Dark are the shadows - 06/21/2020

Dark are the Shadows
Ms. Hunter Ash
ripperbard7@yahoo.com
frost29@post.com

A BTVS & Dark Shadows crossover

rating: PG13
pairings: Buffy/Quentin, Xander/Anya, Willow/Tara, Giles/Angelique, Barnabas/Roxanne, Julia/Thomas, Maggie/Joe

# ##

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

Roxanne held Barnabas' hand as they walked close to Widow's Hill.

“Tell me about you and Sebastian,” Barnabas asked. “You said you two became friends. Last time I saw him he was willing to stake you.”

“Even though everything had changed for everyone else, it didn't for us,” Roxanne said. “I have no idea how that happened. Sebastian hadn’t gotten close to Maggie Evans in the changed timeline and he wanted to get away from Collinsport. You went missing and I didn’t have many of my previous memories yet. I promised to try and change and treat him better and we left.”

“You knew I had returned, though,” Barnabas said.

“Sebastian was able to see that and, as I said, we realized you were a vampire and then he couldn’t see you any longer,” Roxanne said. “I assume that’s when you became human again. He was trying to view a vampire.”

“Go on,” Barnabas urged.

“I suddenly knew you were in danger and Sebastian saw you were dying with Julia standing over you with a stake,” Roxanne said, her voice almost a whisper. “Then she collapsed and he lost the vision. He was afraid I’d come running to you but I knew you’d have Julia.”

“We didn’t know if you were still a vampire or if you even existed since Roxanne in 1895 died,” Barnabas said.

“Which is why I stayed away,” Roxanne said. “You were with Julia and I only had fragments of memories that didn’t make sense.”

“But now we’re together,” Barnabas said and kissed her, pulling her close.

Then the vampire wasn’t sure what was happening as someone grabbed him and spun him away from Roxanne. Barnabas grabbed at anything he could as he felt himself going over the edge of the cliff, right where Josette had pulled away from him to crash below on the rocks.

He heard Roxanne scream and struggled to hold onto the rocks of the cliff face. The vampire was barely hanging on and his hands didn’t have the strength to pull himself up.

“Roxanne!” he yelled. Barnabas’ eyes widened when he looked up and saw Tom Jennings looking down at him, his fangs reflecting in the half moon light.

“Sorry, old man,” Tom called down to Barnabas. “She’s making the acquaintance of a friend of yours. I don’t think she’ll enjoy it though. Have fun on your trip down. Maybe the rocks will rip your head off or a rib will pierce your heart and finally finish you.”

“I’ll stake you on the front lawn of Collinwood!” Barnabas threatened.

Barnabas heard a woman scream and saw Tom turn away from the edge of the cliff.

The vampire flinched at the sound of a shotgun blast. “Roxanne!”

# # # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

Buffy sighed as she laid her head on Quentin’s shoulder. He had been asleep for over an hour after taking two pain pills. She glanced over at her sleeping mother and bit her lip. The doctor had dropped in and had asked to talk with the family the next morning.

That had Buffy worried.

# # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

“Roxanne!” Barnabas yelled and blinked when an unexpected figure looked down at him.

In a moment, Alex Thornton Jr laid down on the ground and extended his hand towards Barnabas. “Grab my hand!”

“I can’t!” Barnabas yelled. “My hands!”

“Hang on, I’ll be right back.”

// Julia! Beware, vampire Tom Jennings is on the grounds! //

// Barnabas?! What’s happened? Where are you? // Julia’s voice demanded.

// You wouldn’t believe it if I told you. I’ll connect again in a bit. //

“Barnabas!”

“Carolyn!” Barnabas called.

“Oh my God, Roxanne?”

“Carolyn, what’s happening? Help me!”

Carolyn and Thornton were at the edge of the cliff in a moment.

“I’ve got a rope,” Thornton called. “Can you tie off?”

“No and I don’t know if I can grip it,” Barnabas called. “What’s happened to Roxanne?”

“Worry about that when you get up here,” Carolyn suggested. “I’m coming down.”

“What?” Barnabas exclaimed. “You can’t!”

“I can’t hold Thornton on the rope or haul both of you up,” Carolyn said. “I’m coming down and tie the rope around you.”

“That’s insane!”

“So is letting you fall!” Carolyn argued.

The vampire winced when she leaned over the edge and began to work her way down to him with the rope tied around and under her shoulders.

Barnabas was trembling with exhaustion by the time she reached him.

“Don’t move,” Carolyn said. “Good thing I go to the gym 5 days a week! I’m going to tie the rope around you and he’ll pull you up and then me. I'm going to pull the rope over my head carefully and drop it over yours. Let go of one hand and drop the rope under at least one shoulder.”

“Carolyn, this is incredibly dangerous,” Barnabas protested.

The middle-aged woman pulled the rope from over her head and managed to work it over Barnabas. “My feet are firm and so is my grip. Just get up there. Pull him up!”

Barnabas tried to gain footholds as he was slowly pulled up, anything to help Thornton get him up. He had to reach the hill so Carolyn could be saved.

// Julia! Widow’s Hill! Quickly! With a rope! //

“Hold on, give me a moment,” Thornton called.

Barnabas reached out and grasped a rock tightly.

// On my way. What’s happening? //

// I’ll explain in a few minutes. Hurry! // Barnabas sent to his wife.

Barnabas tried to look down to see if Carolyn was holding out but couldn’t at the angle he was. The vampire sighed with relief as a 2^nd rope snaked past him and he began being pulled to the top again.

He collapsed on the ground with his cane pinned painfully under him but he couldn’t move. He glanced up and saw Julia and Thornton Jr pulling on a rope until Carolyn was safely over the side.

Julia quickly untied the rope from around Barnabas as Carolyn untied hers.

“Roxanne,” Barnabas whispered. “What’s happened?”

Julia helped Barnabas sit up and he saw Carolyn bending over Roxanne and there was another woman that wasn’t moving.

“Help me up, please,” Barnabas asked.

When he got to his feet he could see the woman’s face and the gaping wound in her chest… and unseeing eyes.

“Cindy?”

“You know her?” Thornton asked as he picked up a shotgun.

“Yes, from California,” Barnabas said. “Carolyn?”

“She’s hurt bad, Julia can you help?” his cousin answered.

“The girl was….biting her,” Thornton said. “The guy got away.”

“Please get Roxanne to the Old House and help,” Barnabas asked. “Please.”

Julia nodded and Carolyn helped pull Roxanne over Thornton's shoulder before moving over to Barnabas, pulling an arm around her shoulder.

“What are you doing here and with a shotgun?” Carolyn asked as they started to follow Julia at a slower pace.

“I…I can’t say.”

“You will say,” Barnabas said firmly. “You saved us and I’m grateful but I do want answers.”

“When we get you inside,” Carolyn suggested.

Thornton opened the door to the Old House a few minutes later. “Hello! We’re bringing Barnabas in!”

“In here!” Thomas called.

Barnabas, Carolyn and Julia found Thomas holding a cup. He helped Julia place Roxanne on the sofa and to sit up.

“Roxanne?”

“Barnabas, sit down over there,” Julia said, motioning towards a chair. “Come on, Roxanne, drink this. What’s happened?”

“Roxanne and I were out for a walk and someone threw me off the cliff at Widow’s Hill,” Barnabas began explaining. “I managed to hang onto some rocks but couldn’t climb up. I saw…the vampire that was helping Nicholas in California and heard a shotgun blast.”

“Shotgun?” Julia asked and glanced over at Thornton. “How do you fit into this?”

“I'm the one with the shotgun,” Alex Jr answered.

“He went and got a rope but I couldn't reach up nor climb,” Barnabas continued. “Carolyn climbed down and tied the rope around me. Then you arrived with the second rope.”

“What were you doing on Collins property with a shotgun?” Carolyn demanded from Thornton.

Alex Jr leaned the shotgun against the wall and ran a hand through his hair. “I, uh, don't know how to say this.”

“Try,” Carolyn urged.

“My father thinks you all are vampires and gave me the shotgun, he said the loads were special,” Alex Jr. said quickly.

“Vampires? What on earth?” Carolyn muttered

“Why would he think us vampires?” Barnabas asked.

“My mother's maiden name is Peterson,” Junior muttered.

“Peterson? As in Tony Peterson's daughter?” Carolyn ventured.

“Tony Peterson?” Thomas asked.

“I dated him for a minute,” Carolyn said. “He was a detective and his ancestor was the Rev. Trask who was bricked up in the basement of this house after railroading Vicki into a hangman's noose in the past.”

“And who put him there?” Junior asked. “The master of the house was Barnabas Collins. Mom and Dad think that's you.”

“My ancestor had left for England before Victoria Winters was hanged. And the shotgun loads, what are they?” Barnabas asked.

“Wooden pellets,” Junior answered. “And your girlfriend over there was being attacked by a vampire and the shotgun blast killed her. Someone you knew, right? Who’s the other vampire that escaped?”

“Other vampire?” Thomas asked.

“The one that threw me over the cliff where Josette, Jeb and others have died,” Barnabas responded. “If you believe me responsible for the death of Rev. Trask, why did you save me after coming to kill me?”

“I couldn't do it,” Junior answered. “You were being attacked by vampires.”

“I'm grateful you saved us,” Barnabas said. “Thomas, I'm afraid this may be a bit of a shock but the male vampire is your uncle, the one that disappeared after being preyed on by a vampire in the 1970s. I recognized him from his photo.”

“Uncle Tom?” Thomas said softly.

“I'm afraid so,” Barnabas said. “I don't understand why he didn't come here to see or turn you.... both of you.”

Julia frowned. Tom Jennings had preyed on her even when it hadn't been safe and Barnabas had said Tom had remained fixated on her after being returned from the dead. He should have made an attempt on her....

“Amy,” Julia said softly as Roxanne began drinking from the mug.

“Mom?” Thomas asked.

“Who?” Thornton asked.

“Thomas Jennings, Amy is his sister,” Julia said. “Barnabas, will you be all right?”

“Yes, go,” Barnabas urged. “Carolyn, a cross or fire will drive him off.”

“On it,” Carolyn promised. “Alex, come on and bring your shotgun. Tom may be out to kill and turn his sister.”

“You all know about vampires but you aren't vampires?” Alex demanded.

“Worry about that later, help Carolyn!” Barnabas snapped.

The three dashed out of the door and Barnabas moved to sit next to Roxanne as her head fell back and Thomas went to warm more blood.

“Roxanne?” Barnabas whispered and touched her cheek gently. “Roxanne?”

He glanced at his hands and frowned. He had scraped them up badly by grabbing for the rocks as he had fallen. “Damn.”

“Barnabas?” Thomas asked as he returned with another mug.

“My hands,” Barnabas admitted. “She was attacked by Cindy, the bartender I was seeing in California. I'm not the one that turned her.”

“My uncle Tom?” Thomas asked as he lifted Roxanne's head and encouraged her to drink more of the blood.

“I believe so,” Barnabas said. “At the behest of Nicholas Blair, of course. Your uncle helped Blair brick me up in a wall after injuring me.”

“Great,” Thomas muttered. “You should have told me.”

“We were hoping we would stake him and you'd never need to know,” Barnabas said. “We never dreamed he'd come all the way to Maine.”

“And now Mom is in danger and you and Roxanne were almost killed,” Thomas pointed out.

“Yes,” Barnabas agreed.

# # #

Carolyn slowly pushed the partly open door to Collinwood further open and looked inside. She motioned Julia ahead of her.

A scream caused all three to rush into the parlor.

Amy and Dawn were in a corner of the room and Amy was holding out a large cross as her brother the vampire tried to reach them without getting near the cross.

“Jennings!” Julia yelled.

The vampire turned with a snarl and started for the windows.

“Alex! Stop him!” Carolyn yelled.

The young man stepped around Carolyn and raised the shotgun.

Tom Jennings hit the window sill and sank to the floor and stopped moving as everyone flinched from the shotgun blast explosion.

“What the hell is going on?” Junior demanded.

“He was a vampire and you saved four people,” Julia said calmly as Carolyn tried to calm Amy down. “Carolyn, I need to get back to Barnabas and Roxanne.”

“Go, we'll be fine here,” Carolyn responded.

“Keep Junior here,” Julia urged. “We need to figure out what exactly is going to happen from this point on.”

“Keep me here? Why?”

“Mr. Thornton, you shot two people to death tonight,” Julia said. “I'm not sure if an autopsy would prove that they were vampires. Your shotgun, your shells, and two dead bodies. Given your recent troubles with the law and the fact that you were stalking Barnabas with that shotgun, well, you can see how all of that might be hard to explain. You saved Barnabas, Roxanne, Dawn, and Amy so we're inclined to protect you. Don't do something stupid and run home to your father or the police.”

“Okay, I'll stay here.”

“Good idea,” Julia said. “I'll be back.”

# # # #

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

“You okay, honey?” Joyce asked as Buffy brought in a full pitcher of ice water.

“Yeah, I will be,” Buffy said with a weary smile. “It was just really, really scary. Glory has this ability to strip people of their sanity. Giles thinks that being trapped in a human body doesn’t work for her and her sanity breaks down so she needs a boost.”

“She steals other people’s sanity?” Joyce asked. “That’s really far fetched.”

“Yeah but its true,” Buffy said. “We saw her try it with Quentin. He survived with his brains intact and Giles’ mind is going a thousand miles an hour trying to theorize why.”

“Oh, I can picture that!” Joyce said. “Where is Quentin?”

“Getting some coffee,” Buffy said. “Glory is looking for anyone new among us. That should keep Dawnie safe for awhile.”

“Good,” Joyce said and touched the bandage around her head. “Let’s hope she can stay in Maine for awhile.”

“I hope so,” Buffy agreed.

Neither of them mentioned the meeting with the doctor the next day.

## # # #

COLLINSPORT, MAINE

Barnabas winced as Thomas bandaged his hands. “I’m getting really weary of being hurt over the last month.”

He glanced at Roxanne sleeping with her head on his shoulder.

“They nearly drained her,” Barnabas said softly.

“What were they trying for?” Thomas asked.

“For me to be shattered on the rocks below and killed,” Barnabas said. “Or broken so much as not to escape the morning sun and to leave Roxanne above the cliff, drained and unable to move.”

“Both to die in the sun,” Thomas commented. “Someone’s coming. Stay there.”

The young werewolf pulled a pistol out of a desk drawer and clicked the safety off.

Barnabas heard the door opening and only relaxed when Julia walked in with Thomas. “What happened?”

“Tom was attempting to attack Amy and Dawn, Amy held him off with a cross,” Julia explained. “Thornton shot and killed him. We need to decide how to deal with this.”

“The problem is how,” Barnabas said. “Have him bury Tom and Cindy in the woods. Beyond that... he strongly suspects that you and I and possibly others are vampires and we can't prove otherwise.”

“And his father has a lot of money to keep pressing the attacks and investigating both of you,” Thomas added.

Barnabas frowned as he held his hands close to his chest.

“We'll have him bury Tom and Cindy in the woods along with his shotgun,” Julia suggested.

“Why not leave them for the morning sun, that'll eliminate any trace of both of them,” Thomas suggested.

“That's why we need to bury them along with the shotgun,” Julia said.

“Why?” Barnabas asked.

“Because the bodies are connected to that shotgun, a shotgun with his fingerprints on it along with his fingerprints on the shells,” Julia said. “If he or his father want to continue this then those bodies could be dug up.”

“Then I suggest we blindfold him when we take him and the bodies into the woods,” Barnabas said. “The moment we turn our backs his father will dig up the bodies and dispose of them and the shotgun and we're back in danger. You, Tom and Carolyn get the bodies into the woods and then take him out there and make him help with the digging and wrap the weapon in plastic.”

“While you stay here?” Thomas asked.

“No, I'm going to pay a visit on Thornton Sr,” Barnabas said with a frown.

“Wait until I can drive you,” Julia insisted.

“All right,” Barnabas said after a moment and leaned his head onto Roxanne's.

“Come on, Tommy, it's going to be a long night,” Julia said.

“Roxanne and I will be in the hidden room here,” Barnabas said. “Not only may Thornton follow up with his son's progress but I would wager that Nicholas is hovering around in the shadows somewhere.”

“Good idea,” Julia said. “Come on, Tommy, let's put her in Barnabas' coffin in there, Barnabas can sit in the chair next to the open coffin.”

“Thank you, Julia,” Barnabas said softly.

# # # #

XWP: Amazon Bonding - Awakening 3 - part 1

Amazon Bonding, An Awakening III

by Ms. Hunter Ash

ripperbard7@yahoo.com

frost29@post.com

Disclaimers:  Once again, let us recite the bard classic statement: I don’t own Xena, Gabrielle, Hercules, etc etc etc. This story is written for entertainment purposes, not for money, and no copyright infringement is intended. 

Subtext/Alt Fiction/Sex: Yup. This story contains a loving and sexual relationship between consenting adults of the same gender. Rating: RViolence: Hmmm, very little. Probably even less than your usual TV episode.Storyline: This is the third story in my Awakening set. As I said before, I didn’t intend on writing sequels but it worked out that way and who knows where these will end up. I hope that each story stands on it’s own but you might want to read "Discovery, An Awakening II" before this one.

             

The knock on the door caused the warrior to yelp aloud and Solan to grin.  Cyrene placed a comforting arm on her daughter’s arm and smiled at the expression on Xena’s face.

“It’s okay, Xena.” Cyrene said softly. “You’ll be fine.”

“Mom,” Xena nervously pulled on her tunic hem.  “I’m nervous,” the warrior admitted.

“You’re scared,” Cyrene corrected. 

“Okay, I’m scared,” Xena admitted softly. “Why? This is the best day of my life.”

Cyrene laughed again.  “It’s all right and expected.  You’re taking a very big step.”

The knock sounded again and Cyrene quickly hugged her daughter and then went to the door.  She motioned for Solan to join her as they opened it.

“Hercules, as Kumbada to my daughter Xena, you are welcome here and I entrust her into your hands,” Cyrene said formally.

“As if I need protecting,” the warrior mumbled.

Xena turned and was pleased to see her Kumbada standing in the doorway with a stunned expression on his face.  The warrior felt herself blushing.

“Xena, you.... you look beautiful,” he finally stammered.

“Thank you,” she replied.  “You look great.”

He did, too.  In formal blue dyed leather, he was the perfect picture of a Greek God and Xena almost lost her breath.  The grey leather of his trousers fit nicely and the gold wrist bands set off his brown hair well, she thought.  A small circlet of gold shined across his tanned forehead.  He beamed at her and extended his arm for her.  With a moment’s hesitation the warrior took it and they walked out of the dressing hut.

The drumming and singing stopped for a moment as the couple was caught in the rays of the setting sun.  Then a cheer rose up from the dancers and singers and they surrounded the couple, each wanting to hug the warrior in congratulations and good wishes before the trek to the sacred grove.  After a moment the drummers and singers gathered round the couple and her escorts of Mother Cyrene and son Solan and together the small band began to move through the village, drums and chanting setting the pace.

Solan leaned over to Cyrene.  “I don’t know much about a traditional Greek wedding,” he admitted. “We have things a little simpler with the Centaurs and Amazons.  What’s a Kumbada?”

Cyrene smiled and took his arm as they walked behind the couple.  “The Kumbada is usually the best friend of the groom, but in this case there’ll be two Kumbadas. The rituals and ceremonies will be a combination of the traditional and the Amazon, to help satisfy the outside families like me and Hecuba.  The Kumbadas will escort the couple to the sacred grove for the bonding ceremony and ensure that things flow smoothly.  It’s a very important role.  Usually, later in the marriage, the Kumbada acts as godfather to any children,” Cyrene hesitated a moment, “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure, anything.”

“You know about Amazon customs, right?”

“A lot, since the treaty the Centaurs and Amazons have been studying each other’s ways.  My father says that it’s important; we’ll probably have to become stronger allies in the future.  Both groups aren’t the most popular in the outside world.”

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend?” Cyrene smiled.

“Right.  What’s the question?”

“Why is there an armed escort for Hercules, he is an honored guest of the wedding couple.”

“Well, you may also notice that I have a shadow,” he grinned and pointed to a smaller Amazon female that was never far from the young teenager.  “Any male on Amazon territory is escorted by an armed Amazon.  No matter who it is.”

“Oh,” Cyrene nodded.  It had been an interesting week for her and Gabrielle’s family.  Not the least was Xena trying to explain Solan to her and then insisting that Solan not know the truth yet.  Cyrene had argued long and hard with her daughter about that one.  Cyrene felt that Solan should know his mother, especially since she had changed so much and he was obviously very fond of her.  Xena had countered that it was difficult enough that Gabrielle was often used against her, she didn’t’ want Solan becoming a target that she couldn’t protect.  It was hard for Cyrene to interact with the boy without letting him know that she was his grandmother.  She was becoming quite fond of him and proud of the young man he was going to become.

As they approached another hut a cheer went up from the drummers and singers surrounding that hut and the two groups merged.  Xena stopped and Hercules continued to the door of the hut and knocked.

The door was opened by Hecuba and Lila, Gabrielle’s mother and sister. 

Gabrielle shifted nervously and readjusted her wrap around skirt for the 10th time.  Her mother, Hecuba smiled and wiped a tear away from her eye.  The bard spotted her and tried to smile.

"Don't you start!" Gabrielle warned.  "You'll get me going!"

Lila, watching from a stool in the corner of the dressing room, giggled and the bard glared at her little sister.  That only made Lila giggle even more.

The knock on the door caused all three women to jump considerably. 

"Oh gods!" Gabrielle whispered, feeling her heart sink into her stomach and her courage took a quick exit.

Hecuba, looking much like she did twenty years before in her white linen, sleeveless dress trimmed in a green that matched her daughter's eyes, quickly hugged the bard. 

"You'll be fine. It'll be over before you know it," Hecuba reassured her daughter.

"Gabrielle! I hear them coming!" a male voice called from the other side of the door.

Hecuba and Lila went to the door, reaching out and holding hands as they opened it.

They looked great, Xena thought.  Both were dressed in traditional white linen, trimmed in green and gold.  Lila had a crown of flowers and Hecuba had a crown of orange blossoms.  Both wore gold bracelets and necklaces of feathers and beads.  Xena looked over at her mother and thought once again that she looked just as radiant in her white linen trimmed in blue.

Gabrielle turned and saw Iolaus standing in the doorway holding a sword and belt.  He started to say something and then stopped dead, beginning to stammer.

"Wow, I... uh. You're gorgeous."

Gabrielle felt a familiar feeling of blush coming over her face. 

"Thanks."

Then she was across the floor and hugging the blond man tightly.  He grinned and hugged her back and then moved out of her arms and began strapping the sword around her waist.  He was grinning from ear to ear.

Gabrielle again reflected that he was quite handsome with his blond hair and blue eyes.  He was about her height (one of the few people she knew that wasn't taller than she was) and today he was dressed in a formal leather tunic dyed green to match the trim on her skirt and sleeveless tunic.  Grey trousers were tucked into fur boots and cross laced with green leather thongs.  Gold wrist bands decorated his wrists, a gifting from Gabrielle's tribe and a simple gold band circled his forehead.

Hercules addressed the mother and daughter, “It is the wish of Xena of Amphipolis, to wed your daughter, Gabrielle of Potedaia.  She pledges to care for her, provide for her and, most importantly, to love her.  Do you accept this?”

Cyrene leaned over to whisper to Solan. “Traditionally the Kumbada bargains with the bride’s family, settling the dowry and lands exchanged and all that.”

“We do with open hearts,” Hecuba and Lila answered.

Gabrielle swallowed visibly as the sound of drumming, singing and cheering got louder, getting closer. 

Iolaus grinned.  "Are you going to get sick?" he teased.

"No," Gabrielle lightly punched his arm. 

"Herc did," he whispered loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.

"Hercules got sick the day of his wedding?" Hecuba asked in an awed voice.  She was still getting accustomed to dealing with Amazons, Gods and demi-gods.

"Yup," Iolaus grinned.  "Got so nervous that he lost his breakfast."

"Iolaus, thank you for being my Kumbada," Gabrielle said quickly as the sounds outside grew very loud.

"My pleasure."

Gabrielle was pleased as well with Hercules and Iolaus both acting as Kumbadas for the ceremony.  Since this wasn't a traditional ceremony but a combination of traditional, Amazon and quite a bit of adaptation, Xena and Gabrielle had decided on each having a Kumbada for the rituals they were facing and had instantly chosen Hercules and Iolaus.  The women also agreed that they couldn't find a better pick for the traditional role of best man for their bonding, nor better godfathers if there were children later in the relationship.

Iolaus, dressed the same as Hercules but his leathers were dyed green, stepped forward from behind Gabrielle’s family and approached Cyrene and Solan.  His blue eyes dancing with delight.

“It is the wish of Gabrielle of Potedaia to wed your daughter, Xena of Amphipolis.  She pledges to care for her, provide for her and, most importantly, to love her.  Do you accept this?”

“We do with open hearts,”  Cyrene knew that Solan also agreed, even if he didn’t know it was his Mom getting married.  He was overjoyed to be included as a member of the family of Xena and was beaming.

The two families then approached each other and exchanged hugs, tears and laughter.  Iolaus and Hercules then exchanged the wedding bracelets that Xena and Gabrielle would use.  Passing them back and forth between each other three times.

Solan looked puzzled and looked to Cyrene.

“We’re not sure why they rings or bracelets are exchanged three times. Tradition,” she whispered.

Gabrielle knew that in a traditional wedding, the Kumbada would be bargaining with the bride's family for the dowry, monies and land exchanges and not love pledges.  She was grateful once again to her mother for holding Gabrielle's father back from insisting on marriage at a young age for her oldest daughter. 

Gabrielle had always been curious as to why Hecuba had fought back against Herdoctus about marriage for Gabrielle.  Now that the bard knew her true father was Apollo and she was destined to have met Xena and, the gods had hoped, save the warrior from the darkness that had consumed her.  The bard had been meant to save the world.

The little bard now understood why her mother had been so surprised when she came home and announced she was marrying Perdicus but pleased.  Hecuba had been hoping that her daughter had saved Xena from her dark future but had broken away from the dangerous life being with Xena would mean.  Gabrielle couldn't blame her mother for that one, marrying Perdicus should have been safe.  A calm and secure but hard life as a farmer and healer. 

When Callisto killed Perdicus day after their wedding, Hecuba had quit struggling against what the gods had said was inevitable: Xena was Gabrielle's soulmate.  Gabrielle's mother was just surprised that it took both the bard and warrior so long to figure it out.  Gabrielle grinned to herself, everyone around them seemed to know it except themselves. 

"Sometimes for a bard you can be a little thick," she muttered to herself.

Then her heart skipped a beat as Iolaus came back to the door and offered his arm. 

"Oh gods," she whispered and went to join him, adjusting the necklace of blue-green feathers and beads.

Iolaus emerged with Gabrielle holding his arm.  The crowd went silent and both Hercules and Xena lost their breath in reality. 

The bard was breathtaking.  Xena couldn’t think of any other words.  The sight of her love brought tears of joy to her eyes and she quickly wiped them away and noticed that Gabrielle’s eyes were also bright with tears of joy.

The Amazon Queen was dressed in a white sleeveless leather tunic that was trimmed in gold and green, a green to match her eyes.  A white wrap around skirt was also trimmed in green and fur.  At her wrists were matching green leather bracers and gold bands decorated her upper arms.  Around the bard’s neck was a strand of blue-green feathers and beads.  To complete her outfit a ceremonial sword hung at her side.

The surrounding Amazons broke into a cheer and went to their knees and bowed their heads at the sight of their Queen.  Gabrielle blinked as the cheer from everyone surrounding the hut washed over her and she self herself blushing again.  Then her eyes caught sight of her mate and her heart skipped a beat again and she felt her eyes filling with tears of joy.

Everyone except Xena and Cyrene went to a bended knee for the Amazon Queen.  Xena and Cyrene bowed their heads as Gabrielle began to approach them. 

The warrior was dressed the same as Gabrielle was but her sleeveless white tunic was trimmed in blue and gold, to match her piercing blue eyes.  The wrap around white skirt came down to the top of Xena's blue dyed boots that were laced up with white leather thongs.  Matching blue leather bracers covered Xena's forearms and silver bands decorated her tanned upper arms.  Around the warrior's neck was a necklace of black-blue feathers and beads.  The sword at the tall, black haired woman's side was a silver ceremonial sword.

Gabrielle stood in front of her chosen mate and lifted Xena's head to look into those blue eyes. 

“You are so beautiful,” Gabrielle whispered.  “I love you.”

“You take my breath away, little one,” Xena whispered back.  “I love you too.”

Gabrielle took a place beside the warrior and everyone rose.  Hercules and Iolaus went to a tray being held by an Amazon and carried two goblets to the couple.  Each woman took a goblet and drank half the wine.  Then, with grins, they each dropped a coin into the goblets and returned them to their Kumbada’s.

“Wine, the sweetness of life and the coin represents that they each pledge to care for each other,” Cyrene whispered to Solan.

Everyone cheered and the drummers began drumming again.  Both families fell into behind the couple and the Kumbadas began to lead them towards the sacred grove of the Amazons. 

Along the way the couple’s hands sought each other and interlaced together.  In their other hands they carried sprigs of ivy to symbolize the eternity of their love.  Along the way the members of the tribe lined the path and tossed blossoms and grain at the wedding party. 

As they neared the grove the party passed through an archway of ivy and holly and through the smoke of two smudge pots on either side of the archway.

Solan leaned over to Cyrene.  “We pass through the smoke of sacred herbs to cleanse the body.  Xena and Gabrielle have already gone through three days of purification.  A day of sweating in the sweat hut, a day of fasting, and a day of meditation.”

“Is it true that they couldn’t see each other during that time?” Cyrene whispered.

“Yup, also heard rumors that Xena tried but Ephiny caught her,” Solan giggled.

“I believe that of my daughter,” Cyrene grinned back and she could see Xena’s face begin blushing and remembered her daughter’s uncanny hearing abilities and that she had heard the conversation.  Cyrene bit her lip to keep from laughing at her daughter’s discomfort.

As they reached the edge of the trees everyone stopped and the drummers and singers went silent.  An Amazon, the shaman stepped forward, sword in hand.

Cyrene started to lean over to Solan but he put up a hand to stop her question.

Hercules and Iolaus started to move forward and Solan moved around the two women to join the men.  As they knelt in front of the priestess Gabrielle felt a swelling of pride and could feel the same emotion radiating from the warrior next to her for the young man.  Gabrielle had heard the argument between Xena and her mother about the boy.  Once Cyrene knew Solan was her grandson she had wanted him to know that as well and get to know the boy.  Xena had been firm that he shouldn't know the warrior was his mother yet.  The warrior had tried to convince Cyrene that it was just too dangerous and that he was better left in the dark and with the Centaurs.  That argument hadn't been settled yet, Gabrielle knew.  The bard could see where Xena inherited her stubborn streak from.

Cyrene moved closer to her daughter, curious.

The three males knelt on both knees before the priestess and lifted their heads.  The priestess, not speaking, placed the point of the blade against their throats and then moved to the next male after a moment.  She abruptly handed the sword to an attendant Amazon and took a bowl from the attendant.  She approached Solan first and dipped her finger into the liquid and smeared a streak across his forehead and moved to repeat the gesture to Hercules and Iolaus.

Another bowl was handed to the priestess and she smeared the cheeks of the males with this liquid.

“Xena?” Cyrene whispered.

“Males aren’t allowed into the Sacred Grove without being purified,” Xena whispered as Gabrielle was whispering to her family by her side.  “First with the smoke, then blood and finally spring water.”

"The males have to be purified before entering the sacred grove of the Amazons, dedicated to Artemis, our patron goddess. First with the smoke that we passed through and then with the blood of one of the forest animals and finally with pure spring water to signify rebirth,"  Gabrielle whispered to her family.

The priestess nodded to the males and stepped back and into the shadows.  The three rose without a word and resumed their places in the group. 

 “It’s rare for a male to be granted the privilege,” Solan whispered, awe in his voice as he leaned next to Cyrene’s ear.

“Xena loves you very much,” Cyrene commented and watched the young man stand even taller.

The drummers and singers in front parted to the side of the path and joined the tribe members waiting in the grove as the wedding party approached the altar and Ephiny.  Xena grinned as she heard Solan behind her, “Wow!”

The warrior had to agree with the assessment.  Standing on the stone platform that held the altar, the Regent Amazon looked amazing.  The chestnut haired Amazon was in complete royal outfit.  Her white leathers gleamed in the setting sun and the leather and feathered mask made her look somewhat terrifying.  In her hand she held a sword and an Amazon stood on either side of the altar, both in ceremonial clothing and with notched arrows, symbolizing Artemis.  All the tribe members were in their very best clothing and ceremonial masks.

Xena glanced over and found Hecuba and Lila’s eyes wide at the sight of the fierce and almost fabled warrior women.  Not many outsiders had seen an Amazon ritual before, especially a private bonding ceremony.

Two of the Amazon warriors approached the wedding party and guided the family members off to either side, Solan included.

Hercules and Iolaus approached the altar and knelt on one knee before Ephiny.  They placed the wedding bracelets on the altar and waited. 

Ephiny motioned for the two warriors to rise.  Hercules and Iolaus moved slowly and lifted the crowns off the altar.

“The crowns represent that a wedding is a royal occasion, no matter the status of the couple.  Xena and Gabrielle choose silver and gold, representing the Moon and Sun,” Cyrene whispered to Solan.

Hercules and Iolaus walked around the altar platform three times with the crowns, holding them high for everyone to see.  Solan looked to Cyrene for an explanation but she merely shrugged, much like her daughter would.  “No one knows why three times.”

Xena and Gabrielle moved to the altar and placed their twigs of ivy that represented undying love on the altar and knelt.  The men approached them and placed the crowns on the heads of the women with a kiss on top of the head.  After a moment of silence the men then switched the crowns.  After the third crowning the two Kumbadas moved aside and faced the altar with the wedding couple. Gold for Gabrielle and silver for Xena.  The Sun and the Moon.

“Tribe members! Family and friends of the couple!” Ephiny’s voice carried to the far ends of the grove.  “Tonight we honor two friends, two loved ones, and one of our tribe in a bonding ceremony.  They have committed to each other and have faced trials together.  Tonight is a ritual of something that already exists.  Tonight we honor the love between Xena and Gabrielle.”

Ephiny stepped around to the front of the altar and held the point of the sword at Xena’s throat.  Even though Cyrene knew it must be part of the ritual, still she felt her heart skip a beat at the threat to her child.

“Do you enter freely into this bonding, warrior?” Ephiny demanded, her face hidden behind the mask.

“I enter freely of my own will and desire,” Xena answered strongly.

Ephiny removed the sword and placed it at Gabrielle’s throat.  “Do you enter freely into this bonding, bard and Queen?”

“I enter freely of my own will and desire,” Gabrielle answered in a strong voice as well.

Xena smiled to herself.  It had taken some explaining to Hecuba and Lila about the Queen part.  Like the situation with Solan, Gabrielle didn’t let too many people know that she was the Queen of the Amazons, it could lead to problems with her family. They were still in shock over the exact nature of their daughter being an Amazon.  They had known that she had become a member of the Amazon tribe before, the Queen part was still a shock.

Ephiny handed the sword to an attendant and then pulled out a dagger.  With a quick stroke she had cut a lock of the young woman’s hair from behind the girl’s neck and then quickly cut a lock of the warrior’s hair.

The Regent moved behind the altar and held the hair for all to see and then mingled the locks together in her palm.  “I offer this hair of the marriage couple to Artemis as sacrifice and ask that she bless this union of Gabrielle and Xena.”

Xena and Gabrielle both threw their hands up and Ephiny jumped backwards as a sudden burst of light filled the altar area.  Everyone went to their knees when they realized that Artemis was standing behind the altar next to Ephiny.  Then with more bursts of light several new figures joined the ceremony.  Xena wasn’t sure whether to curse or welcome them as she took sight of them in.

Apollo, Cupid, Aphrodite, Zeus, Hera, Demeter, Persephone and Hades.

“I’m not surprised Ares isn’t here,” Gabrielle whispered to her lover and Xena nodded.  Gabrielle knew she had to be relieved of that small favor.  The warrior was still tense, just as Gabrielle would expect, Xena hated dealing with the gods.

"I thought Apollo was kidding about coming to the wedding," Xena muttered under her breath and the bard bit her lip to keep from laughing at her warrior.

The gods and goddesses took up places on either side of the area, along with the families. 

“Because of the good these two have done for world and the gods, we all offer our blessings to this union and encourage their love.  Know this and let all witness our proclamation, their love is destined to span all eternity and beyond this reality.  The love between Gabrielle and Xena is rare and it is a soul mate bonding.  I call for a blood joining if they are willing to accept their fate,” Artemis announced.

Everyone was obviously stunned by the presence of the gods and the announcement from Artemis but Ephiny quickly recovered.  Gabrielle was stunned, she felt Xena squeeze her hand tightly.

“As you wish, my Goddess,” the Regent stood and faced the wedding couple.  “Do you accept this, Xena and Gabrielle?” she asked simply.

The two women looked at each other, each sinking deep into the other’s eyes.  Both reached out at the same moment to caress the other’s cheek.  Gabrielle, with her empathic gifting, felt the love pouring from her lover and the bard felt like her heart would burst with joy. Blue eyes began to fill with tears of joy, matched by Gabrielle's.

“We do,” they answered.

“Friends and family,” Ephiny faced everyone. “The gods have blessed this union and have called for a blood bonding.  This is a rare binding of soul mates, by binding their blood together in front of the gods they are binding their souls together.  It is the ultimate commitment anyone can make, god or mortal.  From this point, no matter what happens between them, their souls will be joined.”

Xena and Gabrielle each squeezed their hands tighter, reaffirming their decision with each other.  Gabrielle felt tears beginning to escape her eyes.  She leaned against Xena's strong arm, wanting to be closer to the warrior.  Xena squeezed her hand again.

The shaman priestess stepped out of the shadows and approached the couple slowly.  Wordlessly, she peered out from under her ceremonial headdress, her hazel eyes piercing into blue and green ones.  She drew a dagger from her belt and Gabrielle and Xena extended the hands they had been holding together, palms up. 

The priestess turned back to the couple and held the dagger over their palms for a moment and then, with quick and deft strokes, sliced open the palms of both women's hands.  A bowl appeared from somewhere within her robes into her hand as she caught a portion of the blood from both hands.  She handed the bowl to an attendant, who also seemed to appear from nowhere, and then clasped the hands together again.

Gabrielle's breath caught in her throat at the sensation, the intensity.  The bard heard Xena gasp as well, it felt like lightning was flowing through their veins.  Gabrielle threw her head back with the surge of power and her body began trembling, she felt Xena's body responding the same.

Regent Ephiny knelt before the Goddess Artemis and the Goddess of the Hunt, patron of the Amazons, extended her hand over the bowl in blessing.  Ephiny then stood and poured some of the blood into a wine goblet on the altar.  Raising the goblet high, Ephiny chanted an invocation and blessing and then walked down from the altar to stand in front of the couple.

“Your vows, warrior,” Ephiny instructed.

Xena turned to Gabrielle and took a deep breath, her eyes beginning to fill with tears of joy again.  “You saved my life, my heart and my soul.  They are all yours, my love. I pledge to be yours for eternity.”

“Your vows, my Queen,” Ephiny instructed.

“You gave me life and opened my heart and soul.  They are all yours, my love.  I pledge to be yours for eternity,” Gabrielle said, a tear escaping her eyes.

Ephiny handed Xena the goblet.  “With this wine and blood you pledge your soul and blood to each other. You will be joined beyond this life.”

Xena drank half the wine readily and handed the goblet to Gabrielle.  “With this wine and blood you pledge your soul and blood to each other.  You will be joined beyond this life,”  Ephiny repeated and smiled behind her mask as Gabrielle easily drank the rest of the wine/blood mixture.

Ephiny took the goblet back to the altar and faced everyone. She held up the bonding bracelets, interwoven strands of gold and silver.  “These are the bonding bracelets chosen by Gabrielle and Xena, they symbolize their commitment to each other.”

Hercules and Iolaus both approached the altar and took the bracelets from Ephiny, each handing Xena and Gabrielle a bracelet.  Artemis pointed her finger and the leather thong fell into pieces at their feet.  The two women placed a bracelet on the other’s wrist.

“You are bound before your family, your tribe and before the Gods. May you never regret this decision,” Artemis announced.

“Speak total truth, Daughter,” Zeus spoke up and both Gabrielle and Xena turned to him with a surprised look.  “You were destined to be together whether we agreed or not.  We are pleased, though and you have our blessing.”

With that Zeus, Hera, Demeter, Persephone and Hades were gone.  Aphrodite, Cupid and Artemis looking pleased.

“Gabrielle, you are my Chosen and an Amazon and have my special blessing.  Because of your binding to her, you have my blessing as well, Xena,”  Ephiny was left staring at the space where Artemis had been.

“We’re glad you finally worked out, girls.  Catch you later,” Both Aphrodite and Cupid were gone.

Xena breathed a sigh of relief and Gabrielle elbowed her in the ribs.           

“Behave,” the bard hissed with a smile.

“With that many gods around, I’m just surprised nothing went wrong,” Xena smiled back.

“Friends, family and tribe, I proclaim this part of the bonding ceremony over.  The families, Kumbadas and escort will accompany the couple to the wedding hut on the far side of this grove. Beginning in the morning we will begin the reception of the delegates from surrounding cities and nations to honor our Queen, followed by a dinner tomorrow night.  Then we’ll send them all on their way and hold a week long festival here among ourselves and our honored guest and family members,” Ephiny announced.  With the announcement over she let out an Amazon celebration cry that was picked up by all the members of the tribe as well as the visiting Amazons from other tribes.  Even Solan joined in the shouting. 

Still holding hands the two women followed their Amazon warrior escort and their Kumbadas with their families following behind.  As they approached the hut the escort broke off to take up positions on either side of the hut door.  Hercules and Iolaus stopped and turned to face the two women.  With wide grins they each kissed Xena and Gabrielle and hugged them.

“Thank you for choosing us as your Kumbadas,” Hercules said.

“I wouldn’t think of anyone else,” Xena smiled.

Hecuba and Lila joined Gabrielle by her side.  They were then hugged by the bard tightly.  “I love you both,” the little Amazon said simply.

“We love you too, Gabrielle, and couldn’t be happier,” Hecuba smiled and hugged her daughter again.

Cyrene and Solan also came forward to hug and kiss Xena.  The warrior wiped a tear of joy from her mother’s face.  “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you too and I couldn’t be more proud of your match.”

Xena looked down at the teenager and then hugged him tightly.  “I love you too, squirt.”

“Yeah,” he said simply.

Then the families took turns hugging their new daughter-in-laws.  Finally, everyone moved aside and the escort opened the door for the couple to enter the hut.

Holding hands once again they crossed the threshold.

As the door closed behind them the bard felt herself swept into her taller lover's arms for a long and lingering kiss.  Gabrielle wrapped one arm around the warrior's neck and the other around Xena's waist.  As the kiss refused to lessen for either of them, the bard found her knees go weak and her body trembling.

"It's been a long three days, my warrior," Gabrielle complained as they broke apart slightly.  The bard began to trail her kiss down to the warrior's neck.

“Yes, it has,” Xena agreed, pulling the bard closer to her by lifting Gabrielle up into another kiss.

Gabrielle took advantage of the wrap around skirt and surrounded her legs around her warrior's hips and ducked her head down to bite Xena's neck.  Xena grabbed the bard's nicely shaped ass and pulled the bard tight against her as she groaned and whimpered.  Gabrielle answered with a growl of her own as they fell against the wall of the hut.

The two Amazon guards outside the hut tactfully ignored the thump and the moans that were increasing in volume inside the hut.  All the Amazons had been very aware of the sexual energy between the two women during their stay in the village before the wedding.  Ephiny complaining to her own mate that she hadn’t gotten a solid night’s sleep since the two women had arrived. 

Hercules and Iolaus moved into the tree line a short distance from the hut.  They sat down and leaned against a tree.

“They were beautiful,” Iolaus commented softly, pulling out his sword and laying it across his lap.

“Yes, very beautiful,” Hercules agreed.

“Herc,” Iolaus began slowly.  “Do you ever regret letting Xena go?”

“No.  I love her and she loves me but we’re not in love with each other.  She is a remarkable woman, though, and stunning,”  Hercules commented, almost wistfully.  “How about you?”

“No, that was just lust,” the smaller man grinned.

Hercules lightly shoved his friend and they settled in for a long night.  Xena and Gabrielle might not be a traditional Greek wedding couple but Hercules and Iolaus were prepared to complete their roles, including protecting the wedding couple on their bonding night.  Besides, Hercules was worried.  Where in Tartarus was his half-brother?

XWP - Awakenings 2 - Discovery - finale 06/07/2020

sorry this is late

Discovery
Awakenings 02
Ms. Hunter Ash

Rating: NC17
Pairings: Xena/Gabrielle


# # #

When Gabrielle opened her eyes again it was dark and they were by the stream. She felt Xena's arms around her and knew she was safe. The bard frowned, they were covered with Xena's cloak.

Gabrielle lifted the cloak with a question, turned and looked into Xena’s eyes. Suddenly she was in the warrior’s arms crying. Both women found themselves crying.

“He was talking about us! About you,” Gabrielle whispered.

Xena let the tears run from her eyes. “I know. He’s right, you did save me. I would have slipped back into the darkness if it hadn’t been for you.”

“Wow, we are soul mates.”

“Yes,” Xena agreed with a smile.

After a moment the bard sat back up. “Hey, who covered us?” she asked.

“Maybe one of the scouting patrols found us and covered us,” Xena suggested but Gabrielle could tell that the warrior herself thought that unlikely and was equally as puzzled.

“Maybe,” The bard started to stand up and felt something fall from her chest onto the blanket. With furrowed brows the bard picked up two strands of what appeared and felt to be necklaces. It was too dark to see anything clearly. She sat back on the cloak beneath them.

“Hey, how about lighting that fire?” she asked and Xena started to move, dreading the pain that was about to cause from sitting too long in one position. Gabrielle instantly forgot the necklaces when Xena cried out, grabbing her leg.

“Oh gods, I forgot, are you okay?”

“Yeah, that’s the problem,” the warrior ran her hands up and down her leg, a puzzled look on her face.

“What’s that mean?” the bard demanded.

“There’s no pain. None at all.”

Gabrielle, puzzled and suddenly feeling tired of mind games, grabbed up the travel pack and quickly got the fire started that Xena had laid earlier. She went back to her mate’s side and watched closely as the warrior cut away the bandage from her leg. Gabrielle felt herself whistle and heard the warrior gasp in surprise. There was absolutely no wound at all. The leg looked like it hadn’t been cut at all. With a frown of puzzlement, Xena cut away the bandage on her arm to find no wound there either.

Gabrielle’s eyes were wide. “Your shoulder?” she questioned softly.

“Nothing, like it had never been touched.”

“Your face is healed too,” Gabrielle marveled.

Gabrielle closed her eyes as Xena touched the bard’s face in return, gently. The calloused hands tenderly holding Gabrielle’s face with such devotion it brought tears to the woman’s eyes.

“What did you find?” Xena asked, pointing to Gabrielle’s hand.

The bard blinked and then raised the objects to the light. One of them was the Amazon necklace she had left behind for Xena to find and the warrior’s hands quickly found that the necklace had been removed from her neck. The other was a matching necklace. To the one Xena had been wearing a small silver crescent moon with knotwork in the center had been added and on the other one was a gold blazing sun.

“Wow,” the bard muttered.

“What’s the second parchment say?” Xena asked as Gabrielle handed her the necklace Xena had been wearing since Gabrielle’s disappearance from her uncle’s home.

“I just found out I'm the daughter of a god, sort of; I’m blessed by the gods, destined to save the world, and my soul mate was destined to destroy the world, what makes you think I want to know what else there is?” the bard grinned.

“You did save the world, my world,” Xena laughed as the bard launched herself across the small space and tackled the warrior. Gabrielle delighted in the warrior’s laughter, it was music to the young woman’s ears. Gabrielle held Xena close, nuzzling the warrior’s neck.

“I love you, no matter what the gods had in mind I would have fallen in love with you.”

“Back at you, little one.”

Feeling comfortable and safe, Gabrielle rearranged herself, staying on top of her warrior. She grinned and quickly kissed the lips of the woman below her and then reached for the parchment. Xena grinned and lightly tickled the bard’s ribs, getting Gabrielle to giggle a little as she unfolded the paper.

The bard slowly unfolded the paper and turned it towards the light. Once again that evening the bard found herself overwhelmed with information, her mind refusing to process any more. She turned the paper so Xena could see it, her face puzzled.

A sun symbol with Xena’s chakram and a parchment with pen in the center was the only thing on the paper. Gabrielle found herself trying to put together a coherent sentence while the warrior laughed.

“Wow,” Gabrielle muttered, remembering what she and Xena had seen in the vision. Was she the daughter of a God? Looked like it might be. Touched by the Gods, Apollo in particular, seemed definite.

The coherent thought that the bard was trying to put together became totally elusive when Xena began kissing her, passion quickly turning the kiss from a gentle and tender one into something deeper. Gabrielle moaned and dropped the parchment as her fingers laced through the warrior’s hair. Holding Xena close the bard shifted slightly on her warrior’s body, bringing her thigh between Xena’s legs and bringing the knee up, causing Xena to moan with pleasure.

She started kissing the bard deeply, pleased not to be in pain for the first time in a month.

Gabrielle’s hands moved between them and unbuckled the belt Xena was wearing and pushed it aside, and then moved her hands under the shirt her warrior was wearing to grasp Xena’s breasts and the warrior moaned. Gabrielle moaned in response and dropped her head to the warrior’s neck, anxious to find the spot that she knew could drive Xena into an absolute frenzy. After they had finally become lovers, the bard had been delighted to find that Xena’s neck was highly sensitive to the bard’s teeth and Gabrielle was always reminded of the adventure when they dealt with Bacchus. Gabrielle had very fond memories of biting Xena with her bacchae fangs and feeling the strong warrior moaning and writhing in her arms as the erotic bite filled her veins with the call of the bacchae, of the blood. Gabrielle didn’t miss being a bacchae, but she did admit, usually with a blush to the warrior, that she found the bite extremely erotic still.

Xena moaned, arching slightly as her body responded with its own heat. The warrior’s fingers were busy unlacing the bard’s top. Gabrielle yelped with surprise when the warrior sat up and grabbed one of the bard’s nipples between her teeth and lips. The blond threw her head back and moaned in delight.

“Oh gods, Xena.”

“I can’t get enough of you, Gabrielle,” Xena whispered, kissing the bard from her breasts, up the neck and to those lips she always craved. The warrior held the smaller woman tight in her arms while their lips and tongues fought each other, teasing and playing.

The bard, lacing her fingers in Xena’s hair, held the warrior’s head close and tight as they kissed roughly, tongues exploring each other, fighting for dominance, revealing in the energy passing back and forth. Gabrielle lightly nipped Xena’s lower lip and the warrior answered by grabbing the bard’s nipples with her fingers. The bard gasped again and found her hips rocking and moving from the lightning streaking through her body, a high point at each place the warrior was kissing and touching

Gabrielle moaned and began breathing rapidly when Xena began to kiss her way back down the bard's neck and to her breasts, first teasing and lavishing one and then the other until Gabrielle was squirming in her lap.

"I haven't been able to touch you in so long like this," Xena whispered.

Gabrielle whimpered and pulled Xena's tunic top off to reach the dark one's breasts as well.

Xena growled and grabbed the back of Gabrielle’s hair, pulling her head up to the warrior’s lips. They both moaned and whimpered with the kiss, neither sure who was making what sound any longer. Gabrielle brought a cry out of her warrior by tweaking the woman’s nipples and Xena responded by quickly removing the bard’s belt and dropping the wrap around skirt away from the blonde’s lovely body.

Xena was delighted to see her lover wasn’t wearing any undergarments. Gabrielle whimpered as Xena’s fingers slid easily along the folds of her lower lips, teasing just at the woman’s entrance and her clit, never quite reaching either destination. Gabrielle bit her lip in frustration and moaned. The bard knew she was very aroused and wasn’t sure if she had ever been that wet for her lover before. Gabrielle cried out when Xena seized one of her nipples roughly with her teeth and entered the bard with several fingers.

The bard clung to her lover’s shoulders, body trembling uncontrollably. Xena felt her own body begin spasming as the bard bit into her neck, Gabrielle cries becoming louder and intense.

Gabrielle whimpered and clung to Xena’s shoulders, her body demanding more of the warrior with each thrust. She felt the warrior begin trembling as she bit down on Xena’s neck and shoulder, her own body trembling out of control. The warrior’s lips, teeth and tongue continued dashing between each of the bard’s nipples and Gabrielle heard herself whimpering and moaning, her voice getting louder and louder.

All conscious thoughts fled in the onslaught of the waves that swept over the bard and she felt her head tossing back with a scream as her body collapsed over her warrior, trembling as the waves kept her body moving.

Time seemed to stand still for the lovers as passion took over their bodies. Xena was always amazed by the endurance, strength and depth of passion of her little bard. One thing the warrior was grateful, too many people seemed to underestimate Gabrielle.

Together the two fell back, Gabrielle on top of Xena, still clinging to her warrior. When she felt she could breath enough again to talk she grinned into her lover’s bright blue eyes. Her fingers brushing a lock of dark hair from Xena’s forehead.

“Wow.”

Xena grinned back. “For a bard, you seem to have short sentences.”

“Sometimes one needs to do their talking with the body and not the voice. I think I can find a use for my tongue elsewhere, what do you think?” the bard began nibbling on Xena’s earlobe, causing the warrior to gasp and lose whatever complete sentence she had been trying to put together.

Gabrielle’s hand danced around Xena’s nipples for a moment and then slowly worked its way down to the warrior’s sex.

“Yes!” the warrior hissed as Gabrielle’s hand parted her lips and began playing. First entering and then pulling back from Xena and then rubbing the swollen clit of the warrior and entering again until Xena was squirming, unsure which sensation was pulling the most intensity from her.

“Gabrielle, please!”

The bard had moved down to the warrior’s breasts and was biting and sucking each in turn. Xena’s hands found the bard’s hair and began urging her lover’s head lower. Gabrielle grinned and grabbed one of the hands with her own, interlacing their fingers.

Xena groaned as her body rocked, hips moving of their own accord and the bard matched the rhythm with her hands.

The bard continued her slow path down with her tongue and lips, never losing contact with Xena’s body with either.

“Oh Gods, yes!” the warrior urged.

“Patience, my love,” the bard whispered and grinned when the warrior growled in frustration.

When she finally positioned herself between the warrior’s legs, Xena was writhing in need and frustration. Gabrielle breathed a sigh of amazement; she never tired of her lover and could never get enough of touching her. The bard remembered when she caught herself watching Xena every chance she got and was actually fantasizing touching and tasting the other woman. She had fought against those feelings but now she couldn’t imagine life without the warrior woman.

Gabrielle felt herself moan with passion as her tongue parted the lower lips of the warrior. She felt her own body begin trembling. Both Gabrielle and Xena were always amazed and pleased with this aspect of their relationship, somehow they were so connected that their bodies responded to each other’s growing passion, taking them over their own small orgasmic edges along with their lover. Gabrielle slowly ran her tongue between the warrior’s lower lips, never losing her rhythm with her fingers. Xena cried out, her hand painfully pulling and grasping the bard’s hand, her other hand digging into the ground next to the blanket. Sweat had bathed both of them and the bard could see every muscle in Xena’s body straining and standing out.

Hearing Xena’s cries was something that pleased the bard immensely. Gabrielle hadn’t really been surprised to learn that she was the only lover Xena had ever been vocal with. She had smiled and teased Xena about control issues and the warrior had growled that it had been for security reasons. The admission had ended in a tickle fight when the bard laughed and insisted it was a control issue for the warrior.

Gabrielle welcomed the cries of passion and used her tongue over Xena’s clit to encourage more sounds from her mate.

Xena had gone beyond the point of any conscious thought and she felt herself reaching the point of losing all control. This was always a point she struggled against, wanting to give everything to Gabrielle and yet struggling to hold back slightly. An inner battle always raged in the warrior at this point, no one else had ever brought Xena over that point before the little bard. It felt very much like falling, like dying, she once thought. It had been difficult for the warrior to admit to but Xena had admitted that no one had ever taken her over that final edge of total release, of total loss of control. Gabrielle was the first to ever get her that close and the only one to get her over the edge.

Gabrielle raised her head and looked at her warrior’s face, seeing and feeling the struggle. “Xena, let go. I will always catch you.”

Xena screamed as she fell over that point.

# # #

Gabrielle blinked and sat up suddenly, aware of a bright light falling over her and her sleeping warrior. She was startled to see Apollo standing next to them, the light shining from his hand, just as in the vision.

Gabrielle quickly turned and found Xena sleeping soundly, arm still thrown over the bard's stomach.

"Don't worry, she'll sleep," Apollo smiled and offered his other hand to help the bard up.

With a blush she grabbed one of the blankets and pulled it around her and accepted his hand. He continued to hold her hand and they walked a few feet away from the sleeping Xena. He motioned to a place in the grass and they both sat down.

Gabrielle was grateful for whatever magic Apollo had worked on her warrior, the thought of Xena being awakened by a god after the intense lovemaking they had just gone through was frightening. The bard smiled to herself, Xena hated dealing with the gods.

“Are you my father or just had a hand in blessing the child that was all ready in my mother’s womb?” the bard questioned.

“I’m your father and the other gods had hands in blessing you,” Apollo said and smiled. If Xena had been awake she would have realized where the light that shined in Gabrielle’s eyes and smile came from. “You were and are special, Gabrielle. Ares had gained such influence over the world at the time. Sparta was a military state, totally dedicated to his purpose, all the Greek states were fighting each other and Rome was beginning its trek towards the military might she has and will continue to become. The Fates foretold that he would influence a soul beyond all our belief and this child would grow to be the fiercest warrior the world had seen, a soul for the darkness. Some of us demanded a chance at balance and Zeus and Hera agreed."

"Why me?" the bard asked while she watched Xena sleeping peacefully, she shuddered at the thought of what might have been. Total domination of the known world and destruction.

"You were destined to meet Xena whether we influenced anything or not. We decided to give you an edge, to bring your natural light to the surface and we prayed your light would reach her inner soul and bring it to life again."

He brushed a hand fondly over her hair.

"We were meant to be without you?"

"Yes, child. Your talents are natural, Gabrielle, just as the light of your soul is. Xena has a natural fighting ability, Ares just enhanced it and brought it out in her. I brought out your natural bardic skills and the light of your soul."

"What about the other gods?" Gabrielle asked.

"They had a hand in your development as well." Apollo suddenly looked serious. "Some of that influence wasn't of the light either. It'll be up to you to find out what your blessings are and how sometimes they can be mixed with darkness."

"Be careful what you ask for?" Gabrielle smiled a grim smile.

"Yes, exactly," then he grinned at her. “Some mysteries you have to find out the old fashioned way.”

“You mean stumble over them,” Gabrielle said with a growl in her voice.

"Yes, exactly.”

He laughed at the glare his daughter gave him at that one. Even in Olympus, the bard’s stubborn streak was becoming known.

"What happens now?"

“There will be many trials, many tests of your love with Xena. It's a hard task we've set before you, the darkness will always be there with both of you," Apollo leaned back on his elbows, watching the bard closely.

He noted the stubborn set of the jaw again.

“I knew that when I met her, we both know that. We’ll meet whatever comes.”

"Well said, bard," he sat up and then stood up.

"Now you plan for a bonding ceremony. I am proud of the life you've led and are leading, Gabrielle. When Xena begins to question her parentage again and discovers some aspects of herself, call on me. You have inherited certain rights from me."

"You mean like Hercules?" Gabrielle's eyes were wide with surprise.

"Yes, I do," He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Remember, I am the God of Youth." and with that he was gone.

"Youth? Oh boy."

A voice called out of the darkness, "Don't forget to invite some of us to the bonding."

"Wow," Gabrielle stood up and looked down at her sleeping warrior. "I wonder how you'll feel about that one, my love. I know how you hate dealing with the gods." Gabrielle grinned and then snuggled back into Xena's arms.

Her mind already whirling, a bonding ceremony to plan for.