. Xena hadn’t
seen the bard look so relaxed in forever. She felt her heart
pounding as Gabrielle lay back on the rock, her naked skin shining in
the sun. Xena grinned and stripped out of her nightshirt and left
the towel and shift on the bank as she slowly entered the water,
trying not to make any extra noise. She almost yelped at the cold
water though but gritted her teeth.
She ducked under
the water and easily swam the short distance across the current and,
with absolute silence, slid out of the water and up onto the rock
where Gabrielle was sunning herself. With the grace of a stalking
tiger, the warrior moved slowly and carefully up close to her bard
and then, with an evil grin, shook her head quickly, sending cold
water flying all over the bard.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
“Xena!”
Gabrielle shrieked, sitting upright in a flash only to be captured by
the warrior’s waiting arms. A muffled protest was cut short by
Xena’s lips and hands traveling over the bard’s back. The bard
let the warrior lower her back to the rock slowly, keeping a firm
hold around Xena and refusing to break contact with the woman’s
lips. Again the kiss was passionate with tongues exploring, tasting,
and reveling in the different textures and feelings the kiss was
invoking. Gabrielle’s hands, no longer restricted by Xena’s
leathers, moved along the taller woman’s ribs, feeling the soft
skin covering the firm muscles underneath. Xena’s head moved down,
kissing every inch of skin between the bard’s lips to her nipples
and back again. By the time Xena’s lips seized one of the nipples,
Gabrielle was gasping for air and running her hands through her
warrior’s black hair.
“Oh gods, Xena.”
Xena continued her
exploration of Gabrielle’s body with her tongue by kissing and
licking away the remaining water off the bard’s skin, sending
shivers of delight over the young woman’s body, her hands replacing
her lips on the bard’s nipples. Gabrielle was squirming and
gasping, her hands in the warrior’s dark hair, unconsciously
encouraging Xena’s head lower. Xena smiled and eagerly slid down
the length of Gabrielle.
Xena looked up as
Gabrielle moaned, green eyes meeting blue. The warrior had never
seen such unmasked desire on anyone’s face like this before and she
moaned with the intensity of Gabrielle’s eyes.
“Xena, please....
I’ve waited so long!” Gabrielle pleaded, raising her legs, her
hips bucking, begging the warrior with her body as well as her voice.
Xena moaned again
and gently parted the bard’s lower lips, lovingly exploring her
lover, causing Gabrielle to growl and toss her head back.
“Xena! Now,
please!”
Xena groaned at how
wet the bard was and knew this wetness wasn’t from the water. With
ease she slipped two fingers into her lover and began her
explorations of the bard’s sexual lips with her tongue. Within
moments Gabrielle was rocking, matching the rhythm of Xena’s
fingers, which were entering slowly and backing out, teasing the
small woman into a frenzy. The dark haired woman’s tongue reached
out and began a slow teasing of the bard’s clit, bringing forth
cries of passion from the small woman. Xena felt her own body
responding to her lover’s building orgasm. Her attention to
Gabrielle’s body increased in speed and roughness. Xena was
rewarded with hearing the bard screaming the warrior’s name again
and again as Gabrielle’s muscles began contracting, waves of her
orgasm overcoming her, again and again.
When she could
breath again, Gabrielle found herself in Xena’s arms, being cradled
and rocked.
“Hey, you okay?”
Xena was asking. In response Gabrielle hugged her lover fiercely.
“Gods, I never
thought it could be like that!” she whispered.
Xena felt herself
blushing and held her love tight. “I love you.”
“By the gods, I
love you more than life itself, woman!” Gabrielle grabbed the back
of Xena’s head and pulled her down for a rough kiss, moaning at the
softness of the lips and the taste of her own passion on those lips.
Xena looked down at
her lover, her fingers lightly tracing Gabrielle’s lips. “You
scared me for a moment.”
“Hmmm,” the
bard muttered and began nuzzling Xena’s neck, causing the warrior
to shiver. “You literally took my breath away, my love.”
“I’ll take that
as a compliment.” Xena grinned.
“You have no
idea! Let me show you.”
Xena found herself
on her back on Gabrielle’s towel with the bard attacking her neck
with renewed energy and the warrior found that it was her that was
breathless, gasping with the dancing energy shooting through her
body. Gabrielle moaned in Xena’s neck as her hand found one of the
warrior’s nipples. She moved from the neck to Xena’s lips with a
rough kiss that again took the warrior’s breath away and then moved
back to her neck.
“Remember the
bacchae cave?” Gabrielle whispered as her hand began to dance
lightly across the warrior’s ribs and around her breasts. Xena
felt her body arching under the bard’s hands, her body being played
like a fine instrument. The warrior wasn’t sure if she was in any
kind of control over her body any longer and was surprised to find
that she didn’t care right at that moment.
“Yes!” she
hissed.
“You have no idea
how many nights I’ve dreamed of biting you again,” Gabrielle’s
voice was low and husky and brought forth a moan from her warrior.
“Yes!” Xena’s
hands found the bard’s hair and then her shoulders, grabbing on
almost painfully, as if needing something to center on. Gabrielle
smiled and continued the downward trek of her fingers, playing in the
dark triangle of Xena’s hair, causing the warrior to growl with
need.
“Gabrielle,
please!”
“Begging, my
warrior?” Gabrielle whispered and then bit down a little harder.
Any reply Xena might have had was lost in her cry as her body began
to shake. The younger woman sensed that her lover needed her and
quickly. She knew there would be time later for the soft and gentle
loving that she suspected the warrior was capable of but for right
now they needed each other, almost with a sense of desperation.
Having denied themselves for so long had taken a toll and their
bodies demanded satisfaction and their souls demanded connection on
all levels.
Xena felt herself
giving over all control to the fierce little bard in her arms. Never
had she given up so much to a lover. The warrior had always
struggled to stay in control, never leaving herself open, especially
her heart and now she found she was lost. She couldn’t control her
body and its dance of delight under the bard’s roaming fingers and
talented bite. She couldn’t control her emotions any longer,
Gabrielle had totally possessed her heart and soul and now was
claiming her body. Her body had never responded like this, not with
anyone, not even Ares, with all his godly charm.
Gabrielle was amazed, as the warrior’s body
responded to her every touch, and then felt a shock pass through her
own body as it responded to Xena’s moan. Gabrielle whimpered with
the intense feeling racking her body, matching her warrior’s
rhythm.
The bard had never
felt anything like it before, not even on her wedding night with
Perdicus. Gabrielle also knew she would never feel like this with
anyone else, again. She willingly gave her heart, soul and body to
the tall woman writhing beneath her hands and teeth.
Gabrielle thought
she was going to go over her own edge, as she entered the warrior
with her fingers. The feeling was so incredible that the bard lost
all coherent thought. She whimpered as the warrior’s body
responded, muscles contracting to try and capture the bard’s
fingers and expanding, demanding more. Again the warrior cried out
at the new sensation, as Gabrielle’s thumb found her sensitive spot
and began stroking the warrior’s clit.
Xena’s hands
grabbed the blonde’s shoulders, her fingernails beginning to dig
into the soft skin, and Gabrielle moaned in response, her own passion
lost with the warrior’s.
Xena wasn’t sure
which sensation was causing her body to rock and her soul to soar
higher, the fingers dancing inside her, the thumb over her swollen
clit or the teeth that seemed to have a talent of finding the most
erotic spot on the warrior’s neck.
Xena’s hands
grabbed the blonde’s shoulders, her fingernails beginning to dig
into the soft skin, and Gabrielle moaned in response, her own passion
lost with the warrior’s. Gabrielle could feel the connection, her
soul to Xena’s - body to body. Sensations she was pulling from the
warrior, causing her own body to tremble.
The bard sensed the
build up of energy in Xena as well, as within herself and glanced up
to see the warrior’s body arching, every muscle standing out as
sweat covered both their bodies. Gabrielle could feel the edge for
both of them, she felt Xena’s body shaking uncontrollably and saw a
tear escape from the warrior’s closed eyes and heard a small
whimper.
The warrior found
herself approaching a point of no return and realized something that
startled her, she was afraid to step over that point. She had never
gotten this far with anyone, Xena’s need to be totally in control
at all times having stopped her before this point. She whimpered
with all the feelings running through her body and soul.
Gabrielle looked up
from her nibbling and saw a tear escape the warrior’s closed eyes
and felt Xena’s muscles tightening around her fingers and the
warrior’s nails almost breaking the skin on her shoulders. The
bard felt the shaking body and understood.
“I love you,
Xena. Let go,” she whispered and bit down again.
Xena screamed a
primal scream and then the bard’s name. Wave after wave overcame
the tall woman.
This time it was the warrior being
soothed, held safely in her bard’s arms. She reached out and held
close to Gabrielle, Xena’s tears flowing softly.
“It’s all
right, Xena. I’m here. I’m never letting you go,” Gabrielle
quickly drew the warrior into her arms, softly holding the gasping
and sobbing woman, stroking the dark hair. The bard kept repeating
this over and over again, until she felt Xena responding.
“Sorry, don’t
know where that came from,” Xena tried to sit up but the bard
caught her lips again.
“Don’t
apologize, damnit. All I know is that something incredible happened
between us. I love you.”
Xena smiled and
reached up to caress her lover’s cheek. “I love you, marry me.”
Gabrielle grinned.
“I thought I already said ‘yes’.”
“Amazon wedding?”
Xena grinned at the
surprise and hopeful look on the Amazon Queen’s face and sat up to
face her lover.
“You mean it? A
bonding ritual?”
“I’m already
your champion, let me be your mate,” Xena leaned forward and kissed
the blond again.
“Yes, yes, a
thousand times, yes!” Gabrielle threw herself into the warrior’s
arms, both of them laughing and kissing.
It was only minutes
before Gabrielle found out that Xena could, indeed, be a gentle lover
as well as a tiger.
////////
